Chapter 16 15

Empress, the way is readie, and not long, Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat, Fast by a Fountain, one small Thicket past Of blowing Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon. [ 630 ] Lead then, said Eve. Hee leading swiftly rowld In tangles, and made intricate seem strait, To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy Brightns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night [ 635 ] Condenses, and the cold viruses round, Kindld through agitation to a Flame, Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends Hovering and blazing with delusive Light,

Misleads th amazd Night-wanderer from his way [ 640 ] To Boggs and Mires, and oft through Pond or Poole, There swallowed up and lost, from succour farr. So glisterd the dire Snake, and into fraud Led Eve our credulous Mother, to the Tree Of prohibition, root of all our woe; [ 645 ] Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. Serpent, we might have spard our coming hither, Fruitless to mee, though Fruit be here to excess, The credit of whose vertue rest with thee, Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. [ 650 ] But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch; God so commanded, and left that Command

Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live Law to our selves, our Reason is our Law. To whom the Tempter guilefully replied. [ 655 ] Indeed? hath God then said that of the Fruit Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eat, Yet Lords declare of all in Earth or Aire? To whom thus Eve yet sinless. Of the Fruit Of each Tree in the Garden we may eat, [ 660 ] But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, least ye die.