紅字-the scarlet letter(英文版)

第40部分 (第4/7頁)

　as　on　the　swelling　waves　of　the　sea；　at　length　cameto　a　pause。　There　was　a　momentary　silence；　profound　as　what　shouldfollow　the　utterance　of　oracles。　Then　ensued　a　murmur　andhalf…hushed　tumult；　as　if　the　auditors；　released　from　the　high　spellthat　had　transported　them　into　the　region　of　another's　mind；　werereturning　into　themselves；　with　all　their　awe　and　wonder　still　heavyon　them。　In　a　moment　more；　the　crowd　began　to　gush　forth　from　thedoors　of　the　church。　Now　that　there　was　an　end；　they　needed　otherbreath；　more　fit　to　support　the　gross　and　earthly　life　into　which　theyrelapsed；　than　that　atmosphere　which　the　preacher　had　converted　intowords　of　flame；　and　had　burdened　with　the　rich　fragrance　of　histhought。 In　the　open　air　their　rapture　broke　into　speech。　The　street　andthe　market…place　absolutely　babbled；　from　side　to　side；　with　applausesof　the　minister。　His　hearers　could　not　rest　until　they　had　told　oneanother　of　what　each　knew　better　than　he　could　tell　or　hear。　Accordingto　their　united　testimony；　never　had　man　spoken　in　so　wise；　so　high；and　so　holy　a　spirit；　as　he　that　spake　this　day；　nor　had　inspirationever　breathed　through　mortal　lips　more　evidently　than　it　did　throughhis。　Its　influence　could　be　seen；　as　it　were；　descending　upon　him；　andpossessing　him；　and　continually　lifting　him　out　of　the　writtendiscourse　that　lay　before　him；　and　filling　him　with　ideas　that　musthave　been　as　marvellous　to　himself　as　to　his　audience。　His　subject；　itappeared；　had　been　the　relation　between　the　Deity　and　themunities　of　mankind；　with　a　special　reference　to　the　New　Englandwhich　they　were　here　planting　in　the　wilderness。　And；　as　he　drewtowards　the　close；　a　spirit　as　of　prophecy　had　e　upon　him；constraining　him　to　its　purpose　as　mightily　as　the　old　prophets　ofIsrael　were　constrained；　only　w