Chapter 5 4

My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, But still rejoicct, how is it now become [ 120 ] So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree Whereof I gave thee charge thou should not eat? To whom thus Adam sore beset replied. O Heavn! in evil strait this day I stand [ 125 ] Before my Judge, either to undergo My self the total Crime, or to accuse My other self, the partner of my life; Whose failing, while her Faith to me remains, I should conceal, and not expose to blame [ 130 ] By my complaint; but strict necessitie Subdues me, and calamitous constraint

Least on my head both sin and punishment, However insupportable, be all Devolvd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou [ 135 ] Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. This Woman whom thou madst to be my help, And gavst me as thy perfet gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so Divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, [ 140 ] And what she did, whatever in it self, Her doing seemed to justify the deed; Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eat. To whom the sovran Presence thus replied. Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey [ 145 ] Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide,

Superior, or but equal, that to her Thou didst resigne thy Manhood, and the Place Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, And for thee, whose perfection farr excelled [ 150 ] Hers in all real dignitie: Adornd She was indeed, and lovely to attract Thy Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts Were such as under Government well seemd, Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part [ 155 ] And person, hadst thou known thy self aright. So having said, he thus to Eve in few: Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done?