file :i* includes ! orig9al             
illu/rations4       ,see #ebcjj-;h4htm  
or #ebcjj-;h4zip3                       
7https3_/_/www4gut5b]g4org_/ca*e_/epub_/
#ebcjj_/pg#ebcjj-;images4html7       or 
7https3_/_/www4gut5b]g4org_/files_/#ebcj
j_/ebcjj-;h4zip7         ,images ( !    
orig9al pages are available ?r\gh       
,int]net ,ar*ive4 ,see                  
https3_/_/ar*ive4org_/details_/gri#ccabe
jjgeicefe      ,illu/ration3 ,london4   
,publi%$ z ! ,act directs ,m>* #h4 #ahbc
 by ,willm ,blake ,n#c ,f\nta9 ,c\rt    
,/r&  ,! ,sons ( ,god4 ,design f ! ,book
 ( ,job4   ,,william ,,blake  ,pa9t] &  
,poet  by  ,,ri*>d ,,g>nett1 ,,ll4,d4   
,keep] ( ! ,pr9t$ ,books 9 ! ,briti%    
,museum        ,illu/ration  ,london    
,seeley & ,co4 ,limit$1 ,essex ,/reet1  
,/r& ,new ,york1 ,macmillan & ,co4 #ahie
     ,,li/ ,,( ,,illu/rations   ,,plates
                                        
,,page    ,! ,sons ( ,god4 ,f ! ,book ( 
,job                     ,frontispiece  
,! ,lamb1 & ,infant ,joy4 ,songs (      

,innoc5ce              to face   #bj    
,! ,fly1 & ! ,tig]4 ,songs ( ,exp]i5ce  
0   0     #bd    ,! ,book ( ,!l1        
title-page4 ,9 facsimile by ,w4 ,griggs 
0   0     #cc        0       0     page 
vi4         0            0           0  
0     #cf    ,am]ica1 page              
0   0     #db       0     page          
0   0     #dh   ,,illu/rations ,,9 ,,!  
,,text    ,morn+1 or ,glad ,day4 ,f an  
engrav+ by ,w4 ,blake                   
#aa    ,illu/ration f 8,david ,simple40 
,engrav$ by ,w4 ,blake aft]      ,t4    
,/o?>d1 ,r4,a4                          
#ag    ,f a col\r$ copy ( ! 8,songs (   
,innoc5ce & ,exp]i5ce40      ,briti%    
,museum                                 
#bb    ,frontispiece ( ,m>y             
,woll/onecraft's 8,/ories0              
#bd    ,page ( ,"y's 8,night ,?\ghts40  
,illu/rat$ by ,w4 ,blake             #bf
    ,i want6 ,i want6--,help6           
,help6--,ag$ ,ignorance6--,dea?'s ,door 
#bh    ,design f ! 8,book ( ,uriz540 ,by
 ,w4 ,blake                         #cd 

,! ,anci5t ( ,days sett+ a ,compass to !
 ,e>?4 ,f a      wat]-col\r draw+ by ,w4
 ,blake4 ,briti% ,museum                
#ci    ,sweep+ ! ,p>l\r 9 ! ,int]pret]'s
 ,h\se                       #dj        
,design f 8,milton40 ,by ,w4 ,blake     
#dg    ,portrait ( ,william ,blake4 ,f !
 engrav+ by ,l4 ,s*iavonetti1      aft] 
,t4 ,phillips1 ,r4,a4                   
#ej    ,! ,reunion ( ,s\l & ,body4 ,f   
,blair's 8,grave10 illu/rat$      by ,w4
 ,blake                                 
#ec    ,! ,babylonian ,woman on !       
,sev5-head$ ,bea/4 ,f a wat]-col\r      
draw+ by ,w4 ,blake4 ,briti% ,museum    
#ee    ,portrait ( ,wilson ,l[ry4 ,by   
,john ,l9nell4 ,engrav$ by ,blake      &
 ,l9nell                                
#fa    ,! ,resurrection ( ! ,dead4 ,f a 
wat]-col\r draw+ by      ,w4 ,blake4    
,briti% ,museum                         
#fc    ,woodcut f ,?ornton's ,pa/oral   
#fd    ,! ,de/ruction ( ,job's ,sons &  
,daught]s4 ,f ! 8,book (      ,job40 ,by
 ,w4 ,blake                             

#fg    ,) dreams ^u my b$ ?\ sc>e/ me4  
,f ! 8,book ( ,job40      ,by ,w4 ,blake
                                        
#fi    ,behemo? & ,levia?an4 ,f ! 8,book
 ( ,job40 ,by ,w4 ,blake           #ga  
,,william ,,blake     ,,*apt] ,i        
,prelim9>y obs]vations--,blake's        
,bir?--,education--,m>riage--,e>ly      
,poems--,draw+s &     ,engrav+s4   ,!   
position ( ,william ,blake among arti/s 
is exceptional4 ,( no o!r pa9t] ( l     
di/9ction1 save ,dante ,rossetti1 c x be
 said t 8 fame z a poet has fully       
rivall$ 8 fame z a pa9t]2 mu* less t1 9 
! op9ion ( "s1 8 fame z a se] ought to h
 exce$$ bo?4 ,_m pa9t]s1 f ,reynolds    
d[nw>ds1 h writt5 admirably ^u art2 9 "s
 in/ances1 notably ,haydon's1 ! wor? (  
_! precepts greatly exce$s t ( _!       
p]=mance4 ,b1 ,rossetti always except$1 
p]haps no o!r pa9t] ( great di/9ction1  
save ,mi*ael ,angelo alone1 has a*iev$  
high r5[n 9 poetry1 & ! compass (       
,mi*ael ,angelo's poetical "w is        
inf9itesimal 9 comp>ison ) 8 "w z an    

arti/4 ,aga91 ! lit]>y a*ievem5ts ( an  
,angelo or a ,reynolds admit ( cle>     
sep>ation f _! p]=mances z arti/s4 ,!   
critic :o approa*es !m f ! arti/ic side 
may1 if he pleases1 omit ! lit]>y side  
entirely f consid]ation4 ,?is is        
impossible ) ,blake1 = n only d !       
arti/ic & ! poetical monum5ts ( 8 g5ius 
ne>ly balance ea* o!r 9 m]it & 9 _!     
claim ^u ! att5tion ( po/]ity1 b !y are 
! (fspr+ ( ! same creative impulse1 &   
are indissolubly fus$ toge!r by !       
process adopt$ = _! execution4 ,a /udy (
 ,blake1 !re=e1 mu/ include m lit]>y    
discussion ?an w\ld be all[able 9 a     
monograph on any o!r arti/4 ,! poet &   
pa9t] 9 ,blake1 moreov]1 are b          
manife/ations ( ! m compreh5sive "* (   
se]1 :i* sugge/s inquiries ali5 to bo?  
^! arts2 :ile ! p]sonal "* ( ! man is s 
fasc9at+1 & 8 intellectual "* s p]plex+1
 t ! inve/igation ( ei!r ( !m might     
af=d1 & (t5 has af=d$1 mat]ial = a      
prolong$ discussion4 ,9 ! foll[+ pages x
 w be our object1 :5ev] compell$ to quit

 ! safe gr\nd ( biographical n>rative1  
to subord9ate all else to ! consid]ation
 ( ,blake z an arti/2 b ! ,blake ( !    
bru% is too emphatically ! ,blake ( ! p5
 to be long dissociat$ f him1 & nei!r c 
be deta*$ f ! backgr\nd ( abnormal      
vision>y faculty4         99       99   
99       99       99  ,f a c]ta9 po9t ( 
view1 arti/s may be reg>d$ z divisible  
into ?ree classes3 ^? :o reg>d ! mat]ial
 _w z an unque/ionable solid reality1 ^:
 accurate repres5tation is ! "o mission 
( ,art2 ^? to :om x is a m]e hi]oglyphic
 ( an ess5tial exi/5ce transc5d+ x2 & ^?
 :o1 unit+ ! two conceptions1 are at !  
same "t ideali/s & reali/s4 ,! greate/  
arti/s g5]ally belong to ! latt] class1 
& ) reason1 = a lit]al adh]5ce to matt] 
( fact almo/ implies defect (           
imag9ation2 :ile an extravagant idealism
 may be1 to say ! lea/1 a conv5i5t      
excuse = defects ( te*nical skill4 ,x is
 difficult to "k :e!r to class ! works (
 ! v greate/ arti/s z reali/ic or       
ideali/ic4 ,take ,alb]t ,dr]'s          

,melan*olia4 ,x is a hi]oglyph1 a       
symbol1 an expression ( some?+ too      
int5se to be put into words2 a          
del9eation ( :at ! pa9t] beheld ) ! inn]
 eye alone4 ,yet e detail is z correct &
 true to fact z ! mo/ un9spir$ ,dut*man 
c\ld h made x4 ,take ,titian's ,bac*us &
 ,ariadne1 & obs]ve h[ sep>ate details  
:i* ! arti/ may h actually notic$1 are  
comb9$ into a :ole :i* has nev] be5     
beheld1 save by ! spiritual vision1 s9ce
 ! la/ ?yrsus 0 br&i%$ by ! la/ ,mnad4  
,yet1 ?\gh ! creators ( su* sc5es are ! 
greate/1 "s reali/s1 su* z ,velasquez1 h
 9 virtue ( surpass+ te*nical execution 
ass]t$ a ne>ly equal rank4 ,! case is   
diff]5t :5 we come to ! en?usia/s &     
vision>ies1 ^: art is :olly symbolic1 :o
 h giv5 u little t c be enjoy$ z art =  
art's sake1 )\t ref]5ce to ! ideas ( :i*
 x is made ! vehicle4 ,9 _m v int]e/+   
arti/s1 su* z ,wi]tz & ,calv]t & ,v$d]1 
& 9 _m isolat$ works ( great ma/]s1 su* 
z ,giorgione's ,v5etian ,pa/oral1 !     
feel+ is s mu* 9 excess ( !             

execution--admirable z ?is may be--t !  
result is r a poem ?an a picture4 ,b    
only "o arti/ :o has delib]ately made   
himself ! prophet ( ?is t5d5cy1 :o has  
av[$ly & defiantly disc>d$ all purpose f
 8 works save t ( spiritual             
sugge/iv5ess1 seems to h ev] be5 admitt$
 z a c&idate = v high arti/ic hon\rs1 & 
he is our c\ntryman1 ,william ,blake4   
,?is circum/ance alone %\ld r5d] ,blake 
an int]e/+ object ( /udy1 ev5 = ^? :o c 
see no m]it 9 8 works3 inde$1 ! less !  
m]it ! m rem>kable ! ph5om5on4 ,he is1  
moreov]1 a mo/ peculi> & enigmatical "*1
 bo? intellectually & morally4 ,z an art
 critic he is ( all ! mo/ dogmatic1     
tr5*ant1 & revolution>y4 ,z a poet1 7   
n9ete5-tw5tie?s ( 8 compositions to be  
disc>d$ z rubbi%1 lyrics w\ld rema9 n   
only exquisite 9 !mselves1 b possess+ ! 
incommunicable & ,sapphic quality t a   
s+le /anza1 ev5 a s+le phrase1 w\ld (t5 
suffice to make ! writ] immortal4 ,! "q 
( 8 sanity is z well adapt$ to furni% ! 
_w ) an int]m9able subject ( discussion 

z ! execution ( ,*>les ,i4 or !         
assass9ation ( ,cs>4 ,f9ally1 x is v    
significant t :ile no man ev] wilfully  
put m ob/acles into ! way ( 8 success   
?an ,blake1 :e!r z arti/1 ?9k]1 or poet1
 & he did 9 fact succe$ 9 condemn+      
himself to pov]ty & obscurity1 ! v]dict 
( 8 contempor>ies is n[ s f> rev]s$ t ! 
draw+s :i* a k9d fri5d ov]paid1 z he    
?\ght1 at fifty gu9eas1 are wor? a ?\s& 
p\nds4  ,:at mann] ( man 0 he to ^: %ade
 ! _w has made ?is practical apology8   
,william ,blake 0 born on ,novemb]      
#bh?1#a #ageg1 at #bh1 ,broad ,/reet1   
,gold5 ,squ>e4 ,by a s+ul> co9cid5ce ?is
 0 ! v ye> :i* a /ill m celebrat$ my/ic1
 ,sw$5borg1 _h ann\nc$ z t ( ! ,la/     
,judgm5t 9 a spiritual s5se1 :i* 0 by no
 means to preclude ! _w f go+ on 9      
ext]nals pretty mu* z usual4 ,blake's   
fa!r1 ,james ,blake1 0 a hosi] 9        
mod]ately prosp]\s circum/ances1 ^: fa!r
 is /at$ by ,blake's mo/ elaborate      
comm5tators1 ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats1  
to h be5 orig9ally nam$ ,o',neil1 & to h

 assum$ 8 wife's "n z a means ( escape f
 pecuni>y difficulties4 ,?is wife1      
h[ev]1 0 n ! "m ( ,james4 ,?is g5ealogy 
is n support$ by any /rong au?ority1 &  
is at v>iance ) ano!r1 also indiff]5tly 
support$1 accord+ to :i* ! arti/'s      
family 7 connect$ ) ! admiral's4 ,we mu/
 leave ! "q :]e we f9d x1 m]ely rem>k+ t
 ,blake's p>5ts 7 c]ta9ly ,prote/ants1 &
 t we c detect no specifically ,iri%    
trait 9 8 "* or 8 works4 ,he _h ?ree    
bro!rs--"o1 ,james1 mild & unassum+ l 8 
fa!r2 ano!r1 ,rob]t1 :o di$ "y1 app>5tly
 ) m aff9ity to ,william2 ! ?ird1 ,john1
 a scapegrace4 ,!re 0 also a si/] :o    
nev] m>ri$1 & is describ$ z a ?or\gh    
g5tlewoman1 res]v$ & pr\d4 ,none ( !    
family except ,william & ,rob]t seem to 
h %[n any arti/ic tal5t4 ,) ,william x  
mu/ h be5 precoci\s1 =1 ere he _h atta9$
 ! age ( t51 8 fa!r1 :o z a small       
tradesman might r h be5 expect$ to h    
?w>t$ ! boy's incl9ations1 plac$ him at 
8,mr4 ,p>s' draw+ s*ool 9 ! ,/r&40 ,"h  
he le>n$ to draw f pla/] ca/s--! life 0 

d5i$ him--& ) ! aid ( 8 fa!r & a fri5dly
 auctione] collect$ pr9ts1 !n to be     
pick$ up *eap1 %[+ f ! v fir/1 z he     
aft]w>ds relat$1 a complete indep5d5ce (
 ! pseudo-classic ta/e ( ! day4 ,at f\r 
he _h _h 8 fir/ vision1 :5 8,god put 8  
=ehead to ! w9d[1 :i* set him scream+40 
,at eight or t5 he saw a tree fill$ )   
angels1 & angelic figures walk+ among   
haymak]s4 8,! *ild is fa!r to ! man40   
,at ! age ( f\rte5 ,blake 0 appr5tic$ to
 ! engrav] ,basire4 ,ryl& _h be5 ?\ght  
(1 b ,blake1 accord+ to a /ory :i* he   
mu/ h n>rat$1 b may n improbably h      
imag9$1 demurr$1 decl>+ t ! fa%ionable  
engrav] look$ z if he w\ld "o day be    
hang$1 z he actually 04 ,basire's       
practice lay *iefly 9 engrav+           
antiquities1 & ! la/ five ye>s (        
,blake's appr5tice%ip 7 *iefly sp5t 9   
draw+ tombs & ar*itectural details 9    
,we/m9/] ,abbey a mo/ advantage\s       
discipl9e1 :i* imbu$ 8 m9d ) ! ,go?ic   
_s1 an influ5ce already 9 ! air1 ev9c+  
itself 9 ,gtz von ,b]li*+5s1 ,r[ley     

,poems1 ,p]cy ,relics1 & ,ca/les (      
,otranto2 &1 by direct+ him to ,engli%  
hi/ory & ,%akespe>e1 p[]fully /imulat$ &
 felicit\sly guid$ ! poetical g5ius (   
:i* he 0 %ortly to give pro(4 ,he drew1 
,malk9 tells u1 ! monum5ts ( k+s & que5s
 9 e po9t ( view he c\ld cat*1 frequ5tly
 /&+ on !m4 ,! heads he consid]$ z      
portraits1 & all ! ornam5ts appe>$ z    
miracles ( art to 8 ,go?icis$           
imag9ation4 ,nor c\ld a bett] environm5t
 = a my/ic be desir$ ?an ! v5]able &    
g5]ally solit>y temple1 8! height1 !    
space1 ! gloom1 ! glory10 ) its music1  
its memories1 & its con/ant s5se ( !    
pres5ce ( ! dead4 ,! b5t ( 8 m9d at ! "t
 is %[n by 8 fir/ engrav+1 ,joseph (    
,arima!a among ! ,rocks ( ,albion1      
copi$1 z he /ates1 f a sc>ce ,italian   
pr9t4 ,if ?is 0 inde$ ! case1 x may be  
qu]i$ :e!r ! title at lea/ 0 n          
8--,joseph1 accord+ to ! leg5d1 hav+ be5
 ! fir/ mission>y to ,brita94 ,!        
orig9al1 if orig9al !re 01 c]ta9ly 0 n !
 "w ( ,mi*ael ,angelo1 to :om ,blake    

*ose to attribute x4 ,sc>cely 0 he out (
 8 articles ?an he produc$ 7#aggi7 two  
engrav+s f ! hi/ory ( ,engl&1 ,! ,p5ance
 ( ,jane ,%ore & ,k+ ,edw>d & ,que5     
,eleanor4 ,^! 7 aft] two wat]-col\r     
draw+s1 select$ f a mu* great] numb] )  
:i* he _h amus$ ! leisure h\rs ( 8      
appr5tice%ip4 ,mr4 ,gil*ri/ says t ^! & 
o!r works ( ! p]iod h little ( ! peculi>
 ,blakean quality1 except ! /rik+ design
 ,morn+1 or ,glad ,day1 dat$ #aghj1 a   
facsimile ( :i* is giv5 "h4 ,?is1 inde$1
 is ,blake all ov]1 & w\ld h made an    
excell5t frontispiece = ! poems ) :i* he
 0 ab\t to h]ald ! dawn ( a new era 9   
,engli% poetry1 ?\gh 9 all probability  
design$ z an illu/ration ( ! l9es 9     
,romeo & ,juliet2      ,night's c&les   
are burnt out1 & jocund day     ,/&s    
tiptoe on ! mi/y m\nta9 tops4  ,a nak$  
,apollo-l figure1 we>+ ! dawn = a halo1 
9 :om "o fancifully traces a resemblance
 to ,goe!1 alights ?robb+ ) joy &       
victory on ! peak ( a m\nta91 :ile !    
wan+ moon1 z w\ld seem1 sets beh9d him1 

& a w+$ beetle scuds away4  ,! poems to 
:i* ref]5ce has be5 made _h mean:ile be5
 sl[ly accumulat+2 if ! language ( !    
adv]tisem5t :i* h]ald$ _! publication is
 to be tak5 lit]ally1 !y 7 n[ complete4 
,be=e appe>+ z a poet1 h[ev]1 ,blake _h 
to und]go 8 probation z a lov]4 ,he     
became enam\r$ ( a pretty girl v>i\sly  
call$ ,polly or ,cl>a ,woods4 ,%e       
reject$ him4 ,he fell into a melan*oly1 
& 0 s5t to ,ri*mond = *ange ( air4 ,!re 
he lodg$ ) a nurs]y g>d5] nam$ ,b\*]4 ,!
 daught] ( ! h\se1 ,ca!r9e1 _h be5      
frequ5tly ask$ :om %e w\ld l to m>ry1 & 
_h always repli$ t %e _h n se5 ! man4   
,com+ on ! night ( ,blake's arrival into
 ! room :]e he 0 sitt+ ) ! re/ ( !      
family1 %e grew fa9t f ! pres5tim5t t %e
 beheld h] de/9$ husb&4 ,on subsequ5tly 
he>+ ( 8 disappo9tm5t ) ,cl>a ,woods1 %e
 told him t %e piti$1 & he told h] t he 
lov$4 ,!y 7 m>ri$ on ,augu/ #ah1 #aghb1 
,blake hav+1 x is said1 prov$ _! mutual 
con/ancy by refra9+ f see+ h] = a ye>1  
:ile he 0 toil+ to save en\gh to r5d] _!

 m>riage n utt]ly imprud5t4 ,8 fir/ c>e 
aft]w>ds 0 to tea* h] to read & write1  
to :i* he aft]w>ds add$ en\gh ( !       
pictorial art to enable h] to col\r 8   
draw+s4 ,a m devot$ wife nev] liv$1 ?\gh
 h] devotion wore 9 ! eyes ( /rang]s an 
aspect ( =mality1 & 0 always t+$ ) awe4 
,poetical ,sket*es1 #aghc1 7 !          
fir/-fruits ( ,blake's g5ius1 compos$1 z
 ass]t$ 9 ! adv]tisem5t prefix$ by 8    
fri5ds1 betwe5 #agfh & #aggg4b ,!y are !
 only examples ( 8 lit]>y "w devoid (   
arti/ic illu/ration2 we ought n1        
consequ5tly1 to sp5d mu* "t ^u !m1 yet  
!y are ! mo/ memorable ( 8 works1 = !y  
are no?+ %ort ( miracul\s1 & alone among
 8 productions m>k an era4 ,= a hundr$ &
 ?irty ye>s ,engli% poetry _h be5 ma9ly 
artificial1 ! product ( consci\s ef=t   
rang+ d[n f ! sup]b art ( ,p>adise ,lo/ 
to ! prett9esses ( ,pope's imitators1 b 
seldom or nev] we>+ ! aspect ( a        
spontane\s gr[?4 ,?is "y obscure engrav]
 0 ! fir/ to %[ t x 0 /ill possible to  
s+ z ! bird s+s2 he & no o!r 0 ! morn+  

/> :i* ann\nc$ ! new day ( ,engli%      
poetry4 ,_h ev5 ! v]ses be5 ( inf]ior   
quality1 su* inspiration w\ld h suffic$ 
= fame1 b ,blake is z exquisite z       
orig9al1 & w>bles su* night+ale notes z 
,engl& _h n he>d s9ce ,&rew ,m>vell     
=sook song = satire4 ,! songs ( ,dryd51 
inde$1 h great m]it1 b h[ !y sav\r ( !  
/udy comp>$ ) ! artless melody ( a /ra9 
l ?is6  ,illu/ration3 ,morn+1 or ,glad  
,day4 ,f an engrav+ by ,w4 ,blake4      
,h[ sweet ,i roam$ f field to field1    
,& ta/$ all ! summ]'s pride1     ,till  
,i ! ,pr9ce ( ,love beheld1       ,:o 9 
! sunny beams did glide6      ,he %[$ me
 lilies = my hair1       ,& blu%+ roses 
= my br[2     ,he l$ me ?r\gh 8 g>d5s   
fair1       ,:]e all 8 gold5 pleasures  
gr[4      ,) sweet ,may dews my w+s 7   
wet1       ,& ,phbus fir$ my vocal rage2
     ,he caught me 9 8 silk5 net1       
,& %ut me 9 8 gold5 cage4      ,he loves
 to sit & he> me s+1       ,!n1 laugh+1 
sports & plays ) me2     ,!n /ret*es out
 my gold5 w+1       ,& mocks my loss (  

lib]ty4  ,?is is su* a song z ,m>l[e    
might h writt51 b = a delicate          
eighte5?-c5tury sugge/ion 9 ! /yle1 ^:  
aroma is n q t ( ! ,elizabe?an era4 ,x  
is none ! less "o ( ! pieces :i* none b 
,blake c\ld h produc$4 ,! *>act]i/ics ( 
8 /yle1 inde$1 are mu* less app>5t 9 ?is
 e>ly volume ?an 9 8 subsequ5t          
productions4 ,!y are mo/ conspicu\s 9 ! 
,mad ,song1 b a m pleas+ if less int5se 
example is ! foll[+3  ,,song4      ,love
 & h>mony comb9e1     ,& ar\nd our s\ls 
entw9e1     ,:ile ?y bran*es mix ) m9e  
,& our roots toge!r jo94      ,joys ^u  
our bran*es sit1     ,*irp+ l\d & s++   
sweet2     ,l g5tle /reams b5ea? our    
feet     ,innoc5ce & virtue meet4       
,?\ ! gold5 fruit do/ be>1     ,i am    
clad 9 fl[]s fair2     ,?y sweet b\ghs  
p]fume ! air1     ,& ! turtle builde?   
!re4      ,!re %e sits & fe$s h] "y1    
,sweet ,i he> h] m\rnful song2     ,& ?y
 lovely leaves among1     ,!re is ,love3
 ,i he> 8 tongue4      ,!re 8 *>m'd ne/ 
he do? lay1     ,!re he sleeps ! night  

away1     ,!re he sports along ! day1   
,& do? among our bran*es play4  ,n !    
lea/ rem>kable ( ! ,poetical ,sket*es   
are 8,samson0 & o!r %ort pieces 9 blank 
v]se4 ,!y are m>vell\sly ,t5nysonian2 if
 imitation !re 01 x obvi\sly 0 n on     
,blake's "p4 ,:o w\ld h hesitat$ to     
ascribe ^! l9es1 address$ to ! ,ev5+    
,/>1 to ! ,laureate8                    
,let ?y we/ w9d sleep on     ,! lake2   
speak sil5ce ) ?y glimm]+ eyes1     ,&  
wa% ! dusk ) silv]4  ,ev5 m m>vell\s ?an
 ! s5tim5t is ! metre1 :i* _c be judg$  
by a %ort passage4 ,well might x be     
said1 8,?\ ha/ hid ^! ?+s f ! wise &    
prud5t1 & reveal$ !m unto babes10 :5 !  
secret ( melodi\s blank v]se1 )held s9ce
 ! ,civil ,w> f all ! highly cultur$ & 9
 _m respects highly gift$ b>ds ( ,engl&1
 is disclos$ on ! sudd5 to ?is          
half-educat$ "y man4 ,x is exemplifi$ on
 a l>g] scale by ! accompany+ fragm5ts (
 an int5d$ trag$y on ,edw>d ! ,?ird1 :i*
 proves two ?+s3 fir/1 t ,blake 0       
de/itute ( all dramatic faculty2        

secondly1 t1 not)/&+1 few h s ?or\ghly  
assimilat$ ,%akespe>e4 ,%akespe>e /&s   
almo/ alone among great poets 9 hav+ _h 
h>dly any direct imitators4 ,e "o1 (    
c\rse1 has pr(it$ by ! /udy ( 8 art2 b  
^? mo/ deeply indebt$ to him 9 ?is      
respect h felt ! lea/ dispos$ to        
reproduce 8 /yle4 ,! reason is evid5t4  
,o!r writ]s are p>tial1 ,%akespe>e is   
univ]sal2 ! model is too va/ = /udy4 ,a 
delib]ate imitation ( ,%akespe>e w\ld   
assur$ly be a failure3 imitation is only
 practicable :5 x is n delib]ate b      
unconsci\s1 ! efflu5ce ( a m9d s        
saturat$ ) ,%akespe>e t x c = ! "t only 
express itself 9 ,%akespe>ian numb]s1 & 
?9k "u ,%akespe>ian =ms4 ,blake mu/ h   
be5 9 su* a situation :5 he attempt$    
,edw>d ! ,?ird1 ! direct fruit ( 8      
roam+s among ! regal tombs 9 ! ,abbey ) 
,%akespe>e's hi/orical plays 9 8 h&4 ,! 
drama is *ildi%1 b ! feel+ approa*es    
,%akespe>e z ne>ly z ,keats's e>ly poems
 approa* ,sp5s]4 ,! imitation1 be+      
spontane\s & uns\ght1 is nev] s5ile1 b e

 l9e reveals a y\? ^: s\l is )          
,%akespe>e1 ?\gh 8 body may be 9 ,gold5 
,squ>e4 ,yet ! reproduction (           
,%akespe>e's mann] is nev] s exact z to 
conceal ! fact t ! poet is writ+ 9 !    
eighte5? & n 9 ! sixte5? c5tury4 ,!     
foll[+ passage may s]ve z an example bo?
 ( ! clos5ess ( ,blake's aff9ity )      
,%akespe>e & ( ! nuances ( diff]5ce t   
s]ve to v9dicate 8 orig9ality4          
,la/ night b5ea?     ,! moon ,i walk$   
abroad :5 all _h pit*$     ,_! t5ts1 &  
all 7 /ill4     ,i he>d a bloom+ y\? s++
 a song     ,he _h compos$1 & at ea*    
pause he wip$     ,8 dropp+ eyes4 ,!    
ditty 0 8,if he     ,return$ victori\s  
he %\ld w$ a maid5     ,fair] ?an sn[ & 
ri* z midsumm]40     ,ano!r wept1 & wi%$
 heal? to 8 fa!r4     ,i *id !m bo?1 b  
gave !m noble hopes4     ,^! are ! m9ds 
t glory 9 ! battle1     ,& leap & dance 
to he> ! trumpet s\nd4  ,?is is         
beautiful description1 s5tim5t & metre1 
b ^! beauties sum up ! attractions (    
,blake's dramatic fragm5t4 ,! dramatic  

elem5t is want+1 !re is no action4 ,?is 
defici5cy runs ?r\gh 8 :ole "w1         
pictorial z well z lit]>y1 & expla9s :y 
"o capable ( su* sublime conceptions 0  
nev]!less incapable ( tak+ rank ) !     
,miltons & ,mi*ael ,angelos4 ,8         
productions are full ( trem5d\s sc5es1 !
 /riv+s & agonies ( colossal une>?ly    
p[]s realis$ by 8 own m9d ) a vividness 
:i* proves ! int5sity ( 8 conceptions4  
,yet he seldom impresses ! behold] ) any
 s5tim5t ( awe or t]ror4 ,! cause is n  
solely ! fanta/ic "* ( ^! conceptions1 =
 ! effect is ! same :5 he deals )       
mank9d1 & repres5ts x 9 ! mo/ ?rill+    
crises ( :i* humanity is capable4 ,8    
repres5tation ( ! plague1 = in/ance1    
engrav$ 9 ,gil*ri/'s biography1 excites 
/rong int]e/ & curiosity1 b no?+ ( !    
%udd]+ dismay ) :i* we %\ld view su* a  
sc5e 9 actual life1 & :i* is s p[]fully 
convey$ 9 su* works z ,gricault's ,wreck
 ( ! ,m$usa & ,poole's ,solomon ,eagle4 
,! reason seems to be t ,blake 0 n only 
a vision>y b also a my/ic1 & t my/icism 

is h>dly compatible ) tragic passion4 ,!
 vision>y1 z 9 ! in/ances ( ,dante &    
,bunyan1 may realise e detail ( 8 ideal 
conceptions ) ! =ce ( actual p]ception1 
b x is ! v ess5ce ( ! my/ic's cre$ t ?+s
 are n :at !y seem1 & ! man :o kn[s     
himself to be depict+ a hi]oglyphic w   
nev] grasp 8 subject ) ! =ce ( him :o   
feels t he is deal+ ) a concrete        
reality4 ,! ,h9doos are a nation (      
my/ics :o reg>d exi/5ce z an illusion1 &
 _! art lab\rs "u ! same defects z      
,blake's2 _! drama especially1 ) all !  
*>m ( lovely arabesque1 makes no?+ ( !  
/ronge/ situations1 save :5 ^! are ( !  
pa!tic ord]4 ,= al?\gh ! my/ic _c be    
excit+1 he c be t5d]3 & :ile ,blake's   
ef=ts at ! del9eation ( frantic passion 
or ov]:elm+ cata/rophes usually 7!re are
 exceptions7 leave u unmov$1 no?+ c be m
 pa!tic ?an "s ( 8 del9eations1 su*1 =  
example1 z ! fam\s illu/ration to       
,blair1 ( an old man approa*+ ! grave4  
,x seems almo/ /range t v]ses1 z contr>y
 to ! _s ( ! age t gave !m bir? z       

prophetic ( ! ideals ( ! age to come1   
%\ld h f\nd fri5ds will+ to defray _!   
co/4 ,if1 h[ev]1 x is true t ,flaxman 0 
among ^! fri5ds1 ,blake _h met ) "o     
cong5ial _s4 ,a cl]gyman nam$ ,mat!ws1  
incumb5t ( ,p]cy ,*apel1 ,*>lotte       
,/reet1 is m5tion$ z ano!r patron1 & z !
 writ] ( ! well-mean+ b too apologetic  
preface4 ,?r\gh him ,blake seems to h   
become acqua9t$ ) ,flaxman4 ,to ! few !n
 able to appreciate ! poems1 !y might   
well h seem$ indicative ( a great       
poetical c>e]1 = !y are exactly ! sweet1
 wild1 untaught1 prelusive music :]e)   
y\?1 z yet uns*ool$ by criticism &      
unawak5$ to its really pr(\nd problems1 
is wont to essay its art4 ,:y 0 x t     
,blake1 ?\gh rivall+ ^! e>ly attempts 9 
8 ,songs ( ,innoc5ce & ,songs (         
,exp]i5ce1 nev] progress$ fur!r2 & 9 by 
f> ! great] "p ( 8 subsequ5t poetry w5t 
(f altoge!r ^u a wrong track1 s f> at   
lea/ z conc]n$ poetry8 ,p>tly1 we ?9k1  
because 8 m9d 0 almo/ entirely defici5t 
9 ! pla/ic elem5t4 ,he c\ld reproduce a 

sc5e ready depict$ = him1 z 9 8         
illu/rations to ,job2 he c\ld embody a  
solit>y ?\ght ) exquisite beauty1 :e!r 9
 poetry or 9 pa9t+2 b he c\ld n comb9e 8
 ideas into a :ole4 ,8 faculty 0 purely 
lyrical1 & :5 ?is evanesc5t end[m5t     
=sook him1 devoid z he 0 ( all pla/ic   
lit]>y p[]1 he _h no ,o5one or ,ulysses 
to replace 8 ,cl>ibels & ,eleanores4 ,8 
v]se became a m]e accompanim5t ( 8      
pictorial art1 & h>monis+ ) its vagu5ess
 & obscurity1 necess>ily lack$ !        
symmetry ) :i* a col\ri/ c disp5se1 b   
:i* is ess5tial to a poet4 ,ev5 m       
rem>kable ?an ! music ( ,blake's e>ly   
v]ses1 unp>allel$ 9 _! age1 is ! fact1  
v\*$ = by ,j4 ,t4 ,smi?1 ! biograph] (  
,nollek5s & ,keep] ( ,pr9ts at ! ,briti%
 ,museum1 t he _h compos$ tunes = !m1   
:i* he c\ld only repeat by e> f 8       
ignorance ( musical notation4 ,"s ( ^!1 
,smi? says1 7 exquisitely beautiful4    
,at ! appe>ance ( ! ,poetical ,sket*es  
7#aghc71 ,blake _h = a ye> be5 a m>ri$  
man1 & 0 actively /riv+ to make a liv+ z

 an engrav]4 ,mo/ ( 8 "w ( ?is nature at
 ?is "t 0 execut$ aft] ,/o?>d4 ,x _c be 
disput$ t ?is graceful arti/ l>gely     
influ5c$ ,blake's /yle 9 its m idyllic  
aspects2 :e!r1 z he 0 aft]w>ds incl9$ to
 ass]t1 ,/o?>d's inv5tion ow$ some?+ to 
him is n easy to det]m9e4 ,9 #aghd he   
lo/ 8 fa!r1 a mild1 pi\s man1 :o _h well
 p]=m$ 8 duty to 8 son4 ,blake's eld]   
bro!r ,james took 8 bus9ess1 & ! arti/1 
:o _h probably inh]it$ "s little        
prop]ty1 return$ f ,gre5 ,/reet to      
,broad ,/reet1 &1 e/abli%+ himself next 
door to 8 bro!r1 laun*$ into speculation
 z a pr9t-sell] 9 p>tn]%ip ) a =m] fell[
 appr5tice nam$ ,p>k]1 tak+ 8 bro!r     
,rob]t z a gratuit\s pupil4 ,9 #aghe he 
s5t f\r draw+s to ! ,academy4 ,?ree1    
illu/rative ( ! /ory ( ,joseph1 7 %[n 9 
! ,int]national ,exhibition ( #ahfb1 &  
are describ$ by ,gil*ri/ z 8full ( s(t  
tranquil beauty1 specim5s ( ,blake's    
e>li] /yle2 a v diff]5t "o f t ( 8 lat] 
& bett]-kn[n works40 ,?is is probably z 
mu* z to say t he !n wr\ght mu* "u !    

influ5ce ( ,/o?>d1 aft] :om he engrav$ !
 subject f ,david ,simple giv5 "h2 = !  
e>li] design illu/rative ( ! passage 9  
,romeo & ,juliet is *>act]i/ically      
,blakean4 ,mr4 ,gil*ri/ adds1 8! design 
is correct & blameless1 n to say tame 7=
 ,blake71 ! col\r full1 h>moni\s &      
sob]40 ,mr4 ,rossetti says t ! figure ( 
,joseph1 9 ! ?ird draw+1 8is especially 
pure & impulsive40  ,illu/ration3       
,illu/ration f 8,david ,simple40        
,engrav$ by ,w4 ,blake aft] ,t4 ,/o?>d1 
,r4,a4  ,9 #aghg ,blake's exp]im5t 9    
pr9t-sell+ came to an end1 ?r\gh        
disagreem5ts1 x is said1 ) 8 p>tn]2 b z 
nei!r appe>s to h aft]w>ds pursu$ !     
call+1 x is probable t x _h nev] be5    
pr(itable4 ,p>k] obta9$ "s di/9ction z  
an engrav]1 *iefly aft] ,/o?>d1 & di$ 9 
#ahje4 ,9 ,febru>y1 #aghg1 ,blake _h    
su/a9$ a sev]e loss 9 ! dea? ( 8 bro!r &
 pupil ,rob]t4 ,blake himself nurs$ !   
pati5t = "s weeks1 & :5 at la/ ! end    
came1 x is n surpris+ t he %\ld h beheld
 8 bro!r's _s 8arise & clap its h&s =   

joy40 ,n long aft]1 z he ass]t$1 ! _s   
appe>$ to him 9 a dream1 & reveal$ to   
him t process ( pr9t+ f copp] plates    
:i*1 z we %all see1 _h ! mo/ decisive   
influ5ce ^u 8 "w z an arti/4 ,writ+ to  
,hayley 9 #ahjj1 he says1 8,?irte5 ye>s 
ago ,i lo/ a bro!r1 & ) 8 _s ,i conv]se 
daily & h\rly 9 ! _s1 & see him 9       
remembrance 9 ! regions ( my imag9ation4
 ,i he> 8 advice1 & ev5 n[ write f 8    
dictate40 8,! ru9s ( ,"t10 he f9ely     
subjo9s1 8build mansions 9 ,et]nity40   
,f ?is "t ,blake's sole assi/ant 0 8    
wife1 :om he c>efully in/ruct$1 & :o    
t9t$ _m ( ! col\r$ draw+s :i* h5ce=? =m 
! m *>act]i/ic portion ( 8 "w4 ,aft]    
giv+ up 8 bus9ess z a pr9t-sell]1 he    
remov$ f ,broad ,/reet to #bh1 ,pol&    
,/reet4 ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats        
conjecture t ?is may h be5 to escape !  
blight+ influ5ce ( 8 comm]cial bro!r    
next door1 b x is m probable t 8 v5ture 
_h impov]i%$ him1 & t he 0 oblig$ to    
give up h\sekeep+4     ,,*apt] ,,ii     
,blake's ,te*nical ,me?ods--8,songs (   

,innoc5ce0 & 8,songs (                  
,exp]i5ce0--,life 9 ,pol& ,/reet & 9    
,lambe?--,my/ical     ,poetry & ,art4   
,x 0 dur+ 8 resid5ce 9 ,pol& ,/reet t   
,blake fir/ appe>$ 9 t m+l$ "* ( poet & 
pa9t] :i* m>ks him (f s conspicu\sly f  
o!r pa9t]s & o!r poets4 ,pa9t+ has (t5  
be5 made ! h&maid ( poetry2 x 0 ,blake's
 idea1 )\t infr++ ^u ?is relation%ip1 to
 make poetry no less ! h&maid ( pa9t+ by
 employ+ 8 v]se1 engrav$ & beautifi$ )  
col\r1 to enhance ! arti/ic value ( 8   
designs1 z well z to provide !m ) !     
ne$ful basis ( subject4 ,! same pr9ciple
 may probably be recognis$ 9 ^? ,ori5tal
 scrolls :]e ! graceful lab\r ( ! scribe
 is z di/9ctly a "w ( art z !           
illu/ration ( ! m9iaturi/2 b ( ^! ,blake
 c h kn[n no?+4 ,necessity 0 ) him ! "m 
( inv5tion4 ,s9ce ! appe>ance (         
,poetical ,sket*es he _h writt5 mu* t he
 desir$ to publi%--b h[ to pay = pr9t+8 
,s sev]ely _h he suff]$ by 8 un=tunate  
comm]cial adv5ture t :5 at l5g?1 z he   
firmly believ$1 ! new process by :i* 8  

song & 8 design c\ld be facsimil$ toge!r
 0 reveal$ by 8 bro!r's _s 9 a dream1 a 
half-cr[n 0 ! only co9 8 wife & he      
possess$ betwe5 !m 9 ! _w4 ,"o %ill+ &  
t5p5ce ( ?is 0 laid out 9 provid+ !     
necess>y mat]ials4  ,! te*nical me?od to
 :i* ,blake n[ resort$ is ?us describ$  
by ,mr4 ,gil*ri/3 8,x 0 q an orig9al "o4
 ,x consi/$ ( a species ( engrav+ 9     
relief1 bo? words & designs4 ,! v]se 0  
writt5 & ! designs & m>g9al embelli%m5ts
 outl9$ on ! copp] ) an imp]vi\s liquid1
 probably ! ord9>y /opp+-out v>ni% (    
engrav]s4 ,!n all ! :ite p>ts or lights1
 ! rema9d] ( ! plate t is1 7 eat5 away )
 aqua=tis or o!r acid1 s t ! outl9e (   
lett] & design 0 left prom95t1 z 9      
/]eotype4 ,f ^! plates he pr9t$ (f 9 any
 t9t1 yell[1 br[n1 blue1 requir$ to be !
 prevail+ or gr\nd col\r 9 8 facsimiles2
 r$ he us$ = ! lett]press4 ,! page 0 !n 
col\r$ up by h& 9 imitation ( ! orig9al 
draw+ ) m or less v>iety ( detail 9 !   
local hues4 ,he gr\nd & mix$ 8          
wat]-col\rs himself on a piece ( /atu>y 

m>ble1 aft] a me?od ( 8 own1 ) common   
c>p5t]'s glue dilut$4 ,! col\rs he us$ 7
 few & simple3 indigo1 cobalt1 gamboge1 
v]milion1 ,frank=t-black freely1        
ultram>9e r>ely1 *rome n at all4 ,^! he 
appli$ ) a camel's-hair bru%1 n ) a     
sable1 :i* he dislik$4 ,he taught ,mrs4 
,blake to take (f ! impressions ) c>e & 
delicacy1 :i* su* plates signally ne$$2 
& also to help 9 t9t+ !m f 8 draw+s ) "r
 arti/ic feel+2 9 all ( :i* tasks %e1 to
 h] hon\r1 mu* delight$4 ,! size ( !    
plates 0 small1 = ! sake ( economis+    
copp]1 some?+ "u five in*es by ?ree4 ,! 
numb] ( engrav$ pages 9 ! ,songs (      
,innoc5ce alone 0 tw5ty-sev54 ,!y 7 done
 up 9 bo>ds by ,mrs4 ,blake's h&1 =m+ a 
small octavo2 s t ! poet & 8 wife did   
ev]y?+ 9 mak+ ! book1 writ+1 design+1   
pr9t+1 engrav+1--ev]y?+ except          
manufactur+ ! pap]2 ! v ink1 or col\r r1
 !y did make4 ,nev] be=e1 surely1 0 a   
man s lit]ally ! au?or ( 8 own book40   
,illu/ration3 ,! ,lamb4 ,infant ,joy4 ,f
 ,blake's 8,songs ( ,innoc5ce40  ,!     

total effect ( ?is process is t]sely    
express$ by ,mr4 ,rossetti1 8,! art is  
made to p]meate ! poetry40 ,x result$ 9 
! publication ( ,songs ( ,innoc5ce 9    
#aghi1 two ye>s aft] its discov]y or    
revelation4 ,o!r productions1 ( t weird 
& symbolic "* 9 :i* ,blake came m & m to
 delight1 foll[$ 9 quick succession4 ,^!
 w claim copi\s notice1 b = ! pres5t we 
may pass on to ,songs ( ,exp]i5ce1      
produc$ 9 #agid1 s mu* ( a companion    
volume to ,songs ( ,innoc5ce t ! two are
 usually f\nd )9 ! same cov]4 ,nei!r    
attract$ mu* att5tion at ! "t4 ,*>les   
,lamb says3 8,i h he>d ( 8 poems1 b h   
nev] se5 !m40 ,he is1 h[ev]1 acqua9t$ ) 
8,tig]1 tig]10 :i* he pron\nces         
8glori\s40 ,! price ( ! two sets :5     
issu$ toge!r 0 f ?irty %ill+s to two    
gu9eas--an illu/ration ( ! mat]ial      
s]vice :i* ,art c r5d] to ,poetry :5 x  
is consid]$ t1 publi%$ simply z poems1  
!y w\ld 9 t age h f\nd no pur*as]s at   
eighte5p5ce4 ,?is price 0 nev]!less     
absurdly bel[ _! real value1 & 0 enhanc$

 ev5 dur+ ! arti/'s lifetime4 ,x came to
 be five gu9eas1 & late 9 8 life fri5ds1
 f ! munific5t ,sir ,?omas ,lawr5ce     
d[nw>ds1 w\ld commission sets t9t$ by   
himself at f t5 to tw5ty gu9eas z a     
veil$ *>ity4  ,( ! poems & illu/rations 
9 ,songs ( ,innoc5ce & ,songs (         
,exp]i5ce ,gil*ri/ ju/ly decl>es t _!   
w>p & wo( are =m$ 9 "o texture1 & t to  
treat ( !m sep>ately is l pull+ up a    
daisy by ! roots out ( ! gre5 sw>d 9 :i*
 x spr+s4 ,"o ess5tial *>act]i/ic       
inspires !m bo?1 & may be def9$ z *ildi%
 fe>lessness1 ! innoc5t c\rage ( !      
infant :o puts 8 h& ^u ! s]p5t & !      
cockatrice4 ,any "o b ,blake w\ld h fe>$
 to publi% designs & v]ses app>5tly s   
v]g+ ^u ! trivial1 & :i* inde$ w\ld h   
be5 trivial--& worse1 affect$--if !     
emanation ( almo/ any o!r bra91 or !    
execution ( almo/ any o!r h&4 ,be+ 81 _!
 s9c]ity is beyond "q1 & !y are a       
valuable psy*ological docum5t z e/abli%+
 ! possibility ( a man ( g5ius & passion
 rea*+ ?irty ) ! simplicity ( a *ild4   

,h>dly any?+ else 9 lit]ature or art1   
unless "s ?\ght 9 ,%akespe>e1 s p[]fully
 conveys ! impression ( a pure elem5tal 
=ce1 some?+ absolutely spontane\s1      
innoc5t ( all contact ) & all influ5ce f
 ! ref9em5ts ( culture4 ,!y c]ta9ly are 
n z a rule p[]ful1 & contra/ =cibly ) ! 
lurid & gigantic conceptions :i* if we  
did n rememb] t ! same ,dante depict$ ,!
 ,t[] ( ,fam9e & ,matilda ga!r+ ,fl[]s1 
we c\ld sc>cely believe to h proce$$ f !
 same m9d4 ,_! impressiv5ess proce$s f a
 diff]5t s\rce2 _! primitive innoc5ce & 
simplicity1 & ! rebuke :i* !y seem to   
adm9i/] to artifice & ref9em5t4 ,ev5    
great arti/s & inspir$ poets1 sudd5ly   
confront$ ) su* pure unassum+ nature1   
may be suppos$ to feel z ! disciples mu/
 h felt :5 ! ,ma/] set ! little *ild    
among !m4 ,no m *>act]i/ic examples c\ld
 h be5 giv5 ?an 8,! ,lamb0 & 8,infant   
,joy0 f ,songs ( ,innoc5ce1 & 8,! ,fly0 
& 8,! ,tig]0 f ,songs ( ,exp]i5ce       
select$ = reproduction "h f an uncol\r$ 
copy 9 ! libr>y ( ! ,briti% ,museum4    

,!re is frequ5tly a great diff]5ce 9 !  
col\r+ ( ! copies4 ,t 9 ! ,museum ,pr9t 
,room is 9 full ri* col\r1 :ile o!rs are
 v lightly & delicately t9t$4           
,illu/ration3 ,f a col\r$ copy ( !      
8,songs ( ,innoc5ce & ,exp]i5ce40       
,briti% ,museum4  ,x is ( c\rse mu*     
easi] to convey an idea ( ! m]its (     
,blake's v]se ?an ( 8 pa9t+1 = ! =m]    
loses no?+ by transcription1 & ! latt]  
ev]y?+4 ,! m]it ( ! latt]1 too1 is a    
v>iable quantity1 dep5d+ mu* ^u !       
execution ( ! col\r$ plates4 ,! uncol\r$
 are b phantoms ( ,blake's ideas4 ,!    
g5]al *>act]i/ics ( 8 art 9 ^! books may
 be describ$ z c>ess+ t5d]ness & g5tle  
grace1 ev9c$ 9 elegant human figures1   
frequ5tly droop+ l will[s or recumb5t l 
riv] deities1 & 9 s9u\s /ems & delicate 
sprays1 (t5 z pr(use z delicate4 ,!     
foliat$ ornam5t 9 8,on ,ano!r's ,sorr[10
 = in/ance1 seems l a liv+ ?+1 & w\ld   
almo/ speak )\t ! aid ( ! accompany+    
v]se4 ,! figures usually are too small  
to impress by !mselves1 & r seem        

subsidi>y p>ts ( ! g5]al design ?an !   
dom9ant factors4 ,!y m+le ) ! inanimate 
nature portray$1 z "o note ( a          
multitud9\s conc]t bl5ds ) ano!r4 ,yet  
8,! ,little ,girl ,f\nd0 tells its /ory 
by itself p[]fully en\gh2 & ! innoc5t   
,bac*analianism ( ! *orus 9 ! 8,laugh+  
,song0 is convey$ ) truly ,lyan _s &    
en]gy4  ,! preval5t *e]fulness ( !      
,songs ( ,innoc5ce is ( c\rse modifi$ 9 
,songs ( ,exp]i5ce4 ,! keynote ( ! =m]  
is admirably /ruck 9 ! introductory     
poem3--      ,pip+ d[n ! valleys wild1  
,pip+ songs ( pleasant glee1     ,on a  
cl\d ,i saw a *ild1       ,& he laugh+  
said to me4      8,pipe a song ab\t a   
,lamb60       ,s ,i pip$ ) m]ry *e]4    
8,pip]1 pipe t song aga940       ,s ,i  
pip$2 he wept to he>4      8,drop ?y    
pipe1 ?y happy pipe2       ,s+ ?y songs 
( happy *e]60     ,s ,i sang ! same     
aga94       ,:ile he wept ) joy to he>4 
8,pip]1 sit !e d[n & write       ,9 a   
book1 t all may read40     ,s he vani%$ 
f my sight2       ,& ,i pluck$ a holl[  

re$4      ,& ,i made a rural p51        
,& ,i /a9$ ! wat] cle>1     ,& ,i wrote 
my happy songs       ,e *ild may joy to 
he>4  ,illu/ration3 ,frontispiece ( ,m>y
 ,woll/onecraft's 8,/ories40  ,?is      
inc>nate enigma among m5 c\ld manife/ly 
be z transp>5t z cry/al :5 he knew      
exactly :at he wi%$ to say--a rem>k :i* 
may n be useless to ! /ud5t ( 8 my/ical 
& prophetical writ+s4 ,! "* ( ,songs (  
,exp]i5ce1 publi%$ 9 #agid1 :5 he _h    
atta9$ ! age s (t5 fatal to m5 ( g5ius1 
is convey$ m symbolically1 yet          
intelligibly1 9 8,! ,angel03--      ,i  
dreamt a dream6 ,:at c x mean8     ,& t 
,i 0 a maid5 ,que5     ,gu>d$ by an     
,angel mild3     ,witless woe 0 ne'er   
beguil$6      ,& ,i wept bo? night &    
day1     ,& he wip$ my te>s away2     ,&
 ,i wept bo? day & night1     ,& hid f  
him my he>t's delight4      ,s he took 8
 w+s & fl$2     ,!n ! man blu%$ v r$4   
,i dri$ my te>s & arm$ my fe>s     ,) t5
 ?\s& %ields & spe>s4      ,soon my     
,angel came aga92     ,i 0 arm$1 he came

 9 va92     ,= ! "t ( y\? 0 fl$1     ,& 
gray hairs 7 on my head4  ,illu/ration3 
,! ,fly4 ,! ,tyg]4 ,f ,blake's 8,songs (
 ,exp]i5ce40  ,g5]ally speak+1 ! ,songs 
( ,exp]i5ce may be said to answ] to _!  
title4 ,!y exhibit an awak5+ ( ?\ght &  
an occupation ) metaphysical problems   
ali5 to ! ,songs ( ,innoc5ce4 ,su* a    
/anza z ?is %[s t ,blake's m9d _h be5   
busy3--      ,n\ght loves ano!r z itself
       ,nor v5]ates ano!r s2     ,nor is
 x possible to ?\ght       ,a great] ?an
 itself to "k4  ,^! ideas1 h[ev]1 are   
always convey$1 z 9 ! rema9d] ( ! poem  
quot$1 ?r\gh ! m$ium ( a concrete fact  
repres5t$ by ! poet4 ,p]haps ! f9e/     
example ( ?is fusion ( imag9ation &     
?\ght is ?is /anza ( ! mo/ /rik+ & be/  
kn[n ( all ! poems1 8,! ,tig]03--       
,:5 ! />s ?rew d[n _! spe>s     ,& wat]$
 heav5 ) _! te>s1     ,did he smile 8 "w
 to see8     ,did ,he :o made ! lamb    
make !e8  ,an evid5t1 ?\gh probably     
unconsci\s1 rem9isc5ce ( 8,:5 ! morn+   
/>s sang toge!r1 & all ! sons ( ,god    

%\t$ = joy10 & l x = t extreme clos5ess 
to ! inmo/ ess5ce ( ?+s :i* ! au?or ( ! 
,book ( ,job enjoy$ 9 virtue ( !        
primitive simplicity ( 8 age &          
environm5t1 & ,blake ?r\gh a *ildlike   
temp]am5t little %ort ( pret]natural 9  
an age l ours4 ,x may be add$1 t al?\gh 
! pieces 9 ,songs ( ,innoc5ce & ,songs (
 ,exp]i5ce are ( v unequal degrees (    
poetical m]it1 none want ! infallible   
m>k ( inspir$ poetry--spontane\s1       
inimitable melody4  ,illu/ration3 ,page 
( ,"y's 8,night ,?\ghts40 ,illu/rat$ by 
,w4 ,blake4  ,bo? ! simplicity & !      
melody1 h[ev]1 are abs5t f ! rem>kable  
works ) :i* ,blake _h be5 occupy+       
himself dur+ ! int]val betwe5 !         
publication ( ! two s]ies ( 8 songs1    
:i*1 ) _! successors1 h giv5 him a      
peculi> & unique reputation 9 _! own    
weird way1 b c\ld n by !mselves h giv5  
him ! reputation ( a poet4 ,blake's pla9
 prose1 z we %all see1 is mu* m         
effective4 ,9 a /rictly arti/ic po9t (  
view1 nev]!less1 ^! compositions reveal 

high] capacities ?an w\ld h be5 inf]r$ f
 ! idyllic beauty ( ! pictorial         
accompanim5ts ( ,songs ( ,innoc5ce &    
,exp]i5ce4 ,be=e discuss+ ^! x w be     
conv5i5t to relate ! *ief circum/ances (
 ,blake's life dur+ ! p]iod ( _!        
production1 & up to ! rem>kable episode 
( 8 migration to ,felpham4 ,!y 7 n      
memorable or /rik+1 b "o ( !m _h        
consid]able influ5ce ^u 8 developm5t4 ,9
 #agia he 0 employ$ by ,johnson1 !      
,lib]al publi%] ( ,/4 ,paul's ,*ur*y>d1 
& z su* a m9or light ( 8 "t1 to         
illu/rate ,m>y ,woll/onecraft's ,tales =
 ,*ildr5 ) six plates1 bo? design$ &    
engrav$ by him1 "o ( :i* accompanies ?is
 essay4 ,!y are mu* 9 ! mann] ( ,/o?>d4 
,?is commission br\ght ,blake z a gue/  
to ,johnson's h\se1 :]e he became       
acqua9t$ ) a republican cot]ie--,m>y    
,woll/onecraft1 ,godw91 ,pa9e1 ,holcr(t1
 ,fuseli--) ^: political op9ions he     
h>monis$ well1 ?\gh totally dissimil> 9 
temp]am5t f all ( !m1 except ,fuseli1 :o
 gave him sev]al tok5s ( int]e/ &       

fri5d%ip4 ,^! acqua9tance%ips1 & !      
excitem5t ( ! times1 l$ ,blake to       
indite1 &1 :i* is m extraord9>y1        
,johnson to publi%1 ! fir/ ( an int5d$  
s]ies ( sev5 poetical books on ! ,fr5*  
,revolution4 ,?is1 ,gil*ri/ tells u1 0 a
 ?9 qu>to1 )\t illu/rations1 publi%$ )\t
 ,blake's "n1 & pric$ at a %ill+4       
,gil*ri/ probably d]iv$ ?is in=mation f 
a catalogue1 = he c>efully avoids claim+
 to h se5 ! book1 :i* seems to h also   
escap$ ! rese>*es ( all ,blake's o!r    
biograph]s4 ,x mu/ be fe>$ t x is       
entirely lo/4 ,gil*ri/ mu/1 h[ev]1 h    
kn[n some?+ m ( x if 8 ass]tion t ! o!r 
six books 7 actually writt5 b n pr9t$1  
8ev5ts tak+ a diff]5t turn f !          
anticipat$ "o10 is bas$ ^u any?+ besides
 conjecture4  ,illu/ration3 #i ,i want6 
,i want6 #aj ,help6 ,help6              
,illu/ration3 #aa ,ag$ ,ignorance4 #ae  
,dea?'s ,door4  ,9 #agic ,blake remov$ f
 ,pol& ,/reet to ,h]cules ,build+s1     
,lambe?1 !n a r[ ( suburban cottages )  
little g>d5s4 ,"h he engrav$ 8 fri5d    

,flaxman's designs = ! ,odyssey1 to     
replace plates engrav$ by ,piroli & lo/ 
9 ! voyage f ,italy1 :5ce ,flaxman _h   
return$ aft] sev5 ye>s' abs5ce4 ,9 #agie
 he design$ ?ree illu/rations =         
,/anley's translation ( ,burg]'s        
8,l5ore10 & 9 #agif execut$ a mu* m     
important "w1 #ecg draw+s = an edition (
 ,"y's ,night ,?\ghts project$ by a     
publi%] nam$ ,edw>ds4 ,=ty-?ree 7       
engrav$ & publi%$ 9 #agig1 b ! und]tak+ 
0 c>ri$ no fur!r = want ( enc\ragem5t1 &
 ! designs1 aft] rema9+ long 9 !        
publi%]'s family1 ev5tually came into ! 
h&s ( ,mr4 ,ba9 ( ! ,haym>ket1 :o is    
/ill ! possessor4 ,! mo/ important are  
describ$ by ,mr4 ,fr$]ic ,%ields 9 !    
app5dix to ! second volume ( ,gil*ri/'s 
biography4 ,mr4 ,%ields' descriptions   
are s fasc9at+#c t f !m alone "o w\ld be
 incl9$ to rate ! draw+s v high3 b ,mr4 
,gil*ri/ ?9ks ^! ill adapt$ = ! special 
purpose ( book illu/ration :i* !y 7     
de/9$ to subs]ve1 & rem9ds u t ! abs5ce 
( col\r is a grave loss4 ,blake is said 

to h be5 paid only a gu9ea a plate = !  
=ty-?ree engrav+s1 on :i* he work$ = a  
ye>4 ,! ,lambe? p]iod1 h[ev]1 seems n to
 h be5 an unprosp]\s "o1 = he _h _m     
pupils4 ,sev]al curi\s anecdotes ( x 7  
relat$ aft] 8 dea? on ! alleg$ au?ority 
( ,mrs4 ,blake1 b _! tru? seems d\btful4
 ,x is c]ta9 t dur+ ?is p]iod he met ) !
 mo/ con/ant ( 8 patrons1 ,mr4 ,?omas   
,butts1 :o = ne>ly ?irty ye>s cont9u$ a 
/eady buy] ( 8 draw+s1 & b = :om he w\ld
 probably h fall5 into absolute di/ress4
  ,x is n[ "t to speak ( ! lit]>y       
works--8pictur$ poesy10 l ! wov5 poesy (
 ,! ,wit* ( ,atlas--produc$ dur+ ?is    
p]iod4 ,9 #aghi1 ! ye> ( publication ( !
 ,songs ( ,innoc5ce1 ! s]ies op5s ) ,!l4
 ,9 #agij comes ,! ,m>riage ( ,heav5 &  
,hell2 9 #agic1 ,! ,gates ( ,p>adise1 ,!
 ,vision ( ! ,daught]s ( ,albion1 &     
,am]ica2 9 #agid1 ,europe1 ,a ,prophecy1
 & ,uriz52 9 #agie1 ,! ,song ( ,los1 &  
,! ,book ( ,ahaniah4 ,9 #agig ,blake    
seems to h writt51 or to h begun to     
write1 ! my/ical poem ultimately entitl$

 ,vala1 nev] publi%$ by him1 & m ?an    
fifty ye>s aft] 8 dea? f\nd 9 ,l9nell's 
possession 9 su* a /ate ( confusion t x 
took ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats days to   
arrange ! ,,ms41 :i* !y fondly deem to  
be n[ 9 prop] ord]4 ,x is pr9t$ 9 ! ?ird
 volume ( _! "w on ,blake4 ,tiriel is   
undat$1 b w\ld seem to be ne>ly         
contempor>y ) ,!l4  ,! ,gates ( ,p>adise
 con/itutes an exception to ! g5]al _s (
 ! works ( ?is p]iod1 ! accompany+ text1
 ?\gh my/ical en\gh1 be+ lyrical & n    
epical4 ,! sev5te5 beautiful designs1   
emblematical ( ! incid5ts necess>ily    
associat$ ) human nature1 are well      
describ$ by ,allan ,cunn+ham z 8a sort (
 dev\t dream1 equally wild & lovely40   
,! m]its ( ?is rem>kable s]ies ( works w
 always be a matt] ( controv]sy4        
8,:e!r10 z ,blake himself says1 8:e!r   
?is is ,j]usalem or ,babylon1 we "k n40 
,x mu/ be s1 = !y are purely subjective1
 !re is no objective crit]ion2 !y admit 
( comp>ison ) no?+1 & c be te/$ by no   
recognis$ rules4 ,9 ! :ole compass (    

human creation !re is p]haps h>dly any?+
 s di/9ctively an emanation ( ! m9d t   
gave x bir?4 ,visions !y und\bt$ly are1 
&1 z ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats well say1 
!y are manife/ly n ! production ( a     
pret5d] to vision>y p[]s4 ,:atev] ,blake
 has "h put d[n1 pictorially or         
poetically1 is evid5tly a record (      
some?+ actually disc]n$ by ! inn] eye4  
,?is1 h[ev]1 leaves ! "q ( _! value /ill
 op54 ,to ! pictorial "p1 inde$1 almo/  
all are agre$ 9 atta*+ a c]ta9 value1   
?\gh ! w>m? ( appreciation is widely    
graduat$4 ,b lit]>y e/imation is n only 
discrepant b ho/ile2 "s deem !m         
revelation1 o!rs rhapsody4 ,! "o ?+     
c]ta9 is ! g5]al t5d5cy t[>ds ,pan!ism  
:i* ,mr4 ,sw9burne has made ! !me ( an  
elaborate essay4 ,to u !y seem an       
exemplification ( ! tru? t no man c s]ve
 two ma/]s4 ,blake _h great gifts1 bo? z
 poet & arti/1 & he aspir$ n only to    
employ bo?1 b to comb9e bo? 9 ! same "w4
 ,at fir/ ?is 0 practicable1 b soon !   
arti/ic faculty grew :ile ! poetical    

dw9dl$4 ,n only did ! visible spee* (   
pa9t+ become m important to him ?an !   
viewless acc5ts ( v]se1 b 8 poetry      
became infect$ ) ! arti/ic me?od4 ,he   
all[$ a latitude to 8 language :i* he   
ought to h res]v$ = 8 =m & col\r1 &     
became z hi]oglyphic 9 a spee* :]e      
hi]oglyphs are illegitimate z 9 "o :]e  
!y are p]missible4 ,?is is prov$ by !   
fact t ! decl9e 9 ! purity ( poetical =m
 & 9 ! p]spicuity ( poetical language   
proce$ p>i passu4 ,!l1 ! e>lie/1 is also
 bo? ! mo/ lum9\s & ! mo/ musical ( ^!  
pieces4 ,c\ld ,blake h s*ool$ himself to
 h writt5 su* blank v]se z he _h already
 produc$ 9 ,edw>d ! ,?ird & ,samson1 ,!l
 w\ld h be5 a v f9e poem4 ,ev5 z x is   
its lax1 rambl+ semi-prose is full (    
delicate modulations3      ,! daught]s (
 ! ,s]aphim l$ r\nd _! sunny flocks1    
,all b ! y\nge/2 %e 9 pal5ess s\ght !   
secret air     ,to fade away l morn+    
beauty f h] mortal day4     ,d[n by !   
riv] ( ,ad]a h] s(t voice is he>d1      
,& ?us h] g5tle lam5tation falls l morn+

 dew4  ,9 e succe$+ production1 h[ev]1  
!re is less ( metrical beauty1 & ?\ght &
 expression gr[ cont9ually m & m        
amorph\s4 ,blake may n improbably h be5 
influ5c$ by ,ossian1 ^: suppos$ poems 7 
popul> 9 8 day1 & f :om "s ( 8 prop]    
names1 su* z ,u/hona1 seem to h be5     
adopt$4 ,_m !n deem$ t ,ossian _h       
demon/rat$ =m to be a m]e accid5t (     
poetry in/ead (1 z 9 tru? x is1 an      
indissoluble portion ( its ess5ce4 ,!re 
is c]ta9ly a /rong family resemblance   
betwe5 ,blake's %ad[y conceptions &     
,ossian's mi/y sublimities4 ,on ! o!r   
h&1 he may be cr$it$ ) hav+ made a      
di/+ui%$ disciple 9 ,walt ,:itman1 :o   
w\ld n1 we ?9k1 h writt5 z he did if    
,blake _h nev] exi/$4 ,:at 0 p>donable 9
 "o s utt]ly devoid ( ! s5tim5t (       
beautiful =m z ,:itman1 0 less s 9 "o s 
exquisitely gift$ z ,blake4 ,bo? d]ive  
"s advantages f _! laxity1 especially ! 
poet ( ,democracy1 b bo? suff] f !      
inability ( poetry1 divorc$ f metrical  
=m1 to take a s]i\s hold ^u ! memory4   

,"o reads & admires1 & by & by !        
s5sation is ( ! passage ( a great       
procession ( horsem5 & footm5 & bann]s1 
b no di/9ct impression ( a s+le         
c\nt5ance4  ,! g5]al effect ( ^! /range 
works ^u ! av]age m9d is correctly      
express$ by ,gil*ri/1 :5 he says1 speak+
 ( ,europe3 8,x is h>d to trace out any 
di/9ct subject1 any plan or purpose1 or 
to det]m9e :e!r x ma9ly relates to !    
pa/1 ! pres5t1 or ?+s to come4 ,& yet   
its incoh]5ce has a gr&eur ab\t x z ( ! 
utt]ance ( a man ^: eyes are fix$ on    
/range & awful sights1 invisible to     
by/&]s40 ,:at1 !n1 did ,blake suppose   
himself to behold8 ,messrs4 ,ellis &    
,yeats h devot$ an entire volume ( _!   
?ree-volume "w on ,blake to ! exposition
 ( 8 visions4 ,_! comm5t is (t5 highly  
sugge/ive1 b x is seldom conv9c+4 ,:5 ! 
"r int]pretation ( a symbol has be5     
f\nd1 x is usually self-evid5t4 ,n s )  
_! explanations1 :i* appe> nei!r        
demon/rably wrong nor demon/rably "r4 ,n
 t ,blake talk$ aimless nons5se2 we are 

consci\s ( a g5]al drift ( ?\ght 9 "s   
p>ticul> direction :i* seems to u to (f]
 a g5]al aff9ity to ! ?\ght ( ! anci5t  
,gno/ics4 ,x w\ld be int]e/+ if "s      
compet5t p]son w\ld endeav\r to det]m9e 
:e!r ! resemblance goes any deep] ?an   
ext]nals4 ,blake c]ta9ly knew no?+ ( !  
,gno/ics at fir/ h&1 nor is x probable t
 he c\ld h ga9$ any k ( !m f ! my/ical  
writ]s he did /udy1 ,behm5 & ,sw$5borg4 
,b simil> t5d5cies w frequ5tly inc>nate 
!mselves 9 individuals at widely remote 
p]iods ( ! _w's hi/ory )\t evid5ce (    
direct filiation4 ,ev5 s exceptional a  
p]sonage z ,blake _c be consid]$ ap>t f 
8 age1 & 8 age1 among its o!r aspects1 0
 "o ( mesm]ism & illum9ism4 ,!          
sup]ficial resemblance ( 8 writ+s to ^? 
( ! ,gno/ics is c]ta9ly rem>kable4 ,bo? 
embody _! imag9ations 9 concrete =ms2   
bo? con/ruct elaborate cosmogonies &    
obscure my?s2 bo? create hi]>*ies (     
pr9cipalities & p[]s1 & equip _!        
spiritual pot5tates ) sonor\s           
appellations2 bo? disp>age matt] & its  

,demiurgus4 8,i fe>10 said ,blake to    
,rob9son1 8t ,wordswor? loves nature1 & 
nature is ! "w ( ! devil4 ,! devil is 9 
u z f> z we are nature40 ,! *ief visible
 diff]5ce1 t ! ,gno/ics' philosophy t5ds
 to asceticism1 & ,blake's to enjoym5t1 
may p]haps be expla9$ by ! consid]ation 
t he 0 a poet1 & t !y 7 philosoph]s &   
div9es4 ,p]haps ! be/ prep>ation = any  
/ud5t ( ,blake :o might wi% to          
inve/igate ?is subject fur!r w\ld be to 
read ! article 9 ! ,diction>y ( ,*ri/ian
 ,biography ^u ! ,pi/is ,sophia1 ! only 
,gno/ic book t has come d[n to u1 & "o  
:i* ,blake w\ld h delight$ 9 illu/rat+4 
,! ,gno/ic belief 9 ! all-importance ( !
 transc5d5t k :i* comes ( imm$iate      
p]ception 77 reappe>s 9 him ) s+ul>     
int5sity4 8,m5 are admitt$ into heav510 
he says1 8n because !y h curb$ & gov]n$ 
_! passions1 or h no passions1 b because
 !y h cultivat$ _! und]/&+s4 ,! fool    
%all n ent] into heav51 let him be ev] s
 holy40 ,no?+ 9 ,blake1 p]haps1 is s    
,gno/ic z ! /range poem1 ,! ,ev]la/+    

,gospel1 fir/ publi%$ by ,mr4 ,rossetti1
 ?\gh _m ?+s 9 x w\ld h %ock$ !         
,gno/ics4  ,illu/ration3 ,,title ,,page 
,,f ,,! ,,book ,,( ,,!l4  ,! /rictly    
lit]>y criticism ( ,blake's my/ical     
books may be almo/ conf9$ to ! ,book (  
,!l1 = ?is alone possesses suffici5t    
symmetry to all[ a judgm5t to be =m$ ^u 
x z a :ole4 ,! o!rs are l quagmires     
occasionally gay ) brilliant fl[]s2 b   
,!l1 ?\gh its purpose may be obscure1 is
 at all ev5ts coh]5t1 ) a beg9n+ & an   
end4 ,!l1 8y\nge/ daught] ( ! ,s]aphim10
 roves ?r\gh ! l[] _w lam5t+ ! mortality
 ( beautiful ?+s1 includ+ h] own4 ,all  
?+s ) :i* %e disc\rses (f] h]           
consolation1 b to no purpose4 ,at la/ %e
 ent]s ! realm ( ,dea? himself4      ,! 
et]nal gates' t]rific port] lift$ !     
nor!rn b>2     ,!l ent]$ 9 & saw !      
secrets ( ! l& unkn[n4     ,%e saw !    
c\*es ( ! dead1 & :]e ! fibr\s root     
,( e he>t on e>? infixes deep its       
re/less twi/s3     ,a l& ( sorr[s & (   
te>s1 :]e nev] a smile 0 se54      ,%e  

w&]$ 9 ! l& ( cl\ds1 ?r\gh valleys d>k  
li/5+     ,dol\rs & lam5tations2 wait+  
(t beside a dewy grave     ,%e /ood 9   
sil5ce1 li/5+ to ! voices ( ! gr\nd1    
,till to h] own grave-plot %e came1 &   
!re %e sat d[n1     ,& he>d ?is voice ( 
sorr[ brea!d f ! holl[ pit4  ,! effect (
 ! voice ( sorr[ ^u ,!l is answ]able to 
t ( ! spid] ^u little ,miss ,muffet4    
,?is abrupt conclusion injures ! effect 
( a piece :i* o!rwise may be comp>$ to a
 /ra9 ( soo?+ music1 sugge/ive ( _m ?+s1
 b giv+ def9ite expression to none4     
,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats1 h[ev]1 h no   
difficulty 9 assign+ a mean+4 ,!l1      
accord+ to !m1 is 8! pure spiritual     
ess5ce10 h] grief is ! dread (          
inc>nation1 & h] ultimate flight is a   
return 8to ! l& ( pure unembodi$        
innoc5ce f :5ce %e came40 ,yet h] =sak+ 
?is l& is repres5t$ z h] own act1 & x is
 difficult to see h[ %e c\ld h 8l$ r\nd 
h] sunny flocks0 9 x if %e _h n be5     
embodi$ :ile %e inhabit$ x4 ,at ! same  
"t1 if ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats are "r1 

no int]pretation ( ,blake c be disprov$ 
by any inconsi/5cy t x may seem to      
involve4 8,! surface10 !y say1 8is      
p]petually1 z x 71 giv+ way be=e "o1 &  
reveal+ ano!r surface bel[ x1 & t aga9  
dissolves :5 we try to /udy x4 ,! mak+ (
 religions melts into ! mak+ ( ! e>?1 & 
t fades away into "s allegory ( ! ris+ &
 ! sett+ ( ! sun4 ,x is all l a great   
cl\d full ( />s & %apes1 ?r\gh :i* ! eye
 seeks a b\nd>y 9 va940  ,illu/ration3  
,design f ! 8,book ( ,uriz540 ,by ,w4   
,blake4  ,mr4 ,yeats1 putt+ 8           
int]pretation ( ,blake's symbolism m    
t]sely into ! preface to 8 excell5t     
edition ( ! ,poetical ,works1 describes 
x z %ad[+ =? ! endless conflict betwe5 !
 ,imag9ation & ! ,reason1 :i*1 we may   
add1 ! ,gno/ics w\ld h express$ z !     
/rife betwe5 ! ,supreme ,deity & ! god (
 ?is _w1 ! v phrase :i* ,mr4 ,yeats     
himself uses 9 describ+ ,uriz51 ,blake's
 ,evil ,g5ius1 8! mak] ( dead law & bl9d
 negation10 contra/$ z ! ,gno/ics w\ld h
 contra/$ him ) ,los1 ! deity ( ! liv+  

_w4 ,blake1 !re=e1 has po9ts ( contact )
 ! repres5tatives ( ! ,fr5* ,revolution 
on "o side1 & ) ,col]idge on ! o!r4 ,mr4
 ,yeats's int]pretation is 9 itself     
coh]5t & plausible1 b ! "q :e!r x c be  
fairly d$uc$ f ,blake himself is "o on  
:i* few are entitl$ to pron\nce1 & !    
causes ( ,blake's obscurity are n s     
visible z its consequ5ces4 ,to u1 z     
already said1 mu* ( x appe>s to arise f 
8 imp]fect discrim9ation betwe5 !       
prov9ces ( spee* & ( pa9t+4 ,8 disc\rse 
frequ5tly seems a hi]oglyphic :i* w\ld h
 be5 m intelligible if x c\ld h be5     
express$ 9 ! mann] prop] to hi]oglyphics
 by pictorial repres5tation4 ,z ,mr4    
,sme?am says ( "s ( ! designs1 8,?\ght  
_c fa?om ! secret ( _! p[]1 & yet ! p[] 
is !re40 ,x seems evid5t t ! poem1 :5 a 
complete lyric1 g5]ally prec$$ ! picture
 9 ,blake's m9d1 & t ! latt] mu/ usually
 be tak5 z a gloss1 9 :i* he seeks to   
illu/rate by means ( visible            
repres5tation :at he 0 consci\s ( hav+  
left obscure by v]bal expression4 ,!    

exquisite song ( ! ,sunfl[]1 = example1 
c]ta9ly exi/$ be=e ! v slight accompany+
 illu/ration4      ,ah ,sunfl[]1 we>y ( 
"t1     ,:o c\nt$ ! /eps ( ! sun1       
,seek+ aft] t sweet gold5 clime     ,:]e
 ! travell]'s j\rney is done4      ,:]e 
! y\?1 p9$ away ) desire1     ,& ! pale 
virg9 %r\d$ 9 sn[1     ,arise f _!      
graves & aspire     ,:]e my sunfl[]     
wi%es to g4  ,! fir/ ( ^! /anzas is     
p]fectly cle>3 ! second requires no     
int]pretation to a poetical m9d1 b w n  
be> con/ru+ /rictly1 & its compreh5sion 
is c]ta9ly assi/$ by ! slight fugitive  
design lightly trac$ ar\nd ! bord]4     
,g5]ally ! pictorial illu/ration (      
,blake's ?\ght is mu* m elaborate1 b 9  
,songs ( ,innoc5ce & ,exp]i5ce x almo/  
always seems to h gr[n out ( ! poem4 ,9 
! less inspir$ ,prophetical ,books1 on !
 o!r h&1 ! pictorial repres5tation1 ev5 
:5 pres5t only to ! arti/'s m9d1 seems  
to h frequ5tly sugge/$ or modifi$ !     
text4 ,an example may be adduc$ f ,!    
,book ( ,!l4      ,:y an e>1 a :irlpool 

fi]ce to draw creations 98  ,blake _h   
not$ ! ext]nal lik5ess ( ! convolutions 
( ! e> to ! convolutions ( a :irlpool2  
!re=e ! e> %all be describ$ z actually  
be+ :at x sup]ficially resembles1 &     
because ! :irlpool sucks 9 %ips1 ! e>   
%all suck 9 creations4 ,x mu/ also be   
rememb]$ t ,blake's belief t 8 works 7  
giv5 him by inspiration prev5t$ 8 revis+
 !m1 & t !y 7 /]eotyp$ by ! me?od ( _!  
publication4 ,no consid]able productions
 ( ! human m9d1 x is probable1 s ne>ly  
approa* ! "* ( absolutely extemporane\s 
utt]ances4  ,be=e pass+ f ! lit]>y to ! 
arti/ic expression ( ,blake's g5ius 9 ^!
 books1 some?+ mu/ be said ( ! rem>kable
 app5dix to ,! ,m>riage ( ,heav5 & ,hell
 entitl$ ,prov]bs ( ,hell4 ,^! are a    
numb] ( aphori/ic say+s1 impregnat$ )   
,blake's peculi>ities ( ?\ght &         
expression1 b = ! mo/ "p s %rewd & pi?y 
z to demon/rate ! au?or's sanity1 at    
lea/ at ?is "t ( 8 life4 ,! foll[+ are  
"s ( ! m /rik+3--      ,drive y\r c>t & 
y\r pl\gh ov] ! bones ( ! dead4     ,!  

road ( excess leads to ! palace (       
wisdom4     ,a fool sees n ! same tree t
 a wise man sees4     ,all :olesome food
 is caught )\t a net or a trap4     ,if 
! fool w\ld p]si/ 9 8 folly he w\ld     
become wise4     ,! fox condemns ! trap1
 n himself4     ,! eagle nev] lo/ s mu* 
"t z :5 he submitt$ to le>n (        !  
cr[4     ,! fox provides = himself1 b   
,god provides = ! lion4     ,he :o has  
suff]$ y to impose on him1 kn[s y4      
,! tig]s ( wra? are wis] ?an ! horses ( 
in/ruction4     ,"o law = ! lion & ox is
 oppression4     ,! be/ w9e is ! olde/1 
! be/ wat] ! newe/4  ,^! are n !        
sc9tillations ( reason :i* may          
occasionally illum9e ! *aos ( a madman's
 bra91 b bespeak a core ( good s5se q   
inconsi/5t ) g5]al m5tal di/urbance1    
?\gh suffici5tly compatible ) delusion  
on p>ticul> subjects4 ,) incomp>able    
art1 ,%akespe>e has imp>t$ a t\* (      
wildness to ,hamlet's %rewde/ say+s2 b  
,blake speaks r z ,polonius w\ld h spok5
 if x _h be5 possible = ,polonius to    

speak 9 tropes4  ,illu/ration3 ,,f9al   
,,page ,,f ,,! ,,book ,,( ,,!l4  ,f !   
difficult subject ( ! int]pretation (   
,blake's my/ical designs we pass )      
satisfaction to ! arti/ic qualities ( ! 
designs !mselves4 ,on ?is po9t !re is an
 approximation to unanimity4 ,to "s !   
sublime1 to o!rs ! grotesque1 may seem  
to prepond]ate1 b all w all[ !m to be   
among ! mo/ rem>kable & orig9al s]ies ( 
conceptions t ev] emanat$ f a mortal    
bra94 ,to :atev] exceptions !y may be   
liable1 x enl>ges "o's appreh5sion ( !  
compass ( human faculties to "k t human 
faculties h be5 adequate to _!          
production4 ,!y may be rank$ ) ! mo/    
imag9ative passages ( ,p>adise ,lo/1 & (
 ,byron's ,ca9 z an endeav\r ( ! m9d to 
project itself beyond ! visible &       
tangible1 & to create = itself new      
worlds ( gr&eur & ( gloom 9 height &    
abyss & int]/ell> space4 ,wond]ful inde$
 is ! range ( imag9ation display$1 ev5  
?\gh we _c %ut our eyes to "s palpable  
repetitions4 ,9 ! op9ion1 h[ev]1 ( ev5 s

 sympa!tic a critic z ,dr4 ,wilk9son1   
,blake des]ves c5sure = hav+ deg5]at$   
into m]e mon/rosity4 8,( ! wor/ aspect (
 ,blake's g5ius10 he says1 8x is pa9ful 
to speak4 ,9 8 ,prophecies ( ,am]ica1 8 
,visions ( ! ,daught]s ( ,albion1 & a   
ho/ ( unpubli%$ draw+s1 e>?-born might  
has bani%$ ! heav5li] elem5ts ( art1 &  
exi/s comb9$ ) all t is mon/r\s &       
diabolical4 ,! effect ( ^! del9eations  
is greatly height5$ by ! antiquity :i*  
is engrav5 on ! faces ( ^? :o d & suff] 
9 !m4 ,we h ! impression t we are look+ 
d[n into ! hells ( ! anci5t p1 !        
,anakim1 ! ,nephilim1 & ! ,rephaim4 ,_! 
human =ms are gigantic petrifactions1 f 
:i* ! fires ( lu/ & int5se selfi%       
passion h long dissipat$ :at 0 animal & 
vital1 leav+ /ony limbs & c\nt5ances    
expressive ( despair & /upid cruelty40  
,we1 on ! o!r h&1 %\ld r criticise      
,blake = hav+ fail$ to be z appall+ z he
 meant to be4 ,8 p[]1 z x seems to u1   
consi/$ r 9 ! vivid imag9ation ?an 9 !  
actual r5d]+ ( sc5es ( awe & horror4 ,f>

 inf]ior arti/s h produc$ m ?rill+      
effects ( ?is sort ) mu* simpl] means4  
,x w\ld be wrong to say t 8 visions     
appe> unreal1 b !y d appe> at a remove f
 reality1 a _w se5 ?r\gh a glass d>kly1 
its phantasm r ?an its portrait4 ,?is1  
h[ev]1 only applies to ! inv5tions (    
,blake's own bra91 :i*1 if we may judge 
by ! mod]ate developm5t ( ! back head 9 
,deville's ca/1 lack$ ! =ce ( ! animal  
prop5sities requisite = ! portrayal (   
cruelty & horror4 ,he c\ld r5d] !       
conceptions ( o!rs ) />tl+ =ce--witness 
! impressive del9eation reproduc$ by u (
 ! ,ar*itect ( ! ,univ]se at "w ) 8     
compasses2 & ! simple p5cil outl9e (    
,nebu*adnezz> 9 ,mr4 ,rossetti's book1  
engrav$ by ,gil*ri/1 :]e ! human        
quadrup$ creeps away ) an expression (  
ov]:elm+ & horror-/rick5 dismay4 ,?is   
p[] ( int]pretation 0 to f9d yet f9]    
expression 9 ! illu/ration ( ! ,book (  
,job4  ,blake's te*nical defects are    
indicat$ by ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats z  
consi/+ ma9ly 9 imp]fect treatm5t ( !   

human =m f want ( anatomical k4 ,he _h  
always dislik$ t close /udy ( ! life :i*
 alone c\ld h made him an able          
draughtsman2 x 8oblit]at$0 him1 he said1
 & _h resolv$ to qu>rel ) almo/ all !   
arti/s f :om he might h le>n$4 ,x mu/ be
 rememb]$ 9 8 excuse t consummate col\r+
 & consummate draughtsman%ip are seldom 
f\nd associat$4 ,^? :o may feel         
disappo9t$ ) ! reproductions ( ,blake's 
my/ical designs mu/ also rememb] t ^!   
are b %ad[s ( ! arti/'s ?\ght1 :i* ne$$ 
= its full effect ! application ( col\r 
by 8 own h&4 8,mu*10 says ,dante        
,rossetti1 8:i* seems unacc\ntably rugg$
 & incomplete is s(t5$ by ! sweet1      
liquid1 ra9b[ t9ts ( ! col\r$ copies    
into my/]i\s brilliancy40 ,! effect ?us 
obta9$ may p]haps be be/ %[n by ,mr4    
,gil*ri/'s eloqu5t description ( !      
illum9at$ draw+s 9 ,"l ,crewe's copy (  
,am]ica4 8,turn+ ov] ! leaves1 x is     
sometimes l an increase ( daylight 9 !  
ret9a1 s fair & op5 is ! effect (       
p>ticul> pages4 ,! skies ( sapphire1 or 

gold1 ray$ ) hues ( sunset1 aga9/ :i* /&
 out leaf or blossom1 or p5d5t bran*1   
gay ) bright-plumag$ birds2 ! /rips (   
em]ald sw>d bel[1 gemm$ ) fl[] & liz>d1 
& enamell$ snake1 refre% ! eye          
cont9ually4 ,"s ( ! illu/rations are ( a
 m sombre k9d4 ,!re is "o 9 :i* a little
 corpse1 :ite z sn[1 lies gleam+ on !   
floor ( a gre5 ov]-ar*+ cave1 :i* close 
inspection proves to be a field ( :eat1 
^: sl5d] int]lac+ /alks1 b[$ by ! full  
e> & by a g5tle breeze1 b5d ov] ! dead  
infant4 ,! delicate network ( /alks1 :i*
 is c>ri$ up "o side ( ! page1 ! ma9    
picture be+ at ! bottom1 & ! subdu$ yet 
vivid gre5 light %$ ov] ! :ole1 produce 
a lovely decorative effect4 ,decorative 
effect is1 9 fact1 nev] lo/ sight (1 ev5
 :]e ! motive ( ! design is gha/ly or   
t]rible40 ,:atev] ! imp]fections (      
,blake's peculi> sph]e1 x 0 8 sph]e1 &  
probably ! only dep>tm5t ( art 9 :i* he 
c\ld h obta9$ greatness ev5 if 8        
te*nical accompli%m5t _h be5 z complete 
z x 0 ! rev]se4 ,:5 pa9t+ on m or?odox  

l9es he is (t5 surpris+ly tame &        
conv5tional4 ,h[ remote he 0 f ! inane  
:5 he c\ld revel 9 8 own conceptions    
may1 not)/&+ ! trem5d\s disadvantages   
inh]5t 9 reproduction1 be judg$ f !     
illu/rations to 8 my/ical books select$ 
= ?is monograph1 ! frontispiece & ,plate
 ,,iv4 ( ,!l1 & ! two subjects f        
,am]ica4  ,illu/ration3 ,! ,anci5t (    
,days sett+ a ,compass to ! ,e>?4 ,f a  
wat]-col\r draw+ by ,w4 ,blake4 ,briti% 
,museum4     ,,*apt] ,,iii      ,blake's
 removal to ,felpham--,int]c\rse )      
,hayley--,return     to                 
,london--8,j]usalem0--,connection )     
,cromek--,illu/rations     ( ,blair's   
8,grave0--,illu/ration ( ,*auc]'s       
8,cant]bury     ,pilgrims0--,exhibition 
( 8 ,works & 8,descriptive ,catalogue40 
,blake 0 n[ ab\t to make a *ange 9 8    
ext]nal environm5t1 :i* w\ld h be5      
mom5t\s to any arti/ ^: !mes _h be5 less
 exclusively disc]n$ by ! inn] eye4 ,x  
is an extraord9>y fact1 b !re is        
absolutely no evid5ce t ! poet :o 8made 

a rural p50 _h z yet ev] se5 ! c\ntry   
beyond ! imm$iate neighb\rhood (        
,london4 ,x is va9 to speculate ^u !    
precise modification :i* might h be5    
wr\ght 9 8 g5ius by rural nurture or    
=eign travel4 ,n[ he 0 actually to      
become a d5iz5 ( ! c\ntry = "s ye>s4 ,an
 introduction f ,flaxman _h made him    
acqua9t$ ) ,william ,hayley1 a ,sussex  
squire & s*ol>1 n[ *iefly rememb]$ z 8  
patron & ! biograph] ( ,c[p]1 b e/eem$ 9
 8 own day z "o ( ! be/ repres5tatives (
 ,engli% poetry at :at seem$ ! p]iod (  
its deepe/ decrepitude1 ?\gh he is      
unacc\ntably omitt$ 9 ,porson's         
catalogue ( ! b>ds ( ! epo*4#d ,hayley1 
hav+ lo/ 8 son1 a pupil ( ,flaxman1 & 8 
fri5d ,c[p] )9 a week ( ea* o!r 9 ! spr+
 ( #ahjj1 resolv$ to solace 8 grief by  
writ+ ,c[p]'s life1 & sugge/$ t ,blake  
%\ld live ne> him dur+ ! progress ( ! "w
 to execute ! engrav+s by :i* x 0 to be 
illu/rat$4 ,9 ,augu/1 #ahjj1 ,blake     
remov$ f ,lambe? to ,felpham1 ne>       
,bognor1 on ! ,sussex coa/1 :]e ,hayley 

occupi$ a m>9e villa1 8 own resid5ce at 
,ea/ham be+ let on acc\nt ( !           
emb>rassm5t ( 8 affairs4 ,! cottage 0 n 
provid$ by him = ,blake1 b ! r5t 0 paid 
by ,blake himself4 ,! *ange f ,lambe? to
 a beautiful c\ntry ( groves1 mead[s1 & 
cornfields1 ) sails 9 ! di/ance1        
,half lo/ 9 ! liquid azure bloom ( a    
cresc5t ( sea1     ,! %9+               
sapphire-spangl$ m>riage r+ ( ! l&1     
affect$ ,blake ) en?usia/ic delight4    
8,felpham10 he wrote to ,flaxman1 8is a 
sweet place = /udy1 because x is m      
spiritual ?an ,london4 ,heav5 op5s "h on
 all sides h] gold5 gates2 h] w9d[s are 
n ob/ruct$ by vap\rs2 voices ( cele/ial 
inhabitants are m di/9ctly he>d1 & _!   
=ms m di/9ctly se51 & my cottage is also
 a %ad[ ( _! h\ses40 ,he cont9ues3 8,i  
am m fam$ 9 ,heav5 = my works ?an ,i    
c\ld well conceive4 ,9 my bra9 are      
/udies & *amb]s ) books & pictures (    
old1 :i* ,i wrote & pa9t$ 9 ages (      
et]nity be=e my mortal life2 & ^? works 
are ! delight & /udy ( ar*angels4 ,:y !n

 %\ld ,i be anxi\s ab\t ! ri*es or fame 
( mortality80 ,x is cle> t1 not)/&+ 8   
!ories ( ! deadness ( ! mat]ial         
creation1 ,blake valu$ natural beauty z 
an in/rum5t = br++ him into m intimate  
connection ) ! vision>y _w4 ,at fir/ !  
desir$ effect 0 fully produc$4 ,blake   
began to compose1 or r1 accord+ to 8 own
 acc\nt1 to take d[n f sup]natural      
dictation ! ,j]usalem1 ! mo/ important 9
 "s respects ( 8 my/ical writ+s4 ,walk+ 
by ! %ore--! v %ore :]e ,c>y 0 aft]w>ds 
to enc\nt] ,col]idge--he habitually met 
,moses & ! ,prophets1 ,hom]1 ,dante1 &  
,milton4 8,all10 he said1 8maje/ic      
%ad[s1 gray b lum9\s1 & sup]ior to !    
common height40 ,a description s f9e1 t 
"s may be incl9$ to deem x some?+ m ?an 
a m]e fancy4 ,un=tunately he also fell 9
 ) a fairies' fun]al1 a /umbl+-block to 
! mo/ resolute fai?4 ,by & by1 h[ev]1 ! 
dampness ( ! cottage prov$ provocative (
 rheumatism1 &1 :i* 0 mu* m disa/r\s1 ! 
m5tal climate prov$ unsympa!tic4        
,hayley's patronage ( s /range a        

creature z he mu/ h ?\ght ,blake does   
him ! highe/ hon\r4 ,he appe>s ?r\gh\t1 
n only z a v k9d man1 b1 :at is less    
usual 9 a lit]>y p]sonage1 a v pati5t   
"o4 ,he actually in/ruct$ ,blake 9      
,greek4 ,8 k9dness & pati5ce did n1     
h[ev]1 r5d] him any ! bett] poet2 he 0  
an elegant dilettante at ! be/1 & ,blake
 mu/ h *af$ at ! obligation "u :i* he   
felt himself to illu/rate 8 v]ses4 ,"o  
ballad ( "s m]it1 h[ev]1 8,little ,tom !
 ,sailor10 inspir$ ,blake ) a /rik+ if  
some:at rude design1 & he adorn$        
,hayley's libr>y ) ideal portraits (    
illu/ri\s au?ors4 ,! engrav+ "w :i* he  
_h to execute = ,hayley's life ( ,c[p] 0
 also little to 8 ta/e1 b !re seems no  
valid reason to *>ge him ) neglect ( x4 
,8 own self-reproa*1 inde$1 ran 9 q a   
diff]5t *annel3 he accus$ himself mo/   
s]i\sly ( unfai?fulness to 8 high       
vocation z a reveal] & int]pret] (      
spiritual ?+s4 ,abs5ce f t[n l$ him to  
write frequ5tly to 8 fri5d & patron     
,butts1 & ^! lett]s are invaluable      

indications n only ( ! frame ( 8 m9d at 
! "t1 b ( its g5]al habit4 8,i lab\r10  
he says1 8incessantly1 ,i accompli% n   
"o-half ( :at ,i int5d1 because my      
ab/ract folly hurries me (t5 away :ile  
,i am at "w1 c>ry+ me ov] m\nta9s &     
valleys1 :i* are n real1 into a l& (    
ab/raction :]e spectres ( ! dead w&]4   
,?is ,i endeav\r to prev5t2 ,i1 ) my    
:ole might1 *a9 my feet to ! _w ( duty &
 reality4 ,b 9 va96 ! fa/] ,i b9d1 !    
light] is ! balla/2 = ,i1 s f> f be+    
b\nd d[n1 take ! _w ) me 9 my flights1 &
 (t5 x seems light] ?an a ball ( wool   
roll$ by ! w9d4''' ,if we fe> to d !    
dictates ( our angels1 & tremble at !   
tasks set be=e u1 if we refuse to d     
spiritual acts because ( natural fe>s or
 natural desires1 :o c describe ! dismal
 torm5ts ( su* a /ate8''' ,?\gh ,i h be5
 v unhappy1 ,i am s no long]4 ,i h      
travell$ ?r\gh p]ils & d>kness n unlike 
a *ampion4 ,i h conqu]$ & %all g on     
conqu]+4 ,no?+ c )/& ! fury ( my c\rse  
among ! />s ( ,god & 9 ! abysses ( !    

accus]40 ,9 pla9 ,engli% ,hayley /rongly
 advis$ ,blake to give up 8 my/ical     
poetry & design & devote himself solely 
to engrav+1 & ,blake look$ ^u ! advice z
 a sugge/ion ( ! adv]s>y4 ,we d n "k :at
 ,hayley said4 ,if he ?\ght t "o ( !    
,poetical ,sket*es or ! ,songs (        
,innoc5ce 0 wor? _m pages ( ,uriz5 ap>t 
f ! illu/rations1 he _h reason = :at he 
?\ght4 ,b ,blake's lyrical gift _h all b
 =sak5 him2 he 0 incapable ( emitt+     
8wood-notes wild10 & ! only way 9 :i* he
 c\ld give lit]>y expression to !       
inspiration by :i* he ju/ly deem$       
himself visit$ 0 ?r\gh 8 rhy?mical =m1  
:i* to ,hayley may well h seem$ mon/r\s4
 ,x is highly probable t ! pictorial "p 
( ,blake's "w f\nd no m fav\r ) ,hayley 
?an ! poetical2 at all ev5ts x is v     
c]ta9 t he greatly pref]r$ 8 engrav+1 & 
wi%$ ,blake to foll[ ! art by :i* he _h 
! be/ prospect ( provid+ = himself4     
,johnson & ,fuseli1 by ,blake's own     
admission1 _h giv5 ! same advice2 & an  
obscure l9e 9 "o ( 8 r undignifi$ &     

spl5etic epigrams aga9/ 8 well-int5tion$
 fri5d may be int]pret$ z mean+ t       
,hayley _h tri$ to br+ 8 wife's influ5ce
 to be> ^u him = ?is end4 ,9 any case he
 lo/ temp] ) ,hayley1 & wrote to ,butts 
7,july1 #ahjc73 8,mr4 ,hayley approves (
 my designs z little z he does ( my     
poems1 & ,i h be5 =c$ to insi/ on 8     
leav+ me 9 bo? to my own self-w2 = ,i am
 det]m9$ to be no long] pe/]$ ) 8 g5teel
 ignorance & polite disapprobation4 ,i  
"k myself bo? poet & pa9t]1 & x is n 8  
affect$ contempt t c move to any?+ b a m
 assidu\s pursuit ( bo? arts40 ,two     
mon?s aft]w>ds he return$ to ,london1 b 
on bett] t]ms ) ,hayley2 p>tly on acc\nt
 ( ! latt]'s g5]\s conduct 9 provid+ = 8
 def5ce aga9/ a *>ge ( us+ s$iti\s      
language1 trump$ up aga9/ him by a      
soldi] :om he _h turn$ out ( 8 g>d54    
8,p]haps10 he wrote to ,butts1 8?is 0   
suff]$ to give opportunity to ^? :om ,i 
d\bt$ to cle> !mselves ( all            
imputation40 ,! case 0 tri$ 9 ,janu>y1  
#ahjd1 & t]m9at$ 9 ,blake's triumphant  

acquittal4 ,an old man :o _h att5d$ !   
trial z a y\? said t he rememb]$ no?+ ( 
x except ,blake's fla%+ eye4            
,illu/ration3 ,f ,blake's 8,am]ica40  ,!
 engrav+s execut$ by ,blake = ,hayley   
dur+ 8 resid5ce at ,felpham 7 six = !   
life & lett]s ( ,c[p]2 f\r orig9al      
designs = ballads by ,hayley1 includ+   
8,poor ,tom10 & six engrav+s aft] ,m>ia 
,t4 ,flaxman = ,hayley's ,triumphs (    
,temp]4 ,he did "s "w = ,hayley aft] 8  
return to t[n--engrav+s = ! ,life (     
,romney1 & orig9al designs = ,hayley's  
,ballads on ,animals--& correspond$ )   
him 9 a fri5dly _s1 b ! intimacy        
gradually di$ away4  ,blake 0 pr(\ndly  
influ5c$ by 8 resid5ce at ,felpham 9 "o 
respect2 he became acqua9t$ )           
opposition1 & di/9ctly realis$ a p[]    
antagoni/ic to 8 aspirations4 ,he 0 ?us 
/ung into self-ass]tion1 & became ho/ile
 to ! arti/s ^: aims & me?ods he 0      
unable to reconcile ) 8 ideas4 ,! fir/  
h9ts ( ?is attitude appe> 9 ! praises he
 be/[s ^u ! "w ( 8 own :i* *iefly       

occupi$ him at ,felpham1 ! ,j]usalem4   
8,i may praise x10 he says1 8s9ce ,i d>e
 n pret5d to be any o!r ?an ! secret>y2 
! au?ors are 9 et]nity4 ,i consid] x z !
 gr&e/ poem t ?is _w conta9s4 ,allegory 
address$ to ! intellectual p[]s1 :ile x 
is altoge!r hidd5 f ! corporeal und]/&+1
 is my def9ition ( ! mo/ sublime        
poetry40 ,blake's allegory s effectually
 eludes bo? ! reason & ! und]/&+ t      
,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats frankly tell u 
t x is n = a mom5t to be suppos$ t _!   
own elaborate int]pretation w convey any
 idea to ! m9d unless x is read         
conjo9tly ) ! poem2 & if su* is !       
comm5t>y :at mu/ ! text be8 ,if !y are  
"r ! confusion is greatly increas$ by a 
wrong arrangem5t1 & by ! num]\s         
int]polations :i* ,blake subsequ5tly    
introduc$ into ! poem1 :i*1 ?\gh        
nom9ally issu$ 9 #ahjd1 0 n1 !y ?9k1    
actually complet$ until ab\t #ahbj4 ,x  
suff]s f be+ ne>] prose ?an any ( 8 =m] 
books4 8,:5 ?is v]se 0 dictat$ to me10  
he says1 8,i consid]$ a monoton\s       

cad5ce1 l t us$ by ,milton1 ,%akespe>e1 
& all writ]s ( ,engli% blank v]se1 d]iv$
 f ! mod]n bondage ( rhym+1 to be a     
necess>y & indisp5sable "p ( ! v]se4 ,b 
,i soon f\nd t 9 ! m\? ( a true orator  
su* monotony 0 n only awkw>d1 b z mu* a 
bondage z rhyme itself40 ,:at c be said 
( ! e>s t c\ld f9d ,%akespe>e's &       
,milton's blank v]se monoton\s8 ,! tru? 
is t ,blake's orig9ally exquisite       
p]ception ( h>mony _h wan$ ) 8 lyrical  
faculty1 & he sc(fs at :at he is no     
long] able to produce4 ,yet ! g5]al     
gr&iose effect ( ,j]usalem is und5iable4
 ,little z we c atta* any def9ite idea  
to x1 x simultane\sly awes & soo!s l "o 
( ! great in>ticulate voices ( nature1 !
 boom+ ( ! bill[s1 or ! :isp] ( ! w9ds 9
 ! wood4 ,occasionally we enc\nt] "s    
beautiful little vignette l ?is3--      
,%e creates at h] w a little mov+ night 
& sil5ce1     ,) spaces ( sweet g>d5s & 
a t5t ( elegant beauty1     ,clos$ 9 by 
s&y des]ts1 & a night ( />s %9+2     ,a 
little t5d] moon1 & hov]+ angels on !   

w+1     ,& ! male gives a "t &          
revolution to h] space     ,till ! "t ( 
love is pass$ 9 ev]-v>y+ delights3      
,= all ?+s exi/ 9 ! human imag9ation4   
,?is seems an illu/ration ( :at we h    
said ( ! dep5d5ce ( ,blake's poetry ^u 8
 pictorial imag9ation1 = x is cle>ly    
no?+ b a magnific5t expansion ( !       
midsumm] night idyl ( ! gl[worm %9+ = h]
 mate1 8) h] little drop ( moonlight10 z
 ,b$does beautifully says4  ,9 arti/ic  
m]it ,j]usalem is fully equal to any (  
,blake's works4 ,!re is less ( !        
grotesque ?an 9 ! o!rs1 & ev5 m ( !     
impressive4 ,mu*1 h[ev]1 dep5ds ^u !    
col\r+1 :i* v>ies greatly 9 diff]5t     
copies4 ,mr4 ,gil*ri/ w>ns u t x _c be  
judg$ aright if we h n se5 !            
8incomp>able0 copy 9 ! possession ( ,"l 
,crewe4 8,x is pr9t$ 9 a w>m r$di%-br[n1
 ! exact col\r ( a v f9e photograph2 & !
 brok5 bl5d+ ( ! deep] l9es ) ! m t5d]  
%ad[s--all s&$ ov] ) a sort ( gold5 mi/ 
peculi> to ,blake's mode (              
execution--makes /ill m /rik+ !         

resemblance to ! !n undiscov]$ h&l+ (   
,nature h]self40 ,! g5]al "* ( ! design 
is excell5tly describ$ by ,gil*ri/4 8,! 
subjects are vague & my/ic z ! poem     
itself4 ,female figures lie among waves 
full ( reflect$ />s3 a /range human     
image1 ) a swan's head & w+s1 floats on 
wat] 9 a kneel+ attitude & dr9ks2 lov]s 
embrace 9 an op5 wat]-lily2 an          
eagle-head$ creature sits & contemplates
 ! sun2 s]p5t-wom5 are coil$ ) s]p5ts2  
,assyrian-look+1 human-visag$ bulls are 
se5 yok$ to ! pl\gh or ! *>iot2 rocks   
swall[ or vomit =? human =ms1 or appe>  
to amalgamate ) !m2 angels cross ea* o!r
 ov] :eels ( flame2 & flames & hurry+   
figures wrea! & w9d among ! l9es40 ,x   
may inde$1 l ,blake's o!r productions ( 
! k9d1 be describ$ z a gigantic         
arabesque1 imbu$ ) a passion & pa?os n  
else:]e attempt$ 9 ?is bran* ( art4     
,illu/ration3 ,design f 8,milton40 ,by  
,w4 ,blake4  ,! subject ( ,milton1 f :i*
 "o ( our illu/rations is select$1 is1 9
 ,mr4 ,sw9burne's words1 ! inc>nation & 

desc5t into e>? & hell ( ,milton1 :o    
repres5ts r$emption by inspiration4     
,some?+ simil>1 z we h se51 is ! idea ( 
,blake's f9e my/ical book1 ,!l1 & !     
pilgrimage ?r\gh a l[] sph]e is also    
f\nd 9 ! olde/ ,assyrian poetry4 ,!     
book1 l ,j]usalem1 is dat$ #ahjd1 b1 l  
its companion1 mu/ h be5 compos$ at     
,felpham4 ,no?+ save actual & pres5t    
contact ) c\ntry sc5es c\ld h inspir$   
su* a passage z ?is1 ! cr[n ( all       
,blake's unrhym$ poetry3--      ,?\     
he>e/ ! night+ale beg9 ! song ( spr+3   
,! l>k sitt+ ^u 8 e>?ly b$1 j z ! sun   
,appe>s1 li/5s sil5t3 !n spr++ f ! wavy 
corn-field l\d     ,he leads ! *oir (   
day3 trill1 trill1 trill1 trill3        
,m\nt+ ^u ! w+s ( light into ! great    
expanse2     ,re-e*o+ aga9/ ! lovely    
blue & %9+ heav5ly %ell3     ,8 little  
?roat lab\rs ) inspiration1 e fea!r     
,on ?roat & brea/ & w+s vibrates ) !    
efflu5ce div9e3     ,all nature li/5s   
sil5t to him1 & ! awful sun     ,/&s    
/ill ^u ! m\nta9 look+ on ?is little    

bird     ,) eyes ( s(t humility1 &      
wond]1 love1 & awe4  ,su* a passage %[s 
h[ greatly ,blake might h ga9$ z a poet 
_h he be5 m intimate ) ext]nal nature4  
,v spl5did l9es might be quot$ f        
8,milton10 su* z 8,a cl\dy heav5 m+l$ ) 
/ormy seas 9 l\de/ ru910 b !y are gl[+  
light ^u a black core ( obscurity4 ,mr4 
,h\sman's judgm5t applies to x z to all 
! works ( its class4 8,!y are ! sign    
*iefly ( a beautiful nature wa/$ = lack 
( equipm5t 9 =mulat+ disputatively :at  
grew out ( 8 bett] "w ) all !           
?\ghtlessness & glory ( a fl[]40#e      
,illu/ration3 ,f ,blake's 8,am]ica40    
,sev]al lyrical poems pr9t$ 9 ,blake's  
works may be assign$ to ?is date4 ,"s1  
su* z 8,! ,cry/al ,cab9et0 & 8,! ,m5tal 
,travell]10 are extremely my/ical2 o!rs1
 su* z 8,m>y10 are ( simply human       
int]e/2 o!rs1 su* z 8,auguries (        
,innoc5ce10 seem little remote f        
nons5se4 8,! ,ev]la/+ ,gospel0 expresses
 8 pr(\nde/ ideas ) />tl+ crudity4 ,none
 are :olly unmelodi\s1 b ! old bewit*+  

melody has gone f all1 unless f ! l9es  
introductory to 8,milton03--      ,& did
 ^? feet 9 anci5t "t       ,walk ^u     
,engl&'s m\nta9s gre52     ,& 0 ! holy  
,lamb ( ,god       ,on ,engl&'s pleasant
 pa/ures se58      ,& did ! c\nt5ance   
div9e       ,%9e =? ^u our cl\d$ hills8 
,& 0 ,j]usalem build$ "h       ,among ^!
 d>k ,satanic mills8      ,br+ me my b[ 
( burn+ gold1       ,br+ me my arr[s (  
desire3     ,br+ me my spe>3 ,o cl\ds   
unfold6       ,br+ me my *>iot ( fire6  
,i w n cease f m5tal fight1       ,nor  
%all my sword sleep 9 my h&1     ,till  
we h built ,j]usalem       ,9 ,engl&'s  
gre5 & pleasant l&4  ,illu/ration3      
,portrait ( ,william ,blake4 ,f !       
engrav+ by ,l4 ,s*iavonetti1 aft] ,t4   
,phillips1 ,r4,a4  ,blake1 :o _h settl$ 
at #ag1 ,s\? ,molton ,/reet1 ,ox=d      
,/reet1 0 9 ! meantime deal+ ) a v      
diff]5t patron f ,hayley1 ,rob]t        
,cromek1 a 8/ickit0 engrav] turn$       
pr9t-sell]1 :o trick$ if he did n       
actually defraud him1 b :o is entitl$ to

 ! cr$it ( hav+ recognis$ 8 g5ius1 & (  
hav+ br\ght =w>d works ( 8 m adapt$ to  
attract public notice ?an any?+ he _h   
yet done4 ,^! 7 ! twelve illu/rations to
 ,blair's ,grave1 full ( ,blake's       
peculi> g5ius & at ! same "t            
intelligible to all4 ,!y _h be5 execut$ 
9 #ahjd & #ahje4 ,cromek1 :o aft]w>ds   
admitt$ t !y 7 wor? sixty gu9eas1 obta9$
 !m = tw5ty f ! arti/1 :o _h int5d$ to  
publi% !m himself4 ,x _h be5 und]/ood t 
,blake %\ld h engrav$ !m1 b ,cromek1    
wisely f 8 own po9t ( view1 b wrongfully
 z reg>d$ ,blake1 intru/$ ! task to     
,s*iavonetti4 ,z a frontispiece1 !y 7   
accompani$ by a portrait ( ,blake f a   
draw+ by ,phillips1 also engrav$ by     
,s*iavonetti1 :i* we h reproduc$4 ,?anks
 to ,cromek's judici\s eng9e]+1 & !     
popul>ity ( ! poem illu/rat$1 ! adv5ture
 prov$ a consid]able success4 8,x is !  
only volume ) ,blake's "n on !          
title-page10 says ,mr4 ,gil*ri/1 8:i* is
 n sc>ce40 ,! publication took place 9  
#ahjh4 ,9 ! int]val ,cromek1 call+ ^u   

,blake1 _h se5 a p5cil sket* ( a design 
= ! procession ( ,*auc]'s ,cant]bury    
,pilgrims4 ,fail+ to obta9 a f9i%$ draw+
 f ! arti/1 :o res5t$ 8 previ\s         
treatm5t1 he propos$ ! subject to       
,/o?>d1 )hold+ z ap>t f all que/ions (  
,/o?>d's 8frigid & exempl>y0 "* w\ld be 
mo/ natural = him to d1 all m5tion (    
,blake's draw+4 ,/o?>d accept$ !        
commission2 8 elaborate oil picture 0   
exhibit$ 9 #ahjg ) great success1 b at !
 co/ ( a brea* ) ,blake1 :o w5t s f> 9 8
 d5unciation1 n only ( ,cromek's und]h& 
deal+ b ( ! defects :i* he f\nd 9       
,/o?>d's "w1 t :5 he aft]w>ds s\ght a   
reconciliation ,/o?>d rema9$ imp]vi\s4  
,det]m9$ to v9dicate 8 sup]iority1      
,blake complet$1 exhibit$1 & engrav$ 8  
own fresco4 ,! exhibition1 accompani$ by
 a rem>kable 8descriptive catalogue10 to
 :i* we %all return--0 n ! success x    
might h be5 9 ! h&s ( ! %rewd ,cromek4  
,! exhibition room 0 wat*$ by ,blake's  
bro!r ,james1 :om ,crabb ,rob9son ask$  
:e!r he %\ld be all[$ to come aga9 free 

9 consid]ation ( hav+ b\ght f\r copies (
 ! descriptive catalogue4 8,z long z y  
live10 answ]$ ! ov]joy$ cu/odian4 ,!    
success ( ! engrav+ 0 proportionate to t
 ( ! exhibition2 ?\gh x might h be5     
o!rwise if ! r\ghness ( ! orig9al design
 _h be5 smoo!d d[n by ! deft            
,s*iavonetti4 8,blake's production10    
says ,mr4 ,rossetti1 8is z unattractive 
z ,/o?>d's is facile2 z h>d & /rong z   
,/o?>d's is limp2 "o face 9 ,blake's    
design means z mu* on ! "p ( ! arti/1 & 
takes z mu* scrut9y & turn+ ov] ( ?\ght 
on ! "p ( ! spectator1 z all ! pretty   
fantocc9i & _! sprightly little horses 9
 ,/o?>d's "w40 ,! engrav+ ( !           
,pilgrimage 9 ,gil*ri/'s biography      
ev9ces ! ju/ice ( ?is criticism2 ?\gh   
,ellis & ,yeats rightly add t ,blake has
 giv5 all 8 p]sonages ! eyes (          
vision>ies4 8,a "w ( wond]ful p[] & _s1 
h>d & dry1 yet ) grace10 says ,*>les    
,lamb4 ,! orig9al fresco 0 pur*as$ by   
,elijah's rav51 ! ev]-ready ,butts4  ,we
 mu/ n[ return to ! illu/rations to     

,blair's ,grave1 :i* are n only ! mo/   
popul> ( ,blake's works1 b among 8      
greate/4 ,he %[$ 9 g5]al m vig\r 9 deal+
 ) ! conceptions ( ano!r ?an ) 8 own1 ! 
latt] imbib+ an elem5t ( fanciful grace 
f ! g5tle _s :i* produc$ !m4 ,h5ce ,!   
,s\l ,explor+ ! ,recesses ( ! ,grave1   
reproduc$ f ,!l1 ?\gh "o ( ! mo/        
poetical ( ! designs1 is "o ( ! lea/    
p[]ful4 ,8 r5d]+ ( ,blair's ?\ghts is   
m>vell\sly direct & impressive1 :e!r !  
passion depict$ be joy1 z 9 ,! ,reunion 
( ! ,s\l & ! ,body 7giv5 "h71 or horror1
 z 9 ,! ,dea? ( ! ,/rong ,wick$ ,man1 or
 an int]m$iate %ade1 z 9 ,! ,s\l hov]+  
ov] ! ,body4 ,none ( ^! & few ( ! s]ies1
 once se51 w easily be =gott54 ,! mo/   
fam\s1 & des]v$ly s1 is ! m>vell\s "o1 a
 comb9ation ( two designs 9 ,am]ica & ,!
 ,gates ( ,p>adise1 :]e ! ag$ man1      
impell$ by a /rong w9d1 tott]s t[>ds !  
portal ( ! sepul*re1 on ! summit ( :i*  
sits ! rejuv5at$ _s1 p]sonifi$ by a     
/rong y\?1 rejoic+ 9 8 deliv]ance1 b    
dazzl$ by ! z yet unwont$ light4 ,9 all 

^! designs ! elem5t ( seemly1 yet       
slightly =mal & conv5tional grace :i*   
,blake _h le>n$ f ,/o?>d1 is v          
conspicu\s4 ,! lea/ successful1 z seems 
to u1 is ,! ,la/ ,judgm5t1 :]e ,blake   
appe>s z a m9or ,mi*ael ,angelo1 b ?is  
"w z engrav$ diff]s widely f 8          
description ( ! "w z exhibit$4 ,x may   
well be believ$ t ! modifi$ v]sion 0    
di/+ui%$ by great spl5d\r ( col\r+4     
,o!r works ( ?is p]iod 7 two small      
frescoes exhibit$ at ! ,academy 9 #ahjh1
 ,*ri/ 9 ! ,sepul*re & ,jacob's ,dream2 
! 8ornam5tal device0 engrav$ 7by        
,cromek7 along ) ! frontispiece to      
,malk9's ,fa!r's ,memoirs ( 8 ,*ild1 a  
graceful & pa!tic composition2 ?ree     
illu/rations to ,%akespe>e1 "o ( :i*1 ! 
highly imag9ative conception ( !        
appe>ance ( ! ,gho/ to ,hamlet1 is      
engrav$ 9 ,gil*ri/'s biography2 ,!      
,babylonian ,woman on ! ,sev5-head$     
,bea/ 7#ahji7 reproduc$ "h2 a cont9u\s  
s]ies ( designs produc$ = ,mr4 ,butts1  
to be m5tion$ m fully h]eaft]2 & !      

pictures display$ along ) ,! ,cant]bury 
,pilgrims at its exhibition 7#ahji74 ,we
 mu/ n[ devote "s att5tion to ,blake's  
appe>ance z an /hetic writ] 9 !         
,descriptive ,catalogue he put =? on ?is
 occasion1 ) :i* 8 o!r pr9cipal         
deliv]ances on ! subject ( art may be   
advantage\sly gr\p$4  ,illu/ration3 ,!  
,reunion ( ,s\l & ,body4 ,f ,blair's    
8,grave10 illu/rat$ by ,w4 ,blake4      
,blake's ,descriptive ,catalogue & 8    
,appeal to ! ,public to judge betwe5    
himself & 8 rivals 9 ! dep>tm5t (       
engrav+1 are a s+ul> mixture ( gold &   
clay4 ,! dignity :i* *>act]is$ 8        
demean\r 9 life =sakes him z soon z he  
takes ! p5 into 8 h&1 & he reviles      
,/o?>d1 ,woollett1 & o!rs 9 a /ra9      
inconsi/5t ) self-respect on 8 own "p1  
ev5 _h 8 criticism be5 well f\nd$4 ,z a 
matt] ( fact1 x seems to h _h no        
f\ndation1 & assur$ly has n affect$ !   
reputation ( 8 antagoni/s 9 ! smalle/   
degree4 ,at ! same "t x is impossible n 
to be mov$ by 8 e>ne/ness4 ,he is       

evid5tly cont5d+ = pr9ciples ( great    
importance to himself1 & ?r\gh ! mi/ ( 8
 confus$ & ungrammatical expression we  
seem to cat* glimpses ( high & s]i\s    
tru?4 ,a refre%+ contra/ is af=d$ by !  
passages devot$ to ,*auc]1 :i* are truly
 admirable = _! felicit\s insight into !
 old poet4 8,= all :o h read ,blake10   
ju/ly say ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats1     
8,*auc] is some?+ m ?an ! sweet sp9n] ( 
rhym+ gossip t he seems to mo/40 ,l     
,rusk91 & inde$ all m5 ( creative p[]1  
,blake is on mu* saf] gr\nd :5 he extols
 ?an :5 he c5sures4 ,to mu* ! same p]iod
 belongs a rem>kable pap] on 8 ,la/     
,judgm5t1 publi%$ by ,gil*ri/ f 8 ,,ms4 
,no?+ ( 8 admits u s fully into !       
sanctu>y ( 8 m9d4 8,! ,la/ ,judgm5t10 he
 beg9s1 8is n fable or allegory1 b      
vision4 ,fable1 or allegory1 is a       
totally di/9ct & inf]ior k9d ( poetry4  
,vision1 or imag9ation1 is a            
repres5tation ( :at actually exi/s1     
really & un*angeably40 ,!n foll[s an    
extremely graphic & vivid description ( 

! pa9t+1 int]sp]s$ ) pr(\nd rem>ks1 su* 
z 8,man passes on1 b /ates rema9 = ev]2 
he passes ?r\gh !m l a travell]1 :o may 
z well suppose t ! places he has pass$  
?r\gh exi/ no m z a man may suppose t ! 
/ates he has pass$ ?r\gh exi/ no m2     
ev]y?+ is et]nal40 8,i h se51 :5 at a   
di/ance1 multitudes ( m5 9 h>mony appe> 
l a s+le infant40#f 8,9 ,hell all is    
self-righte\sness2 !re is no su* ?+ !re 
z =giv5ess ( s94 ,he :o does =give s9 is
 crucifi$ z an abettor ( crim9als40     
8,angels are happi] ?an m5 & devils1    
because !y are n always pry+ aft] good &
 evil 9 "o ano!r1 & eat+ ! tree ( k =   
,satan's gratification40 8,! ,la/       
,judgm5t is an ov]:elm+ ( bad art &     
sci5ce40 ,f9ally1 9 words t /ate 8 own  
case z respects 8 reput$ delusions1 he  
says3 8,i ass]t = myself t ,i d n behold
 ! outw>d creation1 & t to me x is      
h9drance & n action4 #8,:at6' x w be    
que/ion$1 #8:5 ! sun rises1 d y n see a 
r\nd disc ( fire1 some:at l a gu9ea8'   
,oh6 no6 no6 ,i see an innum]able       

company ( ! heav5ly ho/1 cry+1 #8,holy1 
holy1 holy is ! ,"l ,god ,almighty6' ,i 
"q n my corporeal eye1 any m ?an ,i w\ld
 "q a w9d[ conc]n+ a sight4 ,i look     
?r\gh x1 & n ) x40  ,illu/ration3 ,!    
,babylonian ,woman on ! ,sev5-head$     
,bea/4 ,f a wat]-col\r draw+ by ,w4     
,blake4 ,briti% ,museum4  ,blake's      
conception ( ! sun may be comp>$ )      
,dante's vision ( ! angels ) ! cl\d3--  
,!n lift+ up m9e eyes1 z ! te>s came1   
,i saw ! ,angels1 l a ra9 ( manna1      
,9 a long flight fly+ back heav5w>d2    
,hav+ a little cl\d 9 front ( !m1       
,aft] ! :i* !y w5t1 & said1 8,hosanna60 
,& if !y _h said m1 y %\ld h he>d4  ,an 
e>li] acqua9tance ) ,dante w\ld         
und\bt$ly h ex]t$ a great influ5ce ^u   
,blake4  ,n ! lea/ int]e/+ "p ( ,blake's
 catalogue is 8 description ( ! pictures
 accompany+ 8 ,cant]bury ,pilgrims1 :i* 
include ! /range patriotic allegories ( 
,nelson guid+ ,levia?an & ,pitt guid+   
,behemo?1 ! latt] ( :i* is n[ 9 !       
,national ,gall]y2 ,satan call+ up 8    

,legions2 ,! ,b>d1 describ$ by ,rossetti
 z 8a gorge\s piece ( col\r tone02 an   
idyll1 *>m+ 9 conception :atev] x may h 
be5 9 execution1 repres5t+ goats nibbl+ 
! v9e leaves t =m ! sole drap]y ( savage
 maid5s2 & ,ar?ur's battle ( ,camlan1   
:5ce only ?ree--! /ronge/1 ! mo/        
beautiful1 & ! uglie/ ( *ampions--escap$
 ) _! lives4 ,?is picture ,seym\r       
,kirkup ?\ght ,blake's be/1 & ,allan    
,cunn+ham 8 wor/4 ,kirkup1 ,mr4         
,sw9burne tells u1 rememb]$ to ! la/ 8! 
fury & spl5d\r ( en]gy !re contra/$ ) ! 
s]5e ard\r ( simply beautiful c\rage1 ! 
viol5t life ( ! design1 & ! fi]ce       
di/ance ( fluctuat+ battle40 ,blake's   
e/imate ( 8 p[]s1 z convey$ 9 8         
descriptions ( 8 works1 c]ta9ly does n  
err on ! side ( mode/y2 p]haps he ?\ght 
) ,goe! t 8,nur die ,lump5 s9d          
bes*eid540 ,x is a m s]i\s matt] t !    
descriptions are cramm$ ) /atem5ts f> m 
significant ?an ,blake's visions ( a    
condition ( m5tal disord]1 su* z t !    
,greek m>bles are copies ( ! works ( !  

,asiatic patri>*s2 t no "o pa9t$ 9 oil1 
except by accid5t1 be=e ,v&yke2 t anci5t
 ,briti% h]oes dwell to ?is day on      
,sn[don 89 nak$ simplicity03 a species (
 ,wel% ,mahatmas1 z x w\ld appe>4 ,x    
w\ld h be5 a judici\s em5dation if any  
"o _h sugge/$ ! sub/itution ( 8ly+      
spirits0 :5 ! arti/ spoke ( himself z   
8mole/$ by blott+ & blurr+ demons40  ,m 
important ?an ^! idle extravagances1    
?\gh extravagant en\gh1 are !           
annotations on ,reynolds's disc\rses1   
writt5 a few ye>s aft]w>ds4 ,to read    
,blake's abuse ( ?is great arti/ ) any  
pati5ce1 "o mu/ rememb] t 8 expressions 
require to be translat$ out ( 8 peculi> 
dialect into ord9>y spee*2 z :51 =      
example1 he says t ,correggio is a mo/  
effem9ate & cruel demon1 he only means t
 he is a bad model = arti/s to foll[4   
,yet !re is a great & s]i\s tru? ly+ at 
! bottom ( ,blake's declamation1 & 8    
prote/ aga9/ ! app>5t t5d5cy ( ,reynolds
 to inculcate ! feasibility (           
manufactur+ g5ius by /udy 0 n uncall$ =4

 ,:at he did n suffici5tly rememb] 0 t !
 numb] ( arti/s capable ( :at ,plato    
calls div9e insanity1 mu/ always be v   
small1 & t ,reynolds's precepts may be v
 s]viceable = ! rank & file ( ! great   
army4 ,z 8 d5unciation ( ,reynolds 0    
p>tly prompt$ by p]sonal grievances 7n !
 less real1 if ! app>5t p>adox may be   
excus$1 = be+ imag9>y71 x is ! m to 8   
hon\r to f9d him break+ out into g5u9e  
admiration :5ev]1 9 ,sw$5borg's phrase1 
! dry rod blossoms z ,reynolds affirms a
 tru?4 ,x is also pleasant to receive   
,samuel ,palm]'s assurance t ,blake's   
spl5etic outbreaks 9 pr9t a/oni%$ ^?    
accu/om$ to 8 ca?olicity ( criticism 9  
conv]sation4     ,,*apt] ,,iv           
,blake's ,life 9 ,s\? ,molton ,/reet &  
,f\nta9     ,c\rt--,acqua9tance )       
,l9nell & ,v>ley--,draw+s     (         
,vision>y ,heads--,miscellane\s ,works 9
 ,private                               
,collections--,illu/rations (           
8,job0--,"w z an                        
,engrav]--,acqua9tance ) ,crabb         

,rob9son--,illu/rations (               
,dante--,decl9+ heal? & dea?--,g5]al    
obs]vations--,8     pr9cipal ,biograph] 
& ,critics4   ,v little is kn[n (       
,blake's life = sev]al ye>s aft] 8      
exhibition4 ,william ,c>ey1 a r>e       
example ( dis9t]e/$ness among           
picture-deal]s1 = he prais$ ,blake      
en?usia/ically )\t hav+ dealt ) him1    
says 9 8 exposition ( ,we/'s ,dea? on ! 
,pale ,horse 7#ahag71 8,s entire is !   
unc]ta9ty 9 :i* he is involv$ t aft] _m 
inquiries ,i meet ) "s 9 d\bt :e!r he is
 /ill 9 exi/5ce4 ,b ,i h accid5tally    
le>n$ s9ce ,i comm5c$ ^! rem>ks t he is 
n[ a resid5t 9 ,london40 ,he 01 9 fact1 
cont9u+ to live on 8 second floor 9 ,s\?
 ,molton ,/reet1 poor1 b cont5t1 subsi/+
 f day to day by hack "w z an engrav]1 &
 ! occasional sale ( a wat]-col\r design
 or a col\r$ copy ( "o ( 8 books1 b     
n[ise squalid1 abject1 or de/itute4 ,he 
0 no long] able to publi% on 8 own      
acc\nt z ( old1 & ! poems :i* he cont9u$
 to produce abundantly1 all ( :i* h     

p]i%$1 met ) ! reception :i* 0 to be    
expect$ f e>?ly publi%]s4 ,blake smil$ 9
 pity1 assur$ t1 9 8 own figurative     
language1 !y 7 h&somely pr9t$ & b\nd 9  
heav51 & eag]ly p]us$ by spiritual      
intellig5ces4 8,i %\ld be sorry10 he    
aft]w>ds said to ,crabb ,rob9son1 8if ,i
 _h any e>?ly fame1 = :atev] natural    
glory a man has is s mu* tak5 f 8       
spiritual glory40 ,he c]ta9ly _h n ?\ght
 s :5 he publi%$ 8 catalogue2 b !re is  
no "q ( 8 p]fect s9c]ity :5 he add$1 8,i
 wi% to d no?+ = pr(it4 ,i wi% to live =
 art40 ,?\gh he _h said 8,?\ght is act3 
,*ri/'s acts 7 no?+ to ,cs>'s if ?is is 
n s02 s int5se 0 8 own devotion to lab\r
 t = two ye>s he nev] quitt$ 8 lodg+1   
except 7= ! ridicul\s w intrude :]e x is
 n want$--imps gr9 9 ! cells (          
an*orites--7 = a pot ( port]4 ,ev5 :ile 
he engrav$ he read1 z ! plate-m>ks on 8 
books atte/4 ,flaxman1 8 /eady fri5d f  
y\?1 f\nd him "s "w 9 engrav+1 & prais$ 
him 9 conv]sation4 8,b ,blake's a wild  
en?usia/1 isn't he80 8,"s ?9k me an     

en?usia/10 answ]$ ,flaxman1 :o 01 9     
tru?1 m ?an half a ,sw$5borgian4  ,f ?is
 h]mit's exi/5ce ,blake once m em]ges1 9
 #ahah1 into comp>ative publicity ?r\gh 
! intimacy he =m$ ) a "y pa9t] (        
promise1 :i* he 0 de/9$ to m ?an r$eem4 
,?is 0 ,john ,l9nell1 :o 0 introduc$ to 
him by ,mr4 ,george ,cumb]l&1 ( ,bri/ol1
 an enlight5$ patron ( art4 ,at ?is "t  
,l9nell 0 l>gely engag$ 9 portrait      
pa9t+1 & ! plate ( ! portrait select$ "h
 = reproduction1 t ( ,wilson ,l[ry1     
,esq41 appe>s to h be5 work$ ^u by bo?  
him & ,blake1 be>+ ! "n ( ea*4 ,l9nell1 
?\gh nei!r g5tle nor my/ical1 liv$ mu* 9
 ! _w ( ! _s1 &1 )\t %>+ ,blake's       
peculi>ities1 0 r attract$ ?an repell$  
by !m4 ,)9 a few days aft] mak+ ,blake's
 acqua9tance he _h f\nd him "w to !     
am\nt ( fifte5 gu9eas1 & gradually      
introduc$ him to patrons1 includ+ ,sir  
,?omas ,lawr5ce1 a great g5tleman z well
 z a f9e pa9t]1 :o took ! notice (      
,blake :i* x became him to take 9 8     
position z ,presid5t ( ! ,royal         

,academy4 ,blake nev] enc\nt]$ ho/ility 
f arti/s ( true em95ce4 ,reynolds advis$
 him wisely1 ?\gh he w\ld n ?9k s4      
,lawr5ce patronis$ him2 & ,flaxman1     
,fuseli1 ,/o?>d1 ,l9nell 71 s f> z he   
p]mitt$ !m1 real fri5ds4 ,)9 a few ye>s 
,l9nell _h introduc$ him to a y\ng]     
circle1 ready 9 a measure to sit at 8   
feet1 & ! reject$ /one 0 hon\rably built
 into ! corn]4 ,( ^! we %all h to speak 
aft]w>ds1 b "o important intimacy ma9ly 
belongs to ! p]iod ( #ahah-ba4 ,?is 0 8 
acqua9tance ) ,john ,v>ley1 fam$ z "o ( 
! fa!rs ( ,engli% wat]-col\r pa9t+1 b   
ev5 m r5[n$ z an a/rolog]4 ,inde$1 "s ( 
! /ories told ( 8 successful pr$ictions 
are less />tl+ to ! un9itiat$ ?an to    
a/rolog]s !mselves1 :o _c compreh5d on  
:at pr9ciple ( ! art !y c\ld be made4   
,!y c]ta9ly 7 n arriv$ at by vision or  
revelation1 = ! good ,v>ley 0 a mo/     
unspiritual p]sonage1 ! v antipodes (   
se] or an*orite1 big1 sangu9e1 jovial1 &
 ev]la/+ly 9 ! claws ( ! bailiffs4      
,a/rology1 !re=e1 a /udy :i*1 ) all its 

fasc9ation = an imag9ative m9d1 requires
 no?+ b obs]vation & calculation1 0 !   
only occult sci5ce op5 to him2 = magic1 
al?\gh a diabolical pursuit1            
occasionally dem&s an am\nt ( fa/+      
inconv5i5t ev5 = a sa9t4 ,v>ley w\ld h  
wi%$ to g fur!r1 & f9d+ ! p]ception (   
visions inconsi/5t ) 8 own corporeal &  
spiritual con/itution1 0 delight$ to    
make ! acqua9tance ( "o :o to ?is end   
ne$$ b to op5 8 eyes4 ,he spe$ily       
develop$ ! practical idea t ,blake %\ld 
depict ! spiritual entities :i* he      
beheld4 ,blake =?) set to "w1 & ere long
 ! portfolios ( ,v>ley & ,l9nell 7      
enri*$ ) ^? gho/s ( fleas1 portraits (  
,edw>d ! ,?ird1 & m5 :o built !         
pyramids1 :i* are bett] kn[n to _m ?an  
any?+ he ev] did1 & are assur$ly no mean
 examples ( 8 imag9ative p[]4 8,all10   
says ,gil*ri/1 8are m>k$ by a decisive  
portrait-l "*1 & are evid5tly lit]al    
portraits ( :at ,blake's imag9ative eye 
beheld40#g ,?is is corroborat$ by !     
acc\nt ( ,v>ley1 :o says1 8,on he>+ (   

?is spiritual app>ition ( a ,flea1 ,i   
ask$ him if he c\ld draw = me !         
resemblance ( :at he saw4 ,he in/antly  
said1 #8,i see him n[ be=e me4' ,i !re=e
 gave him a pap] & a p5cil1 ) :i* he    
drew ! portrait ( :i* a facsimile is    
giv5 9 ?is numb] ( ,v>ley's ,zodiacal   
,physiognomy4 ,i felt conv9c$ by 8 mode 
( proce$+ t he _h a real image be=e him2
 = he left (f & began on ano!r "p ( !   
pap] to make a sep>ate draw+ ( ! m\? ( !
 ,flea1 :i* ! _s hav+ op5$ he 0 prev5t$ 
f proce$+ ) ! fir/ sket* till he _h     
clos$ x40 ,x 0 8an idea ) ! =ce ( a     
s5sation10 z ,peacock's philosoph]      
classifies ! app>ition 9 ,nightm>e      
,abbey4 ,%elley1 :o also saw visions1   
has enri*$ 8 note-books ) simil>        
del9eations ( imag9>y figures1 g5]ally  
vague & c>eless1 b sometimes v ,blake-l4
 ,"o ( ,l9nell's mo/ spirit$ /udies f   
life1 engrav$ 9 ,/ory's biography1      
repres5ts ,blake & ,v>ley 9 discussion4 
,illu/ration3 ,portrait ( ,wilson ,l[ry4
 ,by ,john ,l9nell4 ,engrav$ by ,blake &

 ,l9nell4  ,^! draw+s 7 mo/ly execut$ 9 
#ahai & #ahbj4 ,9 ! latt] ye> ,blake lo/
 8 *ief patron ,butts1 ^: walls1 inde$1 
_h become s cr[d$ ) 8 works t he _h     
almo/ ceas$ to give him commissions4 ,! 
great] "p ( ! collection 0 disp]s$ 9    
#aheb1 b ! zeal ( ,mr4 ,w4 ,m4 ,rossetti
 trac$ mo/ ( its con/itu5ts out1 &      
ref]5ce to 8 notes1 pr9t$ 9 ! second    
volume ( ,gil*ri/'s biography1 w enable 
u to convey "s fa9t notion ( its        
manifold opul5ce4 ,putt+ ! ,job aside = 
! pres5t1 ! mo/ rem>kable appe> to be ! 
n9e designs = ,p>adise ,lo/1 ! prop]ty (
 ,mr4 ,j4 ,c4 ,/range1 9 :i*1 says ,mr4 
,rossetti1 ,blake is k+ ( all 8 p[]s (  
design1 draughtsman%ip1 conception1     
spiritual mean+1 & impression4 ,ano!r   
set1 belong+ to ,mr4 ,aspl&1 (          
,liv]pool1 omits "o subject & adds f\r4 
,ano!r set ( ,miltonic designs = ,comus1
 r di/+ui%$ by grace ?an gr&eur1 has be5
 rec5tly publi%$ by ,mr4 ,qu>it*4 ,ano!r
 set ( no less ?an "o hundr$ & eighte5  
designs = ,gray's works1 9 #ahfj 9 !    

possession ( ! ,duke ( ,hamilton1 are   
reput$ to rank among ,blake's f9e/      
productions1 b h n be5 inspect$ by any  
"o compet5t to describe !m4 ,among o!rs 
especially comm5d$ by ,mr4 ,rossetti are
 ,! ,sacrifice ( ,jeph?ah's ,daught]1   
,ru?1 ,! ,judgm5t ( ,p>is1 ,! ,wise &   
,fooli% ,virg9s1 ,fire1 ,fam9e1 ,samson 
subdu$1 ,! ,f9d+ ( ,moses1 ,moses erect+
 ! ,braz5 ,s]p5t1 ,! ,gho/ ( ,samuel    
appe>+ to ,saul1 ,! ,entombm5t1 ,!      
,seal+ ( ! ,sepul*re1 ,! ,angel roll+ ! 
,/one f ! ,sepul*re1 ,! ,riv] ( ,life1 &
 ,hecate4 ,to ^! may be add$ ,!         
,resurrection ( ! ,dead1 n[ 9 ! ,briti% 
,museum1 reproduc$ by u4 ,_m o!rs1 n    
belong+ to ! ,butts collection1 are     
describ$ ) equal en?usiasm2 &1 ap>t f   
all que/ions ( te*nical execution1      
usually spl5did1 b lo/ ^u ^? :o h n     
access to ! orig9al works1 x may be said
 t ! conceptions1 z describ$ by ,mr4    
,rossetti1 w\ld be impossible to "o     
un5d[$ ) ! highe/ arti/ic imag9ation1 & 
t ! body is wor?y ( ! _s4  ,illu/ration3

 ,! ,resurrection ( ! ,dead4 ,f a       
wat]-col\r draw+ by ,w4 ,blake4 ,briti% 
,museum4  ,prom95t among ^! designs are 
! set ( illu/rations to ,job1 n[ !      
prop]ty ( ! ,e>l ( ,crewe4 ,a duplicate 
set belong$ to ,mr4 ,l9nell1 :o1        
8disc\nt+ z x 710 says ,gil*ri/1        
8,blake's bill on po/]ity :5 no "o else 
w\ld10 commission$ ?is f him1 trac+ !   
outl9es f ,butt's copy himself1 & h&+ !m
 ov] to ,blake to complete4 ,?is 0 done 
9 ,septemb]1 #ahba1 & :5 ! draw+s 7     
complet$ 9 #ahbc ,l9nell w5t fur!r /ill1
 & commission$ ,blake to engrave !m1 a  
/roke :i* has probably effect$ m ?an    
any?+ else = ! arti/'s fame1 = ! draw+s 
:i* h set him on su* a p9nacle1 if      
un5grav$1 w\ld h rema9$ virtually unkn[n
 to ! _w4 ,! t]ms also 7 lib]al4 ,blake 
0 to receive #ajj = ! tw5ty-two plates &
 #ajj m out ( ! pr(its4 ,:5 !           
publication b>ely cov]$ its exp5ses1    
,l9nell1 reflect+ t ! plates rema9$ 9 8 
possession 9 virtue ( ! agreem5t1 n     
unreasonably b v h&somely all[$ ,blake  

#ej m4 ,b = ?is manna f heav5 ,blake's  
la/ ye>s w\ld h be5 sp5t 9 engrav+ pigs 
& p\ltry aft] ,morl&4 ,l9nell1 :o 0     
himself an excell5t engrav]1 fur!r      
conf]r$ an important b5efit ^u him by   
mak+ him acqua9t$ ) ! be/ /yle (        
,italian engrav+4 ,blake prov$ a docile 
pupil at sixty-five1 & 8 plates to ,job 
are n only te*nically ! be/ he ev]      
execut$1 b occupy an important place 9 !
 hi/ory ( ! art4  ,! glory ( ,job1      
h[ev]1 is n 9 ! engrav+1 b 9 ! inv5tion1
 :i*1 beautiful 9 ! s(t & idyllic       
passages1 rises into sublimity :5 ! !me 
appeals /rongly to ! creative           
imag9ation4 ,x is especially rem>kable z
 be+ "o ( ! v few in/ances ( a wor?y    
repres5tation ( ! ,almighty4 ,! t5d]    
humanities ( ,*ri/ian art are abs5t3 all
 is awful1 ,hebraic1 & /rictly          
mono!i/ic4 ,among ! mo/ rem>kable       
designs may be not$ t :]e ! exult+ fi5d 
pulls d[n ! mansion ^u ,job's sons &    
daught]s 7reproduc$ "h72 ! frantic spe$ 
( ! mess5g] ( evil1 :o bur/s out ) 8    

tale be=e he is well )9 he>+1 :ile ano!r
 foll[s ) equal ha/e h>d ^u him1 & !    
un9t]e/$ %eep graze on undi/urb$2 !     
t]rible sc5e :]e ,satan1 a figure       
repeat$ 9 ess5tials f works ( e>li]     
date1 smites ! pro/rate ,job ) sore     
boils2 ,eliphaz besieg$ ) phantoms1 to  
all seem+ n less real ?an himself 7also 
giv5 "h72 ! morn+ />s s++ toge!r2 !     
d[nfall ( ! wick$2 & ! ,"l answ]+ ,job  
out ( ! :irlw9d4 ,passages ev5 ( ! less 
/rik+ designs (t5 h a s+ul> fasc9ation1 
su* z ! night-pi]c+ />s 9 ! ,elihu sc5e1
 :i* w\ld be impressive 9 ! abs5ce ( any
 human figure2 ,behemo? & ,levia?an1 !  
ne plus ultra ( grotesque gr&eur1 :i* we
 h also giv52 & ! b[$ backs ( ,job's    
accus+ fri5ds :5 ! ,"l blesses him4#h   
,on ! :ole1 ?\gh o!rs ( ,blake's designs
 may be m transc5d5t ( ord9>y human     
faculty1 he has sc>cely execut$ any?+   
display+ all 8 faculties s well comb9$ &
 9 su* p]fect equilibrium2 &1 7 x       
necess>y to re/ 8 fame ^u "o set (      
works1 ?is w\ld probably be select$4 ,z 

a scriptural !me x appeal$ ) especial   
/r5g? to ,engli% sympa?ies1 & hav+ be5  
select$ by ,gil*ri/ = reproduction1 x is
 m widely kn[n ?an any ( 8 works except 
! illu/rations to ,blair's ,grave4 8,!  
orig9al wat]-col\r designs10 ,rossetti  
says1 8are mu* l>g] ?an ! engrav+s1 &   
g5]ally pale 9 col\r1 ) a less full &   
conc5trat$ effect ?an ! engrav+s1 & by  
no means equal to !m 9 p[] & spl5did    
decorative treatm5t ( ! light & %ade4   
,on ! o!r h&1 !y are (t5 complet] &     
naturally fre] 9 expression1 & d n      
exhibit a c]ta9 t5d5cy to ov]-/urd9ess (
 build & physiognomy 9 ! figures40 ,f9e 
z is ! figure ( ,satan 9 ,! ,de/ruction 
( ,job's ,sons & ,daught]s1 x is1 ,mr4  
,rossetti ?9ks1 mu* f9] 9 ! wat] col\r4 
,on ! o!r h&1 8! effect ( sublimity &   
multitude 9 ,:5 ! morn+ />s sang toge!r 
is c5tupl$ 9 ! engrav+ by add+ ! uprais$
 arms ( two o!r angels to "r & left1    
pass+ out ( ! composition40 ,! :ole     
acc\nt sugge/s h[ desirable x w\ld be to
 h _m ( ,blake's unpubli%$ wat] col\rs  

translat$ into black & :ite1 c\ld       
engrav] or et*] ( ! ne$ful =ce be f\nd4 
,illu/ration3 ,woodcut f ,?ornton's     
,pa/oral4  ,9 #ahba ,blake _h p]=m$     
ano!r "w ( mom5t1 8 fir/ & la/          
wood-engrav+s4 ,^! 7 to illu/rate       
,phillips's imitation ( ,virgil's fir/  
pa/oral1 republi%$ by ,dr4 ,?ornton1 a  
physician & botani/4 ,blake 0 a novice 9
 ?is bran* ( art1 & ! cuts answ] to ,dr4
 ,?ornton's own description ( !m3 8,!y  
display less ( art ?an ( g5ius40 ,b no?+
 c\ld m effectually confirm ! pr9ciple  
enunciat$ by _! critic 9 ! ,a!num3      
8,amid all drawbacks !re exi/s a p[] 9 !
 "w ( ! man ( g5ius :i* no "o b himself 
c utt] fully40 ,rude z !y are1 _! =ce is
 extraord9>y2 few ?+s c be m truly      
magical ?an ! glimpse ( di/ant sea 9 !  
second ( ^? engrav$ by ,gil*ri/4 ,at !  
same "t !y are n 9 ! lea/ ,virgilian1 & 
9 ?is respect =m an in/ructive contra/ )
 ! exquisite ?\gh unf9i%$ ,virgilian    
illu/rations ( ,samuel ,palm]4 ,palm]1  
?\gh putt+ 9 a cypress n[ & !n z a      

tribute to c\leur locale1 provides      
,virgil sub/antially ) ! same /yle (    
illu/ration z he _h be5 produc+ all 8   
life = o!r ends1 & yet ?is seems z      
appropriate to ! text z ,blake's is     
discrepant4 ,x is int]e/+ to speculate  
:at effect an ,italian resid5ce ( two or
 ?ree ye>s1 su* z ,palm] _h enjoy$1 w\ld
 h produc$ ^u ,blake beyond ! inevitable
 "o ( dissipat+ 8 mon/r\s delusions ab\t
 ,italian arti/s4 ,he w\ld probably h   
gone *iefly ) ! view ( /udy+ ,mi*ael    
,angelo1 b we suspect t ! influ5ces (   
,italian l&scape w\ld 9 ! long run h    
prov$ fully z pot5t4  ,9 #ahba ,blake   
remov$ f ,s\? ,molton ,/reet to ,f\nta9 
,c\rt1 ,/r&1 ne> ! ,savoy1 :]e he       
occupi$ two rooms on ! fir/ floor4 ,!   
reason may h be5 t ! h\se 0 kept by a   
bro!r-9-law ( ,mrs4 ,blake's nam$       
,ba9es1 ! only trace we h ( any         
connection ) 8 wife's family4 ,economy  
too may h _h its influ5ce2 8 means 7 v  
l[1 n yet improv$ by ! donation ( #be he
 receiv$ f ! ,academy next ye>1 or 8    

arrangem5t ) ,l9nell 9 ! ye> foll[+4 ,at
 ! wor/1 h[ev]1 ! rooms 7 always clean &
 neat1 ?anks to ,mrs4 ,blake's indu/ry &
 devotion2 & ,blake's mann] always _h ! 
simplicity & dignity ( a g5tleman4 ,t 8 
circum/ances improv$ 0 almo/ entirely ! 
do+ ( ,l9nell1 :o n only provid$ = 8    
wants by commissions1 b made him :at 8  
g5ius _h nev] made him1 ! patri>* ( a b&
 ( admir]s1 almo/ disciples4 ,com+      
frequ5tly to visit ,l9nell at ,hamp/ead1
 ,blake fell 9 ) a gr\p ( "y m5 :o      
resort$ ?i!r1 f\r ( :om at lea/--,samuel
 ,palm]1 ,edw>d ,calv]t1 ,george        
,ri*mond1 & ,f4 ,o4 ,f9*--became arti/s 
( great di/9ction4 ,"o *>act]i/ic ^! "y 
m5 _h 9 common3 !y 7 z f> z possible f !
 !ory ( art = art's sake1 b only valu$  
art z ! outw>d & visible sign ( ! inw>d 
& spiritual grace ( consecration to !   
,p[] beh9d ,nature4 ,! biographies (    
,palm] & ,calv]t disclose ! prie/like _s
 9 :i* !y wr\ght1 a _s ak9 to t ( _!    
pre-,raphaelite successors1 b app>5tly  
less impregnat$ ) ! ord9>y atmosph]e ( !

 /udio4 ,^! 7 j ! m5 to treat ! ag$     
,blake z ! ant$iluvian y\? ought to h   
treat$ ! ag$ ,jubal2 & ! patri>*al      
influ5ce is visible bo? 9 _! writ+s & _!
 works1 n always to ! advantage ( !     
latt]1 if we may judge by ! examples    
pres]v$ ( ,palm]'s e>ly lab\rs4 ,b all  
seem$ fair 9 ! light ( fond retrospect4 
,tw5ty-eight ye>s aft] ,blake's dea?    
,samuel ,palm] address$ a lett] to ,mr4 
,gil*ri/1 long & full ( int]e/+         
p>ticul>s relat+ to ,blake's op9ions on 
art2 b ! gi/ ( ! e/imate ( ! man is     
convey$ 9 few words4 8,9 him y saw at   
once ! ,mak]1 ! ,inv5tor2 "o ( ! few 9  
any age2 a fitt+ companion = ,dante4 ,he
 0 en]gy itself1 & %$ ar\nd him a k9dl+ 
influ5ce1 an atmosph]e ( life1 full ( ! 
ideal4 ,he 0 a man )\t a mask2 8 aim    
s+le1 8 pa? /raight=w>dness1 & 8 wants  
few2 s he 0 free1 noble1 & happy40      
,illu/ration3 ,! ,de/ruction ( ,job's   
,sons & ,daught]s4 ,f ! 8,book ( ,job40 
,by ,w4 ,blake4  ,a v important witness 
to ,blake's demean\r & op9ions 9 8 lat] 

ye>s is ,h5ry ,crabb ,rob9son ! di>i/1  
:om we h already met z a visitor to     
,blake's exhibition1 & :o _h made him ! 
subject ( an essay 9 a ,g]man p]iodical4
 ,rob9son 0 ! "r man 9 ! "r place1 n be+
 a my/ic or en?usia/ to fall d[n at     
,blake's feet1 nor yet a man ( ! _w to  
d]ide him z a vision>y1 b an inquisitive
 obs]v] ( great intellectual range & mo/
 k9dly & tol]ant disposition1 ready to  
all[ t ?+s might exi/ ( :i* 8 philosophy
 _h n dream$1 & :om abnormal op9ions1 if
 held 9 evid5t s9c]ity1 might />tle b   
c\ld h>dly %ock4 8,x is /range10 says   
he1 8t ,i :o h no imag9ation1 nor any   
p[] beyond t ( a logical und]/&+1 %\ld  
yet h a great respect = religi\s        
my/ics40 ,?r[n into ,blake's company 9  
#ahbe1 he has record$ 8 conv]sations )  
him at consid]able l5g? 9 8 delightful  
di>y1 z yet b p>tially publi%$4 ,8      
description ( ,blake's 8int]e/+         
appe>ance0 agrees ) t ( 8 own circle4   
8,he is pale1 ) a ,socratic c\nt5ance1 &
 an expression ( great sweetness1 ?\gh )

 some?+ ( languor ab\t x except :5      
animat$1 & !n he has ab\t him an air (  
inspiration4 ,! tone & mann] are        
incommunicable4 ,!re are a natural      
sweetness & g5tility ab\t him :i* are   
delightful40 ,hav+ he>d ( ,blake's      
visions1 ,rob9son 0 n surpris$ to f9d   
him ass]t+ t ! vision>y gift 0 innate 9 
all m51 & only torpid = want (          
cultivation2 b he mu/ h _h mu* ado to   
dige/ su* /atem5ts z t ! _w 0 flat1 t   
,wordswor? 0 a ,pagan1 & t 8:at are     
call$ ! vices 9 ! natural _w are !      
highe/ sublimities 9 ! spiritual _w40 ,n
 und]/&+ t by a!ism ,blake meant1 9 8   
own words1 8:atev] assumes ! reality ( !
 natural & unspiritual _w10 ,rob9son 0  
naturally agha/ :5 ,locke 0 class$ )    
a!i/s1 & v5tur$ :at mu/ h appe>$ to him 
! conclusive rejo9d] t ,locke _h writt5 
9 def5ce ( ,*ri/ianity4 ,blake1 :o      
probably und]/ood ,rob9son's def9ition (
 a!ism z little z ,rob9son did 81 8made 
no reply40 ,"s ( ,blake's rem>ks are    
well wor?y ( pres]vation4 8,art is      

inspiration4 ,:5 ,mi*ael ,angelo1 or    
,raphael1 or ,mr4 ,flaxman does any ( 8 
f9e ?+s1 he does !m 9 ! _s40 8,irv+ is a
 s5t man4 ,b !y :o are s5t g fur!r      
sometimes ?an !y ought40 8,dante saw    
devils :]e ,i see none40  ,illu/ration3 
,) ,dreams ^u my ,b$ ?\ sc>e/ me4 ,f !  
8,book ( ,job40 ,by ,w4 ,blake4  ,dante 
mu/ h be5 mu* 9 ,blake's ?\ghts j !n1 = 
,rob9son f\nd him occupi$ ) ! long s]ies
 ( illu/rations ( ! poet commission$ by 
,l9nell1 ! la/ important "w ( 8 life4 ,!
 hi/ory ( ! commission is ?us relat$ by 
,l9nell's biograph]1 ,mr4 ,/ory4        
8,al?\gh ! ,job _h be5 paid =1 ,l9nell  
cont9u$ to give him money weekly4 ,blake
 said1 #8,i d n "k h[ ,i %all ev] repay 
y4' ,l9nell repli$1 #8,i d n want y to  
repay me4 ,i am only too glad to be able
 to s]ve y4 ,:at ,i w\ld l1 h[ev]1 if y 
d any?+ = me1 is t y %\ld make "s       
designs = ,dante's ,inf]no1 ,purgatorio1
 & ,p>adiso4' ,blake ent]$ ^u ! "w )    
alacrity1 concurr5tly ) ! engrav+ ( !   
,job designs1 & ! two toge!r occupi$ !  

old man = ! re/ ( 8 life40 ,dur+ all ?is
 p]iod ,l9nell 0 remitt+ ,blake money1 z
 ! latt]'s notes 9 ackn[l$gm5t prove4   
,l9nell und\bt$ly acquir$ ! designs at a
 l[ price1 b imm$iately ^u ,blake's dea?
 he endeav\r$ to dispose ( !m = ! b5efit
 ( ! wid[4 ,fail+ 9 ?is he kept !m1 nev]
 attempt+ to make any?+ by !m2 & !y are 
/ill 9 ! possession ( 8 family4  ,blake 
/udi$ ,italian to qualify himself m     
effectually = 8 task1 & is said to h    
acquir$ x2 :5 ,rob9son saw him1 h[ev]1  
at an e>ly /age ( ! commission x is     
true1 he 0 work+ by ! aid ( ,c>y's      
,engli% v]sion4 ,he execut$ no less ?an 
n9ety-eight draw+s1 sev]al ( :i* 7 left 
9 an unf9i%$ /ate4 ,sev5 h be5 engrav$4 
,! m]its ( ! s]ies h be5 v>i\sly        
e/imat$4 ,mr4 ,rossetti consid]s !m 8on 
! :ole a v f9e s]ies1 ?\gh n uni=mly    
equal 9 m]it40 ,mr4 ,yeats1 s well      
qualifi$ by 8 own imag9ative gift to    
ent] into ! m]it ( ,blake's "w1 ?9ks !m 
! f9e/ ( all 8 productions4 ,rob9son1 :o
 saw ,blake at "w ^u !m1 says1 8,!y     

ev9ce a p[] ,i %\ld n h anticipat$ (    
gr\p+1 & ( ?r[+ grace & int]e/ ov]      
conceptions mon/r\s & horrible40 ,= our 
own "p1 we mu/ regretfully admit t :5 we
 saw !m at ! ,old ,ma/]s' exhibition !  
mon/rosity & horror appe>$ m evid5t ?an 
! grace & int]e/4 ,we c\ld n deem       
,dante's conceptions adequately r5d]$2 !
 col\r1 too1 (t5 seem$ h>% &            
extravagant4 ,blake w5t on work+ ^u !m  
until 8 dea?1 :5 ,mrs4 ,blake s5t !m to 
,l9nell4 ,!y ?us escap$ ! fate (        
,blake's o!r arti/ic & lit]>y rema9s    
left 9 8 wid['s possession1 :i* aft] h] 
dea? 7 appropriat$1 app>5tly )\t any    
legal au?ority1 by a p]son nam$ ,ta?am1 
:o _h be5 mu* ab\t ,blake 9 8 lat] ye>s1
 & :o ultimately de/roy$ !m 9 def]5ce to
 ! m&ate ( a religi\s sect ) :i* he _h  
become connect$6#i  ,illu/ration3       
,behemo? & ,levia?an4 ,f ! 8,book (     
,job40 ,by ,w4 ,blake4  ,! end 0 n[ ne>4
 ,dur+ #ahbg ,blake's heal? greatly     
fail$ f cat>rh & dys5t]y1 & he c\ld no  
long] g up to ,hamp/ead to see ,l9nell4 

,l9nell wi%$ him to quit ! damp         
neighb\rhood ( ! riv]1 & live 9 8 own   
h\se 9 ,cir5ce/] ,place1 "p only ( :i*  
he us$ z a /udio4 ,b ,blake said1 8,i _c
 get my m9d out ( a /ate ( t]rible fe>  
at su* a /ep40 ,he also said1 8,i am too
 mu* atta*$ to ,dante to ?9k mu* ( any?+
 else40 ,"o ( 8 la/ works 0 ! col\r+ (  
,! ,anci5t ( ,days = ! eld] ,ta?am1 :o  
paid him at a high] rate ?an he 0       
accu/om$ to receive4 ,blake accord+ly   
work$ 8 h>de/1 & :5 x 0 f9i%$ 8?rew x f 
him1 & ) an air ( exult+ triumph        
exclaim$1 #8,!re1 t w d1 ,i _c m5d x4'0 
,lat] /ill he exclaim$ to 8 wife1 8,y h 
ev] be5 an angel to me1 ,i w draw y10 & 
produc$ a sket*1 8int]e/+1 b n l40 ,on  
,augu/ #ab he di$1 8compos+ & utt]+     
songs to 8 ,mak]40 ,he 0 buri$ 9        
,bunhill ,fields1 9 a grave :i* _c n[ be
 id5tifi$4 ,x is little to ! hon\r ( 8  
c\ntrym5 t no public memorial ( him %\ld
 exi/4 ,a bett] "o c\ld n be ?an 8 own  
,dea?'s ,door 9 ! illu/ration to        
,blair's ,grave1 treat$ z a bas-relief )

 ! necess>y modifications4  ,! arti/ ^: 
life _h be5 sp5t 9 a condition s little 
remote f p5ury did n leave a s+le debt1 
& ! accumulat$ /ock ( 8 works suffic$ to
 support 8 wid[ 9 com=t = ! f\r ye>s =  
:i* %e surviv$ him4 ,fri5ds1 inde$1     
aid$1 ,l9nell & ,ta?am successively giv+
 h] h\se-room1 & o!rs assidu\sly        
recomm5d+ h] /ores ( draw+s to weal?y   
patrons4 ,%e di$ 9 ,upp] ,*>lotte       
,/reet1 ,fitzroy ,squ>e1 & 0 buri$      
beside h] husb& 9 ,bunhill ,fields4     
99       99       99       99       99  
,! arti/ic processes us$ by ,blake are a
 subject ( consid]able discussion4      
,not)/&+ 8 con/ant description ( 8      
pictures z 8frescoes10 x seems c]ta9 t  
he nev] resort$ to fresco 9 ! ord9>y    
acceptation ( ! t]m4 ,l9nell1 :o mu/ h  
be5 exce$+ly famili> ) 8 "w1 told ,mr4  
,gil*ri/3 8,he evid5tly f\nd$ 8 claim to
 ! "n fresco on ! mat]ial he us$1 :i* 0 
wat]-col\r on a pla/] gr\nd 7lit]ally   
glue & :it+72 b he always call$ x ei!r  
fresco1 gesso1 or pla/]40 ,l9nell add$ t

 :5 he himself obta9$ f ,italy ! fir/   
copy t ev] came to ,engl& ( ,c5n9o      
,c5n9i's ,trattato della ,pittura1 a    
sixte5?-c5tury treatise1 edit$ 9 #ahbb f
 ! orig9al ,,ms41 ,blake1 :o 0 soon able
 to read x1 80 gratifi$ to f9d t he _h  
be5 us+ ! same mat]ials & me?ods 9 pa9t+
 z ,c5n9i describes1 p>ticul>ly !       
c>p5t]'s glue40 8,un=tunately10 says    
,l9nell1 8he laid ?is gr\nd on too mu* l
 pla/] to a wall10 & :5 ?is 0 s appli$  
to canvas or l95 ! picture 0 sure to    
crack1 & _m ( ,blake's be/ works h      
suff]$ great injury4 ,oil he dislik$ &  
vitup]at$4 ,! reason probably 0 t1      
contr>y to :at might h be5 expect$1 8   
sy/em ( execution 0 by no means bold &  
da%+1 b delib]ate & ev5 sl[4 ,he drew a 
r\gh dott$ l9e ) p5cil1 !n ) ink1 !n    
col\r1 fill+ 9 cauti\sly & c>efully4    
,all ! gr& ef=ts ( design1 he ?\ght1    
dep5d$ on niceties n to be got at once4 
,he seems1 9 fact1 to h work$ v mu* 9 ! 
_s ( ! m$ival illum9ators1 & ! g5]al    
aspect ( a page ( "o ( 8 ,prophetical   

,books rem9ds u =cibly ( "o ( _!        
scrolls4 ,:e!r any direct influ5ce f !m 
^u him is traceable w\ld be difficult to
 det]m9e4 ,keats _h evid5tly se5        
illum9at$ manuscripts1 & be5 deeply     
impress$ by !m2 b ne>ly =ty ye>s elaps$ 
betwe5 ! publication ( ! fir/ ( ,blake's
 ,prophetical ,books & ! composition (  
,keats's ,eve ( ,/4 ,m>k4 ,9 "o respect 
,blake c]ta9ly diff]$ f ! anci5t        
m9iaturi/s2 he wr\ght ma9ly f           
rem9isc5ce1 & dislik$ pa9t+ ) 8 eye on !
 object4 ,8 memory = natural =ms mu/ h  
be5 v p[]ful4  ,blake is end[$ 9 a v    
m>k$ degree ) ! int]e/ ascrib$ by ,goe! 
to ,problematis*e ,natur51 m5 :o mu/    
always rema9 m or less ( a my/]y to _!  
fell[s4 ,9 anci5t times1 & p]haps 9 "s  
c\ntries at ! pres5t day1 he w\ld h be5 
accept$ z a se]2 9 8 own age & c\ntry ! 
"q 0 r :e!r he %\ld be class$ )         
vision>ies or ) lunatics4 ,a vision>y he
 c]ta9ly 01 & few w believe ei!r t 8    
visions _h any objective reality1 or t  
he himself int5d$ !m to be receiv$ m]ely

 z symbols4 8,y c see :at ,i d1 if y    
*oose10 he said to 8 fri5ds4 ,he ?us    
confus$ fancy ) fact2 unque/ionably1    
!re=e1 he lab\r$ "u delusions4 ,b       
delusions d n necess>ily am\nt to       
insanity1 &1 h[ev] ,blake err$ 9 =m1 x  
may be d\bt$ :e!r 9 ess5tials he 0 n    
ne>] ! tru? ?an mo/ s-call$ poets &     
arti/s4 ,e poet & arti/ wor?y ( ! "n w  
confess t 8 productions1 :5 really good 
= any?+1 are ! sugge/ion ( a p[] ext]nal
 to himself1 ( an influ5ce :i* he may to
 a c]ta9 ext5t guide1 b _c orig9ate or  
summon up at 8 w2 & 9 ! abs5ce ( :i* he 
is helpless4 ,9 p]sonify+ ?is influ5ce z
 ! ,muse1 or h[soev] he may pref] to    
describe x1 su* an "o is usually fully  
aw>e t1 9 ob$i5ce to a law ( ! human    
m9d1 he is be/[+ p]sonality & visibility
 ^u :at is actually invisible &         
imp]sonal1 b n on t acc\nt unreal4 ,"s  
!re are1 h[ev]1 ^: p]ceptions are s     
lively1 or _! p[] ( deal+ ) ab/ractions 
s limit$1 t ! m5tal influ5ces ( :i* !y  
are consci\s appe> to !m 9 ! light (    

p]sonalities4 ,su* 0 ,blake1 & !        
peculi>ity 9 him 0 probably closely     
connect$ ) ! *ildlike disposition :i*   
r5d]$ him s amiable z a man4 ,z a *ild x
 naturally nev] occurr$ to him to "q !  
reality ( 8 visions1 & he grew up )\t   
acquir+ ! critical habit ( m9d :i* w\ld 
h l$ him to d s4 ,) him 8! vision       
spl5did0 did n                          
,die away1     ,& fade into ! light (   
common day4  ,su* a /ate ( m9d is q     
compatible ) sanity4 ,! "q is n :e!r !  
p]son            ,gives to airy no?+s   
,a local habitation & a "n1  b :e!r he  
all[s 8 conduct to be actuat$ by !m to !
 ext5t ( inv]t+ ! rules ( "r & wrong1   
wa/+ 8 sub/ance1 or becom+ (f5sive to   
o!rs or dang]\s to himself4 ,x is ev5   
possible to travel f> 9 ?is direction   
)\t arriv+ at ! conf9es ( insanity4     
,pr9ce ,polignac br\ght ! mon>*y ( !    
,re/oration to ru9 9 def]5ce to imag9>y 
revelations f ! ,virg9 ,m>y1 yet no c\rt
 ( law w\ld ev] h plac$ him "u re/ra9t4 
,) ,blake n ! fa9te/ sugge/ion ( su* a  

?+ is possible4 ,except = "o or two     
incid5ts1 relat$ ^u d\btful au?ority1 he
 appe>s ?r\gh\t 8 life 9 ! light ( an   
exempl>y citiz51 & 9 8 unselfi%ness &   
unworldl9ess contra/s ) 8 ,sadducan     
neighb\rs 9 a way t =bids u to call him 
m5tally diseas$1 ?\gh he may h be5      
m5tally w>p$4 ,! value ( 8 my/ical      
utt]ances is q ano!r "q4 ,! occasional  
spl5d\r ( ! poetry 9 :i* !y are c\*$ w n
 be disput$1 any m ?an _! g5]al         
confusion & obscurity4 ,comm5tators h   
/riv5 h>d to elicit ! sunbeam f !       
cucumb]2 we pass no judgm5t on _! ef=ts1
 fur!r ?an may seem to be impli$ 9 !    
obs]vation t 9 our op9ion ! *ief mission
 ( ,blake's my/ical poetry 0 to be !    
vehicle ( 8 f9e/ & mo/ *>act]i/ic art4  
,8 ideas1 _m pr(\nd & wor?y ( close     
att5tion1 may1 we ?9k1 be m             
advantage\sly collect$ f 8 prose        
aphorisms & ! fragm5ts ( 8 conv]sation2 
& 9 ?is respect he is by no means s+ul>4
 ,! "o great a*ievem5t :i* unque/ionably
 entitles him to ! di/9ction ( an       

inspir$ man1 is to h produc$ 9 boyhood1 
)\t set purpose or any cle> consci\sness
 ( :at he 0 do+1 lyrics recall+ ! gold5 
prime ( ,engli% poetry1 & in/9ct ) a    
music to :i*1 s9ce ,*att]ton 0 no m1 no 
contempor>y save ,burns 0 capable ( mak+
 ! slighte/ approa*4 ,x is true t       
reaction aga9/ artifice & conv5tionality
 0 9 ! air ( ! "t1 & 0 already ann\nc$  
by evid5t symptoms4 ,to comp>e1 h[ev]1 !
 highly cr$itable ef=ts 9 ?is direction 
( ev5 su* poets z ,c[p] & ,mickle ) !   
a*ievem5ts ( ?is /ripl+ is to become    
s5sible at once ( ! diff]5ce betwe5     
tal5t & inspiration4  ,blake's gifts &  
%ortcom+s z an arti/ are suffici5tly    
reveal$ by ! examples ( 8 "w :i*        
accompany ?is essay4 ,x ne$ m]ely be    
rem>k$ "h t1 ap>t f ! great army (      
arti/s ( g5ius :o move on recognis$     
l9es1 transmitt+ ! succession f ! age ( 
,zeuxis & ,phidias to our own1 !re is1 z
 x 71 a p>allel column skirt+ x on !    
by-roads ( art2 & t at c]ta9 p]iods (   
,art's hi/ory ! g5ius :i* has =sak5 ! m 

conspicu\s ( h] manife/ations has seem$ 
to take refuge ) et*]s1 or design]s1 or 
del9eators ( ! life ( ! p4 ,x has       
frequ5tly happ5$ ( late t m5 ^: "w 0    
*iefly done = books & p]iodicals1 & :o  
dur+ _! lives 7 sc>cely reg>d$ z arti/s 
at all1 h ^u _! dea?s be5 des]v$ly      
exalt$ to v high places4 ,blake is      
p]haps ! mo/ /rik+ & rem>kable example (
 ?is class4  ,blake's peculi>ities z a  
man1 & ! anecdotes ( :i* he became !    
subject1 secur$ him e>li] att5tion z    
arti/ & poet ?an 8 works w\ld h obta9$  
on _! own acc\nt4 ,n long aft] 8 dea? he
 0 made 7#ahcj7 ! subject ( "o ( ,allan 
,cunn+ham's ,lives ( ,briti% ,pa9t]s1 9 
! ma9 a fair & imp>tial biography1 r 9  
advance ( ?an beh9d its "t4 ,cunn+ham1  
h[ev]1 possess$ no sort ( spiritual     
k9%ip ) ,blake1 :o f\nd 8 fir/ really   
cong5ial comm5tator 9 a vet]an          
philosoph]1 /ill happily sp>$ to u1 ,dr4
 ,james ,g>? ,wilk9son1 :o 9 #ahci1 !   
ye> ( ! fir/ collect$ edition (         
,%elley's poems1 republi%$ ,songs (     

,innoc5ce & ,exp]i5ce ) an anonym\s     
preface claim+ = ,blake some?+ l 8 prop]
 position z a lyric poet1 & accompani$  
by judici\s rem>ks ^u 8 pa9t+s4 ,dr4    
,wilk9son w\ld probably h express$      
himself /ill m decid$ly if he _h writt5 
a few ye>s lat]1 b ! movem5t t[>ds !    
exaltation ( ! m spiritual aspects (    
,engli% poetry z typifi$ 9 ,wordswor? & 
,%elley 0 z yet b incipi5t1 & ! />s (   
,t5nyson & ,br[n+ 7 h>dly above !       
horizon4 ,little fur!r seems to h be5   
done = ,blake1 until1 ab\t #ahee1 ! late
 ,mr4 ,alex&] ,gil*ri/ began to write 8 
biography1 publi%$ 9 #ahfb1 a lab\r (   
love & dilig5ce :i* w nev] be sup]s$$1  
especially s9ce ! revision x has receiv$
 9 ! def9itive edition ( #ahhj1 br\ght  
out by 8 wid[4 ,! value ( ,gil*ri/'s    
lab\rs is greatly enhanc$ by !          
accompany+ illu/rations1 :i* all[ a     
fairly adequate conception to be =m$ (  
,blake's pictorial g5ius1 by ! repr9t ( 
mu* ( 8 mo/ *>act]i/ic lit]>y "w1 & by !
 copi\s descriptions ( 8 draw+s by ,mr4 

,w4 ,m4 ,rossetti & ,mr4 ,f4 ,%ields4   
,s9ce ,gil*ri/ wrote1 ,mr4 ,sw9burne    
7#ahfh7 has inve/igat$ ,blake's ?\ght ) 
special ref]5ce to its ,pan!i/ic t5d5cy1
 & ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats1 9 a mo/    
compreh5sive "w 9 ?ree volumes 7#ahia71 
includ+ additional biographical         
p>ticul>s & copi\s illu/rations1 :i*    
comprise ! previ\sly unpubli%$ 8,vala10 
h /riv5 to pres5t ,blake's my/icism z a 
coh]5t sy/em ( ?\ght4 ,valuable         
monographs are also prefix$ to !        
editions ( ,blake's poems by ,rossetti  
7#ahhc7 & ,yeats 7#ahic71 & to !        
selection f 8 lit]>y works by ,mr4      
,h\sman 7#ahic71 ?is la/ p]haps on !    
:ole1 aft] ,gil*ri/'s biography1 ! mo/  
desirable possession = ! lit]>y /ud5t ( 
,blake4 ,( ! num]\s deta*$ essays ^u    
,blake ! mo/ important1 p]haps1 are t by
 ! late ,mr4 ,sme?am1 republi%$ 9 8     
,essays1 & 9 ! second volume (          
,gil*ri/'s biography1 & t by ,james     
,?omson1 au?or ( ,! ,city ( ,dreadful   
,night1 app5d$ to 8 ,%elley1 a ,poem    

7#ahhd74  ,x is exce$+ly difficult to   
obta9 a prop] idea ( ,blake z an arti/1 
f ! ext5t to :i* 8 designs dep5d ^u     
col\r+1 & ! great inequality ( ?is      
col\r+1 :i* is (t5 n 8 own4 ,9 ,mr4     
,gil*ri/'s op9ion1 ! copy ( ,! ,song (  
,los1 9 ! ,pr9t ,room ( ! ,briti%       
,museum1 & a volume ( miscellane\s      
designs1 9 ! same collection1 repres5t  
him ) adequate fairness2 & ^! =tunately 
are public prop]ty4 ,! f9e/ specim5s ( 8
 "w se5 by 8 biograph] are app>5tly 9 ! 
collection ( ! ,e>l ( ,crewe1 & !re=e n 
g5]ally accessible4 ,^? belong+ to      
private collectors mu/ ( necessity be   
cont9ually *ang+ h&s1 & few /ud5ts h !  
"t or ! opportunity to make ! ?or\gh    
inve/igation ( !m accompli%$ by ,mr4    
,rossetti4 ,=tunately ! illu/rations 9  
,gil*ri/'s biography1 :]e ! :ole ( !    
,job s]ies is reissu$1 suffice to       
e/abli% ,blake's g5ius z a design]1 ev5 
?\gh de/itute ( ! *>m ( col\r4 ,mr4     
,bell ,scott has execut$ effective et*+s
 aft] him2 ,mr4 ,qu>it* has republi%$ ! 

draw+s = ,comus2 9 #ahgf ! ,songs (     
,innoc5ce & ,exp]i5ce & ! ,prophetic    
,books up to ,los 7 repr9t$ toge!r1 b   
only to ! ext5t ( a hundr$ copies1 nor 0
 ! execution v satisfactory4 ,x _c be   
said t ,messrs4 ,ellis & ,yeats h       
entirely ov]come ! difficulties (       
reproduction2 yet1 p]haps1 = ^? unable  
to obta9 access to ! copies t9t$ by !   
arti/1 or ev5 to ! uncol\r$ plates 9 !  
orig9al edition1 no?+ s well displays ! 
wild] & m weird aspects ( 8 g5ius z !   
repr9ts 9 _! ?ird volume1 especially ^? 
f ,j]usalem4  ,blake's "* & works w long
 rema9 ! subject ( criticism &          
speculation1 = ! _w does n easily =go   
its int]e/ 9 :at ,goe! calls            
8problematic natures40 ,by ano!r fam\s  
say+ ( ,goe!'s he _c pr(it1 8,he :o has 
suffic$ 8 own age has suffic$ all ages10
 nor c he be reckon$ among ^? :o h be5 9
 advance ( _! age1 except 9 ^? exquisite
 e>ly songs :i* di$ away be=e ! actual  
arrival ( ! bett] "t4 ,b x w\ld n be too
 mu* to say ( him t he reveal$          

possibilities1 bo? 9 poetry & pa9t+1 :i*
 )\t him we %\ld h>dly h suspect$1 & :i*
 rema9 an unexhau/$ se$-field (         
inspiration = 8 successors4 ,x is lab\r 
lo/ to /rive to make him transp>5t1 b   
ev5 :]e he is mo/ opaque                
,sp>ks spr+ out ( ! gr\nd1     ,l gold5 
s& scatt]$ ^u ! d>kness4  ,nor is !     
g5]al t5d5cy ( art t[>ds a _w ( purity1 
h>mony1 & joy unrepres5t$ 9 him2        
sometimes ?is ev5 seems ! conclusion to 
:i* all else is m]ely subs]vi5t1 z 9 !  
s]ies ( illu/rations to ,job1 ! ideal   
repres5tation ( 8 own hi/ory4           
,illu/ration3 ,sweep+ ! ,p>l\r 9 !      
,int]pret]'s ,h\se4     ,,footnotes   #a
 ,novemb] #bj has be5 /at$ z ! date1 b !
 above is %[n to be correct by !        
horoscope drawn = ,novemb] #bh1 #g4de   
,p4,m4 9 ,urania1 or ! ,a/rolog]'s      
,*ronicle1 #ahbe1 publi%$ !re=e 9       
,blake's lifetime1 & und\bt$ly d]iv$ f  
,v>ley4  #b ,if1 h[ev]1 ! 8,kitty0 ( 8,i
 love ! jocund dance0 is ,ca!r9e ,b\*]1 
?is poem at lea/ mu/ be lat] ?an #aghj1 

unless ! "n has be5 sub/itut$ = ano!r1 z
 has be5 kn[n to happ54  #c ,z = example
 8,man lies by a rock-b\nd %ore1 8      
?\ghts fly+ =? f him 9 lik5ess (        
delicate airy figures driv5 by ! w9d to 
p]i% 9 ! endless sea z soon z born40 ,9 
! abs5ce ( ! draw+s !mselves su*        
descriptions affect u l ! projects =    
unwritt5 /ories 9 ,haw?orne's ,am]ican  
,note ,book4  #d      ,poetis nos       
laetamur tribus1     ,pye1 ,petro ,p9d>1
 p>vo ,pybus2     ,si ult]ius ire p]gis1
     ,adde 8 ,sir ,james ,bl& ,burges4  
#e ,blake is seldom detect$ 9 borr[+1 b 
:5 he tells u t                         
,milton's %ad[ fell     ,precipitant1   
l\d ?und]+1 into ! sea ( ,"t & space1   
he is cle>ly1 ?\gh p]haps unconsci\sly1 
rem9isc5t ( ,dy]'s                      
,t[]s     ,tumbl+ all precipitate d[n   
da%$1     ,rattl+ ar\nd1 l\d ?und]+ to !
 ,moon4  #f ,! same rem>k is ! subject (
 "o ( ! f9e/ passages ( ,lucretius3--   
,praet]ea1 magnae legiones quom loca    
cursu     ,camporum compl5t1 belli      

simulacra ci5tes1     ,fulgur ibi ad    
clum se tollit1 totaque circum     ,a]e 
r5idescit tellus1 subt]que virum vi     
,excitur p$ibus sonitus1 clamoreque     
montes     ,icti rejectant voces ad     
sid]a mundi2     ,et circumvolitant     
equites1 m$iosque rep5te                
,tramittunt1 valido quati5tes impete1   
campos2     ,et tam5 e/ quidam locus    
altis montibus1 unde     ,/>e vid5tur1  
et 9 campis consi/]e fulgur4  #g ,n     
always )\t assi/ance f ! eyes ( o!rs2 = 
! portrait ( ,edw>d ! ,fir/ is cle>ly a 
rem9isc5ce ( t :i* 9 ,blake's "t adorn$ 
,goldsmi?'s ,hi/ory4  #h ,x is obs]vable
 t ,job's wife1 s disadvantage\sly      
treat$ 9 ,scripture1 is by ,blake       
repres5t$ z ! suff]]'s lov+ companion   
?r\gh\t4 ,?is 0 probably out ( t5d]ness 
to ,mrs4 ,blake1 f :om1 inde$1 ^u a     
comp>ison betwe5 h] portrait z a "y     
woman & ! ideal repres5tation ( !       
,patri>*'s sp\se1 8 model = ! latt] w\ld
 seem to h be5 d]iv$2 b if s ! inf]5ce  
seems ju/ifi$ t ,blake reg>d$ ! /ory (  

,job z emblematic ( 8 own hi/ory4  #i ,x
 mu/ be n[ ab\t ?irty-five ye>s s9ce we 
receiv$ a visit f ?is p]son2 h[ he _h   
f\nd u out we _c recollect4 ,he /at$ t  
he _h liv$ by pa9t+ m9iatures1 &1 hav+  
be5 depriv$ ( 8 cu/om]s by photography1 
propos$ to devote himself to hi/orical  
pa9t+1 to ! great prospective advantage 
( ,briti% art4 ,he consid]$ 8 =te to be 
! del9eation ( b>e arms1 & wi%$ to be   
recomm5d$ to a subject :i* w\ld af=d    
scope = ! ex]cise ( ?is dep>tm5t ( !    
pictorial faculty4 ,we sugge/$ ! int]m5t
 ( ! "y pr9ces 9 ! ,t[]2 he ?ank$ u &   
dep>t$2 & we saw no m ( him4 ,he admitt$
 hav+ p>t$ ) all ! relics ( ,blake t _h 
be5 9 8 possession1 b s\ght to convey t 
!y _h be5 sold1 n de/roy$1 :i* may be   
p>tly true4     ,,index       8,am]ica10
 #bi1 #ch1 #dj1 #eb      8,appeal to !  
,public10 #eb      ,aspl&1 ,mr41 #fb    
8,babylonian ,woman1 ,!01 #eb      ,ba91
 ,?omas1 #bi      8,b>d1 ,!01 #ef       
,basire1 ,james1 #h      ,blair's       
,grave1 ,illu/rations to1 #di1 #ea1 #eb1

 #gb      ,blake1 ,ca!r9e1 #aj1 #ah1    
#bj1 #bi1 #ff1 #gj      ,blake1 ,james1 
#g1 #h1 #af      ,blake1 ,john1 #h      
,blake1 ,rob]t1 #h1 #ag1 #ah            
,blake1 ,william2       8 bir? &        
p>5tage1 #g2       s5t to ,p>s ,s*ool1  
#h2       appr5tic$ to ,basire1 #i2     
m>ries ,ca!r9e ,b\*]1 #aj2       settles
 9 ,pol& ,/reet1 #ah2       removes to  
,lambe?1 #bh2       8 soj\rn at ,felpham
 & int]c\rse ) ,hayley1 #dg2            
returns to ,london1 #di2       8        
fri5d%ip ) ,l9nell & ,v>ley1 #ei1 #fj2  
8 dea?1 #gb      ,bognor1 #da           
8,book ( ,ahaniah1 ,!01 #bi      ,b\*]1 
,ca!r9e see ,blake1 ,ca!r9e      ,briti%
 ,museum1 #bb1 #fb1 #gg      ,butts1    
,?omas1 #bi1 #dc1 #dd1 #eb1 #fa1 #fb    
,calv]t1 ,edw>d1 #ff      8,cant]bury   
,pilgrims1 ,!01 #eb1 #ef      ,c>ey1    
,william1 #eh      ,c5n9i1 ,c5n9o1 #gc  
8,*ri/ 9 ! ,sepul*re10 #ed              
8,comus10 #fb      ,c[p]1 ,william1 #da1
 #dc1 #dd1 #ge      ,crewe1 ,e>l (1 #ch1
 #df1 #fb1 #gg      ,cromek1 ,rob]t1    

#di1 #ea1 #eb      ,cumb]l&1 ,george1   
#ei      ,cunn+ham1 ,allan1 #cj1 #ef1   
#gf       ,dante1 ,illu/rations to1 #fi1
 #gj      8,dea? on ! ,pale ,horse10 #eh
      ,descriptive ,catalogue by ,blake1
 #eb      ,deville1 #ch       ,e>?am1   
#da      8,edw>d ,,iii410 #ac1 #ca      
,ellis & ,yeats1 ,messrs41 #h1 #ah1 #cj1
 #cb1 #cc1 #ce1 #ch1 #de1 #ea1 #ed1 #gj1
        #gf1 #gg      8,europe10 #ca    
8,ev]la/+ ,gospel1 ,!01 #cc             
,felpham1 #bg1 #da1 #db1 #dd1 #de1 #dh  
,f9*1 ,g4 ,o41 #ff      ,flaxman1 #ae1  
#bh1 #da1 #db1 #ei1 #fi      ,fuseli1   
#bg1 #dd1 #ei       8,gates ( ,p>adise1 
,!01 #bi1 #cj1 #eb      ,gil*ri/1       
,alex&]1 #i1 #ad1 #af1 #ai1 #bg1 #bi1   
#ca1 #ch1 #df1 #di1 #ea1 #eb1           
#ed1 #fj-fb1 #fe1 #ff1 #fh1 #gc1 #gf    
,godw91 ,william1 #bg      ,gray1       
,illu/rations to works (1 #fb           
,hamilton1 ,duke (1 #fb      ,hayley1   
,william1 #ah1 #db-dd1 #di              
,holcr(t1 #bg      ,h\sman1 #dh1 #gg    
8,jacob's ,dream10 #eb      8,j]usalem10

 #db1 #de1 #df1 #dh      ,job1          
,illu/rations to ! ,book (1 #fb1 #fd1   
#gj1 #gg1 #gh      ,johnson 7publi%]71  
#bg1 #dd      8,joseph ( ,arima?a10 #i  
,lamb1 ,*>les1 #bj1 #ea      ,lawr5ce1  
,sir ,?omas1 #ba1 #ei      ,l9nell1     
,john1 #cj1 #ei1 #fj1 #fb1 #fd1 #fi1    
#gb1 #gc      8,los1 ,! ,song (01 #bi   
,malk91 #i1 #eb      8,m>riage ( ,heav5 
& ,hell1 ,!01 #bi1 #cf      ,mat!ws1 #ae
      8,milton10 #df1 #dh1 #di          
8,morn+101 #i       8,nelson guid+      
,levia?an10 #ef       ,o',neil1 #h      
,ossian1 #ca       ,pa9e1 ,tom1 #bg     
,palm]1 ,samuel1 #eg1 #ff1 #fh          
,p>adise ,lo/1 ,illu/rations =1 #fb     
,p>k]1 ,rob]t1 #af1 #ag      ,p>s1      
,william1 #h      8,p5ance ( ,jane      
,%ore10 #i      ,phillips1 ,?omas1 #di  
,piroli1 #bh      8,pitt guid+          
,behemo?10 #ef      8,poetical          
,sket*es10 #aj1 #ac1 #af1 #ai1 #dc      
8,prophecies ( ,am]ica10 #cg            
8,prov]bs ( ,hell10 #cf       ,reynolds1
 ,sir ,jo%ua1 #eg1 #ei      ,ri*mond1   

,george1 #ff      ,rob9son1 ,crabb1 #cb1
 #ea1 #ei1 #fh-gj      ,rossetti1       
,dante1 #ch      ,rossetti1 ,william1   
#ag1 #bj1 #cc1 #ch1 #ea1 #fa1 #fb1 #fe1 
#gj1 #gf1 #gg      ,ryl&1 ,william1 #h  
8,samson10 #ca      8,satan call+ up 8  
,legions10 #ef      ,s*iavonetti1 #di1  
#ea      ,%ields1 ,fr$]ick1 #bi1 #gf    
8,simple1 ,david01 #af      ,sme?am1 #gg
      ,smi?1 ,j4 ,t41 #af      8,songs (
 ,exp]i5ce10 #ae1 #bj1 #ba1 #bc-be1 #bg1
 #ce1 #gf1 #gg      8,songs (           
,innoc5ce10 #ae1 #bj1 #ba1 #bc1 #be1    
#bg1 #bi1 #ce1 #dc1 #gf1 #gg            
,/o?>d1 ,?omas1 #af1 #ag1 #ea1 #ed1 #ei 
,/range1 ,j4 ,c41 #fb      ,sw9burne1   
,a4 ,c41 #cj1 #dg1 #ef1 #gf             
,ta?am1 #gj1 #ga1 #gb      8,!l1 ,!     
,book (01 #bi1 #ca1 #cc1 #cf1 #dj1 #dg  
,?omson1 ,james1 #gg      ,?ornton1     
,dr41 #fe      8,tiriel10 #cj           
8,uriz510 #bi1 #dc       8,vala10 #bi1  
#gg      ,v>ley1 ,john1 #ef1 #fj        
8,vision ( ! ,daught]s ( ,albion10 #bi1 
#cg       ,:itman1 ,walt1 #ca           

,wilk9son1 ,j4 ,g>?1 #gf                
,woll/onecraft1 ,m>y1 #bg               
,woollett1 #ed       ,"y's ,night       
,?\ghts1 ,illu/rations to1 #bi