Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishHand colored by William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Edward Young, 1683–1765, BritishPublished by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797, British
Title:
'Love, and love only, is the loan for love' (Page 37)
Date:
ca. 1797
Materials & Techniques:
Etching, line engraving, and letterpress, with hand coloring in watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Spine: 16 3/4 inches (42.5 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Lettered inside image: "37 | Is virtue kindling at a rival fire, | And, emulously rapid in her race. | O the soft enmity! endearing strife! | This carries friendship to her noon-tide point, | And gives the rivet of eternity. | From friendship, which outlives my former themes, | Glorious survivor of old time, and death! | From friendship thus, that flower of heavenly seed, | The wise extract earth's most hyblean bliss, | Superior wisdom crown'd with smiling joy. | But for whom blossoms this elysian flower? | Abroad they find, who cherish it at home. | LORENZO! pardon what my love extorts, | An honest love, and not afraid to frown. | Though choice of follies fasten on the great, | None clings more obstinate than fancy fond | That sacred friendship is their easy prey; | Caught by the wafture of a golden lure, | Or fascination of a high-born smile. | Their smiles, the great, and the coquet throw out | For other hearts, tenacious of their own; | And we no less of ours, when such the bait. | Ye fortune's cofferers! ye powers of wealth! | You do your rent-rolls most felonious wrong, | By taking our attachment to yourselves: | Can gold gain friendship? impudence of hope! | As well mere man an angel might beget: | *Love, and love only, is the loan for love. | LORENZO! pride repress; nor hope to find | A friend, but what has found a friend in thee."; lower right: "inv. & sc | WB"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1978.43.1396
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
literary theme | leaf | palm trees | horses (animals) | cups | serpents | goblets | mountains | trees | text | grass | men
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
The Romantic Print in the Age of Revolutions: Hero, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (Yale Center for British Art, 2003-01-23 - 2003-06-01)