Ahab's Observation of the Sun

Ahab, seated in the bows of his high hoisted boat, was about taking his wonted daily observation of the sun to determine his latitude. In that japanese sea, the days in summer are as freshets of effulgences. That unblinkingly vivid japanese sun seems the blazing focus of the glassy oce ans,. The sky looks lacquered clouds. There are none. The horizon floats. And this nakedness of unrelieved radiance is as the insufferable splendors of god's throne. Well, that ahab's quadrant was furnished with colored glasses through which to take sight of that solar fire.