The Harlequin, Jester, Joker, Marry Andrew

[Charlotte]

There appeared a glimmer in my mind when first I saw a Harlequin

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Said to be "a mute character in traditional pantomime, typically masked and dressed in a diamond pattern costum". The Harlequin's origins "are obscure there are several theories for how the character came to be", in which case I'm free to pen my own thoughts of yet another grand story of what makes the world go round. "From obsolete French" of the "late 16th century, from earlier Harlequin (or Hellequin), the name of the leader of a legendary troop of demon horsemen, perhaps ultimately related to Old English Herla cyning 'King Herla,' a mythical figure sometimes identified as Woden."

Historical events and legend are again mingled and since it pertains to our complex Nature there are two aspects to the Harlequin: one of the demon, one that he was or is touched by God. "The first known appearance on stage of Harlequin is dated to 1262, the masked and hooded devil in Jeu da la Feuilliére by Adam se la Halle, and it became a stock character in French passion". Adam was a troubadour, poet and musician, the likes of him traveled to thus educate the illiterate common folk, is why we love and adore them.

"Adam's other nicknames , "le Bossu d'Arras" and Adam d'Arras", suggest that he came from Arras, France. The subriquet "the Hunchback" was probably a family name, Adam himself points out that he was not one. His father, Henry de la Halle, was a well-known Citizen of Arras, and Adam studied Grammer, theology, and music at the Cistercian abbey of Vancelles, near Cambrai. Father and son had their share in the civil discords in Arras, and for a short time took refuge in Douai. Adam had been destined for the church, but renounced this intention, and married a certain Marie, whi figures in many of his songs, rondeaux, motels and jeux-parties. Afterwards he joined the household of Robert II, Count of Artois; and then was attached to Charles of Anjou, brother of Louis IX, whose fortunes he followed in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Italy."

Louis IX being a Catholic and Anglican Saint. The Harlequin is called a comic servant, he is also a Cosmic Servant.

[Charlotte]

Interesting right at the beginning is that Adam de la Halle studied grammar, theology and music with the Cistercians. Adam "was attached to Charles of Anjou, brother of Louis IX, whose fortunes he followed in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Italy". I am not clear what is meant by 'following' fortunes in these countries, but think that Adam visited these countries to entertain people with song and poetry of things profound, and study what was of interest to him under these noble patrons.

Wikipedia

Origin of the name

"Althoughthe origins of the Harlequin are obscure there are several theories for how the character came to be. One theory posits that the name is derived from a bird with polychromatic feathers called Harle. Another theory suggests that the name Harlequin is taken from that of a mischievious "devil" or "demon" character in popular French passion plays. It originated with an Old French term herlequin hellequin, first attested in the 11th century, by the chronicler Orderic Vitalis, who recounts a story of a monk who was persued by a troop of demons when wandering on the coast of Normandy (France) 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 Wild Hunt, Mesnée d'Hellequin, has been connected to the English figure of Herla cyning (host-king; German Erlkönig".

Hearing or reading parts of the Erlkönig as a girl I saw in my minds eye the father riding with his dying son through the mysterious eerie forest I knew so well from my wanderings, at times scary but never terrifying, well, maybe a second or two when hearing a branch break or pinecone fall.

[Charlotte]

Since one theory of how the character of the Harlequin came about is 'Harle', a bird with 'polychromatic' feathers, polychromatic: showing a variety or change of colors, of or composed of radiation of more than one wavelenght: polychromatic light. The Harlequin does wear colorful attire, his demeaner is colorful, radiation of more than one frequency composing polychromatic light. I think there is more to the bird theory.

The Devil or Demon

"Hellequin was depicted as 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. The name's origin could also be traced to a knight from the 9th century, Hellequin of Boulogne, who died fighting the Normans and originated a legend of devils. Cantos XXI and XXII from Dante's Inferno there is a devil by the name of Alichino. The similarities between the devil in Dante's Inferno and the Arlecchino are more than cosmetic and that the prank like antics of the devils in the aforementioned antics reflect some carnivalesque aspects".

[Charlotte]

There is a supernatural element to the Erlkönig and the Harlequin, the Harlequin as a Cosmic Servant as he performs on stage according to his insight, ability and temperament, or saunter silently about among the people in his polychromatic colors and light, the Erlkönig as a vague phantom figure on a horse, never seen, similar to the tenebrous Merlin advising "King Arthur" (film). There is a mysterious element mostly called 'supernatural', but as my friend Elsie said: there is no such thing as supernatural, only ignorance of what is truly natural.

"Tristano Martinelli is the first actor definitely known to have used the name Harlequin (or (Arlequin') for the secondo zanni role, and he probably first performed the part in France in (or just before) 1584 and only later brought the character to Italy, where he became known as Arlecchino. The motley costum is sometimes attributed to Martinelli, who wore a linen costume of colourful patches, and a hare-tail on his cap to indicate cowardice. Martinelli's Harlequin also had a black leather half-mask, a moustache and a pointed beard. He was very successful, even playing at court and becoming a favorite of Henry IV of France, to who he addressed insolent monologues (Compositions de Rhetorique de Mr. Don Arlequin, 1601).


Don't know if I would shake hands with Don Arlequin

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[Charlotte]

The Harlequin or clown of the Courts


"The Harlequin is characterized by his chequered costume. His role is that of a light-hearted, nimble, and astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest, Columbia, with wit and resourcefulness, often competing with the sterner and melancholic Pierrot. He later developes into a prototype of the romantic hero. Harlequin inherits his physical agility and his trickster qualities, as well as his name, from the mischievous "devil" character in medieval passion plays.".

In films, the Harlequin is known as the 'Court Jester' who sits near the King or Queen, aloof and pretending not to pay that much attention of what is said and what transpires. When conversations tended to off the rail or become dangerous he jumped up and performed some kind of ritual to defuse the situation.

"But, being free to speak their minds, jetsers were noted as creatures who would not fawn or resort to flattery and kings found that refreshing, to the point that the servant became a trusted and highly valued member of his staff. Highly valued also was the wisdom that was often dealt with the humour. This was a double-edged sword for the jester for he could also be called upon to serve as a 'the bearer of bad news,' his abilities to mock and just softening the blow. He could deliver in a way that prevented a dignified person from losing face - a valuable talent, indeed!"

To hold such an office then would require astute observation, intelligence, diplomacy, and the wisdom to mediate, helping Royalty out of a rock and a hard place.

[Charlotte]

For me the Harlequin was and is a rather mystical figure as depicted in this image, or "a mute character in traditional pantomime, typically masked and dressed in a diamond-pattern costume", by no means a 'devil'.

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Physicality

"The primary aspect of Arlecchino was his physical agility. He was very nimble and performed the sort of acrobatics the audience expected to see. The character would never perform a simple action when the addition of a cartwheel, somersault, or flip would spice up the movement."

By contrast with the 'first zanni' Harlequin takes little or no part in the development of the plot, he has the more arduous task of maintaining the even rhythm of the comedy as a whole. He is therefore always on the go, very agile and more acrobatic than any of the other Masks.

(Oreglia Giacamo)

"Early characteristics of Arlecchino paint the character as a second zanni servant from northern Italy with the paradoxical attributes of a dimwitted fool and intelligent trickster. Arlecchino is sometimes referred to as putting on a show of stupidity in a metatheatrical attemt to create chaos within the play. Physically, Arlecchino is described as wearing a costume covered in irregular patches, a hat outfitted with either a rabbit of fox's tail, and a red and black mask. The mask itself is identified by carbuncles on the forehead, small eyes, a snub nose, hollow cheeks, and sometimes bushy brows with facial hair".

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Huh, very unattractive, he, I like mine much better.

Carbuncles are boils of infected hair follicles, however, "the presence of carbuncles is a sign that the immune system is active and fighting the infection", so whoever holds on to the image of that devlish Arlecchino is yet sick in the head but the immune system is working on it.

[Charlotte]

Arlecchino uses his wooden sword as a fan, he could eat "large amounts of food quickly", appeared "humpbacked without artificial padding", and had a brilliant singing voice.

Dramatic function

"Various troupes and actors would alter his behaviour to suit style, personal preferences, or even the particular scenario being performed. He is typically cast as the servant of an innamorato or veechio much to the detriment of the plans of his master".

Innamorato is the Italian word for "Lovers", the Italian word for veechio is "old", the latter opposing the love of the former.

"Arlecchino often had a love interest in the person of Columbia, or in older plays any of the Soubrette roles, and his lust for her was only superseded by his desire for food and fear of his master. Occasionally, Arlecchino would persue the innamorata, though rarely with success, as in the Recueil Fossard of the 16th century where he is shown trying to woo Donna Lucia for himself by masquerading as a foreign nobleman. He also is known to try to win any given lady for himself if he chances upon anyone else trying to woo her, by interrupting or ridiculing the new competitor. His sexual appetite is essentially immediate, and can be applied to any passing women".

Columbina, "little dove", mistress of Arlecchino

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[Charlotte]

Not to get too involved in the story of Harlequin's, still I searched some to gain unconventional information of my idea of a Harlequin, no cigars thus far.

"The Harlequin character came to England early in the 17th century and took center stage in the derived genre of the Harlequinade, developed in the early 18th century by the Lincoln's Fields Theatre's actor-manager John Rich, who played the role under the name of Lun. As the Harlequinate portion of English pantomime developed, Harlequin was routinely paired with the character Clown.

"Two developments in 1800, both involved Joseph Grimaldi, greatly changed the pantomime characters. Grimaldi starred as Clown in Charles Dibdin's 1800 pantomime, Peter Wilkins: or Harlequin in the Flying World at Sadler's Wells Theatre. For this elaborate production, Dibdin introduced new costume designs. Clown's costums was "garishly colourful ... patterned with large diamonds and circles, and fringed with tassels and ruffs," instead of tatty servant's outfit that had been used for a century. The production was a hit, and the new costume design was copied by others in London. Later the same year, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in Harlequin Amulet; or The Magick of Mona. Harlequin was modified to become "romantic and mercurial, instead of mischievous", leaving Grimaldi's mischievous and brutish clown as the "undisputed agent" of chaos, and the foil for the more sophisticated Harlequin, who retained stylized dance poses. The most influential such pair in Victorian England were the Payne Brothers, active during the 1860s and 1870s, who contributed to 20th century "slapstick" comedy."

The pairing of the dimwitted fool, agent of chaos, and the intelligent, mercurial Harlequin, and the theory that the name Harlequin is derived from a bird named 'Harle' of "polychromatic feathers, having or exhibiting many colors; of or composed of radiation of more than one wave lenght; polychromatic light", is closer to my idea of the Harlequin. Akin to Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and Saint Nikolas and Knecht Ruprecht.

[Charlotte]

Our opposing nature, the dimwitted brutish fool, agent of chaos, and the sophisticated mercurial Harlequin, tending to make order out of chaos. Since everything has to be applied to us mortals, I see it as our internal dialogue.

"Carbuncle derives from the Latin 'Carbunculus' and means little coal or small spark. In ancient times it referred to any red stone with a smooth rounded top (carbochon), usually a garnet. The term 'carbuncle' is no longer used by gemologists".

In our time, however, everything we can't make sense of is religated to the lowest common demoninator, so little coal or small spark is made out to be superstitious nonsense. Our experts cannot be laughed at and will tell us that in ancient times people misidentified a boil, sore, or absess as a little coal or small spark on the forehead.

The Hopi

CREATION OF MANKIND

In the time of the dark purple light, Spider Women uncovered four males "in the image of Sotuknang ... the first power and instrument as a person", and four female partners. "They soon awakened and began to move, but there was still a dampness on their foreheads and a soft spot on their heads. This was the time of the yellow light, Sikangnuqa, the second phase of creation, when the breath of life entered man. In a short time the sun appeared above the horizon , drying the dampness on their foreheads and hardening the soft spot on their heads. This was the time of the red light, Talawva, the third phase of the dawn of Creation, when man, fully formed and firmed, proudly faced his Creator."

The Rosicrucians

LEMURIA

"In fact, the average forehead of the Lemurians must have been about six to seven inches in highth. In the center of this forehead , about an inch and a half above the bridge of the nose, there was a larg protrusion much like the size and shape of a walnut. We would look upon this sort of growth in the center of the forehead today as a disfigurement, but with them it was perfectly natural. ... This protrusion, however, was composed of a soft mass of matter over which the outer cuticle was drawn tightly and the cuticle itself was of a delicate, soft nature and color like the skin that is underneath our eyes.

"This protrusion in the center of the forehead was a result of the sustained development of a faculty of the human body that has gradually disappeared since Lemuria submerged and the races of its people were dispersed throughout the world".

This protrusion should not be thought of as the eye of a Cyclops, or precisely as a "third eye", suggests Mr. Cervé, "but constituted an organ of sense that was equivalent to an eye, and an ear, and a nose, and any other faculty that we now possess for the reception of impressions".

[Charlotte]

The Harlequin is said to represent "a mischievous "devil" or "demon" character in French passion plays". I don't know anything about French pasion plays, but it is recorded that while waiting for Socrates to join the young philosophers in a Symposium, one of them remarked that the Sage had this habit of stopping in mid-stride when his deamon checked him, a deamon being "an inner or attendant spirit", which could be the intelligent, mercurial trickster role of the Harlequin. Of Socrates it is said that he ignored the world until he perfectly understood what his genius communicated to him.

I read that the 'carbuncles' are on the mask of the Harlequin, suggesting that behind the mask is a 'normal' face. We are also told that the protrusion gradually atrophied, my thinking being that the memory remained and became a 'carbuncle' and was attached to the mask later. Today, we often see it as a "third eye", or "Mind's Eye", the little coal or small spark, the polychromatic light of more than one wavelenght.

Mr. Cervé continous:

"It was commonplace for the Lemurian to close his two physical eyes and to stand still at any moment of his activities and to focalize his consciousness upon the center of his forehead and receive an impression that might have been translated into one of sight, or smell, or hearing, or feeling, or tasting". In fact, it was common for the Lemurians to turn their concentrated attention suddenly to this organ for some impression, as it is for us today to stop in our conversation, or our activities, and concentrate our attention upon our hearing in order to hear some distant or faint sound, or concentrate our eyes upon something we wish to see clearly, or concentrate our sense of smell, or feeling, for a moment in order to analize some impression".

The Lemurians utilized this faculty not only for daily impressions but to communicate with animals, as did the Hopi, and for what we call today 'long distant viewing' and telepathy.


Mr. Cervé writes: "That this sixth sense originated with an organ equal to, or in some way connected with, the present small organ in our modern bodies known as the pineal body is quiet likely", and is still functioning to a degree with people living in remote areas.

The pineal body reduced to an ugly carbuncle, and perverted by the NAZI the Swastika a revolting emblem.

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[Charlotte]

Good to know a bit about the Harlequin. All's well that ends well in the spiritual realm and the Buddha, the Harlequin as the Cosmic Servant said to be 'touched by God', paired with the dimwitted fool, the comic servant.

Not to forget the footloose and fancy free Fool of the Tarot with his bundle of earthly belongings and his dog. He walks unaware of the precipice, looks up trusting heaven for guidance and comes through unscathed. We call it 'fools luck', or what we're not aware of doesn't exist. Another version is that the Fool is an "Atheist who sees not the devine light and carries the weight of his mistakes and faults".

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To John Lennon with Love

[Charlotte]

Writing on the cosmic Servant Harlequin and comic servant, the Fool, and the ever elusive treasure six generations of fools of the Gates Family failed to find, a Treasure "which defines the history of all mankind", Francis Bacon would have mankind know as he reformed the whole world. I think the current state of affairs is part of this reformation as the fool is said to be an agent of chaos we have to master collectively and individually to "give birth to a shining star", which the Egyptians portrayed the god of the universe, a shining star.

Historians claim that they have found the Holy Grail.

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In "National Treasure", Ben Gates and company finally discover ancient artifacts of "the treasured past", in "Book of Secrets" the "Noble Bird" is noted, for me the same as the bird 'Harle' of polychromatic light.

Young Ben knows that the Templar are the guardians of the Treasure, he asks Grandpa if they are Knights, he would like to join the Order, Grandpa asks him to kneel, puts a stole on his shoulders, confers Knighthood upon the boy who swears to take upon himself the duty of the Templar, the Free Masons, and the Family Gates.

So what "defines the history of all mankind" is a treasure that has been fought over centuries by tyrants, emperors, warlords, and every time it changed hands it grew larger, and when it became too dangerous the Treasure vanished for 1000 years, reappeared when Knights discovered it beneath the Temple of Solomon. It was too great for any man, even a King, so the Templar brought it to Europe, by the time of the American Revolution it was hidden again because George Washington and Benjamin Franklin et al had to make sure the Treasure didn't fall into the hands of the British. This a miscue because it came from England, but it's a movie, a good one

[Charlotte]

A Harlequin costum would be nice but up up and away from the maddening crowd

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Wishing you likeable treats, tricks we have enough.