Very curious indeed! Why would he have left these lines out of the published poem?”
“Who knows, but we should mark the discrepancy and read on. Maybe he will enlighten us,” suggested Calvin.
~
After discovering such an intriguing addition to the poem, all three were on the alert for more differences. After a couple more days of reading, however, they had not found anything new. Despite their disappointment, they continued to read and appreciate the verse.
Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line From Auran Eastward to the Royal Towrs Of Great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings, Or where the Sons of Eden long before Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soile His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind
“I wonder what this part means,” Natalie said. “It sounds like he’s describing the actual boundaries of the Garden.”
“He is,” Julien affirmed. “Milton is describing areas from the east bank of the Jordan River in Israel, to Telassar City in Mesopotamia, which is modern-day Iraq.”
“That’s quite a distance,” remarked Calvin. “I always thought of the Garden of Eden as a regular garden, maybe a few acres at the most.”
“Oh no, it was at least 600 miles across,” Julien assured him. “At least according to the boundaries set by John Milton,”he added.
“Please, do keep reading,” Natalie urged. “I am enthralled.”
And so on they read, interrupted only once around noon, when Mrs. Murphy arrived with a tray of hot tatties and a pitcher of ale. After a short break, which included a little flirting on Julien’s part with the widow Murphy, he took his turn reading, and paid especially close attention to Milton’s description of Eve.
Shee as a vail down to the slender waste Her unadorned golden tresses wore Disheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav’d
“Ah,” he sighed, breaking off. “You young ladies these days are always chopping off your crowning glory.” He eyed Natalie’s short black hair and shook his head sadly.
“Oh Uncle!” Natalie laughed. “You’re a bit old-fashioned, I’m afraid.”
“Not at all,” he said. “Your hair is tres chic, and very becoming on you, but I do so love to unpin a woman’s glorious locks.”
Calvin eyed his uncle appraisingly. “I think you must see a good deal more action than is seemly for a man your age, Uncle.”
Julien’s warm brown eyes twinkled, and he pretended to be affronted. “What you call ‘action,’ my dear boy, I call romance!”
For the next several days they continued to read the poem. Julien was very familiar with it, and knew many sections by heart, but it was as if Natalie and Calvin were reading it for the first time. They had never given a poem such minute focus, and found that each line was infused with beauty and meaning. Their uncle explained the more obscure references, and they had a thoroughly enjoyable time, despite being all but sequestered in the library for a good part of the week. At last, they were nearing the end of the great work, and Calvin read the lines in which Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden, and their punishment is announced to them by God’s son.
To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm’d, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli’d. The Serpent me beguil’d and I did eate.
“Poor Eve,” sighed Natalie. “She has to take most of the blame. There’s one thing about this poem I don’t like.”
“What’s that, child?” asked her uncle.
“I don’t like how Milton portrays Eve as inferior to Adam.”
Calvin interjected. “Milton was a product of his times. You can’t blame him completely. Women were the property of men in the 1600s. Equal rights for women wouldn’t come for a few hundred more years.”
“That’s true,” said Uncle Julien. “But we must remember that it was Eve’s pride and vanity that gave the Serpent the weakness he needed to convince her to eat the fruit.”
Natalie still looked sullen. “I know, I just hate her being the scapegoat. I think Adam would have done the exact same thing, if Satan whispered in his ear.”
“You could very well be right,” sympathized Uncle Julien. “I myself have often been the hapless victim of temptation.” At which he flashed a decidedly wicked smile.
The three of them grew somber as Uncle Julien read the last portion of the poem. The archangel Michael took Adam up to a high mountain, where he could see half the world, and explained to him what humankind has in store. As this happened, Eve was made to fall asleep.
“Poor Adam,” said Uncle Julien. “I’m afraid he was rather horrified when he was told of all the awful things to come.”
“At least Michael also offers some hope and redemption,” added Calvin.
He ended, and they both descend the Hill; Descended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wak’t; And thus with words not sad she him receav’d. Whence thou returnst and whither Thou wentst, I know, For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise, Which he hath sent propitious, some great good Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts distress Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;
“I don’t like that Eve was forced to sleep during all this,” Natalie remarked with a frown. “It’s like she was sent to her room or something.”
Julien agreed that it was rather unfair, and continued reading.
And by His love and forgiveness, advis’d me thus; To gather to me all the goodlie herbes, and most Precious and powerful plants of Eden. Did shewe me where the magical roots may be, And bade me gather the all-healing fruits. And this I did in all obedience to Him, And stored them in this Bowre. In further sleep did God tutor me, in another dream He grant’d me the gift to propagate and use These mystical plants I gather’d.
‘Take them hence, from Paradise into the greater world,’ God decree’d, But warn’d me to keep hidden from Man Who would use for ill and malice Til’ such time as Man and Earth can no longer Do without, for these are the plants He sow’d to bridge the chasm to woman
“Sacre bleu!’ cried Uncle Julien. “Another addition! And it relates to the other difference we found!”
“Hurrah!” Natalie exclaimed. “Redemption for Eve! Forgiven and given the best plants in the garden, and even told how to propagate them for the future! That’s lovely. I’m feeling much better about Milton now.”
“This is getting rather strange,” Calvin declared. “I can’t help but wonder why Milton chose to leave these parts out of the public version.”
“My guess is that it would have been looked on as heresy,” Julien explained. “But let’s read the final lines, and see how this plays out.”
Th’ Archangel stood, and from the other Hill To thir fixt Station, all in bright array The Cherubim descended; on the ground Gliding meteorous, as Ev’ning Mist Ris’n from a River o’re the marish glides, And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel Homeward returning. High in Front advanc’t, The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz’d Take what God has gift’d you, and nothing more, Commanded Michael, and take my hands
“Another change,” noticed Uncle Julien. The last two lines. Michael doesn’t say that in the later editions.” And he read the final lines.
The World was all before