The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening French B2 Translation Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THE

Écarlate

SCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittle

remarquable

remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impulsion

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken

possession

possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno

terrestre

earthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha

description

descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda

auditeur

listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain

saisis

seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,

Greffier

ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehis

volume

volume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and

se livrent

indulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof

révélation

revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyand

exclusivement

exclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect

sympathie

sympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe

divisé

dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itis

guère

scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue

relation

relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe

plus

closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anative

réserve

reservebeingthawedbythisgenial

conscience

consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

voile

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

auteur

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without

violer

violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,

également

likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin

littérature

literature,asexplaininghowalarge

partie

portionofthefollowingpagescameintomy

possession

possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativetherein

contenu

contained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal

relation

relationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaint

représentation

representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore

décrit

described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

Inmy

natale

nativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

écorce

barkorbrig,half-waydownits

mélancolique

melancholylength,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

cargaison

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe

marée

tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening

perspective

prospect,andthenceacrossthe

port

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,

flotte

floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the

bannière

banneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus

indiquant

indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere

établi

established.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

douzaine

dozenwoodenpillars,supportinga

balcon

balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwide

granit

granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrancehoversan

énorme

enormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a

bouclier

shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityof

tempérament

temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher

bec

beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

menacer

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Néanmoins

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;

imagining,I

suppose

presume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

oreiller

pillow.

Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher

griffe

claw,adabofher

bec

beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

The

trottoir

pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa

port

portbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who

permettent

permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto

gonfler

swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themighty

inondation

floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe

granit

granitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay

saluer

greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justin

port

port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,

gracieux

graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashis

plan

schemeofthenowaccomplished

voyage

voyagehasbeenrealizedin

marchandises

merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung

greffier

clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe

naviguer

sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound

marin

sailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,

pâle

paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but

contribuant

contributinganitemofno

légère

slightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.

fréquemment

frequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,but

parfois

occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda

ronflement

snore,andwiththatlackofenergythat

distingue

distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho

dépendent

dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe

réception

receiptofcustoms,butnotvery

susceptibles

liabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

En outre

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa

étroite

narrowlane,andalonga

partie

portionofDerbyStreet.

Allthreegive

aperçu

glimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;

aroundthedoorsofwhichare

généralement

generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas

hantent

haunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewnwith

gris

graysand,inafashionthathas

ailleurs

elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasyto

conclure

conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa

sanctuaire

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayof

meubles

furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminous

entonnoir

funnel;

anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged

tabouret

stoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof

Congrès

Congress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atin

tuyau

pipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsa

moyen

mediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged

tabouret

stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes

errant

wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,thesame

individu

individualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe

soleil

sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe

saule

willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould

renseigneriez

inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomof

réforme

reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthier

successeur

successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhave

habité

dweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof

réelle

actualresidencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe

péninsule

peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmy

natale

nativetown,itwouldbequiteas

raisonnable

reasonabletoformasentimental

attachement

attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariably

heureux

happiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

phrase

phrase,Imustbecontenttocall

affection

affection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe

sol

soil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis

apparition

appearanceinthewildandforest-bordered

colonie

settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthy

substance

substancewiththesoil;

untilnosmall

partie

portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuous

sympathie

sympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,as

fréquente

frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit

souhaitable

desirabletoknow.

Butthe

sentiment

sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirst

ancêtre

ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwitha

sombre

dimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstill

hante

hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI

à peine

scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresent

phase

phaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa

résidence

residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,

barbu

bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately

port

port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

rarement

seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewasarulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,

hérité

inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta

tache

stainuponhim.

Sodeepa

tache

stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststill

conserver

retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto

se repentir

repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenow

gémissent

groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir

représentant

representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold

tronc

trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable

mousse

mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits

domestique

domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnot

positivement

positivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what

mode

modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,the

dégénéré

degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthem

méprisent

scornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwo

sérieux

earnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,

déshonoré

disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;

but

rarement

seldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany

mémorable

memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhave

coulé

sunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered

mi-chemin

half-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew

sol

soil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,

retirait

retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe

héréditaire

hereditaryplacebeforethemast,

confrontant

confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe

cabane

cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofany

charme

charminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,butinstinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheis

fatigué

wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the

boue

mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand

sentiment

sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean

terrestre

earthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone

représentant

representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.

Néanmoins

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean

malsain

unhealthyone,shouldatlastbe

rompu

severed.

Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethana

pomme de terre

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous

attachement

attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformethe

inévitable

inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightof

granit

granitesteps,withthePresident’s

commission

commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionofthe

Collecteur

CollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice

généralement

generallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost

distingué

distinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe

piédestal

pedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwas

radicalement

radicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslight

influence

influence;

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable

amélioration

improvement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbut

âgés

agedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally

dérivé

driftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittleto

déranger

disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa

Présidentielle

Presidentialelection,theyoneandall

acquis

acquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad

évidemment

evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas

assuré

assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir

apparition

appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothewarm

soleil

sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown

loisir

leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imust

plaider

pleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe

république

republic.

Theywereallowed,onmy

représentation

representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir

seul

soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapious

consolation

consolationtome,that,throughmy

ingérence

interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

Itwaswellfortheirvenerable

fraternité

brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnota

homme politique

politician,andthoughafaithful

Démocrate

Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany

référence

referencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan

actif

activepoliticianbeenputintothis

influent

influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig

Collecteur

Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina

politicien

politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe

hache

axeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,to

voir

beholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowed

joue

cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashy

pâle

paleattheglanceofso

inoffensif

harmlessanindividualasmyself;

détecter

detect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto

effrayer

frightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as

considéraient

regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,and

tout à fait

altogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and

considérablement

considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficial

conscience

conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.

The

découverte

discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy

conscience

consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown

nom

behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Puissant

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,and

merveilleux

marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable

marchandises

merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly

sous

beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould

dépasser

exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey

procédaient

proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthe

délinquant

delinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheir

antérieure

previousnegligence,thecaseseemedratherto

exiger

requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy

prudence

caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agrateful

reconnaissance

recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany

remède

remedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethan

généralement

commonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolish

habitude

habittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy

égard

regard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

favorable

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwas

agréable

pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merely

communiquait

communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas

agréable

pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityof

âgés

agedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

ensoleillé

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

branche

branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisreal

soleil

sunshine;

intheother,itmore

ressemble

resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesad

injustice

injustice,thereadermustunderstand,to

représenter

representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and

tout à fait

altogethersuperiortothesluggishand

dépendant

dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan

intellectuel

intellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthe

majorité

majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem

généralement

generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden

grain

grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof

récolte

harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle

équipe

squadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe

respectable

respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain

permanent

permanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermeda

légitime

legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,

teint

dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthe

pourpre

purple;

sincehissire,a

Révolutionnaire

Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthe

port

port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and

nommé

appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto

découvrir

discoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisflorid

joue

cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,

tout à fait

altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost

satisfaisant

satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis

capacité

capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or

conçus

conceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular

revenu

income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubt

contribué

contributedtomaketimepass

légèrement

lightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare

perfection

perfectionofhisanimalnature,the

modérée

moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

possédait

possessednopowerofthought,no

profondeur

depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrew

inévitablement

inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,had

également

likewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen

chagrin

sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniest

disposition

disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

One

bref

briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentire

fardeau

burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched

bébé

infant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior

greffier

clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier

curiosité

curiosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

phénomène

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan

absolue

absolutenonentity,ineveryother.

conclusion

conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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