PL 10 124-62 (Adam and the Son)

To whom thus Adam sore beset replied: To whom the sov’reign Presence thus repli'd:
O Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey
Before my Judge, either to undergo Before his voice, or was she made thy guide,
Myself the total crime, or to accuse Superior, or but equal, that to her
My other self, the partner of my life, Thou did'st resign thy manhood, and the place
Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,
I should conceal, and not expose to blame And for thee, whose perfection far excelled
By my complaint; but strict necessity Hers in all real dignity? Adorned
Subdues me, and calamitous constraint She was indeed, and lovely to attract
Least on my head both sin and punishment, Thy love, not thy subjection, and her gifts
However insupportable, be all Were such as under government well seemed,
Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet Thou Unseemly to bear rule, which was thy part
Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. And person, hadst thou known thyself aright.
This woman whom Thou mad'st to be my help, So having said, he thus to Eve in few:
And gav'st me as Thy perfect gift so good, Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done?
So fit, so acceptable, so divine,
That from her hand I could suspect no ill, To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelmed,
And what she did, whatever in itself, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge
Her doing seemed to justify the deed; Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied.
She gave me of the Tree, and I did eat. The Serpent me beguiled and I did eat.