*33So I smote him, & his gore
Stain'd the roots my mirtle bore;
But the time of youth is fled,
And grey hairs are on my head.
the reverse order, the final position of the lines being afterwards indicated in Blake's usual manner by Arabic numerals added in the left-hand margin.
17-36 And I saw . . . head] I append here the final version of the last five stanzas (see note to 1. 17). The verses were not recopied, the changes being deletions and additions.
*17 And I saw before me shine
Clusters of the wand'ring vine;
And many a lovely flower & tree
Stretch'd their blossoms out to me.
*21 But many a Priest with holy look,
In their hands a holy book,
Pronounc'd curses on my head
And bound me in a mirtle shade.
*25 I beheld the Priests by night;
They embrac'd the blossoms bright:
I beheld the Priests by day;
Underneath the vines they lay.
*29 Like to holy men by day
Underneath the vines they lay:
Like to serpents in the night
They embrac'd my mirtle bright.
*33 So I smote them, & their gore
Stain'd the roots my mirtle bore;
But the time of youth is fled,
And grey hairs are on my head.
*21 look] book EY. *25-*32 I beheld . . . bright] WBY (Notes) omits. *28 vines] vine EY.
xi
1Why should I care for the men of thames,
Or the cheating waves of charter'd streams;
Or shrink at the little blasts of fear
That the hireling blows into my ear?
MS. Book, p. 113. Printed by DGR and later edd. with title 'Thames and Ohio.' Not in Swinb.
1 thames] the Thames EY (Index to MS. Book, i. 205). 2 Or] And all edd. waves] waters DGR, WMR, EY, WBY. 4 my] mine all edd.
