esme,
Il fuit de tout le monde, il s'enfuit de soy-mesme
. . . . . . .
Il possedoit le monde et non une asseurance;
Il estoit seul partout, hors mis sa conscience,
Et fut marque au front affin qu'en s'enfuiant
Aucun n'osast tuer ses maux en le tuant.

It is clear that if the poem suggested the subject to Hugo it
suggested nothing else.

With _Cain_ may be compared _Le Parricide_, one of the 1859 series,
which is also inspired by the theme of the guilty conscience
pursuing the murderer. In this case remorse is symbolized by a
drop of blood which falls upon the head of the criminal wherever
he goes.

_Assur_, English Asshur; the name occurs in the marginal rendering
of Gen. x. II (Revised Version).

The names of persons and their descriptions are taken from the
account of Cain's descendants in Gen. iv. 17-23.

_Jabel_, English Jabal, son of Lamech, a descendant of Cain and
Adah. 'He was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.'

_Tsilla_, English Zillah, one of Lamech's wives.

_Jubal_, the brother of Jabal. 'He was the father of all such a
handle the harp and pipe.'

_Henoch_, English Enoch, Cain's son.

_Tubalcain_, English Tubal-cain, the son of Lamech and his wife
Zillah. He was 'the forger of every cutting instrument of brass
and iron.'

_Seth_ was the third son of Adam and Eve, and

_Enos_ was the son of Seth.

PUISSANCE EGALE BONTE.

_Iblis_, one of the names used in the Koran for the Spirit of
Evil. He was a spirit who refused to prostrate himself before
Adam at the command of the Almighty, and was therefore expelled
from Eden. Instead of being immediately destroyed, however, he
was given a respite till the Day of Judgement. The word is derived
from the Arabic _balas_, wicked.

Another tradition, not found in the Koran, is that Iblis was a
warrior angel whom the Almighty sent to exterminate the Djinns, the
beings, half men, half angels, who inhabited the country of the
Genii. Instead of performing this command, the spirit rebelled and
was cast down into hell. It is hardly necessary to add that Hugo's
story is of his own invention.

_Bonte_ (see heading), one of Hugo's favourite words for
expressing the moral attributes of the Almighty power. The theme
that God is goodness, which is more than justice, is developed in
_Dieu: La Lumiere_.

La justice, c'est vous, l'humanite; mais Dieu
Est la bonte.

Compare also the concluding