William Blake
Jerusalem The Emanation of the Giant Albion: Introduction
JERUSALEM
The Emanation of The Giant Albion
There is a Void, outside of Existence, which if enter'd into
Englobes itself & becomes a Womb, such was Albion's Couch
A pleasant Shadow of Repose call'd Albion's lovely Land
His Sublime & Pathos become Two Rocks fix'd in the Earth
His Reason his Spectrous Power, covers them above
Jerusalem his Emanation is a Stone laying beneath
O [Albion behold Pitying] behold the Vision of Albion
Half Friendship is the bitterest Enmity said Los
As he enter'd the Door of Death for Albion's sake Inspired
The long sufferings of God are not for ever there is a Judgment
Every Thing has its Vermin O Spectre of the Sleeping Dead!
SHEEP GOATS
To the Public
After my three years slumber on the banks of the Ocean, I
again display my Giant forms to the Public: My former Giants &
Fairies having reciev'd the highest reward possible: the
[love] and [friendship] of those with whom to
be connected, is to be [blessed]: I cannot doubt that
this more consolidated & extended Work, will be as kindly
recieved
The Enthusiasm of the following Poem, the Author hopes
[no Reader will think presumptuousness or arrogance] when he
is reminded that the Ancients acknowledge their love to their
Deities, to the full as Enthusiastically as I have who
Acknowledge mine for my Saviour and Lord, for they were wholly
absorb'd in their Gods.] I also hope the Reader will
be with me, wholly One in Jesus our Lord, who is the God [ of
Fire] and Lord [of Love] to whom the Ancients
look'd and saw his day afar off, with trembling & amazement.
The Spirit of Jesus is continual forgiveness of Sin: he who
waits to be righteous before he enters into the Saviour's kingdom,
the Divine Body; will never enter there. I am perhaps the most
sinful of men! I pretend not to holiness! yet I pretend to love,
to see, to converse with daily, as man with man, & the more to
have an interest in the Friend of Sinners. Therefore
[Dear] Reader, [forgive] what you do not
approve, & [love] me for this energetic exertion of my
talent.