Jerusalem. The Emanation of the Giant Albion/Plate 59



PLATE 59

And formed into Four precious stones. for enterance from Beulah

For the Veil of Vala which Albion cast into the Atlantic Deep To catch the Souls of the Dead: began to Vegetate & Petrify Around the Earth of Albion. among the Roots of his Tree This Los formed into the Gates & mighty Wall, between the Oak Of Weeping & the Palm of Suffering beneath Albions Tomb, Thus in process of time it became the beautiful Mundane Shell, The Habitation of the Spectres of the Dead & the Place Of Redemption & of awaking again into Eternity For Four Universes round the Mundane Egg remain Chaotic One to the North; Urthona: One to the South; Urizen: One to the East: Luvah: One to the West, Tharmas; They are the Four Zoas that stood around the Throne Divine Verulam: London: York & Edinburgh: their English names But when Luvah assumed the World of Urizen Southward And Albion was slain upon his Mountains & in his Tent. All fell towards the Center, sinking downwards in dire ruin, In the South remains a burning Fire: in the East. a Void In the West, a World of raging Waters: in the North; solid Darkness Unfathomable without end: but in the midst of these Is Built eternally the sublime Universe of Los & Enitharmon And in the North Gate, in the West of the North. toward Beulah Cathedrons Looms are builded. and Los's Furnaces in the South A wondrous golden Building immense with ornaments sublime Is bright Cathedrons golden Hall, its Courts Towers & Pinnacles And one Daughter of Los sat at the fiery Reel & another Sat at the shining Loom with her Sisters attending round Terrible their distress & their sorrow cannot be utterd And another Daughter of Los sat at the Spinning Wheel Endless their labour, with bitter food. void of sleep, Tho hungry they labour: they rouze themselves anxious Hour after hour labouring at the whirling Wheel Many Wheels & as many lovely Daughters sit weeping Yet the intoxicating delight that they take in their work Obliterates every other evil; none pities their tears Yet they regard not pity & they expect no one to pity For they labour for life & love, regardless of any one But the poor Spectres that they work for, always incessantly They are mockd, by every one that passes by. they regard not They labour; & when their Wheels are broken by scorn & malice They mend them sorrowing with many tears & afflictions. Other Daughters Weave on the Cushion & Pillow, Network fine That Rahab & Tirzah may exist & live & breathe & love Ah, that it could be as the Daughters of Beulah wish!

Other Daughters of Los, labouring at Looms less fine Create the Silk-worm & the Spider & the Catterpiller To assist in their most grievous work of pity & compassion And others Create the wooly Lamb & the downy Fowl To assist in the work: the Lamb bleats: the Sea-fowl cries Men understand not the distress & the labour & sorrow That in the Interior Worlds is carried on in fear & trembling Weaving the shuddring fears & loves of Albions Families Thunderous rage the Spindles of iron. & the iron Distaff Maddens in the fury of their hands, Weaving in bitter tears The Veil of Goats-hair & Purple & Scarlet & fine twined Linen