Мхи старої садиби
The Procession of Life
Herecomesamurdererwithhisclankingchains,andpairshimself—horribletotell—withaspureanduprightaman,inallobservablerespects,aseverpartookoftheconsecratedbreadandwine.Heisoneofthose,perchancethemosthopelessofallsinners,whopractisesuchanexemplarysystemofoutwardduties,thatevenadeadlycrimemaybehiddenfromtheirownsightandremembrance,underthisunrealfrostwork.Yethenowfindshisplace.Whydothatpairofflauntinggirls,withthepert,affectedlaughandtheslyleerattheby-standers,intrudethemselvesintothesamerankwithyonderdecorousmatron,andthatsomewhatprudishmaiden?Surelythesepoorcreatures,borntoviceastheirsoleandnaturalinheritance,canbenofitassociatesforwomenwhohavebeenguardedroundaboutbyalltheproprietiesofdomesticlife,andwhocouldnoterrunlesstheyfirstcreatedtheopportunity.Ohno;itmustbemerelytheimpertinenceofthoseunblushinghussies;andwecanonlywonderhowsuchrespectableladiesshouldhaverespondedtoasummonsthatwasnotmeantforthem.
Weshallmakeshortworkofthismiserableclass,eachmemberofwhichisentitledtograspanyothermember’shand,bythatviledegradationwhereinguiltyerrorhasburiedallalike.Thefoulfiendtowhomitproperlybelongsmustrelieveusofourloathsometask.Letthebondservantsofsinpasson.Butneithermannorwoman,inwhomgoodpredominates,willsmileorsneer,norbidtheRogues’Marchbeplayed,inderisionoftheirarray.
