The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening German B2

The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening German B2

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittle
bemerkenswert
remarkable
,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impuls
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken
besitz
possession
ofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
leser
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
beschreibung
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
zuhörer
listener
ortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
autor
author
addresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
offenbarung
revelation
ascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedivided
segment
segment
ofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
existenz
existence
bybringinghiminto
gemeinschaft
communion
withit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
redner
speaker
standinsometrue
beziehung
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenial
bewusstsein
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
schleier
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autor
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
verletzen
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
skizze
sketch
hasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways
anerkannt
recognized
inliterature,asexplaininghowalarge
teil
portion
ofthefollowingpagescameintomy
besitz
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
erzählung
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
herausgeber
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
beziehung
relation
withthepublic.
Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaint
darstellung
representation
ofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe
autor
author
happenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
except,perhaps,a
rinde
bark
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy
länge
length
,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
ladung
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening
aussicht
prospect
,andthenceacrossthe
hafen
harbor
,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
genau
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
schwebt
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the
banner
banner
oftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dutzend
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
balkon
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrancehoversanenormous
exemplar
specimen
oftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a
schild
shield
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach
klaue
claw
.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
schnabel
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
drohen
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nichtsdestotrotz
Nevertheless
,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,to
schützen
shelter
themselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
kissen
pillow
.
Butshehasnogreat
zärtlichkeit
tenderness
,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher
klaue
claw
,adabofher
schnabel
beak
,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
hafen
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
erlauben
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themighty
flut
flood
ofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheir
abreise
departure
thitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
begrüßen
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
hafen
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,
fröhlich
cheerful
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenow
vollendeten
accomplished
voyagehasbeenrealizedin
waren
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorin
suche
quest
ofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee
aspekt
aspect
,butcontributinganitemofnoslight
bedeutung
importance
toourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
gelegentlich
occasionally
mightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda
schnarchen
snore
,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho
abhängen
depend
forsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized
arbeit
labor
,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Darüber
Furthermore
,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty
höhe
height
;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrow
gasse
lane
,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
heimsuchen
haunt
theWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathas
anderswo
elsewhere
fallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
schließen
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa
heiligtum
sanctuary
intowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the
besen
broom
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayoffurniture,thereisa
herd
stove
withavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
hocker
stool
besideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughthe
decke
ceiling
,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
hocker
stool
,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
leser
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe
sonnenschein
sunshine
glimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
fragen
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomof
reform
reform
hasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshis
würde
dignity
,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspekt
aspect
isconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe
halbinsel
peninsula
,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
ausdruck
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
zuneigung
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
boden
soil
.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-bordered
siedlung
settlement
,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehis
nachkommen
descendants
havebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthy
substanz
substance
withthesoil;
untilnosmall
teil
portion
ofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortal
rahmen
frame
wherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuous
sympathie
sympathy
ofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
wünschenswert
desirable
toknow.
Butthe
gefühl
sentiment
haslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstill
verfolgt
haunts
me,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaimin
bezug
reference
tothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
wohnsitz
residence
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
hafen
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
selten
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
herrscher
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
fleck
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
fleck
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststill
behalten
retain
it,iftheyhavenotcrumbled
völlig
utterly
todust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
vertreter
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold
stamm
trunk
ofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
moos
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
wertlos
worthless
,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
menschheit
mankind
inhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
degenerierte
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthem
verachten
scorn
meastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’s
frühesten
earliest
infancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
but
selten
seldom
ornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorable
tat
deed
,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Allmählich
Gradually
,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
boden
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethe
mast
mast
,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
hütte
cabin
,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofany
charme
charm
inthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthat
umgeben
surround
him.
Itisnotlove,but
instinkt
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
müde
weary
oftheoldwoodenhouses,the
schlamm
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
vertreter
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nichtsdestotrotz
Nevertheless
,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbe
abgebrochen
severed
.
Humannaturewillnot
blühen
flourish
,anymorethana
kartoffel
potato
,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
boden
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
zentrum
centre
oftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe
korps
corps
ofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
aufenthaltsort
whereabouts
oftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
unabhängige
independent
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallyso
zerbrechlich
fragile
.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
fest
firmly
onthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradically
konservativ
conservative
;
amanoverwhosekindlynature
gewohnheit
habit
hadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimself
stark
strongly
tofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
verbesserung
improvement
.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally
getrieben
drifted
intothisquietnook;
where,withlittleto
stören
disturb
them,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall
erwarben
acquired
anewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
offenbar
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
versichert
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
kriechen
creep
outintothewarm
sonnenschein
sunshine
ofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown
freizeit
leisure
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
republik
republic
.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapious
trost
consolation
tome,that,throughmy
einmischung
interference
,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
bruderschaft
brotherhood
thatthenewSurveyorwasnota
politiker
politician
,andthoughafaithful
Demokrat
Democrat
inprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
hinweis
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactive
politiker
politician
beenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig
Sammler
Collector
,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal
verwaltung
administration
ofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold
korps
corps
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politiker
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe
axt
axe
oftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
wange
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe
blick
glance
ofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
erschrecken
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as
betrachteten
regarded
someofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof
effizienz
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more
orthodox
orthodox
inpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
erheblich
considerably
tothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
kriechen
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
geneigt
tilted
backagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
entdeckung
discovery
wassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
bewusstsein
consciousness
ofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,and
wunderbar
marvellous
,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable
waren
merchandise
hadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly
unter
beneath
theirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheirprevious
nachlässigkeit
negligence
,thecaseseemedratherto
erfordern
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
vorsicht
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
anerkennung
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
heilmittel
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethan
gewöhnlich
commonly
disagreeable,itismy
töricht
foolish
habittocontracta
freundlichkeit
kindness
forthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositionin
bezug
reference
tothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
günstig
favorable
tothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
lediglich
merely
communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intellekt
intellect
,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor
,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
sonnigen
sunny
andcheeryaspectaliketothegreen
zweig
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisreal
sonnenschein
sunshine
;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
ungerechtigkeit
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishand
abhängigen
dependent
modeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
mehrheit
majority
ofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
allgemein
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
korn
grain
ofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthe
wolle
wool
,or,rather,borninthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,and
früher
formerly
collectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and
ernannt
appointed
himtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
entdecken
discover
inalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisflorid
wange
cheek
,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,
insgesamt
altogether
heseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethe
krähen
crow
ofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathim
nur
merely
asananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
einkommen
income
,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
entfernung
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass
leicht
lightly
overhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfektion
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,the
mäßigen
moderate
proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
besaß
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
tiefe
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrew
zwangsläufig
inevitably
outofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
akzeptanz
acceptance
,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
reife
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
trauer
sorrow
enoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebrief
seufzer
sigh
sufficedtocarryofftheentire
last
burden
ofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
sport
sport
asanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
angestellte
clerk
,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
neugier
curiosity
,thananyotherformof
menschlichkeit
humanity
therepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
phänomen
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absolute
absolute
nonentity,ineveryother.
My
schlussfolgerung
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;