红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第27章
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Boston； so far asmedicine had aught to do with it； had hitherto lain in theguardianship of an aged deacon and apothecary； whose piety and godlydeportment were stronger testimonials in his favour than any that hecould have produced in the shape of a diploma。 The only surgeon wasone who bined the occasional exercise of that noble art with thedaily and habitual flourish of a razor。 To such a professional bodyRoger Chillingworth anifestedhis familiarity with the ponderous and imposing machinery of antiquephysic； in which every remedy contained a multitude of far…fetched andheterogeneous ingredients； as elaborately pounded as if theproposed result had been the Elixir of Life。 In his Indiancaptivity； moreover； he had gained much knowledge of the properties ofnative herbs and roots； nor did he conceal from his patients； thatthese simple medicines； Nature's boon to the untutored savage； hadquite as large a share of his own confidence as the Europeanpharmacopoeia； which so many learned doctors had spent centuries inelaborating。 This learned stranger was exemplary； as regarded； at least； theoutward forms of a religious life； and； early after his arrival； hadchosen for his spiritual guide the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale。 Theyoung divine； whose scholar…like renown still lived in Oxford； wasconsidered by his more fervent admirers as little less than aheavenly…ordained apostle； destined； should he live and labour for theordinary term of life； to do as great deeds for the now feeble NewEngland Church； as the early Fathers had achieved for the infancy ofthe Christian faith。 About this period； however； the health of Mr。Dimmesdale had evidently begun to fail。 By those best acquaintedwith his habits； the paleness of the young minister's cheek wasaccounted for by his too earnest devotion to study； his scrupulousfulfilment of parochial duty； and； more than all； by the fasts andvigils of which he made a frequent practice； in order to keep thegrossness of this earthly state from clogging and obscuring hisspiritual lamp。 Some declared； that； if Mr。 Dimmesdale were reallygoing to die； it was cause enough； that the world was not worthy to beany longer trodden by his feet。 He himself； on the other hand； withcharacteristic humility； avowed his belief； that； if Providence shouldsee fit to remove him； it would be because of his own unworthinessto perform its humblest mission here on earth。 With all thisdifference of opinion as to the cause of his decline； there could beno question of the fact。 His form grew emaciated； his voice； thoughstill rich and sweet； had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay init； he was often observed； on any slight alarm or other suddenaccident； to put his hand over his heart； with first a flush andthen a paleness； indicative of pain。 Such was the young clergyman's condition； and so imminent theprospect that his dawning light would be extinguished； all untimely；when Roger Chillingworth made his advent to the town。 His firstentry on the scene； few people could tell whence； dropping down； itwere； out of the sky； or starting from the her earth； had an aspectof mystery； which was easily heightened to the miraculous。 He wasnow known to be a man of skill； it was observed that he gatheredherbs； and the blossoms of wild…flowers； and dug up roots； and pluckedoff twigs from the forest…trees like one acquainted with hiddenvirtues in what was valueless to mon eyes。 He was heard to speak ofSir Kenelm Digby； and other famous men… whose scientific attainmentswere esteemed hardly less than supernatural… as having been hiscorrespondents or associates。 Why； with such rank in the learnedworld； had he e hither？ What could he； whose sphere was in greatcities； be seeking in the wilderness？ In ansour gained ground… and； however absurd； was entertained by somevery sensible people… that Heaven had wrought an absolute miracle；by transporting an eminent Doctor of Physic； from a German university；bodily through the air； and setting him down at the door of Mr。Dimmesdale's study！ Individuals of wiser faith； indeed； who knewthat Heaven promotes its purposes without aiming at the stage…effectof what is called miraculous interposition； were inclined to see aprovidential hand in Roger Chillingworth's so opportune arrival。 This idea was countenanced by the strong interest which thephysician ever manifested in the young clergyman； he attachedhimself to him as a parishioner； and sought to win a friendly regardand confidence from his naturally reserved sensibility。 He expressedgreat alarm at his pastor's state of health； but was anxious toattempt the cure； and； if early undertaken； seemed not despondent of afavourable result。 The elders； the deacons； the motherly dames； andthe young and fair maidens； of Mr。 Dimmesdale's flock； were alikeimportunate that he should make trial of the physician's franklyoffered skill。 Mr。 Dimmesdale gently repelled their entreaties。 〃I need no medicine；〃 said he。 But how could the young minister say so； when； with every successiveSabbath； his cheek was paler and thinner； and his voice more tremulousthan before… when it had now bee a constant habit； rather than acasual gesture； to press his hand over his heart？ Was he weary ofhis labours？ Did he nlypropounded to Mr。 Dimmesdale by the elder ministers of Boston andthe deacons of his church； who； to use their own phrase； 〃dealt withhim〃 on the sin of rejecting the aid which Providence so manifestlyheld out。 He listened in silence； and finally promised to conferwith the physician。 〃Were it God's will；〃 said the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale； when； infulfilment of this pledge； he requested old Roger Chillingworth'sprofessional advice； 〃I could be well content； that my labours andmy sorrows； and my sins and my pains； should shortly end with me；and what is earthly of them be buried in my grave； and the spiritualgo with me to my eternal state； rather than that you should put yourskill to the proof in my behalf。〃 〃Ah；〃 replied Roger Chillingworth； with that quietness which；whether imposed or natural； marked all his deportment； 〃it is thusthat a young clergyman is apt to speak。 Youthful men； not having takena deep root； give up their hold of life so easily！ And saintly men；who walk with God on earth； would fain be away； to walk with Him onthe golden pavements of the New Jerusalem。〃 〃Nay；〃 rejoined the young minister； putting his hand to his heart；with a flush of pain flitting over his brow； 〃were I worthier towalk there； I could be better content to toil here。〃 〃Good men ever interpret themselves too meanly；〃 said the physician。 In this manner； the mysterious old Roger Chillingworth became themedical adviser of the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale。 As not only thedisease interested the physician； but he was strongly moved to lookinto the character and qualities of the patient； these two men； sodifferent in age； came gradually to spend much time together。 Forthe sake of the minister's health； and to enable the leech to gatherplants with healing balm in them； they took long walks on thesea…shore； or in the forest； mingling various talk with the plashand murmur of the waves； and the solemn wind…anthem among thetree…tops。 Often； likewise； one was the guest of the other； in hisplace of study and retirement。 There was a fascination for theminister in the pany of the man of science； in whom he recognisedan intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope； togetherwith a range and freedom of ideas； that he would have vainly lookedfor among the members of his own profession。 In truth； he wasstartled； if not shocked； to find this attribute in the physician。 Mr。Dimmesdale was a true priest； a true religionist； with the reverentialsentiment largely developed； and an order of mind that impelled itselfpowerfully along the track of a creed； and wore its passagecontinually deeper with the lapse of time。 In no state of societywould he have been what is called a man of liberal views； it wouldalways be essential to his peace to feel the pressure of a faith abouthim； supporting； while it confined him within its iron framework。Not the less； however； though with a tremulous enjoyment； did hefeel the occasional relief of looking at the universe through themedium of another kind of intellect than those with which hehabitually held co
