Tuesday Jan 19, 2010

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Got a lot of snow last night. Apparently, this morning my mother got up and shoveled the entire sidewalk all the way to where her work is (because she walks there, and decided it would be easier to walk if the path were clear, and decided no one else was going to do it.)

And I got a copy of the book Old Love Charms and Spells. It has absolutely the cheapest cover I have ever seen -- it looks like it was printed on an inkjet, on "Fast Draft" then laminated. Then it's written in this really awful fake Early Modern English. Here is an actual example; I have preserved the capitalization as well.



Scribe both thy name and that of thy lover on the back of the photo.
Draweth three complete circles around the names.
Stuff the photo, the nutmeg, the lodestone, and thy hair into the bag and seal tightly shut.
Anointeth the bag with seven drops of the oil, one at a time, and chanteth:

Be Bound To Me By Powers Of Venus!
Never Shall A Thing Come Between Us!
Never A Thought Of Wandering Away!
Thou Art Bound To Me From This day!



(I furthermore, could not read that without expecting 'penis' to turn up as a rhyme any moment.)

Anyway, in spite of the linguistic issues, the actual spells seem fairly sound. I may use them. It also has recipes, which are valuable things enough to come across, frankly. I'll keep my eye peeled for more from this author.
kingskottie:
hello! ha. love yr film choices! The General is one of the best action films ever... Buster Keaton was unhinged. (and DIVA.. ha. nice french NEO new wave flick!)

I'm scott in atlanta.
wtk10025:
I'm not sure what the deliberately antiquated language really serves, except to be unfortunately reminiscent of the campy witchcraft of "Samantha Stevens." And I certainly do see the urge to make the "penis" rhyme! Hm.

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