Act i. sc. 3.

His plan for the destruction of man is hailed with joy; and Lucifer next calls up the Seven Deadly Sins to assist him in his infernal work. To each of these mysterious impersonations a different task is assigned, and detailed at length in the piece. They are severally commissioned to assail his intended victims with every variety of temptation. Pride and Envy are directed to fill the soul of Eve with discontented thoughts, and awaken vain imaginations of superiority; to suggest regrets that she was not formed before Adam, as every man hereafter must receive his being from woman.

"_Lucifer._ Tell her, the lovely gifts She hath received do merit not their doom-- Submission to the will of haughty man; That she in price doth far exceed her lord, Created of his flesh--as he of dust; She in bright Eden had her gentle birth-- He in the meaner fields."

Dulciato, who personates Luxury, declares the heart of woman peculiarly open to his fascinations.

"Even now fair Eve at yonder crystal fount Rejoices to behold the blushing rose In beauty vanquished by her vermil cheek; The regal lily's virgin purity Matched by the whiteness of her heaving breast; Already, charmed, she wreathes her flowing hair Like threads of gold, fanned by the wooing breeze, And deems her lovely eyes two suns of love, To kindle with their beams the coldest heart."

In the beginning of the second act we have a scene quite different. The angelic train descends to hymn the goodness of the Creator and the happiness of man.

"Weave, weave the garlands light Of fairest flowers, In these primeval bowers, For the new being--and his consort bright! Let each celestial voice With melody rejoice, Praising God's work of latest, noblest birth; And let the tide of song To gratitude belong For man, the wonder of both heaven and earth."

The picture of the first pair, in their primeval innocence and enjoyment, full of gratitude to heaven and love for each other, is so captivating in its simplicity and beauty that it would alone be sufficient to redeem more sins against taste than the whole book contains. We do not imagine we are saying too much in calling it the original of Milton's delineation, as that of the infernal chief undoubtedly is. The same graceful and feminine qualities blend in the exquisite character of Eve; the same superiority of intellect, protecting gentleness, and exalted devotion are seen in Adam. They are surrounded by invisible spirits, the emissaries of Lucifer, who "with jealous leer malign," mock at the peaceful purity and happiness that blasts their envious sight, and hurl vague threats against the beings who, while innocent, are safe from their hostility. Eve weaves for Adam a garland of flowers, which he places on his brow as a chain of love. In reference to this Lurcone says,

"Chains of infernal workmanship Shall shortly bind you in a subtle fold Which mortal stroke can never loose."

At the prayers of Adam and Eve, offered with thanksgiving for their blessings, the evil spirits precipitately fly--the agonies of hell burning in their hearts. Adam gives names to the various animals, passing in review before him.

Scene third is occupied by Lucifer, in the form of a serpent, Vainglory, a gigantic figure, magnificently attired, and his attendant spirits. The arch-demon exults over his expected success, the ruin of so smiling a scene:

"_Serpent._ How lovely smile these flowers, These young fair buds! and ah! how soon my hand These pathways shall despoil of herbs and flowers. Lo! where my feet have pressed their fragrant tops, So graceful, they have drooped; and at my touch, Blasting and burning, the moist spirit is fled From the scorched petal. How do I rejoice Among these bowers with blighting step to pass, To poison with my breath their buds and leaves, And turn to bitterness their purple fruits!"

Volano acquaints Satan with the decision of the infernal council, and Vainglory and the serpent hide themselves under the tree of knowledge. Eve enters; the wondrous beauty of the tempter, gorgeously described, fascinates her admiring gaze. He is half-hid in the clustering foliage. Unconscious of evil, she approaches nearer, surprised at his aspect; for the fiend exhibits a form like the fabled inhabitants of the sea, human to his breast, the rest of his body enveloped in scaly folds. Vainglory is invisible, but is supposed to be secretly exerting his influence. The serpent, accosting Eve in the accents of flattery, enters into conversation with her, informing her that he was placed in Eden to take charge of its fruits and flowers, and gifted with superiority over the brute creation. He boasts of his knowledge, which he vaunts as superior even to hers and Adam's, notwithstanding that he occupies a lower rank in the scale of the creation. He intimates that her knowledge and Adam's is far from corresponding to their superior excellence of form and high capabilities. Eve inquires how he can regard Adam's knowledge as trifling. "Doth he not know," she cries, "the hidden virtue of each herb and mineral, each beast and bird, the elements, the heavens, the stars, the sun?" The serpent replies:

"Ah! how much worthier to know good and evil! This is the highest knowledge; this doth hold Those mighty secrets dread, sublime, which could Make you, on earth, like God."[187]

"Doth not this ignorance," he says, "outraging your liberty with unworthy yoke, make you inferior even to the savage beasts, who would not submit to such a law?[188] Or is it that God fears you will equal him in knowledge? in the essence of divinity? No! if you become like him by such means, there would still be difference," etc.[189]

The Serpent then enters upon the immediate object of his design, employing his subtle and persuasive eloquence to overcome Eve's scruples and induce her to eat of the forbidden fruit, whose taste is to impart to her heavenly wisdom. The whole scene of the temptation is admirably managed. The advances of the arch deceiver--now cautiously sounding her, now eagerly urging her to disobedience--the unsuspecting credulity, the increasing curiosity of Eve, are drawn with the pencil of a master.

The Serpent's arguments become still more specious and pressing:

"Thus I live Feeding on this celestial fruit; Thus to mine eyes all paradise is open-- Mine eyes, enlightened by the knowledge stored In this most wondrous food."[190]

The Serpent speciously insinuates that man is degraded by being compelled to seek his food from the same source with the inferior creation:

"Ah! 'tis too true that drawing sustenance From the same source with brutes that throng the field, In this, at least, renders you like to them. Surely it is not meet or just that ye, Noblest creations of all-forming power, The favored children of the Eternal King, In such unworthy state, 'mid rocks and woods, Should lead a life of vile equality With baser animals!"

The temptation takes place necessarily in dialogue. The thoughts are natural and elevated, and the language even magnificent. Eve asks the Serpent what is the cause of his apparent anxiety that she should eat of the prohibited fruit; he explains it by informing her that he will be lord over Eden when she and her partner, by means of the mystic food, shall have ascended to mingle with deities. This is a new and remarkable trait, of which Milton has not availed himself.

"But this, my rightful empire o'er the ground, While man exists and breathes earth's vital air, Is changed to base and grievous vassalage-- Since man alone is chosen, by heaven's command, Lord of this lower world, this universe Just sprung from naught. But when, by virtue of this loveliest Of all fair Eden's fruits, secured and tasted, Ye shall be made as gods--full well I know Ye both, forsaking this frail sphere, will soar To eminence divine, leaving to me The heritage of power, the sovereignty O'er every living thing, by your ascent To higher bliss secured. Full well thou know'st How pleasing is the consciousness of empire! Pleasing to God, to man, and to the serpent!

_Eve._ I yearn to obey thee. Ah! what would I do?

_Serpent._ Say, rather, leave undone! Pluck it, and make Thyself a goddess in the highest heavens, And me a god on earth!"

Here occurs an exquisite touch. Eve, having never before experienced a painful moral emotion, is ignorant of its meaning. The tempter, with consummate art, interprets her very fear into encouragement.

"_Eve._ Alas! I feel An icy tremor through my shuddering frame, That chills my heart.

_Serpent._ _It is the languishing Of mortal nature 'neath the glorious weight Of that divinity which, like a crown, O'erhangs thy head!_[191] Behold the lovely tree, More rich and lustrous in its living beauty Than if, indeed, it pointed toward the skies Branches of gold with emeralds bedecked; Than if its roots were coral, and its trunk Unspotted silver. Lo! the gem-like fruit, Glowing with gifts of immortality! How fair it shows! How to the vivid rays Of sunlight, with a thousand changing hues It answers, like the train of brilliant birds, When to the sun their broad and painted plumes Expanded, glitter with innumerous eyes!"