The Complete Poems

by William Blake

  His body was redeemd to be permanent thro Mercy Divine

  PAGE 126

  And now fierce Orc had quite consumd himself in Mental flames

  Expending all his energy against the fuel of fire

  The [Ancient Man] Regenerate Man stoopd his head over the Universe & in

  His holy hands recievd the flaming Demon & Demoness of Smoke

  And gave them to Urizens hands the Immortal frownd Saying

  Luvah & Vala henceforth you are Servants obey & live

  You shall forget your former state return O Love in peace

  Into your place the place of seed not in the brain or heart

  If Gods combine against Man Setting their Dominion above

  10 The Human form Divine. Thrown down from their high Station

  In the Eternal heavens of Human [Thought] Imagination: buried beneath

  In dark oblivion with incessant pangs ages on ages

  In Enmity & war first weakend then in stern repentance

  They must renew their brightness & their disorganizd functions

  Again reorganize till they resume the image of the human

  Cooperating in the bliss of Man obeying his Will

  Servants to the infinite & Eternal of the Human form

  Luvah & Vala descended & enterd the Gates of Dark Urthona

  And walkd from the hands of Urizen in the shadows of Valas Garden

  20 Where the impressions of Despair & Hope for ever vegetate

  In flowers in fruits in fishes birds & beasts & clouds & waters

  The land of doubts & shadows sweet delusions unformd hopes

  They saw no more the terrible confusion of the wracking universe

  They heard not saw not felt not all the terrible confusion

  For in their orbed senses within closd up they wanderd at will

  And those upon the Couches viewd them in the dreams of Beulah

  As they reposd from the terrible wide universal harvest

  Invisible Luvah in bright clouds hoverd over Valas head

  And thus their ancient golden age renewd for Luvah spoke

  30 With voice mild from his golden Cloud upon the breath of morning

  Come forth O Vala from the grass & from the silent Dew

  Rise from the dews of death for the Eternal Man is Risen

  She rises among flowers & looks toward the Eastern clearness

  She walks yea runs her feet are wingd on the tops of the bending grass

  Her garments rejoice in the vocal wind & her hair glistens with dew

  She answerd thus Whose voice is this in the voice of the nourishing air

  In the spirit of the morning awaking the Soul from its grassy bed

  PAGE 127

  Where dost thou dwell for it is thee I seek & but for thee

  I must have slept Eternally nor have felt the dew of thy morning

  Look how the opening dawn advances with vocal harmony

  Look how the beams foreshew the rising of some glorious power

  The sun is thine [when] he goeth forth in his majestic brightness

  O thou creating voice that callest & who shall answer thee

  Where dost thou flee O fair one where dost thou seek thy happy place

  To yonder brightness there I haste for sure I came from thence

  Or I must have slept eternally nor have felt the dew of morning

  10 Eternally thou must have slept nor have felt the morning dew

  But for yon nourishing sun tis that by which thou art arisen

  The birds adore the sun the beasts rise up & play in his beams

  And every flower & every leaf rejoices in his light

  Then O thou fair one sit thee down for thou art as the grass

  Thou risest in the dew of morning & at night art folded up

  Alas am I but as a flower then will I sit me down

  Then will I weep then Ill complain & sigh for immortality

  And chide my maker thee O Sun that raisedst me to fall

  So saying she sat down & wept beneath the apple trees

  20 O be thou blotted out thou Sun that raisedst me to trouble

  That gavest me a heart to crave & raisedst me thy phantom

  To feel thy heat & see thy light & wander here alone

  Hopeless if I am like the grass & so shall pass away

  Rise sluggish Soul why sitst thou here why dost thou sit & weep

  Yon Sun shall wax old & decay but thou shalt ever flourish

  The fruit shall ripen & fall down & the flowers consume away

  But thou shalt still survive arise O dry thy dewy tears

  Hah! Shall I still survive whence came that sweet & comforting voice

  And whence that voice of sorrow O sun thou art nothing now to me

  30 Go on thy course rejoicing & let us both rejoice together

  I walk among his flocks & hear the bleating of his lambs

  O that I could behold his face & follow his pure feet

  I walk by the footsteps of his flocks come hither tender flocks

  Can you converse with a pure Soul that seeketh for her maker

  You answer not then am I set your mistress in this garden

  Ill watch you & attend your footsteps you are not like the birds

  PAGE 128

  That sing & fly in the bright air but you do lick my feet

  And let me touch your wooly backs follow me as I sing

  For in my bosom a new song arises to my Lord

  Rise up O Sun most glorious minister & light of day

  Flow on ye gentle airs & bear the voice of my rejoicing

  Wave freshly clear waters flowing around the tender grass

  And thou sweet smelling ground put forth thy life in fruits & flowers

  Follow me O my flocks & hear me sing my rapturous Song

  I will cause my voice to be heard on the clouds that glitter in the sun

  10 I will call & who shall answer me I will sing who shall reply

  For from my pleasant hills behold the living living springs

  Running among my green pastures delighting among my trees

  I am not here alone my flocks you are my brethren

  And you birds that sing & adorn the sky you are my sisters

  I sing & you reply to my Song I rejoice & you are glad

  Follow me O my flocks we will now descend into the valley

  O how delicious are the grapes flourishing in the Sun

  How clear the spring of the rock running among the golden sand

  How cool the breezes of the vally & the arms of the branching trees

  20 Cover us from the sun come & let us sit in the Shade

  My Luvah here hath placd me in a Sweet & pleasant Land

  And given me fruits & pleasant waters & warm hills & cool valleys

  Here will I build myself a house & here Ill call on his name

  Here Ill return when I am weary & take my pleasant rest

  So spoke the Sinless Soul & laid her head on the downy fleece

  Of a curld Ram who stretchd himself in sleep beside his mistress

  And soft sleep fell upon her eyelids in the silent noon of day

  Then Luvah passed by & saw the sinless Soul

  And said Let a pleasant house arise to be the dwelling place

  30 Of this immortal Spirit growing in lower Paradise

  He spoke & pillars were builded & walls as white as ivory

  The grass she slept upon was pavd with pavement as of pearl

  Beneath her rose a downy bed & a cieling coverd all

  Vala awoke. When in the pleasant gates of sleep I enterd

  I saw my Luvah like a spirit stand in the bright air

  Round him stood spirits like me who reard me a bright house

  And here I see thee house remain in my most pleasant world

  PAGE 129

  My Luvah smild I kneeled down he laid his hand on my head

  And when he laid his hand upon me from the gates of sleep I came

 
Into this bodily house to tend my flocks in my pleasant garden

  So saying she arose & walked round her beautiful house

  And then from her white door she lookd to see her bleating lambs

  But her flocks were gone up from beneath the trees into the hills

  I see the hand that leadeth me doth also lead my flocks

  She went up to her flocks & turned oft to see her shining house

  She stopd to drink of the clear spring & eat the grapes & apples

  10 She bore the fruits in her lap she gatherd flowers for her bosom

  She called to her flocks saying follow me o my flocks

  They followd her to the silent vally beneath the spreading trees

  And on the rivers margin she ungirded her golden girdle

  She stood in the river & viewd herself within the watry glass

  And her bright hair was wet with the waters She rose up from the river

  And as she rose her Eyes were opend to the world of waters

  She saw Tharmas sitting upon the rocks beside the wavy sea

  He strokd the water from his beard & mournd faint thro the summer vales

  And Vala stood on the rocks of Tharmas & heard his mournful voice

  20 O Enion my weary head is in the bed of death

  For weeds of death have wrapd around my limbs in the hoary deeps

  I sit in the place of shells & mourn & thou art closd in clouds

  When will the time of Clouds be past & the dismal night of Tharmas

  Arise O Enion Arise & smile upon my head

  As thou dost smile upon the barren mountains and they rejoice

  When wilt thou smile on Tharmas O thou bringer of golden day

  Arise O Enion arise for Lo I have calmd my seas

  So saying his faint head he laid upon the Oozy rock

  And darkness coverd all the deep the light of Enion faded

  30 Like a fa[i]nt flame quivering upon the surface of the darkness

  Then Vala lifted up her hands to heaven to call on Enion

  She calld but none could answer her & the Eccho of her voice returnd

  Where is the voice of God that calld me from the silent dew

  Where is the Lord of Vala dost thou hide in clefts of the rock

  Why shouldst thou hide thyself from Vala from the soul that wanders desolate

  She ceas’d & light beamd round her like the glory of the morning

  PAGE 130

  And She arose out of the river & girded her golden girdle

  And now her feet step on the grassy bosom of the ground

  Among her flocks & she turnd her eyes toward her pleasant house

  And saw in the door way beneath the trees two little children playing

  She drew near to her house & her flocks followd her footsteps

  The Children clung around her knees she embracd them & wept over them

  Thou little Boy art Tharmas & thou bright Girl Enion

  How are ye thus renewd & brought into the Gardens of Vala

  She embracd them in tears, till the sun descended the western hills

  10 And then she enterd her bright house leading her mighty children

  And when night came the flocks laid round the house beneath the trees

  She laid the Children on the beds which she saw prepard in the house

  Then last herself laid down & closd her Eyelids in soft slumbers

  And in the morning when the Sun arose in the crystal sky

  Vala awoke & calld the children from their gentle slumbers

  Awake O Enion awake & let thine innocent Eyes

  Enlighten all the Crystal house of Vala awake awake

  Awake Tharmas awake awake thou child of dewy tears

  Open the orbs of thy blue eyes & smile upon my gardens

  20 The Children woke & smild on Vala. she kneeld by the golden couch

  She presd them to her bosom & her pearly tears dropd down

  O my sweet Children Enion let Tharmas kiss thy Cheek

  Why dost thou turn thyself away from his sweet watry eyes

  Tharmas henceforth in Valas bosom thou shalt find sweet peace

  O bless the lovely eyes of Tharmas & the Eyes of Enion

  They rose they went out wandring sometimes together sometimes alone

  Why weepest thou Tharmas Child of tears in the bright house of joy

  Doth Enion avoid the sight of thy blue heavenly Eyes

  And dost thou wander with my lambs & [with] wet their innocent faces

  30 With thy bright tears because the steps of Enion are in the gardens

  Arise sweet boy & let us follow the path of Enion

  So saying they went down into the garden among the fruits

  And Enion sang among the flowers that grew among the trees

  And Vala said Go Tharmas weep not Go to Enion

  PAGE 131

  He said O Vala I am sick & all this garden of Pleasure

  Swims like a dream before my eyes but the sweet smelling fruit

  Revives me to new deaths I fade even like a water lilly

  In the suns heat till in the night on the couch of Enion

  I drink new life & feel the breath of sleeping Enion

  But in the morning she arises to avoid my Eyes

  Then my loins fade & in the house I sit me down & weep

  Chear up thy Countenance bright boy & go to Enion

  Tell her that Vala waits her in the shadows of her garden

  10 He went with timid steps & Enion like the ruddy morn

  When infant spring appears in swelling buds & opening flowers

  Behind her Veil withdraws so Enion turnd her modest head

  But Tharmas spoke Vala seeks thee sweet Enion in the shades

  Follow the steps of Tharmas, O thou brightness of the gardens

  He took her hand reluctant she followd in infant doubts

  Thus in Eternal Childhood straying among Valas flocks

  In infant sorrow & joy alternate Enion & Tharmas playd

  Round Vala in the Gardens of Vala & by her rivers margin

  They are the shadows of Tharmas & of Enion in Valas world

  20 And the sleepers who rested from their harvest work beheld these visions

  Thus were the sleepers entertaind upon the Couches of Beulah

  When Luvah & Vala were closd up in their world of shadowy forms

  Darkness was all beneath the heavens only a little light

  Such as glows out from sleeping spirits appeard in the deeps beneath

  As when the wind sweeps over a Corn field the noise of souls

  Thro all the immense borne down by Clouds swagging in autumnal heat

  Muttering along from heaven to heaven hoarse roll the human forms

  Beneath thick clouds dreadful lightnings burst & thunders roll

  Down pour the torrent Floods of heaven on all the human harvest

  30 Then Urizen sitting at his repose on beds in the bright South

  Cried Times are Ended he Exulted he arose in joy he exulted

  He pourd his light & all his Sons & daughters pourd their light

  To exhale the spirits of Luvah & Vala thro the atmosphere

  And Luvah & Vala saw the Light their spirits were Exhald

  In all their ancient innocence the floods depart the clouds

  Dissipate or sink into the Seas of Tharmas Luvah sat

  Above on the bright heavens in peace. the Spirits of Men beneath

  Cried out to be deliverd & the Spirit of Luvah wept

  Over the human harvest & over Vala the sweet wanderer

  40 In pain the human harvest wavd in horrible groans of woe

  PAGE I32

  The Universal Groan went up the Eternal Man was Darkend

  Then Urizen arose & took his Sickle in his hand

  There is a brazen sickle & a scythe of iron hid

  Deep in the South guarded by a few solitary stars

  This sickle Urizen took the scythe his sons embracd

  And wen
t forth & began to reap & all his joyful sons

  Reapd the wide Universe & bound in Sheaves a wondrous harvest

  They took them into the wide barns with loud rejoicings & triumph

  Of flute & harp & drum & trumpet horn & clarion

  10 The feast was spread in the bright South & the Regenerate Man

  Sat at the feast rejoicing & the wine of Eternity

  Was servd round by the flames of Luvah all Day & all the Night

  And when Morning began to dawn upon the distant hills

  [Then] a whirlwind rose up in the Center & in the Whirlwind a Shriek

  And in the Shriek a rattling of bones & in the rattling of bones

  A dolorous groan & from the dolorous groan in tears

  Rose Enion like a gentle light & Enion spoke saying

  O Dreams of Death the human form dissolving companied

  [With] By beasts & worms & creeping things & darkness & despair

  20 The clouds fall off from my wet brow the dust from my cold limbs

  Into the Sea of Tharmas Soon renewd a Golden Moth

  I shall cast off my death clothes & Embrace Tharmas again

  For Lo the winter melted away upon the distant hills

  And all the black mould sings. She speas to her infant race her milk

  Descends [of] down on the sand. the thirsty sand drinks & rejoices

  Wondering to behold the Emmet the Grasshopper the jointed worm

  The roots shoot thick thro the solid rocks bursting their way

  They cry out in joys of existence. the broad stems

  Rear on the mountains stem after stem the scaly newt creeps

  30 From the stone & the armed fly springs from the rocky crevice

  The spider. The bat burst from the hardend slime crying

  To one another What are we & whence is our joy & delight

  Lo the little moss begins to spring & the tender weed

  Creeps round our secret nest. Flocks brighten the Mountains

  Herds throng up the Valley wild beasts fill the forests

  Joy thrilld thro all the Furious form of Tharmas humanizing

  Mild he Embracd her whom he sought he raisd her thro the heavens

  Sounding his trumpet to awake the dead on high he soard

  Over the ruind worlds the smoking tomb of the Eternal Prophet

  PAGE 133

  The Eternal Man arose He welcomd them to the Feast

  The feast was spread in the bright South & the Eternal Man

  Sat at the feast rejoicing & the wine of Eternity

  Was servd round by the flames of Luvah all day & all the night

  And Many Eternal Men sat at the golden feast to see

  The female form now separate They shudderd at the horrible thing