The Price will be considerably raised to Non-subscribers. May 15th, 1809.

Printed by Watts & Bridgewater, Southmolton-Street.

[Second Prospectus, Composite Draft]

BLAKES CHAUCER

An Original Engraving by [William Blake] from his Fresco Painting of [Chaucers

Canterbury Pilgrims]

[Mr B having from early Youth cultivated the two Arts Painting & Engraving & during

a Period of Forty Years never suspended his Labours on Copper for a single Day

Submits with Confidence to Public Patronage& requests the attention of the Amateur in

a Large Stroke Engraving] 3 feet 1 inch long by one foot high

[Containing Thirty original high finishd whole Length, Portraits on Horseback Of

Chaucers Characters, where every Character & every Expression, every Lineament of

Head Hand & Foot. every particular of Dress or Costume. where every Horse is

appropriate to his Rider & the Scene or Landscape with its Villages Cottages Churches&

the Inn in Southwark is minutely labourd not by the hands of Journeymen but by the

Original Artist himself even to the Stuffs & Embroidery of the Garments. the hair upon

the Horses the Leaves upon the Trees. & the Stones & Gravel upon the road; the Great

Strength of Colouring & depth of work peculiar to Mr B's Prints will be here found

accompanied by a Precision not to be seen but in the work of an Original Artist]

Sir Jeffery Chaucer & the nine & twenty

Pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury

The time chosen is early morning before Sunrise. when the jolly Company are just

quitting the Tabarde Inn. The Knight &. Squire with the Squires Yeoman lead the

Procession: then the Youthful Abbess her Nun & three Priests. her Greyhounds attend

her.

Begin Page 569

"Of small Hounds had she that she fed

With roast flesh milk & wastel bread"

Next follow the Friar & Monk. then the Tapiser the Pardoner. the Sompnour & the

Manciple. After these "Our Host" who occupies the Center of the Cavalcade [(the Fun

afterwards exhibited on the road may he seen depicted in his jolly face)] directs them to