William Blake’s illuminated poetry
The Lilly in Thel
The Lilly is the first small form of life to answer Thel. Describing itself as a weak weed in a lowly valley, it nevertheless speaks of heavenly attention and of being sustained in light. Thel notices its practical nourishment of lamb, goat, ox and horse, then worries that she herself has no equivalent use. The Lilly responds by calling the Cloud to speak, extending the conversation rather than claiming to answer everything alone. Its modest appearance and active place among other lives make it a distinct literary speaker, not simply a flower used as decoration.
Also known as Lily in The Book of Thel
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In the sources
Smallness and attention
LiteraryThe Lilly calls itself weak and small but describes being visited and sustained from heaven.
A place among other lives
LiteraryAfter calling the Cloud, the Lilly returns to its nourishing work among the grass.
Context & interpretation
This account follows the exact coloured facsimile selected for Lumitheca’s The Book of Thel. The page references identify this eight-leaf sequence, not a universal plate order or the colouring of every surviving copy. The speakers are characters and personifications within Blake’s poem; the entry makes no claim that they document independently existing beings.
Original passages
Source 1
The Book of Thel
The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grassOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Section I, opening answer of the Lilly
Actual checksum-verified active Reader scan inspected. Short quotation transcribed from the scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0371-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0371-E001-P0003
- Original scan leaf
- 3
- Recorded leaf number
- 3
- Current Reader position
- 4
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Book of Thel
her nutritious charge among the verdant grassOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Section I, transition from Lilly to Cloud
Actual checksum-verified active Reader scan inspected. Short quotation transcribed from the scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0371-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0371-E001-P0004
- Original scan leaf
- 4
- Recorded leaf number
- 4
- Current Reader position
- 5
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Illustrations
Continue exploring
The Vales of Har
The flower-filled home from which Thel questions passing life and to which she returns after her descent.
Shared source pageThel
The questioning figure who fears passing away, listens to small forms of life and briefly enters the land unknown.
Shared illustrationThe Cloud in Thel
The passing Cloud that describes disappearance as renewal through dew, flowers and a returning life.
Same subject and traditionThe Clod of Clay in Thel
The nurturing earth that tends the Worm and invites Thel into its house without compelling her to remain.