_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. _Cain_. But thee the better: I care not for that; Thou art fitter for his worship than I am; Revere him, then--but let it be alone-- At least, without me. _Abel_. Brother, I should ill Deserve the name of our great father's son, If, as my elder, I revered thee not, And in the worship of our God, called not On thee to join me, and precede me in Our priesthood--'tis thy place. _Cain_. But I have ne'er 200 Asserted it. _Abel_. The more my grief; I pray thee To do so now: thy soul seems labouring in Some strong delusion; it will calm thee.