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YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN
Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset into the street at Salem
village； but put his head back； after crossing the threshold； to
exchange a parting kiss with his young wife。 And Faith； as the
wife was aptly named； thrust her own pretty head into the street；
letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap while she
called to Goodman Brown。
〃Dearest heart；〃 whispered she； softly and rather sadly； when her
lips were close to his ear； 〃prithee put off your journey until
sunrise and sleep in your own bed to…night。 A lone woman is
troubled with such dreams and such thoughts that she's afeard of
herself sometimes。 Pray tarry with me this night； dear husband；
of all nights in the year。〃
〃My love and my Faith；〃 replied young Goodman Brown； 〃of all
nights in the year； this one night must I tarry away from thee。
My journey； as thou callest it； forth and back again； must needs
be done 'twixt now and sunrise。 What； my sweet； pretty wife； dost
thou doubt me already； and we but three months married？〃
〃Then God bless youe！〃 said Faith； with the pink ribbons； 〃and
may
you find all well whn you come back。〃
〃Amen！〃 cried Goodman Brown。 〃Say thy prayers； dear Faith； and go
to bed at dusk； and no harm will come to thee。〃
So they parted； and the young man pursued his way until； being
about to turn the corner by the meeting…house； he looked back and
saw the head of Faith still peeping after him with a melancholy
air； in spite of her pink ribbons。
〃Poor little Faith！〃 thought he； for his heart smote him。 〃What a
wretch am I to leave her on such an errand！ She talks of dreams；
too。 Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face； as if
a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight。 But no；
no； 't would kill her to think it。 Well； she's a blessed angel on
earth； and after this one night I'll cling to her skirts and
follow her to heaven。〃
With this excellent resolve for the future； Goodman Brown felt
himself justified in making more haste on his present evil
purpose。 He had taken a dreary road； darkened by all the
gloomiest trees of the forest； which barely stood aside to let
the narrow path creep through； and closed immediately behind。 It
was all as lonely as could be； and there is this peculiarity in
such a solitude； that the traveller knows not who may be
concealed by the innumerable trunks and the thick boughs
overhead； so that with lonely footsteps he may yet be passing
through an unseen multitude。
〃There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree；〃 said Goodman
Brown to himself； and he glanced fearfully behind him as he
added； 〃What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow！〃
His head being turned back； he passed a crook of the road； and；
looking forward again； beheld the figure of a man； in grave and
decent attire； seated at the foot of an old tree。 He arose at
Goodman Brown's approach and walked onward side by side with him。
〃You are late； Goodman Brown；〃 said he。 〃The clock of the Old
South was striking as I came through Boston； and that is full
fifteen minutes agone。〃
〃Faith kept me back a while；〃 replied the young man； with a
tremor in his voice； caused by the sudden appearance of his
companion； though not wholly unexpected。
It was now deep dusk in the forest； and deepest in that part of
it where these two were journeying。 As nearly as could be
discerned； the second traveller was about fifty years old；
apparently in the same rank of life as Goodman Brown； and bearing
a considerable resemblance to him； though perhaps more in
expression than features。 Still they might have been taken for
father and son。 And yet； though the elder person was as simply
clad as the younger； and as simple in manner too； he had an
indescribable air of one who knew the world； and who would not
have felt abashed at the governor's dinner table or in King
William's court； were it possible that his affairs should call
him thither。 But the only thing about him that could be fixed
upon as remarkable was his staff； which bore the likeness of a
great black snake； so curiously wrought that it might almost be
seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent。 This； of
course； must have been an ocular deception； assisted by the
uncertain light。
〃Come； Goodman Brown；〃 cried his fellow…traveller； 〃this is a
dull pace for the beginning of a journey。 Take my staff； if you
are so soon weary。〃
〃Friend；〃 said the other； exchanging his slow pace for a full
stop； 〃having kept covenant by meeting thee here； it is my
purpose now to return whence I came。 I have scruples touching the
matter thou wot'st of。〃
〃Sayest thou so？〃 replied he of the serpent； smiling apart。 〃Let
us walk on； nevertheless； reasoning as we go； and if I convince
thee not thou shalt turn back。 We are but a little way in the
forest yet。〃
〃Too far！ too far！〃 exclaimed the goodman； unconsciously resuming
his walk。 〃My father never went into the woods on such an errand；
nor his father before him。 We have been a race of honest men and
good Christians since the days of the martyrs； and shall I be the
first of the name of Brown that ever took this path and
kept〃
〃Such company； thou wouldst say；〃 observed the elder person；
interpreting his pause。 〃Well said； Goodman Brown！ I have been as
well acquainted with your family as with ever a one among the
Puritans； and that's no trifle to say。 I helped your grandfather；
the constable； when he lashed the Quaker woman so smartly through
the streets of Salem； and it was I that brought your father a
pitch…pine knot； kindled at my own hearth； to set fire to an
Indian village； in King Philip's war。 They were my good friends；
both； and many a pleasant walk have we had along this path； and
returned merrily after midnight。 I would fain be friends with you
for their sake。〃
〃If it be as thou sayest；〃 replied Goodman Brown； 〃I marvel they
never spoke of these matters； or； verily； I marvel not； seeing
that the least rumor of the sort would have driven them from New
England。 We are a people of prayer； and good works to boot； and
abide no such wickedness。〃
〃Wickedness or not；〃 said the traveller with the twisted staff；
〃I have a very general acquaintance here in New England。 The
deacons of many a church have drunk the communion wine with me；
the selectmen of divers towns make me their chairman； and a
majority of the Great and General Court are firm supporters of my
interest。 The governor and I； tooBut these are state secrets。〃
〃Can this be so？〃 cried Goodman Brown； with a stare of amazement
at his undisturbed companion。 〃Howbeit； I have nothing to do with
the governor and council； they have their own ways； and are no
rule for a simple husbandman like me。 But； were I to go on with
thee； how should I meet the eye of that good old man； our
minister； at Salem village？ Oh； his voice would make me tremble
both Sabbat