_Adah_. It soundeth like an angel's tone. _Enter the_ ANGEL _of the Lord_.[136] _Angel_. Where is thy brother Abel? _Cain_. Am I then My brother's keeper? _Angel_. Cain! what hast thou done? The voice of thy slain brother's blood cries out, 470 Even from the ground, unto the Lord!--Now art thou Cursed from the earth, which opened late her mouth To drink thy brother's blood from thy rash hand. Henceforth, when thou shalt till the ground, it shall not Yield thee her strength; a fugitive shalt thou Be from this day, and vagabond on earth! _Adah_. This punishment is more than he can bear. Behold thou drivest him from the face of earth, And from the face of God shall he be hid. A fugitive and vagabond on earth, 480 'Twill come to pass, that whoso findeth him Shall slay him. _Cain_. Would they could! but who are they Shall slay me? Where are these on the lone earth As yet unpeopled? _Angel_. Thou hast slain thy brother, And who shall warrant thee against thy son? _Adah_. Angel of Light! be merciful, nor say That this poor aching breast now nourishes A murderer in my boy, and of his father. _Angel_. Then he would but be what his father is. Did not the milk of Eve give nutriment 490 To him thou now seest so besmeared with blood? The fratricide might well engender parricides.-- But it shall not be so--the Lord thy God And mine commandeth me to set his seal On Cain, so that he may go forth in safety. Who slayeth Cain, a sevenfold vengeance shall Be taken on his head. Come hither! _Cain_. What Wouldst thou with me? _Angel_. To mark upon thy brow[cl] Exemption from such deeds as thou hast done. _Cain_. No, let me die! _Angel_. It must not be. [_The_ ANGEL _sets the mark on_ CAIN'S _brow_. _Cain_. It burns 500 My brow, but nought to that which is within it! Is there more? let me meet it as I may. _Angel_. Stern hast thou been and stubborn from the womb, As the ground thou must henceforth till; but he Thou slew'st was gentle as the flocks he tended. _Cain_. After the fall too soon was I begotten; Ere yet my mother's mind subsided from The Serpent, and my sire still mourned for Eden. That which I am, I am; I did not seek For life, nor did I make myself; but could I 510 With my own death redeem him from the dust-- And why not so? let him return to day, And I lie ghastly! so shall be restored By God the life to him he loved; and taken From me a being I ne'er loved to bear.