“Look，look！”screamedthebridemaid。“Whatishere？Thefuneral！”
　　Asshespoke，adarkprocessionpacedintothechurch。Firstcame
　　anoldmanandwoman，likechiefmournersatafuneral，attiredfrom
　　headtofootinthedeepestblack，allbuttheirpalefeaturesand
　　hoaryhair；heleaningonastaff，andsupportingherdecrepitform
　　withhisnervelessarm。Behindappearedanother，andanotherpair，
　　asaged，asblack，andmournfulasthefirst。Astheydrewnear，the
　　widowrecognizedineveryfacesometraitofformerfriends，long
　　forgotten，butnowreturning，asiffromtheiroldgraves，towarnher
　　toprepareashroud；or，withpurposealmostasunwelcome，to
　　exhibittheirwrinklesandinfirmity，andclaimherastheircompanion
　　bythetokensofherowndecay。Manyamerrynighthadshedancedwith
　　them，inyouth。Andnow，injoylessage，shefeltthatsomewithered
　　partnershouldrequestherhand，andallunite，inadanceofdeath，
　　tothemusicofthefuneralbell。
　　Whiletheseagedmournerswerepassinguptheaisle，itwas
　　observedthat，frompewtopew，thespectatorsshudderedwith
　　irrepressibleawe，assomeobject，hithertoconcealedbythe
　　interveningfigures，camefullinsight。Manyturnedawaytheirfaces；
　　otherskeptafixedandrigidstare；andayounggirlgiggled
　　hysterically，andfaintedwiththelaughteronherlips。Whenthe
　　spectralprocessionapproachedthealtar，eachcoupleseparated，and
　　slowlydiverged，till，inthecentre，appearedaform，thathadbeen
　　worthilyusheredinwithallthisgloomypomp，thedeathknell，and
　　thefuneral。Itwasthebridegroominhisshroud！
　　Nogarbbutthatofthegravecouldhavebefittedsucha
　　deathlikeaspect；theeyes，indeed，hadthewildgleamofasepulchral
　　lamp；allelsewasfixedinthesterncalmnesswhicholdmenwearin
　　thecoffin。Thecorpsestoodmotionless，butaddressedthewidowin
　　accentsthatseemedtomeltintotheclangofthebell，whichfell
　　heavilyontheairwhilehespoke。
　　“Come，mybride！”saidthosepalelips，“thehearseisready。The
　　sextonstandswaitingforusatthedoorofthetomb。Letusbe
　　married；andthentoourcoffins！”
　　Howshallthewidow’shorrorberepresented？Itgaveherthe
　　ghastlinessofadeadman’sbride。Heryouthfulfriendsstoodapart，
　　shudderingatthemourners，theshroudedbridegroom，andherself；
　　thewholesceneexpressed，bythestrongestimagery，thevainstruggle
　　ofthegildedvanitiesofthisworld，whenopposedtoage，
　　infirmity，sorrow，anddeath。Theawestrucksilencewasfirstbroken
　　bytheclergyman。
　　“Mr。Ellenwood。”saidhe，soothingly，yetwithsomewhatof
　　authority，“youarenotwell。Yourmindhasbeenagitatedbythe
　　unusualcircumstancesinwhichyouareplaced。Theceremonymustbe
　　deferred。Asanoldfriend，letmeentreatyoutoreturnhome。”
　　“Home！yes，butnotwithoutmybride。”answeredhe，inthesame
　　hollowaccents。“Youdeemthismockery；perhapsmadness。HadI
　　bedizenedmyagedandbrokenframewithscarletandembroidery-had
　　Iforcedmywitheredlipstosmileatmydeadheart-thatmighthave
　　beenmockery，ormadness。Butnow，letyoungandolddeclare，whichof
　　ushascomehitherwithoutaweddinggarment，thebridegroomorthe
　　bride！”
　　Hesteppedforwardataghostlypace，andstoodbesidethewidow，
　　contrastingtheawfulsimplicityofhisshroudwiththeglareand
　　glitterinwhichshehadarrayedherselfforthisunhappyscene。None，
　　thatbeheldthem，coulddenytheterriblestrengthofthemoral
　　whichhisdisorderedintellecthadcontrivedtodraw。
　　“Cruel！cruel！”groanedtheheart-strickenbride。
　　“Cruel！”repeatedhe；then，losinghisdeathlikecomposureina
　　wildbitterness：“Heavenjudgewhichofushasbeencrueltothe
　　other！Inyouthyoudeprivedmeofmyhappiness，myhopes，myaims；
　　youtookawayallthesubstanceofmylife，andmadeitadream
　　withoutrealityenougheventogrieveat-withonlyapervadinggloom，
　　throughwhichIwalkedwearily，andcarednotwhither。Butafterforty
　　years，whenIhavebuiltmytomb，andwouldnotgiveupthethoughtof
　　restingthere-no，notforsuchalifeasweoncepictured-youcall
　　metothealtar。AtyoursummonsIamhere。Butotherhusbandshave
　　enjoyedyouryouth，yourbeauty，yourwarmthofheart，andallthat
　　couldbetermedyourlife。Whatisthereformebutyourdecayand
　　death？AndthereforeIhavebiddenthesefuneralfriends，andbespoken
　　thesexton’sdeepestknell，andamcome，inmyshroud，towedyou，
　　aswithaburialservice，thatwemayjoinourhandsatthedoorof
　　thesepulchre，andenterittogether。”
　　Itwasnotfrenzy；itwasnotmerelythedrunkennessofstrong
　　emotion，inaheartunusedtoit，thatnowwroughtuponthebride。The
　　sternlessonofthedayhaddoneitswork；herworldlinesswasgone。
　　Sheseizedthebridegroom’shand。
　　“Yes！”criedshe。“Letuswed，evenatthedoorofthesepulchre！
　　Mylifeisgoneinvanityandemptiness。Butatitsclosethereisone
　　truefeeling。IthasmademewhatIwasinyouth；itmakesmeworthy
　　ofyou。Timeisnomoreforbothofus。LetuswedforEternity！”
　　Withalonganddeepregard，thebridegroomlookedintohereyes，
　　whileatearwasgatheringinhisown。Howstrangethatgushof
　　humanfeelingfromthefrozenbosomofacorpse！Hewipedawaythe
　　tearsevenwithhisshroud。
　　“Belovedofmyyouth。”saidhe，“Ihavebeenwild。Thedespairof
　　mywholelifetimehadreturnedatonce，andmaddenedme。Forgive；
　　andbeforgiven。Yes；itiseveningwithusnow；andwehave
　　realizednoneofourmorningdreamsofhappiness。Butletusjoin
　　ourhandsbeforethealtar，asloverswhomadversecircumstances
　　haveseparatedthroughlife，yetwhomeetagainastheyareleaving
　　it，andfindtheirearthlyaffectionchangedintosomethingholyas
　　religion。AndwhatisTime，tothemarriedofEternity？”
　　Amidthetearsofmany，andaswellofexaltedsentiment，in
　　thosewhofeltaright，wassolemnizedtheunionoftwoimmortalsouls。
　　Thetrainofwitheredmourners，thehoarybridegroominhisshroud，
　　thepalefeaturesoftheagedbride，andthedeath-belltolling
　　throughthewhole，tillitsdeepvoiceoverpoweredthemarriagewords，
　　allmarkedthefuneralofearthlyhopes。Butastheceremony
　　proceeded，theorgan，asifstirredbythesympathiesofthis
　　impressivescene，pouredforthananthem，firstminglingwiththe
　　dismalknell，thenrisingtoaloftierstrain，tillthesoullooked
　　downuponitswo。Andwhentheawfulritewasfinished，andwith
　　coldhandincoldhand，theMarriedofEternitywithdrew，the
　　organ’spealofsolemntriumphdrownedtheWeddingKnell。
　　byNathanielHawthorne
　　YOUNGGOODMANBROWNcameforthatsunset，intothestreetof
　　Salemvillage，butputhisheadback，aftercrossingthethreshold，to
　　exchangeapartingkisswithhisyoungwife。AndFaith，asthewife
　　wasaptlynamed，thrustherownprettyheadintothestreet，letting
　　thewindplaywiththepinkribbonsofhercap，whileshecalledto
　　GoodmanBrown。
　　“Dearestheart。”whisperedshe，softlyandrathersadly，whenher
　　lipswereclosetohisear，“pr’ythee，putoffyourjourneyuntil
　　sunrise，andsleepinyourownbedtonight。Alonewomanistroubled
　　withsuchdreamsandsuchthoughts，thatshe’safeardofherself，
　　sometimes。Pray，tarrywithmethisnight，dearhusband，ofallnights
　　intheyear！”
　　“MyloveandmyFaith。”repliedyoungGoodmanBrown，“ofallnights
　　intheyear，thisonenightmustItarryawayfromthee。Myjourney，
　　asthoucallestit，forthandbackagain，mustneedsbedone’twixt
　　nowandsunrise。What，mysweet，prettywife，dostthoudoubtme
　　already，andwebutthreemonthsmarried！”
　　“ThenGodblessyou！”saidFaith，withthepinkribbons，“andmay
　　youfindallwell，whenyoucomeback。”
　　“Amen！”criedGoodmanBrown。“Saythyprayers，dearFaith，andgo
　　tobedatdusk，andnoharmwillcometothee。”
　　Sotheyparted；andtheyoungmanpursuedhisway，until，being
　　abouttoturnthecornerbythemeeting-house，helookedbackand
　　sawtheheadofFaithstillpeepingafterhim，withamelancholy
　　air，inspiteofherpinkribbons。
　　“PoorlittleFaith！”thoughthe，forhisheartsmotehim。“Whata
　　wretchamI，toleaveheronsuchanerrand！Shetalksofdreams，too。
　　Methought，asshespoke，therewastroubleinherface，asifa
　　dreamhadwarnedherwhatworkistobedonetonight。But，no，no！
　　’twouldkillhertothinkit。Well；she’sablessedangelonearth；
　　andafterthisonenight，I’llclingtoherskirtsandfollowherto
　　Heaven。”
　　Withthisexcellentresolveforthefuture，GoodmanBrownfelt
　　himselfjustifiedinmakingmorehasteonhispresentevilpurpose。He
　　hadtakenadrearyroad，darkenedbyallthegloomiesttreesofthe
　　forest，whichbarelystoodasidetoletthenarrowpathcreepthrough，
　　andclosedimmediatelybehind。Itwasallaslonelyascouldbe；and
　　thereisthispeculiarityinsuchasolitude，thatthetravellerknows
　　notwhomaybeconcealedbytheinnumerabletrunksandthethick
　　boughsoverhead；sothat，withlonelyfootsteps，hemayyetbepassing
　　throughanunseenmultitude。
　　“TheremaybeadevilishIndianbehindeverytree。”saidGoodman
　　Browntohimself；andheglancedfearfullybehindhim，asheadded，
　　“Whatifthedevilhimselfshouldbeatmyveryelbow！”
　　Hisheadbeingturnedback，hepassedacrookoftheroad，and
　　lookingforwardagain，beheldthefigureofaman，ingraveanddecent
　　attire，seatedatthefootofanoldtree。Hearose，atGoodman
　　Brown’sapproach，andwalkedonward，sidebysidewithhim。
　　“Youarelate，GoodmanBrown。”saidhe。“TheclockoftheOld
　　Southwasstriking，asIcamethroughBoston；andthatisfullfifteen
　　minutesagone。”
　　“Faithkeptmebackawhile。”repliedtheyoungman，withatremor
　　inhisvoice，causedbythesuddenappearanceofhiscompanion，though
　　notwhollyunexpected。
　　Itwasnowdeepduskintheforest，anddeepestinthatpartof
　　itwherethesetwowerejourneying。Asnearlyascouldbediscerned，
　　thesecondtravellerwasaboutfiftyyearsold，apparentlyinthesame
　　rankoflifeasGoodmanBrown，andbearingaconsiderable
　　resemblancetohim，thoughperhapsmoreinexpressionthanfeatures。
　　Still，theymighthavebeentakenforfatherandson。Andyet，
　　thoughtheelderpersonwasassimplycladastheyounger，andas
　　simpleinmannertoo，hehadanindescribableairofonewhoknew
　　theworld，andwouldnothavefeltabashedatthegovernor’s
　　dinner-table，orinKingWilliam’scourt，wereitpossiblethathis
　　affairsshouldcallhimthither。Buttheonlythingabouthim，that
　　couldbefixeduponasremarkable，washisstaff，whichborethe
　　likenessofagreatblacksnake，socuriouslywrought，thatitmight
　　almostbeseentotwistandwriggleitselflikealivingserpent。
　　This，ofcourse，musthavebeenanoculardeception，assistedbythe
　　uncertainlight。
　　“Come，GoodmanBrown！”criedhisfellow-traveller，“thisisa
　　dullpaceforthebeginningofajourney。Takemystaff，ifyouareso
　　soonweary。
　　“Friend。”saidtheother，exchanginghisslowpaceforafullstop，
　　“havingkeptcovenantbymeetingtheehere，itismypurposenowto
　　returnwhenceIcame。Ihavescruples，touchingthematterthouwot’st
　　of。”
　　“Sayestthouso？”repliedheoftheserpent，smilingapart。“Letus
　　walkon，nevertheless，reasoningaswego，andifIconvincetheenot，
　　thoushaltturnback。Wearebutalittlewayintheforest，yet。”
　　“Toofar，toofar！”exclaimedthegoodman，unconsciouslyresuming
　　hiswalk。“Myfatherneverwentintothewoodsonsuchanerrand，
　　norhisfatherbeforehim。Wehavebeenaraceofhonestmenand
　　goodChristians，sincethedaysofthemartyrs。AndshallIbethe
　　firstofthenameofBrown，thatevertookthispathandkept“-
　　“Suchcompany，thouwouldstsay。”observedtheelderperson，
　　interruptinghispause。“Wellsaid，GoodmanBrown！Ihavebeenaswell
　　acquaintedwithyourfamilyaswitheveraoneamongthePuritans；and
　　that’snotrifletosay。Ihelpedyourgrandfather，theconstable，
　　whenhelashedtheQuakerwomansosmartlythroughthestreetsof
　　Salem。AnditwasIthatbroughtyourfatherapitch-pineknot，
　　kindledatmyownhearth，tosetfiretoanIndianvillage，inKing
　　Philip’sWar。Theyweremygoodfriends，both；andmanyapleasant
　　walkhavewehadalongthispath，andreturnedmerrilyaftermidnight。
　　Iwouldfainbefriendswithyou，fortheirsake。”
　　“Ifitbeasthousayest。”repliedGoodmanBrown，“Imarvelthey
　　neverspokeofthesematters。Or，verily，Imarvelnot，seeingthat
　　theleastrumorofthesortwouldhavedriventhemfromNewEngland。
　　Weareapeopleofprayer，andgoodworkstoboot，andabidenosuch
　　wickedness。”
　　“Wickednessornot。”saidthetravellerwiththetwistedstaff，
　　haveaverygeneralacquaintancehereinNewEngland。Thedeaconsof
　　manyachurchhavedrunkthecommunionwinewithme；theselectmen，of
　　diverstowns，makemetheirchairman；andamajorityoftheGreat
　　andGeneralCourtarefirmsupportersofmyinterest。Thegovernorand
　　I，too-butthesearestate-secrets。”
　　“Canthisbeso！”criedGoodmanBrown，withastareofamazementat
　　hisundisturbedcompanion。“Howbeit，Ihavenothingtodowiththe
　　governorandcouncil；theyhavetheirownways，andarenorulefor
　　asimplehusbandmanlikeme。But，wereItogoonwiththee，how
　　shouldImeettheeyeofthatgoodoldman，ourminister，atSalem
　　village？Oh，hisvoicewouldmakemetremble，bothSabbath-dayand
　　lecture-day！”