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Creator:
Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827
Hand colored by William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by Edward Young, 1683–1765
Published by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797
Title:
'The Sun beheld it – No, the shocking scene' (Page 75)
Part Of:

Collective Title: Young's Night Thoughts

Date:
1797
Materials & Techniques:
Etching, line engraving, and letterpress, with hand coloring in watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Spine: 17 1/2 inches (44.5 cm), Sheet: 16 3/4 x 12 3/4 inches (42.5 x 32.4 cm), Plate: 15 5/8 x 12 3/4 inches (39.7 x 32.4 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Lettered on facing page: "74 | 'Expended DEITY on human weal'. | Feel the great truths, which burst the tenfold night | Of heathen error with a golden flood | Of endless day: to feel is to be fired; | And to believe, LORENZO! is to feel. | Thou most indulgent, most tremendous power! | Still more tremendous for thy wondrous love! | That, arms with awe more aweful thy commands; | And foul transgression dips in sevenfold night: | How our hearts tremble at thy love immense! | In love immense, inviolably just! | THOU, rather than thy justice should be stain'd, | Didst stain the cross; and, work of wonders far | The greatest--that thy dearest far might bleed! | Bold thought! shall I dare speak it, or repress? | Should man more execrate, or boast the guilt | Which roused such vengence? which such love inflamed? | O'er guilt, how mountainous, with out-stretch'd arms | Stern justice, and soft-smiling love embrace; | Supporting in full majesty thy throne, | When seem'd its majesty to need support, | Or that, or man inevitably lost. | What, but the fathomless of thought divine, | Could labour such expedient from despair, | And rescue both? both rescue--both exalt! | O how are both exalted by the deed-- | The wondrous deed! or shall I call it more? | A wonder in OMNIPOTENCE itself! | A mystery, no less to gods than men!"

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.10(33)
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
clouds | fire | flames | horse (animal) | horses (animals) | literary theme | man | men | religious and mythological subject | sun | text
Access:
Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details.
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:3563
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