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the sea。 They never assert themselves upon a vast stage。 They
depend upon local causes … the configuration of coasts； the shapes
of straits； the accidents of bold promontories round which they
play their little part。 In the polity of winds； as amongst the
tribes of the earth； the real struggle lies between East and West。
XXVI。
The West Wind reigns over the seas surrounding the coasts of these
kingdoms； and from the gateways of the channels； from promontories
as if from watch…towers； from estuaries of rivers as if from
postern gates； from passage…ways； inlets； straits； firths； the
garrison of the Isle and the crews of the ships going and returning
look to the westward to judge by the varied splendours of his
sunset mantle the mood of that arbitrary ruler。 The end of the day
is the time to gaze at the kingly face of the Westerly Weather； who
is the arbiter of ships' destinies。 Benignant and splendid； or
splendid and sinister； the western sky reflects the hidden purposes
of the royal mind。 Clothed in a mantle of dazzling gold or draped
in rags of black clouds like a beggar； the might of the Westerly
Wind sits enthroned upon the western horizon with the whole North
Atlantic as a footstool for his feet and the first twinkling stars
making a diadem for his brow。 Then the seamen； attentive courtiers
of the weather； think of regulating the conduct of their ships by
the mood of the master。 The West Wind is too great a king to be a
dissembler： he is no calculator plotting deep schemes in a sombre
heart； he is too strong for small artifices； there is passion in
all his moods； even in the soft mood of his serene days； in the
grace of his blue sky whose immense and unfathomable tenderness
reflected in the mirror of the sea embraces； possesses； lulls to
sleep the ships with white sails。 He is all things to all oceans；
he is like a poet seated upon a throne … magnificent； simple；
barbarous； pensive； generous； impulsive； changeable； unfathomable …
but when you understand him； always the same。 Some of his sunsets
are like pageants devised for the delight of the multitude； when
all the gems of the royal treasure…house are displayed above the
sea。 Others are like the opening of his royal confidence； tinged
with thoughts of sadness and compassion in a melancholy splendour
meditating upon the short…lived peace of the waters。 And I have
seen him put the pent…up anger of his heart into the aspect of the
inaccessible sun； and cause it to glare fiercely like the eye of an
implacable autocrat out of a pale and frightened sky。
He is the war…lord who sends his battalions of Atlantic rollers to
the assault of our seaboard。 The compelling voice of the West Wind
musters up to his service all the might of the ocean。 At the
bidding of the West Wind there arises a great commotion in the sky
above these Islands； and a great rush of waters falls upon our
shores。 The sky of the westerly weather is full of flying clouds；
of great big white clouds coming thicker and thicker till they seem
to stand welded into a solid canopy； upon whose gray face the lower
wrack of the gale； thin； black and angry…looking； flies past with
vertiginous speed。 Denser and denser grows this dome of vapours；
descending lower and lower upon the sea； narrowing the horizon
around the ship。 And the characteristic aspect of westerly
weather； the thick； gray； smoky and sinister tone sets in；
circumscribing the view of the men； drenching their bodies；
oppressing their souls； taking their breath away with booming
gusts； deafening； blinding； driving； rushing them onwards in a
swaying ship towards our coasts lost in mists and rain。
The caprice of the winds； like the wilfulness of men； is fraught
with the disastrous consequences of self…indulgence。 Long anger；
the sense of his uncontrolled power； spoils the frank and generous
nature of the West Wind。 It is as if his heart were corrupted by a
malevolent and brooding rancour。 He devastates his own kingdom in
the wantonness of his force。 South…west is the quarter of the
heavens where he presents his darkened brow。 He breathes his rage
in terrific squalls； and overwhelms his realm with an inexhaustible
welter of clouds。 He strews the seeds of anxiety upon the decks of
scudding ships； makes the foam…stripped ocean look old； and
sprinkles with gray hairs the heads of ship…masters in the
homeward…bound ships running for the Channel。 The Westerly Wind
asserting his sway from the south…west quarter is often like a
monarch gone mad； driving forth with wild imprecations the most
faithful of his courtiers to shipwreck； disaster； and death。
The south…westerly weather is the thick weather PAR EXCELLENCE。 It
is not the thickness of the fog； it is rather a contraction of the
horizon； a mysterious veiling of the shores with clouds that seem
to make a low…vaulted dungeon around the running ship。 It is not
blindness； it is a shortening of the sight。 The West Wind does not
say to the seaman； 〃You shall be blind〃； it restricts merely the
range of his vision and raises the dread of land within his breast。
It makes of him a man robbed of half his force； of half his
efficiency。 Many times in my life； standing in long sea…boots and
streaming oilskins at the elbow of my commander on the poop of a
homeward…bound ship making for the Channel； and gazing ahead into
the gray and tormented waste； I have heard a weary sigh shape
itself into a studiously casual comment：
〃Can't see very far in this weather。〃
And have made answer in the same low； perfunctory tone
〃No； sir。〃
It would be merely the instinctive voicing of an ever…present
thought associated closely with the consciousness of the land
somewhere ahead and of the great speed of the ship。 Fair wind；
fair wind！ Who would dare to grumble at a fair wind？ It was a
favour of the Western King； who rules masterfully the North
Atlantic from the latitude of the Azores to the latitude of Cape
Farewell。 A famous shove this to end a good passage with； and yet；
somehow； one could not muster upon one's lips the smile of a
courtier's gratitude。 This favour was dispensed to you from under
an overbearing scowl； which is the true expression of the great
autocrat when he has made up his mind to give a battering to some
ships and to hunt certain others home in one breath of cruelty and
benevolence； equally distracting。
〃No； sir。 Can't see very far。〃
Thus would the mate's voice repeat the thought of the master； both
gazing ahead； while under their feet the ship rushes at some twelve
knots in the direction of the lee shore； and only a couple of miles
in front of her swinging and dripping jib…boom； carried naked w