For works with similar titles, see Riches.
Notebook 49 - Riches

1st reading:[1]


RICHES.

The countless gold of a merry heart,
The rubies and pearls of a loving eye.
The idle man never can bring to the mart,
Nor the cunning hoard up in his treasury.

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2nd reading: [2]


Riches

The [word del.] countless gold of a merry heart,
The rubies & pearls of a loving eye,
The [idle man del.] indolent never can bring to the mart,
Nor the [cunning del.] secret hoard up in his treasury.

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3rd reading:[3]


Riches

The countless gold of a merry heart
The rubies & pearls of a loving eye
The indolent never can bring to the mart
Nor the secret hoard up in his treasury[4]

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  1. ↑ "Life of William Blake", by Alexander Gilchrist, D. G. Rossetti, W. M. Rossetti, Anne Gilchrist, 1863 (1880). Rossetti added to it another quatrain from Blake:
    RICHES.
    Since all the riches of this world
    ⁠May be gifts from the devil and earthly kings,
    I should suspect that I worshipped the devil
    ⁠If I thanked my God for worldly things. The countless gold of a merry heart,
    ⁠The rubies and pearls of a loving eye,
    The idle man never can bring to the mart
    ⁠Nor the cunning hoard up in his treasury.
    . p. 125 (1880).
  2. ↑ "Blake Complete Writings", ed. Geoffrey Keynes, pub. OUP 1966/85, p. 181.
  3. ↑ "The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake", ed. by David V. Erdman, Anchor Books, 1988, p. 474
  4. ↑ Riches N 103 rev
    1 countless we 1st rdg del; count 2nd rdg del (the poet wavering between “wealth” and “countless”)
    3 indolent] idle man 1st rdg del
    4 secret] cunning 1st rdg del

This work was published before January 1, 1927, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

 
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