_Angel_. Where is thy brother Abel?

_Cain_. Am I then
My brother's keeper?

_Angel_. Cain! what hast thou done?
The voice of thy slain brother's blood cries out, 470
Even from the ground, unto the Lord!--Now art thou
Cursed from the earth, which opened late her mouth
To drink thy brother's blood from thy rash hand.
Henceforth, when thou shalt till the ground, it shall not
Yield thee her strength; a fugitive shalt thou
Be from this day, and vagabond on earth!

_Adah_. This punishment is more than he can bear.
Behold thou drivest him from the face of earth,
And from the face of God shall he be hid.
A fugitive and vagabond on earth, 480
'Twill come to pass, that whoso findeth him
Shall slay him.

_Cain_. Would they could! but who are they
Shall slay me? Where are these on the lone earth
As yet unpeopled?

_Angel_. Thou hast slain thy brother,
And who shall warrant thee against thy son?

_Adah_. Angel of Light! be merciful, nor say
That this poor aching breast now nourishes
A murderer in my boy, and of his father.

_Angel_. Then he would but be what his father is.
Did not the milk of Eve give nutriment 490
To him thou now seest so besmeared with blood?
The fratricide might well engender parricides.--
But it shall not be so--the Lord thy God
And mine commandeth me to set his seal
On Cain, so that he may go forth in safety.
Who slayeth Cain, a sevenfold vengeance shall
Be taken on his head. Come hither!

_Cain_. What
Wouldst thou with me?

_Angel_. To mark upon thy brow[cl]
Exemption from such deeds as thou hast done.

_Cain_. No, let me die!

_Angel_. It must not be.
[_The_ ANGEL _sets the mark on_ CAIN'S _brow_.

_Cain_. It burns 500
My brow, but nought to that which is within it!
Is there more? let me meet it as I may.

_Angel_. Stern hast thou been and stubborn from the womb,
As the ground thou must henceforth till; but he
Thou slew'st was gentle as the flocks he tended.

_Cain_. After the fall too soon was I begotten;
Ere yet my mother's mind sub