红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第40部分
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ressed one of the most sacred of them。 But this had been a sinof passion； not of principle； nor even purpose。 Since that wretchedepoch； he had watched； with morbid zeal and minuteness； not hisacts… for those it was easy to arrange… but each breath of emotion；and his every thought。 At the head of the social system； as theclergyman of that day stood； he was only the more trammelled by itsregulations； its principles； and even its prejudices。 As a priest； theframework of his order inevitably hemmed him in。 As a man who had oncesinned； but who kept his conscience all alive and painfullysensitive by the fretting of an unhealed wound； he might have beensupposed safer within the line of virtue than if he had never sinnedat all。 Thus； we seem to see that； as regarded Hester Prynne； the wholeseven years of outlaw and ignominy had been little other than apreparation for this very hour。 But Arthur Dimmesdale！ Were such a manonce more to fall； what plea could be urged in extenuation of hiscrime？ None； unless it avail him somewhat； that he was broken downby long and exquisite suffering； that his mind was darkened andconfused by the very remorse which harrowed it； that； betweenfleeing as an avowed criminal； and remaining as a hypocrite；conscience might find it hard to strike the balance； that it was humanto avoid the peril of death and infamy； and the inscrutablemachinations of an enemy； that； finally； to this poor pilgrim； onhis dreary and desert path； faint； sick； miserable； there appeared aglimpse of human affection and sympathy； a new life； and a true one；in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating。 And bethe stern and sad truth spoken； that the breach which guilt has oncemade into the human soul is never； in this mortal state； repaired。It may be watched and guarded； so that the enemy shall not force hisway again into the citadel； and might even； in his subsequentassaults； select some other avenue； in preference to that where he hadformerly succeeded。 But there is still the ruined wall； and； nearit； the stealthy tread of the foe that would win over again hisunforgotten triumph。 The struggle； if there were one； need not be described。 Let itsuffice； that the clergyman resolved to flee； and not alone。 〃If； in all these past seven years；〃 thought he； 〃I could recall oneinstant of peace or hope； I would yet endure； for the sake of thatearnest of Heaven's mercy。 But now… since I am irrevocably doomed…wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemnedculprit before his execution？ Or； if this be the path to a betterlife； as Hester would persuade me； I surely give up no fairer prospectby pursuing it！ Neither can I any longer live without herpanionship； so powerful is she to sustain… so tender to soothe！ OThou to whom I dare not lift mine eyes； wilt Thou yet pardon me！〃 〃Thou wilt go！〃 said Hester calmly； as he met her glance。 The decision once made； a glow of strange enjoyment threw itsflickering brightness over the trouble of his breast。 It was theexhilarating effect… upon a prisoner just escaped from the dungeonof his own heart… of breathing the wild； free atmosphere of anunredeemed； unchristianised； lawless region。 His spirit rose； as itwere； with a bound； and attained a nearer prospect of the sky； thanthroughout all the misery which had kept him grovelling on theearth。 Of a deeply religious temperament； there was inevitably a tingeof the devotional in his mind。 〃Do I feel joy again？〃 cried he； wondering at himself。 〃Methoughtthe germ of it was dead in me！ O Hester； thou art my better angel！ Iseem to have flung myself… sick； sin…stained； and sorrow…blackened…down upon these forest…leaves； and to have risen up all made anew； andwith new powers to glorify Him that hath been merciful！ This isalready the better life！ Why did we not find it sooner？〃 〃Let us not look back；〃 answered Hester Prynne。 〃the past is gone！Wherefore should we linger upon it now？ See！ With this symbol； Iundo it all； and make it as it had never been！〃 So speaking； she undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter；and； taking it from her bosom； threw it to a distance among thewithered leaves。 The mystic token alighted on the hither verge ofthe stream。 With a hand's breadth farther flight it would havefallen into the water； and have given the little brook another woeto carry onward； besides the unintelligible tale which it still keptmurmuring about。 But there lay the embroidered letter； glittering likea lost jewel； which some ill…fated wanderer might pick up； andthenceforth be haunted by strange phantoms of guilt； sinkings of theheart； and unaccountable misfortune。 The stigma gone； Hester heaved a long； deep sigh； in which theburden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit。 Oh； exquisiterelief！ She had not known the weight； until she felt the freedom！ Byanother impulse； she took off the formal cap that confined her hair；and down it fell upon her shoulders； dark and rich； with at once ashadow and a light in its abundance； and imparting the charm ofsoftness to her features。 There played around her mouth； and beamedout of her eyes； a radiant and tender smile； that seemed gushingfrom the very heart of womanhood。 A crimson flush was glowing on hercheek； that had been long so pale。 Her sex； her youth； and the wholerichness of the beauty； came back from what men call the irrevocablepast； and clustered themselves； with her maiden hope； and ahappiness before unknown； within the magic circle of this hour。 And；as if the gloom of the earth and sky had been but the effluence ofthese two mortal hearts； it vanished with their sorrow。 All at once；as with a sudden smile of heaven； forth burst the sunshine； pouringa very flood into the obscure forest； gladdening each green leaf；transmuting the yellow fallen ones to gold； and gleaming adown thegrey trunks of the solemn trees。 The objects that had made a shadowhitherto； embodied the brightness now。 The course of the littlebrook might be traced by its merry gleam afar into the wood's heart ofmystery； which had bee a mystery of joy。 Such was the sympathy of Nature… that wild； heathen Nature of theforest； never subjugated by human law； nor illumined by highertruth… with the bliss of these two spirits！ Love； whether newlyborn； or aroused from a death…like slumber； must always create asunshine； filling the heart so full of radiance； that it overflowsupon the outward world。 Had the forest still kept its gloom； itwould have been bright in Hester's eyes； and bright in ArthurDimmesdale's！ Hester looked at him with the thrill of another joy。 〃Thou must know Pearl！〃 said she。 〃Our little Pearl！ Thou hastseen her… yes； I know it！… but thou wilt see her now with othereyes。 She is a strange child！ I hardly prehend her！ But thou wiltlove her dearly； as I do； and wilt advise me how to deal with her。〃 〃Dost thou think the child will be glad to know me？〃 asked theminister； somewhat uneasily。 〃I have long shrunk from children；because they often show a distrust… a backwardness to be familiar withme。 I have even been afraid of little Pearl！〃 〃Ah； that was sad！〃 answered the mother。 〃But she will love theedearly； and thou her。 She is not far off。 I will call her！ Pearl！Pearl！〃 〃I see the child；〃 observed the minister。 〃Yonder she is； standingin a streak of sunshine； a good way off； on the other side of thebrook； So thou thinkest the child will love me？〃 Hester smiled； and again called to Pearl； who was visible； at somedistance； as the minister had described her； like abright…apparelled vision； in a sunbeam； which fell down upon herthrough an arch of boughs。 The ray quivered to and fro； making herfigure dim or distinct… now like a real child； now like a child'sspirit… as the splendour went and came again。 She heard her mother'svoice； and approached slowly through the forest。 Pearl had not found the hour pass wearisomely； while her mothersat talking with the clergyman。 The great black forest… stern as itshowed itself to those who brought the guilt and troubles of the worldinto its bosom… became the playmate of the lonely infant； as well asit knew how。 Sombre as it was； it put on the kindest of its moods towele her。 It offered her the partridge…berries； the growth of thepreceding autumn； but ripening only in the spring； and now red asdrops of blood upon the withered leaves。 These Pearl gathered； and waspleased with their wild flavour。 The small denizens of thewilderness hardly took pains to move out of her path。 A partridge；indeed； with a brood of ten behind her； ran forward threatingly； butsoon repented of her fierceness； and clucked to her young ones notto be afraid。 A pigeon； alone on a low branch； allowed Pearl to ebeneath； and uttered a sound as much of greeting as alarm。 A squirrel；from the lofty depths of his domestic tree； chattered either inanger or merriment… for a squirrel is such a choleric and humorouslittle personage； that it is hard to distinguish between his moods… sohe chattered at the child； and flung down a nut upon her head。 Itwas a last year's nut； and already gnawed by his sharp tooth。 A fox；startled from his sleep by her light footstep on the leaves； lookedinquisitively at Pearl； as doubting whether it were better to stealoff； or renew his nap on the same spot。 A wolf； it is said… but herethe tale has surely
