Riches (Blake)

by William Blake

For works with similar titles, see Riches.

Notebook 49 - Riches

1st reading:^[1]

RICHES.

The countless gold of a merry heart,
The rubies and pearls of a loving eye.
The idle man never can bring to the mart,
Nor the cunning hoard up in his treasury.

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2nd reading: ^[2]

Riches

The [word del.] countless gold of a merry heart,
The rubies & pearls of a loving eye,
The [idle man del.] indolent never can bring to the mart,
Nor the [cunning del.] secret hoard up in his treasury.

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3rd reading:^[3]

Riches

The countless gold of a merry heart
The rubies & pearls of a loving eye
The indolent never can bring to the mart
Nor the secret hoard up in his treasury^[4]

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1. "Life of William Blake", by Alexander Gilchrist, D. G. Rossetti, W. M. Rossetti, Anne Gilchrist, 1863 (1880). Rossetti added to it another quatrain from Blake:

   RICHES.

   Since all the riches of this world
   May be gifts from the devil and earthly kings,
   I should suspect that I worshipped the devil
   If I thanked my God for worldly things.

   The countless gold of a merry heart,
   The rubies and pearls of a loving eye,
   The idle man never can bring to the mart
   Nor the cunning hoard up in his treasury.

   .

   p. 125 (1880).

2. "Blake Complete Writings", ed. Geoffrey Keynes, pub. OUP 1966/85, p. 181.
3. "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 474
4. Riches N 103 rev
   1 countless we 1st rdg del; count 2nd rdg del (the poet wavering between “wealth” and “countless”)
   3 indolent] idle man 1st rdg del
   4 secret] cunning 1st rdg del