Emblemes by Fra: Quarles

I. JAM. I.XIV. Every man is tempted, when hee is drawne away by his own lust, and enticed.

Serpent. Eve.

Serp.

NOt eat? Nor tast? Not touch? Nor cast an eye Upon the fruit of this faire Tree? And why? Why eat'st thou not what Heav'n ordain'd for food? Or canst thou think that bad, which heav'n cal'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 Surfeits; Woman, Do but tast: See how the laden boughes make silent Suit To be enjoy'd; Looke how their bending Fruit Meet thee halfe way; Observe but how they crouch To kisse thy hand; Coy woman, Do but touch▪ Marke what a pure Vermilian 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 things ye use not.

Eve.

Wisest of Beasts, our great Creator did Reserve this Tree, and this alone forbid, The rest are freely ours, which, doubtlesse, are As pleasing to the Tast; to th'eye, as faire;

But touching this, his strict commands are such, 'Tis death to tast, no lesse than death to touch.

Serp.

P'sh; death's a fable: Did not heav'n inspire, Your equall Elements with living Fire, Blowne 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 Creators voice proclaime What ere he made (from the blue spangled frame To the poore leafe 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 Halfe-gods as you? Curb needlesse feares, and let no fond conceit Abuse your freedome; woman, Take, and eat.

Eve.

'Tis true; we are immortall; death is yet Unborne; and, till Rebellion make it debt, Undue; I know the Fruit is good, untill Presumptuous 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 feare not▪

Eve.

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

Serp.

Afraid? why draw'st thou back thy tim'rous Arme? Harme onely fals on such as feare a Harme: Heav'n knowes and feares the vertue of this Tree 'Twill make ye perfect Gods as well as He. Stretch forth thy hand, and let thy fondnesse never Feare 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: Ile pull, and tast, and tempt my Adam too To know the secrets of this dainty,

Serp.

Doe.

S. CHRY••. sup. Matth.

He forc'd him not: He touch'd him not: Onely said, Cast thy selfe downe; that we may know, whosoever obeyes the Devill, casts himselfe downe; For the Devill may suggest; compell he cannot.

S. BERN. in ser.

It is the Devils part to suggest; Ours, not to consent: As oft as we resist him, so often we overcome him, as often as we over∣come him, so often we bring joy to the Angels, and glory to God; Who proposes us, that we may contend, and assists us, that we may conquer.

EPIG. 1.

Unluckie Parliament! wherein, at last, Both houses are agreed, and firmely past An Act of death, confirm'd by higher Powers▪ O had it had but such success •• Ours.