THE FOUR ZOAS

William Blake

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Night the First

Night the Second

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

        Rest before Labour

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

        VALA

Night the First

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Begin with Tharmas Parent power. darkning in the West

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

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

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

        Trembling & pale sat Tharmas weeping in his clouds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Thus Urizen spoke collected in himself in awful pride

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

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

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

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

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

        They eat the fleshly bread, they drank the nervous wine  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Enion blind & age-bent wept upon the desolate wind  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        End of The First Night

VALA

Night the Second

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

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

        Mighty was the draught of Voidness to draw Existence in

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Hear ye the voice of Luvah from the furnaces of Urizen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        And Vala like a shadow oft appeard to Urizen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        Thus was the Mundane shell builded by Urizens strong power

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        At the first Sound the Golden sun arises from the Deep
        And sakes his awful hair
        The Eccho wakes the moon to unbind her silver locks
        The golden sun bears on my song
        And nine bright spheres of harmony rise round the fiery King

        The joy of woman is the Death of her most best beloved
        Who dies for Love of her
        In torments of fierce jealousy & pangs of adoration.
        The Lovers night bears on my song
        And the nine Spheres rejoice beneath my powerful controll

        They sing unceasing to the notes of my immortal hand
        The solemn silent moon