Boston, March 30th, 1840—5 or 6 P.M.
Infinitely1 belovedest,
Thy Thursday's letter came not till Saturday—so long was thy faith fullest husband defrauded2 of his rights! Thou mayst imagine how hungry was my heart, when at last it came. Thy yesterday's letter, for a wonder, arrived in its due season, this forenoon; and I could not refrain from opening it immediately; and then and there, in that earthy cavern3 of the Custom-House, and surrounded by all those brawling4 slang-whangers, I held sweet communion with my Dove. Dearest, I do not believe that any one of those miserable5 men ever received a letter which uttered a single word of love and faith—which addressed itself in any manner to the soul. No beautiful and holy woman's spirit came to visit any of them, save thy husband. How blest is he! Thou findest thy way to him in all dismallest and unloveliest places, and talkest with him there, nor can the 158 loudest babble6 nor rudest clamor shut out thy gentle voice from his ear. Truly, he ought not to bemoan7 himself any more, as in his last letter, but to esteem8 himself favored beyond all other mortals;—but truly he is a wayward and incalculable personage, and will not be prevailed with to know his own happiness. The lovelier thou art, mine ownest, the more doth thy unreasonable9 husband discontent himself to be away from thee, though thou continually sendest him all of thyself that can be breathed into written words. Oh, I want thee with me forever and ever!—at least I would always have the feeling, amid the tumult10 and unsuitable associations of the day, that the night would bring me to my home of peace and rest—to thee, my fore-ordained wife. Well—be patient, heart! The time will come. Meantime, foolishest heart, be thankful for the much of happiness thou already hast.
Dearest, thy husband was very reprehensible11, yesterday. Wilt12 thou again forgive him? He went not to hear Father Taylor preach. In truth, his own private and quiet room did have such a charm for him, after being mixed and tossed together with discordant13 elements all the week, that he thought his Dove would grant him indulgence for one more Sabbath. Also, he fancied himself 159 unfit to go out, on account of a cold; though, as the disease has quite disappeared to-day, I am afraid he conjured14 it up to serve his naughty purpose. But, indeed, dearest, I feel somewhat afraid to hear this divine Father Taylor, lest my sympathy with thy admiration15 of him should be colder and feebler than thou lookest for. Belovedest wife, our souls are in happiest unison16; but we must not disquiet17 ourselves if every tone be not re-echoed from one to the other—if every slightest shade be not reflected in the alternate mirror. Our broad and general sympathy is enough to secure our bliss18, without our following it into minute details. Wilt thou promise not to be troubled, should thy husband be unable to appreciate the excellence19 of Father Taylor? Promise me this; and at some auspicious20 hour, which I trust will soon arrive, Father Taylor shall have an opportunity to make music with my soul. But I forewarn thee, sweetest Dove, that thy husband is a most unmalleable man;—thou art not to suppose, because his spirit answers to every touch of thine, that therefore every breeze, or even every whirlwind, can upturn21 him from his depths. Well, dearest, I have said my say, on this matter.
What a rain is this, my poor little Dove! Yet as the wind comes from some other quarter than 160 the East, I trust that thou hast found it genial22. Good bye, belovedest, till tomorrow evening. Meantime, love me, and dream of me.
March 31st.—Evening.—Best Wife, it is scarcely dark yet; but thy husband has just lighted his lamps, and sits down to talk to thee. Would that he could hear an answer in thine own sweet voice; for his spirit needs to be cheered by that dearest of all harmonies, after a long, listless, weary day. Just at this moment, it does seem as if life could not go on without it. What is to be done?
Dearest, if Elizabeth Howe is to be with you on Saturday, it would be quite a calamity23 to thee and thy household, for me to come at the same time. Now will Sophie Hawthorne complain, and the Dove's eyes be suffused24, at my supposing that their husband's visit could be a calamity at any time. Well, at least, we should be obliged to give up many hours of happiness, and it would not even be certain that I could have the privilege of seeing mine own wife in private, at all. Wherefore, considering these things, I have resolved, and do hereby make it a decree of fate, that my present widowhood shall continue one week longer. And my sweetest Dove—yes, and naughtiest 161 Sophie Hawthorne too—will both concur25 in the fitness of this resolution, and will help me to execute it with what of resignation is attainable26 by mortal man, by writing me a letter full of strength and comfort. And I, infinitely dear wife, will write to thee again; so that, though my earthly part will not be with thee on Saturday, yet thou shalt have my heart and soul in a letter. Will not this be right, and for the best? "Yes, dearest husband," saith my meekest27 little Dove; and Sophie Hawthorne cannot gainsay28 her.
Mine unspeakably ownest, dost thou love me a million of times as much as thou didst a week ago? As for me, my heart grows deeper and wider every moment, and still thou fillest it in all its depths and boundlessness29. Wilt thou never be satisfied with making me love thee? To what use canst thou put so much love as thou continually receivest from me? Dost thou hoard30 it up, as misers31 do their treasure?
Thine Own Blessedest Husband.
Sophie Hawthorne, I have enclosed something for thee in this letter. If thou findest it not, then tell me what thou art.
Miss Sophia A. Peabody,
Care of Dr. N. Peabody,
Salem, Mass.
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1
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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defrauded
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| v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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4
brawling
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| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
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5
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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6
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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7
bemoan
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| v.悲叹，哀泣，痛哭；惋惜，不满于 | |
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8
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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9
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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10
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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11
reprehensible
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| adj.该受责备的 | |
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12
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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13
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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14
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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15
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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16
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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17
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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18
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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19
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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20
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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21
upturn
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| n.情况好转 | |
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22
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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23
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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24
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
concur
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| v.同意，意见一致，互助，同时发生 | |
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26
attainable
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| a.可达到的，可获得的 | |
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27
meekest
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的最高级 ) | |
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28
gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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29
boundlessness
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| 海阔天空 | |
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30
hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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31
misers
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| 守财奴，吝啬鬼( miser的名词复数 ) | |
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32
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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