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- # Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Discussion Resumes
## Overview
This subsection, titled "Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Discussion Resumes," is an excerpt from Herman Melville's novel *Mardi: And a Voyage Thither*. It is part of Chapter XCIII and is extracted from the text file `mardi_vol1.txt`. The subsection focuses on a philosophical discussion between the characters Mohi, Yoomy, and Babbalanja regarding the nature of truth and fiction.
## Context
This subsection is contained within [Chapter XCIII. Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Yoomy Relates A Legend](arke:01KG8AJWVTKMC0EZ4WMWPFQ2BB) of the novel *Mardi: And a Voyage Thither*. The text originates from the file [mardi_vol1.txt](arke:01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK), which is part of the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This specific passage follows Yoomy's continued narration of a legend and precedes further discussion within the chapter.
## Contents
The text features a dialogue where the chronicler Mohi questions the veracity of Yoomy's invented story. Babbalanja intervenes, proposing that fictions can be as real as tangible objects, asserting that both are merely perceptions of the eye or fancy. Mohi challenges Babbalanja to define truth, to which Babbalanja responds by referencing the ancient philosopher Bardianna, suggesting that the question of truth is more profound than any definitive answer.
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- Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Discussion Resumes
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- “Now, I appeal to you, royal Media; to you, noble Taji; to you,
Babbalanja;” said the chronicler, with an impressive gesture, “whether
this seems a credible history: Yoomy has invented.”
“But perhaps he has entertained, old Mohi,” said Babbalanja.
“He has not spoken the truth,” persisted the chronicler.
“Mohi,” said Babbalanja, “truth is in things, and not in words: truth
is voiceless; so at least saith old Bardianna. And I, Babbalanja,
assert, that what are vulgarly called fictions are as much realities as
the gross mattock of Dididi, the digger of trenches; for things visible
are but conceits of the eye: things imaginative, conceits of the fancy.
If duped by one, we are equally duped by the other.”
“Clear as this water,” said Yoomy.
“Opaque as this paddle,” said Mohi, “But, come now, thou oracle, if all
things are deceptive, tell us what is truth?”
“The old interrogatory; did they not ask it when the world began? But
ask it no more. As old Bardianna hath it, that question is more final
than any answer.”
- title
- Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Discussion Resumes