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.
You've asked for more information.
Not a lot is known. Twenty years ago, through a string of connections, we sought an interview with someone (anyone) from The Debt Collection.
All that came back to us on that occasion was this 'blank' page with letterhead.
We tried again after your inquiries. This time a little more came back, albeit enigmatic.
click image to enlarge
One of our staff is interested in rebus messages. She suggested this might be one such. It is code...
FREEDOOM
Those who are ignorant
of Art|History
are DOOM to repeat it
Those who are knowledgeable
of Art|History
are FREE to repeat it
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...
LOGOS/HA HA
