Cain's Sacrifice rejected. gloom of night. A furious blast howled through the forest, a whirlwind dispersed the sacrifice, and enveloped the affrighted Cain in flames and smoke. He retired trembling from the altar, a terrific voice, issuing from the awful darkness, pronounced these words "Why tremblest thou, and why is horror imprinted on thy countenance? Repent, and I will forgive thy sin; if thou continuest in thy wickedness, thy crime and its chastisement shall pursue thee for ever. Why hatest thou thy brother who honours and loves thee with unfeigned affection ?" The voice ceased. Cain retreated trem bling from the altar, and hastened through the gloom of night, pursued by the stifling smoke which the tempestuous wind dispersed around. He shuddered, and a cold sweat be dewed his limbs. Looking up, he beheld at a distance a column of flame from his brother's sacrifice, rising aloft amidst the darkness. Filled with despair he turned his eyes from the hated object, while his quivering lips exclaimed, “ Youder, yonder, is the sacrifice of Cain's Prayer. (n the favourite! I cannot endure the sight! Another look would kindle all hell within my bosom, and I should-with trembling lips, I should-curse him. O death! O destruction! where shall I find you?-Come and put a ter mination to my misery! O father, father, that fatal crime! Shall I present myself before thee, with haggard despair imprinted on my face, shall I expose to thee all my misery, that thou mayest feel the full weight of wretchedness entailed upon thy offspring? No; endure thy misery, but torture not thy father! Seized with horror he would expire in my sight, and my anguish would be but augmented. Yes, on me rests the anger, the curse, the contempt of the Lord! Of all created beings that inhabit the earth I am the most wretched; the beasts of the field, the worms that crawl on the earth, are enviable in comparison to me, O God of mercy!—if thou who art a just God canst be merciful to me, cease to pour out thy wrath upon me, or destroy me! But wretch that I am!—has he not said that if I repent he will forgive my Cain's Prayer. ness or misery, everlasting misery? Yes, I have sinned; and my multiplied offences rise in judgment against me, and demand thy vengeance, O God of justice!-How just is thy displeasure! The farther man strays from the paths of virtue and innocence, the deeper he involves himself in wretchedness; and this it is that renders me so miserable. O, I will return from my transgressions! let my crimes which now accuse me be blotted out from thy sight! Have mercy on me, O God! have mercy on me!-alleviate my wretchedness, or annihilate me!" ARGUMENT ΤΟ BOOK IV. Cain, disturbed by Mehala's Grief, leaves his Hut before Day-light-He lies down to sleep beneath a RockCain's Dream-Abel discovers him asleep-His Im- * precations on awaking-Expostulations of Abel Cain kills his Brother-His Remorse and Horror -Exultation of Anamelech—An Angel is sent by the Almighty to conduct the Spirit of Abel to Heaven-Conversation of the Soul with the AngelAbel's Farewell to the Earth-Song of the Angels -Cain's Despair-His Sentence-Adam and Eve discover the Corpse of Abel-Their Anguish and Lamentations-An Angel appears to comfort them -Adam's Prayer. |