Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/305

In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence
Flourished, since mute, to some great cause addressed,
Stood in himself collected; while each part,
Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue;
Sometimes in highth began, as no delay
Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right:
So standing, moving, or to highth up-grown,
The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began:
"O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant,
Mother of science! now I feel thy power 680
Within me clear, not only to discern
Things in their causes, but to trace the ways
Of highest agents, deemed however wise.
Queen of this Universe! do not believe
Those rigid threats of death. Ye shall not die.
How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life
To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me,
Me who have touched and tasted, yet both live,
And life more perfect have attained than Fate
Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. 690
Shall that be shut to Man, which to the beast
Is open? or will God incense his ire
For such a petty trepass? and not praise
Rather your dauntless virtue? whom the pain
Of death denounced—whatever thing death be
Deterred not from achieving what might lead
To happier life, knowledge of good and evil;