_Cain_. Dost thou love nothing? _Lucifer_. What does thy God love? 310 _Cain_. All things, my father says; but I confess I see it not in their allotment here. _Lucifer_. And, therefore, thou canst not see if _I_ love Or no--except some vast and general purpose, To which particular things must melt like snows. _Cain_. Snows! what are they? _Lucifer_. Be happier in not knowing What thy remoter offspring must encounter; But bask beneath the clime which knows no winter. _Cain_. But dost thou not love something like thyself? _Lucifer_. And dost thou love _thyself_? _Cain_. Yes, but love more 320 What makes my feelings more endurable, And is more than myself, because I love it! _Lucifer_. Thou lovest it, because 'tis beautiful, As was the apple in thy mother's eye; And when it ceases to be so, thy love Will cease, like any other appetite.[119] _Cain_. Cease to be beautiful! how can that be? _Lucifer_. With time. _Cain_. But time has passed, and hitherto Even Adam and my mother both are fair: Not fair like Adah and the Seraphim-- 330 But very fair. _Lucifer_. All that must pass away In them and her. _Cain_. I'm sorry for it; but Cannot conceive my love for her the less: And when her beauty disappears, methinks He who creates all beauty will lose more Than me in seeing perish such a work. _Lucifer_. I pity thee who lovest what must perish. _Cain_. And I thee who lov'st nothing. _Lucifer_. And thy brother-- Sits he not near thy heart? _Cain_. Why should he not? _Lucifer_. Thy father loves him well--so does thy God. 340 _Cain_. And so do I. _Lucifer_. 'Tis well and meekly done. _Cain_. Meekly! _Lucifer_. He is the second born of flesh, And is his mother's favourite. _Cain_. Let him keep Her favour, since the Serpent was the first To win it. _Lucifer_. And his father's? _Cain_. What is that To me? should I not love that which all love? _Lucifer_. And the Jehovah--the indulgent Lord, And bounteous planter of barred Paradise-- He, too, looks smilingly on Abel. _Cain_. I Ne'er saw him, and I know not if he smiles. 350 _Lucifer_. But you have seen his angels. _Cain_. Rarely. _Lucifer_. But Sufficiently to see they love your brother: _His_ sacrifices are acceptable. _Cain_. So be they! wherefore speak to me of this? _Lucifer_. Because thou hast thought of this ere now.