Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/215

Rh xxiv

The sword sung on the barren heath, The sickle in the fruitful field : The sword he sung a song of death, But could not make the sickle yield. MS. Book, p. 105. Not in DGR or Swinb. WMR, EY, WBY (' Couplets and Fragments,' vii). 1, 3 sung] sang all edd.

xxv

Abstinence sows sand all over The ruddy limbs & flaming hair, But Desire Gratified Plants fruits of life & beauty there. MS. Book, p. 105. DGR, WMR, EY (ii) and WBY (3) 'Couplets and Fragments,' Swinb., p. 137. 2 flaming] ? flowering ? flowery Swinb.

xxvi

In a wife I would desire What in whores is always found — The lineaments of Gratified desire.

MS. Book, p. 105. Cp. 'Several Questions Answered' (xxxv).

xxvii

If you trap the moment before it's ripe, The tears of repentance you'll certainly wipe ; But if once you let the ripe moment go You can never wipe off the tears of woe.

MS. Book, p. 105. In pencil. Printed by DGR and all later edd. as the second stanza of the poem immediately following in the MS. Book (xxxv, 'Eternity') under the title 'Opportunity.' 1 trap] catch MS. Book ''1st rdg. del. 4 You can] You'll MS. Book 1st rdg. del.''