From Private Collection
Sketch of Catherine
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Catherine was not educated; in fact she signed her marriage certificate with an X. But William did not value formal education since he never sat at the foot of a schoolmaster himself. Catherine, the daughter of a green grocer, married at twenty years of age. She was prepared for a simple life of working with her husband who taught her the skills she needed in order to assist his career. What was her unique contribution over the years was a calmness of spirit upon which William could rely when his fierce need to create overstimulated his mind.
In The Stranger from Paradise, a Biography of William Blake by G.E. Bentley, Jr, there is a quote from Frederick Tatum:
"he fancied , that while she looked at him, as he worked, her sitting quite still by...[his] side, doing nothing, soothed his tempestuous mind & he has many a time when a strong desire presented itself to overcome any difficulty in the Plates or Drawings, ... in the middle of the night risen & requested her to get up with him & sit by his side, in which she cheerfully acquiesced". Page 70
Gates of Paradise, For the Sexes, (E 268)
16 Thou'rt my Mother from the Womb
Wife, Sister, Daughter to the Tomb
Weaving to Dreams the Sexual strife
And weeping over the Web of Life
Four Zoas, Night IX, Page 122, (E 391)
"The winter thou shalt plow & lay thy stores into thy barns Expecting to recieve Ahania in the spring with joy Immortal thou. Regenerate She & all the lovely Sex From her shall learn obedience & prepare for a wintry grave That spring may see them rise in tenfold joy & sweet delight Thus shall the male & female live the life of Eternity Because the Lamb of God Creates himself a bride & wife That we his Children evermore may live in Jerusalem Which now descendeth out of heaven a City yet a Woman Mother of myriads redeemd & born in her spiritual palaces By a New Spiritual birth Regenerated from Death Urizen Said. I have Erred & my Error remains with me" Songs and Ballads, Blake's notebook, (E 481) "I have Mental Joy & Mental Health And Mental Friends & Mental wealth Ive a Wife I love & that loves me Ive all But Riches Bodily" Letters, (E 709) "To William Hayley Esqre at Miss Pooles, Lavant near Chichester, Sussex Hercules Buildings Lambeth Sept 16. 1800 Leader of My Angels My Dear & too careful & over joyous Woman has Exhausted her strength to such a degree with expectation & gladness added to labour in our removal that I fear it will be Thursday before we can get away from this---- City I shall not be able to avail myself of the assistance of Brunos fairies. But I invoke the Good Genii that Surround Miss Pooles Villa to shine upon my journey thro the Petworth road which by your fortunate advice I mean to take but whether I come on Wednesday or Thursday That Day shall be marked on my calendar with a Star of the first magnitude Eartham will be my first temple & altar My wife is like a flame of many colours of precious jewels whenever she hears it named Excuse my haste & recieve my hearty Love & Respect I am Dear Sir Your Sincere WILLIAM BLAKE My fingers Emit sparks of fire with Expectation of my future labours" .
A lovely piece, thank you dear Ellie
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your encouragement. A good marriage is a rare treasure.
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