Layamon fue un poeta inglés de principios del siglo XIII, autor del Brut, un notable poema en inglés medio que fue la primera obra en ese idioma en tratar las leyendas del rey Arturo y sus Caballeros de la Tabla Redonda, conocidas como «materia de Bretaña». Layamon se describe a sí mismo en el poema como un clérigo residente en Areley Kings . Su poema ha proporcionado inspiración a numerosos escritores posteriores, como Sir Thomas Malory o Jorge Luis Borges, y ha tenido un gran impacto en el estudio de la Edad Media en Inglaterra. Wikipedia
Layamon Layamon's Brut
When Arthur was king – hearken now a marvellous thing – he was liberal to each man alive, knight with the best, wondrously keen! He was to the young for father, to the old for comforter, and with the unwise wonderfully stern.
Fuente: Brut, Line 9945; vol. 2, p. 413.
Layamon Layamon's Brut
Yesterday was Baldulf of all knights boldest, but now he standeth on the hill, and beholdeth the Avon, how the steel fishes lie in the stream! Armed with sword, their life is destroyed; their scales float like gold-dyed shields; there float their fins, as if it were spears. These are marvellous things come to this land; such beasts on the hill, such fishes in the stream!
Fuente: Brut, Line 10638; vol. 2, pp. 471-2.
Gwyn Jones, in Wace and Layamon (trans. Eugene Mason) Arthurian Chronicles (London: Dent, [1912] 1976) p. xi.
Criticism
J. S. P. Tatlock The Legendary History of Britain (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1950) p. 485.
Criticism
Layamon Layamon's Brut
And I will fare to Avalun, to the fairest of all maidens, to Argante the queen, an elf most fair, and she shall make my wounds all sound; make me all whole with healing draughts. And afterwards I will come to my kingdom, and dwell with the Britons with mickle joy.
Fuente: Brut, Line 14277; vol. 3, p. 144.
“Better is art, than evil strength; for with art men may hold what strength may not obtain.”
Layamon Layamon's Brut
Fuente: Brut, Line 8590; vol. 2, p. 297.
