Мхи старой усадьбы
Young Goodman Brown
GoodyCloyse,thatexcellentoldChristian,stoodintheearlysunshineatherownlattice,catechizingalittlegirlwhohadbroughtherapintofmorning’smilk.GoodmanBrownsnatchedawaythechildasfromthegraspofthefiendhimself.Turningthecornerbythemeeting-house,hespiedtheheadofFaith,withthepinkribbons,gazinganxiouslyforth,andburstingintosuchjoyatsightofhimthatsheskippedalongthestreetandalmostkissedherhusbandbeforethewholevillage.ButGoodmanBrownlookedsternlyandsadlyintoherface,andpassedonwithoutagreeting.
HadGoodmanBrownfallenasleepintheforestandonlydreamedawilddreamofawitch-meeting?
Beitsoifyouwill;but,alas!itwasadreamofevilomenforyoungGoodmanBrown.Astern,asad,adarklymeditative,adistrustful,ifnotadesperatemandidhebecomefromthenightofthatfearfuldream.OntheSabbathday,whenthecongregationweresingingaholypsalm,hecouldnotlistenbecauseananthemofsinrushedloudlyuponhisearanddrownedalltheblessedstrain.Whentheministerspokefromthepulpitwithpowerandfervideloquence,and,withhishandontheopenBible,ofthesacredtruthsofourreligion,andofsaint-likelivesandtriumphantdeaths,andoffutureblissormiseryunutterable,thendidGoodmanBrownturnpale,dreadinglesttheroofshouldthunderdownuponthegrayblasphemerandhishearers.Often,wakingsuddenlyatmidnight,heshrankfromthebosomofFaith;andatmorningoreventide,whenthefamilykneltdownatprayer,hescowledandmutteredtohimself,andgazedsternlyathiswife,andturnedaway
