Алая буква
The Market–Place
Withalmostaserenedeportment,therefore,HesterPrynnepassedthroughthisportionofherordeal,andcametoasortofscaffold,atthewesternextremityofthemarket-place.ItstoodnearlybeneaththeeavesofBoston’searliestchurch,andappearedtobeafixturethere.
Infact,thisscaffoldconstitutedaportionofapenalmachine,whichnow,fortwoorthreegenerationspast,hasbeenmerelyhistoricalandtraditionaryamongus,butwasheld,intheoldtime,tobeaseffectualanagent,inthepromotionofgoodcitizenship,aseverwastheguillotineamongtheterroristsofFrance.Itwas,inshort,theplatformofthepillory;andaboveitrosetheframeworkofthatinstrumentofdiscipline,sofashionedastoconfinethehumanheadinitstightgrasp,andthusholdituptothepublicgaze.Theveryidealofignominywasembodiedandmademanifestinthiscontrivanceofwoodandiron.Therecanbenooutrage,methinks,againstourcommonnature—whateverbethedelinquenciesoftheindividual—nooutragemoreflagrantthantoforbidtheculprittohidehisfaceforshame;asitwastheessenceofthispunishmenttodo.InHesterPrynne’sinstance,however,asnotunfrequentlyinothercases,hersentenceborethatsheshouldstandacertaintimeupontheplatform,butwithoutundergoingthatgripeabouttheneckandconfinementofthehead,thepronenesstowhichwasthemostdevilishcharacteristicofthisuglyengine.
