The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, safest and seemliest by her husband stays, who guards her, or with her the worst endures
Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love can by his fraud be shaken or seduced
Th' attempt... tempts... asperses the tempted with dishonour foul
Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce angels
Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite
Best witness of thy virtue tried?
How are we happy, still in fear of harm?
What is faith, love, virtue unassayed alone
Within himself the danger lies, yet lies within his power: against his will he can receive no harm. But God left free the will
Tender love enjoins that i should mind thee oft, and mind thou me
Seek not temptation then... trial will come unsought
For thy stay, not free, absents thee more; go
For thy stay, not free, absents thee more; go
From her husband's hand her hand soft she withdrew
O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve
Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss
Eve separate he spies
Fairest unsupported flower, from her best prop so far, and storm so nigh
Her graceful innocence... overawed his malice
Stupidly good, of emnity disarmed
Fierce hate he recollects
Thoughts, whither have ye led me, with what sweet compulsion thus transported to forget
Save what it is in destroying, other joy to me is lost
Pleasing was his shape, and lovely
I now must change those notes to tragic… Sad task
Higher argument remains
Satan… fearless returned
Satan involved in rising mist
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field
All Summed up in Man
The more i see pleasures about me, so much more i feel torment within me
Others to make such as i, tohugh thereby worse to me redound for only in destroying i find ease to my relentless thoughts
Wrapped in mist of midnight vapour glide obscure
Dark intent i bring
O foul descent!
But what will not ambition and revenge descent to?
Revenge... aimed... on him
This new favourite of Heaven, this man of clay
In at his mouth the devil entered
Let us divide our labours
Nothing lovelier can be found in woman, than to study household good, and good works in her husband to promote
To delight he made us, and delight to Reason joined
Our joint hands will keep from wilderness with ease
Hope to circumvent us joined