RIGADOON

 When men dance, 

women should not smile.

«They glided past, the glided fast,

Like travellers through a mist:

They mocked the moon in a rigadoon

Of delicate turn and twist,

And with formal pace and loathsome grace

The phantoms kept their tryst.»

 

 

 

Scene no 34: Corto Maltese dancing with Rasputin (Leblon-Delienne hand painted resin statuette. Limited edition No 423 of 777) in front of smiling Bettie Page (Dark Horse Comics, Dress-Up Magnet Set, Bettie Page by Dave Stevens).

The dance: From the graphic novel The Golden House of Samarkand by Hugo Pratt. Corto dance with Rasputin shortly after they witnessed the death of Enver Pasha in Samarkand. 

The lyrics: From The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde.

GUILTY OF HATRED AGAINST MANKIND

«...Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called “Chrestians” by the populace…»

«...Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. 

Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths…» 

                             

                                                            

Scene no 33: In the Roman arena. Punished Christians (Linde and W. Germany, Nativity figurines) among hungry lions (Preiser/Elastolin). Behind them a majestic gladiator (Elastolin modification) in front of a mural representing a similar scene (Cover of Atlantic HO scale box, The Romans, 1517, Gladiators and Christians).

The text: From the Annals, by Tacitus.