Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. II

by Herman Melville

  But though the rest of Mardi much delighted to list to such nobleminstrelsy, they agreed not with Bello's poets in deeming the lagoontheir old monarch's hereditary domain.

  Once upon a time, the paddlers of the hump-backed king, meeting uponthe broad lagoon certain canoes belonging to the before-mentionedisland of Vivenza; these paddlers seized upon several of theiroccupants; and feeling their pulses, declared them born men ofDominora; and therefore, not free to go whithersoever they would; for,unless they could somehow get themselves born over again, they mustforever remain subject to Bello. Shed your hair; nay, your skin, ifyou will, but shed your allegiance you can not; while you have bones,they are Bello's. So, spite of all expostulations and attempts toprove alibis, these luckless paddlers were dragged into the canoes ofDominora, and commanded to paddle home their captors.

  Whereof hearing, the men of Vivenza were thrown into a great ferment;and after a mighty pow-wow over their council fire, fitting outseveral double-keeled canoes, they sallied out to sea, in quest ofthose, whom they styled the wholesale corsairs of Dominora.

  But lucky perhaps it was, that at this juncture, in all parts ofMardi, the fleets of the hump-backed king, were fighting, gunwale andgunwale, alongside of numerous foes; else there had borne down uponthe canoes of the men of Vivenza so tremendous an armada, that thevery swell under its thousand prows might have flooded their scatteredproas forever out of sight.

  As it was, Bello dispatched a few of his smaller craft to seek out,and incidentally run down the enemy; and without returning home,straightway proceed upon more important enterprises.

  But it so chanced, that Bello's crafts, one by one meeting the foe, inmost cases found the canoes of Vivenza much larger than their own; andmanned by more men, with hearts bold as theirs; whence, in the ship-duels that ensued, they were worsted; and the canoes of Vivenza,locking their yard-arms into those of the vanquished, very courteouslygallanted them into their coral harbors.

  Solely imputing these victories to their superior intrepidity andskill, the people of Vivenza were exceedingly boisterous in theirtriumph; raising such obstreperous peans, that they gave themselveshoarse throats; insomuch, that according to Mohi, some of the presentgeneration are fain to speak through their noses.

  CHAPTER XLIIDominora And Vivenza

  The three canoes still gliding on, some further particulars werenarrated concerning Dominora; and incidentally, of other isles.

  It seems that his love of wide dominion sometimes led the otherwisesagacious Bello into the most extravagant actions. If the chanceaccumulation of soil and drift-wood about any detached shelf of coralin the lagoon held forth the remotest possibility of the eventualexistence of an islet there, with all haste he dispatched canoes tothe spot, to take prospective possession of the as yet nearlysubmarine territory; and if possible, eject the zoophytes.

  During an unusually low tide, here and there baring the outer reef ofthe Archipelago, Bello caused his royal spear to be planted upon everyplace thus exposed, in token of his supreme claim thereto.

  Another anecdote was this: that to Dominora there came a rumor, thatin a distant island dwelt a man with an uncommonly large nose; of mostportentous dimensions, indeed; by the soothsayers supposed toforeshadow some dreadful calamity. But disregarding thesesuperstitious conceits, Bello forthwith dispatched an agent, todiscover whether this huge promontory of a nose was geographicallyavailable; if so, to secure the same, by bringing the proprietor back.

  Now, by sapient old Mohi, it was esteemed a very happy thing for Mardiat large, that the subjects whom Bello sent to populate his foreignacquisitions, were but too apt to throw off their vassalage, so soonas they deemed themselves able to cope with him.

  Indeed, a fine country in the western part of Mardi, in this verymanner, became a sovereign--nay, a republican state. It was the nationto which Mohi had previously alluded--Vivenza. But in the flush andpride of having recently attained their national majority, the men ofVivenza were perhaps too much inclined to carry a vauntful crest. Andbecause intrenched in their fastnesses, after much protractedfighting, they had eventually succeeded in repelling the warriorsdispatched by Bello to crush their insurrection, they were unanimousin the opinion, that the hump-backed king had never before been sosignally chastised. Whereas, they had not so much vanquished Bello, asdefended their shores; even as a young lion will protect its denagainst legions of unicorns, though, away from home, he might be tornto pieces. In truth, Braid-Beard declared, that at the time of thiswar, Dominora couched ten long spears for every short javelin Vivenzacould dart; though the javelins were stoutly hurled as the spears.

  But, superior in men and arms, why, at last, gave over King Bello thehope of reducing those truculent men of Vivenza? One reason was, asMohi said, that many of his fighting men were abundantly occupied inother quarters of Mardi; nor was he long in discovering that fight henever so valiantly, Vivenza--not yet its inhabitants--was whollyunconquerable. Thought Bello, Mountains are sturdy foes; fate hard todam.

  Yet, the men of Vivenza were no dastards; not to lie, coming fromlion-like loins, they were a lion-loined race. Did not their bardspronounce them a fresh start in the Mardian species; requiring a newworld for their full development? For be it known, that the great landof Kolumbo, no inconsiderable part of which was embraced by Vivenza,was the last island discovered in the Archipelago.

  In good round truth, and as if an impartialist from Arcturus spoke it,Vivenza was a noble land. Like a young tropic tree she stood, ladendown with greenness, myriad blossoms, and the ripened fruit thick-hanging from one bough. She was promising as the morning.

  Or Vivenza might be likened to St. John, feeding on locusts and wildhoney, and with prophetic voice, crying to the nations from thewilderness. Or, child-like, standing among the old robed kings andemperors of the Archipelago, Vivenza seemed a young Messiah, to whosediscourse the bearded Rabbis bowed.

  So seemed Vivenza in its better aspect. Nevertheless, Vivenza was abraggadocio in Mardi; the only brave one ever known. As an army ofspurred and crested roosters, her people chanticleered at theresplendent rising of their sun. For shame, Vivenza! Whence thyundoubted valor? Did ye not bring it with ye from the bold old shoresof Dominora, where there is a fullness of it left? What isle butDominora could have supplied thee with that stiff spine of thine?--That heart of boldest beat? Oh, Vivenza! know that true grandeur istoo big for a boast; and nations, as well as men, may be too clever tobe great.

  But what more of King Bello? Notwithstanding his territorialacquisitiveness, and aversion to relinquishing stolen nations, he wasyet a glorious old king; rather choleric--a word and a blow--but of aright royal heart. Rail at him as they might, at bottom, all the isleswere proud of him. And almost in spite of his rapacity, upon thewhole, perhaps, they were the better for his deeds. For if sometimeshe did evil with no very virtuous intentions, he had fifty, ways ofaccomplishing good with the best; and a thousand ways of doing goodwithout meaning it. According to an ancient oracle, the hump-backedmonarch was but one of the most conspicuous pieces on a board, wherethe gods played for their own entertainment.

  But here it must not be omitted, that of late, King Bello had somewhatabated his efforts to extend his dominions. Various causes wereassigned. Some thought it arose from the fact that already he foundhis territories too extensive for one scepter to rule; that his moreremote colonies largely contributed to his tribulations, withoutcorrespondingly contributing to his revenues. Others affirmed that hishump was getting too mighty for him to carry; others still, that thenations were waving too strong for him. With prophetic solemnity,head-shaking sages averred that he was growing older and older hadpassed his grand climacteric; and though it was a hale old age withhim, yet it was not his lusty youth; that though he was daily gettingrounder, and rounder in girth, and more florid of face, that these,howbeit, were rather the symptoms of a morbid obesity, than of ahealthful robustness. These wise ones predicted that very soon poorBello would go off in an apoplexy.

  But in Vi
venza there were certain blusterers, who often thus prated:"The Hump-back's hour is come; at last the old teamster will be goredby the nations he's yoked; his game is done,--let him show his handand throw up his scepter; he cumbers Mardi,--let him be cut down andburned; he stands in the way of his betters,--let him sheer to oneside; he has shut up many eyes, and now himself grows blind; he hathcommitted horrible atrocities during his long career, the old sinner!--now, let him quickly say his prayers and be beheaded."

  Howbeit, Bello lived on; enjoying his dinners, and taking his jorumsas of yore. Ah, I have yet a jolly long lease of life, thought he overhis wine; and like unto some obstinate old uncle, he persisted inflourishing, in spite of the prognostications of the nephew nations,which at his demise, perhaps hoped to fall heir to odd parts of hispossessions: Three streaks of fat valleys to one of lean mountains!

  CHAPTER XLIIIThey Land At Dominora

  As erewhile recounted, not being on the best terms in Mardi with theKing of Dominora, Media saw fit to draw nigh unto his dominions inhaughty state; he (Media) being upon excellent terms with himself. Oursails were set, our paddles paddling, streamers streaming, and Vee-Veein the shark's mouth, clamorous with his conch. The din was soonheard; and sweeping into a fine broad bay we beheld its marginseemingly pebbled in the distance with heads; so populous the land.

  Winding through a noble valley, we presently came to Bello's palace,couchant and bristling in a grove. The upright canes composing itsfront projected above the eaves in a long row of spear-headsfluttering with scarlet pennons; while below, from the intervals ofthe canes, were slantingly thrust three tiers of decorated lances. Awarlike aspect! The entire structure looking like the broadside of theMacedonian phalanx, advancing to the charge, helmeted with a roof.

  "Ah, Bello," said Media, "thou dwellest among thy quills like theporcupine."

  "I feel a prickly heat coming over me," cried Mohi, "my lord Media,let us enter."

  "Ay," said Babbalanja, "safer the center of peril, than thecircumference."

  Passing under an arch, formed by two pikes crossed, we found ourselvestargets in prospective, for certain flingers of javelins, with poisedweapons, occupying the angles of the palace.

  Fronting us, stood a portly old warrior, spear in hand, hump on back,and fire in eye.

  "Is it war?" he cried, pointing his pike, "or peace?" reversing it.

  "Peace," said Media.

  Whereupon advancing, King Bello courteously welcomed us.

  He was an arsenal to behold: Upon his head the hereditary crown ofDominora,--a helmet of the sea-porcupine's hide, bristling all overwith spikes, in front displaying a river-horse's horn, leveled to thecharge; thrust through his ears were barbed arrows; and from his dyedshark-skin girdle, depended a kilt of strung javelins.

  The broad chest of Bello was the chart of Mardi. Tattooed in sea-bluewere all the groups and clusters of the Archipelago; and every time hebreathed, rose and fell the isles, as by a tide: Dominora full uponhis heart.

  His sturdy thighs were his triumphal arch; whereon in numerousmedallions, crests, and shields, were blazoned all his victories bysea and land.

  His strong right arm was Dominora's scroll of Fame, where all herheroes saw their names recorded.--An endless roll!

  Our chronicler avouched, that on the sole of Bello's dexter foot wasstamped the crest of Franko's king, his hereditary foe. "Thus, thus,"cried Bello, stamping, "thus I hourly crush him."

  In stature, Bello was a mountaineer; but, as over some tall towerimpends the hill-side cliff, so Bello's Athos hump hung over him.Could it be, as many of his nobles held, that the old monarch's humpwas his sensorium and source of strength; full of nerves, muscles,ganglions and tendons? Yet, year by year it grew, ringed like the boleof his palms. The toils of war increased it. But another skirmish withthe isles, said the wiseacres of Porpheero, and Bello's mount willcrush him.

  Against which calamity to guard, his medicos and Sangredos sought thehump's reduction. But down it would not come. Then by divers mysticrites, his magi tried. Making a deep pit, many teeth they droppedtherein. But they could not fill it. Hence, they called it the SinkingPit, for bottom it had none. Nevertheless, the magi said, when thispit is filled, Bello's hump you'll see no more. "Then, hurrah for thehump!" cried the nobles, "for he will never hurl it off. Long life tothe hump! By the hump we will rally and die! Cheer up, King Bello!Stand up, old king!"

  But these were they, who when their sovereign went abroad, with thatAthos on his back, followed idly in its shade; while Bello leanedheavily upon his people, staggering as they went.

  Ay, sorely did Bello's goodly stature lean; but though many swore hesoon must fall; nevertheless, like Pisa's Leaning Tower, he may longlean over, yet never nod.

  Visiting Dominora in a friendly way, in good time, we found King Bellovery affable; in hospitality, almost exceeding portly Borabolla:October-plenty reigned throughout his palace borders.

  Our first reception over, a sumptuous repast was served, at which muchlively talk was had.

  Of Taji, Bello sought to know, whether his solar Majesty had yet madea province of the moon; whether the Astral hosts were of much accountas territories, or mere Motoos, as the little tufts of verdure aredenominated, here and there clinging to Mardi's circle reef; whetherthe people in the sun vilified, him (Bello) as they did in Mardi; andwhat they thought of an event, so ominous to the liberties of theuniverse, as the addition to his navy of three large canoes.

  Ere long, so fused in social love we grew, that Bello, filling highhis can, and clasping Media's palm, drank everlasting amity with Odo.

  So over their red cups, the two kings forgot their differences, andconcerning the disputed islet nothing more was ever heard; especially,as it so turned out, that while they were most hot about it, it hadsuddenly gone out of sight, being of volcanic origin.

  CHAPTER XLIVThrough Dominora, They Wander After Yillah

  At last, withdrawing from the presence of King Bello, we went forth,still intent on our search.

  Many brave sights we saw. Fair fields; the whole island a garden;green hedges all round; neat lodges, thick as white mice in thelandscape; old oak woods, hale and hearty as ever; old temples buriedin ivy; old shrines of old heroes, deep buried in broad groves of baytrees; old rivers laden down with heavy-freighted canoes; humpedhills, like droves of camels, piled up with harvests; every sign andtoken of a glorious abundance, every sign and token of generations ofrenown. Rare sight! fine sight! none rarer, none finer in Mardi.

  But roving on through this ravishing region, we passed through a corn-field in full beard, where a haggard old reaper laid down his hook,beseeching charity for the sake of the gods.--"Bread, bread! or I diemid these sheaves!"

  "Thrash out your grain, and want not."

  "Alas, masters, this grain is not mine; I plough, I sow, I reap, Ibind, I stack,--Lord Primo garners."

  Rambling on, we came to a hamlet, hidden in a hollow; and beneathweeping willows saw many mournful maidens seated on a bank; besideeach, a wheel that was broken. "Lo, we starve," they cried, "ourdistaffs are snapped; no more may we weave and spin!"

  Then forth issued from vaults clamorous crowds of men, hands tied totheir backs.--"Bread! Bread!" they cried. "The magician hath turned usout from our glen, where we labored of yore in the days of the merryGreen Queen. He has pinioned us hip and arm that we starve. Like sheepwe die off with the rot.--Curse on the magician. A curse on hisspell."

  Bending our steps toward the glen, roaring down the rocks we descrieda stream from the mountains. But ere those waters gained the sea,vassal tribute they rendered. Conducted through culverts and moats,they turned great wheels, giving life to ten thousand fangs andfingers, whose gripe no power could withstand, yet whose touch wassoft as the velvet paw of a kitten. With brute force, they heaved downgreat weights, then daintily wove and spun; like the trunk of theelephant, which lays lifeless a river-horse, and counts the pulses ofa moth. On all sides, the place seemed alive with its spindles. Roundand round, round a
nd round; throwing off wondrous births at everyrevolving; ceaseless as the cycles that circle in heaven. Loud hummedthe loom, flew the shuttle like lightning, red roared the grim forge,rung anvil and sledge; yet no mortal was seen.

  "What ho, magician! Come forth from thy cave!"

  But all deaf were the spindles, as the mutes, that mutely wait on theSultan.

  "Since we are born, we will live!" so we read on a crimson banner,flouting the crimson clouds, in the van of a riotous red-bonneted mob,racing by us as we came from the glen. Many more followed: black, orblood-stained:--.

  "Mardi is man's!"

  "Down with landholders!"

  "Our turn now!"

  "Up rights! Down wrongs!"

  "Bread! Bread!"

  "Take the tide, ere it turns!"

  Waving their banners, and flourishing aloft clubs, hammers, andsickles, with fierce yells the crowd ran on toward the palace ofBello. Foremost, and inciting the rest by mad outcries and gestures,were six masks; "This way! This way!" they cried,--"by the wood; bythe dark wood!" Whereupon all darted into the groves; when of asudden, the masks leaped forward, clearing a long covered trench, intowhich fell many of those they led. But on raced the masks; and gainingBello's palace, and raising the alarm, there sallied from thence awoodland of spears, which charged upon the disordered ranks in thegrove. A crash as of icicles against icebergs round Zembla, and downwent the hammers and sickles. The host fled, hotly pursued. Meanwhilebrave heralds from Bello advanced, and with chaplets crowned the sixmasks.--"Welcome, heroes! worthy and valiant!" they cried. "Thus ourlord Bello rewards all those, who to do him a service, for hire betraytheir kith and their kin."