THE DEATH OF CAIN. BOOK I. f INVOCATION. "RISE, towering muse, on eagles' wings sublime!" thine be the task to celebrate him, who in his fury sacrificed his brother-and mingled his blood with the dust of the earth. -The first-born of men-the gift of the Supreme-the marked of God-the deluded of the malignant enemy of our race-even Cain! it is he, of whom my enthusiastic muse would sing, and for which purpose I invoke thy aid, celestial Wisdom! Be thou my guide-may thy pure rays illuminate my course, that, whether my winged imagination take her flight and explore the heights of heaven-or Invocation. hell-Prudence may still direct her steps.Be present, O thou celestial director! let nothing receive a lasting impression without thy approbation-nor thou, benign Virtue, refuse to aid my plan-it is thy sentiments alone that can win upon the soul; it is to thee the wise will only yield; thy guidance is security, and thy approbation the will of the Most High. And, while my venturous muse essays to sing the fatal consequences that flowed from the fall of the first-born of men, may the sons of Adam favourably receive this feeble offering of her melancholy song. "Twas now the solemn hour of night, and nature, exhausted by the ardours of the meridian sun, had now sunk to rest;-thrice had the midnight cock essayed to wind his shrill pipe, but as oft wanted the sonorous sound of uttering voice;-the melancholy bird of dark retreat, the owl, had, with affrighted screech, returned to her murky haunt;-the wolves, tigers, lions, and all the fierce inhabitants of the forest, were prowling through the gloomy shades of wooded copse, seeking their suste |