Can delight,
Chain'd in night,
The virgins of youth and morning bear?
16'Does spring hide its joy
When buds and blossoms grow?
Does the sower
Sow by night,
Or the plowman in darkness plow?
21'Break this heavy chain
That does freeze my bones around.
Selfish! vain!
Eternal bane!
That free Love with bondage bound.'
14 Chain'd] Clog'd MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 16-20 This stanza was an addition written in place of the third, which Blake cancelled, but restored when engraving. 16 joy] delight MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 18, 19 Does . . . night] Does the sower sow His seed by night MS. Book 1st rdg. del.: Can the sower sow by night Swinb. 22 freeze] close MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 24, 25 Eternal . . . bound] Thou, my bane Hast my love with bondage bound MS. Book 1st rdg. del.
Nurse's Song
5When the voices of children are heard on the green
And whisp'rings are in the dale.
The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind,
My face turns green and pale.
5Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down,
And the dews of night arise;
Your spring & your day are wasted in play.
And your winter and night in disguise.
Engraved without material change from a fair copy (without title) in the MS. Book (p. 109 reversed). Nurse's Song] No apostrophe in original;
Nurse's Song] Wilk. 3 my] R1 omits. rise] are MS. Book. 4 My] And my R1. green] grave R1.
