Can there be any thing more mean

by William Blake

Blake manuscript - Notebook 1808 - 11 Can there any thig more mean

Edited text:^[1]

* * *

Can there be any thing more mean,
More Malice in disguise,
Than Praise a Man for doing what^[2]
That Man^[3] does most despise?
5 Reynolds^[4] Lectures Exactly so^[5]
When he praises Michael Angelo.

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The original text:^[6]

* * *

Can there be any thing more mean
More Malice in disguise
Than Praise a Man for doing what
That Man does most despise
5 Reynolds Lectures Exactly so
When he praises Michael Angelo

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Notes

1. "Blake Complete Writings", ed. Geoffrey Keynes, pub. OUP 1966/85, p. 539.
2. [that del.]
3. [Which he del.]
4. [This del.]
5. [plainly shew del.]
6. "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 511.