8/16/2019 The Rhine Was Red. - Poem by William Blake

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The Rhine Was Red. - Poem by William Blake

The Rhine was red with humane blood,The Danube roll'd a purple tide,On the Euphrates Satan stoodAnd over Asia stretch'd his pride.

He wither'd up sweet Zion's HillFrom every Nation of the Earth;He wither'd up Jerusalem's GatesAnd in a dark Land gave her birth.

He wither'd up the Human FormBy laws of sacrifice for sin,Till it became a Mortal Worm,But O! translucent all within.

Spectre of Albion! warlike Fiend!In clouds of blood and ruin roll'd,I here reclaim thee as my own,My Selfhood! Satan! arm'd in gold.

Is this thy soft Family-Love,Thy cruel Patriarchal pride,

Planting the Family alone,Destroying all the World beside?

A man's worst enemies are thoseOf his own house and family;And he who makes his law a curse,By his own law shall surely die.

In my Exchanges every Land,Shall walk, and mine in every Land,Mutual shall build Jerusalem,Both heart in heart and hand in hand.

William Blake