Read The Complete Poems Page 26


  At the first Sound the Golden sun arises from the Deep

  And shakes his awful hair

  60 The Eccho wakes the moon to unbind her silver locks

  The golden sun bears on my song

  And nine bright spheres of harmony rise round the fiery King

  The joy of woman is the Death of her most best beloved

  Who dies for Love of her

  In torments of fierce jealousy & pangs of adoration

  The Lovers night bears on my song

  And the nine Spheres rejoice beneath my powerful controll

  They sing unceasing to the notes of my immortal hand

  The solemn silent moon

  70 Reverberates the living harmony upon my limbs

  The birds & beasts rejoice & play

  And every one seeks for his mate to prove his inmost joy

  Furious & terrible they sport & rend the nether deeps

  The deep lifts up his rugged head

  And lost in infinite hum[m]ing wings vanishes with a cry

  The fading cry is ever dying

  The living voice is ever living in its inmost joy

  Arise you little glancing wings & sing your infant joy

  Arise & drink your bliss

  80 For every thing that lives is holy for the source of life

  Descends to be a weeping babe

  For the Earthworm renews the moisture of the sandy plain

  Now my left hand I stretch to earth beneath

  And strike the terrible string

  I wake sweet joy in dens of sorrow & I plant a smile

  In forests of affliction

  And wake the bubbling springs of life in regions of dark death

  O I am weary lay thine hand upon me or I faint

  I faint beneath these beams of thine

  90 For thou hast touchd my five senses & they answerd thee

  Now I am nothing & I sink

  And on the bed of silence sleep till thou awakest me

  Thus sang the Lovely one in Rapturous delusive trance

  Los heard [delighted] reviving he siezd her in his arms

  delusive hopes

  Kindling She led him into Shadows & thence fled outstretchd

  Upon the immense like a bright rainbow weeping &

  smiling & fading

  Thus livd Los driving Enion far into the deathful infinite

  That he may also draw Ahania’s spirit into her Vortex

  Ah happy blindness [she] Enion sees not the terrors of the uncertain

  100 Thus Enion wails from the dark deep, the golden heavens tremble

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  I am made to sow the thistle for wheat; the nettle for a

  nourishing dainty

  I have planted a false oath in the earth, it has brought

  forth a poison tree

  I have chosen the serpent for a councellor & the dog

  For a schoolmaster to my children

  I have blotted out from light & living the dove & nightingale

  And I have caused the earth worm to beg from door to door

  I have taught the thief a secret path into the house of the just

  I have taught pale artifice to spread his nets upon the morning

  My heavens are brass my earth is iron my moon a clod of clay

  10 My sun a pestilence burning at noon & a vapour of death in night

  What is the price of Experience do men buy it for a song

  Or wisdom for a dance in the street? No it is bought with the price

  Of all that a man hath his house his wife his children

  Wisdom is sold in the desolate market where none come to buy

  And in the witherd field where the farmer plows for bread in vain

  It is an easy thing to triumph in the summers sun

  And in the vintage & to sing on the waggon loaded with corn

  It is an easy thing to talk of patience to the afflicted

  To speak the laws of prudence to the houseless wanderer

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  To listen to the hungry ravens cry in wintry season

  When the red blood is filld with wine & with the marrow of lambs

  It is an easy thing to laugh at wrathful elements

  To hear the dog howl at the wintry door, the ox in the slaughter house moan

  To see a god on every wind & a blessing on every blast

  To hear sounds of love in the thunder storm that destroys our enemies house

  To rejoice in the blight that covers his field, & thesickness that cuts off his children

  While our olive & vine sing & laugh round our door &our children bring fruits & flowers

  Then the groan & the dolor are quite forgotten & theslave grinding at the mill

  10 And the captive in chains & the poor in the prison, & the soldier in the field

  When the shatterd bone hath laid him groaning among the happier dead

  It is an easy thing to rejoice in the tents of prosperity

  Thus could I sing & thus rejoice, but it is not so with me!

  [End of the Second Night]

  Ahania heard the Lamentation & a swift Vibration

  Spread thro her Golden frame. She rose up eer the dawn of day

  When Urizen slept on his couch. drawn thro unbounded space

  Onto the margin of Non Entity the bright Female came

  There she beheld the [terrible] Spectrous form of Enion in the Void

  And never from that moment could she rest upon her pillow

  End of the Second Night

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  VALA

  NIGHT THE [? First?Third] THIRD

  Now sat the King of Light on high upon his starry throne

  And bright Ahania bow’d herself before his splendid feet

  O Urizen look on [thy wife that] Me. like a

  mournful stream

  I Embrace[s] round thy knees & wet[s her] My bright

  hair with [her] My tears.

  Why sighs my Lord! are not the morning stars thy

  obedient Sons

  Do they not bow their bright heads at thy voice? at thy

  command

  Do they not fly into their stations & return their light to thee

  The immortal Atmospheres are thine, there thou art seen in glory

  Surrounded by the ever changing Daughters of the Light

  10 [Thou sitst in harmony for God hath set thee over all]

  Why wilt thou look upon futurity darkning present joy

  She ceas’d the Prince his light obscurd & the splendors of his crown

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  Infolded in thick clouds, from whence his mighty voice burst forth

  O bright [Ahania/shadow] a Boy is born of the dark Ocean

  Whom Urizen doth serve, with Light replenishing his darkness

  I am set here a King of trouble commanded here to serve

  And do my ministry to those who eat of my wide table

  All this is mine yet I must serve & that Prophetic boy

  Must grow up to command his Prince [& all my Kingly

  power] but hear my determind Decree

  [But] Vala shall become a Worm in Enitharmons Womb

  Laying her seed upon the fibres soon to issue forth

  10 And Luvah in the loins of Los a dark & furious death

  Alas for me! what will become of me at that dread time?

  Ahania bow’d her head & wept seven days before the King

  And on the eighth day when his clouds unfolded from his throne

  She rais’d her bright head sweet perfumd & thus with heavenly voice

  O Prince the Eternal One hath set thee leader of his hosts

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  [Raise then thy radiant eyes to him raise thy obedient hands

  And comforts shall descend from heaven into thy

  darkning clouds]

  Leave all futurity to him resume thy fields of Light

  Why didst thou listen to the voice of Luvah that dread morn

  To give the immor
tal steeds of light to his deceitful hands

  No longer now obedient to thy will thou art compell’d

  To forge the curbs of iron & brass to build the iron mangers

  To feed them with intoxication from the wine presses of Luvah

  Till the Divine Vision & Fruition is quite obliterated

  10 They call thy lions to the fields of blood, they rowze thy tygers

  Out of the halls of justice, till these dens thy wisdom framd

  Golden & beautiful but O how unlike those sweet fields of bliss

  Where liberty was justice & eternal science was mercy

  Then O my dear lord listen to Ahania, listen to the vision

  The vision of Ahania in the slumbers of Urizen

  When Urizen slept in the porch & the [Eternal] Ancient

  Man was smitten

  The [Eternal/Fallen] Darkning Man walkd on the steps

  of fire before his halls

  And Vala walkd with him in dreams of soft deluding

  slumber

  He looked up & saw [the] thee Prince of Light [with] thy splendor faded

  20 [But saw not Los nor Enitharmon for Luvah hid them in shadow]

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  [of] [In a soft cloud Outstretch’d across, & Luvah dwelt in the cloud]

  Then Man ascended mourning into the splendors of his palace

  Above him rose a Shadow from his wearied intellect

  Of living gold, pure, perfect, holy; in white linen pure he hover’d

  A sweet entrancing self delusion, a watry vision of Man

  Soft exulting in existence all the Man absorbing

  Man fell upon his face prostrate before the watry shadow

  Saying O Lord whence is this change thou knowest I am

  nothing

  And Vala trembled & coverd her face, & her locks.

  were spread on the pavement

  10 I heard astonishd at the Vision & my heart trembled

  within me

  I heard the voice of the Slumberous Man & thus he spoke

  Idolatrous to his own Shadow words of Eternity uttering

  O I am nothing when I enter into judgment with thee

  If thou withdraw thy breath I die & vanish into Hades

  If thou dost lay thine hand upon me behold I am silent

  If thou withhold thine hand I perish like a fallen leaf

  O I am nothing & to nothing must return again

  If thou withdraw thy breath, behold I am oblivion

  He ceasd: the shadowy voice was silent; but the cloud hoverd over their heads

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  In golden wreathes, the sorrow of Man & the balmy

  drops fell down

  And Lo that Son of Man, that shadowy Spirit of the

  [Eternal] Fallen One/Albion

  Luvah, descended from the cloud; [The Eternal Man arose]

  In terror Albion rose

  Indignant rose the [Eternal/Fallen] Awful Man &

  turnd his back on Vala

  Why roll thy clouds in sick’ning mists. I can no longer hide

  The dismal vision of mine Eyes, O love & life & light!

  Prophetic dreads urge me to speak. futurity is before me

  Like a dark lamp. Eternal death haunts all my expectation

  Rent from Eternal Brotherhood we die & are no more

  10 I heard the Voice of the [Eternal/Falln One] Albion

  starting from his sleep

  Whence is this voice crying Enion that soundeth in my ears

  O cruel pity! O dark deceit! can Love seek for dominion

  And Luvah strove to gain dominion over the [Eternal]

  Ancient Man/Mighty Albion

  They strove together above the Body where Vala was inclos’d

  And the dark body of [Man] Albion left prostrate upon

  the crystal pavement

  Coverd with boils from head to foot. the terrible smitings of Luvah

  Then frownd the [Eternal] Fallen Man/Albion & put

  forth Luvah from his presence

  (I heard him: frown not Urizen: but listen to my Vision)

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  Saying, Go & die the Death of Man for Vala the sweet wanderer

  I will turn the volutions of your Ears outward; & bend your Nostrils

  Downward; & your fluxile Eyes englob’d, roll round in fear

  Your withring Lips & Tongue shrink up into a narrow circle

  Till into narrow forms you creep. Go take your fiery way

  And learn what ’tis to absorb the Man you Spirits of Pity & Love

  O Urizen why art thou pale at the visions of Ahania

  Listen to her who loves thee lest we also are driven away.

  They heard the Voice & fled swift as the winters setting sun

  10 And now the Human Blood foamd high, I saw that Luvah & Vala

  Went down the Human Heart where Paradise & its joys abounded

  In jealous fears in fury & rage, & flames roll’d round their fervid feet

  And the vast form of Nature like a Serpent play’d before them

  And as they went in folding fires & thunders of the deep

  Vala shrunk in like the dark sea that leaves its slimy banks

  And from her bosom Luvah fell far as the east & west

  And the vast form of Nature like a Serpent roll’d between.

  Whether this is Jerusalem or Babylon we know not.

  All is Confusion All is tumult & we alone are escaped

  20 She ended. for his wrathful throne burst forth the black hail storm

  Am I not God said Urizen. Who is Equal to me

  Do I not stretch the heavens abroad or fold them up like a garment

  He spoke mustering his heavy clouds around him black opake

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  Then thunders rolld around & lightnings darted to & fro

  His visage changd to darkness & his strong right hand came forth

  To cast Ahania to the Earth he siezd her by the hair

  And threw her from the steps of ice that froze around his throne

  Saying Art thou also become like Vala. thus I cast thee out

  Shall the feminine indolent bliss. the indulgent self of weariness

  The passive idle sleep the enormous night & darkness of Death

  Set herself up to give her laws to the active masculine virtue

  Thou little diminutive portion that darst be a counterpart

  10 Thy passivity thy laws of obedience & insincerity

  Are my abhorrence. Wherefore hast thou taken that fair form

  Whence is this power given to thee! once thou wast in my breast

  A sluggish current of dim waters on whose verdant margin

  A cavern shaggd with horrid shades. dark cool & deadly. where

  I laid my head in the hot noon after the broken clods

  Had wearied me. there I laid my plow & there my horses fed

  And thou hast risen with thy moist locks into a watry image

  Reflecting all my indolence my weakness & my death

  To weigh me down beneath the grave into non Entity

  20 Where Luvah strives scorned by Vala age after age wandering

  Shrinking & shrinking from her Lord & calling him the Tempter

  And art thou also become like Vala thus I cast thee out.

  So loud in thunders spoke the King folded in dark despair

  And threw Ahania from his bosom obdurate She fell like lightning

  Then fled the sons of Urizen from his thunderous throne petrific

  They fled to East & West & left the North & South of Heaven

  A crash ran thro the immense The bounds of Destiny were broken

  The bounds of Destiny crashd direful & the swelling Sea

  Burst from its bonds in whirlpools fierce roaring with Human voice

  30 Triumphing even to the Stars at bright Ahanias fall

  Down from the dismal North the Prince in thunders & thick clouds

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  As when the thunderbolt do
wn falleth on the appointed place

  Fell down down rushing ruining thundering [darkning] shuddering

  Into the Caverns of the Grave & places of Human Seed

  Where the impressions of Despair & Hope enroot forever

  A world of Darkness. Ahania fell far into Non Entity

  She Continued falling. Loud the Crash continud loud & Hoarse

  From the Crash roared a flame of blue sulphureous fire from the flame

  A dolorous groan that struck with dumbness all confusion

  Swallowing up the horrible din in agony on agony

  10 Thro the Confusion like a crack across from immense

  to immense

  Loud strong a universal groan of death louder

  Than all the wracking elements deafend & rended worse

  Than Urizen & all his hosts in curst despair down rushing

  But from the Dolorous Groan one like a shadow of smoke appeard

  And human bones rattling together in the smoke & stamping

  The nether Abyss & gnasshing in fierce despair. panting in sobs

  Thick short incessant bursting sobbing. deep despairing

  stamping struggling

  Struggling to utter the voice of Man struggling to take

  the features of Man. Struggling

  To take the limbs of Man at length emerging from the smoke

  20 Of Urizen dashed in pieces from his precipitant fall

  Tharmas reard up his hands & stood on the affrighted Ocean

  The dead reard up his Voice & stood on the resounding shore

  Crying. Fury in my limbs. destruction in my bones & marrow

  My skull riven into filaments. my eyes into sea jellies

  Floating upon the tide wander bubbling & bubbling

  Uttering my lamentations & begetting little monsters

  Who sit mocking upon the little pebbles of the tide

  In all my rivers & on dried shells that the fish

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  Have quite forsaken. O fool fool to lose my sweetest bliss

  Where art thou Enion ah too near to cunning too far off

  And yet too near. Dashd down I send thee into distant darkness

  Far as my strength can hurl thee wander there & laugh & play

  Among the frozen arrows they will tear thy tender flesh

  Fall off afar from Tharmas come not too near my strong fury

  Scream & fall off & laugh at Tharmas lovely summer beauty

  Till winter rends thee into Shivers as thou hast rended me

  So Tharmas bellowd oer the ocean thundring sobbing bursting

  10 The bounds of Destiny were broken & hatred now began

  Instead of love to Enion. Enion blind & age bent

  Plungd into the cold billows living a life in midst of waters

  In terrors she witherd away to Entuthon Benithon