CHAPTER37Sunset

thecabin;bythesternwindows;ahabsittingalone,andgazingout.

ileaveawhiteandturbidwake;palewaters,palercheeks,where'erisail.theenviousbillowssidelongswelltowhelmmytrack;letthem;butfirstipass.

yonder,byever-brimminggoblet'srim,thewarmwavesblushlikewine.thegoldbrowplumbstheblue.thediversun—slowdivedfromnoon—goesdown;mysoulmountsup!shewearieswithherendlesshill.is,then,thecrowntooheavythatiwear?thisironcrownoflombardy.yetisitbrightwithmanyagem;ithewearer,seenotitsfarflashings;butdarklyfeelthatiwearthat,thatdazzlinglyconfounds.'tisiron—thatiknow—notgold.'tissplit,too—thatifeel;theededgegallsmeso,mybrainseemstobeatagainstthesolidmetal;aye,steelskull,mine;thesortthatneedsnohelmetinthemostbrain-batteringfight!

dryheatuponmybrow?oh!timewas,whenasthesunrisenoblyspurredme,sothesunsetsoothed.nomore.thislovelylight,itlightsnotme;alllovelinessisanguishtome,sinceicanne'erenjoy.giftedwiththehighperception,ilackthelow,enjoyingpower;damned,mostsubtlyandmostmalignantly!damnedinthemidstofparadise!goodnight—goodnight!(wavinghishand,hemovesfromthewindow.)

'twasnotsohardatask.ithoughttofindonestubborn,attheleast;butmyoneedcirclefitsintoalltheirvariouswheels,andtheyrevolve.or,ifyouwill,likesomanyant-hillsofpowder,theyallstandbeforeme;anditheirmatch.oh,hard!thattofireothers,thematchitselfmustneedsbewasting!whati'vedared,i'vewilled;andwhati'vewilled,i'lldo!theythinkmemad—starbuckdoes;buti'mdemoniac,iammadnessmaddened!thatwildmadnessthat'sonlycalmtocomprehenditself!theprophecywasthatishouldbedismembered;and—aye!ilostthisleg.inowprophesythatiwilldismembermydismemberer.now,then,betheprophetandthefulfillerone.that'smorethanye,yegreatgods,everwere.ilaughandhootatye,yecricket-players,yepugilists,yedeafburkesandblindedbendigoes!iwillnotsayasschoolboysdotobullies—takesomeoneofyourownsize;don'tpommelme!no,ye'veknockedmedown,andiamupagain;butyehaverunandhidden.comeforthfrombehindyourcottonbags!ihavenolongguntoreachye.come,ahab'scomplimentstoye;comeandseeifyecanswerveme.swerveme?yecannotswerveme,elseyeswerveyourselves!manhasyethere.swerveme?thepathtomyfixedpurposeislaidwithironrails,whereonmysoulisgroovedtorun.overunsoundedgorges,throughtherifledheartsofmountains,undertorrents'beds,unerringlyirush!naught'sanobstacle,naught'sanangletotheironway!