The Judgement of the Flood :: :: University of Virginia Library

Stern Cain spake to his Mother, while she wept;
‘Sin was of thy conception, Death of mine.’
For Cain had smitten Abel as they worshipped;
Since God accepted Abel's sacrifice,
And Cain's rejected. Firstlings of the flock
Meek Abel offered, first-fruits of the ground
Cain. For Cain said: ‘The Lord of life was Lord
Of earth—one God breathed spirit into man,
And brooded o'er the void of formless earth.
Sent he not cold, and heat, and stubborn soil
Of culture difficult, and pain of toil,
Sickness, and sorrow, and infirmity
Of flesh, whence evil, and remorse, and fear?’
—So to appease vindictive Deity,
He offered of his works, that he might heal
In them what needed labour, and caused grief.
But Abel's prayer was to the God of Love,
Who chastened thus the creature, that the soul
Might be made perfect, and the will renewed;
Which else would die of ire, by God consumed
In mercy, lest worse evil all destroy.
Willing, life offered he to him who gave,
Submitting to the Chastener, even to death,
So he might be redeemed, and manhood saved.
Such the discourse they held; but Cain was wroth,
And rose against his brother, smote, and slew.

Then spake to Cain Jehovah—‘Where is Abel,
Thy brother?’ And he answered, ‘I know not:
Am I my brother's keeper?’—Then God said:
‘What hast thou done? Voice of thy brother's blood
Cries from the ground to me. Accursed of earth:
Whose mouth has opened to receive his blood . .
Thy brother's blood from thy unrighteous hand;
Now when the ground thou tillest, it henceforth

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Shall not yield of her strength to thee; become
A fugitive, and wanderer in the earth.’
Then Cain Jehovah answered: ‘Punishment
Like this is mightier far than I can bear;
Exiled from face of human earth, and thine,
A fugitive, and wanderer, whoso
Shall find will slay me.’ But Jehovah said:
‘Vengeance seven-fold on him that slayeth Cain.’
And of his will in this straightway a sign
Miraculous appointed. From the wild
The savage Steed he called, and on its mane
Laid his almighty hand, and it was tamed;
Then on its shoulders placed the fugitive:
In fear he crouched upon the horse's neck;
But the Compassionate raised then his head,
And, touching thus his brow, left there a trace
Of wonderous power, the fingers of a God.
So, from the presence of the Cherubim,
Went forth sad Cain, and in the land of Naid
Dwelt, east of Eden; father of a race.

And Adam knew again his Wife, who bare
A Son, and called him Seth; for God to her
Another had appointed in the stead
Of Abel, whom Cain slew. And this is he
On whom the Book of Enoch was bestowed,
Who built these Pillars, and these Words inscribed.