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第1章

作者:佚名 字数:13352 更新:2026-03-10 23:20:24

ITisnearlyeightyearssincethisbookwasfirstpublished。Ipresentit,unaltered,intheCheapEdition;andsuchofmyopinionsasitexpresses,arequiteunalteredtoo。

MyreadershaveopportunitiesofjudgingforthemselveswhethertheinfluencesandtendencieswhichIdistrustinAmerica,haveanyexistencenotinmyimagination。Theycanexamineforthemselveswhethertherehasbeenanythinginthepubliccareerofthatcountryduringthesepasteightyears,orwhetherthereisanythinginitspresentposition,athomeorabroad,whichsuggeststhatthoseinfluencesandtendenciesreallydoexist。Astheyfindthefact,theywilljudgeme。Iftheydiscernanyevidencesofwrong-

goinginanydirectionthatIhaveindicated,theywillacknowledgethatIhadreasoninwhatIwrote。Iftheydiscernnosuchthing,theywillconsidermealtogethermistaken。

Prejudiced,IneverhavebeenotherwisethaninfavouroftheUnitedStates。Novisitorcaneverhavesetfootonthoseshores,withastrongerfaithintheRepublicthanIhad,whenIlandedinAmerica。

Ipurposelyabstainfromextendingtheseobservationstoanylength。Ihavenothingtodefend,ortoexplainaway。Thetruthisthetruth;andneitherchildishabsurdities,norunscrupulouscontradictions,canmakeitotherwise。Theearthwouldstillmoveroundthesun,thoughthewholeCatholicChurchsaidNo。

IhavemanyfriendsinAmerica,andfeelagratefulinterestinthecountry。Torepresentmeasviewingitwithill-nature,animosity,orpartisanship,ismerelytodoaveryfoolishthing,whichisalwaysaveryeasyone;andwhichIhavedisregardedforeightyears,andcoulddisregardforeightymore。

MYreadershaveopportunitiesofjudgingforthemselveswhethertheinfluencesandtendencieswhichIdistrustedinAmerica,had,atthattime,anyexistencebutinmyimagination。Theycanexamineforthemselveswhethertherehasbeenanythinginthepubliccareerofthatcountrysince,athomeorabroad,whichsuggeststhatthoseinfluencesandtendenciesreallydidexist。Astheyfindthefact,theywilljudgeme。Iftheydiscernanyevidencesofwrong-going,inanydirectionthatIhaveindicated,theywillacknowledgethatIhadreasoninwhatIwrote。Iftheydiscernnosuchindications,theywillconsidermealtogethermistaken-butnotwilfully。

Prejudiced,Iamnot,andneverhavebeen,otherwisethaninfavouroftheUnitedStates。IhavemanyfriendsinAmerica,Ifeelagratefulinterestinthecountry,Ihopeandbelieveitwillsuccessfullyworkoutaproblemofthehighestimportancetothewholehumanrace。TorepresentmeasviewingAMERICAwithill-

nature,coldness,oranimosity,ismerelytodoaveryfoolishthing:whichisalwaysaveryeasyone。

CHAPTERI-GOINGAWAY

ISHALLneverforgettheone-fourthseriousandthree-fourthscomicalastonishment,withwhich,onthemorningofthethirdofJanuaryeighteen-hundred-and-forty-two,Iopenedthedoorof,andputmyheadinto,a\'state-room\'onboardtheBritanniasteam-

packet,twelvehundredtonsburthenperregister,boundforHalifaxandBoston,andcarryingHerMajesty\'smails。

Thatthisstate-roomhadbeenspeciallyengagedfor\'CharlesDickens,Esquire,andLady,\'wasrenderedsufficientlycleareventomyscaredintellectbyaverysmallmanuscript,announcingthefact,whichwaspinnedonaveryflatquilt,coveringaverythinmattress,spreadlikeasurgicalplasteronamostinaccessibleshelf。Butthatthiswasthestate-roomconcerningwhichCharlesDickens,Esquire,andLady,hadhelddailyandnightlyconferencesforatleastfourmonthspreceding:thatthiscouldbyanypossibilitybethatsmallsnugchamberoftheimagination,whichCharlesDickens,Esquire,withthespiritofprophecystronguponhim,hadalwaysforetoldwouldcontainatleastonelittlesofa,andwhichhislady,withamodestyetmostmagnificentsenseofitslimiteddimensions,hadfromthefirstopinedwouldnotholdmorethantwoenormousportmanteausinsomeoddcorneroutofsight(portmanteauswhichcouldnownomorebegotinatthedoor,nottosaystowedaway,thanagiraffecouldbepersuadedorforcedintoaflower-pot):thatthisutterlyimpracticable,thoroughlyhopeless,andprofoundlypreposterousbox,hadtheremotestreferenceto,orconnectionwith,thosechasteandpretty,nottosaygorgeouslittlebowers,sketchedbyamasterlyhand,inthehighlyvarnishedlithographicplanhangingupintheagent\'scounting-houseinthecityofLondon:thatthisroomofstate,inshort,couldbeanythingbutapleasantfictionandcheerfuljestofthecaptain\'s,inventedandputinpracticeforthebetterrelishandenjoymentoftherealstate-roompresentlytobedisclosed:-theseweretruthswhichIreallycouldnot,forthemoment,bringmymindatalltobearuponorcomprehend。AndIsatdownuponakindofhorsehairslab,orperch,ofwhichthereweretwowithin;andlooked,withoutanyexpressionofcountenancewhatever,atsomefriendswhohadcomeonboardwithus,andwhowerecrushingtheirfacesintoallmannerofshapesbyendeavouringtosqueezethemthroughthesmalldoorway。

Wehadexperiencedaprettysmartshockbeforecomingbelow,which,butthatwewerethemostsanguinepeopleliving,mighthavepreparedusfortheworst。TheimaginativeartisttowhomIhavealreadymadeallusion,hasdepictedinthesamegreatwork,achamberofalmostinterminableperspective,furnished,asMr。

Robinswouldsay,inastyleofmorethanEasternsplendour,andfilled(butnotinconvenientlyso)withgroupsofladiesandgentlemen,intheveryhigheststateofenjoymentandvivacity。

Beforedescendingintothebowelsoftheship,wehadpassedfromthedeckintoalongnarrowapartment,notunlikeagigantichearsewithwindowsinthesides;havingattheupperendamelancholystove,atwhichthreeorfourchillystewardswerewarmingtheirhands;whileoneitherside,extendingdownitswholedrearylength,wasalong,longtable,overeachofwhicharack,fixedtothelowroof,andstuckfullofdrinking-glassesandcruet-stands,hinteddismallyatrollingseasandheavyweather。Ihadnotatthattimeseentheidealpresentmentofthischamberwhichhassincegratifiedmesomuch,butIobservedthatoneofourfriendswhohadmadethearrangementsforourvoyage,turnedpaleonentering,retreatedonthefriendbehindhim。,smotehisforeheadinvoluntarily,andsaidbelowhisbreath,\'Impossible!itcannotbe!\'orwordstothateffect。Herecoveredhimselfhoweverbyagreateffort,andafterapreparatorycoughortwo,cried,withaghastlysmilewhichisstillbeforeme,lookingatthesametimeroundthewalls,\'Ha!thebreakfast-room,steward-eh?\'Weallforesawwhattheanswermustbe:weknewtheagonyhesuffered。

HehadoftenspokenofTHESALOON;hadtakeninandliveduponthepictorialidea;hadusuallygivenustounderstand,athome,thattoformajustconceptionofit,itwouldbenecessarytomultiplythesizeandfurnitureofanordinarydrawing-roombyseven,andthenfallshortofthereality。Whenthemaninreplyavowedthetruth;theblunt,remorseless,nakedtruth;\'Thisisthesaloon,sir\'-heactuallyreeledbeneaththeblow。

Inpersonswhoweresosoontopart,andinterposebetweentheirelsedailycommunicationtheformidablebarrierofmanythousandmilesofstormyspace,andwhowereforthatreasonanxioustocastnoothercloud,noteventhepassingshadowofamoment\'sdisappointmentordiscomfiture,upontheshortintervalofhappycompanionshipthatyetremainedtothem-inpersonssosituated,thenaturaltransitionfromthesefirstsurpriseswasobviouslyintopealsofheartylaughter,andIcanreportthatI,forone,beingstillseatedupontheslaborperchbeforementioned,roaredoutrightuntilthevesselrangagain。Thus,inlessthantwominutesaftercominguponitforthefirsttime,weallbycommonconsentagreedthatthisstate-roomwasthepleasantestandmostfacetiousandcapitalcontrivancepossible;andthattohavehaditoneinchlarger,wouldhavebeenquiteadisagreeableanddeplorablestateofthings。Andwiththis;andwithshowinghow,-

byverynearlyclosingthedoor,andtwininginandoutlikeserpents,andbycountingthelittlewashingslabasstanding-room,-wecouldmanagetoinsinuatefourpeopleintoit,allatonetime;andentreatingeachothertoobservehowveryairyitwas(indock),andhowtherewasabeautifulport-holewhichcouldbekeptopenallday(weatherpermitting),andhowtherewasquitealargebull\'s-eyejustoverthelooking-glasswhichwouldrendershavingaperfectlyeasyanddelightfulprocess(whentheshipdidn\'trolltoomuch);wearrived,atlast,attheunanimousconclusionthatitwasratherspaciousthanotherwise:thoughIdoverilybelievethat,deductingthetwoberths,oneabovetheother,thanwhichnothingsmallerforsleepinginwasevermadeexceptcoffins,itwasnobiggerthanoneofthosehackneycabrioletswhichhavethedoorbehind,andshoottheirfaresout,likesacksofcoals,uponthepavement。

Havingsettledthispointtotheperfectsatisfactionofallparties,concernedandunconcerned,wesatdownroundthefireintheladies\'cabin-justtotrytheeffect。Itwasratherdark,certainly;butsomebodysaid,\'ofcourseitwouldbelight,atsea,\'apropositiontowhichweallassented;echoing\'ofcourse,ofcourse;\'thoughitwouldbeexceedinglydifficulttosaywhywethoughtso。Iremember,too,whenwehaddiscoveredandexhaustedanothertopicofconsolationinthecircumstanceofthisladies\'

cabinadjoiningourstate-room,andtheconsequentlyimmensefeasibilityofsittingthereatalltimesandseasons,andhadfallenintoamomentarysilence,leaningourfacesonourhandsandlookingatthefire,oneofourpartysaid,withthesolemnairofamanwhohadmadeadiscovery,\'Whatarelishmulledclaretwillhavedownhere!\'whichappearedtostrikeusallmostforcibly;asthoughthereweresomethingspicyandhigh-flavouredincabins,whichessentiallyimprovedthatcomposition,andrendereditquiteincapableofperfectionanywhereelse。

Therewasastewardess,too,activelyengagedinproducingcleansheetsandtable-clothsfromtheveryentrailsofthesofas,andfromunexpectedlockers,ofsuchartfulmechanism,thatitmadeone\'sheadachetoseethemopenedoneafteranother,andrendereditquiteadistractingcircumstancetofollowherproceedings,andtofindthateverynookandcornerandindividualpieceoffurniturewassomethingelsebesideswhatitpretendedtobe,andwasameretrapanddeceptionandplaceofsecretstowage,whoseostensiblepurposewasitsleastusefulone。

GodblessthatstewardessforherpiouslyfraudulentaccountofJanuaryvoyages!Godblessherforherclearrecollectionofthecompanionpassageoflastyear,whennobodywasill,andeverybodydancingfrommorningtonight,anditwas\'arun\'oftwelvedays,andapieceofthepurestfrolic,anddelight,andjollity!AllhappinessbewithherforherbrightfaceandherpleasantScotchtongue,whichhadsoundsofoldHomeinitformyfellow-traveller;

andforherpredictionsoffairwindsandfineweather(allwrong,orIshouldn\'tbehalfsofondofher);andforthetenthousandsmallfragmentsofgenuinewomanlytact,bywhich,withoutpiecingthemelaboratelytogether,andpatchingthemupintoshapeandformandcaseandpointedapplication,sheneverthelessdidplainlyshowthatallyoungmothersononesideoftheAtlanticwerenearandcloseathandtotheirlittlechildrenleftupontheother;andthatwhatseemedtotheuninitiatedaseriousjourney,was,tothosewhowereinthesecret,amerefrolic,tobesungaboutandwhistledat!Lightbeherheart,andgayhermerryeyes,foryears!

Thestate-roomhadgrownprettyfast;butbythistimeithadexpandedintosomethingquitebulky,andalmostboastedabay-

windowtoviewtheseafrom。Sowewentupondeckagaininhighspirits;andthere,everythingwasinsuchastateofbustleandactivepreparation,thatthebloodquickeneditspace,andwhirledthroughone\'sveinsonthatclearfrostymorningwithinvoluntarymirthfulness。Foreverygallantshipwasridingslowlyupanddown,andeverylittleboatwassplashingnoisilyinthewater;andknotsofpeoplestooduponthewharf,gazingwithakindof\'dreaddelight\'onthefar-famedfastAmericansteamer;andonepartyofmenwere\'takinginthemilk,\'or,inotherwords,gettingthecowonboard;andanotherwerefillingtheicehousestotheverythroatwithfreshprovisions;withbutchers\'-meatandgarden-stuff,palesucking-pigs,calves\'headsinscores,beef,veal,andpork,andpoultryoutofallproportion;andotherswerecoilingropesandbusywithoakumyarns;andotherswereloweringheavypackagesintothehold;andthepurser\'sheadwasbarelyvisibleasitloomedinastate,ofexquisiteperplexityfromthemidstofavastpileofpassengers\'luggage;andthereseemedtobenothinggoingonanywhere,oruppermostinthemindofanybody,butpreparationsforthismightyvoyage。This,withthebrightcoldsun,thebracingair,thecrisply-curlingwater,thethinwhitecrustofmorningiceuponthedeckswhichcrackledwithasharpandcheerfulsoundbeneaththelightesttread,wasirresistible。Andwhen,againupontheshore,weturnedandsawfromthevessel\'smasthernamesignalledinflagsofjoyouscolours,andflutteringbytheirsidethebeautifulAmericanbannerwithitsstarsandstripes,-thelongthreethousandmilesandmore,and,longerstill,thesixwholemonthsofabsence,sodwindledandfaded,thattheshiphadgoneoutandcomehomeagain,anditwasbroadspringalreadyintheCoburgDockatLiverpool。

Ihavenotinquiredamongmymedicalacquaintance,whetherTurtle,andcoldPunch,withHock,Champagne,andClaret,andalltheslightetceterausuallyincludedinanunlimitedorderforagooddinner-especiallywhenitislefttotheliberalconstructionofmyfaultlessfriend,Mr。Radley,oftheAdelphiHotel-arepeculiarlycalculatedtosufferasea-change;orwhetheraplainmutton-chop,andaglassortwoofsherry,wouldbelesslikelyofconversionintoforeignanddisconcertingmaterial。Myownopinionis,thatwhetheroneisdiscreetorindiscreetintheseparticulars,ontheeveofasea-voyage,isamatteroflittleconsequence;andthat,touseacommonphrase,\'itcomestoverymuchthesamethingintheend。\'Bethisasitmay,Iknowthatthedinnerofthatdaywasundeniablyperfect;thatitcomprehendedalltheseitems,andagreatmanymore;andthatwealldidamplejusticetoit。AndIknowtoo,that,batingacertaintacitavoidanceofanyallusiontoto-morrow;suchasmaybesupposedtoprevailbetweendelicate-mindedturnkeys,andasensitiveprisonerwhoistobehangednextmorning;wegotonverywell,and,allthingsconsidered,weremerryenough。

Whenthemorning-THEmorning-came,andwemetatbreakfast,itwascurioustoseehoweagerweallweretopreventamoment\'spauseintheconversation,andhowastoundinglygayeverybodywas:

theforcedspiritsofeachmemberofthelittlepartyhavingasmuchlikenesstohisnaturalmirth,ashot-housepeasatfiveguineasthequart,resembleinflavourthegrowthofthedews,andair,andrainofHeaven。Butasoneo\'clock,thehourforgoingaboard,drewnear,thisvolubilitydwindledawaybylittleandlittle,despitethemostperseveringeffortstothecontrary,untilatlast,thematterbeingnowquitedesperate,wethrewoffalldisguise;openlyspeculateduponwhereweshouldbethistimeto-

morrow,thistimenextday,andsoforth;andentrustedavastnumberofmessagestothosewhointendedreturningtotownthatnight,whichweretobedeliveredathomeandelsewherewithoutfail,withintheveryshortestpossiblespaceoftimeafterthearrivaloftherailwaytrainatEustonSquare。Andcommissionsandremembrancesdosocrowdupononeatsuchatime,thatwewerestillbusiedwiththisemploymentwhenwefoundourselvesfused,asitwere,intoadenseconglomerationofpassengersandpassengers\'

friendsandpassengers\'luggage,alljumbledtogetheronthedeckofasmallsteamboat,andpantingandsnortingofftothepacket,whichhadworkedoutofdockyesterdayafternoonandwasnowlyingathermooringsintheriver。

Andtheresheis!alleyesareturnedtowhereshelies,dimlydiscerniblethroughthegatheringfogoftheearlywinterafternoon;everyfingerispointedinthesamedirection;andmurmursofinterestandadmiration-as\'Howbeautifulshelooks!\'

\'Howtrimsheis!\'-areheardoneveryside。Eventhelazygentlemanwithhishatononesideandhishandsinhispockets,whohasdispensedsomuchconsolationbyinquiringwithayawnofanothergentlemanwhetherheis\'goingacross\'-asifitwereaferry-evenhecondescendstolookthatway,andnodhishead,aswhoshouldsay,\'NomistakeaboutTHAT:\'andnoteventhesageLordBurleighinhisnod,includedhalfsomuchasthislazygentlemanofmightwhohasmadethepassage(aseverybodyonboardhasfoundoutalready;it\'simpossibletosayhow)thirteentimeswithoutasingleaccident!Thereisanotherpassengerverymuchwrapped-up,whohasbeenfrowneddownbytherest,andmorallytrampleduponandcrushed,forpresumingtoinquirewithatimidinteresthowlongitissincethepoorPresidentwentdown。Heisstandingclosetothelazygentleman,andsayswithafaintsmilethathebelievesSheisaverystrongShip;towhichthelazygentleman,lookingfirstinhisquestioner\'seyeandthenveryhardinthewind\'s,answersunexpectedlyandominously,thatSheneedbe。Uponthisthelazygentlemaninstantlyfallsverylowinthepopularestimation,andthepassengers,withlooksofdefiance,whispertoeachotherthatheisanass,andanimpostor,andclearlydon\'tknowanythingatallaboutit。

Butwearemadefastalongsidethepacket,whosehugeredfunnelissmokingbravely,givingrichpromiseofseriousintentions。

Packing-cases,portmanteaus,carpet-bags,andboxes,arealreadypassedfromhandtohand,andhauledonboardwithbreathlessrapidity。Theofficers,smartlydressed,areatthegangwayhandingthepassengersuptheside,andhurryingthemen。Infiveminutes\'time,thelittlesteamerisutterlydeserted,andthepacketisbesetandover-runbyitslatefreight,whoinstantlypervadethewholeship,andaretobemetwithbythedozenineverynookandcorner:swarmingdownbelowwiththeirownbaggage,andstumblingoverotherpeople\'s;disposingthemselvescomfortablyinwrongcabins,andcreatingamosthorribleconfusionbyhavingtoturnoutagain;madlybentuponopeninglockeddoors,andonforcingapassageintoallkindsofout-of-the-wayplaceswherethereisnothoroughfare;sendingwildstewards,withelfinhair,toandfrouponthebreezydecksonunintelligibleerrands,impossibleofexecution:andinshort,creatingthemostextraordinaryandbewilderingtumult。Inthemidstofallthis,thelazygentleman,whoseemstohavenoluggageofanykind-notsomuchasafriend,even-loungesupanddownthehurricanedeck,coollypuffingacigar;and,asthisunconcerneddemeanouragainexaltshimintheopinionofthosewhohaveleisuretoobservehisproceedings,everytimehelooksupatthemasts,ordownatthedecks,orovertheside,theylooktheretoo,aswonderingwhetherheseesanythingwronganywhere,andhopingthat,incaseheshould,hewillhavethegoodnesstomentionit。

Whathavewehere?Thecaptain\'sboat!andyonderthecaptainhimself。Now,byallourhopesandwishes,theverymanheoughttobe!Awell-made,tight-built,dapperlittlefellow;witharuddyface,whichisaletterofinvitationtoshakehimbybothhandsatonce;andwithaclear,bluehonesteye,thatitdoesonegoodtoseeone\'ssparklingimagein。\'Ringthebell!\'\'Ding,ding,ding!\'theverybellisinahurry。\'Nowfortheshore-

who\'sfortheshore?\'-\'Thesegentlemen,Iamsorrytosay。\'Theyareaway,andneversaid,Goodb\'ye。Ahnowtheywaveitfromthelittleboat。\'Goodb\'ye!Goodb\'ye!\'Threecheersfromthem;

threemorefromus;threemorefromthem:andtheyaregone。

Toandfro,toandfro,toandfroagainahundredtimes!Thiswaitingforthelatestmail-bagsisworsethanall。Ifwecouldhavegoneoffinthemidstofthatlastburst,weshouldhavestartedtriumphantly:buttoliehere,twohoursandmoreinthedampfog,neitherstayingathomenorgoingabroad,islettingonegraduallydownintotheverydepthsofdulnessandlowspirits。A

speckinthemist,atlast!That\'ssomething。Itistheboatwewaitfor!That\'smoretothepurpose。Thecaptainappearsonthepaddle-boxwithhisspeakingtrumpet;theofficerstaketheirstations;allhandsareonthealert;theflagginghopesofthepassengersrevive;thecookspauseintheirsavourywork,andlookoutwithfacesfullofinterest。Theboatcomesalongside;thebagsaredraggedinanyhow,andflungdownforthemomentanywhere。

Threecheersmore:andasthefirstoneringsuponourears,thevesselthrobslikeastronggiantthathasjustreceivedthebreathoflife;thetwogreatwheelsturnfiercelyroundforthefirsttime;andthenobleship,withwindandtideastern,breaksproudlythroughthelashedandroamingwater。

CHAPTERII-THEPASSAGEOUT

WEalldinedtogetherthatday;andaratherformidablepartywewere:nofewerthaneighty-sixstrong。Thevesselbeingprettydeepinthewater,withallhercoalsonboardandsomanypassengers,andtheweatherbeingcalmandquiet,therewasbutlittlemotion;sothatbeforethedinnerwashalfover,eventhosepassengerswhoweremostdistrustfulofthemselvespluckedupamazingly;andthosewhointhemorninghadreturnedtotheuniversalquestion,\'Areyouagoodsailor?\'averydecidednegative,noweitherparriedtheinquirywiththeevasivereply,\'Oh!IsupposeI\'mnoworsethananybodyelse;\'or,recklessofallmoralobligations,answeredboldly\'Yes:\'andwithsomeirritationtoo,asthoughtheywouldadd,\'IshouldliketoknowwhatyouseeinME,sir,particularly,tojustifysuspicion!\'

Notwithstandingthishightoneofcourageandconfidence,Icouldnotbutobservethatveryfewremainedlongovertheirwine;andthateverybodyhadanunusualloveoftheopenair;andthatthefavouriteandmostcovetedseatswereinvariablythosenearesttothedoor。Thetea-table,too,wasbynomeansaswellattendedasthedinner-table;andtherewaslesswhist-playingthanmighthavebeenexpected。Still,withtheexceptionofonelady,whohadretiredwithsomeprecipitationatdinner-time,immediatelyafterbeingassistedtothefinestcutofaveryyellowboiledlegofmuttonwithverygreencapers,therewerenoinvalidsasyet;andwalking,andsmoking,anddrinkingofbrandy-and-water(butalwaysintheopenair),wentonwithunabatedspirit,untileleveno\'clockorthereabouts,when\'turningin\'-nosailorofsevenhours\'experiencetalksofgoingtobed-becametheorderofthenight。Theperpetualtrampofboot-heelsonthedecksgaveplacetoaheavysilence,andthewholehumanfreightwasstowedawaybelow,exceptingaveryfewstragglers,likemyself,whowereprobably,likeme,afraidtogothere。

Tooneunaccustomedtosuchscenes,thisisaverystrikingtimeonshipboard。Afterwards,andwhenitsnoveltyhadlongwornoff,itneverceasedtohaveapeculiarinterestandcharmforme。Thegloomthroughwhichthegreatblackmassholdsitsdirectandcertaincourse;therushingwater,plainlyheard,butdimlyseen;

thebroad,white,glisteningtrack,thatfollowsinthevessel\'swake;themenonthelook-outforward,whowouldbescarcelyvisibleagainstthedarksky,butfortheirblottingoutsomescoreofglisteningstars;thehelmsmanatthewheel,withtheilluminatedcardbeforehim,shining,aspeckoflightamidstthedarkness,likesomethingsentientandofDivineintelligence;themelancholysighingofthewindthroughblock,andrope,andchain;

thegleamingforthoflightfromeverycrevice,nook,andtinypieceofglassaboutthedecks,asthoughtheshipwerefilledwithfireinhiding,readytoburstthroughanyoutlet,wildwithitsresistlesspowerofdeathandruin。Atfirst,too,andevenwhenthehour,andalltheobjectsitexalts,havecometobefamiliar,itisdifficult,aloneandthoughtful,toholdthemtotheirpropershapesandforms。Theychangewiththewanderingfancy;assumethesemblanceofthingsleftfaraway;putonthewell-rememberedaspectoffavouriteplacesdearlyloved;andevenpeoplethemwithshadows。Streets,houses,rooms;figuressoliketheirusualoccupants,thattheyhavestartledmebytheirreality,whichfarexceeded,asitseemedtome,allpowerofminetoconjureuptheabsent;have,manyandmanyatime,atsuchanhour,grownsuddenlyoutofobjectswithwhosereallook,anduse,andpurpose,Iwasaswellacquaintedaswithmyowntwohands。

Myowntwohands,andfeetlikewise,beingverycold,however,onthisparticularoccasion,Icreptbelowatmidnight。Itwasnotexactlycomfortablebelow。Itwasdecidedlyclose;anditwasimpossibletobeunconsciousofthepresenceofthatextraordinarycompoundofstrangesmells,whichistobefoundnowherebutonboardship,andwhichissuchasubtleperfumethatitseemstoenterateveryporeoftheskin,andwhisperofthehold。Twopassengers\'wives(oneofthemmyown)layalreadyinsilentagoniesonthesofa;andonelady\'smaid(MYlady\'s)wasamerebundleonthefloor,execratingherdestiny,andpoundinghercurl-

papersamongthestrayboxes。Everythingslopedthewrongway:

whichinitselfwasanaggravationscarcelytobeborne。Ihadleftthedooropen,amomentbefore,inthebosomofagentledeclivity,and,whenIturnedtoshutit,itwasonthesummitofaloftyeminence。Noweveryplankandtimbercreaked,asiftheshipweremadeofwicker-work;andnowcrackled,likeanenormousfireofthedriestpossibletwigs。Therewasnothingforitbutbed;soIwenttobed。

Itwasprettymuchthesameforthenexttwodays,withatolerablyfairwindanddryweather。Ireadinbed(buttothishourIdon\'tknowwhat)agooddeal;andreeledondeckalittle;drankcoldbrandy-and-waterwithanunspeakabledisgust,andatehardbiscuitperseveringly:notill,butgoingtobe。

Itisthethirdmorning。Iamawakenedoutofmysleepbyadismalshriekfrommywife,whodemandstoknowwhetherthere\'sanydanger。Irousemyself,andlookoutofbed。Thewater-jugisplungingandleapinglikealivelydolphin;allthesmallerarticlesareafloat,exceptmyshoes,whicharestrandedonacarpet-bag,highanddry,likeacoupleofcoal-barges。SuddenlyI

seethemspringintotheair,andbeholdthelooking-glass,whichisnailedtothewall,stickingfastupontheceiling。Atthesametimethedoorentirelydisappears,andanewoneisopenedinthefloor。ThenIbegintocomprehendthatthestate-roomisstandingonitshead。

Beforeitispossibletomakeanyarrangementatallcompatiblewiththisnovelstateofthings,theshiprights。Beforeonecansay\'ThankHeaven!\'shewrongsagain。BeforeonecancrysheIS

wrong,sheseemstohavestartedforward,andtobeacreatureactuallyrunningofitsownaccord,withbrokenkneesandfailinglegs,througheveryvarietyofholeandpitfall,andstumblingconstantly。Beforeonecansomuchaswonder,shetakesahighleapintotheair。Beforeshehaswelldonethat,shetakesadeepdiveintothewater。Beforeshehasgainedthesurface,shethrowsasummerset。Theinstantsheisonherlegs,sherushesbackward。

Andsoshegoesonstaggering,heaving,wrestling,leaping,diving,jumping,pitching,throbbing,rolling,androcking:andgoingthroughallthesemovements,sometimesbyturns,andsometimesaltogether:untilonefeelsdisposedtoroarformercy。

Astewardpasses。\'Steward!\'\'Sir?\'\'WhatISthematter?whatDO

youcallthis?\'\'Ratheraheavyseaon,sir,andahead-wind。\'

Ahead-wind!Imagineahumanfaceuponthevessel\'sprow,withfifteenthousandSamsonsinonebentupondrivingherback,andhittingherexactlybetweentheeyeswheneversheattemptstoadvanceaninch。Imaginetheshipherself,witheverypulseandarteryofherhugebodyswollenandburstingunderthismaltreatment,sworntogoonordie。Imaginethewindhowling,thesearoaring,therainbeating:allinfuriousarrayagainsther。

Picturetheskybothdarkandwild,andtheclouds,infearfulsympathywiththewaves,makinganotheroceanintheair。Addtoallthis,theclatteringondeckanddownbelow;thetreadofhurriedfeet;theloudhoarseshoutsofseamen;thegurglinginandoutofwaterthroughthescuppers;with,everynowandthen,thestrikingofaheavyseaupontheplanksabove,withthedeep,dead,heavysoundofthunderheardwithinavault;-andthereisthehead-windofthatJanuarymorning。

Isaynothingofwhatmaybecalledthedomesticnoisesoftheship:suchasthebreakingofglassandcrockery,thetumblingdownofstewards,thegambols,overhead,ofloosecasksandtruantdozensofbottledporter,andtheveryremarkableandfarfromexhilaratingsoundsraisedintheirvariousstate-roomsbytheseventypassengerswhoweretooilltogetuptobreakfast。Isaynothingofthem:foralthoughIlaylisteningtothisconcertforthreeorfourdays,Idon\'tthinkIhearditformorethanaquarterofaminute,attheexpirationofwhichterm,Ilaydownagain,excessivelysea-sick。

Notsea-sick,beitunderstood,intheordinaryacceptationoftheterm:IwishIhadbeen:butinaformwhichIhaveneverseenorhearddescribed,thoughIhavenodoubtitisverycommon。Ilaythere,allthedaylong,quitecoollyandcontentedly;withnosenseofweariness,withnodesiretogetup,orgetbetter,ortaketheair;withnocuriosity,orcare,orregret,ofanysortordegree,savingthatIthinkIcanremember,inthisuniversalindifference,havingakindoflazyjoy-offiendishdelight,ifanythingsolethargiccanbedignifiedwiththetitle-inthefactofmywifebeingtooilltotalktome。IfImaybeallowedtoillustratemystateofmindbysuchanexample,IshouldsaythatI

wasexactlyintheconditionoftheelderMr。Willet,aftertheincursionoftheriotersintohisbaratChigwell。Nothingwouldhavesurprisedme。If,inthemomentaryilluminationofanyrayofintelligencethatmayhavecomeuponmeinthewayofthoughtsofHome,agoblinpostman,withascarletcoatandbell,hadcomeintothatlittlekennelbeforeme,broadawakeinbroadday,and,apologisingforbeingdampthroughwalkinginthesea,hadhandedmealetterdirectedtomyself,infamiliarcharacters,IamcertainIshouldnothavefeltoneatomofastonishment:Ishouldhavebeenperfectlysatisfied。IfNeptunehimselfhadwalkedin,withatoastedsharkonhistrident,Ishouldhavelookedupontheeventasoneoftheverycommonesteverydayoccurrences。

Once-once-Ifoundmyselfondeck。Idon\'tknowhowIgotthere,orwhatpossessedmetogothere,butthereIwas;andcompletelydressedtoo,withahugepea-coaton,andapairofbootssuchasnoweakmaninhissensescouldeverhavegotinto。

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