In the presence of kings, lords, palm-trees, and all those who deem themselves taller than myself, I stand stiff as a pike, and will abate not one vertebra of my stature.

But accounting no Mardian my superior, I account none my inferior; hence, with the social, I am ever ready to be sociable." "An agrarian!" said Media; "no doubt he would have made the headsman the minister of equality." "At bottom we are already equal, my honored lord," said Babbalanja, profoundly bowing--"One way we all come into Mardi, and one way we withdraw.

Wanting his yams a king will starve, quick as a clown; and smote on the hip, saith old Bardianna, he will roar as loud as the next one." "Roughly worded, that, Babbalanja .-- Vee-Vee! my crown!--So; now, Babbalanja, try if you can not polish Bardianna's style in that last saying you father upon him." "I will, my ever honorable lord," said Babbalanja, salaming.

"Thus we'll word it, then: In their merely Mardian nature, the sublimest demi-gods are subject to infirmities; for struck by some keen shaft, even a king ofttimes dons his crown, fearful of future darts." "Ha, ha!--well done, Babbalanja; but I bade you polish, not sharpen the arrow." "All one, my thrice honored lord;--to polish is not to blunt.".