| Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917. |
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| 63. From ‘Jerusalem’ |
| By William Blake (1757–1827) |
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To the Christians
I GIVE you the end of a golden string; | |
| Only wind it into a ball, | |
| It will lead you in at Heaven’s gate, | |
| Built in Jerusalem’s wall.… | |
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| England! awake! awake! awake! | 5 |
| Jerusalem thy sister calls! | |
| Why wilt thou sleep the sleep of death, | |
| And close her from thy ancient walls? | |
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| Thy hills and valleys felt her feet | |
| Gently upon their bosoms move: | 10 |
| Thy gates beheld sweet Zion’s ways; | |
| Then was a time of joy and love. | |
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| And now the time returns again: | |
| Our souls exult, and London’s towers | |
| Receive the Lamb of God to dwell | 15 |
| In England’s green and pleasant bowers. | |
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