Talking about magic...I was leafing through Theatre: A Book of Words by Martin Harrison the other day, when I happened upon an entry devoted to the subject of 'conjuring'.
The editor discusses the origins of a word that began - surprisingly - as meaning "to publically swear an oath", but which has since come to mean, as the Oxford English Dictionary defines it:
The art of performing entertaining magic tricks based on legerdemain, juggling, prestidigitation and the like...
Of the word's darker, witchcraft/demonology associations, Mr Harrison says:
Conjuring devils and spirits has gone out of fashion except in limited circles...
Dear, oh, dear! All those poor devils and spirits ignored -- except in limited (magic?) circles -- simply because they are just so unfashionable!
2 comments:
Just looking at the picture,there seems to be an unidentified boney gentleman in the background.Who is he ? Could he be part of a new way of re-introducing the activity of conjuring and ensuring its popularity ? With every full-priced Franciscan Friar ordered, you get one devil from our wide range of demons, ghouls and skeletons totally free ! Be the envy of other minor conjurers who just have one Agent of Lucifer at work at once ! Whilst you and your demon are relaxing with Helen of Troy, your secondary ghoul is cleaning your study in preparation for your return from a hard day's mischief-making ! Hmm could catch on...
As you say, Boll, the perfect assistant - except, as we all know, one mustn't ever take him to a dance because ------ he never has any BODY to dance with! ;-)
Post a Comment