Preludium to Europe

The nameless shadowy female rose from out the breast of Orc,
Her snaky hair brandishing in the winds of Enitharmon;
And thus her voice arose:

'O mother Enitharmon, wilt thou bring forth other sons?
To cause my name to vanish, that my place may not be found,
For I am faint with travail,
Like the dark cloud disburden'd in the day of dismal thunder.

My roots are brandish'd in the heavens, my fruits in earth beneath
Surge, foam and labour into life, first born and first consum'd!
Consumed and consuming!
Then why shouldst thou, accursed mother, bring me into life?

I wrap my turban of thick clouds around my lab'ring head,
And fold the sheety waters as a mantle round my limbs;
Yet the red sun and moon
And all the overflowing stars rain down prolific pains.

Unwilling I look up to heaven, unwilling count the stars:
Sitting in fathomless abyss of my immortal shrine
I seize their burning power
And bring forth howling terrors, all devouring fiery kings,

Devouring and devoured, roaming on dark and desolate mountains,
In forests of eternal death, shrieking in hollow trees.
Ah mother Enitharmon!
Stamp not with solid form this vig'rous progeny of fires.

I bring forth from my teeming bosom myriads of flames,
And thou dost stamp them with a signet; then they roam abroad
And leave me void as death.
Ah! I am drown'd in shady woe and visionary joy.

And who shall bind the infinite with an eternal band?
To compass it with swaddling bands? and who shall cherish it
With milk and honey?
I see it smile, and I roll inward, and my voice is past.'

She ceased, and roll'd her shady clouds
Into the secret place.

William Blake

Vous avez aimé cette poésie ? faites la connaître !

Partager

Lien permanent Preludium to Europe

Traduction(s) Preludium to Europe (english page)

Mots-clefs :

D'autres poésies de William Blake

A Cradle Song

Sweet dreams form a shade,
O'er my lovely infants head.

lire la suite de la poésie : A Cradle Song
mots clefs :

A Divine Image

Cruelty has a human heart,
And Jealousy a human...

lire la suite de la poésie : A Divine Image
mots clefs :

A Dream

Once a dream did weave a shade
O'er my angel-guarded...

lire la suite de la poésie : A Dream
mots clefs :

A Little Boy Lost

v'Nought loves another as itself,
Nor venerates another...

lire la suite de la poésie : A Little Boy Lost
mots clefs :

A Little Girl Lost

Children of the future age,
Reading this indignant...

lire la suite de la poésie : A Little Girl Lost
mots clefs :

A Poison Tree

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did...

lire la suite de la poésie : A Poison Tree
mots clefs :

A Song

Sweet dreams, form a shade
O'er my lovely infant's...

lire la suite de la poésie : A Song
mots clefs :

A War Song to Englishmen

Prepare, prepare the iron helm of war,
Bring forth the...

lire la suite de la poésie : A War Song to Englishmen
mots clefs :

Ah Sunflower

Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of...

lire la suite de la poésie : Ah Sunflower
mots clefs :

Ah! Sunflower

Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of...

lire la suite de la poésie : Ah! Sunflower
mots clefs :

Précédentes poésies

your little voice...

your little voice
Over the wires came leaping
and i...

lire la suite de la poésie : your little voice...
mots clefs :

youful

youful

larger
of smallish)

Humble...

lire la suite de la poésie : youful
mots clefs :

you shall above all things...

you shall above all things be glad and young
For if you're...

lire la suite de la poésie : you shall above all things...
mots clefs :

you said Is

you said Is
there anything which
is dead or alive...

lire la suite de la poésie : you said Is
mots clefs :

you being in love...

you being in love
will tell who softly asks in love,

lire la suite de la poésie : you being in love...
mots clefs :