BLAKE & STRINGS 4

New York Public Library

Milton

Plate 15

 

I think that the idea that is conveyed by the concept of the Music of the Spheres is of the universe functioning as a single unit whose individual notes together produce a symphony. The plucking of a single string produces a single note. Striking the strings of the 'sphery harp' initiates the production of a diversity of notes which result in both harmony and dissonance.

The music played on the sphery harp is complex. It draws together all emotions, sensations, thoughts and intimations. It is not timid or reticent: what needs to be expressed is expressed, even if it is unpleasant.

Blake points to the Music of the Spheres as he brings into his field of attention the characters who populate his myth. Blake begins Jerusalem with the promise of a song which constantly calls him to announce the awaking to Eternal Life. Europe is prefaced by a song with offers a glimpse through the windows of our senses. It is reason, however who awakes the 'thunders of the deep' by striking the 'elemental strings.' In the Four Zoas it is Enitharmon who joins the orchestra by striking the strings. By bringing control under the dominion of woman, the way for the birth of her 'Fiery Son' Orc is opened. 'The horrid trumpets of the deep bellowd with bitter blasts' as Orc made his entrance. 'Discord began then yells & cries shook the wide firmament.' 

Jerusalem, Plate 4, (E146)

"Of the Sleep of Ulro! and of the passage through
Eternal Death! and of the awaking to Eternal Life.

This theme calls me in sleep night after night, & ev'ry morn
Awakes me at sun-rise, then I see the Saviour over me
Spreading his beams of love, & dictating the words of this mild song.  

Awake! awake O sleeper of the land of shadows, wake! expand!"

Europe, Plate iii, (E 60)
"Five windows light the cavern'd Man; thro' one he breathes the air;
Thro' one, hears music of the spheres; thro' one, the eternal vine
Flourishes, that he may recieve the grapes; thro' one can look.
And see small portions of the eternal world that ever groweth;
Thro' one, himself pass out what time he please, but he will not;
For stolen joys are sweet, & bread eaten in secret pleasant.

 So sang a Fairy mocking as he sat on a streak'd Tulip," 

Europe, Plate 3, (E 61)
"Again the night is come                           
That strong Urthona takes his rest,                              
And Urizen unloos'd from chains                                  
Glows like a meteor in the distant north
Stretch forth your hands and strike the elemental strings!
Awake the thunders of the deep.
Plate 4                                          
The shrill winds wake                                            
Till all the sons of Urizen look out and envy Los:
Sieze all the spirits of life and bind
Their warbling joys to our loud strings                          

Bind all the nourishing sweets of earth                          
To give us bliss, that we may drink the sparkling wine of Los
And let us laugh at war,
Despising toil and care,
Because the days and nights of joy, in lucky hours renew."

Four Zoas, Night II, Page 34, (E 323) 

"Night passd & Enitharmon eer the dawn returnd in bliss           
She sang Oer Los reviving him to Life his groans were terrible
But thus she sang. I sieze the sphery harp I strike the strings

At the first Sound the Golden sun arises from the Deep
And shakes his awful hair
The Eccho wakes the moon to unbind her silver locks              
The golden sun bears on my song
And nine bright spheres of harmony rise round the fiery King

The joy of woman is the Death of her most best beloved
Who dies for Love of her
In torments of fierce jealousy & pangs of adoration.             
The Lovers night bears on my song
And the nine Spheres rejoice beneath my powerful controll

They sing unceasing to the notes of my immortal hand
The solemn silent moon
Reverberates the living harmony upon my limbs                   
The birds & beasts rejoice & play
And every one seeks for his mate to prove his inmost joy"

Four Zoas, Night II, Page 34, (E 324)
"Arise you little glancing wings & sing your infant joy
Arise & drink your bliss
For every thing that lives is holy for the source of life        
Descends to be a weeping babe
For the Earthworm renews the moisture of the sandy plain

Now my left hand I stretch to earth beneath
And strike the terrible string
I wake sweet joy in dens of sorrow & I plant a smile             
In forests of affliction
And wake the bubbling springs of life in regions of dark death

O I am weary lay thine hand upon me or I faint
I faint beneath these beams of thine
For thou hast touchd my five senses & they answerd thee          
Now I am nothing & I sink
And on the bed of silence sleep till thou awakest me

Thus sang the Lovely one in Rapturous delusive trance
Los heard reviving he siezd her in his arms delusive hopes  
Kindling She led him into Shadows & thence fled outstretchd      
Upon the immense like a bright rainbow weeping & smiling & fading"

Four Zoas, Night V, Page 57, (E339)
"He stood trembling & Enitharmon clung around his knees
Their senses unexpansive in one stedfast bulk remain
The night blew cold & Enitharmon shriekd on the dismal wind      
Page 58 
Her pale hands cling around her husband & over her weak head
Shadows of Eternal death sit in the leaden air

But the soft pipe the flute the viol organ harp & cymbal
And the sweet sound of silver voices calm the weary couch
Of Enitharmon but her groans drown the immortal harps           
Loud & more loud the living music floats upon the air
Faint & more faint the daylight wanes. The wheels of turning darkness
Began in solemn revolutions. Earth convulsd with rending pangs
Rockd to & fro & cried sore at the groans of Enitharmon   
Still the faint harps & silver voices calm the weary couch      
But from the caves of deepest night ascending in clouds of mist
The winter spread his wide black wings across from pole to pole
Grim frost beneath & terrible snow linkd in a marriage chain
Began a dismal dance. The winds around on pointed rocks
Settled like bats innumerable ready to fly abroad            
The groans of Enitharmon shake the skies the labring Earth
Till from her heart rending his way a terrible Child sprang forth
In thunder smoke & sullen flames & howlings & fury & blood

Soon as his burning Eyes were opend on the Abyss
The horrid trumpets of the deep bellowd with bitter blasts      
The Enormous Demons woke & howld around the new born king   
Crying Luvah King of Love thou art the King of rage & death
Urizen cast deep darkness round him raging Luvah pourd    
The spears of Urizen from Chariots round the Eternal tent
Discord began then yells & cries shook the wide firmament" 

The Music of the Spheres has captured the interest of scientists as well as poets. Some have set themselves the task of organizing and amplifying the potential sounds of the universe to make them visible and audible to our senses.