So seemed it with the Pequod. For next day after encountering
the gay Bachelor, whales were seen and four were slain;
and one of them by Ahab.
It was far down the afternoon; and when all the spearings of the crimson
fight were done; and floating in the lovely sunset sea and sky,
sun and whale both stilly died together; then, such a sweetness and
such plaintiveness, such inwreathing orisons curled up in that rosy air,
that it almost seemed as if far over from the deep green convent valleys
of the Manilla isles, the Spanish land-breeze, wantonly turned sailor,
had gone to sea, freighted with these vesper hymns.
Soothed again, but only soothed to deeper gloom, Ahab, who had sterned
off from the whale, sat intently watching his final wanings from
the now tranquil boat. For that strange spectacle observable in all
sperm whales dying--the turning sunwards of the head, and so expiring--
that strange spectacle, beheld of such a placid evening, somehow to Ahab
conveyed a wondrousness unknown before.
"He turns and turns him to it,--how slowly, but how steadfastly,
his homage-rendering and invoking brow, with his last dying motions.
He too worships fire; most faithful, broad, baronial vassal of the sun!--
Oh that these too-favoring eyes should see these too-favoring sights.
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