MDDM Ch. 11 Stars and Planets: Uranus

[John Bailey]

>From: "Otto" <o.sell at telda.net>
>Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 15:19:51 +0100

<snip some good stuff, but I know little about astronomy apart from what 
I've learnt through reading and trying to understand this darn book. Which 
means I can't add much here.>

>Aunt Euphy's description of the island as some sort of Olympian paradise
>with lemon groves does fit very well. As Ranke-Graves notes: in the
>Neolithikum and Bronze-era all paradises have been islands with orchards,
>the term *paradise* means *orchard* (p. 20 of the German pb-edition,
>Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg,1960) -- of course, the apple!

Interesting that we've had oranges and lemons in Paradise, but no apples. 
And mangoes...as a sacrament.



>
>I'm still not any further with the term "Apocrypha of Astrology" (107.15).
>

Apocrypha hidden, spurious, the name given to certain ancient books which 
found a place in the LXX. and Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament, 
and were appended to all the great translations made from them in the 
sixteenth century, but which have no claim to be regarded as in any sense 
parts of the inspired Word. (1.) They are not once quoted by the New 
Testament writers, who frequently quote from the LXX. Our Lord and his 
apostles confirmed by their authority the ordinary Jewish canon, which was 
the same in all respects as we now have it. (2.) These books were written 
not in Hebrew but in Greek, and during the "period of silence," from the 
time of Malachi, after which oracles and direct revelations from God ceased 
till the Christian era. (3.) The contents of the books themselves show that 
they were no part of Scripture. The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of 
fourteen books, the chief of which are the Books of the Maccabees (q.v.), 
the Books of Esdras, the Book of Wisdom, the Book of Baruch, the Book of 
Esther, Ecclesiasticus, Tobit, Judith, etc. The New Testament Apocrypha 
consists of a very extensive literature, which bears distinct evidences of 
its non-apostolic origin, and is utterly unworthy of regard.
- Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

So...not really trustworthy but not worth disregarding, that's a bit harsh. 
I think you could call a lot of Pynchon's work apocryphal, invoking hidden 
histories, suppressed voices, texts disavowed by official channels. For 
similar reasons though, I don't think we should blindly believe him, either. 
He might be wrong. That's how you deal with apocrypha. I don't think Pynchon 
even expects us to take his word as gospel, so to speak, or would respect 
anyone who does. the apocrypha of astrology are not essential, but that 
doesn't mean they don't matter.

And now, selected excerpts of a childhood favourite:

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clements

You owe me ten shillings,
Say the bells of St. Helen's

Bull's eyes and targets,
Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's

Pokers and tongs,
Say the bells of St. John's

When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

(Take it away, Tenebrae)

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head

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