CHAPTER LXXVI Some Pleasant, Shady Talk In The Groves, Between My Lords Abrazza And Media, Babbalanja, Mohi, And Yoomy

Abrazza had a cool retreat--a grove of dates; where we were used to lounge of noons, and mix our converse with the babble of the rills; and mix our punches in goblets chased with grapes. And as ever, King Abrazza was the prince of hosts.

"Your crown," he said to Media; and with his own, he hung it on a bough.

"Be not ceremonious:" and stretched his royal legs upon the turf.

"Wine!" and his pages poured it out.

So on the grass we lounged; and King Abrazza, who loved his antique ancestors; and loved old times; and would not talk of moderns;--bade Yoomy sing old songs; bade Mohi rehearse old histories; bade Babbalanja tell of old ontologies; and commanded all, meanwhile, to drink his old, old wine.

So, all round we quaffed and quoted.

At last, we talked of old Homeric bards:--those who, ages back, harped, and begged, and groped their blinded way through all this charitable Mardi; receiving coppers then, and immortal glory now.

ABRAZZA--How came it, that they all were blind?

BABBALANJA--It was endemical, your Highness. Few grand poets have good eyes; for they needs blind must be, who ever gaze upon the sun. Vavona himself was blind: when, in the silence of his secret bower, he said--"I will build another world. Therein, let there be kings and slaves, philosophers and wits; whose checkered actions--strange, grotesque, and merry-sad, will entertain my idle moods." So, my lord, Vavona played at kings and crowns, and men and manners; and loved that lonely game to play.

Answer the following questions:
1. Where did someone stretch his legs?
2. Who's crown had he taken?
3. And placed it where?
4. Where did they rest?
5. Who poured the drink?
6. What was it?
7. What grew there?
8. Did they drink from flutes?
9. What then?
10. What was requested of Mohi?
11. And Yoomy?
12. What of babbalanja?
13. And what were they all to do?
14. Of what?
15. Did they do as requested of them?
16. Who was blind?
17. Anyone else?
18. What did he wish to create?
19. Would there be royalty there?
20. And wise men?
1. the turf.
2. Media's
3. a bough.
4. on the grass
5. pages
6. Wine
7. dates
8. No.
9. goblets
10. rehearse old histories
11. sing old songs
12. tell of old ontologies
13. drink
14. old, old wine.
15. Yes.
16. old Homeric bards
17. Vavona
18. another world.
19. Yes.
20. Yes.