Boole IX. PARADISE LOST. 249 What can your knowledge hurt Him, or this tree Impart againft His will, if all be His ? Or is it envy ? And can envy dwell In heav'nly breatls? Thefe, thele, and many more 73d Caufes import your need of this fair fruit : Goddefs human, reach then, and freely talk 11 He ended, and his words, replete with guile, Into her heart too eafy entrance won Fix'd on the fruit the gaz'd, which to behold 735 Might tempt alone : and in her ears the found Yet rung of his perfuafive words, imoregn'd With reafon (to her kerning) and with truth : Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and wak'd An eager appetite, rais'd by the frnell 740 So favoury of that fruit ; which with defire, (Inclinable now grown to touch, or tafte) Sollicited her longing eye : yet firth Paufing a while, thus to her felf the mus'd. Great are thy virtues, doubtlefs, bell of fruits ! 745 Though kept from man, and worthy to be admied ; Whofe tafte, too long forborn, at firtt affay Gave elocution to the mute, and taught The tongue not made for fpeech, to (peak thy praife: Thy praife he alfo who forbids thy ufe, 75° Conceals not from us, naming thee the Tree Of knowledge ; knowledge both of good and evil : Forbids us then to tafte : but His forbidding Commends thee more, while it infers the good By thee communicated, and our want 755 For good unknown, lure is not had, or had And yet unknown, is as not had at all. In plain then, what forbids He but to know, Forbids us good, forbids us to be wife ? L1 Such
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