I see the Four-fold Man, The Humanity in deadly sleep
And its fallen Emanation, the Spectre and its cruel Shadow.
I see the Past, Present and Future existing all at once
Before me. O Divine Spirit, sustain me on thy wings,
That I may awake Albion from his long and cold repose;
For Bacon and Newton, sheath'd in dismal steel, their terrors hang
Like iron scourges over Albion: reasonings like vast serpents
Infold around my limbs, bruising my minute articulations.
I turn my eyes to the schools and universities of Europe
And there behold the Loom of Locke, whose Woof rages dire,
Wash'd by the Water-wheels of Newton: black the cloth
In heavy wreaths folds over every nation: cruel works
Of many Wheels I view, wheel without wheel, with cogs tyrannic
Moving by compulsion each other, not as those in Eden, which,
Wheel within wheel, in freedom revolve in harmony and peace.
Back to William Blake
To be able to leave a comment here you must be registered. Log in or Sign up.
Comments1WOW, "I SEE THE FOUR-FOLD MAN" REALLY TOOK ME BACK TO MY YOUNGER DAYS WHEN I FIRST READ IT. THE ENIGMA ENWRAPPED IN THIS POEM IS SO INTRIGUING! LIKE, WHAT DOES THE FOUR-FOLD MAN REPRESENT? WHAT'S THE MEANING BEHIND IT? THE POEM IS TRULY A MASTERPIECE THAT KEEPS YOU ENGAGED AND WONDERING ABOUT THE MYSTERY BEHIND IT. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO REVISIT IT.