Page:William Blake, a critical essay (Swinburne).djvu/298

264 noble conception, developing easily and rapidly into what was once called the Manichean doctrine as to the Old Testament.

The words of the text recur not unfrequently in the prophetic books. A single final act of redemption by sacrifice and oblation of one for another is not admitted as sufficient, or even possible. The favourite dogma is this, of the eternity of sacrifice; endless redemption to be bought at no less a price than endless self-devotion. To this plea of "an Eternal" before the assembly succeeds the myth of Leutha "offering herself a ransom for