The directness of this appeal drew the eyes of the whole crowd upon the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale; a young clergyman, who had come from one of the great English universities, bringing all the learning of the age into our wild forest-land. His eloquence and religious fervour had already given the earnest of high eminence in his profession. He was a person of very striking aspect, with a white, lofty, and impending brow, large, brown, melancholy eyes, and a mouth which, unless when he forcibly compressed it, was apt to be tremulous, expressing both nervous sensibility and a vast power of self-restraint. Notwithstanding his high native gifts and scholar-like attainments, there was an air about this young minister- an apprehensive, a startled, a half-frightened look- as of a being who felt himself quite astray and at a loss in the pathway of human existence, and could only be at ease in some seclusion of his own. Therefore, so far as his duties would permit, he trod in the shadowy bypaths, and thus kept himself simple and childlike; coming forth, when occasion was, with a freshness, and fragrance, and dewy purity of thought, which, as many people said, affected them like the speech of an angel.
这番直截了当的要求把整个人群的目光都吸引到了丁彻斯代尔牧师的身上;他是毕业于英国—所名牌大学的年轻牧师,把当时的全部学识都梢到我们这片荒野密林曲地带来了。他那雄辩的口才和宗教的热情早已预示了他在自己的职业中将要飞黄腾达。他的外貌颇员舱力,有着高箕、白哲的额头和一双忧郁的褐色大眼,至于他的嘴唇,如果不是紧紧闭着,就会易于颤抖,表明了他既有神经质的敏感又有极大的自制力。尽管他有极高的天赋和学者般的造诣,这位年轻的牧师身上却流露出一种忧心仲仲和惊慌失措的神色,恰似一个人在人生道路上偏离了方向,颇有迷惘之感,只有把自己封闭起来才觉得安然。因此,只要他的职责允许,他就在浓荫密布的小径上漫步,借以保持他自己的纯真和稚气;必要时,便会带着清新馥郁和露水般晶莹纯洁的思想迈步走出来,正如许多人所说,使他们感受到天使般的言辞。

Such was the young man whom the Reverend Mr. Wilson and the Governor had introduced so openly to the public notice, bidding him speak, in the hearing of all men, to that mystery of a woman's soul, so sacred even in its pollution. The trying nature of his position drove the blood from his cheek, and made his lips tremulous.
威尔逊牧师先生和总督大人作了公开介绍并引起大家注意的,正是这样一个年轻人。他们要他在众人当场路听的情况下,来盘诘那个女人灵魂中的秘密——而她的灵魂虽然受到玷污,依然神圣不可侵犯。他被置于随她的境地,直通得他面颊上失去血色,双唇不停地颤抖。

"Speak to the woman, my brother," said Mr. Wilson. "It is of moment to her soul, and therefore, as the worshipful Governor says, momentous to thine own, in whose charge hers is. Exhort her to confess the truth!"
“跟这个女人谈谈吧,我的兄弟,”威尔逊先生说。“这是她灵魂的关键时刻,而正如令人崇敬的总督大人所说,由于你对她的灵魂负有职责,因此,这对你自己的灵魂也同样是关键时刻。劝诫她招认真情吧!”
 

The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale bent his head, in silent prayer, as it seemed, and then came forward.
丁梅斯代尔牧师先生低下头去,象是在默默祈祷,然后便迈步向前。

"Hester Prynne," said he, leaning over the balcony, and looking down steadfastly into her eyes, "thou hearest what this good man says, and seest the accountability under which I labour. If thou feelest it to be for thy soul's peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him- yea, compel him, as it were- to add hypocrisy to sin? Heaven hath granted thee an open ignominy, that thereby thou mayest work out an open triumph over the evil within thee, and the sorrow without. Take heed how thou deniest to him-who, perchance, hath not the courage to grasp it for himself- the bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!"
“海丝特·白兰,”他俯身探出阳台,坚定地朝下凝视着她的眼睛说着,“你已经听到了这位好心的先生所讲的话,也已经看到了我所肩负的重任。如果你感到这样做了可以使你的灵魂得以平静,使你现世所受的惩罚可以更有效地拯救你的灵魂,那么我就责令你说出同你一起犯罪的同伙和同你一起遭罪的难友!不要由于对他抱有错误的怜悯和温情而保持沉默吧;因为,请你相信我的话,海丝特,虽然那样一来,他就要从高位上走下来,站到你的身边,和你同受示众之辱,但总比终生埋藏着一颗罪恶的心灵要好受得多。你的沉默对他能有何用?无非是诱引他——事实上是迫使他——在罪孽上再蒙以虚伪!上天已经赐给你一个当众受辱的机会,你就该借以光明磊落地战胜你内心的邪恶和外表的悲伤。现在呈献到你唇边的那杯辛辣而有益的苦酒,那人或许缺乏勇气去接过来端给自己,可我要提请你注意,不要阻止他去接受吧!”