Among the Clouds to tremble in the wind in solitude
Where is the voice that lately woke the desart Where the Face
That wept among the clouds & where the voice that shall reply
20 No other living thing is here. The Sea the Earth. the Heaven
And Enion desolate where art thou Tharmas O return
Three days she waild & three dark nights sitting among the Rocks
While the bright spectre hid himself among the ?trailing clouds
Then sleep fell on her eyelids in a Chasm of the Valley
The Sixteenth morn the Spectre stood before her manifest]
[The Spectre thus spoke. (Art thou not my slave & shalt thou dare
To smite me with thy tongue beware lest I sting also thee)
Who art thou Diminutive husk & shell
Broke from my bonds I scorn my prison I scorn & yet I love
30 If thou hast sinnd & art polluted know that I am pure
And unpolluted & will bring to rigid strict account
All thy past deeds hear what I tell thee! mark it well! remember!
This world is (Mine) Thine in which thou dwellest that within thy soul
That dark & dismal infinite where Thought roams up & down
Is (thine) Mine & there thou goest when with one Sting of my tongue
Envenomed thou rollst inward to the place (of death & hell) whence I emergd
She trembling answerd Wherefore was I born & what am I
A sorrow & a fear a living torment & naked Victim
I thought to weave a Covering (from) for my Sins from wrath of Tharmas]
PAGE 7
[Examining the sins of Tharmas I (have) soon found my own
O slay me not thou art his Wrath embodied in Deceit]
[I thought Tharmas a Sinner & murderd his Emanations
His secret loves & Graces Ah me wretched What have I done
(But) For now I find that all those Emanations were my Childrens Souls
And I have murderd them with Cruelty above atonement
Those that remain have fled from my cruelty into the desarts
(Among wild beasts to roam) And thou the delusive
tempter to these deeds sittest before me
(But where is/Thou art not) And art thou Tharmas all thy
soft delusive beauty cannot
10 Tempt me to murder (honest love) my own soul & wipe my tears & smile
In this thy world (for ah! how) not mine! tho dark I feel my world within
The Spectre said Thou sinful Woman. was it thy Desire
That I should hide thee with my power & delight thee with my beauty
And now thou darknest in my presence, never from my sight
Shalt thou depart to weep in secret. In my jealous wings
I evermore will hold thee when thou goest out or comest in
Tis thou has darkend all My World O Woman lovely bane]
[Thus they contended all the day among the Caves of Tharmas
Twisting in fearful forms & howling, howling harsh shrieking
20 Howling harsh shrieking, mingling their bodies join in burning anguish]
Opening his rifted rocks mingling together they join in burning anguish
Mingling his [horrible/terrible] horrible [brightness] darkness with her tender limbs then high she soard
Shrieking above the ocean: a bright wonder that [Beulah] nature shudderd at
Half Woman & half [Spectre/ Serpent] desart all his [lovely changing] darkly waving colours mix
With her fair crystal clearness in her lips & cheeks his [poisons] metals rose
In blushes like the morning & his [scaly armour] rocky features softning
A [monster] wonder lovely in the heavens or wandring on the earth
With [Spectre] female voice [incessant wailing in incessant
thirst] warbling upon the hollow vales
Beauty all blushing with desire [mocking her fell despair] a self enjoying wonder
30 [Wandering desolate, a wonder abhorr’d by Gods & men]
For Enion brooded groaning loud the rough seas vegetate.
Golden rocks rise from the [vortex] vast
And thus her voice. Glory, delight: & sweet enjoyment born
To mild Eternity shut in a threefold shape delightful
To wander in sweet solitude enrapturd at every wind
PAGE 8
Till with fierce pain she brought forth on the rocks her sorrow & woe
Behold two little Infants wept upon the desolate wind.
The first state weeping they began & helpless as a wave
Beaten along its sightless way growing enormous in its motion to
Its utmost goal, till strength from Enion like richest summer shining
Raisd the [bright/fierce] bright boy & girl with glories
from their heads out beaming
Drawing forth drooping mothers pity drooping mothers sorrow
As One Man hovering over Gilead & Hermon
10 He is the Good Shepherd He is the Lord & Master
To Create Man Morning by Morning to Give gifts at Noon day]
[Enion brooded, oer the rocks, the rough rocks groaning vegetate
Such power was given to the Solitary wanderer.
The barked Oak, the long limbd Beech; the Ches’nut tree; the Pine.
The Pear tree mild, the frowning Walnut, the sharp Crab, & Apple sweet,
The rough bark opens; twittering peep forth little beaks & wings
The Nightingale, the Goldfinch, Robin, Lark, Linnet & Thrush
The Goat leap’d from the craggy cliff the Sheep awoke from the mould
Upon its green stalk rose the Corn, waving innumerable
20 Infolding the bright Infants from the desolating winds]
They sulk upon her breast her hair became like snow on mountains
Weaker & weaker, weeping woful, wearier and wearier
Faded & her bright Eyes decayd melted with pity & love
PAGE 9
And then they wander’d far away she sought for them in vain
In weeping blindness stumbling she followd them oer rocks & mountains
Rehumanizing from the Spectre in pangs of maternal love
Ingrate they wanderd scorning her drawing her [life;
ingrate] Spectrous Life
Repelling her away & away by a dread repulsive power
Into Non Entity revolving round in dark despair.
And drawing in the Spectrous life in pride and haughty joy
Thus Enion gave them all her spectrous life [in deep despair]
Then [Ona] Eno a daughter of Beulah took a Moment of Time
10 And drew in out to [twenty years] Seven thousand years
with much care & affliction
And many tears & in the [twenty] Every year [gave
visions toward heaven] made windows into Eden
She also took an atom of space & opend its center
Into Infinitude & ornamented it with wondrous art
Astonishd sat her Sisters of Beulah to see her soft affections
To Enion & her children & they ponderd these things wondring
And they Alternate kept watch over the Youthful terrors
They saw not yet the Hand Divine for it was not yet reveald
But they went on in Silent Hope & Feminine repose
But Los & Enitharmon delighted in the Moony spaces of [Ona] Eno
20 Nine Times they livd among the forests, feeding on sweet fruits
And nine bright Spaces wanderd weaving mazes of delight
Snaring the wild Goats for their milk they eat the flesh of Lambs
A male & female naked & ruddy as the pride of summer
Alternate Love & Hate his breast; hers Scorn & Jealousy
In embryon passions. they kiss’d not nor embrac’d for shame & fear
His head beamd light & in his vigorous voice was prophecy
&n
bsp; He could controll the times & seasons, & the days & years
She could controll the spaces, regions, desart, flood & forest
But had no power to weave a Veil of covering for her Sins
30 She drave the Females all away from Los
And Los drave all the Males from her away
They wanderd long, till they sat down upon the margind sea.
Conversing with the visions of Beulah in dark slumberous bliss
[NIGHT THE SECOND]
[Nine years they view the ?gleaming spheres ?reading the Visions of Beulah]
But the two youthful wonders wanderd in the world of Tharmas
Thy name is Enitharmon; said the [bright] fierce prophetic boy
While thy mild voice fills all these Caverns with sweet harmony
O how [thy] our Parents sit & [weep] mourn in their silent secret bowers
PAGE 10
But Enitharmon answerd with a dropping tear & [?smiling] frowning
[Bright] Dark as a dewy morning when the crimson light appears
To make us happy [how they] let them weary their immortal powers
While we draw in their sweet delights while we return them scorn
On scorn to feed our discontent; for if we grateful prove
They will withhold sweet love, whose food is thorns & bitter roots.
We hear the warlike clarions we view the turning spheres
Yet Thou in indolence reposest holding me in bonds
Heart! will sing a Song of Death! it is a Song of Vala!
10 The Fallen Man takes his repose: Urizen sleeps in the porch
Luvah and Vala [wake & fly] woke & flew up from the Human Heart
Into the Brain; from thence upon the pillow Vala slumber’d.
And Luvah siez’d the Horses of Light, & rose into the Chariot of Day
Sweet laughter siezd me in my sleep! silent & close I laughd
For in the visions of Vala I walkd with the mighty Fallen One
I heard his voice among the branches, & among sweet flowers.
Why is the light of Enitharmon darken’d in [her] dewy morn
Why is the silence of Enitharmon a [cloud] terror & her
smile a whirlwind
Uttering this darkness in my halls, in the pillars of my Holy-ones
20 Why dost thou weep as Vala? & wet thy veil with dewy tears,
In slumbers of my night-repose, infusing a false morning?
Driving the Female Emanations all away from Los
I have refused to look upon the Universal Vision
And wilt thou slay with death him who devotes himself to thee
[If thou drivest all the (Males) Females away from (Vala)
Luvah I will drive all
The Males away from thee]
Once born for the sport & amusement of Man now born
to drink up all his Powers
PAGE II
I heard the sounding sea; I heard the voice weaker and weaker;
The voice came & went like a dream, I awoke in my sweet bliss.
Then Los smote her upon the Earth twas long eer she revivd
[Los] He answer’d, darkning [with foul] more with
indignation hid in smiles
I die not Enitharmon tho thou singst thy Song of Death
Nor shalt thou me torment For I behold the [Eternal] Fallen Man
Seeking to comfort Vala, she will not be comforted
She rises from his throne and seeks the shadows of her garden
Weeping for Luvah lost, in the bloody beams of your false morning
10 Sickning lies the [Eternal] Fallen Man his head sick his heart faint
Mighty atchievement of your power! Beware the
punishment
[Refusing to behold the Divine image which all behold
And live thereby, he is sunk down into a deadly sleep
But we immortal in our own strength survive by stern debate
Till we have drawn the Lamb of God into a mortal form
And that he must be born is certain for One must be All
And comprehend within himself all things both small & great
We therefore for whose sake all things aspire to be & live
Will so recieve the Divine Image that amongst the Reprobate
20 He may be devoted to Destruction from his mothers womb]
I see, invisible descend into the Gardens of Vala
Luvah walking on the winds, I see the invisible knife
I see the shower of blood: I see the swords & spears of futurity
Tho in the Brain of Man we live, & in his circling Nerves.
Tho’ this bright world of all our joy is in the Human Brain.
Where Urizen & all his Hosts hang their immortal lamps
Thou neer shalt leave this cold expanse where watry Tharmas mourns
So spoke Los. Scorn & Indignation rose upon Enitharmon
Then Enitharmon reddning fierce stretchd her immortal hands
30 Descend O Urizen descend with horse & chariots
Threaten not me O visionary thine the punishment
The Human Nature shall no more remain nor Human acts
Form the [free] rebellious Spirits of Heaven. but War &
Princedom & Victory & Blood
PAGE 12
Night darkend as she spoke! a shuddring ran from East to West
A Groan was heard on high. The warlike clarions ceast. the Spirits
Of Luvah & Vala shudderd in their Orb: an orb of blood!
Eternity groand & was troubled at the Image of Eternal Death
The Wandering Man bow’d his faint head and Urizen descended
And the one must have murderd the other if he had not descended
Indignant muttering low thunders; Urizen descended
Gloomy sounding, Now I am God from Eternity to Eternity
Sullen sat Los plotting Revenge. Silent he [Urizen] eye’d the Prince
10 Of Light. Silent the prince of Light viewd Los. at length a brooded
Smile broke from Urizen for Enitharmon brightend more & more
Sullen he lowerd on Enitharmon but he smild on Los
Saying Thou art the Lord of Luvah into thine hands I give
The prince of Love the murderer his soul is in thine hands
Pity not Vala for she pitied not the Eternal Man
Nor pity thou the cries of Luvah. Lo these starry hosts
They are thy servants if thou wilt obey my awful Law
Los answered furious art thou one of those who when
most complacent
Mean mischief most. If you are such Lo! I am also such
20 One must be master. try thy Arts I also will try mine
For I percieve Thou hast Abundance which I claim as mine
Urizen startled stood but not Long soon he cried
Obey my voice young Demon I am God from Eternity to Eternity
Thus Urizen spoke collected in himself in awful pride
Art thou a visionary of Jesus the soft delusion of Eternity
Lo I am God the terrible destroyer & not the Saviour
Why should the Divine Vision compell the sons of Eden
to forego each his own delight to war against his Spectre
The Spectre is the Man the rest is only delusion & fancy
30 So spoke the Prince of Light & sat beside the Seat of Los
Upon the sandy shore rested his chariot of fire
Ten thousand thousand were his hosts of spirits on the wind:
Ten thousand thousand glittering Chariots shining in the sky:
They pour upon the golden shore beside the silent ocean.
Rejoicing in the Victory & the heavens were filld with blood
The Earth spread forth her table wide. the Night a silver cup
Fill’d with the wine of anguish waited at the golden feast
But the bright Sun was not as yet; he filling all the expanse
Slept as a bird in the blue shell that soon shall burst away
40 Los saw the wound of his blow he saw he pitied he wept
Los now repented that he had smitten Enitharmon he felt love
Arise in all his Veins he threw his arms around her loins
To heal the wound of his smiting
They eat the fleshly bread, they drank the nervous wine
PAGE 13
They listend to the Elemental Harps & Sphery Song
They view’d the dancing Hours, quick sporting thro’ the sky
With winged radiance scattering joys thro the ever changing light
But Luvah & Vala standing in the bloody sky
On high remaind alone forsaken in fierce jealousy
They stood above the heavens forsaken desolate suspended in blood
Descend they could not. nor from Each other avert their eyes
Eternity appeard above them as One Man infolded
In Luvah[s] robes of blood & bearing all his afflictions
10 As the sun shines down on the misty earth Such was the Vision
But purple night and crimson morning & golden day descending
Thro’ the clear changing atmosphere display’d green fields among
The varying clouds, like paradises stretch’d in the expanse
With towns & villages and temples, tents sheep-folds and pastures
Where dwell the children of the elemental worlds in harmony.
Not long in harmony they dwell, their life is drawn away
And wintry woes succeed; successive driven into the Void
Where Enion craves: successive drawn into the golden feast
And Los & Enitharmon sat in discontent & scorn
20 The Nuptial Song arose from all the thousand thousand spirits
Over the joyful Earth & Sea, and ascended into the Heavens
For Elemental Gods their thunderous Organs blew; creating
Delicious Viands. Demons of Waves their watry Eccho’s woke!
[? Elements] Bright Souls of vegetative life, budding and blossoming
PAGE 14
Stretch their immortal hands to smite the gold & silver Wires
And with immortal Voice soft warbling fill all Earth & Heaven.
With doubling Voices & loud Horns wound round sounding
Cavernous dwellers fill’d the enormous Revelry, Responsing!
And Spirits of Flaming fire on high, govern’d the mighty Song.
And This the Song! sung at The Feast of Los & Enitharmon
[The Mountain] Ephraim calld out to [The Mountain]
Zion: Awake O Brother Mountain
Let us refuse the Plow & Spade, the heavy Roller & spiked
Harrow, burn all these Corn fields, throw down all these fences
10 Fattend on Human blood & drunk with wine of life is better far