THE ISLAND IN THE MOON This was Blake's most sustained attempt at mere mockery, apart from resentment, a word here to be used further on to group the splenetic fragments of doggerel and epigram which he wrote later in life with some personal heat, and mainly to relieve his feelings. The Island in the Moon' was begun as a book-a real printable attempt at sarcasm. In a long rambling series of Platonic dialogues, interspersed with songs, eveningparties in literary drawing-rooms are represented and ridiculed. The work breaks off as it drifts into a higher poetic vein, some of the Songs of Innocence' being found in the last pages. This dates it, and had the verses of the earlier scenes been intended as poetry in earnest, they should have been placed in this collection next after the 'Poetical Sketches.' The manuscript is in the library of Mr. Fairfax Murray, by whose kindness the first printed account of it appeared in Quaritch's edition of Blake's Works. He has permitted the present production of all the rhymed portions. The Platonic dialogue also, as far as it goes, deserves one day to be printed in its entirety. MR. QUID'S FIRST SONG LITTLE Phœbus came strutting in I won't let it go at only so so! Chorus, by the No more! No more! Three Philosophers. J No more! No more! MR. QUID'S SECOND SONG I WHEN old corruption first begun, He committed on flesh a whoredom- II From there a callow babe did spring, To think his race should never end, III He called him Surgery, and fed IV And this he always kept on mind, V And as he ran to seek his mother VI She soon grew pregnant, and brought forth The father grinn'd and skipt about, And said, 'I'm made for ever! VII 'For now I have procured these imps With that he tied poor scurvy down, VIII And when the child began to swell, 'I've found the dropsy out, and soon IX He took up fever by the neck, And thro' the holes which he had made EPITAPH (Quoted or composed by Mr. Steelyard.) HEAR then the pride and knowledge of a sailor, His sprit-sail, fore-sail, main-sail, and his mizen: A poor frail man,-Got wot I know none frailer, I know no greater sinner than John Tailor. MISS GITTIPIN'S SONG I PHOEBE dressed like beauty's queen, Sitting all beneath a grot, Where the little lambkins trot. II Maidens dancing ;-lovers sporting; III Happy people, who can be 'AN ANTHEM' 1st voice, Mr. Suction. So the bat with leathern wing 2nd voice, Mr. Quid. O ho, said Dr. Johnson If you don't own me a philosopher, (The asterisks are not Blake's. They represent an indecorous suggestion and a Latin word rhyming with 'Africanus.') Grand Chorus. Want matches? Yes, yes, yes. MRS. NANNICATCHPOL'S SONG I CRY my matches as far as Guildhall; MR. STEELYARD'S SONG As I walked forth one May morning Smell so sweet, Among the violets that smell so sweet. MISS GITTIPIN'S SECOND SONG A FROG he would a-wooing ride, Sing, cock, I carry Kitty alone, |