Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience (1982 ed.)

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Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience
by William Blake

Extracted from Selected Poems from William Blake, P.H. Butter, Everyman, 1982 (ISBN 0460870688)

497240Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of ExperienceWilliam Blake

Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience


The Good are attracted by Men’s perceptions
And think not for themselves,
Till Experience teaches them to catch
And to Cage the Fairies & Elves.


And then the Knave begins to snarl,
And the Hypocrite to howl,
And all his good Friends show their private ends,
And the Eagle is know from the Owl.