A Catalogue of Spells: Constantinople

“…For Constantinople hath not just of late been subject to the artisan and fertile, but there were yet older stories still one caught whilst partaking of late supper in the kitchen with the domesticks, or in the fragrancies of court, and ‘twas oft the same:”

November 11, 1700
Bewitching Hour
Constantinople, Turkey

Gidiane,

Should you ever venture from afar your provincial domicil....

Entreatingly,

Birol

Conʃtantinople 

c1616

[Early Modern English Translation]

Maiesties of ebonmost Cabal

  praie Gothicke in corners of thy Male-feaʃance

Delegats of fyner ʃense

effecte Arte throgh inclinacion, 

esteeme

Menāres ʃtande riche, 

Perfidie yett wouen

of tapiʃtries drunke deepe 

of pickante Amethyʃt, Garnet, Perle

Now one Moʃaique,

    y^s artifice of ages,

laʃed grim a top tombes

of sinnelesse Poetes,

caprice,

 goʃʃamoured ornaments 

of y^e Feint.

 Ruʃʃet hews Treaʃon,

come Autumne’s folding,

& into y^e mouthes of 

Torch-lickers, 

Illuyankas,

whence halfe moone engrauings

beribbon seelings azure

& stone colonnades scrape

Cœlestiall Bowells

amid buttrice of Histories 

peppered with anguish

cunning 

& Powre. 

Baʃars i’thy tenet 

charriots amber Debosh,  

euermore baiting, 

laborinthing, avgust

O Bizantian Vamppe! 

of a star-leʃʃe chaʃma or 

vage alonge seame  

of y^e darkenyng Blacke, 

gorged in elusory Spectres ignoble

wroughte from y^e ashen lore

coniure of deuills 

elapsed &

bedymned folke-wayes

of Halowed 

Men.

~~~

Constantinople 

c1616

[Modern English Translation]

Majesties of ebonmost Cabal

pray Gothic in corners of your Malfeasance

Delegates of finer sense

effect Art through inclination,

esteem

Minares stand rich,

Perfidy yet woven

of tapestries drunk deep

in piquant Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl

Now one Mosaic,

this artifice of ages,

laced grim atop tombs

of sinless Poets,

caprice,

gossamered ornaments

of the Feint.

 Russet hues Treason,

come Autumn’s folding,

and into the mouth of

Torch-Lickers,

Illuyankas,

whence half-moon engravings

beribbon ceilings azure

and stone colonnades scrape

Celestial Bowels

amid buttress of Histories

peppered with anguish

cunning

and Power.

Bazaars in your tenet

chariots amber Debauch, 

evermore baiting,

labyrinthine, august

O Byzantium Vamp!

of a starless chasm or

vague along seam 

of the darkening Black,

gorged in elusory Spectres ignoble

wrought from the ashen lore

conjure of devils

elapsed and

bedimmed folkways

of Hallowed

Men.

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