A Tragedy written in German, By MR. KLOPSTOC K. FIRST PRINTED IN The ST. JAMES'S MAGAZINE, March 1763. ACT II. SCENE II. SELIMA. FATHER, againt your ATHER, against your orders I return, Oh, I conjure you, deign to lift!-a man- Of men, who're not thy children-No, 'tis certain He rolls confufion and difmay: his limbs. Oh father, father! ADAM. Was his forehead bare? SELIM A. Scarce durft I caft my fearful looks upon him, ADAM. It is Cain; O Seth, 'tis Cain. The Lord hath fent him now 'Tis God who fends him: I have well deferv'd it. Cover the altar, that the guiltless blood Of his poor brother, whom he maffacred, Wound not his cycs. SCENE That horrid pit juft dug at th' altar's foot? ADAM. Oh daughter! didft thou never see a grave? SELIMA, A grave? my father! ADAM, [apart. Oh too bitter day! Cain will foon come, and Selima is here. SELIMA. Oh, answer me! Is then my father angry? ADAM. Still moft dear, Still my beloved child. SELIMA. You faid but now, That Cain was come to render death more bitter. Alas, I fcarce can breathe; my voice too fails: Ah my dear father, mean you now to die? ADAM ADAM. Grieve not my daughter! death is due to all; SELIMA. Oh father, father! [Embracing his knees, By your paternal fondnefs, by that love Is't Adam that I fee? Adam, thou wert not wont to turn fo pale At fight of men thy crime had render'd wretched. ADAM ADAM. Hold, I conjure thee! look on that dear maid, Whofe eyes o'erflow with tears: refpect her grief, Nor stain with blafphemies her innocence. CAIN. Her innocence!-has that remain'd on earth, Why haft thou disobey'd me? why return'd To this abode of peace? I am now come to take full vengeance on thee.' SETH. |