Page:Works of William Blake; poetic, symbolic, and critical (1893) Volume 2.djvu/159

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SONG OF LOS.

Africa.

In this book Blake says that he will sing that song, that creative-imaginative impulse — for such is a song — of Los, the prophetic spirit who, in the person of Time, brings division to ultimate unity by re-dividing it; until, by the final law of contraries, it calls up its own opposite.

This creation was achieved by the four forms of idea called elements. In the region of the heart, when created, life began there, for it began everywhere. The instruments of music used for mental productivity are harps. Each of the four points has its own inner four, and in heart-formed Africa, were four of these creative instruments.

Creation is the union of divided things by the power of mind.

In the spiritual world it began when TJrizen, the once bright constructive power, made his temple the heart of man. He then faded, though once the "Prince of Light," — for his power was spent.

Ariston, the power of beauty, shuddered, that is, gave birth.

Then the song, the creation began, and Adam, type of dust, at utmost divisibility, united, stood in the garden of Eden, the place of the "true tongue" who is Antamon, or the "true west."

Noah, the type of male force, surviving the five senses of Man not destroyed by the flood, stood on the mount of Ararat — mount of rescue, and contrasted symbol opposite to Sinai — mount of law.VOL. 11. 10