Алая буква
The Procession
Sofarasademeanourofnaturalauthoritywasconcerned,themothercountryneednothavebeenashamedtoseetheseforemostmenofanactualdemocracyadoptedintotheHouseofPeers,ormakethePrivyCounciloftheSovereign.
Nextinordertothemagistratescametheyoungandeminentlydistinguisheddivine,fromwhoselipsthereligiousdiscourseoftheanniversarywasexpected.Hiswastheprofessionatthaterainwhichintellectualabilitydisplayeditselffarmorethaninpoliticallife;for—leavingahighermotiveoutofthequestionitofferedinducementspowerfulenoughinthealmostworshippingrespectofthecommunity,towinthemostaspiringambitionintoitsservice.Evenpoliticalpower—asinthecaseofIncreaseMather—waswithinthegraspofasuccessfulpriest.
Itwastheobservationofthosewhobeheldhimnow,thatnever,sinceMr.DimmesdalefirstsethisfootontheNewEnglandshore,hadheexhibitedsuchenergyaswasseeninthegaitandairwithwhichhekepthispaceintheprocession.Therewasnofeeblenessofstepasatothertimes;hisframewasnotbent,nordidhishandrestominouslyuponhisheart.Yet,iftheclergymanwererightlyviewed,hisstrengthseemednotofthebody.Itmightbespiritualandimpartedtohimbyangelicalministrations.Itmightbetheexhilarationofthatpotentcordialwhichisdistilledonlyinthefurnace-glowofearnestandlong-continuedthought.
