Billy Budd

I'm making another attempt at Melville's "Billy Budd"- and it has to be said, it's quite a verbal jumble in a jungle. Melville has so much of what Gardner (or someone he was quoting) described as "the authoritative authorial voice." His descriptions are rich and detailed. It seems like every sentence of his can be savoured independently. That unfortunately is a problem when I, the reader, am trying to get on with the story, trying to find out what is about to happen. The set-up is beautiful but the follow-through isn't fast enough. Maybe it's my short attention span - or may be Melville isn't that great ( :) )
I haven't done much sailing- so when Conrad or Melville discuss the sea, all I can imagine are films with rain lashing on all sides and the like. I'll move on to Patrick O'Brian's H.M.S. Surprise for my next serving of the life of the sea, its majesty etc.,etc.,etc.....