Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience (Notebook)
Edited text:[1][edit]
Motto to the Songs of Innocence and of Experience
THE GOOD[2] are attracted by men’s perceptions,
And think not for themselves;
Till Experience teaches them to catch
And to cage the fairies and elves.
5And then the Knave begins to snarl,
And the Hypocrite to howl;
And all his good friends show their private ends,
And the eagle is known from the owl.
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The original text:[3][edit]
Motto to the Songs of Innocence & of Experience
The Good are attracted by Mens 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 shew their private ends
And the Eagle is known from the Owl
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- ↑ The Poetical Works of William Blake, including the unpublished French Revolution together with the Minor Prophetic Books and Selections from The Four Zoas, Milton & Jerusalem; edited with an introduction and textual notes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.
- ↑ 1. Motto] This motto, which was probably never engraved by Blake, is not found in any copy of the Songs.
- ↑ "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 499. Erdman begins with this "Motto" the VI-th section of the book: [SATIRIC VERSES AND EPIGRAMS]
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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