Vala, or The Four Zoas/Night the Seventh

[ page 77 ]

Then Urizen arose The Spectre fled & Tharmas fled The darkning Spectre of Urthona hid beneath a rock Tharmas threw his impetuous flight thro the deeps of immensity Revolving round in whirlpools fierce all round the cavernd worlds But Urizen silent descended to the Caves of Orc & saw A Cavernd Universe of flaming fire the horses of Urizen Here bound to fiery mangers furious dash their golden hoofs Striking fierce sparkles from their brazen fetters. fierce his lions Howl in the burning dens his tygers roam ill the redounding smoke In forests of affliction. the adamantine scales of justice Consuming in the raging lamps of mercy pourd in rivers The holy oil rages thro all the cavernd rocks fierce flames Dance on the rivers & the rocks howling & drunk with fury The plow of ages & the golden harrow wade thro fields Of goary blood the immortal seed is nourishd for the slaughter The bulls of Luvah breathing fire bellow on burning pastures Round howling Orc whose awful limbs cast forth red smoke & fire That Urizen approachd not near but took his seat on a rock And rangd his books around him brooding Envious over Orc Howling & rending his dark caves the awful Demon lay Pulse after pulse beat on his fetters pulse after pulse his spirit Darted & darted higher & higher to the shrine of Enitharmon As when the thunder folds himself in thickest clouds The watry nations couch & hide in the profoundest deeps Then bursting from his troubled head with terrible visages & flaming hair His swift wingd daughters sweep across the vast black ocean Los felt the Envy in his limbs like to a blighted tree [ page 78 ]

For Urizen fixd in Envy sat brooding & coverd with snow His book of iron on his knees he tracd the dreadful letters While his snows fell & his storms beat to cool the flames of Orc Age after Age till underneath his heel a deadly root Struck thro the rock the root of Mystery accursed shooting up Branches into the heaven of Los they pipe formd bending down Take root again whereever they touch again branching forth In intricate labyrinths oerspreading many a grizly deep Amazd started Urizen when he found himself compassd round And high roofed over with trees. he arose but the stems Stood so thick he with difficulty & great pain brought His books out of the dismal shade. all but the book of iron Again he took his seat & rangd his Books aroundt On a rock of iron frowning over the foaming fires of Orc And Urizen hung over Ore & viewd his terrible wrath Sitting upon an iron Crag at length his words broke forth Image of dread whence art thou whence is this most woful place Whence these fierce fires but from thyself No other living thing In all this Chasm I behold. No other living thing Dare thy most terrible wrath abide Bound here to waste in pain Thy vital substance in these fires that issue new & new Around thee sometimes like a flood & sometimes like a rock Of living pangs thy horrible bed glowing with ceaseless fires Beneath thee & around Above a Shower of fire now beats Moulded to globes & arrowy wedges rending thy bleeding limbs And now a whirling pillar of burning sands to overwhelm thee Steeping thy wounds in salts infernal & in bitter anguish And now a rock moves on the surface of this lake of fire To bear thee down beneath the waves in stifling despair Pity for thee movd me to break my dark & long repose And to reveal myself before thee in a form of wisdom Yet thou dost laugh at all these tortures & this horrible place Yet throw thy limbs these fires abroad that back return upon thee While thou reposest throwing rage on rage feeding thyself With visions of sweet bliss far other than this burning clime Sure thou art bathd in rivers of delight on verdant fields Walking in joy in bright Expanses sleeping on bright clouds With visions of delight so lovely that they urge thy rage Tenfold with fierce desire to rend thy chain & howl in fury And dim oblivion of all woe & desperate repose Or is thy joy founded on torment which others bear for thee Orc answer'd Curse thy hoary brows. What dost thou in this deep Thy Pity I contemn scatter thy snows elsewhere

[ page 79 ]

I rage in the deep for Lo my feet & hands are naild to the burning rock Yet my fierce fires are better than thy snows Shuddring thou sittest Thou art not chaind Why shouldst thou sit cold grovelling demon of woe In tortures of dire coldness now a Lake of waters deep Sweeps over thee freezing to solid still thou sitst closd up In that transparent rock as if in joy of thy bright prison Till overburdend with its own weight drawn out thro immensity With a crash breaking across the horrible mass comes down Thundring & hail & frozen iron haild from the Element Rends thy white hair yet thou dost fixd obdurate brooding sit Writing thy books. Anon a cloud filld with a waste of snows Covers thee still obdurate still resolvd & writing still Tho rocks roll oer thee tho floods pour tho winds black as the Seat Cut thee in gashes tho the blood pours down around thy ankles Freezing thy feet to the hard rock still thy pen obdurate Traces the wonders of Futurity in horrible fear of the future I rage furious in the deep for lo my feet & hands are naild To the hard rock or thou shouldst feel my enmity & hate In all the diseases of man falling upon thy grey accursed front Urizen answerd Read my books explore my Constellations Enquire of my Sons & they shall teach thee how to War Enquire of my Daughters who accursd in the dark depths Knead bread of Sorrow by my stern command for I am God Of all this dreadful ruin Rise O daughters at my Stern command Rending the Rocks Eleth & Uveth rose & Ona rose Terrific with their iron vessels driving them across In the dim air they took the book of iron & placd above On clouds of death & sang their songs Kneading the bread of Orc Orc listend to the song compelld hungring on the cold wind That swaggd heavy with the accursed dough. the hoar frost ragd Thro Onas sieve the torrent rain pourd from the iron pail Of Eleth & the icy hands of Uveth kneaded the bread The heavens bow with terror underneath their iron hands Singing at their dire work the words of Urizens book of iron While the enormous scrolls rolld dreadful in the heavens above And still the burden of their song in tears was poured forth The bread is Kneaded let us rest O cruel father of children But Urizen remitted not their labours upon his rock

[ page 80 ]

And Urizen Read in his book of brass in sounding tonest Listen O Daughters to my voice Listen to the Words of Wisdom So shall [ye] govern over all let Moral Duty tune your tongue But be your hearts harder than the nether millstone To bring the shadow of Enitharmon beneath our wondrous tree That Los may Evaporate like smoke & be no more Draw down Enitharmon to the Spectre of Urthona And let him have dominion over Los the terrible shade Compell the poor to live upon a Crust of bread by soft mild arts Smile when they frown frown when they smile & when a man looks pale With labour & abstinence say he looks healthy & happy And when his children Sicken let them die there are enough Born even too many & our Earth will be overrun Without these arts If you would make the poor live with temper With pomp give every crust of bread you give with gracious cunning Magnify small gifts reduce the man to want a gift & then give with pomp Say he smiles if you hear him sigh If pale say he is ruddy Preach temperance say he is overgorgd & drowns his wit In strong drink tho you know that bread & water are all He can afford Flatter his wife pity his children till we can Reduce all to our will as spaniels are taught with art Lo how the heart & brain are formed in the breeding womb Of Enitharmon how it buds with life & forms the bones The little heart the liver & the red blood in its labyrinths By gratified desire by strong devouring appetite she fills Los with ambitious fury that his race shall all devour Then Orc cried Curse thy Cold hypocrisy. already round thy Tree In scales that shine with gold & rubies thou beginnest to weaken My divided Spirit Like a worm I rise in peace unbound From wrath Now When I rage my fetters bind me more O torment O torment A Worm compelld. Am I a worm Is it in strong deceit that man is born. In strong deceit Thou dost restrain my fury that the worm may fold the tree Avaunt Cold hypocrite I am chaind or thou couldst not use me thus The Man shall rage bound with this Chain the worm in silence creep Thou wilt not cease from rage Grey Demon silence all thy storms Give me example of thy mildness King of furious hail storms Art thou the cold attractive power that holds me in this chain I well remember how I stole thy light & it became fire Consuming. Thou Knowst me now O Urizen Prince of Light And I know thee is this the triumph this the Godlike State That lies beyond the bounds of Science in the Grey obscure Terrified Urizen heard Orc now certain that he was Luvah And Orc began to Organize a Serpent body Despising Urizens light & turning it into flaming fire Recieving as a poisond Cup Recieves the heavenly wine And turning affection into fury & thought into abstractiont A Self consuming dark devourer rising into the heavens Urizen envious brooding sat & saw the secret terror Flame high in pride & laugh to scorn the source of his deceit Nor knew the source of his own but thought himself the Sole author

[ page 81 ]

Of all his wandering Experiments in the horrible Abyss He knew that weakness stretches out in breadth & length he knew That wisdom reaches high & deep & therefore he made Orc In Serpent form compelld stretch out & up the mysterious tree He sufferd him to Climb that he might draw all human forms Into submission to his will nor knew the dread result Los sat in showers of Urizen watching cold Enitharmon His broodings rush down to his feet producing Eggs that hatching Burst forth upon the winds above the tree of Mystery Enitharmon lay on his knees. Urizen tracd his Verses In the dark deep the dark tree grew. her shadow was drawn down Down to the roots it wept over Orc. the Shadow of Enitharmon Los saw her stretchd the image of death upon his witherd valleys Her Shadow went forth & returnd Now she was pale as Snow When the mountains & hills are coverd over & the paths of Men shut up But when her spirit returnd as ruddy as a morning when The ripe fruit blushes into joy in heavens eternal halls Sorrow shot thro him from his feet it shot up to his head Like a cold night that nips the root & shatters off the leaves Silent he stood oer Enitharmon watching her pale face He spoke not he was Silent till he felt the cold disease Then Los mournd on the dismal wind in his jealous lamentation Why can I not Enjoy thy beauty Lovely Enitharmon When I return from clouds of Grief in the wandring Elements Where thou in thrilling joy in beaming summer loveliness Delectable reposest ruddy in my absence flaming with beauty Cold pale in sorrow at my approach trembling at my terrific Forehead & eyes thy lips decay like roses in the spring How art thou Shrunk thy grapes that burst in summers vast Excess Shut up in little purple covering faintly bud & die Thy olive trees that pourd down oil upon a thousand hills Sickly look forth & scarcely stretch their branches to the plain Thy roses that expanded in the face of glowing morn

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Hid in a little silken veil scarce breathe & faintly shine Thy lilies that gave light what time the morning looked forth Hid in the Vales faintly lament & no one hears their voice All things beside the woful Los enjoy the delights of beauty Once how I sang & calld the beasts & birds to their delights Nor knew that I alone exempted from the joys of love Must war with secret monsters of the animating worlds O that I had not seen the day then should I be at rest Nor felt the stingings of desire nor longings after life For life is Sweet to Los the wretched to his winged woes Is given a craving cry that they may sit at night on barren rocks And whet their beaks & snuff the air & watch the opening dawn And Shriek till at the smells of blood they stretch their boney wings And cut the winds like arrows shot by troops of Destiny Thus Los lamented in the night unheard by Enitharmon For the Shadow of Enitharmon descended down the tree of Mystery The Spectre saw the Shade Shivering over his gloomy rocks Beneath the tree of Mystery which in the dismal Abyss Began to blossom in fierce pain shooting its writhing buds In throes of birth & now the blossoms falling shining fruit Appeard of many colours & of various poisonous qualities Of Plagues hidden in shining globes that grew on the living tree The Spectre of Urthona saw the Shadow of Enitharmon Beneath the Tree of Mystery among the leaves & fruit Reddning the Demon strong prepard the poison of sweet Love He turnd from side to side in tears he wept & he embracd The fleeting image & in whispers mild wood the faint shade Loveliest delight of Men. Enitharmon shady hiding In secret places where no eye can trace thy watry way Have I found thee have I found thee tremblest thou in fear Because of Orc because he rent his discordant way From thy sweet loins of bliss. red flowd thy blood Pale grew thy face lightnings playd around thee thunders hoverd Over thee, & the terrible Orc rent his discordant wayt But the next joy of thine shall be in sweet delusion And its birth in fainting & sleep & Sweet delusions of Vala The Shadow of Enitharmon answerd Art thou terrible Shade Set over this sweet boy of mine to guard him lest he rend

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His mother to the winds of heaven Intoxicated with The fruit of this delightful tree. I cannot flee away From thy embrace else be assurd so horrible a form Should never in my arms repose. now listen I will tell Thee Secrets of Eternity which neer before unlockd My golden lips nor took the bar from Enitharmons breast Among the Flowers of Beulah walkd the Eternal Man & Saw Vala the lilly of the desart. melting in high noon Upon her bosom in sweet bliss he fainted Wonder siezd All heaven they saw him dark. they built a golden wall Round Beulah There he reveld in delight among the Flowers Vala was pregnant & brought forth Urizen Prince of Light First born of Generation. Then behold a wonder to the Eyes Of the now fallen Man a double form Vala appeard. A Male And female shuddring pale the Fallen Man recoild From the Enormity & calld them Luvah & Vala. turning down The vales to find his way back into Heaven but found none For his frail eyes were faded & his ears heavy & dull Urizen grew up in the plains of Beulah Many Sons And many daughters flourishd round the holy Tent of Man Till he forgot Eternity delighted in his sweet joy Among his family his flocks & herds & tents & pastures But Luvah close conferrd with Urizen in darksom night To bind the father & enslave the brethren Nought he knew Of sweet Eternity the blood flowd round the holy tent & rivn From its hinges uttering its final groan all Beulah fell In dark confusion mean time Los was born & Enitharmon But how I know not then forgetfulness quite wrapd me up A period nor do I more remember till I stood Beside Los in the Cavern dark enslavd to vegetative forms According to the Will of Luvah who assumd the Place Of the Eternal Man & smote him. But thou Spectre dark Maist find a way to punish Vala in thy fiery South To bring her down subjected to the rage of my fierce boy

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The Spectre said. Thou lovely Vision this delightful Tree Is given us for a Shelter from the tempests of Void & Solid Till once again the morn of ages shall renew upon us To reunite in those mild fields of happy Eternity Where thou & I in undivided Essence walkd about Imbodied. thou my garden of delight & I the spirit in the garden Mutual there we dwelt in one anothers joy revolving Days of Eternity with Tharmas mild & Luvah sweet melodious Upon our waters. This thou well rememberest listen I will tell What thou forgettest. They in us & we in them alternate Livd Drinking the joys of Universal Manhood. One dread morn Listen O vision of Delight One dread morn of goary blood The manhood was divided for the gentle passions making way Thro the infinite labyrinths of the heart & thro the nostrils issuing In odorous stupefaction stood before the Eyes of Man A female bright. I stood beside my anvil dark a mass Of iron glowd bright prepard for spades & plowshares. sudden down I sunk with cries of blood issuing downward in the veins Which now my rivers were become rolling in tubelike formst Shut up within themselves descending down I sunk along The goary tide even to the place of seed & there dividing I was divided in darkness & oblivion thou an infant woe And I an infant terror in the womb of Enion My masculine spirit scorning the frail body issud forth From Enions brain In this deformed form leaving thee there Till times passd over thee but still my spirit returning hoverd And formd a Male to be a counterpart to thee O Love Darkend & Lost In due time issuing forth from Enions womb Thou & that demon Los wert born Ah jealousy & woe Ah poor divided dark Urthona now a Spectre wandering The deeps of Los the Slave of that Creation I created I labour night & day for Los but listen thou my vision I view futurity in thee I will bring down soft Vala To the embraces of this terror & I will destroy That body I created then shall we unite again in bliss Thou knowest that the Spectre is in Every Man insane brutish Deformd that I am thus a ravening devouring lust continually Craving & devouring but my Eyes are always upon thee O lovely Delusion & I cannot crave for any thing but thee not so The spectres of the Dead for I am as the Spectre of the Living For till these terrors planted round the Gates of Eternal life Are driven away & annihilated we never can repass the Gates

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Astonishd filld with tears the spirit of Enitharmon beheld And heard the Spectre bitterly she wept Embracing ferventt Her once lovd Lord now but a Shade herself also a shade Conferring times on times among the branches of that Tree Thus they conferrd among the intoxicating fumes of Mystery	5 Till Enitharmons shadow pregnant in the deeps beneath Brought forth a wonder horrible. While Enitharmon shriekd And trembled thro the Worlds above Los wept his fierce soul was terrifid At the shrieks of Enitharmon at her tossings nor could his eyes percieve The cause of her dire anguish for she lay the image of Death Movd by strong shudders till her shadow was deliverd then she ran Raving about the upper Elements in maddning fury She burst the Gates of Enitharmons heart with direful Crash Nor could they ever be closd again the golden hinges were broken And the gates broke in sunder & their ornaments defacd Beneath the tree of Mystery for the immortal shadow shuddering Brought forth this wonder horrible a Cloud she grew & grew Till many of the dead burst forth from the bottoms of their tombs In male forms without female counterparts or Emanations Cruel and ravening with Enmity & Hatred & War In dreams of Ulro dark delusive drawn by the lovely shadowt The Spectre terrified gave her Charge over the howling Orc

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But in the deeps beneath the Roots of Mystery in darkest night Where Urizen sat on his rock the Shadow brooded Urizen saw & triumphd & he cried to his warriors The time of Prophecy is now revolvd & all This Universal Ornament is mine & in my hands The ends of heaven like a Garment will I fold them round me Consuming what must be consumd then in power & majesty I will walk forth thro those wide fields of endless Eternity A God & not a Man a Conqueror in triumphant glory And all the Sons of Everlasting shall bow down at my feet First Trades & Commerce ships & armed vessels he builded laborious To swim the deep & on the Land children are sold to trades Of dire necessity still laboring day & night till all Their life extinct they took the spectre form in dark despair And slaves in myriads in ship loads burden the hoarse sounding deep Rattling with clanking chains the Universal Empire groans And he commanded his Sons found a Center in the Deep And Urizen laid the first Stone & all his myriads Builded a temple in the image of the human heart [ page 88 [96] ]

And in the inner part of the Temple wondrous workmanship They formd the Secret place reversing all the order of delight That whosoever enterd into the temple might not behold The hidden wonders allegoric of the Generations Of secret lust when hid in chambers dark the nightly harlot Plays in Disguise in whisperd hymn & mumbling prayer The priests He ordaind & Priestesses clothd in disguises beastial Inspiring secrecy & lamps they bore intoxicating fumes Roll round the Temple & they took the Sun that glowd oer Los And with immense machines down rolling. the terrific orb Compell'd. The Sun reddning like a fierce lion in his chains Descended to the sound of instruments that drownd the noise Of the hoarse wheels & the terrific howlings of wild beasts That dragd the wheels of the Suns chariot & they put the Sun Into the temple of Urizen to give light to the Abyss To light the War by day to hide his secret beams by night For he divided day & night in different orderd portions The day for war the night for secret religion in his templet Los reard his mighty stature on Earth stood his feet. Above The moon his furious forehead circled with black bursting thunders His naked limbs glittring upon the dark blue sky his knees Bathed in bloody clouds. his loins in fires of war where spears And swords rage where the Eagles cry & the Vultures laugh saying Now comes the night of Carnage now the flesh of Kings & Princes Pamperd in palaces for our food the blood of Captains nurturd With lust & murder for our drink the drunken Raven shall wander All night among the slain & mock the wounded that groan in the field Tharmas laughd furious among the Banners clothd in blood Crying As I will I rend the Nations all asunder rending The People, vain their combinations I will scatter them But thou O Son whom I have crowned and inthrond thee Strong I will preserve tho Enemies arise around thee numberless I will command my winds & they shall scatter them or call

[ page 89 [97] ]

My Waters like a flood around thee fear not trust in me And I will give thee all the ends of heaven for thy possession In war shalt thou bear rule in blood shalt thou triumph for me Because in times of Everlasting I was rent in sunder And what I loved best was divided among my Enemies My little daughters were made captives & I saw them beaten With whips along the sultry sands. I heard those whom I lovdt Crying in secret tents at night & in the morn compelld To labour & behold my heart sunk down beneath In sighs & sobbings all dividing till I was divided In twain & lo my Crystal form that lived in my bosom Followd her daughters to the fields of blood they left me naked Alone & they refusd to return from the fields of the mighty Therefore I will reward them as they have rewarded me I will divide them in my anger & thou O my King Shalt gather them from out their graves & put thy fetter on them And bind them to thee that my crystal form may come to me So cried the Demon of the Waters in the Clouds of Los Outstretchd upon the hills lay Enitharmon clouds & tempests Beat round her head all night all day she riots in Excess But night or day Los follows War & the dismal moon rolls over her That when Los warrd upon the South reflected the fierce fires Of his immortal head into the North upon faint Enitharmon Red rage the furies of fierce Orc black thunders roll round Los Flaming his head like the bright sun seen thro a mist that magnifies His disk into a terrible vision to the Eyes of trembling mortals And Enitharmon trembling & in fear utterd these words I put not any trust in thee nor in thy glittering scales Thy eyelids are a terror to me & the flaming of thy crest The rushing of thy Scales confound me thy hoarse rushing scales And if that Los had Dot built me a tower upon a rock I must have died in the dark desart among noxious worms How shall I flee how shall I flee into the tower of Los My feet are turned backward & my footsteps slide in clay And clouds are closd around my tower my arms labour in vain Does not the God of waters in the wracking Elements Love those who hate rewarding with hate the Loving Soul

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And must not I obey the God thou Shadow of Jealousy I cry the watchman heareth not I pour my voice in roarings Watchman the night is thick & darkness cheats my rayie sight Lift up Lift up O Los awake my watchman for he sleepeth Lift up Lift up Shine forth O Light watchman thy light is out O Los unless thou keep my tower the Watchman will be slain So Enitharmon cried upon her terrible Earthy bed While the broad Oak wreathd his roots round her forcing his dark way Thro caves of death into Existence The Beech long limbd advancd Terrific into the paind heavens The fruit trees humanizing Shewd their immortal energies in warlike desperation Rending the heavens & earths & drinking blood in the hot battle To feed their fruit to gratify their hidden sons & daughters That far within the close recesses of their secret palaces Viewd the vast war & joyd wishing to vegetate Into the Worlds of Enitharmon Loud the roaring winds Burdend with clouds howl round the Couch sullen the wooly sheep Walks thro the battle Dark & fierce the Bull his rage Propagates thro the warring Earth The Lion raging in flames The Tyger in redounding smoke The Serpent of the woods And of the waters & the scorpion of the desart irritate With harsh songs every living soul. The Prester Serpent runs Along the ranks crying Listen to the Priest of God ye warriors This Cowl upon my head he placd in times of Everlasting And said Go forth & guide my battles. like the jointed spine Of Man I made thee when I blotted Man from life & light Take thou the seven Diseases of Man store them for times to come In store houses in secret places that I will tell the[e] of To be my great & awful curses at the time appointed The Prester Serpent ceasd the War song sounded loud & strong Thro all the heavens Urizens Web vibrated torment on torment

[ page 91 SECOND PORTION ]

Thus in the Caverns of the Grave & Places of human seedt The nameless shadowy Vortex stood before the face of Orc The Shadow reard her dismal head over the flaming youth With sighs & howling & deep sobs that he might lose his rage And with it lose himself in meekness she embracd his fire As when the Earthquake rouzes from his den his shoulders huge Appear above the crumb[l]ing Mountain. Silence waits around him A moment then astounding horror belches from the Center The fiery dogs arise the shoulders huge appear So Orc rolld round his clouds upon the deeps of dark Urthona	1 Knowing the arts of Urizen were Pity & Meek affection t	And that by these arts the Serpent form exuded from his limbs Silent as despairing love & strong as Jealousy Jealous that she was Vala now become Urizens harlot And the Harlot of Los & the deluded harlot of the Kings of Earth His soul was gnawn in sunder The hairy shoulders rend the links free are the wrists of fire Red rage redounds he rouzd his lions from his forests black They howl around the flaming youth rending the nameless shadow And running their immortal course thro solid darkness borne Loud sounds the war song round red Orc in his [? triumphant] fury And round the nameless shadowy Female in her howling terror When all the Elemental Gods joind in the wondrous Song Sound the War trumpet terrific Souls clad in attractive steel Sound the shrill fife serpents of war. I hear the northern drum Awake, I hear the flappings of the folding banners The dragons of the North put on their armour Upon the Eastern sea direct they take their course The glittring of their horses trapping stains the vault of night Stop we the rising of the glorious King. spur spur your clouds

[ page 92 ]

Of death O northern drum awake O hand of iron sound The northern drum. Now give the charge! bravely obscurd! With darts of wintry hail. Again the black bow draw Again the Elemental Strings to your right breasts draw And let the thundring drum speed on the arrows black The arrows flew from cloudy bow all day. till blood From east to west flowd like the human veins in rivers Of life upon the plains of death & valleys of despair Now sound the clarions of Victory now strip the slain clothe yourselves in golden arms brothers of war They sound the clarions strong they chain the howling captives they give the Oath of blood They cast the lots into the helmet, They vote the death of Luvah & they naild him to the tree They piercd him with a spear & laid him in a sepulcher To die a death of Six thousand years bound round with desolation The sun was black & the moon rolld a useless globe thro heaven Then left the Sons of Urizen the plow & harrow the loom The hammer & the Chisel & the rule & compasses They forgd the sword the chariot of war the battle ax The trumpet fitted to the battle & the flute of summer And all the arts of life they changd into the arts of death The hour glass contemnd because its simple workmanship Was as the workmanship of the plowman & the water wheel That raises water into Cisterns broken & burnd in fire Because its workmanship was like the workmanship of the Shepherd And in their stead intricate wheels invented Wheel without wheel To perplex youth in their outgoings & to bind to labours Of day & night the myriads of Eternity. that they might file And polish brass & iron hour after hour laborious workmanship Kept ignorant of the use that they might spend the days of wisdom In sorrowful drudgery to obtain a scanty pittance of bread In ignorance to view a small portion & think that All And call it Demonstration blind to all the simple rules of life Now now the Battle rages round thy tender limbs O Vala Now smile among thy bitter tears now put on all thy beauty Is not the wound of the sword Sweet & the broken bone delightful Wilt thou now smile among the slain when the wounded groan in the field

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Life up thy blue eyes Vala & put on thy sapphire shoes O Melancholy Magdalen behold the morning breaks Gird on thy flaming Zone. descend into the Sepulcher Scatter the blood from thy golden brow the tears from thy silver locks Shake off the waters from thy wings & the dust from thy white garments Remember all thy feigned terrors on the secret Couch When the sun rose in glowing morn with arms of mighty hosts Marching to battle who was wont to rise with Urizens harpst Girt as a Sower with his seed to scatter life abroad Arise O Vala bring the bow of Urizen bring the swift arrows of light How ragd the golden horses of Urizen bound to the chariot of Love Compelld to leave the plow to the Ox to snuff up the winds of desolation To trample the corn fields in boastful neighings. this is no gentle harp This is no warbling brook nor Shadow of a Myrtle tree But blood & wounds & dismal cries & clarions of war And hearts laid open to the light by the broad grizly sword And bowels hidden in hammerd steel rippd forth upon the Groundt Call forth thy Smiles of soft deceit call forth thy cloudy tears We hear thy sighs in trumpets shrill when Morn shall blood renew So sung the demons of the deep the Clarions of war blew loud Orc rent her & his human form consumd in his own fires Mingled with her dolorous members strewn thro the Abyss She joyd in all the Conflict Gratified & drinking tears of woe No more remaind of Orc but the Serpent round the tree of Mystery The form of Orc was gone he reard his serpent bulk among The stars of Urizen in Power rending the form of lifet Into a formless indefinite & strewing her on the Abyss Like clouds upon the winter sky broken with winds & thunders This was to her Supreme delight The Warriors mournd disappointed They go out to war with Strong Shouts & loud Clarions O Pity They return with lamentations mourning & weeping Invisible or visible drawn out in length or stretchd in breadth The Shadowy Female varied in the War in her delight Howling in discontent black & heavy uttering brute sounds Wading thro fens among the slimy weeds making Lamentations To decieve Tharmas in his rage to soothe his furious soul To stay him in his flight that Urizen might live tho in pain He said Art thou bright Enion is the Shadow of hope returnd And She said Tharmas I am Vala bless thy innocent face Doth Enion avoid the sight of thy blue watry eyes Be not perswaded that the air knows this or the falling dew Tharmas replid O Vala once I livd in a garden of delight

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I wakend Enion in the Morning & she turnd away Among the apple trees & all the gardens of delight Swam like a dream before my eyes I went to seek the steps Of Enion in the gardens & the shadows compassd me And closd me in a watry world of woe where Enion stood Trembling before me like a shadow like a mist like air And she is gone & here alone I war with darkness & death I hear thy voice but not thy form see. thou & all delight And life appear & vanish mocking me with shadows of false hope Hast thou forgot that the air listens thro all its districts telling The subtlest thoughts shut up from light in chambers of the Moon Tharmas. The Moon has chambers where the babes of love lie hid And whence they never can be brought in all Eternity Unless exposd by their vain parents. Lo him whom I love Is hidden from me & I never in all Eternity Shall see him Enitharmon & Ahania combind with Enion Hid him in that Outrageous form of Orc which torments me for Sin For all my Secret faults which he brings forth upon the light Of day in jealousy & blood my Children are led to Urizens war Before my eyes & for every one of these I am condemnd	20 To Eternal torment in these flames for tho I have the power To rise on high Yet love here binds me down & never never Will I arise till him I love is loosd from this dark chain Tharmas replied Vala thy Sins have lost us heaven & bliss Thou art our Curse and till I can bring love into the light I never will depart from my great wrath So Tharmas waild wrathful then rode upon the Stormy Deep Cursing the Voice that mockd him with false hope in furious mood Then She returns swift as a blight upon the infant bud Howling in all the notes of woe to stay his furious rage Stamping the hills wading or swimming flying furious or falling Or like an Earthquake rumbling in the bowels of the earth Or like a cloud beneath & like a fire flaming in high Walking in pleasure of the hills or murmuring in the dales Like to a rushing torrent beneath & a falling rock above A thunder cloud in the south & a lulling voice heard in the north And she went forth & saw the forms of Life & of delight Walking on Mountains or flying in the open expanse of heaven She heard sweet voices in the winds & in the voices of birds That rose from waters for the waters were as the voice of Luvah Not seen to her like waters or like this dark world of death Tho all those fair perfections which men know only by name In beautiful substantial forms appeard & served her As food or drink or ornament or in delightful works To build her bowers for the Elements brought forth abundantly The living soul in glorious forms & every one came forth Walking before her Shadowy face & bowing at her feet But in vain delights were poured forth on the howling melancholy For her delight the horse his proud neck bowd & his white mane And the Strong Lion deignd in his mouth to wear the golden bit While the far beaming Peacock waited on the fragrant wind To bring her fruits of sweet delight from trees of richest wonders And the strong piniond Eagle bore the fire of heaven in the night season Wood & subdud into Eternal Death the Demon Lay In rage against the dark despair. the howling Melancholy

[ page 87 [95] FIRST PORTION ]

For far & wide she stretchd thro all the worlds of Urizens journey And was Ajoind to Beulah as the Polypus to the Rock Mo[u]rning the daughters of Beulah saw nor could they have sustaind The horrid sight of death & torment But the Eternal Promise They wrote on all their tombs & pillars & on every Urn These words If ye will believe your B[r]other shall rise again In golden letters ornamented with sweet labours of Love Waiting with Patience for the fulfilment of the Promise Divinet And all the Songs of Beulah sounded comfortable notes Not suffring doubt to rise up from the Clouds of the Shadowy Female Then myriads of the Dead burst thro the bottoms of their tombs Descending on the shadowy females clouds in Spectrous terror Beyond the Limit of Translucence on the Lake of Udan Adan These they namd Satans & in the Aggregate they namd them Satan

[ page 95 [87] SECOND PORTION ]

Then took the tree of Mystery root in the World of Los Its topmost boughs shooting a fibre beneath Enitharmons couch The double rooted Labyrinth soon wavd around their heads But then the Spectre enterd Los's bosom Every sigh & groan Of Enitharmon bore Urthonas Spectre on its wings Obdurate Los felt Pity Enitharmon told the tale Of Urthona. Los embracd the Spectre first as a brother Then as another Self; astonishd humanizing & in tears In Self abasement Giving up his Domineering lust Thou never canst embrace sweet Enitharmon terrible Demon. Till Thou art united with thy Spectre Consummating by pains & labours That mortal body & by Self annihilation back returningt To Life Eternal be assurd I am thy real Self Tho thus divided from thee & the Slave of Every passion Of thy fierce Soul Unbar the Gates of Memory look upon me Not as another but as thy real Self I am thy Spectre Thou didst subdue me in old times by thy Immortal Strength When I was a ravning hungring & thirsting cruel lust & murder Tho horrible & Ghastly to thine Eyes tho buried beneath The ruins of the Universe. hear what inspird I speak & be silent If we unite in one[,] another better world will bet Opend within your heart & loins & wondrous brain Threefold as it was in Eternity & this the fourth Universe Will be Renewd by the three & consummated in Mental fires But if thou dost refuse Another body will be prepared

[ page 86 ]

For me & thou annihilate evaporate & be no more For thou art but a form & organ of life & of thyself Art nothing being Created Continually by Mercy & Love divine Los furious answerd. Spectre horrible thy words astound my Ear With irresistible conviction I feel I am not one of those Who when convincd can still persist. tho furious.controllable By Reasons power. Even I already feel a World within Opening its gates & in it all the real substances Of which these in the outward World are shadows which pass away Come then into my Bosom & in thy shadowy arms bring with thee My lovely Enitharmon. I will quell my fury & teach Peace to the Soul of dark revenge & repentance to Cruelty So spoke Los & Embracing Enitharmon & the Spectre Clouds would have folded round in Extacy & Love uniting

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But Enitharmon trembling fled & hid beneath Urizens tree But mingling together with his Spectre the Spectre of Urthona Wondering beheld the Center opend by Divine Mercy inspired He in his turn Gave Tasks to Los Enormous to destroyt That body he created but in vain for Los performd Wonders of labour They Builded Golgonooza Los labouring builded pillars hight And Domes terrific in the nether heavens for beneath Was opend new heavens & a new Earth beneath & within Threefold within the brain within the heart within the loins A Threefold Atmosphere Sublime continuous from Urthonas worldt But yet having a Limit Twofold named Satan & Adam But Los stood on the Limit of Translucence weeping & trembling Filled with doubts in self accusation beheld the fruitt Of Urizens Mysterious tree For Enitharmon thus spake When In the Deeps beneath I gatherd of this ruddy fruit It was by that I knew that I had Sinnd & then I knew That without a ransom I could not be savd from Eternal death That Life lives upon Death & by devouring appetite All things subsist on one another thenceforth in Despair I spend my glowing time but thou art strong & mighty To bear this Self conviction take then Eat thou also of The fruit & give me proof of life Eternal or I die Then Los plucked the fruit & Eat & sat down in Despair And must have given himself to death Eternal But Urthonas spectre in part mingling with him comforted him Being a medium between him & Enitharmon But This Union Was not to be Effected without Cares & Sorrows & Troubles Of six thousand Years of self denial and of bitter Contrition Urthonas Spectre terrified beheld the Spectres of the Dead Each Male formd without a counterpart without a concentering vision The Spectre of Urthona wept before Los Saying I am the cause That this dire state commences I began the dreadful state Of Separation & on my dark head the curse & punishment Must fall unless a way be found to Ransom & Redeemt But I have thee my [Counterpart Vegetating] miraculoust These Spectres have no [Counter(parts)] therefore they ravin Without the food of life Let us Create them Coun[terparts] For without a Created body the Spectre is Eternal Death Los trembling answerd Now I feel the weight of stern repentance Tremble not so my Enitharmon at the awful gates Of thy poor broken Heart I see thee like a shadow withering As on the outside of Existence but look! behold! take comfort! Turn inwardly thine Eyes & there behold the Lamb of God Clothed in Luvahs robes of blood descending to redeem O Spectre of Urthona take comfort O Enitharmon Couldst thou but cease from terror & trembling & affright When I appear before thee in forgiveness of ancient injuries Why shouldst thou remember & be afraid. I surely have died in pain Often enough to convince thy jealousy & fear & terrort Come hither be patient let us converse together because I also tremble at myself & at all my former life Enitharmon answerd I behold the Lamb of God descending To Meet these Spectres of the Dead I therefore fear that he Will give us to Eternal Death fit punishment for such Hideous offenders Uttermost extinction in eternal pain An ever dying life of stifling & obstruction shut out Of existence to be a sign & terror to all who behold Lest any should in futurity do as we have done in heaven Such is our state nor will the Son of God redeem us but destroy

[ page 98 [90] ]

So Enitharmon spoke trembling & in torrents of tears Los sat in Golgonooza in the Gate of Luban wheret He had erected many porches where branchd the Mysterious Tree Where the Spectrous dead wail & sighing thus he spoke to Enitharmon Lovely delight of Men Enitharmon shady refuge from furious war Thy bosom translucent is a soft repose for the weeping souls Of those piteous victims of battle there they sleep in happy obscurity They feed upon our life we are their victims. Stern desire I feel to fabricate embodied semblances in which the dead May live before us in our palaces & in our gardens of labour Which now opend within the Center we behold spread abroad To form a world of Sacrifice of brothers & sons & daughters To comfort Orc in his dire sufferings[;] look[!] my fires enlume afresh Before my face ascending with delight as in ancient times Enitharmon spread her beaming locks upon the wind & said O Lovely terrible Los wonder of Eternity O Los my defence & guide Thy works are all my joy. & in thy fires my soul delights If mild they burn in just proportion & in secret night And silence build their day in shadow of soft clouds & dews Then I can sigh forth on the winds of Golgonooza piteous forms That vanish again into my bosom but if thou my Los Wilt in sweet moderated fury. fabricate forms sublime Such as the piteous spectres may assimilate themselves into They shall be ransoms for our Souls that we may live So Enitharmon spoke & Los his hands divine inspired began To modulate his fires studious the loud roaring flames He vanquishd with the strength of Art bending their iron points And drawing them forth delighted upon the winds of Golgonooza From out the ranks of Urizens war & from the fiery lake Of Orc bending down as the binder of the Sheaves follows The reaper in both arms embracing the furious raging flames Los drew them forth out of the deeps planting his right foot firm Upon the Iron crag of Urizen thence springing up aloft Into the heavens of Enitharmon in a mighty circle And first he drew a line upon the walls of shining heaven And Enitharmon tincturd it with beams of blushing love It remaind permanent a lovely form inspird divinely human Dividing into just proportions Los unwearied labourd The immortal lines upon the heavens till with sighs of love Sweet Enitharmon mild Entrancd breathd forth upon the wind The spectrous dead Weeping the Spectres viewd the immortal works Of Los Assimilating to those forms Embodied & Lovely In youth & beauty in the arms of Enitharmon mild reposing First Rintrah & then Palamabron drawn from out the ranks of war In infant innocence reposd on Enitharmons bosom Orc was comforted in the deeps his soul revivd in them As the Eldest brother is the fathers image So Orc became As Los a father to his brethren & he joyd in the dark lake Tho bound with chains of Jealousy & in scales of iron & brass But Los loved them & refusd to Sacrifice their infant limbs And Enitharmons smiles & tears prevaild over self protection They rather chose to meet Eternal death than to destroy The offspring of their Care & Pity Urthonas spectre was comforted But Tharmas most rejoicd in hope of Enions return For he beheld new Female forms born forth upon the air Who wove soft silken veils of covering in sweet rapturd trance Mortal & not as Enitharmon without a covering veil First his immortal spirit drew Urizen[s] Shadow away From out the ranks of war separating him in sunder Leaving his Spectrous form which could not be drawn away Then he divided Thiriel the Eldest of Urizens sons Urizen became Rintrah Thiriel became Palamabron Thus dividing the powers of Every Warrior Startled was Los he found his Enemy Urizen now In his hands. he wonderd that he felt love & not hate His whole soul loved him he beheld him an infant Lovely breathd from Enitharmon he trembled within himself

[ page 90 [98] ]

End of the Seventh Night