Моби Дик

The Whiteness of The Whale

           HewastheelectedXerxesofvastherdsofwildhorses,whosepasturesinthosedayswereonlyfencedbytheRockyMountainsandtheAlleghanies.Attheirflamingheadhewestwardtroopeditlikethatchosenstarwhicheveryeveningleadsonthehostsoflight.Theflashingcascadeofhismane,thecurvingcometofhistail,investedhimwithhousingsmoreresplendentthangoldandsilver-beaterscouldhavefurnishedhim.Amostimperialandarchangelicalapparitionofthatunfallen,westernworld,whichtotheeyesoftheoldtrappersandhuntersrevivedthegloriesofthoseprimevaltimeswhenAdamwalkedmajesticasagod,bluff-browedandfearlessasthismightysteed.Whethermarchingamidhisaidesandmarshalsinthevanofcountlesscohortsthatendlesslystreameditovertheplains,likeanOhio;orwhetherwithhiscircumambientsubjectsbrowsingallaroundatthehorizon,theWhiteSteedgallopinglyreviewedthemwithwarmnostrilsreddeningthroughhiscoolmilkiness;inwhateveraspecthepresentedhimself,alwaystothebravestIndianshewastheobjectoftremblingreverenceandawe.Norcanitbequestionedfromwhatstandsonlegendaryrecordofthisnoblehorse,thatitwashisspiritualwhitenesschiefly,whichsoclothedhimwithdivineness;andthatthisdivinenesshadthatinitwhich,thoughcommandingworship,atthesametimeenforcedacertainnamelessterror.

           ButthereareotherinstanceswherethiswhitenesslosesallthataccessoryandstrangeglorywhichinvestsitintheWhiteSteedandAlbatross.

           WhatisitthatintheAlbinomansopeculiarlyrepelsandoftenshockstheeye,asthatsometimesheisloathedbyhisownkithandkin!Itisthatwhitenesswhichinvestshim,athingexpressedbythenamehebears.TheAlbinoisaswellmadeasothermenhasnosubstantivedeformityandyetthismereaspectofall-pervadingwhitenessmakeshimmorestrangelyhideousthantheugliestabortion.Whyshouldthisbeso?

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