To my dearest Friend, John Flaxman

    face：

    Angels stand round my spirit in Heaven； the blessèd of Heaven are my

    friends upon Earth

    When Flaxman was taken to Italy， Fuseli was given to me for a season；

    And now Flaxman hath given me Hayley， his friend， to be mine ——

    such my lot upon Earth！

    Now my lot in the Heavens is this： Milton lov'd me in childhood and

    show'd me his face；

    Ezra came with Isaiah the Prophet， but Shakespeare in riper years gave

    me his hand；

    Paracelsus and Behmen appear'd to me； terrors appear'd in the

    Heavens above；

    The American War began； all its dark horrors pass'd before my face

    Across the Atlantic to France； then the French Revolution commenc'd

    in thick clouds；

    And my Angels have told me that， seeing such visions， I could not

    subsist on the Earth，

    But by my conjunction with Flaxman， who knows to forgive

    nervous fear.