by William Blake

then She bore Pale desire...

(as published by David V. Erdman)

then She bore Pale desire father of Curiosity a Virgin ever

young. And after. Leaden Sloth from whom came Ignorance. who

brought forth wonder. These are the Gods which Came from fear.

for Gods like these. nor male nor female are but Single Pregnate

5 or if they list together mingling bring forth mighty powrs[.] She

knew them not yet they all war with Shame and Strengthen her weak

arm. But Pride awoke nor knew that Joy was born. and taking

Poisnous Seed from her own Bowels. in the Monster Shame infusd.

forth Came Ambition Crawling like a toad Pride Bears it in her

10 Bosom. and the Gods. all bow to it. So Great its Power. that

Pride inspird by it Prophetic Saw the Kingdoms of the World & all

their Glory. Giants of Mighty arm before the flood. Cains City.

built With Murder. Then Babel mighty Reard him to the Skies.

Babel with thousand tongues Confusion it was calld. and Givn to

15 Shame. this Pride observing inly Grievd. but knew not that.

the rest was Givn to Shame as well as this. Then Nineva &

Babylon & Costly tyre. And evn Jerusalem was Shewn. the holy

City. Then Athens Learning & the Pride of Greece. and further

from the Rising Sun. was Rome Seated on Seven hills the

20 mistress of the world. Emblem of Pride She Saw the Arts their

treasures Bring and luxury his bounteous table Spread. but now a

Cloud oercasts. and back to th'East. to Constantines Great City

Empire fled, Ere long to bleed & die a Sacrifice done by a

Priestly hand[.] So once the Sun his. Chariot drew. back. to

25 prolong a Good kings life.

The Cloud oer past & Rome now Shone again Miterd & Crown'd with

triple crown. Then Pride was better Pleasd She Saw the World fall

down in Adoration[.] But now full to the Setting Sun a Sun

arose out of the Sea. it rose & shed Sweet Influence oer the

Earth Pride feared for her City, but not long. for looking

Stedfastly She saw that Pride Reignd here. Now Direful Pains

accost her. and Still pregnant. so Envy came & Hate. twin progeny

Envy hath a Serpents head of fearful bulk hissing with hundred

tongues, her poisnous breath breeds Satire foul Contagion from

which none are free. oer whelmd by ever During Thirst She

Swalloweth her own Poison. which consumes her nether Parts.

from whence a River Springs. Most Black & loathsom through the

land it Runs Rolling with furious [p 3] Noise. but at the last it

Settles in a lake called Oblivion. tis at this Rivers fount where

evry mortals Cup is Mix't My Cup is fill'd with Envy's Rankest

Draught a miracle No less can set me Right. Desire Still

Pines but for

one Cooling Drop and tis Deny'd, while others in Contentments

downy Nest do sleep, it is the Cursed thorn wounding my breast

that makes me sing. however sweet tis Envy that Inspires my Song.

prickt. by the fame of others how I mourn and my complaints are

Sweeter than their Joys but O could I at Envy Shake my hands. my

notes Should Rise to meet the New born Day. Hate Meager hag Sets

Envy on unable to Do ought herself. but Worn away a Bloodless

Daemon The Gods all Serve her at her will so great her Power

is[.] like. fabled hecate She doth bind them to her law. Far in a

Direful Cave She lives unseen Closd from the Eye of Day. to the

hard Rock transfixt by fate and here She works her witcheries

that when She Groans She Shakes the Solid Ground Now Envy She

55 controlls with numming trance & Melancholy Sprung from her dark

womb There is a Melancholy, O how lovely tis whose heaven is in

the heavenly Mind for she from heaven came, and where She goes

heaven still doth follow her. She brings true joy once

fled. & Contemplation is her Daughter. Sweet Contemplation. She

brings humility to man Take her She Says & wear her in thine

heart lord of thy Self thou then art lord of all. Tis

Contemplation teacheth knowledge truly how to know. and

Reinstates him on his throne once lost how lost I'll tell. But

Stop the motley Song I'll Shew. how Conscience Came from heaven.

But O who listens to his Voice. T'was Conscience who brought

Melancholy down Conscience was sent a Guard to Reason. Reason

once fairer than the light till fould in Knowledges dark Prison

house. For knowledge drove sweet Innocence away. and Reason would

have followd but fate sufferd not. Then down Came conscience With

his lovely band The Eager Song Goes on telling how Pride against

her father Warrd & Overcame. Down his white Beard the Silver

torrents Roll. and Swelling Sighs burst forth his Children all in

arms appear to tear him from his throne Black was the deed. most

Black. Shame in a Mist Sat Round his troubled bead. & filld him

with Confusion. Fear as a torrent wild Roard Round his throne the

mighty pillars shake Now all the Gods in blackning Ranks appear.

like a tempestuous thunder Cloud Pride leads. them on. Now they

Surround the God. and bind him fast. Pride bound him, then usurpd

oer all the Gods. She Rode upon the Swelling wind and Scatterd

80 all who durst t'oppose. but Shame opposing fierce and hovering.

over her in the darkning Storm. She brought forth Rage. Mean

while Strife Mighty Prince was born Envy in direful Pains him

bore. then Envy brought forth Care. Care Sitteth in the wrinkled

brow. Strife Shapeless Sitteth under thrones of kings. like

85 Smouldring fire. or in the Buzz of Cities flies abroad Care

brought forth Covet Eyeless & prone to th' Earth, and

Strife brought forth Revenge. Hate brooding in her Dismal den

grew Pregnant & bore Scorn, & Slander. Scorn waits on Pride.

but Slander. flies around the World to do the Work of hate her

90 drudge & Elf. but Policy doth drudge for hate as well as Slander.

& oft makes use of her. Policy Son of Shame. Indeed

hate Controlls all the Gods. at will. Policy brought forth Guile

& fraud. these Gods last namd live in the Smoke of Cities. on

Dusky wing breathing forth Clamour & Destruction. alas in Cities

95 wheres the man whose face is not a mask unto his heart Pride made

a Goddess. fair or Image rather till knowledge animated it.

'twas Calld Selflove. The Gods admiring loaded her with Gifts as

once Pandora She 'mongst men was Sent. and worser ills attended

her by far. She was a Goddess Powerful & bore Conceit and Shame

100 bore honour & made league with Pride & Policy doth dwell with

her by whom she [had] Mistrust & Suspition. Then bore a Daughter

called Emulation. who. married. honour these follow her around

the World[.] Go See the City friends Joind Hand in Hand. Go See.

the Natural the of flesh & blood. Go See more strong the ties of

105 marriage love, thou Scarce Shall find but Self love Stands Between

<Before 1777>

Colophon

This archival text follows the English Wikisource page Then_She_bore_Pale_desire, rendered or exported on June 2, 2026. The underlying text is William Blake's public-domain work; the Wikisource transcription layer is preserved here as an archival public source witness.

Source URL: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Then_She_bore_Pale_desire

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