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WILLIAM BLAKE.

work of engraving—from the process through which we have with us the Songs and Prophecies—will give with some precision the exact point indicated, and might have been allowed of by himself, as not unacceptable or inapposite.

This final absorption of the destructible body, consumption of "the serpent's meat," is but the upshot of a life of divine rebellion and "spiritual war," not of barren physical qualities and temporal virtues:—

"The God of this world raged in vain; He bound old Satan in his chain: Throughout the land he took his course, And traced diseases to their source: He cursed the Scribe and Pharisee, Trampling down hypocrisy."

His wrath was made as it were a chariot of fire; at the wheels of it was dragged the God of this world, overthrown and howling aloud:—

"Where'er his chariot took its way Those gates of death let in the day;"

every chain and bar broken down from them, and the staples of the doors loosed; his voice was heard from Zion above the clamour of axle and wheel,

" And in his hand the scourge shone bright; He scourged the merchant Canaanite From out the temple of his mind, And in his body tight does bind Satan and all his hellish crew; And thus with wrath he did subdue The serpent bulk of nature's dross Till he had nailed it to the cross. He put on sin in the Virgin's womb, And put it off on the cross and tomb To be worshipped by the Church of Rome:"