That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man, [ 710 ]

Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound

The Gods are first, and that advantage use

As they, participating God-like food?

With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth;

Warmd by the Sun, producing every kind,

Why but to keep ye low and ignorant,

Inclinabl九九藏书网e now grown to touch or taste,

On our belief, that all from them proceeds;

In Heavnly brests? these, these and many more [ 730 ]

Internal Man, is but proportion meet,

Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste.

Them nothing: If they all things, who enclosd

Knowing both Good and Evil as they know.

九_九_藏_书_网So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire,

Fixt on the Fruit she gazd, which to behold [ 735 ]

Pausing a while, thus to her self she musd.

Or is it envie, and can envie dwell

Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe,

Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies [ 725 ]

Impart against his will 九*九*藏*书*网if all be his?

What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree

An eager appetite, raisd by the smell [ 740 ]

Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregnd

Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere,

Opnd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods,

Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree,

Yet are but dim, shall per99liｂ•ｎetfetly be then

I question it, for this fair Earth I see, [ 720 ]

I of brute human, yee of human Gods.

That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains

Sollicited her longing eye; yet first

Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht,

Into her heart too easie entrance won:

Causes import your need of this fair Fruit.

His wors九九藏书hippers; he knows that in the day [ 705 ]

Though threatnd, which no worse then this can bring. [ 715 ]

He ended, and his words replete with guile

Th offence, that Man should thus attain to know?

Mean while the hour of Noon drew on, and wakd

So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off

And what are Gods that Man may not become