Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/266

Of earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree
Loaden with fairest fruit that, hung to the eye
Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite
To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found
Before mine eyes all real, as the dream310
Had lively shadowed. Here had new begun
My wandering, had not He, who was my guide
Up hither, from among the trees appeared
Presence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe,
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submiss; he reared me, and, 'Whom thou soughtest I am,'
Said mildly, 'Author of all this thou seest
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
This Paradise I give thee, count it thine
To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat.320
Of every tree that in the garden grows
Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth.
But of the tree whose operation brings
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set,
The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,
Amid the garden by the Tree of Life
—Remember what I warn thee—shun to taste,
And shun the bitter consequence; for know,
The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command
Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die,330
From that day mortal, and this happy state
Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world