First posted Feb 2014
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| National Gallery of Scotland Large Color Printed Drawings Night of Enitharmon's Joy |
Although the return journey had begun with this image of the Night
of Enitharmon's Joy, progress would be slow. The eighteen
Christian centuries from the birth of Christ to Blake's day were
ruled by the outward feminine will. When the message of Jesus was
subverted by organized religious institutions, Enitharmon began her
reign. It is she who spread the doctrines that 'Woman's love is Sin'
and that the return to Eternity takes place only after death.
The error that Enitharmon represented could not be ended until
man had experienced it to the degree that he was convinced of its
futility. Blake tells us that the imagination, man's ability to
perceive intuitively, had taken 'his rest.' His power had been
transferred to the 'Eternal Female' who exercised her intuition to
please herself and control men. Until man was able to behold the
truth of his own intuitive abilities he would subject himself to
control by the female will.
Vision of Last Judgment, (E 565)
"Error is Created Truth is Eternal Error or Creation will be Burned Up &
then & not till then Truth or Eternity will appear It is Burnt up
the Moment Men cease to behold it I assert for My self that I do
not behold the Outward Creation & that to me it is hindrance &
not Action it is as the Dirt upon my feet No part of Me. What it
will be Questiond When the Sun rises do you not see a round
Disk of fire somewhat like a Guinea O no no I see an Innumerable
company of the Heavenly host crying Holy Holy Holy is the Lord
God Almighty I question not my Corporeal or Vegetative Eye any
more than I would Question a Window concerning a Sight I look
thro it & not with it."
Europe, Plate 3, (E 61)
"Again the night is come
That strong Urthona takes his rest,
And Urizen unloos'd from chains
Glows like a meteor in the distant north
Stretch forth your hands and strike the elemental strings!
Awake the thunders of the deep."
Europe, Plate 4, (E 62)
"Arise O Orc from thy deep den,
First born of Enitharmon rise!
And we will crown thy head with garlands of the ruddy vine;
For now thou art bound;
And I may see thee in the hour of bliss, my eldest born.
The horrent Demon rose, surrounded with red stars of fire,
Whirling about in furious circles round the immortal fiend.
Then Enitharmon down descended into his red light,
And thus her voice rose to her children, the distant heavens reply.
Plate 5
Now comes the night of Enitharmons joy!
Who shall I call? Who shall I send?
That Woman, lovely Woman! may have dominion?
Arise O Rintrah thee I call! & Palamabron thee!
Go! tell the human race that Womans love is Sin!
That an Eternal life awaits the worms of sixty winters
In an allegorical abode where existence hath never come:
Forbid all joy, & from her childhood shall the little female
Spread nets in every secret path.
My weary eyelids draw towards the evening, my bliss is yet but
new."
Jerusalem, Plate 87, (E 246)
"Enitharmon answerd [Los]. No! I will sieze thy Fibres & weave
Them: not as thou wilt but as I will, for I will Create
A round Womb beneath my bosom lest I also be overwoven
With Love; be thou assured I never will be thy slave
Let Mans delight be Love; but Womans delight be Pride
In Eden our loves were the same here they are opposite
I have Loves of my own I will weave them in Albions Spectre
Cast thou in Jerusalems shadows thy Loves! silk of liquid
Rubies Jacinths Crysolites: issuing from thy Furnaces. While
Jerusalem divides thy care: while thou carest for Jerusalem
Know that I never will be thine:"
[24] "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
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