William Blake

The Book of Urizen

(Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)

     
e-artnow, 2021
EAN 4064066448356


Table of Contents

PRELUDIUM TO THE BOOK OF URIZEN
Chap: I
Chap: II.
Chap: III.
Chap: IV:[a]
Chap: IV.[b]
Chap: V.
Chap: VI.
Chap. VII.
Chap. VIII.
Chap: IX

Plate 2

PRELUDIUM TO THE BOOK OF URIZEN

Table of Contents

Of the primeval Priests assum'd power,

When Eternals spurn'd back his religion;

And gave him a place in the north,

Obscure, shadowy, void, solitary.

Eternals I hear your call gladly,

Dictate swift winged words, & fear not

To unfold your dark visions of torment.


Plate 3

Chap: I

Table of Contents

1. Lo, a shadow of horror is risen

In Eternity! Unknown, unprolific!

Self-closd, all-repelling: what Demon

Hath form'd this abominable void

This soul-shudd'ring vacuum?--Some said

"It is Urizen", But unknown, abstracted

Brooding secret, the dark power hid.

2.Times on times he divided, & measur'd

Space by space in his ninefold darkness

Unseen, unknown! changes appeard

In his desolate mountains rifted furious

By the black winds of perturbation

3. For he strove in battles dire

In unseen conflictions with shapes

Bred from his forsaken wilderness,

Of beast, bird, fish, serpent & element

Combustion, blast, vapour and cloud.

4. Dark revolving in silent activity:

Unseen in tormenting passions;

An activity unknown and horrible;

A self-contemplating shadow,

In enormous labours occupied

5. But Eternals beheld his vast forests

Age on ages he lay, clos'd, unknown

Brooding shut in the deep; all avoid

The petrific abominable chaos