"No, Hester, no!" replied the clergyman. "There is no substancein it! It is cold and dead, and can do nothing for me! Of penance, I have had enough! Of penitence, there has been none! Else, I should long ago have thrown off these garments of mock holiness, and have shown myself to mankind as they will see me at the judgment-seat. Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret! Thou little knowest what a relief it is, after the torment of a seven years' cheat, to look into an eye that recognises me for what I am! Had I one friend- or were it my worst enemy!- to whom, when sickened with the praises of all other men, I could daily betake myself, and be known as the vilest of all sinners, methinksmy soul might keep itself alive thereby. Even thus much of truth would save me! But, now, it is all falsehood!- all emptiness!- all death!"
“不成,海丝特,不成啊!牧师应道。“其中并没有实实在在的东西!那是冰冷与死寂的,对我毫无用处!忏悔嘛,我已经做得够多的了!可是悔过呢,还一点没有!不然的话,我早就该抛掉这貌似神圣的道袍,象人们在最后审判席上看到我的那样,袒露给他们看了。你是有幸的,海丝特,因为你能把红字公开地戴在胸前!可我的红字却在秘密地灼烧!你简直想象不出,在经过七年之久的欺骗的折磨之后,看到一双眼睛能够认清我是什么货色,我的心内有多么轻松!假如我有一个朋友——或者说,哪怕他是我最恶毒的敌人!——能够让我在受到别人赞扬得难过的时候,随时到他那儿去一下,让他知道我是一切罪人中最可耻的,我想,这样我的灵魂或许还可得以生存。只消这小小的一点真诚就可以挽救我!可是,如今呢,一切全是虚伪!——全是空虚!——全是死亡!
【英文名著精选阅读:《红字》第十七章(上)】相关文章:
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