Chapter 28 27
Would thou hadst heard to my words, and staid
With me, as I besought thee, when that strange [ 1135 ]
Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn,
I know not whence possessd thee; we had then
Remain still happy, not as now, ruined
Of all our good, shamd, naked, miserable.
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve [ 1140 ]
The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.
To whom soon movd with touch of blame thus Eve.
What words have past thy Lips, Adam severe,
Imputt thou that to my default, or will [ 1145 ]
Of wandring, as thou callst it, which who knows
But might as ill have happend thou being by,
Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou been there,
Or here th attempt, thou couldst not have discerned
Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; [ 1150 ]
No ground of enmitie between us known,
Why hee should mean me ill, or seek to harme.
Was I to have never parted from thy side?
As good have grown there still a lifeless Rib.
Being as I am, why didn't thou the Head [ 1155 ]
Command me absolutely not to go,
Going into such danger as thou saidst?
Too facil then thou didst not much gain say,
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Hadst thou bin firm and fix in thy dissent, [ 1160 ]
Neither had I transgressd, nor thou with mee.
To whom then first incenst Adam replied,
Is this the Love, is this the recompence
Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, exprest
Immutable when thou wert lost, not I, [ 1165 ]
Who might have livd and joyd immortal bliss,
Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,
It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? [ 1170 ]
I warn thee, I admonishd thee, foretold
The danger, and the lurking Enemie
That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force,
And force upon free Will hath here no place.
But confidence then bore thee on, secure [ 1175 ]
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I also errd in overmuch admiring
What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought
No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue [ 1180 ]
That error now, which is become my crime,
And thou th accuser. Thus it shall befall
Him who to worth in Women overtrusting
Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook,
And left to her self, if evil then ensue, [ 1185 ]
Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning,
And of thir vain contest appeed no end.