in a dream seven fat oxen and
seven lean. And the merchant, who was an astrologer or wizard, explained
that the seven fat oxen meant seven years of abundance, and the seven
lean as many years of famine.

"And so it came to pass as he foretold--seven years of plenty and seven
of famine.

"And Cain, hearing this, thought: 'During the seven years of plenty Abel
will lay by a great store, and then I will slay him, and possess myself
of all his goods, and thus I will take care of myself, and my brother
will be dead.'

"Now, Cain greatly loved God; he was good towards God, more so than Abel,
because Abel, having become rich, never spoke more unto the Lord; and
Abel would gladly have become a wizard himself.

"Then Cain began to think how he could slay Abel and become a merchant in
his place, and so went forth to cut wood.

"One day he called his brother Abel, and said to him: 'Thou art so rich,
while I am poor, and all my work avails me little.' And with that he
gave Abel a blow with a knife, and dressed himself in his garments, and
took a bundle of thorns on his back, and thus clad he took Abel's place
as merchant, believing that no one would recognise him as Cain.

"And while thus buying and selling he met the merchant-wizard who had
foretold the seven years of famine and of abundance. And he said, 'Oh,
good day, Abel,' to make Cain believe that he was not discovered. But
the oxen who were present all began to chant in chorus:

"'Non chiamate questo, Abele!
E Chaino, non lo vedete,
Per la gola della monete
Il fratello ammazato,
E dei suoi panni e vestito.
O Chaino or siei chiamato
Alla presenza del gran Dio,
Che a morte ti 'a condannato
Che di richezza eri assetato.'

"'Do not call that person Abel;
It is Cain, do you not see it?
Cain who, for the greed of money,
Treacherously slew his brother,
And then clad him in his garments.
Now, O Cain! thou wilt be summoned
Speedily unto the presence
Of the Lord, who has condemned thee
Unto death for thy great avarice.'

"Cain came before God.

"'O gran Dio di clemenza
Voi che siete grande, buono,
Velo chiedo a voi perdone,
Per il bene vi ho valuto,
Un instante vi ho dimenticato
Ma ne sono molto pentito,
Di aver ammazato
Abele il fratello mio.'

"'O great God of endless mercy,
Thou who art so good and mighty,
Grant, I pray thee, grant me pardon
For the good I did w