How Eve herself, when round her soul first crept
The serpent’s cautious coils of smooth deceit,
To strap her inch by inch! I read it now,
That tale: ’tis all an allegory, ay;—
That serpent means the world. The world steals round,
Intent to seize and own each heir of heaven.
Not long are souls allow’d ideal life,
Not long unfetter’d sense or hearts unbound:
Our smiles grow stiffer, till, some fatal day,
The last is clutch’d and held, a hideous grin.