twice-told tales- young goodman brown-第2部分

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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　not　spare　you

my　arm；　Goody　Cloyse；　but　here　is　my　staff；　if　you　will。〃

　　　So　saying；　he　threw　it　down　at　her　feet；　where；　perhaps；　it　assumed

life；　being　one　of　the　rods　which　its　owner　had　formerly　lent　to

Egyptian　Magi。　Of　this　fact；　however；　Goodman　Brown　could　not　take

cognizance。　He　had　cast　up　his　eyes　in　astonishment；　and　looking

down　again；　beheld　neither　Goody　Cloyse　nor　the　serpentine　staff；

but　his　fellow…traveller　alone；　who　waited　for　him　as　calmly　as　if

nothing　had　happened。

　　　〃That　old　woman　taught　me　my　catechism！〃　said　the　young　man；　and

there　was　a　world　of　meaning　in　this　simple　comment。

　　　They　continued　to　walk　onward；　while　the　elder　traveller　exhorted

his　companion　to　make　good　speed　and　persevere　in　the　path；

discoursing　so　aptly；　that　his　arguments　seemed　rather　to　spring　up　in

the　bosom　of　his　auditor；　than　to　be　suggested　by　himself。　As　they

went；　he　plucked　a　branch　of　maple；　to　serve　for　a　walking…stick；

and　began　to　strip　it　of　the　twigs　and　little　boughs；　which　were　wet

with　evening　dew。　The　moment　his　fingers　touched　them；　they　became

strangely　withered　and　dried　up；　as　with　a　week's　sunshine。　Thus　the

pair　proceeded；　at　a　good　free　pace；　until　suddenly；　in　a　gloomy

hollow　of　the　road；　Goodman　Brown　sat　himself　down　on　the　stump　of　a

tree；　and　refused　to　go　any　farther。

　　　〃Friend；〃　said　he；　stubbornly；　〃my　mind　is　made　up。　Not　another

step　will　I　budge　on　this　errand。　What　if　a　wretched　old　woman　do

choose　to　go　to　the　devil；　when　I　thought　she　was　going　to　Heaven！

Is　that　any　reason　why　I　should　quit　my　dear　Faith；　and　go　after　her？〃

　　　〃You　will　think　better　of　this　by…and…by；〃　said　his　acquaintance；

composedly。　〃Sit　here　and　rest　yourself　awhile；　and　when　you　feel　like

moving　again；　there　is　my　staff　to　help　you　along。〃

　　　Without　more　words；　he　threw　his　companion　the　maple　stick；　and　was

as　speedily　out　of　sight　as　if　he　had　vanished　into　the　deepening

gloom。　The　young　man　sat　a　few　moments　by　the　road…side；　applauding

himself　greatly；　and　thinking　with　how　clear　a　conscience　he　should

meet　the　minister；　in　his　morning…walk；　nor　shrink　from　the　eye　of

good　old　Deacon　Gookin。　And　what　calm　sleep　would　be　his；　that　very

night；　which　was　to　have　been　spent　so　wickedly；　but　purely　and

sweetly　now；　in　the　arms　of　Faith！　Amidst　these　pleasant　and

praiseworthy　meditations；　Goodman　Brown　heard　the　tramp　of　horses

along　the　road；　and　deemed　it　advisable　to　conceal　himself　within

the　verge　of　the　forest；　conscious　of　the　guilty　purpose　that　had

brought　him　thither；　though　now　so　happily　turned　from　it。

　　　On　came　the　hoof…tramps　and　the　voices　of　the　riders；　two　grave　old

voices；　conversing　soberly　as　they　drew　near。　These　mingled　sounds

appeared　to　pass　along　the　road；　within　a　few　yards　of　the　young　man's

hiding…place；　but　owing；　doubtless；　to　the　depth　of　the　gloom；　at　that

particular　spot；　neither　the　travellers　nor　their　steeds　were　visible。

Though　their　figures　brushed　the　small　boughs　by　the　way…side；　it

could　not　be　seen　that　they　intercepted；　even　for　a　moment；　the

faint　gleam　from　the　strip　of　bright　sky；　athwart　which　they　must　have

passed。　Goodman　Brown　alternately　crouched　and　stood　on　tip…toe；

pulling　aside　the　branches；　and　thrusting　forth　his　head　as　far　as

he　durst；　without　discerning　so　much　as　a　shadow。　It　vexed　him　the

more；　because　he　could　have　sworn；　were　such　a　thing　possible；　that　he

recognized　the　voices　of　the　minister　and　Deacon　Gookin；　jogging　along

quietly；　as　they　were　wont　to　do；　when　bound　to　some　ordination　or

ecclesiastical　council。　While　yet　within　hearing；　one　of　the　riders

stopped　to　pluck　a　switch。

　　　〃Of　the　two；　reverend　Sir；〃　said　the　voice　like　the　deacon's；　I　had

rather　miss　an　ordination…dinner　than　tonight's　meeting。　They　tell

me　that　some　of　our　community　are　to　be　here　from　Falmouth　and　beyond；

and　others　from　Connecticut　and　Rhode　Island；　besides　several　of　the

Indian　powows；　who；　after　their　fashion；　know　almost　as　much

deviltry　as　the　best　of　us。　Moreover；　there　is　a　goodly　young　woman　to

be　taken　into　communion。〃

　　　〃Mighty　well；　Deacon　Gookin！〃　replied　the　solemn　old　tones　of　the

minister。　〃Spur　up；　or　we　shall　be　late。　Nothing　can　be　done；　you

know；　until　I　get　on　the　ground。〃

　　　The　hoofs　clattered　again；　and　the　voices；　talking　so　strangely

in　the　empty　air；　passed　on　through　the　forest；　where　no　church　had

ever　been　gathered；　nor　solitary　Christian　prayed。　Whither；　then；

could　these　holy　men　be　journeying；　so　deep　into　the　heathen

wilderness？　Young　Goodman　Brown　caught　hold　of　a　tree；　for　support；

being　ready　to　sink　down　on　the　ground；　faint　and　overburthened　with

the　heavy　sickness　of　his　heart。　He　looked　up　to　the　sky；　doubting

whether　there　really　was　a　Heaven　above　him。　Yet；　there　was　the　blue

arch；　and　the　stars　brightening　in　it。

　　　〃With　Heaven　above；　and　Faith　below；　I　will　yet　stand　firm

against　the　devil！〃　cried　Goodman　Brown。

　　　While　he　still　gazed　upward；　into　the　deep　arch　of　the　firmament；

and　had　lifted　his　hands　to　pray；　a　cloud；　though　no　wind　was

stirring；　hurried　across　the　zenith；　and　hid　the　brightening　stars。

The　blue　sky　was　still　visible；　except　directly　overhead；　where　this

black　mass　of　cloud　was　sweeping　swiftly　northward。　Aloft　in　the

air；　as　if　from　the　depths　of　the　cloud；　came　a　confused　and

doubtful　sound　of　voices。　Once；　the　listener　fancied　that　he　could

distinguish　the　accent　of　townspeople　of　his　own；　men　and　women；

both　pious　and　ungodly；　many　of　whom　he　had　met　at　the

communion…table；　and　had　seen　others　rioting　at　the　tavern。　The　next

moment；　so　indistinct　were　the　sounds；　he　doubted　whether　he　had　heard

aught　but　the　murmur　of　the　old　forest；　whispering　without　a　wind。

Then　came　a　stronger　swell　of　those　familiar　tones；　heard　daily　in　the

sunshine；　at　Salem　village；　but　never；　until　now；　from　a　cloud　of

night。　There　was　one　voice；　of　a　young　woman；　uttering　lamentations；

yet　with　an　uncertain　sorrow；　and　entreating　for　some　favor；　which；

perhaps；　it　would　grieve　her　to　obtain。　And　all　the　unseen

multitude；　both　saints　and　sinners；　seemed　to　encourage　her　onward。

　　　〃Faith！〃　shouted　Goodman　Brown；　in　a　voice　of　agony　and

desperation；　and　the　echoes　of　the　forest　mocked　him；　crying…

〃Faith！　Faith！〃　as　if　bewildered　wretches　were　seeking　her；　all

through　the　wilderness。

　　　The　cry　of　grief；　rage；　and　terror；　was　yet　piercing　the　night；

when　the　unhappy　husband　held　his　breath　for　a　response。　There　was　a

scream；　drowned　immediately　in　a　louder　murmur　of　voices；　fading

into　far…off　laughter；　as　the　dark　cloud　swept　away；　leaving　the　clear

and　silent　sky　above　Goodman　Brown。　But　something　fluttered　lightly

down　through　the　air；　and　caught　on　the　branch　of　a　tree。　The　young

man　seized　it；　and　beheld　a　pink　ribbon。

　　　〃My　Faith　is　gone！〃　cried　he；　after　one　stupefied　moment。　〃There　is

no　good　on　earth；　and　sin　is　but　a　name。　Come；　devil！　for　to　thee　is

this　world　given。〃

　　　And　maddened　with　despair；　so　that　he　laughed　loud　and　long；　did

Goodman　Brown　grasp　his　staff　and　set　forth　again；　at　such　a　rate；

that　he　seemed　to　fly　along　the　forest…path；　rather　than　to　walk　or

run。　The　road　grew　wilder　and　drearier；　and　more　faintly　traced；　and

vanished　at　length；　leaving　him　in　the　heart　of　the　dark　wilderness；

still　rushing　onward；　with　the　instinct　that　guides　mortal　man　to

evil。　The　whole　forest　was　peopled　with　frightful　sounds；　the　creaking

of　the　trees；　the　howling　of　wild　beasts；　and　the　yell　of　Indians；

while；　sometimes　the　wind　tolled　like　a　distant　church…bell；　and

sometimes　gave　a　broad　roar　around　the　traveller；　as　if　all　Nature

were　laughing　him　to　scorn。　But　he　was　himself　the　chief　horror　of　the

scene；　and　shrank　not　from　its　other　horrors。

　　　〃Ha！　ha！　ha！〃　roared　Goodman　Brown；　when　the　wind　laughed　at　him。

〃Let　us　hear　which　will　laugh　loudest！　Think　not　to　frighten　me　with

your　deviltry！　Come　witch；　come　wizard；　come　Indian　powow；　come

devil　himself！　and　here　comes　Goodman　Brown。　You　may　as　well　fear

him　as　he　fear　you！〃

　　　In　truth；　all　through　the　haunted　forest；　there　could　be　nothing

more　frightful　than　the　figure　of　Goodman　Brown。　On　he　flew；　among　the

black　pines；　brandishing　his　staff　with　frenzied　gestures；　now

giving　vent　to　an　inspiration　of　horrid　blasphemy；　and　now　shouting

forth　such　laughter；　as　set　all　the　echoes　of　the　forest　laughing　like

demons　around　him。　The　fiend　in　his　own　shape　is　less　hideous；　than

when　he　rages　in　the　breast　of　man。　Thus　sped　the　demoniac　on　his

course；　until；　quivering　among　the　trees；　he　saw　a　red　light　before

him；　as　when　the　felled　trunks　and　branches　of　a　clearing　have　been

set　on　fire；　and　throw　up　their　lurid　blaze　against　the　sky；　at　the

hour　of　midnight。　He　paused；　in　a　lull　of　the　tempest　that　had

driven　him　onward；　and　heard　the　swell　of　what　seemed　a　hymn；

rolling　solemnly　from　a　distance；　with　the　weight　of　many　voices。　He

knew　the　tune；　it　was　a　familiar　one　in　the　choir　of　the　village

meetinghouse。　The　verse　died　heavily　away；　and　was　lengthened　by　a

chorus；　not　of　human　voices；　but　of　all　the　sounds　of　the　benighted

wilderness；　pealing　in　awful　harmony　together。　Goodman　Brown　cried

out；　and　his　cry　was　lost　to　his　own　ear；　by　its　unison　with　the　cry

of　the　desert。

　　　In　the　interval　of　silence；　he　stole　forward；　until　the　light

glared　full　upon　his　eyes。　At　one　extremity　of　an　open　space；　hemmed

in　by　the　dark　wall　of　the　forest；　arose　a　rock；　bearing　some　rude；

natural　resemblance　either　to　an　altar　or　a　pulpit；　and　surrounded

by　four　blazing　pines；　their　tops　aflame；　their　stems　untouched；

like　candles　at　an　evening　meeting。　The　mass　of　foliage；　that　had

overgrown　the　summit　of　the　rock；　was　all　on　fire；　blazing　high　into

the　night；　and　fitfully　illuminating　the　whole　field。　Each　pendant

twig　and　leafy　festoon　was　in　a　blaze。　As　the　red　light　arose　and

fell；　a　numerous　congregation　alternately　shone　forth；　then