Page:Works Of William Blake Volume 1.pdf/9

 xiii

PREFACE.

whose symbolic name is Christ, just as Nature is the philo­sophic name of Satan and Adam. In saying that Christ redeems Adam (and Eve) from becoming Satan, we say that Imagination redeems Reason (and Passion) from becoming Delusion,—or Nature.

The prophets and apostles, priests and missionaries, pro­phets and apostles of this Redemption are,— or should be,— artists and poets. Art and poetry, by constantly using symbolism, continually remind us that nature itself is a symbol. To remember this, is to be redeemed from nature's death and destruction.

This is Blake's message. He uttered it with the zeal of a man, who saw with spiritual eyes the eternal importance of that which he proclaimed. For this he looked forward to the return of the Golden Age, when “ all that was not inspira­tion should be cast off from poetry. "Then, whenever the metaphors and the rhythms of the poet were heard, while the voices of the sects had fallen dumb, should be the new Sinai, from which God should speak in " Thunder of Thought and flames of fierce desire."

EDWIN J. ELLIS.

WILLIAM B. YEATS.