So strongly did he work upon his disciples among the crew, that at last in a body they went to the captain and told him if Gabriel was sent from the ship, not a man of them would remain. He was therefore forced to relinquish his plan. Nor would they permit Gabriel to be any way maltreated, say or do what he would; so that it came to pass that Gabriel had the complete freedom of the ship. The consequence of all this was, that the archangel cared little or nothing for the captain and mates; and since the epidemic had broken out, he carried a higher hand than ever; declaring that the plague, as he called it, was at his sole command; nor should it be stayed but according to his good pleasure. The sailors, mostly poor devils, cringed, and some of them fawned before him; in obedience to his instructions, sometimes rendering him personal homage, as to a god. Such things may seem incredible; but, however wondrous, they are true. Nor is the history of fanatics half so striking in respect to the measureless self-deception of the fanatic himself, as his measureless power of deceiving and bedevilling so many others. But it is time to return to the Pequod.
因为他在水手中对他的门徒们具有如此的魔力，所以，最后，大家都一起跑到船长那里，对船长说，如果他把迦百列辞掉了，他们就一个人也不留下来。因此，船长不得不打消了自己的计划。同时，他们还对船长说，不许他对迦百列有任何虐待行为，不管是用言语还是行动。这样一来，这个迦百列在船上就畅所欲为了。结果是，这个天使长把船长和大二三副都不大放在眼里，也可说是根本就不放在眼里；打从流行症发生后，他比先前尤更耀武扬威；扬言这场瘟疫（他这样称法）完全操在他手里；几时才得终止，可得看他高兴。那些个水手，大多是一些可怜的家伙，都吓得畏畏缩缩，其中有一些竟对他奉承献媚起来；为了遵从他的指示，还时常象对神灵一般，对他顶礼膜拜。这些事情也许看来颇值怀疑，但是，不管它多么奇特，这都是千真万确的。说到这个狂人自己那种无限的自我欺骗力量，却是连一部狂人史也抵不上他这么富有无限的欺骗与迷惑众人的魔力的一半。但是，还是言归正传，谈"裴廓德号"吧。
I fear not thy epidemic, man, said Ahab from the bulwarks, to Captain Mayhew, who stood in the boat's stern; "come on board."
我不怕你们的流行症，朋友。亚哈在舷墙边对那个正站在艇梢上的梅休船长说，"上船来呀。"
But now Gabriel started to his feet.
但是，这时，迦百列蹦地跳了起来。
Think, think of the fevers, yellow and bilious! Beware of the horrible plague!
喂，你想，想一想这种寒热症，皮色发黄，肝火旺！小心提防这种可怖的瘟疫呀！