Моби Дик

Герман Мелвилл. Моби Дик, или Белый кит

Though in many natural objects, whiteness refiningly enhances beauty, as if imparting some special virtue of its own, as in marbles, japonicas, and pearls; and though various nations have in some way recognised a certain royal preeminence in this hue; even the barbaric, grand old kings of Pegu placing the title

Хотя в природе белизна часто умножает и

облагораживает красоту, словно одаряя ее своими собственными особыми достоинствами, как мы это видим на примере мрамора, японских камелий и жемчуга; и хотя многие народы так или иначе отдают должное

царственному превосходству этого цвета, ведь даже древние варварские короли великого Пегу помещали титул

"Lord of the White Elephants" above all their other magniloquent ascriptions of dominion; and the modern kings of Siam unfurling the same snow-white quadruped in the royal standard; and the Hanoverian flag bearing the one figure of a snow-white charger; and the great Austrian Empire, Caesarian, heir to overlording Rome, having for the imperial colour the same imperial hue; and though this pre-eminence in it applies to the human race itself, giving the white man ideal mastership over every dusky tribe; and though, besides, all this, whiteness has been even made significant of gladness, for among the Romans a white stone marked a joyful day; and though in other mortal sympathies and symbolizings, this...

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