The Caverns of the Grave Ive seen
MS. Book. p. 87, on same page as part of Blake's descriptive account of
his picture of 'The Last Judgment,' headed 'For the Year 1810 : Addition
to Blake's Catalogue of Pictures, &c.' Swinb. p. 55, WMR p. 170, EY iii.
74, WBY p. 140, all except Swinb. with title ' For a Picture of the Last
Judgment : Dedication.' WMR (p. 144) seems unaware that this poem
forms part of the MS. Book.
1 Caverns] Visions MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 3 But] And MS. Book 1st
rdg. del. 4 Who] Whom WMR, EY, WBY. 6 daunt'ess] dare to
MS. Book 1st rdg. del.
7 can] dare MS. Book 1st rdg. del. 8 flames] doors ibid, ist )dg. del.
11 Noble] worthy ibid, 1si rdg. del. 15 unchang'd] shall still ibid. 1st
rdg. del.
Edited text:[1] edit
cxxix
1 The Caverns of the Grave I've seen,
And these I shew'd to England's Queen.
But now the Caves of Hell I view,
Who shall I dare to shew them to?
5 What mighty Soul in Beauty's form
Shall dauntless View the Infernal storm?
Egremont's Countess can controll
The flames of Hell that round me roll;
9If she refuse, I still go on
Till the Heavens & Earth are gone,
Still admir'd by Noble minds,
Follow'd by Envy on the winds,
13Re-engrav'd Time after Time,
Ever in their Youthful prime.
My Designs unchang'd remain.
Time may rage, but rage in vain.
17For above Time's troubled Fountains,
On the Great Atlantic Mountains,
In my Golden House on high,
There they shine Eternally.
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The original text:[2] edit
*
The Caverns of the Grave Ive seen
And these I shewd to Englands Queen
But now the Caves of Hell I view
Who shall I dare to shew them to
5What mighty Soul in Beautys form
Shall dauntless View the Infernal Storm
Egremonts Countess can controll
The flames of Hell that round me roll
If she refuse I still go on
10Till the Heavens & Earth are gone
Still admird by Noble minds
Followd by Envy on the winds
Reengravd Time after Time
Ever in their Youthful prime
15My Designs unchangd remain
Time may rage but rage in vain
For above Times troubled Fountains
On the Great Atlantic Mountains
In my Golden House on high
20There they Shine Eternally
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Notes edit
- ↑ The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals; With variorum readings and bibliographical notes and prefaces, edited by Sampson, John, Clarendon Press Oxford 1905, c. 237-8.
- ↑ "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 480.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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