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- 10318
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:09.931Z
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- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 10217
- text
- tenement where my servant Oram now dwelleth; with all the lawns,
meadows, uplands and lowlands, fields, groves, and gardens, thereunto
belonging:—IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS to have and to hold the same for the
sole use and benefit of Lanbranka Hohinna, spinster, now resident of
the aforesaid island of Vamba.
“‘Item. I give and bequeath my large carved drinking gourd to my good
comrade Topo.
“’Item. My fast friend Doldrum having at sundry times, and in sundry
places, uttered the prophecy, that upon my decease his sorrow would be
great; I do hereby give and bequeath to the aforesaid Doldrum, ten
yards of my best soft tappa, to be divided into handkerchiefs for his
sole benefit and behoof.
“’Item. My sensible friend Solo having informed me, that he intended to
remain a bachelor for life; I give and devise to the aforesaid Solo,
the mat for one person, whereon I nightly repose.
“’Item. Concerning my private Arbor and Palm-groves, adjoining, lying,
and being in the isle of Vamba, I give and devise the same, with all
appurtenances whatsoever, to my friend Minta the Cynic, to have and to
hold, in trust for the first through-and-through honest man, issue of
my neighbor Mondi; and in default of such issue, for the first
through-and-through honest man, issue of my neighbor Pendidda; and in
default of such issue, for the first through-and-through honest man,
issue of my neighbor Wynodo: and in default of such issue, to any
through-and-through honest man, issue of any body, to be found through
the length and breadth of Mardi.
“’Item. My friend Minta the Cynic to be sole judge of all claims to the
above-mentioned devise; and to hold the said premises for his own use,
until the aforesaid person be found.
“’Item. Knowing my devoted scribe Marko to be very sensitive touching
the receipt of a favor; I willingly spare him that pain; and hereby
bequeath unto the aforesaid scribe, three milk-teeth, not as a
pecuniary legacy, but as a very slight token of my profound regard.
“’Item. I give to the poor of Vamba the total contents of my
red-labeled bags of bicuspids and canines (which I account
three-fourths of my whole estate); to my body servant Fidi, my staff,
all my robes and togas, and three hundred molars in cash; to that
discerning and sagacious philosopher my disciple Krako, one complete
set of denticles, to buy him a vertebral bone ring; and to that pious
and promising youth Vangi, two fathoms of my best kaiar rope, with the
privilege of any bough in my groves.
“’All the rest of my goods, chattels and household stuff whatsoever;
and all my loose denticles, remaining after my debts and legacies are
paid, and my body is out of sight, I hereby direct to be distributed
among the poor of Vamba.
“’Ultimo. I give and bequeath to all Mardi this my last advice and
counsel:—videlicet: live as long as you can; close your own eyes when
you die.
“’I have no previous wills to revoke; and publish this to be my first
and last.
“’In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my right hand; and hereunto
have caused a true copy of the tattooing on my right temple to be
affixed, during the year first above written.
“’By me, BARDIANNA.’”
“Babbalanja, that’s an extraordinary document,” said Media.
“Bardianna was an extraordinary man, my lord.”
“Were there no codicils?”
“The will is all codicils; all after-thoughts; Ten thoughts for one
act, was Bardianna’s motto.”
“Left he nothing whatever to his kindred?”
“Not a stump.”
“Prom his will, he seems to have lived single.”
“Yes: Bardianna never sought to improve upon nature; a bachelor he was
born, and a bachelor he died.”
“According to the best accounts, how did he depart, Babbalanja?” asked
Mohi.
“With a firm lip, and his hand on his heart, old man.”
“His last words?”
“Calmer, and better!”
“Where think you, he is now?”
“In his Ponderings. And those, my lord, we all inherit; for like the
great chief of Romara, who made a whole empire his legatee; so, great
authors have all Mardi for an heir.”
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