Алая буква
Hester and the Physician
"Woman,Icouldwell-nighpitythee,"saidRogerChillingworth,unabletorestrainathrillofadmirationtoo,fortherewasaqualityalmostmajesticinthedespairwhichsheexpressed."Thouhadstgreatelements.Peradventure,hadstthoumetearlierwithabetterlovethanmine,thisevilhadnotbeen.Ipitythee,forthegoodthathasbeenwastedinthynature."
"AndIthee,"answeredHesterPrynne,"forthehatredthathastransformedawiseandjustmantoafiend!Wiltthouyetpurgeitoutofthee,andbeoncemorehuman?Ifnotforhissake,thendoublyforthineown!Forgive,andleavehisfurtherretributiontothePowerthatclaimsit!Isaid,butnow,thattherecouldbenogoodeventforhim,orthee,orme,whoareherewanderingtogetherinthisgloomymazeofevil,andstumblingateverystepovertheguiltwherewithwehavestrewnourpath.Itisnotso!Theremightbegoodforthee,andtheealone,sincethouhastbeendeeplywrongedandhastitatthywilltopardon.Wiltthougiveupthatonlyprivilege?Wiltthourejectthatpricelessbenefit?"
"Peace,Hester—peace!"repliedtheoldman,withgloomysternness—"itisnotgrantedmetopardon.Ihavenosuchpowerasthoutellestmeof.Myoldfaith,longforgotten,comesbacktome,andexplainsallthatwedo,andallwesuffer.Bythyfirststepawry,thoudidstplantthegermofevil;butsincethatmomentithasallbeenadarknecessity
