_Adam._ For what is life, and what is pain or death? You have killed Abel: Abel killed the lamb— An act in him prepense, in you unthought of. One step you stirred, and lo! you stood entrapped. _Cain._ My father, this is true, I know; but yet, There is some truth beside: I cannot say, But I have heard within my soul a voice Asking, ‘Where is thy brother?’ and I said— That is, the evil heart within me said— ‘Am I my brother’s keeper? go ask him. Who was it that provoked me? should he rail, And I not smite? his death be on his head.’ But the voice answered in my soul again, So that the other ceased and was no more. SCENE XIII. _Adam and Cain._ _Cain._ My father, Abel’s dead. _Adam._ My son, ’tis done, it was to be done; some good end Thereby to come, or else it had not been. Go, for it must be. Cain, I know your heart, You cannot be with us. Go, then, depart; But be not over scrupulous, my son. _Cain._ Curse me, my father, ere I go. Your curse Will go with me for good; your curse Will make me not forget, Alas! I am not of that pious kind, Who, when the blot has fallen upon their life, Can look to heaven and think it white again— Look up to heaven and find a something there To make what is not be, altho’ it is. My mother—ah, how you have spoke of this! The dead—to him ’twas innocence and joy, And purity and safety from the world: To me the thing seems sin—the worst of sin. If it be so, why are we here?—the world, Why is it as I find it? The dull stone Cast from my hand, why comes it not again? The broken flow’ret, why does it not live? If it be so, Why are we here, and why is Abel dead? Shall this be true Of stocks and stones and mere inanimate clay, And not in some sort also hold for us? _Adam._ My son, Time healeth all, Time and great Nature; heed her speech, and learn.