the conflict, physicality, pain, and loss without which there is no possibility either of growth or of creativity.
1. Blake omitted this poem from all but one copy and subtle contrary to 'The Divine Image' in Songs of Songs of Experience, probably because 'The of Innocence. Human Abstract' served as a more comprehensive
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98 / WILLIAM BLAKE
The Book of Thel
PLATE i1
Thel's Motto
Does the Eagle know what is in the pit? Or wilt thou go ask the Mole? Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod? Or Love in a golden bowl?2
PLATE 1
1
The daughters of Mne3 Seraphim led round their sunny flocks, All but the youngest; she in paleness sought the secret air, To fade away like morning beauty from her mortal day; Down by the river of Adona her soft voice is heard, And thus her gentle lamentation falls like morning dew:
'O life of this our spring! why fades the lotus of the water? Why fade these children of the spring? born but to smile & fall. Ah! Thel is like a watry bow, and like a parting cloud, Like a reflection in a glass, like shadows in the water, Like dreams of infants, like a smile upon an infant's face, Like the dove's voice, like transient day, like music in the air. Ah! gentle may I lay me down, and gentle rest my head, And gentle sleep the sleep of death, and gentle hear the voice Of him that walketh in the garden in the evening time.'4
The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grass Answer'd the lovely maid and said: 'I am a watry weed, And I am very small, and love to dwell in lowly vales; So weak, the gilded butterfly scarce perches on my head; Yet I am visited from heaven, and he that smiles on all Walks in the valley and each morn over me spreads his hand, Saying: 'Rejoice, thou humble grass, thou new-born lilly flower, Thou gentle maid of silent valleys and of modest brooks; For thou shalt be clothed in light, and fed with morning manna, Till summer's heat melts thee beside the fountains and the springs To flourish in eternal vales.' Then why should Thel complain?
1. The plate numbers identify the page, each with its own pictorial design, as originally printed by Blake. These numbers are reproduced here because they are frequently used in references to Blake's writings. 2. Ecclesiastes 12.5?6 describes a time when 'fears shall be in the way . . . and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken.' Perhaps Blake changed the silver cord to a rod to make it, with the golden bowl, a sexual symbol.
3. There has been much speculation about this curious term. It may be an abbreviation for the name 'Mnetha,' the goddess of the Vales of Har in Blake's earlier poem Tiriel. 4. Genesis 3.8: 'And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.'
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THE BOOK OF THEL / 99
Title page of The Book of Thel (1789), plate ii. Copy N, ca. 1815
PLATE 2
Why should the mistress of the vales of Har utter a sigh?'
She ceasd & smild in tears, then sat down in her silver shrine.
Thel answerd: 'O thou little virgin of the peaceful valley, Giving to those that cannot crave, the voiceless, the o'ertired;
5 Thy breath doth nourish the innocent lamb, he smells thy milky garments, He crops thy flowers, while thou sittest smiling in his face, Wiping his mild and meekin? mouth from all contagious taints. humble Thy wine doth purify the golden honey; thy perfume, Which thou dost scatter on every little blade of grass that springs,
10 Revives the milked cow, & tames the fire-breathing steed. But Thel is like a faint cloud kindled at the rising sun: I vanish from my pearly throne, and who shall find my place?'
'Queen of the vales,' the Lilly answered, 'ask the tender cloud, And it shall tell thee why it glitters in the morning sky,
15 And why it scatters its bright beauty thro' the humid air. Descend, O little cloud, & hover before the eyes of Thel.' The Cloud descended, and the Lilly bowd her modest head, And went to mind her numerous charge among the verdant grass.
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100 / WILLIAM BLAKE
PLATE 3
2
'O little Cloud,' the virgin said, 'I charge thee tell to me, Why thou complainest not when in one hour thou fade away: Then we shall seek thee but not find; ah, Thel is like to Thee. I pass away, yet I complafn, and no one hears my voice.'
s The Cloud then shew'd his golden head & his bright form emerg'd, Hovering and glittering on the air before the face of Thel.
'O virgin, know'st thou not our steeds drink of the golden springs Where Luvah5 doth renew his horses? Look'st thou on my youth, And fearest thou because I vanish and am seen no more,
10 Nothing remains? O maid, I tell thee, when I pass away, It is to tenfold life, to love, to peace, and raptures holy: Unseen descending, weigh my light wings upon balmy flowers, And court the fair eyed dew, to take me to her shining tent; The weeping virgin trembling kneels before the risen sun,
