The Scarlet Letter | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

The Scarlet Letter | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THE
Escarlata
SCARLET
LETTER.”
tisalittle
notable
remarkable
,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impulso
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno
terrenal
earthly
reason,thateithertheindulgent
lector
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
descripción
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
oyente
listener
ortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
agarrar
seize
thepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,
Secretario
Clerk
ofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
autor
author
addresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehis
volumen
volume
,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and
entregan
indulge
themselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
revelación
revelation
ascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect
simpatía
sympathy
;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
dividido
divided
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
existencia
existence
bybringinghiminto
comunión
communion
withit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
orador
speaker
standinsometrue
relación
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe
más cercano
closest
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anative
reserva
reserve
beingthawedbythisgenial
conciencia
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
velo
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autor
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
violar
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
boceto
sketch
hasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin
literatura
literature
,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomy
posesión
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
narración
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
editor
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
relación
relation
withthepublic.
In
lograr
accomplishing
themainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
débil
faint
representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore
descrito
described
,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe
autor
author
happenedtomakeone.
Inmy
natal
native
townofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,and
exhibe
exhibits
fewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
except,perhaps,a
corteza
bark
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy
longitud
length
,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
carga
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe
marea
tide
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening
perspectiva
prospect
,andthenceacrossthe
puerto
harbor
,standsaspaciousedificeof
ladrillo
brick
.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
precisamente
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
flota
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the
bandera
banner
oftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indicando
indicating
thatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere
establecido
established
.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
docena
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
balcón
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwide
granito
granite
stepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrance
flota
hovers
anenormousspecimenoftheAmerican
águila
eagle
,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeher
pecho
breast
,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach
garra
claw
.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperamento
temper
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
pico
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
amenazar
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal
águila
eagle
;
imagining,Ipresume,thather
pecho
bosom
hasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
almohada
pillow
.
Butshehasnogreat
ternura
tenderness
,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher
garra
claw
,adabofher
pico
beak
,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
The
pavimento
pavement
roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinous
resort
resort
ofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
ciudadano
citizen
ofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
puerto
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
permiten
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto
hincharse
swell
,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themighty
inundación
flood
ofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frecuentes
frequent
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe
granito
granite
steps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
saludar
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
puerto
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,
en consecuencia
accordingly
ashisschemeofthenowaccomplished
viaje
voyage
hasbeenrealizedin
mercancía
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimundera
bulto
bulk
ofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
empleado
clerk
,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
navegara
sailing
mimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
marinero
sailor
inquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
pálido
pale
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
contribuyendo
contributing
anitemofnoslight
importancia
importance
toourdecayingtrade.
Agrupa
Cluster
alltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—inthe
entrada
entry
,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir
traseras
hind
legsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
ocasionalmente
occasionally
mightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda
ronquido
snore
,andwiththatlackofenergythat
distingue
distinguishes
theoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho
dependen
depend
forsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized
trabajo
labor
,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrow
carril
lane
,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegive
vislumbres
glimpses
oftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generalmente
generally
tobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
perseguir
haunt
theWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
gris
gray
sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
concluir
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa
santuario
sanctuary
intowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the
escoba
broom
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayof
muebles
furniture
,thereisastovewithavoluminous
embudo
funnel
;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
taburete
stool
besideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof
Congreso
Congress
,andabulkyDigestofthe
Ingresos
Revenue
Laws.
Atinpipe
asciende
ascends
throughtheceiling,andformsamediumof
vocal
vocal
communicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
taburete
stool
,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vagando
wandering
upanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
lector
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe
sol
sunshine
glimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe
sauce
willow
branches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
preguntarías
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomof
reforma
reform
hasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
sucesor
successor
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—my
natal
native
place,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof
real
actual
residencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
extensión
extent
ofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmy
natal
native
town,itwouldbequiteas
razonable
reasonable
toformasentimental
apego
attachment
toadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariably
feliz
happiest
elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
frase
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
afecto
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
suelo
soil
.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis
aparición
appearance
inthewildandforest-bordered
asentamiento
settlement
,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehis
descendientes
descendants
havebeenbornanddied,andhave
mezclado
mingled
theirearthysubstancewiththe
suelo
soil
;
untilnosmallportionofitmust
necesariamente
necessarily
beakintothe
mortal
mortal
framewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,the
apego
attachment
whichIspeakofisthemeresensuous
simpatía
sympathy
ofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frecuente
frequent
transplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
deseable
desirable
toknow.
Butthe
sentimiento
sentiment
haslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirst
antepasado
ancestor
,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstill
persigue
haunts
me,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaimin
referencia
reference
tothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
residencia
residence
hereonaccountofthisgrave,
barbudo
bearded
,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
puerto
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
rara vez
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
gobernante
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
heredó
inherited
thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
mancha
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
mancha
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
arrepentirse
repent
,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenow
gimiendo
groaning
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
representante
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
suficiente
sufficient
retributionforhissins,that,aftersolonga
lapso
lapse
ofyears,theold
tronco
trunk
ofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
musgo
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveever
apreciado
cherished
,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
doméstico
domestic
scope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
inútil
worthless
,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursone
gris
gray
shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
humanidad
mankind
inhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
degenerado
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
abismo
gulf
oftime!
Andyet,letthem
desprecien
scorn
meastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle
indigno
unworthy
member;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany
memorable
memorable
deed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhave
hundido
sunk
almostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered
mitad
half-way
totheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
tierra
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
retirándose
retiring
fromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
hereditario
hereditary
placebeforethemast,
enfrentando
confronting
thesaltsprayandthe
vendaval
gale
,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
cabaña
cabin
,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
entierro
burial
,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
independiente
independent
ofanycharminthe
paisaje
scenery
ormoralcircumstancesthat
rodean
surround
him.
Itisnotlove,but
instinto
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
arrastra
creeping
,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
cansado
weary
oftheoldwoodenhouses,the
barro
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand
sentimiento
sentiment
,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean
terrenal
earthly
paradise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
representante
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisvery
sentimiento
sentiment
isanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnot
florecerá
flourish
,anymorethana
patata
potato
,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
suelo
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
apego
attachment
formynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s
ladrillo
brick
edifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
My
perdición
doom
wasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformethe
inevitable
inevitable
centreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightof
granito
granite
steps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe
cuerpo
corps
ofgentlemenwhowereto
ayudar
aid
meinmyweightyresponsibility,aschief
ejecutivo
executive
officeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
paradero
whereabouts
oftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
independiente
independent
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
generalmente
generally
sofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost
distinguido
distinguished
soldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe
pedestal
pedestal
ofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radicalmente
radically
conservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynature
hábito
habit
hadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimself
fuertemente
strongly
tofamiliarfaces,andwith
dificultad
difficulty
movedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
mejora
improvement
.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbut
ancianos
aged
men.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa
Presidencial
Presidential
election,theyoneandall
adquirieron
acquired
anewleaseof
existencia
existence
.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
evidentemente
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
aseguraron
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir
aparición
appearance
attheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
arrastraban
creep
outintothewarm
sol
sunshine
ofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown
ocio
leisure
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
república
republic
.
Theywereallowed,onmy
representación
representation
,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir
único
sole
principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisa
piadoso
pious
consolationtome,that,throughmy
interferencia
interference
,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
hermandad
brotherhood
thatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithful
Demócrata
Democrat
inprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
referencia
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
activo
active
politicianbeenputintothis
influyente
influential
post,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig
Coleccionista
Collector
,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal
administración
administration
ofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold
cuerpo
corps
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
político
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe
hacha
axe
oftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
temían
dreaded
somesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
divirtió
amused
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
mejilla
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe
mirada
glance
ofsoharmlessan
individuo
individual
asmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
asustar
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof
eficiencia
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
considerablemente
considerably
tothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
arrastrarse
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
descubrimiento
discovery
wassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
conciencia
consciousness
ofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown
nombre
behalf
,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheir
alboroto
fuss
aboutlittlematters,and
maravilloso
marvellous
,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable
mercancías
merchandise
hadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould
exceder
exceed
thevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey
procedían
proceeded
tolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheir
anterior
previous
negligence,thecaseseemedratherto
requerir
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
precaución
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
reconocimiento
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
remedio
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethan
comúnmente
commonly
disagreeable,itismyfoolish
hábito
habit
tocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
favorable
favorable
tothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwas
agradable
pleasant
,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merely
comunicaba
communicated
agenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas
agradable
pleasant
tohearthemchattingintheback
entrada
entry
,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityof
ancianos
aged
menhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intelecto
intellect
,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor
,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
soleado
sunny
andcheeryaspectaliketothegreen
rama
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisreal
sol
sunshine
;
intheother,itmore
asemeja
resembles
thephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
injusticia
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,to
representar
represent
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishand
dependiente
dependent
modeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intelectual
intellectual
tenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
mayoría
majority
ofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
generalmente
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworth
preservación
preservation
fromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
grano
grain
ofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof
cosecha
harvesting
,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
escuadrón
squad
ofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe
respetable
respectable
bodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanente
permanent
Inspector.
Hemighttrulybetermeda
legítimo
legitimate
sonoftherevenuesystem,
teñido
dyed
inthewool,or,rather,borninthe
púrpura
purple
;
sincehissire,a
Revolucionario
Revolutionary
colonel,andformerlycollectorofthe
puerto
port
,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and
nombró
appointed
himtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
descubra
discover
inalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisflorid
mejilla
cheek
,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,orthe
explosión
blast
ofaclarion.
Lookingathim
meramente
merely
asananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost
satisfactorio
satisfactory
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis
capacidad
capacity
,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or
concebido
conceived
of.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
eliminación
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass
ligeramente
lightly
overhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfección
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,themoderate
proporción
proportion
ofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
medida
measure
tokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
poseía
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
profundidad
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerful
temperamento
temper
thatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
aceptación
acceptance
,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
madurez
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
tristeza
sorrow
enoughtoimbuethesunniest
disposición
disposition
,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
breve
brief
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentire
carga
burden
ofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
bebé
infant
;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
empleado
clerk
,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
curiosidad
curiosity
,thananyotherformof
humanidad
humanity
therepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
fenómeno
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
superficial
shallow
,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absoluta
absolute
nonentity,ineveryother.
My
conclusión
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;