Master and Commander (Aubrey & Maturin, #1)

by Patrick O'Brian

‘all flag officers, and all persons in or belonging to his Majesty’s ships or vessels of war, being guilty of profane oaths, cursings, execrations, drunkenness, uncleanliness, or other scandalous actions, shall incur such punishment as a court-martial shall think fit to impose’. Or by the echoing repetition of ‘shall suffer death’. ‘Every flag-officer, captain and commander in the fleet who shall not … encourage the inferior officers and men to fight courageously, shall suffer death … If any person in the fleet shall treacherously or cowardly yield or cry for quarter – being convicted thereof by the sentence of a court-martial, shall suffer death … Every person who through cowardice shall in time of action withdraw or keep back … shall suffer death … Every person who through cowardice, negligence or disaffection shall forbear to pursue any enemy, pirate, or rebel, beaten or flying … shall suffer death … If any officer, mariner, soldier or other person in the fleet shall strike any of his superior officers, draw, or offer to draw, or lift up any weapon … shall suffer death … If any person in the fleet shall commit the unnatural and detestable sin of buggery or sodomy with man or beast, he shall be punished with death.’ Death rang through and through the Articles; and even where the words were utterly incomprehensible the death had a fine, comminatory, Leviticus ring, and the crew took a grave pleasure in it all; it was what they were used to – it was what they heard the fir...

but man as part of a movement or a crowd is indifferent to me. He is inhuman. And I have nothing to do with nations, or nationalism. The only feelings I have – for what they are – are for men as individuals; my loyalties, such as they may be, are to private persons alone.’

‘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.

lol me too, Captain. Me too.

Do you not find it happens very often, that you are as gay as Garrick at dinner and then by supper-time you wonder why God made the world?’

Jack’s eyes grew less brotherly, oh far less brotherly, his glottis stiffened and his heart began to thump. ‘Oh, yes, I like him,’ he said, hoarsely. ‘Timely, sir, bosun of the Superb,’ said a tremendous voice at the opening door. ‘Oh, beg pardon, sir …’