Червона літера
The Interior of a Heart
Dimmesdale,consciousthatthepoisonofonemorbidspotwasinfectinghisheart’sentiresubstance,attributedallhispresentimentstonoothercause.HetookhimselftotaskforhisbadsympathiesinreferencetoRogerChillingworth,disregardedthelessonthatheshouldhavedrawnfromthem,anddidhisbesttorootthemout.Unabletoaccomplishthis,henevertheless,asamatterofprinciple,continuedhishabitsofsocialfamiliaritywiththeoldman,andthusgavehimconstantopportunitiesforperfectingthepurposetowhich—poorforlorncreaturethathewas,andmorewretchedthanhisvictim—theavengerhaddevotedhimself.
Whilethussufferingunderbodilydisease,andgnawedandtorturedbysomeblacktroubleofthesoul,andgivenovertothemachinationsofhisdeadliestenemy,theReverendMr.Dimmesdalehadachievedabrilliantpopularityinhissacredoffice.Hewonitindeed,ingreatpart,byhissorrows.Hisintellectualgifts,hismoralperceptions,hispowerofexperiencingandcommunicatingemotion,werekeptinastateofpreternaturalactivitybytheprickandanguishofhisdailylife.Hisfame,thoughstillonitsupwardslope,alreadyovershadowedthesobererreputationsofhisfellow-clergymen,eminentasseveralofthemwere.Therearescholarsamongthem,whohadspentmoreyearsinacquiringabstruselore,connectedwiththedivineprofession,thanMr.Dimmesdalehadlived;andwhomightwell,therefore,bemoreprofoundlyversedinsuchsolidandvaluableattainmentsthantheiryouthfulbrother.
