Of Death.--Wouldst have it present?

_Cain_. Till I know
That which it really is, I cannot answer.
But if it be as I have heard my father
Deal out in his long homilies, 'tis a thing--
Oh God! I dare not think on't! Cursed be
He who invented Life that leads to Death!
Or the dull mass of life, that, being life, 20
Could not retain, but needs must forfeit it--
Even for the innocent!

_Lucifer_. Dost thou curse thy father?

_Cain_. Cursed he not me in giving me my birth?
Cursed he not me before my birth, in daring
To pluck the fruit forbidden?

_Lucifer_. Thou say'st well:
The curse is mutual 'twixt thy sire and thee--
But for thy sons and brother?

_Cain_. Let them share it
With me, their sire and brother! What else is
Bequeathed to me? I leave them my inheritance!
Oh, ye interminable gloomy realms 30
Of swimming shadows and enormous shapes,
Some fully shown, some indistinct, and all
Mighty and melancholy--what are ye?
Live ye, or have ye lived?

_Lucifer_. Somewhat of both.

_Cain_. Then what is Death?

_Lucifer_. What? Hath not he who made ye
Said 'tis another life?

_Cain_. Till now he hath
Said nothing, save that all shall die.

_Lucifer_. Perhaps
He one day will unfold that further secret.

_Cain_. Happy the day!

_Lucifer_. Yes; happy! when unfolded,
Through agonies unspeakable, and clogged 40
With agonies eternal, to innumerable
Yet unborn myriads of unconscious atoms,
All to be animated for this only!

_Cain_. What are these mighty phantoms which I see
Floating around me?--They wear not the form
Of the Intelligences I have seen
Round our regretted and unentered Eden;
Nor wear the form of man as I have viewed it
In Adam's and in Abel's, and in mine,
Nor in my sister-bride's, nor in my children's: 50
And yet they have an aspect, which, though not
Of men nor angels, looks like something, which,
If not the last, rose higher than the first,
Haughty, and high, and beautiful, and full
Of seeming strength, but of inexplicable