I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;
To find thee I directed then my walk;
And on, methought, alone I passd through ways [ 50 ]
That brought me on a sudden to the Tree
Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seemd,
Much fairer to my Fancie then by day:
And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood
One shapd and wingd like one of those from Heavn [ 55 ]
By us oft seen; his dewie locks distilld
Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gazd;
And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surchargd,
Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despisd? [ 60 ]
Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offerd good, why else set here?
This said he pausd not, but with ventrous Arme
He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror child [ 65 ]
At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold:
But he thus overjoyd, O Fruit Divine,
Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt,
Forbiddn here, it seems, as onely fit
For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: [ 70 ]
And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more
Communicated, more abundant growes,
The Author not impaird, but honourd more?
Here, happie Creature, fair Angelic Eve,
Partake thou also; happie though thou art, [ 75 ]
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind,
But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes
Ascend to Heavn, by merit thine, and see [ 80 ]
What life the Gods live there, and such live thou.
So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part
Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell
So quicknd appetite, that I, methought, [ 85 ]
Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide
And various: wondring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; suddenly [ 90 ]
My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down,
And fell asleep; but O how glad I wakd
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her Night
Related, and thus Adam answerd sad.