This having been observed by Adam,
he likewise buried the body of Abel. For this service rendered to our
great progenitor, we are told, the Deity rewarded the raven, and no one
is allowed to injure its young: "they have food in abundance, and their
cry for rain is always heard."[62]
[62] The Muhammedan legend informs us that Cain was
afterwards slain by the blood-avenging angel. But the
Jewish traditionists say that God was at length moved by
Cain's contrition and placed on his brow a seal, which
indicated that the fratricide was fully pardoned. Adam
happened to meet him, and observing the seal on his
forehead, asked him how he had turned aside the wrath of
God. He replied: "By confession of my sin and sincere
repentance." On hearing this Adam exclaimed, beating his
breast: "Woe is me! Is the virtue of repentance so great
and I knew it not?"
_The Planting of the Vine._
When Noah planted the vine, say the Rabbis, Satan slew a sheep, a lion,
an ape, and a sow, and buried the carcases under it; and hence the four
stages from sobriety to absolute drunkenness: Before a man begins to
drink, he is meek and innocent as a lamb, and as a sheep in the hand of
the shearer is dumb; when he has drank enough, he is fearless as a lion,
and says there is no one like him in the world; in the next stage, he is
like an ape, and dances, jests, and talks nonsense, knowing not what he
is doing and saying; when thoroughly drunken, he wallows in the mire
like a sow.
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