In a recent posting Stan K-B mentioned that the
biblical reference to the Magi Kings doesn't specify "three". Nabokov in Pale
Fire mentioned two names, a dark impotent gardener named Balthazar and
a Melchior ( in a note about the Pope), usually considered as the names of
the Magi ( the other one is Gaspar, I think).
Does SKB know where did these names originate and
how?
What would be VN's intention if he'd been
indicating the Magi? To point to Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" or some specific
date in January?
Jansy