twice-told tales- the prophetic pictures-第1章
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TWICE…TOLD TALES
THE PROPHETIC PICTURES
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
BUT THIS PAINTER！〃 cried Walter Ludlow； with animation。 〃He not
only excels in his peculiar art； but possesses vast acquirements in
all other learning and science。 He talks Hebrew with Dr。 Mather； and
gives lectures in anatomy to Dr。 Boylston。 In a word； he will meet the
best instructed man among us on his own ground。 Moreover； he is a
polished gentleman… a citizen of the world… yes； a true cosmopolite；
for he will speak like a native of each clime and country of the globe
except our own forests； whither he is now going。 Nor is all this
what I most admire in him。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Elinor； who had listened with a woman's interest
to the description of such a man。 〃Yet this is admirable enough。〃
〃Surely it is；〃 replied her lover； 〃but far less so than his
natural gift of adapting himself to every variety of character；
insomuch that all men… and all women too； Elinor… shall find a
mirror of themselves in this wonderful painter。 But the greatest
wonder is yet to be told。〃
〃Nay； if he have more wonderful attributes than these；〃 said
Elinor； laughing； 〃Boston is a perilous abode for the poor
gentleman。 Are you telling me of a painter or a wizard？〃
〃In truth；〃 answered he； that question might be asked much more
seriously than you suppose。 They say that he paints not merely a man's
features； but his mind and heart。 He catches the secret sentiments and
passions； and throws them upon the canvas； like sunshine… or
perhaps； in the portraits of dark…souled men； like a gleam of infernal
fire。 It is an awful gift；〃 added Walter； lowering his voice from
its tone of enthusiasm。 〃I shall be almost afraid to sit to him。〃
〃Walter； are you in earnest？〃 exclaimed Elinor。
〃For Heaven's sake； dearest Elinor； do not let him paint the look
which you now wear；〃 said her lover； smiling； though rather perplexed。
〃There： it is passing away now； but when you spoke you seemed
frightened to death； and very sad besides。 What were you thinking of？〃
〃Nothing； nothing；〃 answered Elinor hastily。 〃You paint my face
with your own fantasies。 Well； come for me tomorrow； and we will visit
this wonderful artist。〃
But when the young man had departed； it cannot be denied that a
remarkable expression was again visible on the fair and youthful
face of his mistress。 It was a sad and anxious look； little in
accordance with what should have been the feelings of a maiden on
the eve of wedlock。 Yet Walter Ludlow was the chosen of her heart。
〃A look！〃 said Elinor to herself。 〃No wonder that it startled
him； if it expressed what I sometimes feel。 I know； by my own
experience； how frightful a look may be。 But it was all fancy。 I
thought nothing of it at the time… I have seen nothing of it since…
I did but dream it。〃
And she busied herself about the embroidery of a ruff； in which she
meant that her portrait should be taken。
The painter； of whom they had been speaking； was not one of those
native artists who； at a later period than this； borrowed their colors
from the Indians； and manufactured their pencils of the furs of wild
beasts。 Perhaps； if he could have revoked his life and prearranged his
destiny； he might have chosen to belong to that school without a
master； in the hope of being at least original； since there were no
works of art to imitate nor rules to follow。 But he had been born
and educated in Europe。 People said that he had studied the grandeur
or beauty of conception； and every touch of the master hand； in all
the most famous pictures； in cabinets and galleries； and on the
walls of churches； till there was nothing more for his powerful mind
to learn。 Art could add nothing to its lessons； but Nature might。 He
had therefore visited a world whither none of his professional
brethren had preceded him； to feast his eyes on visible images that
were noble and picturesque； yet had never been transferred to
canvas。 America was too poor to afford other temptations to an
artist of eminence； though many of the colonial gentry； on the
painter's arrival； had expressed a wish to transmit their lineaments
to posterity by means of his skill。 Whenever such proposals were made；
he fixed his piercing eyes on the applicant； and seemed to look him
through and through。 If he beheld only a sleek and comfortable visage；
though there were a gold…laced coat to adorn the picture and golden
guineas to pay for it； he civilly rejected the task and the reward。
But if the face were the index of any thing uncommon； in thought；
sentiment； or experience； or if he met a beggar in the street； with
a white beard and a furrowed brow； or if sometimes a child happened to
look up and smile； he would exhaust all the art on them that he denied
to wealth。
Pictorial skill being so rare in the colonies； the painter became
an object of general curiosity。 If few or none could appreciate the
technical merit of his productions； yet there were points； in regard
to which the opinion of the crowd was as valuable as the refined
judgment of the amateur。 He watched the effect that each picture
produced on such untutored beholders； and derived profit from their
remarks； while they would as soon have thought of instructing Nature
herself as him who seemed to rival her。 Their admiration； it must be
owned； was tinctured with the prejudices of the age and country。
Some deemed it an offence against the Mosaic law； and even a
presumptuous mockery of the Creator； to bring into existence such
lively images of his creatures。 Others； frightened at the art which
could raise phantoms； at will； and keep the form of the dead among the
living； were inclined to consider the painter as a magician； or
perhaps the famous Black Man； of old witch times； plotting mischief in
a new guise。 These foolish fancies were more than half believed
among the mob。 Even in superior circles his character was invested
with a vague awe； partly rising like smoke wreaths from the popular
superstitions； but chiefly caused by the varied knowledge and
talents which he made subservient to his profession。
Being on the eve of marriage； Walter Ludlow and Elinor were eager
to obtain their portraits； as the first of what； they doubtless hoped；
would be a long series of family pictures。 The day after the
conversation above recorded they visited the painter's rooms。 A
servant ushered them into an apartment； where； though the artist
himself was not visible； there were personages whom they could
hardly forbear greeting with reverence。 They knew； indeed； that the
whole assembly were but pictures； yet felt it impossible to separate
the idea of life and intellect from such striking counterfeits。
Several of the portraits were known to them； either as distinguished
characters of the day or their private acquaintances。 There was
Governor Burnett； looking as if he had just received an undutiful
communication from the House of Representatives； and were inditing a
most sharp response。 Mr。 Cooke hung beside the ruler whom he
opposed； sturdy； and somewhat puritanical； as befitted a popular
leader。 The ancient lady of Sir William Phipps eyed them from the
wall； in ruff and farthingale… an imperious old dame； not
unsuspected of witchcraft。 John Winslow； then a very young man； wore
the expression of war…like enterprise； which long afterwards made
him a distinguished general。 Their personal friends were recognized at
a glance。 In most of the pictures； the whole mind and character were
brought out on the countenance； and concentrated into a single look；
so that； to speak paradoxically； the originals hardly resembled
themselves so strikingly as the portraits did。
Among these modern worthies there were two old bearded Saints；
who had almost vanished into the darkening canvas。 There was also a
pale； but unfaded Madonna； who had perhaps been worshipped in Rome；
and now regarded the lovers with such a mild and holy look that they
longed to worship too。
〃How sing
