Versos English William Blake Beneath the white thorn, lovely May

English poem

Beneath the white thorn, lovely May

by

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[Three Virgins at the Break of day "Whither, Young Man, hither away ? del.] "Alas for wo! alas for wo! They cry & tears for ever flow 3 The one was cloth'd in flames of fire, 4 The other cloth'd in iron wire, 5 The other clothd in [sighs del.] & tears & sighs, 6 Dazzling bright before my Eyes. 1 They bore a Net of Golden twine 2 To hang upon the Branches fine 7 [Pitying, I wept to see the woe 8 That Love & Beauty undergo— 9 To be consum'd in burning fires And in Ungratified desires del.] And in tears cloth'd Night & day Melted all my soul away When they saw my tears, a smile That did heaven itself beguile, Bore the Golden Net aloft As on downy pinions soft O'er the morning of my Day Underneath the net I stray Now intreating flamng fire Now intreating [sweet desire del.] iron wire Now intreating tears & sighs Dazzling bright befire my eyes.

[additional passage del.]

Wings they had [& when they chose del.] that soft inclose Round their body when they chose; They would let them down at will, Or make translucent...