The Complete Poetry of John Milton (119 page)

   1010   
But
Adam
with such counsel nothing sway’d,

               
To better hopes his more attentive mind

               
Labouring had rais’d, and thus to
Eve
repli’d.

            
      
       
Eve
, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems

               
To argue in thee somthing more sublime

   1015   
And excellent then what thy mind contemns;

               
But self-destruction therefore saught, refutes

               
That excellence thought in thee, and implies,

               
Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret

               
For loss of life and pleasure overlov’d.

   1020   
Or if thou covet death, as utmost end

               
Of miserie, so thinking to evade

               
The penaltie pronounc’t, doubt not but God

               
Hath wiselier arm’d his vengeful ire then so

               
To be forestall’d; much more I fear least Death

   1025   
So snatcht will not exempt us from the pain

               
We are by doom to pay; rather such acts

               
Of contumacie will provoke the highest

               
To make death in us live: Then let us seek

               
Som safer resolution, which methinks

   1030   
I have in view, calling to mind with heed

               
Part of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruise

               
The Serpents head; piteous amends, unless

               
Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe

               
Satan
, who in the Serpent hath contriv’d

   1035   
Against us this deceit: to crush his head

               
Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost

               
By death brought on our selves, or childless days

               
Resolv’d, as thou proposest; so our Foe

               
Shall scape his punishment ordain’d, and wee

   1040   
Instead shall double ours upon our heads.

               
No more be mention’d then of violence

               
Against our selves, and wilful barrenness,

               
That cuts us off from hope, and savours onely

               
Rancor and pride, impatience and despite,

   1045   
Reluctance
⁹⁰
against God and his just yoke

               
Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mild

               
And gracious temper he both heard and judg’d

               
Without wrauth or reviling; wee expected

               
Immediate dissolution, which we thought

   1050   
Was meant by Death that day, when lo, to thee

               
Pains onely in Child-bearing were foretold,

               
And bringing forth, soon recompenc’t with joy,

               
Fruit of thy Womb: On mee the Curse aslope

               
Glanc’d on the ground, with labour I must earn

   1055   
My bread; what harm? Idleness had bin worse;

               
My labour will sustain me; and least Cold

               
Or Heat should injure us, his timely care

               
Hath unbesaught provided, and his hands

               
Cloath’d us unworthie, pitying while he judg’d;

   1060   
How much more, if we pray him, will his ear

               
Be open, and his heart to pitie incline,

               
And teach us further by what means to shun

               
Th’ inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow,

               
Which now the Skie with various Face begins

   1065   
To shew us in this Mountain, while the Winds

               
Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks

               
Of these fair spreading Trees; which bids us seek

               
Som better shroud, som better warmth to cherish

               
Our Limbs benumm’d, ere this diurnal Starr

   1070   
Leave cold the Night, how we his gather’d beams

               
Reflected, may with matter sere foment,

               
Or by collision of two bodies grind

               
The Air attrite
⁹¹
to Fire, as late the Clouds

               
Justling or pusht with Winds rude in thir shock

   1075   
Tine
⁹²
the slant Lightning, whose thwart flame driv’n down

               
Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine,

               
And sends a comfortable heat from farr,

               
Which might supplie the Sun: such Fire to use,

               
And what may else be remedie or cure

   1080   
To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,

               
Hee will instruct us praying, and of Grace

               
Beseeching him, so as we need not fear

               
To pass commodiously this life, sustain’d

               
By him with many comforts, till we end

   1085   
In dust, our final rest and native home.

               
What better can we do, then to the place

               
Repairing where he judg’d us, prostrate fall

               
Before him reverent, and there confess

               
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears

   1090   
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the Air

               
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign

               
Of sorrow unfeign’d, and humiliation meek.

               
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn

               
From his displeasure; in whose look serene,

   1095   
When angry most he seem’d and most severe,

               
What else but favor, grace, and mercie shon?

            
      
       So spake our Father penitent, nor
Eve

               
Felt less remorse: they forthwith to the place

               
Repairing where he judg’d them prostrate fell

   1100   
Before him reverent, and both confess’d

               
Humbly thir faults, and pardon beg’d, with tears

               
Watering the ground, and with thir sighs the Air

               
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign

               
Of sorrow unfeign’d, and humiliation meek.