Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0012706, Tue, 9 May 2006 11:57:34 -0300

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ADA´s Leda and triple viols...
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Dear List,

I forgot to add to the collection of references to the Three Ledas the part that links "twins, triplets, driblets" to the "triple viol" (instrument and rape alluded?) and all the other mentions that we may glean under "Trois Cygnes", instead of the English terms.

'I only meant,' she continued, 'that he was a handsome Hispano-Irish boy, dark and pale, and people mistook them for twins. I did not say they were really twins. Or "driblets."
Driblets? Driblets? Now who pronounced it that way? Who? Who? A dripping ewes-dropper in a dream? Did the orphans live?' But we must listen to Lucette.



'I meant the real Tapper,' cried Lucette (who was making a complete mess of her visit), 'not my poor, betrayed, poisoned, innocent teacher of music, whom not even Ada, unless she fibs, could cure of his impotence.'

'Driblets,' said Van.

'Not necessarily his,' said Lucette. 'His wife's lover played the triple viol. Look, I'll borrow a book' (scanning on the nearest bookshelf The Gitanilla, Clichy Clichés, Mertvago Forever, The Ugly New Englander) 'and curl up, komondi, in the next room for a few minutes, while you - Oh, I adore The Slat Sign.'



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