Season 3 Podcast 203 Milton's Paradise Lost, Bk VIII, Pt XVIII, "The Story of Creation" Pt V

“The Story of Creation” Pt VMilton emphasizes that Adam and Eve are man and wife, married by God himself.She disappeared, and left me dark, I wak’dTo find her, or for ever to deploreHer loss, and other pleasures all abjure:When out of hope, behold her, not far off,Such as I saw her in my dream, adornedWith what all Earth or Heaven could bestowTo make her amiable: On she came,Led by her Heav’nly Maker, though unseen,And guided by his voice, nor uninformedOf nuptial Sanctity and marriage Rites:Grace was in all her steps, Heav’n in her Eye,In every gesture dignity and love.I overjoyed could not forbear aloud.Of course, as always Milton is merely following the narrative in Genesis.23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:23-25)That eliminates entirely the mistaken idea of some that original sin was adultery or sexual promiscuity or prurience of any kind. It is clear that they were married by the Lord and the posterity of Adam and Eve was not the result of lechery. They were commanded by God to have children.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the dearth, and subdue it: and have edominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1: 27-28)4 RONIn fact, it was impossible for Adam and Eve to have a sexual relationsip before the fall. Moses tells us,25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.That means, of course, they weren’t even aware of their nakedness. This becomes clear in the following conversation between Adam and God.9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (Genesis 3:9-11)I continue with Milton’s version.  Adam addresses his maker.This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilledThy words, Creator bounteous and benign,Giver of all things faire, but fairest thisOf all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now seeBone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my SelfBefore me; Woman is her Name, of ManExtracted; for this cause he shall forgoeFather and Mother, and to his Wife adhere;And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule.Milton emphasizes that our first parents were married in Eden by God himself and that the human race is their legitimate offspring, suggesting that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God, and it is only through the marriage covenant that children should be brought into the world.