CHAPTER 34 The Cabin-Table

Itisnoon;andDough-Boy,thesteward,thrustinghispaleloaf-of-breadfacefromthecabinscuttle,announcesdinnertohislordandmaster;who,sittingintheleequarter-boat,hasjustbeentakinganobservationofthesun;andisnowmutelyreckoningthelatitudeonthesmooth,medallion-shapedtablet,reservedforthatdailypurposeontheupperpartofhisivoryleg.Fromhiscompleteinattentiontothetidings,youwouldthinkthatmoodyAhabhadnotheardhismenial.Butpresently,catchingholdofthemizenshrouds,heswingshimselftothedeck,andinaneven,unexhilaratedvoice,saying,"Dinner,Mr.Starbuck,"disappearsintothecabin.

Whenthelastechoofhissultan'sstephasdiedaway,andStarbuck,thefirstEmir,haseveryreasontosupposethatheisseated,thenStarbuckrousesfromhisquietude,takesafewturnsalongtheplanks,and,afteragravepeepintothebinnacle,says,withsometouchofpleasantness,"Dinner,Mr.Stubb,"anddescendsthescuttle.ThesecondEmirloungesabouttheriggingawhile,andthenslightlyshakingthemainbrace,toseewhetheritwillbeallrightwiththatimportantrope,helikewisetakesuptheoldburden,andwitharapid"Dinner,Mr.Flask,"followsafterhispredecessors.

ButthethirdEmir,nowseeinghimselfallaloneonthequarter-deck,seemstofeelrelievedfromsomecuriousrestraint;for,tippingallsortsofknowingwinksinallsortsofdirections,andkickingoffhisshoes,hestrikesintoasharpbutnoiselesssquallofahornpiperightovertheGrandTurk'shead;andthen,byadexteroussleight,pitchinghiscapupintothemizentopforashelf,hegoesdownrollickingsofaratleastasheremainsvisiblefromthedeck,reversingallotherprocessions,bybringinguptherearwithmusic.Buteresteppingintothecabindoorwaybelow,hepauses,shipsanewfacealtogether,and,then,independent,hilariouslittleFlaskentersKingAhab'spresence,inthecharacterofAbjectus,ortheSlave.

Itisnottheleastamongthestrangethingsbredbytheintenseartificialnessofsea-usages,thatwhileintheopenairofthedecksomeofficerswill,uponprovocation,bearthemselvesboldlyanddefyinglyenoughtowardstheircommander;yet,tentoone,letthoseveryofficersthenextmomentgodowntotheircustomarydinnerinthatsamecommander'scabin,andstraightwaytheirinoffensive,nottosaydeprecatoryandhumbleairtowardshim,ashesitsattheheadofthetable;thisismarvellous,sometimesmostcomical.Whereforethisdifference?Aproblem?Perhapsnot.TohavebeenBelshazzar,KingofBabylon;andtohavebeenBelshazzar,nothaughtilybutcourteously,thereincertainlymusthavebeensometouchofmundanegrandeur.Buthewhointherightlyregalandintelligentspiritpresidesoverhisownprivatedinnertableofinvitedguests,thatman'sunchallengedpoweranddominionofindividualinfluenceforthetime;thatman'sroyaltyofstatetranscendsBelshazzar's,forBelshazzarwasnotthegreatest.Whohasbutoncedinedhisfriends,hastastedwhatitistobeC?sar.Itisawitcheryofsocialczarshipwhichthereisnowithstanding.Now,iftothisconsiderationyousuperaddtheofficialsupremacyofaship-master,then,byinference,youwillderivethecauseofthatpeculiarityofsea-lifejustmentioned.

Overhisivory-inlaidtable,Ahabpresidedlikeamute,manedsea-liononthewhitecoralbeach,surroundedbyhiswarlikebutstilldeferentialcubs.Inhisownproperturn,eachofficerwaitedtobeserved.TheywereaslittlechildrenbeforeAhab;andyet,inAhab,thereseemednottolurkthesmallestsocialarrogance.Withonemind,theirintenteyesallfastenedupontheoldman'sknife,ashecarvedthechiefdishbeforehim.Idonotsupposethatfortheworldtheywouldhaveprofanedthatmomentwiththeslightestobservation,evenuponsoneutralatopicastheweather.No!Andwhenreachingouthisknifeandfork,betweenwhichthesliceofbeefwaslocked,AhabtherebymotionedStarbuck'splatetowardshim,thematereceivedhismeatasthoughreceivingalms;andcutittenderly;andalittlestartedif,perchance,theknifegrazedagainsttheplate;andcheweditnoiselessly;andswallowedit,notwithoutcircumspection.For,liketheCoronationbanquetatFrankfort,wheretheGermanEmperorprofoundlydineswiththesevenImperialElectors,sothesecabinmealsweresomehowsolemnmeals,eateninawfulsilence;andyetattableoldAhabforbadenotconversation;onlyhehimselfwasdumb.WhatareliefitwastochokingStubb,whenaratmadeasuddenracketintheholdbelow.AndpoorlittleFlask,hewastheyoungestson,andlittleboyofthiswearyfamilyparty.Hisweretheshinbonesofthesalinebeef;hiswouldhavebeenthedrumsticks.ForFlasktohavepresumedtohelphimself,thismusthaveseemedtohimtantamounttolarcenyinthefirstdegree.Hadhehelpedhimselfatthattable,doubtless,nevermorewouldhehavebeenabletoholdhisheadupinthishonestworld;nevertheless,strangetosay,Ahabneverforbadehim.AndhadFlaskhelpedhimself,thechanceswereAhabhadneversomuchasnoticedit.Leastofall,didFlaskpresumetohelphimselftobutter.Whetherhethoughttheownersoftheshipdeniedittohim,onaccountofitsclottinghisclear,sunnycomplexion;orwhetherhedeemedthat,onsolongavoyageinsuchmarketlesswaters,butterwasatapremium,andthereforewasnotforhim,asubaltern;howeveritwas,Flask,alas!wasabutterlessman!

Anotherthing.Flaskwasthelastpersondownatthedinner,andFlaskisthefirstmanup.Consider!ForherebyFlask'sdinnerwasbadlyjammedinpointoftime.StarbuckandStubbbothhadthestartofhim;andyettheyalsohavetheprivilegeofloungingintherear.IfStubbeven,whoisbutapeghigherthanFlask,happenstohavebutasmallappetite,andsoonshowssymptomsofconcludinghisrepast,thenFlaskmustbestirhimself,hewillnotgetmorethanthreemouthfulsthatday;foritisagainstholyusageforStubbtoprecedeFlasktothedeck.ThereforeitwasthatFlaskonceadmittedinprivate,thateversincehehadarisentothedignityofanofficer,fromthatmomenthehadneverknownwhatitwastobeotherwisethanhungry,moreorless.Forwhatheatedidnotsomuchrelievehishunger,askeepitimmortalinhim.Peaceandsatisfaction,thoughtFlask,haveforeverdepartedfrommystomach.Iamanofficer;but,howIwishIcouldfishabitofold-fashionedbeefintheforecastle,asIusedtowhenIwasbeforethemast.There'sthefruitsofpromotionnow;there'sthevanityofglory:there'stheinsanityoflife!Besides,ifitweresothatanymeresailorofthePequodhadagrudgeagainstFlaskinFlask'sofficialcapacity,allthatsailorhadtodo,inordertoobtainamplevengeance,wastogoaftatdinner-time,andgetapeepatFlaskthroughthecabinsky-light,sittingsillyanddumfounderedbeforeawfulAhab.

Now,AhabandhisthreematesformedwhatmaybecalledthefirsttableinthePequod'scabin.Aftertheirdeparture,takingplaceininvertedordertotheirarrival,thecanvasclothwascleared,orratherwasrestoredtosomehurriedorderbythepallidsteward.Andthenthethreeharpooneerswerebiddentothefeast,theybeingitsresiduarylegatees.Theymadeasortoftemporaryservants'hallofthehighandmightycabin.

Instrangecontrasttothehardlytolerableconstraintandnamelessinvisibledomineeringsofthecaptain'stable,wastheentirecare-freelicenseandease,thealmostfranticdemocracyofthoseinferiorfellowstheharpooneers.Whiletheirmasters,themates,seemedafraidofthesoundofthehingesoftheirownjaws,theharpooneerschewedtheirfoodwithsucharelishthattherewasareporttoit.Theydinedlikelords;theyfilledtheirbellieslikeIndianshipsalldayloadingwithspices.SuchportentousappetiteshadQueequegandTashtego,thattofilloutthevacanciesmadebythepreviousrepast,oftenthepaleDough-Boywasfaintobringonagreatbaronofsalt-junk,seeminglyquarriedoutofthesolidox.Andifhewerenotlivelyaboutit,ifhedidnotgowithanimblehop-skip-and-jump,thenTashtegohadanungentlemanlywayofacceleratinghimbydartingaforkathisback,harpoon-wise.AndonceDaggoo,seizedwithasuddenhumor,assistedDough-Boy'smemorybysnatchinghimupbodily,andthrustinghisheadintoagreatemptywoodentrencher,whileTashtego,knifeinhand,beganlayingoutthecirclepreliminarytoscalpinghim.Hewasnaturallyaverynervous,shudderingsortoflittlefellow,thisbread-facedsteward;theprogenyofabankruptbakerandahospitalnurse.AndwhatwiththestandingspectacleoftheblackterrificAhab,andtheperiodicaltumultuousvisitationsofthesethreesavages,DoughBoy'swholelifewasonecontinuallip-quiver.Commonly,afterseeingtheharpooneersfurnishedwithallthingstheydemanded,hewouldescapefromtheirclutchesintohislittlepantryadjoining,andfearfullypeepoutatthemthroughtheblindsofitsdoor,tillallwasover.

ItwasasighttoseeQueequegseatedoveragainstTashtego,opposinghisfiledteethtotheIndian's:crosswisetothem,Daggooseatedonthefloor,forabenchwouldhavebroughthishearse-plumedheadtothelowcarlines;ateverymotionofhiscolossallimbs,makingthelowcabinframeworktoshake,aswhenanAfricanelephantgoespassengerinaship.Butforallthis,thegreatnegrowaswonderfullyabstemious,nottosaydainty.Itseemedhardlypossiblethatbysuchcomparativelysmallmouthfulshecouldkeepupthevitalitydiffusedthroughsobroad,baronial,andsuperbaperson.But,doubtless,thisnoblesavagefedstronganddrankdeepoftheaboundingelementofair;andthroughhisdilatednostrilssnuffedinthesublimelifeoftheworlds.Notbybeeforbybread,aregiantsmadeornourished.ButQueequeg,hehadamortal,barbaricsmackofthelipineating—anuglysoundenough—somuchso,thatthetremblingDoughBoyalmostlookedtoseewhetheranymarksofteethlurkedinhisownleanarms.AndwhenhewouldhearTashtegosingingoutforhimtoproducehimself,thathisbonesmightbepicked,thesimple-wittedstewardallbutshatteredthecrockeryhangingroundhiminthepantry,byhissuddenfitsofthepalsy.Nordidthewhetstonewhichtheharpooneerscarriedintheirpockets,fortheirlancesandotherweapons;andwithwhichwhetstones,atdinner,theywouldostentatiouslysharpentheirknives;thatgratingsounddidnotatalltendtotranquillizepoorDough-Boy.HowcouldheforgetthatinhisIslanddays,Queequeg,forone,mustcertainlyhavebeenguiltyofsomemurderous,convivialindiscretions.Alas!Dough-Boy!hardfaresthewhitewaiterwhowaitsuponcannibals.Notanapkinshouldhecarryonhisarm,butabuckler.Ingoodtime,though,tohisgreatdelight,thethreesaltseawarriorswouldriseanddepart;tohiscredulous,fable-mongeringears,alltheirmartialbonesjinglinginthemateverystep,likeMoorishscimetarsinscabbards.

But,thoughthesebarbariansdinedinthecabin,andnominallylivedthere;still,beinganythingbutsedentaryintheirhabits,theywerescarcelyeverinitexceptatmealtimes,andjustbeforesleeping-time,whentheypassedthroughittotheirownpeculiarquarters.

Inthisonematter,AhabseemednoexceptiontomostAmericanwhalecaptains,who,asaset,ratherinclinetotheopinionthatbyrightstheship'scabinbelongstothem;andthatitisbycourtesyalonethatanybodyelseis,atanytime,permittedthere.Sothat,inrealtruth,thematesandharpooneersofthePequodmightmoreproperlybesaidtohavelivedoutofthecabinthaninit.Forwhentheydidenterit,itwassomethingasastreet-doorentersahouse;turninginwardsforamoment,onlytobeturnedoutthenext;and,asapermanentthing,residingintheopenair.Nordidtheylosemuchhereby;inthecabinwasnocompanionship;socially,Ahabwasinaccessible.ThoughnominallyincludedinthecensusofChristendom,hewasstillanalientoit.Helivedintheworld,asthelastoftheGrislyBearslivedinsettledMissouri.AndaswhenSpringandSummerhaddeparted,thatwildLoganofthewoods,buryinghimselfinthehollowofatree,livedoutthewinterthere,suckinghisownpaws;so,inhisinclement,howlingoldage,Ahab'ssoul,shutupinthecavedtrunkofhisbody,therefeduponthesullenpawsofitsgloom!