Tag Archives: Stephen Maturin

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‘Take great care of the paint, now.’

At this point Stephen fell straight into the sea — into the hollow of the sea between the boat and the side of the sloop as they drew away from one another. He sank at once, rose just as they came together, struck his head between the two and sank again, bubbling. Most of the Sophie‘s people who swim leapt into the water, Jack among them; and others ran with boat-hooks, a dolphin-striker, two small grapnels, an ugly barbed hook on a chain; but it was the brothers Sponge that found him, five fathoms down (heavy bones for his size, no fat, lead-soled half-boots) and brought him up, his clothes blacker than usual, his face more white, and he streaming with water, furiously indignant.

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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‘This I had from Mateu’s own cousin as we danced — ‘

‘You danced?’ cried Jack, far more astonished than if Stephen had said ‘as we ate our cold roast baby’.

‘Certainly I danced. Why would I not dance, pray?’

‘Certainly you are to dance — most uncommon graceful, I am sure. I only wondered . . . but did you really go about dancing?’

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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Barret Bonden, coxswain and captain of the maintop, was unusually young for his post; a fine open-looking creature, tough without brutality, cheerful, perfectly in his place and, of course, a prime seaman — bred to the sea from childhood. ‘Sit down, Bonden,’ said Jack, a little consciously, for what he was about to offer was the quarter-deck, no less, and the possibility of advancement to the very pinnacle o the sailor’s heirarchy. ‘I have been thinking . . . should you like to be rated midshipman?’

‘Why, no sir, not at all,’ answered Bonden at once, his teeth flashing in the gloom. ‘But I think you very kindly for your good opinion, sir.’

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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In times of stress Jack Aubrey had two main reactions: he either became aggressive or he became amorous; he longed either for the violent catharsis of action or for that of making love. He loved a battle: he loved a wench.

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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‘Let us say ten minutes to run from the cove to the tower, and . . . ‘

‘Allow twenty, if you please,’ said Stephen. ‘You portly men of a sanguine complexion often die suddenly, from unconsidered exertion in the heat. Apoplexy — congestion.’

‘I wish, I wish you would not say things like that, Doctor,’ said Jack, in a low tone: they all looked at Stephen with some reproach and Jack added, ‘Besides, I am not portly.’

‘The captain has an uncommon genteel figgar,’ said Mr Marshall.

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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‘Sir, sir,’ piped Babbington into Jack’s ear.

‘Hush, sweetheart,’ murmured his captain, whose dreaming mind was occupied with quite another sex. ‘Eh?’

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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‘Did you notice my bowing in the pump-pump-pump piece?’ asked Jack.
‘I did indeed. Very sprightly, very agile. I noticed you neither struck the hanging shelf nor yet the lamp. I only grazed the locker once myself.’
‘I believe the great thing is not to think of it.’

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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A Montpellier snake glided out with a dry rustling sound and traversed the room in a series of extraordinarily elegant curves, its head held up some eighteen inches above the ground.
‘Oh, oh, oh,’ cried Jack, leaping on to a chair. ‘A snake!’
‘Will these do?’ asked Stephen. ‘They have a hole in them.’
‘Is it poisonous?’
‘Extremely so. I dare say it will attack you, directly. I have very little doubt of it. Was I to put the silk stockings over my worsted stockings, sure the hole would not show: but then, I should stifle with heat. Do not you find it uncommon hot?’
‘Oh, it must be two fathoms long. Tell me, is it really poisonous? On your oath now?’
‘If you thrust your hand down its throat as far as its back teeth you may meet a little venom; but not otherwise. Malpolon monspessulanus is a very innocent serpent. I think of carrying a dozen aboard, for the rats — ah, if only I had more time, and if it were not for this foolish, illiberal persecution of reptiles . . . What a pitiful figure you do cut upon that chair, to be sure. Barney, Barney, buck or doe, Has kept me out of Channel Row,’ he sang to the serpent; and, deaf as an adder though it was, it looked happily into his face while he carried it away.

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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‘My heart bleeds for you. I have never yet known a man admit he was either rich or asleep: perhaps the poor man and the wakeful man have some great moral advantage.’

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian

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Stephen shrugged. ‘No. But you are quite mistaken, you know. I can assure you, speaking in all sober earnest, that he has no notion of it. He is not very sharp in some ways; and in his simple view of the world, paederasts are dangerous only to powder-monkeys and choir-boys, or to those epicene creatures that are to be found in Mediterranean brothels. I made a circuitous attempt at enlightening him a little, but he looked very knowing and said, “Don’t tell me about rears and vices; I have been in the Navy all my life.” ‘
‘Then surely he must be wanting a little in penetration?’
‘James, I trust there was no mens rea in that remark?’

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian