English
Fromthisintenseconsciousnessofbeingtheobjectofsevereanduniversalobservation,thewearerofthescarletletterwasatlengthrelieved,bydiscerning,ontheoutskirtsofthecrowd,afigurewhichirresistiblytookpossessionofherthoughts.
AnIndianinhisnativegarbwasstandingthere;buttheredmenwerenotsoinfrequentvisitorsoftheEnglishsettlementsthatoneofthemwouldhaveattractedanynoticefromHesterPrynneatsuchatime;muchlesswouldhehaveexcludedallotherobjectsandideasfromhermind.
BytheIndian’sside,andevidentlysustainingacompanionshipwithhim,stoodawhiteman,cladinastrangedisarrayofcivilizedandsavagecostume.
Hewassmallinstature,withafurrowedvisage,whichasyetcouldhardlybetermedaged.
Therewasaremarkableintelligenceinhisfeatures,asofapersonwhohadsocultivatedhismentalpartthatitcouldnotfailtomouldthephysicaltoitselfandbecomemanifestbyunmistakabletokens.
Although,byaseeminglycarelessarrangementofhisheterogeneousgarb,hehadendeavouredtoconcealorabatethepeculiarity,itwassufficientlyevidenttoHesterPrynnethatoneofthisman’sshouldersrosehigherthantheother.
Again,atthefirstinstantofperceivingthatthinvisage,andtheslightdeformityofthefigure,shepressedherinfanttoherbosomwithsoconvulsiveaforcethatthepoorbabeutteredanothercryofpain.Butthemotherdidnotseemtohearit,
Athisarrivalinthemarket–place,andsometimebeforeshesawhim,thestrangerhadbenthiseyesonHesterPrynne.
Itwascarelesslyatfirst,likeamanchieflyaccustomedtolookinward,andtowhomexternalmattersareoflittlevalueandimport,unlesstheybearrelationtosomethingwithinhismind.
Verysoon,however,hislookbecamekeenandpenetrative.
Awrithinghorrortwisteditselfacrosshisfeatures,likeasnakeglidingswiftlyoverthem,andmakingonelittlepause,withallitswreathedintervolutionsinopensight.
Hisfacedarkenedwithsomepowerfulemotion,which,nevertheless,hesoinstantaneouslycontrolledbyaneffortofhiswill,that,saveatasinglemoment,itsexpressionmighthavepassedforcalmness.
Afterabriefspace,theconvulsiongrewalmostimperceptible,andfinallysubsidedintothedepthsofhisnature.
WhenhefoundtheeyesofHesterPrynnefastenedonhisown,andsawthatsheappearedtorecognizehim,heslowlyandcalmlyraisedhisfinger,madeagesturewithitintheair,andlaiditonhislips.
Thentouchingtheshoulderofatownsmanwhostoodneartohim,headdressedhiminaformalandcourteousmanner:
“Iprayyou,goodSir,”saidhe,“whoisthiswoman?—andwhereforeissheheresetuptopublicshame?”
“Youmustneedsbeastrangerinthisregion,friend,”answeredthetownsman,lookingcuriouslyatthequestionerandhissavagecompanion,“elseyouwouldsurelyhaveheardofMistressHesterPrynneandherevildoings.
Shehathraisedagreatscandal,Ipromiseyou,ingodlyMasterDimmesdale’schurch.”
“Yousaytruly,”repliedtheother;“Iamastranger,andhavebeenawanderer,sorelyagainstmywill.
Ihavemetwithgrievousmishapsbyseaandland,andhavebeenlongheldinbondsamongtheheathen–folktothesouthward;andamnowbroughthitherbythisIndiantoberedeemedoutofmycaptivity.
Willitpleaseyou,therefore,totellmeofHesterPrynne’s—haveIhernamerightly?
—ofthiswoman’soffences,andwhathasbroughthertoyonderscaffold?”
“Truly,friend;andmethinksitmustgladdenyourheart,afteryourtroublesandsojourninthewilderness,”saidthetownsman,“tofindyourselfatlengthinalandwhereiniquityissearchedoutandpunishedinthesightofrulersandpeople,ashereinourgodlyNewEngland.
Yonderwoman,Sir,youmustknow,wasthewifeofacertainlearnedman,Englishbybirth,butwhohadlongagodweltinAmsterdam,whencesomegoodtimeagonehewasmindedtocrossoverandcastinhislotwithusoftheMassachusetts.
Tothispurposehesenthiswifebeforehim,remaininghimselftolookaftersomenecessaryaffairs.
Marry,goodSir,insometwoyears,orless,thatthewomanhasbeenadwellerhereinBoston,notidingshavecomeofthislearnedgentleman,MasterPrynne;andhisyoungwife,lookyou,beinglefttoherownmisguidance—”
“Ah!—aha!
—Iconceiveyou,”saidthestrangerwithabittersmile.
“Solearnedamanasyouspeakofshouldhavelearnedthistooinhisbooks.
Andwho,byyourfavour,Sir,maybethefatherofyonderbabe—itissomethreeorfourmonthsold,Ishouldjudge—whichMistressPrynneisholdinginherarms?”
“Ofatruth,friend,thatmatterremainethariddle;andtheDanielwhoshallexpounditisyeta–wanting,”answeredthetownsman.
“MadameHesterabsolutelyrefusethtospeak,andthemagistrateshavelaidtheirheadstogetherinvain.
Peradventuretheguiltyonestandslookingonatthissadspectacle,unknownofman,andforgettingthatGodseeshim.”
“Thelearnedman,”observedthestrangerwithanothersmile,“shouldcomehimselftolookintothemystery.”
“Itbehoveshimwellifhebestillinlife,”respondedthetownsman.
“Now,goodSir,ourMassachusettsmagistracy,bethinkingthemselvesthatthiswomanisyouthfulandfair,anddoubtlesswasstronglytemptedtoherfall,andthat,moreover,asismostlikely,herhusbandmaybeatthebottomofthesea,theyhavenotbeenboldtoputinforcetheextremityofourrighteouslawagainsther.Thepenaltythereofisdeath.
ButintheirgreatmercyandtendernessofhearttheyhavedoomedMistressPrynnetostandonlyaspaceofthreehoursontheplatformofthepillory,andthenandthereafter,fortheremainderofhernaturallifetowearamarkofshameuponherbosom.”
“Awisesentence,”remarkedthestranger,gravely,bowinghishead.
“Thusshewillbealivingsermonagainstsin,untiltheignominiousletterbeengraveduponhertombstone.
Itirksme,nevertheless,thatthepartnerofheriniquityshouldnotatleast,standonthescaffoldbyherside.Buthewillbeknown—hewillbeknown!—hewillbeknown!”
Hebowedcourteouslytothecommunicativetownsman,andwhisperingafewwordstohisIndianattendant,theybothmadetheirwaythroughthecrowd.
Whilethispassed,HesterPrynnehadbeenstandingonherpedestal,stillwithafixedgazetowardsthestranger—sofixedagazethat,atmomentsofintenseabsorption,allotherobjectsinthevisibleworldseemedtovanish,leavingonlyhimandher.
Suchaninterview,perhaps,wouldhavebeenmoreterriblethaneventomeethimasshenowdid,withthehotmid–daysunburningdownuponherface,andlightingupitsshame;withthescarlettokenofinfamyonherbreast;withthesin–borninfantinherarms;withawholepeople,drawnforthastoafestival,staringatthefeaturesthatshouldhavebeenseenonlyinthequietgleamofthefireside,inthehappyshadowofahome,orbeneathamatronlyveilatchurch.
Dreadfulasitwas,shewasconsciousofashelterinthepresenceofthesethousandwitnesses.
Itwasbettertostandthus,withsomanybetwixthimandher,thantogreethimfacetoface—theytwoalone.
Shefledforrefuge,asitwere,tothepublicexposure,anddreadedthemomentwhenitsprotectionshouldbewithdrawnfromher.
Involvedinthesethoughts,shescarcelyheardavoicebehindheruntilithadrepeatedhernamemorethanonce,inaloudandsolemntone,audibletothewholemultitude.
“Hearkenuntome,HesterPrynne!”saidthevoice.
IthasalreadybeennoticedthatdirectlyovertheplatformonwhichHesterPrynnestoodwasakindofbalcony,oropengallery,appendedtothemeeting–house.
Itwastheplacewhenceproclamationswerewonttobemade,amidstanassemblageofthemagistracy,withalltheceremonialthatattendedsuchpublicobservancesinthosedays.
Here,towitnessthescenewhichwearedescribing,satGovernorBellinghamhimselfwithfoursergeantsabouthischair,bearinghalberds,asaguardofhonour.
Heworeadarkfeatherinhishat,aborderofembroideryonhiscloak,andablackvelvettunicbeneath—agentlemanadvancedinyears,withahardexperiencewritteninhiswrinkles.
Hewasnotill–fittedtobetheheadandrepresentativeofacommunitywhichoweditsoriginandprogress,anditspresentstateofdevelopment,nottotheimpulsesofyouth,buttothesternandtemperedenergiesofmanhoodandthesombresagacityofage;accomplishingsomuch,preciselybecauseitimaginedandhopedsolittle.
Theothereminentcharactersbywhomthechiefrulerwassurroundedweredistinguishedbyadignityofmien,belongingtoaperiodwhentheformsofauthoritywerefelttopossessthesacrednessofDivineinstitutions.
Theywere,doubtless,goodmen,justandsage.
But,outofthewholehumanfamily,itwouldnothavebeeneasytoselectthesamenumberofwiseandvirtuouspersons,whoshouldhelesscapableofsittinginjudgmentonanerringwoman’sheart,anddisentanglingitsmeshofgoodandevil,thanthesagesofrigidaspecttowardswhomHesterPrynnenowturnedherface.
Sheseemedconscious,indeed,thatwhateversympathyshemightexpectlayinthelargerandwarmerheartofthemultitude;for,assheliftedhereyestowardsthebalcony,theunhappywomangrewpale,andtrembled.
ThevoicewhichhadcalledherattentionwasthatofthereverendandfamousJohnWilson,theeldestclergymanofBoston,agreatscholar,likemostofhiscontemporariesintheprofession,andwithalamanofkindandgenialspirit.
Thislastattribute,however,hadbeenlesscarefullydevelopedthanhisintellectualgifts,andwas,intruth,ratheramatterofshamethanself–congratulationwithhim.
Therehestood,withaborderofgrizzledlocksbeneathhisskull–cap,whilehisgreyeyes,accustomedtotheshadedlightofhisstudy,werewinking,likethoseofHester’sinfant,intheunadulteratedsunshine.
Helookedlikethedarklyengravedportraitswhichweseeprefixedtooldvolumesofsermons,andhadnomorerightthanoneofthoseportraitswouldhavetostepforth,ashenowdid,andmeddlewithaquestionofhumanguilt,passion,andanguish.
“HesterPrynne,”saidtheclergyman,“Ihavestrivenwithmyyoungbrotherhere,underwhosepreachingoftheWordyouhavebeenprivilegedtosit”—hereMr.Wilsonlaidhishandontheshoulderofapaleyoungmanbesidehim—“Ihavesought,Isay,topersuadethisgodlyyouth,thatheshoulddealwithyou,hereinthefaceofHeaven,andbeforethesewiseanduprightrulers,andinhearingofallthepeople,astouchingthevilenessandblacknessofyoursin.
KnowingyournaturaltemperbetterthanI,hecouldthebetterjudgewhatargumentstouse,whetheroftendernessorterror,suchasmightprevailoveryourhardnessandobstinacy,insomuchthatyoushouldnolongerhidethenameofhimwhotemptedyoutothisgrievousfall.
Butheopposestome—withayoungman’sover–softness,albeitwisebeyondhisyears—thatitwerewrongingtheverynatureofwomantoforcehertolayopenherheart’ssecretsinsuchbroaddaylight,andinpresenceofsogreatamultitude.
Truly,asIsoughttoconvincehim,theshamelayinthecommissionofthesin,andnotintheshowingofitforth.
Whatsayyoutoit,onceagain,brotherDimmesdale?
Mustitbethou,orI,thatshalldealwiththispoorsinner’ssoul?”
Therewasamurmuramongthedignifiedandreverendoccupantsofthebalcony;andGovernorBellinghamgaveexpressiontoitspurport,speakinginanauthoritativevoice,althoughtemperedwithrespecttowardstheyouthfulclergymanwhomheaddressed:
“GoodMasterDimmesdale,”saidhe,“theresponsibilityofthiswoman’ssoulliesgreatlywithyou.
Itbehovesyou;therefore,toexhorthertorepentanceandtoconfession,asaproofandconsequencethereof.”
ThedirectnessofthisappealdrewtheeyesofthewholecrowdupontheReverendMr.Dimmesdale—youngclergyman,whohadcomefromoneofthegreatEnglishuniversities,bringingallthelearningoftheageintoourwildforestland.
Hiseloquenceandreligiousfervourhadalreadygiventheearnestofhigheminenceinhisprofession.
Hewasapersonofverystrikingaspect,withawhite,lofty,andimpendingbrow;large,brown,melancholyeyes,andamouthwhich,unlesswhenheforciblycompressedit,wasapttobetremulous,expressingbothnervoussensibilityandavastpowerofselfrestraint.
Notwithstandinghishighnativegiftsandscholar–likeattainments,therewasanairaboutthisyoungminister—anapprehensive,astartled,ahalf–frightenedlook—asofabeingwhofelthimselfquiteastray,andatalossinthepathwayofhumanexistence,andcouldonlybeateaseinsomeseclusionofhisown.
Therefore,sofarashisdutieswouldpermit,hetrodintheshadowyby–paths,andthuskepthimselfsimpleandchildlike,comingforth,whenoccasionwas,withafreshness,andfragrance,anddewypurityofthought,which,asmanypeoplesaid,affectedthemliketilespeechofanangel.
SuchwastheyoungmanwhomtheReverendMr.WilsonandtheGovernorhadintroducedsoopenlytothepublicnotice,biddinghimspeak,inthehearingofallmen,tothatmysteryofawoman’ssoul,sosacredeveninitspollution.
Thetryingnatureofhispositiondrovethebloodfromhischeek,andmadehislipstremulous.
“Speaktothewoman,mybrother,”saidMr.Wilson.
“Itisofmomenttohersoul,and,therefore,astheworshipfulGovernorsays,momentoustothineown,illwhosechargehersis.Exhorthertoconfessthetruth!”
TheReverendMr.Dimmesdalebenthishead,silentprayer,asitseemed,andthencameforward.
“HesterPrynne,”saidhe,leaningoverthebalconyandlookingdownsteadfastlyintohereyes,“thouhearestwhatthisgoodmansays,andseesttheaccountabilityunderwhichIlabour.
Ifthoufeelestittobeforthysoul’speace,andthatthyearthlypunishmentwilltherebybemademoreeffectualtosalvation,Ichargetheetospeakoutthenameofthyfellow–sinnerandfellow–sufferer!
Benotsilentfromanymistakenpityandtendernessforhim;for,believeme,Hester,thoughheweretostepdownfromahighplace,andstandtherebesidethee,onthypedestalofshame,yetbetterwereitsothantohideaguiltyheartthroughlife.
Whatcanthysilencedoforhim,exceptittempthim—yea,compelhim,asitwere—toaddhypocrisytosin?
Heavenhathgrantedtheeanopenignominy,thattherebythoumayestworkoutanopentriumphovertheevilwithintheeandthesorrowwithout.
Takeheedhowthoudeniesttohim—who,perchance,hathnotthecouragetograspitforhimself—thebitter,butwholesome,cupthatisnowpresentedtothylips!”
Theyoungpastor’svoicewastremulouslysweet,rich,deep,andbroken.
Thefeelingthatitsoevidentlymanifested,ratherthanthedirectpurportofthewords,causedittovibratewithinallhearts,andbroughtthelistenersintooneaccordofsympathy.
EventhepoorbabyatHester’sbosomwasaffectedbythesameinfluence,foritdirecteditshithertovacantgazetowardsMr.Dimmesdale,andheldupitslittlearmswithahalf–pleased,half–plaintivemurmur.
Sopowerfulseemedtheminister’sappealthatthepeoplecouldnotbelievebutthatHesterPrynnewouldspeakouttheguiltyname,orelsethattheguiltyonehimselfinwhateverhighorlowlyplacehestood,wouldbedrawnforthbyaninwardandinevitablenecessity,andcompelledtoascendthescaffold.
Hestershookherhead.
“Woman,transgressnotbeyondthelimitsofHeaven’smercy!”
criedtheReverendMr.Wilson,moreharshlythanbefore.
“Thatlittlebabehathbeengiftedwithavoice,tosecondandconfirmthecounselwhichthouhastheard.Speakoutthename!
That,andthyrepentance,mayavailtotakethescarletletteroffthybreast.”
“Never,”repliedHesterPrynne,looking,notatMr.Wilson,butintothedeepandtroubledeyesoftheyoungerclergyman.“Itistoodeeplybranded.Yecannottakeitoff.
AndwouldthatImightendurehisagonyaswellasmine!”
“Speak,woman!”saidanothervoice,coldlyandsternly,proceedingfromthecrowdaboutthescaffold,“Speak;andgiveyourchildafather!”
“Iwillnotspeak!”answeredHester,turningpaleasdeath,butrespondingtothisvoice,whichshetoosurelyrecognised.
“Andmychildmustseekaheavenlyfather;sheshallneverknowanearthlyone!”
“Shewillnotspeak!”murmuredMr.Dimmesdale,who,leaningoverthebalcony,withhishanduponhisheart,hadawaitedtheresultofhisappeal.
Henowdrewbackwithalongrespiration.
“Wondrousstrengtharidgenerosityofawoman’sheart!Shewillnotspeak!”
Discerningtheimpracticablestateofthepoorculprit’smind,theelderclergyman,whohadcarefullypreparedhimselffortheoccasion,addressedtothemultitudeadiscourseonsin,inallitsbranches,butwithcontinualreferencetotheignominiousletter.
Soforciblydidhedwelluponthissymbol,forthehourormoreduringwhichisperiodswererollingoverthepeople’sheads,thatitassumednewterrorsintheirimagination,andseemedtoderiveitsscarlethuefromtheflamesoftheinfernalpit.
HesterPrynne,meanwhile,keptherplaceuponthepedestalofshame,withglazedeyes,andanairofwearyindifference.
Shehadbornethatmorningallthatnaturecouldendure;andashertemperamentwasnotoftheorderthatescapesfromtoointensesufferingbyaswoon,herspiritcouldonlyshelteritselfbeneathastonycrustofinsensibility,whilethefacultiesofanimalliferemainedentire.
Inthisstate,thevoiceofthepreacherthunderedremorselessly,butunavailingly,uponherears.
Theinfant,duringthelatterportionofherordeal,piercedtheairwithitswailingsandscreams;shestrovetohushitmechanically,butseemedscarcelytosympathisewithitstrouble.
Withthesameharddemeanour,shewasledbacktoprison,andvanishedfromthepublicgazewithinitsiron–clampedportal.
Itwaswhisperedbythosewhopeeredafterherthatthescarletletterthrewaluridgleamalongthedarkpassage–wayoftheinterior.
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