The World
West, West! West, West! Whitherward point Hope and prophet-fingers; whitherward, at sun-set, kneel all worshipers of fire; whitherward in mid1-ocean, the great whales turn to die; whitherward face all the Moslem2 dead in Persia; whitherward lie Heaven and Hell!—West, West! Whitherward mankind and empires—flocks, caravans3, armies, navies; worlds, suns, and stars all wend!—West, West!—Oh boundless4 boundary! Eternal goal! Whitherward rush, in thousand worlds, ten thousand thousand keels! Beacon5, by which the universe is steered6!—Like the north-star, attracting all needles! Unattainable forever; but forever leading to great things this side thyself!—Hive of all sunsets!— Gabriel's pinions7 may not overtake thee!
Over balmy waves, still westward8 sailing! From dawn till eve, the bright, bright days sped on, chased by the gloomy nights; and, in glory dying, lent their luster9 to the starry10 skies. So, long the radiant dolphins fly before the sable11 sharks but seized, and torn in flames—die, burning:—their last splendor12 left, in sparkling scales that float along the sea.
Cymbals13, drums and psalteries! the air beats like a pulse with music! —High land! high land! and moving lights, and painted lanterns!—What grand shore is this?
"Reverence14 we render thee, Old Orienda!" cried Media, with bared brow, "Original of all empires and emperors!—a crowned king salutes15 thee!"
"Mardi's father-land!" cried Mohi, "grandsire of the nations,—hail!"
"All hail!" cried Yoomy. "Kings and sages16 hither coming, should come like palmers,—scrip and staff! Oh Orienda! thou wert our East, where first dawned song and science, with Mardi's primal17 mornings! But now, how changed! the dawn of light become a darkness, which we kindle18 with the gleam of spears! On the world's ancestral hearth19, we spill our brothers' blood!"
"Herein," said Babbalanja, "have many distant tribes proved parricidal20. In times gone by, Luzianna hither sent her prom; Franko, her scores of captains; and the Dykemen, their peddler hosts, with yard-stick spears! But thou, oh Bello! lord of the empire lineage! Noah of the moderns. Sire of the long line of nations yet in germ!— thou, Bello, and thy locust21 armies, are the present curse of Orienda. Down ancient streams, from holy plains, in rafts thy murdered float! The pestilence22 that thins thy armies here, is bred of corpses23, made by thee. Maramma's priests, thy pious24 heralds25, loud proclaim that of all pagans, Orienda's most resist the truth!—ay! vain all pious voices, that speak from clouds of war! The march of conquest through wild provinces, may be the march of Mind; but not the march of Love."
"Thou, Bello!" cried Yoomy, "would'st wrest26 the crook27 from Alma's hand, and place in it a spear. But vain to make a conqueror28 of him, who put off the purple when he came to Mardi; and declining gilded29 miters, entered the nations meekly30 on an ass31."
"Oh curse of commerce!" cried Babbalanja, "that it barters32 souls for gold. Bello! with opium33, thou wouldst drug this land, and murder it in sleep!—And what boot thy conquests here? Seed sown by spears but seldom springs; and harvests reaped thereby34, are poisoned by the sickle's edge."
Yet on, and on we coasted; counting not the days.
"Oh, folds and flocks of nations! dusky tribes innumerable!" cried Yoomy, "camped on plains and steppes; on thousand mountains, worshiping the stars; in thousand valleys, offering up first-fruits, till all the forests seem in flames;—where, in fire, the widow's spirit mounts to meet her lord!—Oh, Orienda, in thee 'tis vain to seek our Yillah!"
"How dark as death the night!" said Mohi, shaking the dew from his braids, "the Heavens blaze not here with stars, as over Dominora's land, and broad Vivenza."
One only constellation35 was beheld36; but every star was brilliant as the one, that promises the morning. That constellation was the Crux- Australis,—the badge, and type of Alma.
And now, southwest we steered, till another island vast, was reached; —Hamora! far trending toward the Antarctic Pole.
Coasting on by barbarous beaches, where painted men, with spears, charged on all attempts to land, at length we rounded a mighty37 bluff38, lit by a beacon; and heard a bugle39 call:—Bello's! hurrying to their quarters, the World-End's garrison40.
Here, the sea rolled high, in mountain surges: mid which, we toiled41 and strained, as if ascending42 cliffs of Caucasus.
But not long thus. As when from howling Rhoetian heights, the traveler spies green Lombardy below, and downward rushes toward that pleasant plain; so, sloping from long rolling swells43, at last we launched upon the calm lagoon44.
But as we northward45 sailed, once more the storm-trump blew, and charger-like, the seas ran mustering46 to the call; and in battalions47 crouched48 before a towering rock, far distant from the main. No moon, eclipsed in Egypt's skies, looked half so lone49. But from out that darkness, on the loftiest peak, Bello's standard waved.
"Oh rifled tomb!" cried Babbalanja. "Wherein lay the Mars and Moloch of our times, whose constellated crown, was gemmed50 with diadems51. Thou god of war! who didst seem the devouring52 Beast of the Apocalypse; casting so vast a shadow over Mardi, that yet it lingers in old Franko's vale; where still they start at thy tremendous ghost; and, late, have hailed a phantom53, King! Almighty54 hero-spell! that after the lapse55 of half a century, can so bewitch all hearts! But one drop of hero-blood will deify a fool.
"Franko! thou wouldst be free; yet thy free homage56 is to the buried ashes of a King; thy first choice, the exaltation of his race. In furious fires, thou burn'st Ludwig's throne; and over thy new-made chieftain's portal, in golden letters print'st—'The Palace of our Lord!' In thy New Dispensation, thou cleavest to the exploded Law. And on Freedom's altar—ah, I fear—still, may slay57 thy hecatombs. But Freedom turns away; she is sick with burnt blood of offerings. Other rituals she loves; and like Oro, unseen herself, would be worshiped only by invisibles. Of long drawn58 cavalcades59, pompous60 processions, frenzied61 banners, mystic music, marching nations, she will none. Oh, may thy peaceful Future, Franko, sanctify thy bloody62 Past. Let not history say; 'To her old gods, she turned again.'"
This rocky islet passed, the sea went down; once more we neared Hamora's western shore. In the deep darkness, here and there, its margin63 was lit up by foam-white, breaking billows rolled over from Vivenza's strand64, and down from northward Dominora; marking places where light was breaking in, upon the interior's jungle-gloom.
In heavy sighs, the night-winds from shore came over us.
"Ah, vain to seek sweet Yillah here," cried Yoomy.—"Poor land! curst of man, not Oro! how thou faintest for thy children, torn from thy soil, to till a stranger's. Vivenza! did these winds not spend their plaints, ere reaching thee, thy every vale would echo them. Oh, tribe of Hamo! thy cup of woe65 so brims, that soon it must overflow66 upon the land which holds ye thralls67. No misery68 born of crime, but spreads and poisons wide. Suffering hunteth sin, as the gaunt hound the hare, and tears it in the greenest brakes."
Still on we sailed: and after many tranquil69 days and nights, a storm came down, and burst its thousand bombs. The lightnings forked and flashed; the waters boiled; our three prows70 lifted themselves in supplication71; but the billows smote72 them as they reared.
Said Babbalanja, bowing to the blast: "Thus, oh Vivenza! retribution works! Though long delayed, it comes at last—Judgment, with all her bolts."
Now, a current seized us, and like three darts73, our keels sped eastward74, through a narrow strait, far in, upon a smooth expanse, an inland ocean, without a throb75.
On our left, Porpheero's southwest point, a mighty rock, long tiers of galleries within, deck on deck; and flag-staffs, like an admiral's masts: a line-of-battle-ship, all purple stone, and anchored in the sea. Here Bello's lion crouched; and, through a thousand port-holes, eyed the world.
On our right, Hamora's northern shore gleamed thick with crescents; numerous as the crosses along the opposing strand.
"How vain to say, that progress is the test of truth, my lord," said Babbalanja, "when, after many centuries, those crescents yet unwaning shine, and count a devotee for every worshiper of yonder crosses. Truth and Merit have other symbols than success; and in this mortal race, all competitors may enter; and the field is clear for all. Side by side, Lies run with Truths, and fools with wise; but, like geometric lines, though they pierce infinity76, never may they join."
Over that tideless sea we sailed; and landed right, and landed left; but the maiden77 never found; till, at last, we gained the water's limit; and inland saw great pointed78 masses, crowned with halos.
"Granite79 continents," cried Babbalanja, "that seem created like the planets, not built with human hands. Lo, Landmarks80! upon whose flanks Time leaves its traces, like old tide-rips of diluvian seas."
As, after wandering round and round some purple dell, deep in a boundless prairie's heart, the baffled hunter plunges81 in; then, despairing, turns once more to gain the open plain; even so we seekers now curved round our keels; and from that inland sea emerged. The universe again before us; our quest, as wide.
点击收听单词发音
1 mid | |
adj.中央的,中间的 | |
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2 Moslem | |
n.回教徒,穆罕默德信徒;adj.回教徒的,回教的 | |
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3 caravans | |
(可供居住的)拖车(通常由机动车拖行)( caravan的名词复数 ); 篷车; (穿过沙漠地带的)旅行队(如商队) | |
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4 boundless | |
adj.无限的;无边无际的;巨大的 | |
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5 beacon | |
n.烽火,(警告用的)闪火灯,灯塔 | |
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6 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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7 pinions | |
v.抓住[捆住](双臂)( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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8 westward | |
n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 | |
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9 luster | |
n.光辉;光泽,光亮;荣誉 | |
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10 starry | |
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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11 sable | |
n.黑貂;adj.黑色的 | |
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12 splendor | |
n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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13 cymbals | |
pl.铙钹 | |
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14 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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15 salutes | |
n.致敬,欢迎,敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎,致敬( salute的第三人称单数 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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16 sages | |
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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17 primal | |
adj.原始的;最重要的 | |
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18 kindle | |
v.点燃,着火 | |
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19 hearth | |
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面 | |
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20 parricidal | |
adj.杀父母的,杀长上者 | |
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21 locust | |
n.蝗虫;洋槐,刺槐 | |
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22 pestilence | |
n.瘟疫 | |
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23 corpses | |
n.死尸,尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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24 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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25 heralds | |
n.使者( herald的名词复数 );预报者;预兆;传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 );宣布(好或重要) | |
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26 wrest | |
n.扭,拧,猛夺;v.夺取,猛扭,歪曲 | |
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27 crook | |
v.使弯曲;n.小偷,骗子,贼;弯曲(处) | |
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28 conqueror | |
n.征服者,胜利者 | |
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29 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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30 meekly | |
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地 | |
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31 ass | |
n.驴;傻瓜,蠢笨的人 | |
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32 barters | |
n.物物交换,易货( barter的名词复数 )v.作物物交换,以货换货( barter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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33 opium | |
n.鸦片;adj.鸦片的 | |
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34 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
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35 constellation | |
n.星座n.灿烂的一群 | |
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36 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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37 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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38 bluff | |
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗 | |
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39 bugle | |
n.军号,号角,喇叭;v.吹号,吹号召集 | |
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40 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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41 toiled | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
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42 ascending | |
adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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43 swells | |
增强( swell的第三人称单数 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情) | |
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44 lagoon | |
n.泻湖,咸水湖 | |
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45 northward | |
adv.向北;n.北方的地区 | |
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46 mustering | |
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的现在分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 | |
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47 battalions | |
n.(陆军的)一营(大约有一千兵士)( battalion的名词复数 );协同作战的部队;军队;(组织在一起工作的)队伍 | |
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48 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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50 gemmed | |
点缀(gem的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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51 diadems | |
n.王冠,王权,带状头饰( diadem的名词复数 ) | |
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52 devouring | |
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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53 phantom | |
n.幻影,虚位,幽灵;adj.错觉的,幻影的,幽灵的 | |
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54 almighty | |
adj.全能的,万能的;很大的,很强的 | |
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55 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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56 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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57 slay | |
v.杀死,宰杀,杀戮 | |
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58 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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59 cavalcades | |
n.骑马队伍,车队( cavalcade的名词复数 ) | |
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60 pompous | |
adj.傲慢的,自大的;夸大的;豪华的 | |
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61 frenzied | |
a.激怒的;疯狂的 | |
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62 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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63 margin | |
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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64 strand | |
vt.使(船)搁浅,使(某人)困于(某地) | |
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65 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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66 overflow | |
v.(使)外溢,(使)溢出;溢出,流出,漫出 | |
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67 thralls | |
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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68 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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69 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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70 prows | |
n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
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71 supplication | |
n.恳求,祈愿,哀求 | |
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72 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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73 darts | |
n.掷飞镖游戏;飞镖( dart的名词复数 );急驰,飞奔v.投掷,投射( dart的第三人称单数 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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74 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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75 throb | |
v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动 | |
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76 infinity | |
n.无限,无穷,大量 | |
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77 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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78 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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79 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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80 landmarks | |
n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 );目标;(标志重要阶段的)里程碑 ~ (in sth);有历史意义的建筑物(或遗址) | |
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81 plunges | |
n.跳进,投入vt.使投入,使插入,使陷入vi.投入,跳进,陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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