the works of edgar allan poe-1-第64章
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arose with a sickly yellow lustre； and clambered a very few degrees
above the horizon emitting no decisive light。 There were no
clouds apparent； yet the wind was upon the increase； and blew with a
fitful and unsteady fury。 About noon； as nearly as we could guess；
our attention was again arrested by the appearance of the sun。 It
gave out no light； properly so called； but a dull and sullen glow
without reflection； as if all its rays were polarized。 Just before
sinking within the turgid sea； its central fires suddenly went out；
as if hurriedly extinguished by some unaccountable power。 It was a
dim； sliver…like rim； alone； as it rushed down the unfathomable
ocean。
We waited in vain for the arrival of the sixth day that day to me
has not arrived to the Swede； never did arrive。 Thenceforward we
were enshrouded in patchy darkness； so that we could not have seen an
object at twenty paces from the ship。 Eternal night continued to
envelop us； all unrelieved by the phosphoric sea…brilliancy to which
we had been accustomed in the tropics。 We observed too； that；
although the tempest continued to rage with unabated violence； there
was no longer to be discovered the usual appearance of surf； or foam；
which had hitherto attended us。 All around were horror； and thick
gloom； and a black sweltering desert of ebony。 Superstitious
terror crept by degrees into the spirit of the old Swede； and my own
soul was wrapped up in silent wonder。 We neglected all care of the
ship； as worse than useless； and securing ourselves； as well as
possible； to the stump of the mizen…mast； looked out bitterly into
the world of ocean。 We had no means of calculating time； nor could we
form any guess of our situation。 We were； however； well aware of
having made farther to the southward than any previous navigators；
and felt great amazement at not meeting with the usual impediments of
ice。 In the meantime every moment threatened to be our last every
mountainous billow hurried to overwhelm us。 The swell surpassed
anything I had imagined possible； and that we were not instantly
buried is a miracle。 My companion spoke of the lightness of our
cargo； and reminded me of the excellent qualities of our ship； but I
could not help feeling the utter hopelessness of hope itself； and
prepared myself gloomily for that death which I thought nothing could
defer beyond an hour； as； with every knot of way the ship made； the
swelling of the black stupendous seas became more dismally appalling。
At times we gasped for breath at an elevation beyond the albatross
at times became dizzy with the velocity of our descent into some
watery hell； where the air grew stagnant； and no sound disturbed the
slumbers of the kraken。
We were at the bottom of one of these abysses； when a quick scream
from my companion broke fearfully upon the night。 〃See！ see！〃 cried
he； shrieking in my ears； 〃Almighty God！ see！ see！〃 As he spoke； I
became aware of a dull； sullen glare of red light which streamed down
the sides of the vast chasm where we lay； and threw a fitful
brilliancy upon our deck。 Casting my eyes upwards； I beheld a
spectacle which froze the current of my blood。 At a terrific height
directly above us； and upon the very verge of the precipitous
descent； hovered a gigantic ship of； perhaps； four thousand tons。
Although upreared upon the summit of a wave more than a hundred times
her own altitude； her apparent size exceeded that of any ship of the
line or East Indiaman in existence。 Her huge hull was of a deep dingy
black； unrelieved by any of the customary carvings of a ship。 A
single row of brass cannon protruded from her open ports； and dashed
from their polished surfaces the fires of innumerable
battle…lanterns； which swung to and fro about her rigging。 But what
mainly inspired us with horror and astonishment； was that she bore up
under a press of sail in the very teeth of that supernatural sea； and
of that ungovernable hurricane。 When we first discovered her； her
bows were alone to be seen； as she rose slowly from the dim and
horrible gulf beyond her。 For a moment of intense terror she paused
upon the giddy pinnacle； as if in contemplation of her own sublimity；
then trembled and tottered； and came down。
At this instant； I know not what sudden self…possession came over my
spirit。 Staggering as far aft as I could； I awaited fearlessly the
ruin that was to overwhelm。 Our own vessel was at length ceasing from
her struggles； and sinking with her head to the sea。 The shock of the
descending mass struck her； consequently； in that portion of her
frame which was already under water； and the inevitable result was to
hurl me； with irresistible violence； upon the rigging of the
stranger。
As I fell； the ship hove in stays； and went about； and to the
confusion ensuing I attributed my escape from the notice of the crew。
With little difficulty I made my way unperceived to the main
hatchway； which was partially open； and soon found an opportunity of
secreting myself in the hold。 Why I did so I can hardly tell。 An
indefinite sense of awe； which at first sight of the navigators of
the ship had taken hold of my mind； was perhaps the principle of my
concealment。 I was unwilling to trust myself with a race of people
who had offered； to the cursory glance I had taken； so many points of
vague novelty； doubt； and apprehension。 I therefore thought proper to
contrive a hiding…place in the hold。 This I did by removing a small
portion of the shifting…boards； in such a manner as to afford me a
convenient retreat between the huge timbers of the ship。
I had scarcely completed my work； when a footstep in the hold forced
me to make use of it。 A man passed by my place of concealment with a
feeble and unsteady gait。 I could not see his face； but had an
opportunity of observing his general appearance。 There was about it
an evidence of great age and infirmity。 His knees tottered beneath a
load of years； and his entire frame quivered under the burthen。 He
muttered to himself； in a low broken tone； some words of a language
which I could not understand； and groped in a corner among a pile of
singular…looking instruments； and decayed charts of navigation。 His
manner was a wild mixture of the peevishness of second childhood； and
the solemn dignity of a God。 He at length went on deck； and I saw him
no more。
* * * * * * * *
A feeling； for which I have no name； has taken possession of my soul
a sensation which will admit of no analysis； to which the lessons
of bygone times are inadequate； and for which I fear futurity itself
will offer me no key。 To a mind constituted like my own； the latter
consideration is an evil。 I shall never I know that I shall never
be satisfied with regard to the nature of my conceptions。 Yet it
is not wonderful that these conceptions are indefinite； since they
have their origin in sources so utterly novel。 A new sense a new
entity is added to my soul。
* * * * * * * *
It is long since I first trod the deck of this terrible ship； and the
rays of my destiny are； I think； gathering to a focus。
Incomprehensible men！ Wrapped up in meditations of a kind which I
cannot divine； they pass me by unnoticed。 Concealment is utter folly
on my part； for the people will not see。 It was but just now that I
passed directly before the eyes of the mate it was no long while
ago that I ventured into the captain's own private cabin； and took
thence the materials with which I write； and have written。 I shall
from time to time continue this Journal。 It is true that I may not
find an opportunity of transmitting it to the world； but I will not
fall to make the endeavour。 At the last moment I will enclose the MS。
in a bottle； and cast it within the sea。
* * * * * * * *
An incident has occurred which has given me new room for meditation。
Are such things the operation of ungoverned Chance？ I had ventured
upon deck and thrown myself down； without attracting any notice；
among a pile of ratlin…stuff and old sails in the bo
