NPPF Comm2: Balthasar

[Jasper Fidget]

> [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On Behalf Of Don Corathers
> 

> 
> Finally, we meet Balthasar, the gardener, Prince of Loam. 
> 

Balthasar, Prince of Loam!  Let's see...

Again the theme of east moving west:

Balthasar is the Hellenized name of one of the three Magi in the Christian
New Testament who arrive from the East following a star and seeking "the
newborn king of the Jews" (Matthew 2:1).  The others are Melchior and Gaspar
(or possibly Caspar -- or Jaspar?).  They weren't originally kings (depicted
in early Christian stories as Persians -- probably due to geography), but
were probably exalted by Europeans seeking to dramatize the coming of
nations to honor the king of all kings.  One was made African, one Asian or
Arabian, one European.  From what I gather (from the links below -- pretty
fascinating reading actually), Balthasar is the Asian or Arabian one who
brings frankincense.

As saints:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm

As Zoroastrians:
http://www.sullivan-county.com/z/3magi.htm

Rudolf Steiner going off on it:
http://wn.elib.com/Steiner/Lectures/Christmas/19041230p01.html

***

Also Belshazzar /bEl"Saz@/ : The King of Babylon who 'made a great
feast..and drank wine before the thousand' (Daniel 5:1).

Here's a good commentary on Daniel 5:
http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol24/htm/xi.htm

These guys have the following interesting pronunciation: Bale-shats-TSAR
http://calvarychapel.com/cheyenne/Library/27-Daniel/Daniel0501.html

***

A very large wine bottle, usually holding the quantity of sixteen regular
bottles. (OED)

***

In Shakespeare:

Balthasar is the name of one of Romeo's servants in _Romeo and Juliet_.  In
2.4, Romeo says, "I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel" probably in
reference to Balthasar.  In 5.1 Balthasar delivers the terrible news to
Romeo: "Then she is well, and nothing can be ill: / Her body sleeps in
Capel's monument, / And her immortal part with angels lives" (5.1.17-19).
In 5.3, at Juliet's grave, Romeo wants to off himself, and sends Balthasar
away with a sealed letter for his father (a suicide note more or less), but
Balthasar says in aside, "For all this same, I'll hide me hereabout: / His
looks I fear, and his intents I doubt" (5.3.43-44), believing Romeo is
suicidal.  Lurking around in the churchyard, Balthasar meets Friar Lawrence
and tells him Romeo is at Juliet's grave.  Lawrence wants Balthasar to
accompany him into the vault, but Balthasar declines, saying he's afraid of
Romeo after disobeying him.  Lawrence will go inside alone, and Balthasar
says, "As I did sleep under this yew-tree here, / I dreamt my master and
another fought, / And that my master slew him."  Yeah that's right, he says
"yew-tree."

Also in Shakespeare, Balthazar is a merchant in the _Comedy of Errors_,
Balthazar is a servant to Portia in _The Merchant of Venice_, and Balthasar
is the musician in _Much Ado About Nothing_ who sings the Hey nonny nonny
song: "Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more...":

http://www.geocities.com/miss_julep/balthasarssong.html

***

In royal history and art:

The son of King Felipe IV of Spain and Isabella of France.  Diego Velázquez
has several paintings of Don Balthasar Carlos (Carlos a Spanish variant for
Charles), as a youngster around six years old.  Carlos (b. 1629) died at age
17, never becoming the king these images of him seem to promise.

A portrait of Carlos:
http://cgfa.floridaimaging.com/velazque/p-velazqu4.htm

Carlos as a hunter:
http://cgfa.floridaimaging.com/velazque/p-velazq15.htm

Carlos hanging out with a dwarf:
http://cgfa.floridaimaging.com/velazque/p-velazq44.htm

***

In gardening:

Loam
A. noun.
1. Clay, clayey earth, mud.

2. Clay moistened with water so as to form a paste that can be moulded into
shape; spec. a mixture of moistened clay, sand, chopped straw, etc., used in
making bricks, plastering walls, grafting, etc. ME.

3. Earth, soil. arch. ME.

4. (A) very fertile soil composed chiefly of clay, sand, and humus; Geology
(a) friable mixture of sand, silt, clay, and usually humus. M17.
red loam: see RED adjective.
(OED)


-Jaspar the Magi