Album: Themes From William Blake's The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell (1999)

A Memorable Fancy


(PLATES 22-24) Once I saw a Devil in a flame of fire. Who arose before an
angel that sat on a cloud, and the devil utter'd these words: 'The worship of
God is: honouring His gifts in other men. Each according to his genius, and
loving the greatest men best: those who envy or caluminate great men hate
God; for there is no other God,' The angel hearing this became almost blue,
but mastering himself grew yellow. & at last white, pink, & smiling, and then
replied: 'Thou idolater, is not God one? & Is not He visible in Jesus Christ?
And has not Jesus Christ given his sanction to the law of ten commandments,
and are not all other men fools, sinners & nothings?' The devil answer'd:
'Bray a fool in a mother with wheat. Yet shall not his folly be beaten out of
him; if Jesus Christ is the greatest man, you ought to love him in the
greatest degree; now hear how He has given His sanction to the law of ten
commandments: did He not mock at the Sabbath, and so mock the sabbath's god?
Murder those who were murdered because of Him? Turn away the law from the
woman taken in adultery? Steal the labour of others to support him? Bear false
witness when He omitted making a defence before Pilate? Covet when He pray'd
for His disciples, and when He bid them shake off the dust of their feet
against such as refused to lodge them? I tell you, no virtue can exist without
breaking these ten commandments. Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse,
not from rules! When He had so spoken, I beheld the angel who stretched out
his arms, embracing the flame of fire & he was consumed and arose as Elijah.
Note: this angel who is now become a devil, is my particular friend; we often
read the bible together in its infernal or diabolical sense which the world
shall have if they behave well. I have also the bible of hell, which the world
shall have whether they will or no. One law for the lion & ox is oppression.