Oh bitter knowledge, unexpected fight! All is prepared for human misery. ADAM. O precious liberty, where art thou fled? EVE. O precious liberty! O dire enthralment! ADAM. Is this the fruit fo fweet, The fource of fo much bitter? Say, why would'st thou betray me? My ftate of innocence, Where cheerful I enjoy a blissful life? To the fierce arms of death, › Thou whom I deemed my life? E VE. I have been blind to good, Quick-fighted but to evil, An enemy to Adam, A rebel to my God; E per ofar d'alzarmi, Alle porte del cielo, Alle foglie cadei del basso inferno. ADAM O. Ahi qual dardo divin mi sembra il cielo Ahi qual flagello EVA. Laffa mene sovrafta? Oimè fon nuda, A DA MO. Nudo fon? Chi mi cela ? io parto. Io fuggo. EVA. Exeunt. For daring to exalt me To the high gates of heav'n, I fall prefumptuous to the depths of hell. ADA M. Alas, what dart divine appears in heav'n, E V E. What punishment, Wretch that I am, hangs o'er me? Am I naked, ADAM. Am I too naked? Shelter, hence. I fly. E V E. Exeunt. demons relate the caufe of their expulfion, and ftimulate Lucifer to the revenge he meditateshe refolves to employ the Serpent. SCENE 4. The SERPENT, EVE, LUCIFER. The Serpent queftions Eve-derides her fear and her obedience-tempts her to taste the apple -fhe expreffes her eagerness to do fo-the Serpent exults in the profpect of her perditionLucifer (who seems to remain as a separate perfon from the Serpent) expreffes alfo his exultation, and steps afide to liften to a dialogue between Adam and Eve. SCENE S. EVE, A DA M. Eve declares her refolution to tafte the apple, and present it to her husband-fhe tastes it, and expreffes unusual hope and animation-she says the Serpent has not deceived her-fhe feels no fign of death, and presents the fruit to her husband -he reproves her-fhe perfifts in preffing him to eat-he complies-declares the fruit fweet, but begins to tremble at his own nakedness-he repents, and expreffes his remorfe and terrorEve proposes to form a covering of leaves-they retire to hide themselves in foliage. End of the Second Act. ACT ACT THE THIR D. SCENE 1. LUCIFER, BELIAL, SATAN. LUCIFER exults in his fuccefs, and the other demons applaud him. SCENE 2. RAPHAEL, MICHAEL, GABRIEL. These good spirits lament the fall, and retire with awe on the appearance of God. SCENE 3. GOD, EVE, ADAM. God calls on Adam-he appears and laments his nakedness-God interrogates him concerning the tree-he confeffes his offence, and accufes Eve-she blames the Serpent-God pronounces his malediction, and fends them from his prefence. SCENE 4. RAPHAEL, EVE, and ADAM. Raphael bids them depart from ParadifeAdam laments his deftiny-Raphael perfifts in driving them rather harfhly from the gardenAdam begs that his innocent children may not fuffer for the fault of their mother- Raphael replies, that not only his children, but all his |