Chapter 27 26

But let us now, as in bad plight, design What best may for the present serve to hide The Parts of each from other, that seem most To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen, Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd, [ 1095 ] And girded on our loyns, may cover round Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame, There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. So counseld hee, and both together went Into the thickest Wood, there soon they chose [ 1100 ] The Figtree, not that kind for Fruit known, But such as at this day to Indians known In Malabar or Decan spreds her Armes

Braunching so broad and long, that in the ground The bent Twigs take root, and Daughters grow [ 1105 ] About the Mother Tree, a Pillard shade High overarcht, and echoing Walks between; There oft the Indian Herdsman shunning heat Shelters in coole, and tends his pasturing Herds At Loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those Leaves [ 1110 ] They gathered, broad as Amazonian Target, And with what skill they had, together sowed, To gird thir waste, vain Covering if to hide Thir guilty and dreaded shame; O how unlike To that first naked Glorie. Such of late [ 1115 ] Columbus found th American so girt

With feathered Cincture, naked else and wilde Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores. Thus fenct, and as they thought, thir shame in part Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind, [ 1120 ] They sate them down to weep, nor only Teares Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds worse within Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate, Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore Thir inward State of Mind, calm Region once [ 1125 ] And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent: For Understanding ruld not, and the Will Heard not her lore, both in subjection now To sensual Appetite, who from beneath the

Usurping over sovran Reason claim [ 1130 ] Superior sway: From thus distempered brest, Adam, estrangd in look and alterd stile, Speech interrupted thus to Eve renewed.