ur opinion,
philosopher? you filcher from old Bardianna, and monger of maxims!"

"You, who have so long marked the vices of Mardi, that you flatter
yourself you have none of your own," added Braid-Beard.

"You, who only seem wise, because of the contrasting follies of
others, and not of any great wisdom in yourself," continued the
minstrel, with unwonted asperity."

"Now here," said Babballanja, "am I charged upon by a bearded old
ram, and a lamb. One butting with his carious and brittle old
frontlet; the other pushing with its silly head before its horns are
sprouted. But this comes of being impartial. Had I espoused the cause
of Yoomy versus Mohi, or that of Mohi versus Yoomy, I had been sure
to have had at least one voice in my favor. The impartialist
insulteth all sides, saith old Bardianna; but smite with but one
hand, and the other shall be kissed.--Oh incomparable Bardianna!"

"Will no one lay that troubled old ghost," exclaimed Media, devoutly.
"Proceed with thy legend, Yoomy; and see to it, that it be brief; for
I mistrust me, these legends do but test the patience of the hearers.
But draw a long breath, and begin."

"A long bow," muttered Mohi.

And Yoomy began.

"It is now about ten hundred thousand moons--"

"Great Oro! How long since, say you?" cried Mohi, making Gothic
arches of his brows.

Looking at him disdainfully, but vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy began
over again.

"It is now above ten hundred thousand moons, since there died the last
of a marvelous race, once inhabiting the very shores by which we are
sailing. They were a very diminutive people, only a few inches high--"

"Stop, minstrel," cried Mohi; "how many pennyweights did they weigh?"

Continued Yoomy, unheedingly, "They were covered all over with a
soft, silky down, like that on the rind of the Avee; and there grew
upon their heads a green, lance-leaved vine, of a most delicate
texture. For convenience, the manikins reduced their tendrils,
sporting, nothing but coronals. Whereas, priding themselves upon the
redundancy of their tresses, the little maidens assiduously watered
them with the early dew of the morning; so that all wreathed and
festooned with verdure, they moved about in arbors, trailing after
them trains."

"I can hear no more," exclaimed Mohi, stopping his ears.

Continued Yoomy, "The damsels lured to their bowers, certain red-
plumaged insect-birds, and taught them to nestle therein, and warble;
which, with the p