Thursday, March 05, 2009

Mummy

MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine, and now engaged in supplying art with an excellent pigment. He is handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals.
By means of the Mummy, mankind, it is said,
Attests to the gods its respect for the dead.
We plunder his tomb, be he sinner or saint,
Distil him for physic and grind him for paint,
Exhibit for money his poor, shrunken frame,
And with levity flock to the scene of the shame.
O, tell me, ye gods, for the use of my rhyme:
For respecting the dead what's the limit of time?
—Scopas Brune 
2009 Update: A king or dignitary become modest and circumspect.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

not going to stay mum about being numero uno

Tom & Icy said...

circumspect? That must be why they were gift-wrapped.

Anonymous said...

Frequently resurrected film.
It was at the Boris Karloff version that my mummy, an Egyptologist, got funny looks for commenting on the impossibility of the dates.

Anonymous said...

MUMMY, n. In post-Holocaust America, anyone who complains about market regulations, or "inadequate" returns on investments, at the correct and proper frequency and volume.

Ariel the Thief said...

Mummy, a human-shaped wound under bandage.

Nessa said...

Mummy: What my daughter calls me when she uses a British accent.

Anonymous said...

mummy, mummy, mummy,
I got love in my tummy. ...

Anonymous said...

whether man or bull ,
mummy indicates that
a look into creations' eye
is at hand.
feel a curse in the air.....Peace

Anonymous said...

To disguise my inner dummy, I'll remain mummy.

Doug The Una said...

Shout it from the minaret, Karma.

Icy, that's a far better than average pun. Good girl.

Weirsdo, there's nothing worse than expert in the next row, unless it's an extra.

Particularly, Amoeba, from a mahogany podium with "Dept. of Treasury" planed off the front.

Ariel that was fine.

Mummy, how often does she do that? Comedy or schizophrenia?

Sauerkraut, that's close enough.

As it should be, Actonbell.

Nice, Bear. Bracing. Let the cold wind blow.

Cooper, so does the very wise, while the fool speaks and tries.