I’ve done that, one time I plugged a Regent 175watt MV bulb into 120volts with out knowing it! All it did was make silver spots on the arc tube and yes it did trip the circuit breaker. After that, I tried it on a 175watt MV ballast and it did not work.

WE WANT TO SE PICS AND VIDEO!!!  Please!

Parrot: maybe it needs a kick, try to connecting it on an HPS ignitor...

Some time ago I accidentally connected a mercury vapor bulb directly to the 230V mains. For a fraction of a second it flashed like it was trying to start, then the 4amp fuse I had in series with it exploded and sent little glass fragments across my room.
Surprisingly it still works perfectly after that.