“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！”