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.


20 April 2014

Easter Sunday


After The Lepidopters : A Space Opera, we received correspondence about certain other such activities. 

Monsieur d'Opter, an optician from St. Armand-Montrond, has sent us these images of the Lycée Lepidopters in rehersal for their annual spring parade, The Summoning.


click image to enlarge 
As winter looses its chill hold and the buds of spring again begin to swell, the people of this small French town - female students, men in dresses with drums and horns, the mayor and the notary - parade through the district with their LYCÉE PAPILLON banner.
           

      
Their purpose, to summon the eye-winged from their catacombs : Return to the light, Grant us new sight, Bring to all your every delight.

Miranda :
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!

Prospero :
'Tis new to thee.

The Tempest : Act 5, Scene 1
William Shakespeare
          
Monsieur Le P. d'Opter    
with nœud papillon    
Patron - Lycée Lepidopters    
 

   
The participants wear their traditional garb. At the throat of each un nœud papillon : for the young women, slim open-winged black; for the men, in pink, grand flouncy red; for the mayor and notary, appropriate, reserved.
     

       
detail
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