But though my hopes revived not from their ashes; yet, so much of Mardi had we searched, it seemed as if the long pursuit must, ere many moons, be ended; whether for weal or woe2, my frenzy3 sometimes reeked4 not.
After its first fair morning flushings, all that day was overcast5. We sailed upon an angry sea, beneath an angry sky. Deep scowled6 on deep; and in dun vapors7, the blinded sun went down, unseen; though full toward the West our three prows8 were pointed9; steadfast10 as three printed points upon the compass-card.
"When we set sail from Odo, 'twas a glorious morn in spring," said Yoomy; "toward the rising sun we steered11. But now, beneath autumnal night-clouds, we hasten to its setting."
"How now?" cried Media; "why is the minstrel mournful?—He whose place it is to chase away despondency: not be its minister."
"Ah, my lord, so thou thinkest. But better can my verses soothe12 the sad, than make them light of heart. Nor are we minstrels so gay of soul as Mardi deems us. The brook13 that sings the sweetest, murmurs14 through the loneliest woods:
In vain we recall perished warblings:
Spring birds, to far climes, wing their way!"
As Yoomy thus sang; unmindful of the lay, with paddle plying17, in low, pleasant tones, thus hummed to himself our bowsman, a gamesome wight:—
Ho! merrily ho! we paddlers sail!
Ho! over sea-dingle, and dale!—
Our pulses fly,
Our hearts beat high,
Ho! merrily, merrily, ho!
But a sudden splash, and a shrill18, gurgling sound, like that of a fountain subsiding19, now broke upon the air. Then all was still, save the rush of the waves by our keels.
"Save him! Put back!"
From his elevated seat, the merry bowsman, too gleefully reaching forward, had fallen into the lagoon20.
With all haste, our speeding canoes were reversed; but not till we had darted21 in upon another darkness than that in which the bowsman fell.
As, blindly, we groped back, deep Night dived deeper down in the sea.
"drop paddles all, and list."
Holding their breath, over the six gunwales all now leaned; but the only moans were the wind's.
Long time we lay thus; then slowly crossed and recrossed our track, almost hopeless; but yet loth to leave him who, with a song in his mouth, died and was buried in a breath.
"Let us away," said Media—"why seek more? He is gone."
"Ay, gone," said Babbalanja, "and whither? But a moment since, he was among us: now, the fixed22 stars are not more remote than he. So far off, can he live? Oh, Oro! this death thou ordainest, unmans the manliest23. Say not nay24, my lord. Let us not speak behind Death's back. Hard and horrible is it to die: blindfold25 to leap from life's verge26! But thus, in clouds of dust, and with a trampling27 as of hoofs28, the generations disappear; death driving them all into his treacherous29 fold, as wild Indians the bison herds30. Nay, nay, Death is Life's last despair. Hard and horrible is it to die. Oro himself, in Alma, died not without a groan31. Yet why, why live? Life is wearisome to all: the same dull round. Day and night, summer and winter, round about us revolving32 for aye. One moment lived, is a life. No new stars appear in the sky; no new lights in the soul. Yet, of changes there are many. For though, with rapt sight, in childhood, we behold33 many strange things beneath the moon, and all Mardi looks a tented fair— how soon every thing fades. All of us, in our very bodies, outlive our own selves. I think of green youth as of a merry playmate departed; and to shake hands, and be pleasant with my old age, seems in prospect34 even harder, than to draw a cold stranger to my bosom35. But old age is not for me. I am not of the stuff that grows old. This Mardi is not our home. Up and down we wander, like exiles transported to a planet afar:—'tis not the world we were born in; not the world once so lightsome and gay; not the world where we once merrily danced, dined, and supped; and wooed, and wedded36 our long-buried wives. Then let us depart. But whither? We push ourselves forward then, start back in affright. Essay it again, and flee. Hard to live; hard to die; intolerable suspense37! But the grim despot at last interposes; and with a viper38 in our winding39-sheets, we are dropped in the sea."
"To me," said Mohi, his gray locks damp with night-dews, "death's dark defile40 at times seems at hand, with no voice to cheer. That all have died, makes it not easier for me to depart. And that many have been quenched41 in infancy42 seems a mercy to the slow perishing of my old age, limb by limb and sense by sense. I have long been the tomb of my youth. And more has died out of me, already, than remains43 for the last death to finish. Babbalanja says truth. In childhood, death stirred me not; in middle age, it pursued me like a prowling bandit on the road; now, grown an old man, it boldly leads the way; and ushers44 me on; and turns round upon me its skeleton gaze: poisoning the last solaces45 of life. Maramma but adds to my gloom."
"Death! death!" cried Yoomy, "must I be not, and millions be? Must I. — go, and the flowers still bloom? Oh, I have marked what it is to be dead;—how shouting boys, of holidays, hide-and-seek among the tombs, which must hide all seekers at last."
"Clouds on clouds!" cried Media, "but away with them all! Why not leap your graves, while ye may? Time to die, when death comes, without dying by inches. 'Tis no death, to die; the only death is the fear of it. I, a demi-god, fear death not."
"But when the jackals howl round you?" said Babbalanja.
"Drive them off! Die the demi-god's death! On his last couch of crossed spears, my brave old sire cried, 'Wine, wine; strike up, conch and cymbal46; let the king die to martial47 melodies!'"
"More valiant48 dying, than dead," said Babbalanja. "Our end of the winding procession resounds49 with music and flaunts50 with banners with brave devices: 'Cheer up!' 'Fear not!' 'Millions have died before!'— but in the endless van, not a pennon streams; all there, is silent and solemn. The last wisdom is dumb."
Silence ensued; during which, each dip of the paddles in the now calm water, fell full and long upon the ear.
Anon, lifting his head, Babbalanja thus:—"Yillah still eludes51 us. And in all this tour of Mardi, how little have we found to fill the heart with peace: how much to slaughter52 all our yearnings."
"Croak53 no more, raven54!" cried Media. "Mardi is full of spring-time sights, and jubilee55 sounds. I never was sad in my life."
"But for thy one laugh, my lord, how many groans56! Were all happy, or all miserable,—more tolerable then, than as it is. But happiness and misery57 are so broadly marked, that this Mardi may be the retributive future of some forgotten past.—Yet vain our surmises58. Still vainer to say, that all Mardi is but a means to an end; that this life is a state of probation59: that evil is but permitted for a term; that for specified60 ages a rebel angel is viceroy.—Nay, nay. Oro delegates his scepter to none; in his everlasting61 reign62 there are no interregnums; and Time is Eternity63; and we live in Eternity now. Yet, some tell of a hereafter, where all the mysteries of life will be over; and the sufferings of the virtuous64 recompensed. Oro is just, they say.—Then always,—now, and evermore. But to make restitution65 implies a wrong; and Oro can do no wrong. Yet what seems evil to us, may be good to him. If he fears not, nor hopes,—he has no other passion; no ends, no purposes. He lives content; all ends are compassed in Him; He has no past, no future; He is the everlasting now; which is an everlasting calm; and things that are, have been,— will be. This gloom's enough. But hoot66! hoot! the night-owl ranges through the woodlands of Maramma; its dismal67 notes pervade68 our lives; and when we would fain depart in peace, that bird flies on before:— cloud-like, eclipsing our setting suns, and filling the air with dolor."
"Too true!" cried Yoomy. "Our calms must come by storms. Like helmless vessels69, tempest-tossed, our only anchorage is when we founder70."
"Our beginnings," murmured Mohi, "are lost in clouds; we live in darkness all our days, and perish without an end."
"No coward he, who hunted, turns and finds no foe73 to fight," said Babbalanja. "Like the stag, whose brow is beat with wings of hawks74, perched in his heavenward antlers; so I, blinded, goaded75, headlong, rush! this way and that; nor knowing whither; one forest wide around!"
点击收听单词发音
1 myriad | |
adj.无数的;n.无数,极大数量 | |
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2 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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3 frenzy | |
n.疯狂,狂热,极度的激动 | |
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4 reeked | |
v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 );散发臭气;发出难闻的气味 (of sth);明显带有(令人不快或生疑的跡象) | |
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5 overcast | |
adj.阴天的,阴暗的,愁闷的;v.遮盖,(使)变暗,包边缝;n.覆盖,阴天 | |
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6 scowled | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 vapors | |
n.水汽,水蒸气,无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 );自夸者;幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁(症)v.自夸,(使)蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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8 prows | |
n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
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9 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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10 steadfast | |
adj.固定的,不变的,不动摇的;忠实的;坚贞不移的 | |
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11 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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12 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
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13 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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14 murmurs | |
n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 );低语声;怨言;嘀咕 | |
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15 isles | |
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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16 bower | |
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽 | |
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17 plying | |
v.使用(工具)( ply的现在分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意 | |
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18 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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19 subsiding | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的现在分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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20 lagoon | |
n.泻湖,咸水湖 | |
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21 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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22 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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23 manliest | |
manly(有男子气概的)的最高级形式 | |
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24 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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25 blindfold | |
vt.蒙住…的眼睛;adj.盲目的;adv.盲目地;n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]; 障眼物,蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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26 verge | |
n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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27 trampling | |
踩( trample的现在分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 | |
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28 hoofs | |
n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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29 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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30 herds | |
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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31 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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32 revolving | |
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想 | |
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33 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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34 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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35 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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36 wedded | |
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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37 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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38 viper | |
n.毒蛇;危险的人 | |
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39 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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40 defile | |
v.弄污,弄脏;n.(山间)小道 | |
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41 quenched | |
解(渴)( quench的过去式和过去分词 ); 终止(某事物); (用水)扑灭(火焰等); 将(热物体)放入水中急速冷却 | |
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42 infancy | |
n.婴儿期;幼年期;初期 | |
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43 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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44 ushers | |
n.引座员( usher的名词复数 );招待员;门房;助理教员v.引,领,陪同( usher的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45 solaces | |
n.安慰,安慰物( solace的名词复数 ) | |
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46 cymbal | |
n.铙钹 | |
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47 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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48 valiant | |
adj.勇敢的,英勇的;n.勇士,勇敢的人 | |
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49 resounds | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的第三人称单数 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
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50 flaunts | |
v.炫耀,夸耀( flaunt的第三人称单数 );有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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51 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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52 slaughter | |
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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53 croak | |
vi.嘎嘎叫,发牢骚 | |
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54 raven | |
n.渡鸟,乌鸦;adj.乌亮的 | |
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55 jubilee | |
n.周年纪念;欢乐 | |
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56 groans | |
n.呻吟,叹息( groan的名词复数 );呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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57 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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58 surmises | |
v.臆测,推断( surmise的第三人称单数 );揣测;猜想 | |
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59 probation | |
n.缓刑(期),(以观后效的)察看;试用(期) | |
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60 specified | |
adj.特定的 | |
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61 everlasting | |
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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62 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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63 eternity | |
n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷 | |
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64 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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65 restitution | |
n.赔偿;恢复原状 | |
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66 hoot | |
n.鸟叫声,汽车的喇叭声; v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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67 dismal | |
adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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68 pervade | |
v.弥漫,遍及,充满,渗透,漫延 | |
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69 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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70 Founder | |
n.创始者,缔造者 | |
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71 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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72 phantoms | |
n.鬼怪,幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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73 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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74 hawks | |
鹰( hawk的名词复数 ); 鹰派人物,主战派人物 | |
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75 goaded | |
v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 );激励;(用尖棒)驱赶;驱使(或怂恿、刺激)某人 | |
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