Мхи старой усадьбы
Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent
"MysablefriendScipiohasastory,"repliedRoderick,"ofasnakethathadlurkedinthisfountain—pureandinnocentasitlooks—eversinceitwasknowntothefirstsettlers.Thisinsinuatingpersonageoncecreptintothevitalsofmygreatgrandfatheranddwelttheremanyyears,tormentingtheoldgentlemanbeyondmortalendurance.Inshortitisafamilypeculiarity.But,totellyouthetruth,Ihavenofaithinthisideaofthesnake’sbeinganheirloom.Heismyownsnake,andnoman’selse."
"Butwhatwashisorigin?"demandedHerkimer.
"Oh,thereispoisonousstuffinanyman’sheartsufficienttogenerateabroodofserpents,"saidEllistonwithahollowlaugh."Youshouldhaveheardmyhomiliestothegoodtown’s-people.Positively,Ideemmyselffortunateinhavingbredbutasingleserpent.You,however,havenoneinyourbosom,andthereforecannotsympathizewiththerestoftheworld.Itgnawsme!Itgnawsme!"
WiththisexclamationRodericklosthisself-controlandthrewhimselfuponthegrass,testifyinghisagonybyintricatewrithings,inwhichHerkimercouldnotbutfancyaresemblancetothemotionsofasnake.Then,likewise,washeardthatfrightfulhiss,whichoftenranthroughthesufferer’sspeech,andcreptbetweenthewordsandsyllableswithoutinterruptingtheirsuccession.
"Thisisawfulindeed!"exclaimedthesculptor—"anawfulinfliction,whetheritbeactualorimaginary.Tellme,RoderickElliston,isthereanyremedyforthisloathsomeevil?"
"Yes,butanimpossibleone,"mutteredRoderick,ashelaywallowingwithhisfaceinthegrass.
