the legend of sleepy hollow-第3部分

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stronghold　was　situated　on　the　banks　of　the　Hudson；　in　one　of　

those　green；　sheltered；　fertile　nooks　in　which　the　Dutch　farmers　

are　so　fond　of　nestling。　　A　great　elm　tree　spread　its　broad　

branches　over　it；　at　the　foot　of　which　bubbled　up　a　spring　of　the　

softest　and　sweetest　water；　in　a　little　well　formed　of　a　barrel；　

and　then　stole　sparkling　away　through　the　grass；　to　a　neighboring　

brook；　that　babbled　　along　among　alders　and　dwarf　willows。　　Hard　

by　the　farmhouse　was　a　vast　barn；　that　might　have　served　for　a　

church；　every　window　and　crevice　of　which　seemed　bursting

forth　with　the　treasures　of　the　farm；　the　flail　was　busily　

resounding　within　it　from　morning　to　night；　swallows　and　martins　

skimmed　twittering　about　the　eaves；　an　rows　of　pigeons；　some　with　

one　eye　turned　up；　as　if　watching　the　weather；　some　with　their　

heads　under　their　wings　or　buried　in　their　bosoms；　and　others　

swelling；　and　cooing；　and　bowing　about　their　dames；　were　enjoying　

the　sunshine　on　the　roof。　　Sleek　unwieldy　porkers　were　grunting　in　

the　repose　and　abundance　of　their　pens；　from　whence　sallied　

forth；　now　and　then；　troops　of　sucking　pigs；　as　if　to　snuff　the　

air。　　A　stately　squadron　of　snowy　geese　were　riding　in　an　

adjoining　pond；　convoying　whole　fleets　of　ducks；　regiments　of　

turkeys　were　gobbling　through　the　farmyard；　and　Guinea　fowls　

fretting　about　it；　like　ill…tempered　housewives；　with　their　

peevish；　discontented　cry。　　Before　the　barn　door　strutted　the　

gallant　cock；　that　pattern　of　a　husband；　a　warrior　and　a　fine　

gentleman；　clapping　his　burnished　wings　and　crowing　in　the　pride　

and　gladness　of　his　heart；　sometimes　tearing　up　the　earth　with　

his　feet；　and　then　generously　calling　his　ever…hungry　family　of　

wives　and　children　to　enjoy　the　rich　morsel　which　he　had　

discovered。



　　　　The　pedagogue's　mouth　watered　as　he　looked　upon　this　

sumptuous　promise　of　luxurious　winter　fare。　　In　his　devouring　

mind's　eye；　he　pictured　to　himself　every　roasting…pig　running　

about　with　a　pudding　in　his　belly；　and　an　apple　in　his　mouth；　the　

pigeons　were　snugly　put　to　bed　in　a　comfortable　pie；　and　tucked　

in　with　a　coverlet　of　crust；　the　geese　were　swimming　in　their　own　

gravy；　and　the　ducks　pairing　cosily　in　dishes；　like　snug　married　

couples；　with　a　decent　competency　of　onion　sauce。　　In　the　porkers　

he　saw　carved　out　the　future　sleek　side　of　bacon；　and　juicy　

relishing　ham；　not　a　turkey　but　he　beheld　daintily　trussed　up；　

with　its　gizzard　under　its　wing；　and；　peradventure；　a　necklace　of　

savory　sausages；　and　even　bright　chanticleer　himself　lay　

sprawling　on　his　back；　in　a　side　dish；　with　uplifted　claws；　as　if　

craving　that　quarter　which　his　chivalrous　spirit　disdained　to　ask　

while　living。



　　　　As　the　enraptured　Ichabod　fancied　all　this；　and　as　he　rolled　

his　great　green　eyes　over　the　fat　meadow　lands；　the　rich　fields　

of　wheat；　of　rye；　of　buckwheat；　and　Indian　corn；　and　the　orchards　

burdened　with　ruddy　fruit；　which　surrounded　the　warm　tenement　of　

Van　Tassel；　his　heart　yearned　after　the　damsel　who　was　to　inherit　

these　domains；　and　his　imagination　expanded　with　the　idea；　how　

they　might　be　readily　turned　into　cash；　and　the　money　invested　in　

immense　tracts　of　wild　land；　and　shingle　palaces　in　the　

wilderness。　　Nay；　his　busy　fancy　already　realized　his　hopes；　and　

presented　to　him　the　blooming　Katrina；　with　a　whole　family　of　

children；　mounted　on　the　top　of　a　wagon　loaded　with　household　

trumpery；　with　pots　and　kettles　dangling　beneath；　and　he　beheld　

himself　bestriding　a　pacing　mare；　with　a　colt　at　her　heels；　

setting　out　for　Kentucky；　Tennessee；　or　the　Lord　knows　where！



　　　　When　he　entered　the　house；　the　conquest　of　his　heart　was　

complete。　　It　was　one　of　those　spacious　farmhouses；　with　high…

ridged　but　lowly　sloping　roofs；　built　in　the　style　handed　down　

from　the　first　Dutch　settlers；　the　low　projecting　eaves　forming　a　

piazza　along　the　front；　capable　of　being　closed　up　in　bad　

weather。　　Under　this　were　hung　flails；　harness；　various　utensils　

of　husbandry；　and　nets　for　fishing　in　the　neighboring　river。　　

Benches　were　built　along　the　sides　for　summer　use；　and　a　great　

spinning…wheel　at　one　end；　and　a　churn　at　the　other；　showed　the　

various　uses　to　which　this　important　porch　might　be　devoted。　　From　

this　piazza　the　wondering　Ichabod　entered　the　hall；　which　formed　

the　centre　of　the　mansion；　and　the　place　of　usual　residence。　　Here　

rows　of　resplendent　pewter；　ranged　on　a　long　dresser；　dazzled　his　

eyes。　　In　one　corner　stood　a　huge　bag　of　wool；　ready　to　be　spun；　

in　another；　a　quantity　of　linsey…woolsey　just　from　the　loom；　ears　

of　Indian　corn；　and　strings　of　dried　apples　and　peaches；　hung　in　

gay　festoons　along　the　walls；　mingled　with　the　gaud　of　red　

peppers；　and　a　door　left　ajar　gave　him　a　peep　into　the　best　

parlor；　where　the　claw…footed　chairs　and　dark　mahogany　tables　

shone　like　mirrors；　andirons；　with　their　accompanying　shovel　and　

tongs；　glistened　from　their　covert　of　asparagus　tops；　mock…　

oranges　and　conch　…　shells　decorated　the　mantelpiece；　strings　of　

various…colored　birds　eggs　were　suspended　above　it；　a　great　

ostrich　egg　was　hung　from　the　centre　of　the　room；　and　a　corner　

cupboard；　knowingly　left　open；　displayed　immense　treasures　of　old　

silver　and　well…mended　china。



　　　　From　the　moment　Ichabod　laid　his　eyes　upon　these　regions　of　

delight；　the　peace　of　his　mind　was　at　an　end；　and　his　only　study　

was　how　to　gain　the　affections　of　the　peerless　daughter　of　Van　

Tassel。　　In　this　enterprise；　however；　he　had　more　real　

difficulties　than　generally　fell　to　the　lot　of　a　knight…errant　of　

yore；　who　seldom　had　anything　but　giants；　enchanters；　fiery　

dragons；　and　such　like　easily　conquered　adversaries；　to　contend　

with　and　had　to　make　his　way　merely　through　gates　of　iron　and　

brass；　and　walls　of　adamant　to　the　castle　keep；　where　the　lady　of　

his　heart　was　confined；　all　which　he　achieved　as　easily　as　a　man　

would　carve　his　way　to　the　centre　of　a　Christmas　pie；　and　then　

the　lady　gave　him　her　hand　as　a　matter　of　course。　　Ichabod；　on　the　

contrary；　had　to　win　his　way　to　the　heart　of　a　country　coquette；　

beset　with　a　labyrinth　of　whims　and　caprices；　which　were　forever　

presenting　new　difficulties　and　impediments；　and　he　had　to　

encounter　a　host　of　fearful　adversaries　of　real　flesh　and　blood；　

the　numerous　rustic　admirers；　who　beset　every　portal　to　her　

heart；　keeping　a　watchful　and　angry　eye　upon　each　other；　but　

ready　to　fly　out　in　the　common　cause　against　any　new　competitor。



　　　　Among　these；　the　most　formidable　was　a　burly；　roaring；　

roystering　blade；　of　the　name　of　Abraham；　or；　according　to　the　

Dutch　abbreviation；　Brom　Van　Brunt；　the　hero　of　the　country　round　

which　rang　with　his　feats　of　strength　and　hardihood。　　He　was　

broad…shouldered　and　double…jointed；　with　short　curly　black　hair；　

and　a　bluff　but　not　unpleasant　countenance；　having　a　mingled　air　

of　fun　and　arrogance　From　his　Herculean　frame　and　great　powers　of　

limb　he　had　received　the　nickname　of　BROM　BONES；　by　which　he　was　

universally　known。　　He　was　famed　for　great　knowledge　and　skill　in　

horsemanship；　being　as　dexterous　on　horseback　as　a　Tartar。　　He　was　

foremost　at　all　races　and　cock　fights；　and；　with　the　ascendancy　

which　bodily　strength　always　acquires　in　rustic　life；　was　the　

umpire　in　all　disputes；　setting　his　hat　on　one　side；　and　giving　

his　decisions　with　an　air　and　tone　that　admitted　of　no　gainsay　or　

appeal。　　He　was　always　ready　for　either　a　fight　or　a　frolic；　but　

had　more　mischief　than　ill…will　in　his　composition；　and　with　all　

his　overbearing　roughness；　there　was　a　strong　dash　of　waggish　

good　humor　at　bottom。　　He　had　three　or　four　boon　companions；　who　

regarded　him　as　their　model；　and　at　the　head　of　whom　he　scoured　

the　country；　attending　every　scene　of　feud　or　merriment　for

miles　round。　　In　cold　weather　he　was　distinguished　by　a　fur　cap；　

surmounted　with　a　flaunting　fox's　tail；　and　when　the　folks　at　a　

country　gathering　descried　this　well…known　crest　at　a　distance；

whisking　about　among　a　squad　of　hard　riders；　they　always　stood　by

for　a　squall。　　Sometimes　his　crew　would　be　heard　dashing　along

past　the　farmhouses　at　midnight；　with　whoop　and　halloo；　like　a

troop　of　Don　Cossacks；　and　the　old　dames；　startled　out　of　their

sleep；　would　listen　for　a　moment　till　the　hurry…scurry　had

clattered　by；　and　then　exclaim；　〃Ay；　there　goes　Brom　Bones

and　his　gang！〃　　The　neighbors　looked　upon　him　with　a　mixture

of　awe；　admiration；　and　good…will；　and；　when　any　madcap　prank

or　rustic　brawl　occurred　in　the　vicinity；　always　shook　their

heads；　and　warranted　Brom　Bones　was　at　the　bottom　of　it。



　　　　This　rantipole　hero　had　for　some　time　singled　out　the　

blooming　Katrina　for　the　object　of　his　uncouth　gallantries；　and　

though　his　amorous　toyings　were　something　like　the　gentle　

caresses　and　endearments　ofa　bear；　yet　it　was　whispered　that　she　

did　not　altogether　discourage　his　hopes。　　Certain　it　is；　his　

advances　were　signals　for　rival　candidates　to　retire；　who　felt　no　

inclination　to　cross　a　lion　in　his　amours；　insomuch；　that　when　

his　horse　was　seen　tied　to　Van　Tassel's　paling；　on　a　Sunday　

night；　a　sure　sign　that　his　master　was　courting；　or；　as　it　is　

termed；　〃　sparking；〃　within；　all　other　suitors　passed　by　in　

despair；　and　　carried　the　war　into　other　quarters。



　　　　Such　was　the　formidable　rival　with　whom　Ichabod　Crane　had　to　

contend；　and；　considering；　all　things；　a　stouter　man　than　he　

would　have　shrunk　from　the　competition；　and　a　wiser　man　would　

have　despaired。　　He　had；　however；　a　happy　mixture　of　pliability　

and　perseverance　in　his　nature；　he　was　in　form　and　spirit　like　a　

supple…jack膟ielding；　but　tough；　though　he　bent；　he　never　broke；　

and　though　he　bowed　beneath　the　slightest　pressure；　yet；　the　

moment　it　was　awayjerk！he　was　as　erect；　and　carried　his　

head　as　high　as　ever。



　　　　To　have　taken　the　field　openly　against　his　rival　wo