Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/266

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Give Pensions to the Learned Pig, Or the Hare playing on a Tabor ; Anglus can never see Perfection But in the Journeyman's Labour.

MS. Book, p. 40. DGR, WMR (see note to xcix), EY i. 222. Cp. Advertisement (MS. Book, p. 25) : ' In the art of painting, these impostors sedulously propagate an opinion that great inventors cannot execute. This opinion is as destructive of the true artist as it is false by all experience. Even Hogarth cannot be either copied or improved. Can Anglus ever discern perfection but in the journeyman's labour ? ' Cp. also Advertisement (MS. Book, p. 47) : ' Englishmen have been so used to journeymen's undecided bungling that they cannot bear the firmness of a master's touch.' 3 Anglus] Bunglers EY.

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All pictures that 's painted with sense and with thought i Are painted by Madmen, as sure as a Groat ; For the Greater the Fool is the Pencil more blest, As when they are drunk they always paint best. They never can Rafael it, Fuseli it, nor Blake it ; 5 If they can't see an outline, pray how can they make it? When Men will draw outlines begin you to jaw them ; Madmen see outlines and therefore they draw them.

MS. Book, p. 40. DGR, WMR (see note to xcix), EY i. 222. 1 and] or DGR, WMR. 3 is the Pencil] in the art the DGR, WMR. 4 As] And DGR, WMR. 5 nor] or EY. 7 When. . . them] All men have drawn outlines whenever they saw them DGR, WMR.

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On H——— the Pickthank

I write the Rascal thanks, till he and I With Thanks and Compliments are quite drawn dry.

MS. Book, p. 41. Gil. i. 181, extending ' H——— ' to ' Hayley.' EY i. 223.