Historical Literature on Humanity Against Cruelty to Animals, Timeline of Animal Rights History

Animal Rights History »» William Blake

1789 | Auguaries of Innocence

A Robin Redbreast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.
A dove-house fill'd with Doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thro' all its regions.
A dog starv'd at his Master's Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State.
A Horse misused upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear.
A Skylark wounded in the wing;
A Cherubim does cease to sing.
The Game Cock clipt and arm'd for fight;
Does the Rising Sun affright.
Every Wolf's & Lion's howl
Raises from Hell a Human Soul.
The wild Deer, wand'ring here & there,
Keeps the Human Soul from Care.
The Lamb misus'd breeds Public Strife,
And yet forgives the Butcher's knife.
The Bat that flits at close of Eve
Has left the Brain that won't Believe.
The Owl that calls upon the Night
Speaks the Unbeliever's fright.
He who shall hurt the little Wren
Shall never be belov'd by Men.
He who the Ox to wrath has mov'd
Shall never be by Woman lov'd.
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spider's enmity.
He who torments the Chafer's Sprite
Weaves a Bower in endless Night.
The Catterpiller on the Leaf
Repeats to thee thy Mother's grief.
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly,
For the Last Judgment draweth nigh.
He who shall train the Horse to war
Shall never pass the Polar Bar.
The Beggar's Dog & Widow's Cat,
Feed them & thou wilt grow fat.
(William Blake, Auguaries of Innocence [1789])

1789 | The Fly

Am not I
A fly like thee?
Or art not thou
A man like me?
(William Blake, The Fly [1789])

1789 | Book of Thel

Everything that lives
Lives not alone, nor for itself.
(William Blake, Book of Thel [1789])

1790 | The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

Law for the Lion & Ox is Oppression.
(William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell [1790])

1793 | For Children: The Gates of Paradise

I have said to the worm; Thou art my mother and my sister.
(William Blake, For Children: The Gates of Paradise [1793])

1793 | Visions of the Daughters of Albion

And trees, & birds, & beasts, & men behold their eternal joy.
Arise, you little glancing wings, and sing your infant joy!
Arise, and drink your bliss; for every thing that lives is holly.
(William Blake, Visions of the Daughters of Albion [1793])

Links to the Primary Source
document the authenticity of quotations while providing more in-depth insight into the ideologies of humanity against cruelty to animals and additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and the protection of animals.

William Blake, Works [including many illuminated books and engravings] digitized by The William Blake Archive, Ed. Morris Eaves, Robert N. Essick, and Joseph Viscomi.

William Blake, The Poetical Works of William Blake, edited by John Sampson (Oxford, 1905; Digitized by Google, 2006) [Excellent source for publication histories and edition comparisons.]