红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第20章

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an　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