London
London
Original Text
William Blake, Songs of Experience (1794). Blake's Illuminated Books, ed. David Bindman (Princeton, NJ: William Blake Trust; London: Tate Gallery, 1991-). See Vol. 2. PR 4142 B46 1991 ROBA.
2Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,
3And mark in every face I meet
4Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
5In every cry of every Man,
6In every Infant's cry of fear,
7In every voice, in every ban,
9How the Chimney-sweeper's cry
10Every black'ning Church appalls;
11And the hapless Soldier's sigh
12Runs in blood down Palace walls.
13But most thro' midnight streets I hear
14How the youthful Harlot's curse
15Blasts the new born Infant's tear,
16And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.
Notes
1] charter'd. Blake first wrote "dirty", then "cheating"; the word may be an ironic allusion to "Rule Britannia." Back to Line
8] mind-forg'd manacles. Blake's original version, "German forged links", perhaps reflects popular resentment at the presence of Hessian and other German mercenaries in the city. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1794
RPO poem Editors
Northrop Frye
RPO Edition
3RP 2.284.
Rhyme
Form