by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
Who is this with unerring step doth...
Language: English
Who is this with unerring step doth tempt the wilds, where only nature's foot hath trod. Tis Contemplation, daughter of Grey Morning. Majestical she steppeth, and with her pure quill on every flower writeth Wisdom's name. Now lowly bending, whispers in mine ear : O man, how great, how little art thou. O man, slave for each moment. Lord of eternity, Seest thou where mirth sits on the painted cheek ; doth it not seem ashamed and grow immoderate to brave it out? O what a humble garb true joy puts on. Those who want happiness must stoop to find it : it is a flower that grows in every vale. Vain, foolish man that roams on lofty rocks ! Where, because his garments are swollen with wind, he fancies he is grown into a giant.
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Authorship:
- by William Blake (1757 - 1827) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Frederick Jacobi (1891 - 1952), "Contemplation (to a Poem by Blake)", 1946, published 1952 [SATB chorus and piano (with second piano ad libitum in the MS)], New York, E. B. Marks Music Corp. [text not verified]
- by Ulysses Simpson Kay (1917 - 1995), "Contemplation", published 1952, first performed 1955 [high voice and orchestra], from Three Pieces after Blake, no. 3, New York, Composers Facsimile Edition and New York, C. Fischer [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-11-08
Line count: 18
Word count: 136