Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010761, Thu, 9 Dec 2004 13:40:42 -0800

Subject
drakonite
Date
Body
Dear Jansy,
I was sure that it had gone out. But, if not--my apologies. I am (re-?) sending it now. Best, Don

----- Original Message -----
From: Jansy Berndt de Souza Mello
To: don barton johnson
Cc: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
Back to ADA, then. Not only the reference about "aconite" ( in Drakonite) reinforces what Akiko had observed in TT 94.15-16: "Draconite," a stimulant no longer in production: is of course
from Draconita as well as Dragon + knight/night.
Cf. "The *dragon drag* had worn off: its aftereffects are not pleasant, combining as they do physical fatigue with a certain starkness of thought as if all color were drained
from the mind" (ADA II. 11, my italics).

but it also takes us to ADA II , ch 9, following our ED´s contribution which was:
" Aconite and Belladonna were said to be the ingredients in the witches' "Flying ointments," Aconite causing irregular activity to the heart, and Belladonna producing delirium, to combine to give a sensation of flying. Aconite is one of the four classic poisons, along with Deadly Nightshade, Hemlock, and Hellebore"

because...

(Penguin, pag 337:)
"And moreover her voice - in young tuneful Russian! - is substituted for Lenore´s corny brogue.'
Van had seen the picture and had liked it. An Irish girl, the infinitely graceful and melanCHOLY Lenore COLLINE -
"Oh! qui me rendra ma colline
Et le grand chêne and my colleen!
- harrowingly resembled Ada Ardis as photographed with her mother in Belladonna, a movie magazine...

Choly, Colline, colline, colleen come together with Belladona that has a connection with acetyl-choline and cholinergic and adrenergic drugs.
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