La Leyenda Arturica-primeros Textos

7/27/2019 La Leyenda Arturica-primeros Textos

1/19

Pgina

|

LA LEYENDA ARTRICAPRIMEROS TESTIMONIOS

Sidonio Apolinar, carta a Riothamus (ca. 472)

SidoniusRiothamosuosalutem.

1. Servaturnostri consuetudo sermonis:namquemiscemus cum salutatione querimoniam,non

omninohuic rei studentes,ut stilusnoster sitofficiosus in titulis,asper inpaginis, sedquodea

sempereveniunt,dequibuslocimeiautordinishominemconstatinconciliari,siloquatur,peccare,

sitaceat.sedetipsisarcinamvestripudorisinspicimus,cuiushaecsemperverecundiafuit,utpro

culpiserubesceretisalienis.

2. gerulus epistularum humilis obscurus despicabilisque etiam usque ad damnum innocentis

ignaviaemancipia sua Britannis clam sollicitantibus abducta deplorat. incertummihi est an sit

certacausatio;

sed

si

inter

coram

positos

aequanimiter

obiecta

discingitis,

arbitror

hunc

laboriosum posse probare quod obicit, si tamen inter argutos armatos tumultuosos, virtute

numero contubernio contumaces, poterit ex aequo et bono solus inermis, abiectus rusticus,

peregrinuspauperaudiri.vale.

[1] IWILLwriteoncemore inmyusualstrain,minglingcomplimentwithgrievance.

Not that I at all desire to follow up the firstwords of greetingwith disagreeable

subjects,butthingsseemtobealwayshappeningwhichamanofmyorderandinmy

positioncanneithermentionwithoutunpleasantness,norpassoverwithoutneglect

ofduty.YetIdomybesttoremembertheburdensomeanddelicatesenseofhonour

whichmakes

you

so

ready

to

blush

for

others'

faults.

[2]

The

bearer

of

this

is

an

obscureandhumbleperson,soharmless,insignificant,andhelplessthatheseemsto

invitehisowndiscomfiture;hisgrievanceisthattheBretonsaresecretlyenticinghis

slavesaway.Whetherhis indictment isatrueone, Icannotsay;but ifyoucanonly

confrontthepartiesanddecidethematteronitsmerits,Ithinktheunfortunateman

maybeabletomakegoodhischarge,ifindeedastrangerfromthecountryunarmed,

abjectandimpecunioustoboot,haseverachanceofafairorkindlyhearingagainst

adversarieswithalltheadvantageshe lacks,arms,astuteness,turbulences,andthe

aggressivespiritofmenbackedbynumerousfriends.Farewell.

EpistolasIII,9.

Gildas,De excidio Britanniae (ca. 540)

Chapter23

Thenallthecouncillors,togetherwiththatproudtyrantGurthrigern[Vortigern],theBritishking,

weresoblinded,that,asaprotectiontotheircountry,theysealeditsdoombyinvitinginamong

them(likewolvesintothesheepfold),thefierceandimpiousSaxons,aracehatefulbothtoGod


2/19

Pgina

|

andmen, to repel the invasionsof thenorthernnations.Nothingwaseversopernicious toour

country,nothingwaseversounlucky.Whatpalpabledarknessmusthaveenvelopedtheirminds

darknessdesperateandcruel!Thoseverypeoplewhom,whenabsent, theydreadedmore than

death itself,were invited to reside, as onemay say, under the selfsame roof. Foolish are the

princes,as it issaid,ofThafneos,givingcounseltounwisePharaoh.Amultitudeofwhelpscame

forthfrom

the

lair

of

this

barbaric

lioness,

in

three

cyuls,

as

they

call

them,

that

is,

in

three

ships

of

war,with their sailswaftedby thewindandwithomensandprophecies favourable, for itwas

foretoldbyacertainsoothsayeramongthem,thattheyshouldoccupythecountrytowhichthey

weresailingthreehundredyears,andhalfofthattime,ahundredandfiftyyears,shouldplunder

anddespoilthesame.Theyfirst landedontheeasternsideoftheisland,bytheinvitationofthe

unluckyking,and there fixed their sharp talons,apparently to fight in favourof the island,but

alas!moretrulyagainstit.Theirmotherland,findingherfirstbroodthussuccessful,sendsfortha

largercompanyofherwolfishoffspring,whichsailingover,jointhemselvestotheirbastardborn

comrades.From that time thegermof iniquityand the rootofcontentionplanted theirpoison

amongstus,aswedeserved,andshotforth into leavesandbranches.Thebarbariansbeingthus

introducedas

soldiers

into

the

island,

to

encounter,

as

they

falsely

said,

any

dangers

in

defence

of

their hospitable entertainers, obtain an allowance of provisions, which, for some time being

plentifullybestowed,stoppedtheirdoggishmouths.Yettheycomplainthattheirmonthlysupplies

are not furnished in sufficient abundance, and they industriously aggravate each occasion of

quarrel,sayingthatunlessmore liberality isshownthem,theywillbreakthetreatyandplunder

thewholeisland.Inashorttime,theyfollowuptheirthreatswithdeeds.

Chapter24

For the fireof vengeance,justly kindledby former crimes, spread from sea to sea, fedby the

hands

of

our

foes

in

the

east,

and

did

not

cease,

until,

destroying

the

neighbouring

towns

and

lands,itreachedtheothersideoftheisland,anddippeditsredandsavagetongueinthewestern

ocean.Intheseassaults,therefore,notunlikethatoftheAssyrianuponJudea,wasfulfilledinour

case what the prophet describes in words of lamentation: They have burned with fire the

sanctuary; they have polluted on earth the tabernacle of thy name. And again, O God, the

gentileshavecome intothine inheritance;thyholytemplehavetheydefiled,&c.Sothatallthe

columns were levelledwith the ground by the frequent strokes of the batteringram, all the

husbandmenrouted,togetherwiththeirbishops,priests,andpeople,whilsttheswordgleamed,

and the flames crackledaround themonevery side.Lamentable tobehold, in themidstof the

streets lay the tops of lofty towers, tumbled to the ground, stones of highwalls, holy altars,

fragments

of

human

bodies,

covered

with

livid

clots

of

coagulated

blood,

looking

as

if

they

had

beensqueezedtogether inapress;andwithnochanceofbeingburied,save intheruinsofthe

houses,or in theraveningbelliesofwildbeastsandbirds;withreverencebe itspoken for their

blessed souls, if, indeed, thereweremany foundwhowere carried,at that time, into thehigh

heavenby theholyangels.Soentirelyhad thevintage,once so fine,degeneratedandbecome

bitter,that,inthewordsoftheprophet,therewashardlyagrapeorearofcorntobeseenwhere

thehusbandmanhadturnedhisback.


3/19

Pgina

|

Chapter25

Some, therefore, of themiserable remnant, being taken in themountains,weremurdered in

greatnumbers;others,constrainedbyfamine,cameandyieldedthemselvestobeslavesforever

to their foes, running the riskofbeing instantly slain,which trulywas the greatest favour that

couldbe

offered

them:

some

others

passed

beyond

the

seas

with

loud

lamentations

instead

of

the

voiceofexhortation.Thouhastgivenusassheeptobeslaughtered,andamongtheGentileshast

thou dispersed us. Others, committing the safeguard of their lives, which were in continual

jeopardy,tothemountains,precipices,thicklywoodedforests,andtotherocksoftheseas(albeit

with trembling hearts), remained still in their country. But in themeanwhile, an opportunity

happening,whenthesemostcruelrobberswerereturnedhome,thepoorremnantsofournation

(towhom flocked fromdiversplaces roundaboutourmiserable countrymenas fastasbees to

theirhives, for fearofanensuing storm),being strengthenedbyGod,callinguponhimwithall

theirhearts,as thepoet says, With theirunnumbered vows theyburdenheaven, that they

mightnotbebroughttoutterdestruction,tookarmsundertheconductofAmbrosiusAurelianus,

amodest

man,

who

of

all

the

Roman

nation

was

then

alone

in

the

confusion

of

this

troubled

periodbychance leftalive.Hisparents,who for theirmeritwereadornedwith thepurple,had

been slain in these same broils, and now his progeny in these our days, although shamefully

degeneratedfromtheworthinessoftheirancestors,provoketobattletheircruelconquerors,and

bythegoodnessofourLordobtainthevictory.

Chapter26

Afterthis,sometimesourcountrymen,sometimestheenemy,wonthefield,totheendthatour

Lordmight in this landtryafterhisaccustomedmannerthesehis Israelites,whether they loved

himornot,untiltheyearofthesiegeofMountBadon[Note:GilestranslatesBadonicimontisas

ofBath

hill],

when

took

place

also

the

last

almost,

though

not

the

least

slaughter

of

our

cruel

foes,whichwas(asIamsure)fortyfouryearsandonemonthafterthelandingoftheSaxons,and

alsothetimeofmyownnativity.Andyetneithertothisdayarethecitiesofourcountryinhabited

asbefore,butbeing forsakenandoverthrown,still liedesolate;our foreignwarshavingceased,

butourciviltroublesstillremaining.Foraswelltheremembranceofsuchaterribledesolationof

the island,asalsooftheunexpectedrecoveryofthesame,remained inthemindsofthosewho

were eyewitnesses of the wonderful events of both, and in regard thereof, kings, public

magistrates,andprivatepersons,withpriestsandclergymen,didallandeveryoneofthem live

orderlyaccordingtotheirseveralvocations.Butwhenthesehaddepartedoutofthisworld,anda

newracesucceeded,whowereignorantofthistroublesometime,andhadonlyexperienceofthe

presentprosperity,all the lawsof truthandjusticewere so shakenand subverted, thatnot so

muchasavestigeorremembranceofthesevirtuesremainedamongtheabovenamedordersof

men,exceptamongaveryfewwho,comparedwiththegreatmultitudewhichweredailyrushing

headlongdowntohell,areaccountedsosmallanumber,thatourreverendmother,thechurch,

scarcelybeholdsthem,heronlytruechildren,reposinginherbosom;whoseworthylives,beinga

patterntoallmen,andbelovedofGod,inasmuchasbytheirholyprayers,asbycertainpillarsand

mostprofitablesupporters,ourinfirmityissustainedup,thatitmaynotutterlybebrokendown,I


4/19

Pgina

|

would have no one suppose I intended to reprove, if forced by the increasing multitude of

offences, Ihave freely,aye,withanguish,not somuchdeclaredasbewailed thewickednessof

thosewho are become servants, not only to their bellies, but also to the devil rather than to

Christ,whoisourblessedGod,worldwithoutend.

Jordanes,De origine actibusque Getarum (469)

[234]Despusde llevara caboestashazaasyde instaurar lapazenestos territorios,muri

Teodoredoeneldcimoterceraodesureinado.

[235]SuhermanoEuricofueobjetodegravessospechasporsuapresuradodeseodesucederlo.Y

mientras estos yotros sucesos tenan lugar entre los visigodos, el emperadorValentiniano fue

asesinadoatraicinporMximo,yesteMximoocupeltronocomounusurpador.Cuandose

enterdeestoGiserico,reydelosvndalos,marchconunaflotadesdefricahasta Italia,entr

enRoma

yla

asol.

Mximo,

por

su

parte,

fue

asesinado

en

su

huida

por

un

soldado

romano

llamadoUrso.[236].Despusdeeste,porordendeMarciano,elemperadordeOriente,recibiel

encargodegobernarel ImperiodeOccidenteMayoriano,perono reinmucho tiempo,porque

cuandodirigasuejrcitocontra losalanosquedevastaban lasGaliasmurienTortona,juntoal

roque se conoce comoHira. Severo ocup su lugar ymuri enRoma en el tercer aode su

reinado. Viendo esto, el emperador Len, que haba sucedido en el Imperio de Oriente a

Marciano,escogiasupatricioAntemioylonombremperadordeRoma.Tanprontocomolleg

aRomaenvicontra losalanosa suyernoRicimero,unhombredestacadoyprobablementeel

nicoporentoncesenItaliacapazdedirigirunejrcito.stevenci inmediatamentea lasturbas

delosalanosyasureyBeorgoyadesdeelprimercombateyconsiguianiquilarlostotalmente.

[237].Aspues,elreyvisigodoEurico,viendoque losemperadoresromanossesucedanunosa

otros con tanta rapidez, intent someter las Galias a su propio dominio. Cuando se puso al

corrientedeelloelemperadorAntemio,pidiayudaa losbretones,cuyoreyRitimoacudia la

ciudaddeBourgescondocemilhombresyallfueacogidodespusdedesembarcardesusnavos

salidosdelOcano.[238].ElreyvisigodoEuricoacudiasuencuentroalacabezadeunnumeroso

ejrcitoy,despusdecombatirdurantebastantetiempocontraelreybretnRiotimo,hizoquese

retiraraantesdeque los romanospudieran reunirse con l. ste,despusdeperderuna gran

partedesuejrcito,huyconlosquepudoalvecinoterritoriodelosburgundios,queestabanala

saznfederadosconlosromanos.Porsuparte,elreyvisigodoEuricoocuplaciudaddeArverna

cuandoel

emperador

Antemio

ya

haba

fallecido,

despus

de

haber

asolado

la

Romania

con

una

guerra civil contra su yernoRicimero ydedejarel tronoaOlimbrio,almoriramanosdeeste

mismoyerno.

Jordanes,Origenygestadelosgodos,Ed.ytrad.deJosMa.SnchezMartn,Madrid,Ctedra,2001(LetrasUniversales)


5/19

Pgina

|

Elegyof Geraint, poema en gals antiguo (ca. 480)BeforeGeraint,theenemysscourge,Isawwhitehorses,tensed,red,

Afterthe

war

cry,

bitter

the

grave.

BeforeGeraint,theunflinchingfoe,Isawhorsesjadedandgoryfrombattle,Afterthewarcry,agreatdrivingforce

BeforeGeraint,theenemyoftyranny,Isawhorseswhitewithfoam,Afterthewarcry,aterribletorrent.

InLlongborthIsawtherageofslaughter,

Andbiers

beyond

all

number,

AndredstainedmenfromtheassaultofGeraint.

InLlongborth,Isawtheclashofswords,Meninterror,bloodyheads,BeforeGerainttheGreat,hisfathersson.

InLlongborthIsawspurs,Andmenwhodidnotflinchfromthedreadofthespears,Whodranktheirwinefromthebrightglass.

InLlongborthIsawtheweapons,

Ofmen,

and

blood

fast

dropping,

Afterthewarcry,afearfulreturn.

InLlongborthIsawArthurs EnLlongborthvialosheroesdeArturoHeroeswhocutwithsteel. Quienescortanconacero.TheEmperor,rulerofourlabour. ElEmperador,gobernadordenuestro

trabajo.

InLlongborthGeraintwasslain,AbravemanfromtheregionofDyvnaint,Andbeforetheywereoverpowered,theycommittedslaughter.

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,wheattheirfodder,Ruddyones,swoopinglikespottedeagles.

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,grainwasgiventhem,Ruddyones,swoopinglikeblackeagles.


6/19

Pgina

|

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,restlessovertheirgrain,Ruddyones,swoopinglikeredeagles.

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Long

their

legs,

grain

scattering,

Ruddyones,swoopinglikewhiteeagles.

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,withthepaceofthestag,Withanoselikethatoftheconsumingfireonawildmountain.

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,satiatedwithgrain,Greyones,withtheirmanestippedwithsilver.

Underthe

thigh

of

Geraint

swift

chargers,

Longtheirlegs,welldeservingofgrain,Ruddyones,swoopinglikegreyeagles.

UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,havingcornforfood,Ruddyones,swoopinglikebrowneagies.

WhenGeraintwasborn,Heavensgatestoodopen;Christgrantedallourprayer;Lovelytobehold,thegloryofBritain(Prydain).

Y Gododdin, poema en gals antiguo (s. VII)

Atacalmandodetrescientosdelosmejores,

matporelcentroyporlosflancos

excelsoalfrentedelamsnoblehueste,

regalcaballosdelamanadaenelinvierno.

Alimentacuervosnegrosenlarampadeunfuerte

peronoeraArturo.

Entrelospoderososenlabatalla,

enel

primer

rango,

Gwawrddur

era

un

paladn

(estr.

98).


7/19

Histo

[Hech

ia Brittonu

os de Artur

, atribuid

o]

a Nenius ca. 830)

Pgina|


8/19

Pgina|


9/19

Pgina|


10/19

[Hech

56.EnHengis

losreyperoLapricuartabatalla

Celido

Virgenmatan

Lano

sdeArturo]aquel tiempt,Octha,suesdelpas.Yleraeljefederabatallayquinta,jufuejuntoal.Laoctavasobre sus

zaentreelloenabatalla

o, lossajoneijo, cruzd

enaqueltieetodaslasouvolugarenntoa otro rroquesellaenCastelloombros y lporlavirtudue libradae

ssehacanesdeelNortmpoArturoleraciones.ladesembooque se llamaBassas.Luinnionen ls paganos fdeNuestronCaerlion.

oderososedeBritaniauchabacont

aduradelromaDouglassptimaen

aqueArturoueron puestSeorJesucriadcimaen

multitudyhastaelreinraellosjunto

quesellamy est en laelbosqued llev la imaos en fugastoyladeS la riberad

crecanenBodeKent,yalosreyes

aGlein.Lasereginde LiCaledonia,gendeSantaaquel da yntaMaraVil roque lla

ritania.Muedelsurgierelosbreton

gunda,tercennuis. La sestoes,CatCMarasiemhubo una grgen,sumadmanTribuit.

Pgina|

rtoones,

ra,xtaoitreanre.La


11/19

Pgina

|

undcimafueenelmontequellamanAgned.LaduodcimabatallatuvolugarenelMonteBadon

yenella cayeronenun solodanovecientos sesentahombres,deun soloataquedeArturo;y

nadielosvencisinolmismoyentodaslasguerrassalivencedor...

[ProdigiosdeBretaa]73.

Hay

otro

prodigio

en

la

regin

que

se

llama

Buelt.

Hay

all

un

montn

de

piedras

yencima

del

cmuloestcolocadaunapiedra,con lahuelladeunperroenella.Cuando fuecazadoeljabal

Troint,Cabal,queeraperrodelguerreroArturo, imprimisuhuellaen lapiedra.Arturo reuni

despusunmontndepiedrasbajoaquellaenlaqueestabalahuelladesuperro.SellamaCarn

Cabal.Llegangentesytransportanlapiedraensusmanosporespaciodeundayunanocheyal

dasiguienteselaencuentraotravezsobresumontn.

Annales Cambriae (ca. 970)

LXXIIAnnus.BellumBadonis,inquoArthurportavitcrucemDomininostriJesuChristitribusdiebus

ettribusnoctibusinhumerossuosetBritonesvictoresfuerunt.

Ao72 [516D.C.]BatalladeBadon,en laqueArthur llev lacruzdenuestroSeor

Jesucristodurantetresdasytresnochessobresushombrosylosbretonesresultaron

vencedores.

XCIIIAnnus.GueithCamlann, inquaArthuretMedrautcorruere;etmortalitas inBrittaniaet in

Hiberniafuit.

Ao93 [537D.C.]BatalladeCamlann,en laqueArthuryMedrautcayeron,yhubo

unamortandadenBritaniayenHibernia

Leyenda de San Goeznovius (ca. 1019)

Inthecourseoftime,theusurpingkingVortigern,tobuttressthedefenceofthekingdomofGreat

Britainwhichheunrighteouslyheld,summonedwarlikemenfromthe landofSaxonyandmade

themhisallies inthekingdom.Sincetheywerepagansandofdevilishcharacter, lustingbytheir

naturetoshedhumanblood,theydrewmanyevilsupontheBritons.

PresentlytheirpridewascheckedforawhilethroughthegreatArthur,kingoftheBritons.They

werelargelyclearedfromtheislandandreducedtosubjection.ButwhenthissameArthur,after

manyvictorieswhichhewongloriouslyinBritainandinGaul,wassummonedatlastfromhuman

activity, the way was open for the Saxons to go again into the islane, and there was great

oppression of the Britons, destruction of churches and persecution of saints. This persecution

wentonthroughthetimesofmanykings,SaxonsandBritonsstrivingbackandforth...


12/19

In thoGsope

Britain

Crni

[421]

Cated

sedays,mal,leftthegre(Brittany).

ca del Mon

atusestS.G[421]fuerte

ral de Md

Arquivolta

yholymenaterBritain

t-Saint-Mic

ildas.Hisdieacimiento

ycorts.ena, Italia

delaPortade

gave themshichisnow

Thistranslati

hel (ca. 10

busfuitArtue San Gilda

ca. 1105)

laPescheria,

lvesup totheSaxons

onappearsinLo

6)

rexBritanns. En aquell

uronortede

artyrdom;omeland,a

GeoffreyAshendon,Anchor

rumfortis,es das vivi

lacatedralde

thers, in codsailedacr

,TheLandscaPressDouble

tfacetus.Artus, rey

SanGiminian

formity tosstotheles

eofKingArtay,1985,p.1

e los britan

o,EmiliaRom

Pgina|

heser

ur,03.

os,

na


13/19

Pgina|


14/19

Catedral de Otr nto, ca. 11 3-1166

Mosaicodelpiso,catedraldeOtr

nto,surdeIt

Pgina|

lia


15/19

Pgina

|

Giraldus Cambrensis (ca. 1193)

DelLiberdePrincipisinstructione, ca.1193ThememoryofArthur,thatmostrenownedKingoftheBritons,willendureforever. Inhisown

day

he

was

a

munificent

patron

of

the

famous

Abbey

at

Glastonbury,

giving

many

donations

to

the

monksandalwayssupportingthemstrongly,andhe ishighlypraisedintheirrecords.Morethan

anyotherplaceofworship inhiskingdomhe loved theChurchof theBlessedMary,Motherof

God,inGlastonbury,andhefostereditsinterestswithmuchgreaterlovingcarethanthatofanyof

theothers.Whenhewentouttofight,hehadafulllengthportraitoftheBlessedVirginpainted

on the front of his shield, so that in the heat of battle he could always gaze upon Her; and

whenever hewas about tomake contactwith the enemy hewould kiss Her feetwith great

devoutness.

In our own lifetime Arthurs body was discovered at Glastonbury, although the legends had

alwaysencouragedustobelievethattherewassomethingotherworldlyabouthisending,thathe

had resisteddeathandhadbeen spiritedaway to some fardistant spot.Thebodywashidden

deepintheearthinahollowedoutoakboleandbetweentwostonepyramidswhichhadbeenset

uplongagointhechurchyardthere.Theycarrieditintothechurchwitheverymarkofhonourand

buried itdecently there inamarble tomb. Ithadbeenprovidedwithmostunusual indications

whichwere, indeed, little shortofmiraculous, forbeneath it,andnoton top,aswouldbe the

customnowadays,therewasastoneslab,witha leadencrossattachedto itsunderside. Ihave

seen this crossmyselfand Ihave traced the letteringwhichwas cut into iton the side turned

towardsthestone,insteadofbeingontheoutersideandimmediatelyvisible.

Theinscriptionreadasfollows:

HEREINTHEISLEOFAVALONLIES

BURIEDTHERENOWNEDKING

ARTHUR,WITHGUINEVERE,HIS

SECONDWIFE

Therearemanyremarkabledeductionstobemadefromthisdiscovery.Arthurobviouslyhadtwo

wives,andthesecondonewasburiedwithhim.Herboneswerefoundwiththoseofherhusband,

buttheywereseparatefromhis.Twothirdsofthecoffin,theparttowardsthetopend,heldthe

husbands bones, and the other section, at his feet, contained those of his wife. A tress of

womans

hair,

blond,

and

still

fresh

and

bright

in

colour,

was

found

in

the

coffin.

One

of

the

monks

snatcheditupanditimmediatelydisintegratedintodust.

TherehadbeensomeindicationsintheAbbeyrecordsthatthebodywouldbediscoveredonthis

spot,andanothercluewasprovidedbyletteringcarvedonthepyramids,butthishadbeenalmost

completely erased by the passage of the years. The holymonks and other religious had seen

visionsandrevelations.However, itwasHenry II,KingofEngland,whohadtoldthemonksthat,

according to a story which he had heard from some old British soothsayer, they would find


16/19

Pgina

|

Arthursbodyburiedatleastsixteenfeetintheground,notinastonecoffinbutinahollowedout

oakbole. Ithadbeen sunk asdeep as that, and carefully concealed, so that it couldneverbe

discoveredbytheSaxons,whomArthurhadattackedrelentlesslyas longashe livedandwhom,

indeed,hehadalmostwipedout,butwhooccupiedtheisland[ofBritain]afterhisdeath.

Thatwas

why

the

inscription,

which

was

eventually

to

reveal

the

truth,

had

been

cut

into

the

insideof thecrossand turned inwards towards the stone.Formanya longyear this inscription

wastokeepthesecretofwhatthecoffincontained,buteventually,whentimeandcircumstance

werebothopportunetheletteringrevealedwhatithadsolongconcealed.

What isnowknownasGlastonburyused, inancient times, tohecalled the IsleofAvalon. It is

virtually an island, for it is completely surrounded bymarshlands. InWelsh it is called Ynys

Avallon,whichmeanstheIslandofApplesandthisfruitusedtogrowthere ingreatabundance.

After theBattleofCamlann,anoblewomancalledMorgan,whowas the rulerandpatronessof

thesepartsaswellasbeingaclosebloodrelationofKingArthur,carriedhimofftotheisland,now

knownasGlastonbury,sothathiswoundscouldbecaredfor.Yearsagothedistricthadalsobeen

calledYnysGutrininWelsh,thatistheIslandofGlass,andfromthesewordstheinvadingSaxons

latercoinedtheplacename Glastingebury.Theword glass intheir languagemeans vitrum in

Latin,andburymeanscastrumorcivitas.

YoumustknowthatthebonesofArthursbodywhichwerediscoveredthereweresobigthat,in

them,thepoetswordsseemtobefulfilled:

Allmenwillexclaimatthesizeofthebones

theyveexhumed(Virgil,Georgics,I.497)

TheAbbotshowedmeoneoftheshinbones.Heheldituprightonthegroundagainstthefootof

thetallestmanhecouldfind,anditnowstretchedagoodthreeinchesabovethemansknee.The

skullwas so large and capacious that it seemed a veritable prodigy of nature, for the space

between theeyebrowsand theeyesocketswasasbroadas thepalmofamanshand.Tenor

morewoundscouldclearlybeseen,buttheyhadallmendedexceptone.Thiswaslargerthanthe

othersandithadmadeanimmensegash.ApparentlyitwasthiswoundwhichhadcausedArthurs

death.

DelSpeculumEcclesiae,ca.1216In our own lifetime,when Henry IIwas reigning in England, strenuous effortsweremade in

GlastonburyAbbey

to

locate

what

must

have

once

been

the

splendid

tomb

of

Arthur.

It

was

the

King himself who put them on to this, and Abbot Henry, who was later elected Bishop of

Worcester,gavethemeveryencouragement.

With immense difficulty,Arthursbodywas eventuallydug up in the churchyard dedicatedby

SaintDunstan. It laybetween two tallpyramidswith inscriptionson them,whichpyramidshad

beenerectedmanyyearsbefore inmemoryofArthur.Thebodywasreducedtodust,but itwas

liftedup into the freshair from thedepthsof thegraveand carriedwith thebones toamore


17/19

Pgina

|

seemlyplaceofburial. In the same grave therewas founda tressofwomanshair,blondand

lovelyto lookat,plaitedandcoiledwithconsummateskill,andbelonging,nodoubt,toArthurs

wife,whowasburiedtherewithherhusband.

Themomentthat[hesaw],this lockofhair, [oneofthemonks],whowasstandingthere inthe

crowd,jumped

down

into

the

deep

grave

in

an

attempt

to

snatch

hold

of

it

before

any

of

the

others. Itwasapretty shameless thing todoand it showed little reverence for thedead.This

monk,then,ofwhomIhavetoldyou,asilly,rashandimpudentfellow,whohadcometogawpat

whatwasgoingon,droppeddown into thehole,whichwasasortofsymboloftheAbyss from

whichnoneofuscanescape.Hewasdeterminedtoseizeholdofthistressofwomanshairbefore

anyoneelse coulddo soand to touch itwithhishand.Thiswasa fair indicationofhiswanton

thoughts, for femalehair isa snare for the feebleminded,although thosewithany strengthof

purposecanresistit.

Hairisconsideredtobeimperishable,inthatithasnofleshycontentandnohumidityofitsown,

butasheheld it inhishandafterpicking itupandstoodgazingat it in rapture, it immediately

disintegrated into fine powder. All those who were watching were astounded by what had

happened.Bysomesortofmiracle,nottosay...,itjustdisappeared,as ifsuddenlychangedback

intoatoms,foritcouldneverhavebeenuncoiledandexaminedclosely...thisshowedthatitwas

evenmoreperishablethanmostthings,provingthatallphysicalbeautyisatransitorythingforus

to stare atwith our vacant eyes or to grope for in our lustfulmoments, empty and availing

nothing.As thephilosopher says: Physicalbeauty is shortlived, itdisappears so soon it fades

morequicklythantheflowersinspringtime.

ManytalesaretoldandmanylegendshavebeeninventedaboutKingArthurandhismysterious

ending. In their stupidity theBritishpeoplemaintain thathe is stillalive.Now that the truth is

known,Ihave

taken

the

trouble

to

add

afew

more

details

in

this

present

chapter.

The

fairy

tales

havebeensnuffedout,andthe trueand indubitable factsaremadeknown,so thatwhat really

happened must be made crystal clear to all and separated from the myths which have

accumulatedonthesubject.

After theBattleofCamlann...killedhisuncle...Arthur: thesequelwas that thebodyofArthur,

whohadbeenmortallywounded,wascarriedoffbyacertainnoblematron,calledMorgan,who

was his cousin, to the Isle of Avalon, which is now known as Glastonbury. UnderMorgans

supervisionthecorpsewasburiedinthechurchyardthere.Asaresult,thecredulousBritonsand

theirbards invented the legend thata fantastic sorceress calledMorganhad removedArthurs

bodyto

the

Isle

of

Avalon,

so

that

she

might

cure

his

wounds

there.

According

to

them,

once

he

has recovered from hiswounds this strong and allpowerful Kingwill return to rule over the

Britonsinthenormalway.Theresultofallthisisthattheyreallyexpecthimtocomeback,justas

theJews,ledastraybyevengreaterstupidity,misfortuneandmisplacedfaith,reallyexpecttheir

Messiahtoreturn.

It isworthnoting... justas, indeed... placedbyall,as... arecalled islandsandareknowntobe

situated in saltwater, that is to say in the sea. It is calledAvalon,either from theWelshword


18/19

Pgina

|

aval,whichmeansapple,becauseappletreesandapplesarevery common there,or from the

nameofacertainVallowhousedtoruleoverthearealongago.Inremotetimes,theplaceused

tobe called YnysGutrin in theWelsh language, that is the IslandofGlass,nodoubt from the

glassy colour of the riverwhich flows round it in themarshland. As a result, the Saxonswho

occupied thearea lateron called it Glastonia in their language, for in SaxonorEnglish glass

correspondsto

the

Latin

word

vitrum.

From

what

Ihave

said,

you

can

see

why

it

was

called

first

the IsleofAvalonand then Glastonia. It isalsoclearhow this fantastic sorceresscame tobe

adoptedbythestorytellers.

ItisworthyofnotethattheAbbotcalled... alsofromthelettersinscribedonit,althoughtheyhad

beenalmostobliteratedlongagobythepassingoftheyears,andhehadtheaforesaidKingHenry

toprovidethemainevidence.

The King had told theAbbot on a number of occasions that hehad learnt from the historical

accountsoftheBritonsandfromtheirbardsthatArthurhadbeenburiedinthechurchyardthere

between twopyramidswhichhadbeenerected subsequently,verydeep in theground for fear

lesttheSaxons,whohadstriventooccupythewholeislandafterhisdeath,mightravagethedead

body intheirevil lust forvengeance.Arthurhadattacked themonagreatnumberofoccasions

andhadexpelled them fromthe IslandofBritain,buthisdastardlynephewMordredhadcalled

thembackagaintofightagainsthim.Toavoidsuchafrightfulcontingency,toa largestoneslab,

found inthetombbythosewhoweredigging itup,somesevenfeet... a leadencrosshadbeen

fixed,notontopofthestone,butunderneathit,bearingthisinscription:

HEREINTHEISLEOFAVALONLIES

BURIEDTHERENOWNEDKING

ARTHUR,WITHGUINEVERE,

HISSECOND

WIFE

They prised this cross away from the stone, and Abbot Henry, aboutwhom I have told you,

showed ittome.Iexamined itcloselyandIreadthe inscription.Thecrosshadbeenattachedto

theundersideofthestoneand,tomake iteven lesseasyto find,thesurfacewiththe lettering

hadbeenturnedtowardsthestone.Onecanonlywonderatthe industryandtheextraordinary

prudenceofthemenofthatperiod,whoweredeterminedtoprotectatallcostsandforalltime

thebodyofthisgreatman,their leaderandtherulerofthisarea,fromthepossibilityofsudden

desecration.Atthesametimetheyensuredthatatsomemomentinthefuture,whenthetroubles

wereover,theevidenceoftheletteringcutintothecrossmightbediscoveredasanindicationof

whatthey

had

done.

... ithad indicated,soArthursbodywasdiscovered,not inastonesarcophagus,carvedoutof

rockorofParianmarble,aswouldhavebeenseemlyforsofamousaKing,butinwood,inanoak

bolehollowedoutforthispurposeandburieddeep intheearth,sixteenfeetormoredown,for

the burialof so great a Prince, hurried, no doubt, rather thanperformedwith due pomp and

ceremony,asthisperiodofpressingdisturbancemadeonlytoonecessary.


19/19

Pgina

|

Whenthebodywasdiscoveredfromthe indicationsprovidedbyKingHenry,theAbbotwhom I

havenamedhada splendidmarble tombbuilt for it,aswasonlyproper, for sodistinguisheda

rulerofthearea,who,moreover,hadshownmorefavourtothischurchthantoanyother inhis

kingdom,andhadendowed itwithwideandextensive lands.BythejudgementofGod,which is

alwaysjustandwhich inthiscasewascertainlynotunjustified,whorewardsallgooddeedsnot

onlyin

Heaven

above

but

on

this

earth

and

in

our

terrestrial

Iife

church...

others

of

his

kingdom...

thegenuine[remains]andthebodyofArthurtobeburiedinaseemlyfashion...andgloriously...

andinhumed.

TranslationofGeraldofWalesbyLewisThorpe

Ralph de Coggeshall, Chronicon Anglicanum (ca. 1220)

1191:ThisyearwerefoundatGlastonburythebonesofthemostrenownedArthur,formerlyKing

ofBritain,buriedinaveryancientcoffin,aboutwhichtwoancientpyramidshadbeenbuilt:onthe

sidesof thesewas in inscription, illegibleonaccountof the rudenessof thescriptand itsworn

condition.The

bones

were

discovered

as

follows:

as

they

were

digging

up

this

ground

to

bury

a

monkwho had urgently desired in his lifetime to be interred there, they discovered a certain

coffin,onwhichaleadencrosshadbeenplaced,bearingtheinscription,

HereliesthefamousKingArturius,buriedin

theIsleofAvalon.

Forthisplace,whichissurroundedbymarshes,wasformerlycalledtheIsleofAvalon,thatis,the

isleofapples.

Documents

La Leyenda Arturica-primeros Textos