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.
>
>
>
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