| William Blake (1757–1827). The Poetical Works. 1908. | | | | Selections from ‘The Four Zoas’ | | [The Serpent Orc] |
| | (Four Zoas, Night VIII, ll. 58–70.)
HE saw Orc, a Serpent form, augmenting times on times | |
| In the fierce battle; and he saw the Lamb of God, and the world of Los | |
| Surrounded by his dark machines; for Orc augmented swift | |
| In fury, a Serpent wondrous, among the constellations of Urizen. | |
| A crest of fire rose on his forehead, red as the carbuncle; | 5 |
| Beneath, down to his eyelids, scales of pearl; then gold and silver, | |
| Immingled with the ruby, overspread his visage; down | |
| His furious neck, writhing contortive in dire budding pains, | |
| The scaly armour shot out. Stubborn, down his back and bosom, | |
| The emerald, onyx, sapphire, jasper, beryl, amethyst, | 10 |
| Strove in terrific emulation which should gain a place | |
| Upon the mighty fiend—the fruit of the Mysterious Tree | |
| Kneaded in Uvith’s kneading-trough. | | | | |
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