Chapter 24 twenty three

So Adam, and thus Eve to him reply. [960] O glorious trial of exceeding Love, Illustrious evidence, example high! Ingaging me to emulate, but short Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, Adam, from whose deare side I boast me sprung, [ 965 ] And gladly of our Union hear thee speak, One Heart, one Soul in both; where of good proof This day affords, declaring thee resolvd, Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread Shall separate us, linkt in Love so deare, [ 970 ] To undergo with mee one Guilt, one Crime, If any be, of tasting this fair Fruit, Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds,

Direct, or by occasion hath presented This happy trial of thy Love, which else [ 975 ] So eminently never had bin known. Were it I thought Death menact would ensue This my attempt, I would sustain alone The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die Deserted, then oblige thee with a fact [ 980 ] Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assured Remarkably so late of thy so true, So faithful Love unequald; but I feel Farr otherwise th event, not Death, but Life Augmented, opnd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes, [ 985 ] Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before Hath toucht my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.

On my experience, Adam, freely taste, And fear of Death deliver to the Windes. So saying, she embraced him, and for joy [ 990 ] Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love Had so enobld, as of choice to incurr Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death. In recompence (for such compliance bad Such recompence best merits) from the bough [ 995 ] She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit With liberal hand: he scrupld not to eat Against his better knowledge, not deceaved, But fondly overcome with Femal charm.