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    The Complete Poems

    Page 37
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      His body was redeemd to be permanent thro Mercy Divine

      PAGE 126

      And now fierce Orc had quite consumd himself in Mental flames

      Expending all his energy against the fuel of fire

      The [Ancient Man] Regenerate Man stoopd his head over the Universe & in

      His holy hands recievd the flaming Demon & Demoness of Smoke

      And gave them to Urizens hands the Immortal frownd Saying

      Luvah & Vala henceforth you are Servants obey & live

      You shall forget your former state return O Love in peace

      Into your place the place of seed not in the brain or heart

      If Gods combine against Man Setting their Dominion above

      10 The Human form Divine. Thrown down from their high Station

      In the Eternal heavens of Human [Thought] Imagination: buried beneath

      In dark oblivion with incessant pangs ages on ages

      In Enmity & war first weakend then in stern repentance

      They must renew their brightness & their disorganizd functions

      Again reorganize till they resume the image of the human

      Cooperating in the bliss of Man obeying his Will

      Servants to the infinite & Eternal of the Human form

      Luvah & Vala descended & enterd the Gates of Dark Urthona

      And walkd from the hands of Urizen in the shadows of Valas Garden

      20 Where the impressions of Despair & Hope for ever vegetate

      In flowers in fruits in fishes birds & beasts & clouds & waters

      The land of doubts & shadows sweet delusions unformd hopes

      They saw no more the terrible confusion of the wracking universe

      They heard not saw not felt not all the terrible confusion

      For in their orbed senses within closd up they wanderd at will

      And those upon the Couches viewd them in the dreams of Beulah

      As they reposd from the terrible wide universal harvest

      Invisible Luvah in bright clouds hoverd over Valas head

      And thus their ancient golden age renewd for Luvah spoke

      30 With voice mild from his golden Cloud upon the breath of morning

      Come forth O Vala from the grass & from the silent Dew

      Rise from the dews of death for the Eternal Man is Risen

      She rises among flowers & looks toward the Eastern clearness

      She walks yea runs her feet are wingd on the tops of the bending grass

      Her garments rejoice in the vocal wind & her hair glistens with dew

      She answerd thus Whose voice is this in the voice of the nourishing air

      In the spirit of the morning awaking the Soul from its grassy bed

      PAGE 127

      Where dost thou dwell for it is thee I seek & but for thee

      I must have slept Eternally nor have felt the dew of thy morning

      Look how the opening dawn advances with vocal harmony

      Look how the beams foreshew the rising of some glorious power

      The sun is thine [when] he goeth forth in his majestic brightness

      O thou creating voice that callest & who shall answer thee

      Where dost thou flee O fair one where dost thou seek thy happy place

      To yonder brightness there I haste for sure I came from thence

      Or I must have slept eternally nor have felt the dew of morning

      10 Eternally thou must have slept nor have felt the morning dew

      But for yon nourishing sun tis that by which thou art arisen

      The birds adore the sun the beasts rise up & play in his beams

      And every flower & every leaf rejoices in his light

      Then O thou fair one sit thee down for thou art as the grass

      Thou risest in the dew of morning & at night art folded up

      Alas am I but as a flower then will I sit me down

      Then will I weep then Ill complain & sigh for immortality

      And chide my maker thee O Sun that raisedst me to fall

      So saying she sat down & wept beneath the apple trees

      20 O be thou blotted out thou Sun that raisedst me to trouble

      That gavest me a heart to crave & raisedst me thy phantom

      To feel thy heat & see thy light & wander here alone

      Hopeless if I am like the grass & so shall pass away

      Rise sluggish Soul why sitst thou here why dost thou sit & weep

      Yon Sun shall wax old & decay but thou shalt ever flourish

      The fruit shall ripen & fall down & the flowers consume away

      But thou shalt still survive arise O dry thy dewy tears

      Hah! Shall I still survive whence came that sweet & comforting voice

      And whence that voice of sorrow O sun thou art nothing now to me

      30 Go on thy course rejoicing & let us both rejoice together

      I walk among his flocks & hear the bleating of his lambs

      O that I could behold his face & follow his pure feet

      I walk by the footsteps of his flocks come hither tender flocks

      Can you converse with a pure Soul that seeketh for her maker

      You answer not then am I set your mistress in this garden

      Ill watch you & attend your footsteps you are not like the birds

      PAGE 128

      That sing & fly in the bright air but you do lick my feet

      And let me touch your wooly backs follow me as I sing

      For in my bosom a new song arises to my Lord

      Rise up O Sun most glorious minister & light of day

      Flow on ye gentle airs & bear the voice of my rejoicing

      Wave freshly clear waters flowing around the tender grass

      And thou sweet smelling ground put forth thy life in fruits & flowers

      Follow me O my flocks & hear me sing my rapturous Song

      I will cause my voice to be heard on the clouds that glitter in the sun

      10 I will call & who shall answer me I will sing who shall reply

      For from my pleasant hills behold the living living springs

      Running among my green pastures delighting among my trees

      I am not here alone my flocks you are my brethren

      And you birds that sing & adorn the sky you are my sisters

      I sing & you reply to my Song I rejoice & you are glad

      Follow me O my flocks we will now descend into the valley

      O how delicious are the grapes flourishing in the Sun

      How clear the spring of the rock running among the golden sand

      How cool the breezes of the vally & the arms of the branching trees

      20 Cover us from the sun come & let us sit in the Shade

      My Luvah here hath placd me in a Sweet & pleasant Land

      And given me fruits & pleasant waters & warm hills & cool valleys

      Here will I build myself a house & here Ill call on his name

      Here Ill return when I am weary & take my pleasant rest

      So spoke the Sinless Soul & laid her head on the downy fleece

      Of a curld Ram who stretchd himself in sleep beside his mistress

      And soft sleep fell upon her eyelids in the silent noon of day

      Then Luvah passed by & saw the sinless Soul

      And said Let a pleasant house arise to be the dwelling place

      30 Of this immortal Spirit growing in lower Paradise

      He spoke & pillars were builded & walls as white as ivory

      The grass she slept upon was pavd with pavement as of pearl

      Beneath her rose a downy bed & a cieling coverd all

      Vala awoke. When in the pleasant gates of sleep I enterd

      I saw my Luvah like a spirit stand in the bright air

      Round him stood spirits like me who reard me a bright house

      And here I see thee house remain in my most pleasant world

      PAGE 129

      My Luvah smild I kneeled down he laid his hand on my head

      And when he laid his hand upon me from the gates of sleep I came

     
    Into this bodily house to tend my flocks in my pleasant garden

      So saying she arose & walked round her beautiful house

      And then from her white door she lookd to see her bleating lambs

      But her flocks were gone up from beneath the trees into the hills

      I see the hand that leadeth me doth also lead my flocks

      She went up to her flocks & turned oft to see her shining house

      She stopd to drink of the clear spring & eat the grapes & apples

      10 She bore the fruits in her lap she gatherd flowers for her bosom

      She called to her flocks saying follow me o my flocks

      They followd her to the silent vally beneath the spreading trees

      And on the rivers margin she ungirded her golden girdle

      She stood in the river & viewd herself within the watry glass

      And her bright hair was wet with the waters She rose up from the river

      And as she rose her Eyes were opend to the world of waters

      She saw Tharmas sitting upon the rocks beside the wavy sea

      He strokd the water from his beard & mournd faint thro the summer vales

      And Vala stood on the rocks of Tharmas & heard his mournful voice

      20 O Enion my weary head is in the bed of death

      For weeds of death have wrapd around my limbs in the hoary deeps

      I sit in the place of shells & mourn & thou art closd in clouds

      When will the time of Clouds be past & the dismal night of Tharmas

      Arise O Enion Arise & smile upon my head

      As thou dost smile upon the barren mountains and they rejoice

      When wilt thou smile on Tharmas O thou bringer of golden day

      Arise O Enion arise for Lo I have calmd my seas

      So saying his faint head he laid upon the Oozy rock

      And darkness coverd all the deep the light of Enion faded

      30 Like a fa[i]nt flame quivering upon the surface of the darkness

      Then Vala lifted up her hands to heaven to call on Enion

      She calld but none could answer her & the Eccho of her voice returnd

      Where is the voice of God that calld me from the silent dew

      Where is the Lord of Vala dost thou hide in clefts of the rock

      Why shouldst thou hide thyself from Vala from the soul that wanders desolate

      She ceas’d & light beamd round her like the glory of the morning

      PAGE 130

      And She arose out of the river & girded her golden girdle

      And now her feet step on the grassy bosom of the ground

      Among her flocks & she turnd her eyes toward her pleasant house

      And saw in the door way beneath the trees two little children playing

      She drew near to her house & her flocks followd her footsteps

      The Children clung around her knees she embracd them & wept over them

      Thou little Boy art Tharmas & thou bright Girl Enion

      How are ye thus renewd & brought into the Gardens of Vala

      She embracd them in tears, till the sun descended the western hills

      10 And then she enterd her bright house leading her mighty children

      And when night came the flocks laid round the house beneath the trees

      She laid the Children on the beds which she saw prepard in the house

      Then last herself laid down & closd her Eyelids in soft slumbers

      And in the morning when the Sun arose in the crystal sky

      Vala awoke & calld the children from their gentle slumbers

      Awake O Enion awake & let thine innocent Eyes

      Enlighten all the Crystal house of Vala awake awake

      Awake Tharmas awake awake thou child of dewy tears

      Open the orbs of thy blue eyes & smile upon my gardens

      20 The Children woke & smild on Vala. she kneeld by the golden couch

      She presd them to her bosom & her pearly tears dropd down

      O my sweet Children Enion let Tharmas kiss thy Cheek

      Why dost thou turn thyself away from his sweet watry eyes

      Tharmas henceforth in Valas bosom thou shalt find sweet peace

      O bless the lovely eyes of Tharmas & the Eyes of Enion

      They rose they went out wandring sometimes together sometimes alone

      Why weepest thou Tharmas Child of tears in the bright house of joy

      Doth Enion avoid the sight of thy blue heavenly Eyes

      And dost thou wander with my lambs & [with] wet their innocent faces

      30 With thy bright tears because the steps of Enion are in the gardens

      Arise sweet boy & let us follow the path of Enion

      So saying they went down into the garden among the fruits

      And Enion sang among the flowers that grew among the trees

      And Vala said Go Tharmas weep not Go to Enion

      PAGE 131

      He said O Vala I am sick & all this garden of Pleasure

      Swims like a dream before my eyes but the sweet smelling fruit

      Revives me to new deaths I fade even like a water lilly

      In the suns heat till in the night on the couch of Enion

      I drink new life & feel the breath of sleeping Enion

      But in the morning she arises to avoid my Eyes

      Then my loins fade & in the house I sit me down & weep

      Chear up thy Countenance bright boy & go to Enion

      Tell her that Vala waits her in the shadows of her garden

      10 He went with timid steps & Enion like the ruddy morn

      When infant spring appears in swelling buds & opening flowers

      Behind her Veil withdraws so Enion turnd her modest head

      But Tharmas spoke Vala seeks thee sweet Enion in the shades

      Follow the steps of Tharmas, O thou brightness of the gardens

      He took her hand reluctant she followd in infant doubts

      Thus in Eternal Childhood straying among Valas flocks

      In infant sorrow & joy alternate Enion & Tharmas playd

      Round Vala in the Gardens of Vala & by her rivers margin

      They are the shadows of Tharmas & of Enion in Valas world

      20 And the sleepers who rested from their harvest work beheld these visions

      Thus were the sleepers entertaind upon the Couches of Beulah

      When Luvah & Vala were closd up in their world of shadowy forms

      Darkness was all beneath the heavens only a little light

      Such as glows out from sleeping spirits appeard in the deeps beneath

      As when the wind sweeps over a Corn field the noise of souls

      Thro all the immense borne down by Clouds swagging in autumnal heat

      Muttering along from heaven to heaven hoarse roll the human forms

      Beneath thick clouds dreadful lightnings burst & thunders roll

      Down pour the torrent Floods of heaven on all the human harvest

      30 Then Urizen sitting at his repose on beds in the bright South

      Cried Times are Ended he Exulted he arose in joy he exulted

      He pourd his light & all his Sons & daughters pourd their light

      To exhale the spirits of Luvah & Vala thro the atmosphere

      And Luvah & Vala saw the Light their spirits were Exhald

      In all their ancient innocence the floods depart the clouds

      Dissipate or sink into the Seas of Tharmas Luvah sat

      Above on the bright heavens in peace. the Spirits of Men beneath

      Cried out to be deliverd & the Spirit of Luvah wept

      Over the human harvest & over Vala the sweet wanderer

      40 In pain the human harvest wavd in horrible groans of woe

      PAGE I32

      The Universal Groan went up the Eternal Man was Darkend

      Then Urizen arose & took his Sickle in his hand

      There is a brazen sickle & a scythe of iron hid

      Deep in the South guarded by a few solitary stars

      This sickle Urizen took the scythe his sons embracd

      And wen
    t forth & began to reap & all his joyful sons

      Reapd the wide Universe & bound in Sheaves a wondrous harvest

      They took them into the wide barns with loud rejoicings & triumph

      Of flute & harp & drum & trumpet horn & clarion

      10 The feast was spread in the bright South & the Regenerate Man

      Sat at the feast rejoicing & the wine of Eternity

      Was servd round by the flames of Luvah all Day & all the Night

      And when Morning began to dawn upon the distant hills

      [Then] a whirlwind rose up in the Center & in the Whirlwind a Shriek

      And in the Shriek a rattling of bones & in the rattling of bones

      A dolorous groan & from the dolorous groan in tears

      Rose Enion like a gentle light & Enion spoke saying

      O Dreams of Death the human form dissolving companied

      [With] By beasts & worms & creeping things & darkness & despair

      20 The clouds fall off from my wet brow the dust from my cold limbs

      Into the Sea of Tharmas Soon renewd a Golden Moth

      I shall cast off my death clothes & Embrace Tharmas again

      For Lo the winter melted away upon the distant hills

      And all the black mould sings. She speas to her infant race her milk

      Descends [of] down on the sand. the thirsty sand drinks & rejoices

      Wondering to behold the Emmet the Grasshopper the jointed worm

      The roots shoot thick thro the solid rocks bursting their way

      They cry out in joys of existence. the broad stems

      Rear on the mountains stem after stem the scaly newt creeps

      30 From the stone & the armed fly springs from the rocky crevice

      The spider. The bat burst from the hardend slime crying

      To one another What are we & whence is our joy & delight

      Lo the little moss begins to spring & the tender weed

      Creeps round our secret nest. Flocks brighten the Mountains

      Herds throng up the Valley wild beasts fill the forests

      Joy thrilld thro all the Furious form of Tharmas humanizing

      Mild he Embracd her whom he sought he raisd her thro the heavens

      Sounding his trumpet to awake the dead on high he soard

      Over the ruind worlds the smoking tomb of the Eternal Prophet

      PAGE 133

      The Eternal Man arose He welcomd them to the Feast

      The feast was spread in the bright South & the Eternal Man

      Sat at the feast rejoicing & the wine of Eternity

      Was servd round by the flames of Luvah all day & all the night

      And Many Eternal Men sat at the golden feast to see

      The female form now separate They shudderd at the horrible thing

     


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