Page:The Poems of William Blake (Shepherd, 1887).djvu/99

"that roams on lofty rocks, where, 'cause his
"garments are swoln with wind, he fancies he is
"grown into a giant! Lo, then, Humility, take it,
"and wear it in thine heart; lord of thyself, thou
"then art lord of all. Clamour brawls along the
"streets, and destruction hovers in the city's smoke;
"but on these plains, and in these silent woods, true
"joys descend: here build thy nest; here fix thy
"staff; delights blossom around; numberless beauties
"blow; the green grass springs in joy, and the
"nimble air kisses the leaves; the brook stretches
"its arms along the velvet meadow, its silver inhabitants
"sport and play. The youthful sun joys
"like a hunter roused to the chase; he rushes up the
"sky, and lays hold on the immortal coursers of
"day; the sky glitters with the jingling trappings!
"Like a triumph, season follows season, while the
"airy music fills the world with joyful sounds." I
answered, "Heavenly goddess! I am wrapped
"in mortality, my flesh is a prison, my bones the
"bars of death, Misery builds over our cottage
"roofs, and Discontent runs like a brook. Even
"in childhood, sorrow slept with me in my cradle;
"he followed me up and down in the house when
"I grew up; he was my school-fellow: thus he
"was in my steps and in my play, till he became
"to me as my brother. I walked through dreary
"places with him, and in church-yards; and oft I
"found myself sitting by Sorrow on a tomb-stone!"