红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第42部分
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y seafaring men； and it excited neither surprise noranim…adversion； when so reputable a citizen as old RogerChillingworth； the physician； was seen to enter the market…place； inclose and familiar talk with the mander of the questionable vessel。 The latter was by far the most showy and gallant figure； so far asapparel went； anywhere to be seen among the multitude。 He wore aprofusion of ribbons on his garment； and gold lace on his hat； whichwas also encircled by a gold chain； and surmounted with a feather。There was a sword at his side； and a sword…cut on his forehead； which；by the arrangement of his hair； he seemed anxious rather to displaythan hide。 A landsman could hardly have worn this garb and shownthis face； and worn and shown them both with such a galliard air；without undergoing stern question before a magistrate； and probablyincurring fine or imprisonment； or perhaps an exhibition in thestocks。 As regarded the shipmaster； however； all was looked upon aspertaining to the character； as to a fish his glistening scales。 After parting from the physician； the mander of the Bristolship strolled idly through the market…place； until； happening toapproach the spot where Hester Prynne was standing； he appeared torecognise； and did not hesitate to address her。 As was usually thecase wherever Hester stood； a small vacant area… a sort of magiccircle… had formed itself about her； into which； though the peoplewere elbowing one another at a little distance； none ventured； or feltdisposed to intrude。 It was a forcible type of the moral solitude inwhich the scarlet letter enveloped its fated wearer； partly by her ownreserve； and partly by the instinctive； though no longer sounkindly； withdrawal of her fellow…creatures。 Now； if never before； itanswered a good purpose； by enabling Hester and the seaman to speaktogether without the risk of being overheard； and so changed wasHester Prynne's repute before the public； that the matron in town mosteminent for rigid morality could not have held such intercourse withless result of scandal than herself。 〃So； mistress；〃 said the mariner； 〃I must bid the steward make readyone more berth than you bargained for！ No fear of scurvy orship…fever； this voyage！ What with the ship's surgeon and this otherdoctor； our only danger will be from drug or pill； more by token； asthere is a lot of apothecary's stuff aboard； which I traded for with aSpanish vessel。〃 〃What mean you？〃 inquired Hester； startled more than she permittedto appear。 〃Have you another passenger？〃 〃Why； know you not；〃 cried the shipmaster； 〃that this physicianhere… Chillingworth； he calls himself… is minded to try mycabin…fare with you？ Ay； ay； you must have known it； for he tells mehe is of your party； and a close friend to the gentleman you spoke of…he that is in peril from these sour old Puritan rulers！〃 〃They know each other well； indeed；〃 replied Hester； with a mienof calmness； though in the utmost consternation。 〃They have long dwelttogether。〃 Nothing further passed between the mariner and Hester Prynne。 But；at that instant； she beheld old Roger Chillingworth himself；standing in the remotest corner of the market…place； and smiling onher； a smile which… across the wide and bustling square； and throughall the talk and laughter； and various thoughts； moods； andinterests of the crowd… conveyed secret and fearful meaning。 XXII。 THE PROCESSION。 BEFORE Hester Prynne could call together her thoughts； andconsider what was practicable to be done in this new and startlingaspect of affairs； the sound of military music was heard approachingalong a contiguous street。 It denoted the advance of the procession ofmagistrates and citizens； on its way towards the meeting…house； where；in pliance with a custom thus early established； and ever sinceobserved； the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale was to deliver an ElectionSermon。 Soon the head of the procession showed itself with a slow andstately march； turning a corner； and making its way across themarket…place。 First came the music。 It prised a variety ofinstruments； perhaps imperfectly adapted to one another； and playedwith no great skill； but yet attaining the great object for which theharmony of drum and clarion addresses itself to the multitude… thatof imparting a higher and more heroic air to the scene of life thatpasses before the eye。 Little Pearl at first clapped her hands； butthen lost； for an instant； the restless agitation that had kept her ina continual effervescence throughout the morning； she gazedsilently； and seemed to be borne upward； like a floating sea…bird；on the long heaves and swells of sound。 But she was brought back toher former mood by the shimmer of the sunshine on the weapons andbright armour of the military pany； which followed after the music；and formed the honorary escort of the procession。 This body ofsoldiery… which still sustains a corporate existence； and marches downfrom past ages with an ancient and honourable fame… was posed of nomercenary materials。 Its ranks were filled with gentlemen； who feltthe stirrings of martial impulse； and sought to establish a kind ofCollege of Arms； where； as in an association of Knights Templars； theymight learn the science； and； so far as peaceful exercise wouldteach them； the practices of war。 The high estimation then placed uponthe military character might be seen in the lofty port of eachindividual member of the pany。 Some of them； indeed； by theirservices in the Low Countries and on other fields of European warfare；had fairly won their title to assume the name and pomp of soldiership。The entire array； moreover； clad in burnished steel； and withplumage nodding over their bright morions； had a brilliancy ofeffect which no modern display can aspire to equal。 And yet the men of civil eminence； who came immediately behind themilitary escort； were better worth a thoughtful observer's eye。 Evenin outward demeanour； they showed a stamp of majesty that made thewarrior's haughty stride look vulgar； if not absurd。 It was an agewhen what we call talent had far less consideration than now； butthe massive materials which produce stability and dignity of charactera great deal more。 The people possessed； by hereditary right； thequality of reverence； which； in their descendants； if it survive atall； exists in smaller proportion； and with a vastly diminished force；in the selection and estimate of public men。 The change may be forgood or ill； and is partly； perhaps； for both。 In that old day； theEnglish settler on these rude shores… having left king； nobles； andall degrees of awful rank behind； while still the faculty andnecessity of reverence were strong in him… bestowed it on the whitehair and venerable brow of age； on long…tried integrity； on solidwisdom and sad…coloured experience； on endowments of that grave andweighty order which gives the idea of permanence； and es underthe general definition of respectability。 These primitive statesmen；therefore… Bradstreet； Endicott； Dudley； Bellingham； and theirpeers… who were elevated to power by the early choice of thepeople； seem to have been not often brilliant； but distinguished bya ponderous sobriety； rather than activity of intellect。 They hadfortitude and self…reliance； and； in time of difficulty or peril；stood up for the welfare of the state like a line of cliffs againsta tempestuous tide。 The traits of character here indicated were wellrepresented in the square cast of countenance and large physicaldevelopment of the new colonial magistrates。 So far as a demeanourof natural authority was concerned； the mother country need not havebeen ashamed to see these foremost men of an actual democracyadopted into the House of Peers； or made the Privy Council of thesovereign。 Next in order to the magistrates came the young and eminentlydistinguished divine； from whose lips the religious discourse of theanniversary was expected。 His was the profession； at that era； inwhich intellectual ability displayed itself far more than in politicallife； for… leaving a higher motive out of the question… it offeredinducements powerful enough； in the almost worshipping respect ofthe munity； to win the most aspiring ambition into its service。Even political power… as in the case of Increase Mather… was withinthe grasp of a successful priest。 It was the observation of those who beheld him now； that never；since Mr。 Dimmesdale first set his foot on the New England shore；had he exhibited such energy as was seen in the gait and air withwhich he kept his pace in the procession。 There was no feebleness ofstep； as at other times； his frame was not bent； nor did his hand restominously upon his heart。 Yet； if the clergyman were rightly viewed；his strength seemed not of the body。 It might be spiritual； andimparted to him by angelic ministrations。 It might be the exhilarationof that potent cordial； which is distilled only in the furnace…glow ofearnest and long…continued thought。 Or； perchance； his sensitivetemperament was invigorated by the loud and piercing music； thatswelled heavenward； and uplifted him on its ascending wave。Nevertheless； so abstracted was his look； it might be questionedwhether Mr。 Dimmesdale even heard the music。 There was his body；moving onward； and with an unaccustomed force。 But where was his mind？Far and deep in its own region； busying itself； with preternaturalactivity； to marshal a procession of stately thoughts that were soonto issue thence； and so he saw nothing； heard nothing； knew nothing；of what was around him； but the spiritual element took up the feebleframe； and carried it along； unconscious of the burden； and convertingit to spirit like himself。 Men of unmon intellect； who have grownmorbid； possess this occasional power of mighty effort； into whichthey throw the life of many days； and then are lifeless for as manymore。 Hester Prynne； gazing steadfastly at the clergyman； felt a drearyinfluence e over her； but wherefore or whence she knew not；unless that he seemed so remote from her own sphere； and utterlybeyond her reach。 One glance of recognition； she had imagined； mustneeds pass between them。 She thought of the dim forest； with itslittle dell of solitude； and love； and anguish； and the mossytree…trunk； where； sitting hand in hand； they had mingled their sadand passionate talk
