A Memorable Fancy

Angel came, knowing my dreadful state

"Horrible! For yourself dungeon

Burning hot to all eternity

You prepare, going in such career"

I muttered in a sudden and ridiculous anger which had no grounds

"Perhaps you will be willing to shew me my eternal lot

And we will contemplate together upon it

And see whether your lot or mine is most desirable"

He took me down the winding cave...

Nether sky... "Is that providence?"

"Don't presume, as we here remain

I'll watch thy lot when the darkness melts"

Distance shining, vast crawling spiders

Sprung from corrupting

Most terrific shapes

"These are the devils

Powers of the air"

Then I asked companion

"What's eternal lot?"

"Look between the black and white

Rolling into deep"

Scaly foldy monstrous serpent, drifting tempest

Globes of clouds, ridge of purple, crimson foam

Into streaks divided forehead, red gills, mouthmire

Towards us advancing quickly just above the fire

I remained alone and then

Heard loud harp

"One who never sanctifies

Breeds reptiles of mind"

I arose and sought the guide

Caught him in my arms

Flung with him directly

Right into the sun

Open'd bible had a welcome pit

We descended, seven houses of brick

One we entered

Picking up the flesh

Chained monkeys of annoying stench

So the angel said "Thy phantasy

Has imposed upon me and thou

Oughtest to be ashamed"

I answered "We impose on one

Another and it is but lost time

To converse with you

Whose works are only analytics "