紅字-the scarlet letter(英文版)

第40部分 (第5/7頁)

ith　this　difference；　that；　whereasthe　Jewish　seers　had　denounced　judgments　and　ruin　on　their　country；　itwas　his　mission　to　foretell　a　high　and　glorious　destiny　for　thenewly　gathered　people　of　the　Lord。　But；　throughout　it　all；　and　throughthe　whole　discourse；　there　had　been　a　certain　deep；　sad　undertone　ofpathos；　which　could　not　be　interpreted　otherwise　than　as　the　naturalregret　of　one　soon　to　pass　away。　Yes；　their　minister　whom　they　soloved…　and　who　so　loved　them　all；　that　he　could　not　departheavenward　without　a　sigh…　had　the　foreboding　of　untimely　death　uponhim；　and　would　soon　leave　them　in　their　tears！　This　idea　of　histransitory　stay　on　earth　gave　the　last　emphasis　to　the　effect　whichthe　preacher　had　produced；　it　was　as　if　an　angel；　in　his　passage　tothe　skies；　had　shaken　his　bright　wings　over　the　people　for　an　instant…at　once　a　shadow　and　a　splendour…　and　had　shed　down　a　shower　of　goldentruths　upon　them。 Thus；　there　had　e　to　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale…　as　to　most　men；in　their　various　spheres；　though　seldom　recognised　until　they　see　itfar　behind　them…　an　epoch　of　life　more　brilliant　and　full　of　triumphthan　any　previous　one；　or　that　any　which　could　hereafter　be。　He　stood；at　this　moment；　on　the　very　proudest　eminence　of　superiority；　to　whichthe　gifts　of　intellect；　rich　lore；　prevailing　eloquence；　and　areputation　of　whitest　sanctity；　could　exalt　a　clergyman　in　NewEngland's　earliest　days；　when　the　professional　character　was　of　itselfa　lofty　pedestal。　Such　was　the　position　which　the　minister　occupied；as　he　bowed　his　head　forward　on　the　cushions　of　the　pulpit；　at　theclose　of　his　Election　Sermon。　Meanwhile　Hester　Prynne　was　standingbeside　the　scaffold　of　the　pillory；　with　the　scarlet　letter　stillburning　on　her　breast！ Now　was　heard　again　the　clangour　of　the　music；　and　the　m