I was caught up in the action of the chapter that describes "The Attack." When he quoted Chase's reaction to it I was reminded of Father Mapple's sermon about Jonah in an early chapter of
Moby Dick that sets up many of the themes to follow and is drawn from Psalm 18. Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite for those who have said they plan to read (or reread)
Moby Dick in the near future.
Spoiler:
He paused a little; then kneeling in the pulpit's bows, folded his large brown hands across his chest, uplifted his closed eyes, and offered a pray so deeply devout that he seemed kneeling and praying at the bottom of the sea.
This ended, in prolonged solemn tones, like the continual tolling of a bell in a ship that is foundering at sea in a fog--in such tones he commenced reading the following hymn; but changing his manner towards the concluding stanzas, burst forth with a pealing exultation and joy--
"The ribs and terrors in the whale,
Arched over me a dismal gloom,
While all God's sun-lit waves rolled by,
And lift me deepening down to doom.
I saw the opening maw of hell,
With endless pains and sorrows there;
Which none but they that feel can tell-
Oh, I was plunging to despair.
In black distress, I called my God,
When I could scarce believe him mine,
He bowed his ear to my complaints-
No more the whale did me confine.
With speed he flew to my relief,
As on a radiant dolphin borne;
Awful, yet bright, as lightning shone
The face of my Deliverer God.
My song for ever shall record
That terrible, that joyful hour;
I give the glory to my God,
His all the mercy and the power."
Funny what things leave such a deep impression in your memory even after decades. Twenty-five years ago I played a piece in a symphonic band that each movement was about a character in
Moby Dick. The middle movement is "Father Mapple" and the band sings several stanzas from this hymn. After I read this chapter it prompted me to go search for this song. It's "Of Sailors and Whales, Op. 78" composed by William Francis McBeth. I found a great version performed by the US Air Force Band of the West. I enjoyed listening to it while I was reading yesterday. On another aside, the soundtrack for the recent movie
In the Heart of the Sea is quite good as well.