海丝特·白兰如今所处的地位已同她当初受辱时我们所看到的并不完全一样了。春来秋往,年复一年。珠儿此时已经七岁了。她母亲胸前闪着的刺绣绝妙的红字,早已成为镇上人所熟悉的目标。如果一个人在大家面前有着与众不同的特殊地位,而同时又不干涉任何公共或个人的利益和方便,他就最终会赢得普遍的尊重,海丝特·白兰的情况也正是如此除去自私的念头占了上峰、得以表现之外,爱总要比恨来得容易,这正是人类本性之所在。只要不遭到原有的敌意不断受到新的挑动的阻碍,恨甚至会通过悄悄渐进的过程转变成爱。就海丝特。白兰的情况而论,她既没受到旧恨的挑动,也没有增添新的愠怒。她从来与世无争,只是毫无怨尤地屈从于社会的最不公平的待遇;她也没有因自己的不幸而希冀什么报偿;她同样不依重于人们的同情。于是,在她因犯罪而丧失了权利、被迫独处一隅的这些年月里,她生活的纯洁无理,大大地赢得了人心。既然她在人们的心目中已经再无所失,再无所望,而且似乎也再无所愿去得到什么,那么这个可怜人的迷途知返,也只能被真诚地看作是美德感召的善果了。
It was perceived, too, that while Hester never put forward even the humblest title to share in the world's privileges- further than to breathe the common air, and earn daily bread for little Pearl and herself by the faithful labour of her hands- she was quick to acknowledge her sisterhood with the race of man, whenever benefits were to be conferred. None so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand of poverty; even though the bitter-hearted pauper threw back a gibein requitalof the food brought regularly to his door, or the garments wrought for him by the fingers that could have embroidered a monarch's robe. None so self-devoted as Hester, when pestilencestalked through the town. In all seasons of calamity, indeed, whether general or of individuals, the outcast of society at once found her place. She came, not as a guest, but as a rightful inmate into the household that was darkened by trouble; as if its gloomy twilight were a medium in which she was entitled to hold intercourse with her fellow-creatures. There glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly ray. Elsewhere the token of sin, it was the taper of the sick-chamber. It had even thrown its gleam, in the sufferer's hard extremity, across the vergeof time. It had shown him where to set his foot, while the light of earth was fast becoming dim, and ere the light of futurity could reach him. In such emergencies, Hester's nature showed itself warm and rich; a well-spring of human tenderness, unfailing to every real demand, and inexhaustible by the largest. Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one. She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we may rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordainedher, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result. The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her- so much power to do, and power to sympathise- that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.
【英文名著精选阅读:《红字》第十三章(上)】相关文章:
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