Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/97

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Island in the Moon
55

ii

[The Song of Phebe and Jellicoe]

Phebe drest like beautie's Queen, 1
Jellicoe in faint peagreen,
Sitting all beneath a grot,
Where the little lambkins trot.


Maidens dancing, loves a sporting, 5
All the country folks a courting,
Susan, Johnny, Bob, & Joe,
Lightly tripping on a row.


Happy people, who can be 9
In happiness compar'd with ye?
The Pilgrim with his crook & hat
Sees your happiness compleat.

Isl. in Moon, chap, viii—'Then said Miss Gittipin, "Mr. Scopprell, do you know the song of 'Phebe and Jellicoe'?"—"No, Miss," said Scopprell. Then she repeated these verses, while steelyard walk'd about the room.' EY i. p. 196, WBY p. 95 with title ' The Pilgrim.' LH p. 144.

5 loves a sporting] lovers sporting EY, WBY.7 Bob] Bab LH. 10 with] to EY, WBY.

iii

Hail Matrimony, made of Love! 1
To thy wide gates how great a drove
On purpose to be yok'd do come;
Widows & maids & Youths also,
That lightly trip on beauty's toe,
Or sit on beauty's bum.

Isl. in Moon, chap, ix—'"Hang Italian songs! let 's have English," said Quid, "English Genius for ever—here I go—."' The subject and metre of this song were perhaps suggested by 'He that intends to take a wife,' Pills to purge Melancholy, iii. p. 106. EY (i. p. 198) print ll. 7, 8, 13, 18, and 25-7.