Read John Milton, Paradise Lost, book IX lines 192 to 411. This excerpt focuses mainly on a dialogue between Adam and Eve that takes place before her encounter with the serpent. That is, in this section, Milton develops an expansion of the biblical narrative that fills in a gap between Gen. 2:25 and Gen. 3:1. Our primary aim in discussing this excerpt is to get a better sense of how Milton as a reader of Genesis envisions the puzzling narrative of Genesis 3.
In this assignment, address each of the following three questions briefly, in a response that should total no more than 400 words:
• Describe the main point of disagreement between Adam and Eve in this argument. Why is the argument significant?
• How does this argument shape a reader's perspective on both Adam and Eve? What is favorable about each character in this dialogue? What is unfavorable?
• we considered two separate ways of assessing the woman's actions in Gen. 3:1-6, the "experimental" and the "rebellious." Which of these two do you think Milton tends toward (allowing that he might see a little of both)? Why? Give evidence to support your judgment.
Here 's the excerpt:
Disturbd not, waiting close th' approach of Morn.?Now when as sacred Light began to dawne?In Eden on the humid Flours, that breathd?Thir morning incense, when all things that breath,?From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise [ 195 ]?To the Creator, and his Nostrils fill?With grateful Smell, forth came the human pair?And joind thir vocal Worship to the Quire?Of Creatures wanting voice, that done, partake?The season, prime for sweetest Sents and Aires: [ 200 ]?Then commune how that day they best may ply?Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew?The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide.?And Eve first to her Husband thus began.
Adam, well may we labour still to dress [ 205 ]?This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour,?Our pleasant task enjoyn'd, but till more hands?Aid us, the work under our labour grows,?Luxurious by restraint; what we by day?Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, [ 210 ]?One night or two with wanton growth derides?Tending to wilde. Thou therefore now advise?Or hear what to my minde first thoughts present,?Let us divide our labours, thou where choice?Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind [ 215 ]?The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct?The clasping Ivie where to climb, while I?In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt?With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon:?For while so near each other thus all day [ 220 ]?Our taske we choose, what wonder if so near?Looks intervene and smiles, or object new?Casual discourse draw on, which intermits?Our dayes work brought to little, though begun?Early, and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd. [ 225 ]
To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd.?Sole Eve, Associate sole, to me beyond?Compare above all living Creatures deare,?Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts imployd?How we might best fulfill the work which here [ 230 ]?God hath assign'd us, nor of me shalt pass?Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found?In Woman, then to studie houshold good,?And good workes in her Husband to promote.?Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd [ 235 ]?Labour, as to debarr us when we need?Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,?Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse?Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,?To brute deni'd, and are of Love the food, [ 240 ]?Love not the lowest end of human life.?For not to irksom toile, but to delight?He made us, and delight to Reason joyn'd.?These paths & Bowers doubt not but our joynt hands?Will keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide [ 245 ]?As we need walk, till younger hands ere long?Assist us: But if much converse perhaps?Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield.?For solitude somtimes is best societie,?And short retirement urges sweet returne. [ 250 ]?But other doubt possesses me, least harm?Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou knowst?What hath bin warn'd us, what malicious Foe?Envying our happiness, and of his own?Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame [ 255 ]?By sly assault; and somwhere nigh at hand?Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find?His wish and best advantage, us asunder,?Hopeless to circumvent us joynd, where each?To other speedie aide might lend at need; [ 260 ]?Whether his first design be to withdraw?Our fealtie from God, or to disturb?Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no bliss?Enjoy'd by us excites his envie more;?Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side [ 265 ]?That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects.?The Wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,?Safest and seemliest by her Husband staies,?Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve, [ 270 ]?As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,?With sweet austeer composure thus reply'd,
Ofspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earths Lord,?That such an Enemie we have, who seeks?Our ruin, both by thee informd I learne, [ 275 ]?And from the parting Angel over-heard?As in a shadie nook I stood behind,?Just then returnd at shut of Evening Flours.?But that thou shouldst my firmness therfore doubt?To God or thee, because we have a foe [ 280 ]?May tempt it, I expected not to hear.?His violence thou fear'st not, being such,?As wee, not capable of death or paine,?Can either not receave, or can repell.?His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs [ 285 ]?Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love?Can by his fraud be shak'n or seduc't;?Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy brest?Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear?
To whom with healing words Adam replyd. [ 290 ]?Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve,?For such thou art, from sin and blame entire:?Not diffident of thee do I dissuade?Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid?Th' attempt itself, intended by our Foe. [ 295 ]?For hee who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses?The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd?Not incorruptible of Faith, not prooff?Against temptation: thou thy self with scorne?And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, [ 300 ]?Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,?If such affront I labour to avert?From thee alone, which on us both at once?The Enemie, though bold, will hardly dare,?Or daring, first on mee th' assault shall light. [ 305 ]?Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;?Suttle he needs must be, who could seduce?Angels nor think superfluous others aid.?I from the influence of thy looks receave?Access in every Vertue, in thy sight [ 310 ]?More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were?Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,?Shame to be overcome or over-reacht?Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite.?Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel [ 315 ]?When I am present, and thy trial choose?With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri'd.
So spake domestick Adam in his care?And Matrimonial Love; but Eve, who thought?Less attributed to her Faith sincere, [ 320 ]?Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd.
If this be our condition, thus to dwell?In narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe,?Suttle or violent, we not endu'd?Single with like defence, wherever met, [ 325 ]?How are we happie, still in fear of harm??But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe?Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem?Of our integritie: his foul esteeme?Sticks no dishonor on our Front, but turns [ 330 ]?Foul on himself; then wherefore shund or feard?By us? who rather double honour gaine?From his surmise prov'd false, find peace within,?Favour from Heav'n, our witness from th' event.?And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid [ 335 ]?Alone, without exterior help sustaind??Let us not then suspect our happie State?Left so imperfet by the Maker wise,?As not secure to single or combin'd.?Fraile is our happiness, if this be so, [ 340 ]?And Eden were no Eden thus expos'd.
To whom thus Adam fervently repli'd.?O Woman, best are all things as the will?Of God ordain'd them, his creating hand?Nothing imperfet or deficient left [ 345 ]?Of all that he Created, much less Man,?Or aught that might his happie State secure,?Secure from outward force; within himself?The danger lies, yet lies within his power:?Against his will he can receave no harme. [ 350 ]?But God left free the Will, for what obeyes?Reason, is free, and Reason he made right?But bid her well beware, and still erect,?Least by some faire appeering good surpris'd?She dictate false, and misinforme the Will [ 355 ]?To do what God expresly hath forbid,?Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoynes,?That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.?Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve,?Since Reason not impossibly may meet [ 360 ]?Some specious object by the Foe subornd,?And fall into deception unaware,?Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd.?Seek not temptation then, which to avoide?Were better, and most likelie if from mee [ 365 ]?Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought.?Wouldst thou approve thy constancie, approve?First thy obedience; th' other who can know,?Not seeing thee attempted, who attest??But if thou think, trial unsought may finde [ 370 ]?Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst,?Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;?Go in thy native innocence, relie?On what thou hast of vertue, summon all,?For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. [ 375 ]
So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but Eve?Persisted, yet submiss, though last, repli'd.
With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd?Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words?Touchd onely, that our trial, when least sought, [ 380 ]?May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar'd,?The willinger I goe, nor much expect?A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek,?So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.?Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand [ 385 ]?Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light?Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's Traine,?Betook her to the Groves, but Delia's self?In gate surpass'd and Goddess-like deport,?Though not as shee with Bow and Quiver armd, [ 390 ]?But with such Gardning Tools as Art yet rude,?Guiltless of fire had formd, or Angels brought.?To Pales, or Pomona, thus adornd,?Likeliest she seemd, Pomona when she fled?Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her Prime, [ 395 ]?Yet Virgin of Proserpina from Jove.?Her long with ardent look his Eye pursu'd?Delighted, but desiring more her stay.?Oft he to her his charge of quick returne?Repeated, shee to him as oft engag'd [ 400 ]?To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre,?And all things in best order to invite?Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose.?O much deceav'd, much failing, hapless Eve,?Of thy presum'd return! event perverse! [ 405 ]?Thou never from that houre in Paradise?Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;?Such ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades?Waited with hellish rancour imminent?To intercept thy way, or send thee back [ 410 ]?Despoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.