Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Eight centuries and some odd years,
(From Jewish Talmud as appears)
Eve had with Adam led a life
Of joy, of pain—of love and strife;
When in the socket Nature's flame
Expiring, hopeless lay the Dame;
Around her couch, a numerous brood
Of Daughters and Grand-daughters stood,
Maids, Widows, Wives;—Tho' giv'n to stray,
Eve had been careful to obey
That strict command sent from on high,
Which bids Encrease and Multiply:
She sigh'd,—she shook her palsied head,
And thus in feeble accents said:—

“An ear attentive, Daughters, lend,
And to my last advice attend,
The only Legacy that Eve
To her sweet Girls has pow'r to give:

But what in Eden erst befel,
By way of prologue let me tell;

Much may in Little be exprest,
Few words to me seem always best.

My Life, since first I tasted air,
Has been a Life of Toil and Care;
No sooner scoop'd from Adam's side,
At once his Daughter and his Bride,
But I was taught without delay,
That my First Duty was—Obey:—
So harsh a note, a sound so queer,
At first struck oddly on my ear:—
“All things on earth, my Goodman said,
“Were for his use and pleasure made,
“And I, it seems, among the rest,
“But born to stoop to his behest;—
“My province (he averr'd) was home,
“Whilst lordly Man at will might roam,
“Nor should a faithful Wife appear
“Abroad, unlicens'd by her Dear.”
Thus in the groves whilst he was walking,
With Angels gossiping and talking,
My hours, insipidly content,
No pleasure known, at home were spent;
My sole employ to cull the fruit
Which best his appetite would suit;
Or to prepare a fragrant bed
Of choicest flow'rs to lay his head,
Of which he thought it was but fair
To let his Bedmaker have share.

One day, my toil domestic done,
I stole abroad at setting sun

To take the Air;—Serene the Sky,
The Wind a gentle lullaby
Just breath'd, as sinking down to rest,
The Birds their ev'ning hymn addrest;
The Beasts their wanton frolics play'd,
Thirstless of gore, along the glade;
The painted Flow'rs beneath my feet
Sent forth a fragrance more than sweet;
The breaking Clouds a roseate hue
Presented to th' enraptured view;
Gently adown the slopy Hills
Reflecting shone the murm'ring Rills,
And Music with her sweetest sound
Re-echo'd praise to Heaven around,
Whilst Angels hov'ring on the wing,
The Concert join'd in airy ring.

A deep impression on my mind
This farewel scene has left behind;
Such scenes we no where now can boast,
With paradise—such scenes are lost.

With devious step I mov'd along,
And, cheerful, join'd the grateful song;
When Destiny—or God knows what—
Brought me to that sequester'd spot
Where Wisdom's Tree majestic grew,
Loaded with fruit of golden hue;
I, playful, with the mountain cat,
Beneath its spreading branches sat,

Not in the least, as God's my guide,
Suspecting what wou'd soon betide;
When, all amazement and surprize!
Another Adam met my eyes,
But far surpassing my Good Man,
As to the Raven is the Swan;
Tripping He came along the road,
His looks a passion strait avow'd,
He smil'd, he ogled, and he bow'd;
Bow'd with an air and such a grace,
As flush'd the blood into my face;
His tresses on his shoulders spread,
A wreath of flow'rs adorn'd his head,
His face—in short no modern Beau
Cou'd half so fair and lovely show;
I wou'd have fled, but 'twas in vain,
What Nymph could fly so sweet a Swain?
He seiz'd my hand, and with a tongue,
Where more than angel sweetness hung,
Thus spoke ------

“Fairest of creatures Heav'n e'er made,
“In whom all beauty is display'd,
“Perfection's Self! For Heav'n in You
“Blazon'd the utmost Heav'n could do,
(And sooth to say, no Female since
Had to like honour such pretence,
For Eve was then, beyond compare,
Of all her Daughters the most fair;)
“Did you, he smiling cry'd, but know
“The raptures which from Knowledge flow,

“Upon the fruit divine you'd feast,
“And be a Cherubim at least.—
“Can Knowledge be a crime, fair Eve?
“Such doctrine Truth forbids believe;
“'Tis all a trick, my worthy Madam,
“Contriv'd for his own ends by Adam;
“Here many a time, or I'm a sinner,
“While you're at home, preparing dinner,
“Slyly he steals—I've seen him do't—
“To smuggle the Forbidden Fruit;
“Nor fear to die—'tis all a cheat,
“Unhurt you see me safely eat.”—

He said, and from the loaded tree
(Whose arching boughs with fragrancy
And golden apples spread around,
Kissing the wide-encircled ground)
Fearless of Death, or future pain,
He pull'd—he eat—and eat again:—
Amaz'd I saw him still survive,
And scarce my senses could believe;
For Adam oft with anxious look,
And dreadful threat'ning, thus had spoke;
“Whene'er the Fruit Forbid you taste,
“That hour, O Eve, shall be your last.”
His eyes now shone with heav'nly fire,
Which mortal food cou'd ne'er inspire;
He look'd so kind, such wonders told,
I cou'd, in truth, no longer hold;
I thought 'twas hard—'twas wond'rous hard,
From Knowledge Eve should be debarr'd,

Whilst Adam, like a greedy elf,
Monopoliz'd the Fruit himself.—
The Prohibition too to eat,
Made me more eager for the treat.
Now tell me, Daughters, which of you
Wou'd not have done, or would not do
The very same?—These words scarce spoke,
An universal chorus broke
Instant, from each bright Miss and Dame,
“Indeed, Mamma, you're not to blame,
“We all had done the very same.”—

Who cou'd suspect so sweet a Youth,
So angel-like, devoid of truth?
In masquerade he came—Ye Fair,
Of masquerading sparks beware:
I stretch'd my hand, but fell along,
Sure omen I was doing wrong;
A cackling hen, with furious cries,
Peck'd at her husband's comb and eyes;
Three times I sneez'd—and stranger yet,
The sun seem'd bloody as it set.

Yet maugre all these Omens sent,
An apple from the tree I rent,
And eat—when, like a rapid flame,
The passions shot thro' all my frame;
Adam forgot, I glowing ey'd
The Youth, and wish'd to be his bride,
When a loud clap of thunder strait
(Dire signal of my fallen state)

Arous'd me:—At the awful sound
Th' impostor Fiend dropt to the ground,
And lo! to my affrighted eyes,
Chang'd to a Snake of monstrous size,
Or Serpent rather, that with glare
Terrific rais'd like quills my hair;
He breath'd forth flames, and blackest smoke
From his infernal nostrils broke;
Beneath the bushes strait he fled
Hissing, to hide his frightful head;
I scream'd, and quick as light'ning flew,
Instant the noise my Husband drew,
Who missing me—(a case uncommon)
Was searching round for his lost Woman,
His flutt'ring pulse beating alarm,
As if foreboding future harm;
Trembling I told the dismal tale,
He, like a ghost, all wan and pale,
Poor soul! a while, as rooted, stood
A speechless, senseless stick of wood;—
At length with a heart-rending sigh,
And darting up to heav'n his eye,
“Death is your doom, unhappy Eve,
“Depriv'd of you I cannot live;
“No second Eve my heart can move,
“My soul disdains another love.”
Thus said, he pluck'd the fatal tree,
And join'd to mine his destiny:
What from that hour to this befell,
Your very catechiz can tell.

'Twas then from the broad fig-leaf's shade,
A decent covering first I made

To veil, what now we're taught to hide
Unseen, untouch'd till made a bride;
Nor peacock could more pride express,
Than I in my new-fangled dress;—
With most becoming happy taste
The leaves I planted round my waist,
And instant from my Fall became
A flaunting, jaunting, dressy Dame.

But ah, I find my strength decay,
My eyes begin to shut out day,
Brief, my dear Children, let me be,
In giving my last Legacy:—

Few words to Me seem always best,
Much may in Little be exprest.

Can a Fragrance be sweeter than sweet? Scriblerius.

Is not this false Grammar? Scriblerius.