14 (Zillah's Tale)

The Book of Nod
Actual text.

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Preface, by Aristotle de Laurent. The First Times 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 The Coming of Lilith 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 The Temptation of Caine 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 Zillah's Tale 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 Tale of the First City 20 • 21

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Zillah's
Tale

Let me tell the tale of Zillah
first loved of Caine,
first wife of Caine,
the sweetest blood,
the softest skin,
the clearest eyes.

Alone of Caine's newest Childer,
did Caine desire Her
and she was not mindful of his
desire, turning away from Him.

Not gifts, not sacrifices,
not perfumes, not doves,
not beautiful dancers,
not singers, not oxen,
not sculpture, not beautiful clothes,
nothing would turn Zillah's heart
from stone to sweet fruit.

So Caine pulled at his beard
and tore at his hair
and took to roaming the wilderness
at night, thinking of her,
burning for her,
and one night Caine came upon
an old Crone singing to the moon