Description of the design for Blake's drawing, Melancholy, and quotation from Milton's Il Penseroso : autograph manuscript : [England], [ca. 1816-1820]

Accompanies no. 7 of 12 watercolor designs for Milton's early poems L'Allegro and Il Penseroso that contrast the cheerful man with the melancholic, thoughtful one. Blake created them on commission for Thomas Butts about 1816-1820. The two series were separated in 1903 and were not reunited until 1949, when they were acquired by the Library. Each of the watercolors in this series is accompanied by Blake's transcription of the relevant portion of the poem as well as his notes on his design.
28 lines of text written in ink on the recto of a sheet of laid paper accompanying the watercolor, Melancholy (1949.4:7, cataloged separately). Lines 2-23 are quoted from Milton's "Il Penseroso," lines 31-34, 37-39, 45-54, 56-60.
Transcription: "Melancholy. Pensieroso / 7 Come pensive Nun devout & pure / Sober Sted fast & demure / Still in Robe of darkest grain / Flowing with majestic train / Come but keep thy wonted state / With even step & musing gate / And looks commencing with the Skies / ___ / And join with thee calm Peace & Quiet / Spare Fast who oft with Gods doth diet / And hears the Muses in a ring / Ay. round about Joves altar Sing / And add to these retired Leisure / Who in trim Gardens takes his pleasure / But first & chiefest with thee bring / Him who yon Soars on golden Wing / Guiding the Fiery wheeled Throne / The Cherub Contemplation / ___ / Less Philomel will deign a song / In her sweetest saddest plight / Smoothing the rugged Brow of Night / While Cynthia Checks her dragon yoke / Gently o'er the accustomed Oak / These Personifications are all brought together in / this design surrounding the Principal Figure Who is / Melancholy herself"