The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impulso

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken

possesso

possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent

lettore

readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha

descrizione

descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda

ascoltatore

listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehis

volume

volume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and

indulgono

indulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof

rivelazione

revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyand

esclusivamente

exclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect

simpatia

sympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe

diviso

dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof

esistenza

existencebybringinghiminto

comunione

communionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue

relazione

relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anative

riserva

reservebeingthawedbythisgenial

coscienza

consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

velo

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

autore

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without

violare

violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House

disegno

sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin

letteratura

literature,asexplaininghowalarge

parte

portionofthefollowingpagescameintomy

possesso

possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa

narrazione

narrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas

redattore

editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal

rapporto

relationwiththepublic.

compiere

accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea

debole

faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretofore

descritto

described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsof

commerciale

commerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

corteccia

barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy

lunghezza

length,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

carico

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe

marea

tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe

posteriore

rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening

prospettiva

prospect,andthenceacrossthe

porto

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeof

di mattoni

brick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during

esattamente

preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,

galleggia

floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the

bandiera

banneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus

indicando

indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere

stabilito

established.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

dozzina

dozenwoodenpillars,supportinga

balcone

balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwide

granito

granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrancehoversan

enorme

enormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a

scudo

shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach

artiglio

claw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher

becco

beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

minacciare

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;

imagining,I

presumo

presume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

cuscino

pillow.

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

artiglio

claw,adabofher

becco

beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

The

marciapiede

pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinous

ricorso

resortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmove

avanti

onwardwithaliveliertread.

Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly

cittadino

citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa

porto

portbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who

permettono

permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto

gonfiarsi

swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the

potente

mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof

frequenti

frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe

granito

granitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay

salutare

greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justin

porto

port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,

allegro

cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished

viaggio

voyagehasbeenrealizedin

merce

merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

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

impiegato

clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe

navigasse

sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound

marinaio

sailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,

pallido

paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but

contribuendo

contributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

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

frequentemente

frequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheir

appropriate

appropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir

posteriori

hindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda

russare

snore,andwiththatlackofenergythat

distingue

distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho

dipendono

dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized

lavoro

labor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe

ricevimento

receiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalonga

parte

portionofDerbyStreet.

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

aroundthedoorsofwhichare

generalmente

generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathas

altrove

elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasyto

concludere

conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa

santuario

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayof

mobili

furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminous

imbuto

funnel;

anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged

sgabello

stoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof

Congresso

Congress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

stagno

tinpipeascendsthroughthe

soffitto

ceiling,andformsamediumof

vocale

vocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged

sgabello

stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes

vagavano

wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored

lettore

reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe

sole

sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe

salice

willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould

chiederete

inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomof

riforma

reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthier

successore

successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof

reale

actualresidencehere.

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

estensione

extentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteas

ragionevole

reasonabletoformasentimental

attaccamento

attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariably

felice

happiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

frase

phrase,Imustbecontenttocall

affetto

affection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe

suolo

soil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis

apparizione

appearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhave

mescolato

mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththe

suolo

soil;

untilnosmallportionofitmust

necessariamente

necessarilybeakintothe

mortale

mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthe

semplice

meresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,as

frequente

frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit

desiderabile

desirabletoknow.

Butthe

sentimento

sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirst

antenato

ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaimin

riferimento

referencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa

residenza

residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,

barbuto

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

porto

port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

raramente

seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewasa

sovrano

rulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,and

raccontano

relateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,

ereditò

inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta

macchia

stainuponhim.

Sodeepa

macchia

stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto

pentirsi

repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenow

gemono

groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir

rappresentante

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

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea

sufficiente

sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold

tronco

trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable

muschio

mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveever

amato

cherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits

domestico

domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan

inutile

worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what

modo

modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,the

degenerato

degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe

golfo

gulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,

disonorato

disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;

but

raramente

seldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany

memorabile

memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew

suolo

soil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,

ritirava

retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe

ereditario

hereditaryplacebeforethemast,

affrontando

confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe

cabina

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

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand

sepoltura

burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite

indipendente

independentofanycharminthe

paesaggio

sceneryormoralcircumstancesthat

circondano

surroundhim.

Itisnotlove,but

istinto

instinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis

strisciando

creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheis

stanco

wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the

fango

mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand

sentimento

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

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean

terrestre

earthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone

rappresentante

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

Nevertheless,thisvery

sentimento

sentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean

malsano

unhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannaturewillnot

fiorirà

flourish,anymorethana

patata

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out

suolo

soil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous

attaccamento

attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s

di mattoni

brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

destino

doomwasonme.

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

orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable

centro

centreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,I

salii

ascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s

commissione

commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe

corpo

corpsofgentlemenwhowereto

aiutato

aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

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

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the

indipendente

independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice

generalmente

generallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost

distinto

distinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe

piedistallo

pedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradically

conservatore

conservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslight

influenza

influence;

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwith

difficoltà

difficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable

miglioramento

improvement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa

Presidenziale

Presidentialelection,theyoneandall

acquisito

acquiredanewleaseof

esistenza

existence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad

evidentemente

evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas

assicurato

assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir

apparizione

appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,would

strisciare

creepoutintothewarm

sole

sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown

tempo libero

leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe

repubblica

republic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsole

principio

principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapious

consolazione

consolationtome,that,throughmy

interferenza

interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthougha

fedele

faithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany

riferimento

referencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan

attivo

activepoliticianbeenputintothis

influente

influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig

Collezionista

Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold

corpo

corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina

politico

politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows

temevano

dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametime

divertiva

amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowed

guancia

cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe

sguardo

glanceofsoharmlessan

individuo

individualasmyself;

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

spaventare

frightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall

stabilite

establishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,

pesati

weighedbytheirownlackof

efficienza

efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,and

del tutto

altogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and

considerevolmente

considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficial

coscienza

conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to

strisciare

creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs

inclinate

tiltedbackagainstthewall;

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

Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy

coscienza

consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown

favore

behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Potente

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable

merce

merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly

sotto

beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey

proceduto

proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthe

delinquente

delinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheir

previousnegligence,thecaseseemedratherto

richiedere

requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy

cautela

caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agrateful

riconoscimento

recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany

rimedio

remedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethan

comunemente

commonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolish

abitudine

habittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

favorevole

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwas

piacevole

pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,

semplicemente

merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas

piacevole

pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

soleggiato

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

ramo

branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisreal

sole

sunshine;

intheother,itmore

assomiglia

resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesad

ingiustizia

injustice,thereadermustunderstand,to

rappresentare

representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and

del tutto

altogethersuperiortothesluggishand

dipendente

dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan

intellettuale

intellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmy

corpo

corpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem

generalmente

generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworth

conservazione

preservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden

grano

grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof

raccogliere

harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

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

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle

squadra

squadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe

rispettabile

respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain

permanente

permanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermeda

legittimo

legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,

tinto

dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthe

porpora

purple;

sincehissire,a

Rivoluzionario

Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthe

porto

port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and

nominato

appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto

scoprire

discoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisflorid

guancia

cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

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

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathim

semplicemente

merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost

soddisfacente

satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis

capacità

capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or

concepito

conceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular

reddito

income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof

rimozione

removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass

leggermente

lightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare

perfezione

perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderate

proporzione

proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough

misura

measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

possedeva

possessednopowerofthought,no

profondità

depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythe

allegro

cheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor

maturità

maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen

dolore

sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniest

disposizione

disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

One

breve

briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor

sport

sportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior

impiegato

clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe

anziano

elderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier

curiosità

curiosity,thananyotherformof

umanità

humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

fenomeno

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

superficiale

shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.

conclusione

conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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