Мхи старой усадьбы
Drowne's Wooden Image
Therewas,intruth,anindefinableairandexpressionthatmightreasonablyinducethequery,Whoandfromwhatspherethisdaughteroftheoakshouldbe?Thestrange,richflowersofEdenonherhead;thecomplexion,somuchdeeperandmorebrilliantthanthoseofournativebeauties;theforeign,asitseemed,andfantasticgarb,yetnottoofantastictobeworndecorouslyinthestreet;thedelicately-wroughtembroideryoftheskirt;thebroadgoldchainaboutherneck;thecuriousringuponherfinger;thefan,soexquisitelysculpturedinopenwork,andpaintedtoresemblepearlandebony;—wherecouldDrowne,inhissoberwalkoflife,havebeheldthevisionheresomatchlesslyembodied!Andthenherface!Inthedarkeyes,andaroundthevoluptuousmouth,thereplayedalookmadeupofpride,coquetry,andagleamofmirthfulness,whichimpressedCopleywiththeideathattheimagewassecretlyenjoyingtheperplexingadmirationofhimselfandotherbeholders.
"Andwillyou,"saidhetothecarver,"permitthismasterpiecetobecomethefigure-headofavessel?GivethehonestcaptainyonderfigureofBritannia—itwillanswerhispurposefarbetter—andsendthisfairyqueentoEngland,where,foraughtIknow,itmaybringyouathousandpounds."
"Ihavenotwroughtitformoney,"saidDrowne.
"Whatsortofafellowisthis!"thoughtCopley."AYankee,andthrowawaythechanceofmakinghisfortune!Hehasgonemad;andthencehascomethisgleamofgenius.
