If it is True What the Prophets write

by William Blake

Blake manuscript - Notebook 1808 - 30 If it is True What the Prophets write

Edited text:^[1]

* * *

IF^[2] it is true, what the Prophets write,
That the heathen gods are all stocks and stones,
Shall we, for the sake of being polite,
Feed them with the juice of our marrow-bones?
  
5 And if Bezaleel and Aholiab drew
What the finger of God pointed to their view,
Shall we suffer the Roman and Grecian rods
To compel us to worship them as gods?
  
They stole them from the temple of the Lord
10 And worshipp’d them that they might make inspirèd art abhorr’d;
  
The wood and stone were call’d the holy things,
And their sublime intent given to their kings.
All the atonements of Jehovah spurn’d,
And criminals to sacrifices turn’d.

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The original text:^[3]

* * *

If it is True What the Prophets write
That the heathen Gods are all stocks & stones
Shall we for the sake of being Polite
Feed them with the juice of our marrow bones
5And if Bezaleel & Aholiab drew 5

What the Finger of God pointed to their View
Shall we suffer the Roman & Grecian Rods
To compell us to worship them as Gods
They stole them from the Temple of the Lord
10And Worshippd them that they might make^[4] Inspired Art Abhorrd

The Wood & Stone were calld The Holy Things—
And their Sublime Intent given to their Kings
All the Atonements of Jehovah spurnd
And Criminals to Sacrifices Turnd

Notes

1. The Poetical Works of William Blake, including the unpublished French Revolution together with the Minor Prophetic Books and Selections from The Four Zoas, Milton & Jerusalem; edited with an introduction and textual notes by John Sampson, Hon. D.Litt. Oxon., 1862–1931. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 1908.
2. 1. If it is true, &c.] 10 And worshipp’d them to make, &c., MS. 1st rdg. del. ]
3. "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 501.
4. that they might make] to make 1st rdg