None of these visions ever quite deluded him. At any moment, by an effort of his will, he could discern substances through their misty lack of substance, and convince himself that they were not solid in their nature, like yonder table of carved oak, or that big, square, leathern-bound and brazen-clasped volume of divinity. But, for all that, they were, in one sense, the truest and most substantial things which the poor minister now dealt with. It is the unspeakable misery of a life so false as his, that it steals the pith and substance out of whatever realities there are around us, and which were meant by Heaven to be the spirit's joy and nutriment. To the untrue man, the whole universe is false- it is impalpable- it shrinks to nothing within his grasp. And he himself, in so far as he shows himself in a false light, becomes a shadow, or, indeed, ceases to exist. The only truth that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence on this earth, was the anguish in his inmost soul, and the undissembled expression of it in his aspect. Had he once found power to smile, and wear a face of gaiety, there would have been no such man!
这些幻象从来没有一个令他产生过什么错觉。无论任何时候，他依靠自己的意志力，都能在层层迷雾般的虚幻中辨别出其实质，使自己坚信：它们在本质上都不象一旁那张雕刻着花纹的橡木桌或是那本皮面铜扣的方型大卷神学著作那样，并非坚实的实体。然而，尽管如此，在一种意义上，它们又都是这可怜的牧师所应付的最真实又最具体的东西。象他过的这种虚假的生活，实在有难言的痛苦，因为我们周围的无论什么现实，原是由上天注定赐给我们的精神上的喜悦和营养，但对他来说，其精髓和实质却被窃取一空。对那个不真实的人来说，整个宇宙都是虚伪的——都是难以触摸的，在他的把握之中化为子虚乌有。至于他本人，迄今为止在虚伪的光线中所显示出的自身，已经变成一个阴影，或者更确切地说，已不复存在了。继续赋予丁梅斯代尔先生在地球上一种真实存在感的唯一事实，就是他灵魂最深处的痛苦，以及由此在他外貌上造成的毫不掩饰的表情。假如他一度找到了微笑的能力，并在脸上堆满欢快的笑意，也就不曾有过他这样一个人了！

On one of those ugly nights, which we have faintly hinted at, but forborne to picture forth, the minister started from his chair. A new thought had struck him. There might be a moment's peace in it. Attiring himself with as much care as if it had been for public worship, and precisely in the same manner, he stole softly down the staircase, undid the door, and issued forth.
在我们微有暗示却避免进一步描绘的这样一个丑恶的夜晚，牧师从他的椅子上惊跳而起。一个新的念头在他心中油然而生，他或许在其中可以获得瞬间的安宁。此时他象赴公众礼拜一样，着意将自己，打扮一番，然后以相应的一丝不苟的姿态，蹑手蹑脚地走下楼梯，打开房门，向前走去。

③以诺，在《旧约·创世记》第五章第24节中是爱国者玛土撤拉的父亲，上帝的同行者；而在第四章第17节中则是该隐之一子。此处当为前者。