Page:Works of William Blake; poetic, symbolic, and critical (1893) Volume 2.djvu/57

 Rh 1810, and portions of it may belong to 1812. This is shown by the way in which the lines fit any chance space in the MS. book left by the "Vision of the Last Judgment," which bears for title, — "For the year 1810, Additions to Blake's Catalogue of Pictures, &c," and by a phrase repeated in the " Screwmuch" lines of 1812. In this prose story of the Vision, "The Saviour, the true vine of eternity, the Human Imagination," had already appeared as "coming to Judgment, and throwing off the temporal that the Eternal might be established." Blake's mind was making its great struggle to rise above the wretched angers and troubles of his life, while recognizing the symbolic purpose of these. He was burning with indignation and sick with disappointment. Stothard had reaped the crop that he had sown. The Examiner had endeavoured to drive him off the field of art, as though he were a trespasser, because he tried to harvest some of his own corn. Poverty sat by his chair ; the wolf howled at his door. Old friendships were failing. New enmities were growing. He recoiled from all outside influence and resolved to make what he could of his body as symbol, and his mind as life, looking in these for so much of form, and of mind Divine, as might be fitted for his understanding, and for his usage and duty.

The words which in the Aldine edition begin the poem, were written, probably, with no intention that they should form part of it. They are more probably a preface or dedication which expressed the private oi'igin of the work. They are evidently addressed to Stothard, when read in connection with the phrase " Friend of all Mankind," in the Screwmuch lines of two years later, — a brief overboiling and return to quarrelsome life. The " ong, hooked nose" also points to Stothard. The "Vision of Christ" is necessarily personal. Each looks in a glass, and, seeing himself, worships. This is the doctrine for which the "little boy" in the "Song of Experience" was bound in an iron chain.

Mr. Rossetti's sense of propriety, guided by his entire lack of mental companionship with Blake, has led him to sup-