Chapter 23 twenty two

So having said, as one from sad dismay Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed Submitting to what seemed remediless, Thus in calm mood his Words to Eve he turn. [ 920 ] Bold deed thou hast presumd, adventrous Eve And peril great provokt, who thus hath dard Had it been only coveting to Eye That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence, Much more to taste it under banne to touch. [ 925 ] But past who can recall, or don't undo? Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate, yet so Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact Is not so hainous now, foretasted Fruit, Profand first by the Serpent, by him first [930]

Made common and unhallowed ere our taste; Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives, Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live as Man Higher degree of Life, induction strong To us, as likely tasting to attain [ 935 ] Proportional ascent, which cannot be But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods. Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy Us his prime Creatures, dignifid so high, [ 940 ] Set over all his Works, which in our Fall, For us created, needs with us must fail, Dependent made; so God shall uncreate, Be frustrated, do, undo, and labor loose,

Not well concealed of God, who though his Power [ 945 ] Creation could repeat, yet would be loath Us to abolish, least the Adversary Triumph and say; Fickle their State whom God Most Favors, who can please him long; Mee first He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next? [ 950 ] Matter of scorne, not to be given the Foe, However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to suffer like doom, if Death Consort with thee, Death is to mee as Life; So forcible within my heart I feel [ 955 ] The Bond of Nature draw me to my own, My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; Our State cannot be severd, we are one,

One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self.