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CAIN.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

The Land without Paradise.-Time, Sunrise.

ADAM, EVE, CAIN, ABEL, ADAH, ZILLAH, offering a

Sacrifice.

ADAM.

GOD, the Eternal! Infinite! All-Wise!-
Who out of darkness on the deep didst make
Light on the waters with a word—all hail!
Jehovah, with returning light, all hail!

EVE.

God! who didst name the day, and separate Morning from night, till then divided neverWho didst divide the wave from wave, and call Part of thy work the firmament—all hail !

ABEL.

God! who didst call the elements into
Earth-ocean-air-and fire, and with the day
And night, and worlds which these illuminate
Or shadow, madest beings to enjoy them,
And love both them and thee-all hail! all hail!

ADAH.

God, the Eternal! Parent of all things!

Who didst create these best and beauteous beings, To be beloved, more then all, save thee

Let me love thee and them :-All hail! all hail!

ZILLAH.

Oh, God! who loving, making, blessing all,
Yet didst permit the serpent to creep in,
And drive my father forth from Paradise,
Keep us from further evil :-Hail! all hail!

ADAM.

Son Cain, my first-born, wherefore art thou silent?

Why should I speak!

CAIN.

ADAM.

To pray.

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But thou, my eldest-born, art silent still.

CAIN.

'Tis better I should be so..

ADAM.

Wherefore so?

CAIN.

I have nought to ask.

ADAM.

Nor aught to thank for?

CAIN.

No.

Dost thou not live?

ADAM.

CAIN.

Must I not die!

EVE.

Alas!

The fruit of our forbidden tree begins

To fall.

ADAM.

And we must gather it again.

Oh, God! why didst thou plant the tree of know

ledge?

CAIN.

And wherefore pluck'd ye not the tree of life?
Ye might have then defied him.

ADAM.

Oh! my son,

Blaspheme not: these are serpents' words.

CAIN.

Why not?

The snake spoke truth: it was the tree of knowledge,

It was the tree of life :-knowledge is good,
And life is good; and how can both be evil?

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