Мхи старої садиби

           Thewholeforestwaspeopledwithfrightfulsounds—thecreakingofthetrees,thehowlingofwildbeasts,andtheyellofIndians;whilesometimesthewindtolledlikeadistantchurchbell,andsometimesgaveabroadroararoundthetraveller,asifallNaturewerelaughinghimtoscorn.Buthewashimselfthechiefhorrorofthescene,andshranknotfromitsotherhorrors.

           "Ha!ha!ha!"roaredGoodmanBrownwhenthewindlaughedathim.

           "Letushearwhichwilllaughloudest.Thinknottofrightenmewithyourdeviltry.Comewitch,comewizard,comeIndianpowwow,comedevilhimself,andherecomesGoodmanBrown.Youmayaswellfearhimashefearyou."

           Intruth,allthroughthehauntedforesttherecouldbenothingmorefrightfulthanthefigureofGoodmanBrown.Onheflewamongtheblackpines,brandishinghisstaffwithfrenziedgestures,nowgivingventtoaninspirationofhorridblasphemy,andnowshoutingforthsuchlaughterassetalltheechoesoftheforestlaughinglikedemonsaroundhim.Thefiendinhisownshapeislesshideousthanwhenheragesinthebreastofman.Thusspedthedemoniaconhiscourse,until,quiveringamongthetrees,hesawaredlightbeforehim,aswhenthefelledtrunksandbranchesofaclearinghavebeensetonfire,andthrowuptheirluridblazeagainstthesky,atthehourofmidnight.Hepaused,inalullofthetempestthathaddrivenhimonward,andheardtheswellofwhatseemedahymn,rollingsolemnlyfromadistancewiththeweightofmanyvoices.Heknewthetune;itwasafamiliaroneinthechoirofthevillagemeeting-house.