红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第55章
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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
