第11部分(第4/7 頁)

d　blackness　of　your　sin。　Knowingyour　natural　temper　better　than　I；　he　could　the　better　judge　whatarguments　to　use；　whether　of　tenderness　or　terror；　such　as　mightprevail　over　your　hardness　and　obstinacy；　insomuch　that　you　shouldno　longer　hide　the　name　of　him　who　tempted　you　to　this　grievousfall。　But　he　opposes　to　me　（with　a　young　man's　over…softness；　albeitwise　beyond　his　years）　that　it　were　wronging　the　very　nature　ofwoman　to　force　her　to　lay　open　her　heart's　secrets　in　such　broaddaylight；　and　in　presence　of　so　great　a　multitude。　Truly；　as　Isought　to　convince　him；　the　shame　lay　in　the　mission　of　the　sin；and　not　in　the　showing　of　it　forth。　What　say　you　to　it；　once　again；brother　Dimmesdale！　Must　it　be　thou；　or　I；　that　shall　deal　with　thispoor　sinner's　soul？〃 There　was　a　murmur　among　the　dignified　and　reverend　occupants　of　thebalcony；　and　Governor　Bellingham　gave　expression　to　its　purport；speaking　in　an　authoritative　voice；　although　tempered　with　respecttowards　the　youthful　clergyman　whom　he　addressed。 〃Good　Master　Dimmesdale；〃　said　he；　〃the　responsibility　of　thiswoman's　soul　lies　greatly　with　you。　It　behooves　you；　therefore；　toexhort　her　to　repentance；　and　to　confession；　as　a　proof　andconsequence　thereof。〃 The　directness　of　this　appeal　drew　the　eyes　of　the　whole　crowdupon　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　a　young　clergyman；　who　had　e　fromone　of　the　great　English　universities；　bringing　all　the　learning　ofthe　age　into　our　wild　forest…land。　His　eloquence　and　religious　fervourhad　already　given　the　earnest　of　high　eminence　in　his　profession。　Hewas　a　person　of　very　striking　aspect；　with　a　white；　lofty；　andimpending　brow；　large；　brown；　melancholy　eyes；　and　a　mouth　which；unless　when　he　forcibly　pressed　it；　was　apt　to　be　tremulous；expressing　both　nervous　sensibility　and　a　vast　power