红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第23章

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　〃It　is　our　Hester…　the　town's　own　Hester…who　is　so　kind　to　the　poor；　so　helpful　to　the　sick；　so　fortableto　the　afflicted！〃　Then；　it　is　true；　the　propensity　of　human　nature　totell　the　very　worst　of　itself；　when　embodied　in　the　person　of　another；would　constrain　them　to　whisper　the　black　scandal　of　bygone　years。It　was　none　the　less　a　fact；　however；　that；　in　the　eyes　of　the　verymen　who　spoke　thus；　the　scarlet　letter　had　the　effect　of　the　crosson　a　nun's　bosom。　It　imparted　to　the　wearer　a　kind　of　sacredness；which　enabled　her　to　walk　securely　amid　all　peril。　Had　she　fallenamong　thieves；　it　would　have　kept　her　safe。　It　was　reported；　andbelieved　by　many；　that　an　Indian　had　drawn　his　arrow　against　thebadge；　and　that　the　missile　struck　it；　but　fell　harmless　to　theground。　　The　effect　of　the　symbol…　or；　rather；　of　the　position　in　respectto　society　that　was　indicated　by　it…　on　the　mind　of　Hester　Prynneherself；　was　powerful　and　peculiar。　All　the　light　and　graceful　foliageof　her　character　had　been　withered　up　by　this　red…hot　brand；　and　hadlong　ago　fallen　away；　leaving　a　bare　and　harsh　outline；　which　mighthave　been　repulsive；　had　she　possessed　friends　or　panions　to　berepelled　by　it。　Even　the　attractiveness　of　her　person　had　undergonea　similar　change。　It　might　be　partly　owing　to　the　studied　austerity　ofher　dress；　and　partly　to　the　lack　of　demonstration　in　her　manners。It　was　a　sad　transformation；　too；　that　her　rich　and　luxuriant　hair　hadeither　been　cut　off；　or　was　so　pletely　hidden　by　a　cap；　that　nota　shining　lock　of　it　ever　once　gushed　into　the　sunshine。　It　was　due　inpart　to　all　these　causes；　but　still　more　to　something　else；　that　thereseemed　to　be　no　longer　anything　in　Hester's　face　for　Love　to　dwellupon；　nothing　in　Hester's　form；　though　majestic　and　statue…like；that　Passion　would　ever　dream　of　clasping　in　its　embrace；　nothing　inHester's　bosom；　to　make　it　ever　again　the　pillow　of　Affection。　Someattribute　had　departed　from　her；　the　permanence　of　which　had　beenessential　to　keep　her　a　woman。　Such　is　frequently　the　fate；　and　suchthe　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　feet　at　the　bottom；　while；out　of　a　still　lower　depth；　came　the　gleam　of　a　kind　of　fragmentarysmile；　floating　to　and　fro　in　the　agitated　water。　　Meanwhile；　her　mother　had　accosted　the　physician。　　〃I　would　speak　a　word　with　you；〃　said　she…　〃a　word　that　concernsus　much。〃　　〃Aha！　and　is　it　Mistress　Hester　that　has　a　word　for　old　RogerChillingworth？〃　answered　he；　raising　himself　from　his　stoopingposture。　〃With　all　my　heart！　Why；　mistress；　I　hear　good　tidings　ofyou；　on　all　hands！　No　longer　ago　than　yester…eve；　a　magistrate；　a　wiseand　godly　man；　was　discoursing　of　your　affairs；　Mistress　Hester；　andwhispered　me　that　there　had　been　question　concerning　you　in　thecouncil。　It　was　debated　whether　or　no；　with　safety　to　the　mon　weal；yonder　scarlet　letter　might　be　taken　off　your　bosom。　On　my　life；Hester；　I　made　my　entreaty　to　the　worshipful　magistrate　that　itmight　be　done　forthwith！〃　　〃It　lies　not　in　the　pleasure　of　the　magistrates　to　take　off　thisbadge。〃　calmly　replied　Hester。　〃Were　I　worthy　to　be　quit　of　it；　itwould　fall　away　of　its　own　nature；　or　be　transformed　into　somethingthat　should　speak　a　different　purport。〃　　〃Nay；　then；　wear　it；　if　it　suit　you　better；〃　rejoined　he。　〃A　womanmust　needs　follow　her　own　fancy　touching　the　adornment　of　herperson。　The　letter　is　gaily　embroidered；　and　shows　right　bravely　onyour　bosom！〃　　All　this　while；　Hester　had　been　looking　steadily　at　the　old　man；　andwas　shocked；　as　well　as　wonder…smitten；　to　discern　what　a　change　hadbeen　wrought　upon　him　within　the　past　seven　years。　It　was　not　somuch　that　he　had　grown　older；　for　though　the　traces　of　advancinglife　were　visible；　he　bore　his　age　well；　and　seemed　to　retain　a　wiryvigour　and　alertness。　But　the　former　aspect　of　an　intellectual　andstudious　man；　calm　and　quiet；　which　was　what　she　best　remembered　inhim；　had　altogether　vanished；　and　been　succeeded　by　an　eager；searching；　almost　fierce；　yet　carefully　guarded　look。　It　seemed　tobe　his　wish　and　purpose　to　mask　this　expression　with　a　smile；　butthe　latter　played　him　false；　and　flickered　over　his　visage　soderisively；　that　the　spectator　could　see　his　blackness　all　thebetter　for　it。　Ever　and　anon；　too；　there　came　a　glare　of　red　light　outof　his　eyes；　as　if　the　old　man's　soul　were　on　fire；　and　kept　onsmouldering　duskily　within　his　breast；　until；　by　some　casual　puff　ofpassion；　it　was　blown　into　a　momentary　flame。　This　he　repressed；　asspeedily　as　possible；　and　strove　to　look　as　if　nothing　of　the　kind　hadhappened。　　In　a　word；　old　Roger　Chillingworth　was　a　striking　evidence　ofman's　faculty　of　transforming　himself　into　a　devil；　if　he　will　only；for　a　reasonable　space　of　time；　undertake　a　devil's　office。　Thisunhappy　person　had　effected　such　a　transformation；　by　devotinghimself；　for　seven　years；　to　the　constant　analysis　of　a　heart　fullof　torture；　and　deriving　his　enjoyment　thence；　and　adding　fuel　tothose　fiery　tortures　which　he　analysed　and　gloated　over。　　The　scarlet　letter　burned　on　Hester　Prynne's　bosom。　Here　was　anotherruin；　the　responsibility　of　which　came　partly　home　to　her。　　〃What　see　you　in　my　face；〃　asked　the　physicia