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Cain: A Mystery

<h3>ACT III.</h3> <h4>Scene I.—The Earth, near Eden, as in Act I.</h4> Enter Cain and Adah. <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Adah. Hush! tread softly, Cain! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;I will—but wherefore? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Our little Enoch sleeps upon yon bed Of leaves, beneath the cypress. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Cypress! 'tis A gloomy tree, which looks as if it mourned O'er what it shadows; wherefore didst thou choose it For our child's canopy?[257] </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Because its branches Shut out the sun like night, and therefore seemed Fitting to shadow slumber. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Aye, the last— And longest; but no matter—lead me to him.  [They go up to the child. How lovely he appears! his little cheeks,10 In their pure incarnation, vying with The rose leaves strewn beneath them. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;And his lips, too, How beautifully parted! No; you shall not Kiss him, at least not now: he will awake soon— His hour of mid-day rest is nearly over; But it were pity to disturb him till 'Tis closed. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;You have said well; I will contain My heart till then. He smiles, and sleeps!—sleep on, And smile, thou little, young inheritor Of a world scarce less young: sleep on, and smile!20 Thine are the hours and days when both are cheering And innocent! thou hast not plucked the fruit— Thou know'st not thou art naked! Must the time Come thou shalt be amerced for sins unknown, Which were not thine nor mine? But now sleep on! His cheeks are reddening into deeper smiles, And shining lids are trembling o'er his long Lashes, dark as the cypress which waves o'er them; Half open, from beneath them the clear blue Laughs out, although in slumber. He must dream—30 Of what? Of Paradise!—Aye! dream of it, My disinherited boy! 'Tis but a dream; For never more thyself, thy sons, nor fathers, Shall walk in that forbidden place of joy! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Dear Cain! Nay, do not whisper o'er our son Such melancholy yearnings o'er the past:[258] Why wilt thou always mourn for Paradise? Can we not make another? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Where? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Here, or Where'er thou wilt: where'er thou art, I feel not The want of this so much regretted Eden.40 Have I not thee—our boy—our sire, and brother, And Zillah—our sweet sister, and our Eve, To whom we owe so much besides our birth? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Yes—Death, too, is amongst the debts we owe her. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Cain! that proud Spirit, who withdrew thee hence, Hath saddened thine still deeper. I had hoped The promised wonders which thou hast beheld, Visions, thou say'st, of past and present worlds, Would have composed thy mind into the calm Of a contented knowledge; but I see50 Thy guide hath done thee evil: still I thank him, And can forgive him all, that he so soon Hath given thee back to us. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;So soon? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;'Tis scarcely Two hours since ye departed: two long hours To me, but only hours upon the sun. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. And yet I have approached that sun, and seen Worlds which he once shone on, and never more Shall light; and worlds he never lit: methought Years had rolled o'er my absence. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Hardly hours. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. The mind then hath capacity of time,60 And measures it by that which it beholds, Pleasing or painful; little or almighty.[259] I had beheld the immemorial works Of endless beings; skirred extinguished worlds; And, gazing on eternity, methought I had borrowed more by a few drops of ages From its immensity: but now I feel My littleness again. Well said the Spirit, That I was nothing! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Wherefore said he so? Jehovah said not that. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;No: he contents him70 With making us the nothing which we are; And after flattering dust with glimpses of Eden and Immortality, resolves It back to dust again—for what? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Thou know'st— Even for our parents' error. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;What is that To us? they sinned, then let them die! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Thou hast not spoken well, nor is that thought Thy own, but of the Spirit who was with thee. Would I could die for them, so they might live! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Why, so say I—provided that one victim80 Might satiate the Insatiable of life, And that our little rosy sleeper there Might never taste of death nor human sorrow, Nor hand it down to those who spring from him. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. How know we that some such atonement one day May not redeem our race? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;By sacrificing The harmless for the guilty? what atonement Were there? why, we are innocent: what have we Done, that we must be victims for a deed Before our birth, or need have victims to90 Atone for this mysterious, nameless sin— If it be such a sin to seek for knowledge? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Alas! thou sinnest now, my Cain: thy words Sound impious in mine ears. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Then leave me! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Never,[260] Though thy God left thee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Say, what have we here? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Two altars, which our brother Abel made During thine absence, whereupon to offer A sacrifice to God on thy return. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. And how knew he, that I would be so ready With the burnt offerings, which he daily brings100 With a meek brow, whose base humility Shows more of fear than worship—as a bribe To the Creator? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Surely, 'tis well done. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. One altar may suffice; I have no offering. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. The fruits of the earth, the early, beautiful, Blossom and bud—and bloom of flowers and fruits— These are a goodly offering to the Lord, Given with a gentle and a contrite spirit. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. I have toiled, and tilled, and sweaten in the sun, According to the curse:—must I do more?110 For what should I be gentle? for a war With all the elements ere they will yield The bread we eat? For what must I be grateful? For being dust, and grovelling in the dust, Till I return to dust? If I am nothing— For nothing shall I be an hypocrite, And seem well-pleased with pain? For what should I Be contrite? for my father's sin, already Expiate with what we all have undergone, And to be more than expiated by120 The ages prophesied, upon our seed. Little deems our young blooming sleeper, there, The germs of an eternal misery To myriads is within him! better 'twere I snatched him in his sleep, and dashed him 'gainst The rocks, than let him live to—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Oh, my God![261] Touch not the child—my child! thy child! Oh, Cain! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Fear not! for all the stars, and all the power Which sways them, I would not accost yon infant With ruder greeting than a father's kiss.130 </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Then, why so awful in thy speech? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;I said, 'Twere better that he ceased to live, than give Life to so much of sorrow as he must Endure, and, harder still, bequeath; but since That saying jars you, let us only say— 'Twere better that he never had been born. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Oh, do not say so! Where were then the joys, The mother's joys of watching, nourishing, And loving him? Soft! he awakes. Sweet Enoch!  [She goes to the child. Oh, Cain! look on him; see how full of life,140 Of strength, of bloom, of beauty, and of joy— How like to me—how like to thee, when gentle— For then we are all alike; is't not so, Cain? Mother, and sire, and son, our features are Reflected in each other; as they are In the clear waters, when they are gentle, and When thou art gentle. Love us, then, my Cain! And love thyself for our sakes, for we love thee. Look! how he laughs and stretches out his arms, And opens wide his blue eyes upon thine,150 To hail his father; while his little form Flutters as winged with joy. Talk not of pain! The childless cherubs well might envy thee The pleasures of a parent! Bless him, Cain! As yet he hath no words to thank thee, but His heart will, and thine own too. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Bless thee, boy! If that a mortal blessing may avail thee, To save thee from the Serpent's curse! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;It shall. Surely a father's blessing may avert A reptile's subtlety. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Of that I doubt;160 But bless him ne'er the less.[262] </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Our brother comes. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Thy brother Abel. </div> </div> Enter Abel. <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Welcome, Cain! My brother, The peace of God be on thee! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Abel, hail! </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Our sister tells me that thou hast been wandering, In high communion with a Spirit, far Beyond our wonted range. Was he of those We have seen and spoken with, like to our father? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. No. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Why then commune with him? he may be A foe to the Most High. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;And friend to man. Has the Most High been so—if so you term him?170 </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Term him! your words are strange to-day, my brother. My sister Adah, leave us for awhile— We mean to sacrifice. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Farewell, my Cain; But first embrace thy son. May his soft spirit, And Abel's pious ministry, recall thee To peace and holiness![Exit Adah, with her child. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Where hast thou been? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. I know not. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Nor what thou hast seen? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;The dead— The Immortal—the Unbounded—the Omnipotent— The overpowering mysteries of space— The innumerable worlds that were and are—180 A whirlwind of such overwhelming things, Suns, moons, and earths, upon their loud-voiced spheres Singing in thunder round me, as have made me Unfit for mortal converse: leave me, Abel. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Thine eyes are flashing with unnatural light[263]— Thy cheek is flushed with an unnatural hue— Thy words are fraught with an unnatural sound— What may this mean? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;It means—I pray thee, leave me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Not till we have prayed and sacrificed together. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Abel, I pray thee, sacrifice alone—190 Jehovah loves thee well. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Both well, I hope. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. But thee the better: I care not for that; Thou art fitter for his worship than I am; Revere him, then—but let it be alone— At least, without me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Brother, I should ill Deserve the name of our great father's son, If, as my elder, I revered thee not, And in the worship of our God, called not On thee to join me, and precede me in Our priesthood—'tis thy place. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;But I have ne'er200 Asserted it. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;The more my grief; I pray thee To do so now: thy soul seems labouring in Some strong delusion; it will calm thee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;No; Nothing can calm me more. Calm! say I? Never Knew I what calm was in the soul, although I have seen the elements stilled. My Abel, leave me! Or let me leave thee to thy pious purpose. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Neither; we must perform our task together. Spurn me not. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;If it must be so——well, then, What shall I do? </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Choose one of those two altars.210 </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Choose for me: they to me are so much turf And stone. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Choose thou! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;I have chosen. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;'Tis the highest, And suits thee, as the elder. Now prepare Thine offerings. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Where are thine?[264] </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Behold them here— The firstlings of the flock, and fat thereof— A shepherd's humble offering. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;I have no flocks; I am a tiller of the ground, and must Yield what it yieldeth to my toil—its fruit:  [He gathers fruits. Behold them in their various bloom and ripeness.  [They dress their altars, and kindle aflame upon them. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. My brother, as the elder, offer first220 Thy prayer and thanksgiving with sacrifice. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. No—I am new to this; lead thou the way, And I will follow—as I may. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel (kneeling).&zwj;Oh, God! Who made us, and who breathed the breath of life Within our nostrils, who hath blessed us, And spared, despite our father's sin, to make His children all lost, as they might have been, Had not thy justice been so tempered with The mercy which is thy delight, as to Accord a pardon like a Paradise,230 Compared with our great crimes:—Sole Lord of light! Of good, and glory, and eternity! Without whom all were evil, and with whom Nothing can err, except to some good end Of thine omnipotent benevolence! Inscrutable, but still to be fulfilled! Accept from out thy humble first of shepherds' First of the first-born flocks—an offering, In itself nothing—as what offering can be Aught unto thee?—but yet accept it for240[265] The thanksgiving of him who spreads it in The face of thy high heaven—bowing his own Even to the dust, of which he is—in honour Of thee, and of thy name, for evermore! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain (standing erect during this speech). Spirit whate'er or whosoe'er thou art, Omnipotent, it may be—and, if good, Shown in the exemption of thy deeds from evil; Jehovah upon earth! and God in heaven! And it may be with other names, because Thine attributes seem many, as thy works:—250 If thou must be propitiated with prayers, Take them! If thou must be induced with altars, And softened with a sacrifice, receive them; Two beings here erect them unto thee. If thou lov'st blood, the shepherd's shrine, which smokes On my right hand, hath shed it for thy service In the first of his flock, whose limbs now reek In sanguinary incense to thy skies; Or, if the sweet and blooming fruits of earth, And milder seasons, which the unstained turf260 I spread them on now offers in the face Of the broad sun which ripened them, may seem Good to thee—inasmuch as they have not Suffered in limb or life—and rather form A sample of thy works, than supplication To look on ours! If a shrine without victim, And altar without gore, may win thy favour, Look on it! and for him who dresseth it, He is—such as thou mad'st him; and seeks nothing Which must be won by kneeling: if he's evil,270 Strike him! thou art omnipotent, and may'st— For what can he oppose? If he be good, Strike him, or spare him, as thou wilt! since all Rests upon thee; and Good and Evil seem To have no power themselves, save in thy will— And whether that be good or ill I know not, Not being omnipotent, nor fit to judge Omnipotence—but merely to endure Its mandate; which thus far I have endured.[266] </div> </div> [The fire upon the altar of Abel kindles into a column of the brightest flame, and ascends to heaven; while a whirlwind throws down the altar of Cain, and scatters the fruits abroad upon the earth. <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Abel (kneeling). Oh, brother, pray! Jehovah's wroth with thee.280 </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Why so? </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Thy fruits are scattered on the earth. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. From earth they came, to earth let them return; Their seed will bear fresh fruit there ere the summer: Thy burnt flesh-offering prospers better; see How Heaven licks up the flames, when thick with blood! </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Think not upon my offering's acceptance, But make another of thine own—before It is too late. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;I will build no more altars, Nor suffer any—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel (rising).&zwj;Cain! what meanest thou? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. To cast down yon vile flatterer of the clouds,290 The smoky harbinger of thy dull prayers— Thine altar, with its blood of lambs and kids, Which fed on milk, to be destroyed in blood. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel (opposing him). Thou shalt not:—add not impious works to impious Words! let that altar stand—'tis hallowed now By the immortal pleasure of Jehovah, In his acceptance of the victims. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;His! His pleasure! what was his high pleasure in The fumes of scorching flesh and smoking blood, To the pain of the bleating mothers, which300 Still yearn for their dead offspring? or the pangs Of the sad ignorant victims underneath Thy pious knife? Give way! this bloody record Shall not stand in the sun, to shame creation! </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel. Brother, give back! thou shalt not touch my altar With violence: if that thou wilt adopt it, To try another sacrifice, 'tis thine.[267] </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Another sacrifice! Give way, or else That sacrifice may be—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;What mean'st thou? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Give— Give way!—thy God loves blood!—then look to it:—310 Give way, ere he hath more! </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;In his great name, I stand between thee and the shrine which hath Had his acceptance. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;If thou lov'st thyself, Stand back till I have strewed this turf along Its native soil:—else—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel (opposing him).&zwj;I love God far more Than life. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain (striking him with a brand, on the temples, which he snatches from the altar). Then take thy life unto thy God, Since he loves lives. </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel (falls).&zwj;What hast thou done—my brother? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Brother! </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Oh, God! receive thy servant! and Forgive his slayer, for he knew not what He did—Cain, give me—give me thy hand; and tell320 Poor Zillah— </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain (after a moment's stupefaction). My hand! 'tis all red, and with—— What?[A long pause.—Looking slowly round. Where am I? alone! Where's Abel? where Cain? Can it be that I am he? My brother, Awake!—why liest thou so long on the green earth? 'Tis not the hour of slumber:—why so pale? What hast thou!—thou wert full of life this morn! Abel! I pray thee, mock me not! I smote Too fiercely, but not fatally. Ah, why Wouldst thou oppose me? This is mockery; And only done to daunt me:—'twas a blow—330 And but a blow. Stir—stir—nay, only stir! Why, so—that's well!—thou breathest! breathe upon me! Oh God! Oh God! </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel (very faintly).  What's he who speaks of God? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Thy murderer.[268] </div> <div class="stanza"> Abel.&zwj;Then may God forgive him! Cain, Comfort poor Zillah:—she has but one brother Now.[Abel dies. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.  And I none!—Who makes me brotherless? His eyes are open! then he is not dead! Death is like sleep; and sleep shuts down our lids. His lips, too, are apart; why then he breathes; And yet I feel it not.—His heart!—his heart!—340 Let me see, doth it beat? methinks——No!—no! This is a vision, else I am become The native of another and worse world. The earth swims round me:—what is this?—'tis wet;  [Puts his hand to his brow, and then looks at it. And yet there are no dews! 'Tis blood—my blood— My brother's and my own! and shed by me! Then what have I further to do with life, Since I have taken life from my own flesh? But he can not be dead!—Is silence death? No; he will wake; then let me watch by him.350 Life cannot be so slight, as to be quenched Thus quickly!—he hath spoken to me since— What shall I say to him?—My brother!—No: He will not answer to that name; for brethren Smite not each other. Yet—yet—speak to me. Oh! for a word more of that gentle voice, That I may bear to hear my own again! </div> </div> Enter Zillah. <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Zillah. I heard a heavy sound; what can it be? 'Tis Cain; and watching by my husband. What Dost thou there, brother? Doth he sleep? Oh, Heaven!360 What means this paleness, and yon stream?—No, no! It is not blood; for who would shed his blood? Abel! what's this?—who hath done this? He moves not; He breathes not: and his hands drop down from mine[269] With stony lifelessness! Ah! cruel Cain! Why camest thou not in time to save him from This violence? Whatever hath assailed him, Thou wert the stronger, and shouldst have stepped in Between him and aggression! Father!—Eve!— Adah!—come hither! Death is in the world!370  [Exit Zillah, calling on her Parents, etc. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain (solus) And who hath brought him there?—I—who abhor The name of Death so deeply, that the thought Empoisoned all my life, before I knew His aspect—I have led him here, and given My brother to his cold and still embrace, As if he would not have asserted his Inexorable claim without my aid. I am awake at last—a dreary dream Had maddened me;—but he shall ne'er awake! </div> </div> Enter Adam, Eve, Adah, and Zillah. <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Adam. A voice of woe from Zillah brings me here—380 What do I see?—'Tis true!—My son!—my son! Woman, behold the Serpent's work, and thine![To Eve. </div> <div class="stanza"> Eve. Oh! speak not of it now: the Serpent's fangs Are in my heart! My best beloved, Abel! Jehovah! this is punishment beyond A mother's sin, to take him from me! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adam.&zwj;Who, Or what hath done this deed?—speak, Cain, since thou Wert present; was it some more hostile angel, Who walks not with Jehovah? or some wild Brute of the forest? </div> <div class="stanza"> Eve.&zwj;Ah! a livid light390 Breaks through, as from a thunder-cloud! yon brand Massy and bloody! snatched from off the altar, And black with smoke, and red with—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Adam.&zwj;Speak, my son! Speak, and assure us, wretched as we are, That we are not more miserable still. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Speak, Cain! and say it was not thou! </div> <div class="stanza"> Eve.&zwj;It was![270] I see it now—he hangs his guilty head, And covers his ferocious eye with hands Incarnadine! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Mother, thou dost him wrong— Cain! clear thee from this horrible accusal,400 Which grief wrings from our parent. </div> <div class="stanza"> Eve.&zwj;Hear, Jehovah! May the eternal Serpent's curse be on him! For he was fitter for his seed than ours. May all his days be desolate! May—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Hold! Curse him not, mother, for he is thy son— Curse him not, mother, for he is my brother, And my betrothed. </div> <div class="stanza"> Eve.&zwj;He hath left thee no brother— Zillah no husband—me no son! for thus I curse him from my sight for evermore! All bonds I break between us, as he broke410 That of his nature, in yon——Oh Death! Death! Why didst thou not take me, who first incurred thee? Why dost thou not so now? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adam.&zwj;Eve! let not this, Thy natural grief, lead to impiety! A heavy doom was long forespoken to us; And now that it begins, let it be borne In such sort as may show our God, that we Are faithful servants to his holy will. </div> <div class="stanza"> Eve. (pointing to Cain). His will! the will of yon Incarnate Spirit Of Death, whom I have brought upon the earth420 To strew it with the dead. May all the curses Of life be on him! and his agonies Drive him forth o'er the wilderness, like us From Eden, till his children do by him As he did by his brother! May the swords And wings of fiery Cherubim pursue him By day and night—snakes spring up in his path— Earth's fruits be ashes in his mouth—the leaves On which he lays his head to sleep be strewed With scorpions! May his dreams be of his victim!430 His waking a continual dread of Death![271] May the clear rivers turn to blood as he Stoops down to stain them with his raging lip! May every element shun or change to him! May he live in the pangs which others die with! And Death itself wax something worse than Death To him who first acquainted him with man! Hence, fratricide! henceforth that word is Cain, Through all the coming myriads of mankind, Who shall abhor thee, though thou wert their sire!440 May the grass wither from thy feet! the woods Deny thee shelter! earth a home! the dust A grave! the sun his light! and heaven her God!  [Exit Eve. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adam. Cain! get thee forth: we dwell no more together. Depart! and leave the dead to me—I am Henceforth alone—we never must meet more. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Oh, part not with him thus, my father: do not Add thy deep curse to Eve's upon his head! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adam. I curse him not: his spirit be his curse. Come, Zillah! </div> <div class="stanza"> Zillah.&zwj;I must watch my husband's corse.450 </div> <div class="stanza"> Adam. We will return again, when he is gone Who hath provided for us this dread office. Come, Zillah! </div> <div class="stanza"> Zillah.&zwj;Yet one kiss on yon pale clay,[272] And those lips once so warm—my heart! my heart!  [Exeunt Adam and Zillah weeping. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.   Cain! thou hast heard, we must go forth. I am ready, So shall our children be. I will bear Enoch, And you his sister. Ere the sun declines Let us depart, nor walk the wilderness Under the cloud of night.—Nay, speak to me. To me—thine own. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Leave me! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Why, all have left thee.460 </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. And wherefore lingerest thou? Dost thou not fear To dwell with one who hath done this? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;I fear Nothing except to leave thee, much as I Shrink from the deed which leaves thee brotherless. I must not speak of this—it is between thee And the great God. </div> <div class="stanza"> A Voice from within exclaims. Cain! Cain! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Hear'st thou that voice? </div> <div class="stanza"> The Voice within. Cain! Cain! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;It soundeth like an angel's tone. </div> </div> Enter the Angel of the Lord. <div class="stanza"> Angel. Where is thy brother Abel? </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Am I then My brother's keeper? </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel.&zwj;Cain! what hast thou done? The voice of thy slain brother's blood cries out,470 Even from the ground, unto the Lord!—Now art thou Cursed from the earth, which opened late her mouth[273] To drink thy brother's blood from thy rash hand. Henceforth, when thou shalt till the ground, it shall not Yield thee her strength; a fugitive shalt thou Be from this day, and vagabond on earth! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. This punishment is more than he can bear. Behold thou drivest him from the face of earth, And from the face of God shall he be hid. A fugitive and vagabond on earth,480 'Twill come to pass, that whoso findeth him Shall slay him. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Would they could! but who are they Shall slay me? Where are these on the lone earth As yet unpeopled? </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel.&zwj;Thou hast slain thy brother, And who shall warrant thee against thy son? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Angel of Light! be merciful, nor say That this poor aching breast now nourishes A murderer in my boy, and of his father. </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel. Then he would but be what his father is. Did not the milk of Eve give nutriment490 To him thou now seest so besmeared with blood? The fratricide might well engender parricides.— But it shall not be so—the Lord thy God And mine commandeth me to set his seal On Cain, so that he may go forth in safety. Who slayeth Cain, a sevenfold vengeance shall Be taken on his head. Come hither! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;What Wouldst thou with me? </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel.&zwj;To mark upon thy brow Exemption from such deeds as thou hast done. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. No, let me die! </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel.&zwj;It must not be. </div> <div class="stanza">  [The Angel sets the mark on Cain's brow. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;It burns500 My brow, but nought to that which is within it! Is there more? let me meet it as I may. </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel. Stern hast thou been and stubborn from the womb, As the ground thou must henceforth till; but he[274] Thou slew'st was gentle as the flocks he tended. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. After the fall too soon was I begotten; Ere yet my mother's mind subsided from The Serpent, and my sire still mourned for Eden. That which I am, I am; I did not seek For life, nor did I make myself; but could I510 With my own death redeem him from the dust— And why not so? let him return to day, And I lie ghastly! so shall be restored By God the life to him he loved; and taken From me a being I ne'er loved to bear. </div> <div class="stanza"> Angel. Who shall heal murder? what is done, is done; Go forth! fulfil thy days! and be thy deeds Unlike the last![The Angel disappears. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;He's gone, let us go forth; I hear our little Enoch cry within Our bower. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Ah! little knows he what he weeps for!520 And I who have shed blood cannot shed tears! But the four rivers would not cleanse my soul. Think'st thou my boy will bear to look on me? </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. If I thought that he would not, I would—— </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain (interrupting her).&zwj;No, No more of threats: we have had too many of them: Go to our children—I will follow thee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. I will not leave thee lonely with the dead— Let us depart together. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;Oh! thou dead And everlasting witness! whose unsinking Blood darkens earth and heaven! what thou now art530 I know not! but if thou seest what I am, I think thou wilt forgive him, whom his God Can ne'er forgive, nor his own soul.—Farewell! I must not, dare not touch what I have made thee. I, who sprung from the same womb with thee, drained The same breast, clasped thee often to my own, In fondness brotherly and boyish, I Can never meet thee more, nor even dare To do that for thee, which thou shouldst have done[275] For me—compose thy limbs into their grave—540 The first grave yet dug for mortality. But who hath dug that grave? Oh, earth! Oh, earth! For all the fruits thou hast rendered to me, I Give thee back this.—Now for the wilderness!  [Adah stoops down and kisses the body of Abel. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. A dreary, and an early doom, my brother, Has been thy lot! Of all who mourn for thee, I alone must not weep. My office is Henceforth to dry up tears, and not to shed them; But yet of all who mourn, none mourn like me, Not only for thyself, but him who slew thee.550 Now, Cain! I will divide thy burden with thee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. Eastward from Eden will we take our way; 'Tis the most desolate, and suits my steps. </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah. Lead! thou shalt be my guide, and may our God Be thine! Now let us carry forth our children. </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain. And he who lieth there was childless! I Have dried the fountain of a gentle race, Which might have graced his recent marriage couch, And might have tempered this stern blood of mine, Uniting with our children Abel's offspring!560 O Abel! </div> <div class="stanza"> Adah.&zwj;Peace be with him! </div> <div class="stanza"> Cain.&zwj;But with me!——  [Exeunt. </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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