No More Learning

Dost thou not _live_?

_Cain_. Must I not die?

_Eve_. Alas!
The fruit of our forbidden tree begins 30
To fall.

_Adam_. And we must gather it again.
Oh God! why didst thou plant the tree of knowledge?

_Cain_. And wherefore plucked ye not the tree of life?
Ye might have then defied him.

_Adam_. Oh!
my son,
Blaspheme not: these are Serpent's words.

_Cain_. Why not?
The snake spoke _truth_; it _was_ the Tree of Knowledge;
It _was_ the Tree of Life: knowledge is good,
And Life is good; and how can both be evil?

_Eve_. My boy! thou speakest as I spoke in sin,
Before thy birth: let me not see renewed 40
My misery in thine. I have repented.
Let me not see my offspring fall into
The snares beyond the walls of Paradise,
Which even in Paradise destroyed his parents.
Content thee with what _is_. Had we been so,
Thou now hadst been contented. --Oh, my son!

_Adam_. Our orisons completed, let us hence,
Each to his task of toil--not heavy, though
Needful: the earth is young, and yields us kindly
Her fruits with little labour.

_Eve_. Cain--my son-- 50
Behold thy father cheerful and resigned--
And do as he doth.