Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/266

254 [Crabb Robinson's beautiful and probable interpretation is original, and as it appears not to have been noticed by later writers is a real contribution to the understanding of Blake's work.]

Besides these songs two other works of Blake's Poetry and Painting have come under our notice, of which, however, we must confess our inability to give a sufficient account. These are two quarto volumes which appeared in 1794, printed and adorned like the Songs, under the titles of Europe, a Prophecy, and America, a Prophecy.

The very 'Prophecies of Bakis' are not obscurer. 'America' appears in part to give a poetical account of the Revolution, since it contains the names of several party leaders. The actors in it are a species of guardian angels. We give only a short example, nor can we decide whether it is intended to be in prose or verse.

The obscurity of these lines in such a poem by such a man will be willingly overlooked.

'Europe' is a similar mysterious and incomprehensible rhapsody, which probably contains the