The Pickering Manuscript/Auguries of Innocence
For other versions of this work, see Auguries of Innocence.
Auguries of Innocence
To see a World in a Grain of SandAnd a Heaven in a Wild FlowerHold Infinity in the palm of your handAnd Eternity in an hourA Robin Red breast in a CagePuts all Heaven in a RageA Dove house filld with Doves and Pigeons Shudders Hell thro all its regionsA Dog starvd at his Masters GatePredicts the ruin of the StateA Horse misused upon the RoadCalls to Heaven for Human bloodEach outcry of the hunted HareA fibre from the Brain does tearA Skylark wounded in the wingA Cherubim does cease to singThe Game Cock clipd and armd for fightDoes the Rising sun affrightEvery Wolfs and Lions howlRaises from Hell a Human SoulThe wild deer wandring here & thereKeeps the Human Soul from careThe lamb misusd breeds public strifeAnd yet forgives the Butchers KnifeThe Bat that flits at close of eveHas left the Brain that won't believeThe Owl that calls upon the nightSpeaks the Unbelievers FrightHe who shall hurt the little WrenShall never be belovd by men He who the Ox to wrath has movdShall never be by Woman lovdThe wanton Boy that kills the FlyShall feel the Spiders enmityHe who torments the Chafers spriteWeaves a Bower in endless NightThe Catterpiller on the leafRepeats to thee thy Mothers griefKill not the Moth nor ButterflyFor the Last Judgement draweth nighHe who shall train the Horse to warShall never pass the Polar BarThe Beggars dog & Widows CatFeed them and thou wilt grow fatThe Gnat that sings his Summers songPoison gets from Slanders TongueThe poison of the Snake and NewtIs the sweat of Envys FootThe Poison of the Honey BeeIs the Artist's JealousyThe Princes Robes and Beggars RagsAre Toadstools on the Misers BagsA Truth thats told with bad intentBeats all the Lies you can invent It is right it should be soMan was made for Joy & WoeAnd when this we rightly KnowThro the World we safely goJoy & woe are woven fineA Clothing for the soul divineUnder every grief & pineRuns a joy with silken twineThe Babe is more than Swaddling BandsThroughout all these Human LandsTools were made & Born were handsEvery Farmer UnderstandsEvery Tear from Every EyeBecomes a Babe in EternityThis is caught by Females brightAnd returnd to its own DelightThe Bleat the Bark Bellow & RoarAre Waves that Beat on Heavens ShoreThe Babe that weeps the Rod beneathWrites Revenge in realms of DeathThe Beggars Rags fluttering in AirDoes to Rags the Heavens tearThe Soldier armd with Sword & GunPalsied strikes the Summers SunThe poor Mans Farthing is worth moreThan all the Gold on Africs Shore One Mite wrung from the Labrers handsShall buy & sell the Misers Lands Or if protected from on high Does that whole Nation sell & buy He who mocks the Infants FaithShall be mockd in Age & Death He who shall teach the Child to DoubtThe rotting Grave shall neer get out He who respects the Infants faithTriumphs over Hell & Death The Childs Toys & the Old Mans ReasonsAre the Fruits of the Two seasons The Questioner who sits so sly Shall never know how to Reply He who replies to words of DoubtDoth put the Light of Knowledge out The Strongest Poison ever knownCame from Caesars Laurel Crown Nought can Deform the Human RaceLike to the Armours iron brace When Gold & Gems adorn the PlowTo peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow A Riddle or the Crickets CryIs to Doubt a fit Reply The Emmets Inch & Eagles MileMake Lame Philosophy to smile He who Doubts from what he seesWill neer Believe do what you Please If the Sun & Moon should Doubt Theyd immediately Go out To be in a Passion you Good may Do But no Good if a Passion is in you The Whore & Gambler by the StateLicencd build that Nations Fate The Harlots cry from Street to Street Shall weave Old Englands winding Sheet The Winners Shout the Losers Curse Dance before dead Englands Hearse Every Night & every MornSome to Misery are Born Every Morn &every NightSome are Born to Sweet Delight Some are Born to Sweet Delight Some are Born to Endless Night We are led to Believe a LieWhen we see not Thro the EyeWhich was Born in a Night to perish in a Night When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light God Appears & God is LightTo those poor Souls who dwell in Night But does a Human Form DisplayTo those who Dwell in Realms of day