To S——d (You all your youth observed the Golden Rule)

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Notebook c.1808-1811 21. To S——d ("You all your youth observed the Golden Rule...")
by William Blake
1546461Notebook c.1808-1811 21. To S——d ("You all your youth observed the Golden Rule...")William Blake
Blake manuscript - Notebook 1808 - 22 To Stothard

Edited text:[1][edit]


* * *

You all your Youth observed the Golden Rule[2]
Till[3] you're at last become the golden Fool.
I sport with Fortune, Merry, Blithe & Gay,
Like to the Lion Sporting with his Prey.
5 Take you the hide & horns which you may wear:[4]
Mine is the flesh the bones may be[5] your Share.

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The original text:[6][edit]


* * *

You all your Youth observed the Golden Rule
Till youre at last become the golden Fool
I sport with Fortune Merry Blithe & Gay
Like to the Lion Sporting with his Prey
5 Take you the hide & horns which you may wear
Mine is the flesh the bones may be your Share

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Notes[edit]

  1. "Blake Complete Writings", ed. Geoffrey Keynes, pub. OUP 1966/85, p. 540.
  2. [He del.] You all [his del.] your Youth observed the Golden Rule
  3. [he's del.]
  4. [He has del.] Take you the hide & horns which [he may wear del.] [thou maist del.] you may wear:
  5. [thy del.]
  6. "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 508.

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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