I will tell you what Joseph of Arimathea

by William Blake

Blake manuscript - Notebook - page 052

Edited text:^[1]

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I WILL tell you what Joseph of Arimathea
Said to my Fairy: was not it very queer?
‘Pliny and Trajan! What! are you here?
Come before Joseph of Arimathea.
5Listen patient, and when Joseph has done
’Twill make a fool laugh, and a fairy fun.’
 

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The original text:^[2]

[ plate m ]

I will tell you what Joseph of Arimathea
Said to my Fairy was not it very queer
Pliny & Trajan what are You here
Come listen to Joseph of Arimathea
5 Listen patient & when Joseph has done
Twill make a fool laugh & a Fairy Fun

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Notes

1. The Poetical Works of William Blake, including the unpublished French Revolution together with the Minor Prophetic Books and Selections from The Four Zoas, Milton & Jerusalem; edited with an introduction and textual notes by John Sampson, Hon. D.Litt. Oxon., 1862–1931. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 1908.
2. "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 518.