58 The Poets and Nature. 



error but what of that ? Like the stout Roundhead that 

 he was, he looked only at the ultimate offence, and would 

 not take extenuating circumstances into consideration 



' ' The serpent sly 



Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine 

 His braided train, and of his fatal guile 

 Gave proof unheeded. " . 



This passage is from Milton's description of the Garden 

 of Eden, and is his first reference to the creature which he 

 afterwards, when its body had been invaded by Satan, loads 

 with such infamy. It is for my purpose, a notable passage, 

 as showing how the great poet allowed his knowledge of the 

 sequel to prejudice him beforehand against the snake when 

 it was then, as he himself later on proves, a harmless beast, 

 a favourite of Eve's, and as yet perfectly innocent. Sin had 

 not as yet entered Paradise. 



" Frisking played 



All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase 

 In wood or wilderness, forest or den : 

 Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw 

 Dandled the kid ; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 

 Gambol' d before them." 



Only the snake is described as created in original sin and 

 being naturally vicious, of " fatal guile." Milton no doubt 

 thought he had inspired authority for separating this one 

 animal from all the others by such a terrific chasm, for in 

 Genesis we read, " Now, the serpent was more subtle than 

 any beast of the field." But I understand the authorities 

 upon the Scriptures would read this in an esoteric sense, 

 just as in the New Testament they do not take categorically 

 our Lord's advice, " Be wise as serpents." Was it really 

 intended by the Inspirer of Genesis that the snake should 

 be held up to calumny ? At any rate, it seems to me incon- 

 testable that no poet had the privilege to " mar creation's 

 plan," by supposing that in the sinless garden there was 



