twice-told tales- young goodman brown-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TWICE…TOLD　TALES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　YOUNG　GOODMAN　BROWN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Nathaniel　Hawthorne



　　　YOUNG　GOODMAN　BROWN　came　forth　at　sunset；　into　the　street　of

Salem　village；　but　put　his　head　back；　after　crossing　the　threshold；　to

exchange　a　parting　kiss　with　his　young　wife。　And　Faith；　as　the　wife

was　aptly　named；　thrust　her　own　pretty　head　into　the　street；　letting

the　wind　play　with　the　pink　ribbons　of　her　cap；　while　she　called　to

Goodman　Brown。

　　　〃Dearest　heart；〃　whispered　she；　softly　and　rather　sadly；　when　her

lips　were　close　to　his　ear；　〃pr'ythee；　put　off　your　journey　until

sunrise；　and　sleep　in　your　own　bed　tonight。　A　lone　woman　is　troubled

with　such　dreams　and　such　thoughts；　that　she's　afeard　of　herself；

sometimes。　Pray；　tarry　with　me　this　night；　dear　husband；　of　all　nights

in　the　year！〃

　　　〃My　love　and　my　Faith；〃　replied　young　Goodman　Brown；　〃of　all　nights

in　the　year；　this　one　night　must　I　tarry　away　from　thee。　My　journey；

as　thou　callest　it；　forth　and　back　again；　must　needs　be　done　'twixt

now　and　sunrise。　What；　my　sweet；　pretty　wife；　dost　thou　doubt　me

already；　and　we　but　three　months　married！〃

　　　〃Then　God　bless　you！〃　said　Faith；　with　the　pink　ribbons；　〃and　may

you　find　all　well；　when　you　come　back。〃

　　　〃Amen！〃　cried　Goodman　Brown。　〃Say　thy　prayers；　dear　Faith；　and　go

to　bed　at　dusk；　and　no　harm　will　come　to　thee。〃

　　　So　they　parted；　and　the　young　man　pursued　his　way；　until；　being

about　to　turn　the　corner　by　the　meeting…house；　he　looked　back　and

saw　the　head　of　Faith　still　peeping　after　him；　with　a　melancholy

air；　in　spite　of　her　pink　ribbons。

　　　〃Poor　little　Faith！〃　thought　he；　for　his　heart　smote　him。　〃What　a

wretch　am　I；　to　leave　her　on　such　an　errand！　She　talks　of　dreams；　too。

Methought；　as　she　spoke；　there　was　trouble　in　her　face；　as　if　a

dream　had　warned　her　what　work　is　to　be　done　tonight。　But；　no；　no！

'twould　kill　her　to　think　it。　Well；　she's　a　blessed　angel　on　earth；

and　after　this　one　night；　I'll　cling　to　her　skirts　and　follow　her　to

Heaven。〃

　　　With　this　excellent　resolve　for　the　future；　Goodman　Brown　felt

himself　justified　in　making　more　haste　on　his　present　evil　purpose。　He

had　taken　a　dreary　road；　darkened　by　all　the　gloomiest　trees　of　the

forest；　which　barely　stood　aside　to　let　the　narrow　path　creep　through；

and　closed　immediately　behind。　It　was　all　as　lonely　as　could　be；　and

there　is　this　peculiarity　in　such　a　solitude；　that　the　traveller　knows

not　who　may　be　concealed　by　the　innumerable　trunks　and　the　thick

boughs　overhead；　so　that；　with　lonely　footsteps；　he　may　yet　be　passing

through　an　unseen　multitude。

　　　〃There　may　be　a　devilish　Indian　behind　every　tree；〃　said　Goodman

Brown　to　himself；　and　he　glanced　fearfully　behind　him；　as　he　added；

〃What　if　the　devil　himself　should　be　at　my　very　elbow！〃

　　　His　head　being　turned　back；　he　passed　a　crook　of　the　road；　and

looking　forward　again；　beheld　the　figure　of　a　man；　in　grave　and　decent

attire；　seated　at　the　foot　of　an　old　tree。　He　arose；　at　Goodman

Brown's　approach；　and　walked　onward；　side　by　side　with　him。

　　　〃You　are　late；　Goodman　Brown；〃　said　he。　〃The　clock　of　the　　Old

South　was　striking；　as　I　came　through　Boston；　and　that　is　full　fifteen

minutes　agone。〃

　　　〃Faith　kept　me　back　awhile；〃　replied　the　young　man；　with　a　tremor

in　his　voice；　caused　by　the　sudden　appearance　of　his　companion；　though

not　wholly　unexpected。

　　　It　was　now　deep　dusk　in　the　forest；　and　deepest　in　that　part　of

it　where　these　two　were　journeying。　As　nearly　as　could　be　discerned；

the　second　traveller　was　about　fifty　years　old；　apparently　in　the　same

rank　of　life　as　Goodman　Brown；　and　bearing　a　considerable

resemblance　to　him；　though　perhaps　more　in　expression　than　features。

Still；　they　might　have　been　taken　for　father　and　son。　And　yet；

though　the　elder　person　was　as　simply　clad　as　the　younger；　and　as

simple　in　manner　too；　he　had　an　indescribable　air　of　one　who　knew

the　world；　and　would　not　have　felt　abashed　at　the　governor's

dinner…table；　or　in　King　William's　court；　were　it　possible　that　his

affairs　should　call　him　thither。　But　the　only　thing　about　him；　that

could　be　fixed　upon　as　remarkable；　was　his　staff；　which　bore　the

likeness　of　a　great　black　snake；　so　curiously　wrought；　that　it　might

almost　be　seen　to　twist　and　wriggle　itself　like　a　living　serpent。

This；　of　course；　must　have　been　an　ocular　deception；　assisted　by　the

uncertain　light。

　　　〃Come；　Goodman　Brown！〃　cried　his　fellow…traveller；　〃this　is　a

dull　pace　for　the　beginning　of　a　journey。　Take　my　staff；　if　you　are　so

soon　weary。

　　　〃Friend；〃　said　the　other；　exchanging　his　slow　pace　for　a　full　stop；

〃having　kept　covenant　by　meeting　thee　here；　it　is　my　purpose　now　to

return　whence　I　came。　I　have　scruples；　touching　the　matter　thou　wot'st

of。〃

　　　〃Sayest　thou　so？〃　replied　he　of　the　serpent；　smiling　apart。　〃Let　us

walk　on；　nevertheless；　reasoning　as　we　go；　and　if　I　convince　thee　not；

thou　shalt　turn　back。　We　are　but　a　little　way　in　the　forest；　yet。〃

　　　〃Too　far；　too　far！〃　exclaimed　the　goodman；　unconsciously　resuming

his　walk。　〃My　father　never　went　into　the　woods　on　such　an　errand；

nor　his　father　before　him。　We　have　been　a　race　of　honest　men　and

good　Christians；　since　the　days　of　the　martyrs。　And　shall　I　be　the

first　of　the　name　of　Brown；　that　ever　took　this　path　and　kept〃…

　　　〃Such　company；　thou　wouldst　say；〃　observed　the　elder　person；

interrupting　his　pause。　〃Well　said；　Goodman　Brown！　I　have　been　as　well

acquainted　with　your　family　as　with　ever　a　one　among　the　Puritans；　and

that's　no　trifle　to　say。　I　helped　your　grandfather；　the　constable；

when　he　lashed　the　Quaker　woman　so　smartly　through　the　streets　of

Salem。　And　it　was　I　that　brought　your　father　a　pitch…pine　knot；

kindled　at　my　own　hearth；　to　set　fire　to　an　Indian　village；　in　King

Philip's　War。　They　were　my　good　friends；　both；　and　many　a　pleasant

walk　have　we　had　along　this　path；　and　returned　merrily　after　midnight。

I　would　fain　be　friends　with　you；　for　their　sake。〃

　　　〃If　it　be　as　thou　sayest；〃　replied　Goodman　Brown；　〃I　marvel　they

never　spoke　of　these　matters。　Or；　verily；　I　marvel　not；　seeing　that

the　least　rumor　of　the　sort　would　have　driven　them　from　New　England。

We　are　a　people　of　prayer；　and　good　works　to　boot；　and　abide　no　such

wickedness。〃

　　　〃Wickedness　or　not；〃　said　the　traveller　with　the　twisted　staff；

have　a　very　general　acquaintance　here　in　New　England。　The　deacons　of

many　a　church　have　drunk　the　communion　wine　with　me；　the　selectmen；　of

divers　towns；　make　me　their　chairman；　and　a　majority　of　the　Great

and　General　Court　are　firm　supporters　of　my　interest。　The　governor　and

I；　too…　but　these　are　state…secrets。〃

　　　〃Can　this　be　so！〃　cried　Goodman　Brown；　with　a　stare　of　amazement　at

his　undisturbed　companion。　〃Howbeit；　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　the

governor　and　council；　they　have　their　own　ways；　and　are　no　rule　for

a　simple　husbandman　like　me。　But；　were　I　to　go　on　with　thee；　how

should　I　meet　the　eye　of　that　good　old　man；　our　minister；　at　Salem

village？　Oh；　his　voice　would　make　me　tremble；　both　Sabbath…day　and

lecture…day！〃

　　　Thus　far；　the　elder　traveller　had　listened　with　due　gravity；　but

now　burst　into　a　fit　of　irrepressible　mirth；　shaking　himself　so

violently　that　his　snake…like　staff　actually　seemed　to　wriggle　in

sympathy。

　　　〃Ha！　ha！　ha！〃　shouted　he；　again　and　again；　then　composing

himself；　〃Well；　go　on；　Goodman　Brown；　go　on；　but；　prithee；　don't

kill　me　with　laughing！〃

　　　〃Well；　then；　to　end　the　matter　at　once；〃　said　Goodman　Brown；

considerably　nettled；　〃there　is　my　wife；　Faith。　It　would　break　her

dear　little　heart；　and　I'd　rather　break　my　own！〃

　　　〃Nay；　if　that　be　the　case；〃　answered　the　other；　〃e'en　go　thy

ways；　Goodman　Brown。　I　would　not；　for　twenty　old　women　like　the　one

hobbling　before　us；　that　Faith　should　come　to　any　harm。〃

　　　As　he　spoke；　he　pointed　his　staff　at　a　female　figure　on　the　path；

in　whom　Goodman　Brown　recognized　a　very　pious　and　exemplary　dame；

who　had　taught　him　his　catechism　in　youth；　and　was　still　his　moral　and

spiritual　adviser；　jointly　with　the　minister　and　Deacon　Gookin。

　　　〃A　marvel；　truly；　that　Goody　Cloyse　should　be　so　far　in　the

wilderness；　at　night…fall！〃　said　he。　〃But；　with　your　leave；　friend；

I　shall　take　a　cut　through　the　woods；　until　we　have　left　this

Christian　woman　behind。　Being　a　stranger　to　you；　she　might　ask　whom

I　was　consorting　with；　and　whither　I　was　going。〃

　　　〃Be　it　so；〃　said　his　fellow…traveller。　〃Betake　you　to　the　woods；

and　let　me　keep　the　path。〃

　　　Accordingly；　the　young　man　turned　aside；　but　took　care　to　watch　his

companion；　who　advanced　softly　along　the　road；　until　he　had　come

within　a　staff's　length　of　the　old　dame。　She；　meanwhile；　was　making

the　best　of　her　way；　with　singular　speed　for　so　aged　a　woman；　and

mumbling　some　indistinct　words；　a　prayer；　doubtless；　as　she　went。

The　traveller　put　forth　his　staff；　and　touched　her　withered　neck

with　what　seemed　the　serpent's　tail。

　　　〃The　devil！〃　screamed　the　pious　old　lady。

　　　〃Then　Goody　Cloyse　knows　her　old　friend？〃　observed　the　traveller；

confronting　her；　and　leaning　on　his　writhing　stick。

　　　〃Ah；　forsooth；　and　is　it　your　worship；　indeed？〃　cried　the　good

dame。　〃Yea；　truly　is　it；　and　in　the　very　image　of　my　old　gossip；

Goodman　Brown；　the　grandfather　of　the　silly　fellow　that　now　is。　But；

would　your　worship　believe　it？　my　broomstick　hath　strangely

disappeared；　stolen；　as　I　suspect；　by　that　unhanged　witch；　Goody　Cory；

and　that；　too；　when　I　was　all　anointed　with　the　juice　of　smallage

and　cinque…foil　and　wolf's…bane〃…

　　　〃Mingled　with　fine　wheat　and　the　fat　of　a　new…born　babe；〃　said

the　shape　of　old　Goodman　Brown。

　　　〃Ah；　your　worship　knows　the　recipe；〃　cried　the　old　lady；　cackling

aloud。　〃So；　as　I　was　saying；　being　all　ready　for　the　meeting；　and　no

horse　to　ride　on；　I　made　up　my　mind　to　foot　it；　for　they　tell　me；

there　is　a　nice　young　man　to　be　taken　into　communion　tonight。　But

now　your　good　worship　will　lend　me　your　arm；　and　we　shall　be　there

in　a　twinkling。〃

　　　〃That　can　hardly　be；〃　answered　her　friend。　〃I　may