Gildas Translations

GILDAS TRANSLATIONS These are modern English translations of Latin poems by the English monk Gildas Sapiens (“Gildas the Wise”). “Alas! The nature of my complaint is the widespread destruction of all that was good, followed by the wild proliferation of evil throughout the land. Normally, I would grieve with my motherland in her travail and rejoice in her revival. But for now I restrict myself to relating the sins of an indolent and slothful race, not the feats of heroes. For ten years I kept my silence, I confess, with much mental anguish, guilt and remorse, while I debated these things within myself...” — Gildas, The Ruin of Britain, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Gildas is also remembered for his “Lorica” (“Breastplate”): “The Lorica of Loding” from the Book of Cerne by Gildas loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Trinity in Unity, shield and preserve me! Unity in Trinity, have mercy on me! Preserve me, I pray, from all dangers: dangers which threaten to overwhelm me like surging sea waves; neither let mortality nor worldly vanity sweep me away from the safe harbor of Your embrace! Furthermore, I respectfully request: send the exalted, mighty hosts of heaven! Let them not abandon me to be destroyed by my enemies, but let them defend me always with their mighty shields and bucklers. Allow Your heavenly host to advance before me: Cherubim and Seraphim by the thousands, led by the Archangels Michael and Gabriel! Send, I implore, these living thrones, these principalities, powers and Angels, so that I may remain strong, defended against the deluge of enemies in life’s endless battles! May Christ, whose righteous Visage frightens away foul throngs, remain with me in a powerful covenant! May God the Unconquerable Guardian defend me on every side with His power! Free my manacled limbs, cover them with Your shielding grace, leaving heaven-hurled demons helpless to hurt me, to pierce me with their devious darts! Lord Jesus Christ, be my sure armor, I pray! Cover me, O God, with Your impenetrable breastplate! Cover me so that, from head to toe, no member is exposed, within or without; so that life is not exorcized from my body by plague, by fever, by weakness, or by suffering. Until, with the gift of old age granted by God, I depart this flesh, free from the stain of sin, free to fly to those heavenly heights, where, by the grace of God, I am borne in joy into the cool retreats of His heavenly kingdom! Amen