Thus, there had come to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale- as to most men, in their various spheres, though seldom recognised until they see it far behind them- an epoch of life more brilliant and full of triumph than any previous one, or that any which could hereafter be. He stood, at this moment, on the very proudest eminence of superiority, to which the gifts of intellect, rich lore, prevailing eloquence, and a reputation of whitest sanctity, could exalt a clergyman in New England's earliest days, when the professional character was of itself a lofty pedestal. Such was the position which the minister occupied, as he bowed his head forward on the cushions of the pulpit, at the close of his Election Sermon. Meanwhile Hester Prynne was standing beside the scaffold of the pillory, with the scarlet letter still burning on her breast!
于是,丁梅斯代尔牧师先生来到了他一生中空前绝后的最辉煌也是最充满胜利的时期,许多人在他们不同的领域里也曾有过这样的时期;只是经过好久以后他们往往才意识到。此时,他是站在最骄傲的卓越地位之上,在早期的新英格兰,牧师这一职业本身已然是一座高高的础座,而一个牧师要想达到他如今那种高度,还有赖于智慧的天赋、丰富的学识、超凡的口才和最无理的圣洁的名声。当我们的这位牧师结束了他在庆祝选举日的布道,在讲坛的靠垫上向前垂着头时,所处的正是这样一个高位。与此同时,海丝特·白兰却站在刑台的旁边,胸前依然灼烧着红字!

Now was heard again the clangour of the music, and the measured tramp of the military escort, issuing from the church-door. The procession was to be marshalled thence to the town-hall, where a solemn banquet would complete the ceremonies of the day.
这时又听到了铿锵的音乐和卫队的整齐的步伐声从教堂门口传出。游行队伍将从那里走到镇议事厅,以厅中的一个庄严的宴会来结束这一天的庆典。

Once more, therefore, the train of venerable and majestic fathers was seen moving through a broad pathway of the people, who drew back reverently, on either side, as the Governor and magistrates, the old and wise men, the holy ministers, and all that were eminent and renowned, advanced into the midst of them. When they were fairly in the market-place, their presence was greeted by a shout. This- though doubtless it might acquire additional force and volume from the child- like loyalty which the age awarded to its rulers- was felt to be an irrepressible outburst of enthusiasm kindled in the auditors by that high strain of eloquence which was yet reverberating in their ears. Each felt the impulse in himself, and, in the same breath, caught it from his neighbour. Within the church, it had hardly been kept down; beneath the sky, it pealed upward to the zenith. There were human beings enough, and enough of highly wrought and symphonious feeling, to produce that more impressive sound than the organ tones of the blast, or the thunder, or the roar of the sea, even that mighty swell of many voices, blended into one great voice by the universal impulse which makes likewise one vast heart out of the many. Never, from the soil of New England, had gone up such a shout! Never, on New England soil, had stood the man so honoured by his mortal brethren as the preacher!
于是,人们又一次看到,由令人肃然起敬的威风凛凛的人士组成的队伍走在宽宽的通道上,夹道观看的群众在总督和官员们、贤明的长者、神圣的牧师以及一切德高望重的人们走道他们身边时,纷纷敬畏地向后退避。这支队伍出现在市场时,人群中进发出一阵欢呼,向他们致意。这种欢呼无疑额外增加了声势,表明了当年人们对其统治者孩提式的忠诚,但也让人感到,仍在听众耳际回荡的高度紧张的雄辩布道所激起的热情借此而不可遏止地爆发。每一个人不但自身感到了这种冲动,而且也从旁边的人身上感受到了程度相当的冲动。在教堂里的时候,这种冲动已经难以遏制;如今到了露天,便扶摇直冲云霄。这里有足够多的人,也有足够高的激昂交汇鲍情感,可以发出比狂风的呼啸、闪电的雷鸣或大海的咆哮更为震撼人心的声响;众心结成一心,形成一致的冲动,众声融成一声,发出巨大的浪涛声。在新英格兰的土壤中还从未进发出这样响彻云霄的欢呼!在新英格兰的土地上还从未站立过一个人象这位布道师那样受到他的人间兄弟的如此尊崇!