twice-told tales- my kinsman, major molineux-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TWICE…TOLD　TALES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MY　KINSMAN；　MAJOR　MOLINEUX

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Nathaniel　Hawthorne



　　　AFTER　THE　KINGS　of　Great　Britain　had　assumed　the　right　of

appointing　the　colonial　governors；　the　measures　of　the　latter　seldom

met　with　the　ready　and　general　approbation　which　had　been　paid　to

those　of　their　predecessors；　under　the　original　charters。　The　people

looked　with　most　jealous　scrutiny　to　the　exercise　of　power　which　did

not　emanate　from　themselves；　and　they　usually　rewarded　their　rulers

with　slender　gratitude　for　the　compliances　by　which；　in　softening

their　instructions　from　beyond　the　sea；　they　had　incurred　the

reprehension　of　those　who　gave　them。　The　annals　of　Massachusetts　Bay

will　inform　us；　that　of　six　governors　in　the　space　of　about　forty

years　from　the　surrender　of　the　old　charter；　under　James　II；　two

were　imprisoned　by　a　popular　insurrection；　a　third；　as　Hutchinson

inclines　to　believe；　was　driven　from　the　province　by　the　whizzing　of　a

musketball；　a　fourth；　in　the　opinion　of　the　same　historian；　was

hastened　to　his　grave　by　continual　bickerings　with　the　House　of

Representatives；　and　the　remaining　two；　as　well　as　their　successors；

till　the　Revolution；　were　favored　with　few　and　brief　intervals　of

peaceful　sway。　The　inferior　members　of　the　court　party；　in　times　of

high　political　excitement；　led　scarcely　a　more　desirable　life。　These

remarks　may　serve　as　a　preface　to　the　following　adventures；　which

chanced　upon　a　summer　night；　not　far　from　a　hundred　years　ago。　The

reader；　in　order　to　avoid　a　long　and　dry　detail　of　colonial　affairs；

is　requested　to　dispense　with　an　account　of　the　train　of　circumstances

that　had　caused　much　temporary　inflammation　of　the　popular　mind。

　　　It　was　near　nine　o'clock　of　a　moonlight　evening；　when　a　boat

crossed　the　ferry　with　a　single　passenger；　who　had　obtained　his

conveyance　at　that　unusual　hour　by　the　promise　of　an　extra　fare。　While

he　stood　on　the　landing　place；　searching　in　either　pocket　for　the

means　of　fulfilling　his　agreement；　the　ferryman　lifted　a　lantern；　by

the　aid　of　which；　and　the　newly…risen　moon；　he　took　a　very　accurate

survey　of　the　stranger's　figure。　He　was　a　youth　of　barely　eighteen

years；　evidently　country…bred；　and　now；　as　it　should　seem；　upon　his

first　visit　to　town。　He　was　clad　in　a　coarse　gray　coat；　well　worn；　but

in　excellent　repair；　his　under…garments　were　durably　constructed　of

leather；　and　fitted　tight　to　a　pair　of　serviceable　and　well…shaped

limbs；　his　stockings　of　blue　yarn　were　the　incontrovertible　work　of

a　mother　or　a　sister；　and　on　his　head　was　a　three…cornered　hat；

which　in　its　better　days　had　perhaps　sheltered　the　graver　brow　of

the　lad's　father。　Under　his　left　arm　was　a　heavy　cudgel；　formed　of

an　oak　sapling；　and　retaining　a　part　of　the　hardened　root；　and　his

equipment　was　completed　by　a　wallet；　not　so　abundantly　stocked　as　to

incommode　the　vigorous　shoulders　on　which　it　hung。　Brown；　curly

hair；　well…shaped　features；　and　bright；　cheerful　eyes；　were　nature's

gifts；　and　worth　all　that　art　could　have　done　for　his　adornment。

　　　The　youth；　one　of　whose　names　was　Robin；　finally　drew　from　his

pocket　the　half　of　a　little　province　bill　of　five　shillings；　which；　in

the　depreciation　of　that　sort　of　currency；　did　but　satisfy　the

ferryman's　demand；　with　the　surplus　of　a　sexangular　piece　of

parchment；　valued　at　three　pence。　He　then　walked　forward　into　the

town；　with　as　light　a　step　as　if　his　day's　journey　had　not　already

exceeded　thirty　miles；　and　with　as　eager　an　eye　as　if　he　were　entering

London　city；　instead　of　the　little　metropolis　of　a　New　England　colony。

Before　Robin　had　proceeded　far；　however；　it　occurred　to　him　that　he

knew　not　whither　to　direct　his　steps；　so　he　paused；　and　looked　up

and　down　the　narrow　street；　scrutinizing　the　small　and　mean　wooden

buildings　that　were　scattered　on　either　side。

　　　〃This　low　hovel　cannot　be　my　kinsman's　dwelling；〃　thought　he；

〃nor　yonder　old　house；　where　the　moonlight　enters　at　the　broken

casement；　and　truly　I　see　none　hereabouts　that　might　be　worthy　of　him。

It　would　have　been　wise　to　inquire　my　way　of　the　ferryman；　and

doubtless　he　would　have　gone　with　me；　and　earned　a　shilling　from　the

major　for　his　pains。　But　the　next　man　I　meet　will　do　as　well。〃

　　　He　resumed　his　walk；　and　was　glad　to　perceive　that　the　street　now

became　wider；　and　the　houses　more　respectable　in　their　appearance。

He　soon　discerned　a　figure　moving　on　moderately　in　advance；　and

hastened　his　steps　to　overtake　it。　As　Robin　drew　nigh；　he　saw　that　the

passenger　was　a　man　in　years；　with　a　full　periwig　of　gray　hair；　a

wide…skirted　coat　of　dark　cloth；　and　silk　stockings　rolled　above　his

knees。　He　carried　a　long　and　polished　cane；　which　he　struck　down

perpendicularly　before　him；　at　every　step；　and　at　regular　intervals　he

uttered　two　successive　hems；　of　a　peculiarly　solemn　and　sepulchral

intonation。　Having　made　these　observations；　Robin　laid　hold　of　the

skirt　of　the　old　man's　coat；　just　when　the　light　from　the　open　door

and　windows　of　a　barber's　shop　fell　upon　both　their　figures。　〃Good

evening　to　you；　honored　sir；〃　said　he；　making　a　low　bow；　and　still

retaining　his　hold　of　the　skirt。　〃I　pray　you　tell　me　whereabouts　is

the　dwelling　of　my　kinsman；　Major　Molineux。〃

　　　The　youth's　question　was　uttered　very　loudly；　and　one　of　the

barbers；　whose　razor　was　descending　on　a　well…soaped　chin；　and　another

who　was　dressing　a　Ramillies　wig；　left　their　occupations；　and　came

to　the　door。　The　citizen；　in　the　meantime；　turned　a　long…favored

countenance　upon　Robin；　and　answered　him　in　a　tone　of　excessive

anger　and　annoyance。　His　two　sepulchral　hems；　however；　broke　into

the　very　centre　of　his　rebuke；　with　most　singular　effect；　like　a

thought　of　the　cold　grave　obtruding　among　wrathful　passions。

　　　〃Let　go　my　garment；　fellow！　I　tell　you；　I　know　not　the　man　you

speak　of。　What！　I　have　authority；　I　have…　hem；　hem…　authority；　and

if　this　be　the　respect　you　show　for　your　betters；　your　feet　shall　be

brought　acquainted　with　the　stocks　by　daylight；　tomorrow　morning！〃

　　　Robin　released　the　old　man's　skirt；　and　hastened　away；　pursued　by

an　ill…mannered　roar　of　laughter　from　the　barber's　shop。　He　was　at

first　considerably　surprised　by　the　result　of　his　question；　but；　being

a　shrewd　youth；　soon　thought　himself　able　to　account　for　the　mystery。

　　　This　is　some　country　representative；〃　was　his　conclusion；　〃who

has　never　seen　the　inside　of　my　kinsman's　door；　and　lacks　the　breeding

to　answer　a　stranger　civilly。　The　man　is　old；　or　verily…　I　might　be

tempted　to　turn　back　and　smite　him　on　the　nose。　Ah；　Robin；　Robin！　even

the　barber's　boys　laugh　at　you　choosing　such　a　guide！　You　will　be

wiser　in　time；　friend　Robin。〃

　　　He　now　became　entangled　in　a　succession　of　crooked　and　narrow

streets；　which　crossed　each　other；　and　meandered　at　no　great

distance　from　the　water…side。　The　smell　of　tar　was　obvious　to　his

nostrils；　the　masts　of　vessels　pierced　the　moonlight　above　the　tops　of

the　buildings；　and　the　numerous　signs；　which　Robin　paused　to　read；

informed　him　that　he　was　near　the　centre　of　business。　But　the

streets　were　empty；　the　shops　were　closed；　and　lights　were　visible

only　in　the　second　stories　of　a　few　dwelling…houses。　At　length；　on　the

corner　of　a　narrow　lane；　through　which　he　was　passing；　he　beheld　the

broad　countenance　of　a　British　hero　swinging　before　the　door　of　an

inn；　whence　proceeded　the　voices　of　many　guests。　The　casement　of　one

of　the　lower　windows　was　thrown　back；　and　a　very　thin　curtain

permitted　Robin　to　distinguish　a　party　at　supper；　round　a

well…furnished　table。　The　fragrance　of　the　good　cheer　steamed　forth

into　the　outer　air；　and　the　youth　could　not　fail　to　recollect　that　the

last　remnant　of　his　travelling　stock　of　provision　had　yielded　to　his

morning　appetite；　and　that　noon　had　found；　and　left　him；　dinnerless。

　　　〃O；　that　a　parchment　three…penny　might　give　me　a　right　to　sit

down　at　yonder　table！〃　said　Robin；　with　a　sigh。　〃But　the　major　will

make　me　welcome　to　the　best　of　his　victuals；　so　I　will　even　step

boldly　in；　and　inquire　my　way　to　his　dwelling。〃

　　　He　entered　the　tavern；　and　was　guided　by　the　murmur　of　voices；

and　the　fumes　of　tobacco；　to　the　public　room。　It　was　a　long　and　low

apartment；　with　oaken　walls；　grown　dark　in　the　continual　smoke；　and

a　floor；　which　was　thickly　sanded；　but　of　no　immaculate　purity。　A

number　of　persons…　the　larger　part　of　whom　appeared　to　be　mariners；　or

in　some　way　connected　with　the　sea…　occupied　the　wooden　benches；　or

leather…bottomed　chairs；　conversing　on　various　matters；　and

occasionally　lending　their　attention　to　some　topic　of　general

interest。　Three　or　four　little　groups　were　draining　as　many　bowls　of

punch；　which　the　West　India　trade　had　long　since　made　a　familiar　drink

in　the　colony。　Others；　who　had　the　appearance　of　men　who　lived　by

regular　and　laborious　handicraft；　preferred　the　insulated　bliss　of

an　unshared　potation；　and　became　more　taciturn　under　its　influence。

Nearly　all；　in　short；　evinced　a　predilection　for　the　Good　Creature

in　some　of　its　various　shapes；　for　this　is　a　vice　to　which；　as

Fast…day　sermons　of　a　hundred　years　ago　will　testify；　we　have　a　long

hereditary　claim。　The　only　guests　to　whom　Robin's　sympathies

inclined　him　were　two　or　three　sheepish　countrymen；　who　were　using　the

inn　somewhat　after　the　fashion　of　a　Turkish　caravansary；　they　had

gotten　themselves　into　the　darkest　corner　of　the　room；　and；　heedless

of　the　Nicotian　atmosphere；　were　supping　on　the　bread　of　their　own

ovens；　and　the　bacon　cured　in　their　own　chimney…smoke。　But　though

Robin　felt　a　sort　of　brotherhood　with　these　strangers；　his　eyes　were

attracted　from　them　to　a　person　who　stood　near　the　door；　holding

whispered　conversation　with　a　group　of　ill…dressed　associates。　His

features　were　separately　striking　almost　to　grotesqueness；　and　the

whole　face　left　a　deep　impression　on　the　memory。　The　forehead　bulged

out　into　a　double　prominence；　with　a　vale　between；　the　nose　came

boldly　forth　in　an　irregular　curve；　and　its　bridge　was　of　more　than

a　finger's　breadth；　the　eyebrows　were　deep　and　shaggy；　and　the　eyes

glowed　beneath　them　like　fire　in　a　cave。

　　　While　Robin　deliberated　of　whom　to　inquire　respecting　his　kinsman's

dwelling；　he　was　accosted　by　the　innkeeper；　a　little　man　in　a

stained　white　apron；　who　had　come　to　pay　his　professional　welcome　to

the　stranger。　Being　in　the　second　generation　from　a　French　Protestant；

he　seemed　to　have　inherited　the　courtesy　of　his　parent　nation；　but

no　variety　of　circumstances　was　ever　known　to　change　his　voice　from

the　one　shrill　note　in　which　he　now　addressed　Robin。

　　　〃From　the　country；　I　presume；　sir？〃　said　he；　with　a　profound　bow。

〃Beg　leave　to　congratulate　you　on　your　arrival；　and　trust　you　intend　a

long　stay　with　us。　Fine　town　here；　sir；　beautiful　buildings；　and

much　that　may　interest　a　stranger。　May　I　hope　for　the　honor　of　your

commands　in　respect　to　supper？〃

　　　〃The　man　sees　a　family　likeness！　the　rogue　has　guessed　that　I　am

related　to　the　major！〃　thought　Robin；　who　had　hitherto