The Anathemata
Middle-sea and Lear-sea (continued)
Not again, not now again
till on west-portals
in Gallia Lugdunensisa
when the Faustian lent4 is come
and West-wood springs new
(and Christ the thrust of it !)
and loud sings West-cuckoo
(Polymniab, how shrill!)
will you see her like
if then.
David Jones notes
4 The reference is to Spengler’s use of the term ‘Faustian’ which he employs to describe the Celto-Latin-Germanic-Westem-Christian culture which by his theory had its springtime in the earliest middle ages. This is to say its freshest vitality was over before 1300.
additional notes
a Gallia Lugdunensis: one of the provinces of Roman Gaul, stretching across the middle of France from Brittany to its capital Lugdunum (Lyons).
b Polymnia (or, better, Polyhymnia) (Greek: Πολυύμνια, Πολύμνια,
‘the one of many hymns’), was in Greek mythology the Muse of sacred poetry, sacred hymn, dance, and eloquence as well as agriculture and pantomime. She is depicted as very serious, pensive and meditative, and often holding a finger to her mouth, dressed in a long cloak and veil and resting her elbow on a pillar.
‘West-wood’, ‘West-cuckoo’ are references to the 13th century song Sumer Is Icumen In.
comments
The vigour of the Greek springtime just described will not be seen again until the springtime of the early middle ages (the ‘Faustian lent’, see DJ note) in the great medieval cathedrals (see next paragraph).