Vala, or The Four Zoas/Night the Ninth

VALA

NIGHT THE NINTH

BEING THE LAST JUDGMENT

And Los & Enitharmon builded Jerusalem weeping

Over the Sepulcher & over the Crucified body

Which to their Phantom Eyes appear'd Still in the Sepulcher

But Jesus stood beside them in the Spirit Separating

Their Spirit from their body. Terrified at Non Existence

For such they deemd the death of the body. Los his vegetable hands

Outstretchd his right hand branching out in fibrous strength

Siezd the Sun. His left hand like dark roots coverd the Moon

And tore them down cracking the heavens across from immense to immense

Then fell the fires of Eternity with loud & shrill

Sound of Loud Trumpet thundering along from heaven to heaven

A mighty sound articulate Awake ye dead & come

To Judgment from the four winds Awake & Come away

Folding like scrolls of the Enormous volume of Heaven & Earth

With thunderous noise & dreadful shakings rocking to & fro

The heavens are shaken & the Earth removed from its place

The foundations of the Eternal hills discoverd

The thrones of Kings are shaken they have lost their robes & crowns

The poor smite their opressors they awake up to the harvest

The naked warriors rush together down to the sea shore

Trembling before the multitudes of slaves now set at liberty

They are become like wintry flocks like forests stripd of leaves

The opressed pursue like the wind there is no room for escape

The Spectre of Enitharmon let loose on the troubled deep

Waild shrill in the confusion & the Spectre of Urthona

Recievd her in the darkning South their bodies lost they stood

Trembling & weak a faint embrace a fierce desire as when

Two shadows mingle on a wall they wail & shadowy tears

Fell down & shadowy forms of joy mixd with despair & grief

Their bodies buried in the ruins of the Universe

Mingled with the confusion. Who shall call them from the Grave.

Rahab & Tirzah wail aloud in the wild flames they give up themselves to Consummation.

The books of Urizen unroll with dreadful noise the folding Serpent

Of Orc began to Consume in fierce raving fire his fierce flames

Issud on all sides gathring strength in animating volumes

Roaming abroad on all the winds raging intense reddening

Into resistless pillars of fire rolling round & round gathering

Strength from the Earths consumd & heavens & all hidden abysses

Wherever the Eagle has Explord or Lion or Tyger trod

Or where the Comets of the night or stars of [ eternal ] asterial day

Have shot their arrows or long beamed spears in wrath & fury.

And all the while the trumpet sounds [ Awake ye dead & come

To Judgment .] from the clotted gore & from the hollow den

Start forth the trembling millions into flames of mental fire

Bathing their limbs in the bright visions of Eternity.

Then like the doves from pillars of Smoke the trembling families

Of women & children throughout every nation under heaven

Cling round the men in bands of twenties & of fifties pale

As snow that falls around a leafless tree upon the green

Their opressors are falln they have Stricken them they awake to life

Yet pale the just man stands erect & looking up to heavn

Trembling & strucken by the Universal stroke the trees unroot

The rocks groan horrible & run about. The mountains &

Their rivers cry with a dismal cry the cattle gather together

Lowing they kneel before the heavens. the wild beasts of the forests

Tremble the Lion shuddering asks the Leopard. Feelest thou

The dread I feel unknown before My voice refuses to roar

And in weak moans I speak to thee This night

Before the mornings dawn the Eagle calld the Vulture

The Raven calld the hawk I heard them from my forests black

Saying Let us go up far for soon I smell upon the wind

A terror coming from the South. The Eagle & Hawk fled away

At dawn & Eer the sun arose the raven & Vulture followd

Let us flee also to the north. They fled. The Sons of Men

Saw them depart in dismal droves. The trumpet sounded loud

And all the Sons of Eternity Descended into Beulah.

In the fierce flames the limbs of Mystery lay consuming with howling

And deep despair. Rattling go up the flames around the Synagogue

Of Satan Loud the Serpent Orc ragd thro his twenty Seven

Folds. The tree of Mystery went up in folding flames

Blood issud out in mighty volumes pouring in whirlpools fierce

From out the flood gates of the Sky The Gates are burst down pour

The torrents black upon the Earth the blood pours down incessant

Kings in their palaces lie drownd Shepherds their flocks their tents

Roll down the mountains in black torrents Cities Villages

High spires & Castles drownd in the black deluge Shoal on Shoal

Float the dead carcases of Men & Beasts driven to & fro on waves

Of foaming blood beneath the black incessant Sky till all

Mysterys tyrants are cut off & not one left on Earth.

And when all Tyranny was cut off from the face of Earth

Around the Dragon form of Urizen & round his stony form

The flames rolling intense thro the wide Universe

[ Began to draw near to the Earth ] Began to Enter the Holy City. Entring the dismal clouds

In furrowd lightnings break their way the wild flames ?whirling up

The Bloody Deluge living flames winged with intellect

And Reason round the Earth they march in order flame by flame

From the clotted gore & from the hollow den

Start forth the trembling millions into flames of mental fire

Bathing their Limbs in the bright visions of Eternity

[ without ] Beyond this Universal Confusion beyond the remotest Pole

Where their vortexes begin to operate there stands

A Horrible rock far in the South it was forsaken when

Urizen gave the horses of Light into the hands of Luvah

On this rock lay the faded head of the Eternal Man

Enwrapped round with weeds of death pale cold in sorrow & woe

He lifts the blue lamps of his Eyes & cries with heavenly voice

Bowing his head over the consuming Universe he cried

O weakness & O weariness O war within my members

My sons exiled from my breast pass to & fro before me

My birds are silent on my hills flocks die beneath my branches

My tents are fallen my trumpets & the sweet sounds of my harp

Is silent on my clouded hills that belch forth storms & fires

My milk of cows & honey of bees & fruit of golden harvest

Are gatherd in the scorching heat & in the driving rain

My robe is turned to confusion & my bright gold to stones

Where once I sat. I weary walk in misery & pain

For from within my [ narrow ] witherd breast grown narrow with my woes

The Corn is turnd to thistles & the apples into poison

The birds of song to murderous crows My joys to bitter groans

The voices of children in my tents to cries of helpless infants

And all exiled from the face of light & shine of morning

In this dark world a narrow house I wander up & down

I hear Mystery howling in these flames of Consummation

When shall the Man of future times become as in days of old

O weary life why sit I here & give up all my powers

To indolence to the night of death when indolence & mourning

Sit hovring over my dark threshold. tho I arise look out

And scorn the war within my members yet my heart is weak

And my head faint Yet will I look again unto the morning

Whence is this sound of rage of Men drinking each others blood

Drunk with the smoking gore & red but not with nourishing wine.

The Eternal Man sat on the Rocks & cried with awful voice.

O Prince of Light where art thou I behold thee not as once

In those Eternal fields in clouds of morning stepping forth

With harps & songs where bright Ahania sang before thy face

And all thy sons & daughters gatherd round my ample table

See you not all this wracking furious confusion

Come forth from slumbers of thy cold abstraction come forth

Arise to Eternal births shake off thy cold repose

Schoolmaster of souls great opposer of change arise

That the Eternal worlds may see thy face in peace & joy

That thou dread form of Certainty maist sit in town & village

While little children play around thy feet in gentle awe

Fearing thy frown loving thy smile O Urizen Prince of light.

He calld the deep buried his voice & answer none returnd

Then wrath burst round the Eternal Man was wrath again he cried.

Arise O stony form of death O dragon of the Deeps

Lie down before my feet O Dragon let Urizen arise

O how couldst thou deform those beautiful proportions

Of life & person for as the Person so is his life proportiond

Let Luvah rage in the dark deep even to Consummation

For if thou feedest not his rage it will subside in peace

But if thou darest obstinate refuse my stern behest

Thy crown & scepter I will sieze & regulate all my members

In stern severity & cast thee out into the indefinite

Where nothing lives, there to wander. & if thou returnst weary

Weeping at the threshold of Existence I will steel my heart

Against thee to Eternity & never recieve thee more

Thy self destroying beast formd Science shall be thy eternal lot

My anger against thee is greater than against this Luvah

For war is [ honest ] energy Enslavd but thy religion

The first author of this war & the distracting of honest minds

Into confused perturbation & strife & honour & pride

Is a deceit so detestable that I will cast thee out

If thou repentest not & leave thee as a rotten branch to be burnd

With Mystery the Harlot & with Satan for Ever & Ever

Error can never be redeemd in all Eternity

But Sin Even Rahab is redeemd in blood & fury & jealousy

That line of blood that stretchd across the windows of the morning

Redeemd from Errors power. Wake thou dragon of the Deeps

Urizen wept in the dark deep anxious his Scaly form

To reassume the human & he wept in the dark deep.

Saying O that I had never drank the wine nor eat the bread

Of dark mortality nor cast my view into the [ past ] futurity nor turnd

My back darkning the present clouding with a cloud

And building arches high & cities turrets & [ high ] towers & domes

Whose smoke destroyd the pleasant garden & whose running Kennels

Chokd the bright rivers burdning with my Ships the angry deep

Thro Chaos seeking for delight & in spaces remote

Seeking the Eternal which is always present to the wise

Seeking for pleasure which unsought falls round the infants path

And on the fleeces of mild flocks who neither care nor labour

But I the labourer of ages whose unwearied hands

Are thus deformd with hardness with the [ ?plow ] sword & with the spear

And with the Chisel & the mallet I whose labours vast

Order the nations separating family by family

Alone enjoy not. I alone in misery supreme

Ungratified give all my joy unto this Luvah & Vala

Then Go O dark [ remembrance ] futurity I will cast thee forth from these

Heavens of my brain nor will I look upon [ remembrance ] futurity more

I cast [ remembrance ] futurity away & turn my back upon that void

Which I have made for lo futurity is in this moment

Let Orc consume let Tharmas rage let dark Urthona give

All strength to Los & Enitharmon & let Los self cursd

Rend down this fabric as a wall ruind & family extinct

Rage Orc Rage Tharmas Urizen no longer curbs your rage.

So Urizen spoke he shook his snows from off his Shoulders & arose

As on a Pyramid of mist his white robes scattering

The fleecy white renewd he shook his aged mantles off

Into the fires Then glorious bright Exulting in his joy

He sounding rose into the heavens in naked majesty

In radiant Youth. when Lo like garlands in the Eastern sky

When vocal may comes dancing from the East Ahania came

Exulting in her flight as when a bubble rises up

On to the surface of a lake. Ahania rose in joy

Excess of Joy is worse than grief — her heart beat high her blood

Burst its bright Vessels She fell down dead at the feet of Urizen

Outstretchd a Smiling corse they buried her in a silent cave

Urizen dropt a tear the Eternal Man Darkend with sorrow.

The three daughters of Urizen guard Ahanias Death couch

Rising from the confusion in tears & howlings & despair

Calling upon their fathers Name upon their Rivers dark.

And the Eternal Man Said Hear my [ voice ] words O Prince of Light

Behold Jerusalem in whose bosom the Lamb of God

Is seen tho slain before her Gates he self renewd remains

Eternal & I thro him awake from deaths dark vale

The times revolve the time is coming when all these delights

Shall be renewd & all these Elements that now consume

Shall reflourish. Then bright Ahania shall awake from death

A glorious Vision [ of ] to thine Eyes a Self renewing Vision

The spring. the summer to be thine then sleep the wintry days

In silken garments spun by her own hands against her funeral

The winter thou shalt plow & lay thy stores into thy barns

Expecting to recieve Ahania in the spring with joy

Immortal thou. Regenerate She & all the lovely Sex

From her shall learn obedience & prepare for a wintry grave

That spring may see them rise in tenfold joy & sweet delight

Thus shall the male & female live the life of Eternity

Because the Lamb of God Creates himself a bride & wife

That we his Children evermore may live in Jerusalem

Which now descendeth out of heaven a City yet a Woman

Mother of myriads redeemd & born in her spiritual palaces

By a New Spiritual birth Regenerated from Death.

Urizen said. I have Erred & my Error remains with me

What Chain encompasses in what Lock is the river of light confind

That issues forth in the morning by measure & the evening by carefulness

Where shall we take our stand to view the infinite & unbounded

Or where are human feet for Lo our eyes are in the heavens.

He ceasd for rivn link from link the bursting Universe explodes

All things reversd flew from their centers rattling bones [ to bones ]

To bones Join, shaking convulsd the shivering clay breathes

Each speck of dust to the Earths center nestles round & round

In pangs of an Eternal Birth in torment & awe & fear

All spirits deceasd let loose from reptile prisons come in shoals

Wild furies from the tygers brain & from the lions Eyes

And from the ox & ass come moping terrors. from the Eagle

And raven numerous as the leaves of autumn every species

Flock to the trumpet muttring over the sides of the grave & crying

In the fierce wind round heaving rocks & mountains filld with groans

On rifted rocks suspended in the air by inward fires

Many a woful company & many on clouds & waters

Fathers & friends Mothers & Infants Kings & Warriors

Priests & chaind Captives met together in a horrible fear

And every one of the dead appears as he had livd before

And all the marks remain of the slaves scourge & tyrants Crown

And of the Priests oergorged Abdomen & of the merchants thin

Sinewy deception & of the warriors ou[t]braving & thoughtlessness

In lineaments too extended & in bones too strait & long.

They shew their wounds they accuse they sieze the opressor howlings began

On the golden palace Songs & joy on the desart the Cold babe

Stands in the furious air he cries the children of six thousand years

Who died in infancy rage furious a mighty multitude rage furious

Naked & pale standing on the expecting air to be deliverd

Rend limb from limb the Warrior & the tyrant reuniting in pain

The furious wind still rends around they flee in sluggish effort.

They beg they intreat in vain now they Listend not to intreaty

They view the flames red rolling on thro the wide universe

From the [ black ] dark jaws of death beneath & desolate shores remote

These covering Vaults of heaven & these trembling globes of Earth

One Planet [ cries ] calls to another & one star enquires of another

What flames are these coming from the South what noise what dreadful rout

As of a battle in the heavens hark heard you not the trumpet

As of fierce battle While they spoke the flames come on intense roaring.

They see him whom they have piercd they wail because of him

They magnify themselves no more against Jerusalem Nor

Against her little ones the innocent accused before the Judges

Shines with immortal Glory trembling the Judge springs from his throne

Hiding his face in the dust beneath the prisoners feet & saying

Brother of Jesus what have I done intreat thy lord for me

Perhaps I may be forgiven While he speaks the flames roll on.

And after the flames appears the Cloud of the Son of Man

Descending from Jerusalem with power and great Glory

All nations look up to the Cloud & behold him who was Crucified.

The Prisoner answers you scourgd my father to death before my face

While I stood bound with cords & heavy chains. your hipocrisy

Shall now avail you nought. So speaking he dashd him with his foot.

The Cloud is Blood dazling upon the heavens & in the cloud

Above upon its volumes is beheld [ as ] a throne & [ as ] a pavement

Of precious stones. surrounded by twenty four venerable patriarchs

And these again surrounded [ of ] by four Wonders of the Almighty

Incomprehensible. pervading all amidst & round about

Fourfold each in the other reflected they are named Life's in Eternity

Four Starry Universes going forward from Eternity to Eternity

And the Falln Man who was arisen upon the Rock of Ages

Beheld the Vision of God & he arose up from the Rock

And Urizen arose up with him walking thro the flames

To meet the Lord coming to Judgment but the flames repelld them

Still to the Rock in vain they strove to Enter the Consummation

Together for the [ Fallen ] Redeemd Man could not enter the Consummation.

Then siezd the Sons of Urizen the Plow they polishd it

From rust of ages all its ornaments of Gold & silver & ivory

Reshone across the field immense where all the nations

Darkend like Mould in the divided fallows where the weed

Triumphs in its own destruction they took down the harness

From the blue walls of heaven starry jingling ornamented

With beautiful art the study of angels the workmanship of Demons

When Heaven & Hell in Emulation strove in sports of Glory.

The noise of rural work resounded thro the heavens of heavens

The horse[s] neigh from the battle the wild bulls from the sultry waste

The tygers from the forests & the lions [ of ] from the sandy desarts

They Sing they sieze the instruments of harmony they throw away.

The spear the bow the gun the mortar they level the fortifications

They beat the iron engines of destruction into wedges

They give them to Urthonas Sons ringing the hammers sound

In dens of death to forge the spade the mattock & the ax

The heavy roller to break the clods to pass over the nations.

The Sons of Urizen Shout Their father rose The Eternal horses

Harnessd They calld to Urizen the heavens moved at their call

The limbs of Urizen shone with ardor. [ he rose up from the Rock.

The Fallen Man wondring beheld ] He laid his ha[n]d on the Plow

Thro dismal darkness drave the Plow of ages over Cities

And all their Villages over Mountains & all their Vallies

Over the graves & caverns of the dead. Over the Planets

And over the void Spaces over Sun & moon & star & constellation.

Then Urizen commanded & they brought the Seed of Men

The trembling souls of All the Dead stood before Urizen

Weak wailing in the troubled air East west & north & south

He turnd the horses loose & laid his Plow in the northern corner

Of the wide Universal field. then Stepd [ out ] forth into the immense.

Then he began to sow the seed he girded round his loins

With a bright girdle & his skirt filld with immortal souls

Howling & Wailing fly the souls from Urizens strong hand.

For from the hand of Urizen the myriads fall like stars

Into their own appointed places driven back by the winds

The naked warriors rush together down to the sea shores

They are become like wintry flocks like forests stripd of leaves

The Kings & Princes of the Earth cry with a feeble cry

Driven on the unproducing sands & on the hardend rocks

And all the while the flames of Orc follow the ventrous feet

Of Urizen & all the while the Trump of Tharmas sounds

Weeping & wailing fly the souls from Urizens strong hand

The daughters of Urizen stand with Cups & measures of foaming wine

Immense upon the heavens with bread & delicate repasts.

Then follows the golden harrow in the midst of Mental fires

To ravishing melody of flutes & harps & softest voice

The seed is harrowd in while flames heat the black mould & cause

The human harvest to begin Towards the south first sprang

The myriads & in silent fear they look out from their graves.

Then Urizen sits down to rest & all his wearied Sons

Take their repose on beds they drink they sing they view the flames

Of Orc in joy they view the human harvest springing up

A time they give to sweet repose till all the harvest is ripe.

And Lo like the harvest Moon Ahania cast off her death clothes

She folded them up in care in silence & her brightning limbs

Bathd in the clear spring of the rock then from her darksom cave

Issud in majesty divine. Urizen rose up from his couch

On wings of tenfold joy clapping his hands his feet his radiant wings

In the immense as when the Sun dances upon the mountains

A shout of jubilee in lovely notes responding from daughter to daughter

From son to Son as if the Stars beaming innumerable

Thro night should sing soft warbling filling Earth & heaven

And bright Ahania took her seat by Urizen in songs & joy.

The Eternal Man also sat down upon the Couches of Beulah

Sorrowful that he could not put off his new risen body

In mental flames the flames refusd they drove him back to Beulah

His body was redeemd to be permanent thro Mercy Divine

And now fierce Orc had quite consumd himself in Mental flames

Expending all his energy against the fuel of fire

The [ Ancient Man ] Regenerate Man stoopd his head over the Universe & in

His holy hands recievd the flaming Demon & Demoness of Smoke

And gave them to Urizens hands the Immortal frownd Saying.

Luvah & Vala henceforth you are Servants obey & live

You shall forget your former state return O Love in peace

Into your place the place of seed not in the brain or heart

If Gods combine against Man Setting their Dominion above

The Human form Divine. Thrown down from their high Station

In the Eternal heavens of Human [ Thought ] Imagination: buried beneath

In dark oblivion with incessant pangs ages on ages

In Enmity & war first weakend then in stern repentance

They must renew their brightness & their disorganizd functions

Again reorganize till they resume the image of the human

Cooperating in the bliss of Man obeying his Will

Servants to the infinite & Eternal of the Human form.

Luvah & Vala descended & enterd the Gates of Dark Urthona

And walkd from the hands of Urizen in the shadows of Valas Garden

Where the impressions of Despair & Hope for ever vegetate

In flowers in fruits in fishes birds & beasts & clouds & waters

The land of doubts & shadows sweet delusions unformd hopes

They saw no more the terrible confusion of the wracking universe

They heard not saw not felt not all the terrible confusion

For in their orbed senses within closd up they wanderd at will

And those upon the Couches viewd them in the dreams of Beulah

As they reposd from the terrible wide universal harvest

Invisible Luvah in bright clouds hoverd over Valas head

And thus their ancient golden age renewd for Luvah spoke

With voice mild from his golden Cloud upon the breath of morning

Come forth O Vala from the grass & from the silent Dew

Rise from the dews of death for the Eternal Man is Risen.

She rises among flowers & looks toward the Eastern clearness

She walks yea runs her feet are wingd on the tops of the bending grass

Her garments rejoice in the vocal wind & her hair glistens with dew.

She answerd thus Whose voice is this in the voice of the nourishing air

In the spirit of the morning awaking the Soul from its grassy bed.

Where dost thou dwell for it is thee I seek & but for thee

I must have slept Eternally nor have felt the dew of thy morning

Look how the opening dawn advances with vocal harmony

Look how the beams foreshew the rising of some glorious power

The sun is thine [ when ] he goeth forth in his majestic brightness

O thou creating voice that callest & who shall answer thee.

Where dost thou flee O fair one where dost thou seek thy happy place.

To yonder brightness there I haste for sure I came from thence

Or I must have slept eternally nor have felt the dew of morning.

Eternally thou must have slept nor have felt the morning dew

But for yon nourishing sun tis that by which thou art arisen

The birds adore the sun the beasts rise up & play in his beams

And every flower & every leaf rejoices in his light

Then O thou fair one sit thee down for thou art as the grass

Thou risest in the dew of morning & at night art folded up.

Alas am I but as a flower then will I sit me down

Then will I weep then Ill complain & sigh for immortality

And chide my maker thee O Sun that raisedst me to fall.

So saying she sat down & wept beneath the apple trees.

O be thou blotted out thou Sun that raisedst me to trouble

That gavest me a heart to crave & raisedst me thy phantom

To feel thy heat & see thy light & wander here alone

Hopeless if I am like the grass & so shall pass away.

Rise sluggish Soul why sitst thou here why dost thou sit & weep

Yon Sun shall wax old & decay but thou shalt ever flourish

The fruit shall ripen & fall down & the flowers consume away

But thou shalt still survive arise O dry thy dewy tears.

Hah! Shall I still survive whence came that sweet & comforting voice

And whence that voice of sorrow O sun thou art nothing now to me

Go on thy course rejoicing & let us both rejoice together

I walk among his flocks & hear the bleating of his lambs

O that I could behold his face & follow his pure feet

I walk by the footsteps of his flocks come hither tender flocks

Can you converse with a pure Soul that seeketh for her maker

You answer not then am I set your mistress in this garden

Ill watch you & attend your footsteps you are not like the birds.

That sing & fly in the bright air but you do lick my feet

And let me touch your wooly backs follow me as I sing

For in my bosom a new song arises to my Lord

Rise up O Sun most glorious minister & light of day

Flow on ye gentle airs & bear the voice of my rejoicing

Wave freshly clear waters flowing around the tender grass

And thou sweet smelling ground put forth thy life in fruits & flowers

Follow me O my flocks & hear me sing my rapturous Song

I will cause my voice to be heard on the clouds that glitter in the sun

I will call & who shall answer me I will sing who shall reply

For from my pleasant hills behold the living living springs

Running among my green pastures delighting among my trees

I am not here alone my flocks you are my brethren

And you birds that sing & adorn the sky you are my sisters

I sing & you reply to my Song I rejoice & you are glad

Follow me O my flocks we will now descend into the valley

O how delicious are the grapes flourishing in the Sun

How clear the spring of the rock running among the golden sand

How cool the breezes of the vally & the arms of the branching trees

Cover us from the sun come & let us sit in the Shade

My Luvah here hath placd me in a Sweet & pleasant Land

And given me fruits & pleasant waters & warm hills & cool valleys

Here will I build myself a house & here Ill call on his name

Here Ill return when I am weary & take my pleasant rest.

So spoke the Sinless Soul & laid her head on the downy fleece

Of a curld Ram who stretchd himself in sleep beside his mistress

And soft sleep fell upon her eyelids in the silent noon of day.

Then Luvah passed by & saw the sinless Soul

And said Let a pleasant house arise to be the dwelling place

Of this immortal Spirit growing in lower Paradise

He spoke & pillars were builded & walls as white as ivory

The grass she slept upon was pavd with pavement as of pearl

Beneath her rose a downy bed & a cieling coverd all.

Vala awoke. When in the pleasant gates of sleep I enterd

I saw my Luvah like a spirit stand in the bright air

Round him stood spirits like me who reard me a bright house

And here I see thee house remain in my most pleasant world.

My Luvah smild I kneeled down he laid his hand on my head

And when he laid his hand upon me from the gates of sleep I came

Into this bodily house to tend my flocks in my pleasant garden.

So saying she arose & walked round her beautiful house

And then from her white door she lookd to see her bleating lambs

But her flocks were gone up from beneath the trees into the hills.

I see the hand that leadeth me doth also lead my flocks

She went up to her flocks & turned oft to see her shining house

She stopd to drink of the clear spring & eat the grapes & apples

She bore the fruits in her lap she gatherd flowers for her bosom

She called to her flocks saying follow me o my flocks.

They followd her to the silent vally beneath the spreading trees

And on the rivers margin she ungirded her golden girdle

She stood in the river & viewd herself within the watry glass

And her bright hair was wet with the waters She rose up from the river

And as she rose her Eyes were opend to the world of waters

She saw Tharmas sitting upon the rocks beside the wavy sea

He strokd the water from his beard & mournd faint thro the summer vales.

And Vala stood on the rocks of Tharmas & heard his mournful voice.

O Enion my weary head is in the bed of death

For weeds of death have wrapd around my limbs in the hoary deeps

I sit in the place of shells & mourn & thou art closd in clouds

When will the time of Clouds be past & the dismal night of Tharmas

Arise O Enion Arise & smile upon my head

As thou dost smile upon the barren mountains and they rejoice

When wilt thou smile on Tharmas O thou bringer of golden day

Arise O Enion arise for Lo I have calmd my seas.

So saying his faint head he laid upon the Oozy rock

And darkness coverd all the deep the light of Enion faded

Like a fa[i]nt flame quivering upon the surface of the darkness.

Then Vala lifted up her hands to heaven to call on Enion

She calld but none could answer her & the Eccho of her voice returnd.

Where is the voice of God that calld me from the silent dew

Where is the Lord of Vala dost thou hide in clefts of the rock

Why shouldst thou hide thyself from Vala from the soul that wanders desolate.

She ceas'd & light beamd round her like the glory of the morning

And She arose out of the river & girded her golden girdle.

And now her feet step on the grassy bosom of the ground

Among her flocks & she turnd her eyes toward her pleasant house

And saw in the door way beneath the trees two little children playing

She drew near to her house & her flocks followd her footsteps

The Children clung around her knees she embracd them & wept over them.

Thou little Boy art Tharmas & thou bright Girl Enion

How are ye thus renewd & brought into the Gardens of Vala

She embracd them in tears. till the sun descended the western hills

And then she enterd her bright house leading her mighty children

And when night came the flocks laid round the house beneath the trees

She laid the Children on the beds which she saw prepard in the house

Then last herself laid down & closd her Eyelids in soft slumbers.

And in the morning when the Sun arose in the crystal sky

Vala awoke & calld the children from their gentle slumbers.

Awake O Enion awake & let thine innocent Eyes

Enlighten all the Crystal house of Vala awake awake

Awake Tharmas awake awake thou child of dewy tears

Open the orbs of thy blue eyes & smile upon my gardens.

The Children woke & smild on Vala. she kneeld by the golden couch

She presd them to her bosom & her pearly tears dropd down

O my sweet Children Enion let Tharmas kiss thy Cheek

Why dost thou turn thyself away from his sweet watry eyes

Tharmas henceforth in Valas bosom thou shalt find sweet peace

O bless the lovely eyes of Tharmas & the Eyes of Enion.

They rose they went out wandring sometimes together sometimes alone

Why weepest thou Tharmas Child of tears in the bright house of joy

Doth Enion avoid the sight of thy blue heavenly Eyes

And dost thou wander with my lambs & [ with ] wet their innocent faces

With thy bright tears because the steps of Enion are in the gardens

Arise sweet boy & let us follow the path of Enion.

So saying they went down into the garden among the fruits

And Enion sang among the flowers that grew among the trees

And Vala said Go Tharmas weep not Go to Enion.

He said O Vala I am sick & all this garden of Pleasure

Swims like a dream before my eyes but the sweet smelling fruit

Revives me to new deaths I fade even like a water lilly

In the suns heat till in the night on the couch of Enion

I drink new life & feel the breath of sleeping Enion

But in the morning she arises to avoid my Eyes

Then my loins fade & in the house I sit me down & weep.

Chear up thy Countenance bright boy & go to Enion

Tell her that Vala waits her in the shadows of her garden.

He went with timid steps & Enion like the ruddy morn

When infant spring appears in swelling buds & opening flowers

Behind her Veil withdraws so Enion turnd her modest head.

But Tharmas spoke Vala seeks thee sweet Enion in the shades

Follow the steps of Tharmas, O thou brightness of the gardens

He took her hand reluctant she followd in infant doubts.

Thus in Eternal Childhood straying among Valas flocks

In infant sorrow & joy alternate Enion & Tharmas playd

Round Vala in the Gardens of Vala & by her rivers margin

They are the shadows of Tharmas & of Enion in Valas world

And the sleepers who rested from their harvest work beheld these visions

Thus were the sleepers entertaind upon the Couches of Beulah.

When Luvah & Vala were closd up in their world of shadowy forms

Darkness was all beneath the heavens only a little light

Such as glows out from sleeping spirits appeard in the deeps beneath

As when the wind sweeps over a Corn field the noise of souls

Thro all the immense borne down by Clouds swagging in autumnal heat

Muttering along from heaven to heaven hoarse roll the human forms

Beneath thick clouds dreadful lightnings burst & thunders roll

Down pour the torrent Floods of heaven on all the human harvest

Then Urizen sitting at his repose on beds in the bright South

Cried Times are Ended he Exulted he arose in joy he exulted

He pourd his light & all his Sons & daughters pourd their light

To exhale the spirits of Luvah & Vala thro the atmosphere

And Luvah & Vala saw the Light their spirits were Exhald

In all their ancient innocence the floods depart the clouds

Dissipate or sink into the Seas of Tharmas Luvah sat

Above on the bright heavens in peace. the Spirits of Men beneath

Cried out to be deliverd & the Spirit of Luvah wept

Over the human harvest & over Vala the sweet wanderer

In pain the human harvest wavd in horrible groans of woe

The Universal Groan went up the Eternal Man was Darkend.

Then Urizen arose & took his Sickle in his hand

There is a brazen sickle & a scythe of iron hid

Deep in the South guarded by a few solitary stars

This sickle Urizen took the scythe his sons embracd

And went forth & began to reap & all his joyful sons

Reapd the wide Universe & bound in Sheaves a wondrous harvest

They took them into the wide barns with loud rejoicings & triumph

Of flute & harp & drum & trumpet horn & clarion.

The feast was spread in the bright South & the Regenerate Man

Sat at the feast rejoicing & the wine of Eternity

Was servd round by the flames of Luvah all Day & all the Night

And when Morning began to dawn upon the distant hills

[ Then ] a whirlwind rose up in the Center & in the Whirlwind a Shriek

And in the Shriek a rattling of bones & in the rattling of bones

A dolorous groan & from the dolorous groan in tears

Rose Enion like a gentle light & Enion spoke saying.

O Dreams of Death the human form dissolving companied

[ With ] By beasts & worms & creeping things & darkness & despair

The clouds fall off from my wet brow the dust from my cold limbs

Into the Sea of Tharmas Soon renewd a Golden Moth

I shall cast off my death clothes & Embrace Tharmas again

For Lo the winter melted away upon the distant hills

And all the black mould sings. She speaks to her infant race her milk

Descends [ of ] down on the sand. the thirsty sand drinks & rejoices

Wondering to behold the Emmet the Grasshopper the jointed worm

The roots shoot thick thro the solid rocks bursting their way

They cry out in joys of existence. the broad stems

Rear on the mountains stem after stem the scaly newt creeps

From the stone & the armed fly springs from the rocky crevice

The spider. The bat burst from the hardend slime crying

To one another What are we & whence is our joy & delight

Lo the little moss begins to spring & the tender weed

Creeps round our secret nest. Flocks brighten the Mountains

Herds throng up the Valley wild beasts fill the forests.

Joy thrilld thro all the Furious form of Tharmas humanizing

Mild he Embracd her whom he sought he raisd her thro the heavens

Sounding his trumpet to awake the dead on high he soard

Over the ruind worlds the smoking tomb of the Eternal Prophet.

The Eternal Man arose He welcomd them to the Feast

The feast was spread in the bright South & the Eternal Man

Sat at the feast rejoicing & the wine of Eternity

Was servd round by the flames of Luvah all day & all the night

And Many Eternal Men sat at the golden feast to see

The female form now separate They shudderd at the horrible thing

Not born for the sport and amusement of Man but born to drink up all his powers

[ And ] They wept to see their shadows they said to one another this is Sin

This is the [ vegetative ] Generative world they rememberd the Days of old.

And One of the Eternals spoke All was silent at the feast.

Man is a Worm wearied with joy he seeks the caves of sleep

Among the Flowers of Beulah in his selfish cold repose

Forsaking Brotherhood & Universal love in selfish clay

Folding the pure wings of his mind seeking the places dark

Abstracted from the roots of [ Nature ] Science then inclosd around

In walls of Gold we cast him like a Seed into the Earth

Till times & spaces have passd over him duly every morn

We visit him covering with a Veil the immortal seed

With windows from the inclement sky we cover him & with walls

And hearths protect the Selfish terror till divided all

In families we see our shadows born. & thence we know

That Man subsists by Brotherhood & Universal Love

We fall on one anothers necks more closely we embrace.

Not for ourselves but for the Eternal family we live

Man liveth not by Self alone but in his brothers face

Each shall behold the Eternal Father & love & joy abound

So spoke the Eternal at the Feast they embracd the New born Man

Calling him Brother image of the Eternal Father. they sat down

At the immortal tables sounding loud their instruments of joy

Calling the Morning into Beulah the Eternal Man rejoicd

When Morning dawnd The Eternals rose to labour at the Vintage

Beneath they saw their sons & daughters wondering inconceivable

At the dark myriads in Shadows in the worlds beneath

The morning dawnd Urizen rose & in his hand the Flail

Sounds on the Floor heard terrible by all beneath the heavens

Dismal loud redounding the nether floor shakes with the sound

And all Nations were threshed out & the stars threshd from their husks

Then Tharmas took the Winnowing fan the winnowing wind furious

Above veerd round by the violent whirlwind driven west & south

Tossed the Nations like Chaff into the seas of Tharmas.

O Mystery Fierce Tharmas cries Behold thy end is come

Art thou she that made the nations drunk with the cup of Religion

Go down ye Kings & Councillors & Giant Warriors

Go down into the depths go down & hide yourselves beneath

Go down with horse & Chariots & Trumpets of hoarse war.

Lo how the Pomp of Mystery goes down into the Caves

Her great men howl & throw the dust & rend their hoary hair

Her delicate women & children shriek upon the bitter wind

Spoild of their beauty their hair rent & their skin shriveld up

Lo darkness covers the long pomp of banners on the wind

And black horses & armed men & miserable bound captives

Where shall the graves recieve them all & where shall be their place

And who shall mourn for Mystery who never loosd her Captives

Let the slave grinding at the mill run out into the field

Let him look up into the heavens & laugh in the bright air

Let the inchaind soul shut up in darkness & in sighing

Whose face has never seen a smile in thirty weary years

Rise & look out his chains are loose his dungeon doors are open

And let his wife & children return from the opressors scourge

They look behind at every step & believe it is a dream

Are these the Slaves that groand along the streets of Mystery

Where are your bonds & task masters are these the prisoners

Where are your chains where are your tears why do you look around

If you are thirsty there is the river go bathe your parched limbs

The good of all the Land is before you for Mystery is no more.

Then All the Slaves from every Earth in the wide Universe

Sing a New Song drowning confusion in its happy notes

While the flail of Urizen sounded long & the winnowing wind of Tharmas

So loud so clear in the wide heavens & the song that they sung was this

Composed by an African Black from the little Earth of Sotha

Aha Aha how came I here so soon in my sweet native land

How came I here Methinks I am as I was in my youth

When in my fathers house I sat & heard his chearing voice

Methinks I see his flocks & herds & feel my limbs renewd

And Lo my Brethren in their tents & their little ones around them.

The song arose to the Golden feast the Eternal Man rejoicd

Then the Eternal Man said Luvah the Vintage is ripe arise

The sons of Urizen shall gather the vintage with sharp hooks

And all thy sons O Luvah bear away the families of Earth

I hear the flail of Urizen his barns are full no roo[m]

Remains & in the Vineyards stand the abounding sheaves beneath

The falling Grapes that odorous burst upon the winds. Arise

My flocks & herds trample the Corn my cattle browze upon

The ripe Clusters The shepherds shout for Luvah prince of Love

Let the Bulls of Luvah tread the Corn & draw the loaded waggon

Into the Barn while children glean the Ears around the door

Then shall they lift their innocent hands & stroke his furious nose

And he shall lick the little girls white neck & on her head

Scatter the perfume of his breath while from his mountains high

The lion of terror shall come down & bending his bright mane

And couching at their side shall eat from the curld boys white lap

His golden food and in the evening sleep before the door.

Attempting to be more than Man We become less said Luvah

As he arose from the bright feast drunk with the wine of ages

His crown of thorns fell from his head he hung his living Lyre

Behind the seat of the Eternal Man & took his way

Sounding the Song of Los descending to the Vineyards bright

His sons arising from the feast with golden baskets follow

A fiery train as when the Sun sings in the ripe vineyards

Then Luvah stood before the wine press all his fiery sons

Brought up the loaded Waggons with shoutings ramping tygers play

In the jingling traces furious lions sound the song of joy

To the golden wheels circling upon the pavement of heaven & all

The Villages of Luvah ring the golden tiles of the villages

Reply to violins & tabors to the pipe flute lyre & cymbal

Then fell the Legions of Mystery in maddning confusion

Down Down thro the immense with outcry fury & despair

Into the wine presses of Luvah howling fell the Clusters

Of human families thro the deep. the wine presses were filld

The blood of life flowd plentiful Odors of life arose

All round the heavenly arches & the Odors rose singing this song.

O terrible wine presses of Luvah O caverns of the Grave

How lovely the delights of those risen again from death

O trembling joy excess of joy is like Excess of grief.

So sang the Human Odors round the wine presses of Luvah.

But in the Wine presses is wailing terror & despair

Forsaken of their Elements they vanish & are no more

No more but a desire of Being a distracted ravening desire

Desiring like the hungry worm & like the [ silent ] gaping grave

They plunge into the Elements the Elements cast them forth

Or else consume their shadowy semblance Yet they obstinate

Tho pained to distraction Cry O let us Exist for

This dreadful Non Existence is worse than pains of Eternal [ death ] Birth

Eternal Death who can Endure. let us consume in fires

In waters stifling or in air corroding or in earth shut up

The Pangs of Eternal birth are better than the Pangs of Eternal Death

How red the Sons & daughters of Luvah how they tread the Grapes

Laughing & shouting drunk with odors many fall oerwearied

Drownd in the wine is many a youth & maiden those around

Lay them on skins of tygers or the spotted Leopard or wild Ass

Till they revive or bury them in cool Grots making lamentation

But in the Wine Presses the Human Grapes Sing not nor dance

They howl & writhe in shoals of torment in fierce flames consuming

In chains of iron & in dungeons circled with ceaseless fires

In pits & dens & shades of death in shapes of torment & woe

The Plates the Screws [ the nets ] and Racks & Saws & cords & fires & floods

The cruel joy of Luvahs daughters lacerating with knives

And whip[s] their Victims & the deadly sports of Luvahs sons.

Timbrels & Violins sport round the Wine Presses The little Seed

The Sportive root the Earthworm the small beetle the wise Emmet

Dance round the Wine Presses of Luvah. the Centipede is there

The ground Spider with many Eyes the Mole clothed in Velvet

The Earwig armd the tender maggot emblem of Immortality

The Slow Slug the grasshopper that sings & laughs & drinks

The winter comes he folds his slender bones without a murmur

There is the Nettle that stings with soft down & there

The indignant Thistle whose bitterness is bred in his milk

And who lives on the contempt of his neighbour there all the idle weeds

That creep about the obscure places shew their various limbs

Naked in all their beauty dancing round the Wine Presses

They Dance around the Dying & they Drink the howl & groan

They catch the Shrieks in cups of gold they hand them to one another

These are the sports of love & these the sweet delights of amorous play

Tears of the grapes the death sweat of the Cluster the last sigh

Of the mild youth who listens to the luring songs of Luvah.

The Eternal Man darkend with Sorrow & a wintry mantle

Coverd the Hills He said O Tharmas rise & O Urthona.

Then Tharmas & Urthona rose from the Golden feast satiated

With Mirth & Joy Urthona limping from his fall on Tharmas leand

In his right hand his hammer Tharmas held his Shepherds crook

Beset with gold gold were the ornaments formd by sons of Urizen.

Then Enion & Ahania & Vala & the wife of Dark Urthona

Rose from the feast in joy ascending to their Golden Looms

There the wingd shuttle Sang the spindle & the distaff & the Reel

Rang sweet the praise of industry. Thro all the golden rooms

Heaven rang with winged Exultation All beneath howld loud

With tenfold rout & desolation roard the Chasms beneath

Where the wide woof flowd down & where the Nations are gatherd together.

Tharmas went down to the Wine presses & beheld the sons & daughters

Of Luvah quite exhausted with the Labour & quite filld

With new wine. that they began to torment one another and to tread

The weak. Luvah & Vala slept on the floor o'erwearied

Urthona calld his Sons around him Tharmas calld his sons

Numrous. they took the wine they separated the Lees

And Luvah was put for dung on the ground by the Sons of Tharmas & Urthona

They formed heavens of sweetest wo[o]d[s] of gold & silver & ivory

Of glass & precious stones They loaded all the waggons of heaven

And took away the wine of ages with solemn songs & joy.

Luvah & Vala woke & all the sons & daughters of Luvah

Awoke they wept to one another & they reascended

To the Eternal Man in woe he cast them wailing into

The world of shadows thro the air till winter is over & gone.

But the Human Wine stood wondering in all their delightful Expanses

The Elements subside the heavens rolld on with vocal harmony.

Then Los who is Urthona rose in all his regenerate power

The Sea that rolld & foamd with darkness & the shadows of death

Vomited out & gave up all the floods lift up their hands

Singing & shouting to the Man they bow their hoary heads

And murmuring in their channels flow & circle round his feet

Then Dark Urthona took the Corn out of the Stores of Urizen

He ground it in his rumbling Mills Terrible the distress

Of all the Nations of Earth ground in the Mills of Urthona

In his hand Tharmas takes the Storms. he turns the whirlwind Loose

Upon the wheels the stormy seas howl at his dread command

And Eddying fierce rejoice in the fierce agitation of the wheels

Of Dark Urthona Thunders Earthquakes Fires Water floods

Rejoice to one another loud their voices shake the Abyss

Their dread forms tending the dire mills The grey hoar frost was there

And his pale wife the aged Snow they watch over the fires

They build the Ovens of Urthona Nature in darkness groans

And Men are bound to sullen contemplations in the night

Restless they turn on beds of sorrow. in their inmost brain

Feeling the crushing Wheels they rise they write the bitter words

Of Stern Philosophy & knead the bread of knowledge with tears & groans.

Such are the works of Dark Urthona Tharmas sifted the corn

Urthona made the Bread of Ages & he placed it

In golden & in silver baskets in heavens of precious stone

And then took his repose in Winter in the night of Time.

The Sun has left his blackness & has found a fresher morning

[ Then ] And the mild moon rejoices in the clear & cloudless night

And Man walks forth from midst of the fires the evil is all consumd

His eyes behold the Angelic spheres arising night & day

The stars consumd like a lamp blown out & in their stead behold

The Expanding Eyes of Man behold the depths of wondrous worlds

One Earth one sea beneath nor Erring Globes wander but Stars

Of fire rise up nightly from the Ocean & one Sun

Each morning like a New born Man issues with songs & Joy

Calling the Plowman to his Labour & the Shepherd to his rest

He walks upon the Eternal Mountains raising his heavenly voice

Conversing with the Animal forms of wisdom night & day

That risen from the Sea of fire renewd walk oer the Earth.

For Tharmas brought his flocks upon the hills & in the Vales

Around the Eternal Mans bright tent the little Children play

Among the wooly flocks The hammer of Urthona sounds

In the deep caves beneath his limbs renewd his Lions roar

Around the Furnaces & in the Evening sport upon the plains

They raise their faces from the Earth conversing with the Man.

How is it we have walkd thro fires & yet are not consumd

How is it that all things are changd even as in ancient times

The Sun arises from his dewy bed & the fresh airs

Play in his smiling beams giving the seeds of life to grow

And the fresh Earth beams forth ten thousand thousand springs of life

Urthona is arisen in his strength no longer now

Divided from Enitharmon no longer the Spectre Los

Where is the Spectre of Prophecy where the delusive Phantom.

Departed & Urthona rises from the ruinous walls

In all his ancient strength to form the golden armour of science

For intellectual War The war of swords departed now

The dark Religions are departed & sweet Science reigns