Wikipedia Commons Europe Plate 6 A lurid scene at the bottom, of a child dead, presumably of starvation. At the top a pot over a flaming fire-- to cook the child? |
Two women under the furnace:
The one on the left bent over with grief.
The other one, sitting on a sort of throne with an infant, contemplating the pot.
Gruesome!
Blake was familiar with the story in Ist Kings 3 commonly called "splitting the baby"
"[16] Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
[17] And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
[18] And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
[19] And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
[20] And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
[21] And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
[22] And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
[23] Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
[24] And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
[25] And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
hmmm... I thought the woman on the right was looking up the chimney...
ReplyDeleteHi Larry -
ReplyDeletecan you add a link for Enitharmon? or remind me how to look it up? thanks!!
I'm coming on the middle of the conversation, as usual...
I found a nice Wikipedia on Enitharmon:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enitharmon
Re: Enitharmon 'can you add a link.'
ReplyDeleteSeems like you answered your own request.
I'm glad you're following it, Susan; praying for you daily, Honey,