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Aftertheincidentlastdescribed,theintercoursebetweentheclergymanandthephysician,thoughexternallythesame,wasreallyofanothercharacterthanithadpreviouslybeen.
TheintellectofRogerChillingworthhadnowasufficientlyplainpathbeforeit.
Itwasnot,indeed,preciselythatwhichhehadlaidoutforhimselftotread.
Calm,gentle,passionless,asheappeared,therewasyet,wefear,aquietdepthofmalice,hithertolatent,butactivenow,inthisunfortunateoldman,whichledhimtoimagineamoreintimaterevengethananymortalhadeverwreakeduponanenemy.
Tomakehimselftheonetrustedfriend,towhomshouldbeconfidedallthefear,theremorse,theagony,theineffectualrepentance,thebackwardrushofsinfulthoughts,expelledinvain!
Allthatguiltysorrow,hiddenfromtheworld,whosegreatheartwouldhavepitiedandforgiven,toberevealedtohim,thePitiless—tohim,theUnforgiving!
Allthatdarktreasuretobelavishedontheveryman,towhomnothingelsecouldsoadequatelypaythedebtofvengeance!
Theclergyman’sshyandsensitivereservehadbalkedthisschemeRogerChillingworth,however,wasinclinedtobehardly,ifatall,lesssatisfiedwiththeaspectofaffairs,whichProvidence—usingtheavengerandhisvictimforitsownpurposes,and,perchance,pardoning,whereitseemedmosttopunish—hadsubstitutedforhisblackdevicesArevelation,hecouldalmostsay,hadbeengrantedtohim.
Itmatteredlittleforhisobject,whethercelestialorfromwhatotherregion.
Byitsaid,inallthesubsequentrelationsbetwixthimandMr.Dimmesdale,notmerelytheexternalpresence,buttheveryinmostsoulofthelatter,seemedtobebroughtoutbeforehiseyes,sothathecouldseeandcomprehenditseverymovement.
Hebecame,thenceforth,notaspectatoronly,butachiefactorinthepoorminister’sinteriorworld.Hecouldplayuponhimashechose.
Wouldhearousehimwithathrobofagony?
Thevictimwasforeverontherack;itneededonlytoknowthespringthatcontrolledtheengine:andthephysicianknewitwell.Wouldhestartlehimwithsuddenfear?
Asatthewavingofamagician’swand,uproseagrislyphantom—uproseathousandphantoms—inmanyshapes,ofdeath,ormoreawfulshame,allflockingroundabouttheclergyman,andpointingwiththeirfingersathisbreast!
Allthiswasaccomplishedwithasubtletysoperfect,thattheminister,thoughhehadconstantlyadimperceptionofsomeevilinfluencewatchingoverhim,couldnevergainaknowledgeofitsactualnature.
True,helookeddoubtfully,fearfully—even,attimes,withhorrorandthebitternessofhatred—atthedeformedfigureoftheoldphysician.
Hisgestures,hisgait,hisgrizzledbeard,hisslightestandmostindifferentacts,theveryfashionofhisgarments,wereodiousintheclergyman’ssight;atokenimplicitlytobereliedonofadeeperantipathyinthebreastofthelatterthanhewaswillingtoacknowledgetohimself.
For,asitwasimpossibletoassignareasonforsuchdistrustandabhorrence,soMr.Dimmesdale,consciousthatthepoisonofonemorbidspotwasinfectinghisheart’sentiresubstance,attributedallhispresentimentstonoothercause.
HetookhimselftotaskforhisbadsympathiesinreferencetoRogerChillingworth,disregardedthelessonthatheshouldhavedrawnfromthem,anddidhisbesttorootthemout.
Unabletoaccomplishthis,henevertheless,asamatterofprinciple,continuedhishabitsofsocialfamiliaritywiththeoldman,andthusgavehimconstantopportunitiesforperfectingthepurposetowhich—poorforlorncreaturethathewas,andmorewretchedthanhisvictim—theavengerhaddevotedhimself.
Whilethussufferingunderbodilydisease,andgnawedandtorturedbysomeblacktroubleofthesoul,andgivenovertothemachinationsofhisdeadliestenemy,theReverendMr.Dimmesdalehadachievedabrilliantpopularityinhissacredoffice.
Hewonitindeed,ingreatpart,byhissorrows.
Hisintellectualgifts,hismoralperceptions,hispowerofexperiencingandcommunicatingemotion,werekeptinastateofpreternaturalactivitybytheprickandanguishofhisdailylife.
Hisfame,thoughstillonitsupwardslope,alreadyovershadowedthesobererreputationsofhisfellow–clergymen,eminentasseveralofthemwere.
Therearescholarsamongthem,whohadspentmoreyearsinacquiringabstruselore,connectedwiththedivineprofession,thanMr.Dimmesdalehadlived;andwhomightwell,therefore,bemoreprofoundlyversedinsuchsolidandvaluableattainmentsthantheiryouthfulbrother.
Thereweremen,too,ofasturdiertextureofmindthanhis,andendowedwithafargreatershareofshrewd,hardiron,orgraniteunderstanding;which,dulymingledwithafairproportionofdoctrinalingredient,constitutesahighlyrespectable,efficacious,andunamiablevarietyoftheclericalspecies.
Therewereothersagain,truesaintlyfathers,whosefacultieshadbeenelaboratedbywearytoilamongtheirbooks,andbypatientthought,andetherealised,moreover,byspiritualcommunicationswiththebetterworld,intowhichtheirpurityoflifehadalmostintroducedtheseholypersonages,withtheirgarmentsofmortalitystillclingingtothem.
Allthattheylackedwas,thegiftthatdescendeduponthechosendisciplesatPentecost,intonguesofflame;symbolizing,itwouldseem,notthepowerofspeechinforeignandunknownlanguages,butthatofaddressingthewholehumanbrotherhoodintheheart’snativelanguage.
Thesefathers,otherwisesoapostolic,lackedHeaven’slastandrarestattestationoftheiroffice,theTongueofFlame.
Theywouldhavevainlysought—hadtheyeverdreamedofseeking—toexpressthehighesttruthsthroughthehumblestmediumoffamiliarwordsandimages.
Theirvoicescamedown,afarandindistinctly,fromtheupperheightswheretheyhabituallydwelt.
Notimprobably,itwastothislatterclassofmenthatMr.Dimmesdale,bymanyofhistraitsofcharacter,naturallybelonged.
Tothehighmountainpeaksoffaithandsanctityhewouldhaveclimbed,hadnotthetendencybeenthwartedbytheburden,whateveritmightbe,ofcrimeoranguish,beneathwhichitwashisdoomtototter.
Itkepthimdownonalevelwiththelowest;him,themanofetherealattributes,whosevoicetheangelsmightelsehavelistenedtoandanswered!
Butthisveryburdenitwasthatgavehimsympathiessointimatewiththesinfulbrotherhoodofmankind;sothathisheartvibratedinunisonwiththeirs,andreceivedtheirpainintoitselfandsentitsownthrobofpainthroughathousandotherhearts,ingushesofsad,persuasiveeloquence.
Oftenestpersuasive,butsometimesterrible!
Thepeopleknewnotthepowerthatmovedthemthus.
Theydeemedtheyoungclergymanamiracleofholiness.
Theyfanciedhimthemouth–pieceofHeaven’smessagesofwisdom,andrebuke,andlove.
Intheireyes,theverygroundonwhichhetrodwassanctified.
Thevirginsofhischurchgrewpalearoundhim,victimsofapassionsoimbuedwithreligioussentiment,thattheyimaginedittobeallreligion,andbroughtitopenly,intheirwhitebosoms,astheirmostacceptablesacrificebeforethealtar.
Theagedmembersofhisflock,beholdingMr.Dimmesdale’sframesofeeble,whiletheywerethemselvessoruggedintheirinfirmity,believedthathewouldgoheavenwardbeforethem,andenjoineditupontheirchildrenthattheiroldbonesshouldbeburiedclosetotheiryoungpastor’sholygrave.
Andallthistime,perchance,whenpoorMr.Dimmesdalewasthinkingofhisgrave,hequestionedwithhimselfwhetherthegrasswouldevergrowonit,becauseanaccursedthingmusttherebeburied!
Itisinconceivable,theagonywithwhichthispublicvenerationtorturedhim.
Itwashisgenuineimpulsetoadorethetruth,andtoreckonallthingsshadow–like,andutterlydevoidofweightorvalue,thathadnotitsdivineessenceasthelifewithintheirlife.Thenwhatwashe?—asubstance?—orthedimmestofallshadows?
Helongedtospeakoutfromhisownpulpitatthefullheightofhisvoice,andtellthepeoplewhathewas.
“I,whomyoubeholdintheseblackgarmentsofthepriesthood—I,whoascendthesacreddesk,andturnmypalefaceheavenward,takinguponmyselftoholdcommunioninyourbehalfwiththeMostHighOmniscience—I,inwhosedailylifeyoudiscernthesanctityofEnoch—I,whosefootsteps,asyousuppose,leaveagleamalongmyearthlytrack,wherebythePilgrimsthatshallcomeaftermemaybeguidedtotheregionsoftheblest—I,whohavelaidthehandofbaptismuponyourchildren—I,whohavebreathedthepartingprayeroveryourdyingfriends,towhomtheAmensoundedfaintlyfromaworldwhichtheyhadquitted—I,yourpastor,whomyousoreverenceandtrust,amutterlyapollutionandalie!”
Morethanonce,Mr.Dimmesdalehadgoneintothepulpit,withapurposenevertocomedownitsstepsuntilheshouldhavespokenwordsliketheabove.
Morethanoncehehadclearedhisthroat,anddrawninthelong,deep,andtremulousbreath,which,whensentforthagain,wouldcomeburdenedwiththeblacksecretofhissoul.
Morethanonce—nay,morethanahundredtimes—hehadactuallyspoken!Spoken!Buthow?
Hehadtoldhishearersthathewasaltogethervile,avilercompanionofthevilest,theworstofsinners,anabomination,athingofunimaginableiniquity,andthattheonlywonderwasthattheydidnotseehiswretchedbodyshrivelledupbeforetheireyesbytheburningwrathoftheAlmighty!
Couldtherebeplainerspeechthanthis?
Wouldnotthepeoplestartupintheirseats,byasimultaneousimpulse,andtearhimdownoutofthepulpitwhichhedefiled?Notso,indeed!
Theyhearditall,anddidbutreverencehimthemore.
Theylittleguessedwhatdeadlypurportlurkedinthoseself–condemningwords.“Thegodlyyouth!”saidtheyamongthemselves.“Thesaintonearth!Alas!
ifhediscernsuchsinfulnessinhisownwhitesoul,whathorridspectaclewouldhebeholdinthineormine!”
Theministerwellknew—subtle,butremorsefulhypocritethathewas!
—thelightinwhichhisvagueconfessionwouldbeviewed.
Hehadstriventoputacheatuponhimselfbymakingtheavowalofaguiltyconscience,buthadgainedonlyoneothersin,andaself–acknowledgedshame,withoutthemomentaryreliefofbeingself–deceived.
Hehadspokentheverytruth,andtransformeditintotheveriestfalsehood.
Andyet,bytheconstitutionofhisnature,helovedthetruth,andloathedthelie,asfewmeneverdid.
Therefore,aboveallthingselse,heloathedhismiserableself!
Hisinwardtroubledrovehimtopracticesmoreinaccordancewiththeold,corruptedfaithofRomethanwiththebetterlightofthechurchinwhichhehadbeenbornandbred.
InMr.Dimmesdale’ssecretcloset,underlockandkey,therewasabloodyscourge.
Oftentimes,thisProtestantandPuritandivinehadplieditonhisownshoulders,laughingbitterlyathimselfthewhile,andsmitingsomuchthemorepitilesslybecauseofthatbitterlaugh.
Itwashiscustom,too,asithasbeenthatofmanyotherpiousPuritans,tofast—nothowever,likethem,inordertopurifythebody,andrenderitthefittermediumofcelestialillumination—butrigorously,anduntilhiskneestrembledbeneathhim,asanactofpenance.
Hekeptvigils,likewise,nightafternight,sometimesinutterdarkness,sometimeswithaglimmeringlamp,andsometimes,viewinghisownfaceinalooking–glass,bythemostpowerfullightwhichhecouldthrowuponit.
Hethustypifiedtheconstantintrospectionwherewithhetortured,butcouldnotpurifyhimself.
Intheselengthenedvigils,hisbrainoftenreeled,andvisionsseemedtoflitbeforehim;perhapsseendoubtfully,andbyafaintlightoftheirown,intheremotedimnessofthechamber,ormorevividlyandclosebesidehim,withinthelooking–glass.
Nowitwasaherdofdiabolicshapes,thatgrinnedandmockedatthepaleminister,andbeckonedhimawaywiththem;nowagroupofshiningangels,whoflewupwardheavily,assorrow–laden,butgrewmoreetherealastheyrose.
Nowcamethedeadfriendsofhisyouth,andhiswhite–beardedfather,withasaint–likefrown,andhismotherturningherfaceawayasshepassedbyGhostofamother—thinnestfantasyofamother—methinksshemightyethavethrownapityingglancetowardsherson!
Andnow,throughthechamberwhichthesespectralthoughtshadmadesoghastly,glidedHesterPrynneleadingalonglittlePearl,inherscarletgarb,andpointingherforefinger,firstatthescarletletteronherbosom,andthenattheclergyman’sownbreast.
Noneofthesevisionseverquitedeludedhim.
Atanymoment,byaneffortofhiswill,hecoulddiscernsubstancesthroughtheirmistylackofsubstance,andconvincehimselfthattheywerenotsolidintheirnature,likeyondertableofcarvedoak,orthatbig,square,leather–boundandbrazen–claspedvolumeofdivinity.
But,forallthat,theywere,inonesense,thetruestandmostsubstantialthingswhichthepoorministernowdealtwith.
Itistheunspeakablemiseryofalifesofalseashis,thatitstealsthepithandsubstanceoutofwhateverrealitiestherearearoundus,andwhichweremeantbyHeaventobethespirit’sjoyandnutriment.
Totheuntrueman,thewholeuniverseisfalse—itisimpalpable—itshrinkstonothingwithinhisgrasp.
Andhehimselfinsofarasheshowshimselfinafalselight,becomesashadow,or,indeed,ceasestoexist.
TheonlytruththatcontinuedtogiveMr.Dimmesdalearealexistenceonthisearthwastheanguishinhisinmostsoul,andtheundissembledexpressionofitinhisaspect.
Hadheoncefoundpowertosmile,andwearafaceofgaiety,therewouldhavebeennosuchman!
Ononeofthoseuglynights,whichwehavefaintlyhintedat,butforbornetopictureforth,theministerstartedfromhischair.Anewthoughthadstruckhim.Theremightbeamoment’speaceinit.
Attiringhimselfwithasmuchcareasifithadbeenforpublicworship,andpreciselyinthesamemanner,hestolesoftlydownthestaircase,undidthedoor,andissuedforth.
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