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 them, where to choose Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide: They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow, Through Eden took thir solitarie way.
“Well!” said Natalie.
“I say!” added Calvin. “What a rush!”
Uncle Julien looked gravely at his niece and nephew. “I know my brother liked to keep his secrets, but it’s quite beyond me why he felt it necessary to keep this original, and complete edition of Paradise Lost from the rest of the world.”
The Bodleian
Natalie stood up suddenly and made a pronouncement. “I think it’s time we performed another detail of Uncle Richard’s will. Tomorrow we must go to the Bodleian.”
Calvin looked up, startled. “I forgot all about that! We’re supposed to clean out his office as soon as possible,” he told Julien. “We have very specific instructions about it.”
Natalie went to the desk and opened the top drawer with a set of keys that she kept in her pocket. “Here it is,” she said, pulling out the will and handing it to her uncle. He perused the papers for a few minutes and nodded curtly.
“He was indeed specific,” Julien declared. “You have certainly done your duty thus far, and been very diligent executors.” He glanced meaningfully at the manuscript still resting in his lap.
“Let’s hope that’s all he meant for us to find in this room,” Calvin said with feeling. “I’ve done enough dusting to last the rest of my life.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Natalie said, “and we will certainly benefit from a change of scene. But our first priority is this poem, and maybe we’ll find information in his office about what Uncle Richard intended us to do with it.”
“Good idea,” said Uncle Julien. “I defer to you both as executors of his will, and offer my help and guidance as far as you require it.”
Calvin grasped his hand, thanking him sincerely. “We couldn’t have come this far without you, Uncle. If it wasn’t for you, we’d probably have sent the poem to some lab, and who knows what may have happened to it then!”
Natalie shuddered at the idea that they might have left their discovery to strangers. “That’s why you were summoned so cleverly by Uncle Richard,” she added. “He wanted you to help us.”
Calvin looked out the window and was surprised. “Why, it’s already dark out. No wonder I’m so hungry.”
“Let’s go find Mrs. Murphy and see what she’s cooked up for us,” suggested Uncle Julien. He smoothed his thick mane of silvered hair and headed out the door with a smile of anticipation.
