D. We did, and back their Blessing to thee bring.
Cain. I hope with humblest Signs of filial Duty you took it for me on your bending Knees?
D. We did, and had our Share; the Patriarch lifting his Hands to Heaven express’d his Joy to see his spreading Race, and bless’d us all.
Cain. Did you my solemn Message too deliver, my Injuries impartially lay down, and due Assistance and Direction crave?
D. We did.
Cain. What spoke the Oracle? he’s God to me; what just Command d’ye bring, what’s to be done? am I to bear the insulting Junior’s Rage? and meekly suffer what unjustly he, affronting Primogeniture and Laws of God and Man, imposes by his Pride unsufferable! Am I to be crush’d, and be no more the firstborn Son on Earth, but bow and kneel to him?
D. Forbid it Heaven! as Adam too forbids, who with a justice God-like and peculiar to injur’d Parents, Abel’s Pride resents, and gives his high Command to thee to punish.
Cain. To punish? say you, did he use the Word, the very Word? am I commission’d then to punish Abel?
D. Not Abel only, but his rebel Race, as they alike in Crime alike are join’d in Punishment.
Cain. The Race indeed have shar’d the Merit with him; how did they all insult, and with a Shout of Triumph mock my Sorrow, when they saw me from my Sacrifice dejected come, as if my Disappointment was their Joy?