Plate 64

Of the Mundane Shell which froze on all sides round Canaan on The vast Expanse: where the Daughters of Albion Weave the Web Of Ages & Generations, folding & unfolding it, like a Veil of Cherubim And sometimes it touches the Earths summits, & sometimes spreads Abroad into the Indefinite Spectre, who is the Rational Power.

Then All the Daughters of Albion became One before Los: even Vala! And she put forth her hand upon the Looms in dreadful howlings Till she vegetated into a hungry Stomach & a devouring Tongue. Her Hand is a Court of Justice, her Feet: two Armies in Battle Storms & Pestilence: in her Locks: & in her Loins Earthquake. And Fire. & the Ruin of Cities & Nations & Families & Tongues

She cries: The Human is but a Worm, & thou O Male: Thou art Thyself Female, a Male: a breeder of Seed: a Son & Husband: & Lo. The Human Divine is Womans Shadow, a Vapor in the summers heat Go assume Papal dignity thou Spectre, thou Male Harlot! Arthur Divide into the Kings of Europe in times remote O Woman-born And Woman-nourishd & Woman-educated & Woman-scorn'd!

Wherefore art thou living? said Los, & Man cannot live in thy presence Art thou Vala the Wife of Albion O thou lovely Daughter of Luvah All Quarrels arise from Reasoning. the secret Murder, and The violent Man-slaughter. these are the Spectres double Cave The Sexual Death living on accusation of Sin & judgment To freeze Love & Innocence into the gold & silver of the Merchant Without Forgiveness of Sin Love is Itself Eternal Death

Then the Spectre drew Vala into his bosom magnificent terrific Glittering with precious stones & gold, with Garments of blood & fire He wept in deadly wrath of the Spectre, in self-contradicting agony Crimson with Wrath & green with jealousy dazling with Love And jealousy immingled & the purple of the violet darkend deep Over the Plow of Nations thundring in the hand of Albions Spectre A dark Hermaphrodite they stood frowning upon Londons River And the Distaff & Spindle in the hands of Vala with the Flax of Human Miseries turnd fierce with the Lives of Men along the Valley As Reuben fled before the Daughters of Albion Taxing the Nations

Derby Peak yawnd a horrid Chasm at the Cries of Gwendolen, & at The stamping feet of Ragan upon the flaming Treddles of her Loom That drop with crimson gore with the Loves of Albion & Canaan Opening along the Valley of Rephaim, weaving over the Caves of Machpelah