Songs of Innocence and of Experience (With All the Originial Illustrations). Уильям Блейк

griefs destroy,

       Or bless the mellowing year,

       When the blasts of winter appear?

       Plate 8

      Holy Thursday

       Table of Contents

      'Twas on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean,

       The children walking two & two, in red & blue & green,

       Grey-headed beadles walk'd before, with wands as white as snow,

       Till into the high dome of Paul's they like Thames' waters flow.

      O what a multitude they seem'd, 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 9