The Complete Poems

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The Complete Poems Page 6

by William Blake


  ‘Crave or be heard; for plenty shall bring forth,

  ‘Cities shall sing, and vales in rich array

  ‘Shall laugh, whose fruitful laps bend down with fulness.

  ‘Our sons shall rise from thrones in joy,

  50 ‘Each one buckling on his armour; Morning

  ‘Shall be prevented by their swords gleaming,

  ‘And Evening hear their song of victory!

  ‘Their towers shall be built upon the rocks,

  ‘Their daughters shall sing, surrounded with shining spears!

  ‘Liberty shall stand upon the cliffs of Albion,

  ‘Casting her blue eyes over the green ocean;

  ‘Or, tow’ring, stand upon the roaring waves,

  ‘Stretching her mighty spear o’er distant lands;

  ‘While, with her eagle wings, she covereth

  ‘Fair Albion’s shore, and all her families’

  Dramatic Fragments

  PROLOGUE, INTENDED FOR A DRAMATIC PIECE OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH

  O For a voice like thunder, and a tongue

  To drown the throat of war! – When the senses

  Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,

  Who can stand? When the souls of the oppressed

  Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?

  When the whirlwind of fury comes from the

  Throne of God, when the frowns of his countenance

  Drive the nations together, who can stand?

  When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,

  10 And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;

  When souls are torn to everlasting fire,

  And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain,

  O who can stand? O who hath caused this?

  O who can answer at the throne of God?

  The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it!

  Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!

  PROLOGUE TO KING JOHN

  Justice hath heaved a sword to plunge in Albion’s breast; for Albion’s sins are crimson dy’d, and the red scourge follows her desolate sons! Then Patriot rose; full oft did Patriot rise, when Tyranny hath stain’d fair Albion’s breast with her own children’s gore. Round his majestic feet deep thunders roll; each heart does tremble, and each knee grows slack. The stars of heaven tremble: the roaring voice of war, the trumpet, calls to battle! Brother in brother’s blood must bathe, rivers of death! O land, most hapless!

  10 O beauteous island, how forsaken! Weep from thy

  silver fountains; weep from thy gentle rivers! The angel of the island weeps! Thy widowed virgins weep beneath thy shades! Thy aged fathers gird themselves for war! The sucking infant lives to die in battle; the weeping mother feeds him for the slaughter! The husbandman doth leave his bending harvest! Blood cries afar! The land doth sow itself! The glittering youth of courts must gleam in arms! The aged senators their ancient swords assume! The trembling sinews of old age must work the work of death

  20 against their progeny; for Tyranny hath stretch’d his

  purple arm, and ‘blood,’ he cries; ‘the chariots and the horses, the noise of shout, and dreadful thunder of the battle heard afar!’ – Beware, O Proud! thou shalt be humbled; thy cruel brow, thine iron heart is smitten, though lingering Fate is slow. O yet may Albion smile again, and stretch her peaceful arms, and raise her golden head, exultingly! Her citizens shall throng about her gates, her mariners shall sing upon the sea, and myriads shall to her temples crowd! Her sons shall joy as

  30 in the morning! Her daughters sing as to the rising year!

  A WAR SONG TO ENGLISHMEN

  Prepare, prepare, the iron helm of war,

  Bring forth the lots, cast in the spacious orb;

  Th’ Angel of Fate turns them with mighty hands,

  And casts them out upon the darken’d earth!

  Prepare, prepare.

  Prepare your hearts for Death’s cold hand! prepare

  Your souls for flight, your bodies for the earth!

  Prepare your arms for glorious victory!

  Prepare your eyes to meet a holy God!

  10 Prepare, prepare.

  Whose fatal scroll is that? Methinks ’tis mine!

  Why sinks my heart, why faultereth my tongue?

  Had I three lives, I’d die in such a cause,

  And rise, with ghosts, over the well-fought field.

  Prepare, prepare.

  The arrows of Almighty God are drawn!

  Angels of Death stand in the low’ring heavens!

  Thousands of souls must seek the realms of light,

  And walk together on the clouds of heaven!

  20 Prepare, prepare.

  Soldiers, prepare! Our cause is Heaven’s cause;

  Soldiers, prepare! Be worthy of our cause:

  Prepare to meet our fathers in the sky:

  Prepare, O troops, that are to fall to-day!

  Prepare, prepare.

  Alfred shall smile, and make his harp rejoice;

  The Norman William, and the learned Clerk,

  And Lion Heart, and black-brow’d Edward, with

  His loyal queen shall rise, and welcome us!

  30 Prepare, prepare.

  Poems Written in a Copy of Poetical Sketches

  SONG 1ST BY A SHEPHERD

  Welcome stranger to this place,

  Where joy doth sit on every bough,

  Paleness flies from every face,

  We reap not what we do not sow.

  Innocence doth like a Rose,

  Bloom on every Maidens cheek;

  Honor twines around her brows,

  The jewel Health adorns her neck.

  SONG 2ND BY A YOUNG SHEPHERD

  When the trees do laugh with our merry wit,

  And the green hill laughs with the noise of it,

  When the meadow laughs with lively green,

  And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene;

  When the greenwood laughs with the voice of joy,

  And the dimpling stream runs laughing by,

  When Edessa, and Lyca, and Emilie,

  With their sweet round mouths sing Ha, Ha, He.

  When the painted birds laugh in the shade

  10 Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread,

  Come live and be merry and join with me,

  To sing the sweet chorus of Ha, Ha, He.

  SONG 3RD BY AN OLD SHEPHERD

  When silver snow decks Sylvio’s cloaths

  And jewel hangs at shepherd’s nose,

  We can abide life’s pelting storm

  That makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

  Whilst Virtue is our walking staff,

  And Truth a lantern to our path;

  We can abide life’s pelting storm

  That makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

  Blow boisterous Wind, stern Winter frown,

  10 Innocence is a Winter’s gown;

  So clad, we’ll abide life’s pelting storm

  That makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

  SONGS FROM ‘AN ISLAND IN THE MOON’

  From CHAP 3d

  In the Moon as Phebus stood over his oriental Gardening O ay come Ill sing you a song said the Cynic, the trumpeter shit in his hat said the Epicurean & clapt it on his head said the Pythagorean

  Ill begin again said the Cynic

  Little Phebus came strutting in

  With his fat belly & his round chin

  What is it you would please to have

  Ho Ho

  10 I wont let it go at only so & so

  *

  Then the Cynic sung

  Honour & Genius is all I ask

  And I ask the Gods no more

  Here Aradobo suckd his under lip

  From CHAP 6

  Ah said Sipsop, I only wish Jack [Hunter] Tearguts had had the cutting of Plutarch he understands anatomy better than any of the Ancients hell plunge his knife up to the hilt in
a single drive and thrust his fist in, and all in the space of a Quarter of an hour. he does not mind their crying – tho they cry ever so hell Swear at them & keep them down with his fist & tell them that hell scrape their bones if they done lay still & be quiet – What the devil should the people in the hospital that have it done for

  10 nothing, make such a piece of work for

  Hang that said Suction let us have a Song

  Then [Sipsop sang] the Cynic sang

  When old corruption first begun

  Adornd in yellow vest

  He committed on flesh a whoredom

  O what a wicked beast

  2

  From them a callow babe did spring

  And old corruption smild

  To think his race should never end

  20 For now he had a child

  3

  He calld him Surgery & fed

  The babe with his own milk

  For flesh & he could neer agree

  She would not let him suck

  4

  And this he always kept in mind

  And formd a crooked knife

  And ran about with bloody hands

  To seek his mothers life

  5

  And as he ran to seek his mother

  30 He met with a dead woman

  He fell in love & married her

  A deed which is not common

  6

  She soon grew pregnant & brought forth

  Scurvy & spotted fever

  The father grind & skipt about

  And said I’m made for ever

  7

  For now I have procurd these imps

  Ill try experiments

  With that he tied poor scurvy down

  40 & stopt up all its vents

  8

  And when the child began to swell

  He shouted out aloud

  Ive found the dropsy out & soon

  Shall do the world more good

  9

  He took up fever by the neck

  And cut out all its spots

  And thro the holes which he had made

  He first discovered guts

  From CHAP 8

  Hear then the pride & knowledge of a Sailor

  His 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

  *

  Phebe drest like beauties Queen

  Jellicoe in faint peagreen

  Sitting all beneath a grot

  Where the little [lambs do] lambkins trot

  Maidens dancing loves a sporting

  10 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

  CHAP 9

  I say this evening [we’d] we’ll all get drunk. I say dash, an Anthem an Anthem, said Suction

  Lo the Bat with Leathern wing

  Winking & blinking

  Winking & blinking

  Winking & blinking

  Like Doctor Johnson

  Quid–––O ho Said Doctor Johnson

  To Scipio Africanus

  10 If you dont own me a Philosopher

  Ill kick your Roman Anus

  Suction – A ha To Doctor Johnson

  Said Scipio Africanus

  Lift up my Roman Petticoatt

  And kiss my Roman Anus

  And the Cellar goes down with a Step (Grand Chorus

  Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Hooooo my poooooor siiides I I should die if I was to live here said Scopprell Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho

  1st Vo

  Want Matches

  20 2d Vo

  Yes Yes Yes

  1st Vo

  Want Matches

  2d Vo

  No––––––––––

  1st Vo

  Want Matches

  2d Vo

  Yes Yes Yes

  1st Vo

  Want Matches

  2d Vo

  No––––––––––

  Here was Great confusion & disorder Aradobo said that the boys in the street sing something very pritty & funny [about London O no] about Matches Then Mrs Nannicantipot sung

  30 I cry my matches as far as Guild hall

  God bless the duke & his aldermen all

  Then sung Scopprell

  I ask the Gods no more

  no more no more

  Then Said Suction come Mr Lawgiver your song and the Lawgiver sung

  As I walkd forth one may morning

  To see the fields so pleasant & so gay

  O there did I spy a young maiden sweet

  40 Among the Violets that smell so sweet

  Smell so sweet

  Smell so sweet

  Among the Violets that smell so sweet

  Hang your Violets heres your Rum & water [sweeter] O ay said Tilly Lally. Joe Bradley & I was going along one day in the Sugar house Joe Bradley saw for he had but one eye saw a treacle Jar So he goes of his blind side & dips his hand up to the shoulder in treacle. here lick lick lick said he Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha For he had but one eye

  50 Ha Ha Ha Ho then sung Scopprell

  And I ask the Gods no more

  no more no more

  no more no more

  Miss Gittipin said he you sing like a harpsichord. let your bounty descend to our fair ears and favour us with a fine song

  then she sung

  This frog he would a wooing ride

  Kitty alone Kitty alone

  60 This frog he would a wooing ride

  Kitty alone & I

  [This frog] Sing cock I cary Kitty alone

  Kitty alone Kitty alone

  Cock I cary Kitty alone

  Kitty alone & I

  Charming truly elegant said Scopprell

  And I ask the gods no more

  Hang your Serious Songs, said Sipsop & he sung as follows

  Fa ra so bo ro

  70 Fa ra bo ra

  Sa ba ra ra ba rare roro

  Sa ra ra ra bo ro ro ro

  Radara

  Sarapodo no flo ro

  Hang Italian songs lets have English said Quid [Sing a Mathematical Song Obtuse Angle then he sung] English Genius for ever here I go

  Hail Matrimony made of Love

  80 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

  90 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

  The universal Poultice this

  To cure whatever is amiss

  In damsel or in Widow gay

  100 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 –

  I [None of] Go & be hanged said Scopprel how can you have the face to make game of Matrimony [What you skipping flea how dare ye? Ill dash you through your chair says the Cynic This Quid (cries out Miss Gittipin) always

  110 spoils good company in this manner & its a shame]

  Then Quid calld upon Obtuse Angle for a Song & he wiping his face & looking on
the corner of the cieling Sang

  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

  For he did build a house

  120 For aged men & youth

  With walls of brick & stone

  He furnished 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

  130 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

  Was not this a good man

  Whose life was but a span

  Whose name was Sutton

  140 As Locke or Doctor South

  Or Sherlock upon Death

  Or Sir Isaac Newton

  The Lawgiver was very attentive & begd to have it sung over again & again till the company were tired & insisted on the Lawgiver singing a song himself which he readily complied with

  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

  150 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 and

  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

  Here they gave a shout & the company broke up

  From CHAP 11

  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 water

  flow

  O what a multitude they seemd, these flowers of

 

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