mean while the hour of noon drew on； and wakd an eager appetite； raisd by the smell ＇ 740 ＇ so savorie of that fruit； which with desire； inclinable now grown to touch or taste； sollicited her longing eye； yet first pausing a while； thus to her self she musd。 ．． Paradise Lost Ⅸ18 ＜小＞说？网 great are thy vertues； doubtless； best of fruits。 ＇ 745 ＇ though kept from man； and worthy to be admird； whose taste； too long forborn； at first assay gave elocution to the mute； and taught the tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise： thy praise hee also who forbids thy use； ＇ 750 ＇ conceales not from us； naming thee the tree of knowledge； knowledge both of good and evil； forbids us then to taste； but his forbidding mends thee more； while it inferrs the good by thee municated； and our want： ＇ 755 ＇ for good unknown； sure is not had； or had and yet unknown； is as not had at all。 in plain then； what forbids he but to know； forbids us good； forbids us to be wise？ such prohibitions binde not。 but if death ＇ 760 ＇ bind us with after…bands； what profits then our inward freedom？ in the day we eate of this fair fruit； our doom is； we shall die。 how dies the serpent？ hee hath eatn and lives； and knows； and speaks； and reasons； and discerns； ＇ 765 ＇ irrational till then。 for us alone was death invented？ or to us denid this intellectual food； for beasts reservd？ for beasts it seems： yet that one beast which first hath tasted； envies not； but brings with joy ＇ 770 ＇ the good befalln him； author unsuspect； friendly to man； farr from deceit or guile。 what fear i then； rather what know to feare under this ignorance of good and evil； of god or death； of law or penaltie？ ＇ 775 ＇ here grows the cure of all； this fruit divine； fair to the eye； inviting to the taste； of vertue to make wise： what hinders then to reach； and feed at once both bodie and mind？ so saying； her rash hand in evil hour ＇ 780 ＇ forth reaching to the fruit； she pluckd； she eat： earth felt the wound； and nature from her seat sighing through all her works gave signs of woe； that all was lost。 back to the thicket slunk the guiltie serpent； and well might； for eve ＇ 785 ＇ intent now wholly on her taste； naught else regarded； such delight till then； as seemd； in fruit she never tasted； whether true or fansied so； through expectation high of knowledg； nor was god…head from her thought。 ＇ 790 ＇ 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ19 。 greedily she ingorgd without restraint； and knew not eating death： satiate at length； and hightnd as with wine； jocond and boon； thus to her self she pleasingly began。 o sovran； vertuous； precious of all trees ＇ 795 ＇ in paradise； of operation blest to sapience； hitherto obscurd； infamd； and thy fair fruit let hang； as to no end created； but henceforth my early care； not without song； each morning； and due praise ＇ 800 ＇ shall tend thee； and the fertil burden ease of thy full branches offerd free to all； till dieted by thee i grow mature in knowledge； as the gods who all things know； though others envie what they cannot give； ＇ 805 ＇ for had the gift bin theirs； it had not here thus grown。 experience； next to thee i owe； best guide； not following thee； i had remaind in ignorance； thou opnst wisdoms way； and givst access； though secret she retire。 ＇ 810 ＇ and i perhaps am secret； heavn is high； high and remote to see from thence distinct each thing on earth； and other care perhaps may have diverted from continual watch our great forbidder； safe with all his spies ＇ 815 ＇ about him。 but to adam in what sort shall i appeer？ shall i to him make known as yet my change； and give him to partake full happiness with mee； or rather not； but keep the odds of knowledge in my power ＇ 820 ＇ without copartner？ so to add what wants in femal sex； the more to draw his love； and render me more equal； and perhaps； a thing not undesireable； somtime superior： for inferior who is free？ ＇ 825 ＇ this may be well： but what if god have seen and death ensue？ then i shall be no more； and adam wedded to another eve； shall live with her enjoying； i extinct； a death to think。 confirmd then i resolve； ＇ 830 ＇ adam shall share with me in bliss or woe： so dear i love him； that with him all deaths i could endure； without him live no life。 ．。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ20 ［。小＾说）网） so saying； from the tree her step she turnd； but first low reverence don； as to the power ＇ 835 ＇ that dwelt within； whose presence had infusd into the plant sciential sap； derivd from nectar； drink of gods。 adam the while waiting desirous her return； had wove of choicest flours a garland to adorne ＇ 840 ＇ her tresses； and her rural labours crown； as reapers oft are wont thir harvest queen。 great joy he promisd to his thoughts； and new solace in her return； so long delayd； yet oft his heart； divine of somthing ill； ＇ 845 ＇ misgave him； hee the faultring measure felt； and forth to meet her went； the way she took that morn when first they parted； by the tree of knowledge he must pass； there he her met； scarse from the tree returning； in her hand ＇ 850 ＇ a bough of fairest fruit that downie smild； new gatherd； and ambrosial smell diffusd。 to him she hasted； in her face excuse came prologue； and apologie to prompt； which with bland words at will she thus addrest。 ＇ 855 ＇ hast thou not wonderd； adam； at my stay？ thee i have misst； and thought it long； deprivd thy presence； agonie of love till now not felt； nor shall be twice； for never more mean i to trie； what rash untrid i sought； ＇ 860 ＇ the pain of absence from thy sight。 but strange hath bin the cause； and wonderful to heare： this tree is not as we are told； a tree of danger tasted； nor to evil unknown opning the way； but of divine effect ＇ 865 ＇ to open eyes； and make them gods who taste； and hath bin tasted such： the serpent wise； or not restraind as wee； or not o