AsidefromthosemoreobviousconsiderationstouchingMobyDick,whichcouldnotbutoccasionallyawakeninanyman’ssoulsomealarm,therewasanotherthought,orrathervague,namelesshorrorconcerninghim,whichattimesbyitsintensitycompletelyoverpoweredalltherest;andyetsomysticalandwellnighineffablewasit,thatIalmostdespairofputtingitinacomprehensibleform.
ButhowcanIhopetoexplainmyselfhere;andyet,insomedim,randomway,explainmyselfImust,elseallthesechaptersmightbenaught.
Thoughinmanynaturalobjects,whitenessrefininglyenhancesbeauty,asifimpartingsomespecialvirtueofitsown,asinmarbles,japonicas,andpearls;andthoughvariousnationshaveinsomewayrecognisedacertainroyalpreeminenceinthishue;eventhebarbaric,grandoldkingsofPeguplacingthetitle“LordoftheWhiteElephants”abovealltheirothermagniloquentascriptionsofdominion;andthemodernkingsofSiamunfurlingthesamesnow-whitequadrupedintheroyalstandard;andtheHanoverianflagbearingtheonefigureofasnow-whitecharger;andthegreatAustrianEmpire,Caesarian,heirtooverlordingRome,havingfortheimperialcolorthesameimperialhue;andthoughthispre-eminenceinitappliestothehumanraceitself,givingthewhitemanidealmastershipovereveryduskytribe;andthough,besides,allthis,whitenesshasbeenevenmadesignificantofgladness,foramongtheRomansawhitestonemarkedajoyfulday;andthoughinothermortalsympathiesandsymbolizings,thissamehueismadetheemblemofmanytouching,noblethings-theinnocenceofbrides,thebenignityofage;thoughamongtheRedMenofAmericathegivingofthewhitebeltofwampumwasthedeepestpledgeofhonor;thoughinmanyclimes,whitenesstypifiesthemajestyofJusticeintheermineoftheJudge,andcontributestothedailystateofkingsandqueensdrawnbymilk-whitesteeds;thougheveninthehighermysteriesofthemostaugustreligionsithasbeenmadethesymbolofthedivinespotlessnessandpower;bythePersianfireworshippers,thewhiteforkedflamebeingheldtheholiestonthealtar;andintheGreekmythologies,GreatJovehimselfbeingmadeincarnateinasnow-whitebull;andthoughtothenobleIroquois,themidwintersacrificeofthesacredWhiteDogwasbyfartheholiestfestivaloftheirtheology,thatspotless,faithfulcreaturebeingheldthepurestenvoytheycouldsendtotheGreatSpiritwiththeannualtidingsoftheirownfidelity;andthoughdirectlyfromtheLatinwordforwhite,allChristianpriestsderivethenameofonepartoftheirsacredvesture,thealbortunic,wornbeneaththecassock;andthoughamongtheholypompsoftheRomishfaith,whiteisspeciallyemployedinthecelebrationofthePassionofourLord;thoughintheVisionofSt.John,whiterobesaregiventotheredeemed,andthefour-and-twentyeldersstandclothedinwhitebeforethegreat-whitethrone,andtheHolyOnethatsitteththerewhitelikewool;yetforalltheseaccumulatedassociations,withwhateverissweet,andhonorable,andsublime,thereyetlurksanelusivesomethingintheinnermostideaofthishue,whichstrikesmoreofpanictothesoulthanthatrednesswhichaffrightsinblood.
Thiselusivequalityitis,whichcausesthethoughtofwhiteness,whendivorcedfrommorekindlyassociations,andcoupledwithanyobjectterribleinitself,toheightenthatterrortothefurthestbounds.
Witnessthewhitebearofthepoles,andthewhitesharkofthetropics;whatbuttheirsmooth,flakywhitenessmakesthemthetranscendenthorrorstheyare?
Thatghastlywhitenessitiswhichimpartssuchanabhorrentmildness,evenmoreloathsomethanterrific,tothedumbgloatingoftheiraspect.
WithreferencetothePolarbear,itmaypossiblybeurgedbyhimwhowouldfaingostilldeeperintothismatter,thatitisnotthewhiteness,separatelyregarded,whichheightenstheintolerablehideousnessofthatbrute;for,analysed,thatheightenedhideousness,itmightbesaid,onlyrisesfromthecircumstance,thattheirresponsibleferociousnessofthecreaturestandsinvestedinthefleeceofcelestialinnocenceandlove;andhence,bybringingtogethertwosuchoppositeemotionsinourminds,thePolarbearfrightensuswithsounnaturalacontrast.
Asforthewhiteshark,thewhiteglidingghostlinessofreposeinthatcreature,whenbeheldinhisordinarymoods,strangelytallieswiththesamequalityinthePolarquadruped.
TheRomishmassforthedeadbeginswith“Requiemeternam”(eternalrest),whenceRequiemdenominatingthemassitself,andanyotherfuneralmusic.
Now,inallusiontothewhite,silentstillnessofdeathinthisshark,andthemilddeadlinessofhishabits,theFrenchcallhimRequin.
Bethinktheeofthealbatross,whencecomethosecloudsofspiritualwondermentandpaledread,inwhichthatwhitephantomsailsinallimaginations?
Frommyforenoonwatchbelow,Iascendedtotheovercloudeddeck;andthere,dasheduponthemainhatches,Isawaregal,featherythingofunspottedwhiteness,andwithahooked,Romanbillsublime.
AsAbrahambeforetheangels,Ibowedmyself;thewhitethingwassowhite,itswingssowide,andinthoseforeverexiledwaters,Ihadlostthemiserablewarpingmemoriesoftraditionsandoftowns.
SothatbynopossibilitycouldColeridge’swildRhymehavehadaughttodowiththosemysticalimpressionswhichweremine,whenIsawthatbirduponourdeck.
Iassert,then,thatinthewondrousbodilywhitenessofthebirdchieflylurksthesecretofthespell;atruththemoreevincedinthis,thatbyasolecismoftermstherearebirdscalledgreyalbatrosses;andtheseIhavefrequentlyseen,butneverwithsuchemotionsaswhenIbeheldtheAntarcticfowl.
AtlasttheCaptainmadeapostmanofit;tyingalettered,leatherntallyrounditsneck,withtheship’stimeandplace;andthenlettingitescape.
ButIdoubtnot,thatleatherntally,meantforman,wastakenoffinHeaven,whenthewhitefowlflewtojointhewing-folding,theinvoking,andadoringcherubim!
MostfamousinourWesternannalsandIndiantraditionsisthatoftheWhiteSteedofthePrairies;amagnificentmilk-whitecharger,large-eyed,small-headed,bluff-chested,andwiththedignityofathousandmonarchsinhislofty,overscorningcarriage.
HewastheelectedXerxesofvastherdsofwildhorses,whosepasturesinthosedayswereonlyfencedbytheRockyMountainsandtheAlleghanies.
Theflashingcascadeofhismane,thecurvingcometofhistail,investedhimwithhousingsmoreresplendentthangoldandsilver-beaterscouldhavefurnishedhim.
Amostimperialandarchangelicalapparitionofthatunfallen,westernworld,whichtotheeyesoftheoldtrappersandhuntersrevivedthegloriesofthoseprimevaltimeswhenAdamwalkedmajesticasagod,bluff-browedandfearlessasthismightysteed.
Whethermarchingamidhisaidesandmarshalsinthevanofcountlesscohortsthatendlesslystreameditovertheplains,likeanOhio;orwhetherwithhiscircumambientsubjectsbrowsingallaroundatthehorizon,theWhiteSteedgallopinglyreviewedthemwithwarmnostrilsreddeningthroughhiscoolmilkiness;inwhateveraspecthepresentedhimself,alwaystothebravestIndianshewastheobjectoftremblingreverenceandawe.
Norcanitbequestionedfromwhatstandsonlegendaryrecordofthisnoblehorse,thatitwashisspiritualwhitenesschiefly,whichsoclothedhimwithdivineness;andthatthisdivinenesshadthatinitwhich,thoughcommandingworship,atthesametimeenforcedacertainnamelessterror.
ButthereareotherinstanceswherethiswhitenesslosesallthataccessoryandstrangeglorywhichinvestsitintheWhiteSteedandAlbatross.
WhatisitthatintheAlbinomansopeculiarlyrepelsandoftenshockstheeye,asthatsometimesheisloathedbyhisownkithandkin!
TheAlbinoisaswellmadeasothermen-hasnosubstantivedeformity-andyetthismereaspectofall-pervadingwhitenessmakeshimmorestrangelyhideousthantheugliestabortion.Whyshouldthisbeso?
Nor,inquiteotheraspects,doesNatureinherleastpalpablebutnotthelessmaliciousagencies,failtoenlistamongherforcesthiscrowningattributeoftheterrible.
HowwildlyitheightenstheeffectofthatpassageinFroissart,when,maskedinthesnowysymboloftheirfaction,thedesperateWhiteHoodsofGhentmurdertheirbailiffinthemarket-place!
Nor,insomethings,doesthecommon,hereditaryexperienceofallmankindfailtobearwitnesstothesupernaturalismofthishue.
Itcannotwellbedoubted,thattheonevisiblequalityintheaspectofthedeadwhichmostappalsthegazer,isthemarblepallorlingeringthere;asifindeedthatpallorwereasmuchlikethebadgeofconsternationintheotherworld,asofmortaltrepidationhere.
Noreveninoursuperstitionsdowefailtothrowthesamesnowymantleroundourphantoms;allghostsrisinginamilk-whitefog-Yea,whiletheseterrorsseizeus,letusadd,thateventhekingofterrors,whenpersonifiedbytheevangelist,ridesonhispallidhorse.
Therefore,inhisothermoods,symbolizewhatevergrandorgraciousthinghewillbywhiteness,nomancandenythatinitsprofoundestidealizedsignificanceitcallsupapeculiarapparitiontothesoul.
Butthoughwithoutdissentthispointbefixed,howismortalmantoaccountforit?Toanalyzeit,wouldseemimpossible.
Canwe,then,bythecitationofsomeofthoseinstanceswhereinthisthingofwhiteness-thoughforthetimeeitherwhollyoringreatpartstrippedofalldirectassociationscalculatedtoimporttoitaughtfearful,butnevertheless,isfoundtoexertoverusthesamesorcery,howevermodified;-canwethushopetolightuponsomechancecluetoconductustothehiddencauseweseek?
Letustry.Butinamatterlikethis,subtletyappealstosubtlety,andwithoutimaginationnomancanfollowanotherintothesehalls.
Andthough,doubtless,someatleastoftheimaginativeimpressionsabouttobepresentedmayhavebeensharedbymostmen,yetfewperhapswereentirelyconsciousofthematthetime,andthereforemaynotbeabletorecallthemnow.
Whytothemanofuntutoredideality,whohappenstobebutlooselyacquaintedwiththepeculiarcharacteroftheday,doesthebarementionofWhitsuntidemarshalinthefancysuchlong,dreary,speechlessprocessionsofslow-pacingpilgrims,down-castandhoodedwithnew-fallensnow?
Ortotheunread,unsophisticatedProtestantoftheMiddleAmericanStates,whydoesthepassingmentionofaWhiteFriaroraWhiteNun,evokesuchaneyelessstatueinthesoul?
Orwhatisthereapartfromthetraditionsofdungeonedwarriorsandkings(whichwillnotwhollyaccountforit)thatmakestheWhiteTowerofLondontellsomuchmorestronglyontheimaginationofanuntravelledAmerican,thanthoseotherstoriedstructures,itsneighbors-theBywardTower,oreventheBloody?
Andthosesublimertowers,theWhiteMountainsofNewHampshire,whence,inpeculiarmoods,comesthatgiganticghostlinessoverthesoulatthebarementionofthatname,whilethethoughtofVirginia’sBlueRidgeisfullofasoft,dewy,distantdreaminess?
Orwhy,irrespectiveofalllatitudesandlongitudes,doesthenameoftheWhiteSeaexertsuchaspectralnessoverthefancy,whilethatoftheYellowSealullsuswithmortalthoughtsoflonglacqueredmildafternoonsonthewaves,followedbythegaudiestandyetsleepiestofsunsets?
Or,tochooseawhollyunsubstantialinstance,purelyaddressedtothefancy,why,inreadingtheoldfairytalesofCentralEurope,does“thetallpaleman”oftheHartzforests,whosechangelesspallorunrustlinglyglidesthroughthegreenofthegroves-whyisthisphantommoreterriblethanallthewhoopingimpsoftheBlocksburg?
Norisit,altogether,theremembranceofhercathedral-topplingearthquakes;northestampedoesofherfranticseas;northetearlessnessofandskiesthatneverrain;northesightofherwidefieldofleaningspires,wrenchedcope-stones,andcrossesalladroop(likecantedyardsofanchoredfleets);andhersuburbanavenuesofhouse-wallslyingoveruponeachother,asatossedpackofcards;-itisnotthesethingsalonewhichmaketearlessLima,thestrangest,saddestcitythoucan’stsee.
OldasPizarro,thiswhitenesskeepsherruinsforevernew;admitsnotthecheerfulgreennessofcompletedecay;spreadsoverherbrokenrampartstherigidpallorofanapoplexythatfixesitsowndistortions.
Iknowthat,tothecommonapprehension,thisphenomenonofwhitenessisnotconfessedtobetheprimeagentinexaggeratingtheterrorofobjectsotherwiseterrible;nortotheunimaginativemindisthereaughtofterrorinthoseappearanceswhoseawfulnesstoanothermindalmostsolelyconsistsinthisonephenomenon,especiallywhenexhibitedunderanyformatallapproachingtomutenessoruniversality.
First:Themariner,whendrawingnighthecoastsofforeignlands,ifbynightheheartheroarofbreakers,startstovigilance,andfeelsjustenoughoftrepidationtosharpenallhisfaculties;butunderpreciselysimilarcircumstances,lethimbecalledfromhishammocktoviewhisshipsailingthroughamidnightseaofmilkywhiteness-asiffromencirclingheadlandsshoalsofcombedwhitebearswereswimmingroundhim,thenhefeelsasilent,superstitiousdread;theshroudedphantomofthewhitenedwatersishorribletohimasarealghost;invaintheleadassureshimheisstilloffsoundings;heartandhelmtheybothgodown;heneverreststillbluewaterisunderhimagain.
Yetwhereisthemarinerwhowilltellthee,“Sir,itwasnotsomuchthefearofstrikinghiddenrocks,asthefearofthathideouswhitenessthatsostirredme?”
Second:TothenativeIndianofPeru,thecontinualsightofthesnowhowdahedAndesconveysnaughtofdread,except,perhaps,inthemerefancyingoftheeternalfrosteddesolatenessreigningatsuchvastaltitudes,andthenaturalconceitofwhatafearfulnessitwouldbetoloseoneselfinsuchinhumansolitude.
MuchthesameisitwiththebackwoodsmanoftheWest,whowithcomparativeindifferenceviewsanunboundedprairiesheetedwithdrivensnow,noshadowoftreeortwigtobreakthefixedtranceofwhiteness.
Notsothesailor,beholdingthesceneryoftheAntarcticseas;whereattimes,bysomeinfernaltrickoflegerdemaininthepowersoffrostandair,he,shiveringandhalfshipwrecked,insteadofrainbowsspeakinghopeandsolacetohismisery,viewswhatseemsaboundlesschurchyardgrinninguponhimwithitsleanicemonumentsandsplinteredcrosses.
Butthousayest,methinksthatwhite-leadchapteraboutwhitenessisbutawhiteflaghungoutfromacravensoul;thousurrenderesttoahypo,Ishmael.
Tellme,whythisstrongyoungcolt,foaledinsomepeacefulvalleyofVermont,farremovedfromallbeastsofprey-whyisitthatuponthesunniestday,ifyoubutshakeafreshbuffalorobebehindhim,sothathecannotevenseeit,butonlysmellsitswildanimalmuskiness-whywillhestart,snort,andwithburstingeyespawthegroundinphrensiesofaffright?
Thereisnoremembranceinhimofanygoringsofwildcreaturesinhisgreennorthernhome,sothatthestrangemuskinesshesmellscannotrecalltohimanythingassociatedwiththeexperienceofformerperils;forwhatknowshe,thisNewEnglandcolt,oftheblackbisonsofdistantOregon?
ThoughthousandsofmilesfromOregon,stillwhenhesmellsthatsavagemusk,therending,goringbisonherdsareaspresentastothedesertedwildfoaloftheprairies,whichthisinstanttheymaybetramplingintodust.
Thus,then,themuffledrollingsofamilkysea;thebleakrustlingsofthefestoonedfrostsofmountains;thedesolateshiftingsofthewindrowedsnowsofprairies;allthese,toIshmael,areastheshakingofthatbuffalorobetothefrightenedcolt!
Thoughneitherknowswhereliethenamelessthingsofwhichthemysticsigngivesforthsuchhints;yetwithme,aswiththecolt,somewherethosethingsmustexist.
Butnotyethavewesolvedtheincantationofthiswhiteness,andlearnedwhyitappealswithsuchpowertothesoul;andmorestrangeandfarmoreportentous-why,aswehaveseen,itisatoncethemostmeaningsymbolofspiritualthings,nay,theveryveiloftheChristian’sDeity;andyetshouldbeasitis,theintensifyingagentinthingsthemostappallingtomankind.
Isitthatbyitsindefinitenessitshadowsforththeheartlessvoidsandimmensitiesoftheuniverse,andthusstabsusfrombehindwiththethoughtofannihilation,whenbeholdingthewhitedepthsofthemilkyway?
Orisit,thatasinessencewhitenessisnotsomuchacolorasthevisibleabsenceofcolor;andatthesametimetheconcreteofallcolors;isitforthesereasonsthatthereissuchadumbblankness,fullofmeaning,inawidelandscapeofsnows-acolorless,all-colorofatheismfromwhichweshrink?
Andwhenweconsiderthatothertheoryofthenaturalphilosophers,thatallotherearthlyhues-everystatelyorlovelyemblazoning-thesweettingesofsunsetskiesandwoods;yea,andthegildedvelvetsofbutterflies,andthebutterflycheeksofyounggirls;allthesearebutsubtiledeceits,notactuallyinherentinsubstances,butonlylaidonfromwithout;sothatalldeifiedNatureabsolutelypaintsliketheharlot,whoseallurementscovernothingbutthecharnel-housewithin;andwhenweproceedfurther,andconsiderthatthemysticalcosmeticwhichproduceseveryoneofherhues,thegreatprincipleoflight,foreverremainswhiteorcolorlessinitself,andifoperatingwithoutmediumuponmatter,wouldtouchallobjects,eventulipsandroses,withitsownblanktinge-ponderingallthis,thepalsieduniverseliesbeforeusaleper;andlikewilfultravellersinLapland,whorefusetowearcoloredandcoloringglassesupontheireyes,sothewretchedinfidelgazeshimselfblindatthemonumentalwhiteshroudthatwrapsalltheprospectaroundhim.
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