William Blake - The Greatest Works of William Blake (With Complete Original Illustrations)

Rush into reptile coverts, hiding from the fires of Orc,

That play around the golden roofsin wreaths of fierce desire,

Leaving the females naked and glowing with the lusts of youth

For the female spirits of the dead pining in bonds of religion;

Run from their fetters reddening, & in long drawn arches sitting:

They feel the nerves of youth renew, and desires of ancient times,

Over their pale limbs as a vine when the tender grape appears

Over the hills, the vales, the cities, rage the red flames fierce;

The Heavens melted from north to south; and Urizen who sat

Above all heavens in thunders wrap’d, emerg’d his leprous head

From out his holy shrine, his tears in deluge piteous

Falling into the deep sublime! flag’d with grey-brow’d snows

And thunderous visages, his jealous wings wav’d over the deep;

Weeping in dismal howling woe he dark descended howling

Around the smitten bands, clothed in tears & trembling shudd’ring cold.

His stored snows he poured forth, and his icy magazines

He open’d on the deep, and on the Atlantic sea white shiv’ring.

Leprous his limbs, all over white, and hoary was his visage.

Weeping in dismal howlings before the stern Americans

Hiding the Demon red with clouds & cold mists from the earth;

Till Angels & weak men twelve years should govern o’er the strong:

And then their end should come, when France reciev’d the Demons light.

Stiff shudderings shook the heav’nly thrones!

France Spain & Italy, In terror view’d the bands of Albion, and the ancient Guardians

Fainting upon the elements, smitten with their own plagues

They slow advance to shut the five gates of their law-built heaven

Filled with blasting fancies and with mildews of despair

With fierce disease and lust, unable to stem the fires of Orc;

But the five gates were consum’d, & their bolts and hinges melted

And the fierce flames burnt round the heavens, & round the abodes of men

* * *FINIS * * *

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(Songs of Innocence first published 1789; combined with Songs of Experience in 1794)

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