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.

ADAM.

We will return again, when he is gone

Who hath provided for us this dread office.
Come, Zillah!

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 forth. I am ready,

So shall our children be. I will bear Enoch,

And

declines
his sister. Ere the sun
you
Let us depart, nor walk the wilderness

Under the cloud of night.-Nay, speak to me,
To me-thine own.

CAIN.

Leave me!

ADAH.

Why, all have left thee.

CAIN.

And wherefore lingerest thou? Dost thou not fear To dwell with one who hath done this?

ADAH.

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

Enter the ANGEL of the Lord.

Where is thy brother Abel?

My brother's keeper?

CAIN.

Am I then

ANGEL.

Cain! what hast thou done?

The voice of thy slain brother's blood cries out, Even from the ground, unto the Lord!-Now art thou

Cursed from the earth, which open'd late her mouth 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!

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,

"Twill come to pass, that who so findeth him Shall slay him.

CAIN.

Would they could! but who are they

Shall slay me? where are these on the lone earth

As yet unpeopled?

ANGEL.

Thou hast slain thy brother,

And who shall warrant thee against thy son?

ADAH.

Angel of Light! be merciful, nor say
That this poor aching breast now nourishes
A murderer in my boy, and of his father.

ANGEL.

Then he would but be what his father is.

Did not the milk of Eve give nutriment

To him thou now see'st so besmear'd 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!

CAIN.

What

Wouldst thou with me?

ANGEL.

To mark upon thy brow

Exemption from such deeds as thou hast done.

No, let me die!

CAIN.

ANGEL.

It must not be.

[The ANGEL Sets the mark on CAIN's brow.

CAIN.

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.

CAIN.

After the fall too soon was I begotten;

Ere yet my mother's mind subsided from
The serpent, and my sire still mourn'd for Eden.
That which I am, I am; I did not seek

For life, nor did I make myself; but could I
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.