THE SCENE: Geoffrey of Monmouth recounts Merlin’s horrifying prophesy of the future of Britain, in which a dragon with an “erected” tail gives birth to lions who turn women into sluts.
THE TEXT: An Owl will nest on the walls of Gloucester and in its nest will be hatched an Ass. The Snake of Malvern will nurture this Ass and teach it many deceitful tricks. The Ass will put on a crown and then clamber above all that is most lofty and terrify the people with its hideous braying. In the days of the Ass and Pacaian Mountains shall totter and the country districts shall be deprived of their forest lands: for there shall come a Worm which will puff forth fire and this Worm will burn up the trees with the breath which it exhales. Out of the Worm shall come seven Lions, malformed with goat’s heads. With the fetid breath from their nostrils the Lions will corrupt married women and cause wives so far faithful to one husband to become common prostitutes. The father shall not know his own son, for human beings will copulate wantonly as cattle do. Then indeed shall come a very Giant of Wickedness, who will terrify everyone with the piercing glance of his eyes. Against him will arise the Dragon of Worcester, which will do its best to destroy him; but when they come to grips the Dragon will be worsted and overwhelmed by its conqueror’s wickedness. The Giant will climb on the Dragon, throw off all his clothes and then ride upon it naked. The Dragon will rear the Giant up into the air and lash his naked body with its erected tail; but the Giant will recover his strength and cut the Dragon’s throat with his sword. Finally, the dragon will become entangles in its own tail and will die of poison.
– Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, 12th Century AD
[Image Credit: La Chimera by Jacopo Ligozzi]
