The Scarlet Letter | Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

The Scarlet Letter | Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impuls
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken
besiddelse
possession
ofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
læser
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
beskrivelse
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
lytter
listener
ortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
gribe
seize
thepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuch
fortrolige
confidential
depthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyand
udelukkende
exclusively
,totheoneheartandmindofperfect
sympati
sympathy
;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
opdelt
divided
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
eksistens
existence
bybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itis
næppe
scarcely
decorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue
forhold
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe
nærmeste
closest
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anative
reserve
reserve
beingthawedbythisgenial
bevidsthed
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
slør
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
forfatter
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
krænke
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,
ligeledes
likewise
,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalarge
del
portion
ofthefollowingpagescameintomy
besiddelse
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
fortælling
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redaktør
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
forhold
relation
withthepublic.
Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
svag
faint
representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore
beskrevet
described
,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnow
belastet
burdened
withdecayedwoodenwarehouses,and
udviser
exhibits
fewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
except,perhaps,a
bark
bark
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy
længde
length
,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
last
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening
udsigt
prospect
,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeof
mursten
brick
.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
præcist
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
flyder
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the
banner
banner
oftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indikerer
indicating
thatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere
etableret
established
.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dusin
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
balkon
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrancehoversanenormous
eksemplar
specimen
oftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a
skjold
shield
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperament
temper
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
næb
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
true
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,against
trænge
intruding
onthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Ikke desto mindre
Nevertheless
,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imagining,Ipresume,thather
bryst
bosom
hasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
pude
pillow
.
Butshehasnogreat
ømhed
tenderness
,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofher
næb
beak
,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
The
fortovet
pavement
roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmove
fremad
onward
withaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
borger
citizen
ofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
havn
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
tillader
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto
svulme
swell
,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the
mægtige
mighty
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe
randen
verge
oftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
hyppige
frequent
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
hilse
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
havnen
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnished
tin
tin
box.
Here,too,comeshisowner,
munter
cheerful
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished
rejse
voyage
hasbeenrealizedin
varer
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
sejle
sailing
mimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
sømand
sailor
inquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
bleg
pale
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Normustweforgetthecaptainsofthe
rustne
rusty
littleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
bidrager
contributing
anitemofno
lille
slight
importancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir
bagben
hind
legsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
lejlighedsvis
occasionally
mightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythat
adskiller
distinguishes
theoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceon
velgørenhed
charity
,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirown
uafhængige
independent
exertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotvery
ansvarlig
liable
tobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Desuden
Furthermore
,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty
højde
height
;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
smal
narrow
lane,andalonga
del
portion
ofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generelt
generally
tobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
hjemsøge
haunt
theWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
grå
gray
sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
konkludere
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the
kost
broom
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayof
møbler
furniture
,thereisastovewithavoluminous
tragt
funnel
;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipe
stiger
ascends
throughtheceiling,andformsa
medium
medium
ofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vandrede
wandering
upanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
læser
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthe
vestlige
western
sideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
spørge
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
efterfølger
successor
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordid
besidder
possess
,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspekt
aspect
isconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongand
dovne
lazy
street,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe
halvøen
peninsula
,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoforma
sentimental
sentimental
attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
sætning
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
hengivenhed
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
jorden
soil
.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the
tidligste
earliest
emigrantofmyname,madehis
optræden
appearance
inthewildandforest-bordered
bosættelse
settlement
,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehis
efterkommere
descendants
havebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthy
stof
substance
withthesoil;
untilnosmall
del
portion
ofitmustnecessarilybeakintothe
dødelige
mortal
framewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,the
tilknytning
attachment
whichIspeakofisthemeresensuous
sympati
sympathy
ofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
hyppig
frequent
transplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
ønskeligt
desirable
toknow.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseits
moralske
moral
quality.
Thefigureofthatfirst
forfader
ancestor
,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI
næppe
scarcely
claiminreferencetothepresent
fase
phase
ofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
bopæl
residence
hereonaccountofthisgrave,
skæggede
bearded
,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
havn
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
sjældent
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
hersker
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewisea
bitre
bitter
persecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,and
relatere
relate
anincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
arvede
inherited
thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmay
retfærdigt
fairly
besaidtohavelefta
plet
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
plet
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,inthe
Charter
Charter
Streetburial-ground,muststill
beholde
retain
it,iftheyhavenotcrumbled
helt
utterly
todust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenow
stønner
groaning
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
repræsentant
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
tilstrækkelig
sufficient
retributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
mos
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
hjemlige
domestic
scope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnot
positivt
positively
disgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursone
grå
gray
shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
måde
mode
ofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
menneskeheden
mankind
inhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
degenererede
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
kløft
gulf
oftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’s
tidligste
earliest
infancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestand
energiske
energetic
men,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
but
sjældent
seldom
ornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Efterhånden
Gradually
,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered
halvvejs
half-way
totheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
jord
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
arvelige
hereditary
placebeforethemast,
konfrontere
confronting
thesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuous
manddom
manhood
,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,and
blande
mingle
hisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
uafhængig
independent
ofanycharminthesceneryor
moralske
moral
circumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,but
instinkt
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
træt
weary
oftheoldwoodenhouses,the
mudder
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand
følelse
sentiment
,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
repræsentant
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Ikke desto mindre
Nevertheless
,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean
usund
unhealthy
one,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnot
blomstre
flourish
,anymorethana
kartoffel
potato
,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
jord
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
tilknytning
attachment
formynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformethe
uundgåelige
inevitable
centreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,I
steg
ascended
theflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhowereto
hjælpe
aid
meinmyweightyresponsibility,aschief
administrerende
executive
officeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
opholdssted
whereabouts
oftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
uafhængige
independent
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
generelt
generally
sofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
fast
firmly
onthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radikalt
radically
conservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynature
vane
habit
hadnoslightinfluence;
knyttet
attaching
himselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
forbedring
improvement
.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittleto
forstyrre
disturb
them,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall
erhvervet
acquired
anewleaseof
eksistens
existence
.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
åbenbart
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
forsikret
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir
optræden
appearance
attheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
krybe
creep
outintothewarm
solskin
sunshine
ofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown
fritid
leisure
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmy
repræsentation
representation
,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir
eneste
sole
principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisa
from
pious
consolationtome,that,throughmy
indblanding
interference
,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheeviland
korrupte
corrupt
practicesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
broderskab
brotherhood
thatthenewSurveyorwasnota
politiker
politician
,andthoughafaithful
Demokrat
Democrat
inprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
henvisning
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
aktiv
active
politicianbeenputintothis
indflydelsesrige
influential
post,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal
administration
administration
ofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold
korps
corps
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politiker
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe
øksen
axe
oftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
frygtede
dreaded
somesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
kind
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
to
opdage
detect
,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
skræmme
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall
etablerede
established
rule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,
vejet
weighed
bytheirownlackof
effektivitet
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more
ortodokse
orthodox
inpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
betydeligt
considerably
tothedetrimentofmyofficial
samvittighed
conscience
,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
krybe
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
bevidsthed
consciousness
ofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe
forskellige
various
formalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mægtig
Mighty
wastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof
værdifulde
valuable
merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly
under
beneath
theirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould
overgå
exceed
thevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey
fortsatte
proceeded
tolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquent
skib
vessel
.
Insteadofareprimandfortheir
tidligere
previous
negligence,thecaseseemedratherto
kræve
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
forsigtighed
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
anerkendelse
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
middel
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethan
almindeligt
commonly
disagreeable,itismy
tåbelige
foolish
habittocontracta
venlighed
kindness
forthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy
henseende
regard
,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternaland
beskyttende
protective
,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
blot
merely
communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intellekt
intellect
,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor
,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
solrig
sunny
andcheeryaspectaliketothegreen
gren
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmore
ligner
resembles
thephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
uretfærdighed
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,to
repræsentere
represent
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
helt
altogether
superiortothesluggishand
afhængige
dependent
modeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
størstedelen
majority
ofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
generelt
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheir
varierede
varied
experienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
korn
grain
ofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof
høste
harvesting
,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanent
permanent
Inspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,
farvet
dyed
inthewool,or,rather,borninthe
lilla
purple
;
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,and
tidligere
formerly
collectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
opdage
discover
inalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisflorid
kind
cheek
,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandhearty
aspekt
aspect
,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethe
krage
crow
ofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathim
blot
merely
asananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost
tilfredsstillende
satisfactory
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis
evne
capacity
,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
indkomst
income
,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
fjernelse
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfektion
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,themoderate
andel
proportion
ofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureof
moralske
moral
andspiritualingredients;
these
sidstnævnte
latter
qualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
mål
measure
tokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
besad
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
dybde
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,
hjulpet
aided
bythecheerfultemperthatgrew
uundgåeligt
inevitably
outofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
accept
acceptance
,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
modenhed
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
sorg
sorrow
enoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
kort
brief
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
ældre
elder
andgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
nysgerrighed
curiosity
,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
fænomen
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
overfladisk
shallow
,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absolut
absolute
nonentity,ineveryother.
My
konklusion
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;