红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第12部分
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maidens ofold English birth and breeding； than in their fair descendants；separated from them by a series of six or seven generations； for；throughout that chain of ancestry； every successive mother hastransmitted to her child a fainter bloom； a more delicate andbriefer beauty； and a slighter physical frame； if not a character ofless force and solidity； than her own。 The women who were now standingabout the prison…door stood within less than half a century of theperiod when the man…like Elizabeth had been the not altogetherunsuitable representative of the sex。 They were her country…women； andthe beef and ale of their native land； with a moral diet not a whitmore refined； entered largely into their position。 The brightmorning sun； therefore； shone on broad shoulders and well…developedbusts； and on round and ruddy cheeks； that had ripened in thefar…off island； and had hardly yet grown paler or thinner in theatmosphere of New England。 There was； moreover； a boldness androtundity of speech among these matrons； as most of them seemed to be；that would startle us at the present day； whether in respect to itspurport or its volume of tone。 〃Goodwives；〃 said a hard…featured dame of fifty； 〃I'll tell ye apiece of my mind。 It would be greatly for the public behoof； if wewomen； being of mature age and church…members in good repute； shouldhave the handling of such malefactresses as this Hester Prynne。 Whatthink ye； gossips？ If the hussy stood up for judgment before usfive； that are now here in a knot together； would she e off withsuch a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded？ Marry； Itrow not！〃 〃People say；〃 said another； 〃that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale；her godly pastor； takes it very grievously to heart that such ascandal should have e upon his congregation。〃 〃The magistrates are God…fearing gentlemen； but merciful overmuch…that is a truth；〃 added a third autumnal matron。 〃At the very least；they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne'sforehead。 Madam Hester would have winced at that； I warrant me。 Butshe… the naughty baggage… little will she care what they put uponthe bodice of her gown！ Why； look you； she may cover it with a brooch；or such like heathenish adornment； and so walk the streets as brave asever！〃 〃Ah； but；〃 interposed； more softly； a young wife； holding a child bythe hand； 〃Let her cover the mark as she will； the pang of it willbe always in her heart。〃 〃What do we talk of marks and brands； whether on the bodice of hergown； or the flesh of her forehead？〃 cried another female； the ugliestas well as the most pitiless of these self…constituted judges。 〃Thiswoman has brought shame upon us all； and ought to die。 Is there notlaw for it？ Truly there is； both in the Scripture and thestatute…book。 Then let the magistrates； who have made it of no effect；thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray！〃 〃Mercy on us； goodwife；〃 exclaimed a man in the crowd； 〃is thereno virtue in woman； save what springs from a wholesome fear of thegallows？ That is the hardest word yet！ Hush； now； gossips！ for thelock is turning in the prison…door； and here es Mistress Prynneherself。〃 The door of the jail being flung open from within； there appeared；in the first place； like a black shadow emerging into sunshine； thegrim and grisly presence of the town…beadle； with a sword by his side；and his staff of office in his hand。 This personage prefigured andrepresented in his aspect the whole dismal severity of the Puritaniccode of law； which it was his business to administer in its finaland closest application to the offender。 Stretching forth the officialstaff in his left hand； he laid his right upon the shoulder of a youngwoman； whom he thus drew forward； until； on the threshold of theprison…door； she repelled him； by an action marked with naturaldignity and force of character； and stepped into the open air； as ifby her own free will。 She bore in her arms a child； a baby of somethree months old； who winked and turned aside its little face from thetoo vivid light of day； because its existence； heretofore； had broughtit acquainted only with the grey twilight of a dungeon； or otherdarksome apartment of the prison。 When the young woman… the mother of this child… stood fully revealedbefore the crowd； it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp theinfant closely to her bosom； not so much by an impulse of motherlyaffection； as that she might thereby conceal a certain token； whichwas wrought or fastened into her dress。 In a moment； however； wiselyjudging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hideanother； she took the baby on her arm； and； with a burning blush；and yet a haughty smile； and a glance that would not be abashed；looked around at her townspeople and neighbours。 On the breast ofher gown； in fine red cloth； surrounded with an elaborate embroideryand fantastic flourishes of gold thread； appeared the letter A。 It wasso artistically done； and with so much fertility and gorgeousluxuriance of fancy； that it had all the effect of a last andfitting decoration to the apparel which she wore； and which was of asplendour in accordance with the taste of the age； but greatlybeyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony。 The young woman was tall； with a figure of perfect elegance on alarge scale。 She had dark and abundant hair； so glossy that it threwoff the sunshine with a gleam； and a face which； besides beingbeautiful from regularity of feature and richness of plexion； hadthe impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes。 Shewas ladylike； too； after the manner of the feminine gentility of thosedays； characterised by a certain state and dignity； rather than by thedelicate； evanescent； and indescribable grace； which is now recognisedas its indication。 And never had Hester Prynne appeared more ladylike；in the antique interpretation of the term； than as she issued from theprison。 Those who had before known her； and had expected to behold herdimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud； were astonished； and evenstartled； to perceive how her beauty shone out； and made a halo of themisfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped。 It may be true；that； to a sensitive observer； there was something exquisitely painfulin it。 Her attire； which； indeed； she had wrought for the occasion； inprison； and had modelled much after her own fancy； seemed to expressthe attitude of her spirit； the desperate recklessness of her mood； byits wild and picturesque peculiarity。 But the point which drew alleyes； and； as it were； transfigured the wearer… so that both men andwomen； who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne； were nowimpressed as if they beheld her for the first time… was that SCARLETLETTER； so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom。It had the effect of a spell； taking her out of the ordinary relationswith humanity； and enclosing her in a sphere by herself。 〃She hath good skill at her needle； that's certain；〃 remarked one ofher female spectators； 〃but did ever a woman； before this brazenhussy； contrive such a way of showing it！ Why； gossips； what is it butto laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates； and make a pride outof what they； worthy gentlemen； meant for a punishment？〃 〃It were well；〃 muttered the most iron…visaged of the old dames； 〃ifwe stripped Madam Hester's rich gown off her dainty shoulders； andas for the red letter； which she hath stitched so curiously； I'llbestow a rag of mine own rheumatic flannel； to make a fitter one！〃 〃Oh； peace； neighbours； peace！〃 whispered their youngestpanion； 〃do not let her hear you！ Not a stitch in thatembroidered letter； but she has felt it in her heart。〃 The grim beadle now made a gesture with his staff。 〃Make way； good people； make way； in the King's name！〃 cried he。〃Open a passage； and； I promise ye； Mistress Prynne shall be set whereman； woman； and child； may have a fair sight of her brave apparel；from this time till an hour past meridian。 A blessing on the righteousColony of the Massachusetts； where iniquity is dragged out into thesunshine！ e along； Madam Hester； and show your scarlet letter inthe market…place！〃 A lane was forthwith opened through the crowd of spectators。Preceded by the beadle； and attended by
