第24章 23

She ended heer, or vehement despaire Broke off the rest; so much of Death her thoughts Had entertaind, as did her Cheeks with pale. But Adam with such counsel nothing swayd, [ 1010 ] To better hopes his more attentive minde Labouring had raisd, and thus to Eve replid. Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems

To argue in thee somthing more sublime And excellent then what thy minde contemnes; [ 1015 ] But self-destruction therefore saught, refutes That excellence thought in thee, and implies, Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret For loss of life and pleasure overlovd. Or if thou covet death, as utmost end [ 1020 ]

Of miserie, so thinking to evade The penaltie pronounct, doubt not but God Hath wiselier armd his vengeful ire then so To be forestalld; much more I fear least Death So snatcht will not exempt us from the paine [ 1025 ] We are by doom to pay; rather such acts Of contumacie will provoke the highest

To make death in us live: Then let us seek Some safer resolution, which methinks I have in view, calling to minde with heed [ 1030 ] Part of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruise The Serpents head; piteous amends, unless Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe Satan, who in the Serpent hath contrivd

Against us this deceit: to crush his head [ 1035 ] Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost By death brought on our selves, or childless days Resolvd, as thou proposest; so our Foe Shall scape his punishment ordaind, and wee Instead shall double ours upon our heads. [ 1040 ]