Without Getting At It
Purposing a visit to Kaleedoni, a country integrally united to Dominora, our course now lay northward1 along the western white cliffs of the isle3. But finding the wind ahead, and the current too strong for our paddlers, we were fain to forego our destination; Babbalanja observing, that since in Dominora we had not found Yillah, then in Kaleedoni the maiden4 could not be lurking7.
And now, some conversation ensued concerning the country we were prevented from visiting. Our chronicler narrated8 many fine things of its people; extolling9 their bravery in war, their amiability10 in peace, their devotion in religion, their penetration11 in philosophy, their simplicity12 and sweetness in song, their loving-kindness and frugality13 in all things domestic:—running over a long catalogue of heroes, meta-physicians, bards14, and good men.
But as all virtues15 are convertible16 into vices17, so in some cases did the best traits of these people degenerate18. Their frugality too often became parsimony19; their devotion grim bigotry20; and all this in a greater degree perhaps than could be predicated of the more immediate21 subjects of King Bello.
In Kaleedoni was much to awaken22 the fervor23 of its bards. Upland and lowland were full of the picturesque24; and many unsung lyrics26 yet lurked27 in her glens. Among her blue, heathy hills, lingered many tribes, who in their wild and tattooed28 attire29, still preserved the garb30 of the mightiest31 nation of old times. They bared the knee, in token that it was honorable as the face, since it had never been bent32.
While Braid-Beard was recounting these things, the currents were sweeping33 us over a strait, toward a deep green island, bewitching to behold34.
Not greener that midmost terrace of the Andes, which under a torrid meridian35 steeps fair Quito in the dews of a perpetual spring;—not greener the nine thousand feet of Pirohitee's tall peak, which, rising from out the warm bosom36 of Tahiti, carries all summer with it into the clouds;—nay, not greener the famed gardens of Cyrus,—than the vernal lawn, the knoll37, the dale of beautiful Verdanna.
"Land of caitiff curs!" cried Media.
"Isle, whose future is in its past. Hearth-stone, from which its children run," said Babbalanja.
"I can not read thy chronicles for blood, Verdanna," murmured Mohi.
Gliding39 near, we would have landed, but the rolling surf forbade. Then thrice we circumnavigated the isle for a smooth, clear beach; but it was not found.
"My lord," said Yoomy, "while we tarried with King Bello, I heard much of the feud41 between Dominora and this unhappy shore. Yet is not Verdanna as a child of King Bello's?"
"Yes, minstrel, a step-child," said Mohi.
"By way of enlarging his family circle," said Babbalanja, "an old lion once introduced a deserted42 young stag to his den5; but the stag never became domesticated43, and would still charge upon his foster-brothers. —Verdanna is not of the flesh and blood of Dominora, whence, in good part, these dissensions."
"But one way, Yoomy:—By filling up this strait with dry land; for, divided by water, we Mardians must ever remain more or less divided at heart. Though Kaleedoni was united to Dominora long previous to the union of Verdanna, yet Kaleedoni occasions Bello no disquiet45; for, geographically46 one, the two populations insensibly blend at the point of junction47. No hostile strait flows between the arms, that to embrace must touch."
"But, Babbalanja," said Yoomy, "what asks Verdanna of Dominora, that Verdanna so clamors at the denial?"
"They are arrant48 cannibals, Yoomy," said Media, "and desire the privilege of eating each other up."
"King Bello's idea," said Babbalanja; "but, in these things, my lord, you demi-gods are ever unanimous. But, whatever be Verdanna's demands, Bello persists in rejecting them."
"Why not grant every thing she asks, even to renouncing49 all claim upon the isle," said Mohi; "for thus, Bello would rid himself of many perplexities."
"And think you, old man," said Media, "that, bane or blessing50, Bello will yield his birthright? Will a tri-crowned king resign his triple diadem51? And even did Bello what you propose he would only breed still greater perplexities. For if granted, full soon would Verdanna be glad to surrender many things she demands. And all she now asks, she has had in times past; but without turning it to advantage:—and is she wiser now?"
"Does she not demand her harvests, my lord?" said Yoomy, "and has not the reaper52 a right to his sheaf?"
"But if the reaper reaps on his own harvest-field, whose then the sheaf, my lord?" said Babbalanja.
"His for whom he reaps—his lord's!"
"Then let the reaper go with sickle54 and with sword," said Yoomy, "with one hand, cut down the bearded grain; and with the other, smite55 his bearded lords."
"Thou growest fierce, in thy lyric25 moods, my warlike dove," said 'Media, blandly56. "But for thee, philosopher, know thou, that Verdanna's men are of blood and brain inferior to Bello's native race; and the better Mardian must ever rule."
"Verdanna inferior to Dominora, my lord!—Has she produced no bards, no orators57, no wits, no patriots58? Mohi, unroll thy chronicles! Tell me, if Verdanna may not claim full many a star along King Bello's tattooed arm of Fame?
"Even so," said Mohi. "Many chapters bear you out."
"But my lord," said Babbalanja, "as truth, omnipresent, lurks59 in all things, even in lies: so, does some germ of it lurk6 in the calumnies60 heaped on the people of this land. For though they justly boast of many lustrous61 names, these jewels gem62 no splendid robe. And though like a bower63 of grapes, Verdanna is full of gushing64 juices, spouting65 out in bright sallies of wit, yet not all her grapes make wine; and here and there, hang goodly clusters mildewed66; or half devoured67 by worms, bred in their own tendrils."
"Drop, drop your grapes and metaphors68!" cried Media. "Bring forth69 your thoughts like men; let them come naked into Mardi.—What do you mean, Babbalanja?"
"This, my lord, Verdanna's worst evils are her own, not of another's giving. Her own hand is her own undoer. She stabs herself with bigotry, superstition70, divided councils, domestic feuds71, ignorance, temerity72; she wills, but does not; her East is one black storm-cloud, that never bursts; her utmost fight is a defiance73; she showers reproaches, where she should rain down blows. She stands a mastiff baying at the moon."
"Tropes on tropes!" said. Media. "Let me tell the tale,—straight- forward like a line. Verdanna is a lunatic—"
"A trope! my lord," cried Babbalanja.
"My tropes are not tropes," said Media, "but yours are.—Verdanna is a lunatic, that after vainly striving to cut another's throat, grimaces74 before a standing75 pool and threatens to cut his own. And is such a madman to be intrusted with himself? No; let another govern him, who is ungovernable to himself Ay, and tight hold the rein76; and curb77, and rasp the bit. Do I exaggerate?—Mohi, tell me, if, save one lucid78 interval79, Verdanna, while independent of Dominora, ever discreetly80 conducted her affairs? Was she not always full of fights and factions81? And what first brought her under the sway of Bello's scepter? Did not her own Chief Dermoddi fly to Bello's ancestor for protection against his own seditious subjects? And thereby82 did not her own king unking himself? What wonder, then, and where the wrong, if Henro, Bello's conquering sire, seized the diadem?"
"What my lord cites is true," said Mohi, "but cite no more, I pray; lest, you harm your cause."
"Yet for all this, Babbalanja," said Media, "Bello but holds lunatic Verdanna's lands in trust."
"Ay, if he can. What can be done, may be: that's the Greed of demi- gods."
"Alas, alas!" cried Yoomy, "why war with words over this poor, suffering land. See! for all her bloom, her people starve; perish her yams, ere taken from the soil; the blight85 of heaven seems upon them."
"Not so," said Media. "Heaven sends no blights86. Verdanna will not learn. And if from one season's rottenss, rottenness they sow again, rottenness must they reap. But Yoomy, you seem earnest in this matter;—come: on all hands it is granted that evils exist in Verdanna; now sweet Sympathizer, what must the royal Bello do to mend them?"
"What would you do, Babbalanja," said Media.
"Mohi, what you?" asked the philosopher.
"And what would the company do?" added Mohi.
"Now, though these evils pose us all," said Babbalanja, "there lately died in Verdanna, one, who set about curing them in a humane88 and peaceable way, waving war and bloodshed. That man was Konno. Under a huge caldron, he kept a roaring fire."
"Well, Azzageddi, how could that answer his purpose?" asked Media.
"Nothing better, my lord. His fire boiled his bread-fruit; and so convinced were his countrymen, that he was well employed, that they almost stripped their scanty89 orchards90 to fill his caldron."
"Konno was a knave," said Mohi.
"Your pardon, old man, but that is only known to his ghost, not to us. At any rate he was a great man; for even assuming he cajoled his country, no common man could have done it."
"Babbalanja," said Mohi, "my lord has been pleased to pronounce Verdanna crazy; now, may not her craziness arise from the irritating, tantalizing91 practices of Dominora?"
"Doubtless, Braid-Beard, many of the extravagances of Verdanna, are in good part to be ascribed to the cause you mention; but, to be impartial92, none the less does Verdanna essay to taunt93 and provoke Dominora; yet not with the like result. Perceive you, Braid-Beard, that the trade-wind blows dead across this strait from Dominora, and not from Verdanna? Hence, when King Bello's men fling gibes94 and insults, every missile hits; but those of Verdanna are blown back in its teeth: her enemies jeering95 her again and again."
"King Bello's men are dastards for that," cried Yoomy. "It shows neither sense, nor spirit, nor humanity," said Babbalanja.
"All wide of the mark," cried Media. "What is to be done for Verdanna?"
"What will she do for herself?" said Babbalanja.
"Philosopher, you are an extraordinary sage; and since sages96 should be seers, reveal Verdanna's future."
"My lord, you will ever find true prophets, prudent97; nor will any prophet risk his reputation upon predicting aught concerning this land. The isles98 are Oro's. Nevertheless, he who doctors Verdanna aright, will first medicine King Bello; who in some things is, himself a patient, though he would fain be a physician. However, my lord, there is a demon99 of a doctor in Mardi, who at last deals with these desperate cases. He employs only pills, picked off the Conroupta Quiancensis tree."
"And what sort of a vegetable is that?" asked Mohi. "Consult the botanists," said Babbalanja.
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1
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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8
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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extolling
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| v.赞美( extoll的现在分词 )；赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的现在分词 ) | |
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amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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frugality
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| n.节约，节俭 | |
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bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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convertible
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| adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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bigotry
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| n.偏见，偏执，持偏见的行为[态度]等 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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lyric
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| n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的 | |
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lyrics
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| n.歌词 | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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meridian
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| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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domesticated
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| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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45
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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geographically
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| adv.地理学上，在地理上，地理方面 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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arrant
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| adj.极端的；最大的 | |
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49
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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50
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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51
diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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52
reaper
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| n.收割者，收割机 | |
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53
cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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54
sickle
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| n.镰刀 | |
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55
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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56
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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57
orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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58
patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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59
lurks
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| n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式） | |
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60
calumnies
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| n.诬蔑，诽谤，中伤（的话）( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
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61
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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64
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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65
spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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66
mildewed
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| adj.发了霉的，陈腐的，长了霉花的v.（使）发霉，（使）长霉( mildew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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68
metaphors
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| 隐喻( metaphor的名词复数 ) | |
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69
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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71
feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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72
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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73
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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74
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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75
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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76
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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77
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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78
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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79
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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80
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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81
factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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82
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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83
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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84
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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85
blight
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| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
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86
blights
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| 使凋萎( blight的第三人称单数 )； 使颓丧； 损害； 妨害 | |
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87
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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88
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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89
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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90
orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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91
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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92
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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93
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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94
gibes
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| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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95
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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96
sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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97
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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98
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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99
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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