At length, towards noon, upon the final dismissal of the ship's riggers, and after the Pequod had been hauled out from the wharf1, and after the ever-thoughtful Charity had come off in a whale-boat, with her last gift-- a nightcap for Stubb, the second mate, her brother-in-law, and a spare Bible for the steward--after all this, the two Captains, Peleg and Bildad, issued from the cabin, and turning to the chief mate, Peleg said:
"Now, Mr. Starbuck, are you sure everything is right? Captain Ahab is all ready--just spoke2 to him--nothing more to be got from shore, eh? Well, call all hands, then. Muster4 'em aft here--blast 'em!"
"No need of profane5 words, however great the hurry, Peleg," said Bildad, "but away with thee, friend Starbuck, and do our bidding."
How now! Here upon the very point of starting for the voyage, Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad were going it with a high hand on the quarter-deck, just as if they were to be joint-commanders at sea, as well as to all appearances in port. And, as for Captain Ahab, no sign of him was yet to be seen; Only, they said he was in the cabin. But then, the idea was, that his presence was by no means necessary in getting the ship under weigh, and steering6 her well out to sea. Indeed, as that was not at all his proper business, but the pilot's; and as he was not yet completely recovered--so they said--therefore, Captain Ahab stayed below. And all this seemed natural enough; especially as in the merchant service many captains never show themselves on deck for a considerable time after heaving up the anchor, but remain over the cabin table, having a farewell merry-making with their shore friends, before they quit the ship for good with the pilot.
But there was not much chance to think over the matter, for Captain Peleg was now all alive. He seemed to do most of the talking and commanding, and not Bildad.
"Aft here, ye sons of bachelors," he cried, as the sailors lingered at the main-mast. "Mr. Starbuck, drive aft."
"Strike the tent there!"--was the next order. As I hinted before, this whalebone marquee was never pitched except in port; and on board the Pequod, for thirty years, the order to strike the tent was well known to be the next thing to heaving up the anchor.
"Man the capstan! Blood and thunder!--jump!"--was the next command, and the crew sprang for the handspikes.
Now in getting under weigh, the station generally occupied by the pilot is the forward part of the ship. And here Bildad, who, with Peleg, be it known, in addition to his other offices, was one of the licensed7 pilots of the port--he being suspected to have got himself made a pilot in order to save the Nantucket pilot-fee to all the ships he was concerned in, for he never piloted any other craft--Bildad, I say, might now be seen actively8 engaged in looking over the bows for the approaching anchor, and at intervals9 singing what seemed a dismal10 stave of psalmody, to cheer the hands at the windlass, who roared forth11 some sort of a chorus about the girls in Booble Alley12, with hearty13 good will. Nevertheless, not three days previous, Bildad had told them that no profane songs would be allowed on board the Pequod, particularly in getting under weigh; and Charity, his sister, had placed a small choice copy of Watts14 in each seaman's berth15.
Meantime, overseeing the other part of the ship, Captain Peleg ripped and swore astern in the most frightful16 manner. I almost thought he would sink the ship before the anchor could be got up; involuntarily I paused on my handspike, and told Queequeg to do the same, thinking of the perils17 we both ran, in starting on the voyage with such a devil for a pilot. I was comforting myself, however, with the thought that in pious18 Bildad might be found some salvation19, spite of his seven hundred and seventy-seventh lay; when I felt a sudden sharp poke3 in my rear, and turning round, was horrified20 at the apparition21 of Captain Peleg in the act of withdrawing his leg from my immediate22 vicinity. That was my first kick.
"Is that the way they heave in the marchant service?" he roared. "Spring, thou sheep-head; spring, and break thy backbone23! Why don't ye spring, I say, all of ye--spring! Quohog! spring, thou chap with the red whiskers; spring there, Scotch-cap; spring, thou green pants. Spring, I say, all of ye, and spring your eyes out!" And so saying, he moved along the windlass, here and there using his leg very freely, while imperturbable24 Bildad kept leading off with his psalmody. Thinks I, Captain Peleg must have been drinking something to-day.
At last the anchor was up, the sails were set, and off we glided25. It was a short, cold Christmas; and as the short northern day merged26 into night, we found ourselves almost broad upon the wintry ocean, whose freezing spray cased us in ice, as in polished armor. The long rows of teeth on the bulwarks27 glistened28 in the moonlight; and like the white ivory tusks29 of some huge elephant, vast curving icicles depended from the bows.
Lank30 Bildad, as pilot, headed the first watch, and ever and anon, as the old craft deep dived into the green seas, and sent the shivering frost all over her, and the winds howled, and the cordage rang, his steady notes were heard,--
"Sweet fields beyond the swelling31 flood, Stand dressed in living green. So to the Jews old Canaan stood, While Jordan rolled between."
Never did those sweet words sound more sweetly to me than then. They were full of hope and fruition. Spite of this frigid32 winter night in the boisterous33 Atlantic, spite of my wet feet and wetter jacket, there was yet, it then seemed to me, many a pleasant haven34 in store; and meads and glades35 so eternally vernal, that the grass shot up by the spring, untrodden, unwilted, remains36 at midsummer.
At last we gained such an offing, that the two pilots were needed no longer. The stout37 sail-boat that had accompanied us began ranging alongside.
It was curious and not unpleasing, how Peleg and Bildad were affected38 at this juncture39, especially Captain Bildad. For loath40 to depart, yet; very loath to leave, for good, a ship bound on so long and perilous41 a voyage--beyond both stormy Capes42; a ship in which some thousands of his hardearned dollars were invested; a ship, in which an old shipmate sailed as captain; a man almost as old as he, once more starting to encounter all the terrors of the pitiless jaw43; loath to say good-bye to a thing so every way brimful of every interest to him,-- poor old Bildad lingered long; paced the deck with anxious strides; ran down into the cabin to speak another farewell word there; again came on deck, and looked to windward; looked towards the wide and endless waters, only bounded by the far-off unseen Eastern Continents; looked towards the land; looked aloft; looked right and left; looked everywhere and nowhere; and at last, mechanically coiling a rope upon its pin, convulsively grasped stout Peleg by the hand, and holding up a lantern, for a moment stood gazing heroically in his face, as much as to say, "Nevertheless, friend Peleg, I can stand it; yes, I can."
As for Peleg himself, he took it more like a philosopher; but for all his philosophy, there was a tear twinkling in his eye, when the lantern came too near. And he, too, did not a little run from the cabin to deck--now a word below, and now a word with Starbuck, the chief mate.
But, at last, he turned to his comrade, with a final sort of look about him,--"Captain Bildad--come, old shipmate, we must go. Back the mainyard there! Boat ahoy! Stand by to come close alongside, now! Careful, careful!--come, Bildad, boy-- say your last. Luck to ye, Starbuck--luck to ye, Mr. Stubb-- luck to ye, Mr. Flask44--good-bye and good luck to ye all-- and this day three years I'll have a hot supper smoking for ye in old Nantucket. Hurrah45 and away!"
"God bless ye, and have ye in His holy keeping, men," murmured old Bildad, almost incoherently. "I hope ye'll have fine weather now, so that Captain Ahab may soon be moving among ye--a pleasant sun is all he needs, and ye'll have plenty of them in the tropic voyage ye go. Be careful in the hunt, ye mates. Don't stave the boats needlessly, ye harpooneers; good white cedar46 plank47 is raised full three per cent within the year. Don't forget your prayers, either. Mr. Starbuck, mind that cooper don't waste the spare staves. Oh! the sail-needles are in the green locker48. Don't whale it too much a' Lord's days, men; but don't miss a fair chance either, that's rejecting Heaven's good gifts. Have an eye to the molasses tierce, Mr. Stubb; it was a little leaky, I thought. If ye touch at the islands, Mr. Flask, beware of fornication. Good-bye, good-bye! Don't keep that cheese too long down in the hold, Mr. Starbuck; it'll spoil. Be careful with the butter--twenty cents the pound it was, and mind ye, if--"
"Come, come, Captain Bildad; stop palavering,--away!" and with that, Peleg hurried him over the side, and both dropt into the boat.
Ship and boat diverged49; the cold, damp night breeze blew between; a screaming gull50 flew overhead; the two hulls51 wildly rolled; we gave three heavy-hearted cheers, and blindly plunged52 like fate into the lone53 Atlantic.
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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watts
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| （电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 ) | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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capes
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| 碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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49
diverged
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| 分开( diverge的过去式和过去分词 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳 | |
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50
gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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51
hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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52
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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