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rip van winkle-第2章

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farm in the neighborhood。

  His children; too; were as ragged and wild as if they belonged to

nobody。 His son Rip; an urchin begotten in his own likeness;

promised to inherit the habits; with the old clothes of his father。 He

was generally seen trooping like a colt at his mother's heels;

equipped in a pair of his father's cast…off galligaskins; which he had

much ado to hold up with one hand; as a fine lady does her train in

bad weather。

  Rip Van Winkle; however; was one of those happy mortals; of foolish;

well…oiled dispositions; who take the world easy; eat white bread or

brown; whichever can be got with least thought or trouble; and would

rather starve on a penny than work for a pound。 If left to himself; he

would have whistled life away in perfect contentment; but his wife

kept continually dinning in his ears about his idleness; his

carelessness; and the ruin he was bringing on his family。 Morning;

noon; and night; her tongue was incessantly going; and every thing

he said or did was sure to produce a torrent of household eloquence。

Rip had but one way of replying to all lectures of the kind; and that;

by frequent use; had grown into a habit。 He shrugged his shoulders;

shook his head; cast up his eyes; but said nothing。 This; however;

always provoked a fresh volley from his wife; so that he was fain to

draw off his forces; and take to the outside of the house… the only

side which; in truth; belongs to a hen…pecked husband。

  Rip's sole domestic adherent was his dog Wolf; who was as much

hen…pecked as his master; for Dame Van Winkle regarded them as

companions in idleness; and even looked upon Wolf with an evil eye; as

the cause of his master's going so often astray。 True it is; in all

points of spirit befitting an honorable dog; he was as courageous an

animal as ever scoured the woods… but what courage can withstand the

ever…during and all…besetting terrors of a woman's tongue? The

moment Wolf entered the house his crest fell; his tail drooped to

the ground; or curled between his legs; he sneaked about with a

gallows air; casting many a sidelong glance at Dame Van Winkle; and at

the least flourish of a broomstick or ladle; he would fly to the

door with yelping precipitation。

  Times grew worse and worse with Rip Van Winkle as years of matrimony

rolled on; a tart temper never mellows with age; and a sharp tongue is

the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use。 For a long

while he used to console himself; when driven from home; by

frequenting a kind of perpetual club of the sages; philosophers; and

other idle personages of the village; which held its sessions on a

bench before a small inn; designated by a rubicund portrait of His

Majesty George the Third。 Here they used to sit in the shade through a

long lazy summer's day; talking listlessly over village gossip; or

telling endless sleepy stories about nothing。 But it would have been

worth any statesman's money to have heard the profound discussions

that sometimes took place; when by chance an old newspaper fell into

their hands from some passing traveller。 How solemnly they would

listen to the contents; as drawled out by Derrick Van Bummel; the

schoolmaster; a dapper learned little man; who was not to be daunted

by the most gigantic word in the dictionary; and how sagely they would

deliberate upon public events some months after they had taken place。

  The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas

Vedder; a patriarch of the village; and landlord of the inn; at the

door of which he took his seat from morning till night just moving

sufficiently to avoid the sun and keep in the shade of a large tree;

so that the neighbors could tell the hour by his movements as

accurately as by a sun…dial。 It is true he was rarely heard to

speak; but smoked his pipe incessantly。 His adherents; however (for

every great man has his adherents); perfectly understood him; and knew

how to gather his opinions。 When any thing that was read or related

displeased him; he was observed to smoke his pipe vehemently; and to

send forth short; frequent and angry puffs; but when pleased; he would

inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly; and emit it in light and

placid clouds; and sometimes; taking the pipe from his mouth; and

letting the fragrant vapor curl about his nose; would gravely nod

his head in token of perfect approbation。

  From even this stronghold the unlucky Rip was at length routed by

his termagant wife; who would suddenly break in upon the

tranquillity of the assemblage and call the members all to naught; nor

was that august personage; Nicholas Vedder himself; sacred from the

daring tongue of this terrible virago; who charged him outright with

encouraging her husband in habits of idleness。

  Poor Rip was at last reduced almost to despair; and his only

alternative; to escape from the labor of the farm and clamor of his

wife; was to take gun in hand and stroll away into the woods。 Here

he would sometimes seat himself at the foot of a tree; and share the

contents of his wallet with Wolf; with whom he sympathized as a

fellow…sufferer in persecution。 〃Poor Wolf;〃 he would say; 〃thy

mistress leads thee a dog's life of it; but never mind; my lad; whilst

I live thou shalt never want a friend to stand by thee!〃 Wolf would

wag his tail; look wistfully in his master's face; and if dogs can

feel pity I verily believe he reciprocated the sentiment with all

his heart。

  In a long ramble of the kind on a fine autumnal day; Rip had

unconsciously scrambled to one of the highest parts of the Kaatskill

mountains。 He was after his favorite sport of squirrel shooting; and

the still solitudes had echoed and re…echoed with the reports of his

gun。 Panting and fatigued; he threw himself; late in the afternoon; on

a green knoll; covered with mountain herbage; that crowned the brow of

a precipice。 From an opening between the trees he could overlook all

the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland。 He saw at a

distance the lordly Hudson; far; far below him; moving on its silent

but majestic course; with the reflection of a purple cloud; or the

sail of a lagging bark; here and there sleeping on its glassy bosom;

and at last losing itself in the blue highlands。

  On the other side he looked down into a deep mountain glen; wild;

lonely; and shagged; the bottom filled with fragments from the

impending cliffs; and scarcely lighted by the reflected rays of the

setting sun。 For some time Rip lay musing on this scene; evening was

gradually advancing; the mountains began to throw their long blue

shadows over the valleys; he saw that it would be dark long before

he could reach the village; and he heaved a heavy sigh when he thought

of encountering the terrors of Dame Van Winkle。

  As he was about to descend; he heard a voice from a distance;

hallooing; 〃Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!〃 He looked round; but

could see nothing but a crow winging its solitary flight across the

mountain。 He thought his fancy must have deceived him; and turned

again to descend; when he heard the same cry ring through the still

evening air; 〃Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!〃… at the same time

Wolf bristled up his back; and giving a low growl; skulked to his

master's side; looking fearfully down into the glen。 Rip now felt a

vague apprehension stealing over him; he looked anxiously in the

same direction; and perceived a strange figure slowly toiling up the

rocks; and bending under the weight of something he carried on his

back。 He was surprised to see any human being in this lonely and

unfrequented place; but supposing it to be some one of the

neighborhood in need of his assistance; he hastened down to yield it。

  On nearer approach he was still more surprised at the singularity of

the stranger's appearance。 He was a short square…built old fellow;

with thick bushy hair; and a grizzled beard。 His dress was of the

antique Dutch fashion… a cloth jerkin strapped round the waist…

several pair of breeches; the outer one of ample volume; decorated

with rows of buttons down the sides; and bunches at

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