English
(EnterAhab:Then,all)
Itwasnotagreatwhileaftertheaffairofthepipe,thatonemorningshortlyafterbreakfast,Ahab,aswashiswont,ascendedthecabin-gangwaytothedeck.
Theremostsea-captainsusuallywalkatthathour,ascountrygentlemen,afterthesamemeal,takeafewturnsinthegarden.
Soonhissteady,ivorystridewasheard,astoandfrohepacedhisoldrounds,uponplankssofamiliartohistread,thattheywerealloverdented,likegeologicalstones,withthepeculiarmarkofhiswalk.
Didyoufixedlygaze,too,uponthatribbedanddentedbrow;therealso,youwouldseestillstrangerfoot-prints-thefoot-printsofhisoneunsleeping,ever-pacingthought.
Butontheoccasioninquestion,thosedentslookeddeeper,evenashisnervousstepthatmorningleftadeepermark.
And,sofullofhisthoughtwasAhab,thatateveryuniformturnthathemade,nowatthemain-mastandnowatthebinnacle,youcouldalmostseethatthoughtturninhimasheturned,andpaceinhimashepaced;socompletelypossessinghim,indeed,thatitallbutseemedtheinwardmouldofeveryoutermovement.
“D’yemarkhim,Flask?”whisperedStubb;“thechickthat’sinhimpeckstheshell.‘Twillsoonbeout.”
Thehoursworeon;-Ahabnowshutupwithinhiscabin;anon,pacingthedeck,withthesameintensebigotryofpurposeinhisaspect.
Itdrewnearthecloseofday.Suddenlyhecametoahaltbythebulwarks,andinsertinghisbonelegintotheauger-holethere,andwithonehandgraspingashroud,heorderedStarbucktosendeverybodyaft.
“Sir!”saidthemate,astonishedatanorderseldomornevergivenonship-boardexceptinsomeextraordinarycase.
“Sendeverybodyaft,”repeatedAhab.“Mast-heads,there!comedown!”
Whentheentireship’scompanywereassembled,andwithcuriousandnotwhollyunapprehensivefaces,wereeyeinghim,forhelookednotunliketheweatherhorizonwhenastormiscomingup,Ahab,afterrapidlyglancingoverthebulwarks,andthendartinghiseyesamongthecrew,startedfromhisstandpoint;andasthoughnotasoulwerenighhimresumedhisheavyturnsuponthedeck.
Withbentheadandhalf-slouchedhathecontinuedtopace,unmindfulofthewonderingwhisperingamongthemen;tillStubbcautiouslywhisperedtoFlask,thatAhabmusthavesummonedthemthereforthepurposeofwitnessingapedestrianfeat.Butthisdidnotlastlong.Vehementlypausing,hecried:-
“Whatdoyedowhenyeseeawhale,men?”
“Singoutforhim!”wastheimpulsiverejoinderfromascoreofclubbedvoices.
“Good!”criedAhab,withawildapprovalinhistones;observingtheheartyanimationintowhichhisunexpectedquestionhadsomagneticallythrownthem.
“Andwhatdoyenext,men?”
“Loweraway,andafterhim!”
“Andwhattuneisityepullto,men?”
“Adeadwhaleorastoveboat!”
Moreandmorestrangelyandfiercelygladandapproving,grewthecountenanceoftheoldmanateveryshout;whilethemarinersbegantogazecuriouslyateachother,asifmarvellinghowitwasthattheythemselvesbecamesoexcitedatsuchseeminglypurposelessquestions.
But,theywerealleagernessagain,asAhab,nowhalf-revolvinginhispivot-hole,withonehandreachinghighupashroud,andtightly,almostconvulsivelygraspingit,addressedthemthus:-
“Allyemast-headershavebeforenowheardmegiveordersaboutawhitewhale.Lookye!d’yeseethisSpanishounceofgold?”
-holdingupabroadbrightcointothesun-“itisasixteendollarpiece,men.D’yeseeit?Mr.Starbuck,handmeyontop-maul.”
Whilethematewasgettingthehammer,Ahab,withoutspeaking,wasslowlyrubbingthegoldpieceagainsttheskirtsofhisjacket,asiftoheightenitslustre,andwithoutusinganywordswasmeanwhilelowlyhummingtohimself,producingasoundsostrangelymuffledandinarticulatethatitseemedthemechanicalhummingofthewheelsofhisvitalityinhim.
Receivingthetop-maulfromStarbuck,headvancedtowardsthemain-mastwiththehammerupliftedinonehand,exhibitingthegoldwiththeother,andwithahighraisedvoiceexclaiming:“Whosoeverofyeraisesmeawhite-headedwhalewithawrinkledbrowandacrookedjaw;whosoeverofyeraisesmethatwhite-headedwhale,withthreeholespuncturedinhisstarboardfluke-lookye,whosoeverofyeraisesmethatsamewhitewhale,heshallhavethisgoldounce,myboys!”
“Huzza!huzza!”criedtheseamen,aswithswingingtarpaulinstheyhailedtheactofnailingthegoldtothemast.
“It’sawhitewhale,Isay,”resumedAhab,ashethrewdownthetopmaul:“awhitewhale.Skinyoureyesforhim,men;looksharpforwhitewater;ifyeseebutabubble,singout.”
AllthiswhileTashtego,Daggoo,andQueequeghadlookedonwithevenmoreintenseinterestandsurprisethantherest,andatthementionofthewrinkledbrowandcrookedjawtheyhadstartedasifeachwasseparatelytouchedbysomespecificrecollection.
“CaptainAhab,”saidTashtego,“thatwhitewhalemustbethesamethatsomecallMobyDick.”
“MobyDick?”shoutedAhab.“Doyeknowthewhitewhalethen,Tash?”
“Doeshefan-tailalittlecurious,sir,beforehegoesdown?”saidtheGay-Headerdeliberately.
“Andhasheacuriousspout,too,”saidDaggoo,“verybushy,evenforaparmacetty,andmightyquick,CaptainAhab?”
“Andhehaveone,two,three-oh!goodmanyironinhimhide,too,Captain,”criedQueequegdisjointedly,“alltwiske-teebe-twisk,likehim-him-”falteringhardforaword,andscrewinghishandroundandroundasthoughuncorkingabottle-“likehim-him-”
“Corkscrew!”criedAhab,“aye,Queequeg,theharpoonsliealltwistedandwrenchedinhim;aye,Daggoo,hisspoutisabigone,likeawholeshockofwheat,andwhiteasapileofourNantucketwoolafterthegreatannualsheep-shearing;aye,Tashtego,andhefan-tailslikeasplitjibinasquall.Deathanddevils!
men,itisMobyDickyehaveseen-MobyDick-MobyDick!”
“CaptainAhab,”saidStarbuck,who,withStubbandFlask,hadthusfarbeeneyeinghissuperiorwithincreasingsurprise,butatlastseemedstruckwithathoughtwhichsomewhatexplainedallthewonder.
“CaptainAhab,IhaveheardofMobyDick-butitwasnotMobyDickthattookoffthyleg?”
“Whotoldtheethat?”criedAhab;thenpausing,“Aye,Starbuck;aye,myheartiesallround;itwasMobyDickthatdismastedme;MobyDickthatbroughtmetothisdeadstumpIstandonnow.
Aye,aye,”heshoutedwithaterrific,loud,animalsob,likethatofaheart-strickenmoose;“Aye,aye!
itwasthataccursedwhitewhalethatrazeedme;madeapoorpegginglubberofmeforeverandaday!”
Thentossingbotharms,withmeasurelessimprecationsheshoutedout:“Aye,aye!
andI’llchasehimroundGoodHope,androundtheHorn,androundtheNorwayMaelstrom,androundperdition’sflamesbeforeIgivehimup.
Andthisiswhatyehaveshippedfor,men!
tochasethatwhitewhaleonbothsidesofland,andoverallsidesofearth,tillhespoutsblackbloodandrollsfinout.
Whatsayye,men,willyesplicehandsonit,now?Ithinkyedolookbrave.”
“Aye,aye!”shoutedtheharpooneersandseamen,runningclosertotheexcitedoldman:“Asharpeyeforthewhitewhale;asharplanceforMobyDick!”
“Godblessye,”heseemedtohalfsobandhalfshout.“Godblessye,men.Steward!godrawthegreatmeasureofgrog.
Butwhat’sthislongfaceabout,Mr.Starbuck;wiltthounotchasethewhitewhale!artnotgameforMobyDick?”
“Iamgameforhiscrookedjaw,andforthejawsofDeathtoo,CaptainAhab,ifitfairlycomesinthewayofthebusinesswefollow;butIcameheretohuntwhales,notmycommander’svengeance.
Howmanybarrelswillthyvengeanceyieldtheeevenifthougettestit,CaptainAhab?
itwillnotfetchtheemuchinourNantucketmarket.”
“Nantucketmarket!Hoot!
Butcomecloser,Starbuck;thourequirestalittlelowerlayer.
Ifmoney’stobethemeasurer,man,andtheaccountantshavecomputedtheirgreatcounting-housetheglobe,bygirdlingitwithguineas,onetoeverythreepartsofaninch;then,letmetellthee,thatmyvengeancewillfetchagreatpremiumhere!”
“Hesmiteshischest,”whisperedStubb,“what’sthatfor?methinksitringsmostvast,buthollow.”
“Vengeanceonadumbbrute!”criedStarbuck,“thatsimplysmotetheefromblindestinstinct!Madness!Tobeenragedwithadumbthing,CaptainAhab,seemsblasphemous.”
“Harkyeyetagain-thelittlelowerlayer.
Allvisibleobjects,man,arebutaspasteboardmasks.
Butineachevent-inthelivingact,theundoubteddeed-there,someunknownbutstillreasoningthingputsforththemouldingsofitsfeaturesfrombehindtheunreasoningmask.
Ifmanwillstrike,strikethoughthemask!
Howcantheprisonerreachoutsideexceptbythrustingthroughthewall?
Tome,thewhitewhaleisthatwall,shovedneartome.
SometimesIthinkthere’snaughtbeyond.But‘tisenough.
Hetasksme;heheapsme;Iseeinhimoutrageousstrength,withaninscrutablemalicesinewingit.
ThatinscrutablethingischieflywhatIhate;andbethewhitewhaleagent,orbethewhitewhaleprincipal,Iwillwreakthathateuponhim.
Talknottomeofblasphemy,man;I’dstrikethesunifitinsultedme.
Forcouldthesundothat,thencouldIdotheother;sincethereiseverasortoffairplayherein,jealousypresidingoverallcreations.
Butnotmymaster,man,iseventhatfairplay.Who’soverme?Truthhathnoconfines.Takeoffthineeye!
moreintolerablethanfiends’glaringsisadoltishstare!
So,so;thoureddenestandpalest;myheathasmeltedtheetoanger-glow.
Butlookye,Starbuck,whatissaidinheat,thatthingunsaysitself.
Therearemenfromwhomwarmwordsaresmallindignity.Imeantnottoincensethee.Letitgo.Look!
seeyonderTurkishcheeksofspottedtawn-living,breathingpicturespaintedbythesun.
ThePaganleopards-theunreckingandunworshippingthings,thatlive;andseek,andgivenoreasonsforthetorridlifetheyfeel!Thecrew,man,thecrew!
AretheynotoneandallwithAhab,inthismatterofthewhale?SeeStubb!helaughs!SeeyonderChilian!hesnortstothinkofit.
Standupamidthegeneralhurricane,thyonetostsaplingcannot,Starbuck!Andwhatisit?Reckonit.
‘Tisbuttohelpstrikeafin;nowondrousfeatforStarbuck.Whatisitmore?
Fromthisonepoorhunt,then,thebestlanceoutofallNantucket,surelyhewillnothangback,wheneveryforemast-handhasclutchedawhetstone.Ah!constrainingsseizethee;Isee!thebillowliftsthee!Speak,butspeak!-Aye,aye!thysilence,then,thatvoicesthee.
(Aside)Somethingshotfrommydilatednostrils,hehasinhaleditinhislungs.
Starbucknowismine;cannotopposemenow,withoutrebellion.”
“Godkeepme!-keepusall!”murmuredStarbuck,lowly.
Butinhisjoyattheenchanted,tacitacquiescenceofthemate,Ahabdidnothearhisforebodinginvocation;noryetthelowlaughfromthehold;noryetthepresagingvibrationsofthewindsinthecordage;noryetthehollowflapofthesailsagainstthemasts,asforamomenttheirheartssankin.
ForagainStarbuck’sdowncasteyeslightedupwiththestubbornnessoflife;thesubterraneanlaughdiedaway;thewindsblewon;thesailsfilledout;theshipheavedandrolledasbefore.Ah,yeadmonitionsandwarnings!whystayyenotwhenyecome?
Butratherareyepredictionsthanwarnings,yeshadows!
Yetnotsomuchpredictionsfromwithout,asverificationsofthefore-goingthingswithin.
Forwithlittleexternaltoconstrainus,theinnermostnecessitiesinourbeing,thesestilldriveuson.
“Themeasure!themeasure!”criedAhab.
Receivingthebrimmingpewter,andturningtotheharpooneers,heorderedthemtoproducetheirweapons.
Thenrangingthembeforehimnearthecapstan,withtheirharpoonsintheirhands,whilehisthreematesstoodathissidewiththeirlances,andtherestoftheship’scompanyformedacircleroundthegroup;hestoodforaninstantsearchinglyeyeingeverymanofhiscrew.
Butthosewildeyesmethis,asthebloodshotevesoftheprairiewolvesmeettheeyeoftheirleader,ereherushesonattheirheadinthetrailofthebison;but,alas!
onlytofallintothehiddensnareoftheIndian.
“Drinkandpass!”hecried,handingtheheavychargedflagontothenearestseaman.“Thecrewalonenowdrink.Roundwithit,round!
Shortdraughts-longswallows,men;‘tishotasSatan’shoof.So,so;itgoesroundexcellently.
Itspiralizesinye;forksoutattheserpent-snappingeye.Welldone;almostdrained.Thatwayitwent,thiswayitcomes.Handitme-here’sahollow!
Men,yeseemtheyears;sobrimminglifeisgulpedandgone.Steward,refill!
“Attendnow,mybraves.Ihavemusteredyeallroundthiscapstan;andyemates,flankmewithyourlances;andyeharpooneers,standtherewithyourirons;andye,stoutmariners,ringmein,thatImayinsomesortreviveanoblecustomofmyfishermenfathersbeforeme.Omen,youwillyetseethat-Ha!boy,comeback?badpenniescomenotsooner.Handitme.
Why,now,thispewterhadrunbrimmingagain,wertnotthouSt.Vitus’imp-away,thouague!
“Advance,yemates!Crossyourlancesfullbeforeme.Welldone!Letmetouchtheaxis.”
Sosaying,withextendedarm,hegraspedthethreelevel,radiatinglancesattheircrossedcentre;whilesodoing,suddenlyandnervouslytwitchedthem;meanwhileglancingintentlyfromStarbucktoStubb;fromStubbtoFlask.
Itseemedasthough,bysomenameless,interiorvolition,hewouldfainhaveshockedintothemthesamefieryemotionaccumulatedwithintheLeydenjarofhisownmagneticlife.
Thethreematesquailedbeforehisstrong,sustained,andmysticaspect.
StubbandFlasklookedsidewaysfromhim;thehonesteyeofStarbuckfelldownright.
“Invain!”criedAhab;“but,maybe,‘tiswell.
Fordidyethreebutoncetakethefull-forcedshock,thenmineownelectricthing,thathadperhapsexpiredfromoutme.
Perchance,too,itwouldhavedroppedyedead.Perchanceyeneeditnot.Downlances!
Andnow,yemates,Idoappointyethreecupbearerstomythreepagankinsmenthere-yonthreemosthonorablegentlemenandnoblemen,myvaliantharpooneers.Disdainthetask?
What,whenthegreatPopewashesthefeetofbeggars,usinghistiaraforewer?Oh,mysweetcardinals!
yourowncondescension,thatshallbendyetoit.Idonotorderye;yewillit.
Cutyourseizingsanddrawthepoles,yeharpooneers!”
Silentlyobeyingtheorder,thethreeharpooneersnowstoodwiththedetachedironpartoftheirharpoons,somethreefeetlong,held,barbsup,beforehim.
“Stabmenotwiththatkeensteel!Cantthem;cantthemover!knowyenotthegobletend?Turnupthesocket!So,so;now,yecup-bearers,advance.Theirons!takethem;holdthemwhileIfill!”
Forthwith,slowlygoingfromoneofficertotheother,hebrimmedtheharpoonsocketswiththefierywatersfromthepewter.
“Now,threetothree,yestand.Commendthemurderouschalices!
Bestowthem,yewhoarenowmadepartiestothisindissolubleleague.Ha!Starbuck!butthedeedisdone!
Yonratifyingsunnowwaitstosituponit.Drink,yeharpooneers!
drinkandswear,yementhatmanthedeathfulwhaleboat’sbow-DeathtoMobyDick!
Godhuntusall,ifwedonothuntMobyDicktohisdeath!”
Thelong,barbedsteelgobletswerelifted;andtocriesandmaledictionsagainstthewhitewhale,thespiritsweresimultaneouslyquaffeddownwithahiss.
Starbuckpaled,andturned,andshivered.
Oncemore,andfinally,thereplenishedpewterwenttheroundsamongthefranticcrew;when,wavinghisfreehandtothem,theyalldispersed;andAhabretiredwithinhiscabin.
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