The Cabin

(Ahab moving to go on deck; Pip catches him by the hand to follow.)

(Ahab starts to go on deck. Pip takes his hand to follow him.)

“Lad, lad, I tell thee thou must not follow Ahab now. The hour is coming when Ahab would not scare thee from him, yet would not have thee by him. There is that in thee, poor lad, which I feel too curing to my malady. Like cures like; and for this hunt, my malady becomes my most desired health. Do thou abide below here, where they shall serve thee, as if thou wert the captain. Aye, lad, thou shalt sit here in my own screwed chair; another screw to it, thou must be.”

“Lad, lad, I tell you, you must not follow Ahab now. The time is coming when Ahab would not frighten you away, but would not want you near him either. There is something in you, poor lad, that I feel would cure my sickness too well. Like cures like, and for this hunt, my sickness is the health I most desire. Stay down here, where they will serve you as if you were the captain. Yes, lad, you shall sit here in my own chair, screwed to the floor. You must be another screw holding it in place.”

“No, no, no! ye have not a whole body, sir; do ye but use poor me for your one lost leg; only tread upon me, sir; I ask no more, so I remain a part of ye.”

“No, no, no! Your body is not whole, sir. Just use poor me as your lost leg. Only step on me, sir. I ask for nothing more, as long as I remain a part of you.”

“Oh! spite of million villains, this makes me a bigot in the fadeless fidelity of man!—and a black! and crazy!—but methinks like-cures-like applies to him too; he grows so sane again.”

“Oh! In spite of a million villains, this makes me a firm believer in the unfailing loyalty of man! And a Black man, too! And crazy! But I think like cures like applies to him too. He is becoming so sane again.”

“They tell me, sir, that Stubb did once desert poor little Pip, whose drowned bones now show white, for all the blackness of his living skin. But I will never desert ye, sir, as Stubb did him. Sir, I must go with ye.”

“They tell me, sir, that Stubb once abandoned poor little Pip. Pip’s drowned bones now show white, though his skin was black when he was alive. But I will never abandon you, sir, as Stubb abandoned Pip. Sir, I must go with you.”

“If thou speakest thus to me much more, Ahab’s purpose keels up in him. I tell thee no; it cannot be.”

“If you speak to me like that much longer, Ahab’s resolve will collapse. I tell you no. It cannot be.”

“Oh good master, master, master!

“Oh, good master, master, master!

“Weep so, and I will murder thee! have a care, for Ahab too is mad. Listen, and thou wilt often hear my ivory foot upon the deck, and still know that I am there. And now I quit thee. Thy hand!—Met! True art thou, lad, as the circumference to its centre. So: God for ever bless thee; and if it come to that,—God for ever save thee, let what will befall.”

“Keep crying like that, and I’ll murder you! Be careful, for Ahab is mad too. Listen, and you’ll often hear my ivory foot on the deck and know I’m still there. Now I’m leaving you. Give me your hand! We’ve shaken hands! You’re as true, lad, as a circle is to its center. There. May God bless you forever. And if it comes to that, may God save you forever, whatever happens.”

(Ahab goes; Pip steps one step forward.)

(Ahab leaves. Pip takes one step forward.)

“Here he this instant stood; I stand in his air,—but I’m alone. Now were even poor Pip here I could endure it, but he’s missing. Pip! Pip! Ding, dong, ding! Who’s seen Pip? He must be up here; let’s try the door. What? neither lock, nor bolt, nor bar; and yet there’s no opening it. It must be the spell; he told me to stay here: Aye, and told me this screwed chair was mine. Here, then, I’ll seat me, against the transom, in the ship’s full middle, all her keel and her three masts before me. Here, our old sailors say, in their black seventy-fours great admirals sometimes sit at table, and lord it over rows of captains and lieutenants. Ha! what’s this? epaulets! epaulets! the epaulets all come crowding! Pass round the decanters; glad to see ye; fill up, monsieurs! What an odd feeling, now, when a black boy’s host to white men with gold lace upon their coats!—Monsieurs, have ye seen one Pip?—a little negro lad, five feet high, hang-dog look, and cowardly! Jumped from a whale-boat once;—seen him? No! Well then, fill up again, captains, and let’s drink shame upon all cowards! I name no names. Shame upon them! Put one foot upon the table. Shame upon all cowards.—Hist! above there, I hear ivory—Oh, master! master! I am indeed down-hearted when you walk over me. But here I’ll stay, though this stern strikes rocks; and they bulge through; and oysters come to join me.”

“He was standing right here a moment ago. I stand where he stood, but I’m alone. If even poor Pip were here, I could bear it, but he’s missing. Pip! Pip! Ding, dong, ding! Who’s seen Pip? He must be up here. Let’s try the door. What? No lock, bolt, or bar, and yet it won’t open. It must be the spell. He told me to stay here. Yes, and he told me this chair bolted to the deck was mine. So I’ll sit here, against the back wall of the cabin, in the very middle of the ship. The whole keel and all three masts are in front of me. Our old sailors say that great admirals sometimes sit here at table in their black seventy-four-gun warships. They lord it over rows of captains and lieutenants. Ha! What’s this? Epaulets! Epaulets! They’re all crowding in! Pass the decanters around. Glad to see you. Fill your glasses, gentlemen! What an odd feeling, having a Black boy host white men with gold braid on their coats! Gentlemen, have you seen a boy named Pip? A little Black lad, five feet tall, with a hangdog look, and a coward! He once jumped from a whaleboat. Have you seen him? No! Well then, fill up again, captains, and let’s drink to the shame of all cowards! I name no names. Shame on them! Put one foot on the table. Shame on all cowards. Hush! Up there, I hear ivory. Oh, master! Master! I’m truly downhearted when you walk over me. But I’ll stay here, even if this stern strikes rocks and they break through, and oysters come to join me.”