CHA P. III.

The Serpent finds Eve alone; approaches and speaks to her, with many Wiles and Arguments induces her to taste the Tree of Knowledge forbidden: She refolves to impart thereof to Adam.

S

AYING this, EVE foftly withdrew her Hand from her Husband's, and light, like what is feign'd of Wood-Nymphs, or of DIANA'S (1) Train, betook her to the Groves; but in her Gait and Goddefs-like Deportment, fhe furpass'd all that has been fabled of DIANA'S Self; though not arm'd like her with Bow and Quiver, but only with fuch gardening Tools, as Art had rudely form'd without the Help of Fire, or the Angels had brought. A Picture of CERES in her Prime, or of POMONA when fhe fled from VERTUMNUS, (m) is what fhe feem'd likeft, as fhe parted from ADA M. He, with Eyes full of Affection, for a great while look'd after her delighted; but yet he rather wifh'd that she had staid. He often repeated his Charge to her to come back foon, and the as often promis'd him, that she would be return'd to the Bower by Noon, and have every Thing in the best Order, to invite Repast then, or Repofe after Noon. Unfortunate EvE! much deceiv'd,

(2) Diana. The Daughter of Jupiter and Latona, Goddefs of the Woods, Hunting and Virginity. The Nymphs were her Attendants.

(m) Vertumnus; Lat. i. e. The changing Year. A God among the old Romans, who fell in Love with Pomona, and to obtain her, he turned himself into all Forms.

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He was King of Tuscany, who taught Men the Art of Garden. ing; for which he was deified. This Fable fignifies the different Seafons of the Year. His Feafts were celebrated at Rome, in the Autumn; wherein they thanked the God for preferving the Fruits to Maturity.

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much failing of thy promis'd and prefum'd Return! Fatal Event indeed! Thou from that Hour didft never more find in PARADISE either fweet Repaft, or found Repose! there was what waited in Ambush, among the Shades and fweet Flowers, with confirm'd and hellish Rancour, to intercept thy Way, or fend thee back again divested of thy Innocence, thy Faith, and Blifs! For now, and ever fince the first Break of Day, SATAN (a mere Serpent only in Appearance) was come forth, and upon his Search; where he might likelieft find his purpos'd Prey, the only two of MANKIND living, but in them the whole Race included. He fought in every Field and every Bower, where any Grove of Trees, or Piece of Garden-Plot lay pleasanter than the reft, that look'd like what was under daily Tendance, or had been planted for Pleafure by the fhady Banks of Rivers, or the Side of Fountains. He fought for them both, but wish'd that it might be his Lot to find EvE feparate; but could not hope to meet with what fo feldom happened; when beyond his Hope, and agreeable to his Wish, he spy'd EVE alone; fhe ftood but half difcover'd, hid behind, and bufied with Rofes and other Flowers, that grew thick round about: She was half ftooping to fupport fuch Flowers, whofe Stalks were weak and flender, whofe Bloffoms, though gay, purple, red, or blue, or fpeckled with Gold, being too heavy for the Stem, hùng drooping down: She ties them up gently with Bands of Myrtle; at the fame Time not reflecting, that she herself was unfuftain'd; fo far from her beft Prop, and the Storm fo nigh. SATAN (in the Serpent) drew nearer, and cross'd many a Walk under Shade of Cedars, Pines, or Palm Trees; then rowling to and fro boldly; fometimes hid, fometimes feen, among the Arbours, and Flowers that grew upon the Borders of the Banks, and had been planted there by EvE; a more delightful Spot than the fabulous Gardens of ADONIS, or of fa

mous

mous ALCINOUS, (n) who entertain❜d ULYSSES; or that, which is no Fiction, made by SOLOMON, where he held Dalliance with his fair EGYPTIAN Queen, the Daughter of PHARAOH. The Place SATAN admir'd much, but more the Perfon of EVE: As one who has been long pent up in a great and populous City, where by Reafon of the Number of Inhabitants, and Want of Room to breath more freely, the Air is become unhealthy, going out on a Summer's Morning, to breath among the neighbouring pleasant Villages and Farms, takes Delight in every Thing he meets with, the Smell of the fresh-mow'd Grafs, Cattle, or Dairy, and every Sight and Sound that belongs to a Country Life; then if by Chance fome fair Virgin pafs gracefully along, what before feem'd pleafing, for her Sake now pleases more, fhe moft, and in her Look all Pleasure is fumm'd up: Such Pleasure the Serpent took to behold this Bed of Flowers, the fweet Retirement of Ev E, thus early and alone. The heavenly Form of EvE, angelical, (but only more soft and feminine) her graceful Innocence, her Air in every Gesture or leaft Action, when the Devil faw, it overaw'd his Malice, and was fo charming that it bereav'd him of the Fierceness and Cruelty of his Intention. That Moment he was abfent, and abftracted from his evil Self, and for the Time became negatively and ftupidly good; difarmed of his Enmity, Fraud, Hate, Envy, and Revenge. But the hot Hell, that always burns in him, (though he fhould be in the Midft of Heaven) foon ended his Pleasure, and tortures him now the more, the more that he fees of Pleafure not ordain'd for him: Then he foon recollected himself, gathers together all his fierce Envy and Hate, and thus rejoicing U 2

in

(*) Alcinous entertained Ulyes in his Difafters, as Homer re lates.

in his Purpofe, excites all his Thoughts of Mifchief:

WHITHER, my Thoughts, have you led me! how fweetly carried me into fuch a Tranfport, as could make me forget what brought me hither! Love brought me not, but Hate; not the Hope to tafte Pleasure here, and exchange PARADISE for Hell, but to deftroy all Pleasure, excepting that which I take in Destruction; all other Joy is loft to me! then don't let me flip the Opportunity which now fo favourably offers. Behold the Woman alone, liable to all Attempts! and her Hufband (for I can fee far round) not near her; whofe better Understanding I rather fhun, as well as his Strength, he being of a haughty Courage, though made of Earth, yet compos'd of Limbs heroic and not weak, and as I cannot wound him nor touch his Body, no inconfiderable Foe: It is not fo with me, fo much hath Hell debas'd, and Pain weaken'd me to what I was in Heaven, that I am liable to all: She is divinely fair, and fit Love for Gods, not terrible; though Terror be in Love and Beauty, unless it is approach'd by a Mind arm'd with Hate as mine is; a Hate the greater, as it is difguis'd under diffembled Love, which is the Way I propose to take to bring her Ruin to pass.

THUS fpake the great Enemy of MANKIND, having poffefs'd the Serpent, and made his Way towards Ev E; not prone and waving upon the Ground, as Serpents are now, but rifing from his Tail-in Circles one above another: He had upon his Head a Creft, which he bore aloft, and his Eyes resembled Carbuncles; his Neck a bright Grafs green, finely touch'd up (as Painters exprefs it) with Gold, rifing up in circling Spires from his Body, which lay and floated about upon the Grafs; his Shape was very lovely

lovely and pleafing, never fince of Serpent-kind was more beautiful; not thofe that HERMIONE (0) and CADMUS (p) were feign'd to be chang'd into, in ILLYRIA; or the God worfhipp'd in EPIDAURUS; (9) nor those to which it was pretended JUPITER AMU 3