Алая буква
The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter
Hestood,atthismoment,ontheveryproudesteminenceofsuperiority,towhichthegiftsorintellect,richlore,prevailingeloquence,andareputationofwhitestsanctity,couldexaltaclergymaninNewEngland’searliestdays,whentheprofessionalcharacterwasofitselfaloftypedestal.Suchwasthepositionwhichtheministeroccupied,ashebowedhisheadforwardonthecushionsofthepulpitatthecloseofhisElectionSermon.MeanwhileHesterPrynnewasstandingbesidethescaffoldofthepillory,withthescarletletterstillburningonherbreast!
Nowwasheardagaintheclamourofthemusic,andthemeasuredtrampofthemilitaryescortissuingfromthechurchdoor.Theprocessionwastobemarshalledthencetothetownhall,whereasolemnbanquetwouldcompletetheceremoniesoftheday.
Oncemore,therefore,thetrainofvenerableandmajesticfatherswereseenmovingthroughabroadpathwayofthepeople,whodrewbackreverently,oneitherside,astheGovernorandmagistrates,theoldandwisemen,theholyministers,andallthatwereeminentandrenowned,advancedintothemidstofthem.Whentheywerefairlyinthemarketplace,theirpresencewasgreetedbyashout.This—thoughdoubtlessitmightacquireadditionalforceandvolumefromthechild-likeloyaltywhichtheageawardedtoitsrulers—wasfelttobeanirrepressibleoutburstofenthusiasmkindledintheauditorsbythathighstrainofeloquencewhichwasyetreverberatingintheirears.Eachfelttheimpulseinhimself,andinthesamebreath,caughtitfromhisneighbour.
