- Title:
- 'What, though my soul fantastick measures trod' (Page 4)
- Part Of:
- Date:
- 1797
- Materials & Techniques:
- Etching, engraving, and letterpress on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
- Dimensions:
- Sheet: 16 3/8 × 12 3/4 inches (41.6 × 32.4 cm), Binding: 16 3/8 inches (41.6 cm)
- Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Lettered inside image: "4 | An heir of glory! a frail child of dust! | Helpless immortal! insect infinite! | A worm! a God!--I tremble at myself, | And in myself am lost! At home a stranger, | Thought wanders up and down, surprised, aghast, | And wond'ring at her own: how reason reels! | O what a miracle to man is man, | Triumphantly distress'd! what joy, what dread! | Alternately transported, and alarm'd! | What can preserve my life? or what destroy? | An angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave-- | Legions of angels can't confine me there. | 'Tis past conjecture: all things rise in proof. | While o'er my limbs sleep's soft dominion spread: | *What, though my soul fantastick measures trod | O'er fairy fields; or mourn'd along the gloom | Of pathless woods; or down the craggy steep | Hurl'd headlong, swam with pain the mantled pool; | Or scaled the cliff; or danced on hollow winds, | With antick shapes wild natives of the brain? | Her ceaseless flight, though devious, speaks her nature | Of subtler essence than the trodden clod; | Active, aerial, tow'ring, unconfined, | Unfetter'd with her gross companion's fall. | Even silent night proclaims my soul immortal; | Even silent night proclaims eternal day. | For human weal, Heaven husbands all events; | Dull sleep instructs, nor sport vain dreams in vain. | Why then their loss deplore that are not lost? | Why wanders wretched thought their tombs around,"; lower left: "Pubd. June 27th 1796, by R. Edwards, No. 142 New Bond Street."
- Credit Line:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Copyright Status:
- Public Domain
- Accession Number:
- B1978.43.1344
- Classification:
- Prints
- Collection:
- Prints and Drawings
- Access:
- Accessible in the Study Room [Request]
- Link:
- https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:2263
- Export:
- XML
- IIIF Manifest:
- JSON
William Blake - His Art & Times (Art Gallery of Ontario, 1982-12-03 - 1983-02-06) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]
William Blake - His Art & Times (Yale Center for British Art, 1982-09-15 - 1982-11-14) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition]