BOOK IX

THE ARGUMENT

Satan bavlng oompassed the earth, witb roeditated ffè\f returns, as a mist, by night Into Paradise; entenlolollif serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the mornlns go fm to tlielr labours, which Eve proposes todivideiose^enl places, each labouring apart : Adam oooscots not, ilkfii^ tbc danger, lest that enemy , of whom Ihcy were fore* an»J. should attempt her found alone : Eve, loth to be Ibouiint not drcomspeet or lirm enough, urges ber going ap*'^* the rather désirons to make trial of her strengih : Adan at last yields. The serpent linds her alone : bis subite approach*, flrst gazing, then speaking; wllhmuchflatlfry extoliing Eve above ail other créatures. Eve, woodenns to bear the serpent speak , asks how he attalned to ïaatn speech , and such understanding , not till now ; Ihesetp^ answers , that by tastUig of a certain tree in llie «•"*f\?* attained both to speech and reason, till tfaen void of M^' Eve requires lilm to bring her to that tree, and 0od«it w be the tree of knowledge forbldden; tbe serpent, dow growo bolder, with many wlles and arguments indujtfi« at lenglh to eat; shc, pleased with the taste, delibwai» awhile whether to Impart thereof to Adam or not ; « u^ briogs him of the fruit; relates what persuaded her to« thereof : Adam, at Urst amazed, but pereeivlng wj J«' résolves, through véhémence of love, to perlsh wilb o«» and , extenualing the Irespass , eals aiso of the froii : "jj effecto thereof in them both ; they seck to «'«J"['' nakeflness, theu fall to tarianoe and aocosattoo oi ow another.