Chapter 22 twenty one

For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss, Tedious, unshard with thee, and odious soon. [ 880 ] Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love; Least thou not tasting, different degree Disjoyne us, and I then too late renounce Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit. [885] Thus Eve with Countnance blithe her story told; But in her Cheek distemper flushing glow. On th other side, Adam, soon as he heard The fatal Trespass don by Eve, amazed, Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill [ 890 ] Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relaxd;

From his slack hand the Garland wreathd for Eve Down dropd, and all the faded Roses shed: Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length First to himself he inward silence broke. [ 895 ] O fairest of Creation, last and best Of all Gods works, Creature in whom excelled Whatever can be seen or thought be formed, Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost, [ 900 ] Defact, deflourd, and now to Death devote? Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress The strict prohibition, how to violate The sacred Fruit forbiddn! som cursed fraud Of Enemie hath beguild thee, yet unknown, [ 905 ]

And mee with thee hath ruined, for with thee Certain my resolution is to Die; How can I live without thee, how forgoe Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joynd, To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn? [910] Should God create another Eve, and I Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee Would never from my heart; no no, I feel The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh, Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State [ 915 ] Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.