Blake introduces Chapter 4 of Jerusalem, "To the Christians", with a
promise. He intends to lead us through 'heavens gate' if we follow the 'golden string' which he places in our hands.
Jerusalem, Plate 77, (E 231)
"I give you the end of a golden string,
Only wind it into a ball:
It will lead you in at Heavens gate,
Built in Jerusalems wall."
The 'golden string' used only once in Blake's poetry, is an image which is rich in associations. It recalls the string which Ariadne gave to Theseus to lead him out of the maze of the Minotaur. It reminds us of the thread which measures the length of life and is cut by the Fates. (Moirae - Wiki) It leads us to think of the path we travel through life with all its twists and turns.
But Blake's image goes beyond that. It postulates that the end of the golden string is given to us and we have more to do than follow it. We actively wind it into a ball. If we don't keep the string taut and keep winding it, we may lose our way and wander off into unknown territory. But by winding it and following, it will lead us to our to our destiny or destination.
We are headed toward Jerusalem:
Jerusalem, Plate 54, (E203)
"In Great Eternity, every particular Form gives forth or Emanates
Its own peculiar Light, & the Form is the Divine Vision
And the Light is his Garment This is Jerusalem in every Man
A Tent & Tabernacle of Mutual Forgiveness Male & Female Clothings.
And Jerusalem is called Liberty among the Children of Albion"
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Wikipedia Commons River of Life |
This image articulates the cutting of the thread, the flow of the stream, the guidance of Jesus, the tree of life, the rising sun, and company of angels and much more.
Four Zoas, Page 33, (E 322)
"Thus were the stars of heaven created like a golden chain
To bind the Body of Man to heaven from failing into the Abyss
Each took his station, & his course began with sorrow & care"
2 comments:
I look to years ago to find an image for following the string and find one in my own childhood. My dad was an exert fisherman and fished at every opportunity. On occasion the line coming off the reel when someone (probably not my dad) was casting would become hopelessly snarled. When he brought it home, I might be enlisted to help with getting all the kinks out to make the yards of mono filament line usable again. Our old house was constructed in such a way that one could circle through all the rooms and return to where you began. So while daddy loosened the knots as the line came off the reel, I began walking around the house to stretch out the line. Round and around I went until all the tangles were unsnarled and Daddy could rewind his line on his reel to cast again on his next fishing trip.
The string we follow through life, likewise, needs to be free of tangles. Efforts made to maintain the integrity of the string are rewarded with safe passage.
The golden string threads the eye of the needle at Heavens gate
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