The Poetry and Prose of William Blake Edited by David V. Erdman: Commentary by Harold Bloom |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. | IV [AN ISLAND IN THE MOON] |
 | V. |
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| VI. |
| VII. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XV. |
 | The Poetry and Prose of William Blake |  |
440
IV
[AN ISLAND IN THE MOON]
Chap 3d
442
[Little Phebus came strutting in]
Little Phebus came strutting inWith his fat belly & his round chin
What is it you would please to have
Ho Ho
I wont let it go at only so & so
443
[Honour & Genius is all I ask]
Honour & Genius is all I askAnd I ask the Gods no more
the three Philosophers bear Chorus
No more No more
No more No more
Chap 6
445
[When old corruption first begun]
[1]
When old corruption first begunAdornd in yellow vest
He committed on flesh a whoredom
O what a wicked beast
2
From them a callow babe did springAnd old corruption smild
To think his race should never end
For now he had a child
3
He calld him Surgery & fedThe babe with his own milk
For flesh & he could neer agree
She would not let him suck
4
And this he always kept in mindAnd formd a crooked knife
And ran about with bloody hands
To seek his mothers life
5
And as he ran to seek his motherHe met with a dead woman
He fell in love & married her
A deed which is not common
6
She soon grew pregnant & brought forthScurvy & spotted fever
The father grind & skipt about
And said I'm made for ever
446
7
For now I have procurd these impsIll try experiments
With that he tied poor scurvy down
& stopt up all its vents
8
And when the child began to swellHe shouted out aloud
Ive found the dropsy out & soon
Shall do the world more good
9
He took up fever by the neckAnd cut out all its spots
And thro the holes which he had made
He first discoverd guts
Chap 8
447
[Hear then the pride & knowledge of a Sailor]
Hear then the pride & knowledge of a SailorHis sprit sail fore sail main sail & his mizen
A poor frail man god wot I know none frailer
I know no greater sinner than John Taylor
448
[Phebe drest like beauties Queen]
Phebe drest like beauties Queen
Jellicoe in faint peagreen
Sitting all beneath a grot
Where the little lambkins trot
Jellicoe in faint peagreen
Sitting all beneath a grot
Where the little lambkins trot
Maidens dancing loves a sporting
All the country folks a courting
Susan Johnny Bet & Joe
Lightly tripping on a row
All the country folks a courting
Susan Johnny Bet & Joe
Lightly tripping on a row
Happy people who can be
In happiness compard with ye
The Pilgrim with his crook & hat
Sees your happiness compleat
In happiness compard with ye
The Pilgrim with his crook & hat
Sees your happiness compleat
Chap 9
[Lo the Bat with Leathern wing]
Lo the Bat with Leathern wing
Winking & blinking
Winking & blinking
Winking & blinking
Like Doctor Johnson
Quid—Winking & blinking
Winking & blinking
Winking & blinking
Like Doctor Johnson
O ho Said Doctor Johnson
To Scipio Africanus
If you dont own me a Philosopher
Ill kick your Roman Anus
449
A ha To Doctor Johnson
Said Scipio Africanus
Lift up my Roman Petticoatt
And kiss my Roman Anus
(Grand Chorus
And the Cellar goes down with a Step
[I cry my matches as far as Guild hall]
I cry my matches as far as Guild hallGod bless the duke & his aldermen all
[As I walkd forth one may morning]
As I walkd forth one may morning
To see the fields so pleasant & so gay
O there did I spy a young maiden sweet
To see the fields so pleasant & so gay
O there did I spy a young maiden sweet
Among the Violets that smell so sweet
Smell so sweet
Smell so sweet
Among the Violets that smell so sweet
Smell so sweet
Smell so sweet
Among the Violets that smell so sweet
450
[This frog he would a wooing ride]
This frog he would a wooing rideKitty alone Kitty alone
This frog he would a wooing ride
Kitty alone & I
Sing cock I cary Kitty alone
Kitty alone Kitty alone
Cock I cary Kitty alone
Kitty alone & I
[Fa ra so bo ro]
Fa ra so bo roFa ra bo ra
Sa ba ra ra ba rare roro
Sa ra ra ra bo ro ro ro
Radara
Sarapodo no flo ro
[Hail Matrimony made of Love]
Hail Matrimony made of Love
To thy wide gates how great a drove
On purpose to be yok'd do come
Widows & maids & Youths also
That lightly trip on beauty's toe
Or sit on beauty's bum
To thy wide gates how great a drove
On purpose to be yok'd do come
Widows & maids & Youths also
That lightly trip on beauty's toe
Or sit on beauty's bum
Hail fingerfooted lovely Creatures
The females of our human Natures
Formed to suckle all Mankind
Tis you that come in time of need
Without you we shoud never Breed
Or any Comfort find
The females of our human Natures
Formed to suckle all Mankind
Tis you that come in time of need
Without you we shoud never Breed
Or any Comfort find
For if a Damsel's blind or lame
Or Nature's hand has crooked her frame
Or if she's deaf or is wall eyed
Yet if her heart is well inclined
Some tender lover she shall find
That panteth for a Bride
Or Nature's hand has crooked her frame
451
Yet if her heart is well inclined
Some tender lover she shall find
That panteth for a Bride
The universal Poultice this
To cure whatever is amiss
In damsel or in Widow gay
It makes them smile it makes them skip
Like Birds just cured of the pip
They chirp & hop away
To cure whatever is amiss
In damsel or in Widow gay
It makes them smile it makes them skip
Like Birds just cured of the pip
They chirp & hop away
Then come ye Maidens come ye Swains
Come & be eased of all your pains
In Matrimony's Golden cage—
Come & be eased of all your pains
In Matrimony's Golden cage—
[To be or not to be]
To be or not to be
Of great capacity
Like Sir Isaac Newton
Or Locke or Doctor South
Or Sherlock upon death
Id rather be Sutton
Of great capacity
Like Sir Isaac Newton
Or Locke or Doctor South
Or Sherlock upon death
Id rather be Sutton
For he did build a house
For aged men & youth
With walls of brick & stone
He furnishd it within
With whatever he could win
And all his own
For aged men & youth
With walls of brick & stone
He furnishd it within
With whatever he could win
And all his own
He drew out of the Stocks
His money in a box
And sent his servant
To Green the Bricklayer
And to the Carpenter
He was so fervent
His money in a box
And sent his servant
To Green the Bricklayer
And to the Carpenter
He was so fervent
The chimneys were three score
The windows many more
And for convenience
He sinks & gutters made
And all the way he pavd
To hinder pestilence
The windows many more
And for convenience
452
And all the way he pavd
To hinder pestilence
Was not this a good man
Whose life was but a span
Whose name was Sutton
Whose life was but a span
Whose name was Sutton
As Locke or Doctor South
Or Sherlock upon Death
Or Sir Isaac Newton
Or Sherlock upon Death
Or Sir Isaac Newton
[This city & this country has brought forth many mayors]
This city & this country has brought forth many mayors
To sit in state & give forth laws out of their old oak chairs
With face as brown as any nut with drinking of strong ale
Good English hospitality O then it did not fail
To sit in state & give forth laws out of their old oak chairs
With face as brown as any nut with drinking of strong ale
Good English hospitality O then it did not fail
With scarlet gowns & broad gold lace would make a yeoman sweat
With stockings rolld above their knees & shoes as black as jet
With eating beef & drinking beer O they were stout & hale
Good English hospitality O then it did not fail
With stockings rolld above their knees & shoes as black as jet
With eating beef & drinking beer O they were stout & hale
Good English hospitality O then it did not fail
Thus sitting at the table wide the Mayor & Aldermen
Were fit to give law to the city each eat as much as ten
The hungry poor enterd the hall to eat good beef & ale
Good English hospitality O then it did not fail
Were fit to give law to the city each eat as much as ten
The hungry poor enterd the hall to eat good beef & ale
Good English hospitality O then it did not fail
Chap 11
453
[Upon a holy thursday their innocent faces clean]
Upon a holy thursday their innocent faces clean
The children walking two & two in grey & blue & green
Grey headed beadles walkd before with wands as white as snow
Till into the high dome of Pauls they like thames waters flow
The children walking two & two in grey & blue & green
Grey headed beadles walkd before with wands as white as snow
Till into the high dome of Pauls they like thames waters flow
O what a multitude they seemed, these flowers of London town
Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own
The hum of multitudes were there but multitudes of lambs
Thousands of little girls & boys raising their innocent hands
Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own
The hum of multitudes were there but multitudes of lambs
Thousands of little girls & boys raising their innocent hands
Then like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song
Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heavn among
Beneath them sit the revrend men the guardians of the poor
Then cherish pity lest you drive an angel from your door
Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heavn among
Beneath them sit the revrend men the guardians of the poor
Then cherish pity lest you drive an angel from your door
[When the tongues of children are heard on the green]
When the tongues of children are heard on the green
And laughing is heard on the hill
My heart is at rest within my breast
And every thing else is still
And laughing is heard on the hill
My heart is at rest within my breast
And every thing else is still
Then come home my children the sun is gone down
And the dews of night arise
Come Come leave off play & let us away
Till the morning appears in the skies
And the dews of night arise
Come Come leave off play & let us away
Till the morning appears in the skies
454
No No let us play for it is yet day
And we cannot go to sleep
Besides in the Sky the little birds fly
And the meadows are coverd with Sheep
And we cannot go to sleep
Besides in the Sky the little birds fly
And the meadows are coverd with Sheep
Well Well go & play till the light fades away
And then go home to bed
The little ones leaped & shouted & laughd
And all the hills ecchoed
And then go home to bed
The little ones leaped & shouted & laughd
And all the hills ecchoed
[O father father where are you going]
O father father where are you going
O do not walk so fast
O speak father speak to your little boy
Or else I shall be lost
O do not walk so fast
O speak father speak to your little boy
Or else I shall be lost
The night it was dark & no father was there
And the child was wet with dew
The mire was deep & the child did weep
And away the vapour flew
And the child was wet with dew
The mire was deep & the child did weep
And away the vapour flew
[O I say you Joe]
O I say you Joe
Throw us the ball
Ive a good mind to go
And leave you all
I never saw saw such a bowler
To bowl the ball in a tansey
And to clean it with my handkercher
Without saying a word
Throw us the ball
Ive a good mind to go
And leave you all
I never saw saw such a bowler
To bowl the ball in a tansey
And to clean it with my handkercher
Without saying a word
That Bills a foolish fellow
He has given me a black eye
He does not know how to handle a bat
Any more than a dog or a cat
He has knockd down the wicket
And broke the stumps
And runs without shoes to save his pumps
He has given me a black eye
He does not know how to handle a bat
Any more than a dog or a cat
He has knockd down the wicket
And broke the stumps
And runs without shoes to save his pumps
[Leave O leave [me] to my sorrows]
Leave O leave [me] to my sorrows
Here Ill sit & fade away
Till Im nothing but a spirit
And I lose this form of clay
Here Ill sit & fade away
Till Im nothing but a spirit
And I lose this form of clay
455
Then if chance along this forest
Any walk in pathless ways
Thro the gloom he'll see my shadow
Hear my voice upon the Breeze
Any walk in pathless ways
Thro the gloom he'll see my shadow
Hear my voice upon the Breeze
[Theres Doctor Clash]
Theres Doctor Clash
And Signior Falalasole
O they sweep in the cash
Into their purse hole
Fa me la sol La me fa Sol
And Signior Falalasole
O they sweep in the cash
Into their purse hole
Fa me la sol La me fa Sol
Great A little A
Bouncing B
Play away Play away
Your out of the key
Fa me la sol La me fa sol
Bouncing B
Play away Play away
Your out of the key
Fa me la sol La me fa sol
Musicians should have
A pair of very good ears
And Long fingers & thumbs
And not like clumsy bears
Fa me la sol La me fa sol
A pair of very good ears
And Long fingers & thumbs
And not like clumsy bears
Fa me la sol La me fa sol
Gentlemen Gentlemen
Rap Rap Rap
Fiddle Fiddle Fiddle
Clap Clap Clap
Fa me la sol La me fa sol
Rap Rap Rap
Fiddle Fiddle Fiddle
Clap Clap Clap
Fa me la sol La me fa sol
[A crowned king]
A crowned king,On a white horse sitting
With his trumpets sounding
And Banners flying
Thro the clouds of smoke he makes his way
And the shout of his thousands fills his heart with rejoicing & victory
And the shout of his thousands fills his heart with rejoicing & victory
Victory Victory—twas William the prince of Orange
| The Poetry and Prose of William Blake | |