Моби Дик

The Pulpit

           Thewifeofawhalingcaptainhadprovidedthechapelwithahandsomepairofredworstedman-ropesforthisladder,which,beingitselfnicelyheaded,andstainedwithamahoganycolor,thewholecontrivance,consideringwhatmannerofchapelitwas,seemedbynomeansinbadtaste.Haltingforaninstantatthefootoftheladder,andwithbothhandsgraspingtheornamentalknobsoftheman-ropes,FatherMapplecastalookupwards,andthenwithatrulysailor-likebutstillreverentialdexterity,handoverhand,mountedthestepsasifascendingthemain-topofhisvessel.

           Theperpendicularpartsofthissideladder,asisusuallythecasewithswingingones,wereofcloth-coveredrope,onlytheroundswereofwood,sothatateverysteptherewasajoint.Atmyfirstglimpseofthepulpit,ithadnotescapedmethathoweverconvenientforaship,thesejointsinthepresentinstanceseemedunnecessary.ForIwasnotpreparedtoseeFatherMappleaftergainingtheheight,slowlyturnround,andstoopingoverthepulpit,deliberatelydraguptheladderstepbystep,tillthewholewasdepositedwithin,leavinghimimpregnableinhislittleQuebec.

           Iponderedsometimewithoutfullycomprehendingthereasonforthis.FatherMappleenjoyedsuchawidereputationforsincerityandsanctity,thatIcouldnotsuspecthimofcourtingnotorietybyanymeretricksofthestage.No,thoughtI,theremustbesomesoberreasonforthisthing;furthermore,itmustsymbolizesomethingunseen.Canitbe,then,thatbythatactofphysicalisolation,hesignifieshisspiritualwithdrawalforthetime,fromalloutwardworldlytiesandconnexions?Yes,forreplenishedwiththemeatandwineoftheword,tothefaithfulmanofGod,thispulpit,Isee,isaself-containingstrongholdaloftyEhrenbreitstein,withaperennialwellofwaterwithinthewalls.

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