Europe: A Prophecy

(Engraved 1794)

‘Five windows light the cavern’d Man: thro’ one he breathes the air;
Thro’ one hears music of the spheres; thro’ one the Eternal Vine
Flourishes, that he may receive the grapes; thro’ one can look
And see small portions of the Eternal World that ever groweth;
Thro’ one himself pass out what time he please, but he will not;
For stolen joys are sweet, and bread eaten in secret pleasant.’

So sang a Fairy, mocking, as he sat on a streak’d tulip,
Thinking none saw him: when he ceas’d I started from the trees,
And caught him in my hat, as boys knock down a butterfly.
‘How know you this,’ said I, ‘small Sir? where did you learn this song?’
Seeing himself in my possession, thus he answer’d me:
‘My Master, I am yours! command me, for I must obey.’

‘Then tell me, what is the Material World, and is it dead?’
He, laughing, answer’d: ‘I will write a book on leaves of flowers,
If you will feed me on love-thoughts, and give me now and then
A cup of sparkling poetic fancies; so, when I am tipsy,
I’ll sing to you to this soft lute, and show you all alive
The World, when every particle of dust breathes forth its joy.’

I took him home in my warm bosom: as we went along
Wild flowers I gatherèd; and he show’d me each Eternal Flower:
He laugh’d aloud to see them whimper because they were pluck’d.
They hover’d round me like a cloud of incense. When I came
Into my parlour and sat down, and took my pen to write,
My Fairy sat upon the table, and dictated EUROPE.