The Anathemata
Middle-sea and Lear-sea (continued)
Now nor’-east by north
now east by north, easting.
Sou’ sou’-west the weather quarter
by what slant of wind
they brought her into the Narrow Sea
Prydain’s camlas!3
that they’ll call Mare Austrum4
Our thalassa!
The lead telling fifty in the chops.a
David Jones notes
3 Prydain, Britain; prud-ein, ei as in height. CamIas, a channel; cam-lass, the ‘s’ is very strongly sibilant, accent on first syllable.
4 At one period the English Channel was known as ‘the South Sea’ in Latin MS. See Ordnance Survey Map, Britain in the Dark Ages, South Sheet.
additional notes
a chops: jaws, hence the entrance to the Channel. The lead and line as a navigational aid is certainly known at this time. The units are not given but fathoms would be correct if they are sufficiently far away from the shore.
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