Season 3 Podcast 218 Milton's Paradise Lost, Bk IX, Pt XXI, "Temptation of Eve A"

Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk IX, Pt XXI, “Temptation of Eve Pt A”In the preface to Book IX, Milton presents the following abstractAdam at last yields, the serpent finds her alone: his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking; with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures.  Eve, wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks how he attained to human speech, and such understanding, not till how; the serpent answers that, by tasting of a certain tree in the garden, he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both. Having won the argument, Eve separates from AdamThus saying, from her Husbands hand her handSoft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph lightOread or Dryad, or of Delia’s Traine,Betook her to the Groves.Adam pleads with Eve to return soonHer long with ardent look his Eye pursuedDelighted, but desiring more her stay.Oft he to her his charge of quick returne,Repeated, she to him as oft engagedTo be returned by Noon amid the Bower,And all things in best order to inviteNoontide repast, or Afternoons repose.Eve ignores Adam’s pleas, little knowing that this was a journey from which she could never return. The physical difference would be but a short walk, but the spiritual difference would be eternally defining. Milton captures the mystery of the severance of sin and how earthshaking and divisive sin is in our lives. O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,Of thy presumed return! event perverse!Thou never from that hour in ParadiseFoundst either sweet repast, or found repose;Such ambush hid among sweet Flowers and ShadesWaited with hellish rancor imminentTo intercept thy way, or send thee backDespoiled of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.Eve was unaware that Satan, in the body of a serpent, was lying in wait. The astonished serpent was thrilled to find Eve alone. In Bower and Field he sought, where any tuftOf Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,Their tendance or Plantation for delight,By Fountain or by shady RivuletHe sought them both, but wished his hap might findEve separate, he wished, but not with hopeOf what so seldom chanced, when to his wish,Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies,Veiled in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood,Half spied, so thick the Roses bushing roundAbout her glowed, oft stooping to supportEach Flower of slender stalk, whose head though gayCarnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaiesGently with Myrtle band, mindless the while,Her self, though fairest unsupported Flower,From her best prop so far, and storn so nigh.Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversedOf stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme,Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seenAmong thick-woven Arborets and FlowersImborderd on each Bank, the hand of Eve:For the first time Satan is nonplussed and speechless. He had never beheld such beauty. For a moment he is immobilized and abstracted.Such Pleasure took the Serpent to beholdThis Flowery Plat, the sweet recess of EveThus early, thus alone; her Heavenly formAngelic, but more soft, and Feminine,Her graceful Innocence, her every AireOf gesture or lest action overawedHis Malice, and with rapine sweet bereavedHis fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:That space the Evil one abstracted stoodFrom his own evil, and for the time remainedStupidly good, of enmity disarmed,Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge;