nstructed。 Then; too; the people were countenanced; if not encouraged; inrelaxing the severe and close application to their various modes ofrugged industry; which; at all other times; seemed of the same pieceand material with their religion。 Here; it is true; were none of theappliances which popular merriment would so readily have found inthe England of Elizabeth's time; or that of James… no rude shows ofa theatrical kind; no minstrel; with his harp and legendary ballad;nor gleeman; with an ape dancing to his music; no juggler; with histricks of mimic witchcraft; no Merry Andrew; to stir up themultitude with jests; perhaps hundreds of years old; but stilleffective; by their appeals to the very broadest sources of mirthfulsympathy。 All such professors of the several branches of jocularitywould have been sternly repressed; not only by the rigid discipline oflaw; but by the general sentiment which gives law its vitality。 Notthe less; however; the great; honest face of the people smiled…grimly; perhaps; but widely too。 Nor were sports wanting; such asthe colonists had witnessed; and shared in; long ago; at the countryfairs and on the village…greens of England; and which it was thoughtwell to keep alive on this new soil; for the sake of the courage andmanliness that were essential in them。 Wrestling…matches; in thedifferent fashions of Cornwall and Devonshire; were seen here andthere about the market…place; in one corner; there was a friendly boutat quarterstaff; and… what attracted most interest of all… on theplatform of the pillory; already so noted in our pages; two masters ofdefence were mencing an exhibition with the buckler and broadsword。But; much to the disappointment of the crowd; this latter business wasbroken off by the interposition of the town beadle; who had no idea ofpermitting the majesty of the law to be violated by such an abuse ofone of its consecrated places。 It may not be too much to affirm; on the whole (the people beingthen in the first stages of joyless deportment; and the offspring ofsires who had known how to be merry; in their day); that they wouldpare favourably; in point of holiday keeping; with theirdescendants; even at so long an interval as ourselves。 Their immediateposterity; the generation next to the early emigrants; wore theblackest shade of Puritanism; and so darkened the national visage withit; that all the subsequent years have not sufficed to clear it up。 Wehave yet to learn again the forgotten art of gaiety。 The picture of human life in the market…place; though its generaltint was the sad grey; brown; or black of the English emigrants; wasyet enlivened by some diversity of hue。 A party of Indians… in theirsavage finery of curiously embroidered deer…skin robes;wampum…belts; red and yellow ochre; and feathers; and armed with thebow and arrow and stone…headed spear… stood apart; with countenancesof inflexible gravity; beyond what even the Puritan aspect couldattain。 Nor; wild as were these painted barbarians; were they thewildest feature of the scene。 This distinction could more justly beclaimed by some mariners…a part of the crew of the vessel from theSpanish Main… who had e ashore to see the humours of ElectionDay。 They were rough…looking desperadoes; with sun…blackened faces;and an immensity of beard; their wide; short trousers were confinedabout the waist by belts; often clasped with a rough plate of gold;and sustaining always a long knife; and; in some instances; a sword。From beneath their broad…brimmed hats of palm…leaf; gleamed eyeswhich; even in good…nature and merriment; had a kind of animalferocity。 They transgressed; without fear or scruple; the rules ofbehaviour that were binding on all others; smoking tobacco under thebeadle's very nose; although each whiff would have cost a townsman ashilling; and quaffing; at their pleasure; draughts of pocket…flasks; which they freely tendered to thegaping crowd around them。 It remarkably characterised the inpletemorality of the age; rigid as we call it; that a license was allowedthe seafaring class; not merely for their freaks on shore; but for farmore desperate deeds on their proper element。 The sailor of that daywould go near to be arraigned as a pirate in our own。 There could belittle doubt; for instance; that this very ship's crew; though nounfavourable specimens of the nautical brotherhood; had been guilty;as we should phrase it; of depredations on the Spanish merce;such as would have perilled all their necks in a modern court ofjustice。 But the sea in those old times; heaved; swelled; and foamed; verymuch at its own will; or subject only to the tempestuous wind; withhardly any attempts at regulation by human law。 The buccaneer on thewave might relinquish his calling; and bee at once; if he chose;a man of probity and piety on land; nor; even in the full career ofhis reckless life; was he regarded as a personage with whom it wasdisreputable to traffic; or casually associate。 Thus; the Puritanelders; in their black cloaks; starched bands; and steeple…crownedhats; smiled not unbenignantly at the clamour and rude deportment ofthese jolly seafaring men; and it excited neither surprise noranim…adversion; when so reputable a citizen as old RogerChillingworth; the physician; was seen to enter the market…place; inclose and familiar talk with the mander of the questionable vessel。 The latter was by far the most showy and gallant figure; so far asapparel went; anywhere to be seen among the multitude。 He wore aprofusion of ribbons on his garment; and gold lace on his hat; whichwas also encircled by a gold chain; and surmounted with a feather。There was a sword at his side; and a sword…cut on his forehead; which;by the arrangement of his hair; he seemed anxious rather to displaythan hide。 A landsman could hardly have worn this garb and shownthis face; and worn and shown them both with such a galliard air;without undergoing stern question before a magistrate; and probablyincurring fine or imprisonment; or perhaps an exhibition in thestocks。 As regarded the shipmaster; however; all was looked upon aspertaining to the character; as to a fish his glistening scales。 After parting from the physician; the mander of the Bristolship strolled idly through the market…place; until; happening toapproach the spot where Hester Prynne was standing; he appeared torecognise; and did not hesitate to address her。 As was usually thecase wherever Hester stood; a small vacant area… a sort of magiccircle… had formed itself about her; into which; though the peoplewere elbowing one another at a little distance; none ventured; or feltdisposed to intrude。 It was a forcible type of the moral solitude inwhich the scarlet letter enveloped its fated wearer; partly by her ownreserve; and partly by the instinctive; though no longer sounkindly; withdrawal of her fellow…creatures。 Now; if never before; itanswered a good purpose; by enabling Hester and the seaman to speaktogether without the risk of being overheard; and so changed wasHester Prynne's repute before the public; that the matron in town mosteminent for rigid morality could not have held such intercourse withless result of scandal than herself。 〃So; mistress;〃 said the mariner; 〃I must bid the steward make readyone more berth than you bargained for! No fear of scurvy orship…fever; this voyage! What with the ship's surgeon and this otherdoctor; our only danger will be from drug or pill; more by token; asthere is a lot of apothecary's stuff aboard; which I traded for with aSpanish vessel。〃 〃What mean you?〃 inquired Hester; startled more than she permittedto appear。 〃Have you another passenger?〃 〃Why; know you not;〃 cried the shipmaster; 〃that this physicianhere… Chillingworth; he calls himself… is minded to try mycabin…fare with you? Ay; ay; you must have known it; for he tells mehe is of your party; and a close friend to the gentleman you spoke of…he that is in peril from these sour old Puritan rulers!〃 〃They know each other well; indeed;〃 replied Hester; with a mienof calmness; though in the utmost consternation。 〃They have long dwelttogether。〃 Nothing further passed between the mariner and Hester Prynne。 But;at that instant; she beheld old Roger Chillingworth himself;standing in the remotest corner of the market…place; and smiling onher; a smile which… across the wide and bustling square; and throughall the talk and laughter; and various thoughts; moods; andinterests of the crowd… conveyed secret and fearful meaning。 XXII。 THE PROCESSION。 BEFORE Hester Prynne could call together her thoughts; andconsider what was practicable to be done in this new and startlingaspect of affairs; the sound of military music was heard approachingalong a contiguous street。 It denoted the advance of the procession ofmagistrates and citizens; on its way towards the meeting…house; where;in pliance with a custom thus early established; and ever sinceobserved; the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale was to deliver an ElectionSermon。 Soon the head of the procession showed itself with a slow andstately march; turning a corner; and making its way across themarket…place。 First came the music。 It prised a variety ofinstruments; perhaps imperfectly adapted to one another; and playedwith no great skill; but yet attaini
小提示:按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目,按 ← 键 返回上一页, 按 → 键 进入下一页。
赞一下
添加书签加入书架