Мхи старой усадьбы

Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent

           Atanothertime,hestoppedaclose-fistedoldfellow,ofgreatwealth,butwhoskulkedaboutthecityintheguiseofascarecrow,withapatchedbluesurtout,brownhat,andmouldyboots,scrapingpencetogether,andpickinguprustynails.Pretendingtolookearnestlyatthisrespectableperson’sstomach,Roderickassuredhimthathissnakewasacopper-headandhadbeengeneratedbytheimmensequantitiesofthatbasemetalwithwhichhedailydefiledhisfingers.Again,heassaultedamanofrubicundvisage,andtoldhimthatfewbosomserpentshadmoreofthedevilinthemthanthosethatbreedinthevatsofadistillery.ThenextwhomRoderickhonoredwithhisattentionwasadistinguishedclergyman,whohappenedjustthentobeengagedinatheologicalcontroversy,wherehumanwrathwasmoreperceptiblethandivineinspiration.

           "Youhaveswallowedasnakeinacupofsacramentalwine,"quothhe.

           "Profanewretch!"exclaimedthedivine;but,nevertheless,hishandstoletohisbreast.

           Hemetapersonofsicklysensibility,who,onsomeearlydisappointment,hadretiredfromtheworld,andthereafterheldnointercoursewithhisfellow-men,butbroodedsullenlyorpassionatelyovertheirrevocablepast.Thisman’sveryheart,ifRoderickmightbebelieved,hadbeenchangedintoaserpent,whichwouldfinallytormentbothhimanditselftodeath.Observingamarriedcouple,whosedomestictroubleswerematterofnotoriety,hecondoledwithbothonhavingmutuallytakenahouseaddertotheirbosoms.

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