Add MS 39764

A description of the MS. is given by J. Sampson in the Oxford edition, The Poetical Works of William Blake, 1913, p. xxxix, and selections are given in that volume and in some other editions ; and the whole poem has been republished in E. J. Ellis''s edition of the Poetical Works (London, 1906) ; see vol. ii, pp. 1-240. A very full and careful description of the MS., with four facsimiles, is given by G. Keynes in his Bibliography of William Blake (New York, The Grolier Club, 1921), pp. 32-42. The original title (title-page, f. 1) was " VALA OR The Death and Judgement of the Ancient Man A DREAM of Nine Nights by William Blake 1797 " , but this was subsequently altered in pencil to " The Four Zoas The Torments of Love & Jealousy in The Death and Judgement of Albion the Ancient Man by William Blake 1797." The work, finished in 1797, as the title-page shows, was later rehandled, probably during the poet''s residence at Felpham, long passages being crossed out or erased with a knife, and lengthy additions being made. Night VII was entirely recast, and Night I was concluded after the line numbered 224 in Ellis and Yeats''s edition, the words " Night the Second " (apparently overlooked by the editors) being inserted in the margin. After the original conclusion (" End of The First Night," f. 9 b) come two additional folios (ff. 10, 11) apparently intended to form part of the Night ; the 15 lines in ink on f. 10 are followed by "End of The First Night" repeated. The passage on the other side of this folio is written in pencil, and f. 11 in ink (both sides). These two folios are here bound in the order adopted by Ellis and Yeats ; but it does not seem beyond doubt that this is the correct arrangement. Besides the smaller, but including the two large fragments (see below), there are 70 separate leaves, made up as follows: drawing paper (watermark " J. Whatman 1794") 21 (one of these a half-sheet); workingproofs of Blake''s illustrations to Young''s Night Thoughts (London, 1797) 47 ; and 2 leaves are parts of an engraving by Blake ("Edward and Elenor," published " 18th August, 1793, 13 Hercules Buildings, Lambeth"; see A. G. B. Russell, The Engravings of William Blake, London, 1912, pp. 25-6, 68) cut up. The poem in its original form was neatly and carefully written in a clear hand, but the additions are in many cases hurriedly written, sometimes in pencil, and are not always easy to read. There are numerous pencil drawings, some of which have been roughly washed, in whole or in part, with colour. Several of these drawings (e.g. on ff. 19 b, 20, 20 b) have been wholly or partially washed out, presumably by another hand. The pages were left unnumbered by Blake, but there is an early pagination on ff. 2-7 b, 9 and 9 b, disregarding f. 8, which had been misplaced but is now restored to its true position. At the end (ff. 71-73) are bound up, in the order in which they are printed by Ellis and Yeats, three fragments, intended for insertion in various parts of the poem and printed by Ellis and Yeats as an appendix, with the title "Fragments." At the top of f. 44 b is an apparently unpublished prose epigram, which reads:-"The Christian Religion teaches that No Man is Indifferent to you but that every one is Either Your friend or your enemy. he must necessarily be either the one of deleted or the other And that he will be equally profitable both ways if you treat him as he deserves." Since the above description was written a careful edition of the whole poem, with description of the MS. and critical notes, has been published by G. Keynes and M. Plowman in vol. ii. of the former''s The Writings of William Blake, Nonesuch Press, 1925. Paper; ff. ii + 73. 1 ft. 4 1/4 in. x 1 ft. 1 in. Formerly in the possession of John Linnell, Senior (John Linnell sale-catalogue, Christie, Manson and Woods, 15 Mar. 1918, lot 206). At the beginning is a slip with the words " Mr. Linnell Red Hill." The MS. is no. 7 (p. 464) in W. M. Rossetti''s list (2) of Blake''s paintings, etc. (A. Gilchrist, Life of William Blake, London, 1907, pp. 415-496). It contains a few pencil notes by Edwin John Ellis. Presented anonymously.

Poetry ENGLISH: W. Blake, The Four Zoas, etc.: 1797.: Autogr.

William Blake: "The Four Zoas": 1797, etc.: Hologr.

Art. Engravings, etc: Drawings and engravings by W. Blake: 1793, 1797, etc.

Art. Illuminations and Drawings ENGLISH: Drawings and engravings by W. Blake: 1793, 1797, etc.

includes:

• ff. 21-70 passim Edward Young, DCL; poet: Working-proofs of W. Blake''s illustrations to his Night Thoughts.: 1797.