Adam was not deceived. He did not believe what his wife said to him to be true, but yielded because of the social bond (socialis necessitudo) between them (De Civ. Dei, XIV, 11). Milton, with a very slightly increased emphasis on the erotic, at the expense of the affectional, element in Adam’s motive, almost paraphrases this—‘Against his better knowledge, not deceav’d But fondly overcome with Femal charm’ (P.L. IX, 998).
