the sons of men (and so they still do), from which the
broad leaves of all suffering began to spring. We may 995
tearfully lament this account, this death-bringing fatal-
ity, and not in vain: but the fair woman injured us
[more] severely through the first sin which men dwelling
on earth ever committed against the Lord, since Adam 1000
was filled with the breath of life by the mouth of God!




XII.


Then the Master of Splendor asked Cain through his
word, where Abel was, upon the earth. Quickly there-
upon the wicked worker of slaughter answered him: 1005

"I know not Abel's coming or going, my kinsman's
course: I was not my brother's keeper!"

Then the Prince of Angels, the Spirit rich in good
things, spoke to him again:

"Why didst thou cast that virtuous man, thy brother, 1010
on his death-bed with thy violent hands, and his blood
now calleth and crieth unto me? For this murder
shalt thou undergo punishment and wander in exile 1015
accursed unto distant ages: nor shall the earth, fair
for all necessary sustenance, yield thee harvest, for it