55. CHAPTER LV.
WHEREIN BABBALANJA COMMENTS UPON THE SPEECH OF
ALANNO.
As we lingered in the precincts of the temple after all
others had departed, sundry comments were made upon
what we had seen; and having remarked the hostility of
the lunatic orator toward Dominora, Babbalanja thus addressed
Media:—
“My lord, I am constrained to believe, that all Vivenza
can not be of the same mind with the grandiloquent chief
from Hio-Hio. Nevertheless, I imagine, that between Dominora
and this land, there exists at bottom a feeling akin to
animosity, which is not yet wholly extinguished; though but
the smoldering embers of a once raging fire. My lord, you
may call it poetry if you will, but there are nations in Mardi,
that to others stand in the relation of sons to sires. Thus
with Dominora and Vivenza. And though, its majority
attained, Vivenza is now its own master, yet should it not
fail in a reverential respect for its parent. In man or nation,
old age is honorable; and a boy, however tall, should never
take his sire by the beard. And though Dominora did
indeed ill merit Vivenza's esteem, yet by abstaining from
criminations, Vivenza should ever merit its own. And if in
time to come, which Oro forbid, Vivenza must needs go to
battle with King Bello, let Vivenza first cross the old veteran's
spear with all possible courtesy. On the other hand, my
lord, King Bello should never forget, that whatever be glorious
in Vivenza, redounds to himself. And as some gallant
old lord proudly measures the brawn and stature of his son;
and joys to view in his noble young lineaments the likeness
of his own; bethinking him, that when at last laid in his
tomb, he will yet survive in the long, strong life of his child,
the worthy inheritor of his valor and renown; even so,
should King Bello regard the generous promise of this young
Vivenza of his own lusty begetting. My lord, behold these
two states! Of all nations in the Archipelago, they alone
are one in blood. Dominora is the last and greatest Anak
of Old Times; Vivenza, the foremost and goodliest stripling
of the Present. One is full of the past; the other brims
with the future. Ah! did this sire's old heart but beat to free
thoughts, and back his bold son, all Mardi would go down
before them. And high Oro may have ordained for them
a career, little divined by the mass. Methinks, that as
Vivenza will never cause old Bello to weep for his son; so,
Vivenza will not, this many a long year, be called to weep
over the grave of its sire. And though King Bello may yet
lay aside his old-fashioned cocked hat of a crown, and comply
with the plain costume of the times; yet will his frame
remain sturdy as of yore, and equally grace any habiliments
he may don. And those who say, Dominora is old and
worn out, may very possibly err. For if, as a nation, Dominora
be old—her present generation is full as young as the
youths in any land under the sun. Then, Ho! worthy
twain! Each worthy the other, join hands on the instant,
and weld them together. Lo! the past is a prophet. Be
the future, its prophecy fulfilled.”
