English
Therearecertainqueertimesandoccasionsinthisstrangemixedaffairwecalllifewhenamantakesthiswholeuniverseforavastpracticaljoke,thoughthewitthereofhebutdimlydiscerns,andmorethansuspectsthatthejokeisatnobody’sexpensebuthisown.
However,nothingdispirits,andnothingseemsworthwhiledisputing.
Heboltsdownallevents,allcreeds,andbeliefs,andpersuasions,allhardthingsvisibleandinvisible,nevermindhowknobby;asanostrichofpotentdigestiongobblesdownbulletsandgunflints.
Andasforsmalldifficultiesandworryings,prospectsofsuddendisaster,periloflifeandlimb;allthese,anddeathitself,seemtohimonlysly,good-naturedhits,andjollypunchesinthesidebestowedbytheunseenandunaccountableoldjoker.
ThatoddsortofwaywardmoodIamspeakingof,comesoveramanonlyinsometimeofextremetribulation;itcomesintheverymidstofhisearnestness,sothatwhatjustbeforemighthaveseemedtohimathingmostmomentous,nowseemsbutapartofthegeneraljoke.
Thereisnothingliketheperilsofwhalingtobreedthisfreeandeasysortofgenial,desperadophilosophy;andwithitInowregardedthiswholevoyageofthePequod,andthegreatWhiteWhaleitsobject.
“Queequeg,”saidI,whentheyhaddraggedme,thelastman,tothedeck,andIwasstillshakingmyselfinmyjackettoflingoffthewater;“Queequeg,myfinefriend,doesthissortofthingoftenhappen?”
Withoutmuchemotion,thoughsoakedthroughjustlikeme,hegavemetounderstandthatsuchthingsdidoftenhappen.
“Mr.Stubb,”saidI,turningtothatworthy,who,buttonedupinhisoil-jacket,wasnowcalmlysmokinghispipeintherain;“Mr.Stubb,IthinkIhaveheardyousaythatofallwhalemenyouevermet,ourchiefmate,Mr.Starbuck,isbyfarthemostcarefulandprudent.
Isupposethen,thatgoingplumponaflyingwhalewithyoursailsetinafoggysquallistheheightofawhaleman’sdiscretion?”
“Certain.I’veloweredforwhalesfromaleakingshipinagaleoffCapeHorn.”
“Mr.Flask,”saidI,turningtolittleKing-Post,whowasstandingcloseby;“youareexperiencedinthesethings,andIamnot.
Willyoutellmewhetheritisanunalterablelawinthisfishery,Mr.Flask,foranoarsmantobreakhisownbackpullinghimselfback-foremostintodeath’sjaws?”
“Can’tyoutwistthatsmaller?”saidFlask.“Yes,that’sthelaw.
Ishouldliketoseeaboat’screwbackingwateruptoawhalefaceforemost.Ha,ha!
thewhalewouldgivethemsquintforsquint,mindthat!”
Herethen,fromthreeimpartialwitnesses,Ihadadeliberatestatementoftheentirecase.
Considering,therefore,thatsquallsandcapsizingsinthewaterandconsequentbivouacksonthedeep,weremattersofcommonoccurrenceinthiskindoflife;consideringthatatthesuperlativelycriticalinstantofgoingontothewhaleImustresignmylifeintothehandsofhimwhosteeredtheboat-oftentimesafellowwhoatthatverymomentisinhisimpetuousnessuponthepointofscuttlingthecraftwithhisownfranticstampings;consideringthattheparticulardisastertoourownparticularboatwaschieflytobeimputedtoStarbuck’sdrivingontohiswhalealmostintheteethofasquall,andconsideringthatStarbuck,notwithstanding,wasfamousforhisgreatheedfulnessinthefishery;consideringthatIbelongedtothisuncommonlyprudentStarbuck’sboat;andfinallyconsideringinwhatadevil’schaseIwasimplicated,touchingtheWhiteWhale:takingallthingstogether,Isay,IthoughtImightaswellgobelowandmakearoughdraftofmywill.
“Queequeg,”saidI,“comealong,youshallbemylawyer,executor,andlegatee.”
Itmayseemstrangethatofallmensailorsshouldbetinkeringattheirlastwillsandtestaments,buttherearenopeopleintheworldmorefondofthatdiversion.
ThiswasthefourthtimeinmynauticallifethatIhaddonethesamething.
Aftertheceremonywasconcludeduponthepresentoccasion,Ifeltalltheeasier;astonewasrolledawayfrommyheart.
Besides,allthedaysIshouldnowlivewouldbeasgoodasthedaysthatLazaruslivedafterhisresurrection;asupplementarycleangainofsomanymonthsorweeksasthecasemaybe.
Isurvivedmyself;mydeathandburialwerelockedupinmychest.
Ilookedroundmetranquillyandcontentedly,likeaquietghostwithacleanconsciencesittinginsidethebarsofasnugfamilyvault.
Nowthen,thoughtI,unconsciouslyrollingupthesleevesofmyfrock,heregoesforacool,collecteddiveatdeathanddestruction,andthedevilfetchthehindmost.
Share this article to
FINISH