红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第37章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e stern development； of the feminine character and person； whenthe woman has encountered； and lived through； an experience ofpeculiar severity。 If she be all tenderness； she will die。 If shesurvive； the tenderness will either be crushed out of her； or… and theoutward semblance is the same… crushed so deeply into her heart thatit can never show itself more。 The latter is perhaps the truesttheory。 She who has once been woman； and ceased to be so； might at anymoment bee a woman again； if there were only the magic touch toeffect the transfiguration。 We shall see whether Hester Prynne wereafterwards so touched； and so transfigured。 Much of the marble coldness of Hester's impression was to beattributed to the circumstance； that her life had turned； in a greatmeasure； from passion and feeling； to thought。 Standing alone in theworld… alone； as to any dependence on society； and with little Pearlto be guided and protected… alone； and hopeless of retrieving herposition； even had she not scorned to consider it desirable… shecast away the fragments of a broken chain。 The world's law was nolaw for her mind。 It was an age in which the human intellect； newlyemancipated； had taken a more active and a wider range than for manycenturies before。 Men of the sword had overthrown nobles and kings。Men bolder than these had overthrown and rearranged… not actually； butwithin the sphere of theory； which was their most real abode… thewhole system of ancient prejudice； wherewith was linked much ofancient principle。 Hester Prynne imbibed this spirit。 She assumed afreedom of speculation； then mon enough on the other side of theAtlantic； but which our forefathers； had they known it； would haveheld to be a deadlier crime than that stigmatised by the scarletletter。 In her lonesome cottage by the seashore； thoughts visited her；such as dared to enter no other dwelling in New England； shadowyguests； that would have been as perilous as demons to theirentertainer could they have been seen so much as knocking at her door。 It is remarkable； that persons who speculate the most boldly oftenconform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulationsof society。 The thought suffices them； without investing itself in theflesh and blood of action。 So it seemed to be with Hester。 Yet； hadlittle Pearl never e to her from the spiritual world； it might havebeen far otherwise。 Then； she might have e down to us in history；hand in hand with Ann Hutchinson； as the foundress of a religioussect。 She might； in one of her phases； have been a prophetess。 Shemight； and not improbably would； have suffered death from the sterntribunals of the period； for attempting to undermine the foundationsof the Puritan establishment。 But； in the education of her child；the mother's enthusiasm of thought had something to wreak itself upon。Providence； in the person of this little girl； had assigned toHester's charge the germ and blossom of womanhood； to be cherished anddeveloped amid a host of difficulties。 Everything was against her。 Theworld was hostile。 The child's own nature had something wrong in it；which continually betokened that she had been born amiss… theeffluence of her mother's lawless passion… and often impelled Hesterto ask； in bitterness of heart； whether it were for ill or good thatthe poor little creature had been born at all。 Indeed； the same dark question often rose into her mind； withreference to the whole race of womanhood。 Was existence worthaccepting； even to the happiest among them？ As concerned her ownindividual existence； she had long ago decided in the negative； anddismissed the point as settled。 A tendency to speculation； though itmay keep an； yet makes her sad。 She discerns；it may be； such a hopeless task before her。 As a first step； the wholesystem of society is to be torn down； and built up anew。 Then； thevery nature of the opposite sex； or its long hereditary habit； whichhas bee like nature； is to be essentially modified； before womancan be allowed to assume what seems a fair and suitable position。Finally； all other difficulties being obviated； woman cannot takeadvantage of these preliminary reforms； until she herself shall haveundergone a still mightier change； in which； perhaps； the etherealessence； wherein she has her truest life； will be found to haveevaporated。 A woman never overes these problems by any exerciseof thought。 They are not to be solved； or only in one way。 If herheart chance to e uppermost； they vanish。 Thus； Hester Prynne；whose heart had lost its regular and healthy throb； wandered without aclew in the dark labyrinth of mind； now turned aside by aninsurmountable precipice； now starting back from a deep chasm。 Therewas wild and ghastly scenery all around her； and a home and fortnowhere。 At times； a fearful doubt strove to possess her soul； whetherit were not better to send Pearl at once to heaven； and go herselfto such futurity as Eternal Justice should provide。 The scarlet letter had not done its office。 Now； however； her interview with the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale； on thenight of his vigil； had given her a new theme of reflection； andheld up to her an object that appeared worthy of any exertion andsacrifice for its attainment。 She had witnessed the intense miserybeneath which the minister struggled； or； to speak more accurately；had ceased to struggle。 She saw that he stood on the verge oflunacy； if he had not already stepped across it。 It was impossibleto doubt； that； whatever painful efficacy there might be in the secretsting of remorse； a deadlier venom had been infused into it by thehand that proffered relief。 A secret enemy had been continually by hisside； under the semblance of a friend and helper； and had availedhimself of the opportunities thus afforded for tampering with thedelicate springs of Mr。 Dimmesdale's nature。 Hester could not butask herself； whether there had not originally been a defect oftruth； courage； and loyalty； on her own part； in allowing the ministerto be thrown into a position where so much evil was to be foreboded；and nothing auspicious to be hoped。 Her only justification lay inthe fact； that she had been able to discern no method of rescuinghim from a blacker ruin than had overwhelmed herself； except byacquiescing in Roger Chillingworth's scheme of disguise。 Under thatimpulse； she had made her choice； and had chosen； as it nowappeared； the more wretched alternative of the two。 She determinedto redeem her error； so far as it might yet be possible。Strengthened by years of hard and solemn trial； she felt herself nolonger so inadequate to cope with Roger Chillingworth as on thatnight； abased by sin； and half maddened by the ignominy that was stillnew； when they had talked together in the prison…chamber。 She hadclimbed her way； since then； to a higher point。 The old man； on theother hand； had brought himself nearer to her level； or perhapsbelow it； by the revenge which he had stooped for。 In fine； Hester Prynne resolved to meet her former husband； and dowhat might be in her power for the rescue of the victim on whom he hadso evidently set his gripe。 The occasion was not long to seek。 Oneafternoon； walking with Pearl in a retired part of the peninsula；she beheld the old physician； with a basket on one arm； and a staff inthe other hand； stooping along the ground； in quest of roots and herbsto concoct his medicines withal。 XIV。 HESTER AND THE PHYSICIAN。 HESTER bade little Pearl run down to the margin of the water； andplay with the shells and tangled seaweed； until she should have talkedawhile with yonder gatherer of herbs。 So the child flew away like abird； and； making bare her small white feet； went pattering alongthe moist margin of the sea。 Here and there she came to a full stop；and peeped curiously into a pool； left by the retiring tide as amirror for Pearl to see her face in。 Forth peeped at her； out of thepool； with dark； glistening curls around her head； and an elf…smile inher eyes； the image of a little maid； whom Pearl； having no otherplaymate； invited to take her hand； and run a race with her。 But thevisionary little maid； on her part； beckoned likewise； as if to say；〃This is a better place！ e thou into the pool！〃 And Pearl； steppingin； mid…leg deep； beheld her own white f
