Then the Divine Vision like a silent Sun appeard above Albions dark rocks: setting behind the Gardens of Kensington On Tyburns River, in clouds of blood: where was mild Zion Hills Most ancient promontory, and in the Sun, a Human Form appeard 5And thus the Voice Divine went forth upon the rocks of Albion
I elected Albion for my glory; I gave to him the Nations, Of the whole Earth. he was the Angel of my Presence: and all The Sons of God were Albions Sons: and Jerusalem was my joy. The Reactor hath hid himself thro envy. I behold him. 10But you cannot behold him till he be reveald in his System Albions Reactor must have a Place prepard: Albion must Sleep The Sleep of Death, till the Man of Sin & Repentance be reveald. Hidden in Albions Forests he lurks: he admits of no Reply From Albion: but hath founded his Reaction into a Law 15Of Action, for Obedience to destroy the Contraries of Man[.] He hath compelld Albion to become a Punisher & hath possessd Himself of Albions Forests & Wilds! and Jerusalem is taken! The City of the Woods in the Forest of Ephratah is taken! London is a stone of her ruins; Oxford is the dust of her walls! 20Sussex & Kent are her scatterd garments: Ireland her holy place! And the murderd bodies of her little ones are Scotland and Wales The Cities of the Nations are the smoke of her consummation The Nations are her dust! ground by the chariot wheels Of her lordly conquerors, her palaces levelld with the dust 25I come that I may find a way for my banished ones to return Fear not O little Flock I come! Albion shall rise again.
So saying, the mild Sun inclosd the Human Family.
Forthwith from Albions darkning [r]ocks came two Immortal forms Saying We alone are escaped. O merciful Lord and Saviour, 30We flee from the interiors of Albions hills and mountains! From his Valleys Eastward: from Amalek Canaan & Moab: Beneath his vast ranges of hills surrounding Jerusalem.
Albion walkd on the steps of fire before his Halls And Vala walkd with him in dreams of soft deluding slumber. 35He looked up & saw the Prince of Light with splendor faded Then Albion ascended mourning into the porches of his Palace Above him rose a Shadow from his wearied intellect: Of living gold, pure, perfect, holy: in white linen pure he hoverd
A sweet entrancing self-delusion a watry vision of Albion 40Soft exulting in existence; all the Man absorbing!
Albion fell upon his face prostrate before the watry Shadow Saying O Lord whence is this change! thou knowest I am nothing! And Vala trembled & coverd her face! & her locks were spread on the pavement
We heard astonishd at the Vision & our heart trembled within us: 45We heard the voice of slumberous Albion, and thus he spake, Idolatrous to his own Shadow words of eternity uttering:
O I am nothing when I enter into judgment with thee! If thou withdraw thy breath I die & vanish into Hades If thou dost lay thine hand upon me behold I am silent: 50If thou withhold thine hand; I perish like a fallen leaf: O I am nothing: and to nothing must return again: If thou withdraw thy breath. Behold I am oblivion.
He ceasd: the shadowy voice was silent: but the cloud hoverd over their heads In golden wreathes, the sorrow of Man; & the balmy drops fell down. 55And lo! that son of Man that Shadowy Spirit of mild Albion: Luvah descended from the cloud; in terror Albion rose: Indignant rose the awful Man, & turnd his back on Vala.
We heard the voice of Albion starting from his sleep:
Whence is this voice crying Enion! that soundeth in my ears? 60O cruel pity! O dark deceit! can love seek for dominion?
And Luvah strove to gain dominion over Albion They strove together above the Body where Vala was inclosd And the dark Body of Albion left prostrate upon the crystal pavement, Coverd with boils from head to foot: the terrible smitings of Luvah.
65Then frownd the fallen Man, and put forth Luvah from his presence Saying. Go and Die the Death of Man, for Vala the sweet wanderer. I will turn the volutions of your ears outward, and bend your nostrils Downward, and your fluxile eyes englob'd roll round in fear: Your withring lips and tongue shrink up into a narrow circle, 70Till into narrow forms you creep: go take your fiery way: And learn what tis to absorb the Man you Spirits of Pity & Love.
They heard the voice and fled swift as the winters setting sun. And now the human blood foamd high, the Spirits Luvah & Vala, Went down the Human Heart where Paradise & its joys abounded, 75In jealous fears & fury & rage, & flames roll round their fervid feet: And the vast form of Nature like a serpent playd before them And as they fled in folding fires & thunders of the deep:
Vala shrunk in like the dark sea that leaves its slimy banks. And from her bosom Luvah fell far as the east and west. 80And the vast form of Nature like a serpent rolld between, Whether of Jerusalems or Valas ruins congenerated, we know not: All is confusion: all is tumult, & we alone are escaped.
So spoke the fugitives; they joind the Divine Family, trembling