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 Jehovah, with returning light, all hail ! EVE. God! who didst name the day, and separate ABEL. God! who didst call the elements into Earth-ocean-air—and fire, and with the day And night, and worlds which these illuminate ADAH. God, the Eternal! Parent of all things! Who didst create these best and beautous beings, ZILLAH. Oh, God! who loving, making, blessing all, ADAM. Son Cain, my first-born, wherefore art thou silent? But thou, my eldest-born, art silent still. And we must gather it again. Oh, God! why didst thou plant the tree of knowledge? CAIN. And wherefore pluck'd ye not the tree of life? Ye might have then defied him! Blaspheme not: these are serpent's words. ADAM. Oh! my son, Why not? CAIN. The snake spoke truth: it was the tree of knowledge; It was the tree of life :-knowledge is good, EVE. My boy! thou speakest as I spoke in sin, ADAM. Our orisons completed, let us hence, Each to his task of toil-not heavy, though Why wilt thou wear this gloom upon thy brow, The Eternal anger? ADAH. My beloved Cain, Wilt thou frown even on me? CAIN. No, Adah! no; I fain would be alone a little while. Abel, I'm sick at heart; but it will pass: |