Prohibition
Long past, in dim and misty centuries,
When all the world was new and Paradise
Grew green and fair about the Tree of Life,
From' the God-head the prohibition came
To touch or taste its beauteous golden fruit—
The one thing only that was stem forbade.
For knowledge of Evil and Good would come,
To our first parents, with the taste thereof.
Now here-to-fore in lovely Eden, reigned
Peace, Love and Joy, Content and Happiness,
Until this edict came, that roused the pair
To discontent—for curiosity
Works oft more sin and disobedience
Than natural inclination toward the wrong.
And then the Serpent entered with his wiles,
Persuading Eve that none would wiser be
If she of the forbidden fruit did eat.
She ate—and then the knowledge swiftly came
Of all the Good and Evil in the world—
A knowledge mingled with both joy and pain.
And she, who from her spouse no secret had,
Persuaded him—that he might knowledge have
Of all the Good and Evil in the world—
And thus was lovely Eden lost to them!
When all the world was new and Paradise
Grew green and fair about the Tree of Life,
From' the God-head the prohibition came
To touch or taste its beauteous golden fruit—
The one thing only that was stem forbade.
For knowledge of Evil and Good would come,
To our first parents, with the taste thereof.
Now here-to-fore in lovely Eden, reigned
Peace, Love and Joy, Content and Happiness,
Until this edict came, that roused the pair
To discontent—for curiosity
Works oft more sin and disobedience
Than natural inclination toward the wrong.
And then the Serpent entered with his wiles,
Persuading Eve that none would wiser be
If she of the forbidden fruit did eat.
She ate—and then the knowledge swiftly came
Of all the Good and Evil in the world—
A knowledge mingled with both joy and pain.
And she, who from her spouse no secret had,
Persuaded him—that he might knowledge have
Of all the Good and Evil in the world—
And thus was lovely Eden lost to them!
