_Lucifer_. The million millions-- The myriad myriads--the all-peopled earth-- The unpeopled earth--and the o'er-peopled Hell, Of which thy bosom is the germ. _Adah_. O Cain! This spirit curseth us. _Cain_. Let him say on; Him will I follow. _Adah_. Whither? _Lucifer_. To a place _Whence_ he shall come back to thee in an hour; But in that hour see things of many days. _Adah_. How can that be? _Lucifer_. Did not your Maker make Out of old worlds this new one in few days? 530 And cannot I, who aided in this work, Show in an hour what he hath made in many, Or hath destroyed in few? _Cain_. Lead on. _Adah_. Will he, In sooth, return within an hour? _Lucifer_. He shall. With us acts are exempt from time, and we Can crowd eternity into an hour, Or stretch an hour into eternity: We breathe not by a mortal measurement-- But that's a mystery. Cain, come on with me. _Adah_. Will he return? _Lucifer_. Aye, woman! he alone 540 Of mortals from that place (the first and last Who shall return, save ONE), shall come back to thee, To make that silent and expectant world As populous as this: at present there Are few inhabitants. _Adah_. Where dwellest thou? _Lucifer_. Throughout all space. Where should I dwell? Where are Thy God or Gods--there am I: all things are Divided with me: Life and Death--and Time-- Eternity--and heaven and earth--and that Which is not heaven nor earth, but peopled with 550 Those who once peopled or shall people both-- These are my realms! so that I do divide _His_, and possess a kingdom which is not _His_[109]. If I were not that which I have said, Could I stand here? His angels are within Your vision. _Adah_. So they were when the fair Serpent Spoke with our mother first. _Lucifer_. Cain! thou hast heard. If thou dost long for knowledge, I can satiate That thirst; nor ask thee to partake of fruits Which shall deprive thee of a single good 560 The Conqueror has left thee. Follow me. _Cain_. Spirit, I have said it. [_Exeunt_ LUCIFER _and_ CAIN. _Adah_ (_follows exclaiming_). Cain! my brother! Cain! ACT II. SCENE I.--_The Abyss of Space_. _Cain_. I tread on air, and sink not--yet I fear To sink. _Lucifer_. Have faith in me, and thou shalt be Borne on the air[110], of which I am the Prince. _Cain_. Can I do so without impiety?