Lucifer.

And thou?

Cain.

Thoughts unspeakable

Crowd in my breast to burning, when I hear
Of this almighty Death, who is, it seems,
Inevitable. Could I wrestle with him?
I wrestled with the lion, when a boy,
In play, till he ran roaring from my gripe.

Lucifer.

It has no shape; but will absorb all things
That bear the form of earth-born being.

Cain.

I thought it was a being: who could do
Such evil things to beings save a being?

Ah!

Lucifer.

Ask the Destroyer.

Cain.

Who?

Lucifer.

The Maker- call him

Which name thou wilt: he makes but to destroy.

Cain.

I knew not that, yet thought it, since I heard
Of death; although I know not what it is,

Yet it seems horrible. I have look'd out
In the vast desolate night in search of him;
And when I saw gigantic shadows in
The umbrage of the walls of Eden, chequer'd
By the far-flashing of the cherubs' swords,
I watch'd for what I thought his coming; for
With fear rose longing in my heart to know

What 't was which shook us all - but nothing came.

And then I turn'd my weary eyes from off

Our native and forbidden Paradise,

Up to the lights above us, in the azure,
Which are so beautiful: shall they, too, die?

I'm glad of that: I would not have them die-
They are so lovely. What is death? I fear,
I feel, it is a dreadful thing; but what,
I cannot compass: 't is denounced against us,
Both them who sinn'd and sinn'd not, as an ill-
What ill?

"Chaos of ruins! who shall trace the void,
O'er the dim fragments cast a lunar light,

And say, 'here was, or is,' where all is doubly night?"
Childe Harold, Canto IV, stanza lxxx, p. 81.

Cain.

Were I quiet earth

That were no evil; would I ne'er had been

Aught else but dust!

Lucifer.

That is a grovelling wish,

Less than thy father's, for he wish'd to know.

Cain.

But not to live, or wherefore pluck'd he not

The life-tree?

Lucifer.

He was hinder'd.

Cain.

Deadly error!

Not to snatch first that fruit: - but ere he pluck'd

The knowledge, he was ignorant of death.

Alas! I scarcely now know what it is,

And yet I fear it

fear I know not what!

Lucifer.

And I, who know all things, fear nothing: see

What is true knowledge.

Cain.

Wilt thou teach me all?

Ay, upon one condition

Lucifer.