This idea was countenanced by the strong interest which the physician ever manifested in the young clergyman; he attached himself to him as a parishioner, and sought to win a friendly regard and confidence from his naturally reserved sensibility. He expressed great alarm at his pastor's state of health, but was anxious to attempt the cure, and, if early undertaken, seemed not despondent of a favourable result. The elders, the deacons, the motherly dames, and the young and fair maidens, of Mr. Dimmesdale's flock, were alike importunate that he should make trial of the physician's frankly offered skill. Mr. Dimmesdale gently repelled their entreaties.
由于医生对年轻的牧师从一开始就显示出强烈的兴趣,上述想法就得到了鼓励;医生以一个教民随身份与他形影相随,并且想战胜他天性中的含蓄和敏感,来赢得他的友谊和信任。他对他的牧师的健康深为震惊,还急切地给予治疗,他认为,如果及早诊治的话,总不会不见疗效的。丁梅斯代尔先生教团中的长老、执事、修女,以及年轻貌美的少女们都众口一词地再三要求他对医生自告奋勇的治疗不妨一试。但丁梅斯代尔先生却委婉地拒绝了这些恳求。 

"I need no medicine," said he.
“我不需要医药,”他说。

But how could the young minister say so, when, with every successive Sabbath, his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before- when it had now become a constant habit, rather than a casual gesture, to press his hand over his heart? Was he weary of his labours? Did he wish to die? These questions were solemnly propounded to Mr. Dimmesdale by the elder ministers of Boston and the deacons of his church, who, to use their own phrase, "dealt with him" on the sin of rejecting the aid which Providence so manifestly held out. He listened in silence, and finally promised to confer with the physician.
但这位年轻牧师怎么能这样讲呢?一个接一个安息日,他的面颊越来越苍白消瘦,他的声音也比先前更加颤抖,而且他用手捂心口的动作,已经从漫不经心的姿态变成时时都有的习惯了。是他厌倦了他的工作吗?是他想死吗?丁梅斯代尔先生一路受到波土顿的长老们如此的盘诘和他教堂中的执事们的——用他们自己的话说——“规劝”:上天如此明显地伸出救援之手,拒绝是有罪的。他默默不语地听着,终于答应和医生谈谈看。

"Were it God's will," said the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, when, in fulfilment of this pledge, he requested old Roger Chillingworth's professional advice, "I could be well content, that my labours and my sorrows, and my sins and my pains, should shortly end with me, and what is earthly of them be buried in my grave, and the spiritual go with me to my eternal state, rather than that you should put your skill to the proof in my behalf."
“如果这是上帝的意旨,”丁梅斯代尔牧师先生为了实现自己的诺言,向老罗杰·齐灵渥斯医生讨教时说,“我宁愿不要你为我的缘故来证明你医道精熟,我要满意地让我的辛劳、我的悲哀、我的罪孽和我的痛苦都尽快与我同归于尽,令其世俗部分埋在我的墓中,而将其精神部分随我同去永恒的境界。

"Ah," replied Roger Chillingworth, with that quietness which, whether imposed or natural, marked all his deportment, "it is thus that a young clergyman is apt to speak. Youthful men, not having taken a deep root, give up their hold of life so easily! And saintly men, who walk with God on earth, would fain be away, to walk with Him on the golden pavements of the New Jerusalem."
“啊,”罗杰·齐灵渥斯说,不管是做作的还是天生的,他的举止总是安详得令人瞩目,“一个年轻的牧师确实喜欢这么讲话。年轻人啊,都还没有扎下深根呢,就这么轻易地放弃生命吗?在人世间和上帝同行的圣人们,都会欣然随他而去,定在新耶路撤冷的黄金铺路上的。

 "Nay," rejoined the young minister, putting his hand to his heart, with a flush of pain flitting over his brow, "were I worthier to walk there, I could be better content to toil here."
“不是的,”年轻的牧师插话说,他把手放在心口上,额上拣过一抹痛苦的红潮,“如果我还有资格到那里去走动的话,我倒宁愿留在这里来吃苦。

"Good men ever interpret themselves too meanly," said the physician.
“好心的人从来都是把自己说得十分卑微的,”医生说。

①狄戈比爵士(1603一1685),英国作家、航海家和外交家,皇家学会理事。他还发现了植物对氧的需要。