NABOKV-L post 0026025, Tue, 17 Feb 2015 18:49:03 -0200

Wiki information offers an interesting connection also to Van Veen’s
“Mascodagama”, VN’s various indications of “Punch and Judy” shows and the
commedia del’arte characters, masks and the powerwand of the “slapstick”
that can modify scenarios.
In a long past posting I argued in favor of a reference to Adam de la Halle
(The first known appearance on stage of Hellequin is dated to 1262, the
character of a masked and hooded devil in Jeu da la Feuillière by
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_de_la_Halle> Adam de la Halle) in VN’s
novel “The Real Life of Sebastian Knight” (Cf. "When a Clown Develops
Wings," published in "The Nabokovian".n.62,Spring 2009 - At the time I was
unaware of Adam de la Halle’s use of the Hellequin (there is always more
precious information to be gathered from the internet)



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/SAND_Maurice_Masques_et_b
ouffons_01.jpg

The classical appearance of the Harlequin stock character in thecommedia
dell'arte of the 1670s, complete with batte or "
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapstick> slapstick", a magic wand used by
the character to change the scenery of the play (
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Sand> Maurice Sand, 1860)





The name Harlequin is taken from that of a mischievous "devil" or "demon"
character in popular French <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passion_play>
passion plays. It originates with an
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_French> Old French term herlequin,
hellequin, first attested in the 11th century, by the chronist
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orderic_Vitalis> Orderic Vitalis, who recounts
that he was pursued by a troop of demons when wandering on the coast of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy> Normandy at night. These demons were
led by a masked, club-wielding giant and they were known as familia
herlequin(var. familia herlethingi). This medieval French version of the
Germanic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Hunt> Wild Hunt, Mesnée
d'Hellequin, has been connected to the English figure of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herla> Herla cyning ("host-king"; German
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlk%C3%B6nig> Erlkönig).
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#cite_note-4> [4] Hellequin was
depicted a black-faced emissary of the devil, roaming the countryside with a
group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to Hell. The
physical appearance of Hellequin offers an explanation for the traditional
colours of Harlequin's red-and-black mask.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#cite_note-Grantham-5> [5]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#cite_note-6> [6] The first known
appearance on stage of Hellequin is dated to 1262, the character of a masked
and hooded devil in Jeu da la Feuillière by
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_de_la_Halle> Adam de la Halle, and it
became a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_character> stock character in
French passion plays. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#cite_note-7>
[7] The name also appears as that of a devil, as
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alichino_(devil)> Alichino, in
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)> Dante's Inferno (cantos 21 to
23). <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#cite_note-8> [8]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin#cite_note-9> [9]



See also
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Quinn> Harley Quinn;
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester> Jester;
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_and_Judy> Punch and Judy;
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Repent,_Harlequin!%22_Said_the_Ticktockman>
"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman;
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricky_slave> Tricky slave




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