第2章

’Turnawaynomore;

Whywiltthouturnaway?

Thestarryfloor,Thewateryshore,Isgiventheetillthebreakofday。’

EARTH’SANSWER

EarthraisedupherheadFromthedarknessdreadanddrear,Herlightfled,Stony,dread,Andherlockscoveredwithgreydespair。

’Prisonedonwateryshore,StarryjealousydoeskeepmydenColdandhoar;

Weepingo’er,Ihearthefatheroftheancientmen。

’Selfishfatherofmen!

Cruel,jealous,selfishfear!

Candelight,Chainedinnight,Thevirginsofyouthandmorningbear。

’Doesspringhideitsjoy,Whenbudsandblossomsgrow?

DoesthesowerSowbynight,Ortheploughmanindarknessplough?

’Breakthisheavychain,Thatdoesfreezemybonesaround!

Selfish,vain,Eternalbane,Thatfreelovewithbondagebound。’

THECLODANDTHEPEBBLE

’Loveseekethnotitselftoplease,Norforitselfhathanycare,Butforanothergivesitsease,Andbuildsaheaveninhell’sdespair。’

Sosungalittleclodofclay,Troddenwiththecattle’sfeet,ButapebbleofthebrookWarbledoutthesemetresmeet:

’LoveseekethonlySelftoplease,Tobindanothertoitsdelight,Joysinanother’slossofease,Andbuildsahellinheaven’sdespite。’

HOLYTHURSDAY

IsthisaholythingtoseeInarichandfruitfulland,—

Babesreducedtomisery,Fedwithcoldandusuroushand?

Isthattremblingcryasong?

Canitbeasongofjoy?

Andsomanychildrenpoor?

Itisalandofpoverty!

Andtheirsundoesnevershine,Andtheirfieldsarebleakandbare,Andtheirwaysarefilledwiththorns,Itiseternalwinterthere。

Forwhere’erthesundoesshine,Andwhere’ertheraindoesfall,Babecanneverhungerthere,Norpovertythemindappal。

THELITTLEGIRLLOST

InfuturityIprophesyThattheearthfromsleep(Gravethesentencedeep)

Shallarise,andseekForherMakermeek;

AndthedesertwildBecomeagardenmild。

Inthesouthernclime,Wherethesummer’sprimeNeverfadesaway,LovelyLycalay。

SevensummersoldLovelyLycatold。

Shehadwanderedlong,Hearingwildbirds’song。

’Sweetsleep,cometome,Underneaththistree;

Dofather,mother,weep?

WherecanLycasleep?

’LostindesertwildIsyourlittlechild。

HowcanLycasleepIfhermotherweep?

’Ifherheartdoesache,ThenletLycawake;

Ifmymothersleep,Lycashallnotweep。

’Frowning,frowningnight,O’erthisdesertbrightLetthymoonarise,WhileIclosemyeyes。’

SleepingLycalay,Whilethebeastsofprey,Comefromcavernsdeep,Viewedthemaidasleep。

Thekinglylionstood,Andthevirginviewed:

ThenhegambolledroundO’erthehallowedground。

Leopards,tigers,playRoundherasshelay;

WhilethelionoldBowedhismaneofgold,Andherbosomlick,Anduponherneck,Fromhiseyesofflame,Rubytearstherecame;

WhilethelionessLoosedherslenderdress,AndnakedtheyconveyedTocavesthesleepingmaid。

THELITTLEGIRLFOUND

AllthenightinwoeLyca’sparentsgoOvervalleysdeep,Whilethedesertsweep。

Tiredandwoe—begone,Hoarsewithmakingmoan,Arminarm,sevendaysTheytracedthedesertways。

SevennightstheysleepAmongshadowsdeep,AnddreamtheyseetheirchildStarvedindesertwild。

PalethroughpathlesswaysThefanciedimagestrays,Famished,weeping,weak,Withhollowpiteousshriek。

Risingfromunrest,ThetremblingwomanpressedWithfeetofwearywoe;

Shecouldnofurthergo。

InhisarmsheboreHer,armedwithsorrowsore;

TillbeforetheirwayAcouchinglionlay。

Turningbackwasvain:

SoonhisheavymaneBorethemtotheground,Thenhestalkedaround,Smellingtohisprey;

ButtheirfearsallayWhenhelickstheirhands,Andsilentbythemstands。

Theylookuponhiseyes,Filledwithdeepsurprise;

AndwonderingbeholdAspiritarmedingold。

Onhisheadacrown,OnhisshouldersdownFlowedhisgoldenhair。

Gonewasalltheircare。

’Followme,’hesaid;

’Weepnotforthemaid;

Inmypalacedeep,Lycaliesasleep。’

ThentheyfollowedWherethevisionled,AndsawtheirsleepingchildAmongtigerswild。

TothisdaytheydwellInalonelydell,NorfearthewolvishhowlNorthelion’sgrowl。

THECHIMNEY—SWEEPER

Alittleblackthingamongthesnow,Crying!’weep!weep!’innotesofwoe!

’Wherearethyfatherandmother?Say!’—

’Theyarebothgoneuptothechurchtopray。

’BecauseIwashappyupontheheath,Andsmiledamongthewinter’ssnow,Theyclothedmeintheclothesofdeath,Andtaughtmetosingthenotesofwoe。

’AndbecauseIamhappyanddanceandsing,Theythinktheyhavedonemenoinjury,AndaregonetopraiseGodandHispriestandking,Whomadeupaheavenofourmisery。’

NURSE’SSONG

Whenthevoicesofchildrenareheardonthegreen,Andwhisperingsareinthedale,Thedaysofmyyouthrisefreshinmymind,Myfaceturnsgreenandpale。

Thencomehome,mychildren,thesunisgonedown,Andthedewsofnightarise;

Yourspringandyourdayarewastedinplay,Andyourwinterandnightindisguise。

THESICKROSE

Orose,thouartsick!

Theinvisibleworm,Thatfliesinthenight,Inthehowlingstorm,HasfoundoutthybedOfcrimsonjoy,AndhisdarksecretloveDoesthylifedestroy。

THEFLY

LittleFly,Thysummer’splayMythoughtlesshandHasbrushedaway。

AmnotI

Aflylikethee?

OrartnotthouAmanlikeme?

ForIdance,Anddrink,andsing,TillsomeblindhandShallbrushmywing。

IfthoughtislifeAndstrengthandbreath,AndthewantOfthoughtisdeath;

ThenamI

Ahappyfly。

IfIlive,OrifIdie。

THEANGEL

Idreamtadream!Whatcanitmean?

AndthatIwasamaidenQueenGuardedbyanAngelmild:

Witlesswoewasne’erbeguiled!

AndIweptbothnightandday,Andhewipedmytearsaway;

AndIweptbothdayandnight,Andhidfromhimmyheart’sdelight。

Sohetookhiswings,andfled;

Thenthemornblushedrosyred。

Idriedmytears,andarmedmyfearsWithtenthousandshieldsandspears。

SoonmyAngelcameagain;

Iwasarmed,hecameinvain;

Forthetimeofyouthwasfled,Andgreyhairswereonmyhead。

THETIGER

Tiger,tiger,burningbrightIntheforestsofthenight,WhatimmortalhandoreyeCouldframethyfearfulsymmetry?

InwhatdistantdeepsorskiesBurntthefireofthineeyes?

Onwhatwingsdareheaspire?

Whatthehanddareseizethefire?

AndwhatshoulderandwhatartCouldtwistthesinewsofthyheart?

And,whenthyheartbegantobeat,Whatdreadhandandwhatdreadfeet?

Whatthehammer?whatthechain?

Inwhatfurnacewasthybrain?

Whattheanvil?whatdreadgraspDareitsdeadlyterrorsclasp?

Whenthestarsthrewdowntheirspears,Andwateredheavenwiththeirtears,DidHesmileHisworktosee?

DidHewhomadethelambmakethee?

Tiger,tiger,burningbrightIntheforestsofthenight,WhatimmortalhandoreyeDareframethyfearfulsymmetry?

MYPRETTYROSETREE

Aflowerwasofferedtome,SuchaflowerasMayneverbore;

ButIsaid,’I’veaprettyrosetree,’

AndIpassedthesweetflowero’er。

ThenIwenttomyprettyrosetree,Totendherbydayandbynight;

Butmyroseturnedawaywithjealousy,Andherthornsweremyonlydelight。

AH,SUNFLOWER

Ah,sunflower,wearyoftime,Whocountestthestepsofthesun;

SeekingafterthatsweetgoldenclimeWherethetraveller’sjourneyisdone;

WheretheYouthpinedawaywithdesire,Andthepalevirginshroudedinsnow,Arisefromtheirgraves,andaspireWheremySunflowerwishestogo!

THELILY

ThemodestRoseputsforthathorn,Thehumblesheepathreat’ninghorn:

WhiletheLilywhiteshallinlovedelight,Norathornnorathreatstainherbeautybright。

THEGARDENOFLOVE

IwenttotheGardenofLove,AndsawwhatIneverhadseen;

AChapelwasbuiltinthemidst,WhereIusedtoplayonthegreen。

AndthegatesofthisChapelwereshut,And’Thoushaltnot’writoverthedoor;

SoIturnedtotheGardenofLoveThatsomanysweetflowersbore。

AndIsawitwasfilledwithgraves,Andtombstoneswhereflowersshouldbe;

Andpriestsinblackgownswerewalkingtheirrounds,Andbindingwithbriarsmyjoysanddesires。

THELITTLEVAGABOND

Dearmother,dearmother,theChurchiscold;

ButtheAlehouseishealthy,andpleasant,andwarm。

Besides,IcantellwhereIamusedwell;

Suchusageinheavenwillneverdowell。

But,ifattheChurchtheywouldgiveussomeale,Andapleasantfireoursoulstoregale,We’dsingandwe’dprayallthelivelongday,NoreveroncewishfromtheChurchtostray。

ThentheParsonmightpreach,anddrink,andsing,Andwe’dbeashappyasbirdsinthespring;

AndmodestDameLurch,whoisalwaysatchurch,Wouldnothavebandychildren,norfasting,norbirch。

AndGod,likeafather,rejoicingtoseeHischildrenaspleasantandhappyasHe,WouldhavenomorequarrelwiththeDevilorthebarrel,Butkisshim,andgivehimbothdrinkandapparel。

LONDON

Iwanderthrougheachcharteredstreet,NearwherethecharteredThamesdoesflow,AmarkineveryfaceImeet,Marksofweakness,marksofwoe。

Ineverycryofeveryman,Ineveryinfant’scryoffear,Ineveryvoice,ineveryban,Themind—forgedmanaclesIhear:

Howthechimney—sweeper’scryEveryblackeningchurchappals,Andthehaplesssoldier’ssighRunsinblooddownpalace—walls。

Butmost,throughmidnightstreetsIhearHowtheyouthfulharlot’scurseBlaststhenew—borninfant’stear,Andblightswithplaguesthemarriagehearse。

THEHUMANABSTRACT

PitywouldbenomoreIfwedidnotmakesomebodypoor,AndMercynomorecouldbeIfallwereashappyaswe。

AndmutualfearbringsPeace,Tilltheselfishlovesincrease;

ThenCrueltyknitsasnare,Andspreadshisbaitswithcare。

Hesitsdownwithholyfears,Andwatersthegroundwithtears;

ThenHumilitytakesitsrootUnderneathhisfoot。

SoonspreadsthedismalshadeOfMysteryoverhishead,AndthecaterpillarandflyFeedontheMystery。

AnditbearsthefruitofDeceit,Ruddyandsweettoeat,AndtheravenhisnesthasmadeInitsthickestshade。

ThegodsoftheearthandseaSoughtthroughnaturetofindthistree,Buttheirsearchwasallinvain:

TheregrowsoneinthehumanBrain。

INFANTSORROW

Mymothergroaned,myfatherwept:

IntothedangerousworldIleapt,Helpless,naked,pipingloud,Likeafiendhidinacloud。

Strugglinginmyfather’shands,Strivingagainstmyswaddlingbands,Boundandweary,IthoughtbestTosulkuponmymother’sbreast。

APOISONTREE

Iwasangrywithmyfriend:

Itoldmywrath,mywrathdidend。

Iwasangrywithmyfoe:

Itolditnot,mywrathdidgrow。

AndIwatereditinfearsNightandmorningwithmytears,AndIsunneditwithsmilesAndwithsoftdeceitfulwiles。

Anditgrewbothdayandnight,Tillitboreanapplebright,Andmyfoebehelditshine,Andheknewthatitwasmine,—

AndintomygardenstoleWhenthenighthadveiledthepole;

Inthemorning,glad,IseeMyfoeoutstretchedbeneaththetree。

ALITTLEBOYLOST

’Noughtlovesanotherasitself,Norveneratesanotherso,NorisitpossibletothoughtAgreaterthanitselftoknow。

’And,father,howcanIloveyouOranyofmybrothersmore?

IloveyoulikethelittlebirdThatpicksupcrumbsaroundthedoor。’

ThePriestsatbyandheardthechild;

Intremblingzealheseizedhishair,Heledhimbyhislittlecoat,Andalladmiredhispriestlycare。

Andstandingonthealtarhigh,’Lo,whatafiendishere!’saidhe:

’OnewhosetsreasonupforjudgeOfourmostholymystery。’

Theweepingchildcouldnotbeheard,Theweepingparentsweptinvain:

Theystrippedhimtohislittleshirt,Andboundhiminanironchain,AndburnedhiminaholyplaceWheremanyhadbeenburnedbefore;

Theweepingparentsweptinvain。

AresuchthingsdoneonAlbion’sshore?

ALITTLEGIRLLOST

Childrenofthefutureage,Readingthisindignantpage,KnowthatinaformertimeLove,sweetlove,wasthoughtacrime。

Intheageofgold,Freefromwinter’scold,Youthandmaidenbright,Totheholylight,Nakedinthesunnybeamsdelight。

Onceayouthfulpair,Filledwithsoftestcare,MetingardenbrightWheretheholylightHadjustremovedthecurtainsofthenight。

There,inrisingday,Onthegrasstheyplay;

Parentswereafar,Strangerscamenotnear,Andthemaidensoonforgotherfear。

Tiredwithkissessweet,TheyagreetomeetWhenthesilentsleepWaveso’erheaven’sdeep,Andthewearytiredwanderersweep。

ToherfatherwhiteCamethemaidenbright;

Buthislovinglook,Liketheholybook,Allhertenderlimbswithterrorshook。

Ona,paleandweak,Tothyfatherspeak!

Othetremblingfear!

OthedismalcareThatshakestheblossomsofmyhoaryhair!’

ADIVINEIMAGE

Crueltyhasahumanheart,AndJealousyahumanface;

Terrorthehumanformdivine,AndSecrecythehumandress。

Thehumandressisforgediron,Thehumanformafieryforge,Thehumanfaceafurnacesealed,Thehumanheartitshungrygorge。

ACRADLESONG

Sleep,sleep,beautybright,Dreaminginthejoysofnight;

Sleep,sleep;inthysleepLittlesorrowssitandweep。

Sweetbabe,inthyfaceSoftdesiresIcantrace,Secretjoysandsecretsmiles,Littleprettyinfantwiles。

AsthysoftestlimbsIfeel,SmilesasofthemorningstealO’erthycheek,ando’erthybreastWherethylittleheartdothrest。

OthecunningwilesthatcreepInthylittleheartasleep!

Whenthylittleheartdothwake,Thenthedreadfullightshallbreak。

THESCHOOLBOY

Ilovetoriseinasummermorn,Whenthebirdssingoneverytree;

Thedistanthuntsmanwindshishorn,Andtheskylarksingswithme:

Owhatsweetcompany!

Buttogotoschoolinasummermorn,—

Oitdrivesalljoyaway!

Underacrueleyeoutworn,ThelittleonesspendthedayInsighinganddismay。

AhthenattimesIdroopingsit,Andspendmanyananxioushour;

NorinmybookcanItakedelight,Norsitinlearning’sbower,Wornthroughwiththedrearyshower。

HowcanthebirdthatisbornforjoySitinacageandsing?

Howcanachild,whenfearsannoy,Butdroophistenderwing,Andforgethisyouthfulspring!

Ofatherandmotherifbudsarenipped,Andblossomsblownaway;

AndifthetenderplantsarestrippedOftheirjoyinthespringingday,Bysorrowandcare’sdismay,—

Howshallthesummerariseinjoy,Orthesummerfruitsappear?

Orhowshallwegatherwhatgriefsdestroy,Orblessthemellowingyear,Whentheblastsofwinterappear?

TOTIRZAH

Whate’erisbornofmortalbirthMustbeconsumedwiththeearth,Torisefromgenerationfree:

ThenwhathaveItodowiththee?

Thesexessprungfromshameandpride,Blowedinthemorn,ineveningdied;

Butmercychangeddeathintosleep;

Thesexesrosetoworkandweep。

Thou,motherofmymortalpart,Withcrueltydidstmouldmyheart,Andwithfalseself—deceivingtearsDidstblindmynostrils,eyes,andears,Didstclosemytongueinsenselessclay,Andmetomortallifebetray。

ThedeathofJesussetmefree:

ThenwhathaveItodowiththee?

THEVOICEOFTHEANCIENTBARD

Youthofdelight!comehitherAndseetheopeningmorn,ImageofTruthnew—born。

Doubtisfled,andcloudsofreason,Darkdisputesandartfulteazing。

Follyisanendlessmaze;

Tangledrootsperplexherways;

Howmanyhavefallenthere!

Theystumbleallnightoverbonesofthedead;

Andfeel——theyknownotwhatbutcare;

Andwishtoleadothers,whentheyshouldbeled。