{"id":"01KJNXJQXG88NN0964V9GP58E0","cid":"bafkreifhvsji5o2q4mf373x5qziqsby72klqp5louvf5ibjdamu3gwymna","type":"text_chunk","properties":{"char_end":392621,"char_start":384662,"chunk_index":54,"chunk_total":178,"estimated_tokens":1990,"source_file_key":"moby-dick","text":"angle to the iron way!\r\n\r\n\r\nCHAPTER 38. Dusk.\r\n\r\n_By the Mainmast; Starbuck leaning against it_.\r\n\r\nMy soul is more than matched; she’s overmanned; and by a madman!\r\nInsufferable sting, that sanity should ground arms on such a field! But\r\nhe drilled deep down, and blasted all my reason out of me! I think I\r\nsee his impious end; but feel that I must help him to it. Will I, nill\r\nI, the ineffable thing has tied me to him; tows me with a cable I have\r\nno knife to cut. Horrible old man! Who’s over him, he cries;—aye, he\r\nwould be a democrat to all above; look, how he lords it over all below!\r\nOh! I plainly see my miserable office,—to obey, rebelling; and worse\r\nyet, to hate with touch of pity! For in his eyes I read some lurid woe\r\nwould shrivel me up, had I it. Yet is there hope. Time and tide flow\r\nwide. The hated whale has the round watery world to swim in, as the\r\nsmall gold-fish has its glassy globe. His heaven-insulting purpose, God\r\nmay wedge aside. I would up heart, were it not like lead. But my whole\r\nclock’s run down; my heart the all-controlling weight, I have no key to\r\nlift again.\r\n\r\n[_A burst of revelry from the forecastle_.]\r\n\r\nOh, God! to sail with such a heathen crew that have small touch of\r\nhuman mothers in them! Whelped somewhere by the sharkish sea. The white\r\nwhale is their demigorgon. Hark! the infernal orgies! that revelry is\r\nforward! mark the unfaltering silence aft! Methinks it pictures life.\r\nForemost through the sparkling sea shoots on the gay, embattled,\r\nbantering bow, but only to drag dark Ahab after it, where he broods\r\nwithin his sternward cabin, builded over the dead water of the wake,\r\nand further on, hunted by its wolfish gurglings. The long howl thrills\r\nme through! Peace! ye revellers, and set the watch! Oh, life! ’tis in\r\nan hour like this, with soul beat down and held to knowledge,—as wild,\r\nuntutored things are forced to feed—Oh, life! ’tis now that I do feel\r\nthe latent horror in thee! but ’tis not me! that horror’s out of me!\r\nand with the soft feeling of the human in me, yet will I try to fight\r\nye, ye grim, phantom futures! Stand by me, hold me, bind me, O ye\r\nblessed influences!\r\n\r\n\r\nCHAPTER 39. First Night-Watch.\r\n\r\nFore-Top.\r\n\r\n(_Stubb solus, and mending a brace_.)\r\n\r\nHa! ha! ha! ha! hem! clear my throat!—I’ve been thinking over it ever\r\nsince, and that ha, ha’s the final consequence. Why so? Because a\r\nlaugh’s the wisest, easiest answer to all that’s queer; and come what\r\nwill, one comfort’s always left—that unfailing comfort is, it’s all\r\npredestinated. I heard not all his talk with Starbuck; but to my poor\r\neye Starbuck then looked something as I the other evening felt. Be sure\r\nthe old Mogul has fixed him, too. I twigged it, knew it; had had the\r\ngift, might readily have prophesied it—for when I clapped my eye upon\r\nhis skull I saw it. Well, Stubb, _wise_ Stubb—that’s my title—well,\r\nStubb, what of it, Stubb? Here’s a carcase. I know not all that may be\r\ncoming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing. Such a waggish\r\nleering as lurks in all your horribles! I feel funny. Fa, la! lirra,\r\nskirra! What’s my juicy little pear at home doing now? Crying its eyes\r\nout?—Giving a party to the last arrived harpooneers, I dare say, gay as\r\na frigate’s pennant, and so am I—fa, la! lirra, skirra! Oh—\r\n\r\n\r\nWe’ll drink to-night with hearts as light, To love, as gay and fleeting\r\nAs bubbles that swim, on the beaker’s brim, And break on the lips while\r\nmeeting.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA brave stave that—who calls? Mr. Starbuck? Aye, aye, sir—(_Aside_)\r\nhe’s my superior, he has his too, if I’m not mistaken.—Aye, aye, sir,\r\njust through with this job—coming.\r\n\r\n\r\nCHAPTER 40. Midnight, Forecastle.\r\n\r\nHARPOONEERS AND SAILORS.\r\n\r\n(_Foresail rises and discovers the watch standing, lounging, leaning,\r\nand lying in various attitudes, all singing in chorus_.)\r\n\r\n\r\n  Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies! Farewell and adieu to you,\r\n  ladies of Spain! Our captain’s commanded.—\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1ST NANTUCKET SAILOR. Oh, boys, don’t be sentimental; it’s bad for the\r\ndigestion! Take a tonic, follow me!\r\n\r\n(_Sings, and all follow._)\r\n\r\n\r\n Our captain stood upon the deck, A spy-glass in his hand, A viewing of\r\n those gallant whales That blew at every strand. Oh, your tubs in your\r\n boats, my boys, And by your braces stand, And we’ll have one of those\r\n fine whales, Hand, boys, over hand! So, be cheery, my lads! may your\r\n hearts never fail! While the bold harpooner is striking the whale!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMATE’S VOICE FROM THE QUARTER-DECK. Eight bells there, forward!\r\n\r\n2ND NANTUCKET SAILOR. Avast the chorus! Eight bells there! d’ye hear,\r\nbell-boy? Strike the bell eight, thou Pip! thou blackling! and let me\r\ncall the watch. I’ve the sort of mouth for that—the hogshead mouth. So,\r\nso, (_thrusts his head down the scuttle_,) Star-bo-l-e-e-n-s, a-h-o-y!\r\nEight bells there below! Tumble up!\r\n\r\nDUTCH SAILOR. Grand snoozing to-night, maty; fat night for that. I mark\r\nthis in our old Mogul’s wine; it’s quite as deadening to some as\r\nfilliping to others. We sing; they sleep—aye, lie down there, like\r\nground-tier butts. At ’em again! There, take this copper-pump, and hail\r\n’em through it. Tell ’em to avast dreaming of their lasses. Tell ’em\r\nit’s the resurrection; they must kiss their last, and come to judgment.\r\nThat’s the way—_that’s_ it; thy throat ain’t spoiled with eating\r\nAmsterdam butter.\r\n\r\nFRENCH SAILOR. Hist, boys! let’s have a jig or two before we ride to\r\nanchor in Blanket Bay. What say ye? There comes the other watch. Stand\r\nby all legs! Pip! little Pip! hurrah with your tambourine!\r\n\r\nPIP. (_Sulky and sleepy._) Don’t know where it is.\r\n\r\nFRENCH SAILOR. Beat thy belly, then, and wag thy ears. Jig it, men, I\r\nsay; merry’s the word; hurrah! Damn me, won’t you dance? Form, now,\r\nIndian-file, and gallop into the double-shuffle? Throw yourselves!\r\nLegs! legs!\r\n\r\nICELAND SAILOR. I don’t like your floor, maty; it’s too springy to my\r\ntaste. I’m used to ice-floors. I’m sorry to throw cold water on the\r\nsubject; but excuse me.\r\n\r\nMALTESE SAILOR. Me too; where’s your girls? Who but a fool would take\r\nhis left hand by his right, and say to himself, how d’ye do? Partners!\r\nI must have partners!\r\n\r\nSICILIAN SAILOR. Aye; girls and a green!—then I’ll hop with ye; yea,\r\nturn grasshopper!\r\n\r\nLONG-ISLAND SAILOR. Well, well, ye sulkies, there’s plenty more of us.\r\nHoe corn when you may, say I. All legs go to harvest soon. Ah! here\r\ncomes the music; now for it!\r\n\r\nAZORE SAILOR. (_Ascending, and pitching the tambourine up the\r\nscuttle_.) Here you are, Pip; and there’s the windlass-bitts; up you\r\nmount! Now, boys! (_The half of them dance to the tambourine; some go\r\nbelow; some sleep or lie among the coils of rigging. Oaths a-plenty_.)\r\n\r\nAZORE SAILOR. (_Dancing_) Go it, Pip! Bang it, bell-boy! Rig it, dig\r\nit, stig it, quig it, bell-boy! Make fire-flies; break the jinglers!\r\n\r\nPIP. Jinglers, you say?—there goes another, dropped off; I pound it so.\r\n\r\nCHINA SAILOR. Rattle thy teeth, then, and pound away; make a pagoda of\r\nthyself.\r\n\r\nFRENCH SAILOR. Merry-mad! Hold up thy hoop, Pip, till I jump through\r\nit! Split jibs! tear yourselves!\r\n\r\nTASHTEGO. (_Quietly smoking._) That’s a white man; he calls that fun:\r\nhumph! I save my sweat.\r\n\r\nOLD MANX SAILOR. I wonder whether those jolly lads bethink them of what\r\nthey are dancing over. I’ll dance over your grave, I will—that’s the\r\nbitterest threat of your night-women, that beat head-winds round\r\ncorners. O Christ! to think of the green navies and the green-skulled\r\ncrews! Well, well; belike the whole world’s a ball, as you scholars\r\nhave it; and so ’tis right to make one ballroom of it. Dance on, lads,\r\nyou’re young; I was once.\r\n\r\n3D NANTUCKET SAILOR. Spell oh!—whew! this is worse than pulling after\r\nwhales in a calm—give us a whiff, Tash.\r\n\r\n(_They cease dancing, and gather in clusters. Meantime the sky\r\ndarkens—the wind rises_.)\r\n\r\nLASCAR SAILOR. By Brahma! boys, it’ll be douse sail soon."},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KJNXEDHZCC8DR4EPSQD0QP4P","peer_label":"moby-dick","peer_type":"text","predicate":"derived_from"},{"peer":"01KJNXECF9R1EZKS5Z7J8A8ZSB","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KJNXKVYKWFDKYWNFAY5N9KE5","peer_label":"starbuck","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXM37BGJ4EBHZ5Q1YQPREQ","peer_label":"pip","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXKW3DZQ5YTC2NQ9Q7VBWR","peer_label":"ahab","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXKW3Z6GAC3QZ1MZC1PX63","peer_label":"pequod","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"whaling_ship","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXM529XJRPQXV0DC58V32N","peer_label":"moby dick","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"whale","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXKV7VCG1M1V2KKXZJD4A9","peer_label":"stubb","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXKV94RQAJGYF0Y1PBZWSW","peer_label":"tashtego","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXM1R36NDK8K20CCSFAAWH","peer_label":"old manx sailor","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXM1MEAKF4317XP5ZFBEFV","peer_label":"lascar sailor","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXNDPRC0WNZXVZB6BY6H28","peer_label":"harpooneers","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"crew_group","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXNFP6FQWESYZQXKEK6CKR","peer_label":"mainmast","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"ship_component","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXNA0GZ5P7D2MEPB2YPE6W","peer_label":"tambourine","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"musical_instrument","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXP9GR22Q7D3M8ZVHRYEDN","peer_label":"brace","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"ship_component","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ26051JP4417RA6134JF","peer_label":"nantucket sailors","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"crew_group","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ25P38SAZ5S048HNWA11","peer_label":"french sailor","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"person","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ7K6SHVZ5BCGVW72PGPZ","peer_label":"2nd nantucket sailor","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"entity","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ8BMA7H16FZ42TRKQH3X","peer_label":"sternward cabin","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"ship_location","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQDDDC94WWE4S7H133K3R","peer_label":"weather","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"entity","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXNH981X1Q7HJRHVV9FESG","peer_label":"sailors","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"crew_group","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ0RMBPKJTNZB6YF06PBE","peer_label":"forecastle","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"ship_location","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ0Q0KP01GZVP4HVX4GMM","peer_label":"fore-top","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"ship_location","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}},{"peer":"01KJNXQ4Z9VKNQT3HXG4BKWQC7","peer_label":"jig","predicate":"extracted_entity","properties":{"entity_type":"dance_form","extracted_at":"2026-03-02T00:08:15.005Z"}}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-03-02T00:01:15.696Z","ts":"2026-03-02T00:08:16.267Z","edited_by":{"method":"system","user_id":"01KJ60XQBHJ0GBGTP9X8HXAPPM"}}