Page:Life of William Blake, Gilchrist.djvu/138

 In one copy which I have seen, under No. 4 are inscribed the words—

Last follows an epilogue, or postscript, which perhaps explains itself, addressed

To the Accuser, who is the God of this World.

In this year, by the way, the first volume of a more famous poet, but a much less original volume than Blake's first,—the Descriptive Sketches of Wordsworth, followed by the Evening Walk,—were published by Johnson, of St, Paul's Churchyard. Neither reached a second edition; but by 1807, when the Lyrical Ballads had attracted admirers here and there, they had, according to De Quincey, got out of print, and scarce.

Other engraved volumes, more removed from ordinary sympathy and comprehension than the Gates of Paradise, were issued in the same year: dreamy 'Books of Prophecy' following in the wake of the Marriage of Heaven and Hell. First came Visions of the Daughters of Albion, a folio volume of Designs and rhymless verse, printed in colour.

is the key-note struck in the first page, to which follows the Argument:—