Bless thee, boy!
If that a mortal blessing may avail thee,
To save thee from the Serpent's curse!

_Adah_. It shall.
Surely a father's blessing may avert
A reptile's subtlety.

_Cain_. Of that I doubt; 160
But bless him ne'er the less.

_Adah_. Our brother comes.

_Cain_. Thy brother Abel.

_Enter_ ABEL.

_Abel_. Welcome, Cain! My brother,
The peace of God be on thee!

_Cain_. Abel, hail!

_Abel_. Our sister tells me that thou hast been wandering,
In high communion with a Spirit, far
Beyond our wonted range. Was he of those
We have seen and spoken with, like to our father?

_Cain_. No.

_Abel_. Why then commune with him? he may be
A foe to the Most High.

_Cain_. And friend to man.
Has the Most High been so--if so you term him? 170

_Abel_. _Term him!_ your words are strange to-day, my brother.
My sister Adah, leave us for awhile--
We mean to sacrifice[129].

_Adah_. Farewell, my Cain;
But first embrace thy son. May his soft spirit,
And Abel's pious ministry, recall thee
To peace and holiness! [_Exit_ ADAH, _with her child_.

_Abel_. Where hast thou been?

_Cain_. I know not.

_Abel_. Nor what thou hast seen?

_Cain_. The dead--
The Immortal--the Unbounded--the Omnipotent--
The overpowering mysteries of space--
The innumerable worlds that were and are-- 180
A whirlwind of such overwhelming things,
Suns, moons, and earths, upon their loud-voiced spheres
Singing in thunder round me, as have made me
Unfit for mortal converse: leave me, Abel.

_Abel_. Thine eyes are flashing with unnatural light--
Thy cheek is flushed with an unnatural hue--
Thy words are fraught with an unnatural sound--
What may this mean?

_Cain_. It means--I pray thee, leave me.

_Abel_. Not till we have prayed and sacrificed together.

_Cain_. Abel, I pray thee, sacrifice alone-- 190
Jehovah loves thee well.

_Abel_. _Both_ well, I hope.