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Images of a bridge of swords turn up fairly frequently in mythic imagery. I can't immediately find the book, but a commentary on the text did suggest that the 'brig of dread' was such a structure. When I find the book (I suspect I know who I lent it to) I'll post a full reference. Incidentally, since posting the original text I've come across a dating of 18th century! That does seem a little late to me. Does anyone else have any comments on this one? Rob --- "M. Paul Bryant-Quinn" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Dear Rob - > > It's good to see the text of the Lyke-Wake Dirge! > > *Brig* is certainly `bridge' in some northern > dialects (see OED s.v.) - my > father, now in his late seventies, pronounces the > word that way still. But > *dread* as an allusion to `swords' is unknown to me. > > Best wishes, > > Paul > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and > culture > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf > Of Rob Durk > Sent: 05 January 2001 13:58 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: The "Hell Mouth" in medieval art & > architecture. > > > If I may contribute a little something... > I've never seen a date for this lyric from > Yorkshire, > but it provides an interesting set of images of a > journey through the afterlife helped or hindered by > how your days were lived out. > The 'brig of dread' I have seen interpreted as an > allusion to a bridge of swords. Anyone else? > > A Lyke-Wake Dirge > > This ae nighte, this ae nighte, > -- Every nighte and alle, > Fire and fleet and candle-lighte, > And Christe receive thy saule. > > When thou from hence away art past, > -- Every nighte and alle, > To Whinny-Muir thou com'st at last; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon, > -- Every nighte and alle, > Sit thee down and put them on; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane > -- Every nighte and alle, > The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > From Whinny-muir when thou mayst pass, > -- Every nighte and alle, > To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > From Brig o' Dread when thou mayst pass, > -- Every nighte and alle, > To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > If ever thou gavest meat or drink, > -- Every nighte and alle, > The fire sall never make thee shrink; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane, > -- Every nighte and alle, > The fire will burn thee to the bare bane; > And Christe receive thy saule. > > This ae nighte, this ae nighte, > -- Every nighte and alle, > Fire and fleet and candle-lighte, > And Christe receive thy saule. > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at > http://mail.yahoo.co.uk > or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie ____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie