[The Wrath of God]

(Jerusalem, f. 95, ll. 5–17.)

THE BREATH DIVINE went forth over the morning hills. Albion rose

In anger, the wrath of God, breaking bright, flaming on all sides around

His awful limbs: into the Heavens he walkèd, clothèd in flames,

Loud thund’ring, with broad flashes of flaming lightning and pillars

Of fire, speaking the Words of Eternity in Human Forms, in direful

Revolutions of Action and Passion, thro’ the Four Elements on all sides

Surrounding his awful Members. Thou seest the Sun in heavy clouds

Struggling to rise above the Mountains; in his burning hand

He takes his Bow, then chooses out his arrows of flaming gold;

Murmuring, the Bowstring breathes with ardour; clouds roll round the

Horns of the wide Bow; loud sounding winds sport on the mountain brows,

Compelling Urizen to his Furrow, and Tharmas to his Sheepfold,

And Luvah to his Loom.