- end_line
- 7933
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.539Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 7873
- text
- But there at last came to pass a change in the popular fancies
concerning this ancient anathema. The penalty denounced against the
posterity of the usurper should they issue from the glen, came to be
regarded as only applicable to an invested monarch, not to his
relatives, or heirs.
A most favorable construction of the ban; for all those related to the
king, freely passed in and out of Willamilla.
From the time of the usurpation, there had always been observed a
certain ceremony upon investing the heir to the sovereignty with the
girdle of Teei. Upon these occasions, the chief priests of the island
were present, acting an important part. For the space of as many days,
as there had reigned kings of Marjora’s dynasty, the inner mouth of the
defile remained sealed; the new monarch placing the last stone in the
gap. This symbolized his relinquishment forever of all purpose of
passing out of the glen. And without this observance, was no king
girdled in Juam.
It was likewise an invariable custom, for the heir to receive the regal
investiture immediately upon the decease of his sire. No delay was
permitted. And instantly upon being girdled, he proceeded to take part
in the ceremony of closing the cave; his predecessor yet remaining
uninterred on the purple mat where he died.
In the history of the island, three instances were recorded; wherein,
upon the vacation of the sovereignty, the immediate heir had
voluntarily renounced all claim to the succession, rather than
surrender the privilege of roving, to which he had been entitled, as a
prince of the blood.
Said Rani, one of these young princes, in reply to the remonstrances of
his friends, “What! shall I be a king, only to be a slave? Teei’s
girdle would clasp my waist less tightly, than my soul would be banded
by the mountains of Willamilla. A subject, I am free. No slave in Juam
but its king; for all the tassels round his loins.”
To guard against a similar resolution in the mind of his only son, the
wise sire of Donjalolo, ardently desirous of perpetuating his dignities
in a child so well beloved, had from his earliest infancy, restrained
the boy from passing out of the glen, to contract in the free air of
the Archipelago, tastes and predilections fatal to the inheritance of
the girdle.
But as he grew in years, so impatient became young Donjalolo of the
king his father’s watchfulness over him, though hitherto a most dutiful
son, that at last he was prevailed upon by his youthful companions to
appoint a day, on which to go abroad, and visit Mardi. Hearing this
determination, the old king sought to vanquish it. But in vain. And
early on the morning of the day, that Donjalolo was to set out, he
swallowed poison, and died; in order to force his son into the instant
assumption of the honors thus suddenly inherited.
The event, but not its dreadful circumstances, was communicated to the
prince; as with a gay party of young chiefs, he was about to enter the
mouth of the defile.
“My sire dead!” cried Donjalolo. “So sudden, it seems a bolt from
Heaven.” And bursting into exclamations of grief, he wept upon the
bosom of Talara his friend.
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