Moby-Dick (Chap. 99: The Doubloon) Herman Melville

Ere now it has been related how Ahab was wont to pace his quarter-deck, taking regular turns at either limit, the binnacle and mainmast; but in the multiplicity of other things requiring narration it has not been added how that sometimes in these walks, when most plunged in his mood, he was wont to pause in turn at each spot, and stand there strangely eyeing the particular object before him. When he halted before the binnacle, with his glance fastened on the pointed needle in the compass, that glance shot like a javelin with the pointed intensity of his purpose; and when resuming his walk he again paused before the mainmast, then, as the same riveted glance fastened upon the riveted gold coin there, he still wore the same aspect of nailed firmness, only dashed with a certain wild longing, if not hopefulness.

But one morning, turning to pass the doubloon, he seemed to be newly
attracted by the strange figures and inscriptions stamped on it, as
though now for the first time beginning to interpret for himself in some monomaniac way whatever significance might lurk in them. And some
certain significance lurks in all things, else all things are little
worth, and the round world itself but an empty cipher, except to sell by the cartload, as they do hills about Boston, to fill up some morass in the Milky Way.

Now this doubloon was of purest, virgin gold, raked somewhere out of the
Heart of gorgeous hills, whence, east and west, over golden sands, the
Head-waters of many a Pactolus flows. And though now nailed amidst all
The rustiness of iron bolts and the verdigris of copper spikes, yet,
Untouchable and immaculate to any foulness, it still preserved its Quito
Glow. Nor, though placed amongst a ruthless crew and every hour passed
By ruthless hands, and through the livelong nights shrouded with thick
Darkness which might cover any pilfering approach, nevertheless every
Sunrise found the doubloon where the sunset left it last. For it was
Set apart and sanctified to one awe-striking end; and however wanton
In their sailor ways, one and all, the mariners revered it as the white
Whale's talisman. Sometimes they talked it over in the weary watch by
Night, wondering whose it was to be at last, and whether he would ever
Live to spend it.

Now those noble golden coins of South America are as medals of the sun
And tropic token-pieces. Here palms, alpacas, and volcanoes; sun's disks
And stars; ecliptics, horns-of-plenty, and rich banners waving, are in
Luxuriant profusion stamped; so that the precious gold seems almost to
Derive an added preciousness and enhancing glories, by passing through
Those fancy mints, so Spanishly poetic.