The Caverns of the Grave Ive seen



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The Caverns of the Grave I've seen, And these I shew'd to England's Queen. But now the Caves of Hell I view, Who shall I dare to shew them to? What mighty Soul in Beauty's form Shall dauntless View the Infernal storm? Egremont's Countess can controll The flames of Hell that round me roll; If she refuse, I still go on Till the Heavens & Earth are gone, Still admir'd by Noble minds, Follow'd by Envy on the winds, Re-engrav'd Time after Time, Ever in their Youthful prime. My Designs unchang'd remain. Time may rage, but rage in vain. For above Time's troubled Fountains, On the Great Atlantic Mountains, In my Golden House on high, There they shine Eternally.

MS. Book. p. 87, on same page as part of Blake's descriptive account of his picture of 'The Last Judgment,' headed 'For the Year 1810 : Addition to Blake's Catalogue of Pictures, &c.' Swinb. p. 55, WMR p. 170, EY iii. 74, WBY p. 140, all except Swinb. with title ' For a Picture of the Last Judgment : Dedication.' WMR (p. 144) seems unaware that this poem forms part of the MS. Book. 1 Caverns] Visions MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 3 But] And MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 4 Who] Whom WMR, EY, WBY. 6 daunt'ess] dare to MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 7 can] dare MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 8 flames] doors ibid, ist )dg. del.

11 Noble] worthy ibid, 1si rdg. del. 15 unchang'd] shall still ibid. 1st rdg. del.

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The original text:


The Caverns of the Grave Ive seen And these I shewd to Englands Queen But now the Caves of Hell I view Who shall I dare to shew them to What mighty Soul in Beautys form Shall dauntless View the Infernal Storm Egremonts Countess can controll The flames of Hell that round me roll If she refuse I still go on Till the Heavens & Earth are gone Still admird by Noble minds Followd by Envy on the winds Reengravd Time after Time Ever in their Youthful prime My Designs unchangd remain Time may rage but rage in vain For above Times troubled Fountains On the Great Atlantic Mountains In my Golden House on high There they Shine Eternally

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