William Blake (to Frederick Shields, on his sketch of Blake's work-room and death-room, 3, Fountain Court, Strand.)

William Blake (to Frederick Shields, on his sketch of Blake's work-room and death-room, 3, Fountain Court, Strand.) DGR 1 University of British Columbia. William Blake <lb/>(to Frederick Shields, on his sketch of Blake's <add>unaltered</add> work-room <lb/>and death-room, 3, Fountain Court, Strand.) DGR 1880 July 13 fair copy 1 page The sonnet is enclosed in a letter from DGR to his mother dated 13 July 1880. DGR University of British Columbia library Commentary

Introduction

The letter containing the sonnet has no bearing on the latter, which is introduced by DGR with the words: “As you have developed the sonnet taste, I'll copy one on Blake on the other side.”

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

William Blake<lb/> (To Frederick Shields, on his sketch of Blake's <add>unaltered</add> work-room<lb/>and death-room, 3 Fountain Court, Strand.) ------ This is the place. Even here the dauntless soul, The unflinching hand, wrought on; till in that nook, As on that very bed, his life partook New birth, and passed. Yon river's distant shoal, Whereto the close-built coiling lanes unroll, Faced his work-window, whence his eyes would stare, Thought-wandering, to no sight that met them there, But to the unfettered irreversible goal. This cupboard, Holy of Holies, held the cloud Of his soul writ and limned. This other one, His true wife's charge, full oft to their abode Yielded for daily bread the martyr's stone, Ere yet their food might be that Bread alone, The words now home-speech of the mouth of God. DGR 1880