Thou sever not: trial will come unsought. Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve First thy obedience; the other who can know, Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? But if thou think trial unsought may find Us both securer than thus warned thou seem’st, Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; Go in thy native innocence, rely On what thou hast of virtue, summon all; For God towards thee hath done his part; do thine.”

So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied:

“With thy permission then, and thus forewarned, Chiefly by what thine own last reasoning words Touched only, that our trial, when least sought, May find us both perhaps far less prepared, The willinger I go, nor much expect A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.”