Алая буква
The New England Holiday
Theytransgressedwithoutfearorscruple,therulesofbehaviourthatwerebindingonallothers:smokingtobaccounderthebeadle’sverynose,althougheachwhiffwouldhavecostatownsmanashilling;andquaffingattheirpleasure,draughtsofwineoraqua-vitaefrompocketflasks,whichtheyfreelytenderedtothegapingcrowdaroundthem.Itremarkablycharacterisedtheincompletemoralityoftheage,rigidaswecallit,thatalicencewasallowedtheseafaringclass,notmerelyfortheirfreaksonshore,butforfarmoredesperatedeedsontheirproperelement.Thesailorofthatdaywouldgoneartobearraignedasapirateinourown.Therecouldbelittledoubt,forinstance,thatthisveryship’screw,thoughnounfavourablespecimensofthenauticalbrotherhood,hadbeenguilty,asweshouldphraseit,ofdepredationsontheSpanishcommerce,suchaswouldhaveperilledalltheirnecksinamoderncourtofjustice.
Buttheseainthoseoldtimesheaved,swelled,andfoamedverymuchatitsownwill,orsubjectonlytothetempestuouswind,withhardlyanyattemptsatregulationbyhumanlaw.Thebuccaneeronthewavemightrelinquishhiscallingandbecomeatonceifhechose,amanofprobityandpietyonland;nor,eveninthefullcareerofhisrecklesslife,washeregardedasapersonagewithwhomitwasdisreputabletotrafficorcasuallyassociate.
