The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne (most interesting books to read .TXT) š
- Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
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āHester Prynne,ā said the clergyman, āI have striven with my young brother here, under whose preaching of the word you have been privileged to sit,āā āhere Mr. Wilson laid his hand on the shoulder of a pale young man beside himā āāI have sought, I say, to persuade this godly youth, that he should deal with you, here in the face of Heaven, and before these wise and upright rulers, and in hearing of all the people, as touching the vileness and blackness of your sin. Knowing your natural temper better than I, he could the better judge what arguments to use, whether of tenderness or terror, such as might prevail over your hardness and obstinacy; insomuch that you should no longer hide the name of him who tempted you to this grievous fall. But he opposes to me (with a young manās over-softness, albeit wise beyond his years), that it were wronging the very nature of woman to force her to lay open her heartās secrets in such broad daylight, and in presence of so great a multitude. Truly, as I sought to convince him, the shame lay in the commission of the sin, and not in the showing of it forth. What say you to it, once again, Brother Dimmesdale? Must it be thou, or I, that shall deal with this poor sinnerās soul?ā
There was a murmur among the dignified and reverend occupants of the balcony; and Governor Bellingham gave expression to its purport, speaking in an authoritative voice, although tempered with respect towards the youthful clergyman whom he addressed.
āGood Master Dimmesdale,ā said he, āthe responsibility of this womanās soul lies greatly with you. It behooves you, therefore, to exhort her to repentance, and to confession, as a proof and consequence thereof.ā
The directness of this appeal drew the eyes of the whole crowd upon the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale; a young clergyman, who had come from one of the great English universities, bringing all the learning of the age into our wild forest-land. His eloquence and religious fervor had already given the earnest of high eminence in his profession. He was a person of very striking aspect, with a white, lofty, and impending brow, large, brown, melancholy eyes, and a mouth which, unless when he forcibly compressed it, was apt to be tremulous, expressing both nervous sensibility and a vast power of self-restraint. Notwithstanding his high native gifts and scholar-like attainments, there was an air about this young ministerā āan apprehensive, a startled, a half-frightened lookā āas of a being who felt himself quite astray and at a loss in the pathway of human existence, and could only be at ease in some seclusion of his own. Therefore, so far as his duties would permit, he trod in the shadowy bypaths, and thus kept himself simple and childlike; coming forth, when occasion was, with a freshness, and fragrance, and dewy purity of thought, which, as many people said, affected them like the speech of an angel.
Such was the young man whom the Reverend Mr. Wilson and the Governor had introduced so openly to the public notice, bidding him speak, in the hearing of all men, to that mystery of a womanās soul, so sacred even in its pollution. The trying nature of his position drove the blood from his cheek, and made his lips tremulous.
āSpeak to the woman, my brother,ā said Mr. Wilson. āIt is of moment to her soul, and therefore, as the worshipful Governor says, momentous to thine own, in whose charge hers is. Exhort her to confess the truth!ā
The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale bent his head, in silent prayer, as it seemed, and then came forward.
āHester Prynne,ā said he, leaning over the balcony and looking down steadfastly into her eyes, āthou hearest what this good man says, and seest the accountability under which I labor. If thou feelest it to be for thy soulās peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so than to hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt himā āyea, compel him, as it wereā āto add hypocrisy to sin? Heaven hath granted thee an open ignominy, that thereby thou mayest work out an open triumph over the evil within thee, and the sorrow without. Take heed how thou deniest to himā āwho, perchance, hath not the courage to grasp it for himselfā āthe bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!ā
The young pastorās voice was tremulously sweet, rich, deep, and broken. The feeling that it so evidently manifested, rather than the direct purport of the words, caused it to vibrate within all hearts, and brought the listeners into one accord of sympathy. Even the poor baby, at Hesterās bosom, was affected by the same influence; for it directed its hitherto vacant gaze towards Mr. Dimmesdale, and held up its little arms, with a half-pleased, half-plaintive murmur. So powerful seemed the ministerās appeal, that the people could not believe but that Hester Prynne would speak out the guilty name; or else that the guilty one himself, in whatever high or lowly place he stood, would be drawn forth by an inward and inevitable necessity, and compelled to ascend to the scaffold.
Hester shook her head.
āWoman, transgress not beyond the limits of Heavenās mercy!ā cried the Reverend Mr. Wilson, more harshly than before. āThat little babe hath been gifted with a voice, to second and confirm the counsel which thou hast heard. Speak out the name! That, and thy
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