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Creator:
Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827
Hand colored by William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by Edward Young, 1683–1765
Published by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797
Title:
'What, though my soul fantastick measures trod' (Page 4)
Part Of:

Collective Title: Young's Night Thoughts

Date:
ca. 1797
Materials & Techniques:
Etching, line engraving, and letterpress, with hand coloring in watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Spine: 16 3/4 inches (42.5 cm), Sheet: 16 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches (41.9 x 32.4 cm), Plate: 15 3/4 x 12 1/2 inches (40 x 31.8 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Lettered inside image: "4 | An heir of glory! a frail child of dust! | Helpless immortal! insect infinite! | A worm! a God!--I tremble at myself, | And in myself am lost! At home a stranger, | Thought wanders up and down, surprised, aghast, | And wond'ring at her own: how reason reels! | O what a miracle to man is man, | Triumphantly distress'd! what joy, what dread! | Alternately transported, and alarm'd! | What can preserve my life? or what destroy? | An angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave-- | Legions of angels can't confine me there. | 'Tis past conjecture: all things rise in proof. | While o'er my limbs sleep's soft dominion spread: | *What, though my soul fantastick measures trod | O'er fairy fields; or mourn'd along the gloom | Of pathless woods; or down the craggy steep | Hurl'd headlong, swam with pain the mantled pool; | Or scaled the cliff; or danced on hollow winds, | With antick shapes wild natives of the brain? | Her ceaseless flight, though devious, speaks her nature | Of subtler essence than the trodden clod; | Active, aerial, tow'ring, unconfined, | Unfetter'd with her gross companion's fall. | Even silent night proclaims my soul immortal; | Even silent night proclaims eternal day. | For human weal, Heaven husbands all events; | Dull sleep instructs, nor sport vain dreams in vain. | Why then their loss deplore that are not lost? | Why wanders wretched thought their tombs around,"; lower left: "Pubd. June 27th 1796, by R. Edwards, No. 142 New Bond Street."

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1978.43.1382
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
book | branches | leisure | literary theme | men | nudes | quill pen | sleeping | swimming | text | trees | women
Access:
Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details.
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:2304
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The Romantic Print in the Age of Revolutions: Hero, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (Yale Center for British Art, 2003-01-23 - 2003-06-01) [YCBA Objects in the Exhibition] [Exhibition Description]


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