Editors: Morris Eaves, University of Rochester; Robert Essick, University of California, Riverside; and Joseph Viscomi, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Programmer/Analysts: David Cosca and Robert BinglerProject Manager: Matthew Kirschenbaum Project Assistant: Greg Murray The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities and the Library of Congress, with a software grant from Inso Corporation and hardware and software grants from Sun Microsystems The Getty Grant Program Blake Archive Description DTD 1.0; Styles 0.1 1 SGML (ISO 8879) encoded file approx. 80KB; 16 JPEG (ISO/IEC 10918) files ranging in size from 25KB to 550KB Charlottesville: Eaves, Essick, Viscomi; IATH The William Blake Archive Copyright © 1999 by Morris Eaves, Robert N. Essick, and Joseph Viscomi, all rights reserved. Items in the Archive may be shared in accordance with the Fair Use provisions of U.S. copyright law. Redistribution or republication on other terms, in any medium, requires express written consent from the editors and advance notification of the publisher, the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Permission to reproduce the graphic images in this archive has been granted by the owners of the originals for this publication only. This image copyright © 1999 The William Blake Archive.

William Blake William Blake London 1789 Plates 1 and 8 may have been composed at a slightly later date (late 1789 or early 1790) than the others. These same two plates were probably etched later than the others (late 1789 or early 1790). 1795 8 1-8 Bentley plate numbers are used unless otherwise stated. Plate 1 6.1 x 10.1 cm.; plates 2-8 approx. 15 x 11 cm. 8 37.1 x 26.9 cm. relief etching Relief with rudimentary color printing and hand coloring.Printed with eight other illuminated books as part of a large-paper set. yellow ochre wove I TAYLOR/1794 There are etched numbers—1-6 on plates 3 through 8—but in copy F these are not printed on plates 3, 6, and 8. Loose.Former binding of half red morocco over marbled boards retained. Stabbed twice through three pairs of holes about 7 cm. apart. Rosenwald Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 1938 by Lessing J. Rosenwald; given to the Library of Congress in 1945. A. S. W. Rosenbach acting for Lessing J. Rosenwald at a Parke-Bernet, 2 Nov. 1938, lot 14. $2200 at auction, plus dealer's fee. Isaac D'Israeli by 1836; sold from the library of his son, the Earl of Beaconsfield, Sotheby's, 20 March 1882, lot 59 (£20 to the dealer Ellis & White); offered by Ellis & White in catalogue 50 (of Nov. 1882?), lot 80 (£40); Bernard B. Macgeorge by 1892; sold from his library, Sotheby's, 1 July 1924, lot 110 (£290 to the dealer Quaritch); offered by Quaritch in catalogue 388 (Oct. 1924), lot 323 (£375); George C. Smith, Jr., by 1927; sold from his collection, Parke-Bernet, 2 Nov. 1938, lot 14 ($2200 to Rosenbach for Rosenwald); given to the Library of Congress in 1945. Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20540 Department of Rare Books and Special Collections Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection , plate 1 (Bentley 1, Erdman i, Keynes i) 6.1 x 10.1 cm The text is surrounded by a rectangular box formed by a wavy vine with three leaves at the bottom. vine grape leaf The text is surrounded by a rectangular box formed by a wavy vine, perhaps a grape vine, with three leaves at the bottom. THEL's Motto, Does the Eagle know what is in the pit? Or wilt thou go ask the Mole; Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod? Or Love in a golden bowl? , plate 2 (Bentley 2, Erdman ii, Keynes ii) 15.5 x 10.7 cm A slender tree, entwined with a vine, arches protectively over the title words and major pictorial motifs. This combination of motifs and their position suggests a tombstone. Two birds and a human figure soar in the sky; seven other human forms, one winged, rest or climb among the title letters. Thel, wearing a long gown and holding a shepherd's crook, stands lower left and gazes at a nude man embracing a woman around the waist. The latter wears a gown or at least a skirt and raises her arms. These small figures seem to emerge from the large, bowl-like flowers lower center and right. The leaves of this plant and a flower bud complete the design lower center and right. The design does not directly illustrate a scene in the text, but the figures embracing above the flowers may suggest the raptures of the Cloud and thefair eyed dew during their courtship.[Plate 5] tree willow birch tombstone arching branch leaf A large tree, perhaps a willow or birch, arches over the title words and major pictorial motifs. This shape, with letters within, suggests the outline of a tombstone. The tree splits into several branches (perhaps bearing long, slender leaves) on the right. vine intertwined branch flower leaf A slender vine twines around the over-arching tree. Some of the vine's branches bear flowers and/or leaves. plant flower pasqueflower anemone pulsatilla bud leaf wind grain tassel Two open flowers and one bud bloom from the slender stems of a plant. These flowers may be the pasqueflower (anemone pulsatilla). They seem to be blown to the left by a gentle wind. The plant's large leaves bend to the ground. Three stems bearing spiky leaves, or the remnants of blossoms, or perhaps grain tassels also grow from the plant. vine tree arching A vine or miniature tree arches over the figure seated and leaning against the B of the word "Book." vine Vines or tendrils grow from all four letters of the word "Book." plant leaf flame-like Flame-like leaves spring from the first O of the word "Book." flower pasqueflower anemone pulsatilla stamen A flower, similar in shape to the much larger ones below, blooms from the K of the word "Book." Two long stamens curve upwards from the flower. vine intertwined spiral Slender vines twine about the letters of "Thel." Two form empty spirals. female Thel long hair standing shepherd arms at side contrapposto gown hem young holding shepherd's crook facing right Thel, wearing a gown and holding a shepherd's crook, stands in a delicate contrapposto posture and looks upon the figures and flowers on the right. Her long hair cascades down her neck, touching her right shoulder; the hem of her gown curls about her feet and over the ground. female long hair gown skirt hovering arms raised vertically legs spread striding young A youthful female hovers to the left of an open flower. She wears a gown, or perhaps only a skirt. She raises both arms above her head as a nude male embraces her waist. Her legs are spread apart as though she were striding to the left. Strands of her long hair can be seen left of her right arm and perhaps right of her torso. male nude hovering legs spread embracing long hair holding young A nude, apparently youthful, man hovers to the left of an open flower and embraces a young woman around her waist. His legs are spread apart. reading writing book tablet sitting head bowed leg extended A seated human figure, perhaps reading or writing in a book or tablet, sits and leans against the vertical of the letter B in the word "Book." male shepherd standing holding shepherd's crook hat A human figure, probably male, stands within the second O of "Book." He wears a hat and holds a shepherd's crook. male nude climbing seen from behind young A young man, apparently nude, climbs the vertical of the letter T in "Thel." female gown standing arms raised vertically seen from behind young facing up A gowned young woman stands on the foot of the left vertical of the letter H in "Thel." She raises both arms above her head and appears to be facing up. female gown standing arms raised vertically young A gowned young woman stands on the horizontal of the letter H in "Thel." She raises both arms above her head. standing A very small figure stands just to the right of the second vertical of the H in "Thel." female hovering arms raised horizontally leg bent at knee A figure, possibly female, hovers above the letters E and L of "Thel." Her legs extend to the left; her arms are raised horizontally. There may be a small object in her left hand. Her right leg may be bent at the knee, with the lower leg behind her. angel wing sitting book tablet reading An angel with large wings sits on the horizontal, and leans against the vertical, of the letter L of "Thel." The figure holds a book or tablet. bird wing flying A bird, wings extended, soars left of the word "of" in the title. bird wing flying A bird, wings extended, soars right of the word "of" in the title. The title words are integrated into the full-page design. THE BOOK of THEL THE BOOK of THEL The Author & Printer Willm Blake. 1789. , plate 3 (Bentley 3, Erdman 1, Keynes 1) 15.4 x 11 cm 1GNot printed in this copy. Five human figures soar around the title-word "Thel": a nude man reaching toward a large eagle, a nude man holding a sword and shield, and a gowned woman holding a small child in her outstretched arms. Below, a nude man rests on the branch of a tree (or perhaps a tassel of grain) and looks up toward the child. Spiraling vines and stylized flowers, perhaps lilies, spring from several of the title letters. The design does not represent any specific incident in the text, but the man with shield and spear may be one of the thousand fighting men referred to near the end of the poem.[Plate 8] vine flower lily Two vines, each terminating in what may be lily-like flowers, spring from the lower-left termination of the T of "Thel." vine spiral A spiral vine descends from the H of "Thel." vine spiral flower lily A spiral vine descends from the H of "Thel." flower lily A spiky form that may be a stylized lily springs from the top-left corner of the H of "Thel." A small vine, branching at its lower end, hovers between the feet of the T and H in "Thel." vine branch A small vine, branching at its lower end, hovers between the feet of the T and H in "Thel." vine A small vine extends horizontally beneath the E and L of "Thel." vine Two small vines extend horizontally above the T and first vertical of the H in "Thel." branch grain tassel arching One of the figures rests on a tree branch or, if the perspective is microscopic, a tassel of grain. Another branch arches over his head. male nude hovering legs spread arm raised horizontally reaching facing right A nude man hovers in the air, legs spread and with his right arm reaching toward an eagle. He faces to the right. male nude hovering legs spread arms raised horizontally holding seen from behind sword spiral shield A nude male hovers in the air. He holds a sword with a spiraling blade in his right hand; a shield is apparently strapped to his left arm. male nude lying arms at side arms resting head up leg bent forward leg drawn up facing up A nude man reclines on a branch or tassel of grain. He props himself up with his right arm and turns his head upward. female gown hovering arms raised horizontally holding long hair facing left A gowned woman hovers in the air. Her outstretched arms hold a young child. child infant hovering An infant or young child hovers in the air, supported by a woman's outstretched arms. bird eagle flying wing A large bird, probably an eagle, soars above the title-word "Thel." cloud Washes define clouds in the sky. The letters of the heading are integrated into the design. THEL Washes define long grass below the text, a wavy vine up the left margin, and an arching branch, perhaps bearing leaves, in the right margin. vine A vine reaches up the left margin of the text. grass Long grass fills the lower margin. vine branch leaf willow palm An arching branch, perhaps bearing leaves, descends along the right margin. This may be a willow, although it could also be a palm frond. THEL I The daughters of Mne Seraphim led round their sunny flocks, All but the youngest; she in paleness sought the secret air, To fade away like morning beauty from her mortal day: Down by the river of Adona her soft voice is heard: And thus her gentle lamentation falls like morning dew. O life of this our spring! why fades the lotus of the water? Why fade these children of the spring? born but to smile & fall. Ah! Thel is like a watry bow. and like a parting cloud. Like a reflection in a glass. like shadows in the water. Like dreams of infants, like a smile upon an infants face. Like the doves voice. like transient day, like music in the air: Ah! gentle may I lay me down and gentle rest my head. And gentle sleep the sleep of death. and gentle hear the voice Of him that walketh in the garden in the evening time. The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grass Answerd the lovely maid and said, I am a watry weed, And I am very small, and love to dwell in lowly vales: So weak the gilded butterfly scarce perches on my head Yet I am visited from heaven and he that smiles on all. Walks in the valley. and each morn over me spreads his hand Saying, rejoice thou humble grass, thou new-born lilly flower, Thou gentle maid of silent valleys. and of modest brooks: For thou shalt be clothed in light, and fed with morning manna; Till summers heat melts thee beside the fountains and the springs To flourish in eternal vales; then why should Thel complain, Why , plate 4 (Bentley 4, Erdman 2, Keynes 2) 15.3 x 10.9 cm 2Glightly inked and printed. Thel stands beneath the arching branches of a tree, perhaps a birch or willow. She bows slightly toward the personified Lilly who, with arms folded, bows more deeply toward Thel. Both females wear long gowns, ruffled along the hems. A vine climbs lazily about the tree trunk. This vine seems to grow from the plant right of Thel. The plant behind and to the right of the Lilly is probably a lily, perhaps the St. Bernard's lily. The design illustrates the dialogue between Thel and the Lilly given in the text on this plate. The moment pictured may be their parting, whenthe Lilly bowd her modest head.[Plate 4] tree willow birch branch arching leaf A tree with arching branches forms a canopy over the figures. It may be a birch or willow. Small leaves dangle from the smaller branches on the left. plant leaf flower vine A plant grows between Thel and the tree and right of the tree. Flowering, vine-like stems curl upwards from this plant. plant leaf flower lily St. Bernard's lily A large lily plant, perhaps the St. Bernard's lily, blooms behind and to the right of the personified Lilly. It bears five flowering stems. female bowing standing facing left gown hem long hair arms at side feet right foot Thel young Thel, wearing a long gown with a ruffled hem, stands with her arms at her side in a slightly bowed posture, facing to the left. Her long hair falls over her shoulders. Her feet (right foot forward) are bare. female bowing standing facing down facing right arms folded gown hem Lilly facing down eyes down young The personified Lilly bows, with arms apparently folded, toward Thel. The hem of the Lilly's gown is elaborately ruffled. She faces down and to the right. cloud Washes in the sky, particularly on the right, suggest clouds. Why should the mistress of the vales of Har, utter a sigh. She ceasd & smild in tears, then sat down in her silver shrine. Thel answerd, O thou little virgin of the peaceful valley. Giving to those that cannot crave, the voiceless, the o'erfired. Thy breath doth nourish the innocent lamb, he smells thy milky garments, He crops thy flowers. while thou sittest smiling in his face, Wiping his mild and meekin mouth from all contagious taints. Thy wine doth purify the golden honey, thy perfume, Which thou dost scatter on every little blade of grass that springs Revives the milked cow, & tames the fire-breathing steed. But Thel is like a faint cloud kindled at the rising sun: I vanish from my pearly throne, and who shall find my place. Queen of the vales the Lilly answerd, ask the tender cloud, And it shall tell thee why it glitters in the morning sky, And why it scatters its bright beauty thro' the humid air. Descend O little cloud & hover before the eyes of Thel, The Cloud descended. and the Lilly bowd her modest head: And went to mind her numerous charge among the verdant grass. , plate 5 (Bentley 5, Erdman 3, Keynes 3) 15.3 x 10.7 cm. 3Gobscured by washes Washes in the top margin suggest long grass. grass Green washes suggest long grasses along the top margin. Washes in the bottom margin suggest long grass. grass Green washes suggest long grasses along the bottom margin. Two vines, one bearing lily-like flowers, spring from the beginning of the first line of text. vine flower lily Two vines, one bearing lily-like flowers, spring from the beginning of the first line of text. vine branch A vine or two branches grow from the end of the last line of text. II. O little Cloud the virgin said. I charge thee tell to me. Why thou complainest not when in one hour thou fade away: Then we shall seek thee but not find, ah Thel is like to thee, I pass away. yet I complain, and no one hears my voice. The Cloud then shew'd his golden head & his bright form emergd, Hovering and glittering on the air before the face of Thel. O virgin know'st thou not, our steeds drink of the golden springs Where Luvah doth renew his horses: look'st thou on my youth, And fearest thou because I vanish and am seen no more. Nothing remains; O maid I tell thee. when I pass away, It is to tenfold life, to love to peace. and raptures holy: Unseen descending. weigh my light wings upon balmy flowers: And court the fair eyed dew. to take me to her shining tent; The weeping virgin. trembling kneels before the risen sun, Till we arise link'd in a golden band and never part; But walk united, bearing food to all our tender flowers Dost thou O little Cloud? I fear that I am not like thee; For I walk through the vales of Har, and smell the sweetest flowers; But I feed not the little flowers: I hear the warbling birds, But I feed not the warbling birds. they fly and seek their food: But Thel delights in these no more because I fade away, And all shall say. without a use this shining woman liv'd. Or did she only live. to be at death the food of worms. The Cloud reclind upon his airy throne and answer'd thus. Then if thou art the food of worms. O virgin of the skies, How great thy use. how great thy blessing; every thing that lives, Lives not alone. nor for itself: fear not and I will call The weak worm from its lowly bed. and thou shalt hear its voice. Come forth worm of the silent valley, to thy pensive queen. The helpless worm arose, and sat upon the Lillys leaf, And the bright Cloud saild on, to find his partner in the vale. III. , plate 6 (Bentley 6, Erdman 4, Keynes 4) 15.3 x 10.8 cm. 4Gnot printed Thel stands center right, accompanied by the personified Cloud and Worm. Her arms, raised horizontally, imitate the gesture of the cloud, a nude male (except for a slip of drapery) hovering in the air. The hem of Thel's gown seems to be ruffled by the same breeze on which the Cloud floats. The Worm, portrayed as an infant, rests in a bed formed by a lily plant. Several flowers on a single stem are pictured just to his left. A large tree and spiraling vine dominate the right margin. Blue washes lower left suggest water. Large clouds dominate the sky right and left of Thel. The design would seem to illustrate the last two lines of text on theprevious plate and the first line onthis plate: The helpless worm arose, and sat upon the Lillys leaf, / And the bright Cloud saild on, to find his partner in the vale. / Then Thel astonish'd view'd the worm upon its dewy bed. tree branch birch leafless The trunk of a large tree, perhaps a birch, is pictured along the right margin. A short limb divides into two slender branches. vine spiral A vine spirals upward in front and to the left of the tree. plant leaf vine flower lily St. Bernard's lily A large plant with spiky leaves, probably a lily, forms a bed for the infant Worm. A long vine-like tendril trails to the left. A small cluster of flowers, perhaps St. Bernard's lilies, appears left of the Worm. plant grass A few spiky lines indicate grass or a small plant to the left of the tree. female Thel gown hem arms raised horizontally standing striding feet left foot long hair facing down young seen from behind Thel stands with arms raised horizontally, as if imitating the Cloud's gestures, and looks down at the personified Worm. The hem of her gown flutters to the left, as though blown by a breeze, but her long hair seems blown to the right. She may be striding away from the viewer and to the left. Her feet, left foot forward, are bare. male Cloud nude arms raised horizontally legs spread hovering facing forward long hair drapery flag body horizontal floating leg extended leg bent at knee muscular The personified Cloud hovers in the air, his arms raised horizontally and his legs apart, the left bent at the knee. He is basically nude, but a flag-like piece of drapery trails behind him. His long hair floats to the right. male infant Worm nude lying facing up facing right The personified Worm, a nude infant boy, lies among the leaves of a lily plant. He may be looking up and to the right, towards Thel. cloud dark Washes in the sky left and right of Thel delineate large dark clouds. wind The hem of Thel's gown and the posture of the personified Cloud suggest a wind blowing from right to left. However, the position of these characters' long hair suggests a breeze in the opposite direction. Brown and blue washes just above the bottom margin suggest a combination of earth (left) and sky (right). Alternatively, these washes may represent clouds, like those of the same color and style at the top of plate 8. earth Brown washes in the lower left margin suggest earth. sky cloud Blue washes in the lower margin suggest sky or perhaps clouds. III. Then Thel astonish'd view'd the Worm upon its dewy bed. Art thou a Worm? image of weakness. art thou but a Worm? I see thee like an infant wrapped in the Lillys leaf: Ah weep not little voice, thou canst not speak. but thou can'st weep; Is this a Worm? I see thee lay helpless & naked: weeping. And none to answer, none to cherish thee with mothers smiles. The Clod of Clay heard the Worms voice, & raisd her pitying head; She bowd over the weeping infant. and her life exhal'd In milky fondness. then on Thel she fix'd her humble eyes. O beauty of the vales of Har, we live not for ourselves. Thou seest me the meanest thing, and so I am indeed; My bosom of itself is cold. and of itself is dark, But , plate 7 (Bentley 7, Erdman 5, Keynes 5) 15.4 x 10.6 cm. 5G Thel squats on the ground, arms folded, and looks at the personified Worm and Clod (or "matron Clay"). Her long hair cascades over her shoulders; the hem of her long gown billows around her. The infant Worm extends both arms and looks at the Clod, a young, nude woman lying on the ground. She may be holding her offspring with her right hand. Right of Thel is a large plant with spiky leaves and two blossoms, one of which arches over Thel's head. Left of Thel is another plant with similar leaves but no blossoms. Washes in the sky suggest clouds, particularly behind the plant on the right. The design may in part illustrate lines on the previous plate:The Clod of Clay heard the Worms voice, & raisd her pitying head; / She bow'd over the weeping infant,... plant leaf flower bud arching Meadia dodecatheon amaryllis lily St. Bernard's lily A large plant with spiky leaves grows on the right. One of its two flowers arches above Thel's head. Long stamens dangle from the blossom on the right; the blossom on the left is less open and may be only a bud. The plant may be a combination of the flowers of the Meadia or dodecatheon, the golden amaryllis, and the leaves of the St. Bernard's lily. plant leaf monotropa corpse-plant A large plant with spiky leaves rises to the left of Thel. This may be the colorless monotropa or corpse-plant. plant flower lily Two stems grow just left of Thel's waist. The lower stem terminates in a small, lily-like flower. female Thel gown hem arms folded squatting knees bowing long hair contracted arms crossed bending forward facing down head bowed knees drawn up young Thel squats on the ground, her arms folded over her chest and knees in a contracted position. Her long hair falls over her shoulders; the hem of her long gown cascades around her. She looks down at the personified Clod and Worm with head bowed. male Worm nude infant legs crossed facing left arms raised at 135 degrees The nude, infant Worm lies on the ground with legs crossed and arms extended at an angle of 135 degrees. His head is turned toward the Clod. female Clod matron Clay nude lying long hair legs crossed young seen from behind facing away The personified Clod or "matron Clay" lies on the ground. She is a nude young woman with long hair. Her right arm extends under the infant Worm, perhaps propping him up. Her legs are crossed. water A small area of blue wash near the lower left corner of the design may indicate water. cloud dark Some of the washes in the sky, particularly on the right, suggest clouds. Washes in the top margin suggest sky or clouds. sky cloud Washes in the top margin suggest sky or clouds. Washes between lines 6 and 7 and between lines 13 and 14 suggest sky or clouds. sky cloud Washes between lines 6 and 7 and between lines 13 and 14 suggest sky or clouds. But he that loves the lowly, pours his oil upon my head, And kisses me, and binds his nuptial bands around my breast. And says; Thou mother of my children, I have loved thee. And I have given thee a crown that none can take away But how this is sweet maid, I know not, and I cannot know. I ponder, and I cannot ponder; yet I live and love. The daughter of beauty wip'd her pitying tears with her white veil, And said. Alas! I knew not this, and therefore did I weep: That God would love a Worm I knew, and punish the evil foot That wilful, bruis'd its helpless form; but that he cherish'd it With milk and oil, I never knew; and therefore did I weep, And I complaind in the mild air, because I fade away. And lay me down in thy cold bed, and leave my shining lot. Queen of the vales, the matron Clay answerd; I heard thy sighs. And all thy moans flew o'er my roof. but I have call'd them down: Wilt thou O Queen enter my house, 'tis given thee to enter. And to return; fear nothing. enter with thy virgin feet. IV , plate 8 (Bentley 8, Erdman 6, Keynes 6) 14.1 x 10.9 cm. 6Gnot printed Washes just below the top margin suggest sky or clouds. cloud sky Washes just below the top margin suggest clouds. Three nude children ride on the back of a snake. The front-most child, apparently a girl, holds a rein in her left hand that extends to the snake's open mouth. His forked tongue is extended. The green coloring and a few spiky lines on the ground below the snake suggest grass and perhaps other small plants. "The End" is written within a hollow formed by the ground and vegetation. The design bears no direct relationship with any images or events in the text. grass plant Spiky lines and the coloring in the lower margin suggest grass and perhaps small plants on the ground. female child sitting riding nude arm raised horizontally long hair young facing left rein A nude young girl with long hair rides the snake's back. She holds a rein in her left hand and faces to the left. male child infant nude sitting riding reaching arm raised horizontally legs spread curly hair hand holding A nude child or infant, probably male, rides on the snake's back. His legs are spread apart. He reaches back with his left arm to grasp the left hand of the infant behind him. A few lines suggest short curly hair. infant nude sitting riding reaching facing left arm raised horizontally facing left hand holding A nude infant rides the snake's back nearest the tail. He faces left and reaches up with his left arm to grasp the hand of the child to the left. snake tongue spiral facing left A snake carries three children on his back. He faces to the left with mouth open, forked tongue extended. His tail spirals into three loops. The words "The End" appear within a hollow formed by the ground and vegetation. The End A curved, horizontal line between lines 15 and 16 of the text suggests a vine or branch. To the right is a bird in flight and two clusters of lines suggesting clouds. vine branch A vine or branch extends horizontally between lines 15 and 16 of the text. bird flying A bird flies upward between lines 15 and 16 of the text. cloud The two clusters of lines between lines 15 and 16 of the text and near the right margin may represent two clouds. A vine or branch with a few leaves curves above the first two words of the text. vine branch leaf A vine or branch with a few leaves curves above the first two words of text. IV. Lines 19 and 20 erased from leaf 8 in copy F. The eternal gates terrific porter lifted the northern bar; Thel enter'd in & saw the secrets of the land unknown: She saw the couches of the dead, & where the fibrous roots Of every heart on earth infixes deep its restless twists: A land of sorrows & of tears where never smile was seen. She wanderd in the land of clouds thro' valleys dark, listning Dolours & lamentations: waiting oft beside a dewy grave She stood in silence. listning to the voices of the ground, Till to her own grave plot she came, & there she sat down, And heard this voice of sorrow breathed from the hollow pit - Why cannot the Ear be closed to its own destruction? Or the glistning Eye to the poison of a smile! Why are Eyelids stord with arrows ready drawn, Where a thousand fighting men in ambush lie? Or an Eye of gifts & graces. show'ring fruits & coined gold! Why a Tongue impress'd with honey from every wind? Why an Ear, a whirlpool fierce to draw creations in? Why a Nostril wide inhaling terror trembling & affright Why a tender curb upon the youthful burning boy! Why a little curtain of flesh on the bed of our desire? The Virgin started from her seat, & with a shriek. Fled back unhinderd till she came into the vales of Har. The End