the mirror of the sea-第31节
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from the horizon in uninterrupted cadence of motion； passing under
us with a slight friendly toss of our boat。 Far away； where the
brig had been； an angry white stain undulating on the surface of
steely…gray waters； shot with gleams of green； diminished swiftly；
without a hiss； like a patch of pure snow melting in the sun。 And
the great stillness after this initiation into the sea's implacable
hate seemed full of dread thoughts and shadows of disaster。
〃Gone！〃 ejaculated from the depths of his chest my bowman in a
final tone。 He spat in his hands； and took a better grip on his
oar。 The captain of the brig lowered his rigid arm slowly； and
looked at our faces in a solemnly conscious silence； which called
upon us to share in his simple…minded； marvelling awe。 All at once
he sat down by my side； and leaned forward earnestly at my boat's
crew； who； swinging together in a long； easy stroke； kept their
eyes fixed upon him faithfully。
〃No ship could have done so well；〃 he addressed them firmly； after
a moment of strained silence； during which he seemed with trembling
lips to seek for words fit to bear such high testimony。 〃She was
small； but she was good。 I had no anxiety。 She was strong。 Last
voyage I had my wife and two children in her。 No other ship could
have stood so long the weather she had to live through for days and
days before we got dismasted a fortnight ago。 She was fairly worn
out； and that's all。 You may believe me。 She lasted under us for
days and days； but she could not last for ever。 It was long
enough。 I am glad it is over。 No better ship was ever left to
sink at sea on such a day as this。〃
He was competent to pronounce the funereal oration of a ship； this
son of ancient sea…folk； whose national existence； so little
stained by the excesses of manly virtues； had demanded nothing but
the merest foothold from the earth。 By the merits of his sea…wise
forefathers and by the artlessness of his heart； he was made fit to
deliver this excellent discourse。 There was nothing wanting in its
orderly arrangement … neither piety nor faith； nor the tribute of
praise due to the worthy dead； with the edifying recital of their
achievement。 She had lived； he had loved her； she had suffered；
and he was glad she was at rest。 It was an excellent discourse。
And it was orthodox； too； in its fidelity to the cardinal article
of a seaman's faith； of which it was a single…minded confession。
〃Ships are all right。〃 They are。 They who live with the sea have
got to hold by that creed first and last； and it came to me； as I
glanced at him sideways； that some men were not altogether unworthy
in honour and conscience to pronounce the funereal eulogium of a
ship's constancy in life and death。
After this； sitting by my side with his loosely…clasped hands
hanging between his knees； he uttered no word； made no movement
till the shadow of our ship's sails fell on the boat； when； at the
loud cheer greeting the return of the victors with their prize； he
lifted up his troubled face with a faint smile of pathetic
indulgence。 This smile of the worthy descendant of the most
ancient sea…folk whose audacity and hardihood had left no trace of
greatness and glory upon the waters； completed the cycle of my
initiation。 There was an infinite depth of hereditary wisdom in
its pitying sadness。 It made the hearty bursts of cheering sound
like a childish noise of triumph。 Our crew shouted with immense
confidence … honest souls！ As if anybody could ever make sure of
having prevailed against the sea； which has betrayed so many ships
of great 〃name；〃 so many proud men； so many towering ambitions of
fame； power； wealth； greatness！
As I brought the boat under the falls my captain； in high good…
humour； leaned over； spreading his red and freckled elbows on the
rail； and called down to me sarcastically； out of the depths of his
cynic philosopher's beard：
〃So you have brought the boat back after all； have you？〃
Sarcasm was 〃his way；〃 and the most that can be said for it is that
it was natural。 This did not make it lovable。 But it is decorous
and expedient to fall in with one's commander's way。 〃Yes。 I
brought the boat back all right； sir；〃 I answered。 And the good
man believed me。 It was not for him to discern upon me the marks
of my recent initiation。 And yet I was not exactly the same
youngster who had taken the boat away … all impatience for a race
against death； with the prize of nine men's lives at the end。
Already I looked with other eyes upon the sea。 I knew it capable
of betraying the generous ardour of youth as implacably as；
indifferent to evil and good； it would have betrayed the basest
greed or the noblest heroism。 My conception of its magnanimous
greatness was gone。 And I looked upon the true sea … the sea that
plays with men till their hearts are broken； and wears stout ships
to death。 Nothing can touch the brooding bitterness of its heart。
Open to all and faithful to none； it exercises its fascination for
the undoing of the best。 To love it is not well。 It knows no bond
of plighted troth； no fidelity to misfortune； to long
companionship； to long devotion。 The promise it holds out
perpetually is very great； but the only secret of its possession is
strength； strength … the jealous； sleepless strength of a man
guarding a coveted treasure within his gates。
XXXVII。
The cradle of oversea traffic and of the art of naval combats； the
Mediterranean； apart from all the associations of adventure and
glory； the common heritage of all mankind； makes a tender appeal to
a seaman。 It has sheltered the infancy of his craft。 He looks
upon it as a man may look at a vast nursery in an old； old mansion
where innumerable generations of his own people have learned to
walk。 I say his own people because； in a sense； all sailors belong
to one family： all are descended from that adventurous and shaggy
ancestor who； bestriding a shapeless log and paddling with a
crooked branch； accomplished the first coasting…trip in a sheltered
bay ringing with the admiring howls of his tribe。 It is a matter
of regret that all those brothers in craft and feeling； whose
generations have learned to walk a ship's deck in that nursery；
have been also more than once fiercely engaged in cutting each
other's throats there。 But life； apparently； has such exigencies。
Without human propensity to murder and other sorts of
unrighteousness there would have been no historical heroism。 It is
a consoling reflection。 And then； if one examines impartially the
deeds of violence； they appear of but small consequence。 From
Salamis to Actium； through Lepanto and the Nile to the naval
massacre of Navarino； not to mention other armed encounters of
lesser interest； all the blood heroically spilt into the
Mediterranean has not stained with a single trail of purple the
deep azure of its classic waters。
Of course； it may be argued that battles have shaped the destiny of
mankind。 The question whether they have shaped it well would
remain open； however。 But it would be hardly worth discussing。 It
is very probable that； had the Battle of Salamis never been fought；
the face of the world would have been much as we behold it now；
fashioned by the mediocre inspiration and the short…sighted labours
of men。 From a long and miserable experience of suffering；
injustice； disgrace and aggression the nations of the earth are
mostly swayed by fear … fear of the sort that a little cheap
oratory turns easily to rage； hate； and violence。 Innocent；
guileless fear has been the cause of many wars。 Not； of course；
the fear of war itself； which； in the evolution of sentiments and
ideas； has come to be regarded at last as a half…mystic and
glorious ceremony with certain fashionable rites and preliminary
incantations； wherein the conception of its true nature has been
lost。 To apprehend the true aspect； force； and morality of war as
a natural function of mankind one requires a feather in the hair
and a ring in the nose； or； better still； teeth filed to a point
and a tattooed breast。 Unfortunately； a return to such simple
ornamentation is impossible。 We are bound to the chariot of
progress。 There is no going back； and； as bad luck would have it；
our civilization； which has done so much for the comfort and
adornment of our bodies and the elevation of our minds； has made
lawful killing frightfully and needlessly expensive。
The whole question of improved armaments has been approached by the
governments of the earth in a spirit of nervous and unreflecting
