[Pg 289]
ing, plunge3 after plunge, to drown herself, and to make me commit wilful4 suicide along with her, whether I will or not. After that, there is no hope; but oh! yet oh, my Fates, let me die upon land. I have a horror of shipboard! The idea of severing5 all ties in this cabin is trebly agonising. Why, the very table is tied to the floor, the candlestick to the table, the snuffers to the candlestick, the extinguisher to the snuffers. Only the burning candle is unattached, and there—there it jumps into bed! No matter; it could as soon set fire to the Thames. Another squall! How she groans6, creaks, squeaks7, strains, grinds, and squeezes, like a huge walnut8 in Neptune’s crackers9? Accursed Jung Vrouw! thou wilt10 be the widowing of my poor dear old one! Accursed Peter Stuckey, thou wilt be the murdering of my poor deaf old self!
I know not, for a surety, by reason that everything about me is quaking and shaking, but I suspect I am trembling like an aspen. It is impossible to hear, in the midst of this universal hubbub11, but methinks, I am wailing12 and weeping aloud. But one may as well make a manly13 exit. Like other men, in such sea extremities14, I would fain betake me to the rum-cask; but either Hans Vandergroot sails on Temperance principles, or I have looked in the wrong place. I will try a stave or two instead.
“Full fathom15 five—”
THE BEST BOWER16 ANCHOR.
Alas17! it will not go down. I am too much out of sorts for even the “delicate Ariel.” It was one thing for Shakspeare, sailing, hugging the shore, never out of sight of land, on the safe serene18 coasts of Bohemia, to compose such a sea song for the wood and canvas Tempests of the stage; but it is another guess thing to hear it, as I do, howled through hoarse19 ship-ropes, by Boreas himself, in a real storm. What comfort to me that everything about me shall suffer a sea-change?—that my bones shall turn, forsooth, into coral? I would not give a bad
[Pg 290]
doit, with some of these poor metacarpal bones of mine to be rubbing the gums of the Royal Infant of Spain. I am not so blindly ambitious as to wish that these two precious useful balls of mine, turned into pearls, should shine in the British crown itself, or, what is more tempting20, in the hair of the beautiful Countess of B. What if some economical jeweller—I think I feel him at it—should take it into his head to split them, for setting in a ring? As for the Syren’s knell21, I would as lief have it as long hereafter as may be, from the plain prosaic22 old sexton of St. Sepulchre’s. I have no depraved yearning23 to be first wet-nursed to death, and then “lapped in Elysium,” by Mermaids24, the most cold, flabby, washy, fishy25, draggletails ever invented to give any human fancy the ague—half-and-half monsters, neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring. A whole cargo26 of them, nay a glut27 of them, leaping alive, unfit for loving
[Pg 291]
or eating, is not worth one loveable real woman at Billingsgate, or one of the eatable maids on her stall. I could never imagine the boldest and gallantest boatswain encountering such a sea-witch, on a lone28 beach—combing the shrimps29 out of her wet sandy mud-coloured hair, and wriggling30 her foolish tail about, curling, or stretching it, or trying to put it into her pocket, forgetting that she has no pockets, as a shy man in company does not know what to do with his hands—I could never fancy him looking on such a creature, however attached to the fair sex, without his recoiling31 till he tumbled over his own pigtail, singing out, with a slight variation of a line of Dibdin’s,
“Avert yon ’oman, gracious Heaven!”
For other sea-temptations, I would not give my old white pony32, that stumbles over every stone in his road, and some out of it, to ride like that Lord Godolphin Arion over the seas on the fairest fish that was ever foaled. Speaking under fear of death, I would rather, waving all the romance, ride in a rill by a roadside on a stickle-back. On my solemn word, I would far liefer bestride even a pond perch33 with his dorsal34 fin35 erect36. But hark! What means that dreadful cry? Our death-bell is tolling37 in Dutch—“Del, del, is verlooren!”
I must scramble38, crawl, haul myself, spite of my sprained39 ankles, up unto the deck how I may. Next best unto witnessing our own funeral is the seeing how we are done to death.
What a sight! Here is the tiller tied hard a-port, or hard a-lee, as hard as they can tie it. Further back is the Skipper himself, entangled40 dismally42 by some cord or other to the stern-rails; and yonder is his mate, with a hundred and fifty turns of rope round himself and the mizen-mast, which he seems trying to strengthen. The gunner, as I take him to be, with a preposterous43 superfluity of breeching, is made fast to look through a hole, which seems to have been meant for a window to a cannon44; and the carpenter, well pinioned45 and tethered by a
[Pg 292]
stout rope to the back-stay, is sheepishly dangling46 therefrom, whenever his side of the ship is uppermost, like unto the Lamb of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The cook, having given away both his hands, is spliced47, as if for life, unto the capstan. Adam Vaart is double-turned and double-knotted to the main-mast, and Hendrick his brother is belayed down, on the broad of his back, in the place of the lost long-boat. Should the anchor be dropped, Jan Bart is sure, even from head to foot, to go along with it. Poor little Yacob Yops, the apprentice48, hath been turned over, and re-bound into a ring-bolt, by articles which are called rope-yarns; and lo, up yonder, lashed49 by his legs to the rattlines, hangs Diedrick Dumm-Kopf, head downwards50, like a split cod51 left there to dry, in the main shrouds52!
Oh! that I were bound myself round and round all the ribs53, from the top to the bottom, with good six-twist, lest even thus, in articulo mortis, I burst, split my sides, and die with excess of laughter. The Skipper, honest Hans, with much difficulty, for he grievously mistrusts his breathing to the beating of the wave, opening his mouth when it comes, and sealing up his lips when it is gone, hath let me into the whole secret. Considering the wild sea, he saith, and that no man can tie himself so surely as another man can, to some more steadfast54 substance, they had been all fastened, at their own special wish and agreement, to such hold-fasts as pleased them best, by Diedrick Dumm-Kopf, who was afterwards to provide for his safety as he judged surest, in order that he might liberate55 them again when the storm should be blown over. That accordingly, after first tying them all as securely as he was able, the said Diedrick betook himself to the main rigging, about half way up, to which he lashed himself by the ankles, holding on likewise with his hands, and his great clasp-knife in his mouth. That the Jung Vrouw driving before the wind and sea, they made shift, as they were to navigate56 her pretty comfortably for some twenty minutes
[Pg 293]
or thereby57, when all of a sudden they saw Diedrick, being seized with a vertigo58, let go his hold and drop into his present posture59, from which he could never recover himself; and it was that dismal41 sight which had extorted60 the universal outcry that I heard.
I am sicker of the sea than ever! Is the safety of a Christian61 man’s life, and soul maybe, of no more interest than to be gambled away by such a set of Dutch Bottoms with Asses’ heads on their shoulders! Oh! that the worthy62 Chairman and all the Underwriters of Lloyd’s were here present on this deck—the mere63 sight of the Skipper’s countenance64 there, with not so much meaning in it as a smoked pig’s face, for that means to be eaten, would scare them from all sea-risks for ever!
Thanks be to Heaven! yonder’s a sail. It makes straight towards us—they come aboard. A Pilot?—well said! Oh, honest, good, dear Pilot, as you love a distressed65 poor countryman—as you understand the compass and how rudders are turned—if you know what a rope’s end is,—take the biggest bit of a cable you can pick, and give yonder Dutch sea-calves a round dozen a piece; ’twill cost you no great pains, seeing they are tied up ready to your hand. Pish! never mind their offence; they have mutinied against themselves. Smite66, and spare not. I will go ashore67 meanwhile, in your boat. Hollo there! help me down. Take heed68 to my footing. Catch me, all of you, in your arms. Now I am in. No, I an’t! I an’t! I an’t!
If ye had not hauled me in again with that same boat-hook, I was drown’d. My shoulder bleeds for it, but I forgive. Never heed me: look to your helms and sails. ’Tis only a gallon or two of sea-water, just swallowed, that is indisposed to go on shore with me. I am used to it, indeed I am. Pray, what is the name of this blessed boat? The Lively Nancy. Lively indeed! The Jung Vrouw was a Quakeress to her! At every
[Pg 294]
jump she takes, my heart leaps also. Pray, pray, pray take in some canvas. You think you be sailing, but you are committing suicide. They mind me no more than stones. Oh! oh! I am out of Danger’s frying-pan into its fire! Peter Stuckey will be a murtherer after all!
What a set of dare-devils! They grin like baboons69 whilst she is driving with half her deck under water! I will shut mine eyes and hold fast by something. I am worse than ever. I give myself up. Oh! oh! what an awful roaring, hissing70, grinding noise we are come into! The bottom of the sea is coming out, or else the bottom of the boat! Hah! Help! help! I am heels upward! Why did not some kindly71 soul forewarn me that she was going to stop short on the beach? Stand all aside, and let me leap upon the sand. Ah! I have made my nose spout72 gore73 in my over-haste to kiss my native land!
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1
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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2
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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3
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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4
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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5
severing
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂 | |
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6
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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7
squeaks
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| n.短促的尖叫声，吱吱声( squeak的名词复数 )v.短促地尖叫( squeak的第三人称单数 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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8
walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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9
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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10
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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11
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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12
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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13
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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14
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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15
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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16
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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17
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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18
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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19
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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20
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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21
knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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22
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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23
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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24
mermaids
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| n.（传说中的）美人鱼( mermaid的名词复数 ) | |
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25
fishy
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| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
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26
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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27
glut
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| n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽 | |
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28
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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29
shrimps
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| n.虾，小虾( shrimp的名词复数 )；矮小的人 | |
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30
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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31
recoiling
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| v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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32
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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33
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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34
dorsal
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| adj.背部的，背脊的 | |
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35
fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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36
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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37
tolling
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| [财]来料加工 | |
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38
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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39
sprained
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| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
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40
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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42
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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43
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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44
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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45
pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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47
spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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48
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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49
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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50
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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51
cod
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| n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗 | |
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52
shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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53
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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54
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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55
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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56
navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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57
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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58
vertigo
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| n.眩晕 | |
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59
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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60
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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61
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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62
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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63
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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64
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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65
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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66
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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67
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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68
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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69
baboons
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| n.狒狒( baboon的名词复数 ) | |
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70
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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71
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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72
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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73
gore
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| n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶 | |
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