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Mardi, and a Voyage Thither, Vol. 2 (of 2)

Herman Melville

Melville's first purely fictional work begins as a South Pacific adventure, transforms into a romance when the narrator encounters a mysterious woman named Yillah, then evolves into a philosophical quest after her sudden disappearance.

"Mardi: and a Voyage Thither" by Herman Melville is a novel. Melville's first purely fictional work begins as a South Pacific adventure, transforms into a romance when the narrator encounters a mysterious woman named Yillah, then evolves into a philosophical quest after her sudden disappearance.

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We were now voyaging straight for Maramma; where lived and reigned, in mystery, the High Pontiff of the adjoining isles: prince, priest, and god, in his own proper person: great lord paramount over many kings in Mardi; his hands full of scepters and crosiers.

Soon, rounding a lofty and insulated shore, the great central peak of the island came in sight; domineering over the neighboring hills; the same aspiring pinnacle, descried in drawing near the archipelago in the Chamois.

“Tall Peak of Ofo!” cried Babbalanja, “how comes it that thy shadow so broods over Mardi; flinging new shades upon spots already shaded by the hill-sides; shade upon shade!”

“Yet, so it is,” said Yoomy, sadly, “that where that shadow falls, gay flowers refuse to spring; and men long dwelling therein become shady of face and of soul. ‘Hast thou come from out the shadows of Ofo?’ inquires the stranger, of one with a clouded brow.”

“It was by this same peak,” said Mohi, “that the nimble god Roo, a great sinner above, came down from the skies, a very long time ago. Three skips and a jump, and he landed on the plain. But alas, poor Roo! though easy the descent, there was no climbing back.”

“No wonder, then,” said Babbalanja, “that the peak is inaccessible to man. Though, with a strange infatuation, many still make pilgrimages thereto; and wearily climb and climb, till slipping from the rocks, they fall headlong backward, and oftentimes perish at its base.”

Contents

  1. 01Mardi
  2. 02Chapter I. Maramma
  3. 03Chapter II. They Land
  4. 04Chapter III. They Pass Through The Woods
  5. 05Chapter IV. Hivohitee Mdcccxlviii
  6. 06Chapter V. They Visit The Great Morai
  7. 07Chapter VI. They Discourse Of The Gods Of Mardi, And Braid-Beard Tells Of One Foni
  8. 08Chapter VII. They Visit The Lake Of Yammo
  9. 09Chapter VIII. They Meet The Pilgrims At The Temple Of Oro
  10. 10Chapter IX. They Discourse Of Alma
  11. 11Chapter X. Mohi Tells Of One Ravoo, And They Land To Visit Hevaneva, A Flourishing Artisan
  12. 12Chapter XI. A Nursery-Tale Of Babbalanja’s
  13. 13Chapter XII. Landing To Visit Hivohitee The Pontiff, They Encounter An Extraordinary Old Hermit; With Whom Yoomy Has A Confidential Interview, But Learns Little
  14. 14Chapter XIII. Babbalanja Endeavors To Explain The Mystery
  15. 15Chapter XIV. Taji Receives Tidings And Omens
  16. 16Chapter XV. Dreams
  17. 17Chapter XVI. Media And Babbalanja Discourse
  18. 18Chapter XVII. They Regale Themselves With Their Pipes
  19. 19Chapter XVIII. They Visit An Extraordinary Old Antiquary
  20. 20Chapter XIX. They Go Down Into The Catacombs
  21. 21Chapter XX. Babbalanja Quotes From An Antique Pagan; And Earnestly Presses It Upon The Company, That What He Recites Is Not His But Another’s
  22. 22Chapter XXI. They Visit A Wealthy Old Pauper
  23. 23Chapter XXII. Yoomy Sings Some Odd Verses, And Babbalanja Quotes From The Old Authors Right And Left
  24. 24Chapter XXIII. What Manner Of Men The Tapparians Were
  25. 25Chapter XXIV. Their Adventures Upon Landing At Pimminee
  26. 26Chapter XXV. A, I, and O
  27. 27Chapter XXVI. A Reception-Day At Pimminee
  28. 28Chapter XXVII. Babbalanja Falleth Upon Pimminee Tooth And Nail
  29. 29Chapter XXVIII. Babbalanja Regales The Company With Some Sandwiches
  30. 30Chapter XXIX. They Still Remain Upon The Rock
  31. 31Chapter XXX. Behind And Before
  32. 32Chapter XXXI. Babbalanja Discourses In The Dark
  33. 33Chapter XXXII. My Lord Media Summons Mohi To The Stand
  34. 34Chapter XXXIII. Wherein Babbalanja And Yoomy Embrace
  35. 35Chapter XXXIV. Of The Isle Of Diranda
  36. 36Chapter XXXV. They Visit The Lords Piko And Hello
  37. 37Chapter XXXVI. They Attend The Games
  38. 38Chapter XXXVII. Taji Still Hunted, And Beckoned
  39. 39Chapter XXXVIII. They Embark From Diranda
  40. 40Chapter XXXIX. Wherein Babbalanja Discourses Of Himself
  41. 41Chapter XL. Of The Sorcerers In The Isle Of Minda
  42. 42Chapter XLI. Chiefly Of Sing Bello
  43. 43Chapter XLII. Dominora And Vivenza
  44. 44Chapter XLIII. They Land At Dominora
  45. 45Chapter XLIV. Through Dominora, They Wander After Yillah
  46. 46Chapter XLV. They Behold King Bello’s State Canoe
  47. 47Chapter XLVI. Wherein Babbalanja Bows Thrice
  48. 48Chapter XLVII. Babbalanja Philosophizes, And My Lord Media Passes Round The Calabashes
  49. 49Chapter XLVIII. They Sail Round An Island Without Landing; And Talk Round A Subject Without Getting At It
  50. 50Chapter XLIX. They Draw Nigh To Porpheero; Where They Behold A Terrific Eruption
  51. 51Chapter L. Wherein King Media Celebrates The Glories Of Autumn, The Minstrel, The Promise Of Spring
  52. 52Chapter LI. In Which Azzageddi Seems To Use Babbalanja For A Mouth-Piece
  53. 53Chapter LII. The Charming Yoomy Sings
  54. 54Chapter LIII. They Draw Nigh Unto Land
  55. 55Chapter LIV. They Visit The Great Central Temple Of Vivenza
  56. 56Chapter LV. Wherein Babbalanja Comments Upon The Speech Of Alanno
  57. 57Chapter LVI. A Scene In The Land Of Warwicks, Or King-Makers
  58. 58Chapter LVII. They Hearken Unto A Voice From The Gods
  59. 59Chapter LVIII. They Visit The Extreme South Of Vivenza
  60. 60Chapter LIX. They Converse Of The Mollusca, Kings, Toad-Stools And Other Matters

About this edition

Author
Herman Melville
Era
Modern (c. 1800–1945)
Reading level
Intermediate: some philosophy helps
Formats
EPUB, PDF
Length
392 pages
This edition
Modern Philosophers