9'And because I am happy & dance & sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.'
12 Who. . . misery] Who wrap themselves up in our misery MS. Book 1st rdg. del.
1Pity would be no more
If we did not make somebody Poor;
And Mercy no more could be
If all were as happy as we.
5And mutual fear brings peace,
Till the selfish loves increase;
Then Cruelty knits a snare.
And spreads his baits with care.
9He sits down with holy fears,
And waters the ground with tears;
Then Humility takes its root
Underneath his foot.
13Soon spreads the dismal shade
Of Mystery over his head;
And the Catterpiller and Fly
Feed on the Mystery.
17And it bears the fruit of Deceit,
Ruddy and sweet to eat;
And the Raven his nest has made
In its thickest shade.
Engraved on a single plate, reprinted in Gilchrist (ii. end) from the draft in the MS. Book (p. 107 reversed). The first title of the poem was 'The Earth.' This is erased, and 'The human Image' substituted: the present title is not in the MS. Book.
Compare with this song the fine variant version, beginning 'I heard an Angel singing,' MS. Book (p. 114 reversed).
I would] could MS. Book. 2 If there was nobody poor MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 9 with . . . fears] with his holy fears EY. 20 its] the Swinb. thickest] blackest MS. Book.
