David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :
'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)
(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.
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Earlier this week we received an envelope from France with a pair of black and white 1971
Dead Bird Regard stamps - L'Oiseau Mort, after Greuze. With red obliteration.
In a world where everything's a sign, and a sign for something else as well, it seemed surely a pointer to Saturday (Cats vs Magpies : AFL Grand Final, MCG Melbourne).
CATS EAT BIRDS Geelong cheer squad banner raised as Cats goal in the first minute
Cats celebrate at Kardinia Park. (Catman centre)photo: Joe Armao/The Age
Final score :Geelong 18.11 (119) def. Collingwood 12.9 (81)
La jeune fille qui pleure son oiseau mortpainthing by Greuze
engraving by Gandon
stamp by France
The tears of a young Magpie barrackertranslation by bLOGOS/HA HA
present regard by
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...
LOGOS/HA HA
