[The Design of The Last Judgment]

To Ozias Humphry Esq^re

The Design of The Last Judgment which I have completed by your recommendation [under a fortunate star] for The Countess of Egremont [by a happy accident] it is necessary to give some account of & its various parts ought to be described for the accomodation of those who give it the honor of attention

Christ seated on the Throne of judgment [The Heavens in Clouds rolling before him & around him] before his feet& around him the heavens in clouds are rolling like a scroll ready to be consumed in the fires of the Angels who descend [before his feet] with the[ir] Four Trumpets sounding to the Four Winds

Beneath [the] Earth is convulsed with the labours of the Resurrection--in the Caverns of the Earth is the Dragon with Seven heads & ten Horns chained by two Angels & above his Cavern[s] on the Earths Surface is the Harlot siezed & bound by two Angels with chains while her Palaces are falling [in] into ruins & her councellors & warriors are descending into the Abyss in wailing & despair

Hell opens beneath the Harlots seat on the left hand into which the Wicked are descending [while others rise from their Craves on the brink of the Pit]

The right hand of the Design is appropriated to the Resurrection of the Just the left hand of the Design is appropriated to the Resurrection & Fall of the Wicked

Immediately before the Throne of Christ is Adam & Eve kneeling in humiliation as representatives of the whole Human Race Abraham & Moses kneel on each side beneath them from the cloud on which Eve kneels [ & beneath Moses & from the Tables of Stone which utter lightnings] is seen Satan wound round by the Serpent & falling headlong the Pharisees appear on the left hand pleading their own righteousness before the Throne of Christ & before the Book of Death which is opend on clouds by two Angels & many groupes of Figures are falling from before the Throne & from before the Sea of Fire which flows before the steps of the Throne on which [are] is seen the seven Lamps of the Almighty burning before the Throne many Figures chained& bound together & in various attitudes of Despair & Horror fall thro the air & some are scourged by Spirits with flames of fire into the Abyss of Hell which opens [to recieve them] beneath on the left hand of the Harlots Seat where others are howling & [descending into the flames & in the act of] dragging each other into Hell & [of] in contending in fighting with each other on the [very] brink of Perdition

Before the Throne of Christ on the Right hand the Just in humiliation& in exultation rise thro the Air with their Children & Families some of whom are bowing before the Book of Life which is opend [by two Angels on Clouds] on clouds by two Angels many groupes arise [with] in [joy] exultation among them is a Figure crownd with Stars & the Moon beneath her feet with six infants around her She represents the Christian Church [The] Green hills appear beneath with the Graves of the Blessed which are seen bursting with their births of immortality Parents & Children Wives & Husbands embrace & arise together & in exulting attitudes of great joy tell each other that the New Jerusalem is ready to descend upon Earth they arise upon the Air rejoicing others newly awakend from the Grave stand upon the Earth embracing. & shouting to the Lamb who cometh in the Clouds in Power & great Glory

The Whole upper part of the Design is a View of Heaven opened around the Throne of Christ in the Cloud which rolls away are the Four Living Creatures filled with Eyes attended by the Seven Angels with the Seven Vials of the Wrath of God & above these [there are] Seven Angels with the Seven Trumpets these compose [composing] the Cloud which by its rolling away displays the opening seats of the Blessed on the right& left of which are seen the Four & Twenty Elders seated on Thrones to Judge the Dead

Behind the Seat & Throne of Christ [appear] appears the Tabernacle with its Veil opened [&] the Candlestick on the right the Table with the Shew bread on the left [&] in [the] midst is the Cross in place of the Ark [with the two] Cherubim bowing over it

On the Right hand of the Throne of Christ is Baptism On [his] the left is the Lords Supper the two introducers into Eternal Life Women with Infants approach the Figure of an aged Apostle which represents Baptism & on the left hand the Lords Supper is administerd by Angels from the hands of another [aged] Apostle these kneel on each side of the Throne which is surrounded by a Glory [in the glory] many Infants appear in the Glory representing the Eternal Creation flowing from the Divine Humanity in Jesus who opens the Scroll of Judgment upon his knees before the Living& the Dead

Such is the Design which you my Dear Sir have been the cause of my producing & which but for you might have slept till the Last Judgment

WILLIAM BLAKE

[18 January 1808] Feb^y 1808