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The Scarlet Letter | Progressive Spanish A2 Translation Books

The Scarlet Letter | Progressive Spanish A2 Translation Books

This progressive translation technique brings multiple benefits to language learners. It lets you choose the difficulty level that matches your abilities, making sure the material is challenging but not too difficult. By focusing on understanding words in context, this method boosts your comprehension skills. While direct translations are slightly hidden to promote guessing from context, you can always check unfamiliar words. This approach makes learning a new language both engaging and accessible, offering the right mix of difficulty and encouragement. Embark on a journey through translated classics and enjoy the process of learning through reading.

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould
dos veces
twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthe
público
public.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenI
favorecí
favoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe
público
publicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’
experiencia
experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthe
famoso
famous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruth
parece
seemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthe
viento
wind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,
arrojado
thrownatlargeonthewideworld,were
seguro
certaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sown
naturaleza
nature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,
a menos que
unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonableto
imaginar
imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,as
explicando
explaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andas
ofreciendo
offeringproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue
posición
positionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassuminga
personal
personalrelationwiththepublic.
Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
excepto
except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,
durante
duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota
militar
militarypostofUncleSam’s
gobierno
governmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhicha
vuelo
flightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,a
montón
bunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand
ojo
eye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
and
especialmente
especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imaginando
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough
creciendo
growinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,been
usado
wornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Sur
SouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequent
pies
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis
brazo
arm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedto
oro
gold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
inteligente
smartyoungclerk,whogetsthe
sabor
tasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Another
figura
figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
grupo
group,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirring
escena
scene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
verano
summertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthe
pared
wall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteen
pies
feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe
tercera
thirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
suelo
floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasytoconclude,fromthe
general
generalslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsof
magia
magic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,and
forma
formsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,
honrado
honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittle
estudio
study,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessor
lleva
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the
fuerza
forceofwhichIhaveneverrealized
durante
duringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonableto
formar
formasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe
salvaje
wildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehisdescendantshavebeen
nacido
bornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
ni
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
The
figura
figureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,was
presente
presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe
actual
presentphaseofthetown.
I
parece
seemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocameso
temprano
early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadeso
grande
largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,
cuyo
whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,
juez
judge;
hewasarulerinthe
Iglesia
Church;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodand
mal
evil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobe
temer
feared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting
espíritu
spirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownot
si
whethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonof
Cielo
Heavenfortheircruelties;
or
si
whethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanother
estado
stateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,the
presente
presentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytake
vergüenza
shameuponmyselffortheirsakes,and
rezo
praythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionofthe
raza
race,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamily
árbol
tree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheir
naturaleza
naturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,the
raza
racehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya
solo
singleunworthymember;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,get
cubren
coveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,forabovea
cien
hundredyears,theyfollowedthe
mar
sea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,
pasó
passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,
pasó
spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign
tierra
land,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
tercer
thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedead
nivel
levelofsiteandsentiment,thechill
este
eastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaults
además de
besideshemayseeor
imaginar
imagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
raza
racelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
evidencia
evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.
Human
naturaleza
naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythis
extraño
strange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
ni
northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asit
parecía
seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
I
dudo
doubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonot
dudo
doubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilor
militar
militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependent
posición
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
General
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanover
cuya
whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontaking
cargo
chargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery
mar
sea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,had
finalmente
finallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,
excepto
excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeans
menos
lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,
durante
duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
cálido
warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermed
deber
duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothe
cargo
chargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywere
permitió
allowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’s
servicio
service,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficient
espacio
spacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-House
oficial
officermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
camino
roadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
cuyas
whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthe
personal
personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withina
mes
monthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Acuerdo
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortof
deber
duty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa
voz
voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto
actuar
actupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
continuaron
continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
They
pasaron
spentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthe
pared
wall;
awaking,however,onceor
dos veces
twiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththe
varios
severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathad
crecido
growntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,I
imagino
imagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthat
permitía
allowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewith
cinta
tapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecase
parecía
seemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
A menos que
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,and
forma
formsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy
posición
positioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe
pared
wall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
profundo
deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
verde
greenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbe
triste
sadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvaried
experiencia
experienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhad
disfrutado
enjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohave
almacenado
storedtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmore
interés
interestandunctionoftheirmorning’s
desayuno
breakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasa
cierto
certainpermanentInspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenue
sistema
system,dyedinthewool,or,rather,
nacido
borninthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
ciertamente
certainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’s
búsqueda
search.
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact
figura
figure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttoned
azul
bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorous
paso
step,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMother
Naturaleza
Natureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
His
voz
voiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis
sistema
system,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,to
disfrutar
enjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
Thecareless
seguridad
securityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadno
duda
doubtcontributedtomaketime
pasara
passlightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherareperfectionofhis
animal
animalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat
creció
grewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,did
deber
dutyveryrespectably,andto
general
generalacceptance,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewould
suponer
suppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedto
carga
carryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchand
estudiar
studythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyother
forma
formofhumanitytherepresentedtomy
observar
notice.
Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadno
alma
soul,noheart,nomind;