The Adamus exul of Grotius; or The Prototype of Paradise Lost — page 46: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Eve. Satan. Into new life you rise, more glorious far Than this which you renounce. This is the law Of living souls and all corporeal forms— To soar towards perfection, to ascend The eternal scale of bemg. But, perhaps, You dream that in this death the soul may fall Under the lash of vengeance. Idle terror! Sure, the free soul was made to act, not bear Mere passive sufferings. Indivisible spirit, Having no parts, can lose none: it subsists Whole in itself, is its own place, own time, Nor seeks abroad the life it grants at home— It is its own beginning, its own end. Nor do I think it possible that God Meant to forbid the least of all his gifts But for some limited season. For who dares To question this, that every work of His Must in itself be good, and be approved By his most gratified creatures? Wherefore, then, Refuse to approve this blessing? Not in vain This largess was bestowed, nor yet the taste, - The exquisite, the unutterable gust Of pleasurable appetite, which still Follows such dainty banqueting. If these, The gifts of nature, longer you refuse, You blame the giver, and despise the gift. Yet God forbids us, for what subtle cause I know not, or for none; but he forbids— That is enough, I do remember well This great, this sole condition of our bliss Prescribed us, and indelibly impressed On my heart’s memory. God may well dispose Of his own gifts even as his will ordains. Why gave He not this same exception, then, When He committed to your queenly hands The rule o’er earth and ocean ? This, indeed, This was a tree of value, not made vain By such repulsive clause and codicil. If it be just and equitable thus To give with barred provisoes and strange bans, "Tis not, methinks, o’er-generous. God, at least, May quit this foul condition, if he be Indeed so liberal, so beneficent As youreport Him. But bethink thee well ; Some greater mystery than aught you dream Attends this limitary check. Perhaps He envies you the magical, marvellous bliss, This same fruit may contain ; and it may be He wishes to retain for private use This lore of good and evil. O, my soul! (C@ inn 29 @ DOO <S (c@