Mardi, and a voyage thither, Vol. 2 (of 2)Melville, Herman
Philosophy
Mardi, and a voyage thither, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Melville, Herman
Adventure stories; Polynesia -- Description and travel -- Fiction
“‘We point at random. Peradventure at this instant, there are beings
gazing up to this very world as their future heaven. But the universe
is all over a heaven: nothing but stars on stars, throughout infinities
of expansion. All we see are but a cluster. Could we get to Bootes, we
would be no nearer Oro, than now he hath no place; but is here.
Already, in its unimaginable roamings, our system may have dragged us
through and through the spaces, where we plant cities of beryl and
jasper. Even now, we may be inhaling the ether, which we fancy seraphic
wings are fanning. But look round. There is much to be seen here, and
now. Do the archangels survey aught more glorious than the
constellations we nightly behold? Continually we slight the wonders, we
deem in reserve. We await the present. With marvels we are glutted,
till we hold them no marvels at all. But had these eyes first opened
upon all the prodigies in the Revelation of the Dreamer, long
familiarity would have made them appear, even as these things we see.
Now, _now_, the page is out-spread: to the simple, easy as a primer; to
the wise, more puzzling than hieroglyphics. The eternity to come, is
but a prolongation of time present: and the beginning may be more
wonderful than the end.
“‘Then let us be wise. But much of the knowledge we seek, already we
have in our cores. Yet so simple it is, we despise it; so bold, we fear
it.
“‘In solitude, let us exhume our ingots. Let us hear our own thoughts.
The soul needs no mentor, but Oro; and Oro, without proxy. Wanting Him,
it is both the teacher and the taught. Undeniably, reason was the first
revelation; and so far as it tests all others, it has precedence over
them. It comes direct to us, without suppression or interpolation; and
with Oro’s indisputable imprimatur. But inspiration though it be, it is
not so arrogant as some think. Nay, far too humble, at times it submits
to the grossest indignities. Though in its best estate, not infallible;
so far as it goes, for us, it is reliable. When at fault, it stands
still. We speak not of visionaries. But if this our first revelation
stops short of the uttermost, so with all others. If, often, it only
perplexes: much more the rest. They leave much unexpounded; and
disclosing new mysteries, add to the enigma. Fellow-men; the ocean we
would sound is unfathomable; and however much we add to our line, when
it is out, we feel not the bottom. Let us be truly lowly, then; not
lifted up with a Pharisaic humility. We crawl not like worms; nor wear
we the liveries of angels.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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