Ill worthie I such title should belong

To me transgressour, who for thee ordaind

A help, became thy snare; to mee reproach [ 165 ]

Rather belongs, distrust and all dispraise:

But infinite in pardon was my Judge,

That I who first brought Death on all, am gract

The sourse of life; next favourable thou,

Who highly thus to entitle me voutsafst, [ 170 ]

Farr other name deserving. But the Field

To labour calls us now with sweat imposd,

Though after sleepless Night; for see the Morn,

All unconcernd with our unrest, begins

Her rosie progress smiling; let us forth, [ 175 ]

I never from thy side henceforth to stray,

Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoind

Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,

What can be toilsom in these pleasant Walkes?

Here let us live, though in falln state, content. [ 180 ]

So spake, so wishd much-humbld Eve, but Fate

Subscribd not; Nature first gave Signs, imprest

On Bird, Beast, Aire, Aire suddenly eclipsd

After short blush of Morn; nigh in her sight

The Bird of Jove, stoopt from his aerie tour, [ 185 ]

Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove:

Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods,

First hunter then, pursud a gentle brace,

Goodliest of all the Forrest, Hart and Hinde;

Direct to th Eastern Gate was bent thir flight. [ 190 ]

Adam observd, and with his Eye the chase

Pursuing, not unmovd to Eve thus spake.

O Eve, some furder change awaits us nigh,

Which Heavn by these mute signs in Nature shews

Forerunners of his purpose, or to warn [ 195 ]

Us haply too secure of our discharge

From penaltie, because from death releast

Some days; how long, and what till then our life,

Who knows, or more then this, that we are dust,

And thither must return and be no more. [ 200 ]