Adam. I tremble at deceit. Lucifer. Thou must have lost thy reason, If thou canst fear thy mistress, and thy brother. Adam. Thou say'st thou art my brother, she my What enemy can man now have on earth? Adam. He, who occasion'd misery to Eve, So lightly dost thou love us? Yet it is fit thy fault Call forth the tears to flow into thy bosom. The Flesh. With treachery tis fit to treat with man In gesture, tears, and voice, Only to plunge him in Tartarean fires. Adum. They weep in such abundance. That every tear, they shed, strikes on my bosom, I fear, I fear, that if it does not split, It may at least be soften'd. Angel. These are the poisonous waters of Avernus, (Incautious man!) that from their eyes distill. Lucifer. Ah heav'n! why didst thou form me, Why didst thou join my lot With this ungrateful, misbelieving Adam, That feels not his own good, or my affliction ? Adam. Restrain thy grief, thy tears! and suffer me (If it is true, thy soul desires my good) To speak to thee apart, And I to thee will open all my thoughts. Lucifer. Behold us now apart! behold us far! If any other wish Strike thee, command! behold! we are obedient Adam. What wouldst thou, O my heart? What is thy wish, my soul? Now quiet thy desires! quiet thy pains! The Flesh. O tempter! now I fear Some singular mischance. Cherubim. Now, now the fraud is known. Adam. Now brother, if you wish, With this your pure celestial paramour, Hail'd as the soul of love, That I should think the one an heav'nly Adam, Together reign in me ? Adam. Can Adam so delay ? Lucifer. I'll tell thee; ah it seems a thing unfit That a celestial knee Should bend to this vile earth. Adam. Thou hast already told me, That in the high celestial plains above Thou must no longer dwell, But here with me enjoy delightful days, Amid these sunny spots; Let it not then displease thee With earthly habitudes To have thy breast, O Adam, fraught like mine! The Flesh, Well dost thou speak, O Adam! I am ready To pay thee prompt obedience. Lucifer. And I will also shew, This fair one's pleasure shall my pleasure be. Adam. Behold I bow myself! behold me bend! Now let united hands be rais'd to heav'n. 148 Lucifer. To make palm meet with palm in vain we strive. Adam. In truth there seems much pain. Our hands united thus ! Adam. No! what! do you not see That both united form a knot together, Finger entwisting finger? The Flesh. Perhaps you chuse them thus ! Adam. Alas! th' example, That with my hands before your eyes I shew you, Serves it so little ? heavens ! what do I see? So destitute of sense Are heav'nly creatures? Lucifer. Now behold them join'd. The Flesh. In truth I cannot tell, If he!! this day more tries the strength of Adam, In such confusion speak? Now raise your eyes to heav'n, The pure resplendent rays, That stream upon the ground. Lucifer. O Adam cease at length ! Those rays so splendid dazzle us too much. Adam. This is my foe: I now discern him well. The eagle of the sun Is us'd with pleasure on the sun to gaze ; And thou, an heav'nly eagle, Accustom❜d to the brightest rays of heav'n, Dost thou disdain, or shun them, Dazzled, and in confusion? The Flesh. Who knows what splendors in high heav'n are kindled? He, who surveys them oft, Is satiated at last, There's nought created so divine, and dear, That in long intercourse becomes not tiresome. Adam. Celestial good ne'er satiates, but delights, And magnifies itself in God's perfection. As the fair landscape's beauty (Tho' tis a low example) Becomes more perfect, and more flow'ry seems, Now let your eyes be clos❜d And with your op'ning lips pronounce these words |