The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 70

No; he will wake; then let me watch by him. 350 Life cannot be so slight, as to be quenched 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, Heaven! 360 What means this paleness, and yon stream?--No, no!

It is not blood; for who would shed his blood?

Abel! what's this?--who hath done this? He moves not; He breathes not: and his hands drop down from mine With stony lifelessness! Ah! cruel Cain!

Why camest thou not in time to save him from This violence? Whatever hath a.s.sailed him, Thou wert the stronger, and shouldst have stepped in Between him and aggression! Father!--Eve!-- Adah!--come hither! Death is in the world! 370 [_Exit_ ZILLAH, _calling on her Parents, etc._

_Cain_ (_solus_). And who hath brought him there?--I--who abhor The name of Death so deeply, that the thought Empoisoned all my life, before I knew His aspect--I have led him here, and given My brother to his cold and still embrace, As if he would not have a.s.serted his Inexorable claim without my aid.

I am awake at last--a dreary dream Had maddened me;--but _he_ shall ne'er awake!

_Enter_ ADAM, EVE, ADAH, _and_ ZILLAH.

_Adam_. A voice of woe from Zillah brings me here-- 380 What do I see?--'Tis true!--My son!--my son!

Woman, behold the Serpent's work, and thine! [_To_ EVE.

_Eve_. Oh! speak not of it now: the Serpent's fangs Are in my heart! My best beloved, Abel!

Jehovah! this is punishment beyond A mother's sin, to take _him_ from me!

_Adam_. Who, Or what hath done this deed?--speak, Cain, since thou Wert present; was it some more hostile angel, Who walks not with Jehovah? or some wild Brute of the forest?

_Eve_. Ah! a livid light 390 Breaks through, as from a thunder-cloud! yon brand Ma.s.sy and b.l.o.o.d.y! s.n.a.t.c.hed from off the altar, And black with smoke, and red with----

_Adam_. Speak, my son!

Speak, and a.s.sure us, wretched as we are, That we are not more miserable still.

_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, 400 Which grief wrings from our parent.

_Eve_. Hear, Jehovah!

May the eternal Serpent's curse be on him!

For he was fitter for his seed than ours.

May all his days be desolate! May----

_Adah_. Hold!

Curse him not, mother, for he is thy son-- Curse him not, mother, for he is my brother, And my betrothed.

_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 410 That of his nature, _in yon_----Oh Death! Death!

Why didst thou not take _me_, who first incurred thee?

Why dost thou not so now?

_Adam_. Eve! let not this, Thy natural grief, lead to impiety!

A heavy doom was long forespoken to us; And now that it begins, let it be borne In such sort as may show our G.o.d, 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 420 To strew it with the dead. May all the curses Of life be on him! and his agonies Drive him forth o'er the wilderness, like us From Eden, till his children do by him As he did by his brother! May the swords And wings of fiery Cherubim pursue him By day and night--snakes spring up in his path-- Earth's fruits be ashes in his mouth--the leaves On which he lays his head to sleep be strewed With scorpions! May his dreams be of his victim! 430 His waking a continual dread of Death!

May the clear rivers turn to blood as he[133]

Stoops down to stain them with his raging lip!

May every element shun or change to him!

May he live in the pangs which others die with!

And Death itself wax something worse than Death To him who first acquainted him with man!

Hence, fratricide! henceforth that word is _Cain_, Through all the coming myriads of mankind, Who shall abhor thee, though thou wert their sire! 440 May the gra.s.s wither from thy feet! the woods Deny thee shelter! earth a home! the dust A grave! the sun his light! and heaven her G.o.d[134]!

[_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[135]. 450

_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 you his sister. Ere the sun declines 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. 460

_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 And the great G.o.d.

_A Voice from within exclaims_. Cain! Cain!

_Adah_. Hear'st thou that voice?

_The Voice within_. Cain! Cain!

_Adah_. It soundeth like an angel's tone.

_Enter the_ ANGEL _of the Lord_.[136]