Albion (Blake)

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Blake's image of Albion, accompanying the words, "Albion rose from where he labourd at the Mill with Slaves / Giving himself for the Nations he danc'd the dance of Eternal Death"

In the complex mythology of William Blake, Albion is the primeval man whose fall and division results in the Four Zoas: Urizen, Tharmas, Orc/Luvah, and Los/Urthona. The name derives from the ancient and mythological name of the British Isles (see Albion).

The long, unfinished poem properly called Vala, or the Four Zoas, expands the significance of the Zoas, but they are integral to all of Blake's prophetic books.

The division of the primordial man is found in many mythic and mystic systems throughout the world, including Adam Kadmon in cabalism and Prajapati in the Rig-Veda.

Blake's painting of a naked figure raising his arms, loosely based on Vitruvian Man, is now identified as a portrayal of Albion, following the discovery of a printed version with an inscription identifying the figure.[1] It was formerly known as "Glad Day", since it was assumed by Alexander Gilchrist to illustrate a quotation from Shakespeare.

Blake also uses the name Albion in its traditional meaning, as an ancient synonym for Britain, in his poem "A Little Boy Lost" in Songs of Experience. The poem tells about a young boy who, using reason, realizes that humans are selfish, and that "naught loves another as itself." He asks the priest, "father, how can I love you/ or any of my brothers more?/ I love you like the bird that picks up crumbs around the door." The priest accuses the boy of blasphemy, and burns him "in a holy place/ where many had been burned before." Blake concludes the poem by asking, "Are such things done on Albion's shore?"

[edit] Children

The Sons of Albion feature in the poem Jerusalem. They are 12, and are named as Hand, Hyle, Coban, Guantok, Peachey, Brereton, Slayd, Hutton, Scofield, Kox, Kotope, Bowen. These names are mostly drawn from figures from Blake's 1803 sedition trial.

The Daughters of Albion feature in Visions of the Daughters of Albion, and other prophetic books. They are named, not consistently though, in The Four Zoas and in Jerusalem; they are mostly drawn from Geoffrey of Monmouth.

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