Our way now led through the bed of a shallow water-course; Mohi observing, as we went, that our feet were being washed at every step; whereas, to tread the dusty earth would be to desecrate5 the holy Morai, by transferring thereto, the base soil of less sacred ground.
Here and there, thatched arbors were thrown over the stream, for the accommodation of devotees; who, in these consecrated6 waters, issuing from a spring in the Morai, bathed their garments, that long life might ensue. Yet, as Braid-Beard assured us, sometimes it happened, that divers7 feeble old men zealously8 donning their raiment immediately after immersion9 became afflicted10 with rheumatics; and instances were related of their falling down dead, in this their pursuit of longevity11.
Coming to the Morai, we found it inclosed by a wall; and while the rest were surmounting12 it, Mohi was busily engaged in the apparently13 childish occupation of collecting pebbles14. Of these, however, to our no small surprise, he presently made use, by irreverently throwing them at all objects to which he was desirous of directing attention. In this manner, was pointed15 out a black boar's head, suspended from a bough16. Full twenty of these sentries17 were on post in the neighboring trees.
Proceeding18, we came to a hillock of bone-dry sand, resting upon the otherwise loamy soil. Possessing a secret, preservative19 virtue20, this sand had, ages ago, been brought from a distant land, to furnish a sepulcher21 for the Pontiffs; who here, side by side, and sire by son, slumbered22 all peacefully in the fellowship of the grave. Mohi declared, that were the sepulcher to be opened, it would be the resurrection of the whole line of High Priests. "But a resurrection of bones, after all," said Babbalanja, ever osseous in his allusions23 to the departed.
Passing on, we came to a number of Runic-looking stones, all over hieroglyphical24 inscriptions25, and placed round an elliptical aperture26; where welled up the sacred spring of the Morai, clear as crystal, and showing through its waters, two tiers of sharp, tusk-like stones; the mouth of Oro, so called; and it was held, that if any secular27 hand should be immersed in the spring, straight upon it those stony28 jaws29 would close.
We next came to a large image of a dark-hued stone, representing a burly man, with an overgrown head, and abdomen30 hollowed out, and open for inspection31; therein, were relics32 of bones. Before this image we paused. And whether or no it was Mohi's purpose to make us tourists quake with his recitals33, his revelations were far from agreeable. At certain seasons, human beings were offered to the idol4, which being an epicure34 in the matter of sacrifices, would accept of no ordinary fare. To insure his digestion35, all indirect routes to the interior were avoided; the sacrifices being packed in the ventricle itself.
Near to this image of Doleema, so called, a solitary36 forest-tree was pointed out; leafless and dead to the core. But from its boughs37 hang numerous baskets, brimming over with melons, grapes, and guavas. And daily these baskets were replenished38.
As we here stood, there passed a hungry figure, in ragged39 raiment: hollow cheeks, and hollow eyes. Wistfully he eyed the offerings; but retreated; knowing it was sacrilege to touch them. There, they must decay, in honor of the god Ananna; for so this dead tree was denominated by Mohi.
Now, as we were thus strolling about the Morai, the old chronicler elucidating40 its mysteries, we suddenly spied Pani and the pilgrims approaching the image of Doleema; his child leading the guide.
"This," began Pani, pointing to the idol of stone, "is the holy god Ananna who lives in the sap of this green and flourishing tree."
"I mean the tree," said the guide. "It is no stone image."
"Strange," muttered the chief; "were it not a guide that spoke42, I. — would deny it. As it is, I hold my peace."
"Mystery of mysteries!" cried the blind old pilgrim; "is it, then, a stone image that Pani calls a tree? Oh, Oro, that I had eyes to see, that I might verily behold it, and then believe it to be what it is not; that so I might prove the largeness of my faith; and so merit the blessing43 of Alma."
"Thrice sacred Ananna," murmured the sad-eyed maiden44, falling upon her knees before Doleema, "receive my adoration45. Of thee, I know nothing, but what the guide has spoken. I am but a poor, weak-minded maiden, judging not for myself, but leaning upon others that are wiser. These things are above me. I am afraid to think. In Alma's name, receive my homage46."
And she flung flowers before the god.
But Fauna47, the hale matron, turning upon Pani, exclaimed, "Receive more gifts, oh guide." And again she showered them upon him.
Upon this, the willful boy who would not have Pani for his guide, entered the Morai; and perceiving the group before the image, walked rapidly to where they were. And beholding48 the idol, he regarded it attentively49, and said:—"This must be the image of Doleema; but I am not sure."
"Nay," cried the blind pilgrim, "it is the holy tree Ananna, thou wayward boy."
"A tree? whatever it may be, it is not that; thou art blind, old man."
"But though blind, I have that which thou lackest."
Then said Pani, turning upon the boy, "Depart from the holy Morai, and corrupt50 not the hearts of these pilgrims. Depart, I say; and, in the sacred name of Alma, perish in thy endeavors to climb the Peak."
"I may perish there in truth," said the boy, with sadness; "but it shall be in the path revealed to me in my dream. And think not, oh guide, that I perfectly51 rely upon gaining that lofty summit. I will climb high Ofo with hope, not faith; Oh, mighty52 Oro, help me!"
"Be not impious," said Pani; "pronounce not Oro's sacred name too lightly."
"Oro is but a sound," said the boy. "They call the supreme53 god, Ati, in my native isle54; it is the soundless thought of him, oh guide, that is in me."
"Nor he, nor thou, nor I, nor any; Oro, to all, is Oro the unknown."
"Why claim to know Oro, then, better than others?"
"I am not so vain; and I have little to substitute for what I can not receive. I but feel Oro in me, yet can not declare the thought."
"Not near so wise. To believe is a haughty59 thing; my very doubts humiliate60 me. I weep and doubt; all Mardi may be light; and I too simple to discern."
"He is mad," said the chief Divino; "never before heard I such words."
"They are thoughts," muttered the guide.
"Poor fool!" cried Fauna.
"Lost youth!" sighed the maiden.
"He is but a child," said the beggar. These whims61 will soon depart; once I was like him; but, praise be to Alma, in the hour of sickness I. — repented62, feeble old man that I am!"
"It is because I am young and in health," said the boy, "that I more nourish the thoughts, that are born of my youth and my health. I am fresh from my Maker63, soul and body unwrinkled. On thy sick couch, old man, they took thee at advantage."
"Turn from the blasphemer," cried Pani. "Hence! thou evil one, to the perdition in store."
"I will go my ways," said the boy, "but Oro will shape the end."
And he quitted the Morai.
After conducting the party round the sacred inclosure, assisting his way with his staff, for his child had left him, Pani seated himself on a low, mossy stone, grimly surrounded by idols; and directed the pilgrims to return to his habitation; where, ere long he would rejoin them.
The pilgrims departed, he remained in profound meditation64; while, backward and forward, an invisible ploughshare turned up the long furrows65 on his brow.
Long he was silent; then muttered to himself, "That boy, that wild, wise boy, has stabbed me to the heart. His thoughts are my suspicions. But he is honest. Yet I harm none. Multitudes must have unspoken meditations66 as well as I. Do we then mutually deceive? Off masks, mankind, that I may know what warranty67 of fellowship with others, my own thoughts possess. Why, upon this one theme, oh Oro! must all dissemble? Our thoughts are not our own. Whate'er it be, an honest thought must have some germ of truth. But we must set, as flows the general stream; I blindly follow, where I seem to lead; the crowd of pilgrims is so great, they see not there is none to guide.—It hinges upon this: Have we angelic spirits? But in vain, in vain, oh Oro! I. — essay to live out of this poor, blind body, fit dwelling68 for my sightless soul. Death, death:—blind, am I dead? for blindness seems a consciousness of death. Will my grave be more dark, than all is now?— From dark to dark!—What is this subtle something that is in me, and eludes69 me? Will it have no end? When, then, did it begin? All, all is chaos70! What is this shining light in heaven, this sun they tell me of? Or, do they lie? Methinks, it might blaze convictions; but I brood and grope in blackness; I am dumb with doubt; yet, 'tis not doubt, but worse: I doubt my doubt. Oh, ye all-wise spirits in the air, how can ye witness all this woe71, and give no sign? Would, would that mine were a settled doubt, like that wild boy's, who without faith, seems full of it. The undoubting doubter believes the most. Oh! that I were he. Methinks that daring boy hath Alma in him, struggling to be free. But those pilgrims: that trusting girl.—What, if they saw me as I am? Peace, peace, my soul; on, mask, again."
And he staggered from the Morai.
点击收听单词发音
1 garrulous | |
adj.唠叨的,多话的 | |
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2 promenade | |
n./v.散步 | |
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3 idols | |
偶像( idol的名词复数 ); 受崇拜的人或物; 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物; 神像 | |
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4 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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5 desecrate | |
v.供俗用,亵渎,污辱 | |
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6 consecrated | |
adj.神圣的,被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣,给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 );奉献 | |
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7 divers | |
adj.不同的;种种的 | |
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8 zealously | |
adv.热心地;热情地;积极地;狂热地 | |
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9 immersion | |
n.沉浸;专心 | |
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10 afflicted | |
使受痛苦,折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 longevity | |
n.长命;长寿 | |
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12 surmounting | |
战胜( surmount的现在分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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13 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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14 pebbles | |
[复数]鹅卵石; 沙砾; 卵石,小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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15 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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16 bough | |
n.大树枝,主枝 | |
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17 sentries | |
哨兵,步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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18 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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19 preservative | |
n.防腐剂;防腐料;保护料;预防药 | |
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20 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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21 sepulcher | |
n.坟墓 | |
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22 slumbered | |
微睡,睡眠(slumber的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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23 allusions | |
暗指,间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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24 hieroglyphical | |
n.象形文字,象形文字的文章 | |
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25 inscriptions | |
(作者)题词( inscription的名词复数 ); 献词; 碑文; 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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26 aperture | |
n.孔,隙,窄的缺口 | |
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27 secular | |
n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的 | |
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28 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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29 jaws | |
n.口部;嘴 | |
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30 abdomen | |
n.腹,下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
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31 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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32 relics | |
[pl.]n.遗物,遗迹,遗产;遗体,尸骸 | |
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33 recitals | |
n.独唱会( recital的名词复数 );独奏会;小型音乐会、舞蹈表演会等;一系列事件等的详述 | |
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34 epicure | |
n.行家,美食家 | |
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35 digestion | |
n.消化,吸收 | |
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36 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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37 boughs | |
大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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38 replenished | |
补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 ); 重新装满 | |
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39 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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40 elucidating | |
v.阐明,解释( elucidate的现在分词 ) | |
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41 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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42 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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43 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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44 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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45 adoration | |
n.爱慕,崇拜 | |
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46 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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47 fauna | |
n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物,动物区系 | |
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48 beholding | |
v.看,注视( behold的现在分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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49 attentively | |
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 | |
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50 corrupt | |
v.贿赂,收买;adj.腐败的,贪污的 | |
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51 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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52 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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53 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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54 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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55 prates | |
v.(古时用语)唠叨,啰唆( prate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56 fathom | |
v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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57 humility | |
n.谦逊,谦恭 | |
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58 pretense | |
n.矫饰,做作,借口 | |
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59 haughty | |
adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
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60 humiliate | |
v.使羞辱,使丢脸[同]disgrace | |
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61 WHIMS | |
虚妄,禅病 | |
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62 repented | |
对(自己的所为)感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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64 meditation | |
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录 | |
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65 furrows | |
n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 );(脸上的)皱纹v.犁田,开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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66 meditations | |
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想 | |
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67 warranty | |
n.担保书,证书,保单 | |
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68 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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69 eludes | |
v.(尤指机敏地)避开( elude的第三人称单数 );逃避;躲避;使达不到 | |
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70 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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71 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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