Songs and Ballads
(Redirected from To the Queen (Blake))
This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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[From Blake’s Notebook (c.1793)]
Never pain to tell thy LoveLove that never told can be For the gentle wind does move Silently invisibly
5I told my love I told my loveI told her all my heart Trembling cold in ghastly fears Ah she doth depart
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I feard the fury of my windWould blight all blossoms fair & true And my sun it shind & shind And my wind it never blew
5But a blossom fair or trueWas not found on any tree For all blossoms grew & grew Fruitless false tho fair to see[2]
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I saw a chapel all of gold That none did dare to enter in And many weeping stood without Weeping mourning worshipping
5I saw a serpent rise betweenThe white pillars of the door And he forcd & forcd & forcd Down the golden hinges tore
And along the pavement sweet 10Set with pearls & rubies brightAll his slimy length he drew Till upon the altar white
Vomiting his poison out On the bread & on the wine 15So I turnd into a styAnd laid me down among the swine[3]
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I laid me down upon a bank Where love lay sleeping I heard among the rushes dank Weeping Weeping
5Then I went to the heath & the wildTo the thistles & thorns of the waste And they told me how they were beguild Driven out & compeld to be chaste[4]
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Sleep Sleep beauty bright Dreaming oer the joys of nightSleep Sleep: in thy sleep Little sorrows sit & weep
5Sweet Babe in thy faceSoft desires I can trace Secret joys & secret smiles Little pretty infant wiles.
As thy softest limbs I feel10Smiles as of the morning stealOer thy cheek & oer thy breast Where thy little heart does rest
O the cunning wiles that creep In thy little heart asleep 15When thy little heart does wakeThen the dreadful lightnings break
From thy cheek & from thy eyeOer the youthful harvests nigh Infant wiles & infant smiles20Heaven & Earth of peace beguiles[5]
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I asked a thief to steal me a peachHe turned up his eyestI ask'd a lithe lady to lie her down Holy & meek she cries—
5As soon as I wentAn angel came. He wink'd at the thief And smild at the dame—
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To a lovely mirtle bound Blossoms showring all around O how sick & weary I Underneath my mirtle lie 5Why should I be bound to theeO my lovely mirtle tree[7]
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[To go] on I Plate
O lapwing thou fliest around the heath Nor seest the net that is spread beneath Why dost thou not fly among the corn fields They cannot spread nets where a harvest yields[8]
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Experiment. "Thou hast a lap full of seed..."
[edit]Thou hast a lap full of seed And this is a fine country Why dost thou not cast thy seed And live in it merrily
5Shall I cast it on the sandAnd turn it into fruitful land For on no other ground Can I sow my seed Without tearing up 10Some stinking weed[10]
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The countless gold of a merry heartThe rubies & pearls of a loving eye The indolent never can bring to the mart Nor the secret hoard up in his treasury[11]
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If you trap the moment before its ripeThe tears of repentance youll certainly wipe But if once you let the ripe moment go You can never wipe off the tears of woe[12]
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He who binds to himself a joyDoes the winged life destroy But he who kisses the joy as it fliesLives in eternity's sun rise[13]
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"I heard an Angel singing..."
[edit]I heard an Angel singing When the day was springing Mercy Pity Peace Is the worlds release
5Thus he sung all dayOver the new mown hay Till the sun went down And haycocks looked brown I heard a Devil curse 10Over the heath & the furzeMercy could be no more If there was nobody poor
And pity no more could be If all were as happy as we 15At his curse the sun went downtAnd the heavens gave a frown
"Silent Silent Night..."
[edit]Silent Silent Night Quench the holy light Of thy torches bright
For possessd of Day 5Thousand spirits strayThat sweet joys betray
Why should joys be sweet Used with deceit Nor with sorrows meet
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Why art thou silent & invisible Father of jealousy Why dost thou hide thyself in clouds From every searching Eye
5Why darkness & obscurityIn all thy words & laws That none dare eat the fruit but from The wily serpents jaws Or is it because Secresy 10gains females loud applause[16]
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Are not the joys of morning sweetertThan the joys of night And are the vigrous joys of youth Ashamed of the light
5Let age & sickness silent robThe vineyards in the night But those who burn with vigrous youth Pluck fruits before the light[17]
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"How came pride in Man..."
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Love to faults is always blind Always is to joy inclind Lawless wingd & unconfind And breaks all chains from every mind
5Deceit to secresy confindLawful cautious & refind To every thing but interest blindAnd forges fetters for the mind[19]
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As I wanderd the forest The green leaves among I heard a wild flower Singing a Song
5I slept in the earthIn the silent night I murmurd my fears And I felt delight
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I walked abroad in a snowy day I askd the soft snow with me to play She playd & she melted in all her prime And the winter calld it a dreadful crime[21]
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The harvest shall flourish in wintry Weather When two virginities meet together The King & the Priest must be tied in a tether Before two virgins can meet together[22]
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Why should I care for the men of thames Or the cheating waves of charterd streams Or shrink at the little blasts of fear That the hireling blows into my ear
5Tho born on the cheating banks of ThamesTho his waters bathed my infant limbs The Ohio shall wash his stains from me I was born a slave but I go to be free[23]
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The Sun arises in the East Clothd in robes of blood & gold Swords & spears & wrath increast All around his bosom rolld 5Crownd with warlike fires & raging desires[24]
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The sword sung on the barren heath The sickle in the fruitful field The sword he sung a song of death But could not make the sickle yield[25]
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Abstinence sows sand all over The ruddy limbs & flaming hair But Desire Gratified Plants fruits of life & beauty there[26]
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"In a wife I would desire..."
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An old maid early eer I knew Ought but the love that on me grew And now Im coverd oer & oer And wish that I had been a Whore
5O I cannot cannot findThe undaunted courage of a Virgin Mind For Early I in love was crost Before my flower of love was lost[29]
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He who binds to himself a joy Doth the winged life destroy But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in Eternitys sun rise
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The look of love alarms Because tis filld with fire But the look of soft deceit Shall Win the lovers hire
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What is it men in women do require The lineaments of Gratified Desire What is it women do in men require The lineaments of Gratified Desire[31]
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Remove away that blackning church Remove away that marriage hearse Remove away that________of blood tYoull quite remove the ancient curse[32]
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Come hither my sparrows My little arrows If a tear or a smile Will a man beguile 5If an amorous delayClouds a sunshiny day If the step of a foot tSmites the heart to its root Tis the marriage ring 10Makes each fairy a king
So a fairy sung From the leaves I sprung He leapd from the spray To flee away 15But in my hat caught tHe soon shall be taught Let him laugh let him cry Hes my butterfly tFor I've pulld out the Sting 20Of the marriage ring
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My Spectre around me night & day tLike a Wild beast guards my way My Emanation far within tWeeps incessantly for my Sin
5A Fathomless & boundless deepThere we wander there we weep On the hungry craving wind My Spectre follows thee behind
He scents thy footsteps in the snow 10Wheresoever thou dost goThro the wintry hail & rain When wilt thou return again
Dost thou not in Pride & scorn Fill with tempests all my morn 15And with jealousies & fearsFill my pleasant nights with tears
Seven of my sweet loves thy knife Has bereaved of their life Their marble tombs I built with tearst20And with cold & shuddering fears
Seven more loves weep night & day Round the tombs where my loves lay And seven more loves attend each night Around my couch with torches bright
25And seven more Loves in my bedCrown with wine my mournful headtPitying & forgiving all Thy transgressions great & small
When wilt thou return & view 30My loves & them to life renewWhen wilt thou return & live When wilt thou pity as I forgive t
Never Never I return tStill for Victory I burn 35Living thee alone Ill haveAnd when dead Ill be thy Grave
Thro the Heavn & Earth & Hell Thou shalt never never quell I will fly & thou pursue 40Night & Morn the flight renew
Till I turn from Female Love tAnd root up the Infernal Grove tI shall never worthy be tTo Step into Eternity
45And to end thy cruel mockstAnnihilate thee on the rockstAnd another form create To be subservient to my Fate
Let us agree to give up Love 50And root up the infernal groveThen shall we return & see The worlds of happy Eternity
& Throughout all Eternity tI forgive you you forgive me 55As our dear Redeemer saidThis the Wine & this the Bread[34]
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[Postscript]
Oer my Sins Thou sit & moan tHast thou no Sins of thy own tOer my Sins thou sit & weep tAnd lull thy own Sins fast asleep t
5What Transgressions I commitAre for thy Transgressions fit They thy Harlots thou their Slave And my Bed becomes their Grave
Poor pale pitiable form 10That I follow in a StormIron tears & groans of lead Bind around my akeing head
And let us go to the highest downs With many pleasing wiles 15The Woman that does not love your FrownsWill never embrace your smiles
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Mock on Mock on Voltaire Rousseau Mock on Mock on! tis all in vain! You throw the sand against the wind And the wind blows it back againt
5And every sand becomes a GemReflected in the beams divine Blown back they blind the mocking Eye tBut still in Israels paths they shine
The Atoms of Democritus 10And Newtons Particles of lightAre sands upon the Red sea shore Where Israels tents do shine so bright
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To find the western path Right thro the gates of Wrath I urge my way Sweet Mercy leads me on 5With soft repentant moanI see the break of day
The war of swords & spears Melted by dewy tears Exhales on high 10The Sun is freed from fearsAnd with soft grateful tears Ascends the sky
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Terror in the house does roar But Pity stands before the door
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He. Where thou dwellest in what Grove Tell me Fair one tell me love Where thou thy charming Nest dost build O thou pride of every field
5She. Yonder stands a lonely treeThere I live & mourn for thee Morning drinks my silent tear And evening winds my sorrows bear
He. O thou Summers harmony 10I have livd & mournd for theeEach day I mourn along the wood And night hath heard my sorrows loud
She. Dost thou truly long for me And am I thus sweet to thee 15Sorrow now is at an EndO my Lover & my Friend
He. Come on wings of joy well fly To where my Bower hangs on high Come & make thy calm retreat 20Among green leaves & blossoms sweet
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Why was Cupid a Boy And why a boy was he He should have been a Girl For ought that I can see
5For he shoots with his bowAnd the Girl shoots with her Eye And they both are merry & glad And laugh when we do cry
And to make Cupid a Boy 10Was the Cupid Girls mocking plant For a boy cant interpret the thing Till he is become a man
And then hes so piercd with care And wounded with arrowy smarts 15That the whole business of his lifeIs to pick out the heads of the darts Twas the Greeks love of war Turnd Love into a Boy And Woman into a Statue of Stone 20And away fled every joy
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Now Art has lost its mental CharmsFrance shall subdue the World in Arms So spoke an Angel at my birth Then said Descend thou upon Earth
5Renew the Arts on Britains ShoreAnd France shall fall down & adore With works of Art their Armies meet And War shall sink beneath thy feet
But if thy Nation Arts refuse 10And if they scorn the immortal MuseFrance shall the arts of Peace restore And save thee from the Ungrateful shore
Spirit who lovst Brittannias IsleRound which the Fiends of Commerce smile
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[Dedication to Blake's Illustrations to Blair's Grave, printed 1808]
To the Queen
[edit]The Door of Death is made of Gold, That Mortal Eyes cannot behold; But, when the Mortal Eyes are clos'd, And cold and pale the Limbs repos'd, 5The Soul awakes; and, wond'ring, seesIn her mild Hand the golden Keys: The Grave is Heaven's golden Gate, And rich and poor around it wait; O Shepherdess of England's Fold, 10Behold this Gate of Pearl and Gold!
To dedicate to England's Queen The Visions that my Soul has seen, And, by Her kind permission, bring What I have borne on solemn Wing, 15From the vast regions of the Grave,Before Her Throne my Wings I wave; Bowing before my Sov'reign's Feet, “The Grave produc'd these Blossoms sweet “In mild repose from Earthly strife; 20“The Blossoms of Eternal Life!”
WILLIAM BLAKE
________________________________________ [From Blake’s Notebook]
The Caverns of the Grave Ive seen And these I shewd to Englands Queen But now the Caves of Hell I view Who shall I dare to shew them to 5What mighty Soul in Beautys formShall dauntless View the Infernal Storm Egremonts Countess can controll The flames of Hell that round me roll If she refuse I still go on 10Till the Heavens & Earth are goneStill admird by Noble minds Followd by Envy on the winds Reengravd Time after Time Ever in their Youthful prime 15My Designs unchangd remain Time may rage but rage in vain For above Times troubled Fountains On the Great Atlantic Mountains In my Golden House on high 20There they Shine Eternally
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I rose up at the dawn of day Get thee away get thee away Prayst thou for Riches away away This is the Throne of Mammon grey
5 Said I this sure is very oddI took it to be the Throne of God For every Thing besides I have It is only for Riches that I can crave
I have Mental Joy & Mental Health 10And Mental Friends & Mental wealth Ive a Wife I love & that loves me Ive all But Riches Bodily
I am in Gods presence night & dayAnd he never turns his face away 15The accuser of sins by my side does stand And he holds my money bag in his hand
For my worldly things God makes him pay And hed pay for more if to him I would pray And so you may do the worst you can do 20Be assurd Mr Devil I wont pray to you
Then If for Riches I must not Pray God knows I little of Prayers need say So as a Church is known by its Steeple If I pray it must be for other People
25He says if I do not worship him for a GodI shall eat coarser food & go worse shod So as I dont value such things as these You must do Mr Devil just as God please
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A fairy skipd upon my knee tSinging & dancing merrily I said Thou thing of patches rings Pins Necklaces & such like things 5Disguiser of the Female FormThou paltry gilded poisnous worm Weeping he fell upon my thigh And thus in tears did soft reply Knowest thou not O Fairies Lord 10How much by us Contemnd AbhorrdWhatever hides the Female form That cannot bear the Mental storm Therefore in Pity still we give Our lives to make the Female live 15And what would turn into diseaseWe turn to what will joy & please t
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[With Blake's Illustrations to Gray's Poems ]
Around the Springs of Gray my wild root weaves Traveller repose & Dream among my leaves, --WILL. BLAKE
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A little Flower grew in a lonely Vale Its form was lovely but its colours. pale One standing in the Porches of the Sun When his Meridian Glories were begun 5Leapd from the steps of fire & on the grassAlighted where this little flower was With hands divine he movd the gentle Sod And took the Flower up in its native Clod Then planting it upon a Mountains brow 10'Tis your own fault if you dont flourish now
WILLIAM BLAKE
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[The Pickering Manuscript]
There is a Smile of Love And there is a Smile of Deceit And there is a Smile of Smiles In which these two Smiles meet
5And there is a Frown of HateAnd there is a Frown of disdain And there is a Frown of Frowns Which you strive to forget in vain
For it sticks in the Hearts deep Core 10And it sticks in the deep Back boneAnd no Smile that ever was smild But only one Smile alone
That betwixt the Cradle & Grave It only once Smild can be 15But when it once is SmildTheres an end to all Misery
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Three Virgins at the break of day Whither young Man whither away Alas for woe! alas for woe! tThey cry & tears for ever flow 5The one was Clothd in flames of firetThe other Clothd in iron wire tThe other Clothd in tears & sighs tDazling bright before my Eyes They bore a Net of Golden twine 10To hang upon the Branches finePitying I wept to see the woe tThat Love & Beauty undergo To be consumd in burning Fires And in ungratified Desires 15And in tears clothd Night & dayMelted all my Soul away When they saw my Tears a Smile That did Heaven itself beguile Bore the Golden Net aloft 20As on downy Pinions soft tOver the Morning of my Day tUnderneath the Net I stray Now intreating Burning Fire tNow intreating Iron Wire t25Now intreating Tears & SighsO when will the morning rise t
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I traveld thro' a Land of Men A Land of Men & Women too And heard & saw such dreadful things As cold Earth wanderers never knew
5For there the Babe is born in joyThat was begotten in dire woe Just as we Reap in joy the fruit Which we in bitter tears did sow
And if the Babe is born a Boy 10He's given to a Woman OldWho nails him down upon a rock Catches his Shrieks in Cups of gold
She binds iron thorns around his head She pierces both his hands & feet 15She cuts his heart out at his sideTo make it feel both cold & heat
Her fingers number every Nerve Just as a Miser counts his gold She lives upon his shrieks & cries 20And She grows young as he grows old
Till he becomes a bleeding youth And she becomes a Virgin bright Then he rends up his Manacles And binds her down for his delight
25He plants himself in all her NervesJust as a Husbandman his mould And She becomes his dwelling place And Garden fruitful Seventy fold
An aged Shadow soon he fades 30Wandring round an Earthly CotFull filled all with gems & gold Which he by industry had got
And these are the gems of the Human Soul The rubies & pearls of a lovesick eye 35The countless gold of the akeing heartThe martyrs groan & the lovers sigh
They are his meat they are his drink He feeds the Beggar & the Poor And the way faring Traveller 40For ever open is his door
His grief is their eternal joy They make the roofs & walls to ring Till from the fire on the hearth A little Female Babe does spring
45And she is all of solid fireAnd gems & gold that none his hand Dares stretch to touch her Baby form Or wrap her in his swaddling-band
But She comes to the Man she loves 50If young or old or rich or poorThey soon drive out the aged Host A Begger at anothers door
He wanders weeping far away Untill some other take him in 55Oft blind & age-bent sore distrestUntill he can a Maiden win
And to Allay his freezing Age The Poor Man takes her in his arms The Cottage fades before his Sight 60The Garden & its lovely Charms
The Guests are scatterd thro' the land For the Eye altering alters all The Senses roll themselves in fear And the flat Earth becomes a Ball
65The Stars Sun Moon all shrink awayA desart vast without a bound And nothing left to eat or drink And a dark desart all around
The honey of her Infant lips 70The bread & wine of her sweet smileThe wild game of her roving Eye Does him to Infancy beguile
For as he eats & drinks he grows Younger & younger every day 75And on the desart wild they bothWander in terror & dismay
Like the wild Stag she flees away Her fear plants many a thicket wild While he pursues her night & day 80By various arts of Love beguild
By various arts of Love & Hate Till the wide desart planted oer With Labyrinths of wayward Love Where roams the Lion Wolf & Boart
85Till he becomes a wayward Babe tAnd she a weeping Woman Old tThen many a Lover wanders here The Sun & Stars are nearer rolld The trees bring forth sweet Extacy 90To all who in the desart roamTill many a City there is Built And many a pleasant Shepherds home
But when they find the frowning Babe Terror strikes thro the region wide 95They cry the Babe the Babe is BornAnd flee away on Every side t
For who dare touch the frowning form His arm is witherd to its root Lions Boars Wolves all howling flee 100And every Tree does shed its fruit
And none can touch that frowning form Except it be a Woman Old She nails him down upon the Rock And all is done as I have told
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Awake awake my little Boy Thou wast thy Mothers only joy Why dost thou weep in thy gentle sleep Awake thy Father does thee keep 5O what Land is the Land of DreamsWhat are its Mountains & what are its Streams O Father I saw my Mother there Among the Lillies by waters fair Among the Lambs clothed in white 10She walkd with her Thomas in sweet delightI wept for joy like a dove I mourn O when shall I again return
Dear Child I also by pleasant Streams Have wanderd all Night in the Land of Dreams 15But tho calm & warm the Waters wideI could not get to the other side
Father O Father what do we here In this Land of unbelief & fear The Land of Dreams is better far 520Above the light of the Morning Star
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Sweet Mary the first time she ever was there Came into the Ball room among the Fair The young Men & Maidens around her throng And these are the words upon every tongue
5An Angel is here from the heavenly ClimesOr again does return the Golden times tHer eyes outshine every brilliant ray She opens her lips tis the Month of May
Mary moves in soft beauty & conscious delight 10To augment with sweet smiles all the joys of the NightNor once blushes to own to the rest of the Fair That sweet Love & Beauty are worthy our care
In the Morning the Villagers rose with delight And repeated with pleasure the joys of the night 15And Mary arose among Friends to be freeBut no Friend from henceforward thou Mary shalt see
Some said she was proud some calld her a whore And some when she passed by shut to the door A damp cold came oer her her blushes all fled 20Her lillies & roses are blighted & shed
O why was I born with a different Face Why was I not born like this Envious Race tWhy did Heaven adorn me with bountiful hand And then set me down in an envious Land
25To be weak as a Lamb & smooth as a DoveAnd not to raise Envy is calld Christian Love But if you raise Envy your Merits to blame For planting such spite in the weak & the tame
I will humble my Beauty I will not dress fine 30I will keep from the Ball & my Eyes shall not shineAnd if any Girls Lover forsakes her for me I'll refuse him my hand & from Envy be free t
She went out in Morning attird plain & neat Proud Marys gone Mad said the Child in the Street 35She went out in Morning in plain neat attireAnd came home in Evening bespatterd with mire
She trembled & wept sitting on the Bed side She forgot it was Night & she trembled & cried She forgot it was Night she forgot it was Morn 40Her soft Memory imprinted with Faces of Scorn
With Faces of Scorn & with Eyes of disdain Like foul Fiends inhabiting Marys mild Brain She remembers no Face like the Human Divine All Faces have Envy sweet Mary but thine
45And thine is a Face of sweet Love in DespairAnd thine is a Face of mild sorrow & care And thine is a Face of wild terror & fear That shall never be quiet till laid on its bier
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The Maiden caught me in the Wild Where I was dancing merrily She put me into her Cabinet And Lockd me up with a golden Key 5This Cabinet is formd of GoldAnd Pearl & Crystal shining bright And within it opens into a World And a little lovely Moony Night t
Another England there I saw 10Another London with its TowerAnother Thames & other Hills And another pleasant Surrey Bower
Another Maiden like herself Translucent lovely shining clear 15Threefold each in the other closdO what a pleasant trembling fear
O what a smile a threefold Smile Filld me that like a flame I burnd I bent to Kiss the lovely Maid 20And found a Threefold Kiss returnd
I strove to sieze the inmost Form With ardor fierce & hands of flame But burst the Crystal Cabinet And like a Weeping Babe became
25A weeping Babe upon the wildAnd Weeping Woman pale reclind And in the outward air again I filld with woes the passing Wind
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I die I die the Mother said My Children die for lack of Bread tWhat more has the merciless Tyrant said The Monk sat down on the Stony Bed t
5The blood red ran from the Grey Monks sideHis hands & feet were wounded wide His Body bent his arms & knees Like to the roots of ancient trees
His eye was dry no tear could flow 10A hollow groan first spoke his woeHe trembled & shudderd upon the BedtAt length with a feeble cry he said
When God commanded this hand to write tIn the studious hours of deep midnight 15He told me the writing I wrote should provetThe Bane of all that on Earth I lovd t
My Brother starvd between two Walls His Childrens Cry my Soul appalls I mockd at the wrack & griding chain t20My bent body mocks their torturing pain t
Thy Father drew his sword in the North With his thousands strong he marched forth tThy Brother has armd himself in Steel tTo avenge the wrongs thy Children feel t
25But vain the Sword & vain the BowThey never can work Wars overthrow The Hermits Prayer & the Widows tear Alone can free the World from fear
For a Tear is an Intellectual Thing t30And a Sigh is the Sword of an Angel KingAnd the bitter groan of the Martyrs woe tIs an Arrow from the Almighties Bow
The hand of Vengeance found the Bed tTo which the Purple Tyrant fled 35The iron hand crushd the Tyrants headAnd became a Tyrant in his steadt
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To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.
5A Robin Red breast in a CagePuts all Heaven in a Rage. A Dove house fill'd with doves & Pigeons Shudders Hell thro' all its regions. A dog starv'd at his Masters Gate 10Predicts the ruin of the State.A Horse misus'd upon the Road Calls to Heaven for Human blood.Each outcry of the hunted Hare A fibre from the Brain does tear. 15A Skylark wounded in the wing,A Cherubim does cease to sing.The Game Cock clip'd & arm'd for fight Does the Rising Sun affright.Every Wolf's & Lion's howl20Raises from Hell a Human Soul.The wild deer wand'ring here & there Keeps the Human Soul from Care.The Lamb misus'd breeds public strife And yet forgives the Butchers Knife. 25The Bat that flits at close of EveHas left the Brain that won't believe. The Owl that calls upon the Night Speaks the Unbelievers fright.He who shall hurt the little Wren 30Shall never be belov'd by Men.He who the Ox to wrath has mov'dShall never be by Woman lov'd.The wanton Boy that kills the Fly Shall feel the Spider's enmity. 35He who torments the Chafer's spriteWeaves a Bower in endless Night.The Catterpillar on the Leaf Repeats to thee thy Mothers grief.Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly,40For the Last Judgment draweth nigh.He who shall train the Horse to War Shall never pass the Polar Bar.The Begger's Dog & Widow's Cat, Feed them & thou wilt grow fat.45The Gnat that sings his Summers songPoison gets from Slander's tongue. The poison of the Snake & Newt Is the sweat of Envy's Foot.The Poison of the Honey Bee 50Is the Artist's Jealousy.The Prince's Robes & Beggar's Rags Are Toadstools on the Miser's Bags.A truth that's told with bad intentBeats all the Lies you can invent.55It is right it should be so;Man was made for Joy & Woe.And when this we rightly know Thro' the World we safely go.Joy & Woe are woven fine,60A Clothing for the soul divine;Under every grief & pine Runs a joy with silken twine The Babe is more than swadling Bands Throughout all these Human Lands 65Tools were made & Born were handsEvery Farmer Understands Every Tear from Every Eye Becomes a Babe in Eternity This is caught by Females bright 70And returnd to its own delightThe Bleat the Bark Bellow & Roar Are Waves that Beat on Heavens Shore The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath Writes Revenge in realms of death 75The Beggars Rags fluttering in AirDoes to Rags the Heavens tear The Soldier armd with Sword & Gun Palsied strikes the Summers Sun The poor Mans Farthing is worth more 80Than all the Gold on Africs Shore.One Mite wrung from the Labrers hands Shall buy & sell the Misers Lands Or if protected from on high Does that whole Nation sell & buy 85He who mocks the Infants FaithShall be mock'd in Age & Death He who shall teach the Child to Doubt The rotting Grave shall neer get out He who respects the Infants faith 90Triumphs over Hell & DeathThe Childs Toys & the Old Mans Reasons Are the Fruits of the Two seasons The Questioner who sits so sly Shall never know how to Reply 95He who replies to words of DoubtDoth put the Light of Knowledge out The Strongest Poison ever known Came from Caesars Laurel Crown Nought can Deform the Human Race 100Like to the Armours iron braceWhen Gold & Gems adorn the Plow To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow A Riddle or the Crickets Cry Is to Doubt a fit Reply 105The Emmets Inch & Eagles MileMake Lame Philosophy to smile He who Doubts from what he sees Will neer Believe do what you Please If the Sun & Moon should Doubt 110Theyd immediately Go outTo be in a Passion you Good may Do But no Good if a Passion is in you The Whore & Gambler by the State Licencd build that Nations Fate 115The Harlots cry from Street to StreetShall weave Old Englands winding Sheet The Winners Shout the Losers Curse Dance before dead Englands Hearse Every Night & every Morn 120Some to Misery are BornEvery Morn & every Night Some are Born to sweet delight Some are Born to sweet delight Some are Born to Endless Night 125We are led to Believe a LieWhen we see not Thro the Eye tWhich was Born in a Night to perish in a Night When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light God Appears & God is Light 130To those poor Souls who dwell in NightBut does a Human Form Display To those who Dwell in Realms of day
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Little Mary Bell had a Fairy in a Nut tLong John Brown had the Devil in his Gut Long John Brown lovd Little Mary Bell And the Fairy drew the Devil into the Nut-shell 5Her Fairy skipd out & her Fairy skipd inHe laughd at the Devil saying Love is a Sin The devil he raged & the Devil he was wroth And the devil enterd into the Young Mans broth He was soon in the Gut of the loving Young Swain 10For John eat & drank to drive away Loves painBut all he could do he grew thinner & thinner Tho he eat & drank as much as ten Men for his dinner Some said he had a Wolf in his stomach day & night Some said he had the Devil & they guessd right 15The fairy skipd about in his glory Joy & PrideAnd he laughd at the Devil till poor John Brown died Then the Fairy skipd out of the old Nut shell And woe & alack for Pretty Mary Bell For the Devil crept in when The Fairy skipd out 20And there goes Miss Bell with her fusty old Nut
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I wonder whether the Girls are mad And I wonder whether they mean to kill And I wonder if William Bond will die For assuredly he is very ill
5He went to Church in a May morningAttended by Fairies one two & three But the Angels Of Providence drove them away And he returnd home in Misery
He went not out to the Field nor Fold 10He went not out to the Village nor TownBut he came home in a black black cloud And took to his Bed & there lay down
And an Angel of Providence at his Feet And an Angel of Providence at his Head 15And in the midst a Black Black CloudAnd in the midst the Sick Man on his Bed
And on his Right hand was Mary Green And on his Left hand was his Sister Jane And their tears fell thro the black black Cloud 20To drive away the sick mans pain
O William if thou dost another Love tDost another Love better than poor Mary Go & take that other to be thy Wife And Mary Green shall her Servant be
25Yes Mary I do another LoveAnother I Love far better than thee And Another I will have for my Wife Then what have I to do with thee
For thou art Melancholy Pale 30And on thy Head is the cold Moons shineBut she is ruddy & bright as day And the sun beams dazzle from her eyne
Mary trembled & Mary chilld And Mary fell down on the right hand floor 35That William Bond & his Sister JaneScarce could recover Mary more
When Mary woke & found her Laid On the Right hand of her William dear On the Right hand of his loved Bed 40And saw her William Bond so near
The Fairies that fled from William Bond Danced around her Shining Head They danced over the Pillow white And the Angels of Providence left the Bed
45I thought Love livd in the hot sun ShineBut O he lives in the Moony light I thought to find Love in the heat of day But sweet Love is the Comforter of Night
Seek Love in the Pity of others Woe 50In the gentle relief of anothers careIn the darkness of night & the winters snow In the naked & outcast Seek Love there
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The sow came in with the saddle, The little pig rocked the cradle, The dish jumped o' top of the table To see the brass pot swallow the ladle. 5The old pot behind the doorCalled the kettle a blackamoor. 'Odd bobbs' said the gridiron, 'can't you agree? I'm the head constable, bring them to me.'
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- ↑ "Never pain to tell thy Love..." N 115 rev
The poem developed out of the first four lines, and these were then deleted line by line. Editors are in agreement that the poem cannot stand without its first stanza—as Blake would surely have discovered if he had chosen to transfer it to copper. (Lines deleted in ms were restored in such poems as “Earth's Answer” [third stanza].)
- 1 pain] seek 1st rdg del
- 12 O was no deny] He took her with a sigh 1 st rdg del
- ↑ "I feard the fury of my wind..." N 113 rev
- 1 fury] roughness 1st rdg del
- 4 And] But 1st rdg del
- ↑ "I saw a chapel all of gold..." N 115 rev
- 8 Down … tore) Till he broke the pearly door 1st rdg del
- ↑ "I laid me down upon a bank..." N 115 rev
- ↑ A cradle song N 114 rev
- Line 3 was written first, followed by 4, 1, and 2; after much revision these were rearranged by numbering in the present order.
- 2 Dreaming oer] Thou shalt taste 1st rdg del
- 4 Little sorrows sit & weep] Thou wilt every secret keep 1st rdg del; Canst thou any secret keep 2 nd rdg changed to Thou canst any Secret keep, then del
- An abortive 2nd stanza was begun but deleted: “Yet a little while the moon / Silent”
- Lines 5-8 were written as the 4th stanza, then numbered "2" when all stanzas were numbered in the final sequence.
- 8 Little pretty infant wiles] Such as burning youth beguiles 1st rdg del
- 9 feel] touch 1st rdg del; stroke 2nd rdg del
- 10 steal] broke 1st rdg del
- 17 From … eye] O the cunning wiles that creep 1st rdg del
- 19 Infant … infant] Female … female 1 st rdg del
- ↑ "I asked a thief to steal me a peach..." N 114 rev
Punctuation and line and stanza divisions follow the fair copy in Princeton University Library inscribed “W Blake / Lambeth / 1796”, the text of which is identical to final rdg in the Notebook (in which lines 5-6 were written as one and line 9 did not begin a new stanza).
- 1 to steal] if he'd steal 1st rdg
- 2 He turned] And he turnd 1st rdg del
- 4 Holy] And holy 1st rdg del
- 7 He] And he 1st rdg del
- 8 And] And he 1st rdg del
- 9 said] spoke 1st rdg del
- 11 And twixt earnest & game 1st rdg ; … joke 2nd rdg, del
- 12 He enjoyd the da[me] 1st rdg; … lady 2nd rdg
- ↑ To my Mirtle N 106 rev
Salvaging unused lines from the “Infant Sorrow” stanzas of p 111 (see above, p 798), Blake first wrote down the “O how sick” couplet but then erased it before the ink was dry. He then copied the stanza numbered “1” and then canceled its second couplet, perhaps not before continuing with two more couplets from p 111 on the “bound-ground” rhyme:
- To a lovely mirtle bound
- Blossoms showring all around
- Like to dung upon the ground
- Underneath my mirtle bound
- ↑ [To go] on 1 Plate Five poems are grouped here in accordance with Blake's penciled memorandum, on p 101 reversed (see text p 695). “Thou hast a lap full of seed” is included conjecturally: it seems to be the only current poem that would fit the title “Experiment”. No plate is extant containing these five poems; indeed none of these poems is lined through vertically to indicate transfer to a plate, except the “lap full” poem. "O lapwing thou fliest around the heath..." N 113 rev
- ↑ An answer to the parson N 103 rev
- ↑ Experiment. "Thou hast a lap full of seed..." N 111 rev
- 5 Shall I] Oft Ive 1st rdg del
- 6 turn] turnd 1st rdg del
- 7 For] But 1st rdg del
- 9 tearing] pulling 1st rdg del
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "If you trap the moment before its ripe..." N 105 rev 1 trap] catch 1st rdg del 4 You can] Youll 1st rdg
- ↑ Eternity N 105 rev 1 binds] Previous editors have wavered between “bends” and “binds”, but the dot on the i is visible in strong light (the whole poem is in pencil) to himself] himself to 1st rdg 3 who kisses] who just kisses 1st rdg 4 eternity's] an eternal 1st rdg del
- ↑ "I heard an Angel singing..." N 114 rev
Second attempt at an “Experience” counterpart to “The Divine Image”; written after A Divine Image (which see); very faintly lined through vertically and abandoned for a quite different version, “The Human Abstract”, which became a Song of Experience.
3 Pity Peace] Pity & Peace 1st rdg
15 At his curse] Thus he sang & 1 st rdg del
17 Down] And down 1st rdg
19-20 And … Peace]
- And Mercy & Pity & Peace descended
- The Farmers were ruind & harvest was ended 1st rdg del
- And Mercy Pity & Peace
- Joyd at their increase
- With Povertys Increase
- Are 2nd rdg del
- And by distress increase
- Mercy Pity Peace 3rd rdg del
- By Misery to increase
- Mercy Pity Peace 4th rdg del
- ↑ "Silent Silent Night..." N 113 rev
- ↑ To Nobodaddy N 109 rev Lined through vertically, as if after copying, but not extant elsewhere. Title crowded in after composition; first written without the “To”. 2 Father] Man 1st rdg del Lines 9-10 were an afterthought, crowded in as one line. 10 females loud] feminine 1st rdg del
- ↑ "Are not the joys of morning sweeter..." ”N 109 rev Lined through vertically, but not extant elsewhere.
- ↑ "How came pride in Man..." N 107 rev Heavily deleted, and unfinished. Visually, the poem that immediately follows, “The Human Abstract” (see Songs of Experience), looks like a continuation of the same poem, the title being inserted later.
- ↑ How to know Love from DeceitN 107-106 rev Blake may only tentatively have considered these two stanzas, written on separate pages, as one poem; he added the title after composition and later deleted it. 3 Lawless] Always 1st rdg del 5 confind] inclind 1st rdg del 6 Lawful … refind] Modest prudish & confind 1st rdg del & refind] 2nd rdg del 7 To every thing but] Never is to 1st rdg del 8 And … mind] And chains & fetters every mind 1st rdg del
- ↑ The wild flowers song N 109, 107 rev The 2nd and 3rd stanzas were written first; the introductory stanza and explanatory title were written two pages later. Previous misreading of “fond” as “found” in line 5, 1st rdg, has obscured the original Innocence theme. 3 flower] thistle 1st rdg del 5 slept] was fond 1st rdg del
- ↑ Soft Snow Lined through vertically, but not extant elsewhere. 4 And … crime] Ah that sweet love should be thought a crime 1st rdg del
- ↑ Merlins prophecy N 106 rev
- ↑ "Why should I care for the men of thames..." N 113 rev Trace of an erased title, beginning with “T”—perhaps “Thames”; text is lined through vertically—perhaps when “chartered” was taken over to the “London” poem. 7 The Ohio shall … me] 8 go] long 1 st rdg del 8 go] long 1st rdg del
- ↑ Day N 105 rev Crossed out with a heavy vertical line, but not found elsewhere. 1 Sun] day 1st rdg del 4 bosom] ancles 1st rdg del
- ↑ "The sword sung on the barren heath..." N 105 revl
- ↑ "Abstinence sows sand all over..." N 105 rev 2 flaming hair mended (over what was probably only a bad scribble for the same two words)
- ↑ "In a wife I would desire..." N 105 rev
- ↑ Lacedemonian Instruction N 103 rev
- ↑ An old maid early eer I knew N 100 rev The two stanzas were written in reverse order but then numbered 2, 1.
- ↑ Soft deceit & Idleness These are Beautys sweetest dress] Line added, on p 103, after cancellation of an introductory question: “Which are beauties sweetest dress”. The poem began as question and answer, was changed to pure answer.
- ↑ "What is it men do in women require..." 1 in women] of women 1st rdg p 103 3 in men] of men 1st rdg p 103
- ↑ An ancient Proverb 3 that-------------] that place 1st rdg p 107; that man 2nd rdg p 1O7. (Was the long dash put in to avoid writing “palace”? See “London” line 12.) 4 Youll] Twill 1st rdg del, p 99
- ↑ The Kid N 105 rev &c] written over a capital D No further trace of the poem is found.
- ↑ "My Spectre around me night & day..." N 13, 12
Canceled stanzas b and c, with revisions and numbering, read:
[Her]<Thy> weeping [She]<thou> shall neer give oer- I sin against [her]<thee> more—& more
- [El]<And> never will from sin be free
- Till she forgives & comes to me
- [4] [<5>]
- Thou hast parted from my side
- Once thou wast a virgin bride
- Never shalt thou a [lover]<true love> find
- My Spectre follows thee Behind
- One and then another replacement was written for stanza b, thus (as numbered for various arrangements):
- [3] <4>
- 1 When my Love did first begin
- 2 Thou didst call that Love a Sin
- 3 Secret trembling night & day
- 4 Driving all my Loves away
- 2
- [[To]⟨In⟩ a dark cold winter night]
- A deep winter [night] dark <&> cold
- [Within my [loves] Heart]
- Within my heart thou didst unfold
- A Fathomless & boundless deep
- There we wander there we weep