_Eve._ Somewhat forbids me, which I cannot name; For, ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame: But some restraining thought, I know not why, Tells me, you long should beg, I long deny. _Adam._ In vain! my right to thee is sealed above; Look round and see where thou canst place thy love: All creatures else are much unworthy thee; They matched, and thou alone art left for me. If not to love, we both were made in vain; I my new empire would resign again, And change with my dumb slaves my nobler mind, Who, void of reason, more of pleasure find. Methinks, for me they beg; each silently Demands thy grace, and seems to watch thy eye. _Eve._ I well foresee, whene'er thy suit I grant, That I my much-loved sovereignty shall want: Or like myself some other may be made, And her new beauty may thy heart invade. _Adam._ Could heaven some greater master-piece devise, Set out with all the glories of the skies, That beauty yet in vain he should decree. Unless he made another heart for me. _Eve._ With how much ease I, whom I love, believe! Giving myself, my want of worth I grieve. Here, my inviolable faith I plight, So, thou be my defence, I, thy delight. [_Exeunt, he leading her._ ACT III. SCENE I.--_Paradise._ LUCIFER. _Lucif._ Fair place! yet what is this to heaven, where I Sat next, so almost equalled the Most High? I doubted, measuring both, who was more strong; Then, willing to forget time since so long, Scarce thought I was created: Vain desire Of empire in my thoughts still shot me higher, To mount above his sacred head: Ah why, When he so kind, was so ungrateful I? He bounteously bestowed unenvied good On me: In arbitrary grace I stood: To acknowledge this, was all he did exact; Small tribute, where the will to pay was act. I mourn it now, unable to repent, As he, who knows my hatred to relent, Jealous of power once questioned: Hope, farewell; And with hope, fear; no depth below my hell Can be prepared: Then, Ill, be thou my good; And, vast destruction, be my envy's food. Thus I, with heaven, divided empire gain; Seducing man, I make his project vain, And in one hour destroy his six days pain. They come again, I must retire. _Enter_ ADAM _and_ EVE. _Adam._ Thus shall we live in perfect bliss, and see, Deathless ourselves, our numerous progeny. Thou young and beauteous, my desires to bless; I, still desiring, what I still possess. _Eve._ Heaven, from whence love, our greatest blessing, came, Can give no more, but still to be the same. Thou more of pleasure may'st with me partake; I, more of pride, because thy bliss I make. _Adam._ When to my arms thou brought'st thy virgin love, Fair angels sung our bridal hymn above: The Eternal, nodding, shook the firmament, And conscious nature gave her glad consent. Roses unbid, and every fragrant flower, Flew from their stalks, to strew thy nuptial bower: The furred and feathered kind the triumph did pursue, And fishes leaped above the streams, the passing pomp to view.