Emblemes by Francis Quarles.

I.

[illustration]

JAM. 1. 14.

Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

Serpent. Eve.

Serp.

NOt eat? Not tast? Not touch? Not cast an eye Upon the fruit of this fai•…•… Tree? And why? Why eat'st thou not what Heav'n ordain'd for food? Or canst thou think that bad which heav'n call'd Good? Why was it made, if not to be enjoy'd? Neglect of favours makes a favour void: Blessings unus'd, pervert into a Wast, As well as Surfets; Woman, Do but tast: See how the laden boughs make silent suit To be enjoy'd; Look how their bending fruit Meet thee half-way; Observe but how they crouch To kisse thy hand; Coy woman, Do but touch: Ma•…•…k what a pure Vermilion blush has dy'd Their swelling cheeks, and how for shame they hide Their palsie heads, to see themselves stand by Neglected: Woman, Do but cast an eye. What bounteous heav'n ordain'd for use, refuse not; Come, pull and eat: Y' abuse the thing ye use not.

Eve.

Wisest of Beasts, our great Creatour did Reserve this Tree, and this alone forbid; The rest are freely ours, which doubtlesse are As pleasing to the tast; toth' eye, as fair; But touching this, his strict commands are such, `Tis death to tast, no lesse than death to touch.

Serp.

Pish; death's a fable: Did not heav'n inspire, Your equall Elements with living Fire, Blown from the spring of life? Is not that breath Immortall? Come; ye are as free from death As He that made ye. Can the flames expire Which he has kindled? Can ye quench his fire? Did not the great Creatours voice proclaim What ere he made (from the blue spangled frame To the poore leaf that trembles) very Good? Blest he not both the Feeder, and the Food? Tell, tell me then, what danger can accrue From such blest Food, to such half-gods as you? Curb needlesse fears, and let no fond conceit Abuse your freedome; woman, Take, and eat.

Eve.

'T is true; we are immortall; death is yet Unborn, and, till rebellion make it debt, Undue; I know the Fruit is good, untill Presumtuous disobedience make it ill. The lips that open to this Fruit's a portall To let in death, and make immortall mortall.

Serp.

You cannot die; Come, woman, Tast and fear not:

Eve.

Shall Eve transgresse? I dare not, O I dare not.

Serp.

Afraid? why draw'st thou back thy tim'rous arm? Harm onely fals on such as fear a harm. Heav'n knowes and fears the virtue of this Tree: 'T will make ye perfect Gods as well as He. Stretch forth thy hand, and let thy fondnesse never Fear death; Do, pull, and eat, and live for ever.

Eve.

'T is but an Apple; and it is as good To do as to desire. Fruit's made for food: Ile pull, and tast, and tempt my Adam too To know the secrets of this dainty.

Serp.

Doe.

S. CHRYS. sup. Matth.

He sorced him not: He touched him not: Onely said, Cast thy self down; that we may know, whosoever obeyeth the Devil casteth himselfe down: For the Devil may suggest, compell he cannot.

S. BERN. in ser.

It is the Devils part to suggest; Ours, not to consent. As os•…•… as we resist him, so often we overcome him; as osten as we overcome him, so often we bring joy to the Angels, and glory to God; Who proposeth us, that we may contend, and assisteth us, that we may conquer.

EPIG. I.

Unluckie Parliament! wherein, at last, Both houses are agreed, and firmly past An Act of death, confirm'd by higher Powers: O had it had but such successe as Ours!