Europe a Prophecy

CONTENTS: Inroduction [Plate iii]

Preludium

A Prophecy

[Plate iii]

‘Five windows light the cavern’d Man: thro’ one he breathes the air; Thro’ one hears music of the spheres; thro’ on the eternal vine Flourishes, that he may receive the grapes; thro’ one can look And see small portions of the eternal world that ever growth; Thro’ one himself pass out what time he please, but he will not; For stolen joys are sweet, & bread eaten in secret pleasant.’

So sang a Fairy mocking as he sat on a streak’d Tulip, Thinking none saw him; when he ceas’d I started from the trees, And caught him in my hat as boys knock down a butterfly. ‘How know you this,’ said I, ‘small Sir? where did you learn this song?’ seeing himself in my possession, thus he answer’d me: ‘My Master, I am yours; command me, for I must obey.’

‘Then tell me what is the material world, and is it dead?’ He laughing answer’d: ‘I will write a book on leaves of flowers, If you will feed me on love-thoughts, & give me now and then A cup of sparkling poetic fancies. So, when I am tipsie, I’ll sing to you to this soft lute, and shew you all alive The world, where every particle of dust breathes forth its joy.’

I took him home in my warm bosom. As we went along Wild flowers I gather’d, & he shew’d me each eternal flower. He laugh’d aloud to see them whimper because they were pluck’d. They hover’d round me like a cloud of incense. When I came Into my parlour and sat down, and took my pen to write, My Fairy sat upon the table, and dictated ‘EUROPE.’