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ErenowithasbeenrelatedhowAhabwaswonttopacehisquarter-deck,takingregularturnsateitherlimit,thebinnacleandmainmast;butinthemultiplicityofotherthingsrequiringnarrationithasnotbeenaddedhowthatsometimesinthesewalks,whenmostplungedinhismood,hewaswonttopauseinturnateachspot,andstandtherestrangelyeyeingtheparticularobjectbeforehim.
Whenhehaltedbeforethebinnacle,withhisglancefastenedonthepointedneedleinthecompass,thatglanceshotlikeajavelinwiththepointedintensityofhispurpose;andwhenresuminghiswalkheagainpausedbeforethemainmast,then,asthesamerivetedglancefastenedupontherivetedgoldcointhere,hestillworethesameaspectofnailedfirmness,onlydashedwithacertainwildlonging,ifnothopefulness.
Butonemorning,turningtopassthedoubloon,heseemedtobenewlyattractedbythestrangefiguresandinscriptionsstampedonit,asthoughnowforthefirsttimebeginningtointerpretforhimselfinsomemonomaniacwaywhateversignificancemightlurkinthem.
Andsomecertainsignificancelurksinallthings,elseallthingsarelittleworth,andtheroundworlditselfbutanemptycipher,excepttosellbythecartload,astheydohillsaboutBoston,tofillupsomemorassintheMilkyWay.
Nowthisdoubloonwasofpurest,virgingold,rakedsomewhereoutoftheheartofgorgeoushills,whence,eastandwest,overgoldensands,thehead-watersofmanyaPactolusflows.
Andthoughnownailedamidstalltherustinessofironboltsandtheverdigrisofcopperspikes,yet,untouchableandimmaculatetoanyfoulness,itstillpreserveditsQuitoglow.
Nor,thoughplacedamongstaruthlesscrewandeveryhourpassedbyruthlesshands,andthroughthelivelongnightsshroudedwiththickdarknesswhichmightcoveranypilferingapproach,neverthelesseverysunrisefoundthedoubloonwherethesunsetlastleftit.
Foritwassetapartandsanctifiedtooneawe-strikingend;andhoweverwantonintheirsailorways,oneandall,themarinersrevereditasthewhitewhale’stalisman.
Sometimestheytalkeditoverinthewearywatchbynight,wonderingwhoseitwastobeatlast,andwhetherhewouldeverlivetospendit.
NowthosenoblegoldencoinsofSouthAmericaareasmedalsofthesunandtropictoken-pieces.
Herepalms,alpacas,andvolcanoes;sun’sdisksandstars,ecliptics,horns-of-plenty,andrichbannerswaving,areinluxuriantprofusionstamped;sothatthepreciousgoldseemsalmosttoderiveanaddedpreciousnessandenhancingglories,bypassingthroughthosefancymints,soSpanishlypoetic.
ItsochancedthatthedoubloonofthePequodwasamostwealthyexampleofthesethings.
Onitsroundborderitboretheletters,REPUBLICADELECUADOR:QUITO.
Sothisbrightcoincamefromacountryplantedinthemiddleoftheworld,andbeneaththegreatequator,andnamedafterit;andithadbeencastmidwayuptheAndes,intheunwaningclimethatknowsnoautumn.
ZonedbythoselettersyousawthelikenessofthreeAndes’summits;fromoneaflame;atoweronanother;onthethirdacrowingcock;whilearchingoverallwasasegmentofthepartitionedzodiac,thesignsallmarkedwiththeirusualcabalistics,andthekeystonesunenteringtheequinoctialpointatLibra.
Beforethisequatorialcoin,Ahab,notunobservedbyothers,wasnowpausing.
“There’ssomethingeveregotisticalinmountain-topsandtowers,andallothergrandandloftythings;lookhere,-threepeaksasproudasLucifer.
Thefirmtower,thatisAhab;thevolcano,thatisAhab;thecourageous,theundaunted,andvictoriousfowl,that,too,isAhab;allareAhab;andthisroundgoldisbuttheimageoftherounderglobe,which,likeamagician’sglass,toeachandeverymaninturnbutmirrorsbackhisownmysteriousself.
Greatpains,smallgainsforthosewhoasktheworldtosolvethem;itcannotsolveitself.
Methinksnowthiscoinedsunwearsaruddyface;butsee!
aye,heentersthesignofstorms,theequinox!
andbutsixmonthsbeforehewheeledoutofaformerequinoxatAries!Fromstormtostorm!Sobeit,then.
Borninthroes,‘tisfitthatmanshouldliveinpainsanddieinpangs!Sobeit,then!Here’sstoutstuffforwoetoworkon.Sobeit,then.”
“Nofairyfingerscanhavepressedthegold,butdevil’sclawshavelefttheirmouldingstheresinceyesterday,”murmuredStarbucktohimself,leaningagainstthebulwarks.
“TheoldmanseemstoreadBelshazzar’sawfulwriting.
Ihavenevermarkedthecoininspectingly.Hegoesbelow;letmeread.
Adarkvalleybetweenthreemighty,heaven-abidingpeaks,thatalmostseemtheTrinity,insomefaintearthlysymbol.
SointhisvaleofDeath,Godgirdsusround;andoverallourgloom,thesunofRighteousnessstillshinesabeaconandahope.
Ifwebenddownoureyes,thedarkvaleshowshermouldysoil;butifweliftthem,thebrightsunmeetsourglancehalfway,tocheer.
Yet,oh,thegreatsunisnofixture;andif,atmidnight,wewouldfainsnatchsomesweetsolacefromhim,wegazeforhiminvain!
Thiscoinspeakswisely,mildly,truly,butstillsadlytome.
Iwillquitit,lestTruthshakemefalsely.”
“Therenow’stheoldMogul,”soliloquizedStubbbythetry-works,“he’sbeentwiggingit;andtheregoesStarbuckfromthesame,andbothwithfaceswhichIshouldsaymightbesomewherewithinninefathomslong.
Andallfromlookingatapieceofgold,whichdidIhaveitnowonNegroHillorinCorlaer’sHook,I’dnotlookatitverylongerespendingit.Humph!
inmypoor,insignificantopinion,Iregardthisasqueer.
Ihaveseendoubloonsbeforenowinmyvoyagings;yourdoubloonsofoldSpain,yourdoubloonsofPeru,yourdoubloonsofChili,yourdoubloonsofBolivia,yourdoubloonsofPopayan;withplentyofgoldmoidoresandpistoles,andjoes,andhalfjoes,andquarterjoes.
WhatthenshouldtherebeinthisdoubloonoftheEquatorthatissokillingwonderful?ByGolconda!letmereaditonce.Halloa!here’ssignsandwonderstruly!
That,now,iswhatoldBowditchinhisEpitomecallsthezodiac,andwhatmyalmanackbelowcallsditto.
I’llgetthealmanack;andasIhavehearddevilscanberaisedwithDaboll’sarithmetic,I’lltrymyhandatraisingameaningoutofthesequeercurvicuesherewiththeMassachusettscalendar.Here’sthebook.Let’sseenow.
Signsandwonders;andthesun,he’salwaysamong‘em.
Hem,hem,hem;heretheyare-heretheygo-allalive:Aries,ortheRam;Taurus,ortheBullandJimimi!here’sGeminihimself,ortheTwins.Well;thesunhewheelsamong‘em.
Aye,hereonthecoinhe’sjustcrossingthethresholdbetweentwooftwelvesitting-roomsallinaring.Book!
youliethere;thefactis,youbooksmustknowyourplaces.
You’lldotogiveusthebarewordsandfacts,butwecomeintosupplythethoughts.
That’smysmallexperience,sofarastheMassachusettscalendar,andBowditch’snavigator,andDaboll’sarithmeticgo.Signsandwonders,eh?
Pityifthereisnothingwonderfulinsigns,andsignificantinwonders!
There’sacluesomewhere;waitabit;hist-hark!ByJove,Ihaveit!
Lookyou,Doubloon,yourzodiachereisthelifeofmaninoneroundchapter;andnowI’llreaditoff,straightoutofthebook.Come,Almanack!
Tobegin:there’sAries,ortheRam-lecherousdog,hebegetsus;then,Taurus,ortheBull-hebumpsusthefirstthing;thenGemini,ortheTwins-thatis,VirtueandVice;wetrytoreachVirtue,whenlo!
comesCancertheCrab,anddragsusback;andhere,goingfromVirtue,Leo,aroaringLion,liesinthepath-hegivesafewfiercebitesandsurlydabswithhispaw;weescape,andhailVirgo,theVirgin!
that’sourfirstlove;wemarryandthinktobehappyforaye,whenpopcomesLibra,ortheScales-happinessweighedandfoundwanting;andwhileweareverysadaboutthat,Lord!
howwesuddenlyjump,asScorpio,ortheScorpion,stingsusintherear;wearecuringthewound,whenwhangcomesthearrowsallround;Sagittarius,ortheArcher,isamusinghimself.
Aswepluckouttheshafts,standaside!
here’sthebattering-ram,Capricornus,ortheGoat;fulltilt,hecomesrushing,andheadlongwearetossed;whenAquarius,ortheWaterbearer,poursouthiswholedelugeanddrownsus;andtowindupwithPisces,ortheFishes,wesleep.
There’sasermonnow,writinhighheaven,andthesungoesthroughiteveryyear,andyetcomesoutofitallaliveandhearty.
Jollilyhe,aloftthere,wheelsthroughtoilandtrouble;andso,alowhere,doesjollyStubb.Oh,jolly’sthewordforaye!Adieu,Doubloon!
Butstop;herecomeslittleKing-Post;dodgeroundthetry-works,now,andlet’shearwhathe’llhavetosay.
There;he’sbeforeit;he’lloutwithsomethingpresently.So,so;he’sbeginning.”
“Iseenothinghere,butaroundthingmadeofgold,andwhoeverraisesacertainwhale,thisroundthingbelongstohim.So,what’sallthisstaringbeenabout?
Itisworthsixteendollars,that’strue;andattwocentsthecigar,that’sninehundredandsixtycigars.
Iwon’tsmokedirtypipeslikeStubb,butIlikecigars,andhere’sninehundredandsixtyofthem;soheregoesFlaskalofttospy‘emout.”
“ShallIcallthatWiseorfoolish,now;ifitbereallywiseithasafoolishlooktoit;yet,ifitbereallyfoolish,thenhasitasortofwiseishlooktoit.
But,avast;herecomesouroldManxman-theoldhearse-driver,hemusthavebeen,thatis,beforehetooktothesea.
Heluffsupbeforethedoubloon;halloa,andgoesroundontheothersideofthemast;why,there’sahorse-shoenailedonthatside;andnowhe’sbackagain;whatdoesthatmean?Hark!
he’smuttering-voicelikeanoldworn-outcoffee-mill.Prickears,andlisten!”
“IftheWhiteWhaleberaised,itmustbeinamonthandaday,whenthesunstandsinsomeoneofthesesigns.
I’vestudiedsigns,andknowtheirmarks;theyweretaughtmetwoscoreyearsago,bytheoldwitchinCopenhagen.Now,inwhatsignwillthesunthenbe?
Thehorse-shoesign;forthereitis,rightoppositethegold.Andwhat’sthehorse-shoesign?
Thelionisthehorse-shoesign-theroaringanddevouringlion.Ship,oldship!myoldheadshakestothinkofthee.”
“There’sanotherrenderingnow;butstillonetext.
Allsortsofmeninonekindofworld,yousee.Dodgeagain!
herecomesQueequeg-alltattooing-lookslikethesignsoftheZodiachimself.WhatsaystheCannibal?
AsIlivehe’scomparingnotes;lookingathisthighbone;thinksthesunisinthethigh,orinthecalf,orinthebowels,Isuppose,astheoldwomentalkSurgeon’sAstronomyintheblackcountry.
AndbyJove,he’sfoundsomethingthereinthevicinityofhisthigh-Iguessit’sSagittarius,ortheArcher.
No:hedon’tknowwhattomakeofthedoubloon;hetakesitforanoldbuttonoffsomeking’strowsers.But,asideagain!
herecomesthatghost-devil,Fedallah;tailcoiledoutofsightasusual,oakuminthetoesofhispumpsasusual.
Whatdoeshesay,withthatlookofhis?
Ah,onlymakesasigntothesignandbowshimself;thereisasunonthecoin-fireworshipper,dependuponit.Ho!moreandmore.ThiswaycomesPip-poorboy!
wouldhehaddied,orI;he’shalfhorribletome.
Hetoohasbeenwatchingalloftheseinterpretersmyselfincluded-andlooknow,hecomestoread,withthatunearthlyidiotface.Standawayagainandhearhim.Hark!”
“Ilook,youlook,helooks;welook,yelook,theylook.”
“Uponmysoul,he’sbeenstudyingMurray’sGrammar!Improvinghismind,poorfellow!Butwhat’sthathesaysnow-hist!”
“Ilook,youlook,helooks;welook,yelook,theylook.”
“Why,he’sgettingitbyheart-hist!again.”
“Ilook,youlook,helooks;welook,yelook,theylook.”
“Well,that’sfunny.”
“AndI,you,andhe;andwe,ye,andthey,areallbats;andI’macrow,especiallywhenIstanda’topofthispinetreehere.Caw!caw!caw!caw!caw!caw!Ain’tIacrow?Andwhere’sthescare-crow?
Therehestands;twobonesstuckintoapairofoldtrowsers,andtwomorepokedintothesleevesofanoldjacket.”
“Wonderifhemeansme?-complimentary-poorlad!-Icouldgohangmyself.
Anyway,forthepresent,I’llquitPip’svicinity.
Icanstandtherest,fortheyhaveplainwits;buthe’stoocrazy-wittyformysanity.So,so,Ileavehimmuttering.”
“Here’stheship’snavel,thisdoubloonhere,andtheyareallonefiretounscrewit.
But,unscrewyournavel,andwhat’stheconsequence?
Thenagain,ifitstayshere,thatisugly,too,forwhenaught’snailedtothemastit’sasignthatthingsgrowdesperate.Ha!ha!oldAhab!theWhiteWhale;he’llnailye!Thisisapinetree.
Myfather,inoldTollandcounty,cutdownapinetreeonce,andfoundasilverringgrownoverinit;someolddarkey’sweddingring.Howdiditgetthere?
Andsothey’llsayintheresurrection,whentheycometofishupthisoldmast,andfindadoubloonlodgedinit,withbeddedoystersfortheshaggybark.Oh,thegold!theprecious,preciousgold!-thegreenmiser’llhoardyesoon!Hish!hish!
Godgoes‘mongtheworldsblackberrying.Cook!ho,cook!andcookus!Jenny!hey,hey,hey,hey,hey,Jenny,Jenny!andgetyourhoe-cakedone!”
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