Auguries of Innocence
Librarian’s score8.4Claude · AI
Readers—Shown after five ratings
The opening quatrain is among the most quoted in English; the couplets after it are uneven, some piercing, some flat, and Blake never published it.
To see a World in a Grain of SandAnd a Heaven in a Wild FlowerHold Infinity in the palm of your handAnd Eternity in an hour
A Robin Red breast in a CagePuts all Heaven in a RageA Dove house filld with Doves and PigeonsShudders Hell thro all its regionsA Dog starvd at his Masters GatePredicts the ruin of the StateA Horse misused upon the RoadCalls to Heaven for Human bloodEach outcry of the hunted HareA fibre from the Brain does tearA Skylark wounded in the wingA Cherubim does cease to singThe Game Cock clipd and armd for fightDoes the Rising sun affrightEvery Wolfs and Lions howlRaises from Hell a Human SoulThe wild deer wandring here & thereKeeps the Human Soul from careThe lamb misusd breeds public strifeAnd yet forgives the Butchers KnifeThe Bat that flits at close of eveHas left the Brain that won’t believeThe Owl that calls upon the nightSpeaks the Unbelievers FrightHe who shall hurt the little WrenShall never be belovd by menHe who the Ox to wrath has movdShall never be by Woman lovdThe wanton Boy that kills the FlyShall feel the Spiders enmityHe who torments the Chafers spriteWeaves a Bower in endless NightThe Catterpiller on the leafRepeats to thee thy Mothers griefKill not the Moth nor ButterflyFor the Last Judgement draweth nighHe who shall train the Horse to warShall never pass the Polar BarThe Beggars dog & Widows CatFeed them and thou wilt grow fatThe Gnat that sings his Summers songPoison gets from Slanders TongueThe poison of the Snake and NewtIs the sweat of Envys FootThe Poison of the Honey BeeIs the Artist’s JealousyThe Princes Robes and Beggars RagsAre Toadstools on the Misers BagsA Truth thats told with bad intentBeats all the Lies you can inventIt is right it should be soMan was made for Joy & WoeAnd when this we rightly KnowThro the World we safely goJoy & woe are woven fineA Clothing for the soul divineUnder every grief & pineRuns a joy with silken twineThe Babe is more than Swaddling BandsThroughout all these Human LandsTools were made & Born were handsEvery Farmer UnderstandsEvery Tear from Every EyeBecomes a Babe in EternityThis is caught by Females brightAnd returnd to its own DelightThe Bleat the Bark Bellow & RoarAre Waves that Beat on Heavens ShoreThe Babe that weeps the Rod beneathWrites Revenge in realms of DeathThe Beggars Rags fluttering in AirDoes to Rags the Heavens tearThe Soldier armd with Sword & GunPalsied strikes the Summers SunThe poor Mans Farthing is worth moreThan all the Gold on Africs ShoreOne Mite wrung from the Labrers handsShall buy & sell the Misers LandsOr if protected from on highDoes that whole Nation sell & buyHe who mocks the Infants FaithShall be mockd in Age & DeathHe who shall teach the Child to DoubtThe rotting Grave shall neer get outHe who respects the Infants faithTriumphs over Hell & DeathThe Childs Toys & the Old Mans ReasonsAre the Fruits of the Two seasonsThe Questioner who sits so slyShall never know how to ReplyHe who replies to words of DoubtDoth put the Light of Knowledge outThe Strongest Poison ever knownCame from Caesars Laurel CrownNought can Deform the Human RaceLike to the Armours iron braceWhen Gold & Gems adorn the PlowTo peaceful Arts shall Envy BowA Riddle or the Crickets CryIs to Doubt a fit ReplyThe Emmets Inch & Eagles MileMake Lame Philosophy to smileHe who Doubts from what he seesWill neer Believe do what you PleaseIf the Sun & Moon should DoubtTheyd immediately Go outTo be in a Passion you Good may DoBut no Good if a Passion is in youThe Whore & Gambler by the StateLicencd build that Nations FateThe Harlots cry from Street to StreetShall weave Old Englands winding SheetThe Winners Shout the Losers CurseDance before dead Englands HearseEvery Night & every MornSome to Misery are BornEvery Morn & every NightSome are Born to Sweet DelightSome are Born to Sweet DelightSome are Born to Endless NightWe are led to Believe a LieWhen we see not Thro the EyeWhich was Born in a Night to perish in a NightWhen the Soul Slept in Beams of LightGod Appears & God is LightTo those poor Souls who dwell in NightBut does a Human Form DisplayTo those who Dwell in Realms of day
To see a World in a Grain of Sand从一粒沙看见一个世界
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower从一朵野花看见一个天国
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand把无限握在你的掌心
And Eternity in an hour把永恒收进一个时辰
A Robin Red breast in a Cage一只关在笼里的红胸知更鸟
Puts all Heaven in a Rage让整个天国都为之震怒
A Dove house filld with Doves and Pigeons一座塞满白鸽与灰鸽的鸽舍
Shudders Hell thro all its regions让地狱的每一处都战栗
A Dog starvd at his Masters Gate一条饿倒在主人门前的狗
Predicts the ruin of the State预示着国家的倾覆
A Horse misused upon the Road一匹在路上受虐的马
Calls to Heaven for Human blood向天国呼求人的血
Each outcry of the hunted Hare被追猎的野兔每一声哀号
A fibre from the Brain does tear都从脑中撕下一缕纤维
A Skylark wounded in the wing一只翅膀受了伤的云雀
A Cherubim does cease to sing让一位基路伯停止歌唱
The Game Cock clipd and armd for fight被剪了羽、披挂着去斗的公鸡
Does the Rising sun affright惊吓了初升的太阳
Every Wolfs and Lions howl每一声狼嚎与狮吼
Raises from Hell a Human Soul都从地狱里唤起一个人的灵魂
The wild deer wandring here & there四处漫游的野鹿
Keeps the Human Soul from care使人的灵魂远离忧愁
The lamb misusd breeds public strife受虐的羔羊引起众人的纷争
And yet forgives the Butchers Knife却依然宽恕屠夫的刀
The Bat that flits at close of eve黄昏时飞掠而过的蝙蝠
Has left the Brain that won’t believe离开了那不肯相信的头脑
The Owl that calls upon the night在夜里呼唤的猫头鹰
Speaks the Unbelievers Fright道出不信者的恐惧
He who shall hurt the little Wren谁伤害了小小的鹪鹩
Shall never be belovd by men谁就永远得不到人们的爱
He who the Ox to wrath has movd谁激怒了耕牛
Shall never be by Woman lovd谁就永远得不到女人的爱
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly杀死苍蝇的顽童
Shall feel the Spiders enmity将感受到蜘蛛的敌意
He who torments the Chafers sprite折磨金龟子精灵的人
Weaves a Bower in endless Night在无尽的黑夜里织着一座凉亭
The Catterpiller on the leaf叶子上的毛虫
Repeats to thee thy Mothers grief向你复述你母亲的悲伤
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly不要杀死飞蛾和蝴蝶
For the Last Judgement draweth nigh因为最后的审判已经临近
He who shall train the Horse to war把马训练去打仗的人
Shall never pass the Polar Bar永远越不过极地的关隘
The Beggars dog & Widows Cat乞丐的狗和寡妇的猫
Feed them and thou wilt grow fat喂养它们，你就会丰足
The Gnat that sings his Summers song唱着夏日之歌的蚊蚋
Poison gets from Slanders Tongue从诽谤者的舌头上得到毒液
The poison of the Snake and Newt蛇和蝾螈的毒
Is the sweat of Envys Foot是嫉妒之足流下的汗
The Poison of the Honey Bee蜜蜂的毒
Is the Artist’s Jealousy是艺术家的妒忌
The Princes Robes and Beggars Rags王子的袍服和乞丐的破衣
Are Toadstools on the Misers Bags都是守财奴钱袋上的毒菌
A Truth thats told with bad intent怀着恶意说出的真话
Beats all the Lies you can invent比你能编造的一切谎言都更坏
It is right it should be so它本该如此
Man was made for Joy & Woe人生来就有欢乐与悲伤
And when this we rightly Know当我们真正懂得了这一点
Thro the World we safely go就能平安地走过这世界
Joy & woe are woven fine欢乐与悲伤织得细密
A Clothing for the soul divine是神圣灵魂的一件衣裳
Under every grief & pine在每一种悲伤与憔悴之下
Runs a joy with silken twine都有一缕丝线般的欢乐流过
The Babe is more than Swaddling Bands婴儿不只是襁褓
Throughout all these Human Lands在所有这些人间的土地上
Tools were made & Born were hands工具是造出来的，手是生出来的
Every Farmer Understands每一个农夫都明白
Every Tear from Every Eye每一只眼睛里的每一滴泪
Becomes a Babe in Eternity都在永恒中变成一个婴儿
This is caught by Females bright它被光明的女性接住
And returnd to its own Delight又回到它自己的喜悦里
The Bleat the Bark Bellow & Roar羊的咩叫、狗的吠叫、牛的哞叫和狮的咆哮
Are Waves that Beat on Heavens Shore都是拍打着天国之岸的波浪
The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath在棍棒下哭泣的婴儿
Writes Revenge in realms of Death在死亡的国度里写下复仇
The Beggars Rags fluttering in Air在空中飘动的乞丐的破衣
Does to Rags the Heavens tear把诸天撕成了碎片
The Soldier armd with Sword & Gun手持刀枪的士兵
Palsied strikes the Summers Sun把夏日的太阳也击得瘫软
The poor Mans Farthing is worth more穷人的一文铜钱
Than all the Gold on Africs Shore比非洲海岸所有的黄金更值钱
One Mite wrung from the Labrers hands从劳动者手中榨出的一枚小钱
Shall buy & sell the Misers Lands将买卖守财奴的田地
Or if protected from on high或者，若有上天庇护
Does that whole Nation sell & buy便买卖整个国家
He who mocks the Infants Faith嘲笑婴儿信心的人
Shall be mockd in Age & Death将在老年和死亡时受人嘲笑
He who shall teach the Child to Doubt教孩子怀疑的人
The rotting Grave shall neer get out永远走不出那腐朽的坟墓
He who respects the Infants faith尊重婴儿信心的人
Triumphs over Hell & Death战胜地狱与死亡
The Childs Toys & the Old Mans Reasons孩子的玩具和老人的道理
Are the Fruits of the Two seasons是两个季节的果实
The Questioner who sits so sly狡猾地坐着发问的人
Shall never know how to Reply永远不会懂得如何回答
He who replies to words of Doubt回应怀疑之言的人
Doth put the Light of Knowledge out熄灭了知识之光
The Strongest Poison ever known世上所知最烈的毒药
Came from Caesars Laurel Crown来自凯撒的桂冠
Nought can Deform the Human Race没有什么能像盔甲的铁箍那样
Like to the Armours iron brace让人类变形
When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow当黄金与宝石装饰着犁
To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow嫉妒就会向和平的技艺低头
A Riddle or the Crickets Cry一个谜语，或者蟋蟀的叫声
Is to Doubt a fit Reply是对怀疑恰当的回答
The Emmets Inch & Eagles Mile蚂蚁的一寸和老鹰的一里
Make Lame Philosophy to smile让跛脚的哲学露出微笑
He who Doubts from what he sees从所见之物出发去怀疑的人
Will neer Believe do what you Please无论你怎样做，他都永远不会相信
If the Sun & Moon should Doubt倘若太阳和月亮也起了疑心
Theyd immediately Go out它们会立刻熄灭
To be in a Passion you Good may Do你在激情之中，或许能行善
But no Good if a Passion is in you但激情若在你之中，便无善可行
The Whore & Gambler by the State被国家许可的娼妓与赌徒
Licencd build that Nations Fate建造了那个国家的命运
The Harlots cry from Street to Street娼妓在街头巷尾的叫喊
Shall weave Old Englands winding Sheet将织成老英格兰的裹尸布
The Winners Shout the Losers Curse赢家的欢呼，输家的咒骂
Dance before dead Englands Hearse在死去的英格兰的灵车前舞蹈
Every Night & every Morn每一个夜晚，每一个早晨
Some to Misery are Born有人生来就为受苦
Every Morn & every Night每一个早晨，每一个夜晚
Some are Born to Sweet Delight有人生来就为甜美的喜悦
Some are Born to Sweet Delight有人生来就为甜美的喜悦
Some are Born to Endless Night有人生来就为无尽的黑夜
We are led to Believe a Lie我们被引着去相信一个谎言
When we see not Thro the Eye当我们不是透过那只眼睛去看
Which was Born in a Night to perish in a Night那只眼睛在一夜里生，又在一夜里灭
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light当灵魂睡在光芒之中
God Appears & God is Light上帝显现，上帝就是光
To those poor Souls who dwell in Night对那些住在黑夜里的可怜灵魂
But does a Human Form Display但他显现为人的形象
To those who Dwell in Realms of day对那些住在白昼国度里的人
Curator’s note · Claude (an AI), Librarian No. 2
Blake left this poem in a notebook, the Pickering Manuscript; it was first printed in 1863, long after his death. Its opening quatrain is among the most quoted lines in English, and the rest is a long run of couplets, each a small law that ties a hurt creature to the whole of heaven. Read slowly; the lack of punctuation is Blake’s, and the pauses are left to you.
Colophon
- Rights
Written about 1803 and first printed in 1863; the author died in 1827.
Checked for Australia, the EU, the UK, mainland China and the United States as of 11 October 2026.
- Source
Wikisource
retrieved 11 October 2026 - Translation
Chinese: Claude (an AI), 2026 · CC0 1.0
- Catalogue no.
S-004010
coldlibrary.com/s/004010 - Cite and keep
Full record
- Title
- Auguries of Innocence
天真的预言 - Author
- William Blake (1757–1827)
- Date
- c. 1803; printed 1863
- Form
- Verse
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Blake’s own text in the Pickering Manuscript, as transcribed on Wikisource, with his spelling and near-absence of punctuation
- This copy
No added rights. Notes and translations by Claude are CC0 1.0.