image dump (warning: disturbing/annoying objects present)

[lightningBugout]

OE-this is one of the best threads on RI. thank you. lbo

[OP ED]

William Blake. 1757–1827

The Tiger

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

[OP ED]

OE-this is one of the best threads on RI. thank you. lbo

NEVER seek to tell thy love,
Love that never told can be;
For the gentle wind doth move
Silently, invisibly.

I told my love, I told my love,
I told her all my heart,
Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears.
Ah! she did depart!

Soon after she was gone from me,
A traveller came by,
Silently, invisibly:
He took her with a sigh.

Love's Secret
William O'Neil [Blake]

LIL,
SHCR


p.s. thnx, LBO. theeKultleeder hadz his korner, i wanted someplace quiet. i always liked the dump. i've read most of the first three or four pages. I think there's only like five or so, but so much here. Lots of the neglected places are quiet, but sometimes, quiet is nice.

[OP ED]

(Tell me my future!!)

I can interpret this chart, if you really want me to, but I need a little more information.
PM me if you like.
.

Well thanks, but that isn't really neccessary unless it'd make you happy to do so. (i know the generalities, and i've had it done before, hell the website the bot generated that chart gave me one for free. pretty bad) i'd imagine the information you need is likely the information i redacted from the chart before i posted it. (if you actually did want to do it, even for your own amusement, we could probably work something out)

Capricorns generally don't believe in any of this nonsense anyway, so it really doesn't matter. (i can be flexible enough to enjoy it and to derive insights from it [like with TARO] :: which would be, probably Mercury in Aquarius mostly, eh?)

[note rigorous use of new emoticons]

I think it was the first picture you posted, looked Waterhouse to me. I asked my computer and it gave me some of his.
He's good at that sort of thing:













(Jesus, never go fishing with those guys!)


Cream -- Tales of Brave Ulysses



(one of my pictures below) OPED's surefire method for removal of dangerous Sirens and other beckoning Psychic Vampires:



(or your money back)

I might actually try to download an image soon. I know so little about computer stuff I havent tried to do the images yet. Another member of the board was kind enough to help me with some probs I was having tonight and once I realized what I had done I am surprised I didn't crash the whole thing-for starters I had unknowingly locked free windows updates from coming in! that stuff is all taken care of thanks to this person.
I am going to try to see if fearful symmetry is available as an ebook-if not then at the library. A memory just came in- Tiger Tiger burning bright or something
None of my biz at all OP ED but are you extremely tall? Just wondered because I have never seen fingers that long except on a bball player-a friend of mine used to- probably still does - have a huge fish aquarium and one for snakes-I think he even had a tarantula.
Thanks again the both of you and I will see if I can find any stuff that would fit in this thread. I know I have an ebook from 1928 called worlds or something that has some cool images in it-I just have to figure out how to get the images from the ebook to here. On edit have not found the Northrup Frye book yet but downloaded the complete book of Blake's poetry and prose-this thread is great to come back to-especially when good ole insomnia kicks in-thx again Perelandra and OP ED.

10-23 Thanks for the Blake OP ED! Beautiful work! This site triggers so many memories in me and the Tiger poem was back there somewhere. I love this thread and hope it goes on and on. The things that are new to me are things I find very beautiful and interesting. I am glad to have the ebook of Blake's work but hope I can find a hard copy of his prose at the local trade in book store-the same for some of the art and authors Perelandra has posted about. Soon-maybe tomorrow if I can halfway get my thoughts together-I was thinking about posting something to RI about a friend who died way too young a long time ago-and how even after all these years her memory still gives me a deep sense of melancholy/loss. The only thing is that I do not want to trigger bad memories in people of losses they have had. She was quite the artistic type and her love of beauty and the mysterious reminds me of some people who are forum members.
10-24 I love these things-it is very hard to describe a favorite or even a top 5 list. I finally remembered-at least I think where I first encountered the Tiger poem-I think it was back in the early 80s in the preface of a book about quantum physics-maybe Zukav authored not sure. I thought the poem was beautiful-the product of a great mind-but wasn't into poetry/prose at the time. I love the writing from your journals-that is "magical" in its own right.

...


I have some more Blake laying around, I'll probably drop off at some point.

I do not believe I am abnormally tall. Perhaps a bit over six. I do have the proportions of a monkey, or maybe a stick person. My hands are useful for any number of things. I can palm a basketball. Don't mind Basketball, but don't get a lot out of it. I am an avid climber of trees. (Also rocks, hills, mountains, and man-made-structures) I do not possess natural inclination against stupid behavior regarding tall objects. So far, I do not Fall. (perhaps eventually) It is good exercise for your mind as well.

(tiger poem on page 3)

all of my literate friends always misquote the opening (or closing) paragraph as "forest". [just thought i'd mention that] This was programmed out of me when i learned it in high school. i don't remember why i learned it, but i still remember it. i had a good literature instructor that year. gave me several good books. hmm.

My copy of the Collected Works (pictures below) has ye olde archaic english. at least it isn't in that horrible post-gothic script where all the S'es
look life F'es.

It does mean He spelles it Tygers as it'd've of appear'd on his anscient grammarye.

hmf. apologies.













(i did pay the library for the book, a discount given the book's condition and age and ease of acquisition really, paying being a prerequisite to stealing more books)


Feel free to shed you melancholia here, Zhi, it won't bother me. I have too many issues of my own to let yours get me down! Triggering memories is inevitable, and so are bad ones. (much is lost) In the end it is up to you, but you can bring up anything you like with me, so long as I don't get banned or go to prison for it.


...

For voluntarily submitting yourself to my words I reward you:

a tiny serpent:










I eventually let him [the serpent] go, by the way. Don't know how he got in bed with me.

Strange.

Love is the Law,
(93/93)
SHCR

[more images will probably be left here eventually]

[OP ED]

i feel much small no matter how taller i be,
more younger the older i am.

[zhivkov]

Thanks again for the new images and words! I love this stuff so much. I was going to mention that I found the complete works of W. Blake on scribd.com and also Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil on scribd for those without a lot of bucks. If it is the Waterhouse I am thinking of I think he did a portrait called "Lady of Shallot" that I really love. If I have any mispellings here I will come back and correct them. I love these images and thoughts put in this thread. I wish there was a way to put my post in front of the new images so people realize there are new images here. I think a lot of other people love this thread too and come back to it like I do so hopefully they will notice anyway. I promise I will learn how to download images. Another member of the forum gave instructions how to use imageshack and I wrote them down. So hopefully soon-I am so bad with anything computer I didn't want to start trying until I practiced sending one in an email or something so I wouldn't screw up this site. Blake is incredible and for that alone I thank you. I may be going "offline" myself as I read "Tiger" to my cat last night! What the heck-so few people I know are into anything like this in my dull "real" world. Thanks again.

PS-the experiences I have had of melancholia recently may fit in this thread-before I post it I would like to be able to do images first or find a fitting bit of poetry-Love's Secret comes eerily close. We were not lovers by any means, but sometimes I am so stunned that I still think of her and what she might have become (she died in 82)-I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had someone in their lives that is gone and can't get them out of their head. She must have really had a deep effect on my psyche because although I have had hundreds of male lovers some of them very pleasing to the eye. I can hardly remember anything about them, whereas my female friend -also beautiful and smart and interesting has stayed in my memory all these years-every word, idea and joke we had together seems to be rattling around somewhere in my mind.
That was beautiful Perelandra-thanks!
I love it Dyson spheres, Klein bottles and I think I even see the Betty Hill star map!
PS, I have always wanted to have my chart interpreted-not out of any curiosity about my future-I think I know where thats headed! Just for the archetypal aspects. Thanks again for the beautiful thoughts and images both of you.

[Perelandra]

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

[Perelandra]

Well thanks, but that isn't really neccessary unless it'd make you happy to do so. (i know the generalities, and i've had it done before, hell the website the bot generated that chart gave me one for free. pretty bad) i'd imagine the information you need is likely the information i redacted from the chart before i posted it. (if you actually did want to do it, even for your own amusement, we could probably work something out)

Capricorns generally don't believe in any of this nonsense anyway, so it really doesn't matter. (i can be flexible enough to enjoy it and to derive insights from it [like with TARO] :: which would be, probably Mercury in Aquarius mostly, eh?)

I like interpreting charts, which for me is an intuitive exercise, not exactly what a professional would be able to offer. Not comprehensive, but just noting of some archetypal themes.

The reason I'd want more info, is I use a specific accurate site to generate charts that include lists of all the aspects. This makes it visually easier to interpret. I should also note that your version is not very readable. It can still be done, though, if you'd rather not. I assume accurate input. I'll look at it later and try to type up a PM for you.

[OP ED]

::::









































...



































.: .:

[OP ED]

(before replies, first...more Blake)







http://www.levity.com/alchemy/blake_ma.html
(quotes follow)

The voice of the Devil.
All Bibles or sacred codes have been the causes of the following Errors.
1. That Man has two real existing principles Viz: a Body & a Soul.
2. That Energy, call'd Evil, is alone from the Body, & that Reason, call'd Good, is alone from the Soul.
3. That God will torment Man in Eternity for following his Energies.

But the following Contraries to these are True:

1. Man has no Body distinct from his Soul for that call'd Body is a portion of Soul discern'd by the five Senses, the chief inlets of Soul in this age
2. Energy is the only life and is from the Body and Reason is the bound or outward circumference of Energy.
3 Energy is Eternal Delight

Proverbs of Hell.
In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
Drive your cart and your plow over the bones of the dead.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.
Prudence is a rich ugly old maid courted by Incapacity.
He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence.
The cut worm forgives the plow.
Dip him in the river who loves water.
A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.
He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star.
Eternity is in love with the productions of time.
The busy bee has no time for sorrow.
The hours of folly are measur'd by the clock, but of wisdom: no clock can measure.
All wholsom food is caught without a net or a trap.
Bring out number weight & measure in a year of dearth.
No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.
A dead body revenges not injuries.
The most sublime act is to set another before you.
If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise.
Folly is the cloke of knavery.
Shame is Prides cloke.

Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion.
The pride of the peacock is the glory of God.
The lust of the goat is the bounty of God.
The wrath of the lion is the wisdom of God.
The nakedness of woman is the work of God.
Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps.
The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity too great for the eye of man.
The fox condemns the trap, not himself.
Joys impregnate. Sorrows bring forth.
Let man wear the fell of the lion. woman the fleece of the sheep.
The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
The selfish smiling fool, & the sullen frowning fool shall be both thought wise, that they may be a rod.
What is now proved was once only imagin'd.
The rat, the mouse, the fox, the rabbet; watch the roots; the lion, the tyger, the horse, the elephant, watch the fruits.
The cistern contains: the fountain overflows.
One thought fills immensity.
Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you.
Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth.
The eagle never lost so much time, as when he submitted to learn of the crow.

The fox provides for himself. but God provides for the lion.
Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night.
He who has suffer'd you to impose on him knows you.
As the plow follows words, so God rewards prayers.
The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.
Expect poison from the standing water.
You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.
Listen to the fools reproach! it is a kingly title!
The eyes of fire, the nostrils of air, the mouth of water, the beard of earth.
The weak in courage is strong in cunning.
The apple tree never asks the beech how he shall grow; nor the lion, the horse, how he shall take his prey.
The thankful reciever bears a plentiful harvest.
If others had not been foolish, we should be so.
The soul of sweet delight can never be defil'd.
When thou seest an Eagle, thou seest a portion of Genius. lift up thy head!
As the catterpiller chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys.
To create a little flower is the labour of ages.
Damn braces: Bless relaxes.
The best wine is the oldest, the best water the newest.
Prayers plow not! Praises reap not!
Joys laugh not! Sorrows weep not!

The head Sublime, the heart Pathos, the genitals Beauty, the hands & feet Proportion.
As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible.
The crow wish'd every thing was black, the owl, that every thing was white.
Exuberance is Beauty.
If the lion was advised by the fox. he would be cunning.
Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius.
Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires.
Where man is not, nature is barren.
Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd.
Enough! or Too much.

The ancient tradition that the world will be consumed in fire at the end of six thousand years is true, as I have heard from Hell.
For the cherub with his flaming sword is hereby commanded to leave his guard at the tree of life, and when he does, the whole creation will be consumed and appear infinite and holy whereas it now appears finite & corrupt.
This will come to pass by an improvement of sensual enjoyment.
But first the notion that man has a body distinct from his soul is to be expunged; this I shall do, by printing in the infernal method, by corrosives, which in Hell are salutary and medicinal, melting apparent surfaces away, and displaying the infinite which was hid.
If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.
For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narow chinks of his cavern.

"Albion arose from where he labor'd at the Mill with Slaves..."

[responses to follow]

Love is Law,
SHCR

[OP ED]

Thanks again for the new images and words! I love this stuff so much. I was going to mention that I found the complete works of W. Blake on scribd.com and also Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil on scribd for those without a lot of bucks. If it is the Waterhouse I am thinking of I think he did a portrait called "Lady of Shallot" that I really love. If I have any mispellings here I will come back and correct them. I love these images and thoughts put in this thread. I wish there was a way to put my post in front of the new images so people realize there are new images here. I think a lot of other people love this thread too and come back to it like I do so hopefully they will notice anyway. I promise I will learn how to download images. Another member of the forum gave instructions how to use imageshack and I wrote them down. So hopefully soon-I am so bad with anything computer I didn't want to start trying until I practiced sending one in an email or something so I wouldn't screw up this site. Blake is incredible and for that alone I thank you. I may be going "offline" myself as I read "Tiger" to my cat last night! What the heck-so few people I know are into anything like this in my dull "real" world. Thanks again.

PS-the experiences I have had of melancholia recently may fit in this thread-before I post it I would like to be able to do images first or find a fitting bit of poetry-Love's Secret comes eerily close. We were not lovers by any means, but sometimes I am so stunned that I still think of her and what she might have become (she died in 82)-I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had someone in their lives that is gone and can't get them out of their head. She must have really had a deep effect on my psyche because although I have had hundreds of male lovers some of them very pleasing to the eye. I can hardly remember anything about them, whereas my female friend -also beautiful and smart and interesting has stayed in my memory all these years-every word, idea and joke we had together seems to be rattling around somewhere in my mind.
That was beautiful Perelandra-thanks!

if you need any help with imageshack, let me know, i use it almost exclusively on account of how simple it is.

Love's Secret is one of my favorites. It reminds me of the best of Nietzsche's aphorisms. (though it predates them, i read nietzsche first)

(hundreds of male lovers, eh?) [not bad] [i haven't passed a hundred yet, of either gender! not for lack of effort, as regards the one of them though]

(however i must admit to having forgotten some of them, unfortunately)

(drugs mostly)

i've had my share of loss. i'm sure it'll get worse as i begin to get old(er). Another one of those ridiculous, inconceibaly unfair, absolutely infuriating, and sadly wholly universal things about Living on this Planet. But we deal with it, I suppose, or we Do not. There is no escape. Some burdens are just light enough to bear. Anyone worth remembering is worth hurting a little for.

Terribilis est locus iste, hic domus Dei est, et porta caeli;

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

(what is that? i like it)

Well thanks, but that isn't really neccessary unless it'd make you happy to do so. (i know the generalities, and i've had it done before, hell the website the bot generated that chart gave me one for free. pretty bad) i'd imagine the information you need is likely the information i redacted from the chart before i posted it. (if you actually did want to do it, even for your own amusement, we could probably work something out)

Capricorns generally don't believe in any of this nonsense anyway, so it really doesn't matter. (i can be flexible enough to enjoy it and to derive insights from it [like with TARO] :: which would be, probably Mercury in Aquarius mostly, eh?)

I like interpreting charts, which for me is an intuitive exercise, not exactly what a professional would be able to offer. Not comprehensive, but just noting of some archetypal themes.

The reason I'd want more info, is I use a specific accurate site to generate charts that include lists of all the aspects. This makes it visually easier to interpret. I should also note that your version is not very readable. It can still be done, though, if you'd rather not. I assume accurate input. I'll look at it later and try to type up a PM for you.

understood. will p.m you within the near future, etc.
i can provide you with what you require, it is likely.

93=93(93/93),
SHCR

[zhivkov]

[quote="zhivkov"]Thanks again for the new images and words! I love this stuff so much. I was going to mention that I found the complete works of W. Blake on scribd.com and also Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil on scribd for those without a lot of bucks. If it is the Waterhouse I am thinking of I think he did a portrait called "Lady of Shallot" that I really love. If I have any mispellings here I will come back and correct them. I love these images and thoughts put in this thread. I wish there was a way to put my post in front of the new images so people realize there are new images here. I think a lot of other people love this thread too and come back to it like I do so hopefully they will notice anyway. I promise I will learn how to download images. Another member of the forum gave instructions how to use imageshack and I wrote them down. So hopefully soon-I am so bad with anything computer I didn't want to start trying until I practiced sending one in an email or something so I wouldn't screw up this site. Blake is incredible and for that alone I thank you. I may be going "offline" myself as I read "Tiger" to my cat last night! What the heck-so few people I know are into anything like this in my dull "real" world. Thanks again.

PS-the experiences I have had of melancholia recently may fit in this thread-before I post it I would like to be able to do images first or find a fitting bit of poetry-Love's Secret comes eerily close. We were not lovers by any means, but sometimes I am so stunned that I still think of her and what she might have become (she died in 82)-I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had someone in their lives that is gone and can't get them out of their head. She must have really had a deep effect on my psyche because although I have had hundreds of male lovers some of them very pleasing to the eye. I can hardly remember anything about them, whereas my female friend -also beautiful and smart and interesting has stayed in my memory all these years-every word, idea and joke we had together seems to be rattling around somewhere in my mind.
That was beautiful Perelandra-thanks!
I love it Dyson spheres, Klein bottles and I think I even see the Betty Hill star map!
PS, I have always wanted to have my chart interpreted-not out of any curiosity about my future-I think I know where thats headed! Just for the archetypal aspects. Thanks again for the beautiful thoughts and images both of you.[/quote

I really must admit -I hope my connection stays just for this thread alone-not to mention the other great subjects on RI. I will pm you if I have any trouble -but I will try myself first as the instructions given by the forum member were very detailed-I am just waiting for a good insomnia free -pain free day-I do get them here and there! I was wondering also, Perelandra where that poem was from, and OE I was wondering what the latin sentence meant. I also thought what you said about "anyone worth remembering is worth hurting for" was very well said-I really think the both of you have great souls and minds. It embarrasses me at times how much of my life I threw out the window-it really seems like yesterday I was in my 20s. In the lounge area under-i dont know the exact name of the thread but it is pics of cities where people live-Jeff has posted the link to a song by Rush-in the song it has the lyrics="some will sell their dreams for small desires"-that would be me! I wised up to what is really important in life-way late-I guess better late than never.
Blake is so fascinating to me- I have a primer of his philosophy downloaded that I will look at tomorrow. "Eternity is in love with the productions of time"-wonderful "Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires"-brilliant. So many beautiful thoughts and images in this thread- Thanks again for tolerating my presence here and I will try to come up with something useful to add if it kills me! Best wishes to you both as always. On edit again-I think I have heard of England referred to as Albion-not sure. I did not realize Huxley was quoting Blake about the doors of perception. Blake's Albion kind of reminds me of Adam Kadmon (kabbalah-jewish?) The 4 Zoas very interesting. Alchemy and Blake are very interesting also-I wonder if Blake ever met Jung if they would have got along. Glad to see more great quotes! finally off to bed-I really think that Blake is onto something (maybe similar to the Gnostics) with his thoughts on religion. That a divine, loving creator would create this universe in all its majesty-and then throw most of its inhabitants into an everlasting hell always struck me as absurd. Thanks again.

[OP ED]

Once I saw a Devil in a flame of fire, who arose before an Angel that sat on a cloud, and the Devil utter'd these words:
'The worship of God is: Honouring his gifts in other men, each according to his genius, and loving the greatest men best: those who envy or calumniate great men hate God; for there is no other God.'
The Angel hearing this became almost blue but mastering himself he grew yellow, & at last white, pink, & smiling, and then replied:
'Thou Idolater, is not God One? & is not he visible in Jesus Christ? and has not Jesus Christ given his sanction to the law of ten commandments, and are not all other men fools, sinners, & nothings?'
The Devil answer'd: 'bray a fool in a morter with wheat, yet shall not his folly be beaten out of him; if Jesus Christ is the greatest man, you ought to love him in the greatest degree; now hear how he has given his sanction to the law of ten commandments: did he not mock at the sabbath, and so mock the sabbaths God? murder those who were murder'd because of him? turn away the law from the woman taken in adultery? steal the labor of others to support him? bear false witness when he omitted making a defence before Pilate? covet when he pray'd for his disciples, and when he bid them shake off the dust of their feet against such as refused to lodge them? I tell you, no virtue can exist without breaking these ten commandments. Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from rules.'
When he had so spoken, I beheld the Angel, who stretched out his arms, embracing the flame of fire, & he was consumed and arose as Elijah.
Note: This Angel, who is now become a Devil, is my particular friend; we often read the Bible together in its infernal or diabolical sense which the world shall have if they behave well.
I have also The Bible of Hell, which the world shall have whether they will or no.

One Law for the Lion & Ox is Oppression.

[OP ED]

Let the Priests of the Raven of dawn, no longer in deadly black, with hoarse note curse the sons of joy. Nor his accepted brethren, whom, tyrant, he calls free: lay the bound or build the roof. Nor pale religious letchery call that virginity, that wishes but acts not!
For every thing that lives is Holy.

:: ::

[Perelandra]

The poem I posted was from e e cummings. I'm glad you guys like poetry, because I don't often find that, where I hang out. Maybe I'll post some more obscure favorites, but I don't want to muck up OE's image thread. OK, just one more classic for you to read to your cat, Z.

For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry (excerpt, Jubilate Agno)

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having consider'd God and himself he will consider his neighbour.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defence is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
For he is of the Lord's poor and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually--Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Ichneumon-rat very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance, which God sends from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, tho he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.

-Christopher Smart