And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen !
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills ?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills ?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:
Bring me my Chariot of fire !
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.
When sung as a hymn to that music, this poem is known as "Jerusalem." When read as a poem, it is known by its first line: "And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time." Here's how Blake presented it to the reading public:
Reflect here on how this poem moves the audience differently than "Rule Britannia" does.
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4 comments:
This poem by William Blake differs from "Rule Britannia" in that it focuses on the religious implications in the success of the British Empire rather than the ability to conquer. While "Rule Britannia" mentions a journey for God, it emphasizes England's freedom, conquest, and might. Blake's poem is named "Jerusalem" thereby recognizing the religious emphasis that he makes throughout the poem. This poem moves Britain in believing that they are in a common goal to serve God because they were chosen to be special.
In "Rule Britannia", England seems to already be in a good position and the poem reflects upon how great the nation already is. Their battle is won and will remain so. In Blake's poem, I get a sense that there is still room to progress when he writes "I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.". Like in "Rule Britannia", God is present in England. However, the speaker in Blake's poem will not stop fighting until glory and the presence of God is fully realized while the speaker of "Rule Britannia" believes that it already has been.
The tone of the Blake poem is much less confrontational and proud than "Rule Britannia." It is appealing more to the creation of an ideal place from within Britain rather than outsourcing and taking over some distant land. Blake turns his attention much more on how England can improve itself, instead of how England can improve other countries. The audience seems much more reflective with this song, probably because it is a much more contemplative piece than "Rule Britannia," which is not so subtle with its message of England as a superior country.
"Jerusalem" and "Rule Britannia" are certainly different from one another, but I see a common acknowledgment of a sort of divine right to England's prosperity. "Rule Britannia" does this by illustrating England's overwhelming superiority to all other countries, and is extremely aggressive in nature, showing England's dominance and ability to conquer. On the other hand, "Jerusalem" is more geared towards likening England to an ideal, even Utopian-like, land, with its references to the countries pastoral landscapes (mountains green, pleasant pastures, green and pleasant land). By using these types of adjectives to describe England, its painted as a calming, dreamy country. England is still seen as the worthy recipient of God's favor, but conquest and power are not the reasons for these ideas. "Jerusalem" is much less domineering, but agrees in principle with "Rule Britannia."
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