Мхи старої садиби
The Birthmark
Hadshebeenlessbeautiful,—ifEnvy’sselfcouldhavefoundaughtelsetosneerat,—hemighthavefelthisaffectionheightenedbytheprettinessofthismimichand,nowvaguelyportrayed,nowlost,nowstealingforthagainandglimmeringtoandfrowitheverypulseofemotionthatthrobbedwithinherheart;butseeingherotherwisesoperfect,hefoundthisonedefectgrowmoreandmoreintolerablewitheverymomentoftheirunitedlives.ItwasthefatalflawofhumanitywhichNature,inoneshapeoranother,stampsineffaceablyonallherproductions,eithertoimplythattheyaretemporaryandfinite,orthattheirperfectionmustbewroughtbytoilandpain.Thecrimsonhandexpressedtheineludiblegripeinwhichmortalityclutchesthehighestandpurestofearthlymould,degradingthemintokindredwiththelowest,andevenwiththeverybrutes,likewhomtheirvisibleframesreturntodust.Inthismanner,selectingitasthesymbolofhiswife’sliabilitytosin,sorrow,decay,anddeath,Aylmer’ssombreimaginationwasnotlonginrenderingthebirthmarkafrightfulobject,causinghimmoretroubleandhorrorthaneverGeorgiana’sbeauty,whetherofsoulorsense,hadgivenhimdelight.
Atalltheseasonswhichshouldhavebeentheirhappiest,heinvariablyandwithoutintendingit,nay,inspiteofapurposetothecontrary,revertedtothisonedisastroustopic.Triflingasitatfirstappeared,itsoconnecteditselfwithinnumerabletrainsofthoughtandmodesoffeelingthatitbecamethecentralpointofall.
