——Though both Not equal, as their sex not equal seem’d; For contemplation he and valour form’d, For softness she and sweet attractive grace; He for God only, she for God in him. His fair large front and eye sublime declar’d Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Clust’ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad; She as a veil down to the slender waist Her unadorned golden tresses wore Dishevell’d, but in wanton ringlets wav’d As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied Subjection, but required with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him best receiv’d, Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, And sweet reluctant amorous delay.’ _Eve_ is not only represented as beautiful, but with conscious beauty. Shakspeare’s heroines are almost insensible of their charms, and wound without knowing it. They are not coquets. If the salvation of mankind had depended upon one of them, we don’t know—but the Devil might have been baulked. This is but a conjecture! _Eve_ has a great idea of herself, and there is some difficulty in prevailing on her to quit her own image, the first time she discovers its reflection in the water. She gives the following account of herself to _Adam_: ‘That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak’d, and found myself repos’d Under a shade on flow’rs, much wond’ring where And what I was, whence thither brought and how. Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound Of waters issued from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov’d Pure as the expanse of Heav’n; I thither went With unexperienc’d thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to look into the clear Smooth lake, that to me seem’d another sky. As I bent down to look, just opposite A shape within the watery gleam appear’d, Bending to look on me; I started back, It started back; but pleas’d I soon return’d, Pleas’d it return’d as soon with answ’ring looks Of sympathy and love.’... The poet afterwards adds: ‘So spake our general mother, and with eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov’d, And meek surrender, half-embracing lean’d On our first father; half her swelling breast Naked met his under the flowing gold Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight Both of her beauty and submissive charms; Smil’d with superior love, as Jupiter On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds That shed May flowers.’