Eve and The Serpent

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." James 1:14

Eve and The Serpent

Serpent. Not eat? not taste? not touch?

not cast an eye

Upon the fruit of this fair tree? and why?

Why eat'st thou not what Heav'n ordained

for food?

Or canst thou think that bad which Ileav'n

called good?

Why was it made, if not to be enjoyed?

Neglect of favors makes a favor void ;

Blessings unused pervert into a waste

As well as surfeits. Woman, do but taste.

See how the laden boughs make silent suit

To be enjoyed; look how their bending fruit

Meet thee half-way; observe but how they

crouch

To kiss thy hand; coy woman, do but touch;

Mark what a pure vermilion touch has dyed

Their swelling cheeks, and how for shame

they hide

Their palsy heads, to see themselves stand by

Neglected: woman, do but cast an eye.

What bounteous Heav'n ordained for use

refuse not;

Come, pull and eat: y' abuse the thing ye

use not.

Eve. Wisest of beasts, our great Creator

did

Reserve this tree, and this alone forbid ;

The rest are freely ours, which doubtless are

As pleasing to the taste, to the eye as fair;

But, touching this, His strict commands are

such,

'Tis death to taste, no less than death to

touch.

Serpent. Pish! death's a fable; did not

Heav'n inspire

Your equiil elements with living fire.

Blown from the spring of life? Is not that

breath

Immortal? Come, ye are as free from death

As He that made you. Can the flames

expire

Which He has kindled? Can ye quench His

fire?

Did not the great Creator's voice proclaim

Whate'er He made, from the blue-spangled

frame

To the poor leaf that trembles, very good?

Blessed He not both the feeder and the

food?

Tell, tell me, then, what danger can accrue

From such blessed food, to such half gods

as you?

Curb needless fears, and let no fond conceit

Abuse your freedom; woman, take and eat.

Eve. 'Tis true we are immortal; death is

yet

Unborn, and, till rebellion make it death,

Undue; I know the fruit is good, until

Presumptuous disobedience make it ill.

The lips that open to this fruit 's a portal

To let in death, and make immortal mortal.

Serpent. You cannot die; come, woman,

taste and fear not.

Eve. Shall Eve transgress? I dare not,

oh! I dare not.

Serpent. Afraid? why draw'st thou back

thy tim'rous arm?

Harm only falls on such as fear a harm.

Heav'n knows and fears the virtue of this

tree;

'Twill make you perfect gods as well as He.

Stretch forth thy hand, and let thy fondness

never

Fear death; do, pull and eat, and live for-

ever.

Eve. 'Tis but an apple; and it is as good

To do as to desire. Fruit's made for food:

I'll pull, and taste, and tempt my Adam too

To know the secrets of this dainty.

Serpent. Do.

Francis Quarles.