Would thou hadst hearknd 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
Remaind still happie, not as now, despoild
Of all ood, shamd, naked, miserable.
Let none heh seek needless cause to approve [ 1140 ]
The Faith they owe; when early they seek
Such proof, clude, they then begin to faile.
To whom soon movd with touch of blame thus Eve.
What words have past thy Lips, Adam severe,
Imputst thou that to my default, or will [ 1145 ]
Of wandring, as thou callst it, which who knows
But might as ill have happnd thou being by,
Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou been there,
Or here th attempt, thou couldst not have disd
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 liveless Rib.
Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head [ 1155 ]
and me absolutely not to go,
Going into such danger as thou saidst?
Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay,
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent, [ 1160 ]
her had I transgressd, nor thou with mee.
To whom then first i Adam replid,
Is this the Love, is this the repence
Of mio 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 warnd 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 fidehen bore thee on, secure [ 1175 ]
Either to meet no danger, or to finde
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I also errd in overmuch admiring
What seemd in thee so perfet, that I thought
No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue [ 1180 ]
That errour now, which is bey crime,
And thou th accuser. Thus it shall befall
Him who to worth in Womerusting
Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook,
Ao her self, if evil thensue, [ 1185 ]
Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.
Thus they in mutual accusatio
The fruitless hours, but her self-ning,
And of thir vain test appeerd no end.
The End of the Ninth Book.