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 |  |
Eternity
He who binds to himself a joyDoes the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise
[I heard an Angel singing]
I heard an Angel singing
When the day was springing
Mercy Pity Peace
Is the worlds release
When the day was springing
Mercy Pity Peace
Is the worlds release
462
Thus he sung all day
Over the new mown hay
Till the sun went down
And haycocks looked brown
Over the new mown hay
Till the sun went down
And haycocks looked brown
I heard a Devil curse
Over the heath & the furze
Mercy could be no more
If there was nobody poor
Over the heath & the furze
Mercy could be no more
If there was nobody poor
And pity no more could be
If all were as happy as we
At his curse the sun went down
And the heavens gave a frown
If all were as happy as we
At his curse the sun went down
And the heavens gave a frown
Down pourd the heavy rain
Over the new reapd grain
And Miseries increase
Is Mercy Pity Peace
Over the new reapd grain
And Miseries increase
Is Mercy Pity Peace
[Silent Silent Night]
Silent Silent Night
Quench the holy light
Of thy torches bright
Quench the holy light
Of thy torches bright
For possessd of Day
Thousand spirits stray
That sweet joys betray
Thousand spirits stray
That sweet joys betray
Why should joys be sweet
Used with deceit
Nor with sorrows meet
Used with deceit
Nor with sorrows meet
But an honest joy
Does itself destroy
For a harlot coy
Does itself destroy
For a harlot coy
To Nobodaddy
Why art thou silent & invisible
Father of Jealousy
Why dost thou hide thyself in clouds
From every searching Eye
Father of Jealousy
Why dost thou hide thyself in clouds
From every searching Eye
Why darkness & obscurity
In all thy words & laws
That none dare eat the fruit but from
In all thy words & laws
That none dare eat the fruit but from
463
The wily serpents jaws
Or is it because Secrecy
gains females loud applause
Or is it because Secrecy
gains females loud applause
[Are not the joys of morning sweeter]
Are not the joys of morning sweeter
Than the joys of night
And are the vigrous joys of youth
Ashamed of the light
Than the joys of night
And are the vigrous joys of youth
Ashamed of the light
Let age & sickness silent rob
The vineyards in the night
But those who burn with vigrous youth
Pluck fruits before the light
The vineyards in the night
But those who burn with vigrous youth
Pluck fruits before the light
[How came pride in Man]
How came pride in Man
From Mary it began
How Contempt & Scorn
From Mary it began
How Contempt & Scorn
What a world is Man
His Earth
His Earth
[How to know Love from Deceit]
Love to faults is always blind
Always is to joy inclind
Lawless wingd & unconfind
And breaks all chains from every mind
Always is to joy inclind
Lawless wingd & unconfind
And breaks all chains from every mind
Deceit to secresy confind
Lawful cautious & refind
To every thing but interest blind
And forges fetters for the mind
Lawful cautious & refind
To every thing but interest blind
And forges fetters for the mind
The wild flowers song
As I wanderd the forest
The green leaves among
I heard a wild flower
Singing a song
The green leaves among
I heard a wild flower
Singing a song
I slept in the earth
In the silent night
I murmurd my fears
And I felt delight
In the silent night
I murmurd my fears
And I felt delight
464
In the morning I went
As rosy as morn
To seek for new Joy
But I met with scorn
As rosy as morn
To seek for new Joy
But I met with scorn
Soft Snow
I walked abroad in a snowy dayI askd the soft snow with me to play
She playd & she melted in all her prime
And the winter calld it a dreadful crime
Merlins prophecy
The harvest shall flourish in wintry weather
When two virginities meet together
When two virginities meet together
The King & the Priest must be tied in a tether
Before two virgins can meet together
Before two virgins can meet together
[Why should I care for the men of thames]
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
Or the cheating waves of charterd streams
Or shrink at the little blasts of fear
That the hireling blows into my ear
Tho born on the cheating banks of Thames
Tho 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
Tho 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
Day
The Sun arises in the EastClothd in robes of blood & gold
Swords & spears & wrath increast
All around his bosom rolld
Crownd with warlike fires & raging desires
[The sword sung on the barren heath]
The sword sung on the barren heathThe sickle in the fruitful field
The sword he sung a song of death
But could not make the sickle yield
465
[Abstinence sows sand all over]
Abstinence sows sand all overThe ruddy limbs & flaming hair
But Desire Gratified
Plants fruits of life & beauty there
[In a wife I would desire]
In a wife I would desireWhat in whores is always found
The lineaments of Gratified desire
Lacedemonian Instruction
Come hither my boy tell me what thou seest thereA fool tangled in a religious snare
[An old maid early eer I knew]
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
Ought but the love that on me grew
And now Im coverd oer & oer
And wish that I had been a Whore
O I cannot cannot find
The undaunted courage of a Virgin Mind
For Early I in love was crost
Before my flower of love was lost
The undaunted courage of a Virgin Mind
For Early I in love was crost
Before my flower of love was lost
| The Poetry and Prose of William Blake | |