The Poetical Works of John Milton


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Of blowing Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept  
My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon.  
Lead then, said Eve. Hee leading swiftly rowld  
In tangles, and make intricate seem strait,  
To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy  
Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire  
Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night  
Condenses, and the cold invirons round,  
Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame,  
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Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,  
Hovering and blazing with delusive Light,  
Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way  
To Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole,  
There swallow'd up and lost, from succour farr.  
So glister'd the dire Snake and into fraud  
Led Eve our credulous Mother, to the Tree  
Of prohibition, root of all our woe;  
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Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake.  
Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming hither,  
Fruitless to me, though Fruit be here to excess,  
The credit of whose vertue 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 our selves, our Reason is our Law.  
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497 498 499 500 501

Quick Jump
1 198 395 593 790