Мхи старої садиби
Young Goodman Brown
Whither,then,couldtheseholymenbejourneyingsodeepintotheheathenwilderness?YoungGoodmanBrowncaughtholdofatreeforsupport,beingreadytosinkdownontheground,faintandoverburdenedwiththeheavysicknessofhisheart.Helookeduptothesky,doubtingwhethertherereallywasaheavenabovehim.Yettherewasthebluearch,andthestarsbrighteninginit.
"WithheavenaboveandFaithbelow,Iwillyetstandfirmagainstthedevil!"criedGoodmanBrown.
Whilehestillgazedupwardintothedeeparchofthefirmamentandhadliftedhishandstopray,acloud,thoughnowindwasstirring,hurriedacrossthezenithandhidthebrighteningstars.Theblueskywasstillvisible,exceptdirectlyoverhead,wherethisblackmassofcloudwassweepingswiftlynorthward.Aloftintheair,asiffromthedepthsofthecloud,cameaconfusedanddoubtfulsoundofvoices.Oncethelistenerfanciedthathecoulddistinguishtheaccentsoftowns-peopleofhisown,menandwomen,bothpiousandungodly,manyofwhomhehadmetatthecommuniontable,andhadseenothersriotingatthetavern.Thenextmoment,soindistinctwerethesounds,hedoubtedwhetherhehadheardaughtbutthemurmuroftheoldforest,whisperingwithoutawind.
