For as he eats & drinks he grows 73
Younger & younger every day;
And on the desart wild they both
Wander in terror & dismay.
Like the wild Stag she flees away, 77
Her fear plants many a thicket wild;
While he pursues her night & day,
By various arts of love beguil'd;
By various arts of Love & Hate, 81
Till the wide desart planted o'er
With Labyrinths of wayward Love,
Where roam the Lion, Wolf, and Boar.
Till he becomes a wayward Babe, 85
And she a weeping Woman Old.
Then many a Lover wanders here;
The Sun & Stars are nearer roll'd;
The trees bring forth sweet extasy 89
To all who in the desart roam;
Till many a City there is Built,
And many a pleasant Shepherd's home.
75, 76 Cp. Jerusalem f. 86, ll. 62, 63:—
'Silent they wander'd hand in hand like two Infants wand'ring
From Enion in the desarts, terrified at each others beauty.'
77 flees] flies WBY.80 arts] art WBY.80, 81 Cp. in Four Zoas, Night i, ll. 217, 218, the description of the wanderings of Los and Enitharmon, who 'in the Brain of Man . . . live, and in his circling Nerves':—
'Alternate Love & Hate his breast, hers Scorn & Jealousy,
In embryon passions they kiss'd not nor embrac'd for shame & fear.'
82 desart] desert's all edd. except Shep. 83 wayward Love] Cp. Jerusalem, f. 16, ll. 61-64:—
'All things acted on Earth are seen in the bright Sculptures of
Los's Halls, & every Age renews its powers from these Works,
With every pathetic story possible to happen from Hate or Wayward Love.'
85 Cp. Jerusalem, f. 82, ll. 37-39:—
'Look, Hyle is become an infant Love, look, behold, see him lie
Upon my bosom, look, here is the lovely wayward form
That gave me sweet delight by his torments beneath my Veil.'
Also l. 50:—
'The desarts tremble at his wrath, they shrink themselves in fear.'
See also 'The Crystal Cabinet,' ll. 25, 26.
