第11部分(第5/7 頁)

　ofself…restraint。　Notwithstanding　his　high　native　gifts　and　scholar…likeattainments；　there　was　an　air　about　this　young　minister…　anapprehensive；　a　startled；　a　half…frightened　look…　as　of　a　being　whofelt　himself　quite　astray　and　at　a　loss　in　the　pathway　of　humanexistence；　and　could　only　be　at　ease　in　some　seclusion　of　his　own。Therefore；　so　far　as　his　duties　would　permit；　he　trod　in　the　shadowybypaths；　and　thus　kept　himself　simple　and　childlike；　ing　forth；when　occasion　was；　with　a　freshness；　and　fragrance；　and　dewy　purity　ofthought；　which；　as　many　people　said；　affected　them　like　the　speechof　an　angel。 Such　was　the　young　man　whom　the　Reverend　Mr。　Wilson　and　the　Governorhad　introduced　so　openly　to　the　public　notice；　bidding　him　speak；　inthe　hearing　of　all　men；　to　that　mystery　of　a　woman's　soul；　so　sacredeven　in　its　pollution。　The　trying　nature　of　his　position　drove　theblood　from　his　cheek；　and　made　his　lips　tremulous。 〃Speak　to　the　woman；　my　brother；〃　said　Mr。　Wilson。　〃It　is　ofmoment　to　her　soul；　and　therefore；　as　the　worshipful　Governor　says；momentous　to　thine　own；　in　whose　charge　hers　is。　Exhort　her　to　confessthe　truth！〃 The　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale　bent　his　head；　in　silent　prayer；　as　itseemed；　and　then　came　forward。 〃Hester　Prynne；〃　said　he；　leaning　over　the　balcony；　and　looking　downsteadfastly　into　her　eyes；　〃thou　hearest　what　this　good　man　says；and　seest　the　accountability　under　which　I　labour。　If　thou　feelestit　to　be　for　thy　soul's　peace；　and　that　thy　earthly　punishment　willthereby　be　made　more　effectual　to　salvation；　I　charge　thee　to　speakout　the　name　of　thy　fellow…sinner　and　fellow…sufferer！　Be　not　silentfrom　any　mistaken　pity　and　tenderness　for　him；　for　believe　me；　Hester；though　he　were　to　step　down　from　a　high　place；　and　stand　therebeside　thee；　on　thy　pedestal