Page:Life of William Blake, Gilchrist.djvu/178

 Afterwards it becomes a fruitful source of spiritual corruption:—

Prior to this, however—

A gradual debasement of the human race goes on—

Under the symbol of the kings of Asia, the Song describes the misery of the old philosophies and despotisms; their bitter lament and prayer that by pestilence and fire the race may be saved; 'that a remnant may learn to obey':—