The Complete Poems

by William Blake

  London town

  Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own

  The hum of multitudes were there but multitudes of

  lambs

  [And all in order sit waiting the chief chanters commands]

  Thousands of little girls & boys raising their innocent hands

  10 [When the whole multitude of innocents their voices raise

  Like angels on the throne of heaven raising the voice of

  praise]

  [Let Cherubim & Seraphim now raise their voices high]

  Then like a mighty wind they raise to heavn 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

  After this they all sat silent for a quarter of an hour [&

  Mrs Sigtagatist] & Mrs Nannicantipot said it puts me in

  Mind of my [grand] mothers song

  [The voice/The tongues] When the tongues of children are

  20 heard on the green

  And laughing [upon] is heard on the hill

  My heart is at rest within my breast

  And every thing else is still

  Then come home [children the sun is down] 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

  No No let us play for it is yet day

  And we cannot [sleep till its dark] go to sleep

  30 [The flocks are at play & we cant go away]

  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

  Then [Miss Gittipin] [Tilly Lolly sung] [Quid] sung

  Quid

  O father father where are you going

  O do not walk so fast

  40 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

  Here nobody could sing any longer, till Tilly Lally pluckd up a spirit & he sung.

  O I say you Joe

  Throw us the ball

  50 Ive a good mind to go

  And leave you all

  I never saw saw such a bowler

  To bowl the ball in a [turd] tansey

  And to clean it with my handkercher

  Without saying a word

  That Bills a foolish fellow

  [To hit me with the bat]

  He has given me a black eye

  He does not know how to handle a bat

  60 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

  Here a laugh began and Miss Gittipin sung

  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

  Then if chance along this forest

  70 Any walk in pathless ways

  Thro the gloom he’ll see my shadow

  Hear my voice upon the Breeze

  The Lawgiver all the while sat delighted to see them in such a serious humour Mr Scopprell said he you must be acquainted with a great many songs. O dear sir Ho Ho Ho I am no singer I must beg of one of these tender hearted ladies to sing for me – they all declined & he was forced to sing himself

  Theres Doctor Clash

  80 And Signior Falalasole

  O they sweep in the cash

  Into their purse hole

  Fa me la sol La me fa Sol

  [(If) How many Blackamoors

  Could sing with their thick lips]

  Great A little A

  Bouncing B

  Play away Play away

  Your out of the key

  90 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

  Gentlemen Gentlemen

  Rap Rap Rap

  Fiddle Fiddle Fiddle

  Clap Clap Clap

  100 Fa me la sol La me fa sol

  Hm said the Lawgiver, funny enough lets have handels

  waterpiece then Sipsop sung

  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

  110 Victory Victory – twas William the prince of Orange

  THERE IS NO NATURAL RELIGION

  [a]

  The Argument. Man has no notion of moral fitness but from Education. Naturally he is only a natural organ subject to Sense.

  I Man cannot naturally Percieve. but through his natural or bodily organs.

  II Man by his reasoning power. can only compare & judge of what he has already perciev’d.

  III From a perception of only 3 senses or 3 elements none could deduce a fourth or fifth

  IV None could have other than natural or organic thoughts if he had none but organic perceptions

  V Mans desires are limited by his perceptions. none can desire what he has not perciev’d

  VI The desires & perceptions of man untaught by any thing but organs of sense, must be limited to objects of sense.

  Conclusion. If it were not for the Poetic or Prophetic character the Philosophic & Experimental would soon be at the ratio of all things, & stand still unable to do other than repeat the same dull round over again

  [b]

  I Mans perceptions are not bounded by organs of perception. he percieves more than sense (tho’ ever so acute) can discover.

  II Reason or the ratio of all we have already known. is not the same that it shall be when we know more.

  [III lacking]

  IV The bounded is loathed by its possessor. The same dull round even of a univer[s]e would soon become a mill with complicated wheels

  V If the many become the same as the few when possess’d, More! More! is the cry of a mistaken soul, less than All cannot satisfy Man.

  VI If any could desire what he is incapable of possessing, despair must be his eternal lot.

  VII The desire of Man being Infinite the possession is Infinite & himself Infinite

  Application. He who sees the Infinite in all things sees God. He who sees the Ratio only sees himself only.

  Therefore God becomes as we are, that we may be as he is

  ALL RELIGIONS ARE ONE

  The Voice of one crying in the Wilderness

  The Argument. As the true method of knowledge is experiment the true faculty of knowing must be the faculty which experiences. This faculty I treat of.

  PRINCIPLE1st That the Poetic Genius is the true Man. and that the body or outward form of Man is derived from the Poetic Genius. Likewise that the forms of all things are derived from their Genius, which by the Ancients was call’d an Angel & Spirit & Demon.

  PRINCIPLE 2d As all men are alike in outward form, So (and with the same infinite variety) all are alike in the Poetic Genius

  PRINCIPLE 3d No man can think write or speak from his heart, but he must intend truth. Thus all sects of Philosophy are from the Poetic Genius adapted to the weaknesses of every individual

  PRINCI
PLE 4 As none by travelling over known lands can find out the unknown. So from already acquired knowledge Man could not acquire more. therefore an universal Poetic Genius exists

  PRINCIPLE 5 The Religeons of all Nations are derived from each Nation’s different reception of the Poetic Genius which is every where call’d the Spirit of Prophecy.

  PRINCIPLE 6 The Jewish & Christian Testaments are An original derivation from the Poetic Genius. this is necessary from the confined nature of bodily sensation

  PRINCIPLE 7th As all men are alike (tho’ infinitely various) So all Religions & as all similars have one source.

  The true Man is the source he being the Poetic Genius

  THE BOOK OF THEL

  PLATE i

  THEL’S MOTTO

  Does the Eagle know what is in the pit?

  Or wilt thou go ask the Mole:

  Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod?

  Or Love in a golden bowl?

  PLATE I

  THEL

  I

  The daughters of Mne Seraphim led round their sunny flocks,

  All but the youngest. she in paleness sought the secret air.

  To fade away like morning beauty from her mortal day:

  Down by the river of Adona her soft voice is heard:

  And thus her gentle lamentation falls like morning dew.

  O life of this our spring! why fades the lotus of the water?

  Why fade these children of the spring? born but to smile & fall.

  Ah! Thel is like a watry bow, and like a parting cloud,

  Like a reflection in a glass. like shadows in the water.

  10 Like dreams of infants. like a smile upon an infants face,

  Like the doves voice, like transient day, like music in the air;

  Ah! gentle may I lay me down, and gentle rest my head.

  And gentle sleep the sleep of death. and gentle hear the voice

  Of him that walketh in the garden in the evening time.

  The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grass

  Answer’d the lovely maid and said: I am a watry weed,

  And I am very small, and love to dwell in lowly vales;

  So weak, the gilded butterfly scarce perches on my head

  Yet I am visited from heaven. and he that smiles on all.

  Walks in the valley. and each morn over me spreads his

  20 hand

  Saying, rejoice thou humble grass, thou new-born lilly flower,

  Thou gentle maid of silent valleys. and of modest brooks;

  For thou shalt be clothed in light, and fed with morning manna:

  Till summers heat melts thee beside the fountains and the springs

  To flourish in eternal vales: then why should Thel complain,

  PLATE 2

  Why should the mistress of the vales of Har, utter a sigh.

  She ceasd & smild in tears, then sat down in her silver shrine.

  Thel answerd. O thou little virgin of the peaceful valley.

  Giving to those that cannot crave, the voiceless, the o’ertired.

  Thy breath doth nourish the innocent lamb, he smells thy milky garments,

  He crops thy flowers. while thou sittest smiling in his face,

  Wiping his mild and meekin mouth from all contagious taints.

  Thy wine doth purify the golden honey, thy perfume,

  Which thou dost scatter on every little blade of grass that springs

  10 Revives the milked cow, & tames the fire-breathing steed.

  But Thel is like a faint cloud kindled at the rising sun:

  I vanish from my pearly throne, and who shall find my place.

  Queen of the vales the Lilly answerd, ask the tender cloud,

  And it shall tell thee why it glitters in the morning sky,

  And why it scatters its bright beauty thro’ the humid air.

  Descend O little cloud & hover before the eyes of Thel.

  The Cloud descended, and the Lilly bowd her modest head:

  And went to mind her numerous charge among the verdant grass.

  PLATE 3

  II

  O little Cloud the virgin said, I charge thee tell to me,

  Why thou complainest not when in one hour thou fade away:

  Then we shall seek thee but not find; ah Thel is like to Thee.

  I pass away. yet I complain, and no one hears my voice.

  The Cloud then shew’d his golden head & his bright form emerg’d,

  Hovering and glittering on the air before the face of Thel.

  O virgin know’st thou not. our steeds drink of the golden springs

  Where Luvah doth renew his horses: look’st thou on my youth,

  And fearest thou because I vanish and am seen no more.

  10 Nothing remains; O maid I tell thee, when I pass away,

  It is to tenfold life, to love, to peace, and raptures holy:

  Unseen descending, weigh my light wings upon balmy flowers;

  And court the fair eyed dew. to take me to her shining tent;

  The weeping virgin, trembling kneels before the risen sun,

  Till we arise link’d in a golden band, and never part;

  But walk united, bearing food to all our tender flowers

  Dost thou O little Cloud? I fear that I am not like thee;

  For I walk through the vales of Har. and smell the sweetest flowers:

  But I feed not the little flowers: I hear the warbling birds.

  20 But I feed not the warbling birds. they fly and seek their food;

  But Thel delights in these no more because I fade away.

  And all shall say. without a use this shining woman liv’d

  Or did she only live. to be at death the food of worms.

  The Cloud reclind upon his airy throne and answer’d thus.

  Then if thou art the food of worms, O virgin of the skies,

  How great thy use. how great thy blessing; every thing that lives,

  Lives not alone. nor for itself: fear not and I will call

  The weak worm from its lowly bed, and thou shalt hear its voice.

  Come forth worm of the silent valley, to thy pensive queen.

  30 The helpless worm arose, and sat upon the Lillys leaf,

  And the bright Cloud saild on, to find his partner in the vale.

  PLATE 4

  III

  Then Thel astonish’d view’d the Worm upon its dewy bed.

  Art thou a Worm? image of weakness. art thou but a Worm?

  I see thee like an infant wrapped in the Lillys leaf:

  Ah weep not little voice, thou can’st not speak. but thou can’st weep;

  Is this a Worm? I see thee lay helpless & naked: weeping,

  And none to answer, none to cherish thee with mothers smiles.

  The Clod of Clay heard the Worms voice, & raisd her pitying head;

  She bow’d over the weeping infant. and her life exhal’d

  In milky fondness. then on Thel she fix’d her humble eyes.

  10 O beauty of the vales of Har. we live not for ourselves,

  Thou seest me the meanest thing, and so I am indeed;

  My bosom of itself is cold. and of itself is dark,

  PLATE 5

  But he that loves the lowly. pours his oil upon my head.

  And kisses me, and binds his nuptial bands around my breast.

  And says; Thou mother of my children, I have loved thee.

  And I have given thee a crown that none can take away

  But how this is sweet maid, I know not. and I cannot know,

  I ponder. and I cannot ponder; yet I live and love.

  The daughter of beauty wip’d her pitying tears with her

  white veil,

  And said. Alas! I knew not this, and therefore did I weep:

  That God would love a Worm I knew. and punish the evil foot

  10 That wilful, bruis’d its helpless form: but that he cherish’d it

  With milk and oil, I never knew; and therefore did I weep.
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  And I complaind in the mild air, because I fade away.

  And lay me down in thy cold bed, and leave my shining lot.

  Queen of the vales, the matron Clay answerd; I heard thy sighs,

  And all thy moans flew o’er my roof. but I have call’d them down:

  Wilt thou O Queen enter my house. ’tis given thee to enter,

  And to return; fear nothing. enter with thy virgin feet.

  PLATE 6

  IV

  The eternal gates terrific porter lifted the northern bar:

  Thel enter’d in & saw the secrets of the land unknown;

  She saw the couches of the dead, & where the fibrous roots

  Of every heart on earth infixes deep its restless twists:

  A land of sorrows & of tears where never smile was seen.

  She wanderd in the land of clouds thro’ valleys dark, listning

  Dolours & lamentations: waiting oft beside a dewy grave

  She stood in silence. listning to the voices of the ground,

  Till to her own grave plot she came. & there she sat down.

  10 And heard this voice of sorrow breathed from the hollow pit.

  Why cannot the Ear be closed to its own destruction?

  Or the glistning Eye to the poison of a smile!

  Why are Eyelids stord with arrows ready drawn,

  Where a thousand fighting men in ambush lie?

  Or an Eye of gifts & graces, show’ring fruits & coined gold!

  Why a Tongue impress’d with honey from every wind?

  Why an Ear, a whirlpool fierce to draw creations in?

  Why a Nostril wide inhaling terror trembling & affright

  Why a tender curb upon the youthful burning boy!

  10 Why a little curtain of flesh on the bed of our desire?

  The Virgin started from her seat, & with a shriek.

  Fled back unhinderd till she came into the vales of Har

  The End

  TIRIEL

  1

  And Aged Tiriel. stood before the Gates of his beautiful palace

  [But dark were his once piercing eyes]

  With Myratana. once the Queen of all the western plains

  But now his eyes were darkned. & his wife fading in death

  They stood before their once delightful palace. & thus the Voice

  Of aged Tiriel. arose. that his sons might hear in their gates

  Accursed race of Tiriel. behold your [aged] father

  Come forth & look on her that bore you. come you accursed sons.