Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishHand colored by William Blake, 1757–1827, BritishText by Edward Young, 1683–1765, BritishPublished by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797, British
Title:
'If angels tremble, 'tis at such a sight' (Page 93)
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)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Lettered inside image: "93 | Which, dying, tenfold terror gives to death, | And dips in venom his twice-mortal sting. | Learn hence what honours, what loud paeans due | To those, who push our antidote aside; | Those boasted friends to reason and to man, | Whose fatal love stabs every joy, and leaves | Death's terror heighten'd gnawing on his heart: | These pompous sons of reason idolized | And vilified at once; of reason dead, | Then deified, as monarchs were of old; | What conduct plants proud laurels on their brow? | While love of truth through all their camp resounds, | They draw pride's curtain o'er the noon-tide ray, | Spike up their inch of reason on the point | Of philosophick wit, call'd argument; | And then, exulting in their taper, cry, | 'Behold the sun'; and, Indian-like, adore. | Talk they of morals? O thou bleeding love! | Thou maker of new morals to mankind! | The grand morality is love of THEE. | As wise as Socrates, if such they were, | Nor will they bate of that sublime renown, | As wise as Socrates might justly stand | The definition of a modern fool. | A christian is the highest stile of man: | And is there who the blessed cross wipes off, | As a foul blot, from his dishonour'd brow? | *If angels tremble, 'tis at such a sight; | The wretch they quit, desponding of their charge, | More struck with grief or wonder, who can tell?"; lower right: "in & s | WB"; lower left: "Pubd. June 1st. 1797, by R. Edwards, No. 142 New Bond Street"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1978.43.1416
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
literary theme | angels | text | men
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
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)