English
Theeloquentvoice,onwhichthesoulsofthelisteningaudiencehadbeenbornealoftasontheswellingwavesofthesea,atlengthcametoapause.
Therewasamomentarysilence,profoundaswhatshouldfollowtheutteranceoforacles.
Thenensuedamurmurandhalf–hushedtumult,asiftheauditors,releasedfromthehighspellthathadtransportedthemintotheregionofanother’smind,werereturningintothemselves,withalltheiraweandwonderstillheavyonthem.
Inamomentmorethecrowdbegantogushforthfromthedoorsofthechurch.
Nowthattherewasanend,theyneededmorebreath,morefittosupportthegrossandearthlylifeintowhichtheyrelapsed,thanthatatmospherewhichthepreacherhadconvertedintowordsofflame,andhadburdenedwiththerichfragranceofhisthought.
Intheopenairtheirrapturebrokeintospeech.
Thestreetandthemarket–placeabsolutelybabbled,fromsidetoside,withapplausesoftheminister.
Hishearerscouldnotrestuntiltheyhadtoldoneanotherofwhateachknewbetterthanhecouldtellorhear.
Accordingtotheirunitedtestimony,neverhadmanspokeninsowise,sohigh,andsoholyaspirit,ashethatspakethisday;norhadinspirationeverbreathedthroughmortallipsmoreevidentlythanitdidthroughhis.
Itsinfluencecouldbeseen,asitwere,descendinguponhim,andpossessinghim,andcontinuallyliftinghimoutofthewrittendiscoursethatlaybeforehim,andfillinghimwithideasthatmusthavebeenasmarvelloustohimselfastohisaudience.
Hissubject,itappeared,hadbeentherelationbetweentheDeityandthecommunitiesofmankind,withaspecialreferencetotheNewEnglandwhichtheywerehereplantinginthewilderness.
And,ashedrewtowardstheclose,aspiritasofprophecyhadcomeuponhim,constraininghimtoitspurposeasmightilyastheoldprophetsofIsraelwereconstrained,onlywiththisdifference,that,whereastheJewishseershaddenouncedjudgmentsandruinontheircountry,itwashismissiontoforetellahighandgloriousdestinyforthenewlygatheredpeopleoftheLord.
But,throughoutitall,andthroughthewholediscourse,therehadbeenacertaindeep,sadundertoneofpathos,whichcouldnotbeinterpretedotherwisethanasthenaturalregretofonesoontopassaway.
Yes;theirministerwhomtheysoloved—andwhosolovedthemall,thathecouldnotdepartheavenwardwithoutasigh—hadtheforebodingofuntimelydeathuponhim,andwouldsoonleavethemintheirtears.
Thisideaofhistransitorystayonearthgavethelastemphasistotheeffectwhichthepreacherhadproduced;itwasifanangel,inhispassagetotheskies,hadshakenhisbrightwingsoverthepeopleforaninstant—atonceashadowandasplendour—andhadsheddownashowerofgoldentruthsuponthem.
Thus,therehadcometotheReverendMr.Dimmesdale—astomostmen,intheirvariousspheres,thoughseldomrecognizeduntiltheyseeitfarbehindthem—anepochoflifemorebrilliantandfulloftriumphthananypreviousone,orthananywhichcouldhereafterbe.
Hestood,atthismoment,ontheveryproudesteminenceofsuperiority,towhichthegiftsorintellect,richlore,prevailingeloquence,andareputationofwhitestsanctity,couldexaltaclergymaninNewEngland’searliestdays,whentheprofessionalcharacterwasofitselfaloftypedestal.
Suchwasthepositionwhichtheministeroccupied,ashebowedhisheadforwardonthecushionsofthepulpitatthecloseofhisElectionSermon.
MeanwhileHesterPrynnewasstandingbesidethescaffoldofthepillory,withthescarletletterstillburningonherbreast!
Nowwasheardagaintheclamourofthemusic,andthemeasuredtrampofthemilitaryescortissuingfromthechurchdoor.
Theprocessionwastobemarshalledthencetothetownhall,whereasolemnbanquetwouldcompletetheceremoniesoftheday.
Oncemore,therefore,thetrainofvenerableandmajesticfatherswereseenmovingthroughabroadpathwayofthepeople,whodrewbackreverently,oneitherside,astheGovernorandmagistrates,theoldandwisemen,theholyministers,andallthatwereeminentandrenowned,advancedintothemidstofthem.
Whentheywerefairlyinthemarketplace,theirpresencewasgreetedbyashout.
This—thoughdoubtlessitmightacquireadditionalforceandvolumefromthechild–likeloyaltywhichtheageawardedtoitsrulers—wasfelttobeanirrepressibleoutburstofenthusiasmkindledintheauditorsbythathighstrainofeloquencewhichwasyetreverberatingintheirears.
Eachfelttheimpulseinhimself,andinthesamebreath,caughtitfromhisneighbour.
Withinthechurch,ithadhardlybeenkeptdown;beneaththeskyitpealedupwardtothezenith.
Therewerehumanbeingsenough,andenoughofhighlywroughtandsymphoniousfeelingtoproducethatmoreimpressivesoundthantheorgantonesoftheblast,orthethunder,ortheroarofthesea;eventhatmightyswellofmanyvoices,blendedintoonegreatvoicebytheuniversalimpulsewhichmakeslikewiseonevastheartoutofthemany.
Never,fromthesoilofNewEnglandhadgoneupsuchashout!
Never,onNewEnglandsoilhadstoodthemansohonouredbyhismortalbrethrenasthepreacher!
Howfareditwithhim,then?Weretherenotthebrilliantparticlesofahalointheairabouthishead?
Soetherealizedbyspiritashewas,andsoapotheosizedbyworshippingadmirers,didhisfootsteps,intheprocession,reallytreaduponthedustofearth?
Astheranksofmilitarymenandcivilfathersmovedonward,alleyeswereturnedtowardsthepointwheretheministerwasseentoapproachamongthem.
Theshoutdiedintoamurmur,asoneportionofthecrowdafteranotherobtainedaglimpseofhim.
Howfeebleandpalehelooked,amidallhistriumph!
Theenergy—orsay,rather,theinspirationwhichhadheldhimup,untilheshouldhavedeliveredthesacredmessagethathadbroughtitsownstrengthalongwithitfromheaven—waswithdrawn,nowthatithadsofaithfullyperformeditsoffice.
Theglow,whichtheyhadjustbeforebeheldburningonhischeek,wasextinguished,likeaflamethatsinksdownhopelesslyamongthelate–decayingembers.
Itseemedhardlythefaceofamanalive,withsuchadeath–likehue:itwashardlyamanwithlifeinhim,thattotteredonhispathsonervously,yettottered,anddidnotfall!
Oneofhisclericalbrethren—itwasthevenerableJohnWilson—observingthestateinwhichMr.Dimmesdalewasleftbytheretiringwaveofintellectandsensibility,steppedforwardhastilytoofferhissupport.
Theministertremulously,butdecidedly,repelledtheoldman’sarm.
Hestillwalkedonward,ifthatmovementcouldbesodescribed,whichratherresembledthewaveringeffortofaninfant,withitsmother’sarmsinview,outstretchedtotempthimforward.
Andnow,almostimperceptibleaswerethelatterstepsofhisprogress,hehadcomeoppositethewell–rememberedandweather–darkenedscaffold,where,longsince,withallthatdrearylapseoftimebetween,HesterPrynnehadencounteredtheworld’signominiousstare.
TherestoodHester,holdinglittlePearlbythehand!
Andtherewasthescarletletteronherbreast!
Theministerheremadeapause;althoughthemusicstillplayedthestatelyandrejoicingmarchtowhichtheprocessionmoved.
Itsummonedhimonward—inwardtothefestival!—Butherehemadeapause.
Bellingham,forthelastfewmoments,hadkeptananxiouseyeuponhim.
Henowlefthisownplaceintheprocession,andadvancedtogiveassistancejudging,fromMr.Dimmesdale’saspectthathemustotherwiseinevitablyfall.
Buttherewassomethinginthelatter’sexpressionthatwarnedbackthemagistrate,althoughamannotreadilyobeyingthevagueintimationsthatpassfromonespirittoanother.
Thecrowd,meanwhile,lookedonwithaweandwonder.
Thisearthlyfaintness,was,intheirview,onlyanotherphaseoftheminister’scelestialstrength;norwouldithaveseemedamiracletoohightobewroughtforonesoholy,hadheascendedbeforetheireyes,waxingdimmerandbrighter,andfadingatlastintothelightofheaven!
Heturnedtowardsthescaffold,andstretchedforthhisarms.
“Hester,”saidhe,“comehither!Come,mylittlePearl!”
Itwasaghastlylookwithwhichheregardedthem;buttherewassomethingatoncetenderandstrangelytriumphantinit.
Thechild,withthebird–likemotion,whichwasoneofhercharacteristics,flewtohim,andclaspedherarmsabouthisknees.
HesterPrynne—slowly,asifimpelledbyinevitablefate,andagainstherstrongestwill—likewisedrewnear,butpausedbeforeshereachedhim.
AtthisinstantoldRogerChillingworththrusthimselfthroughthecrowd—or,perhaps,sodark,disturbed,andevilwashislook,heroseupoutofsomenetherregion—tosnatchbackhisvictimfromwhathesoughttodo!
Bethatasitmight,theoldmanrushedforward,andcaughttheministerbythearm.
“Madman,hold!Whatisyourpurpose?”whisperedhe.“Wavebackthatwoman!CastoffthischildAllshallbewell!
Donotblackenyourfame,andperishindishonour!Icanyetsaveyou!
Wouldyoubringinfamyonyoursacredprofession?”
“Ha,tempter!Methinksthouarttoolate!”answeredtheminister,encounteringhiseye,fearfully,butfirmly.“Thypowerisnotwhatitwas!WithGod’shelp,Ishallescapetheenow!”
Heagainextendedhishandtothewomanofthescarletletter.
“HesterPrynne,”criedhe,withapiercingearnestness,“inthenameofHim,soterribleandsomerciful,whogivesmegrace,atthislastmoment,todowhat—formyownheavysinandmiserableagony—Iwithheldmyselffromdoingsevenyearsago,comehithernow,andtwinethystrengthaboutme!
Thystrength,Hester;butletitbeguidedbythewillwhichGodhathgrantedme!
Thiswretchedandwrongedoldmanisopposingitwithallhismight!
—Withallhisownmight,andthefiend’s!Come,Hester—come!Supportmeupyonderscaffold.”
Thecrowdwasinatumult.Themenofrankanddignity,whostoodmoreimmediatelyaroundtheclergyman,weresotakenbysurprise,andsoperplexedastothepurportofwhattheysaw—unabletoreceivetheexplanationwhichmostreadilypresenteditself,ortoimagineanyother—thattheyremainedsilentandinactivespectatorsofthejudgementwhichProvidenceseemedabouttowork.
Theybeheldtheminister,leaningonHester’sshoulder,andsupportedbyherarmaroundhim,approachthescaffold,andascenditssteps;whilestillthelittlehandofthesin–bornchildwasclaspedinhis.
OldRogerChillingworthfollowed,asoneintimatelyconnectedwiththedramaofguiltandsorrowinwhichtheyhadallbeenactors,andwellentitled,thereforetobepresentatitsclosingscene.
“Hadstthousoughtthewholeearthover,”saidhelookingdarklyattheclergyman,“therewasnooneplacesosecret—nohighplacenorlowlyplace,wherethoucouldsthaveescapedme—saveonthisveryscaffold!”
“ThanksbetoHimwhohathledmehither!”answeredtheminister.
Yethetrembled,andturnedtoHester,withanexpressionofdoubtandanxietyinhiseyes,notthelessevidentlybetrayed,thattherewasafeeblesmileuponhislips.
“Isnotthisbetter,”murmuredhe,“thanwhatwedreamedofintheforest?”
“Iknownot!Iknownot!”shehurriedlyreplied“Better?Yea;sowemaybothdie,andlittlePearldiewithus!”
“FortheeandPearl,beitasGodshallorder,”saidtheminister;“andGodismerciful!
LetmenowdothewillwhichHehathmadeplainbeforemysight.For,Hester,Iamadyingman.
Soletmemakehastetotakemyshameuponme!”
PartlysupportedbyHesterPrynne,andholdingonehandoflittlePearl’s,theReverendMr.Dimmesdaleturnedtothedignifiedandvenerablerulers;totheholyministers,whowerehisbrethren;tothepeople,whosegreatheartwasthoroughlyappalledyetoverflowingwithtearfulsympathy,asknowingthatsomedeeplife–matter—which,iffullofsin,wasfullofanguishandrepentancelikewise—wasnowtobelaidopentothem.
Thesun,butlittlepastitsmeridian,shonedownupontheclergyman,andgaveadistinctnesstohisfigure,ashestoodoutfromalltheearth,toputinhispleaofguiltyatthebarofEternalJustice.
“PeopleofNewEngland!”criedhe,withavoicethatroseoverthem,high,solemn,andmajestic—yethadalwaysatremorthroughit,andsometimesashriek,strugglingupoutofafathomlessdepthofremorseandwoe—“ye,thathavelovedme!—ye,thathavedeemedmeholy!
—Beholdmehere,theonesinneroftheworld!Atlast!—Atlast!
—Istanduponthespotwhere,sevenyearssince,Ishouldhavestood,here,withthiswoman,whosearm,morethanthelittlestrengthwherewithIhavecrepthitherward,sustainsmeatthisdreadfulmoment,fromgrovellingdownuponmyface!
Lo,thescarletletterwhichHesterwears!Yehaveallshudderedatit!
Whereverherwalkhathbeen—wherever,somiserablyburdened,shemayhavehopedtofindrepose—ithathcastaluridgleamofaweandhorriblerepugnanceroundabouther.
Buttherestoodoneinthemidstofyou,atwhosebrandofsinandinfamyyehavenotshuddered!”
Itseemed,atthispoint,asiftheministermustleavetheremainderofhissecretundisclosed.
Buthefoughtbackthebodilyweakness—and,stillmore,thefaintnessofheart—thatwasstrivingforthemasterywithhim.
Hethrewoffallassistance,andsteppedpassionatelyforwardapacebeforethewomanandthechildren.
“Itwasonhim!”hecontinued,withakindoffierceness;sodeterminedwashetospeakouttilewhole.“God’seyebeheldit!
Theangelswereforeverpointingatit!
(TheDevilknewitwell,andfretteditcontinuallywiththetouchofhisburningfinger!)
Buthehiditcunninglyfrommen,andwalkedamongyouwiththemienofaspirit,mournful,becausesopureinasinfulworld!
—Andsad,becausehemissedhisheavenlykindred!
Now,atthedeath–hour,hestandsupbeforeyou!
HebidsyoulookagainatHester’sscarletletter!
Hetellsyou,that,withallitsmysterioushorror,itisbuttheshadowofwhathebearsonhisownbreast,andthateventhis,hisownredstigma,isnomorethanthetypeofwhathassearedhisinmostheart!
StandanyherethatquestionGod’sjudgmentonasinner!Behold!Behold,adreadfulwitnessofit!”
Withaconvulsivemotion,hetoreawaytheministerialbandfrombeforehisbreast.Itwasrevealed!
Butitwereirreverenttodescribethatrevelation.
Foraninstant,thegazeofthehorror–strickenmultitudewasconcentratedontheghastlymiracle;whiletheministerstood,withaflushoftriumphinhisface,asonewho,inthecrisisofacutestpain,hadwonavictory.Then,downhesankuponthescaffold!
Hesterpartlyraisedhim,andsupportedhisheadagainstherbosom.
OldRogerChillingworthkneltdownbesidehim,withablank,dullcountenance,outofwhichthelifeseemedtohavedeparted,
“Thouhastescapedme!”herepeatedmorethanonce.“Thouhastescapedme!”
“MayGodforgivethee!”saidtheminister.“Thou,too,hastdeeplysinned!”
Hewithdrewhisdyingeyesfromtheoldman,andfixedthemonthewomanandthechild.
“MylittlePearl,”saidhe,feeblyandtherewasasweetandgentlesmileoverhisface,asofaspiritsinkingintodeeprepose;nay,nowthattheburdenwasremoved,itseemedalmostasifhewouldbesportivewiththechild—“dearlittlePearl,wiltthoukissmenow?
Thouwouldstnot,yonder,intheforest!Butnowthouwilt?”
Pearlkissedhislips.Aspellwasbroken.
Thegreatsceneofgrief,inwhichthewildinfantboreaparthaddevelopedallhersympathies;andashertearsfelluponherfather’scheek,theywerethepledgethatshewouldgrowupamidhumanjoyandsorrow,norforeverdobattlewiththeworld,butbeawomaninit.
Towardshermother,too,Pearl’serrandasamessengerofanguishwasfulfilled.
“Hester,”saidtheclergyman,“farewell!”
“Shallwenotmeetagain?”whisperedshe,bendingherfacedownclosetohis.
“Shallwenotspendourimmortallifetogether?
Surely,surely,wehaveransomedoneanother,withallthiswoe!
Thoulookestfarintoeternity,withthosebrightdyingeyes!Thentellmewhatthouseest!”
“Hush,Hester—hush!”saidhe,withtremuloussolemnity.
“ThelawwebrokeI—thesinhereawfullyrevealed!—letthesealonebeinthythoughts!Ifear!Ifear!
Itmaybe,that,whenweforgotourGod—whenweviolatedourreverenceeachfortheother’ssoul—itwasthenceforthvaintohopethatwecouldmeethereafter,inaneverlastingandpurereunion.Godknows;andHeismerciful!
Hehathprovedhismercy,mostofall,inmyafflictions.
Bygivingmethisburningtorturetobearuponmybreast!
Bysendingyonderdarkandterribleoldman,tokeepthetorturealwaysatred–heat!
Bybringingmehither,todiethisdeathoftriumphantignominybeforethepeople!
Hadeitheroftheseagoniesbeenwanting,Ihadbeenlostforever!PraisedbeHisname!Hiswillbedone!Farewell!”
Thatfinalwordcameforthwiththeminister’sexpiringbreath.
Themultitude,silenttillthen,brokeoutinastrange,deepvoiceofaweandwonder,whichcouldnotasyetfindutterance,saveinthismurmurthatrolledsoheavilyafterthedepartedspirit.
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