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The following step is a promise of what he can still do for Cain, in the offer of theprize, or, rather, the bait: knowledge (1.1.212). Having thus buttered up his prospect,having claimed solidarity against his enemy, and having laid the bait, he thenproclaims his own disinterestedness whilst again flattering his prospect, implicitlydenying any personal advantage in the affair and representing himself as being boundby honour: “we, who see the truth, must speak it” (1.1.240).At this point, he refers to the prospect’s lack of the prize, the bait, in an off-handmanner (“I speak of what thou know’st not, /With all thy knowledge”, 1.1.245),avoiding the appearance of mocking Cain’s misfortune whilst simultaneouslyreiterating that misfortune, and implicitly reminding Cain of his own claimed abilityto fulfil that need. This brings Cain to his declaration of unending desire, at whichpoint the deal could reasonably be closed:CAIN:But thou canst notSpeak aught of Knowledge which I would not know,And do not thirst to know, and bear a mindTo know. (1.1.246-9).Lucifer, however, has another aim beyond bringing knowledge to Cain, and so hedoes not close the deal here, although he does maintain the form of it. When Cainstarts to move away from the desire for the prize, Lucifer plays upon his pride to callhim back, describing Cain’s wish that he had never been born as “a grov’ling wish,/Less than thy father’s, for he wish’d to know” (1.1.292-93). After a brief interludeinto an unsuccessful attempt upon what is quite possibly his own true prize, Cain’svow of allegiance, he enjoins Cain to accompany him to view the product (1.1.322-23). Unfortunately, the prospect raises an objection relating to a previous engagementwith the Devil’s competitor (1.1.323-6). Lucifer overcomes that final obstacle byreflecting back the prospect’s own previous expression of antipathy towards hiscompetitor (“Saidst thou not /Thou ne’er hadst bent to him who made thee?”, 1.1.326-7), and then repeats his invitation (1.1.334).298