As we glided5 away, King Media issued a sociable6 decree. He declared it his royal pleasure, that throughout the voyage, all stiffness and state etiquette7 should be suspended: nothing must occur to mar8 the freedom of the party. To further this charming plan, he doffed9 his symbols of royalty10, put off his crown, laid aside his scepter, and assured us that he would not wear them again, except when we landed; and not invariably, then.
"Are we not all now friends and companions?" he said. "So companions and friends let us be. I unbend my bow; do ye likewise."
"If dignity be free and natural, be as dignified as you please; but away with rigidities."
"Away they go," said Babbalanja; "and, my lord, now that you mind me of it, I have often thought, that it is all folly12 and vanity for any man to attempt a dignified carriage. Why, my lord,"—frankly crossing his legs where he lay—"the king, who receives his ambassadors with a majestic13 toss of the head, may have just recovered from the tooth- ache. That thought should cant14 over the spine15 he bears so bravely."
"Have a care, sir! there is a king within hearing."
"Pardon, my lord; I was merely availing myself of the immunity16 bestowed17 upon the company. Hereafter, permit a subject to rebel against your sociable decrees. I will not be so frank any more."
"Well put, Babbalanja; come nearer; here, cross your legs by mine; you have risen a cubit in my regard. Vee-Vee, bring us that gourd18 of wine; so, pass it round with the cups. Now, Yoomy, a song!"
And a song was sung.
At length, we drew nigh to a rock, called Pella, or The Theft. A high, green crag, toppling over its base, and flinging a cavernous shadow upon the lagoon20 beneath, bubbling with the moisture that dropped.
Passing under this cliff was like finding yourself, as some sea- hunters unexpectedly have, beneath the open, upper jaw21 of a whale; which, descending22, infallibly entombs you. But familiar with the rock, our paddlers only threw back their heads, to catch the cool, pleasant tricklings from the mosses23 above.
Wiping away several glittering beads24 from his beard, old Mohi turning round where he sat, just outside the canopy26, solemnly affirmed, that the drinking of that water had cured many a man of ambition.
"How so, old man?" demanded Media.
"Because of its passing through the ashes of ten kings, of yore buried in a sepulcher27, hewn in the heart of the rock."
"Mighty28 kings, and famous, doubtless," said Babbalanja, "whose bones were thought worthy29 of so noble and enduring as urn25. Pray, Mohi, their names and terrible deeds."
"And, no doubt, like many others, they made that sepul for themselves. They sleep sound, my word for it, old man. But I — very much question, if, were the rock rent, any ashes would be found. Mohi, I deny that those kings ever had any bones to bury."
"Why, Babbalanja," said Media, "since you intimate that they never had ghosts to give up, you ignore them in toto; denying the very fact of their being even defunct32."
"Ten thousand pardons, my lord, no such discourtesy would I do the anonymous33 memory of the illustrious dead. But whether they ever lived or not, it is all the same with them now. Yet, grant that they lived; then, if death be a deaf-and-dumb death, a triumphal procession over their graves would concern them not. If a birth into brightness, then Mardi must seem to them the most trivial of reminiscences. Or, perhaps, theirs may be an utter lapse34 of memory concerning sublunary things; and they themselves be not themselves, as the butterfly is not the larva."
Said Yoomy, "Then, Babbalanja, you account that a fit illustration of the miraculous35 change to be wrought36 in man after death?"
"No; for the analogy has an unsatisfactory end. From its chrysalis state, the silkworm but becomes a moth37, that very quickly expires. Its longest existence is as a worm. All vanity, vanity, Yoomy, to seek in nature for positive warranty38 to these aspirations39 of ours. Through all her provinces, nature seems to promise immortality40 to life, but destruction to beings. Or, as old Bardianna has it, if not against us, nature is not for us."
Said Media, rising, "Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the courtier; talking of worms and caterpillars41 to me, a king and a demi- god! To renown42, for your theme: a more agreeable topic."
"Pardon, once again, my lord. And since you will, let us discourse43 of that subject. First, I lay it down for an indubitable maxim44, that in itself all posthumous45 renown, which is the only renown, is valueless. Be not offended, my lord. To the nobly ambitious, renown hereafter may be something to anticipate. But analyzed46, that feverish47 typhoid feeling of theirs may be nothing more than a flickering48 fancy, that now, while living, they are recognized as those who will be as famous in their shrouds49, as in their girdles."
Said Yoomy, "But those great and good deeds, Babbalanja, of which the philosophers so often discourse: must it not be sweet to believe that their memory will long survive us; and we ourselves in them?"
"I speak now," said Babbalanja, "of the ravening50 for fame which even appeased51, like thirst slaked52 in the desert, yields no felicity, but only relief; and which discriminates53 not in aught that will satisfy its cravings. But let me resume. Not an hour ago, Braid-Beard was telling us that story of prince Ottimo, who inodorous while living, expressed much delight at the prospect54 of being perfumed and embalmed55, when dead. But was not Ottimo the most eccentric of mortals? For few men issue orders for their shrouds, to inspect their quality beforehand. Far more anxious are they about the texture56 of the sheets in which their living limbs lie. And, my lord, with some rare exceptions, does not all Mardi, by its actions, declare, that it is far better to be notorious now, than famous hereafter?"
"A base sentiment, my lord," said Yoomy. "Did not poor Bonja, the unappreciated poet, console himself for the neglect of his contemporaries, by inspiriting thoughts of the future?"
"In plain words by bethinking him of the glorious harvest of bravos his ghost would reap for him," said Babbalanja; "but Banjo,—Bonjo,— Binjo,—I never heard of him."
"Nor I," said Mohi.
"Nor I," said Media.
"Poor fellow!" cried Babbalanja; "I fear me his harvest is not yet ripe."
"Alas!" cried Yoomy; "he died more than a century ago."
"But now that you speak of unappreciated poets, Yoomy," said Babbalanja, "Shall I give you a piece of my mind?" "Do," said Mohi, stroking his beard.
"He, who on all hands passes for a cypher to-day, if at all remembered hereafter, will be sure to pass for the same. For there is more likelihood of being overrated while living, than of being underrated when dead. And to insure your fame, you must die."
"A rather discouraging thought for your race. But answer: I assume that King Media is but a mortal like you; now, how may I best perpetuate57 my name?"
Long pondered Babbalanja; then said, "Carve it, my lord, deep into a ponderous58 stone, and sink it, face downward, into the sea; for the unseen foundations of the deep are more enduring than the palpable tops of the mountains."
Sailing past Pella, we gained a view of its farther side; and seated in a lofty cleft59, beheld60 a lonely fisherman; solitary61 as a seal on an iceberg62; his motionless line in the water.
"What recks he of the ten kings," said Babbalanja.
"Mohi," said Media, "methinks there is another tradition concerning that rock: let us have it."
"In old times of genii and giants, there dwelt in barren lands, not very remote from our outer reef, but since submerged, a band of evil- minded, envious63 goblins, furlongs in stature64, and with immeasurable arms; who from time to time cast covetous65 glances upon our blooming isles66. Long they lusted67; till at last, they waded68 through the sea, strode over the reef, and seizing the nearest islet, rolled it over and over, toward an adjoining outlet69.
"But the task was hard; and day-break surprised them in the midst of their audacious thieving; while in the very act of giving the devoted70 land another doughty71 surge and Somerset. Leaving it bottom upward and midway poised72, gardens under water, its foundations in air, they precipitately73 fled; in their great haste, deserting a comrade, vainly struggling to liberate74 his foot caught beneath the overturned land."
"This poor fellow now raised such an outcry, as to awaken75 the god Upi, or the Archer76, stretched out on a long cloud in the East; who forthwith resolved to make an example of the unwilling77 lingerer. Snatching his bow, he let fly an arrow. But overshooting its mark, it pierced through and through, the lofty promontory78 of a neighboring island; making an arch in it, which remaineth even unto this day. A second arrow, however, accomplished79 its errand: the slain80 giant sinking prone81 to the bottom."
"And now," added Mohi, "glance over the gunwale, and you will see his remains petrified82 into white ribs83 of coral."
"Ay, there they are," said Yoomy, looking down into the water where they gleamed. "A fanciful legend, Braid-beard."
"Very entertaining," said Media.
"Even so," said Babbalanja. "But perhaps we lost time in listening to it; for though we know it, we are none the wiser."
"Be not a cynic," said Media. "No pastime is lost time."
Musing84 a moment, Babbalanja replied, "My lord, that maxim may be good as it stands; but had you made six words of it, instead of six syllables85, you had uttered a better and a deeper."
点击收听单词发音
1 cringing | |
adj.谄媚,奉承 | |
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2 demeanor | |
n.行为;风度 | |
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3 follies | |
罪恶,时事讽刺剧; 愚蠢,蠢笨,愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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4 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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5 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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6 sociable | |
adj.好交际的,友好的,合群的 | |
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7 etiquette | |
n.礼仪,礼节;规矩 | |
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8 mar | |
vt.破坏,毁坏,弄糟 | |
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9 doffed | |
v.脱去,(尤指)脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10 royalty | |
n.皇家,皇族 | |
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11 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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12 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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13 majestic | |
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
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14 cant | |
n.斜穿,黑话,猛扔 | |
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15 spine | |
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊 | |
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16 immunity | |
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权 | |
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17 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 gourd | |
n.葫芦 | |
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19 canopied | |
adj. 遮有天篷的 | |
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20 lagoon | |
n.泻湖,咸水湖 | |
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21 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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22 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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23 mosses | |
n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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24 beads | |
n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链 | |
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25 urn | |
n.(有座脚的)瓮;坟墓;骨灰瓮 | |
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26 canopy | |
n.天篷,遮篷 | |
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27 sepulcher | |
n.坟墓 | |
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28 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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29 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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30 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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31 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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32 defunct | |
adj.死亡的;已倒闭的 | |
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33 anonymous | |
adj.无名的;匿名的;无特色的 | |
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34 lapse | |
n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效 | |
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35 miraculous | |
adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的 | |
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36 wrought | |
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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37 moth | |
n.蛾,蛀虫 | |
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38 warranty | |
n.担保书,证书,保单 | |
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39 aspirations | |
强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 ); 志向; 发送气音; 发 h 音 | |
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40 immortality | |
n.不死,不朽 | |
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41 caterpillars | |
n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 );履带 | |
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42 renown | |
n.声誉,名望 | |
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43 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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44 maxim | |
n.格言,箴言 | |
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45 posthumous | |
adj.遗腹的;父亡后出生的;死后的,身后的 | |
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46 analyzed | |
v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 );分解;解释;对…进行心理分析 | |
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47 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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48 flickering | |
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 | |
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49 shrouds | |
n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 );寿衣;遮蔽物;覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 );保密 | |
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50 ravening | |
a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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51 appeased | |
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争) | |
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52 slaked | |
v.满足( slake的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53 discriminates | |
分别,辨别,区分( discriminate的第三人称单数 ); 歧视,有差别地对待 | |
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54 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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55 embalmed | |
adj.用防腐药物保存(尸体)的v.保存(尸体)不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 );使不被遗忘;使充满香气 | |
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56 texture | |
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理 | |
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57 perpetuate | |
v.使永存,使永记不忘 | |
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58 ponderous | |
adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的 | |
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59 cleft | |
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的 | |
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60 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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61 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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62 iceberg | |
n.冰山,流冰,冷冰冰的人 | |
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63 envious | |
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的 | |
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64 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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65 covetous | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
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66 isles | |
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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67 lusted | |
贪求(lust的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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68 waded | |
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69 outlet | |
n.出口/路;销路;批发商店;通风口;发泄 | |
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70 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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71 doughty | |
adj.勇猛的,坚强的 | |
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72 poised | |
a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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73 precipitately | |
adv.猛进地 | |
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74 liberate | |
v.解放,使获得自由,释出,放出;vt.解放,使获自由 | |
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75 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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76 archer | |
n.射手,弓箭手 | |
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77 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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78 promontory | |
n.海角;岬 | |
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79 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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80 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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81 prone | |
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的 | |
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82 petrified | |
adj.惊呆的;目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆,使惊呆;变僵硬;使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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83 ribs | |
n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 );(船或屋顶等的)肋拱;肋骨状的东西;(织物的)凸条花纹 | |
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84 musing | |
n. 沉思,冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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85 syllables | |
n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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