No More Learning

All bonds I break between us, as he broke 410
That of his nature, _in yon_----Oh Death! Death!
Why didst thou not take _me_, who first incurred thee?
Why dost thou not so now?

_Adam_. Eve! let not this,
Thy natural grief, lead to impiety!
A heavy doom was long forespoken to us;
And now that it begins, let it be borne
In such sort as may show our God, that we
Are faithful servants to his holy will.

_Eve_ (_pointing to Cain_).
_His will! _ the will of yon Incarnate Spirit
Of Death, whom I have brought upon the earth 420
To strew it with the dead. May all the curses
Of life be on him! and his agonies
Drive him forth o'er the wilderness, like us
From Eden, till his children do by him
As he did by his brother! May the swords
And wings of fiery Cherubim pursue him
By day and night--snakes spring up in his path--
Earth's fruits be ashes in his mouth--the leaves
On which he lays his head to sleep be strewed
With scorpions! May his dreams be of his victim!
430
His waking a continual dread of Death!
May the clear rivers turn to blood as he[133]
Stoops down to stain them with his raging lip!
May every element shun or change to him!
May he live in the pangs which others die with!
And Death itself wax something worse than Death
To him who first acquainted him with man!
Hence, fratricide! henceforth that word is _Cain_,
Through all the coming myriads of mankind,
Who shall abhor thee, though thou wert their sire! 440
May the grass wither from thy feet! the woods
Deny thee shelter! earth a home! the dust
A grave! the sun his light! and heaven her God[134]!
[_Exit_ EVE.

_Adam_. Cain!