I've been interested in how we depict Satan in art.

A force of nature during the Black Death.

Darker as the Victorian Empire becomes more about race.

Whiter as he becomes a more complex, psychologically interesting character.

BUT it's Friday and I want to tell a mad story.

We all know Bosch's triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights, now in the Prado. The right panel hellscape may aim at multiple audiences: sincere and orthodox; ironic and detached; nationalist. Being consumed, then shat, unendingly by diabolical rabbits is the worst ride at Disney

He also illustrates (here, c 1490-1500), and shows influences from, a mad text from the 12th century called the Visio Tnugdali.

It's about a knight who sleeps for three days and experiences the suffering of the damned.

It's set in Cork.

This text was written c. 1149 by Brother Marcus, an Irish itinerant monk in the Scots Monastery, Regensburg.

The monastery, the Schottenkirche, is still there - you can visit. It was tightly linked with Cashel's Cistercian Abbey. Going between the two was like a monk motorway.

Brother Marcus says, in the text, he met the knight Tnugdalus himself, had his account, the abbess directed him to translate it into Latin from Irish.

(Tnúdgal: 'fierce valour', Middle Irish)

This was a bestseller. We know of 172 manuscripts.

I ONLY JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS

With Sir Owain, it was one of the Middle Ages's most popular religious narratives.

Specific locations are designated for specific sins: it's a precursor to Dante. Covetous must enter the gaping maw of Acheron. Lustful clergy get swallowed by a great bird. Irish kings everywhere.

Tundale - who stole, later returned his neighbour's cow - has to lead a wild cow across a bridge.

Shagging offences land you in a big oven. Lots of attention to genitals.

Altogether there are ten Passus, bits of Hell - then seven Gaudia, purgatory and the stairway to Heaven.

In the Middle ages, this text's everywhere: Dutch, German, French, Middle English translations.

It's chaotic. Like a hangover should be.

Edward Foster says it's like Bede's Vision of Drythelm
'were exploded and Marcus put it back together again, without the instructions.'.

So next time you lose yourself in a dark wood, having strayed from the straight way.

Or run across a diabolical rabbit.

Remember a poor 12th century Cork lad who woke up from an indulgent evening in a whole world of suffering.

And that is the end of my devilment for today.