William Blake,
Notebook c.1808-1811 20. He is a Cock would
“ And would be a Cock [4] if he could ________________________________________Notes Written sideways on page 29 in the Notebook, probably between 1803 and 1804 (however G. Keynes placed it into the section 1808-1811) . In August 1803 Private Cock (trooper) supported the John Scoffield's (Capt. Leathes's troop of 1st or Royal Dragoons) accusation and charge of sedition against Blake, however after the Sussex Assizes in January 1804 (in Chichester) Blake was acquitted. G. Keynes thought that the couplet is not completed and added suspension points at the ends of the both lines. ”
