Page:William Blake (Symons).djvu/283

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CRABB ROBINSON'S DIARY
259

inspired man. Blake praised, too, the figures in Law's translation as being very beautiful. Michael Angelo could not have done better. Though he spoke of his happiness, he spoke of past sufferings, and of sufferings as necessary. 'There is suffering in heaven, for where there is the capacity of enjoyment, there is the capacity of pain.'

I have been interrupted by a call from Talfourd in writing this account—and I can not now recollect any distinct remarks—but as Blake has invited me to go and see him I shall possibly have an opportunity again of noting what he says, and I may be able hereafter to throw connection, if not system, into what I have written above.

I feel great admiration and respect for him—he is certainly a most amiable man—a good creature—and of his poetical and pictorial genius there is no doubt, I believe, in the minds of judges. Wordsworth and Lamb like his poems, and the Aders his paintings.

A few other detached thoughts occur to me.

Bacon, Locke, and Newton are the three great teachers of Atheism or of Satan's doctrine.

Every thing is Atheism which assumes the reality of the natural and unspiritual world.

Irving. He is a highly gifted man—he is a sent man—but they who are sent sometimes[1] go further than they ought.

  1. 'Exceed their commission' crossed out.