“Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither, Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects! But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; God so commanded, and left that command Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live Law to ourselves; our reason is our law.”

To whom the Tempter guilefully replied: “Indeed? Hath God then said that of the fruit Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, Yet lords declared of all in Earth or air?”

To whom thus Eve, yet sinless: “Of the fruit Of each tree in the garden we may eat; But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst The garden, God hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’ ”