xiv
To Nobodaddy
Why art thou silent & invisible, i Father of Jealousy? Why dost thou hide thyself in clouds From every searching Eye ? Why darkness & obscurity 5 In all thy words & laws, That none dare eat the fruit but from The wily serpent's jaws? Or is it because Secresy gains females' loud applause ? MS. Book, p. 109. The title added later in different ink. Not in DGR. Swinb., p. 264 ; EY, iii. 91, i. 209. Printed by WMR under the title ' Father of Jealousy,' and by WBY in text as * To Old Nobodaddy,' and in notes as 'To Nobodady ' {sic). 'Nobodaddy' (obviously 'Nobody's Daddy,' anti- thetical to 'Father of AH') was Blake's jocular nickname for Urizen, the Father of Jealousy. The same name occurs also in ' Fayette ' and in the lines on Klopstock (MS. Book xxxvi, xxxix
Father] Man MS. Book isi rdg. del. 4 searching] passing EY. EY and WBY print both stanzas as one. 7 dare] can EY. 9 Or
. . . applause] a later addition in pencil. All edd. print as two lines. Secresy] Jealousy iwith note querying ' secrecy' as the true reading) Swinb. : gains] gives Swinb. : females' loud] feminine MS. ^o<^strdg.del., Swinb., EY,WBY. XV Are not the joys of morning sweeter i Than the joys of night? And are the vig'rous joys of youth Ashamed of the light? MS. Book, p. 109. Printed by DGR and later edd, with title 'Young Love.' Swinb. (first two lines only), p. 140. Cp. Visions of the Daughters of Albion (1793) : — ' Innocence ! honest, open, seeking The vigorous joys of morning light ; open to virgin bliss, Who taught thee modesty, subtil modesty, child of night & sleep ? ' 4 Ashamed] Ashamed DGR.
