Calabashes
An interval1 of silence passed; when Media cried, "Out upon thee, Yoomy! curtail2 that long face of thine."
"How can he, my lord," said Mohi, "when he is thinking of furlongs?"
"Fathoms3 you mean, Mohi; see you not he is musing4 over the gunwale? And now, minstrel, a banana for thy thoughts. Come, tell me how you poets spend so many hours in meditation5."
"My lord, it is because, that when we think, we think so little of ourselves."
"I thought as much," said Mohi, "for no sooner do I undertake to be sociable6 with myself, than I am straightway forced to beat a retreat."
"Ay, old man," said Babbalanja, "many of us Mardians are but sorry hosts to ourselves. Some hearts are hermits7."
"If not of yourself, then, Yoomy, of whom else do you think?" asked Media.
"My lord, I seldom think," said Yoomy, "I but give ear to the voices in my calm."
"Did Babbalanja speak?" said Media. "But no more of your reveries;" and so saying Media gradually sunk into a reverie himself.
The rest did likewise; and soon, with eyes enchanted8, all reclined: gazing at each other, witless of what we did.
It was Media who broke the spell; calling for Vee-Vee our page, his calabashes and cups, and nectarines for all.
Eyeing his goblet9, Media at length threw himself back, and said: "Babbalanja, not ten minutes since, we were all absent-minded; now, how would you like to step out of your body, in reality; and, as a spirit, haunt some shadowy grove10?"
"But our lungs are not wholly superfluous11, my lord," said Babbalanja, speaking loud.
"But could you really be disembodied here in Mardi, Babbalanja, how would you fancy it?" said Media.
"My lord," said Babbalanja, speaking through half of a nectarine, "defer13 putting that question, I beseech14, till after my appetite is satisfied; for, trust me, no hungry mortal would forfeit15 his palate, to be resolved into the impalpable."
"Yes, so they say, Yoomy; but if all boors17 be the immortal18 sires of endless dynasties of immortals19, how little do our pious20 patricians21 bear in mind their magnificent destiny, when hourly they scorn their companionship. And if here in Mardi they can not abide22 an equality with plebeians23, even at the altar; how shall they endure them, side by side, throughout eternity24? But since the prophet Alma asserts, that Paradise is almost entirely25 made up of the poor and despised, no wonder that many aristocrats26 of our isles27 pursue a career, which, according to some theologies, must forever preserve the social distinctions so sedulously28 maintained in Mardi. And though some say, that at death every thing earthy is removed from the spirit, so that clowns and lords both stand on a footing; yet, according to the popular legends, it has ever been observed of the ghosts of boors when revisiting Mardi, that invariably they rise in their smocks. And regarding our intellectual equality here, how unjust, my lord, that after whole years of days end nights consecrated29 to the hard gaining of wisdom, the wisest Mardian of us all should in the end find the whole sum of his attainments30, at one leap outstripped31 by the veriest dunce, suddenly inspired by light divine. And though some hold, that all Mardian lore32 is vain, and that at death all mysteries will be revealed; yet, none the less, do they toil33 and ponder now. Thus, their tongues have one mind, and their understanding another."
"My lord," said Mohi, "we have come to the lees; your pardon, Babbalanja."
"Then, Vee-Vee, another calabash! Fill up, Mohi; wash down wine with wine. Your cup, Babbalanja; any lees?"
"Plenty, my lord; we philosophers come to the lees very soon."
"Flood them over, then; but cease not discoursing34; thanks be to the gods, your mortal palates and tongues can both wag together; fill up, I say, Babbalanja; you are no philosopher, if you stop at the tenth cup; endurance is the test of philosophy all Mardi over; drink, I say, and make us wise by precept35 and example.—Proceed, Yoomy, you look as if you had something to say."
"Thanks, my lord. Just now, Babbalanja, you flew from the subject;— you spoke36 of boors; but has not the lowliest peasant an eye that can take in the vast horizon at a sweep: mountains, vales, plains, and oceans? Is such a being nothing?"
"But can that eye see itself, Yoomy?" said Babbalanja, winking37. "Taken out of its socket38, will it see at all? Its connection with the body imparts to it its virtue39."
"He questions every thing," cried Mohi. "Philosopher, have you a head?"
"I have," said Babbalanja, feeling for it; "I am finished off at the helm very much as other Mardians, Mohi."
"My lord, the first yea that ever came from him."
"Ah, Mohi," said Media, "the discourse40 waxes heavy. I fear me we have again come to the lees. Ho, Vee-Vee, a fresh calabash; and with it we will change the subject. Now, Babbalanja, I have this cup to drink, and then a question to propound41. Ah, Mohi, rare old wine this; it smacks42 of the cork43. But attention, Philosopher. Supposing you had a wife—which, by the way, you have not—would you deem it sensible in her to imagine you no more, because you happened to stroll out of her sight?"
"However that might be," murmured Yoomy, "young Nina bewailed herself a widow, whenever Arhinoo, her lord, was absent from her side."
"My lord Media," said Babbalanja, "During my absence, my wife would have more reason to conclude that I was not living, than that I was. To the former supposition, every thing tangible44 around her would tend; to the latter, nothing but her own fond fancies. It is this imagination of ours, my lord, that is at the bottom of these things. When I am in one place, there exists no other. Yet am I but too apt to fancy the reverse. Nevertheless, when I am in Odo, talk not to me of Ohonoo. To me it is not, except when I am there. If it be, prove it. To prove it, you carry me thither45 but you only prove, that to its substantive46 existence, as cognizant to me, my presence is indispensable. I say that, to me, all Mardi exists by virtue of my sovereign pleasure; and when I die, the universe will perish with me."
"Come you of a long-lived race," said Mohi, "one free from apoplexies? I have many little things to accomplish yet, and would not be left in the lurch47."
"Let us be eagles, then, indeed, my lord: eagle-like, let us look at this red wine without blinking; let us grow solemn, not boisterous50, with good cheer."
Then, lifting his cup, "My lord, serenely51 do I pity all who are stirred one jot52 from their centers by ever so much drinking of this fluid. Ply53 him hard as you will, through the live-long polar night, a wise man can not be made drunk. Though, toward sunrise, his body may reel, it will reel round its center; and though he make many tacks54 in going home, he reaches it at last; while scores of over-plied fools are foundering55 by the way. My lord, when wild with much thought, 'tis to wine I fly, to sober me; its magic fumes56 breathe over me like the Indian summer, which steeps all nature in repose57. To me, wine is no vulgar fire, no fosterer of base passions; my heart, ever open, is opened still wider; and glorious visions are born in my brain; it is then that I have all Mardi under my feet, and the constellations58 of the firmament59 in my soul."
"Superb!" cried Yoomy.
"Pooh, pooh!" said Mohi, "who does not see stars at such times? I see the Great Bear now, and the little one, its cub60; and Andromeda, and Perseus' chain-armor, and Cassiopea in her golden chair, and the bright, scaly61 Dragon, and the glittering Lyre, and all the jewels in Orion's sword-hilt."
"Ay," cried Media, "the study of astronomy is wonderfully facilitated by wine. Fill up, old Ptolemy, and tell us should you discover a new planet. Methinks this fluid needs stirring. Ho, Vee-Vee, my scepter! be we sociable. But come, Babbalanja, my gold-headed aquila, return to your theme;—the imagination, if you please."
"Well, then, my lord, I was about to say, that the imagination is the Voli-Donzini; or, to speak plainer, the unical, rudimental, and all- comprehending abstracted essence of the infinite remoteness of things. Without it, we were grass-hoppers."
"And with it, you mortals are little else; do you not chirp62 all over, Mohi? By my demi-god soul, were I not what I am, this wine would almost get the better of me."
"Without it—" continued Babbalanja.
"Without what?" demanded Media, starting to his feet. "This wine? Traitor63, I'll stand by this to the last gasp64, you are inebriated65, Babbalanja."
"Perhaps so, my lord; but I was treating of the imagination, may it please you."
"My lord," added Mohi, "of the unical, and rudimental fundament of things, you remember."
"Ah! there's none of them sober; proceed, proceed, Azzageddi!"
"My lord waves his hand like a banner," murmured Yoomy.
"Without imagination, I say, an armless man, born, blind, could not be made to believe, that he had a head of hair, since he could neither see it, nor feel it, nor has hair any feeling of itself."
"Methinks though," said Mohi, "if the cripple had a Tartar for a wife, he would not remain skeptical66 long."
"You all fly off at tangents," cried Media, "but no wonder: your mortal brains can not endure much quaffing67. Return to your subject, Babbalanja. Assume now, Babbalanja,—assume, my dear prince—assume it, assume it, I say!—Why don't you?"
"I am willing to assume any thing you please, my lord: what is it?"
"Ah! yes!—Assume that—that upon returning home, you should find your wife had newly wedded68, under the—the—the metaphysical presumption69, that being no longer visible, you—you Azzageddi, had departed this life; in other words, out of sight, out of mind; what then, my dear prince?"
"Would you?—then—then so much for your metaphysics, Bab—Babbalanja."
Babbalanja rose to his feet, muttering to himself—"Is this assumed, or real?—Can a demi-god be mastered by wine? Yet, the old mythologies71 make bacchanals of the gods. But he was wondrous72 keen! He felled me, ere he fell himself."
"Yoomy, my lord Media is in a very merry mood to-day," whispered Mohi, "but his counterfeit73 was not well done. No, no, a bacchanal is not used to be so logical in his cups."
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1
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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2
curtail
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| vt.截短，缩短；削减 | |
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3
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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4
musing
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| 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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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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6
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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7
hermits
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| （尤指早期基督教的）隐居修道士，隐士，遁世者( hermit的名词复数 ) | |
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8
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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9
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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10
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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11
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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12
smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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13
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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14
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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15
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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16
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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boors
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| n.农民( boor的名词复数 )；乡下佬；没礼貌的人；粗野的人 | |
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18
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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immortals
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| 不朽的人物( immortal的名词复数 )； 永生不朽者 | |
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20
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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21
patricians
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| n.（古罗马的）统治阶层成员( patrician的名词复数 )；贵族，显贵 | |
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22
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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23
plebeians
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| n.平民( plebeian的名词复数 )；庶民；平民百姓；平庸粗俗的人 | |
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24
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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25
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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27
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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28
sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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29
consecrated
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| 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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30
attainments
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| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
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31
outstripped
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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34
discoursing
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| 演说（discourse的现在分词形式） | |
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35
precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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36
spoke
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| 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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37
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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38
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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39
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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41
propound
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| v.提出 | |
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42
smacks
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| 掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌 | |
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43
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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44
tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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45
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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46
substantive
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| adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体 | |
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47
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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48
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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49
beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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50
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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51
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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52
jot
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| n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下 | |
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53
ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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54
tacks
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| 大头钉( tack的名词复数 )； 平头钉； 航向； 方法 | |
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55
foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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56
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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57
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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58
constellations
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| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
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firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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60
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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61
scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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62
chirp
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| v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫 | |
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63
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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64
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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65
inebriated
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| adj.酒醉的 | |
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66
skeptical
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| adj.怀疑的，多疑的 | |
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67
quaffing
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| v.痛饮( quaff的现在分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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68
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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70
demolish
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| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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71
mythologies
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| 神话学( mythology的名词复数 )； 神话（总称）； 虚构的事实； 错误的观点 | |
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72
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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73
counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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