William Blake
(1757-1827)
Songs of Innocence and of Experience * And did those feet in ancient times
The book of Thel * The Marriage of Heaven and Hell * Jerusalem (30 plates)
The book of Urizen * The book of Ahania * The book of Los
 
SONGS OF INNOCENCE
AND OF EXPERIENCE
(1789 / 1794)
King's College, Cambridge. Copy W.
 
Plate 1 
SONGS
 
Of
 
INNOCENCE
and Of
 
EXPERIENCE
 
Shewing the Two Contrary States
of the Human Soul
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plate 2 
Plate 3 
Plate 4 
 
 
 
    INTRODUCTION  
      
    Piping down the valleys wild  
    Piping songs of pleasant glee  
    On a cloud I saw a child.  
    And he laughing said to me.  
      
    Pipe a song about a Lamb;  
    So I piped with merry chear,  
    Piper pipe that song again –  
    So I piped, he wept to hear.  
      
    Drop thy pipe thy happy pipe  
    Sing thy songs of happy chear,  
    So I sung the same again  
    While he wept with joy to hear  
      
    Piper sit thee down and write  
    In a book that all may read –  
    So he vanish'd from my sight.  
    And I pluck'd a hollow reed.  
      
    And I made a rural pen,  
    And I stain'd the water clear,  
    And I wrote my happy songs  
    Every child may joy to hear 
Plate 5 
  
    THE SHEPHERD  
      
    How sweet is the Shepherds sweet lot,  
    From the morn to the evening he strays:  
    He shall follow his sheep all the day  
    And his tongue shall be filled with praise.  
      
    For he hears the lambs innocent call.  
    And he hears the owes tender reply.  
    He is watchful while they are in peace.  
    For they know when their Shepherd is nigh.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Plate 6 
  
  
    THE ECCHOING GREEN  
      
    The Sun does arise,  
    And make happy the skies.  
    The merry bells ring  
    To welcome the Spring.  
    The sky-lark and thrush,  
    The birds of the bush,  
    Sing louder around.  
    To the bells chearful sound.  
    While our sports shall be seen  
    On the Ecchoing Green.  
      
    Old John with white hair  
    Does laugh away care,  
    Sitting under the oak,  
    Among the old folk, 
Plate 7 
  
     They laugh at our play,  
    And soon they all say.  
    Such such were the joys.  
    When we all girls & boys,  
    In our youth-time were seen,  
    On the Ecchoing Green.  
      
    Till the little ones weary  
    No more can be merry  
    The sun does descend.  
    And our sports have an end:  
    Round the laps of their mothers,  
    Many sisters and brothers,  
    Like birds in their nest,  
    Are ready for rest;  
    And sport no more seen,  
    On the darkening Green.  
  
  
 
 
Plate 8 
  
    THE LAMB  
      
    Little Lamb who made thee  
    Dost thou know who made thee  
    Gave thee life & bid thee feed.  
    By the stream & o'er the mead;  
    Gave thee clothing of delight,  
    Softest clothing wooly bright;  
    Gave thee such a tender voice,  
    Making all the vales rejoice:  
    Little Lamb who made thee  
    Dost thou know who made thee  
      
    Little Lamb I'll tell thee,  
    Little Lamb I'll tell thee:  
    He is called by thy name,  
    For he calls himself a Lamb:  
    He is meek & he is mild,  
    He hecame a little child:  
    I a child & thou a lamb,  
    We are called by his name.  
    Little Lamb God bless thee.  
    Little Lamb God bless thee. 
Plate 9 
  
    THE LITTLE BLACK BOY  
      
    My mother bore me in the southern wild,  
    And I am black, but O! my soul is white;  
    White as an angel is the English child:  
    But I am black as if bereav'd of light.  
      
    My mother taught me underneath a tree  
    And sitting down before the heat of day,  
    She took me on her lap and kissed me,  
    And pointing to the east began to say.  
      
    Look on the rising sun: there God does live  
    And gives his light, and gives his heat away.  
    And flowers and trees and beasts and men recieve  
    Comfort in morning joy in the noon day.  
      
    And we are put on earth a little space,  
    That we may learn to bear the beams of love,  
    And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face  
    Is but a cloud, and like a shady grove. 
Plate 10
  
    For when our souls have learn'd the heat to bear  
    The cloud will vanish we shall hear his voice.  
    Saying: come out from the grove my love & care,  
    And round my golden tent like lambs rejoice.  
      
    Thus did my mother say and kissed me,  
    And thus I say to little English boy.  
    When I from black and he from white cloud free,  
    And round the tent of God like lambs we joy:  
      
    Ill shade him from the heat till he can bear,  
    To lean in joy upon our fathers knee.  
    And then I'll stand and stroke his silver hair,  
    And be like him and he will then love me.  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Plate 11 
  
    THE BLOSSOM  
      
    Merry Merry Sparrow  
    Under leaves so green  
    A happy Blossom  
    Sees you swift as arrow  
    Seek your cradle narrow  
    Near my Bosom.  
      
    Pretty Pretty Robin  
    Under leaves so green  
    A happy Blossom  
    Hears you sobbing sobbing  
    Pretty Pretty Robin  
    Near my Bosom. 
Plate 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER  
      
    When my mother died I was very young,  
    And my father sold me while yet my tongue,  
    Could scarcely cry weep weep weep weep.  
    So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.  
      
    Theres little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head  
    That curl'd like a lambs back, was shav'd, so I said.  
    Hush Tom never mind it, for when your head's bare,  
    You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.  
      
    And so he was quiet, & that very night,  
    As Tom was a sleeping he had such a sight,  
    That thousands of sweepers Dick, Joe Ned & Jack  
    Were all of them lock'd up in coffins of black  
      
    And by came an Angel who had a bright key,  
    And he open'd the coffins & set them all free.  
    Then down a green plain leaping laughing they run  
    And wash in a river and shine in the Sun.  
      
    Then naked & white, all their bags left behind,  
    They rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind.  
    And the Angel told Tom if he'd be a good boy,  
    He'd have God for his father & never want joy.  
      
    And so Tom awoke and we rose in the dark  
    And got with our bags & our brushes to work.  
    Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm,  
    So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm. 
Plate 13 
  
  
  
  
  
  
    THE LITTLE BOY LOST  
      
    Father, father, where are you going  
    O do not walk so fast.  
    Speak father, speak to your little boy  
    Or else I shall be lost,  
      
    The night was dark no father was there  
    The child was wet with dew.  
    The mire was deep, & the child did weep  
    And away the vapour flew. 
  Plate 14 
  
  
  
  
  
  
    THE LITTLE BOY FOUND  
      
    The little boy lost in the lonely fen,  
    Led by the wand'ring light,  
    Began to cry, but God ever nigh,  
    Appeard like his father in white.  
      
    He kissed the child & by the hand led  
    And to his mother brought,  
    Who in sorrow pale, thro' the lonely date  
    Her little boy weeping sought. 
 
 
 
Plate 15 
  
    LAUGHING SONG  
      
    When the green woods laugh, with the voice of joy  
    And the dimpling stream runs laughing by,  
    When the air does laugh with our merry wit,  
    And the green hill laughs with the noise of it.  
      
    When the meadows laugh with lively green  
    And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene,  
    When Mary and Susan and Emily,  
    With their sweet round mouths sing Ha, Ha, He.  
      
    When the painted birds laugh in the shade  
    Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread  
    Come live & be merry and join with me,  
    Te sing the sweet chorus of Ha, Ha, He. 
 
Plate 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    A CRADLE SONG  
      
    Sweet dreams form a shade,  
    O'er my lovely infants head.  
    Sweet dreams of pleasant streams.  
    By happy silent moony beams.  
      
    Sweet sleep with soft down,  
    Weave thy brows an infant crown.  
    Sweet sleep Angel mild,  
    Hover o'er my happy child.  
      
    Sweet smiles in the night,  
    Hover over my delight.  
    Sweet smiles Mothers smiles  
    All the livelong night beguiles.  
      
    Sweet means, dovelike sighs,  
    Chase not slumber from thy eyes.  
    Sweet moans, sweeter smiles.  
    All the dovelike moans beguiles.  
      
    Sleep sleep happy child.  
    All creation slept and smil'd.  
    Sleep sleep. happy sleep.  
    While o'er thee thy mother weep  
      
    Sweet babe in thy face,  
    Holy image I can trace.  
    Sweet babe once like thee,  
    Thy maker lay and wept for me 
    Wept for me for thee for all:  
    When he was an infant small.  
    Thou his image ever see.  
    Heavenly face that smiles on thee.  
      
    Smiles on thee on me on all,  
    Who became an infant small,  
    Infant smiles are his own smiles.  
    Heaven & earth to peace beguiles.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Plate 17
Plate 18 
 
 
    THE DIVINE IMAGE  
      
    To Mercy Pity Peace and Love,  
    All pray in their distress:  
    And to these virtues of delight  
    Return their thankfulness.  
      
    For Mercy Pity Peace and Love,  
    Is God our father dear:  
    And Mercy Pity Peace and Love,  
    Is Man his child and care.  
      
    For Mercy has a human heart  
    Pity, a human face:  
    And Love, the human form divine,  
    And Peace, the human dress.  
      
    Then every man of every clime,  
    That prays in his distress,  
    Prays to the human form divine  
    Love Mercy Pity Peace.  
      
    And all must love the human form,  
    In heathen, turk or jew.  
    Where Mercy, Love & Pity dwell  
    There God is dwelling too. 
Plate 19 
  
 
  HOLY THURSDAY  
  
  Twas on a Holy Thursday their innocent faces clean  
  The children walking two & two in red & blue & green  
  Grey headed beadles walkd before with wands as white as snow  
  Till into the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow  
  
  O what a multitude they seemd these flowers of London town  
  Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own  
  The hum of multitudes was there but multitudes of lambs  
  Thousands of little boys & girls raising their innocent hands  
  
  Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song  
  Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven among  
  Beneath them sit the aged men wise guardians of the poor  
  Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door  
  
  
 
Plate 20 
 
 
 
 
    NIGHT  
      
    The sun descending in the west  
    The evening star does shine.  
    The birds are silent in their nest,  
    And I must seek for mine,  
    The moon like a flower,  
    In heavens high bower;  
    With silent delight,  
    Sits and smiles on the night.  
      
    Farewell green fields and happy groves,  
    Where flocks have took delight;  
    Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves  
    The feet of angels bright;  
    Unseen they pour blessing,  
    And joy without ceasing,  
    On each bud and blossom,  
    And each sleeping bosom.  
      
    They look in every thoughtless nest,  
    Where birds are coverd warm;  
    They visit caves of every beast,  
    To keep them all from harrn;  
    If they see any weeping,  
    That should have been sleeping  
    They pour sleep on their head  
    And sit down by their bed. 
    When wolves and tygers howl for prey  
    They pitying stand and weep;  
    Seeking to drive their thirst away,  
    And keep them from the sheep.  
    But if they rush dreadful;  
    The angels most heedful,  
    Recieve each mild spirit,  
    New worlds to inherit.  
      
    And there the lions ruddy eyes,  
    Shall flow with tears of gold:  
    And pitying the tender cries,  
    And walking round the fold:  
    Saying: wrath by his meekness  
    And by his health, sickness,  
    Is driven away,  
    From our immortal day.  
      
    And now beside thee bleating lamb,  
    I can lie down and sleep;  
    Or think on him who bore thy name,  
    Grase after thee and weep.  
    For wash'd in lifes river,  
    My bright mane for ever.  
    Shall shine like the gold.  
    As I guard o'er the fold.  
Plate 21
 
 
  Plate 22 
  
  
  
  
  
    SPRING  
      
    Sound the Flute!  
    Now it's mute.  
    Birds delight  
    Day and Night.  
    Nightingale  
    In the dale  
    Lark in Sky  
    Merrily  
    Merrily Merrily to welcome in the Year  
      
    Little Boy  
    Full of joy.  
    Little Girl  
    Sweet and small,  
    Cock does crow  
    So do you.  
    Merry voice  
    Infant noise  
    Merrily Merrily to welcome in the Year  
      
    Little Lamb  
    Here I am,  
    Come and lick  
    My white neck.  
    Let me pull  
    Your soft Wool.  
    Let me kiss  
    Your soft face.  
    Merrily Merrily we welcome in the Year  
  
 
 
 
Plate 23
 
 Plate 24 
  
    NURSE'S SONG  
      
    When the voices of children are heard on the green  
    And laughing is heard en the hill,  
    My heart is at rest within my breast  
    And every thing else is still  
      
    Then come home my children, the sun is gone down  
    And the dews of night arise  
    Come come leave off play, and let us away  
    Till the morning appears in the skies  
      
    No no let us play, for it is yet day  
    And we cannot go to sleep  
    Besides in the sky, the little birds fly  
    And the hills are all covered with sheep  
      
    Well well go & play till the light fades away  
    And then go home to bed  
    The little ones leaped & shouted & laugh'd  
    And all the hills ecchoed 
Plate 25 
  
    INFANT JOY  
      
    I have no name  
    I am but two days old. –  
    What shall I call thee?  
    I happy am  
    Joy is my name, –  
    Sweet joy befall thee!  
      
    Pretty joy!  
    Sweet joy but two days old.  
    Sweet joy I call thee:  
    Thou dost smile.  
    I sing the while  
    Sweet joy befall thee. 
Plate 26 
 
 
 
    A DREAM  
      
    Once a dream did weave a shade,  
    O'er my Angel-guarded hed,  
    That an Emmet lost it's way  
    Where on grass methought I lay.  
      
    Troubled wilderd and folorn  
    Dark benighted travel-worn,  
    Over many a tangled spray  
    All heart-broke I heard her say.  
      
    O my children! do they cry  
    Do they hear their father sigh.  
    Now they look abroad to see,  
    Now return and weep for me.  
      
    Pitying I drop'd a tear:  
    But I saw a glow-worm near:  
    Whe replied. What wailing wight  
    Calls the watchman of the night.  
      
    I am set to light the ground,  
    While the beetle goes his round:  
    Follow now the beetles hum,  
    Little wanderer hie thee home. 
    ON ANOTHERS SORROW  
      
    Can I see anothers woe,  
    And not be in sorrow too.  
    Can I see anothers grief,  
    And not seek for kind relief.  
      
    Can I see a falling tear,  
    And not feel my sorrows share,  
    Can a father see his child,  
    Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd.  
      
    Can a mother sit and hear,  
    An infant groan an infant fear –  
    No no never can it be.  
    Never never can it be.  
      
    And can he who smiles on all  
    Hear the wren with sorrows small,  
    Hear the small birds grief & care  
    Hear the wees that infants bear.  
      
    And not sit beside the nest  
    Pouring pity in their breast,  
    And not sit the cradle near  
    Weeping tear en infants tear.  
      
    And not sit beth night & day,  
    Wiping all our tears away.  
    O! no never can it be.  
    Never never can it be. 
Plate 27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
Plate 28 
He doth give his joy to all.  
He becomes an infant small.  
He becomes a man of woe  
Me doth feel the sorrow too.  
  
Think not, thou canst sigh a sigh,  
And thy maker is not by.  
Think not, thou canst weep a tear,  
And thy maker is not near.  
  
O! he gives to us his joy,  
That our grief he may destroy  
Till our grief is fled & gone  
He doth sit by us and moan  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
Songs of Innocence and of Experience * And did those feet in ancient times
The book of Thel * The Marriage of Heaven and Hell * Jerusalem (30 plates)
The book of Urizen * The book of Ahania * The book of Los
Das große Blake-Archiv
mit Internet-Darbietung aller graphisch-poetisch-mythisch-prophetischen Werke William Blakes
in den verschiedenen Colorierungsversionen
 
Philipp Otto Runge:
Der Morgen : Lilie
 
Novalis:
Klingsohrs Märchen von Fabel und Eros  (zu Ende des ersten Teils des Heinrich von Ofterdingen)
Astralis (Lied zu Anfang des zweiten Teils des Heinrich von Ofterdingen)
Die Lehrlinge zu Sais (philosophisches Romanfragment)
Hymne (Geistliche Lieder, Nr.VII: Leib und Blut)
 
Quellen zum Thema "Schöpfung":
Genesis 1-11 : Psalmen : Rgveda : Platon : Proklos : Cicero : Ovid : Mar.Victorinus : J.Böhme : Schelling