His pleasure! what was His high pleasure in Thy pious knife? Give way! this bloody record Abel. Brother, give back! thou shalt not touch my altar With violence: if that thou wilt adopt it, To try another sacrifice, 'tis thine. Cain. Another sacrifice! Give way, or else That sacrifice may be Abel. Cain. What mean'st thou ? Give Give way!-thy God loves blood !-then look to it :— Abel. In His great name, I stand between thee and the shrine which hath Cain. If thou lov'st thyself, Stand back till I have strew'd this turf along Abel (opposing him). I love God far more Cain (striking him with a brand, on the temples, which ke snatches from the altar). Then take thy life unto thy God, Since he loves lives. Abel (falls). What hast thou done, my brother? Cain. Brother! Abel. Oh, God! receive thy servant, and Forgive his slayer, for he knew not what He did-Cain, give me-give me thy hand; and tell Cain (after a moment's stupefaction). My hand! 'tis all What? What, hast thou !- -thou wert full of life this morn! Too fiercely, but not fatally. Ah, why Wouldst thou oppose me? This is mockery; Why, so that's well!-thou breath'st! breathe upon me! Abel (verg faintly). What's he who speaks of God? Abel. Then may God forgive him! Cain, Comfort poor Zillah:-she has but one brother [ABEL dies. Cain. And I none !-Who makes me brctherless? Death is like sleep; and sleep shuts down our lids. 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 bloodMy 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. Life cannot be so slight as to be quench'd Thus quickly!-he hath spoken to me sinceWhat 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! Enter ZILLAH. Zillah. I heard a heavy sound: what can it be? Abel! what's this?-who hath done this? He moves not; Why cam'st thou not in time to save him from Thou wert the stronger, and shouldst have stepp'd in [Exit ZILLAH, calling on her Parents, &c. Cain (solus). And who hath brought him there?-I-who abhor The name of Death so deeply, that the thought Empoison'd all my life, before I knew His aspect-I have led him here, and giv'n Inexorable claim without my aid. I am awake at last-a dreary dream Had madden'd me ;-but he shall ne'er awake. Enter ADAM, EVE, ADAH, and ZILLAH. Adam. A voice of woe from Zillah brings me here. What do I see?-'Tis true !-My son !-my son ! [To EVE Eve. Oh! speak not of it now; the serpent's fangs A mother's sin, to take him from me! Adam. Who, Or what hath done this deed?-speak, Cain, since thou Brute of the forest? Eve. Ah! a livid light Breaks through, as from a thunder-cloud! yon brand, Adam. Speak, and assure us, wretched as we are, That we are not more miserable still. Speak, my son! Adah. Speak, Cain! and say it was not thou! Eve. It was. I see it now: he hangs his guilty head, And covers his ferocious eye with hands Incarnadine. Adah. Mother, thou dost him wrong— Cain clear thee from this horrible accusal, Hear, Jehovah ! Eve. Adah. Hold! Curse him not, mother, for he is thy son- Eve. 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 broke That of his nature, in yon- -Oh death! death! Adam. Eve! let not this, Thy natural grief, lead to impiety! A heavy doom was long forespoken to us; In such sort as may show our God, that we Are faithful servants to His holy will. Eve (pointing to Cain). His will? the will of yon incarnate spirit Of death, whom I have brought upon the earth To strew it with the dead. May all the curses Drive him forth o'er the wilderness, like us By day and night-snakes spring up in his path Earth's fruits be ashes in his mouth-the leaves A grave! the sun his light! and heaven her God! [Exit EVE. 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. Adah. Oh, part not with him thus, my father: do not Add thy deep curse to Eve's upon his head! Adam. I curse him not; his spirit be his curse. Come, Zillah! Zillah. I must watch my husband's corse. Zillah. Yet one kiss on yon pale clay, And those lips once so warm-my heart! my heart! [Exeunt ADAM and ZILLAH, weeping. Adah. Cain! thou hast heard, we must go for th. ready, So shall our children be. I will bear Enoch, Under the cloud of night. Nay, speak to me. Cain. A dah. Leave me ! Why, all have left thee. I am Cain. And wherefore lingerest thou? Dost thou not fear To dwell with one who hath done this? Adah. Nothing except to leave thee, much as I I fear Shrink from the deed which leaves thee brotherless. A Voice from within exclaims, Cain! Cain! The Voice within. Cain! Cain! Hear'st thou that voice! It soundeth like an angel's tone. Enter the ANGEL of the Lord. Angel. Where is thy brother Abel? Cain. Am I then My brother's keeper? Adah. This punishment is more than he can bear. And from the face of God shall he be hid. A fugitive and vagabond on earth, "Twill come pass, that whoso findeth him Shall slay him. Cain. Would they could! but who are they Shall slay me? Where are these on the lone earth Angel. Thou hast slain thy brother, And who shall warrant thee against thy son? Angel. Then he would but be what his father is. To him thou now see'st so besmear'd with blood? Cain. It must not be. [The ANGEL sets the mark on CAIN's brow. It burns My brow, but nought to that which is within it. Is there more? let me meet it as I may. Angel. Stern hast thou been and stubborn from the womb, As the ground thou must henceforth till; but he Thou slew'st was gentle as the flocks he tended. Ere yet my mother's mind subsided from The serpent, and my sire still mourn'd for Eden. For life, nor did I make myself; but could I With my own death redeem him from the dust- |