- description
- # CHAPTER 39. First Night-Watch.
## Overview
This entry is a section titled "CHAPTER 39. First Night-Watch." It is part of a larger work, specifically Book III, Chapter III, of a novel. The text appears to be a dramatic monologue or internal reflection, likely from a character named Stubb, who is contemplating fate and his own jovial outlook on life despite surrounding grimness.
## Context
This section is extracted from the file [moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6), which is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. It follows [CHAPTER 38. Dusk.](arke:01KG8AM6RT5XGQV9SZ622H48RM) and precedes [CHAPTER 40. Midnight, Forecastle.](arke:01KG8AM6RTFQ9R53YHSB9VHNNY). The section is contained within the chapter titled [BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)](arke:01KG8AK83BA227D6NY5BT040FM).
## Contents
The text of this section features the character Stubb reflecting on the nature of fate, humor, and his own disposition. He expresses a philosophy of facing life's uncertainties with laughter, contrasting his own cheerful demeanor with the perceived anxieties of others, such as Starbuck. The monologue includes snippets of song lyrics and internal asides, revealing Stubb's unique perspective on the events unfolding around him. The section ends with Stubb responding to a call from Mr. Starbuck.
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- description_title
- CHAPTER 39. First Night-Watch.
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- 2026-01-30T20:48:29.272Z
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- text
- CHAPTER 39. First Night-Watch.
Fore-Top.
(_Stubb solus, and mending a brace_.)
Ha! ha! ha! ha! hem! clear my throat!—I’ve been thinking over it ever
since, and that ha, ha’s the final consequence. Why so? Because a
laugh’s the wisest, easiest answer to all that’s queer; and come what
will, one comfort’s always left—that unfailing comfort is, it’s all
predestinated. I heard not all his talk with Starbuck; but to my poor
eye Starbuck then looked something as I the other evening felt. Be sure
the old Mogul has fixed him, too. I twigged it, knew it; had had the
gift, might readily have prophesied it—for when I clapped my eye upon
his skull I saw it. Well, Stubb, _wise_ Stubb—that’s my title—well,
Stubb, what of it, Stubb? Here’s a carcase. I know not all that may be
coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing. Such a waggish
leering as lurks in all your horribles! I feel funny. Fa, la! lirra,
skirra! What’s my juicy little pear at home doing now? Crying its eyes
out?—Giving a party to the last arrived harpooneers, I dare say, gay as
a frigate’s pennant, and so am I—fa, la! lirra, skirra! Oh—
We’ll drink to-night with hearts as light, To love, as gay and fleeting
As bubbles that swim, on the beaker’s brim, And break on the lips while
meeting.
A brave stave that—who calls? Mr. Starbuck? Aye, aye, sir—(_Aside_)
he’s my superior, he has his too, if I’m not mistaken.—Aye, aye, sir,
just through with this job—coming.
- title
- CHAPTER 39. First Night-Watch.