Page:Works of William Blake; poetic, symbolic, and critical (1893) Volume 2.djvu/69

 Rh
 * Though thou wast so pure and bright
 * That Heaven was not clean in thy sight;
 * Though thy oath turned Heaven pale,
 * Though thy covenant built Hell's jail,
 * Though thou dost all to chaos roll
 * With the serpent for its soul.
 * Still the breath Divine does move,
 * And the breath Divine is love.
 * Mary, fear not. Let me see
 * The seven devils that torment thee.
 * Hide not from my sight thy sin,
 * That forgiveness thou mayst win.
 * Has no man condemned thee?"
 * "No man, Lord." "Then what is he
 * Who shall accuse thee? Come ye forth,
 * Fallen fiends of Heavenly birth
 * That have forgot your ancient love
 * And driven away my trembling dove.
 * You shall bow before her feet;
 * You shall lick the dust for meet,
 * And though you cannot love, but hate,
 * You shall be beggars at love's gate.
 * What was thy love? Let me see it.
 * Was it love, or dark deceit?"
 * "Love too long from me has fled.
 * 'Twas dark deceit to earn my bread.
 * 'Twas covet, or 'twas custom, or
 * Some trifle not worth caring for
 * That they may call a shame and sin;
 * Love's temple that God dwelleth in,
 * And hide in secret hidden shrine
 * The naked human form divine
 * And render that a lawless thing
 * On which the soul expands her wing.
 * {smaller|{But this, O Lord, this was my sin, }}
 * When first I let the devils in,
 * In dark pretence to chastity,
 * Blaspheming love, blaspheming Thee.
 * Thence rose secret adulteries,
 * And thence did covet also rise.
 * My sin thou hast forgiven me.
 * Canst thou forgive my blasphemy?
 * Canst thou return to this dark hell,
 * And in my burning bosom dwell?
 * And canst thou die that I may live
 * And canst thou pity and forgive? "
 * Then rolled the shadowy Man away
 * From the limbs of Jesus to make them his prey,
 * An ever-devouring appetite