"'Item. Since, in divers ways, verbally and otherwise, my good friendPondo has evinced a strong love for me, Bardianna, as the owner andproprietor of all that capital messuage with the appurtenances, inVamba aforesaid, called 'The Lair,' wherein I now dwell; also for allmy Bread-fruit orchards, Palm-groves, Banana-plantations, Taro-patches, gardens, lawns, lanes, and hereditaments whatsoever,adjoining the aforesaid messuage;--I do hereby give and bequeath thesame to Bomblum of the island of Adda; the aforesaid Bomblum havingnever expressed any regard for me, as a holder of real estate.
"'Item. My esteemed neighbor Lakreemo having since the last lunareclipse called daily to inquire after the state of my health: andhaving nightly made tearful inquiries of my herb-doctor, concerningthe state of my viscera;--I do hereby give and bequeath to theaforesaid Lakreemo all and sundry those vegetable pills, potions,powders, aperients, purgatives, expellatives, evacuatives, tonics,emetics, cathartics, clysters, injections, scarifiers, cataplasms,lenitives, lotions, decoctions, washes, gargles, and phlegmagogues;together with all the jars, calabashes, gourds, and galipots,thereunto pertaining; situate, lying, and being, in the west-by-northcorner of my east-southeast crypt, in my aforesaid tenement known as'The Lair.'
"'Item. The woman Pesti; a native of Vamba, having oftentimes hintedthat I, Bardianna, sorely needed a spouse, and having also intimatedthat she bore me a conjugal affection; I do hereby give and bequeathto the aforesaid Pesti:--my blessing; forasmuch, as by the time ofthe opening of this my last will and testament, I shall have beenforever delivered from the aforesaid Pesti's persecutions.
"'Item. Having a high opinion of the probity of my worthy andexcellent friend Bidiri, I do hereby entirely, and wholly, give, will,grant, bestow, devise, and utterly hand over unto the said Bidiri, allthat tenement where my servant Oram now dwelleth; with all the lawns,meadows, uplands and lowlands, fields, groves, and gardens, thereuntobelonging:--IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS to have and to hold the same for thesole use and benefit of Lanbranka Hohinna, spinster, now resident ofthe aforesaid island of Vamba.
"'Item. I give and bequeath my large carved drinking gourd to my goodcomrade Topo.
"'Item. My fast friend Doldrum having at sundry times, and in sundryplaces, uttered the prophecy, that upon my decease his sorrow would begreat; I do hereby give and bequeath to the aforesaid Doldrum, tenyards of my best soft tappa, to be divided into handkerchiefs for hissole benefit and behoof.
"'Item. My sensible friend Solo having informed me, that he intendedto remain a bachelor for life; I give and devise to the aforesaidSolo, the mat for one person, whereon I nightly repose.
"'Item. Concerning my private Arbor and Palm-groves, adjoining, lying,and being in the isle of Vamba, I give and devise the same, with allappurtenances whatsoever, to my friend Minta the Cynic, to have and tohold, in trust for the first through-and-through honest man, issue ofmy neighbor Mondi; and in default of such issue, for the firstthrough-and-through honest man, issue of my neighbor Pendidda; and indefault of such issue, for the first through-and-through honest man,issue of my neighbor Wynodo: and in default of such issue, to anythrough-and-through honest man, issue of any body, to be found throughthe length and breadth of Mardi.
"'Item. My friend Minta the Cynic to be sole judge of all claims tothe above-mentioned devise; and to hold the said premises for his ownuse, until the aforesaid person be found.
"'Item. Knowing my devoted scribe Marko to be very sensitive touchingthe receipt of a favor; I willingly spare him that pain; and herebybequeath unto the aforesaid scribe, three milk-teeth, not as apecuniary legacy, but as a very slight token of my profound regard.
"'Item. I give to the poor of Vamba the total contents of my red-labeled bags of bicuspids and canines (which I account three-fourthsof my whole estate); to my body servant Fidi, my staff, all my robesand togas, and three hundred molars in cash; to that discerning andsagacious philosopher my disciple Krako, one complete set ofdenticles, to buy him a vertebral bone ring; and to that pious andpromising youth Vangi, two fathoms of my best kaiar rope, with theprivilege of any bough in my groves.
"'All the rest of my goods, chattels and household stuff whatsoever;and all my loose denticles, remaining after my debts and legacies arepaid, and my body is out of sight, I hereby direct to be distributedamong the poor of Vamba.
"'Ultimo. I give and bequeath to all Mardi this my last advice andcounsel:--videlicet: live as long as you can; close your own eyes whenyou die.
"'I have no previous wills to revoke; and publish this to be my firstand last.
"'In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my right hand; and hereuntohave caused a true copy of the tattooing on my right temple to beaffixed, during the year first above written.
"'By me, BARDIANNA.'"
"Babbalanja, that's an extraordinary document," said Media.
"Bardianna was an extraordinary man, my lord."
"Were there no codicils?"
"The will is all codicils; all after-thoughts; Ten thoughts for oneact, was Bardianna's motto."
"Left he nothing whatever to his kindred?"
"Not a stump."
"Prom his will, he seems to have lived single."
"Yes: Bardianna never sought to improve upon nature; a bachelor hewas born, and a bachelor he died."
"According to the best accounts, how did he depart, Babbalanja?" askedMohi.
"With a firm lip, and his hand on his heart, old man."
"His last words?"
"Calmer, and better!"
"Where think you, he is now?"
"In his Ponderings. And those, my lord, we all inherit; for like thegreat chief of Romara, who made a whole empire his legatee; so, greatauthors have all Mardi for an heir."
CHAPTER LXXIVA Death-Cloud Sweeps By Them, As They Sail
Next day, a fearful sight!
As in Sooloo's seas, one vast water-spout will, sudden, form: andwhirling, chase the flying Malay keels; so, before a swift-wingedcloud, a thousand prows sped by, leaving braided, foaming wakes; theircrowded inmates' arms, in frenzied supplications wreathed; liketangled forest-boughs.
"See, see," cried Yoomy, "how the Death-cloud flies! Let us dive downin the sea."
"Nay," said Babbalanja. "All things come of Oro; if we must drown, letOro drown us."
"Down sails: drop paddles," said Media: "here we float."
Like a rushing bison, sweeping by, the Death-cloud grazed us with itsfoam; and whirling in upon the thousand prows beyond, sudden burst indeluges; and scooping out a maelstrom, dragged down every plank and soul.
Long we rocked upon the circling billows, which expanding from thatcenter, dashed every isle, till, moons after-ward, faint, they lavedall Mardi's reef.
"Thanks unto Oro," murmured Mohi, "this heart still beats."
That sun-flushed eve, we sailed by many tranquil harbors, whence fledthose thousand prows. Serene, the waves ran up their strands; andchimed around the unharmed stakes of palm, to which the thousand prowsthat morning had been fastened.
"Flying death, they ran to meet it," said Babbalanja. "But 'tie notthat they fled, they died; for maelstroms, of these harbors, theDeath-cloud might have made. But they died, because they might notlonger live. Could we gain one glimpse of the great calendar ofeternity, all our names would there be found, glued against theirdates of death. We die by land, and die by sea; we die by earthquakes,famines, plagues, and wars; by fevers, agues; woe, or mirth excessive.This mortal air is one wide pestilence, that kills us all at last.Whom the Death-cloud spares, sleeping, dies in silent watches of thenight. He whom the spears of many battles could not slay, dies of agrape-stone, beneath the vine-clad bower he built, to shade decliningyears. We die, because we live. But none the less does Babbalanjaquake. And if he flies not, 'tis because he stands the center of acircle; its every point a leveled dart; and every bow, bent back:--atwang, and Babbalanja dies."
CHAPTER LXXVThey Visit The Palmy King Abrazza
Night and morn departed; and in the afternoon, we drew nigh to anisl
and, overcast with shadows; a shower was falling; and pining,plaintive notes forth issued from the groves: half-suppressed, andsobbing whisperings of leaves. The shore sloped to the water; thitherour prows were pointed.
"Sheer off! no landing here," cried Media, "let us gain the sunnyside; and like the care-free bachelor Abrazza, who here is king, turnour back on the isle's shadowy side, and revel in its morning-meads."
"And lord Abrazza:--who is he?" asked Yoomy.
"The one hundred and twentieth in lineal descent from Phipora," saidMohi; "and connected on the maternal side to the lord seigniors ofKlivonia. His uttermost uncle was nephew to the niece of QueenZmiglandi; who flourished so long since, she wedded at the firstTransit of Venus. His pedigree is endless."
"But who is lord Abrazza?"
"Has he not said?" answered Babbalanja. "Why so dull?--Uttermostnephew to him, who was nephew to the niece of the peerless QueenZmiglandi; and the one hundred and twentieth in descent from theillustrious Phipora."
"Will none tell, who Abrazza is?"
"Can not a man then, be described by running off the catalogue of hisancestors?" said Babbalanja. "Or must we e'en descend to himself.Then, listen, dull Yoomy! and know that lord Abrazza is six feet two:plump thighs; blue eyes; and brown hair; likes his bread-fruit baked,not roasted; sometimes carries filberts in his crown: and has away of winking when he speaks. His teeth are good."
"Are you publishing some decamped burglar," said Media, "that youspeak thus of my royal friend, the lord Abrazza? Go on, sir! and sayhe reigns sole king of Bonovona!"
"My lord, I had not ended. Abrazza, Yoomy, is a fine and florid king:high-fed, and affluent of heart; of speech, mellifluent. And for aroyalty extremely amiable. He is a sceptered gentleman, who does muchgood. Kind king! in person he gives orders for relieving those, whodaily dive for pearls, to grace his royal robe; and gasping hard, withblood-shot eyes, come up from shark-infested depths, and fainting, laytheir treasure at his feet. Sweet lord Abrazza! how he pities those,who in his furthest woodlands day-long toil to do his bidding. Yetking-philosopher, he never weeps; but pities with a placid smile; andthat but seldom."
"There seems much iron in your blood," said Media. "But say your say."
"Say I not truth, my lord? Abrazza, I admire. Save his royal pity allelse is jocund round him. He loves to live for life's own sake. Hevows he'll have no cares; and often says, in pleasant reveries,--'Sure, my lord Abrazza, if any one should be care-free, 'tis thou; whostrike down none, but pity all the fallen!' Yet none he lifteth up."
At length we gained the sunny side, and shoreward tended. Vee-Vee'shorn was sonorous; and issuing from his golden groves, my lordAbrazza, like a host that greets you on the threshold, met us, as wekeeled the beach.
"Welcome! fellow demi-god, and king! Media, my pleasant guest!"
His servitors salamed; his chieftains bowed; his yeoman-guard, inmeadow-green, presented palm-stalks,--royal tokens; and hand in hand,the nodding, jovial, regal friends, went up a lane of salutations;dragging behind, a train of envyings.
Much we marked Abrazza's jeweled crown; that shot no honest blaze ofruddy rubies; nor looked stern-white like Media's pearls; but cast agreen and yellow glare; rays from emeralds, crossing rays from many atopaz. In those beams, so sinister, all present looked cadaverous:Abrazza's cheek alone beamed bright, but hectic.
Upon its fragrant mats a spacious hall received the kings; andgathering courtiers blandly bowed; and gushing with soft flatteries,breathed idol-incense round them.
The hall was terraced thrice; its elevated end was curtained; andthence, at every chime of words, there burst a girl, gay scarfed, withnaked bosom, and poured forth wild and hollow laughter, as she raceddown all the terraces, and passed their merry kingships.
Wide round the hall, in avenues, waved almond-woods; their whitenessfrosted into bloom. But every vine-clad trunk was hollow-hearted;hollow sounds came from the grottos: hollow broke the billows on theshore: and hollow pauses filled the air, following the hollowlaughter.
Guards, with spears, paced the groves, and in the inner shadows, oftwere seen to lift their weapons, and backward press some ugly phantom,saying, "Subjects! haunt him not; Abrazza would be merry; Abrazzafeasts his guests."
So, banished from our sight seemed all things uncongenial; andpleasant times were ours, in these dominions. Not a face passed by,but smiled; mocking-birds perched on the boughs; and singing, made usvow the woods were warbling forth thanksgiving, with a thousandthroats! The stalwart yeomen grinned beneath their trenchers, heapedwith citrons pomegrantes, grapes; the pages tittered, pouring out thewine; and all the lords loud laughed, smote their gilded spears, andswore the isle was glad.
Such the isle, in which we tarried; but in our rambles, found noYillah.
CHAPTER LXXVISome Pleasant, Shady Talk In The Groves, Between My Lords Abrazza AndMedia, Babbalanja, Mohi, And Yoomy
Abrazza had a cool retreat--a grove of dates; where we were used tolounge of noons, and mix our converse with the babble of the rills;and mix our punches in goblets chased with grapes. And as ever, KingAbrazza was the prince of hosts.
"Your crown," he said to Media; and with his own, he hung it on abough.
"Be not ceremonious:" and stretched his royal legs upon the turf.
"Wine!" and his pages poured it out.
So on the grass we lounged; and King Abrazza, who loved his antiqueancestors; and loved old times; and would not talk of moderns;--badeYoomy sing old songs; bade Mohi rehearse old histories; badeBabbalanja tell of old ontologies; and commanded all, meanwhile, todrink his old, old wine.
So, all round we quaffed and quoted.
At last, we talked of old Homeric bards:--those who, ages back,harped, and begged, and groped their blinded way through all thischaritable Mardi; receiving coppers then, and immortal glory now.
ABRAZZA--How came it, that they all were blind?
BABBALANJA--It was endemical, your Highness. Few grand poets havegood eyes; for they needs blind must be, who ever gaze upon the sun.Vavona himself was blind:when, in the silence of his secret bower, he said--"I will buildanother world. Therein, let there be kings and slaves, philosophersand wits; whose checkered actions--strange, grotesque, and merry-sad,will entertain my idle moods." So, my lord, Vavona played at kings andcrowns, and men and manners; and loved that lonely game to play.
ABRAZZA--Vavona seemed a solitary Mardian; who seldom went abroad;had few friends; and shunning others, was shunned by them.
BABBALANJA--But shunned not himself, my lord; like gods, great poetsdwell alone; while round them, roll the worlds they build.
MEDIA--You seem to know all authors:--you must have heard ofLombardo, Babbalanja; he who flourished many ages since.
BABBALANJA--I have; and his grand Kortanza know by heart.
MEDIA (_to Abrazza._)--A very curious work, that, my lord.
ABRAZZA--Yes, my dearest king. But, Babbalanja, if Lombardo had aughtto tell to Mardi--why choose a vehicle so crazy?
BABBALANJA--It was his nature, I suppose.
ABRAZZA--But so it would not have been, to me.
BABBALANJA--Nor would it have been natural, for my noble lordAbrazza, to have worn Lombardo's head:--every man has his own, thankOro!
ABBRAZZA--A curious work: a very curious work. Babbalanja, are youacquainted with the history of Lombardo?
BABBALANJA--None better. All his biographies have I read.
ABRAZZA--Then, tell us how he came to write that work. For one, I cannot imagine how those poor devils contrive to roll such thundersthrough all Mardi.
MEDIA--Their thunder and lightning seem spontaneous combustibles, mylord.
ABRAZZA--With which, they but consume themselves, my prince beloved.
BABBALANJA--In a measure, true, your Highness. But pray you, listen;and I will try to tell the way in which Lombardo produced his greatKortanza.
MEDIA--But hark you, philosopher! this time no incoherencies; gagthat devil, Azzageddi. And now, what was it that originally i
mpelledLombardo to the undertaking?
BABBALANJA--Primus and forever, a full heart:--brimful, bubbling,sparkling; and running over like the flagon in your hand, my lord.Secundo, the necessity of bestirring himself to procure his yams.
ABRAZZA--Wanting the second motive, would the first have sufficed,philosopher?
BABBALANJA--Doubtful. More conduits than one to drain off the soul'soverflowings. Besides, the greatest fullnesses overflow notspontaneously; and, even when decanted, like rich syrups, slowly ooze;whereas, poor fluids glibly flow, wide-spreading. Hence, when greatfullness weds great indolence;--that man, to others, too often provesa cipher; though, to himself, his thoughts form an Infinite Series,indefinite, from its vastness; and incommunicable;--not for lack ofpower, but for lack of an omnipotent volition, to move his strength.His own world is full before him; the fulcrum set; but lever there isnone. To such a man, the giving of any boor's resoluteness, withtendons braided, would be as hanging a claymore to Valor's side,before unarmed. Our minds are cunning, compound mechanisms; and onespring, or wheel, or axle wanting, the movement lags, or halts.Cerebrum must not overbalance cerebellum; our brains should be roundas globes; and planted on capacious chests, inhaling mighty morning-inspirations. We have had vast developments of parts of men; but noneof manly wholes. Before a full-developed man, Mardi would fall downand worship. We are idiot, younger-sons of gods, begotten in dotagesdivine; and our mothers all miscarry. Giants are in our germs;but we are dwarfs, staggering under heads overgrown. Heaped, ourmeasures burst. We die of too much life.