paradise lost: the novel
J.West
Into the groves she walked, surpassing even Diana of the
hunt in her goddess-like deportment, though without bow and
quiver, armed instead with such gardening tools as rudimentary
art had formed or angels brought. With ardent look Adam's delighted
eye pursued her long, but desired more her stay. He sent after
her more than one plea for her quick return, and she promised to
have noon meal prepared and waiting for him in the bower,
leaving afternoon's sweet repose theirs to share.
Alas, never from that hour in Paradise was found either sweet
repast or sound repose! Ambush hid among the flowers to
intercept her way and send her back despoiled of innocence. For
now, and since first break of dawn, had the fiend, mere serpent
in appearance, pursued his quest in field and grove, by fountain
or by shady stream, wherever some pleasant garden plot might
invite the master and mistress of the land to pass their hours.
He sought them both, but wished luck might find them separate,
though little hoped, when to his wish, beyond hope, he spied her
alone, veiled in a cloud of fragrance where she stood, so thick
the roses glowed around her. Each gay flower of slender drooping
stalk she gently uplifted and tied with a band of myrtle.
Carnation, purple, azure, and gold they were--herself the
fairest unsupported flower, so far from her own best support and
mindless of the storm so near.
Nearer he drew, now boldly crossing walks sheltered by
stately cedar and pine, now disappearing among the thick woven
shrubs and flowers bordering each path, the handiwork of Eve.
Such pleasure took the serpent to behold her heavenly form among
the flowery plot--angelic, but more soft in graceful
innocence--that her every gesture or least action subdued his
malice and robbed his fierceness of the fierce intent it
brought. Thus transported in that space, the evil one stood
abstracted from his own evil, and for a time remained entranced,
disarmed of enmity, of guile, hate, envy, or revenge. But the
hot hell that always in him burns, even in mid-Heaven, soon
ended his delight and brought back his torture, the more he saw
of pleasure not intended for his taste. Fierce hate regrew and
returned all thoughts of mischief, to destroy all pleasure save
that which is had in destroying. Alone, the woman, vulnerable to
all attempts, now offered him opportunity that must not pass,
for nowhere in view was her more formidable partner, endowed
with strength and proud courage, built of heroic limb and exempt
from wound--not unlike Satan once was in Heaven, though now
enfeebled by Hell's pain.
Across the ground, towards Eve, he wound his way with
indented waves, not prone as his kind now moves, debased by his
act, but rising in circular folds that towered fold above fold
in a surging maze, his head crested high aloft, with jeweled
eyes on burnished neck of green and gold, erect amidst his
circling spirals. Never since has serpent kind more dazzling
slid the earth. With oblique approach at first, as one who seeks
access but hesitates to interrupt, sidelong he worked his varied
way and curled many a wanton wreath in his tortuous train in
sight of Eve, to lure her eye. Preoccupied, she heard the sound
of rustling leaves, but took no mind, as she was used to the
playful movements of animals in the garden. Bolder now, he stood
before her, bowing his sleek enameled neck as if in admiring
gaze, fawning, and licking the ground on which she trod. His
gentle expression at length turned the eye of Eve...
more... http://home.earthlink.net/~paradiselost/
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