快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

se　or　exaggerated　rumours；　butwho　had　never　beheld　it　with　their　own　bodily　eyes。　These；　afterexhausting　other　modes　of　amusement；　now　thronged　about　HesterPrynne　with　rude　and　boorish　intrusiveness。　Unscrupulous　as　it　was；however；　it　could　not　bring　them　nearer　than　a　circuit　of　severalyards。　At　that　distance　they　accordingly　stood；　fixed　there　by　thecentrifugal　force　of　the　repugnance　which　the　mystic　symbolinspired。　The　whole　gang　of　sailors；　likewise；　observing　the　pressof　spectators；　and　learning　the　purport　of　the　scarlet　letter；　cameand　thrust　their　sunburnt　and　desperado…looking　faces　into　the　ring。Even　the　Indians　were　affected　by　a　sort　of　cold　shadow　of　the　whiteman's　curiosity；　and；　gliding　through　the　crowd；　fastened　theirsnake…like　black　eyes　on　Hester's　bosom；　conceiving；　perhaps；　that　thewearer　of　this　brilliantly　embroidered　badge　must　needs　be　a　personageof　high　dignity　among　her　people。　Lastly　the　inhabitants　of　the　town（their　own　interest　in　this　worn…out　subject　languidly　revivingitself；　by　sympathy　with　what　they　saw　others　feel）　lounged　idly　tothe　same　quarter；　and　tormented　Hester　Prynne；　perhaps　more　than　allthe　rest；　with　their　cool；　well…acquainted　gaze　at　her　familiar　shame。Hester　saw　and　recognised　the　self…same　faces　of　that　group　ofmatrons；　who　had　awaited　her　forthing　from　the　prison…door；　sevenyears　ago；　all　save　one；　the　youngest　and　only　passionate　amongthem；　whose　burial…robe　she　had　since　made。　At　the　final　hour；　whenshe　was　so　soon　to　fling　aside　the　burning　letter；　it　had　strangelybee　the　centre　of　more　remark　and　excitement；　and　was　thus　madeto　sear　her　breast　more　painfully；　than　at　any　time　since　the　firstday　she　put　it　on。　　While　Hester　stood　in　that　magic　circle　of　ignominy；　where　thecunning　cruelty　of　her　sentence　seemed　to　have　fixed　her　for　ever；　theadmirable　preacher　was　looking　down　from　the　sacred　pulpit　upon　anaudience；　whose　very　inmost　spirits　had　yielded　to　his　control。　Thesainted　minister　in　the　church！　The　woman　of　the　scarlet　letter　in　themarket…place！　What　imagination　would　have　been　irreverent　enough　tosurmise　that　the　same　scorching　stigma　was　on　them　both！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XXIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　REVELATION　OF　THE　SCARLET　LETTER。　　THE　eloquent　voice；　on　which　the　souls　of　the　listening　audience　hadbeen　borne　aloft　as　on　the　swelling　waves　of　the　sea；　at　length　cameto　a　pause。　There　was　a　momentary　silence；　profound　as　what　shouldfollow　the　utterance　of　oracles。　Then　ensued　a　murmur　andhalf…hushed　tumult；　as　if　the　auditors；　released　from　the　high　spellthat　had　transported　them　into　the　region　of　another's　mind；　werereturning　into　themselves；　with　all　their　awe　and　wonder　still　heavyon　them。　In　a　moment　more；　the　crowd　began　to　gush　forth　from　thedoors　of　the　church。　Now　that　there　was　an　end；　they　needed　otherbreath；　more　fit　to　support　the　gross　and　earthly　life　into　which　theyrelapsed；　than　that　atmosphere　which　the　preacher　had　converted　intowords　of　flame；　and　had　burdened　with　the　rich　fragrance　of　histhought。　　In　the　open　air　their　rapture　broke　into　speech。　The　street　andthe　market…place　absolutely　babbled；　from　side　to　side；　with　applausesof　the　minister。　His　hearers　could　not　rest　until　they　had　told　oneanother　of　what　each　knew　better　than　he　could　tell　or　hear。　Accordingto　their　united　testimony；　never　had　man　spoken　in　so　wise；　so　high；and　so　holy　a　spirit；　as　he　that　spake　this　day；　nor　had　inspirationever　breathed　through　mortal　lips　more　evidently　than　it　did　throughhis。　Its　influence　could　be　seen；　as　it　were；　descending　upon　him；　andpossessing　him；　and　continually　lifting　him　out　of　the　writtendiscourse　that　lay　before　him；　and　filling　him　with　ideas　that　musthave　been　as　marvellous　to　himself　as　to　his　audience。　His　subject；　itappeared；　had　been　the　relation　between　the　Deity　and　themunities　of　mankind；　with　a　special　reference　to　the　New　Englandwhich　they　were　here　planting　in　the　wilderness。　And；　as　he　drewtowards　the　close；　a　spirit　as　of　prophecy　had　e　upon　him；constraining　him　to　its　purpose　as　mightily　as　the　old　prophets　ofIsrael　were　constrained；　only　with　this　difference；　that；　whereasthe　Jewish　seers　had　denounced　judgments　and　ruin　on　their　country；　itwas　his　mission　to　foretell　a　high　and　glorious　destiny　for　thenewly　gathered　people　of　the　Lord。　But；　throughout　it　all；　and　throughthe　whole　discourse；　there　had　been　a　certain　deep；　sad　undertone　ofpathos；　which　could　not　be　interpreted　otherwise　than　as　the　naturalregret　of　one　soon　to　pass　away。　Yes；　their　minister　whom　they　soloved…　and　who　so　loved　them　all；　that　he　could　not　departheavenward　without　a　sigh…　had　the　foreboding　of　untimely　death　uponhim；　and　would　soon　leave　them　in　their　tears！　This　idea　of　histransitory　stay　on　earth　gave　the　last　emphasis　to　the　effect　whichthe　preacher　had　produced；　it　was　as　if　an　angel；　in　his　passage　tothe　skies；　had　shaken　his　bright　wings　over　the　people　for　an　instant…at　once　a　shadow　and　a　splendour…　and　had　shed　down　a　shower　of　goldentruths　upon　them。　　Thus；　there　had　e　to　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale…　as　to　most　men；in　their　various　spheres；　though　seldom　recognised　until　they　see　itfar　behind　them…　an　epoch　of　life　more　brilliant　and　full　of　triumphthan　any　previous　one；　or　that　any　which　could　hereafter　be。　He　stood；at　this　moment；　on　the　very　proudest　eminence　of　superiority；　to　whichthe　gifts　of　intellect；　rich　lore；　prevailing　eloquence；　and　areputation　of　whitest　sanctity；　could　exalt　a　clergyman　in　NewEngland's　earliest　days；　when　the　professional　character　was　of　itselfa　lofty　pedestal。　Such　was　the　position　which　the　minister　occupied；as　he　bowed　his　head　forward　on　the　cushions　of　the　pulpit；　at　theclose　of　his　Election　Sermon。　Meanwhile　Hester　Prynne　was　standingbeside　the　scaffold　of　the　pillory；　with　the　scarlet　letter　stillburning　on　her　breast！　　Now　was　heard　again　the　clangour　of　the　music；　and　the　measuredtramp　of　the　military　escort；　issuing　from　the　church…door。　Theprocession　was　to　be　marshalled　thence　to　the　town…hall；　plete　the　ceremonies　of　the　day。　　Once　more；　therefore；　the　train　of　venerable　and　majestic　fatherswas　seen　moving　through　a　broad　pathway　of　the　people；　who　drew　backreverently；　on　either　side；　as　the　Governor　and　magistrates；　the　oldand　wise　men；　the　holy　ministers；　and　all　that　were　eminent　andrenowned；　advanced　into　the　midst　of　them。　When　they　were　fairly　inthe　market…place；　their　presence　was　greeted　by　a　shout。　This…though　doubtless　it　might　acquire　additional　force　and　volume　from　thechild…　like　loyalty　which　the　age　awarded　to　its　rulers…　was　felt　tobe　an　irrepressible　outburst　of　enthusiasm　kindled　in　the　auditorsby　that　high　strain　of　eloquence　which　was　yet　reverberating　intheir　ears。　Each　felt　the　impulse　in　himself；　and；　in　the　same　breath；caught　it　from　his　neighbour。　Within　the　church；　it　had　hardly　beenkept　down；　beneath　the　sky；　it　pealed　upward　to　the　zenith。　There　werehuman　beings　enough；　and　enough　of　highly　wrought　and　symphoniousfeeling；　to　produce　that　more　impressive　sound　than　the　organ　tones　ofthe　blast；　or　the　thunder；　or　the　roar　of　the　sea；　even　that　mightyswell　of　many　voices；　blended　into　one　great　voice　by　the　universalimpulse　which　makes　likewise　one　vast　heart　out　of　the　many。　Never；from　the　soil　of　New　England；　had　gone　up　such　a　shout！　Never；　onNew　England　soil；　had　stood　the　man　so　honoured　by　his　mortal　brethrenas　the　preacher！　　How　fared　it　with　him　then？　Were　there　not　the　brilliant　particlesof　a　halo　in　the　air　about　his　head！　So　etherealised　by　spirit　as　hewas；　and　so　apotheosised　by　worshipping　admirers；　did　his　footsteps；in　the　procession；　really　tread　upon　the　dust　of　earth？　　As　the　ranks　of　military　men　and　civil　fathers　moved　onward；　alleyes　were　turned　towards　the　point　where　the　minister　was　seen　toapproach　among　them。　The　shout　died　into　a　murmur；　as　one　portion　ofthe　crowd　after　another　obtained　a　glimpse　of　him。　How　feeble　and　palehe　looked；　amid　all　his　triumph！　The　energy…　or　say；　rather；　theinspiration　which　had　held　him　up；　until　he　should　have　deliveredthe　sacred　message　that　brought　its　own　strength　along　with　it　fromheaven…　was　withdrawn；　now　that　it　had　so　faithfully　performed　itsoffice。　The　glow；　which　they　had　just　before　beheld　burning　on　hischeek；　was　extinguished；　like　a　flame　that　sinks　down　hopelessly　amongthe　late…decaying　embers。　It　seemed　hardly　the　face　of　a　man　alive；with　such　a　deathlike　hue；　it　was　hardly　a　man　with　life　in　him；that　tottered　on　his　path　so　nervelessly；　yet　tottered；　and　did　notfall！　　One　of　his　clerical　brethren…　it　was　the　venerable　John　Wilson…observing　the　state　in　which　Mr。　Dimmesdale　was　left　by　the　retiringwave　of　intellect　and　sensibility；　stepped　forward　hastily　to　offerhis　support。　The　minister　tremulously；　but　decidedly；　repelled　the　oldman's　arm。　He　still　walked　onward；　if　that　movement　could　be　sodescribed；　which　rather　resembled　the　wavering　effort　of　an　infant；with　its　mother's　arms　in　view；　outstretched　to　tempt　him　forward。　Andnow；　almost　imperceptible　as　were　the　latter　steps　of　his　progress；　hehad　e　opposite　the　well…remembered　and　weather…darkened　scaffold；where；　long　since；　with　all　that　dreary　lapse　of　time　between；Hester　Prynne　had　encountered　the　world's　ignominious　stare。　Therestood　Hester；　holding　little　Pearl　by　the　hand！　And　there　was　thescarlet　letter　on　her　breast！　The　minister　here　made　a　pause；　althoughthe　music　still　played　the　stately　and　rejoicing　march　to　which　theprocession　moved。　It　summoned　him　onward…　onward　to　the　festival！…　buthere　he　made　a　pause。　　Bellingham；　for　the　last　few　moments；　had　kept　an　anxious　eye　uponhim。　He　now　left　his　own　place　in　the　procession；　and　advanced　to　giveassistance；　judging；　from　Mr。　Dimmesdale's　aspect；　that　he　mustotherwise　inevitably　fall。　But　there　was　something　in　the　latter'sexpression　that　warned　back　the　magistrate；　although　a　man　not　readilyobeying　the　vague　intimations　that　pass　from　one　spirit　to　another。The　crowd；　meanwhile；　looked　on　with　awe　and　wonder。　This　earthlyfaintness　was；　in　their　view；　only　another　phase　of　the　ministers'celestial　strength；　nor　would　it　have　seemed　a　miracle　too　high　tobe　wrought　for　one　so　holy；　had　he　ascended　before　their　eyes；waxing　dimmer　and　brighter；　and　fading　at　last　into　the　light　ofheaven！　　He　turned　towards　the　scaffold；　and　stretched　forth　his　arms。　　〃Hester；〃　said　he；　〃e　hither！　e；　my　little　Pearl！〃　　It　was　a　ghastly　look　with　which　he　regarded　them；　but　there　wassomething　at　once　tender　and　strangely　triumphant　in　it。　The　child；with　the　bird…like　motion　which　was　one　of　her　characteristics；　flewto　him；　and　clasped　her　arms　about　his　knees。　Hester　Prynne…　slowly；as　if　impelled　by　inevitable　fate；　and　against　her　strongest　will…likewise　drew　near；　but　paused　before　she　reached　him。　At　thisinstant；　old　Roger　Chillingworth　thrust　himself　through　the　crowd…　or；perhaps；　so　dark；　disturbed；　and　evil　was　his　look；　he　rose　up　outof　some　her　region…　to　snatch　back　his　victim　from　what　he　soughtto　do！　Be　that　as　it　might；　the　old　man　rushed　forward；　and　caught　theminister　by　the　arm。　　〃Madman；　hold！　what　is　your　purpose？〃　whispered　he。　〃Wave　backthat　woman！　Cast　off　this　child！　All　shall　be　well！　Do　not　blackenyour　fame；　and　perish　in　dishonour。　I　can　yet　save　you！　Would　youbring　infamy　on　your　sacred　profession？〃　　〃Ha；　tempter！　Methinks　thou　art　too　late！〃　answered　the　minister；encountering　his　eye；　fearfully；　but　firmly。　〃Thy　power　is　not　what　itwas！　With　God's　help；　I　shall　escape　thee　now！〃　　He　again　extended　his　hand　to　the　woman　of　the　scarlet　letter。　　〃Hester　Prynne；〃　cried　he；　with　a　piercing　earnestness；　〃in　the　nameof　Him；　so　terrible　and　so　merciful；　who　gives　me　grace；　at　thislast　moment；　to　do　what…　for　my　own　heavy　sin　and　miserable　agony…　Iwithheld　myself　from　doing　seven　years　ago；　e　hither　now；　and　twihy　strength　about　me！　Thy　strength；　Hester；　but　let　it　be　guided　bythe　will　which　God　hath　granted　me！　This　wretched　and　wronged　oldman　is　opposing　it　with　all　his　might！…　with　all　his　own　might；　andthe　fiend's！　e；　Hester；　e！　Support　me　up　yonder　scaffold！〃　　The　crowd　was　in　a　tumult。　The　men　of　rank　and　dignity；　who　stoodmore　immediately　around　the　clergyman；　were　so　taken　by　surprise；and　so　perplexed　as　to　the　purport　of　what　they　saw…　unable　to　receivethe　explanation　which　most　readily　presented　its