Auguries of Innocence Injustice Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #4

The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spider's Enmity (33-34)

This one's interesting. Blake is implying that there's some kind of karmic law at work in the universe—if you kill flies, you're going to find out what it's like to die as a fly. Even though there's suffering in the world, there's also justice.

Quote #5

The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath
Writes Revenge in realms of death. (73-74)

This couplet is about human suffering, specifically—unlike the other couplets, which mostly deal with animal suffering. Like the one about the boy killing flies, this couplet also implies that there's some kind of cosmic justice at work in the universe: the abused baby will be avenged.

Quote #6

The Harlot's cry from Street to Street
Shall weave Old England's winding Sheet.
The Winner's Shout, the Loser's Curse,
Dance before dead England's Hearse. (115-118)

This one is more about social injustice than specific individual examples. The plight of poor women who've been forced into prostitution and of losing gamblers will eventually help run England into the ground, and destroy the nation.