Page:William Blake, a critical essay (Swinburne).djvu/337

Rh That the book contains much of a personal kind referring in a wild dim manner to his own spiritual actions and passions, is evident: but even by the new light of the Felpham correspondence one can hardly see where to lay finger on these passages and separate them decisively from the loose floating context. Not without regret, yet not with any sense of wilful or scornful oversight, we must be content now to pass on, and put up with this insufficient notice.

The only other engraved work of a prophetic kind did not appear for eighteen years more. This last and least in size, but not in worth, of the whole set is so brief that it may here be read in full.

THE GHOST OF ABEL.

A REVELATION IN THE VISIONS OF JEHOVAH.

To Lord Byron in the "Wilderness.—What dost thou here, Elijah?

Can a Poet doubt the Visions of Jehovah? Nature has no Outline:

But Imagination has. Nature has no Time; but Imagination has.

Nature has no Supernatural, and dissolves; Imagination is Eternity.

SCENE.—A rocky Country. fainted over the dead body of  which lays near a grave.  kneels by her.  stands above.

. Adam!

. It is in vain: I will not hear thee more, thou Spiritual Voice.

Is this Death?

. Adam!

.It is in vain; I will not hear thee

Henceforth. Is this thy Promise that the Woman's Seed

Should bruise the Serpent's Head? Is this the Serpent? Ah!

Seven times, Eve, thou hast fainted over the Dead. Ah! Ah!

( revives.)

. Is this the Promise of Jehovah? O it is all a vain delusion, This Death and this Life and this Jehovah.