Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. III. The Eighteenth Century: Addison to Blake

William Blake (1757–1827)

Extracts from Poetical Sketches: To the Evening Star

THOU fair-haired Angel of the Evening,

Now whilst the sun rests on the mountains, light

Thy bright torch of love—thy radiant crown

Put on, and smile upon our evening bed!

Smile on our loves; and while thou drawest the

Blue curtains of the sky, scatter thy silver dew

On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes

In timely sleep. Let thy West Wind sleep on

The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes

And wash the dusk with silver.—Soon, full soon,

Dost thou withdraw; then the wolf rages wide,

And the lion glares through the dun forest,

The fleeces of our flocks are covered with

Thy sacred dew; protect them with thine influence!