Book IX

Milton's invocation signals a change from pastoral to tragic: the fall of Man through disobedience now becomes his subject—more heroic than any tale of war or tournament.

Satan, driven by envy and hatred, circles the Earth and re-enters Paradise by night; he chooses the serpent as his vessel and pours himself inside while it sleeps.

Eve proposes they work separately; Adam warns of Satan's nearby threat, but Eve insists on her independence; reluctantly Adam lets her go, trusting her virtue.

Satan in the serpent finds Eve alone among her roses and approaches with elaborate flattery, praising her beauty and sovereignty, drawing her attention and curiosity.

Eve marvels at a speaking serpent; it claims the forbidden tree's fruit conferred reason and speech upon it, then leads Eve to the tree while she questions the prohibition.

Satan through the serpent argues that God's threat of death is false and envious, that the fruit confers divine knowledge, and that the gods themselves fear man's becoming equal with them.

Eve convinces herself and reaches for the fruit; the moment she eats, Earth feels the wound and nature groans; Eve, intoxicated, decides she must share the fruit with Adam.

Eve returns and tells Adam she has eaten the fruit; Adam, though horrified, resolves from love not to be separated from her, and eats the fruit himself—not deceived, but overcome.

After lovemaking, Adam and Eve wake to shame and guilt; they fashion fig-leaf coverings, then dissolve into bitter mutual recrimination, each blaming the other for their ruin.