第23部分(第6/7 頁)

　that　they　imagined　itto　be　all　religion；　and　brought　it　openly；　in　their　white　bosoms；　astheir　most　acceptable　sacrifice　before　the　altar。　The　aged　membersof　his　flock；　beholding　Mr。　Dimmesdale's　frame　so　feeble；　while　theywere　themselves　so　rugged　in　their　infirmity；　believed　that　he　wouldgo　heavenward　before　them；　and　enjoined　it　upon　their　children；　thattheir　old　bones　should　be　buried　close　to　their　young　pastor's　holygrave。　And；　all　this　time；　perchance；　when　poor　Mr。　Dimmesdale　wasthinking　of　his　grave；　he　questioned　with　himself　whether　the　grasswould　ever　grow　on　it；　because　an　accursed　thing　must　there　be　buried！ It　is　inconceivable；　the　agony　with　which　this　public　venerationtortured　him！　It　was　his　genuine　impulse　to　adore　the　truth；　and　toreckon　all　things　shadow…like；　and　utterly　devoid　of　weight　orvalue；　that　had　not　its　divine　essence　as　the　life　within　theirlife。　Then；　what　was　he？…　a　substance？…　or　the　dimmest　of　all　shadows？He　longed　to　speak　out；　from　his　own　pulpit；　at　the　full　height　of　hisvoice；　and　tell　the　people　what　he　was。　〃I；　whom　you　behold　in　theseblack　garments　of　the　priesthood…　I；　who　ascend　the　sacred　desk；　andturn　my　pale　face　heavenward；　taking　upon　myself　to　hold　munion；　inyour　behalf；　with　the　Most　High　Omniscience…　I；　in　whose　daily　lifeyou　discern　the　sanctity　of　Enoch…　I；　whose　footsteps；　as　you　suppose；leave　a　gleam　along　my　earthly　track；　whereby　the　pilgrims　thatshall　e　after　me　may　be　guided　to　the　regions　of　the　blest…　I；who　have　laid　the　hand　of　baptism　upon　your　children…　I；　who　havebreathed　the　parting　prayer　over　your　dying　friends；　to　whom　theAmen　sounded　faintly　from　a　world　which　they　had　quitted…　I；　yourpastor；　whom　you　so　reverence　and　trust；　am　utterly　a　pollution　anda　lie！〃 More　than　once；　Mr。　Dimmesdale　had　go