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- 8621
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- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.539Z
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- structure-extraction-lambda
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- 8558
- text
- Nor were his brows much furrowed with wrinkles referable to domestic
cares and tribulations. Although, as in due time will be seen, from
these he was not altogether exempt.
Now, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political
researches, had accurately informed himself concerning the internal
administration of Donjalolo’s harem, the following was the method
pursued therein.
On the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name
assumes her diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and
Velluvi the Third Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter
eclipse thereof; through Calends, Nones, and Ides.
For convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are copied
the various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel thereto,
the hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of the month.
Glancing over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of the rising and
setting of all his stars.
This Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few
mortals beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so
overpowered with verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the
incense of flowers; that they were almost invisible, unless closely
approached. Certain it was, that it demanded no small enterprise,
diligence, and sagacity, to explore the mysterious wood in search of
them. Though a strange, sweet, humming sound, as of the clustering and
swarming of warm bees among roses, at last hinted the royal honey at
hand. High in air, toward the summit of the cliff, overlooking this
side of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks might have been seen, from
which, rumor whispered, was to be caught an angular peep at the tip of
the apex of the roof of the nearest seraglio. But this wild report had
never been established. Nor, indeed, was it susceptible of a test. For
was not that rock inaccessible as the eyrie of young eagles? But to
guard against the possibility of any visual profanation, Donjalolo had
authorized an edict, forever tabooing that rock to foot of man or
pinion of fowl. Birds and bipeds both trembled and obeyed; taking a
wide circuit to avoid the spot.
Access to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from
the palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated “Ravi” (Before),
that to the left “Zono” (After). The meaning of which was, that upon
the termination of her reign the queen wended her way to the Zono;
there tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was emptied; when
the entire Moon of wives, swallow-like, migrated back whence they came;
and the procession was gone over again.
In due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their
respective ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or next
in succession, was spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly-
widowed queen reposed furthest from it.
But alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned.
Notwithstanding these excellent arrangements, the mature result of ages
of progressive improvement in the economy of the royal seraglios in
Willamilla, it must needs be related, that at times the order of
precedence became confused, and was very hard to restore.
At intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small
delight of the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would
soon after be supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the
denomination of the vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced
her monthly revolutions in the king’s infallible calendar.
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