第52章

“Beitdeath。”saidEdith，“andlayitallonme！”

Truly，asEndicotthadsaid，thepoorloversstoodinawofulcase。

Theirfoesweretriumphant，theirfriendscaptiveandabased，their

homedesolate，thebenightedwildernessaroundthem，andarigorous

destiny，intheshapeofthePuritanleader，theironlyguide。Yetthe

deepeningtwilightcouldnotaltogetherconcealthattheironman

wassoftened；hesmiledatthefairspectacleofearlylove；healmost

sighedfortheinevitableblightofearlyhopes。

“Thetroublesoflifehavecomehastilyonthisyoungcouple。”

observedEndicott。“Wewillseehowtheycomportthemselvesunder

theirpresenttrialsereweburdenthemwithgreater。If，amongthe

spoil，therebeanygarmentsofamoredecentfashion，letthembeput

uponthisMayLordandhisLady，insteadoftheirglisteningvanities。

Looktoit，someofyou。”

“Andshallnottheyouth’shairbecut？”askedPeterPalfrey，

lookingwithabhorrenceatthelove-lockandlongglossycurlsof

theyoungman。

“Cropitforthwith，andthatinthetruepumpkin-shellfashion。”

answeredthecaptain。“Thenbringthemalongwithus，butmore

gentlythantheirfellows。Therebequalitiesintheyouth，which

maymakehimvalianttofight，andsobertotoil，andpioustopray；

andinthemaiden，thatmayfithertobecomeamotherinour

Israel，bringingupbabesinbetternurturethanherownhathbeen。

Northinkye，youngones，thattheyarethehappiest，eveninour

lifetimeofamoment，whomis-spenditindancingroundaMaypole！”

AndEndicott，theseverestPuritanofallwholaidtherock

foundationofNewEngland，liftedthewreathofrosesfromtheruinof

theMaypole，andthrewit，withhisowngauntletedhand，overthe

headsoftheLordandLadyoftheMay。Itwasadeedofprophecy。As

themoralgloomoftheworldoverpowersallsystematicgayety，evenso

wastheirhomeofwildmirthmadedesolateamidthesadforest。They

returnedtoitnomore。Butastheirflowerygarlandwaswreathedof

thebrightestrosesthathadgrownthere，so，inthetiethatunited

them，wereintertwinedallthepurestandbestoftheirearlyjoys。

Theywentheavenward，supportingeachotheralongthedifficultpath

whichitwastheirlottotread，andneverwastedoneregretful

thoughtonthevanitiesofMerryMount。

NOTE。Thereisanadmirablefoundationforaphilosophicromancein

thecurioushistoryoftheearlysettlementofMountWollaston，or

MerryMount。Intheslightsketchhereattempted，thefacts，

recordedonthegravepagesofourNewEnglandannalists，havewrought

themselves，almostspontaneously，intoasortofallegory。The

masques，mummeries，andfestivecustoms，describedinthetext，arein

accordancewiththemannersoftheage。Authorityonthesepoints

maybefoundinStrutt’sBookofEnglishSportsandPastimes。

byNathanielHawthorne

THESEXTONstoodintheporchofMilfordmeeting-house，pulling

busilyatthebell-rope。Theoldpeopleofthevillagecamestooping

alongthestreet。Children，withbrightfaces，trippedmerrily

besidetheirparents，ormimickedagravergait，intheconscious

dignityoftheirSundayclothes。Sprucebachelorslookedsidelongat

theprettymaidens，andfanciedthattheSabbathsunshinemadethem

prettierthanonweekdays。Whenthethronghadmostlystreamedinto

theporch，thesextonbegantotollthebell，keepinghiseyeonthe

ReverendMr。Hooper’sdoor。Thefirstglimpseoftheclergyman’s

figurewasthesignalforthebelltoceaseitssummons。

“ButwhathasgoodParsonHoopergotuponhisface？”criedthe

sextoninastonishment。

Allwithinhearingimmediatelyturnedabout，andbeheldthe

semblanceofMr。Hooper，pacingslowlyhismeditativewaytowards

themeeting-house。Withoneacco