the legend of sleepy hollow- 第5部分

coxcomb；　in　his　gay　light　blue　coat　and　white　underclothes；　

screaming　and　chattering；　nodding　and　bobbing　and　bowing；　and　

pretending　to　be　on　good　terms　with　every　songster　of　the　grove。



　　　　As　Ichabod　jogged　slowly　on　his　way；　his　eye；　ever　open　to　

every　symptom　of　culinary　abundance；　ranged　with　delight　over　the　

treasures　of　jolly　autumn。　　On　all　sides　he　beheld　vast　store　of　

apples：　　some　hanging　in　oppressive　opulence　on　the　trees；　some　

gathered　into　baskets　and　barrels　for　the　market；　others　heaped　

up　in　rich　piles　for　the　cider…press。　　Farther　on　he　beheld　great　

fields　of　Indian　corn；　with　its　golden　ears　peeping　from　their　

leafy　coverts；　and　holding　out　the　promise　of　cakes　and　hasty…

pudding；　and　the　yellow　pumpkins　lying　beneath　them；　turning　up　

their　fair　round　bellies　to　the　sun；　and　giving　ample　prospects　

of　the　most　luxurious　of　pies；　and　anon　he　passed　the　fragrant　

buckwheat　fields　breathing　the　odor　of　the　beehive；　and　as　he　

beheld　them；　soft　anticipations　stole　over　his　mind　of　dainty　

slap…jacks；　well　buttered；　and　garnished　with　honey　or　treacle；　

by　the　delicate　little　dimpled　hand　of　Katrina　Van　Tassel。



　　　　Thus　feeding　his　mind　with　many　sweet　thoughts　and　〃sugared　

suppositions；〃　he　journeyed　along　the　sides　of　a　range　of　hills　

which　look　out　upon　some　of　the　goodliest　scenes　of　the　mighty　

Hudson。　　The　sun　gradually　wheeled　his　broad　disk　down　in　the　

west。　　The　wide　bosom　of　the　Tappan　Zee　lay　motionless　and　glassy；　

excepting　that　here　and　there　a　gentle　undulation　waved　and　

prolonged　the　blue　shallow　of　the　distant　mountain。　　A　few　amber　

clouds　floated　in　the　sky；　without　a　breath　of　air　to　move　them。　　

The　horizon　was　of　a　fine　golden　tint；　changing　gradually　into　a　

pure　apple　green；　and　from　that　into　the　deep　blue　of　the　mid…

heaven。　　A　slanting　ray　lingered　on　the　woody　crests　of　the　

precipices　that　overhung　some　parts　of　the　river；　giving　greater　

depth　to　the　dark　gray　and　purple　of　their　rocky　sides。　　A　sloop　

was　loitering　in　the　distance；　dropping　slowly　down　with　the　

tide；　her　sail　hanging　uselessly　against　the　mast；　and　as　the　

reflection　of　the　sky　gleamed　along　the　still　water；　it　seemed　as　

if　the　vessel　was　suspended　in　the　air。



　　　　It　was　toward　evening　that　Ichabod　arrived　at　the　castle　of　

the　Heer　Van　Tassel；　which　he　found　thronged　with　the　pride　and　

flower　of　the　adjacent　country　Old　farmers；　a　spare　leathern…

faced　race；　in　homespun　coats　and　breeches；　blue　stockings；　huge　

shoes；　and　magnificent　pewter　buckles。　　Their　brisk；　withered　

little　dames；　in　close　crimped　caps；　long　waisted　short…gowns；　

homespun　petticoats；　with　scissors　and　pin…cushions；　and　gay　

calico　pockets　hanging　on　the　outside。　　Buxom　lasses；　almost　as　

antiquated　as　their　mothers；　excepting　where　a　straw　hat；　a　fine　

ribbon；　or　perhaps　a　white　frock；　gave　symptoms　of　city　

innovation。　　The　sons；　in　short　square…skirted　coats；　with　rows　of　

stupendous　brass　buttons；　and　their　hair　generally　queued　in　the　

fashion　of　the　times；　especially　if　they　could　procure　an　eelskin　

for　the　purpose；　it　being　esteemed　throughout　the　country　as　a　

potent　nourisher　and　strengthener　of　the　hair。



　　　　Brom　Bones；　however；　was　the　hero　of　the　scene；　having　come　

to　the　gathering　on　his　favorite　steed　Daredevil；　a　creature；　

like　himself；　full　of　mettle　and　mischief；　and　which　no　one　but　

himself　could　manage。　　He　was；　in　fact；　noted　for　preferring　

vicious　animals；　given　to　all　kinds　of　tricks　which　kept　the　

rider　in　constant　risk　of　his　neck；　for　he　held　a　tractable；　

wellbroken　horse　as　unworthy　of　a　lad　of　spirit。



　　　　Fain　would　I　pause　to　dwell　upon　the　world　of　charms　that　

burst　upon　the　enraptured　gaze　of　my　hero；　as　he　entered　the　

state　parlor　of　Van　Tassel's　mansion。　　Not　those　of　the　bevy　of　

buxom　lasses；　with　their　luxurious　display　of　red　and　white；　but　

the　ample　charms　of　a　genuine　Dutch　country　tea…table；　in　the　

sumptuous　time　of　autumn。　　Such　heaped　up　platters　of　cakes　of　

various　and　almost　indescribable　kinds；　known　only　to　experienced　

Dutch　housewives！　　There　was　the　doughty　doughnut；　the　tender　

olykoek；　and　the　crisp　and　crumbling　cruller；　sweet　cakes　and　

short　cakes；　ginger　cakes　and　honey　cakes；　and　the　whole　family　

of　cakes。　　And　then　there　were　apple　pies；　and　peach　pies；　and　

pumpkin　pies；　besides　slices　of　ham　and　smoked　beef；　and　moreover　

delectable　dishes　of　preserved　plums；　and　peaches；　and　pears；　and　

quinces；　not　to　mention　broiled　shad　and　roasted　chickens；　

together　with　bowls　of　milk　and　cream；　all　mingled　higgledy…

pigglely；　pretty　much　as　I　have　enumerated　them；　with　the　

motherly　teapot　sending　up　its　clouds　of　vapor　from　the　midst

Heaven　bless　the　mark！　　I　want　breath　and　time　to　discuss　this　

banquet　as　it　deserves；　and　am　too　eager　to　get　on　with　my　story。　　

Happily；　Ichabod　Crane　was　not　in　so　great　a　hurry　as　his　

historian；　but　did　ample　justice　to　every　dainty。



　　　　He　was　a　kind　and　thankful　creature；　whose　heart　dilated　in　

proportion　as　his　skin　was　filled　with　good　cheer；　and　whose　

spirits　rose　with　eating；　as　some　men's　do　with　drink。　　He　could　

not　help；　too；　rolling　his　large　eyes　round　him　as　he　ate；　and　

chuckling　with　the　possibility　that　he　might　one　day　be　lord　of　

all　this　scene　of　almost　unimaginable　luxury　and　splendor。　　Then；　

he　thought；　how　soon　he　'd　turn　his　back　upon　the　old　

schoolhouse；　snap　his　fingers　in　the　face　of　Hans　Van　Ripper；　and　

every　other　niggardly　patron；　and　kick　any　itinerant　pedagogue　

out　of　doors　that　should　dare　to　call　him　comrade！



　　　　Old　Baltus　Van　Tassel　moved　about　among　his　guests　with　a　

face　dilated　with　content　and　goodhumor；　round　and　jolly　as　the　

harvest　moon。　　His　hospitable　attentions　were　brief；　but　

expressive；　being　confined　to　a　shake　of　the　hand；　a　slap　on　the　

shoulder；　a　loud　laugh；　and　a　pressing　invitation　to　〃fall　to；　

and　help　themselves。〃



　　　　And　now　the　sound　of　the　music　from　the　common　room；　or　

hall；　summoned　to　the　dance。　　The　musician　was　an　old　gray…headed　

negro；　who　had　been　the　itinerant　orchestra　of　the　neighborhood　

for　more　than　half　a　century。　　His　instrument　was　as　old　and　

battered　as　himself。　　The　greater　part　of　the　time　he　scraped　on　

two　or　three　strings；　accompanying　every　movement　of　the　bow　with　

a　motion　of　the　head；　bowing　almost　to　the　ground；　and　stamping　

with　his　foot　whenever　a　fresh　couple　were　to　start。



　　　　Ichabod　prided　himself　upon　his　dancing　as　much　as　upon　his　

vocal　powers。　　Not　a　limb；　not　a　fibre　about　him　was　idle；　and　to　

have　seen　his　loosely　hung　frame　in　full　motion；　and　clattering　

about　the　room；　you　would　have　thought　St。　Vitus　himself；　that　

blessed　patron　of　the　dance；　was　figuring　before　you　in　person。　　

He　was　the　admiration　of　all　the　negroes；　who；　having　gathered；　

of　all　ages　and　sizes；　from　the　farm　and　the　neighborhood；　stood　

forming　a　pyramid　of　shining　black　faces　at　every　door　and　

window；　gazing　with　delight　at　the　scene；　rolling　their　white　

eye…balls；　and　showing　grinning　rows　of　ivory　from　ear　to　ear。　　

How　could　the　flogger　of　urchins　be　otherwise　than　animated　and　

joyous？　the　lady　of　his　heart　was　his　partner　in　the　dance；　and　

smiling　graciously　in　reply　to　all　his　amorous　oglings；　while　

Brom　Bones；　sorely　smitten　with　love　and　jealousy；　sat　brooding　

by　himself　in　one　corner。



　　　　When　the　dance　was　at　an　end；　Ichabod　was　attracted　to　a　

knot　of　the　sager　folks；　who；　with　Old　V　an　Tassel；　sat　smoking　

at　one　end　of　the　piazza；　gossiping　over　former　times；　and　

drawing　out　long　stories　about　the　war。

This　neighborhood；　at　the　time　of　which　I　am　speaking；　was　one　of　

those　highly　favored　places　which　abound　with　chronicle　and　great　

men。　　The　British　and　American　line　had　run　near　it　during　the　

war；　it　had；　therefore＇；　been　the　scene　of　marauding　and　infested　

with　refugees；　cow…boys；　and　all　kinds　of　border　chivalry。　　Just　

sufficient　time　had　elapsed　to　enable　each　story…teller　to　dress　

up　his　tale　with　a　little　becoming　fiction；　and；　in　the　

indistinctness　of　his　recollection；　to　make　himself　the　hero　of　

every　exploit。



　　　　There　was　the　story　of　Doffue　Martling；　a　large　blue…bearded　

Dutchman；　who　had　nearly　taken　a　British　frigate　with　an　old　iron　

nine…pounder　from　a　mud　breastwork；　only　that　his　gun　burst　at　

the　sixth　discharge。　　And　there　was　an　old　gentleman　who　shall　be　

nameless；　being　too　rich　a　mynheer　to　be　lightly　mentioned；　who；　

in　the　battle　of　White　Plains；　being　an　excellent　master　of　

defence；　parried　a　musket…ball　with　a　small…sword；　insomuch　that　

he　absolutely　felt　it　whiz　round　the　blade；　and　glance　off　at　the　

hilt；　in　proof　of　which　he　was　ready　at　any　time　to　show　the　

sword；　with　the　hilt　a　little　bent。　　There　were　several　more　that　

had　been　equally　great　in　the　field；　not　one　of　whom　but　was　

persuaded　that　he　had　a　considerable　hand　in　bringing　the　war　to　

a　happy　termination。



　　　　But　all　these　were　nothing　to　the　tales　of　ghosts　and　

apparitions　that　succeeded。　　The　neighborhood　is　rich　in　legendary　

treasures　of　the　kind。　　Local　tales　and　superstitions　thrive　best　

in　these　sheltered；　long　settled　retreats；　but　are　trampled　under　

foot　by　the　shifting　throng　that　forms　the　population　of　most　of　

our　country　places。　　Besides；　there　is　no　encouragement　for　ghosts　

in　most　of　our　villages；　for　they　have　scarcely　had　time　to　

finish　their　first　nap　and　turn　themselves　in　their　graves；　

before　their　surviving　friends　have　travelled　away　from　the　

neighborhood；　so　that　when　they　turn　out　at　night　to　walk　their　

rounds；　they　have　no　acquaintance　left　to　call　upon。　　This　is　

perhaps　the　reason　why　we　so　seldom　hear　of　ghosts　except　in　our　

long…established　Dutch　communities。



　　　　The　immediate　cause；　however；　of　the　prevalence　of　

supernatural　stories　in　these　parts；　was　doubtless　owing　to　the