Villon mixes so many metaphors when complaining that a ballad that he is composing will not take form that he resorts to two more:
"'At least let the wind of your words blow away the garbage clutter of my metaphors! Sit.'" (p. 113)
Then a real wind enters the inn:
"A cold gust made the fire jump and snap. Turning our heads, we saw the front door had opened again. Taverner was greeting a new arrival. We couldn't see past him to that person, but the entrance was full of gray fog and drizzle. I judged the time yonder to be near sundown of a winter's day in a northern land." (pp. 114-115)
My land, as a matter of fact. The man who enters is easily recognizable and is in any case named in the second last sentence.
And it is he that tells a famous painter that his paintings will win something that:
"'...the gates of hell shall not prevail against.'" (p. 122)
And there is one more Biblical reference in a work by Poul Anderson!
It will be a long time before we have squeezed out every detail, implication, reference etc.
2 comments:
Poul at his best was like a composer.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: I recall Churchill modestly rating his own paintings as mere "daubs" in that story.
Mr. Stirling: Absolutely, what you said about Anderson's works at their best!
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment