Eve. Alas, who dares dispute with him that right? The Power, which form'd us, must be infinite. Lucif. Who told you how your form was first design'd?

The sun and earth produce, of every kind,

Grass, flowers, and fruits; nay, living creatures too:
Their mould was base; 'twas more refined in you;
Where vital heat, in purer organs wrought,
Produced a nobler kind, raised up to thought;
And that, perhaps, might his beginning be:
Something was first; I question if 'twere he.
But grant him first, yet still suppose him good,
Not envying those he made, immortal food.

Eve. But death our disobedience must pursue.
Lucif. Behold, in me, what shall arrive to you.
I tasted; yet I live: Nay, more; have got
A state more perfect than my native lot.
Nor fear this petty fault his wrath should raise:
Heaven rather will your dauntless virtue praise,
That sought, through threaten'd death, immortal
good:

Gods are immortal only by their food.
Taste, and remove

What difference does 'twixt them and you remain ;
As I gain'd reason, you shall godhead gain.

Eve. He eats, and lives, in knowledge greater

grown:

Was death invented then for us alone?

Is intellectual food to man denied,

[Aside.

Which brutes have with so much advantage tried?
Nor only tried themselves, but frankly, more,
To me have offer'd their unenvied store?

Lucif. Be bold, and all your needless doubts remove. View well this tree, (the queen of all the grove) How vast her bole, how wide her arms are spread, How high above the rest she shoots her head, Placed in the midst: would heaven his work disgrace, By planting poison in the happiest place?

Haste; you lose time and godhead by delay.

[Plucking the fruit.

Eve. 'Tis done; I'll venture all, and disobey.

[Looking about her. Perhaps, far hid in heaven, he does not spy, And none of all his hymning guards are nigh. To my dear lord the lovely fruit I'll bear; He, to partake my bliss, my crime shall share. [Exit hastily. Lucif. She flew, and thank'd me not, for haste: "Twas hard,

With no return such counsel to reward.
My work is done, or much the greater part;
She's now the tempter to ensnare his heart.
He, whose firm faith no reason could remove,
Will melt before that soft seducer, love.

ACT V.

SCENE I-Paradise.

EVE, with a bough in her hand,

[Exit.

Eve. Methinks I tread more lightly on the ground; My nimble feet from unhurt flowers rebound; I walk in air, and scorn this earthly seat; Heaven is my palace; this my base retreat. Take me not, heaven, too soon; 'twill be unkind To leave the partner of my bed behind. I love the wretch; but stay, shall I afford Him part? already he's too much my lord, 'Tis in my power to be a sovereign now; And, knowing more, to make his manhood bow. Empire is sweet; but how if heaven has spied; If I should die, and He above provide Some other Eve, and place her in my stead? Shall she possess his love, when I am dead?

No; he shall eat, and die with me, or live:
Our equal crimes shall equal fortune give.
Enter ADAM.

Adam. What joy, without your sight, has earth in store!

While you were absent, Eden was no more. Winds murmur'd through the leaves your long delay, And fountains, o'er the pebbles, chid your stay: But with your presence cheer'd, they cease to mourn, And walks wear fresher green at your return.

Eve.Henceforth you never shall have cause to chide; No future absence shall our joys divide:

'Twas a short death my love ne'er tried before, And therefore strange; but yet the cause was more. Adam. My trembling heart forebodes some ill; I fear

To ask that cause which I desire to hear,

Speak

-do not

What means that lovely fruit? what means, alas! That blood, which flushes guilty in your face? -yet, at last, I must be told! Eve. Have courage, then: 'tis manly to be bold. This fruit-why dost thou shake? no death is nigh: 'Tis what I tasted first; yet do not die,

Adam. Is it (I dare not ask it all at first; Doubt is some ease to those who fear the worst :) Say, 'tis not

Eve. "Tis not what thou need'st to fear: What danger does in this fair fruit appear? We have been cozen'd; and had still been so, Had I not ventured boldly first to know. Yet, not I first; I almost blush to say, The serpent eating taught me first the way. The serpent tasted, and the godlike fruit Gave the dumb voice; gave reason to the brute, Adam. O fairest of all creatures, last and best Of what heaven made, how art thou dispossest

Of all thy native glories! fall'n! decay'd!
(Pity so rare a frame so frail was made)
Now cause of thy own ruin; and with thine,
Ah, who can live without thee!) cause of mine!
Eve. Reserve thy pity till I want it more:
I know myself much happier than before;
More wise, more perfect, all I wish to be,
Were I but sure, alas! of pleasing thee.

Adam. You've shewn how much you my content design:

Yet, ah! would heaven's displeasure pass like mine!
Must I without you, then, in wild woods dwell?
Think, and but think, of what I loved so well?
Condemn'd to live with subjects ever mute;
A savage prince, unpleased, though absolute?
: Eve. Please then yourself with me, and freely taste,
Lest I without you should to godhead haste:
Lest, differing in degree, you claim too late
Unequal love, when 'tis denied by fate.

Adam. Cheat not yourself with dreams of deity;
Too well, but yet too late, your crime I see :
Nor think the fruit your knowledge does improve;
But you have beauty still, and I have love.
Not cozen'd, I with choice my life resign:
Imprudence was your fault, but love was mine.

[Takes the fruit and eats it. Eve. Owondrous power of matchless love exprest! [Embracing him. Why was this trial thine, of loving best?

I envy thee that lot; and could it be,

Would venture something more than death for thee.
Not that I fear, that death the event can prove;
W'are both immortal, while so well we love.
Adam. Whate'er shall be the event, the lot is cast:
Where appetites are given, what sin to taste?
Or if a sin, 'tis but by precept such;

The offence so small, the punishment's too much,

To seek so soon his new-made world's decay :
Nor we, nor that, were fashion'd for a day.

Eve. Give to the winds thy fear of death, or ill; And think us made but for each other's will.

Adam. I will, at least, defer that anxious thought, And death, by fear, shall not be nigher brought: If he will come, let us to joys make haste; Then let him seize us when our pleasure's past. We'll take up all before; and death shall find We have drain'd life, and left avoid behind. [Exeunt. Enter LUCIFER.

Lucif. 'Tis done :

Sick Nature, at that instant, trembled round;
And mother Earth sigh'd, as she felt the wound.
Of how short durance was this new-made state!
How far more mighty than heaven's love, hell's hate!
His project ruin'd, and his king of clay :
He form'd an empire for his foe to sway.
Heaven let him rule, which by his arms he got;
I'm pleased to have obtain'd the second lot.
This earth is mine; whose lord I made my thrall;
Annexing to my crown his conquer'd ball.
Loosed from the lakes my regions I will lead,
And o'er the darken'd air black banners spread :
Contagious damps, from hence, shall mount above,
And force him to his inmost heaven's remove.

[A clap of thunder is heard. He hears already, and I boast too soon; I dread that engine which secured his throne. I'll dive below his wrath, into the deep, And waste that empire, which I cannot keep. [Sinks down.

RAPHAEL and GABRIEL descend.

Raph. As much of grief as happiness admits In heaven, on each celestial forehead sits: