The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Portuguese B2 Books

The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Portuguese B2 Books

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittle
notável
remarkable
,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impulso
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken
posse
possession
ofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno
terrena
earthly
reason,thateithertheindulgent
leitor
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
descrição
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
agarro
seize
thepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
autor
author
addresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehis
volume
volume
,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
revelação
revelation
ascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyand
exclusivamente
exclusively
,totheoneheartandmindofperfect
simpatia
sympathy
;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
dividido
divided
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
existência
existence
bybringinghiminto
comunhão
communion
withit.
Itis
dificilmente
scarcely
decorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
orador
speaker
standinsometrue
relação
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe
próximo
closest
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anative
reserva
reserve
beingthawedbythisgenial
consciência
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
véu
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autor
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
violar
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,
igualmente
likewise
,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin
literatura
literature
,asexplaininghowalarge
parte
portion
ofthefollowingpagescameintomy
posse
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
narrativa
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
editor
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
relação
relation
withthepublic.
In
realizar
accomplishing
themainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
fraca
faint
representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore
descrito
described
,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe
autor
author
happenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,and
exibe
exhibits
fewornosymptomsof
comercial
commercial
life;
except,perhaps,a
casca
bark
orbrig,half-waydownits
melancólico
melancholy
length,discharginghides;
or,
perto
nearer
athand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
carga
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe
maré
tide
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe
trás
rear
oftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening
perspectiva
prospect
,andthenceacrossthe
porto
harbor
,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
precisamente
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
flutua
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the
bandeira
banner
oftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indicando
indicating
thatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere
estabelecido
established
.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dúzia
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
varanda
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwide
granito
granite
stepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrance
paira
hovers
anenormousspecimenoftheAmerican
águia
eagle
,withoutspreadwings,a
escudo
shield
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach
garra
claw
.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperamento
temper
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
bico
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
ameaçar
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
No entanto
Nevertheless
,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal
águia
eagle
;
imagining,Ipresume,thather
peito
bosom
hasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
almofada
pillow
.
Butshehasnogreat
ternura
tenderness
,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher
garra
claw
,adabofher
bico
beak
,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
The
pavimento
pavement
roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinous
resort
resort
ofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
cidadão
citizen
ofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
porto
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
permitem
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themighty
inundação
flood
ofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe
prestes
verge
oftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frequentes
frequent
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe
granito
granite
steps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
cumprimentar
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
porto
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnished
lata
tin
box.
Here,too,comeshisowner,
alegre
cheerful
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashis
esquema
scheme
ofthenowaccomplished
viagem
voyage
hasbeenrealizedin
mercadoria
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
funcionário
clerk
,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
navegando
sailing
mimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
marinheiro
sailor
inquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
pálido
pale
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee
aspecto
aspect
,butcontributinganitemofnoslight
importância
importance
toourdecayingtrade.
Cluster
Cluster
alltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,on
subir
ascending
thesteps,youwoulddiscern—inthe
entrada
entry
,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir
traseiras
hind
legsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
ocasionalmente
occasionally
mightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda
ronco
snore
,andwiththatlackofenergythat
distingue
distinguishes
theoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho
dependem
depend
forsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized
trabalho
labor
,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
recepção
receipt
ofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Além disso
Furthermore
,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty
altura
height
;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
estreita
narrow
lane,andalonga
parte
portion
ofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
geralmente
generally
tobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
assombrar
haunt
theWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
concluir
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa
santuário
sanctuary
intowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the
vassoura
broom
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayof
móveis
furniture
,thereisastovewithavoluminous
funil
funnel
;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
banquinho
stool
besideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof
Congresso
Congress
,andabulkyDigestofthe
Receita
Revenue
Laws.
Atinpipe
sobe
ascends
throughtheceiling,andformsa
meio
medium
ofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
banco
stool
,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vagando
wandering
upanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
leitor
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe
sol
sunshine
glimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe
salgueiro
willow
branches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
perguntar
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomof
reforma
reform
hasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
sucessor
successor
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordid
possuía
possess
,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof
real
actual
residencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspecto
aspect
isconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
extensão
extent
ofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariably
feliz
happiest
elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
frase
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
afeição
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
solo
soil
.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis
aparição
appearance
inthewildandforest-bordered
assentamento
settlement
,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehis
descendentes
descendants
havebeenbornanddied,andhave
misturaram
mingled
theirearthysubstancewiththe
solo
soil
;
untilnosmallportionofitmust
necessariamente
necessarily
beakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,the
apego
attachment
whichIspeakofisthe
mera
mere
sensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frequente
frequent
transplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
desejável
desirable
toknow.
Butthe
sentimento
sentiment
haslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirst
antepassado
ancestor
,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstill
assombra
haunts
me,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI
mal
scarcely
claiminreferencetothepresent
fase
phase
ofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
residência
residence
hereonaccountofthisgrave,
barbudo
bearded
,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
porto
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
raramente
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
governante
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewas
igualmente
likewise
abitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
herdou
inherited
thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
mancha
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
mancha
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbled
completamente
utterly
todust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
arrepender
repent
,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenow
gemendo
groaning
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
representante
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
suficiente
sufficient
retributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold
tronco
trunk
ofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
musgo
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
doméstico
domestic
scope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
inútil
worthless
,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
modo
mode
ofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
humanidade
mankind
inhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
degenerado
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
abismo
gulf
oftime!
Andyet,letthem
desprezar
scorn
meastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle
indigno
unworthy
member;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany
memorável
memorable
deed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradualmente
Gradually
,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
solo
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
retirando
retiring
fromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
hereditário
hereditary
placebeforethemast,
enfrentando
confronting
thesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
cabana
cabin
,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,and
misturar
mingle
hisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
sepultamento
burial
,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
independente
independent
ofanycharminthe
cenário
scenery
ormoralcircumstancesthat
rodeiam
surround
him.
Itisnotlove,but
instinto
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
rastejando
creeping
,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
cansado
weary
oftheoldwoodenhouses,the
lama
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand
sentimento
sentiment
,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean
terrestre
earthly
paradise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
representante
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
No entanto
Nevertheless
,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean
insalubre
unhealthy
one,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnot
prosperará
flourish
,anymorethana
batata
potato
,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
solo
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
apego
attachment
formynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformethe
inevitável
inevitable
centreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,I
subi
ascended
theflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s
comissão
commission
inmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe
corpo
corps
ofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschief
executivo
executive
officeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
paradeiro
whereabouts
oftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
independente
independent
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
geralmente
generally
sofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
firmemente
firmly
onthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radicalmente
radically
conservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynature
hábito
habit
hadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimself
fortemente
strongly
tofamiliarfaces,andwith
dificuldade
difficulty
movedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
melhoria
improvement
.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa
Presidencial
Presidential
election,theyoneandall
adquiriram
acquired
anewleaseof
existência
existence
.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
evidentemente
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
assegurado
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir
aparição
appearance
attheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
rastejando
creep
outintothewarm
sol
sunshine
ofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureand
conveniência
convenience
,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imust
declarar
plead
guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
república
republic
.
Theywereallowed,onmy
representação
representation
,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir
único
sole
principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapious
consolo
consolation
tome,that,throughmyinterference,a
suficiente
sufficient
spacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
irmandade
brotherhood
thatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthougha
fiel
faithful
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
referência
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
ativo
active
politicianbeenputintothis
influente
influential
post,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig
Coletor
Collector
,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal
administração
administration
ofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold
corpo
corps
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
político
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe
machado
axe
oftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
divertia
amused
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
bochecha
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe
olhar
glance
ofsoharmlessan
indivíduo
individual
asmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
assustar
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as
considerado
regarded
someofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof
eficiência
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,and
completamente
altogether
fitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
consideravelmente
considerably
tothedetrimentofmyofficial
consciência
conscience
,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
rastejar
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
descoberta
discovery
wassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
consciência
consciousness
ofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown
nome
behalf
,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Poderoso
Mighty
wastheirfussaboutlittlematters,and
maravilhoso
marvellous
,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeen
contrabandeado
smuggled
ashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly
debaixo
beneath
theirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould
exceder
exceed
thevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey
prosseguiram
proceeded
tolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthe
delinquente
delinquent
vessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheir
anterior
previous
negligence,thecaseseemedratherto
exigir
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
cautela
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
reconhecimento
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
remédio
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethan
comumente
commonly
disagreeable,itismy
tolo
foolish
habittocontracta
bondade
kindness
forthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy
consideração
regard
,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
favorável
favorable
tothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwas
agradável
pleasant
,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
apenas
merely
communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas
agradável
pleasant
tohearthemchattingintheback
entrada
entry
,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intelecto
intellect
,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor
,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
ensolarado
sunny
andcheeryaspectaliketothegreen
ramo
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisreal
sol
sunshine
;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescent
brilho
glow
ofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
injustiça
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,to
representar
represent
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
completamente
altogether
superiortothesluggishand
dependente
dependent
modeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intelectual
intellectual
tenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
maioria
majority
ofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
geralmente
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworth
preservação
preservation
fromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
grão
grain
ofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
esquadrão
squad
ofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe
respeitável
respectable
bodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanente
permanent
Inspector.
Hemighttrulybetermeda
legítimo
legitimate
sonoftherevenuesystem,
tingido
dyed
inthewool,or,rather,borninthe
púrpura
purple
;
sincehissire,a
Revolucionário
Revolutionary
colonel,andformerlycollectorofthe
porto
port
,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and
nomeou
appointed
himtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
descobriria
discover
inalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisflorid
bochecha
cheek
,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandhearty
aspecto
aspect
,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethe
corvo
crow
ofacock,orthe
explosão
blast
ofaclarion.
Lookingathim
meramente
merely
asananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost
satisfatório
satisfactory
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis
capacidade
capacity
,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or
concebido
conceived
of.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
renda
income
,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
remoção
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass
levemente
lightly
overhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfeição
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,the
moderada
moderate
proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
medida
measure
tokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
possuía
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
profundidade
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythe
alegre
cheerful
temperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
aceitação
acceptance
,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
maturidade
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
tristeza
sorrow
enoughtoimbuethesunniest
disposição
disposition
,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
breve
brief
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentire
fardo
burden
ofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
bebê
infant
;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
mais velho
elder
andgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
curiosidade
curiosity
,thananyotherformof
humanidade
humanity
therepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
fenómeno
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
superficial
shallow
,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
My
conclusão
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;