CHAPTER 119 The Candles

Warmestclimesbutnursethecruellestfangs:thetigerofBengalcrouchesinspicedgrovesofceaselessverdure.Skiesthemosteffulgentbutbasketthedeadliestthunders:gorgeousCubaknowstornadoesthatneverswepttamenorthernlands.So,too,itis,thatintheseresplendentJapaneseseasthemarinerencountersthedirestofallstorms,theTyphoon.Itwillsometimesburstfromoutthatcloudlesssky,likeanexplodingbombuponadazedandsleepytown.

Towardseveningofthatday,thePequodwastornofhercanvas,andbare-poledwaslefttofightaTyphoonwhichhadstruckherdirectlyahead.Whendarknesscameon,skyandsearoaredandsplitwiththethunder,andblazedwiththelightning,thatshowedthedisabledmastsflutteringhereandtherewiththeragswhichthefirstfuryofthetempesthadleftforitsaftersport.

Holdingbyashroud,Starbuckwasstandingonthequarter-deck;ateveryflashofthelightningglancingaloft,toseewhatadditionaldisastermighthavebefallentheintricatehamperthere;whileStubbandFlaskweredirectingthemeninthehigherhoistingandfirmerlashingoftheboats.Butalltheirpainsseemednaught.Thoughliftedtotheverytopofthecranes,thewindwardquarterboat(Ahab's)didnotescape.Agreatrollingsea,dashinghighupagainstthereelingship'shighteeteringside,stoveintheboat'sbottomatthestern,andleftitagain,alldrippingthroughlikeasieve.

"Badwork,badwork!Mr.Starbuck,"saidStubb,regardingthewreck,"buttheseawillhaveitsway.Stubb,forone,can'tfightit.Yousee,Mr.Starbuck,awavehassuchagreatlongstartbeforeitleaps,allroundtheworlditruns,andthencomesthespring!Butasforme,allthestartIhavetomeetit,isjustacrossthedeckhere.Butnevermind;it'sallinfun:sotheoldsongsays;"—(sings.)

Oh!jollyisthegale,

Andajokeristhewhale,

A'flourishin'histail,

Suchafunny,sporty,gamy,jesty,joky,hoky-pokylad,istheOcean,oh!

Thescudallaflyin'

That'shisfliponlyfoamin'

Whenhestirsinthespicin',—

Suchafunny,sporty,gamy,jesty,joky,hoky-pokylad,istheOcean,oh!

Thundersplitstheships,

Butheonlysmackshislips,

Atastin'ofthisflip,

Suchafunny,sporty,gamy,jesty,joky,hoky-pokylad,istheOcean,oh!

"AvastStubb,"criedStarbuck,"lettheTyphoonsing,andstrikehisharphereinourrigging;butifthouartabravemanthouwiltholdthypeace."

"ButIamnotabraveman;neversaidIwasabraveman;Iamacoward;andIsingtokeepupmyspirits.AndItellyouwhatitis,Mr.Starbuck,there'snowaytostopmysinginginthisworldbuttocutmythroat.Andwhenthat'sdone,tentooneIsingyethedoxologyforawind-up."

"Madman!lookthroughmyeyesifthouhastnoneofthineown."

"What!howcanyouseebetterofadarknightthananybodyelse,nevermindhowfoolish?"

"Here!"criedStarbuck,seizingStubbbytheshoulder,andpointinghishandtowardstheweatherbow,"markestthounotthatthegalecomesfromtheeastward,theverycourseAhabistorunforMobyDick?theverycourseheswungtothisdaynoon?nowmarkhisboatthere;whereisthatstove?Inthesternsheets,man;whereheiswonttostand—hisstandpointisstove,man!Nowjumpoverboard,andsingaway,ifthoumust!

"Idon'thalfunderstandye:what'sinthewind?"

"Yes,yes,roundtheCapeofGoodHopeistheshortestwaytoNantucket,"soliloquizedStarbucksuddenly,heedlessofStubb'squestion."Thegalethatnowhammersatustostaveus,wecanturnitintoafairwindthatwilldriveustowardshome.Yonder,towindward,allisblacknessofdoom;buttoleeward,homeward—Iseeitlightensupthere;butnotwiththelightning."

Atthatmomentinoneoftheintervalsofprofounddarkness,followingtheflashes,avoicewasheardathisside;andalmostatthesameinstantavolleyofthunderpealsrolledoverhead.

"Who'sthere?"

"OldThunder!"saidAhab,gropinghiswayalongthebulwarkstohispivot-hole;butsuddenlyfindinghispathmadeplaintohimbyelbowedlancesoffire.

Now,asthelightningrodtoaspireonshoreisintendedtocarryofftheperilousfluidintothesoil;sothekindredrodwhichatseasomeshipscarrytoeachmast,isintendedtoconductitintothewater.Butasthisconductormustdescendtoconsiderabledepth,thatitsendmayavoidallcontactwiththehull;andasmoreover,ifkeptconstantlytowingthere,itwouldbeliabletomanymishaps,besidesinterferingnotalittlewithsomeoftherigging,andmoreorlessimpedingthevessel'swayinthewater;becauseofallthis,thelowerpartsofaship'slightning-rodsarenotalwaysoverboard;butaregenerallymadeinlongslenderlinks,soastobethemorereadilyhauledupintothechainsoutside,orthrowndownintothesea,asoccasionmayrequire.

"Therods!therods!"criedStarbucktothecrew,suddenlyadmonishedtovigilancebythevividlightningthathadjustbeendartingflambeaux,tolightAhabtohispost."Aretheyoverboard?dropthemover,foreandaft.Quick!"

"Avast!"criedAhab;"let'shavefairplayhere,thoughwebetheweakerside.YetI'llcontributetoraiserodsontheHimmalehsandAndes,thatalltheworldmaybesecured;butoutonprivileges!Letthembe,sir."

"Lookaloft!"criedStarbuck."Thecorpusants!thecorpusants!"

Alltheyard-armsweretippedwithapallidfire;andtouchedateachtri-pointedlightning-rod-endwiththreetaperingwhiteflames,eachofthethreetallmastswassilentlyburninginthatsulphurousair,likethreegiganticwaxtapersbeforeanaltar.

"Blasttheboat!letitgo!"criedStubbatthisinstant,asaswashingseaheavedupunderhisownlittlecraft,sothatitsgunwaleviolentlyjammedhishand,ashewaspassingalashing."Blastit!"—butslippingbackwardonthedeck,hisupliftedeyescaughttheflames;andimmediatelyshiftinghistonehecried—"Thecorpusantshavemercyonusall!"

Tosailors,oathsarehouseholdwords;theywillswearinthetranceofthecalm,andintheteethofthetempest;theywillimprecatecursesfromthetopsailyard-arms,whenmosttheyteeterovertoaseethingsea;butinallmyvoyagings,seldomhaveIheardacommonoathwhenGod'sburningfingerhasbeenlaidontheship;whenHis"Mene,Mene,TekelUpharsin"hasbeenwovenintotheshroudsandthecordage.

Whilethispallidnesswasburningaloft,fewwordswereheardfromtheenchantedcrew;whoinonethickclusterstoodontheforecastle,alltheireyesgleaminginthatpalephosphorescence,likeafarawayconstellationofstars.Relievedagainsttheghostlylight,thegiganticjetnegro,Daggoo,loomeduptothricehisrealstature,andseemedtheblackcloudfromwhichthethunderhadcome.ThepartedmouthofTashtegorevealedhisshark-whiteteeth,whichstrangelygleamedasiftheytoohadbeentippedbycorpusants;whilelitupbythepreternaturallight,Queequeg'stattooingburnedlikeSatanicblueflamesonhisbody.

Thetableauallwanedatlastwiththepallidnessaloft;andoncemorethePequodandeverysoulonherdeckswerewrappedinapall.Amomentortwopassed,whenStarbuck,goingforward,pushedagainstsomeone.ItwasStubb."Whatthinkestthounow,man;Iheardthycry;itwasnotthesameinthesong."

"No,no,itwasn't;Isaidthecorpusantshavemercyonusall;andIhopetheywill,still.Butdotheyonlyhavemercyonlongfaces?—havetheynobowelsforalaugh?Andlookye,Mr.Starbuck—butit'stoodarktolook.Hearme,then:Itakethatmast-headflamewesawforasignofgoodluck;forthosemastsarerootedinaholdthatisgoingtobechocka'blockwithspermoil,d'yesee;andso,allthatspermwillworkupintothemasts,likesapinatree.Yes,ourthreemastswillyetbeasthreespermaceticandles—that'sthegoodpromisewesaw."

AtthatmomentStarbuckcaughtsightofStubb'sfaceslowlybeginningtoglimmerintosight.Glancingupwards,hecried:"See!see!"andoncemorethehightaperingflameswerebeheldwithwhatseemedredoubledsupernaturalnessintheirpallor.

"Thecorpusantshavemercyonusall,"criedStubb,again.

Atthebaseofthemainmast,fullbeneaththedoubloonandtheflame,theParseewaskneelinginAhab'sfront,butwithhisheadbowedawayfromhim;whilenearby,fromthearchedandoverhangingrigging,wheretheyhadjustbeenengagedsecuringaspar,anumberoftheseamen,arrestedbytheglare,nowcoheredtogether,andhungpendulous,likeaknotofnumbedwaspsfromadrooping,orchardtwig.Invariousenchantedattitudes,likethestanding,orstepping,orrunningskeletonsinHerculaneum,othersremainedrootedtothedeck;butalltheireyesupcast.

"Aye,aye,men!"criedAhab."Lookupatit;markitwell;thewhiteflamebutlightsthewaytotheWhiteWhale!Handmethosemainmastlinksthere;Iwouldfainfeelthispulse,andletminebeatagainstit;bloodagainstfire!So.

Thenturning—thelastlinkheldfastinhislefthand,heputhisfootupontheParsee;andwithfixedupwardeye,andhigh-flungrightarm,hestooderectbeforetheloftytri-pointedtrinityofflames.

"Oh!thouclearspiritofclearfire,whomontheseseasIasPersianoncedidworship,tillinthesacramentalactsoburnedbythee,thattothishourIbearthescar;Inowknowthee,thouclearspirit,andInowknowthatthyrightworshipisdefiance.Toneitherlovenorreverencewiltthoubekind;ande'enforhatethoucanstbutkill;andallarekilled.Nofearlessfoolnowfrontsthee.Iownthyspeechless,placelesspower;buttothelastgaspofmyearthquakelifewilldisputeitsunconditional,unintegralmasteryinme.Inthemidstofthepersonifiedimpersonal,apersonalitystandshere.Thoughbutapointatbest;whencesoe'erIcame;wheresoe'erIgo;yetwhileIearthlylive,thequeenlypersonalitylivesinme,andfeelsherroyalrights.Butwarispain,andhateiswoe.Comeinthylowestformoflove,andIwillkneelandkissthee;butatthyhighest,comeasmeresupernalpower;andthoughthoulaunchestnaviesoffull-freightedworlds,there'sthatinherethatstillremainsindifferent.Oh,thouclearspirit,ofthyfirethoumadestme,andlikeatruechildoffire,Ibreatheitbacktothee.

[Sudden,repeatedflashesoflightning;thenineflamesleaplengthwisetothricetheirpreviousheight;Ahab,withtherest,closeshiseyes,hisrighthandpressedharduponthem.]

"Iownthyspeechless,placelesspower;saidInotso?Norwasitwrungfromme;nordoInowdroptheselinks.Thoucanstblind;butIcanthengrope.Thoucanstconsume;butIcanthenbeashes.Takethehomageofthesepooreyes,andshutter-hands.Iwouldnottakeit.Thelightningflashesthroughmyskull;mineeye-ballsacheandache;mywholebeatenbrainseemsasbeheaded,androllingonsomestunningground.Oh,oh!Yetblindfold,yetwillItalktothee.Lightthoughthoube,thouleapestoutofdarkness;butIamdarknessleapingoutoflight,leapingoutofthee!Thejavelinscease;openeyes;see,ornot?Thereburntheflames!Oh,thoumagnanimous!nowIdogloryinmygenealogy.Butthouartbutmyfieryfather;mysweetmother,Iknownot.Oh,cruel!whathastthoudonewithher?Thereliesmypuzzle;butthineisgreater.Thouknowestnothowcameye,hencecallestthyselfunbegotten;certainlyknowestnotthybeginning,hencecallestthyselfunbegun.Iknowthatofme,whichthouknowestnotofthyself,oh,thouomnipotent.Thereissomeunsuffusingthingbeyondthee,thouclearspirit,towhomallthyeternityisbuttime,allthycreativenessmechanical.Throughthee,thyflamingself,myscorchedeyesdodimlyseeit.Oh,thoufoundlingfire,thouhermitimmemorial,thoutoohastthyincommunicableriddle,thyunparticipatedgrief.Hereagainwithhaughtyagony,Ireadmysire.Leap!leapup,andlickthesky!Ileapwiththee;Iburnwiththee;wouldfainbeweldedwiththee;defyinglyIworshipthee!"

"Theboat!theboat!"criedStarbuck,"lookatthyboat,oldman!"

Ahab'sharpoon,theoneforgedatPerth'sfire,remainedfirmlylashedinitsconspicuouscrotch,sothatitprojectedbeyondhiswhale-boat'sbow;buttheseathathadstoveitsbottomhadcausedthelooseleathersheathtodropoff;andfromthekeensteelbarbtherenowcamealevelledflameofpale,forkedfire.Asthesilentharpoonburnedtherelikeaserpent'stongue,StarbuckgraspedAhabbythearm—"God,Godisagainstthee,oldman;forbear!'tisanillvoyage!illbegun,illcontinued;letmesquaretheyards,whilewemay,oldman,andmakeafairwindofithomewards,togoonabettervoyagethanthis."

OverhearingStarbuck,thepanic-strickencrewinstantlyrantothebraces—thoughnotasailwasleftaloft.Forthemomentalltheaghastmate'sthoughtsseemedtheirs;theyraisedahalfmutinouscry.Butdashingtherattlinglightninglinkstothedeck,andsnatchingtheburningharpoon,Ahabwaveditlikeatorchamongthem;swearingtotransfixwithitthefirssailorthatbutcastloosearope'send.Petrifiedbyhisaspect,andstillmoreshrinkingfromthefierydartthatheheld,themenfellbackindismay,andAhabagainspoke:—

"AllyouroathstohunttheWhiteWhaleareasbindingasmine;andheart,soul,andbody,lungsandlife,oldAhabisbound.Andthatyemayknowtowhattunethisheartbeats;lookyehere;thusIblowoutthelastfear!"Andwithoneblastofhisbreathheextinguishedtheflame.

Asinthehurricanethatsweepstheplain,menflytheneighborhoodofsomelone,giganticelm,whoseveryheightandstrengthbutrenderitsomuchthemoreunsafe,becausesomuchthemoreamarkforthunderbolts;soatthoselastwordsofAhab'smanyofthemarinersdidrunfromhiminaterrorofdismay.