_Abel_. Then may God forgive him! Cain, Comfort poor Zillah:--she has but one brother Now. [ABEL _dies_. _Cain_. And I none!--Who makes me brotherless? His eyes are open! then he is not dead! Death is like sleep[132]; and sleep shuts down our lids. His lips, too, are apart; why then he breathes; And yet I feel it not.--His heart!--his heart!-- 340 Let me see, doth it beat? methinks----No!--no! This is a vision, else I am become The native of another and worse world. The earth swims round me:--what is this?--'tis wet; [_Puts his hand to his brow, and then looks at it_. And yet there are no dews! 'Tis blood--my blood-- My brother's and my own! and shed by me! Then what have I further to do with life, Since I have taken life from my own flesh? But he can not be dead!--Is silence death? No; he will wake; then let me watch by him. 350 Life cannot be so slight, as to be quenched Thus quickly!--he hath spoken to me since-- What shall I say to him?--My brother!--No: He will not answer to that name; for brethren Smite not each other. Yet--yet--speak to me. Oh! for a word more of that gentle voice, That I may bear to hear my own again! _Enter_ ZILLAH. _Zillah_. I heard a heavy sound; what can it be? 'Tis Cain; and watching by my husband. What Dost thou there, brother? Doth he sleep? Oh, Heaven! 360 What means this paleness, and yon stream?--No, no! It is not blood; for who would shed his blood? Abel! what's this?--who hath done this? He moves not; He breathes not: and his hands drop down from mine With stony lifelessness! Ah! cruel Cain! Why camest thou not in time to save him from This violence? Whatever hath assailed him, Thou wert the stronger, and shouldst have stepped in Between him and aggression! Father!--Eve!-- Adah!--come hither! Death is in the world! 370 [_Exit_ ZILLAH, _calling on her Parents, etc._ _Cain_ (_solus_). And who hath brought him there?--I--who abhor The name of Death so deeply, that the thought Empoisoned all my life, before I knew His aspect--I have led him here, and given My brother to his cold and still embrace, As if he would not have asserted his Inexorable claim without my aid. I am awake at last--a dreary dream Had maddened me;--but _he_ shall ne'er awake! _Enter_ ADAM, EVE, ADAH, _and_ ZILLAH. _Adam_. A voice of woe from Zillah brings me here-- 380 What do I see?--'Tis true!--My son!--my son! Woman, behold the Serpent's work, and thine! [_To_ EVE.