- description
- # CHAPTER CI. The Iris
## Overview - What this is (type, form, dates, scope)
Chapter CI, titled "The Iris," is a chapter from the novel "[Mardi: And a Voyage Thither](arke:01KG8AJA6157W2830190N652KA)" by Herman Melville. This chapter, extracted from the file `mardi_vol1.txt`, contains text from lines 11029 to 11073 of the novel. It is part of the larger "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection.
## Context - Background and provenance from related entities
This chapter follows "[CHAPTER C. The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued](arke:01KG8AJP4DG2JAV4DXXMXSXWQF)" and precedes "[CHAPTER CII. They Depart From Mondoldo](arke:01KG8AJP4JNVNGHZAQN6PS0MBC)" within the novel. The text was extracted by the `structure-extraction-lambda` tool.
## Contents - What it contains, key subjects and details
The chapter describes a scene where three heralds, representing Hautia, appear before the protagonist, Taji, and his companion Yoomy. The heralds present symbolic items: Iris mixed with nettles, wax-myrtle berries, and a crushed lily of the valley. Through the heralds, Hautia sends a message of enlightenment, prompting Taji to seek the whereabouts of Yillah. Yoomy interprets the message, and the chapter concludes with the heralds vanishing after leaving behind bilberries and waving oleanders and spring-crocuses.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:49:25.766Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- CHAPTER CI. The Iris
- end_line
- 11073
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:39.473Z
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- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 11029
- text
- CHAPTER CI.
The Iris
That evening, in the groves, came to me three gliding forms:—Hautia’s
heralds: the Iris mixed with nettles. Said Yoomy, “A cruel message!”
With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax-
myrtle berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the
valley, crushed in its own broad leaf.
This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering,
said—“I speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will enlighten
you.”
“Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?” and I rushed upon
the heralds.
But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed
offended.
“Then, I am wrong,” said Yoomy. “It is thus:—Taji, you have been
enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed.”
Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me
bilberries, like rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, left
stains.
Waving oleanders, they retreated.
“Harm! treachery! beware!” cried Yoomy.
Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along the
path I trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses,
yellow, white, and purple; and thus they vanished.
Said Yoomy, “Sad your path, but merry Hautia’s.”
“Then merry may she be, whoe’er she is; and though woe be mine, I turn
not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo me
till I die;—though Yillah never bless my eyes.”
- title
- CHAPTER CI. The Iris