University of Virginia Library

[70] Knowledge

The subtile Adder doth refuse to heare
Th' Inchanters sound,
But layes one eare,
Unto the ground,
And stoppes the other with his venom'd tayle:
But facile Eve,
Through nature frayle,
Would not bee deafe,
Unto the serpents charmes; but him shee lent
(without delay),
Sense, and consent:
The Apples gay,
Did tempte her eye; and cursed Satans lye,
Who falsly sayd,
Shee should not dye,
Her soule betray'd.
And this Impostour fix'd another snare,
For this poore Madame,
Hee did declare,
That shee, and Adam,
Once haveing tasted this forbidden fruite,
In science should,
Prove absolute,
And bee inrold
Among th' immortall Gods: By this pretence,
Hee so bewitchd,
Her inward sense,
Which through pride itch'd
For knowledge; that shee wholy did submitt
Unto his charmes,
And did forgett,
Ensueing harmes.
Thus thirst of knowledge did on Mankind bring,
The Curse, which shewes,
It is a thing,
That may produce
Evill, as well as good; wee therefore must
With holy fire,
By love, not lust,
The same desire./