Beneath the white thorn, lovely May

by William Blake

For works with similar titles, see The Golden Net.

Blake manuscript - Notebook 1800 - 09 Beneath the white thorn lovely may

 * * *^[1]

     [Three Virgins at the Break of day
     "Whither, Young Man, hither away ? del.]
     "Alas for wo! alas for wo!
     They cry & tears for ever flow 5
3   The one was cloth'd in flames of fire,
4   The other cloth'd in iron wire,
5   The other clothd in [sighs del.] & tears & sighs,
6   Dazzling bright before my Eyes.
1   They bore a Net of Golden twine 10
2   To hang upon the Branches fine
7   [Pitying, I wept to see the woe
8   That Love & Beauty undergo—
9   To be consum'd in burning fires
     And in Ungratified desires del.] 15
     And in tears cloth'd Night & day
     Melted all my soul away
     When they saw my tears, a smile
     That did heaven itself beguile,
     Bore the Golden Net aloft 20
     As on downy pinions soft
     O'er the morning of my Day
     Underneath the net I stray
     Now intreating flamng fire
     Now intreating [sweet desire del.] iron wire 25
     Now intreating tears & sighs
     Dazzling bright befire my eyes.^[2]

     [additional passage del.]

     Wings they had [& when they chose del.] that soft inclose
     Round their body when they chose;
     They would let them down at will,
     Or make translucent...

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1. "Blake Complete Writings", ed. Geoffrey Keynes, pub. OUP 1966/85, p. 421-2.
2. In the fair copy: "O when will the morning rise". — Ed. of Wikisource.