THE WHITE WHALE 103 
any ignominious blemish in him all his fellows should run to throw their 
costliest robes. That immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves 
so far within us, that it remains intact though all the outer character 
seem gone — bleeds with keenest anguish at the undraped spectacle of 
a valour-ruined man. Nor can piety itself, at such a shameful sight, 
completely stifle her upbraidings against the permitting stars. But 
this august dignity I treat of, is not the dignity of kings and robes, but 
that abounding dignity which has no robed investiture. Thou shalt 
see it shining in the arm that wields a pick or drives a spike; that 
democratic dignity which, on all hands, radiates without end from God 
Himself ! 
If, then, to meanest mariners, and renegades and castaways, I shall 
hereafter ascribe high qualities, though dark ; weave round them tragic 
graces ; if even the most mournful, perchance the most abased, among 
them all, shall at times lift himself to the exalted mounts; if I shall 
touch that workman’s arm with some ethereal light ; if I shall spread a 
rainbow over his disastrous set of sun ; then against all mortal critics 
bear me out in it, thou just Spirit of Equality, which has spread one 
royal mantle of humanity over all my kind ! Bear me out in it, thou 
great democratic God ! who - didst not refuse to the swart convict, 
Runyan, the pale, poetic pearl; Thou who didst clothe with doubly 
hammered leaves of finest gold, the stumped and paupered arm of old 
Cervantes; Thou who didst pick up Andrew Jackson from the pebbles; 
who didst hurl him upon a warhorse; who didst thunder him higher 
than a throne ! Thou who, in all Thy mighty, earthly marchings, ever 
cullest Thy selectest champions from the kingly commons; bear me 
out in it, O God ! 
CHAPTER XXVI 
KNIGHTS AND SQUIREiS 
Stubb was the second mate. He was a native of Cape Cod ; and hence, 
according to local usage, was called a Cape-Cod-man. A happy-go- 
lucky ; neither craven nor valiant, taking perils as they came with an 
indifferent air; and while engaged in the most imminent crises of the 
chase, toiling away, calm and collected as a journeyman joiner engaged 
