Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/290

Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures."
To whom the virgin-majesty of Eve, 270
As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,
With sweet austere composure thus replied:
"Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's lord!
That such an enemy we have, who seeks
Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn,
And from the parting Angel overheard,
As in a shady nook I stood behind,
Just then returned at shut of evening flowers.
But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt
To God or thee, because we have a foe 280
May tempt it, I expected not to hear.
His violence thou fearest not, being such
As we, not capable of death or pain,
Can either not receive, or can repel.
His fraud is then thy fear, which plain infers
Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love
Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced;
Thoughts, which how found they harbor in thy breast?
Adam! misthought of her to thee so dear!"
To whom with healing words Adam replied: 290
"Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve!
—For such thou art, from sin and blame entire—
Not diffident of thee do I dissuade