E-Text

Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Songs of Experience: The Angel


I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?

And that I was a maiden Queen

Guarded by an Angel mild:

Witless woe was ne'er beguiled!


And I wept both night and day,

And he wiped my tears away;

And I wept both day and night,

And hid from him my heart's delight.


So he took his wings, and fled;

Then the morn blushed rosy red.

I dried my tears, and armed my fears

With ten thousand shields and spears.


Soon my Angel came again;

I was armed, he came in vain;

For the time of youth was fled,

And grey hairs were on my head.