The Poetry and Prose of William Blake Edited by David V. Erdman: Commentary by Harold Bloom |
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 | The Poetry and Prose of William Blake |  |
To the Jews.
Jerusalem the Emanation of the Giant Albion! Can it be? Is it a Truth that the Learned have explored? Was Britain the Primitive Seat of the Patriarchal Religion? If it is true: my title-page is also True, that Jerusalem was & is the Emanation of the Giant Albion. It is True, and cannot be controverted. Ye are united O ye Inhabitants of Earth in One Religion. The Religion of Jesus: the most Ancient, the Eternal: & the Everlasting Gospel—The Wicked will turn it to Wickedness, the Righteous to Righteousness. Amen! Huzza! Selah!
“All things Begin & End in Albions Ancient Druid Rocky Shore.”Your Ancestors derived their origin from Abraham, Heber, Shem, and Noah, who were Druids: as the Druid Temples (which are the Patriarchal Pillars & Oak Groves) over the whole Earth witness to this day.
You have a tradition, that Man anciently containd in his mighty limbs all things in Heaven & Earth: this you recieved from the Druids. “But now the Starry Heavens are fled from the mighty limbs of Albion”
Albion was the Parent of the Druids; & in his Chaotic State of Sleep[,] Satan & Adam & the whole World was Created by the Elohim.
To Primrose Hill and Saint Johns Wood:
Were builded over with pillars of gold,
And there Jerusalems pillars stood.
The Lamb of God among them seen
And fair Jerusalem his Bride:
Among the little meadows green.
Among her golden pillars high:
Among her golden arches which
Shine upon the starry sky.
The Ponds where Boys to bathe delight:
The fields of Cows by Willans farm:
Shine in Jerusalems pleasant sight.
The Lamb of God walks by her side:
And every English Child is seen,
Children of Jesus & his Bride,
Lest Babylon with cruel Og,
With Moral & Self-righteous Law
Should Crucify in Satans Synagogue!
Near mournful ever-weeping Paddington
Standing above that mighty Ruin
Where Satan the first victory won.
And the Druids golden Knife,
Rioted in human gore,
In Offerings of Human Life
They groan'd aloud on Tyburns Brook
Albion gave his deadly groan,
And all the Atlantic Mountains shook
Tore forth in all the pomp of War!
Satan his name: in flames of fire
He stretch'd his Druid Pillars far.
Down thro Poplar & Old Bow;
Thro Malden & acros the Sea,
In War & howling death & woe.
The Danube rolld a purple tide:
On the Euphrates Satan stood:
And over Asia stretch'd his pride.
From every Nation of the Earth:
He witherd up Jerusalems Gates,
And in a dark Land gave her birth.
By laws of sacrifice for sin:
Till it became a Mortal Worm:
But O! translucent all within.
Still was the Human Form, Divine
Weeping in weak & mortal clay
O Jesus still the Form was thine.
The Human Hands & Feet & Breath
Entering thro' the Gates of Birth
And passing thro' the Gates of Death
Slew in my dark self-righteous pride:
Art thou return'd to Albions Land!
And is Jerusalem thy Bride?
Depart; but dwell for ever here:
Create my Spirit to thy Love:
Subdue my Spectre to thy Fear.
In clouds of blood & ruin roll'd:
I here reclaim thee as my own
My Selfhood! Satan! armd in gold.
Thy cruel Patriarchal pride
Planting thy Family alone,
Destroying all the World beside.
Of his own house & family;
And he who makes his law a curse,
By his own law shall surely die.
Shall walk, & mine in every Land,
Mutual shall build Jerusalem:
Both heart in heart & hand in hand.
If Humility is Christianity; you O Jews are the true Christians; If your tradition that Man contained in his Limbs, all Animals, is True & they were separated from him by cruel Sacrifices: and when compulsory cruel Sacrifices had brought Humanity into a Feminine Tabernacle, in the loins of Abraham & David: the Lamb of God, the Saviour became apparent on Earth as the Prophets had foretold? The Return of Israel is a Return to Mental Sacrifice & War. Take up the Cross O Israel & follow Jesus.
| The Poetry and Prose of William Blake | |