Mardi, and a voyage thither, Vol. 1 (of 2)Melville, Herman
PhilosophyPhilosophy
Mardi, and a voyage thither, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Melville, Herman
Adventure stories; Polynesia -- Description and travel -- Fiction
With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax-
myrtle berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the
valley, crushed in its own broad leaf.
This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering,
said—“I speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will enlighten
you.”
“Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?” and I rushed upon
the heralds.
But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed
offended.
“Then, I am wrong,” said Yoomy. “It is thus:—Taji, you have been
enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed.”
Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me
bilberries, like rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, left
stains.
Waving oleanders, they retreated.
“Harm! treachery! beware!” cried Yoomy.
Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along the
path I trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses,
yellow, white, and purple; and thus they vanished.
Said Yoomy, “Sad your path, but merry Hautia’s.”
“Then merry may she be, whoe’er she is; and though woe be mine, I turn
not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo me
till I die;—though Yillah never bless my eyes.”
CHAPTER CII.
They Depart From Mondoldo
Night passed; and next morning we made preparations for leaving
Mondoldo that day.
But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might stir
up against me the people of the isle, I determined to yield to the
earnest solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a
remembrance of Taji; if necessary, to vindicate his name. Apprised
hereof, my follower was loth to acquiesce. His guiltless spirit feared
not the strangers: less selfish considerations prevailed. He was
willing to remain on the island for a time, but not without me. Yet,
setting forth my reasons; and assuring him, that our tour would not be
long in completing, when we would not fail to return, previous to
sailing for Odo, he at last, but reluctantly, assented.
At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he feared
the avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my track; or
whether the islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness to the
picture his fancy had painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by
the domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome withal; or
whether, indeed, he relished not those disquisitions with which
Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been, certain it was, that
Samoa was impatient of the voyage. He besought permission to return to
Odo, there to await my return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about to
proceed in that direction, permission was granted; and departing for
the other side of the island, from thence he embarked.
Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found
dead in the canoe: three arrows in his side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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