The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impulso
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken
possesso
possession
ofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
lettore
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
descrizione
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
ascoltatore
listener
ortwoontheformeroccasion—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
indulge
themselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
rivelazione
revelation
ascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyand
esclusivamente
exclusively
,totheoneheartandmindofperfect
simpatia
sympathy
;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
diviso
divided
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
esistenza
existence
bybringinghiminto
comunione
communion
withit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue
relazione
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anative
riserva
reserve
beingthawedbythisgenial
coscienza
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
velo
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autore
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
violare
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
disegno
sketch
hasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin
letteratura
literature
,asexplaininghowalarge
parte
portion
ofthefollowingpagescameintomy
possesso
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
narrazione
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redattore
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
rapporto
relation
withthepublic.
In
compiere
accomplishing
themainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
debole
faint
representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore
descritto
described
,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsof
commerciale
commercial
life;
except,perhaps,a
corteccia
bark
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy
lunghezza
length
,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
carico
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe
marea
tide
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe
posteriore
rear
oftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening
prospettiva
prospect
,andthenceacrossthe
porto
harbor
,standsaspaciousedificeof
di mattoni
brick
.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
esattamente
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
galleggia
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the
bandiera
banner
oftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indicando
indicating
thatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere
stabilito
established
.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dozzina
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
balcone
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwide
granito
granite
stepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrancehoversan
enorme
enormous
specimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a
scudo
shield
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach
artiglio
claw
.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
becco
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
minacciare
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
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
pavement
roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinous
ricorso
resort
ofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmove
avanti
onward
withaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
cittadino
citizen
ofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
porto
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
permettono
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto
gonfiarsi
swell
,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the
potente
mighty
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frequenti
frequent
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe
granito
granite
steps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
salutare
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
porto
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,
allegro
cheerful
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished
viaggio
voyage
hasbeenrealizedin
merce
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
impiegato
clerk
,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
navigasse
sailing
mimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
marinaio
sailor
inquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
pallido
pale
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
contribuendo
contributing
anitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
More
frequentemente
frequently
,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheir
appropriate
appropriate
rooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir
posteriori
hind
legsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda
russare
snore
,andwiththatlackofenergythat
distingue
distinguishes
theoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho
dipendono
depend
forsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized
lavoro
labor
,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
ricevimento
receipt
ofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalonga
parte
portion
ofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generalmente
generally
tobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathas
altrove
elsewhere
fallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
concludere
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa
santuario
sanctuary
intowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayof
mobili
furniture
,thereisastovewithavoluminous
imbuto
funnel
;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
sgabello
stool
besideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof
Congresso
Congress
,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
A
stagno
tin
pipeascendsthroughthe
soffitto
ceiling
,andformsamediumof
vocale
vocal
communicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
sgabello
stool
,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vagavano
wandering
upanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
lettore
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe
sole
sunshine
glimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe
salice
willow
branches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
chiederete
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomof
riforma
reform
hasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
successore
successor
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof
reale
actual
residencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
estensione
extent
ofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteas
ragionevole
reasonable
toformasentimental
attaccamento
attachment
toadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariably
felice
happiest
elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
frase
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
affetto
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
suolo
soil
.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis
apparizione
appearance
inthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhave
mescolato
mingled
theirearthysubstancewiththe
suolo
soil
;
untilnosmallportionofitmust
necessariamente
necessarily
beakintothe
mortale
mortal
framewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthe
semplice
mere
sensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frequente
frequent
transplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
desiderabile
desirable
toknow.
Butthe
sentimento
sentiment
haslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirst
antenato
ancestor
,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaimin
riferimento
reference
tothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
residenza
residence
hereonaccountofthisgrave,
barbuto
bearded
,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
porto
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
raramente
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
sovrano
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,and
raccontano
relate
anincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
ereditò
inherited
thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
macchia
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
macchia
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
pentirsi
repent
,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenow
gemono
groaning
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
rappresentante
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
sufficiente
sufficient
retributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold
tronco
trunk
ofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
muschio
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveever
amato
cherished
,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
domestico
domestic
scope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
inutile
worthless
,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
modo
mode
ofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
degenerato
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
golfo
gulf
oftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,
disonorato
disgraced
byasingleunworthymember;
but
raramente
seldom
ornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany
memorabile
memorable
deed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
suolo
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
ritirava
retiring
fromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
ereditario
hereditary
placebeforethemast,
affrontando
confronting
thesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
cabina
cabin
,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
sepoltura
burial
,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
indipendente
independent
ofanycharminthe
paesaggio
scenery
ormoralcircumstancesthat
circondano
surround
him.
Itisnotlove,but
istinto
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
strisciando
creeping
,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
stanco
weary
oftheoldwoodenhouses,the
fango
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand
sentimento
sentiment
,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean
terrestre
earthly
paradise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
rappresentante
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisvery
sentimento
sentiment
isanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean
malsano
unhealthy
one,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnot
fiorirà
flourish
,anymorethana
patata
potato
,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
suolo
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
attaccamento
attachment
formynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s
di mattoni
brick
edifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
My
destino
doom
wasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
centro
centre
oftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,I
salii
ascended
theflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s
commissione
commission
inmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe
corpo
corps
ofgentlemenwhowereto
aiutato
aid
meinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
indipendente
independent
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
generalmente
generally
sofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost
distinto
distinguished
soldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe
piedistallo
pedestal
ofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradically
conservatore
conservative
;
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslight
influenza
influence
;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwith
difficoltà
difficulty
movedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
miglioramento
improvement
.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa
Presidenziale
Presidential
election,theyoneandall
acquisito
acquired
anewleaseof
esistenza
existence
.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
evidentemente
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
assicurato
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir
apparizione
appearance
attheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
strisciare
creep
outintothewarm
sole
sunshine
ofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown
tempo libero
leisure
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
repubblica
republic
.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsole
principio
principle
oflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapious
consolazione
consolation
tome,that,throughmy
interferenza
interference
,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthougha
fedele
faithful
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
riferimento
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
attivo
active
politicianbeenputintothis
influente
influential
post,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig
Collezionista
Collector
,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold
corpo
corps
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politico
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
temevano
dreaded
somesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
divertiva
amused
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
guancia
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe
sguardo
glance
ofsoharmlessan
individuo
individual
asmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
spaventare
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall
stabilite
established
rule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,
pesati
weighed
bytheirownlackof
efficienza
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,and
del tutto
altogether
fitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
considerevolmente
considerably
tothedetrimentofmyofficial
coscienza
conscience
,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
strisciare
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
inclinate
tilted
backagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
coscienza
consciousness
ofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown
favore
behalf
,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Potente
Mighty
wastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable
merce
merchandise
hadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly
sotto
beneath
theirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey
proceduto
proceeded
tolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthe
delinquente
delinquent
vessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheir
precedente
previous
negligence,thecaseseemedratherto
richiedere
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
cautela
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
riconoscimento
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
rimedio
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethan
comunemente
commonly
disagreeable,itismyfoolish
abitudine
habit
tocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
favorevole
favorable
tothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwas
piacevole
pleasant
,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
semplicemente
merely
communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas
piacevole
pleasant
tohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
soleggiato
sunny
andcheeryaspectaliketothegreen
ramo
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisreal
sole
sunshine
;
intheother,itmore
assomiglia
resembles
thephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
ingiustizia
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,to
rappresentare
represent
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
del tutto
altogether
superiortothesluggishand
dipendente
dependent
modeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intellettuale
intellectual
tenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmy
corpo
corps
ofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
generalmente
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworth
conservazione
preservation
fromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
grano
grain
ofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof
raccogliere
harvesting
,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
squadra
squad
ofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe
rispettabile
respectable
bodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanente
permanent
Inspector.
Hemighttrulybetermeda
legittimo
legitimate
sonoftherevenuesystem,
tinto
dyed
inthewool,or,rather,borninthe
porpora
purple
;
sincehissire,a
Rivoluzionario
Revolutionary
colonel,andformerlycollectorofthe
porto
port
,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and
nominato
appointed
himtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
scoprire
discover
inalifetime’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
merely
asananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost
soddisfacente
satisfactory
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis
capacità
capacity
,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or
concepito
conceived
of.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
reddito
income
,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
rimozione
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass
leggermente
lightly
overhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfezione
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,themoderate
proporzione
proportion
ofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
misura
measure
tokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
possedeva
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
profondità
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythe
allegro
cheerful
temperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
maturità
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
dolore
sorrow
enoughtoimbuethesunniest
disposizione
disposition
,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
breve
brief
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
sport
sport
asanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
impiegato
clerk
,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
anziano
elder
andgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
curiosità
curiosity
,thananyotherformof
umanità
humanity
therepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
fenomeno
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
superficiale
shallow
,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
My
conclusione
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;