The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, safest and seemliest by her husband stays, who guards her, or with her the worst endures

Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love can by his fraud be shaken or seduced

Th' attempt... tempts... asperses the tempted with dishonour foul

Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce angels

Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite

Best witness of thy virtue tried?

How are we happy, still in fear of harm?

What is faith, love, virtue unassayed alone

Within himself the danger lies, yet lies within his power: against his will he can receive no harm. But God left free the will

Tender love enjoins that i should mind thee oft, and mind thou me

Seek not temptation then... trial will come unsought

For thy stay, not free, absents thee more; go

For thy stay, not free, absents thee more; go

From her husband's hand her hand soft she withdrew

O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve

Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss

Eve separate he spies

Fairest unsupported flower, from her best prop so far, and storm so nigh

Her graceful innocence... overawed his malice

Stupidly good, of emnity disarmed

Fierce hate he recollects

Thoughts, whither have ye led me, with what sweet compulsion thus transported to forget

Save what it is in destroying, other joy to me is lost

Pleasing was his shape, and lovely

I now must change those notes to tragic… Sad task

Higher argument remains

Satan… fearless returned

Satan involved in rising mist

The serpent subtlest beast of all the field

All Summed up in Man

The more i see pleasures about me, so much more i feel torment within me

Others to make such as i, tohugh thereby worse to me redound for only in destroying i find ease to my relentless thoughts

Wrapped in mist of midnight vapour glide obscure

Dark intent i bring

O foul descent!

But what will not ambition and revenge descent to?

Revenge... aimed... on him

This new favourite of Heaven, this man of clay

In at his mouth the devil entered

Let us divide our labours

Nothing lovelier can be found in woman, than to study household good, and good works in her husband to promote

To delight he made us, and delight to Reason joined

Our joint hands will keep from wilderness with ease

Hope to circumvent us joined