The Complete Poems

by William Blake

  The stars of Urizen in Power rending the form of life

  Into a formless indefinite & strewing her on the Abyss

  Like clouds upon the winter sky broken with winds & thunders

  This was to her Supreme delight The Warriors mournd disappointed

  30 They go out to war with Strong Shouts & loud Clarions O Pity

  They return with lamentations mourning & weeping

  Invisible or visible drawn out in length or stretchd in breadth

  The Shadowy Female Varied in the War in her delight

  Howling in discontent black & heavy uttering brute sounds

  Wading thro fens among the slimy weeds making Lamentations

  To decieve Tharmas in his rage to soothe his furious soul

  To stay him in his flight that Urizen might live tho in pain

  He said Art thou bright Enion is the Shadow of hope returnd

  And She said Tharmas I am Vala bless thy innocent face

  40 Doth Enion avoid the sight of thy blue watry eyes

  Be not perswaded that the air knows this or the falling dew

  Tharmas replid O Vala once I livd in a garden of delight

  PAGE 94

  I wakend Enion in the Morning & she turnd away

  Among the apple trees & all the gardens of delight

  Swam like a dream before my eyes I went to seek the steps

  Of Enion in the gardens & the shadows compassd me

  And closd me in a watry world of woe where Enion stood

  Trembling before me like a shadow like a mist like air

  And she is gone & here alone I war with darkness & death

  I hear thy voice but not thy form see. thou & all delight

  And life appear & vanish mocking me with shadows of false hope

  10 Hast thou forgot that the air listens thro all its districts telling

  The subtlest thoughts shut up from light in chambers of the Moon

  Tharmas. The Moon has chambers where the babes of love lie hid

  And whence they never can be brought in all Eternity

  Unless exposd by their vain parents. Lo him whom I love

  Is hidden from me & I never in all Eternity

  Shall see him Enitharmon & Ahania combind with Enion

  Hid him in that Outrageous form of Orc which torments me for Sin

  For all my Secret faults which he brings forth upon the light

  Of day in jealousy & blood my Children are led to Urizens war

  20 Before my eyes & for every one of these I am condemnd

  To Eternal torment in these flames for tho I have the power

  To rise on high Yet love here binds me down & never never

  Will I arise till him I love is loosd from this dark chain

  Tharmas replied Vala thy Sins have lost us heaven & bliss

  Thou art our Curse and till I can bring love into the light

  I never will depart from my great wrath

  So Tharmas waild [then furious] wrathful then rode upon the Stormy Deep

  Cursing the Voice that mockd him with false hope in furious mood

  Then She returns swift as a blight upon the infant bud

  30 Howling in all the notes of woe to stay his furious rage

  Stamping the hills wading or swimming flying furious or falling

  Or like an Earthquake rumbling in the bowels of the earth

  Or like a cloud beneath & like a fire flaming on high

  Walking in pleasure of the hills or murmuring in the dales

  Like to a rushing torrent beneath & a falling rock above

  A thunder cloud in the south & a lulling voice heard in the north

  And she went forth & saw the forms of life & of delight

  Walking on Mountains or flying in the open expanse of heaven

  She heard sweet voices in the winds & in the voices of birds

  40 That rose from waters for the waters were as the voice of Luvah

  Not seen to her like waters or like this dark world of death

  Tho all those fair perfections which men know only by name

  In beautiful substantial forms appeard & served her

  As food or drink or ornament or in delightful works

  To build her bowers for the Elements brought forth abundantly

  The living soul in glorious forms & every one came forth

  Walking before her Shadowy face & bowing at her feet

  But in vain delights were poured forth on the howling melancholy

  For her delight the horse his proud neck bowd & his white mane

  50 And the Strong Lion deignd in his mouth to wear the golden bit

  While the far beaming Peacock waited on the fragrant wind

  To bring her fruits of sweet delight from trees of richest wonders

  And the strong piniond Eagle bore the fire of heaven in the night season

  Wood & subdud into Eternal Death the Demon Lay

  In [anguish for] rage against the dark despair, the howling Melancholy

  PAGE 95 (FIRST PORTION)

  For far & wide she stretchd thro all the worlds of Urizens journey

  And was Ajoind to Beulah as the Polypus to the Rock

  Mo[u]rning the daughters of Beulah saw nor could they have sustaind

  The horrid sight of death & torment But the Eternal Promise

  They wrote on all their tombs & pillars & on every Urn

  These words If ye will believe your B[r]other shall rise again

  In golden letters ornamented with sweet labours of Love

  Waiting with Patience [of] for the fulfilment of the Promise Divine

  And all the Songs of Beulah sounded comfortable notes

  10 Not suffring doubt to rise up from the Clouds of the Shadowy Female

  Then myriads of the Dead burst thro the bottoms of their tombs

  Descending on the shadowy females clouds in Spectrous terror

  Beyond the Limit of Translucence on the Lake of Udan Adan

  These they namd Satans & in the Aggregate they namd Them Satan

  End of the Seventh Night [b]

  PAGE 99

  VALA

  NIGHT THE EIGHTH

  Then All in Great Eternity [which is called] Met in the Council of God

  [Met] as one Man Even Jesus upon Gilead & Hermon

  Upon the Limit of Contraction to create the fallen Man

  The [Eternal] Fallen Man stretchd like a Corse upon the oozy Rock

  Washd with the tides Pale overgrown with weeds

  That movd with horrible dreams hovring high over his head

  Two winged immortal shapes one standing at his feet

  Toward the East one standing at his head toward the west

  Their wings joind in the Zenith over head [but other wings

  10 They had which clothd their bodies like a garment of soft down

  Silvery white shining upon the dark blue sky in silence

  Their wings touchd the heavens their fair feet hoverd above

  The swelling tides they bent over the dead corse like an arch

  Pointed at top in highest heavens of precious stones & pearl]

  Such is a Vision of All Beulah hovring over the Sleeper

  The limit of Contraction now was fixd & Man began

  To wake upon the Couch of Death he sneezed seven times

  A tear of blood dropped from either eye again he reposd

  In the saviours arms, in the arms of tender mercy & loving kindness

  20 Then [first] Los [beheld] said I behold the Divine Vision thro the broken Gates

  Of [Enitharmons] thy poor broken heart astonishd melted into Compassion & Love

  And Enitharmon [saw] said I see the Lamb of God upon Mount Zion

  Wondring with love & Awe they felt the divine hand upon them

  For nothing could restrain the dead in Beulah from descending

  Unto Ulros night tempted by the Shadowy females sweet

  Delusive cruelty they descend away from the Daughters of Beulah
/>   And Enter Urizens temple Enitharmon pitying & her heart

  Gates broken down, they descend thro the Gate of Pity

  The broken heart Gate of Enitharmon She sighs them forth upon the wind

  30 Of Golgonooza Los stood recieving them

  For Los could enter into Enitharmons bosom & explore

  Its intricate Labyrinths now the Obdurate heart was broken

  PAGE 100 (FIRST PORTION)

  From out the War of Urizen & Tharmas recieving them

  Into his hands. Then Enitharmon erected Looms in Lubans Gate

  And calld the Looms Cathedron in these Looms She wove the Spectres

  Bodies of Vegetation Singing lulling Cadences to drive away

  Despair from the poor wandering spectres and Los loved them

  With a parental love for the Divine hand was upon him

  And upon Enitharmon & the Divine Countenance shone

  In Golgonooza Looking down the Daughters of Beulah saw

  With joy the bright Light & in it a Human form

  10 And knew he was the Saviour Even Jesus & they worshipped

  [Astonishd Comforted Delighted the Daughters of Beulah saw]

  Astonishd Comforted Delighted in notes of Rapturous Extacy

  All Beulah stood astonishd Looking down to Eternal Death

  They saw the Saviour beyond the Pit of death & destruction

  For whether they lookd upward they saw the Divine Vision

  Or whether they lookd downward still they saw the Divine Vision

  Surrounding them on all sides beyond sin & death & hell

  Enitharmon wove in tears singing Songs of Lamentation

  And pitying comfort as she sighd forth on the wind the Spectres

  20 Also the Vegetated bodies which Enitharmon wove

  Opend within their hearts & in their loins & in their brain

  To Beulah & the Dead in Ulro descended from the War

  Of Urizen & Tharmas & from the Shadowy females clouds

  And some were woven [One fold] single & some two fold & some three fold

  In Head or Heart or Reins according to the fittest order

  Of most merciful pity & compassion to the Spectrous dead

  PAGE 101 (FIRST PORTION)

  When Urizen saw the Lamb of God clothed in Luvahs robes

  Perplexd & terrifid he Stood tho well he knew that Orc

  Was Luvah But he now beheld a new Luvah. Or One

  Who assumd Luvahs form & stood before him opposite

  But he saw Orc a Serpent form augmenting times on times

  In the fierce battle & he saw the Lamb of God & the World of Los

  Surrounded by his dark machines for Orc augmented swift

  In fury a Serpent wondrous among the Constellations of Urizen

  A crest of fire rose on his forehead red as the carbuncle

  10 Beneath down to his eyelids scales of pearl then gold & silver

  Immingled with the ruby overspread his Visage down

  His furious neck writ[h]ing contortive in dire budding pains

  The scaly armour shot out. Stubborn down his back & bosom

  The Emerald Onyx Sapphire jasper beryl amethyst

  Strove in terrific emulation which should gain a place

  [On the immortal fiend] Upon the mighty Fiend the fruit of the mysterious tree

  Kneaded in Uveths kneading trough. Still Orc devourd the food

  In raging hunger Still the pestilential food in gems & gold

  Exuded round his awful limbs Stretching to serpent length

  20 His human bulk While the dark shadowy female brooding over

  Measurd his food morning & evening in cups & baskets of iron

  With tears of sorrow incessant she labourd the food of Orc

  Compelld by the iron hearted sisters Daughters of Urizen

  Gathring the fruit of that mysterious tree circling its root

  She spread herself thro all the branches in the power of Orc

  Thus Urizen in self deceit his warlike preparations fabricated

  And when all things were finishd sudden wavd [his hurtling hand] among the Stars

  [Among the stars] His hurtling hand gave the dire signal thunderous Clarions blow

  And all the hollow deep rebellowd with the wonderous war

  PAGE 100 (SECOND PORTION)

  [But thus] But Urizen his mighty rage let loose in the mid deep

  Sparkles of Dire affliction issud [from] round his frozen limbs

  Horrible hooks & nets he formd twisting the cords of iron

  30 And brass & molten metals cast in hollow globes & bor’d

  Tubes in petrific steel & rammd combustibles & wheels

  And chains & pullies fabricated all round the heavens of Los

  Communing with the Serpent of Orc in dark dissimulation

  And with the Synagogue of Satan in dark Sanhedrim

  To undermine the World of Los & tear bright Enitharmon

  PAGE 101 (SECOND PORTION)

  30 To the four winds hopeless of future. All futurity

  Seems teeming with Endless destruction never to be repelld

  Desperate remorse swallows the present in a quenchless rage

  Terrified & astonishd Urizen beheld the battle take a form

  Which he intended not a Shadowy [male] hermaphrodite black & opake

  The Soldiers namd it Satan but he was yet unformd & vast

  Hermaphroditic it at length became hiding the Male

  Within as in a Tabernacle Abominable Deadly

  The battle howls the terrors fird rage in the work of death

  Enormous Works Los Contemplated inspird by the holy Spirit

  40 Los builds the Walls of Golgonooza against the stirring battle

  That only thro the Gates of Death they can enter to Enitharmon

  Raging they take the human visage & the human form

  Feeling the hand of Los in Golgonooza & the force

  Attractive of his hammers beating & the Silver looms

  Of Enitharmon singing lulling cadences on the wind

  They humanize in the fierce battle where in direful pain

  Troop by troop the beastial droves rend one another sounding loud

  The instruments of sound & troop by troop in human forms they urge

  PAGE 102

  The dire confusion till the battle faints those that remain

  Return in pangs & horrible convulsions to their beastial state

  For the monsters of the Elements Lions or Tygers or Wolves

  Sound loud the howling music Inspird by Los & Enitharmon Sounding loud terrific men

  They seem to one another laughing terrible among the banners

  And when the revolution of their day of battles over

  Relapsing in dire torment they return to forms of woe

  To moping visages returning inanimate tho furious

  No more erect tho strong drawn out in length they ravin

  10 For senseless gratification & their visages thrust forth

  Flatten above & beneath & stretch out into beastial length

  Weakend they stretch beyond their power in dire droves till war begins

  Or Secret religion in their temples before secret shrines

  And Urizen gave life & sense by his immortal power

  To all his Engines of deceit that linked chains might run

  Thro ranks of war spontaneous & that hooks & boring screws

  Might act according to their forms by innate cruelty

  He formed also harsh instruments of sound

  To grate the soul into destruction or to inflame with fury

  20 The spirits of life to pervert all the faculties of sense

  Into their own destruction if perhaps he might avert

  His own despair even at the cost of every thing that breathes

  Thus in the temple of the Sun his books of iron & brass

  And silver & gold he consecrated reading incessantly

  To myriads of perturbed spirits thro the
universe

  They propagated the deadly words the Shadowy Female absorbing

  The enormous Sciences of Urizen ages after ages exploring

  The fell destruction. And she said O Urizen Prince of Light

  What words of Dread pierce my faint Ear what fal[l]ing snows around

  30 My feeble limbs infold my destind misery

  I alone dare the lash abide to sit beneath the blast

  Unhurt & dare the inclement forehead of the King of Light

  From dark abysses of the times remote fated to be

  PAGE 103

  The sorrower of Eternity in love with tears Submiss I rear

  My Eyes to thy Pavilions hear my prayer for Luvahs Sake

  I see the murderer of my Luvah clothd in robes of blood

  He who assumd my Luvahs throne in times of Everlasting

  Where hast thou hid him whom I love in what remote Abyss

  Resides that God of my delight O might my eyes behold

  My Luvah then could I deliver all the sons of God

  From Bondage of [the human form] these terrors & with influences sweet

  As once in those eternal fields in brotherhood & Love

  10 United we should live in bliss as those who sinned not

  The Eternal Man is seald by thee never to be deliverd

  We are all servants to thy will O King of Light relent

  Thy furious power be our father & our loved King

  But if my Luvah is no more If [that] thou hast smitten him

  And laid him in the Sepulcher Or if [that] thou wilt revenge

  His murder on another Silent I bow with dread

  But happiness can never [come] to thee O King nor me

  For he was source of every joy that this mysterious tree

  Unfolds in Allegoric fruit. When shall the dead revive

  20 Can that which has existed cease or can love & life Expire

  Urizen heard the Voice & saw the Shadow. underneath

  His woven darkness & in laws & deceitful religions

  Beginning at the tree of Mystery circling its root

  She spread herself thro all the branches in the power of Orc

  A shapeless & indefinite cloud in tears of sorrow incessant

  Steeping the Direful Web of Religion swagging heavy it fell

  From heaven to heaven thro all its meshes altering the Vortexes

  Misplacing every Center hungry desire & lust began

  Gathering the fruit of that Mysterious tree till Urizen

  30 Sitting within his temple furious felt the num[m]ing stupor

  Himself tangled in his own net in sorrow lust repentance

  Enitharmon wove in tears Singing Songs of Lamentations

  And pitying comfort as she sighd forth on the wind the spectres