， THE ARGUMENT @小‘说〃网 satan having past the earth； with meditated guile returns as a mist by night into paradise； enters into the serpent sleeping。 adam and eve in the morning go forth to thir labours； which eve proposes to divide in several places； each labouring apart： adam consents not； alledging the danger； lest that enemy； of whom they were forewarnd； should attempt her found alone： eve loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough； urges her going apart； the rather desirous to make tryal of her strength； adam at last yields： the serpent finds her alone； his subtle approach； first gazing； then speaking； with much flattery extolling eve above all other creatures。 eve wondring to hear the serpent speak； asks how he attaind to human speech and such understanding not till now； the serpent answers； that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he attaind both to speech and reason； till then void of both： eve requires him to bring her to that tree； and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden： the serpent now grown bolder； with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat； she pleasd with the taste deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to adam or not； at last brings him of the fruit； relates what perswaded her to eat thereof： adam at first amazd； but perceiving her lost； resolves through vehemence of love to perish with her； and extenuating the trespass； eats also of the fruit： the effects thereof in them both； they seek to cover thir nakedness； then fall to variance and accusation of one another。 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ1 小！说 no more of talk where god or angel guest with man； as with his friend； familiar usd to sit indulgent； and with him partake rural repast； permitting him the while venial discourse unblamd： i now must change ＇ 5 ＇ those notes to tragic； foul distrust； and breach disloyal on the part of man； revolt； and disobedience： on the part of heavn now alienated； distance and distaste； anger and just rebuke； and judgement givn； ＇ 10 ＇ that brought into this world a world of woe； sinne and her shadow death； and miserie deaths harbinger： sad task； yet argument not less but more heroic then the wrauth of stern achilles on his foe pursud ＇ 15 ＇ thrice fugitive about troy wall； or rage of turnus for lavinia disespousd； or neptuns ire or junos； that so long perplexd the greek and cythereas son； if answerable style i can obtaine ＇ 20 ＇ of my celestial patroness； who deignes her nightly visitation unimplord； and dictates to me slumbring； or inspires easie my unpremeditated verse： since first this subject for heroic song ＇ 25 ＇ pleasd me long choosing； and beginning late； not sedulous by nature to indite warrs； hitherto the onely argument heroic deemd； chief maistrie to dissect with long and tedious havoc fabld knights ＇ 30 ＇ in battels feignd； the better fortitude of patience and heroic martyrdom unsung； or to describe races and games； or tilting furniture； emblazond shields； impreses quaint； caparisons and steeds； ＇ 35 ＇ bases and tinsel trappings； gorgious knights at joust and torneament； then marshald feast servd up in hall with sewers； and seneshals； the skill of artifice or office mean； not that which justly gives heroic name ＇ 40 ＇ to person or to poem。 mee of these nor skilld nor studious； higher argument remaines； sufficient of it self to raise that name； unless an age too late； or cold climat； or years damp my intended wing ＇ 45 ＇ deprest； and much they may； if all be mine； not hers who brings it nightly to my ear。 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ2 ～ the sun was sunk； and after him the starr of hesperus； whose office is to bring twilight upon the earth； short arbiter ＇ 50 ＇ twixt day and night； and now from end to end nights hemisphere had veild the horizon round： when satan who late fled before the threats of gabriel out of eden； now improvd in meditated fraud and malice； bent ＇ 55 ＇ on mans destruction； maugre what might hap of heavier on himself； fearless returnd。 by night he fled； and at midnight returnd。 from passing the earth； cautious of day； since uriel regent of the sun descrid ＇ 60 ＇ his entrance； and forewarnd the cherubim that kept thir watch； thence full of anguish drivn； the space of seven continud nights he rode with darkness； thrice the equinoctial line he circld； four times crossd the carr of night ＇ 65 ＇ from pole to pole； traversing each colure； on the eighth returnd； and on the coast averse from entrance or cherubic watch； by stealth found unsuspected way。 there was a place； now not； though sin； not time； first wraught the change； ＇ 70 ＇ where tigris at the foot of paradise into a gulf shot under ground； till part rose up a fountain by the tree of life； in with the river sunk； and with it rose satan involvd in rising mist； then sought ＇ 75 ＇ where to lie hid； sea he had searcht and land from eden over pontus； and the poole m？otis； up beyond the river ob； downward as farr antartic； and in length west from orontes to the ocean barrd ＇ 80 ＇ at darien； thence to the land where flowes ganges and indus： thus the orb he roamd with narrow search； and with inspection deep considerd every creature； which of all most opportune might serve his wiles； and found ＇ 85 ＇ the serpent suttlest beast of all the field。 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ3 ×××小×说×网 him after long debate； irresolute of thoughts revolvd； his final sentence chose fit vessel； fittest imp of fraud； in whom to enter； and his dark suggestions hide ＇ 90 ＇ from sharpest sight： for in the wilie snake； whatever sleights none would suspicious mark； as from his wit and native suttletie proceeding； which in other beasts observd doubt might beget of diabolic powr ＇ 95 ＇ active within beyond the sense of brute。 thus he resolvd； but first from inward griefe his bursting passion into plaints thus pourd： o earth； how like to heavn； if not preferrd more justly； seat worthier of gods； as built ＇ 100 ＇