Мхи старой усадьбы

           Forinstance,hemetanindividual,who,forthirtyyears,hadcherishedahatredagainsthisownbrother.Roderick,amidstthethrongofthestreet,laidhishandonthisman’schest,andlookingfullintohisforbiddingface,"Howisthesnaketo-day?"heinquired,withamockexpressionofsympathy.

           "Thesnake!"exclaimedthebrotherhater—"whatdoyoumean?"

           "Thesnake!Thesnake!Doesitgnawyou?"persistedRoderick."Didyoutakecounselwithhimthismorningwhenyoushouldhavebeensayingyourprayers?Didhesting,whenyouthoughtofyourbrother’shealth,wealth,andgoodrepute?Didhecaperforjoy,whenyourememberedtheprofligacyofhisonlyson?Andwhetherhestung,orwhetherhefrolicked,didyoufeelhispoisonthroughoutyourbodyandsoul,convertingeverythingtosournessandbitterness?Thatisthewayofsuchserpents.Ihavelearnedthewholenatureofthemfrommyown!"

           "Whereisthepolice?"roaredtheobjectofRoderick’spersecution,atthesametimegivinganinstinctiveclutchtohisbreast."Whyisthislunaticallowedtogoatlarge?"

           "Ha,ha!"chuckledRoderick,releasinghisgraspoftheman.—"Hisbosomserpenthasstunghimthen!"

           Oftenitpleasedtheunfortunateyoungmantovexpeoplewithalightersatire,yetstillcharacterizedbysomewhatofsnake-likevirulence.Onedayheencounteredanambitiousstatesman,andgravelyinquiredafterthewelfareofhisboaconstrictor;forofthatspecies,Roderickaffirmed,thisgentleman’sserpentmustneedsbe,sinceitsappetitewasenormousenoughtodevourthewholecountryandconstitution.