红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第34部分
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ned… or making a prophetic lamentation aboutsomething that was yet to happen… within the verge of the dismalforest。 So Pearl； who had enough of shadow in her own little life；chose to break off all acquaintance with this repining brook。 Sheset herself； therefore； to gathering violets and wood…anemones； andsome scarlet columbines that she found growing in the crevices of ahigh rock。 When her elf…child had departed； Hester Prynne made a step or twotowards the track that led through the forest； but still remainedunder the deep shadow of the trees。 She beheld the ministeradvancing along the path； entirely alone； and leaning on a staff whichhe had cut by the wayside。 He looked haggard and feeble； andbetrayed a nerveless despondency in his air； which had never soremarkably characterised him in his walks about the settlement； nor inany other situation where he deemed himself liable to notice。 Hereit was woefully visible； in this intense seclusion of the forest；which of itself would have been a heavy trial to the spirits。 Therewas a listlessness in his gait； as if he saw no reason for takingone step farther； nor felt any desire to do so； but would have beenglad； could he be glad of anything； to fling himself down at theroot of the nearest tree； and lie there passive； for evermore。 Theleaves might bestrew him； and the soil gradually accumulate and form alittle hillock over his frame； no matter whether there were life in itor no。 Death was too definite an object to be wished for； or avoided。 To Hester's eye； the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom ofpositive and vivacious suffering； except that； as little Pearl hadremarked； he kept his hand over his heart。 XVII。 THE PASTOR AND HIS PARISHIONER。 SLOWLY as the minister walked； he had almost gone by； beforeHester Prynne could gather voice enough to attract his observation。 Atlength； she succeeded。 〃Arthur Dimmesdale！〃 she said； faintly at first； then louder； buthoarsely： 〃Arthur Dimmesdale！〃 〃Who speaks？〃 answered the minister。 Gathering himself quickly up； he stood more erect； like a mantaken by surprise in a mood to which he was reluctant to havewitnesses。 Throwing his eyes anxiously in the direction of thevoice； he indistinctly beheld a form under the trees； clad in garmentsso； sombre； and so little relieved from the grey twilight into whichthe clouded sky and the heavy foliage had darkened the noontide；that he knew not whether it were a woman or a shadow。 It may be；that his pathway through life was haunted thus； by a spectre thathad stolen out from among his thoughts。 He made a step nigher； and discovered the scarlet letter。 〃Hester！ Hester Prynne！〃 said he。 〃Is it thou？ Art thou in life？〃 〃Even so！〃 she answered。 〃In such life as has been mine theseseven years past！ And thou； Arthur Dimmesdale； dost thou yet live？〃 It was no wonder that they thus questioned one another's actualand bodily existence； and even doubted of their own。 So strangelydid they meet； in the dim wood； that it was like the firstencounter； in the world beyond the grave； of two spirits who hadbeen intimately connected in their former life； but now stood coldlyshuddering； in mutual dread； as not yet familiar with their state； norwonted to the panionship of disembodied beings。 Each a ghost； andawe…stricken at the other ghost！ They were awe…stricken likewise atthemselves； because the crisis flung back to them their consciousness；and revealed to each heart its history and experience； as life neverdoes； except at such breathless epochs。 The soul beheld its featuresin the mirror of the passing moment。 It was with fear； andtremulously； and； as it were； by a slow； reluctant necessity； thatArthur Dimmesdale put forth his hand； chill as death； and touchedthe chill hand of Hester Prynne。 The grasp； cold as it was； tookaway what was dreariest in the interview。 They now felt themselves； atleast； inhabitants of the same sphere。 Without a word more spoken… neither he nor she assuming theguidance； but with an unexpressed consent… they glided back into theshadow of the woods； whence Hester had emerged； and sat down on theheap of moss where she and Pearl had before been sitting。 When theyfound voice to speak； it was； at first； only to utter remarks andinquiries such as any tight have made； about thegloomy sky； the threatening storm； and； next； the health of each。 Thusthey went onward； not boldly； but step by step； into the themes thatwere brooding deepest in their hearts。 So long estranged by fate andcircumstances； they needed something slight and casual to runbefore； and throw open the doors of intercourse； so that their realthoughts might be led across the threshold。 After a while； the minister fixed his eyes on Hester Prynne's。 〃Hester；〃 said he； 〃hast thou found peace？〃 She smiled drearily； looking down upon her bosom。 〃Hast thou？〃 she asked。 〃None！… nothing but despair！〃 he answered。 〃What else could I lookfor； being what I am； and leading such a life as mine？ Were I anatheist… a man devoid of conscience… a wretch with coarse and brutalinstincts… I might have found peace； long ere now。 Nay； I never shouldhave lost it！ But； as matters stand with my soul； whatever of goodcapacity there originally was in me； all of God's gifts that werethe choicest have bee the ministers of spiritual torment。 Hester； Iam most miserable。〃 〃The people reverence thee；〃 said Hester。 〃And surely thou workestgood among them！ Doth this bring thee no fort？〃 〃More misery； Hester！… only the more misery！〃 answered theclergyman； with a bitter smile。 〃As concerns the good which I mayappear to do； I have no faith in it。 It must needs be a delusion。 Whatcan a ruined soul； like mine； effect towards the redemption of othersouls？… or a polluted soul； towards their purification？ And as for thepeople's reverence； would that it were turned to scorn and hatred！Canst thou deem it； Hester； a consolation； that I must stand up inmy pulpit； and meet so many eyes turned upward to my face； as if thelight of heaven were beaming from it！… must see my flock hungry forthe truth； and listening to my words as if a tongue of Pentecostwere speaking！… and then look inward； and discern the black reality ofwhat they idolise？ I have laughed； in bitterness and agony of heart；at the contrast between what I seem and what I am！ And Satan laughs atit！〃 〃You wrong yourself in this；〃 said Hester gently。 〃You have deeplyand sorely repented。 Your sin is left behind you； in the days longpast。 Your present life is not less holy； in very truth； than it seemsin people's eyes。 Is there no reality in the penitence thus sealed andwitnessed by good works？ And wherefore should it not bring you peace？〃 〃No； Hester； no！〃 replied the clergyman。 〃There is no substance init！ It is cold and dead； and can do nothing for me！ Of penance； I havehad enough！ Of penitence； there has been none！ Else； I should long agohave thrown off these garments of mock holiness； and have shown myselfto mankind as they will see me at the judgment…seat。 Happy are you；Hester； that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom！ Mineburns in secret！ Thou little knowest what a relief it is； after thetorment of a seven years' cheat； to look into an eye that recognisesme for what I am！ Had I one friend… or were it my worst enemy！… towhom； when sickened with the praises of all other men； I could dailybetake myself； and be known as the vilest of all sinners； methinksmy soul might keep itself alive thereby。 Even thus much of truth wouldsave me！ But； now； it is all falsehood！… all emptiness！… all death！〃 Hester Prynne looked into his face； but hesitated to speak。 Yet；uttering his long…restrained emotions so vehemently as he did； hiswords here offered her the very point of circumstances in which tointerpose what she came to say。 She conquered her fears； and spoke。 〃Such a friend as thou hast even now wished for；〃 said she； 〃withwhom to weep over thy sin； thou has in me； the partner of it！〃 Againshe hesitated； but brought out the words with an effort； 〃Thou hastlong had such an enemy； and dwellest with him； under the same roof！〃 The minister started to his feet； gasping for breath； andclutching at his heart； as if he would have torn it out of his bosom。 〃Ha！ What sayest thou！〃 cried he。 〃An enemy！ And under mine ownroof！ What mean you？〃 Hester Prynne was now fully sensible of the deep injury for whichshe was responsible to this unhappy man； in permitting him to liefor so many years； or； indeed； for a single moment； at the mercy ofone whose purposes could not be other than malevolent。 The verycontiguity of his enemy； beneath whatever mask the latter mightconceal himself； was enough to disturb the magic sphere of abeing so sensitive as Arthur Dimmesdale。 There had been a periodwhen Hester was less alive to this consideration； or； perhaps； inthe misanthropy of her own trouble； she left the minister to bear whatshe might picture to herself as a more tolerable doom。 But of late；since the night of his vigil； all her sympathies towards him hadbeen both softened and invigorated。 She now read his heart moreaccurately。 She doubted not； that the continual presence of RogerChillingworth the secret poison of his malignity； infecting all theair about him… and his authorised interference； as a physician； withthe minister's physical and spiritual infirmities… that these badopportunities had been turned to a cruel purpose。 By means of them；the sufferer's conscience had been kept in an irritated state； thetendency of which was； not to cure by wholesome pain； but todisorganise and corrupt his spiritual being。 Its result； on earth；could hardly fail to be insanity； and hereafter； that eternalalienation from the Good and True； of which madness is perhaps theearthly type。 Such was the ruin to which she had brought the man； once… nay； whyshould we not speak it？… still so passionately loved！ Hester felt thatthe sacrifice of the clergyman's good name； and death itself； as shehad already told Roger Chillingworth； would have been infinitelypreferable to the alternative which she had taken upon herself tochoose。 And now； rather than have had this grievous wrong toconfess； she would gladly have lain down on the forest…leaves； anddied there； at Arthur Dimmesdale's feet。 〃O Arthur；〃 cried she； 〃forgive me！ In all thin
