Cain and Abel

**Barry Soteiro** · 08-02-2009, 18:48

Cain and Abel

I

Race of Abel, sleep, eat and drink;
God smiles on you complacently.

Race of Cain, crawl on your belly,
Die in the mire wretchedly.

Race of Abel, your sacrifice
Delights the nose of the Seraphim!

Race of Cain, will there ever be
An ending to your punishment?

Race of Abel, see your sowing
And your cattle thrive and flourish;

Race of Cain, your bowels
Howl with hunger like an old dog.

Race of Abel, warm your belly
At your patriarchal hearth;

Race of Cain, shiver with the cold
In your cavern, wretched jackal!

Race of Abel, love, pullulate!
Even your gold has progeny.

Race of Cain, with the burning heart,
Beware of those intense desires.

Race of Abel, you browse and grow
Like the insects of the forest!

Race of Cain, along the highways
Drag your destitute family.

II

Ah! race of Abel, your carcass
Will fertilize the steaming soil!

Race of Cain, your appointed task
Has not been adequately done;

Race of Abel, your disgrace is:
The sword is conquered by the pike!

Race of Cain, ascend to heaven,
And cast God down upon the earth!

**Sarcasm** · 08-02-2009, 18:58

Baudelaire, here? Really? Out of the blue?

**Sarcasm** · 08-02-2009, 19:05

Please stop posting stuff like that. It's annoying and frustrating to our mods. Yes, you got in before the lock. Whoop-di-doo.

Seriously, what's the point in that?

**Cadwalader** · 08-02-2009, 19:27

I was hoping this thread were about the meaning and origin of the legend, which actually is quite interesting.

**Sarcasm** · 08-02-2009, 20:10

Contrary to the sentiment of the legend though, Baudelaire is sympathetic to Cain's kin. Being a 19th century Frenchmen, in the midst of the 1848 revolution he was a part of the common early socialist movements of the time, and thus openly anti-religion, associating Cain's banishment and plight with those of the poor masses.

Roughly my take on the subject.

**Aemilius Paulus** · 08-02-2009, 20:13

Shoot, when I saw the title, I immediately thought someone was going to discuss the cracking program

.

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · 08-02-2009, 21:57

Originally Posted by Cadwalader

I was hoping this thread were about the meaning and origin of the legend, which actually is quite interesting.

My theory is it is an analogy about early man and the trouble that comes between farmers and cattlemen when land starts to become scarce. It seems to have happened in the history of every culture everywhere. Cattle destroy farmland and farmers take grazing land. A fight breaks out. In the long run the cowboys loose and are forced to change or go to worse lands to raise their cattle.

**bobbin** · 08-02-2009, 22:10

Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

In the long run the cowboys loose and are forced to change or go to worse lands to raise their cattle.

And become nomads!

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 08-02-2009, 22:19

Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

My theory is it is an analogy about early man and the trouble that comes between farmers and cattlemen when land starts to become scarce. It seems to have happened in the history of every culture everywhere. Cattle destroy farmland and farmers take grazing land. A fight breaks out. In the long run the cowboys loose and are forced to change or go to worse lands to raise their cattle.

It's also arguably about the corruption of civilisation, Cain represents progress, but because God does not favour him he commits the first ever murder and fratricide, yet his decendants build the first cities.

**Teleklos Archelaou** · 08-02-2009, 20:53

Originally Posted by Sarcasm

Please stop posting stuff like that. It's annoying and frustrating to our mods. Yes, you got in before the lock. Whoop-di-doo.

Seriously, what's the point in that?

S., just wait till I get back.