Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Edward Young, 1683–1765, BritishPublished by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797, British
Title:
'The goddess bursts in thunder and in flame' (Page 95)
Date:
1797
Materials & Techniques:
Etching, line engraving, and letterpress
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Lettered on facing page, center: "94 | Ye sold to sense! ye citizens of earth! | For such alone the christian banner fly, | Know ye how wise your choice--how great your gain? | Behold the picture of earth's happiest man: | 'He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back | 'And says he call'd another; that arrives, | 'Meets the same welcome; yet he still calls on; | 'Till one calls him, who varies not his call, | 'But holds him fast, in chains of darkness bound, | 'Till nature dies, and judgement sets him free; | 'A freedom far less welcome than his chain'. | But grant man happy; grant him happy long; | Add to life's highest prize her latest hour; | That hour so late is nimble in approach; | That, like a post, comes on in full career: | How swift the shuttle flies that weaves thy shroud! | Where is the fable of thy former years? | Thrown down the gulph of time, as far from thee | As they had ne'er been thine; the day in hand, | Like a bird struggling to get loose, is going; | Scarce now possess'd, so suddenly 'tis gone; | And each swift moment fled is death advanced | By strides as swift: eternity is all; | And whose eternity? who triumphs there, | Bathing for ever in the font of bliss, | For ever basking in the Deity? | LORENZO! who?--thy conscience shall reply: | O give it leave to speak; 'twill speak ere long, | Thy leave unask'd: LORENZO! hear it now, | While useful its advice, its accent mild."
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1978.43.1379
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
William Blake - His Art & Times (Art Gallery of Ontario, 1982-12-03 - 1983-02-06)William Blake - His Art & Times (Yale Center for British Art, 1982-09-15 - 1982-11-14)