Description of the design for Blake's drawing, Mirth, and quotation from Milton's L'Allegro : autograph manuscript : [England], [ca. 1816-1820].
Accompanies no. 12 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.
16 lines of text written in ink on the recto of a sheet of laid paper accompanying the watercolor, Mirth (1949.4:1, cataloged separately). Lines 2-12 are quoted from Milton's "L'Allegro," lines 13, 25-28, 31-36.
Transcription: "Mirth. Allegro / 1 Heart easing Mirth. / Haste thee Nymph & bring with thee / Jest & Youthful Jollity / Quips & Cranks & Wanton Wiles / Nods & Becks & wreathed Smiles / Sport that wrinkled Care derides / And Laughter holding both his Sides / Come & trip it as you go / On the light phantastic toe / And in thy right hand lead with thee / The Mountain Nymph Sweet Liberty / These Personifications are all brought / together in the First Design. Surrounding / the Principal Figure which is Mirth / herself"