| William Blake (1757–1827). The Poetical Works. 1908. | | | | Poetical Sketches | | Song: When early morn walks forth in sober grey |
| | | WHEN early morn walks forth in sober grey, | |
| Then to my black-eyed maid I haste away; | |
| When evening sits beneath her dusky bow’r, | |
| And gently sighs away the silent hour, | |
| The village bell alarms, away I go, | 5 |
| And the vale darkens at my pensive woe. | |
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| To that sweet village, where my black-eyed maid | |
| Doth drop a tear beneath the silent shade, | |
| I turn my eyes; and pensive as I go | |
| Curse my black stars and bless my pleasing woe. | 10 |
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| Oft when the summer sleeps among the trees, | |
| Whisp’ring faint murmurs to the scanty breeze, | |
| I walk the village round; if at her side | |
| A youth doth walk in stolen joy and pride, | |
| I curse my stars in bitter grief and woe, | 15 |
| That made my love so high and me so low. | |
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| O should she e’er prove false, his limbs I’d tear | |
| And throw all pity on the burning air; | |
| I’d curse bright fortune for my mixèd lot, | |
| And then I’d die in peace and be forgot. | 20 | | | |
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