登陆注册
15291000000080

第80章

And as if the now tested reality of his might had in formerlegendary times thrown its shadow before it; we find some booknaturalists- Olassen and Povelson- declaring the Sperm Whale notonly to be a consternation to every other creature in the sea, butalso to be so incredibly ferocious as continually to be athirst forhuman blood. Nor even down to so late a time as Cuvier's, were theseor almost similar impressions effaced. For in his Natural History, theBaron himself affirms that at sight of the Sperm Whale, all fish(sharks included) are "struck with the most lively terrors," and"often in the precipitancy of their flight dash themselves against therocks with such violence as to cause instantaneous death." And howeverthe general experiences in the fishery may amend such reports asthese; yet in their full terribleness, even to the bloodthirsty itemof Povelson, the superstitious belief in them is, in some vicissitudesof their vocation, revived in the minds of the hunters.

So that overawed by the rumors and portents concerning him, not afew of the fishermen recalled, in reference to Moby Dick, theearlier days of the Sperm Whale fishery, when it was oftentimes hardto induce long practised Right whalemen to embark in the perils ofthis new and daring warfare; such men protesting that although otherleviathans might be hopefully pursued, yet to chase and point lancesat such an apparition as the Sperm Whale was not for mortal man.

That to attempt it, would be inevitably to be torn into a quicketernity. On this head, there are some remarkable documents that maybe consulted.

Nevertheless, some there were, who even in the face of thesethings were ready to give chase to Moby Dick; and a still greaternumber who, chancing only to hear of him distantly and vaguely,without the specific details of any certain calamity, and withoutsuperstitious accompaniments were sufficiently hardy not to fleefrom the battle if offered.

One of the wild suggestions referred to, as at last coming to belinked with the White Whale in the minds of the superstitiouslyinclined, was the unearthly conceit that Moby Dick was ubiquitous;that he had actually been encountered in opposite latitudes at one andthe same instant of time.

Nor, credulous as such minds must have been, was this conceitaltogether without some faint show of superstitious probability. Foras the secrets of the currents in the seas have never yet beendivulged, even to the most erudite research; so the hidden ways of theSperm Whale when beneath the surface remain, in great part,unaccountable to his pursuers; and from time to time have originatedthe most curious and contradictory speculations regarding them,especially concerning the mystic modes whereby, after sounding to agreat depth, he transports himself with such vast swiftness to themost widely distant points.

It is a thing well known to both American and English whale-ships,and as well a thing placed upon authoritative record years ago byScoresby, that some whales have been captured far north in thePacific, in whose bodies have been found the barbs of harpoonsdarted in the Greenland seas. Nor is it to be gainsaid, that in someof these instances it has been declared that the interval of timebetween the two assaults could not have exceeded very many days.

Hence, by inference, it has been believed by some whalemen, that theNor' West Passage, so long a problem to man, was never a problem tothe whale. So that here, in the real living experience of livingmen, the prodigies related in old times of the inland Strello mountainin Portugal (near whose top there was said to be a lake in which thewrecks of ships floated up to the surface); and that still morewonderful story of the Arethusa fountain near Syracuse (whose waterswere believed to have come from the Holy Land by an undergroundpassage); these fabulous narrations are almost fully equalled by therealities of the whalemen.

Forced into familiarity, then, with such prodigies as these; andknowing that after repeated, intrepid assaults, the White Whale hadescaped alive; it cannot be much matter of surprise that some whalemenshould go still further in their superstitions; declaring Moby Dicknot only ubiquitous, but immortal (for immortality is but ubiquityin time); that though groves of spears should be planted in hisflanks, he would still swim away unharmed; or if indeed he should everbe made to spout thick blood, such a sight would be but a ghastlydeception; for again in unensanguined billows hundreds of leaguesaway, his unsullied jet would once more be seen.

But even stripped of these supernatural surmisings, there was enoughin the earthly make and incontestable character of the monster tostrike the imagination with unwonted power. For, it was not so muchhis uncommon bulk that so much distinguished him from other spermwhales, but, as was elsewhere thrown out- a peculiar snow-whitewrinkled forehead, and a high, pyramidical white hump. These werehis prominent features; the tokens whereby, even in the limitless,uncharted seas, he revealed his identity, at a long distance, to thosewho knew him.

The rest of his body was so streaked, and spotted, and marbledwith the same shrouded hue, that, in the end, he had gained hisdistinctive appellation of the White Whale; a name, indeed,literally justified by his vivid aspect, when seen gliding at highnoon through a dark blue sea, leaving a milky-way wake of creamy foam,all spangled with golden gleamings.

同类推荐
  • 斗南暐禅师语录

    斗南暐禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 咏笙

    咏笙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 修真精义杂论

    修真精义杂论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Jasmin

    Jasmin

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北郭集

    北郭集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 幻梦之心

    幻梦之心

    甲:“政府推出了一款大型虚拟网游,名字叫《蝶梦》,快去玩啊!”乙:“政府吃饱了撑啊,怎么跑去抢游戏公司的生意了?这年头虚拟网游早就烂大街了,不玩。”甲:“你别后悔,政府还说,咱们的失业保障金被他们投游戏里了,想要钱就去游戏里挣。”乙:“这么狠?好吧,玩玩看再说。”政府:“《蝶梦》里隐藏有历史的真相,快去发现吧!”NPC:“肥羊炮灰们,快来我们的世界!”作者:“没有天上掉神器出门捡美女的人品,没有莫明发春倒贴的花痴女,没有满世界脑袋被门夹的蠢货反派,更没有作弊般带着神级记忆力逆天重生这么扯淡的事情。有的只是一步一个脚印,执手中利剑,斩出自己的人生道路。”人生如梦,梦如人生,欢迎进入幻梦的世界。
  • 再见如梦

    再见如梦

    五年前,他是身世显赫、挥金如土富家公子,少年英雄却嫉恶如仇,为兄弟义气、血染长街,从此乾坤颠倒、日月逆悬,一夜之间朋友疏离、家族摒弃,成为弃儿被强行驻出国门。五年后,他凤凰浴血、涅槃重生,从战争中崛起,从硝烟中成长,刀光剑影曾染征袍,炮火连天曾见血光,他是地狱归来王者,隐身夜幕的刺客,兵锋所指流血飘零,血衣加身将军莫敌。今天,恩师一纸婚约将其召回,从此一切将不再沉积。
  • 凰妃天下:逆天邪王妃

    凰妃天下:逆天邪王妃

    “我想看山峦。”某腹黑王爷邪邪地看着她。“恩。”她心不在焉的回答。“这可是你说的?”某呆女终于反应过来“滚!”“想不到你这么主动。”……某衣冠禽兽王爷欺身而上。“无……耻!!!!”————————从上山学武开始,这王爷就没有正经过。——她是又造什么孽了,碰上这样一个精力旺盛的王爷,她顿觉此生无爱……
  • EXO之樱花树下的爱恋

    EXO之樱花树下的爱恋

    爱,就在某个瞬间,时间定格,仿佛整个世界,只剩你我二人……或许,命中注定我爱你……——题记
  • 宿敌之情途

    宿敌之情途

    北冥凝若从异世界穿越归来,还带回来了一批偷渡客,哦,不,这批偷渡客第二天就被发现了。什么,结盟?我们是来度假的,绝对不会在理会任何的工作,想要结盟找真正的主事人去。你说主事人是谁,你猜?《九天十界》开启了,北冥凝若终于玩到了梦寐以求的虚拟游戏,可是为什么这里面的NPC都认识捏,喂喂喂,人死如灯灭,咱之前的恩怨情仇就一笔勾销了好不好。什么,不同意,好吧,咱真的不想要再挂你一次的,不过你要是不想活了咱可以帮帮你,有经验,有装备拿,真是爽!这其实就是北冥凝若穿越回地球的生活经历,力求欢脱到底,中间的小虐怡情请忽视到底。本文重新修改,希望大家支持,多多收藏哦!
  • 残月沉霄

    残月沉霄

    战……决胜千里,成王败寇。晋阳握劲甲雄兵,百万之众,势吞天地……托哒挥烈马铁骑,烧杀抢掠,游猎神军……大成倚天险峭壁,水陆之师,固若钢筋……北祖拥天下民心,将帅谋才,多如繁星……战……只是为了战后的太平……
  • 长成一棵树:青少年必须学会自尊与自爱

    长成一棵树:青少年必须学会自尊与自爱

    长成一棵树:青少年必须学会自尊与自爱》旨在指导与帮助广大青少年朋友在青春的季节里学会自强、自立、自勉、自信、自尊、自爱、自知、自乐、自制、自谦等,真正做到和做好“我的青春我做主”!
  • 杀神录之幻爱红莲

    杀神录之幻爱红莲

    穿越了?不要紧,不是乱世就好。是乱世?不要紧,不遇到坏人就好。遇到坏人?不要紧,别爱上他就好。爱上了?不要紧,还有男二号来救我……哀怨脸望男二号……妖孽绝美的腹黑男,冷傲正直的美郎君,你选哪个做情郎?聪明却HP值万年为零的女主角一号,漂亮却一根筋正气的女主角二号谁是命定的前世杯具人物?看我把乱世搅得天翻地覆的幸福生活(?!)要的就是挑战苦逼命的胆魄
  • 魏宫二三事

    魏宫二三事

    谁说我大魏无八卦?寻人启示:《乡党名族任氏女,为何被遣之后销声匿迹?》邺城纪实:《沉鱼落雁美甄姬,一嫁袁绍子,二嫁曹操子,为何最终命丧黄泉?》今日头条:《倾国倾城女博士,足智多谋女中王,谁是曹丕心中最爱?》--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 夺池

    夺池

    不打牌的时候,你可以试着体会一下生活中的其他乐趣,比如选一本喜欢的书,静静的读一下午;或者约上三五好友聊聊天,喝喝茶,聊聊生活工作中的事;当然,你也可以选择一条安静的林荫道悠闲的散步,或是去健身房打打球,拉一会儿器械。等你做完了这些,你就会发现,还是打牌有意思。