English
WhenglidingbytheBasheeislesweemergedatlastuponthegreatSouthSea;wereitnotforotherthingsIcouldhavegreetedmydearPacificwithuncountedthanks,fornowthelongsupplicationofmyyouthwasanswered;thatsereneoceanrolledeastwardsfrommeathousandleaguesofblue.
Thereis,oneknowsnotwhatsweetmysteryaboutthissea,whosegentlyawfulstirringsseemstospeakofsomehiddensoulbeneath;likethosefabledundulationsoftheEphesiansodovertheburiedEvangelistSt.John.
Andmeetitis,thatoverthesesea-pastures,wide-rollingwateryprairiesandPotters’Fieldsofallfourcontinents,thewavesshouldriseandfall,andebbandflowunceasingly;forhere,millionsofmixedshadesandshadows,drowneddreams,somnambulisms,reveries;allthatwecalllivesandsouls,liedreaming,dreaming,still;tossinglikeslumberersintheirbeds;theever-rollingwavesbutmadesobytheirrestlessness.
ToanymeditativeMagianrover,thisserenePacific,oncebeheld,musteverafterbetheseaofhisadoption.
Itrollsthemidmostwatersoftheworld,theIndianoceanandAtlanticbeingbutitsarms.
Thesamewaveswashthemolesofthenew-builtCaliforniatowns,butyesterdayplantedbytherecentestraceofmenandlavethefadedbutstillgorgeousskirtsofAsiaticlands,olderthanAbraham;whileallbetweenfloatmilky-waysofcoralisles,andlow-lying,endless,unknownArchipelagoes,andimpenetrableJapans.
Thusthismysterious,divinePacificzonestheworld’swholebulkabout;makesallcoastsonebaytoit;seemsthetide-beatingheartofearth.
Liftedbythoseeternalswells,youneedsmustowntheseductivegod,bowingyourheadtoPan.
ButfewthoughtsofPanstirredAhab’sbrain,asstanding,likeanironstatueathisaccustomedplacebesidethemizenrigging,withonenostrilheunthinkinglysnuffedthesugarymuskfromtheBasheeisles(inwhosesweetwoodsmildloversmustbewalking),andwiththeotherconsciouslyinhaledthesaltbreathofthenewfoundsea;thatseainwhichthehatedWhiteWhalemusteventhenbeswimming.
Launchedatlengthuponthesealmostfinalwaters,andglidingtowardstheJapanesecruising-ground,theoldman’spurposeintensifieditself.
Hisfirmlipsmetlikethelipsofavice;theDeltaofhisforehead’sveinsswelledlikeoverladenbrooks;inhisverysleep,hisringingcryranthroughthevaultedhull,“Sternall!theWhiteWhalespoutsthickblood!”
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