GR translation: serai

[Monte Davis]

Yes, #1 denotatively -- I'd translate with whatever Chinese could be "inn"
or "travelers' lodging," ideally with an archaic/exotic tone because that's
what "serai" has

...keeping in mind that for Christians, #2 comes along wrapped up in the
myth. The paradox that the Christ child -- not even in the humble inn but
in its humbler stable -- is also the newborn king,  to whom angels and Very
Important People from afar pay tribute, has a place in most Anglophone
Christmas carols. So there is a "palace" connotation in there too, but IMO
Weisenburger is mistaken to make it primary.

On Wed, Jun 29, 2016 at 12:05 PM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> V131.19-28   The true king only dies a mock death. Remember. Any
> number of young men may be selected to die in his place while the real
> king, foxy old bastard, goes on. Will he show up under the Star, slyly
> genuflecting with the other kings as this winter solstice draws on us?
> Bring to the serai gifts of tungsten, cordite, high-octane?  Will the
> child gaze up from his ground of golden straw then, gaze into the eyes
> of the old king who bends long and unfurling overhead, leans to
> proffer his gift, will the eyes meet, and what message, what possible
> greeting or entente will flow between the king and the infant prince?
>
> From the OED:
>
> serai, n.1
>
> 1. a. In various Eastern countries, A building for the accommodation
> of travellers; a caravanserai.
>
> 2. A Turkish palace; esp. the palace of the Sultan at Constantinople.
>
> Weisenburger chose meaning #2 in the Companion, but #1 seems to make
> more sense to me, since it looks like the infant is still in a stable
> (his ground of golden straw).
>
> Comments?
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>
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