In Milton many of Los' activities are conducted by his Sons, extensions of himself which are dedicated to specific activities, or to specific ways in which the mind functions. The three sons prominent in the Bard's Song are Palamabron, Rintrah and Satan who act out the dynamics of the mind of the prophetic poet.
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| Wikimedia Song of Los Copy E, Plate 4 |
"The world of Los comprises everything in the state of Experience that progresses through the action of contraries and that is built up as a guard against chaos, but only in a continual sense, since such constructs are never to be valued for their own sakes, but constantly to be created and destroyed by the imagination. Los is therefore an artificer, and everything he builds only an artifice of Eternity, a sculpture that the fire of fresher vision will burn down."
Jerusalem, Plate 53, (E 202) "But Los, who is the Vehicular Form of strong Urthona
So Los lamented over Satan, who triumphant divided the Nations"
Milton, Plate 24, [26], (E 120) "Los is by mortals nam'd Time Enitharmon is nam'd Space But they depict him bald & aged who is in eternal youth All powerful and his locks flourish like the brows of morning He is the Spirit of Prophecy the ever apparent Elias Time is the mercy of Eternity; without Times swiftness Which is the swiftest of all things: all were eternal torment: All the Gods of the Kingdoms of Earth labour in Los's Halls. Every one is a fallen Son of the Spirit of Prophecy He is the Fourth Zoa, that stood arou[n]d the Throne Divine." Milton, Plate 19, [21], (E 112) "Four Universes round the Mundane Egg remain Chaotic One to the North, named Urthona: One to the South, named Urizen: One to the East, named Luvah: One to the West, named Tharmas They are the Four Zoa's that stood around the Throne Divine! But when Luvah assum'd the World of Urizen to the South: And Albion was slain upon his mountains, & in his tent; All fell towards the Center in dire ruin, sinking down. And in the South remains a burning fire; in the East a void. In the West, a world of raging waters; in the North a solid, Unfathomable! without end. But in the midst of these, Is built eternally the Universe of Los and Enitharmon: Towards which Milton went, but Urizen oppos'd his path." Milton, Plate 20 [22], (E 114) "They rend the heavens round the Watchers in a fiery circle: And round the Shadowy Eighth: the Eight close up the Couch Into a tabernacle, and flee with cries down to the Deeps: Where Los opens his three wide gates, surrounded by raging fires! They soon find their own place & join the Watchers of the Ulro. Los saw them and a cold pale horror coverd o'er his limbs Pondering he knew that Rintrah & Palamabron might depart: Even as Reuben & as Gad; gave up himself to tears. He sat down on his anvil-stock; and leand upon the trough. Looking into the black water, mingling it with tears. At last when desperation almost tore his heart in twain He recollected an old Prophecy in Eden recorded, And often sung to the loud harp at the immortal feasts That Milton of the Land of Albion should up ascend Forwards from Ulro from the Vale of Felpham; and set free Orc from his Chain of Jealousy, he started at the thought" Milton, Plate 22 [24], (E 116) Tho driven away with the Seven Starry Ones into the Ulro Yet the Divine Vision remains Every-where For-ever. Amen. And Ololon lamented for Milton with a great lamentation." While Los heard indistinct in fear, what time I bound my sandals On; to walk forward thro' Eternity, Los descended to me: And Los behind me stood; a terrible flaming Sun: just close Behind my back; I turned round in terror, and behold. Los stood in that fierce glowing fire; & he also stoop'd down And bound my sandals on in Udan-Adan; trembling I stood Exceedingly with fear & terror, standing in the Vale Of Lambeth: but he kissed me and wishd me health. And I became One Man with him arising in my strength: Twas too late now to recede. Los had enterd into my soul: His terrors now posses'd me whole! I arose in fury & strength." Milton, Plate 23 [25], (E 119) "But Los dispersd the clouds even as the strong winds of Jehovah, And Los thus spoke. O noble Sons, be patient yet a little I have embracd the falling Death, he is become One with me O Sons we live not by wrath. by mercy alone we live! I recollect an old Prophecy in Eden recorded in gold; and oft Sung to the harp: That Milton of the land of Albion. Should up ascend forward from Felphams Vale & break the Chain Of jealousy from all its roots; be patient therefore O my Sons These lovely Females form sweet night and silence and secret Obscurities to bide from Satans Watch-Fiends. Human loves And graces; lest they write them in their Books, & in the Scroll Of mortal life, to condemn the accused: who at Satans Bar Tremble in Spectrous Bodies continually day and night While on the Earth they live in sorrowful Vegetations O when shall we tread our Wine-presses in heaven; and Reap Our wheat with shoutings of joy, and leave the Earth in peace" Millton, Plate 26 [28], (E 123) "These are the Children of Los; thou seest the Trees on mountains The wind blows heavy, loud they thunder thro' the darksom sky Uttering prophecies & speaking instructive words to the sons Of men: These are the Sons of Los! These the Visions of Eternity But we see only as it were the hem of their garments When with our vegetable eyes we view these wond'rous Visions There are Two Gates thro which all Souls descend. One Southward From Dover Cliff to Lizard Point. the other toward the North Caithness & rocky Durness, Pentland & John Groats House. The Souls descending to the Body, wail on the right hand Of Los; & those deliverd from the Body, on the left hand For Los against the east his force continually bends"
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