THE FOUR ZOAS

William Blake

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  • Night the First
  • Night the Second

  •  
    The torments of Love & Jealousy in
    The Death and Judgement
    of Albion the Ancient Man

     
           

     
            Rest before Labour

     
            <[For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
            against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
            darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
            places. (King James version)]>  

     
            VALA

     

    Night the First

     
            The Song of the Aged Mother which shook the heavens with wrath  
            Hearing the march of long resounding strong heroic Verse
            Marshalld in order for the day of Intellectual Battle

     
            Four Mighty Ones are in every Man; a Perfect Unity John XVII c. 21 & 22 & 23 v  
            Cannot Exist. but from the Universal Brotherhood of Eden John I c. 14. v

     
            The Universal Man. To Whom be Glory Evermore Amen <Greek [kai eskanosen en [h]amen]>

     
            [What] are the Natures of those Living Creatures the Heavenly Father only
            [Knoweth] no Individual [Knoweth nor] Can know in all Eternity  

     
            Los was the fourth immortal starry one, & in the Earth
            Of a bright Universe Empery attended day & night
            Days & nights of revolving joy, Urthona was his name

     
            In Eden; in the Auricular Nerves of Human life
            Which is the Earth of Eden, he his Emanations propagated
            Fairies of Albion afterwards Gods of the Heathen, Daughter of Beulah Sing
            His fall into Division & his Resurrection to Unity
            His fall into the Generation of Decay & Death & his Regeneration by the Resurrection from the dead  

     
            Begin with Tharmas Parent power. darkning in the West

     
            Lost! Lost! Lost! are my Emanations Enion O Enion  
            We are become a Victim to the Living We hide in secret  
            I have hidden Jerusalem in Silent Contrition O Pity Me  
            I will build thee a Labyrinth also O pity me O Enion  
            Why hast thou taken sweet Jerusalem from my inmost Soul  
            Let her Lay secret in the Soft recess of darkness & silence
            It is not Love I bear to [Jerusalem] It is Pity  
            She hath taken refuge in my bosom & I cannot cast her out.

     
            The Men have recieved their death wounds & their Emanations are fled
            To me for refuge & I cannot turn them out for Pitys sake

     
            Enion said—Thy fear has made me tremble thy terrors have surrounded me  
            All Love is lost Terror succeeds & Hatred instead of Love
            And stern demands of Right & Duty instead of Liberty.
            Once thou wast to Me the loveliest son of heaven—But now
            Why art thou Terrible and yet I love thee in thy terror till
            I am almost Extinct & soon shall be a Shadow in Oblivion
            Unless some way can be found that I may look upon thee & live
            Hide me some Shadowy semblance. secret whispring in my Ear
            In secret of soft wings. in mazes of delusive beauty
            I have lookd into the secret soul of him I lovd
            And in the Dark recesses found Sin & cannot return

     
            Trembling & pale sat Tharmas weeping in his clouds

     
            Why wilt thou Examine every little fibre of my soul
            Spreading them out before the Sun like Stalks of flax to dry
            The infant joy is beautiful but its anatomy
            Horrible Ghast & Deadly nought shalt thou find in it
            But Death Despair & Everlasting brooding Melancholy

     
            Thou wilt go mad with horror if thou dost Examine thus
            Every moment of my secret hours Yea I know
            That I have sinnd & that my Emanations are become harlots
            I am already distracted at their deeds & if I look
            Upon them more Despair will bring self murder on my soul
            O Enion thou art thyself a root growing in hell
            Tho thus heavenly beautiful to draw me to destruction

     
            Sometimes I think thou art a flower expanding
            Sometimes I think thou art fruit breaking from its bud
            In dreadful dolor & pain & I am like an atom
            A Nothing left in darkness yet I am an identity
            I wish & feel & weep & groan Ah terrible terrible

     
            In Eden Females sleep the winter in soft silken veils  
            Woven by their own hands to hide them in the darksom grave
            But Males immortal live renewd by female deaths. in soft
            Delight they die & they revive in spring with music & songs
            Enion said Farewell I die I hide from thy searching eyes

     
            So saying—From her bosom weaving soft in Sinewy threads
            A tabernacle for Jerusalem she sat among the Rocks  
            Singing her lamentation. Tharmas groand among his Clouds
            Weeping, then bending from his Clouds he stoopd his innocent head  
            And stretching out his holy hand in the vast Deep sublime
            Turnd round the circle of Destiny with tears & bitter sighs
            And said. Return O Wanderer when the Day of Clouds is oer

     
            So saying he sunk down into the sea a pale white corse
            In torment he sunk down & flowd among her filmy Woof  
            His Spectre issuing from his feet in flames of fire
            In gnawing pain drawn out by her lovd fingers every nerve  
            She counted. every vein & lacteal threading them among
            Her woof of terror. Terrified & drinking tears of woe
            Shuddring she wove—nine days & nights Sleepless her food was tears
            Wondring she saw her woof begin to animate. & not
            As Garments woven subservient to her hands but having a will
            Of its own perverse & wayward Enion lovd & wept

     
            Nine days she labourd at her work. & nine dark sleepless nights
            But on the tenth trembling morn the Circle of Destiny Complete  
            Round rolld the Sea Englobing in a watry Globe self balancd

     
            A Frowning Continent appeard Where Enion in the Desart
            Terrified in her own Creation viewing her woven shadow
            Sat in a dread intoxication of Repentance & Contrition  
            There is from Great Eternity a mild & pleasant rest
            Namd Beulah a Soft Moony Universe feminine lovely
            Pure mild & Gentle given in Mercy to those who sleep
            Eternally. Created by the Lamb of God around
            On all sides within & without the Universal Man
            The Daughters of Beulah follow sleepers in all their Dreams  
            Creating Spaces lest they fall into Eternal Death

     
            The Circle of Destiny complete they gave to it a Space
            And namd the Space Ulro & brooded over it in care & love
            They said The Spectre is in every man insane & most
            Deformd Thro the three heavens descending in fury & fire
            We meet it with our Songs & loving blandishments & give
            To it a form of vegetation But this Spectre of Tharmas
            Is Eternal Death What shall we do O God pity & help  
            So spoke they & closd the Gate of the Tongue in trembling fear  

     
            What have I done! said Enion accursed wretch! What deed.  
            Is this a deed of Love I know what I have done. I know
            Too late now to repent. Love is changd to deadly Hate  
            A [ll] life is blotted out & I alone remain possessd with Fears  
            I see the Shadow of the dead within my Soul wandering  
            In darkness & solitude forming Seas of Doubt & rocks of Repentance  
            Already are my Eyes reverted. all that I behold
            Within my Soul has lost its splendor & a brooding Fear
            Shadows me oer & drives me outward to a world of woe
            So waild she trembling before her own Created Phantasm  

     
            She drew the Spectre forth from Tharmas in her shining loom  
            Of Vegetation weeping in wayward infancy & sullen youth
            Listning to her soft lamentations soon his tongue began
            To Lisp out words & soon in masculine strength augmenting he
            Reard up a form of gold & stood upon the glittering rock
            A shadowy human form winged & in his depths
            The dazzlings as of gems shone clear, rapturous in fury  
            Glorying in his own eyes Exalted in terrific Pride  
            The Spectre thus spoke. Who art thou Diminutive husk & shell  
            If thou hast sinnd & art polluted know that I am pure  
            And unpolluted & will bring to rigid strict account
            All thy past deeds [So] hear what I tell thee! mark it well! remember!  
            This world is Thine in which thou dwellest that within thy soul  
            That dark & dismal infinite where Thought roams up & down

     
            Is Mine & there thou goest when with one Sting of my tongue  
            Envenomd thou rollst inwards to the place whence I emergd  

     
            She trembling answerd Wherefore was I born & what am I  
            I thought to weave a Covering for my Sins from wrath of Tharmas  

     
            I thought Tharmas a Sinner & I murderd his Emanations  
            His secret loves & Graces Ah me wretched What have I done  
            For now I find that all those Emanations were my Childrens Souls  
            And I have murderd them with Cruelty above atonement  
            Those that remain have fled from my cruelty into the desarts
            And thou the delusive tempter to these deeds sittest before me  
            In this thy world not mine tho dark I feel my world within  

     
            Mingling his horrible brightness with her tender limbs then high she soard  
            Above the ocean; a bright wonder that Nature shudder'd at  
            Half Woman & half Spectre, all his lovely changing colours mix  
            With her fair crystal clearness; in her lips & cheeks his poisons rose  
            In blushes like the morning, and his scaly armour softening  
            A monster lovely in the heavens or wandering on the earth,  

     
            Till with fierce pain she brought forth on the rocks her sorrow & woe
            Behold two little Infants wept upon the desolate wind.  
            The first state weeping they began & helpless as a wave
            Beaten along its sightless way growing enormous in its motion to
            Its utmost goal, till strength from Enion like richest summer shining  
            Raisd the bright boy & girl with glories from their heads beaming  
            Drawing forth drooping mothers pity drooping mothers sorrow  

     
            They sulk upon her breast her hair became like snow on mountains  
            Weaker & weaker, weeping woful, wearier and wearier
            Faded & her bright Eyes decayd melted with pity & love

     
            And then they wanderd far away she sought for them in vain  
            In weeping blindness stumbling she followd them oer rocks & mountains
            Rehumanizing from the Spectre in pangs of maternal love
            Ingrate they wanderd scorning her drawing her Spectrous Life
            Repelling her away & away by a dread repulsive power
            Into Non Entity revolving round in dark despair.
            And drawing in the Spectrous life in pride and haughty joy  
            Thus Enion gave them all her spectrous life  

     
            Then Eno a daughter of Beulah took a Moment of Time  
            And drew it out to Seven thousand years with much care & affliction  
            And many tears & in Every year made windows into Eden  

     
            She also took an atom of space & opend its center
            Into Infinitude & ornamented it with wondrous art
            Astonishd sat her Sisters of Beulah to see her soft affections
            To Enion & her children & they ponderd these things wondring
            And they Alternate kept watch over the Youthful terrors
            They saw not yet the Hand Divine for it was not yet reveald
            But they went on in Silent Hope & Feminine repose
            But Los & Enitharmon delighted in the Moony spaces of Eno  
            Nine Times they livd among the forests, feeding n sweet fruits
            And nine bright Spaces wanderd weaving mazes of delight
            Snaring the wild Goats for their milk they eat the flesh of Lambs
            A male & female naked & ruddy as the pride of summer
            Alternate Love & Hate his breast; hers Scorn & Jealousy
            In embryon passions. they kiss'd not nor embrac'd for shame & fear  
            His head beamd light & in his vigorous voice was prophecy
            He could controll the times & seasons, & the days & years
            She could controll the spaces, regions, desart, flood & forest
            But had no power to weave a Veil of covering for her Sins
            She drave the Females all away from Los
            And Los drave all the Males from her away
            They wanderd long, till they sat down upon the margind sea.
            Conversing with the visions of Beulah in dark slumberous bliss  

     
            But the two youthful wonders wanderd in the world of Tharmas  
            Thy name is Enitharmon; said the fierce prophetic boy  
            While thy mild voice fills all these Caverns with sweet harmony
            O how our Parents sit & mourn in their silent secret bowers  

     
            But Enitharmon answerd with a dropping tear & frowning  
            Dark as a dewy morning when the crimson light appears  
            To make us happy let them weary their immortal powers  
            While we draw in their sweet delights while we return them scorn  
            On scorn to feed our discontent; for if we grateful prove
            They will withhold sweet love, whose food is thorns & bitter roots.
            We hear the warlike clarions we view the turning spheres  
            Yet Thou in indolence reposest holding me in bonds
            Hear! I will sing a Song of Death! it is a Song of Vala!  
            The Fallen Man takes his repose: Urizen sleeps in the porch  
            Luvah and Vala woke & flew up from the Human Heart  
            Into the Brain; from thence upon the pillow Vala slumber'd.
            And Luvah siez'd the Horses of Light, & rose into the Chariot of Day
            Sweet laughter siezd me in my sleep! silent & close I laughd  
            For in the visions of Vala I walkd with the mighty Fallen One  
            I heard his voice among the branches, & among sweet flowers.  

     
            Why is the light of Enitharmon darken'd in dewy morn  
            Why is the silence of Enitharmon a terror & her smile a whirlwind  
            Uttering this darkness in my halls, in the pillars of my Holy-ones
            Why dost thou weep as Vala? & wet thy veil with dewy tears,  
            In slumbers of my night-repose, infusing a false morning?
            Driving the Female Emanations all away from Los  
            I have refusd to look upon the Universal Vision
            And wilt thou slay with death him who devotes himself to thee  
            Once born for the sport & amusement of Man now born to drink up all his Powers

     
            I heard the sounding sea; I heard the voice weaker and weaker;
            The voice came & went like a dream, I awoke in my sweet bliss.
            Then Los smote her upon the Earth twas long eer she revivd
            He answer'd, darkning more with indignation hid in smiles  

     
            I die not Enitharmon tho thou singst thy Song of Death  
            Nor shalt thou me torment For I behold the Fallen Man  
            Seeking to comfort Vala, she will not be comforted  
            She rises from his throne and seeks the shadows of her garden
            Weeping for Luvah lost, in the bloody beams of your false morning
            Sickning lies the Fallen Man his head sick his heart faint  
            Mighty atchievement of your power! Beware the punishment
            I see, invisible decend into the Gardens of Vala
            Luvah walking on the winds, I see the invisible knife
            I see the shower of blood: I see the swords & spears of futurity
            Tho in the Brain of Man we live, & in his circling Nerves.
            Tho' this bright world of all our joy is in the Human Brain.
            Where Urizen & all his Hosts hang their immortal lamps
            Thou neer shalt leave this cold expanse where watry Tharmas mourns

     
            So spoke Los. Scorn & Indignation rose upon Enitharmon
            Then Enitharmon reddning fierce stretchd her immortal hands  

     
            Descend O Urizen descend with horse & chariots
            Threaten not me O visionary thine the punishment
            The Human Nature shall no more remain nor Human acts
            Form the rebellious Spirits of Heaven. but War & Princedom & Victory & Blood  

     
            Night darkend as she spoke! a shuddring ran from East to West  
            A Groan was heard on high. The warlike clarions ceast. the Spirits
            Of Luvah & Vala shudderd in their Orb: an orb of blood!

     
            Eternity groand & was troubled at the Image of Eternal Death
            The Wandering Man bow'd his faint head and Urizen descended
            And the one must have murderd the other if he had not descended  

     
            Indignant muttering low thunders; Urizen descended
            Gloomy sounding, Now I am God from Eternity to Eternity

     
            Sullen sat Los plotting Revenge. Silent he eye'd the Prince  
            Of Light. Silent the prince of Light viewd Los. at length a brooded  
            Smile broke from Urizen for Enitharmon brightend more & more
            Sullen he lowerd on Enitharmon but he smild on Los

     
            Saying Thou art the Lord of Luvah into thine hands I give
            The prince of Love the murderer his soul is in thine hands
            Pity not Vala for she pitied not the Eternal Man
            Nor pity thou the cries of Luvah. Lo these starry hosts
            They are thy servants if thou wilt obey my awful Law
            Los answerd furious art thou one of those who when most complacent
            Mean mischief most. If you are such Lo! I am also such
            One must be master. try thy Arts I also will try mine
            For I percieve Thou hast Abundance which I claim as mine

     
            Urizen startled stood but not Long soon he cried
            Obey my voice young Demon I am God from Eternity to Eternity

     
            Thus Urizen spoke collected in himself in awful pride

     
            Art thou a visionary of Jesus the soft delusion of Eternity
            Lo I am God the terrible destroyer & not the Saviour
            Why should the Divine Vision compell the sons of Eden
            to forego each his own delight to war against his Spectre  
            The Spectre is the Man the rest is only delusion & fancy

     
            So spoke the Prince of Light & sat beside the Seat of Los
            Upon the sandy shore rested his chariot of fire

     
            Ten thousand thousand were his hosts of spirits on the wind:
            Ten thousand thousand glittering Chariots shining in the sky:
            They pour upon the golden shore beside the silent ocean.
            Rejoicing in the Victory & the heavens were filld with blood  

     
            The Earth spread forth her table wide. the Night a silver cup
            Fill'd with the wine of anguish waited at the golden feast
            But the bright Sun was not as yet; he filling all the expanse
            Slept as a bird in the blue shell that soon shall burst away

     
            Los saw the wound of his blow he saw he pitied he wept  
            Los now repented that he had smitten Enitharmon he felt love
            Arise in all his Veins he threw his arms around her loins
            To heal the wound of his smiting

     
            They eat the fleshly bread, they drank the nervous wine  

     
            They listend to the Elemental Harps & Sphery Song
            They view'd the dancing Hours, quick sporting thro' the sky
            With winged radiance scattering joys thro the ever changing light

     
            But Luvah & Vala standing in the bloody sky  
            On high remaind alone forsaken in fierce jealousy
            They stood above the heavens forsaken desolate suspended in blood
            Descend they could not. nor from Each other avert their eyes
            Eternity appeard above them as One Man infolded
            In Luvah[s] robes of blood & bearing all his afflictions  
            As the sun shines down on the misty earth Such was the Vision

     
            But purple night and crimson morning & golden day descending  
            Thro' the clear changing atmosphere display'd green fields among
            The varying clouds, like paradises stretch'd in the expanse
            With towns & villages and temples, tents sheep-folds and pastures
            Where dwell the children of the elemental worlds in harmony.
            Not long in harmony they dwell, their life is drawn away  
            And wintry woes succeed; successive driven into the Void
            Where Enion craves: successive drawn into the golden feast

     
            And Los & Enitharmon sat in discontent & scorn  
            The Nuptial Song arose from all the thousand thousand spirits  
            Over the joyful Earth & Sea, and ascended into the Heavens
            For Elemental Gods their thunderous Organs blew; creating
            Delicious Viands. Demons of Waves their watry Eccho's woke!
            Bright Souls of vegetative life, budding and blossoming  

     
            Stretch their immortal hands to smite the gold & silver Wires
            And with immortal Voice soft warbling fill all Earth & Heaven.
            With doubling Voices & loud Horns wound round sounding
            Cavernous dwellers fill'd the enormous Revelry, Responsing!
            And Spirits of Flaming fire on high, govern'd the mighty Song.

     
            And This the Song! sung at The Feast of Los & Enitharmon

     
            Ephraim calld out to Zion: Awake O Brother Mountain  
            Let us refuse the Plow & Spade, the heavy Roller & spiked
            Harrow. burn all these Corn fields. throw down all these fences
            Fattend on Human blood & drunk with wine of life is better far

     
            Than all these labours of the harvest & the vintage. See the river
            Red with the blood of Men. swells lustful round my rocky knees
            My clouds are not the clouds of verdant fields & groves of fruit
            But Clouds of Human Souls. my nostrils drink the lives of Men  

     
            The Villages Lament. they faint outstretchd upon the plain
            Wailing runs round the Valleys from the Mill & from the Barn  

     
            But most the polishd Palaces dark silent bow with dread  
            Hiding their books & pictures. underneath the dens of Earth

     
            The Cities send to one another saying My sons are Mad
            With wine of cruelty. Let us plat a Scourge O Sister City  
            Children are nourishd for the Slaughter; once the Child was fed
            With Milk; but wherefore now are Children fed with blood  

     
            The Horse is of more value than the Man. The Tyger fierce
            Laughs at the Human form. the Lion mocks & thirsts for blood
            They cry O Spider spread thy web! Enlarge thy bones & fill'd
            With marrow. sinews & flesh Exalt thyself attain a voice
            Call to thy dark armd hosts, for all the sons of Men muster together
            To desolate their cities! Man shall be no more! Awake O Hosts
            The bow string sang upon the hills! Luvah & Vala ride
            Triumphant in the bloody sky. & the Human form is no more  

     
            The listning Stars heard, & the first beam of the morning started back
            He cried out to his Father, depart! depart! but sudden Siez'd  
            And clad in steel. & his Horse proudly neighd; he smelt the battle  
            Afar off, Rushing back, reddning with rage the Mighty Father  

     
            Siezd his bright Sheephook studded with gems & gold, he Swung it round
            His head shrill sounding in the sky, down rushd the Sun with noise
            Of war, The Mountains fled away they sought a place beneath
            Vala remaind in desarts of dark solitude. nor Sun nor Moon

     
            By night nor day to comfort her, she labourd in thick smoke  
            Tharmas endurd not, he fled howling. then a barren waste sunk
            Conglobing in the dark confusion, Mean time Los was born
            And Thou O Enitharmon! Hark I hear the hammers of Los  

     
            They melt the bones of Vala, & the bones of Luvah into wedges
            The innumerable sons & daughters of Luvah closd in furnaces
            Melt into furrows. winter blows his bellows: ice & Snow
            Tend the dire anvils. Mountains mourn & Rivers faint & fail

     
            There is no City nor Corn-field nor Orchard! all is Rock & Sand
            There is no Sun nor Moon nor Star. but rugged wintry rocks
            Justling together in the void suspended by inward fires
            Impatience now no longer can endure. Distracted Luvah

     
            Bursting forth from the loins of Enitharmon, Thou fierce Terror
            Go howl in vain, Smite Smite his fetters Smite O wintry hammers
            Smite Spectre of Urthona, mock the fiend who drew us down
            From heavens of joy into this Deep. Now rage but rage in vain

     
            Thus Sang the Demons of the Deep. the Clarions of War blew loud
            The Feast redounds & Crownd with roses & the circling vine
            The Enormous Bride & Bridegroom sat, beside them Urizen
            With faded radiance sighd, forgetful of the flowing wine
            And of Ahania his Pure Bride but She was distant far

     
            But Los & Enitharmon sat in discontent & scorn
            Craving the more the more enjoying, drawing out sweet bliss
            From all the turning wheels of heaven & the chariots of the Slain

     
            At distance Far in Night repelld. in direful hunger craving
            Summers & Winters round revolving in the frightful deep.

     
            Enion blind & age-bent wept upon the desolate wind  

     
            Why does the Raven cry aloud and no eye pities her?
            Why fall the Sparrow & the Robin in the foodless winter?
            Faint! shivering they sit on leafless bush, or frozen stone  

     
            Wearied with seeking food across the snowy waste; the little
            Heart, cold; and the little tongue consum'd, that once in thoughtless joy
            Gave songs of gratitude to waving corn fields round their nest. 

     
            Why howl the Lion & the Wolf? why do they roam abroad?  
            Deluded by summers heat they sport in enormous love  
            And cast their young out to the hungry wilds & sandy desarts

     
            Why is the Sheep given to the knife? the Lamb plays in the Sun
            He starts! he hears the foot of Man! he says, Take thou my wool
            But spare my life, but he knows not that winter cometh fast.  

     
            The Spider sits in his labourd Web, eager watching for the Fly
            Presently comes a famishd Bird & takes away the Spider
            His Web is left all desolate, that his little anxious heart
            So careful wove; & spread it out with sighs and weariness.

     
            This was the Lamentation of Enion round the golden Feast
            Eternity groand and was troubled at the image of Eternal Death
            Without the body of Man an Exudation from his sickning limbs

     
            Now Man was come to the Palm tree & to the Oak of Weeping  
            Which stand upon the Edge of Beulah & he sunk down
            From the Supporting arms of the Eternal Saviour; who disposd
            The pale limbs of his Eternal Individuality
            Upon The Rock of Ages. Watching over him with Love & Care  

     
            Then those in Great Eternity met in the Council of God
            As one Man for contracting their Exalted Senses

     
            They behold Multitude or Expanding they behold as one
            As One Man all the Universal family & that one Man  
            They call Jesus the Christ & they in him & he in them
            Live in Perfect harmony in Eden the land of life
            Consulting as One Man above the Mountain of Snowdon Sublime  

     
            For messengers from Beulah come in tears & darkning clouds
            Saying Shiloh is in ruins our brother is sick Albion He  
            Whom thou lovest is sick he wanders from his house of Eternity
            The daughters of Beulah terrified have closd the Gate of the Tongue
            Luvah & Urizen contend in war around the holy tent

     
            So spoke the Ambassadors from Beulah & with solemn mourning  
            They were introducd to the divine presence & they kneeled down
            In Conways Vale thus recounting the Wars of Death Eternal  

     
            The Eternal Man wept in the holy tent Our Brother in Eternity
            Even Albion whom thou lovest wept in pain his family
            Slept round on hills & valleys in the regions of his love
            But Urizen awoke & Luvah woke & thus conferrd

     
            Thou Luvah said the Prince of Light behold our sons & daughters
            Reposd on beds. let them sleep on. do thou alone depart
            Into thy wished Kingdom where in Majesty & Power
            We may erect a throne. deep in the North I place my lot
            Thou in the South listen attentive. In silent of this night
            I will infold the Eternal tent in clouds opake while thou
            Siezing the chariots of the morning. Go oufleeting ride
            Afar into the Zenith high bending thy furious course
            Southward with half the tents of men inclosd in clouds
            Of Tharmas & Urthona. I remaining in porches of the brain
            Will lay my scepter on Jerusalem the Emanation
            On all her sons & on thy sons O Luvah & on mine  
            Till dawn was wont to wake them then my trumpet sounding loud
            Ravishd away in night my strong command shall be obeyd
            For I have placd my centinels in stations each tenth man
            Is bought & sold & in dim night my Word shall be their law

     
            Luvah replied Dictate to thy Equals. am not I
            The Prince of all the hosts of Men nor Equal know in Heaven
            If I arise into the Zenith leaving thee to watch
            The Emanation & her Sons the Satan & the Anak
            Sihon and Og. wilt thou not rebel to my laws remain
            In darkness building thy strong throne & in my ancient night
            Daring my power wilt arm my sons against me in the Atlantic  
            My deep My night which thou assuming hast assumed my Crown
            I will remain as well as thou & here with hands of blood
            Smite this dark sleeper in his tent then try my strength with thee

     
            While thus he spoke his fires reddend oer the holy tent  
            Urizen cast deep darkness round him silent brooding death
            Eternal death to Luvah. raging Luvah pourd
            The Lances of Urizen from chariots. round the holy tent
            Discord began & yells & cries shook the wide firmament

     
            Beside his anvil stood Urthona dark. a mass of iron
            Glowd furious on the anvil prepard for spades & coulters All
            His sons fled from his side to join the conflict pale he heard
            The Eternal voice he stood the sweat chilld on his mighty limbs
            He dropd his hammer. dividing from his aking bosom fled
            A portion of his life shrieking upon the wind she fled
            And Tharmas took her in pitying Then Enion in jealous fear
            Murderd her & hid her in her bosom embalming her for fear
            She should arise again to life Embalmd in Enions bosom
            Enitharmon remains a corse such thing was never known
            In Eden that one died a death never to be revivd
            Urthona stood in terror but not long his spectre fled
            To Enion & his body fell. Tharmas beheld him fall
            Endlong a raging serpent rolling round the holy tent
            The sons of war astonishd at the Glittring monster drove
            Him far into the world of Tharmas into a cavernd rock

     
            But Urizen with darkness overspreading all the armies
            Sent round his heralds secretly commanding to depart
            Into the north Sudden with thunders sound his multitudes
            Retreat from the fierce conflict all the sons of Urizen at once
            Mustring together in thick clouds leaving the rage of Luvah
            To pour its fury on himself & on the Eternal Man

     
            Sudden down fell they all together into an unknown Space
            Deep horrible without End. Separated from Beulah far beneath
            The Mans exteriors are become indefinite opend to pain
            In a fierce hungring void & none can visit his regions

     
            Jerusalem his Emanation is become a ruin  
            Her little ones are slain on the top of every street  
            And she herself le[d] captive & scatterd into the indefinite  
            Gird on thy sword O thou most mighty in glory & majesty
            Destroy these opressors of Jerusalem & those who ruin Shiloh

     
            So spoke the Messengers of Beulah. Silently removing
            The Family Divine drew up the Universal tent
            Above High Snowdon & closd the Messengers in clouds around  
            Till the time of the End. Then they Elected Seven. called the Seven
            Eyes of God & the Seven lamps of the Almighty
            The Seven are one within the other the Seventh is named Jesus

     
            The Lamb of God blessed for ever & he followd the Man
            Who wanderd in mount Ephraim seeking a Sepulcher
            His inward eyes closing from the Divine vision & all
            His children wandering outside from his bosom fleeing away  

     
            The Daughters of Beulah beheld the Emanation they pitied
            They wept before the Inner gates of Enitharmons bosom
            And of her fine wrought brain & of her bowels within her loins
            Three gates within Glorious & bright open into Beulah  
            From Enitharmons inward parts but the bright female terror
            Refusd to open the bright gates she closd and barrd them fast
            Lest Los should enter into Beulah thro her beautiful gates
            The Emanation stood before the Gates of Enitharmon  
            Weeping. the Daughters of Beulah silent in the Porches
            Spread her a couch unknown to Enitharmon here reposd
            Jerusalem in slumbers soft lulld into silent rest
            Terrific ragd the Eternal Wheels of intellect terrific ragd
            The living creatures of the wheels in the Wars of Eternal life
            But perverse rolld the wheels of Urizen & Luvah back reversd
            Downwards & outwards consuming in the wars of Eternal Death  

     
            End of The First Night

     
    VALA
     

    Night the Second

      

     
            Rising upon his Couch of Death Albion beheld his Sons
            Turning his Eyes outward to Self. losing the Divine Vision
            Albion calld Urizen & said. Behold these sickning Spheres  
            Whence is this Voice of Enion that soundeth in my Porches  
            Take thou possession! take this Scepter! go forth in my might
            For I am weary, & must sleep in the dark sleep of Death  
            Thy brother Luvah hath smitten me but pity thou his youth  
            Tho thou hast not pitid my Age O Urizen Prince of Light

     
            Urizen rose from the bright Feast like a star thro' the evening sky
            Exulting at the voice that calld him from the Feast of envy  
            First he beheld the body of Man pale, cold, the horrors of death
            Beneath his feet shot thro' him as he stood in the Human Brain
            And all its golden porches grew pale with his sickening light
            No more Exulting for he saw Eternal Death beneath
            Pale he beheld futurity; pale he beheld the Abyss
            Where Enion blind & age bent wept in direful hunger craving
            All rav'ning like the hungry worm, & like the silent grave

     
            Mighty was the draught of Voidness to draw Existence in

     
            Terrific Urizen strode above, in fear & pale dismay
            He saw the indefinite space beneath & his soul shrunk with horror
            His feet upon the verge of Non Existence; his voice went forth  

     
            Luvah & Vala trembling & shrinking, beheld the great Work master  
            And heard his Word! Divide ye bands influence by influence
            Build we a Bower for heavens darling in the grizly deep
            Build we the Mundane Shell around the Rock of Albion

     
            The Bands of Heaven flew thro the air singing & shouting to Urizen  
            Some fix'd the anvil, some the loom erected, some the plow
            And harrow formd & framd the harness of silver & ivory
            The golden compasses, the quadrant & the rule & balance
            They erected the furnaces, they formd the anvils of gold beaten in mills
            Where winter beats incessant, fixing them firm on their base
            The bellows began to blow & the Lions of Urizen stood round the anvil

     
            And the leopards coverd with skins of beasts tended the roaring fires
            Sublime distinct their lineaments divine of human beauty  
            The tygers of wrath called the horses of instruction from their mangers
            They unloos'd them & put on the harness of gold & silver & ivory
            In human forms distinct they stood round Urizen prince of Light
            Petrifying all the Human Imagination into rock & sand  
            Groans ran along Tyburns brook and along the River of Oxford
            Among the Druid Temples. Albion groand on Tyburns brook
            Albion gave his loud death groan The Atlantic Mountains trembled
            Aloft the Moon fled with a cry the Sun with streams of blood
            From Albions Loins fled all Peoples and Nations of the Earth  
            Fled with the noise of Slaughter & the stars of heaven Fled
            Jerusalem came down in a dire ruin over all the Earth
            She fell cold from Lambeths Vales in groans & Dewy death
            The dew of anxious souls the death-sweat of the dying
            In every pillard hall & arched roof of Albions skies
            The brother & the brother bathe in blood upon the Severn
            The Maiden weeping by. The father & the mother with
            The Maidens father & her mother fainting over the body
            And the Young Man the Murderer fleeing over the mountains

     
            Reuben slept on Penmaenmawr & Levi slept on Snowdon
            Their eyes their ears nostrils & tongues roll outward they behold
            What is within now seen without they are raw to the hungry wind
            They become Nations far remote in a little & dark Land
            The Daughters of Albion girded around their garments of Needlework

     
            Stripping Jerusalems curtains from mild demons of the hills
            Across Europe & Asia to China & Japan like lightenings
            They go forth & return to Albion on his rocky couch
            Gwendolen Ragan Sabrina Gonorill Mehetabel Cordella
            Boadicea Conwenna Estrild Gwinefrid Ignoge Cambel
            Binding Jerusalems Children in the dungeons of Babylon
            They play before the Armies before the hounds of Nimrod
            While The Prince of Light on Salisbury plain among the druid stones  

     
            Rattling the adamantine chains & hooks heave up the ore
            In mountainous masses, plung'd in furnaces, & they shut & seald  
            The furnaces a time & times; all the while blew the North
            His cloudy bellows & the South & East & dismal West
            And all the while the plow of iron cut the dreadful furrows
            In Ulro beneath Beulah where the Dead wail Night & Day

     
            Luvah was cast into the Furnaces of affliction & sealed
            And Vala fed in cruel delight, the furnaces with fire
            Stern Urizen beheld urg'd by necessity to keep
            The evil day afar, & if perchance with iron power
            He might avert his own despair; in woe & fear he saw

     
            Vala incircle round the furnaces where Luvah was clos'd
            In joy she heard his howlings, & forgot he was her Luvah
            With whom she walkd in bliss, in times of innocence & youth

     
            Hear ye the voice of Luvah from the furnaces of Urizen

     
            If I indeed am Valas King & ye O sons of Men  
            The workmanship of Luvahs hands; in times of Everlasting
            When I calld forth the Earth-worm from the cold & dark obscure
            I nurturd her I fed her with my rains & dews, she grew
            A scaled Serpent, yet I fed her tho' she hated me
            Day after day she fed upon the mountains in Luvahs sight
            I brought her thro' the Wilderness, a dry & thirsty land
            And I commanded springs to rise for her in he black desart
            Till she became a Dragon winged bright & poisonous  
            I opend all the floodgates of the heavens to quench her thirst

     
            And I commanded the Great deep to hide her in his hand
            Till she became a little weeping Infant a span long
            I carried her in my bosom as a man carries a lamb
            I loved her I gave her all my soul & my delight
            I hid her in soft gardens & in secret bowers of Summer
            Weaving mazes of delight along the sunny Paradise
            Inextricable labyrinths, She bore me sons & daughters
            And they have taken her away & hid her from my sight

     
            They have surrounded me with walls of iron & brass, O Lamb  
            Of God clothed in Luvahs garments little knowest thou  
            Of death Eternal that we all go to Eternal Death
            To our Primeval Chaos in fortuitous concourse of incoherent
            Discordant principles of Love & Hate I suffer affliction
            Because I love. for I was love but hatred awakes in me  
            And Urizen who was Faith & Certainty is changd to Doubt
            The hand of Urizen is upon me because I blotted out
            That Human delusion to deliver all the sons of God  
            From bondage of the Human form, O first born Son of Light
            O Urizen my enemy I weep for thy stern ambition
            But weep in vain O when will you return Vala the Wanderer

     
            These were the words of Luvah patient in afflictions
            Reasoning from the loins in the unreal forms of Ulros night  

     
            And when Luvah age after age was quite melted with woe
            The fires of Vala faded like a shadow cold & pale
            An evanescent shadow. last she fell a heap of Ashes
            Beneath the furnaces a woful heap in living death
            Then were the furnaces unscald with spades & pickaxes
            Roaring let out th fluid, the molten metal ran in channels
            Cut by the plow of ages held in Urizens strong hand
            In many a valley, for the Bulls of Luvah dragd the Plow

     
            With trembling horror pale aghast the Children of Man  
            Stood on the infinite Earth & saw these visions in the air
            In waters & in Earth beneath they cried to one another
            What are we terrors to one another. Come O brethren wherefore
            Was this wide Earth spread all abroad. not for wild beasts to roam
            But many stood silent & busied in their families
            And many said We see no Visions in the darksom air
            Measure the course of that sulphur orb that lights the darksom day  
            Set stations on this breeding Earth & let us buy & sell
            Others arose & schools Erected forming Instruments
            To measure out the course of heaven. Stern Urizen beheld
            In woe his brethren & his Sons in darkning woe lamenting
            Upon the winds in clouds involvd Uttering his voice in thunders
            Commanding all the work with care & power & severity

     
            Then siezd the Lions of Urizen their work, & heated in the forge
            Roar the bright masses, thund'ring beat the hammers, many a pyramid  
            Is form'd & thrown down thund'ring into the deeps of Non Entity
            Heated red hot they hizzing rend their way down many a league
            Till resting. each his [center] finds; suspended there they stand  
            Casting their sparkies dire abroad into the dismal deep
            For measurd out in orderd spaces the Sons of Urizen  
            With compasses divide the deep; they the strong scales erect

     
            That Luvah rent from the faint Heart of the Fallen Man  
            And weigh the massy Cubes, then fix them in their awful stations  
            And all the time in Caverns shut, the golden Looms erected
            First spun, then wove the Atmospheres, there the Spider & Worm
            Plied the wingd shuttle piping shrill thro' all the list'ning threads
            Beneath the Caverns roll the weights of lead & spindles of iron
            The enormous warp & woof rage direful in the affrighted deep

     
            While far into the vast unknown, the strong wing'd Eagles bend
            Their venturous flight, in Human forms distinct; thro darkness deep
            They bear the woven draperies; on golden hooks they hang abroad
            The universal curtains & spread out from Sun to Sun
            The vehicles of light, they separate the furious particles
            Into mild currents as the water mingles with the wine.

     
            While thus the Spirits of strongest wing enlighten the dark deep
            The threads are spun & the cords twisted & drawn out; then the weak
            Begin their work; & many a net is netted; many a net

     
            Spread & many a Spirit caught, innumerable the nets
            Innumerable the gins & traps; & many a soothing flute
            Is form'd & many a corded lyre, outspread over the immense
            In cruel delight they trap the listeners, & in cruel delight
            Bind them, condensing the strong energies into little compass  
            Some became seed of every plant that shall be planted; some
            The bulbous roots, thrown up together into barns & garners

     
            Then rose the Builders; First the Architect divine his plan
            Unfolds, The wondrous scaffold reard all round the infinite
            Quadrangular the building rose the heavens squared by a line.
            Trigon & cubes divide the elements in finite bonds
            Multitudes without number work incessant: the hewn stone
            Is placd in beds of mortar mingled with the ashes of Vala
            Severe the labour, female slaves the mortar trod oppressed

     
            Twelve halls after the names of his twelve sons composd
            The wondrous building & three Central Dome after the Names  
            Of his three daughters were encompassd by the twelve bright halls
            Every hall surrounded by bright Paradises of Delight
            In which are towns & Cities Nations Seas Mountains & Rivers  
            Each Dome opend toward four halls & the Three Domes Encompassd
            The Golden Hall of Urizen whose western side glowd bright
            With ever streaming fires beaming from his awful limbs

     
            His Shadowy Feminine Semblance here reposd on a White Couch  
            Or hoverd oer his Starry head & when he smild she brightend
            Like a bright Cloud in harvest. but when Urizen frownd She wept
            In mists over his carved throne & when he turnd his back

     
            Upon his Golden hall & sought the Labyrinthine porches
            Of his wide heaven Trembling, cold in paling fears she sat
            A Shadow of Despair therefore toward the West Urizen formd
            A recess in the wall for fires to glow upon the pale
            Females limbs in his absence & her Daughters oft upon
            A Golden Altar burnt perfumes with Art Celestial formd
            Foursquare sculpturd & sweetly Engravd to please their shadowy mother  
            As[c]ending into her misty garments the blue smoke rolld to revive  
            Her cold limbs in the absence of her Lord. Also her sons
            With lives of Victims sacrificed upon an altar of brass
            On the East side. Revivd her Soul with lives of beasts & birds
            Slain on the Altar up ascending into her cloudy bosom
            Of terrible workmanship the Altar labour of ten thousand Slaves
            One thousand Men of wondrous power spent their lives in its formation
            It stood on twelve steps namd after the names of her twelve sons
            And was Erected at the chief entrance of Urizens hall

     
            When Urizen returnd from his immense labours & travels  
            Descending She reposd beside him folding him round
            In her bright skirts. Astonishd & Confounded he beheld
            Her shadowy form now Separate he shudderd & was silent
            Till her caresses & her tears revivd him to life & joy
            Two wills they had two intellects & not as in times of old
            This Urizen percievd & silent brooded in darkning Clouds
            To him his Labour was but Sorrow & his Kingdom was Repentance
            He drave the Male Spirits all away from Ahania
            And she drave all the Females from him away

     
            Los joyd & Enitharmon laughd, saying Let us go down
            And see this labour & sorrow; They went down to see the woes
            Of Vala & the woes of Luvah, to draw in their delights

     
            And Vala like a shadow oft appeard to Urizen

     
            The King of Light beheld her mourning among the Brick kilns compelld
            To labour night & day among the fires, her lamenting voice
            Is heard when silent night returns & the labourers take their rest

     
            O Lord wilt thou not look upon our sore afflictions
            Among these flames incessant labouring, our hard masters laugh
            At all our sorrow. We are made to turn the wheel for water
            To carry the heavy basket on our scorched shoulders, to sift
            The sand & ashes, & to mix the clay with tears & repentance
            I see not Luvah as of old I only see his feet  
            Like pillars of fire travelling thro darkness & non entity

     
            The times are now returnd upon us, we have given ourselves
            To scorn and now are scorned by the slaves of our enemies
            Our beauty is coverd over with clay & ashes, & our backs
            Furrowd with whips, & our flesh bruised with the heavy basket
            Forgive us O thou piteous one whom we have offended, forgive
            The weak remaining shadow of Vala that returns in sorrow to thee.

     
            Thus she lamented day & night, compelld to labour & sorrow
            Luvah in vain her lamentations heard; in vain his love
            Brought him in various forms before her still she knew him not

     
            Still she despisd him, calling on his name & knowing him not
            Still hating still professing love, still labouring in the smoke

     
            And Los & Enitharmon joyd, they drank in tenfold joy  
            From all the sorrow of Luvah & the labour of Urizen
            And Enitharmon joyd Plotting to rend the secret cloud
            To plant divisions in the Soul of Urizen & Ahania

     
            But infinitely beautiful the wondrous work arose  
            In sorrow & care. a Golden World whose porches round the heavens  
            And pillard halls & rooms recievd the eternal wandering stars
            A wondrous golden Building; many a window many a door
            And many a division let in & out into the vast unknown
            [Cubed] in [window square] immoveable, within its walls & cielings
            The heavens were closd and spirits mournd their bondage night and day
            And the Divine Vision appeard in Luvahs robes of blood  

     
            Thus was the Mundane shell builded by Urizens strong power

     
            Sorrowing went the Planters forth to plant, the Sowers to sow  
            They dug the channels for the rivers & they pourd abroad

     
            The seas & lakes, they reard the mountains & the rocks & hills
            On broad pavilions, on pillard roofs & porches & high towers
            In beauteous order, thence arose soft clouds & exhalations
            Wandering even to the sunny Cubes of light & heat  
            For many a window ornamented with sweet ornaments
            Lookd out into the World of Tharmas, where in ceaseless torrents  
            His billows roll where monsters wander in the foamy paths

     
            On clouds the Sons of Urizen beheld Heaven walled round  
            They weighd & orderd all & Urizen comforted saw  
            The wondrous work flow forth like visible out of the invisible
            For the Divine Lamb Even Jesus who is the Divine Vision  
            Permitted all lest Man should fall into Eternal Death
            For when Luvah sunk down himself put on the robes of blood
            Lest the state calld Luvah should cease. & the Divine Vision
            Walked in robes of blood till he who slept should awake

     
            Thus were the stars of heaven created like a golden chain
            To bind the Body of Man to heaven from failing into the Abyss  
            Each took his station, & his course began with sorrow & care  

     
            In sevens & tens & fifties, hundreds, thousands, numberd all
            According to their various powers. Subordinate to Urizen
            And to his sons in their degrees & to his beauteous daughters

     
            Travelling in silent majesty along their orderd ways
            In right lined paths outmeasurd by proportions of number weight 
            And measure. mathematic motion wondrous. along the deep
            In fiery pyramid. or Cube. or unornamented pillar  
            Of fire far shining. travelling along even to its destind end
            Then falling down. a terrible space recovring in winter dire
            Its wasted strength. It back returns upon a nether course  
            Till fired with ardour fresh recruited in its humble season  
            It rises up on high all summer till its wearied course
            Turns into autumn. such the period of many worlds
            Others triangular right angled course maintain. others obtuse  
            Acute Scalene, in simple paths. but others move  
            In intricate ways biquadrate. Trapeziums Rhombs Rhomboids
            Paralellograms. triple & quadruple. polygonic
            In their amazing hard subdued course in the vast deep  

     
            And Los & Enitharmon were drawn down by their desires
            Descending sweet upon the wind among soft harps & voices  
            To plant divisions in the Soul of Urizen & Ahania  
            To conduct the Voice of Enion to Ahanias midnight pillow

     
            Urizen saw & envied & his imagination was filled
            Repining he contemplated the past in his bright sphere
            Terrified with his heart & spirit at the visions of futurity
            That his dread fancy formd before him in the unformd void

     
            For Los & Enitharmon walkd forth on the dewy Earth  
            Contracting or expanding their all flexible senses
            At will to murmur in the flowers small as the honey bee
            At will to stretch across the heavens & step from star to star
            Or standing on the Earth erect, or on the stormy waves
            Driving the storms before them or delighting in sunny beams
            While round their heads the Elemental Gods kept harmony  

     
            And Los said. Lo the Lilly pale & the rose reddning fierce  
            Reproach thee & the beamy gardens sicken at thy beauty
            I grasp thy vest in my strong hand in vain. like water springs
            In the bright sands of Los. evading my embrace. then I alone
            Wander among the virgins of the summer Look they cry

     
            The poor forsaken Los mockd by the worm the shelly snail
            The Emmet & the beetle hark they laugh & mock at Los

     
            Enitharmon answerd Secure now from the smitings of thy Power  
            Demon of fury If the God enrapturd me infolds
            In clouds of sweet obscurity my beauteous form dissolving
            Howl thou over the body of death tis thine But if among the virgins  
            Of summer I have seen thee sleep & turn thy cheek delighted
            Upon the rose or lilly pale. or on a bank where sleep  
            The beamy daughters of the light starting they rise they flee
            From thy fierce love for tho I am dissolvd in the bright God
            My spirit still pursues thy false love over rocks & valleys

     
            Los answerd Therefore fade I thus dissolvd in rapturd trance
            Thou canst repose on clouds of secrecy while oer my limbs
            Cold dews & hoary frost creeps thro I lie on banks of summer
            Among the beauties of the World Cold & repining Los
            Still dies for Enitharmon nor a spirit springs from my dead corse  
            Then I am dead till thou revivest me with thy sweet song
            Now taking on Ahanias form & now the form of Enion
            I know thee not as once I knew thee in those blessed fields
            Where memory wishes to repose among the flocks of Tharmas

     
            Enitharmon answerd Wherefore didst thou throw thine arms around
            Ahanias Image I decievd thee & will still decieve
            Urizen saw thy sin & hid his beams in darkning Clouds
            I still keep watch altho I tremble & wither across the heavens
            In strong vibrations of fierce jealousy for thou art mine
            Created for my will my slave tho strong tho I am weak
            Farewell the God calls me away I depart in my sweet bliss

     
            She fled vanishing on the wind And left a dead cold corse
            In Los's arms howlings began over the body of death  
            Los spoke. Thy God in vain shall call thee if by my strong power
            I can infuse my dear revenge into his glowing breast
            Then jealousy shall shadow all his mountains & Ahania
            Curse thee thou plague of woful Los & seek revenge on thee

     
            So saying in deep sobs he languishd till dead he also fell
            Night passd & Enitharmon eer the dawn returnd in bliss
            She sang Oer Los reviving him to Life his groans were terrible  
            But thus she sang. I sieze the sphery harp I strike the strings

     
            At the first Sound the Golden sun arises from the Deep
            And sakes his awful hair
            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