Мхи старої садиби
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.
