twice-told tales- the great stone face-第1章
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TWICE…TOLD TALES
THE GREAT STONE FACE
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
ONE AFTERNOON； When the sun was going down； a mother and her little
boy sat at the door of their cottage； talking about the Great Stone
Face。 They had but to lift their eyes； and there it was plainly to
be seen； though miles away； with the sunshine brightening all its
features。
And what was the Great Stone Face？
Embosomed amongst a family of lofty mountains； there was a valley
so spacious that it contained many thousand inhabitants。 Some of these
good people dwelt in log huts； with the black forest all around
them； on the steep and difficult hill…sides。 Others had their homes in
comfortable farm…houses； and cultivated the rich soil on the gentle
slopes or level surfaces of the valley。 Others； again； were
congregated into populous villages； where some wild； highland rivulet；
tumbling down from its birthplace in the upper mountain region； had
been caught and tamed by human cunning； and compelled to turn the
machinery of cotton factories。 The inhabitants of this valley； in
short； were numerous； and of many modes of life。 But all of them；
grown people and children； had a kind of familiarity with the Great
Stone Face； although some possessed the gift of distinguishing this
grand natural phenomenon more perfectly than many of their neighbors。
The Great Stone Face； then； was a work of Nature in her mood of
majestic playfulness； formed on the perpendicular side of a mountain
by some immense rocks； which had been thrown together in such a
position as； when viewed at a proper distance； precisely to resemble
the features of the human countenance。 It seemed as if an enormous
giant； or a Titan； had sculptured his own likeness on the precipice。
There was the broad arch of the forehead； a hundred feet in height；
the nose； with its long bridge； and the vast lips； which； if they
could have spoken； would have rolled their thunder accents from one
end of the valley to the other。 True it is； that if the spectator
approached too near； he lost the outline of the gigantic visage； and
could discern only a heap of ponderous and gigantic rocks； piled in
chaotic ruin one upon another。 Retracing his steps； however； the
wondrous features would again be seen； and the further he withdrew
from them； the more like a human face； with all its original
divinity intact； did they appear； until； as it grew dim in the
distance； with the clouds and glorified vapor of the mountains
clustering about it； the Great Stone Face seemed positively to be
alive。
It was a happy lot for children to grow up to manhood or
womanhood with the Great Stone Face before their eyes； for all the
features were noble； and the expression was at once grand and sweet；
as if it were the glow of a vast； warm heart； that embraced all
mankind in its affections； and had room for more。 It was an
education only to look at it。 According to the belief of many
people； the valley owed much of its fertility to this benign aspect
that was continually beaming over it； illuminating the clouds； and
infusing its tenderness into the sunshine。
As we began with saying； a mother and her little boy sat at their
cottage door； gazing at the Great Stone Face； and talking about it。
The child's name was Ernest。
〃Mother； said he； while the Titanic visage smiled on him； 〃I wish
that it could speak； for it looks so very kindly that its voice must
needs be pleasant。 If I were to see a man with such a face； I should
love him dearly。〃
〃If an old prophecy should come to pass；〃 answered his mother；
〃we may see a man； some time or other； with exactly such a face as
that。〃
〃What prophecy do you mean； dear mother？〃 eagerly inquired
Ernest。 〃Pray tell me all about it！〃
So his mother told him a story that her own mother had told to her；
when she herself was younger than little Ernest； a story； not of
things that were past； but of what was yet to come； a story；
nevertheless； so very old； that even the Indians； who formerly
inhabited this valley； had heard it from their forefathers； to whom；
as they affirmed； it had been murmured by the mountain streams； and
whispered by the wind among the tree…tops。 The purport was； that； at
some future day； a child should be born hereabouts； who was destined
to become the greatest and noblest personage of his time； and whose
countenance； in manhood； should bear an exact resemblance to the Great
Stone Face。 Not a few old…fashioned people； and young ones likewise；
in the ardor of their hopes； still cherished an enduring faith in this
old prophecy。 But others； who had seen more of the world； had
watched and waited till they were weary； and had beheld no man with
such a face； nor any man that proved to be much greater or nobler than
his neighbors； concluded it to be nothing but an idle tale。 At all
events； the great man of the prophecy had not yet appeared。
〃O； mother； dear mother！〃 cried Ernest； clapping his hands above
his head； I do hope that I shall live to see him！〃
His mother was an affectionate and thoughtful woman； and felt
that it was wisest not to discourage the generous hopes of her
little boy。 So she only said to him； 〃Perhaps you may。〃
And Ernest never forgot the story that his mother told him。 It
was always in his mind； whenever he looked upon the Great Stone
Face。 He spent his childhood in the log…cottage where he was born； and
was dutiful to his mother； and helpful to her in many things；
assisting her much with his little hands； and more with his loving
heart。 In this manner； from a happy yet often pensive child； he grew
up to be a mild； quiet； unobtrusive boy； and sun…browned with labor in
the fields； but with more intelligence brightening his aspect than
is seen in many lads who have been taught at famous schools。 Yet
Ernest had had no teacher； save only that the Great Stone Face
became one to him。 When the toil of the day was over； he would gaze at
it for hours； until he began to imagine that those vast features
recognized him； and gave him a smile of kindness and encouragement；
responsive to his own look of veneration。 We must not take upon us
to affirm that this was a mistake； although the Face may have looked
no more kindly at Ernest than at all the world besides。 But the secret
was； that the boy's tender and confiding simplicity discerned what
other people could not see； and thus the love； which was meant for
all； became his peculiar portion。
About this time； there went a rumor throughout the valley； that the
great man； foretold from ages long ago； who was to bear a
resemblance to the Great Stone Face； had appeared at last。 It seems
that； many years before； a young man had migrated from the valley
and settled at a distant seaport； where； after getting together a
little money； he had set up as a shopkeeper。 His name… but I could
never learn whether it was his real one； or a nickname that had
grown out of his habits and success in life… was Gathergold。 Being
shrewd and active； and endowed by Providence with that inscrutable
faculty which develops itself in what the world calls luck； he
became an exceedingly rich merchant； and owner of a whole fleet of
bulky…bottomed ships。 All the countries of the globe appeared to
join hands for the mere purpose of adding heap after heap to the
mountainous accumulation of this one man's wealth。 The cold regions of
the north； almost within the gloom and shadow of the Arctic Circle；
sent him their tribute in the shape of furs； hot Africa sifted for him
the golden sands of her rivers； and gathered up the ivory tusks of her
great elephants out of the forests； the East came bringing him the
rich shawls； and spices； and teas； and the effulgence of diamonds； and
the gleaming purity of large pearls。 The ocean； not to be behindhand
with the earth； yielded up her mighty whales； that Mr。 Gathergold
might sell their oil； and make a profit on it。 Be the original
commodity what it might； it was gold within his grasp。 It might be
said of him； as of Midas in the fable； that whatever he touched with
his finger immediately glistened； and grew yellow； and was changed
at once into sterling metal； or； which suited him still better； into
piles of coin。 And； when Mr。 Gathergold had become so very rich that
it would have taken him a hundred years only to count his wealth； he
bethought himself of his native valley； and resolved to go back
thither； and end his days where he was born。 With this purpose in
view； he sent a skilful architect to build him such a palace as should
be fit for a man of his vast wealth to live in。
As I have said above； it had already been rumored in the valley
that Mr。 Gathergold had turned out to be the prophetic personage so
long and vainly looked for； and that his visage was the perfect and
undeniable similitude of the Great Stone Face。 People were the more
ready to believe that this must needs be the fact； when they beheld
the splendid edifice that rose； as if by enchantment； on the site of
his father's old weather…beaten farm…house。 The exterior was of
marble； so dazzlingly white that it seemed as though the whole
structure might melt away in the sunshine； like those humbler ones
which Mr。 Gathergold； in his young play…days； before his fingers
were gifted with the touch of transmutation； had been accustomed to
build of snow。 It had a richly ornamented portico； supported by tall
pillars； beneath which was a lofty door； studded with silver knobs；
and made of a kind of variegated wood that had been brought from
beyond the sea。 The windows； from the floor to the ceiling of each
stately apartment； were composed； respectively； of but one enormous
pane of glass； so transparently pure that it was said to be a finer
medium than even the vacant atmosphere。 Hardly anybody had been
permitted to see the interior of this palace； but it was reported； and
with good semblance of truth； to be far more gorgeous than the
outside； insomuch that whatever was iron or brass in other houses； was
silver or gold in this； and Mr。 Gathergold's bed…chamber；
especially； made such a glittering appearance that no ordinary man
would have been able to close his eyes there。 But； on the other
hand； Mr。 Gathergold was now so inured to wealth； that perhaps he
could not have closed his eyes unless where the gleam of it was
certain to find its way beneath his eyelids。
In due time； the mansion was finished； next came the
upholsterers； with magnificent furniture； then； a whole troop of black
and white servants； the harbingers of Mr。 Gathergold； who； in his
own majestic person was expected to arrive at sunset。 Our friend
Ernest； meanwhile； had been deeply stirred by the idea that the
great man； the noble man； the man of prophecy； after so many ages of
delay； was at length to be made manifest to his native valley。 He
knew； boy as he was； that there were a thousand ways in which Mr。
Gathergold； with his vast wealth； might transform himself into an
angel of beneficence； and
