The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittle
opmerkelijk
remarkable
,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impuls
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken
bezit
possession
ofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
lezer
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
beschrijving
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
greep
seize
thepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,
Griffier
Clerk
ofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
schrijver
author
addresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuch
vertrouwelijke
confidential
depthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect
sympathie
sympathy
;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
verdeelde
divided
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
bestaan
existence
bybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itis
nauwelijks
scarcely
decorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
spreker
speaker
standinsometrue
relatie
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe
naaste
closest
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,a
inheemse
native
reservebeingthawedbythisgenial
bewustzijn
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
sluier
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
auteur
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
schenden
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
schets
sketch
hasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin
literatuur
literature
,asexplaininghowalarge
deel
portion
ofthefollowingpagescameintomy
bezit
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
verhaal
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redacteur
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
relatie
relation
withthepublic.
In
vervullen
accomplishing
themainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
zwakke
faint
representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore
beschreven
described
,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe
auteur
author
happenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwith
vervallen
decayed
woodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsof
commercieel
commercial
life;
except,perhaps,a
schors
bark
orbrig,half-waydownits
melancholische
melancholy
length,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
lading
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe
getij
tide
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe
achterzijde
rear
oftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening
vooruitzicht
prospect
,andthenceacrossthe
haven
harbor
,standsaspaciousedificeof
bakstenen
brick
.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
precies
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
drijft
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebannerofthe
republiek
republic
;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dozijn
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
balkon
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrancehoversan
enorm
enormous
specimenoftheAmerican
adelaar
eagle
,withoutspreadwings,a
schild
shield
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach
klauw
claw
.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
snavel
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
dreigen
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Niettemin
Nevertheless
,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal
adelaar
eagle
;
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
kussen
pillow
.
Butshehasnogreat
tederheid
tenderness
,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher
klauw
claw
,adabofher
snavel
beak
,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
The
trottoir
pavement
roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
burger
citizen
ofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
haven
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
toestaan
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the
machtige
mighty
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frequente
frequent
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
begroeten
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
haven
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,
genadig
gracious
orinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished
reis
voyage
hasbeenrealizedin
goederen
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimundera
bulk
bulk
ofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
klerk
clerk
,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
zeilen
sailing
mimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
zeeman
sailor
inquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
bleek
pale
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee
aspect
aspect
,butcontributinganitemofnoslight
belang
importance
toourdecayingtrade.
Cluster
Cluster
alltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
More
vaak
frequently
,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—inthe
ingang
entry
,ifitweresummertime,orintheir
juiste
appropriate
rooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
af en toe
occasionally
mightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda
snurken
snore
,andwiththatlackofenergythat
onderscheidt
distinguishes
theoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceon
liefdadigheid
charity
,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirown
onafhankelijke
independent
exertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
ontvangst
receipt
ofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Bovendien
Furthermore
,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty
hoogte
height
;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
smalle
narrow
lane,andalonga
deel
portion
ofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
algemeen
generally
tobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
achtervolgen
haunt
theWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
grijs
gray
sand,inafashionthathas
elders
elsewhere
fallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
concluderen
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa
heiligdom
sanctuary
intowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the
bezem
broom
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayof
meubels
furniture
,thereisastovewithavoluminous
trechter
funnel
;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughthe
plafond
ceiling
,andformsamediumof
vocale
vocal
communicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhis
elleboog
elbow
onthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
lezer
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
vragen
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomof
hervorming
reform
hasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
opvolger
successor
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhave
gewoond
dwelt
muchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactual
verblijf
residence
here.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspect
aspect
isconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe
schiereiland
peninsula
,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest
elders
elsewhere
,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
uitdrukking
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
genegenheid
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the
vroegste
earliest
emigrantofmyname,madehis
verschijning
appearance
inthewildandforest-bordered
nederzetting
settlement
,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehis
nakomelingen
descendants
havebeenbornanddied,andhave
vermengd
mingled
theirearthysubstancewiththe
bodem
soil
;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothe
sterfelijke
mortal
framewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,the
gehechtheid
attachment
whichIspeakofisthemeresensuous
sympathie
sympathy
ofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frequente
frequent
transplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
wenselijk
desirable
toknow.
Butthe
sentiment
sentiment
haslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirst
voorouder
ancestor
,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstill
achtervolgt
haunts
me,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI
nauwelijks
scarcely
claiminreferencetothepresent
fase
phase
ofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
haven
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
zelden
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
heerser
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewisea
bittere
bitter
persecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
erfde
inherited
thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
vlek
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
vlek
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,inthe
Charter
Charter
Streetburial-ground,muststill
behouden
retain
it,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
bekeren
repent
,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
vertegenwoordiger
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold
stam
trunk
ofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
mos
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveever
gekoesterd
cherished
,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
waardeloos
worthless
,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
mensheid
mankind
inhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
gedegenereerde
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
kloof
gulf
oftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’s
vroegste
earliest
infancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle
onwaardig
unworthy
member;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany
gedenkwaardige
memorable
deed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Geleidelijk
Gradually
,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
bodem
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
pensioen
retiring
fromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
erfelijke
hereditary
placebeforethemast,
geconfronteerd
confronting
thesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
hut
cabin
,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,and
vermengen
mingle
hisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
begrafenis
burial
,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
onafhankelijk
independent
ofanycharminthe
landschap
scenery
ormoralcircumstancesthat
omringen
surround
him.
Itisnotlove,but
instinct
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
kruipt
creeping
,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
moe
weary
oftheoldwoodenhouses,the
modder
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand
sentiment
sentiment
,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
vertegenwoordiger
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Niettemin
Nevertheless
,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean
ongezonde
unhealthy
one,shouldatlastbe
verbroken
severed
.
Humannaturewillnot
bloeien
flourish
,anymorethana
aardappel
potato
,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
bodem
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
gehechtheid
attachment
formynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s
bakstenen
brick
edifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
centrum
centre
oftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s
commissie
commission
inmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe
korps
corps
ofgentlemenwhowereto
helpen
aid
meinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
verblijfplaats
whereabouts
oftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
onafhankelijke
independent
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
algemeen
generally
sofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe
voetstuk
pedestal
ofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radicaal
radically
conservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynature
gewoonte
habit
hadnoslightinfluence;
hechtte
attaching
himselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally
gedreven
drifted
intothisquietnook;
where,withlittleto
storen
disturb
them,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall
verwierven
acquired
anewleaseof
bestaan
existence
.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
blijkbaar
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
verzekerd
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir
verschijning
appearance
attheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
kruipen
creep
outintothewarm
zon
sunshine
ofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureand
gemak
convenience
,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imust
pleiten
plead
guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
republiek
republic
.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir
enige
sole
principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisa
vroom
pious
consolationtome,that,throughmy
inmenging
interference
,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheeviland
corrupte
corrupt
practicesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
broederschap
brotherhood
thatthenewSurveyorwasnota
politicus
politician
,andthoughafaithful
Democraat
Democrat
inprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
verwijzing
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
actieve
active
politicianbeenputintothis
invloedrijke
influential
post,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig
Verzamelaar
Collector
,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold
korps
corps
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politicus
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe
bijl
axe
oftheguillotine.
Itwas
duidelijk
plain
enoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
vreesden
dreaded
somesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
vermaakte
amused
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
wang
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashy
bleek
pale
attheglanceofsoharmlessan
individu
individual
asmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
schrikken
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as
beschouwden
regarded
someofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof
efficiëntie
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more
orthodox
orthodox
inpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficial
geweten
conscience
,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
kruipen
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
gekanteld
tilted
backagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
ontdekking
discovery
wassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
bewustzijn
consciousness
ofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe
verschillende
various
formalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheir
ophef
fuss
aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof
waardevolle
valuable
merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould
overtreffen
exceed
thevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquent
schip
vessel
.
Insteadofareprimandfortheir
eerdere
previous
negligence,thecaseseemedratherto
vereisen
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
voorzichtigheid
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
erkenning
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
remedie
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismy
dwaze
foolish
habittocontracta
vriendelijkheid
kindness
forthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
gunstig
favorable
tothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwas
aangenaam
pleasant
,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas
aangenaam
pleasant
tohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intellect
intellect
,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor
,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
zonnig
sunny
andcheeryaspectaliketothegreen
tak
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisreal
zonneschijn
sunshine
;
intheother,itmore
lijkt
resembles
thephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
onrechtvaardigheid
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intellectuele
intellectual
tenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmy
korps
corps
ofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
algemeen
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainof
praktische
practical
wisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof
oogsten
harvesting
,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanofthe
schipbreuk
shipwreck
offortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeir
jeugdige
youthful
eyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe
respectabele
respectable
bodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanente
permanent
Inspector.
Hemighttrulybetermeda
wettige
legitimate
sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthe
wol
wool
,or,rather,borninthepurple;
sincehissire,a
Revolutionaire
Revolutionary
colonel,andformerlycollectorofthe
haven
port
,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and
benoemde
appointed
himtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
ontdekken
discover
inalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisflorid
wang
cheek
,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost
bevredigend
satisfactory
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthat
extreme
extreme
age,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or
bedacht
conceived
of.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
inkomen
income
,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
verwijdering
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmore
krachtige
potent
causes,however,layintherare
perfectie
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,the
gematigde
moderate
proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureof
morele
moral
andspiritualingredients;
these
laatste
latter
qualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
bezat
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
diepte
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,
geholpen
aided
bythecheerfultemperthatgrew
onvermijdelijk
inevitably
outofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
acceptatie
acceptance
,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
volwassenheid
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
korte
brief
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentire
last
burden
ofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
baby
infant
;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
klerk
clerk
,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
oudere
elder
andgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
nieuwsgierigheid
curiosity
,thananyotherformof
menselijkheid
humanity
therepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
fenomeen
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
oppervlakkig
shallow
,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absolute
absolute
nonentity,ineveryother.
My
conclusie
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;