Queen Mab — Moby-Dick

The next morning Stubb talks to Flask about a strange dream.

In the dream, Captain Ahab kicks Stubb with his ivory leg. Stubb tries to kick back and kicks his own leg off. Then Ahab turns into a pyramid, and Stubb keeps kicking at it like a fool.

Even while he is angry, part of Stubb's mind says the kick was not a real insult. Ahab's leg is false, like a cane, not a living leg. A blow from a hand hurts more than a blow from a stick.

Then a hairy old merman appears with a hump on his back. He turns Stubb around and asks what he is doing. The merman's back is covered with sharp marlinspikes pointing outward. Stubb decides not to kick him.

The merman calls Stubb wise Stubb over and over. He says Ahab's kick was an honor, not a shame. Great lords in England were proud to be slapped by a queen. Stubb should be proud to be kicked by a great captain with a beautiful ivory leg. He must never kick back.

Stubb wakes up in his hammock. He tells Flask the dream made him wiser. He says Flask should leave the old man alone and never speak to him.

Then they hear Ahab shout to the mast-head. He says there are whales nearby. If anyone sees a white whale, he should yell with all his lungs.

Stubb tells Flask that sounds queer. Something special is in the wind. He says Ahab has something bloody on his mind. Then he goes quiet as Ahab comes near.