Vocabulary in London

The noun “hearse” refers to a vehicle that transports a coffin to a grave. Blake likely alludes to the prevalence of prostitution and its role in spreading venereal disease throughout the city. Married men who slept with prostitutes, or “harlots,” could inadvertently transmit diseases to their wives and unborn children, with disastrous consequences. The unexpected phrase “Marriage hearse” suggests that the problem may be rooted in the marriage arrangement itself, which was forced on people by the “blackning Church.”

The adjective “hapless” means to be unfortunate or to have bad luck. Blake’s description of soldiers’ blood painting palace walls suggests that the soldiers are unfortunate and helpless, and the government is responsible for their deaths. He may also be alluding to the bloody French Revolution, which was still raging while he was writing “London.” Many in England feared that the social problems plaguing their cities would result in similar insurrection.

The noun “manacle” refers to a metal shackle or band used to bind a person’s hands or ankles, especially if they are imprisoned. Blake’s “mind-forg’d manacles” are not literal, however; he uses an indirect metaphor, or a device comparing two things by stating or implying that they are the same, to suggest that people suffer from psychological and social imprisonment. The speaker implies that people have brought this suffering upon themselves.