The Complete Poems

by William Blake

  Among the Clouds to tremble in the wind in solitude

  Where is the voice that lately woke the desart Where the Face

  That wept among the clouds & where the voice that shall reply

  20 No other living thing is here. The Sea the Earth. the Heaven

  And Enion desolate where art thou Tharmas O return

  Three days she waild & three dark nights sitting among the Rocks

  While the bright spectre hid himself among the ?trailing clouds

  Then sleep fell on her eyelids in a Chasm of the Valley

  The Sixteenth morn the Spectre stood before her manifest]

  [The Spectre thus spoke. (Art thou not my slave & shalt thou dare

  To smite me with thy tongue beware lest I sting also thee)

  Who art thou Diminutive husk & shell

  Broke from my bonds I scorn my prison I scorn & yet I love

  30 If thou hast sinnd & art polluted know that I am pure

  And unpolluted & will bring to rigid strict account

  All thy past deeds hear what I tell thee! mark it well! remember!

  This world is (Mine) Thine in which thou dwellest that within thy soul

  That dark & dismal infinite where Thought roams up & down

  Is (thine) Mine & there thou goest when with one Sting of my tongue

  Envenomed thou rollst inward to the place (of death & hell) whence I emergd

  She trembling answerd Wherefore was I born & what am I

  A sorrow & a fear a living torment & naked Victim

  I thought to weave a Covering (from) for my Sins from wrath of Tharmas]

  PAGE 7

  [Examining the sins of Tharmas I (have) soon found my own

  O slay me not thou art his Wrath embodied in Deceit]

  [I thought Tharmas a Sinner & murderd his Emanations

  His secret loves & Graces Ah me wretched What have I done

  (But) For now I find that all those Emanations were my Childrens Souls

  And I have murderd them with Cruelty above atonement

  Those that remain have fled from my cruelty into the desarts

  (Among wild beasts to roam) And thou the delusive

  tempter to these deeds sittest before me

  (But where is/Thou art not) And art thou Tharmas all thy

  soft delusive beauty cannot

  10 Tempt me to murder (honest love) my own soul & wipe my tears & smile

  In this thy world (for ah! how) not mine! tho dark I feel my world within

  The Spectre said Thou sinful Woman. was it thy Desire

  That I should hide thee with my power & delight thee with my beauty

  And now thou darknest in my presence, never from my sight

  Shalt thou depart to weep in secret. In my jealous wings

  I evermore will hold thee when thou goest out or comest in

  Tis thou has darkend all My World O Woman lovely bane]

  [Thus they contended all the day among the Caves of Tharmas

  Twisting in fearful forms & howling, howling harsh shrieking

  20 Howling harsh shrieking, mingling their bodies join in burning anguish]

  Opening his rifted rocks mingling together they join in burning anguish

  Mingling his [horrible/terrible] horrible [brightness] darkness with her tender limbs then high she soard

  Shrieking above the ocean: a bright wonder that [Beulah] nature shudderd at

  Half Woman & half [Spectre/ Serpent] desart all his [lovely changing] darkly waving colours mix

  With her fair crystal clearness in her lips & cheeks his [poisons] metals rose

  In blushes like the morning & his [scaly armour] rocky features softning

  A [monster] wonder lovely in the heavens or wandring on the earth

  With [Spectre] female voice [incessant wailing in incessant

  thirst] warbling upon the hollow vales

  Beauty all blushing with desire [mocking her fell despair] a self enjoying wonder

  30 [Wandering desolate, a wonder abhorr’d by Gods & men]

  For Enion brooded groaning loud the rough seas vegetate.

  Golden rocks rise from the [vortex] vast

  And thus her voice. Glory, delight: & sweet enjoyment born

  To mild Eternity shut in a threefold shape delightful

  To wander in sweet solitude enrapturd at every wind

  PAGE 8

  Till with fierce pain she brought forth on the rocks her sorrow & woe

  Behold two little Infants wept upon the desolate wind.

  The first state weeping they began & helpless as a wave

  Beaten along its sightless way growing enormous in its motion to

  Its utmost goal, till strength from Enion like richest summer shining

  Raisd the [bright/fierce] bright boy & girl with glories

  from their heads out beaming

  Drawing forth drooping mothers pity drooping mothers sorrow

  [But those in Great Eternity Met in the Council of God

  As One Man hovering over Gilead & Hermon

  10 He is the Good Shepherd He is the Lord & Master

  To Create Man Morning by Morning to Give gifts at Noon day]

  [Enion brooded, oer the rocks, the rough rocks groaning vegetate

  Such power was given to the Solitary wanderer.

  The barked Oak, the long limbd Beech; the Ches’nut tree; the Pine.

  The Pear tree mild, the frowning Walnut, the sharp Crab, & Apple sweet,

  The rough bark opens; twittering peep forth little beaks & wings

  The Nightingale, the Goldfinch, Robin, Lark, Linnet & Thrush

  The Goat leap’d from the craggy cliff the Sheep awoke from the mould

  Upon its green stalk rose the Corn, waving innumerable

  20 Infolding the bright Infants from the desolating winds]

  They sulk upon her breast her hair became like snow on mountains

  Weaker & weaker, weeping woful, wearier and wearier

  Faded & her bright Eyes decayd melted with pity & love

  PAGE 9

  And then they wander’d far away she sought for them in vain

  In weeping blindness stumbling she followd them oer rocks & mountains

  Rehumanizing from the Spectre in pangs of maternal love

  Ingrate they wanderd scorning her drawing her [life;

  ingrate] Spectrous Life

  Repelling her away & away by a dread repulsive power

  Into Non Entity revolving round in dark despair.

  And drawing in the Spectrous life in pride and haughty joy

  Thus Enion gave them all her spectrous life [in deep despair]

  Then [Ona] Eno a daughter of Beulah took a Moment of Time

  10 And drew in out to [twenty years] Seven thousand years

  with much care & affliction

  And many tears & in the [twenty] Every year [gave

  visions toward heaven] made windows into Eden

  She also took an atom of space & opend its center

  Into Infinitude & ornamented it with wondrous art

  Astonishd sat her Sisters of Beulah to see her soft affections

  To Enion & her children & they ponderd these things wondring

  And they Alternate kept watch over the Youthful terrors

  They saw not yet the Hand Divine for it was not yet reveald

  But they went on in Silent Hope & Feminine repose

  But Los & Enitharmon delighted in the Moony spaces of [Ona] Eno

  20 Nine Times they livd among the forests, feeding on sweet fruits

  And nine bright Spaces wanderd weaving mazes of delight

  Snaring the wild Goats for their milk they eat the flesh of Lambs

  A male & female naked & ruddy as the pride of summer

  Alternate Love & Hate his breast; hers Scorn & Jealousy

  In embryon passions. they kiss’d not nor embrac’d for shame & fear

  His head beamd light & in his vigorous voice was prophecy

&n
bsp; He could controll the times & seasons, & the days & years

  She could controll the spaces, regions, desart, flood & forest

  But had no power to weave a Veil of covering for her Sins

  30 She drave the Females all away from Los

  And Los drave all the Males from her away

  They wanderd long, till they sat down upon the margind sea.

  Conversing with the visions of Beulah in dark slumberous bliss

  [NIGHT THE SECOND]

  [Nine years they view the ?gleaming spheres ?reading the Visions of Beulah]

  But the two youthful wonders wanderd in the world of Tharmas

  Thy name is Enitharmon; said the [bright] fierce prophetic boy

  While thy mild voice fills all these Caverns with sweet harmony

  O how [thy] our Parents sit & [weep] mourn in their silent secret bowers

  PAGE 10

  But Enitharmon answerd with a dropping tear & [?smiling] frowning

  [Bright] Dark as a dewy morning when the crimson light appears

  To make us happy [how they] let them weary their immortal powers

  While we draw in their sweet delights while we return them scorn

  On scorn to feed our discontent; for if we grateful prove

  They will withhold sweet love, whose food is thorns & bitter roots.

  We hear the warlike clarions we view the turning spheres

  Yet Thou in indolence reposest holding me in bonds

  Heart! will sing a Song of Death! it is a Song of Vala!

  10 The Fallen Man takes his repose: Urizen sleeps in the porch

  Luvah and Vala [wake & fly] woke & flew up from the Human Heart

  Into the Brain; from thence upon the pillow Vala slumber’d.

  And Luvah siez’d the Horses of Light, & rose into the Chariot of Day

  Sweet laughter siezd me in my sleep! silent & close I laughd

  For in the visions of Vala I walkd with the mighty Fallen One

  I heard his voice among the branches, & among sweet flowers.

  Why is the light of Enitharmon darken’d in [her] dewy morn

  Why is the silence of Enitharmon a [cloud] terror & her

  smile a whirlwind

  Uttering this darkness in my halls, in the pillars of my Holy-ones

  20 Why dost thou weep as Vala? & wet thy veil with dewy tears,

  In slumbers of my night-repose, infusing a false morning?

  Driving the Female Emanations all away from Los

  I have refused to look upon the Universal Vision

  And wilt thou slay with death him who devotes himself to thee

  [If thou drivest all the (Males) Females away from (Vala)

  Luvah I will drive all

  The Males away from thee]

  Once born for the sport & amusement of Man now born

  to drink up all his Powers

  PAGE II

  I heard the sounding sea; I heard the voice weaker and weaker;

  The voice came & went like a dream, I awoke in my sweet bliss.

  Then Los smote her upon the Earth twas long eer she revivd

  [Los] He answer’d, darkning [with foul] more with

  indignation hid in smiles

  I die not Enitharmon tho thou singst thy Song of Death

  Nor shalt thou me torment For I behold the [Eternal] Fallen Man

  Seeking to comfort Vala, she will not be comforted

  She rises from his throne and seeks the shadows of her garden

  Weeping for Luvah lost, in the bloody beams of your false morning

  10 Sickning lies the [Eternal] Fallen Man his head sick his heart faint

  Mighty atchievement of your power! Beware the

  punishment

  [Refusing to behold the Divine image which all behold

  And live thereby, he is sunk down into a deadly sleep

  But we immortal in our own strength survive by stern debate

  Till we have drawn the Lamb of God into a mortal form

  And that he must be born is certain for One must be All

  And comprehend within himself all things both small & great

  We therefore for whose sake all things aspire to be & live

  Will so recieve the Divine Image that amongst the Reprobate

  20 He may be devoted to Destruction from his mothers womb]

  I see, invisible descend into the Gardens of Vala

  Luvah walking on the winds, I see the invisible knife

  I see the shower of blood: I see the swords & spears of futurity

  Tho in the Brain of Man we live, & in his circling Nerves.

  Tho’ this bright world of all our joy is in the Human Brain.

  Where Urizen & all his Hosts hang their immortal lamps

  Thou neer shalt leave this cold expanse where watry Tharmas mourns

  So spoke Los. Scorn & Indignation rose upon Enitharmon

  Then Enitharmon reddning fierce stretchd her immortal hands

  30 Descend O Urizen descend with horse & chariots

  Threaten not me O visionary thine the punishment

  The Human Nature shall no more remain nor Human acts

  Form the [free] rebellious Spirits of Heaven. but War &

  Princedom & Victory & Blood

  PAGE 12

  Night darkend as she spoke! a shuddring ran from East to West

  A Groan was heard on high. The warlike clarions ceast. the Spirits

  Of Luvah & Vala shudderd in their Orb: an orb of blood!

  Eternity groand & was troubled at the Image of Eternal Death

  The Wandering Man bow’d his faint head and Urizen descended

  And the one must have murderd the other if he had not descended

  Indignant muttering low thunders; Urizen descended

  Gloomy sounding, Now I am God from Eternity to Eternity

  Sullen sat Los plotting Revenge. Silent he [Urizen] eye’d the Prince

  10 Of Light. Silent the prince of Light viewd Los. at length a brooded

  Smile broke from Urizen for Enitharmon brightend more & more

  Sullen he lowerd on Enitharmon but he smild on Los

  Saying Thou art the Lord of Luvah into thine hands I give

  The prince of Love the murderer his soul is in thine hands

  Pity not Vala for she pitied not the Eternal Man

  Nor pity thou the cries of Luvah. Lo these starry hosts

  They are thy servants if thou wilt obey my awful Law

  Los answered furious art thou one of those who when

  most complacent

  Mean mischief most. If you are such Lo! I am also such

  20 One must be master. try thy Arts I also will try mine

  For I percieve Thou hast Abundance which I claim as mine

  Urizen startled stood but not Long soon he cried

  Obey my voice young Demon I am God from Eternity to Eternity

  Thus Urizen spoke collected in himself in awful pride

  Art thou a visionary of Jesus the soft delusion of Eternity

  Lo I am God the terrible destroyer & not the Saviour

  Why should the Divine Vision compell the sons of Eden

  to forego each his own delight to war against his Spectre

  The Spectre is the Man the rest is only delusion & fancy

  30 So spoke the Prince of Light & sat beside the Seat of Los

  Upon the sandy shore rested his chariot of fire

  Ten thousand thousand were his hosts of spirits on the wind:

  Ten thousand thousand glittering Chariots shining in the sky:

  They pour upon the golden shore beside the silent ocean.

  Rejoicing in the Victory & the heavens were filld with blood

  The Earth spread forth her table wide. the Night a silver cup

  Fill’d with the wine of anguish waited at the golden feast

  But the bright Sun was not as yet; he filling all the expanse

  Slept as a bird in the blue shell that soon shall burst away


  40 Los saw the wound of his blow he saw he pitied he wept

  Los now repented that he had smitten Enitharmon he felt love

  Arise in all his Veins he threw his arms around her loins

  To heal the wound of his smiting

  They eat the fleshly bread, they drank the nervous wine

  PAGE 13

  They listend to the Elemental Harps & Sphery Song

  They view’d the dancing Hours, quick sporting thro’ the sky

  With winged radiance scattering joys thro the ever changing light

  But Luvah & Vala standing in the bloody sky

  On high remaind alone forsaken in fierce jealousy

  They stood above the heavens forsaken desolate suspended in blood

  Descend they could not. nor from Each other avert their eyes

  Eternity appeard above them as One Man infolded

  In Luvah[s] robes of blood & bearing all his afflictions

  10 As the sun shines down on the misty earth Such was the Vision

  But purple night and crimson morning & golden day descending

  Thro’ the clear changing atmosphere display’d green fields among

  The varying clouds, like paradises stretch’d in the expanse

  With towns & villages and temples, tents sheep-folds and pastures

  Where dwell the children of the elemental worlds in harmony.

  Not long in harmony they dwell, their life is drawn away

  And wintry woes succeed; successive driven into the Void

  Where Enion craves: successive drawn into the golden feast

  And Los & Enitharmon sat in discontent & scorn

  20 The Nuptial Song arose from all the thousand thousand spirits

  Over the joyful Earth & Sea, and ascended into the Heavens

  For Elemental Gods their thunderous Organs blew; creating

  Delicious Viands. Demons of Waves their watry Eccho’s woke!

  [? Elements] Bright Souls of vegetative life, budding and blossoming

  PAGE 14

  Stretch their immortal hands to smite the gold & silver Wires

  And with immortal Voice soft warbling fill all Earth & Heaven.

  With doubling Voices & loud Horns wound round sounding

  Cavernous dwellers fill’d the enormous Revelry, Responsing!

  And Spirits of Flaming fire on high, govern’d the mighty Song.

  And This the Song! sung at The Feast of Los & Enitharmon

  [The Mountain] Ephraim calld out to [The Mountain]

  Zion: Awake O Brother Mountain

  Let us refuse the Plow & Spade, the heavy Roller & spiked

  Harrow, burn all these Corn fields, throw down all these fences

  10 Fattend on Human blood & drunk with wine of life is better far