The Lamp

           HadyoudescendedfromthePequod’stry-workstothePequod’sforecastle,wheretheoffdutywatchweresleeping,foronesinglemomentyouwouldhavealmostthoughtyouwerestandinginsomeilluminatedshrineofcanonizedkingsandcounsellors.Theretheylayintheirtriangularoakenvaults,eachmarinerachiselledmuteness;ascoreoflampsflashinguponhishoodedeyes.

           Inmerchantmen,oilforthesailorismorescarcethanthemilkofqueens.Todressinthedark,andeatinthedark,andstumbleindarknesstohispallet,thisishisusuallot.Butthewhaleman,asheseeksthefoodoflight,sohelivesinlight.HemakeshisberthanAladdin’slamp,andlayshimdowninit;sothatinthepitchiestnighttheship’sblackhullstillhousesanillumination.

           Seewithwhatentirefreedomthewhalemantakeshishandfuloflampsoftenbutoldbottlesandvials,thoughtothecoppercooleratthetryworks,andreplenishesthemthere,asmugsofaleatavat.Heburns,too,thepurestofoil,initsunmanufactured,and,therefore,unvitiatedstate;afluidunknowntosolar,lunar,orastralcontrivancesashore.ItissweetasearlygrassbutterinApril.Hegoesandhuntsforhisoil,soastobesureofitsfreshnessandgenuineness,evenasthetravellerontheprairiehuntsuphisownsupperofgame.

           

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