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Lead in Literature
The Man in Ice I
An interesting point here is the result of a trace metal analysis
of hair samples from the [Neolithic] Iceman. The concentration of lead in them is very
substantially less than that of a modern population. Though this result is hardly
surprising, the researchers confirm, albeit at present only on hair samples and not
verified by tissue samples, that today we live in a heavily polluted environment.
The Man in Ice II
From that time onward, the remaining one hundred and twenty-nine
sailors were neither seen nor heard of again … more than five years after the
expedition's launch, three graves were discovered ... The bodies, resting in their coffins
frozen into blocks of ice, were so well preserved that they looked like men sleeping ...
Dissection and subsequent histological examination revealed a high level of lead, due
undoubtedly to the fact that the expedition's tins of food had been inexpertly soldered.
Thus the riddle of the Franklin expedition was solved. The crew died of progressive lead
poisoning.
Both Man in Ice stories are extracts from "The Man in Ice -
The preserved body of a Neolithic man reveals the secrets of the Stone Age", by
Konrad Spindler, Published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1994].
Cliges
The Cliges saga was originally written in Old French, sometime in
the second half of the 12th Century AD, by the court poet Chretien DeTroyes. The lead
related part of the Cliges saga is a sort of Romeo & Juliet - feigned death story -
with twists. Cliges, the Romeo of this tale, appears to be the nephew of both King Arthur
(of 'round table' fame) and Alis the emperor of Constantinople and surrounds.
Fenice, the
Juliet, is the 'wife' in an unconsummated marriage to Alis. The need for the feigned death
bit comes because she fears that no-one would believe that she was a virgin if she merely
ran off with Cliges! Some unscrupulous members of the medical profession, three to be
exact, attempt to use a 'lead based' cure for her feigned death and meet what appears to
be a fitting end for such an attempt, read on . . . .
When they had beaten her with the thongs until they had slashed
her flesh, and when the blood is dropping down, as it trickles from among the wounds, even
then their efforts are of no avail to extract from her a sigh or word, nor to make her
stir or move.
Then they say that they must procure fire and lead, which they
will melt and lay upon her hands, rather than fail in their efforts to make her speak.
After securing a light and some lead they kindle a fire and melt the lead. Thus the
miserable villains torment and afflict the lady, by taking the lead all boiling hot from
the fire and pouring it into the palms of her hands.
Not satisfied with pouring the lead clean through her palms, the
cowardly rascals say that, if she does not speak at once they will straightway stretch her
on the grate until she is completely grilled. Yet, she holds her peace, and does not
refuse to have her body beaten and maltreated by them.
Now they were on the point of placing her upon the fire to be
roasted and grilled when more than a thousand ladies, who were stationed before the
palace, come to the door and through a little crack catch sight of the torture and anguish
which they were inflicting upon the lady, as with coal and flame they accomplished her
martyrdom. They bring clubs and hammers to smash and break down the door. Great was the
noise and uproar as they battered and broke in the door. If now they can lay hands on the
doctors, the latter will not have long to wait before they receive their full deserts.
With a single rush the ladies enter the palace, and in the press
is Thessala, who has no other aim than to reach her mistress. Beside the fire she finds
her stripped, severely wounded and injured. She puts her back in the bier again, and over
her she spreads a cloth, while the ladies go to give their reward to the three doctors,
without wishing to wait for the emperor or his seneschal. Out of the windows they threw
them down into the court-yard, breaking the necks, ribs, arms, and legs of all: no better
piece of work was ever done by any ladies.
Although this story contains a maid/nurse figure and the loyal
retainer/friend, Shakespeare was clearly not impressed by the ending, for despite her
lead treatment Fenice survives and Cliges is so longwinded about his
'woe-is-me-I-should-be-dead-too' speech that she has time to revive from the potion and
stop him loyally following in grief.
The extract (Part III Vv. 5989-6050) is based on the translation
published as Chretien Detroyes: Arthurian Romances (W.W. Comfort; Everyman's Library,
London, 1914). This text is in the public domain in the U.S.
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