Europe a Prophecy/Preludium

The nameless shadowy female rose form out the breast of Orc, Her snaky hair brandishing in the winds of Enitharmon; And thus her voice arose:

‘O mother Enitharmon, wilt thou bring forth other sons, To cause my name to vanish, that my place may not be found? For I am faint with travel! Like the dark cloud disburden’d in the day of dismal thunder.

‘My roots are brandish’d in the heavens, my fruits in earth beneath Surge, foam and labour into life, first born & first consum’d! Consumed and consuming! Then why shouldst thou, accused mother, bring me into life?

‘I warp my turban of thick clouds around my lab’ring head, And fold the sheety waters as a mantle round my limbs. Yet the red sun and moon And all the overflowing stars rain down prolific pains.

‘Unwilling I look up to heaven! unwilling count the stars! Sitting in fathomless abyss of my immortal shrine, I seize their burning power And bring forth howling terrors, all devouring fiery kings,

‘Devouring & devoured, roaming in dark and desolate mountains in forests of eternal death, shrieking in hollow trees. Ah mother Enitharmon! Stamp not with solid form the vig’rous progeny of fires.

‘I bring forth form my teeming bosom myriads of flames, And thou dost stamp them with a signet; then they roam abroad And leave me void as death. Ah! I am drown’d in shady woe, and visionary joy.

‘And who shall bind the infinite with an eternal band? To compass it with swaddling bands? And who shall cherish it With milk and honey? I see it smile & I roll inward & my voice is past.’

She ceast, & roll’d her shady clouds Into the secret palce.