红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第52章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


stly　beclaimed　by　some　mariners…a　part　of　the　crew　of　the　vessel　from　theSpanish　Main…　who　had　e　ashore　to　see　the　humours　of　ElectionDay。　They　were　rough…looking　desperadoes；　with　sun…blackened　faces；and　an　immensity　of　beard；　their　wide；　short　trousers　were　confinedabout　the　waist　by　belts；　often　clasped　with　a　rough　plate　of　gold；and　sustaining　always　a　long　knife；　and；　in　some　instances；　a　sword。From　beneath　their　broad…brimmed　hats　of　palm…leaf；　gleamed　eyeswhich；　even　in　good…nature　and　merriment；　had　a　kind　of　animalferocity。　They　transgressed；　without　fear　or　scruple；　the　rules　ofbehaviour　that　were　binding　on　all　others；　smoking　tobacco　under　thebeadle's　very　nose；　although　each　whiff　would　have　cost　a　townsman　ashilling；　and　quaffing；　at　their　pleasure；　draughts　of　　pocket…flasks；　which　they　freely　tendered　to　thegaping　crowd　around　them。　It　remarkably　characterised　the　inpletemorality　of　the　age；　rigid　as　we　call　it；　that　a　license　was　allowedthe　seafaring　class；　not　merely　for　their　freaks　on　shore；　but　for　farmore　desperate　deeds　on　their　proper　element。　The　sailor　of　that　daywould　go　near　to　be　arraigned　as　a　pirate　in　our　own。　There　could　belittle　doubt；　for　instance；　that　this　very　ship's　crew；　though　nounfavourable　specimens　of　the　nautical　brotherhood；　had　been　guilty；as　we　should　phrase　it；　of　depredations　on　the　Spanish　merce；such　as　would　have　perilled　all　their　necks　in　a　modern　court　ofjustice。　　But　the　sea　in　those　old　times；　heaved；　swelled；　and　foamed；　verymuch　at　its　own　will；　or　subject　only　to　the　tempestuous　wind；　withhardly　any　attempts　at　regulation　by　human　law。　The　buccaneer　on　thewave　might　relinquish　his　calling；　and　bee　at　once；　if　he　chose；a　man　of　probity　and　piety　on　land；　nor；　even　in　the　full　career　ofhis　reckless　life；　was　he　regarded　as　a　personage　with　whom　it　wasdisreputable　to　traffic；　or　casually　associate。　Thus；　the　Puritanelders；　in　their　black　cloaks；　starched　bands；　and　steeple…crownedhats；　smiled　not　unbenignantly　at　the　clamour　and　rude　deportment　ofthese　jolly　seafaring　men；　and　it　excited　neither　surprise　noranim…adversion；　when　so　reputable　a　citizen　as　old　RogerChillingworth；　the　physician；　was　seen　to　enter　the　market…place；　inclose　and　familiar　talk　with　the　mander　of　the　questionable　vessel。　　The　latter　was　by　far　the　most　showy　and　gallant　figure；　so　far　asapparel　went；　anywhere　to　be　seen　among　the　multitude。　He　wore　aprofusion　of　ribbons　on　his　garment；　and　gold　lace　on　his　hat；　whichwas　also　encircled　by　a　gold　chain；　and　surmounted　with　a　feather。There　was　a　sword　at　his　side；　and　a　sword…cut　on　his　forehead；　which；by　the　arrangement　of　his　hair；　he　seemed　anxious　rather　to　displaythan　hide。　A　landsman　could　hardly　have　worn　this　garb　and　shownthis　face；　and　worn　and　shown　them　both　with　such　a　galliard　air；without　undergoing　stern　question　before　a　magistrate；　and　probablyincurring　fine　or　imprisonment；　or　perhaps　an　exhibition　in　thestocks。　As　regarded　the　shipmaster；　however；　all　was　looked　upon　aspertaining　to　the　character；　as　to　a　fish　his　glistening　scales。　　After　parting　from　the　physician；　the　mander　of　the　Bristolship　strolled　idly　through　the　market…place；　until；　happening　toapproach　the　spot　where　Hester　Prynne　was　standing；　he　appeared　torecognise；　and　did　not　hesitate　to　address　her。　As　was　usually　thecase　wherever　Hester　stood；　a　small　vacant　area…　a　sort　of　magiccircle…　had　formed　itself　about　her；　into　which；　though　the　peoplewere　elbowing　one　another　at　a　little　distance；　none　ventured；　or　feltdisposed　to　intrude。　It　was　a　forcible　type　of　the　moral　solitude　inwhich　the　scarlet　letter　enveloped　its　fated　wearer；　partly　by　her　ownreserve；　and　partly　by　the　instinctive；　though　no　longer　sounkindly；　withdrawal　of　her　fellow…creatures。　Now；　if　never　before；　itanswered　a　good　purpose；　by　enabling　Hester　and　the　seaman　to　speaktogether　without　the　risk　of　being　overheard；　and　so　changed　wasHester　Prynne's　repute　before　the　public；　that　the　matron　in　town　mosteminent　for　rigid　morality　could　not　have　held　such　intercourse　withless　result　of　scandal　than　herself。　　〃So；　mistress；〃　said　the　mariner；　〃I　must　bid　the　steward　make　readyone　more　berth　than　you　bargained　for！　No　fear　of　scurvy　orship…fever；　this　voyage！　What　with　the　ship's　surgeon　and　this　otherdoctor；　our　only　danger　will　be　from　drug　or　pill；　more　by　token；　asthere　is　a　lot　of　apothecary's　stuff　aboard；　which　I　traded　for　with　aSpanish　vessel。〃　　〃What　mean　you？〃　inquired　Hester；　startled　more　than　she　permittedto　appear。　〃Have　you　another　passenger？〃　　〃Why；　know　you　not；〃　cried　the　shipmaster；　〃that　this　physicianhere…　Chillingworth；　he　calls　himself…　is　minded　to　try　mycabin…fare　with　you？　Ay；　ay；　you　must　have　known　it；　for　he　tells　mehe　is　of　your　party；　and　a　close　friend　to　the　gentleman　you　spoke　of…he　that　is　in　peril　from　these　sour　old　Puritan　rulers！〃　　〃They　know　each　other　well；　indeed；〃　replied　Hester；　with　a　mienof　calmness；　though　in　the　utmost　consternation。　〃They　have　long　dwelttogether。〃　　Nothing　further　passed　between　the　mariner　and　Hester　Prynne。　But；at　that　instant；　she　beheld　old　Roger　Chillingworth　himself；standing　in　the　remotest　corner　of　the　market…place；　and　smiling　onher；　a　smile　which…　across　the　wide　and　bustling　square；　and　throughall　the　talk　and　laughter；　and　various　thoughts；　moods；　andinterests　of　the　crowd…　conveyed　secret　and　fearful　meaning。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XXII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　PROCESSION。　　BEFORE　Hester　Prynne　could　call　together　her　thoughts；　andconsider　what　was　practicable　to　be　done　in　this　new　and　startlingaspect　of　affairs；　the　sound　of　military　music　was　heard　approachingalong　a　contiguous　street。　It　denoted　the　advance　of　the　procession　ofmagistrates　and　citizens；　on　its　way　towards　the　meeting…house；　where；in　pliance　with　a　custom　thus　early　established；　and　ever　sinceobserved；　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale　was　to　deliver　an　ElectionSermon。　　Soon　the　head　of　the　procession　showed　itself　with　a　slow　andstately　march；　turning　a　corner；　and　making　its　way　across　themarket…place。　First　came　the　music。　It　prised　a　variety　ofinstruments；　perhaps　imperfectly　adapted　to　one　another；　and　playedwith　no　great　skill；　but　yet　attaining　the　great　object　for　which　theharmony　of　drum　and　clarion　addresses　itself　to　the　multitude…　thatof　imparting　a　higher　and　more　heroic　air　to　the　scene　of　life　thatpasses　before　the　eye。　Little　Pearl　at　first　clapped　her　hands；　butthen　lost；　for　an　instant；　the　restless　agitation　that　had　kept　her　ina　continual　effervescence　throughout　the　morning；　she　gazedsilently；　and　seemed　to　be　borne　upward；　like　a　floating　sea…bird；on　the　long　heaves　and　swells　of　sound。　But　she　was　brought　back　toher　former　mood　by　the　shimmer　of　the　sunshine　on　the　weapons　andbright　armour　of　the　military　pany；　which　followed　after　the　music；and　formed　the　honorary　escort　of　the　procession。　This　body　ofsoldiery…　which　still　sustains　a　corporate　existence；　and　marches　downfrom　past　ages　with　an　ancient　and　honourable　fame…　was　posed　of　nomercenary　materials。　Its　ranks　were　filled　with　gentlemen；　who　feltthe　stirrings　of　martial　impulse；　and　sought　to　establish　a　kind　ofCollege　of　Arms；　where；　as　in　an　association　of　Knights　Templars；　theymight　learn　the　science；　and；　so　far　as　peaceful　exercise　wouldteach　them；　the　practices　of　war。　The　high　estimation　then　placed　uponthe　military　character　might　be　seen　in　the　lofty　port　of　eachindividual　member　of　the　pany。　Some　of　them；　indeed；　by　theirservices　in　the　Low　Countries　and　on　other　fields　of　European　warfare；had　fairly　won　their　title　to　assume　the　name　and　pomp　of　soldiership。The　entire　array；　moreover；　clad　in　burnished　steel；　and　withplumage　nodding　over　their　bright　morions；　had　a　brilliancy　ofeffect　which　no　modern　display　can　aspire　to　equal。　　And　yet　the　men　of　civil　eminence；　who　came　immediately　behind　themilitary　escort；　were　better　worth　a　thoughtful　observer's　eye。　Evenin　outward　demeanour；　they　showed　a　stamp　of　majesty　that　made　thewarrior's　haughty　stride　look　vulgar；　if　not　absurd。　It　was　an　agewhen　what　we　call　talent　had　far　less　consideration　than　now；　butthe　massive　materials　which　produce　stability　and　dignity　of　charactera　great　deal　more。　The　people　possessed；　by