Season 3 Podcast 218 Milton's Paradise Lost, Bk IX, Pt XXI, "Temptation of Eve A"
Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk IX, Pt XXI, “Temptation of Eve Pt A”
In the preface to Book IX, Milton presents the following abstract
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, wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks how he attained to human speech, and such understanding, not till how; the serpent answers that, by tasting of a certain tree in the garden, he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both.
Having won the argument, Eve separates from Adam
Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand
Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light
Oread or Dryad, or of Delia’s Traine,
Betook her to the Groves.
Adam pleads with Eve to return soon
Her long with ardent look his Eye pursued
Delighted, but desiring more her stay.
Oft he to her his charge of quick returne,
Repeated, she to him as oft engaged
To be returned by Noon amid the Bower,
And all things in best order to invite
Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose.
Eve ignores Adam’s pleas, little knowing that this was a journey from which she could never return. The physical difference would be but a short walk, but the spiritual difference would be eternally defining. Milton captures the mystery of the severance of sin and how earthshaking and divisive sin is in our lives.
O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,
Of thy presumed return! event perverse!
Thou never from that hour in Paradise
Foundst either sweet repast, or found repose;
Such ambush hid among sweet Flowers and Shades
Waited with hellish rancor imminent
To intercept thy way, or send thee back
Despoiled of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.
Eve was unaware that Satan, in the body of a serpent, was lying in wait. The astonished serpent was thrilled to find Eve alone.
In Bower and Field he sought, where any tuft
Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,
Their tendance or Plantation for delight,
By Fountain or by shady Rivulet
He sought them both, but wished his hap might find
Eve separate, he wished, but not with hope
Of what so seldom chanced, when to his wish,
Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,
Veiled in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood,
Half spied, so thick the Roses bushing round
About her glowed, oft stooping to support
Each Flower of slender stalk, whose head though gay
Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,
Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies
Gently with Myrtle band, mindless the while,
Her self, though fairest unsupported Flower,
From her best prop so far, and storn so nigh.
Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed
Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme,
Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen
Among thick-woven Arborets and Flowers
Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of Eve:
For the first time Satan is nonplussed and speechless. He had never beheld such beauty. For a moment he is immobilized and abstracted.
Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold
This Flowery Plat, the sweet recess of Eve
Thus early, thus alone; her Heavenly form
Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine,
Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire
Of gesture or lest action overawed
His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved
His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:
That space the Evil one abstracted stood
From his own evil, and for the time remained
Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed,
Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge;
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