dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  483. To the Muses

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Blake. 1757–1827

483. To the Muses

WHETHER on Ida’s shady brow 
  Or in the chambers of the East, 
The chambers of the Sun, that now 
  From ancient melody have ceased; 
 
Whether in heaven ye wander fair,         5
  Or the green corners of the earth, 
Or the blue regions of the air 
  Where the melodious winds have birth; 
 
Whether on crystal rocks ye rove, 
  Beneath the bosom of the sea,  10
Wandering in many a coral grove; 
  Fair Nine, forsaking Poetry; 
 
How have you left the ancient love 
  That bards of old enjoy’d in you! 
The languid strings do scarcely move,  15
  The sound is forced, the notes are few.