Алая буква
The Recognition
Wilsonlaidhishandontheshoulderofapaleyoungmanbesidehim—"Ihavesought,Isay,topersuadethisgodlyyouth,thatheshoulddealwithyou,hereinthefaceofHeaven,andbeforethesewiseanduprightrulers,andinhearingofallthepeople,astouchingthevilenessandblacknessofyoursin.KnowingyournaturaltemperbetterthanI,hecouldthebetterjudgewhatargumentstouse,whetheroftendernessorterror,suchasmightprevailoveryourhardnessandobstinacy,insomuchthatyoushouldnolongerhidethenameofhimwhotemptedyoutothisgrievousfall.Butheopposestome—withayoungman’sover-softness,albeitwisebeyondhisyears—thatitwerewrongingtheverynatureofwomantoforcehertolayopenherheart’ssecretsinsuchbroaddaylight,andinpresenceofsogreatamultitude.Truly,asIsoughttoconvincehim,theshamelayinthecommissionofthesin,andnotintheshowingofitforth.Whatsayyoutoit,onceagain,brotherDimmesdale?Mustitbethou,orI,thatshalldealwiththispoorsinner’ssoul?"
Therewasamurmuramongthedignifiedandreverendoccupantsofthebalcony;andGovernorBellinghamgaveexpressiontoitspurport,speakinginanauthoritativevoice,althoughtemperedwithrespecttowardstheyouthfulclergymanwhomheaddressed:
"GoodMasterDimmesdale,"saidhe,"theresponsibilityofthiswoman’ssoulliesgreatlywithyou.Itbehovesyou;therefore,toexhorthertorepentanceandtoconfession,asaproofandconsequencethereof."
