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Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience (Notebook)

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For works with similar titles, see Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience.
Notebook 56. Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience
by William Blake

From Notebook, p. 101, reversed. See also: Satiric verses and epigrams.

1544247Notebook 56. Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of ExperienceWilliam Blake
Notebook 56 - Motto to the Songs of Inn & of Exp

Edited text:[1]

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Motto to the Songs of Innocence and of Experience
 
THE GOOD[2] are attracted by men’s perceptions,
And think not for themselves;
Till Experience teaches them to catch
And to cage the fairies and elves.
  
5And then the Knave begins to snarl,
And the Hypocrite to howl;
And all his good friends show their private ends,
And the eagle is known from the owl.

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The original text:[3]

[edit]


Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience

The Good are attracted by Mens perceptions
And Think not for themselves
Till Experience teaches them to catch
And to cage the Fairies & Elves

And then the Knave begins to snarl
And the Hypocrite to howl
And all his good Friends shew their private ends
And the Eagle is known from the Owl

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  1. The Poetical Works of William Blake, including the unpublished French Revolution together with the Minor Prophetic Books and Selections from The Four Zoas, Milton & Jerusalem; edited with an introduction and textual notes by John Sampson, Hon. D.Litt. Oxon., 1862–1931. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 1908.
  2. 1. Motto] This motto, which was probably never engraved by Blake, is not found in any copy of the Songs.
  3. "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 499. Erdman begins with this "Motto" the VI-th section of the book: [SATIRIC VERSES AND EPIGRAMS]

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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