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98 THE SUSSEX COAST |
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O what a multitude they seemed, these flowers of London town,
Seated in companies they were, with radiance all their own :
The hum of multitudes was there, but multitudes of lambs,
Thousands of little boys and girls raising their innocent hands.
Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice
of song, Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven
among: Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the
*oor, Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from the
door."
The well-known pieces on The Tyger and The Lamb are particularly characteristic of Blake's general style, and extracts may be quoted—
"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry."
"Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee ? Gave thee life, and bid thee feed, By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice? Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee ? "
There can be little doubt that Blake's peculiar method of publication—the whole book, printing, engraving, binding, being produced by himself and |
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