But we were warned by the people, that in that portion of Vivenza, whither we were going, much would be seen repulsive5 to strangers. Such things, however, indulgent visitors overlooked. For themselves, they were well aware of those evils. Northern Vivenza had done all it could to assuage6 them; but in vain; the inhabitants of those southern valleys were a fiery7, and intractable race; heeding8 neither expostulations, nor entreaties9. They were wedded10 to their ways. Nay11, they swore, that if the northern tribes persisted in intermeddlings, they would dissolve the common alliance, and establish a distinct confederacy among themselves.
Our coasting voyage at an end, our keels grated the beach among many prostrate12 palms, decaying, and washed by the billows. Though part and parcel of the shore we had left, this region seemed another land. Fewer thriving thingswere seen; fewer cheerful sounds were heard.
It was a great plain where we landed; and there, under a burning sun, hundreds of collared men were toiling14 in trenches15, filled with the taro16 plant; a root most flourishing in that soil. Standing17 grimly over these, were men unlike them; armed with long thongs18, which descended19 upon the toilers, and made wounds. Blood and sweat mixed; and in great drops, fell.
"Who eat these plants thus nourished?" cried Yoomy. "Are these men?" asked Babbalanja.
"Which mean you?" said Mohi.
Heeding him not, Babbalanja advanced toward the fore-most of those with the thongs,—one Nulli: a cadaverous, ghost-like man; with a low ridge20 of forehead; hair, steel-gray; and wondrous21 eyes;—bright, nimble, as the twin Corposant balls, playing about the ends of ships' royal-yards in gales22.
The sun passed under a cloud; and Nulli, darting23 at Babbalanja those wondrous eyes, there fell upon him a baleful glare.
"Have they souls?" he asked, pointing to the serfs.
"No," said Nulli, "their ancestors may have had; but their souls have been bred out of their descendants; as the instinct of scent24 is killed in pointers."
Approaching one of the serfs, Media took him by the hand, and felt of it long; and looked into his eyes; and placed his ear to his side; and exclaimed, "Surely this being has flesh that is warm; he has Oro in his eye; and a heart in him that beats. I swear he is a man."
"Is this our lord the king?" cried Mohi, starting.
"What art thou," said Babbalanja to the serf. "Dost ever feel in thee a sense of right and wrong? Art ever glad or sad?—They tell us thou art not a man:—speak, then, for thyself; say, whether thou beliest thy Maker25."
"Speak not of my Maker to me. Under the lash26, I believe my masters, and account myself a brute27; but in my dreams, bethink myself an angel. But I am bond; and my little ones;—their mother's milk is gall28."
"Just Oro!" cried Yoomy, "do no thunders roll,—no lightnings flash in this accursed land!"
"Incendiaries!" cried he with the wondrous eyes, "come ye, firebrands, to light the flame of revolt? Know ye not, that here are many serfs, who, incited32 to obtain their liberty, might wreak33 some dreadful vengeance34? Avaunt, thou king! thou horrified35 at this? Go back to Odo, and right her wrongs! These serfs are happier than thine; though thine, no collars wear; more happy as they are, than if free. Are they not fed, clothed, and cared for? Thy serfs pine for food: never yet did these; who have no thoughts, no cares."
"Thoughts and cares are life, and liberty, and immortality36!" cried Babbalanja; "and are their souls, then, blown out as candles?"
"Ranter! they are content," cried Nulli. "They shed no tears."
"Oh fettered38 sons of fettered mothers, conceived and born in manacles," cried Yoomy; "dragging them through life; and falling with them, clanking in the grave:—oh, beings as ourselves, how my stiff arm shivers to avenge39 you! 'Twere absolution for the matricide, to strike one rivet40 from your chains. My heart outswells its home!"
"Oro! Art thou?" cried Babbalanja; "and doth this thing exist? It shakes my little faith." Then, turning upon Nulli, "How can ye abide41 to sway this curs'd dominion42?"
"Peace, fanatic43! Who else may till unwholesome fields, but these? And as these beings are, so shall they remain; 'tis right and righteous! Maramma champions it!—I swear it! The first blow struck for them, dissolves the union of Vivenza's vales. The northern tribes well know it; and know me."
Said Media, "Yet if—"
"No more! another word, and, king as thou art, thou shalt be dungeoned:—here, there is such a law; thou art not among the northern tribes."
"And this is freedom!" murmured Media; "when heaven's own voice is throttled44. And were these serfs to rise, and fight for it; like dogs, they would be hunted down by her pretended sons!"
"Pray, heaven!" cried Yoomy, "they may yet find a way to loose their bonds without one drop of blood. But hear me, Oro! were there no other way, and should their masters not relent, all honest hearts must cheer this tribe of Hamo on; though they cut their chains with blades thrice edged, and gory45 to the haft! 'Tis right to fight for freedom, whoever be the thrall31."
"These South savannahs may yet prove battle-fields," said Mohi; gloomily, as we retraced46 our steps.
"Be it," said Yoomy. "Oro will van the right."
"Not always has it proved so," said Babbalanja. "Oft-times, the right fights single-handed against the world; and Oro champions none. In all things, man's own battles, man himself must fight. Yoomy: so far as feeling goes, your sympathies are not more hot than mine; but for these serfs you would cross spears; yet, I would not. Better present woes47 for some, than future woes for all."
"No need to fight," cried Yoomy, "to liberate48 that tribe of Hamo instantly; a way may be found, and no irretrievable evil ensue."
"Point it out, and be blessed, Yoomy."
"That is for Vivenza; but the head is dull, where the heart is cold."
"My lord," said Babbalanja, "you have startled us by your kingly sympathy for suffering; say thou, then, in what wise manner it shall be relieved."
"That is for Vivenza," said Media.
"Mohi, you are old: speak thou."
"Let Vivenza speak," said Mohi.
"Thus then we all agree; and weeping all but echo hard-hearted Nulli. Tears are not swords and wrongs seem almost natural as rights. For the righteous to suppress an evil, is sometimes harder than for others to uphold it. Humanity cries out against this vast enormity:— not one man knows a prudent49 remedy. Blame not, then, the North; and wisely judge the South. Ere, as a nation, they became responsible, this thing was planted in their midst. Such roots strike deep. Place to-day those serfs in Dominora; and with them, all Vivenza's Past;— and serfs, for many years, in Dominora, they would be. Easy is it to stand afar and rail. All men are censors50 who have lungs. We can say, the stars are wrongly marshaled. Blind men say the sun is blind. A thousand muscles wag our tongues; though our tongues were housed, that they might have a home. Whose is free from crime, let him cross himself—but hold his cross upon his lips. That he is not bad, is not of him. Potters' clay and wax are all, molded by hands invisible. The soil decides the man. And, ere birth, man wills not to be born here or there. These southern tribes have grown up with this thing; bond-women were their nurses, and bondmen serve them still. Nor are all their serfs such wretches51 as those we saw. Some seem happy: yet not as men. Unmanned, they know not what they are. And though, of all the south, Nulli must stand almost alone in his insensate creed52; yet, to all wrong-doers, custom backs the sense of wrong. And if to every Mardian, conscience be the awarder of its own doom53; then, of these tribes, many shall be found exempted54 from the least penalty of this sin. But sin it is, no less;—a blot55, foul56 as the crater-pool of hell; it puts out the sun at noon; it parches57 all fertility; and, conscience or no conscience—ere he die—let every master who wrenches58 bond-babe from mother, that the nipple tear; unwreathes the arms of sisters; or cuts the holy unity59 in twain; till apart fall man and wife, like one bleeding body cleft:—let that master thrice shrive his soul; take every sacrament; on his bended knees give up the ghost;—yet shall he die despairing; and live again, to die forever damned. The future is all hieroglyphics60. Who may read? But, methinks the great laggard61 Time must now march up apace, and somehow befriend these thralls. It can not be, that misery62 is perpetually entailed63; though, in a land proscribing64 primogeniture, the first-born and last of Hamo's tribe must still succeed to all their sires' wrongs. Yes. Time—all- healing Time—Time, great Philanthropist!—Time must befriend these thralls!"
"Oro grant it!" cried Yoomy "and let Mardi say, amen!"
"Amen! amen! amen!" cried echoes echoing echoes.
We traversed many of these southern vales; but as in Dominora,—so, throughout Vivenza, North and South,—Yillah harbored not.
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1
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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2
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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3
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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4
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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5
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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6
assuage
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| v.缓和，减轻，镇定 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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8
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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9
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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10
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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11
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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12
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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13
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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14
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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15
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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16
taro
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| n.芋，芋头 | |
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17
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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18
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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19
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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20
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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21
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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22
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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23
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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24
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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25
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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26
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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29
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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30
thralls
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| n.奴隶( thrall的名词复数 )；奴役；奴隶制；奴隶般受支配的人 | |
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31
thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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32
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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34
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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35
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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36
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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37
frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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38
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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40
rivet
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| n.铆钉；vt.铆接，铆牢；集中(目光或注意力) | |
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41
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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42
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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43
fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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44
throttled
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| v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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45
gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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46
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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47
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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48
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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49
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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50
censors
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| 删剪（书籍、电影等中被认为犯忌、违反道德或政治上危险的内容）( censor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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51
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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52
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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53
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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54
exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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56
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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57
parches
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| v.（使）焦干， （使）干透( parch的第三人称单数 )；使（某人）极口渴 | |
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58
wrenches
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| n.一拧( wrench的名词复数 )；（身体关节的）扭伤；扳手；（尤指离别的）悲痛v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的第三人称单数 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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59
unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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60
hieroglyphics
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| n.pl.象形文字 | |
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61
laggard
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| n.落后者；adj.缓慢的，落后的 | |
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62
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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63
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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64
proscribing
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| v.正式宣布（某事物）有危险或被禁止( proscribe的现在分词 ) | |
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