Of the
EIGHTH BOOK.
SAtan having compaſt the Earth, with meditated guile returns as a miſt by Night into Paradiſe, enters into the Serpent ſleeping. Adam and Eve in the Morning go forth to thir labours, which Eve propoſes to divide in ſeveral place, each labouring apart: Adam conſents not, alledging the danger, leſt that Enemy, of whom they were forewarn'd, ſhould attempt her found alone: Eve loath to be thought not circumſpect or firm enough, urge her going apart, the rather deſirous to make a tryal of her ſtrength; Adam at laſt yields: The Serpent finds her alone: his ſubtle approach, firſt gazing, the ſpeaking, with much flattery extolling Eve about all other Creatures. Eve wondring to hear the Serpent ſpeak, asks how he attain'd to human ſpeech and ſuch underſtanding not till now; the Serpent anſwers, that by taſting of a certain Tree in the Garden he attain'd both to Speech and Reaſon, till then void of both: Eve requires him to bring her to that Tree, and finds it to be the Tree of Knowledge forbidden: The Serpent now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat; ſhe pleas'd with the taſte deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not, at laſt brings him of the Fruit, relates what perſwaded her to eat thereof: Adam at firſt amaz'd, but perceiving her loſt, reſolves through vehemence of love to periſh with her; and extennuating the trſpaſs, eats alſo of the Fruit: the Effects
