The Poetry and Prose of William Blake Edited by David V. Erdman: Commentary by Harold Bloom |
I. |
I. |
II. | Chap: II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
XII. |
XIII. |
XV. |
Chap: II. The Poetry and Prose of William Blake | ||
Chap: II.
1.
Earth was not: nor globes of attractionThe will of the Immortal expanded
Or contracted his all flexible senses.
Death was not, but eternal life sprung
2.
The sound of a trumpet the heavensAwoke & vast clouds of blood roll'd
Round the dim rocks of Urizen, so nam'd
That solitary one in Immensity
3.
Shrill the trumpet: & myriads of Eternity,
PLATE 4
Muster around the bleak desarts
Now fill'd with clouds, darkness & waters
That roll'd perplex'd labring & utter'd
Words articulate, bursting in thunders
That roll'd on the tops of his mountains
Now fill'd with clouds, darkness & waters
That roll'd perplex'd labring & utter'd
Words articulate, bursting in thunders
That roll'd on the tops of his mountains
4.
From the depths of dark solitude. FromThe eternal abode in my holiness,
Hidden set apart in my stern counsels
Reserv'd for the days of futurity,
I have sought for a joy without pain,
For a solid without fluctuation
Why will you die O Eternals?
Why live in unquenchable burnings?
5.
First I fought with the fire; consum'dInwards, into a deep world within:
A void immense, wild dark & deep,
Where nothing was; Natures wide womb[.]
71
I alone, even I! the winds merciless
Bound; but condensing, in torrents
They fall & fall; strong I repell'd
The vast waves, & arose on the waters
A wide world of solid obstruction
6.
Here alone I in books formd of metalsHave written the secrets of wisdom
The secrets of dark contemplation
By fightings and conflicts dire,
With terrible monsters Sin-bred:
Which the bosoms of all inhabit;
Seven deadly Sins of the soul.
7.
Lo! I unfold my darkness: and onThis rock, place with strong hand the Book
Of eternal brass, written in my solitude.
8.
Laws of peace, of love, of unity:Of pity, compassion, forgiveness.
Let each chuse one habitation:
His ancient infinite mansion:
One command, one joy, one desire,
One curse, one weight, one measure
One King, one God, one Law.
Chap: II. The Poetry and Prose of William Blake | ||