Chapter LXXXVIII

by Herman Melville

　　"How still!" cried Babbalanja. "This calm is like unto Oro's everlasting serenity, and like unto man's last despair."

　　But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted melody in the water.

　　Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its depths.

　　Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, sudden as a jet from a Geyser.

　　    Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin,

　　      Bright fish! diving deep as high soars the lark,

　　    So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim,

　　      Wild song, wild light, in still ocean's dark.