红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第2章

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nyrecord　of　his　better　deeds；　although　these　were　many。　His　son；　too；inherited　the　persecuting　spirit；　and　made　himself　so　conspicuous　inthe　martyrdom　of　the　witches；　that　their　blood　may　fairly　be　said　tohave　left　a　stain　upon　him。　So　deep　a　stain；　indeed；　that　his　olddry　bones；　in　the　Charter　Street　burial…ground；　must　still　retainit；　if　they　have　not　crumbled　utterly　to　dust！　I　know　not　whetherthese　ancestors　of　mine　bethought　themselves　to　repent；　and　ask　pardonof　Heaven；　for　their　cruelties；　or　whether　they　are　now　groaning　underthe　heavy　consequences　of　them；　in　another　state　of　being。　At　allevents；　I；　the　present　writer；　as　their　representative；　hereby　takeshame　upon　myself　for　their　sakes；　and　pray　that　any　curse　incurred　bythem…　as　I　have　heard；　and　as　the　dreary　and　unprosperous　condition　ofthe　race；　for　many　a　long　year　back；　would　argue　to　exist…　may　benow　and　henceforth　removed。　　Doubtless；　however；　either　of　these　stern　and　black…browedPuritans　would　have　thought　it　quite　a　sufficient　retribution　forhis　sins；　that；　after　so　long　a　lapse　of　years；　the　old　trunk　of　thefamily　tree；　with　so　much　venerable　moss　upon　it；　should　have　borne；as　its　topmost　bough；　an　idler　like　myself。　No　aim；　that　I　have　evercherished；　would　they　recognise　as　laudable；　no　success　of　mine…　ifmy　life；　beyond　its　domestic　scope；　had　ever　been　brightened　bysuccess…　would　they　deem　otherwise　than　worthless；　if　not　positivelydisgraceful。　〃Where　is　he？〃　murmurs　one　grey　shadow　of　myforefathers　to　the　other。　〃A　writer　of　story…books！　What　kind　of　abusiness　in　life…　what　mode　of　glorifying　God；　or　being　serviceable　tomankind　in　his　day　and　generation…　may　that　be？　Why；　the　degeneratefellow　might　as　well　have　been　a　fiddler！〃　Such　are　the　plimentsbandied　between　my　great…grandsires　and　myself；　across　the　gulf　oftime！　And　yet；　let　them　scorn　me　as　they　will；　strong　traits　oftheir　nature　have　intertwined　themselves　with　mine。　　Planted　deep；　in　the　town's　earliest　infancy　and　childhood；　by　thesetwo　earnest　and　energetic　men；　the　race　has　ever　since　subsisted　here；always；　too；　in　respectability；　never；　so　far　as　I　have　known；disgraced　by　a　single　unworthy　member；　but　seldom　or　never；　on　theother　hand；　after　the　first　two　generations；　performing　anymemorable　deed；　or　so　much　as　putting　forward　a　claim　to　publicnotice。　Gradually；　they　have　sunk　almost　out　of　sight；　as　oldhouses；　here　and　there　about　the　streets；　get　covered　half…way　tothe　eaves　by　the　accumulation　of　new　soil。　From　father　to　son；　forabove　a　hundred　years；　they　followed　the　sea；　a　grey…headedshipmaster；　in　each　generation；　retiring　from　the　quarter…deck　tothe　homestead；　while　a　boy　of　fourteen　took　the　hereditary　placebefore　the　mast；　confronting　the　salt　spray　and　the　gale；　which　hadblustered　against　his　sire　and　grandsire。　The　boy；　also；　in　duetime；　passed　from　the　forecastle　to　the　cabin；　spent　a　tempestuousmanhood；　and　returned　from　his　world…wanderings；　to　grow　old；　and　die；and　mingle　his　dust　with　the　natal　earth。　This　long　connection　of　afamily　with　one　spot；　as　its　place　of　birth　and　burial；　creates　akindred　between　the　human　being　and　the　locality；　quite　independent　ofany　charm　in　the　scenery　or　moral　circumstances　that　surround　him。It　is　not　love；　but　instinct。　The　new　inhabitant…　who　came　himselffrom　a　foreign　land；　or　whose　father　or　grandfather　came…　has　littleclaim　to　be　called　a　Salemite；　he　has　no　conception　of　the　oyster…liketenacity　with　which　an　old　settler；　over　whom　his　third　century　iscreeping；　clings　to　the　spot　where　his　successive　generations　havebeen　imbedded。　It　is　no　matter　that　the　place　is　joyless　for　him；　thathe　is　weary　of　the　old　wooden　houses；　the　mud　and　dust；　the　dead　levelof　site　and　sentiment；　the　chill　east　wind；　and　the　chillest　of　socialatmospheres；　all　these；　and　whatever　faults　besides　he　may　see　orimagine；　are　nothing　to　the　purpose。　The　spell　survives；　and　just　aspowerfully　as　if　the　natal　spot　were　an　earthly　paradise。　So　has　itbeen　in　my　case。　I　felt　it　almost　as　a　destiny　to　make　Salem　myhome；　so　that　the　mould　of　features　and　cast　of　character　which　hadall　along　been　familiar　here…　ever；　as　one　representative　of　therace　lay　down　in　his　grave；　another　assuming；　as　it　were；　hissentry…march　along　the　main　street…　might　still　in　my　little　day　beseen　and　recognised　in　the　old　town。　Nevertheless；　this　very　sentimentis　an　evidence　that　the　connection；　which　has　bee　an　unhealthy　one；should　at　least　be　severed。　Human　nature　will　not　flourish；　any　morethan　a　potato；　if　it　be　planted　and　replanted；　for　too　long　a　seriesof　generations；　in　the　same　worn…out　soil。　My　children　have　hadother　birthplaces；　and；　so　far　as　their　fortunes　may　be　within　mycontrol；　shall　strike　their　roots　into　unaccustomed　earth。　　On　emerging　from　the　Old　Manse；　it　was　chiefly　this　strange；indolent；　unjoyous　attachment　for　my　native　town；　that　brought　me　tofill　a　place　in　Uncle　Sam's　brick　edifice；　when　I　might　as　well；　orbetter；　have　gone　somewhere　else。　My　doom　was　on　me。　It　was　not　thefirst　time；　nor　the　second；　that　I　had　gone　away…　as　it　seemed；permanently…　but　yet　returned；　like　the　bad　halfpenny；　or　as　ifSalem　were　for　me　the　inevitable　centre　of　the　universe。　So；　onefine　morning；　I　ascended　the　flight　of　granite　steps；　with　thePresident's　mission　in　my　pocket；　and　was　introduced　to　the　corpsof　gentlemen　who　were　to　aid　me　in　my　weighty　responsibility；　as　chiefexecutive　officer　of　the　Custom…House。　　I　doubt　greatly…　or；　rather；　I　do　not　doubt　at　all…　whether　anypublic　functionary　of　the　United　States；　either　in　the　civil　ormilitary　line；　has　ever　had　such　a　patriarchal　body　of　veteransunder　his　orders　as　myself。　The　whereabouts　of　the　Oldest　Inhabitantwas　at　once　settled；　when　I　looked　at　them。　For　upwards　of　twentyyears　before　this　epoch；　the　independent　position　of　the　Collector　hadkept　the　Salem　Custom…House　out　of　the　whirlpool　of　politicalvicissitude；　which　makes　the　tenure　of　office　generally　so　fragile。A　soldier…　New　England's　most　distinguished　soldier…　he　stood　firmlyon　the　pedestal　of　his　gallant　services；　and；　himself　secure　in　thewise　liberality　of　the　successive　administrations　through　which　he　hadheld　office；　he　had　been　the　safety　of　his　subordinates　in　many　anhour　of　danger　and　heartquake。　General　Miller　was　radicallyconservative；　a　man　over　whose　kindly　nature　habit　had　no　slightinfluence；　attaching　himself　strongly　to　familiar　faces；　and　withdifficulty　moved　to　change；　even　when　change　might　have　broughtunquestionable　improvement。　Thus；　on　taking　charge　of　my　department；　Ifound　few　but　aged　men。　They　were　ancient　sea…captains；　for　the　mostpart；　who；　after　being　tossed　on　every　sea；　and　standing　up　sturdilyagainst　life's　tempestuous　blast；　had　finally　drifted　into　thisquiet　nook；　where；　with　little　to　disturb　them；　except　theperiodical　terrors　of　a　Presidential　election；　they　one　and　allacquired　a　new　lease　of　existence。　Though　by　no　means　less　liable　thantheir　fellow…men　to　age　and　infirmity；　they　had　evidently　sometalisman　or　other　that　kept　death　at　bay。　Two　or　three　of　theirnumber；　as　I　was　assured；　being　gouty　and　rheumatic；　or　perhapsbed…ridden；　never　dreamed　of　making　their　appearance　at　theCustom…House　during　a　large　part　of　the　year；　but；　after　a　torpidwinter；　would　creep　out　into　the　warm　sunshine　of　May　or　June；　golazily　about　what　they　termed　duty；　and；　at　their　own　leisure　andconvenience；　betake　themselves　to　bed　again。　I　must　plead　guilty　tothe　charge　of　abbreviating　the　official　breath　of　more　than　one　ofthese　venerable　servants　of　the　republic。　They　were　allowed；　on　myrepresentation；　to　rest　from　their　arduous　labours；　and　soonafterwards…　as　if　their　sole　principle　of　life　had　been　zeal　for　theircountry's　service；　as　I　verily　believe　it　was…　withdrew　to　a　betterworld。　It　is　a　pious　consolation　to　me；　that；　through　my　interference；a　sufficient　space　was　allowed　them　for　repentance　of　the　evil　andcorrupt　practices；　into　which；　as　a　matter　of　course；　everyCustom…House　officer　must　be　supposed　to　fall。　Neither　the　front　northe　back　entrance　of　the　Custom…House　opens　on　the　road　to　Paradise。　　The　greater　part　of　my　officers　were　Whigs。　It　was　well　for　theirvenerable　brotherhood　that　the　new　Surveyor　was　not　a　politician；　and；though　a　faithful　Democrat　in　principle；　neither　received　nor　held　hisoffice　with　any　reference　to　political　services。　Had　it　beenotherwise…　had　an　active　politician　been　put　into　this　influentialpost；　to　assume　the　easy　task　of　making　head　against　a　Whig　Collector；whose　infirmities　withheld　him　from　the　personal　administration　of　hisoffice…　hardly　a　man　of　the　old　corps　would　have　drawn　the　breath　ofofficial　life　within　a　month　after　the　exterminating　angel　had　e　upthe　Custom…House　steps。　According　to　the　received　code　in　suchmatters；　it　would　have　been　nothing　short　of　duty；　in　a　politician；　tobring　every　one　of　those　white　heads　under　the　axe　of　theguillotine。　It　was　plain　enough　to　discern；　that　the　old　fellowsdreaded　some　such　discourtesy　at　my　hands。　It　pained；　and　at　thesame　time　amused　me；　to　behold　the　terrors　that　attended　my　advent；　tosee　a　furrowed　cheek；　weather…beaten　by　half　a　century　of　storm；turn　ashy　pale　at　the　glance　of　so　harmless　an　individual　as　myself；to　detect；　as　one　or　another　addressed　me；　the　tremor　of　a　voice；which；　in　long…past　days；　had　been　wont　to　bellow　through　aspeaking…trumpet；　hoarsely　enough　to　frighten　Boreas　himself　tosilence。　They　knew；　these　excellent　old　persons；　that；　by　allestablished　rule…　and；　as　regarded　some　of　them；　weighed　by　their　ownlack　of　efficiency　for　business…　they　ought　to　have　given　place　toyounger　men；　more　orthodox　in　politics；　and　altogether　fitter　thanthemselves　to　serve　our　mon　Uncle。　I　knew　it　too；　but　could　neverquite　find　in　my　heart　to　act　upon　the　knowledge。　Much　anddeservedly　to　my　own　discredit；　therefore；　and　considerably　to　thedetriment　of　my　official　conscience；　they　continued；　during　myincumbency；　to　creep　about　the　wharves；　and　loiter　up　and　down　theCustom…House　steps。　They　spent　a　good　deal　of　time；　also；　asleep　intheir　accustomed　corners；　with　their　chairs　tilted　back　against　thewall；　awaking；　however；　once　or　twice　in　a　forenoon；　to　bore　oneanother　with　the　several　thousandth　repetition　of　old　sea…stories；　andmouldy　jokes；　that　had　grown　to　be　passwords　and　countersigns　amongthem。　　The　discovery　was　soon　made；　I　imagine；　that　the　new　Surveyor　had　nogreat　harm　in　him。　So；　with　lightsome　hearts；　and　the　happyconsciousness　of　being　usefully　employed…　in　their　own　behalf；　atleast；　if　not　for　our　beloved　country…　these　good　old　gentlemen　wentthrough　the　various　formalities　of　office。　Sagaciously　under　theirspectacles；　did　they　peep　into　the　holds　of　vessels！　Mighty　wastheir　fuss　about　little　matters；　and　marvellous；　sometimes；　theobtuseness　that　allowed　greater　ones　to　slip　between　their　fingers！Whenever　such　a　mischance　occurred…　when　a　waggon…load　of　valuablemerchandise　had　been　smuggled　ashore；　at　noonday；　perhaps；　anddirectly　beneath　their　unsuspicious　noses…　nothing　could　exceed　thevigilance　and　alacrity　with　which　they　proceeded　to　lock；　anddouble…lock；　and　secure　with　tape　and　sealing…wax；　all　the　avenuesof　the　delinquent　vessel。　Instead　of　a　reprimand　for　their　previousnegligence；　the　case　seemed　rather　to　require　an　eulogium　on　theirpraiseworthy　caution；　after　the　mischief　had　happened；　a　gratefulrecognition　of　the　promptitude　of　their　zeal；　the　moment　that　therewas　no　longer　any　remedy。　　Unless　people　are　more　than　monly　disagreeable；　it　is　myfoolish　habit　to　contract　a　kindness　for　them。　The　better　part　of　mypanion's　character；　if　it　have　a　better　part；　is　that　which　usuallyes　uppermost　in　my　regard；　and　forms　the　type　whereby　I　recognisethe　man。　As　most　of　these　old　Custom…House　officers　had　good　traits；and　as　my　position　in　reference　to　them；　being　paternal　andprotective；　was　favourable　to　the　growth　of　friendly　sentiments；　Isoon　grew　to　like　them　all。　It　was　pleasant；　in　the　summerforenoons…　when　the　fervent　heat；　that　almost　liquefied　the　rest　ofthe　human　family；　merely　municated　a　genial　warmth　to　theirhalf…torpid　systems…　it　was　pleasant　to　hear　them　chatting　in　the　backentry；　a　row　of　them　all　tipped　against　the　wall；　as　usual；　whilethe　frozen　witticisms　of　past　generations　were　thawed　out；　and　camebubbling　with　laughter　from　their　lips。　Externally；　the　jollity　ofaged　men　has　much　in　mon　with　the　mirth　of　children；　the　intellect；any　more　than　a　deep　sense　of　humour；　has　little　to　do　with　thematter；　it　is；　with　both；　a　gleam　that　plays　upon　the　surface；　andimparts　a　sunny　and　cheery　aspect　alike　to　the　green　branch；　and　grey；mouldering　trunk。　In　one　case；　however；　it　is　real　sunshine；　in　theother；　it　more　resembles　the　phosphorescent　glow　of　decaying　wood。　　It　would　be　sad　injustice；　the　reader　must　understand；　torepresent　all　my　excellent　old　friends　as　in　their　dotage。　In　thefirst　place；　my　coadjutors　were　not　invariably　old；　there　were　menamong　them　in　their　strength　and　prime；　of　marked　ability　andenergy；　and　altogether　superior　to　the　sluggish　and　dependent　modeof　life　on　which　their　evil　stars　had　cast　them。　Then；　moreover；　thewhite　locks　of　age　were　sometimes　found　to　be　the　thatch　of　anintellectual　tenement　in　good　repair。　But；　as　respects　the　majority　ofmy　corps　of　veterans；　there　will　be　no　wrong　done；　if　I　characterisethem　generally　as　a　set　of　wear