CAIN. I will build no more altars, Nor suffer any. ABEL (rising). Cain! what meanest thou? CAIN. To cast down yon vile flatt'rer of the clouds, Thou shalt not:-add not impious works to impious Words! let that altar stand-'tis hallow'd now By the immortal pleasure of Jehovah, In his acceptance of the victims. CAIN. His! His pleasure! what was his high pleasure in pangs ABEL. Brother, give back! thou shalt not touch my altar With violence: if that thou wilt adopt it, To try another sacrifice, 'tis thine. Give way! thy God loves blood!-then look to it:Give way, ere he hath more! ABEL. In his great name, I stand between thee and the shrine which hath Had his acceptance. CAIN. If thou lov'st thyself, Stand back till I have strew'd this turf along Its native soil:-else ABEL (opposing him). Than life. I love God far more 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. 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 What? CAIN (after a moment's stupefaction). My hand! 'tis all red, and with [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 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 Oh, God! Oh, God! ABEL (very faintly), What's he who speaks of God? CAIN. Thy murderer. ABEL. Then may God forgive him! Cain, Zillah:-she has but one brother CAIN. [ABEL dies. 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!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 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 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! Enter ZILLAH. 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! heav'n! What means this paleness, and yon stream?—No! no! It is not blood; for who would shed his blood? |