William Blake, Dedication of the Designs to Blair’s “Grave,” from Lyrics from William Blake, Volume I, Number I, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, rare poetry, rare prose, free online text, e-book, 20th century English literature, online text, free e-book, on www.elfinspell.com (Bibelot1BlakeDedication)

From The Bibelot, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Volume I, Testimonial Edition, Edited and Originally Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Maine; Wm. Wise & Co.; New York; 1904; p. 26.

DEDICATION OF THE DESIGNS TO BLAIR’S “GRAVE.”

TO QUEEN CHARLOTTE.

THE door of Death is made of gold,
That mortal eyes cannot behold;
But, when the mortal eyes are closed,
And cold and pale the limbs reposed,
The soul awakes; and, wondering, sees
In her mild hand the golden keys:
The grave is heaven’s golden gate,
And rich and poor around it wait;
O Shepherdess of England’s fold,
Behold this gate of pearl and gold!

To dedicate to England’s Queen
The visions that my soul has seen,
And, by her kind permission, bring
What I have borne on solemn wing,
From the vast regions of the grave,
Before her throne my wings I wave;
Bowing before my sovereign’s feet,
“The Grave produced these blossoms sweet
In mild repose from earthly strife;
The blossoms of eternal life!”

I. LYRICS FROM WILLIAM BLAKE

DEDICATION OF THE DESIGNS TO BLAIR’S “GRAVE.”

TO QUEEN CHARLOTTE.

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