"Give way!" cried Ahab to the oarsmen, and the boats darted forward to the attack; but maddened by yesterday's fresh irons that corroded in him, Moby Dick seemed combinedly possessed by all the angels that fell from heaven. The wide tiers of welded tendons overspreading his broad white forehead, beneath the transparent skin, looked knitted together; as head on, he came churning his tail among the boats; and once more flailed them apart; spilling out the irons and lances from the two mates' boats, and dashing in one side of the upper part of their bows, but leaving Ahab's almost without a scar."
Musing: The whale taunts Ahab. What an incredible way to describe a thing - as possessed by all the angels that fell from heaven. More duality - an angel should be good, but some did fall. Moby Dick uses his massive head to break the other whale boats. The violent description is short, but sharp. Ahab is untouched. For now. Purposefully, it might soon seem.