Мхи старой усадьбы
Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent
WhatcoulditbethatgnawedthebreastofRoderickElliston?Wasitsorrow?Wasitmerelythetoothofphysicaldisease?Or,inhisrecklesscourse,oftenverginguponprofligacy,ifnotplungingintoitsdepths,hadhebeenguiltyofsomedeedwhichmadehisbosomapreytothedeadlierfangsofremorse?Therewasplausiblegroundforeachoftheseconjectures;butitmustnotbeconcealedthatmorethanoneelderlygentleman,thevictimofgoodcheerandslothfulhabits,magisteriallypronouncedthesecretofthewholemattertobeDyspepsia!
Meanwhile,Roderickseemedawarehowgenerallyhehadbecomethesubjectofcuriosityandconjecture,and,withamorbidrepugnancetosuchnotice,ortoanynoticewhatsoever,estrangedhimselffromallcompanionship.Notmerelytheeyeofmanwasahorrortohim;notmerelythelightofafriend’scountenance;buteventheblessedsunshine,likewise,whichinitsuniversalbeneficencetypifiestheradianceoftheCreator’sface,expressinghisloveforallthecreaturesofhishand.TheduskytwilightwasnowtootransparentforRoderickElliston;theblackestmidnightwashischosenhourtostealabroad;andifeverhewereseen,itwaswhenthewatchman’slanterngleameduponhisfigure,glidingalongthestreet,withhishandsclutcheduponhisbosom,stillmuttering,"Itgnawsme!Itgnawsme!"Whatcoulditbethatgnawedhim?
Afteratime,itbecameknownthatEllistonwasinthehabitofresortingtoallthenotedquacksthatinfestedthecity,orwhommoneywouldtempttojourneythitherfromadistance.
