MOBY-DICK or THE WHALE illustrated by ROCKWELL KENT, 1st Part

Rockwell Kent (June 21, 1882 – March 13, 1971) was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager.

Rockwell Kent, though best known as an artist and illustrator, pursued many careers throughout his long life, including architect, carpenter, explorer, writer, dairy farmer, and political activist. Born in Tarrytown, New York, Kent was interested in art from a young age. These ambitions were encouraged by his aunt Jo Holgate, an accomplished ceramicist. Jo came to live with the family after Kent’s father passed away in 1887 and took him to Europe as a teenager. Kent attended the Horace Mann School in New York City, where he excelled at mechanical drawing. His family’s financial circumstances prevented him from pursuing career in the fine arts, however, and after graduating from Horace Mann in 1900, Kent decided to study architecture at Columbia University.

His striking illustrations for two editions of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick—simultaneously precise and abstract images that drew on his architect’s eye for spatial relations and his years of maritime adventures—proved extremely popular and remain some of his best-known works. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Kent produced a range of print media, including advertisements, bookplates, and Christmas cards. Kent’s satirical drawings, created under the pseudonym “Hogarth Jr.,” were published in popular periodicals including Vanity Fair, Harper’s Weekly, and Life. In 1937 the artist was commissioned by the Federal Public Works Administration to paint two murals for the New Post Office in Washington, DC.

By the onset of World War II, Kent had largely disengaged from the New York art world and instead focused his energies on a number of progressive political causes, including labor rights and preventing the spread of fascism in Europe. Though he never joined the communist party, his support of leftist causes made him a target of suspicion by the State Department, which revoked his passport after his first visit to Moscow in 1950 (though Kent successfully sued to have it reinstated). As his artistic reputation declined at home and his work fell out of favor, Kent found new popularity in the Soviet Union, where his works were exhibited frequently in the 1950s. In 1960 he donated 80 paintings and 800 prints and drawings to the people of the Soviet Union, and in 1967 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize. Kent died of a heart attack in 1971 and was buried on the grounds of Asgard, his farm in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.

Zoë Samels

Rockwell Kent

The drawings to Moby Dick were created by pen, brush, and ink (often inaccurately described as woodcuts). The book was published 1930.

Die deutschen Überschriften der Kapitel und die Bildlegenden wurden der Übersetzung des Moby-Dick von FRIEDHELM RATHJEN entnommen.

Loomings (Kimmungen)

 

The Carpet-Bag (Die Reisetasche)

 I stuffed a shirt or two into my old carpet-bag, tucked it under my arm, and started for Cape Horn and the Pacific.

Ich stopfe ein paar Hemden in meine Reisetasche, klemme sie mir unter den Arm und mache mich auf nach Kap Hoorn und dem Pazifik.

But no more of this blubbering now, we are going a-whaling, and there is plenty of that yet to come.

Doch genug jetzt von diesen Heulereien, wir gehen jetzt auf Walfang, und davon wird es noch reichlich geben.

The Spouter-Inn (Das Gasthaus zum blasenden Wal)

Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots, reminding one of the bulwarks of some condemned old craft. 

In das giebelige Gasthaus zum Blasenden Wal eintretend, fand man sich in einem weiten, niedrigen, weitläufigen Eingangsflur mit altmodischen Täfelungen wieder, die einen an das Schanzkleid irgendeines abgewrackten alten Schiffs erinnerten.

But seeing that it was not at all limber, and that it glistened a good deal like polished ebony, I concluded that it must be nothing but a wooden idol, which indeed it proved to be. For now the savage goes up to the empty fire-place, and removing the papered fire-board, sets up this little hunch-backed image, like a tenpin, between the andirons. The chimney jambs and all the bricks inside were very sooty, so that I thought this fire-place made a very appropriate little shrine or chapel for his Congo idol. 

The Counterpane (Die Steppdecke)

 Upon waking next morning about daylight, I found Queequeg’s arm thrown over me in the most loving and affectionate manner. You had almost thought I had been his wife.
Beim Erwachen des anderen Morgens gegen Tagesanbruch fand ich Queequegs Arm in der liebevollsten und in der herzlichsten Manier über mich geworfen. Man hätte beinahe denken mögen, ich sei sein Weib.

...and taking up a piece of hard soap on the wash-stand centre table, dipped it into water and commenced lathering his face. I was watching to see where he kept his razor, when lo and behold, he takes the harpoon from the bed corner, slips out the long wooden stock, unsheathes the head, whets it a little on his boot, and striding up to the bit of mirror against the wall, begins a vigorous scraping, or rather harpooning of his cheeks.
...die Harpune von der Bettdecke nimmt, den langen hölzernen Schaft abstreift, die Spitze blankzieht, sie ein bisschen an seinem Stiefel wetzt und, zu dem Stück Spiegel an der Wand schreitend, damit beginnt, seine Wangen energisch zu schaben.
 

Breakfast (Frühstück)

...that after we were all seated at the table, and I was preparing to hear some good stories about whaling; to my no small surprise, nearly every man maintained a profound silence.

...nachdem wir alle an der Tafel Platz genommen und ich mich darauf vorbereitet, manch gute Geschichte vom Walfang zu hören, zu meiner nicht geringen Überraschung beinah ein jeder Mann ein gründliches Schweigen bewahrte.

The Street (Die Strasse)

There weekly arrive in this town scores of green Vermonters and New Hampshire men, all athirst for gain and glory in the fishery. 

Es kommen da wöchentlich in dieser Stadt Mengen von grünschnäbligen Vermontern und New-Hampshire-Männern an, alle dürstend nach Ruhm und Reichtum in der Fischerei.

The Chapel (Die Kapelle)

In this same New Bedford there stands a Whaleman’s Chapel, and few are the moody fishermen, shortly bound for the Indian Ocean or Pacific, who fail to make a Sunday visit to the spot.

In diesem selbigen New Bedford , da steht eine Waljägerkapelle, und wenige sind der trübseligen Fischer, die in Kürze nach dem Indischen Ozean oder Pazifik eingeschifft werden, welche es versäumen, diesem Ort eine Sonntagsbesuch abzustatten.

The Pulpit (Die Kanzel)

For I was not prepared to see Father Mapple after gaining the height, slowly turn round, and stooping over the pulpit, deliberately drag up the ladder step by step, till the whole was deposited within, leaving him impregnable in his little Quebec. 

Denn ich hatte mich nicht darauf grfasst gemacht,.Pater Mapple, nachdem er die Höhe erreicht, dabei zu erblicken, wie er sich langsam umwandte, und über dioe Kanzel lehnte, und die Leier bedachtsam Schritt für Schritt hinaufzog, bis das Ganze darinnen verstaut und ihn uneinnehmbar machte in seinem kleinen Quebec.

...for the pulpit is ever this earth’s foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God’s quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favourable winds. Yes, the world’s a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow.

...denn die Kanzel ist immerdar der Erde vorgerückter Teil;...von dorten ist's, wo der Gott der widrigen wie der gewogenen Winde angerufen wird.

The Sermon (Die Predigt)

Aye, shipmates, Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship—a berth in the cabin as I have taken it, and was fast asleep. But the frightened master comes to him, and shrieks in his dead ear, ‘What meanest thou, O, sleeper! arise!’
Aye, Schiffskameraden, Jona war hinunter in das Schiff gestiegen - eine Koje in der Kammer, wie ich's mir vorgestellt, und lag und schkief. Der entsetzte Schiffsherr aber kommt zu ihm und kreischt ihm ins tote Ohr: "was schläfst du? Stehe auf!"

A Bosom Friend (Ein Busenfreund)

He was sitting on a bench before the fire, with his feet on the stove hearth...

Er sass auf der Bank vor dem Fenster, seine Füsse ruhten auf dem Ofenherd...

Nightgown (Nachtrock)

We had lain thus in bed, chatting and napping at short intervals,...

Wir hatten solcherart im Bett gelegen, schwatzend und schlummernd in kurzen Intervallen...

... but he now spoke of his native island;...
...er sprch nun von seiner Heimatinsel....

Biographical (Biographisches)

....and when the ship was gliding by, like a flash he darted out; gained her side; with one backward dash of his foot capsized and sank his canoe; climbed up the chains; and throwing himself at full length upon the deck, grappled a ring-bolt there, and swore not to let it go, though hacked in pieces. 

...und als das Schiff vorbeiglitt, schnellte er wie ein Blitz herau; gewann eine Làngsseite; kennterte das Kanu und versenkte es mit einem einzigen Stoss seines Fusses; kletterte die Rüsten hinauf;...

Wheelbarrow (Schubkarren)

We borrowed a wheelbarrow, and embarking our things, including my own poor carpet-bag, and Queequeg’s canvas sack and hammock,...
Wir besorgten uns einen Schubkarren, und unsere Sachen verstaut, bestehend aus meiner eigenen armseligen Reisetasche und Queequegs Segeltuchsack samt Hängematte...

For three minutes or more he was seen swimming 

Drei Minuten lang oder länger sah man ihn schwimmen...

Nantucket (Nantucket) 

...so, after a fine run, we safely arrived in Nantucket.
...so gelangten wir nach guter Fahrt nach Nantucket.

Chowder

Two enormous wooden pots painted black, and suspended by asses’ ears, swung from the cross-trees of an old top-mast, planted in front of an old doorway.
Zwei gewaltige hölzerne Kessel, schwarzgestrichen und aufgrhängt an Eselsohren, schwangen von den Quersalings einer alten Bramstenge, aufgepflanzt vor einem alten Torweg.

The Ship (Das Schiff)

I peered and pryed about the Devil-dam; from her, hopped over to the Tit-bit; and finally, going on board the Pequod, looked around her for a moment, and then decided that this was the very ship for us.
Ich schaute und schnüffelte an der Devil-Dam herum; hüpfte von ihr zur Tit-bit weiter; und sah schliesslich, an Bord der Pequod gehend, einen Augenblick an ihr herum und entschied dann, genau dies sei das Schiff für uns.

...only there was a fine and almost microscopic net-work of the minutest wrinkles interlacing round his eyes, which must have arisen from his continual sailings in many hard gales, and always looking to windward;—for this causes the muscles about the eyes to become pursed together. Such eye-wrinkles are very effectual in a scowl.
...nur war da ein feines und beinah mikroskopisches Netzwerk aus winzigen Falten um seine Augen herum, welches aus seinen fortgesetzten Fahrten in vielen schwerten Sturmwinden herrühren musste und vom ständigen Schauen gegen den Wind;  - denn dieses macht, dass die Muskeln um die Augen zusammengeschnürt werden. Solche Augenfalten machen sich sehr wirkungsvoll beim Finsterdreinschauen.

The Ramadan (Der Ramadan)

...and with a sudden bodily rush dashed myself full against the mark.
...und warf mich mit jäher körperlichert Wucht gegen das Ziel.

His Mark (Sein Zeichen)

...he darted the iron right over old Bildad’s broad brim, clean across the ship’s decks, and struck the glistening tar spot out of sight.
...schleuderte er das Eisen geradewegs über des alten Bildad breite Krempe, sauber über die Decks des Schiffs, und zerschlug den glitzernden Teerfleck, dass nichts mehr zu sehen war.

Meanwhile Captain Bildad sat earnestly and steadfastly eyeing Queequeg,...
Unterdessen sass Kapitän Bildad da und beäugte Qeequeg ernsthaft...

The Prophet (Der Prophet)

“Shipmates, have ye shipped in that ship?”
Queequeg and I had just left the Pequod, and were sauntering away from the water, for the moment each occupied with his own thoughts, when the above words were put to us by a stranger, who, pausing before us, levelled his massive forefinger at the vessel in question.

"Schiffskameraden, habt ihr auf dem Schiff da angeheuert?

Qeequeg und ich hatten soeben die Pequod verlassen und schlenderten vom Wasser weg, für den Augenblick ein jeder mit seinen eigenen Gedanken beschäftigt, als die obigen Worte von einem Fremdling an uns gerichtet wurden, der, vor uns einhaltend, seinen massigen Zeigefinger auf das fragliche Schiff richtete.

All Astir (Alles rege)

A day or two passed, and there was great activity aboard the Pequod. Not only were the old sails being mended, but new sails were coming on board, and bolts of canvas, and coils of rigging; in short, everything betokened that the ship’s preparations were hurrying to a close.

Chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was Captain Bildad’s sister, a lean old lady of a most determined and indefatigable spirit, but withal very kindhearted, who seemed resolved that, if she could help it, nothing should be found wanting in the Pequod, after once fairly getting to sea. 
Unter denen, die dieses Holen und Tragen besorgten, stach Kapitän Bildads Schwester hervor, eine hagere alte Dame von höchst enrschiedenem und unermüdlichen Geiste, bei alledem aber sehr herzensfreundliich, die entschlossen schien, dass, wenn sie dazu beitragen könne, nichts zu entdecken sein sollte, woran es auf der Pequod mangelte, nachdem sie erst einmal auf hoher See.

Going Aboard (Es geht an Bord)

He put his hand upon the sleeper’s rear, as though feeling if it was soft enough; and then, without more ado, sat quietly down there.
Er tat seine Hand auf des Schläfers Hinterteil, so als fühlte er, ob es weich genug wäre; und setzte sich dann ohne weitere Umstände darauf nieder.

And so saying he went on deck, and we followed.
Und solches sagend, ging er an Deck, und wir folgten nach.

Merry Christmas (Frohe Weihnacht)

At last the anchor was up, the sails were set, and off we glided. It was a short, cold Christmas;...
Endlich war der Anker hoch, die Segel waren gesetzt, und wir glitten davon. Es war eine kurze, kalte Weihnacht.

The Lee Shore (Die Leeküste)

...who should I see standing at her helm but Bulkington!
...wen sollte ich da am Ruder stehen sehen, wenn nicht Bulkington!

The Advocate (Der Anwalt der Verteidigung)

...a whale-ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.
...denn ein Walfangschiff war meinYale College und mein Harvard.

Postscript (Postskriptum)

Think of that, ye loyal Britons! we whalemen supply your kings and queens with coronation stuff!
Denkt daran, ihr königstreuen Britannier! wir Walfänger versorgen eure Könige und Köiginnen mit Krönungsstoff.

Knights and Squires (Ritter und Knappen)

And if at times these things bent the welded iron of his soul, much more did his far-away domestic memories of his young Cape wife and child,...

Starbuck was no crusader after perils; in him courage was not a sentiment; but a thing simply useful to him, and always at hand upon all mortally practical occasions. Besides, he thought, perhaps, that in this business of whaling, courage was one of the great staple outfits of the ship, like her beef and her bread, and not to be foolishly wasted.
Starbuck war kein Kreuzfahrer auf der Spur der Gefahr; bei ihm war Mut kein hehrer Gedanke; sondern eine Sache, die für ihn einfach nützlich war und bei jeder auf Leben und Tod sich ergebenden Gelegenheit stetsbei der Hand.