| [Pl. 19] | 1. But Los saw the Female & pitied He embrac'd her, she wept, she refus'd In perverse and cruel delight She fled from his arms, yet he followd | U19.10 | 2. Eternity shudder'd when they saw, Man begetting his likeness, On his own divided image. | 3. A time passed over, the Eternals Began to erect the tent; When Enitharmon sick, Felt a Worm within her womb. | U19.20 |
4. Yet helpless it lay like a Worm In the trembling womb To be moulded into existence | 5. All day the worm lay on her bosom All night within her womb The worm lay till it grew to a serpent With dolorous hissings & poisons Round Enitharmons loins folding, | 6. Coild within Enitharmons womb The serpent grew casting its scales, With sharp pangs the hissings began To change to a grating cry, Many sorrows and dismal throes, Many forms of fish, bird & beast, Brought forth an Infant form Where was a worm before. | U19.30 |
7. The Eternals their tent finished Alarm'd with these gloomy visions When Enitharmon groaning Produc'd a man Child to the light. | U19.40 |
8. A shriek ran thro' Eternity: And a paralytic stroke; At the birth of the Human shadow. | 9. Delving earth in his resistless way; Howling, the Child with fierce flames Issu'd from Enitharmon. | 10. The Eternals, closed the tent They beat down the stakes the cords Stretch'd for a work of eternity; No more Los beheld Eternity. | [Pl. 20] |
11. In his hands he siez'd the infant He bathed him in springs of sorrow He gave him to Enitharmon. |