euren@ttds.UUCP (Leif Euren) (06/14/85)
>... an odor of sulphur and brimstone ...
Will somebody please tell me the difference between sulphur and brimstone.
Every dictionary I've consulted told me they were the same thing.
Leif Euren euren@ttds (...mcvax!enea!ttds!euren)colonel@gloria.UUCP (Col. G. L. Sicherman) (06/18/85)
[Oh that Buggy Boogie Woogie sweeps me off my feet] > >... an odor of sulphur and brimstone ... > > Will somebody please tell me the difference between sulphur and brimstone. > Every dictionary I've consulted told me they were the same thing. > > Leif Euren euren@ttds (...mcvax!enea!ttds!euren) Two common proverbial phrases in English are "fire and brimstone" and "sulphur and molasses." Occasionally somebody crosses them. -- Col. G. L. Sicherman ...{rocksvax|decvax}!sunybcs!colonel
colonel@gloria.UUCP (Col. G. L. Sicherman) (06/18/85)
> >... an odor of sulphur and brimstone ...
But nobody has ever proved that the "brimstone" in the Bible is
indeed sulphur.
--
Col. G. L. Sicherman
...{rocksvax|decvax}!sunybcs!colonelkallis@pen.DEC (06/19/85)
>>... an odor of sulphur and brimstone ... > >Will somebody please tell me the difference between sulphur and brimstone. >Every dictionary I've consulted told me they were the same thing. > > Leif Euren euren@ttds (...mcvax!enea!tts!euren) Well, they *are* two words meaning the same thing. The phrase *sulphur and brimstone* is literary, and has allusions to Hell; hence, to the power of the Devil (esp. but not restricted to, Satan). It was thought in Medeval times particularly that a variety of magician (the black variety) or (devil-worshipping) witch derived his or her power from a pact with Satan or one of his legion. The usual manifestation was accom- panied by a sulphurous smell, according to legend. Since sulphur can occur in fairly pure forms, yellow "rocks" of the material could be set afire (and besides the stench, the small blue flames of burning sulphur can look quite eerie in the dark); I understand that these were called brim[=burning]stones, resulting in "brimstone" referring to natur- ally burning sulphur. The original phrase, "fire and brimstone," was also used to refer to a "Hellfire" speech by a clergyman who wanted to point out the error of his parishoners' ways so that they would repent. However, since "fire" doesn't necessarily have a smell, someone trying to convey the thought of a black-magical odor might well transform it into "sulphur and brimstone." For the nature-lovers out there, I suppose "sulphur" could refer to the refined stuff, and "brimstone" unrefined sulphur chips or nodules that occur naturally. Ah, well. It's interesting that as far back as the _Odyssey_ sulphur was used as a fumigant to make things clean (Odysseus used it to clean out his home after he slaughtered the suitors). But tradition has put at least brimstone in a bad light .... Steve Kallis, Jr.