红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第15部分
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the moment when its protection should be withdrawn from her。Involved in these thoughts； she scarcely heard a voice behind her；until it had repeated her name more than once； in a loud and solemntone； audible to the whole multitude。 〃Hearken unto me； Hester Prynne！〃 said the voice。 It has already been noticed； that directly over the platform onwhich Hester Prynne stood was a kind of balcony； or open gallery；appended to the meeting…house。 It was the place whence proclamationswere wont to be made； amidst an assemblage of the magistracy； with allthe ceremonial that attended such public observances in those days。Here； to witness the scene which we are describing； sat GovernorBellingham himself； with four sergeants about his chair； bearinghalberds； as a guard of honour。 He wore a dark feather in his hat； aborder of embroidery on his cloak； and a black velvet tunic beneath； agentleman advanced in years； with a hard experience written in hiswrinkles。 He was not ill fitted to be the head and representative of amunity； which owed its origin and progress； and its present stateof development； not to the impulses of youth； but to the stern andtempered energies of manhood； and the sombre sagacity of age；acplishing so much； precisely because it imagined and hoped solittle。 The other eminent characters； by whom the chief ruler wassurrounded； were distinguished by a dignity of mien； belonging to aperiod when the forms of authority were felt to possess the sacrednessof Divine institutions。 They were； doubtless； good men； just； andsage。 But； out of the whole human family； it would not have beeneasy to select the same number of wise and virtuous persons； whoshould be less capable of sitting in judgment on an erring woman'sheart； and disentangling its mesh of good and evil； than the sagesof rigid aspect towards whom Hester Prynne now turned her face。 Sheseemed conscious； indeed； that whatever sympathy she might expect； layin the larger and warmer heart of the multitude； for； as she liftedher eyes towards the balcony； the unhappy woman grew pale andtrembled。 The voice which had called her attention was that of the reverendand famous John Wilson； the eldest clergyman of Boston； a greatscholar； like most of his contemporaries in the profession； and withala man of kind and genial spirit。 This last attribute； however； hadbeen less carefully developed than his intellectual gifts； and was； intruth； rather a matter of shame than self…congratulation with him。There he stood； with a border of grizzled locks beneath his skull…cap；while his grey eyes； accustomed to the shaded light of his study； werewinking； like those of Hester's infant； in the unadulterated sunshine。He looked like the darkly engraved portraits which we see prefixedto old volumes of sermons； and had no more right than one of thoseportraits would have； to step forth； as he now did； and meddle an guilt； passion； and anguish。 〃Hester Prynne；〃 said the clergyman； 〃I have striven with my youngbrother here； under whose preaching of the Word you have beenprivileged to sit〃… here Mr。 Wilson laid his hand on the shoulder of apale young man beside him… 〃I have sought； I say； to persuade thisgodly youth； that he should deal with you； here in the face of Heaven；and before these wise and upright rulers； and in hearing of all thepeople； as touching the vileness and blackness of your sin。 Knowingyour natural temper better than I； he could the better judge whatarguments to use； whether of tenderness or terror； such as mightprevail over your hardness and obstinacy； insomuch that you shouldno longer hide the name of him who tempted you to this grievousfall。 But he opposes to me （with a young man's over…softness； albeitwise beyond his years） that it were wronging the very nature ofwoman to force her to lay open her heart's secrets in such broaddaylight； and in presence of so great a multitude。 Truly； as Isought to convince him； the shame lay in the mission of the sin；and not in the showing of it forth。 What say you to it； once again；brother Dimmesdale！ Must it be thou； or I； that shall deal with thispoor sinner's soul？〃 There was a murmur among the dignified and reverend occupants of thebalcony； and Governor Bellingham gave expression to its purport；speaking in an authoritative voice； although tempered with respecttowards the youthful clergyman whom he addressed。 〃Good Master Dimmesdale；〃 said he； 〃the responsibility of thiswoman's soul lies greatly with you。 It behooves you； therefore； toexhort her to repentance； and to confession； as a proof andconsequence thereof。〃 The directness of this appeal drew the eyes of the whole crowdupon the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale； a young clergyman； who had e fromone of the great English universities； bringing all the learning ofthe age into our wild forest…land。 His eloquence and religious fervourhad already given the earnest of high eminence in his profession。 Hewas a person of very striking aspect； with a white； lofty； andimpending brow； large； brown； melancholy eyes； and a mouth which；unless when he forcibly pressed it； was apt to be tremulous；expressing both nervous sensibility and a vast power ofself…restraint。 Notwithstanding his high native gifts and scholar…likeattainments； there was an air about this young minister… anapprehensive； a startled； a half…frightened look… as of a being whofelt himself quite astray and at a loss in the pathway of humanexistence； and could only be at ease in some seclusion of his own。Therefore； so far as his duties would permit； he trod in the shadowybypaths； and thus kept himself simple and childlike； ing forth；when occasion was； with a freshness； and fragrance； and dewy purity ofthought； which； as many people said； affected them like the speechof an angel。 Such was the young man whom the Reverend Mr。 Wilson and the Governorhad introduced so openly to the public notice； bidding him speak； inthe hearing of all men； to that mystery of a woman's soul； so sacredeven in its pollution。 The trying nature of his position drove theblood from his cheek； and made his lips tremulous。 〃Speak to the woman； my brother；〃 said Mr。 Wilson。 〃It is ofmoment to her soul； and therefore； as the worshipful Governor says；momentous to thine own； in whose charge hers is。 Exhort her to confessthe truth！〃 The Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale bent his head； in silent prayer； as itseemed； and then came forward。 〃Hester Prynne；〃 said he； leaning over the balcony； and looking downsteadfastly into her eyes； 〃thou hearest what this good man says；and seest the accountability under which I labour。 If thou feelestit to be for thy soul's peace； and that thy earthly punishment willthereby be made more effectual to salvation； I charge thee to speakout the name of thy fellow…sinner and fellow…sufferer！ Be not silentfrom any mistaken pity and tenderness for him； for believe me； Hester；though he were to step down from a high place； and stand therebeside thee； on thy pedestal of shame； yet better were it so； thanto hide a guilty heart through life。 What can thy silence do forhim； except it tempt him… yea； pel him； as it were… to addhypocrisy to sin？ Heaven hath granted thee an open ignominy； thatthereby thou mayest work out an open triumph over the evil withinthee； and the sorrow without。 Take heed how thou deniest to him…who； perchance； hath not the courage to grasp it for himself… thebitter； but wholesome； cup that is now presented to thy lips！〃 The young pastor's voice was tremulously sweet； rich； deep； andbroken。 The feeling that it so evidently manifested； rather than thedirect purport of the words； caused it to vibrate within all hearts；and brought the listeners into one accord of sympathy。 Even the poorbaby； at Hester's bosom； was affected by the same influence； for itdirected its hitherto vacant gaze towards Mr。 Dimmesdale； and heldup its little arms； with a half…pleased； half…plaintive murmur。 Sopowerful seemed the minister's appeal； that the people could notbelieve but that Hester Prynne would speak out the guilty name； orelse that the guilty one himself； in whatever high or lowly place hestood； would be drawn forth by an inward and inevitable necessity； andpelled to ascend the scaffold。 Hester shook her head。 〃Woman； transgress not beyond the limits of Heaven's mercy！〃 criedthe R
