Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

And, doubtless, my going on this whaling voyage, formed part of the grand programme of Providence that was drawn up a long time ago.

Tell me about it.

I'm surprising myself at how full of knowledge and wisdom the "boring parts" are.

 

[Old Thunder]

It came as a sort of brief interlude and solo between more extensive performances.

 

[Old Thunder]

I take it that this part of the bill must have run something like this:

"Grand Contested Election for the Presidency of the United States.
"WHALING VOYAGE BY ONE ISHMAEL.
"BLOODY BATTLE IN AFFGHANISTAN."​

 

[CensoredAlso]

I'm surprising myself at how full of knowledge and wisdom the "boring parts" are.

A great insight!

 

[Old Thunder]

Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers, the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage, when others were set down for magnificent parts in high tirades, and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, and jolly parts in farces -- though I cannot tell why this was exactly; yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs and motives which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises, induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating judgment.

 

[Old Thunder]

Chief among these motives was the overwhelming idea of the great whale himself.

 

[Old Thunder]

Such a portentous and mysterious monster roused all my curiosity.

 

[Old Thunder]

Then the wild and distant seas where he rolled his island bulk; the undeliverable, nameless perils of the whale; these, with all the attending marvels of a thousand Patagonian sights and sounds, helped to sway me to my wish.

 

[Old Thunder]

With other men, perhaps, such things would not have been inducements; but as for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote.

 

[Old Thunder]

I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.