Eve. Have courage, then:  ’tis manly to be bold.  This fruit—­why dost thou shake? no death is nigh:  ’Tis what I tasted first; yet do not die.

Adam. Is it—­(I dare not ask it all at first; Doubt is some ease to those who fear the worst:) Say, ’tis not—­

Eve. ’Tis not what thou needst to fear: 
What danger does in this fair fruit appear? 
We have been cozened; and had still been so,
Had I not ventured boldly first to know. 
Yet, not I first; I almost blush to say,
The serpent eating taught me first the way. 
The serpent tasted, and the godlike fruit
Gave the dumb voice; gave reason to the brute.

Adam. O fairest of all creatures, last and best
Of what heaven made, how art them dispossest
Of all thy native glories! fallen! decayed! 
(Pity so rare a frame so frail was made)
Now cause of thy own ruin; and with thine,
(Ah, who can live without thee!) cause of mine.

Eve. Reserve thy pity till I want it more: 
I know myself much happier than before;
More wise, more perfect, all I wish to be,
Were I but sure, alas! of pleasing thee.

Adam. You’ve shown, how much you my content design: 
Yet, ah! would heaven’s displeasure pass like mine! 
Must I without you, then, in wild woods dwell? 
Think, and but think, of what I loved so well? 
Condemned to live with subjects ever mute;
A savage prince, unpleased, though absolute?

Eve. Please then yourself with me, and freely taste,
Lest I, without you, should to godhead haste: 
Lest, differing in degree, you claim too late
Unequal love, when ’tis denied by fate.

Adam. Cheat not yourself with dreams of deity;
Too well, but yet too late, your crime I see: 
Nor think the fruit your knowledge does improve;
But you have beauty still, and I have love. 
Not cozened, I with choice my life resign: 
Imprudence was your fault, but love was mine.
                                       [Takes the fruit and eats it.

Eve. O wondrous power of matchless love exprest! [Embracing him.
Why was this trial thine, of loving best? 
I envy thee that lot; and could it be,
Would venture something more than death for thee. 
Not that I fear, that death the event can prove;
Ware both immortal, while so well we love.

Adam. Whate’er shall be the event, the lot is cast;
Where appetites are given, what sin to taste? 
Or if a sin, ’tis but by precept such;
The offence so small, the punishment’s too much. 
To seek so soon his new-made world’s decay: 
Nor we, nor that, were fashioned for a day.

Eve. Give to the winds thy fear of death, or ill; And think us made but for each other’s will.

Adam. I will, at least, defer that anxious thought,
And death, by fear, shall not be nigher brought: 
If he will come, let us to joys make haste;
Then let him seize us when our pleasure’s past. 
We’ll take up all before; and death shall find
We have drained life, and left a void behind. [Exeunt.