Chapter 23 THE REVELATION OF THE SCARLET LETTER
第二十三章 红字的显露

Bellingham, for the last few moments, had kept an anxious eye upon him. He now left his own place in the procession, and advanced to give assistance; judging, from Mr. Dimmesdale's aspect, that he must otherwise inevitably fall. But there was something in the latter's expression that warned back the magistrate, although a man not readily obeying the vague intimations that pass from one spirit to another. The crowd, meanwhile, looked on with awe and wonder. This earthly faintness was, in their view, only another phase of the ministers' celestial strength; nor would it have seemed a miracle too high to be wrought for one so holy, had he ascended before their eyes, waxing dimmer and brighter, and fading at last into the light of heaven!
贝灵汉在这几分钟里始终焦虑地注视着他。此时贝灵汉离开了队伍中自己的位置,走上前来帮助他,因为从丁梅斯代尔先生的面容来判断,不去扶他一把就一定会摔倒的。但是,牧师的表情中有一种推拒之意,令这位达官不敢上前,尽管他并不是那种乐于听命于人与人之间心息相通的隐约暗示的人。与此同时,人群则怀着谅惧参半的心情观望着。在他们看来,这种肉体的衰竭只不过是牧师的神力的另一种表现;设若象他这样神圣的人,就在众人眼前飞升,渐黯又渐明,最终消失在天国的光辉中,也不会被视为难以企及的奇迹。

He turned towards the scaffold, and stretched forth his arms.
他转向刑台,向前伸出双臂。

"Hester," said he, "come hither! Come, my little Pearl!"
“海丝特,”他说,“过来呀!来,我的小珠儿!”

It was a ghastly look with which he regarded them; but there was something at once tender and strangely triumphant in it. The child, with the bird-like motion which was one of her characteristics, flew to him, and clasped her arms about his knees. Hester Prynne- slowly, as if impelled by inevitable fate, and against her strongest will- likewise drew near, but paused before she reached him. At this instant, old Roger Chillingworth thrust himself through the crowd- or, perhaps, so dark, disturbed, and evil was his look, he rose up out of some nether region- to snatch back his victim from what he sought to do! Be that as it might, the old man rushed forward, and caught the minister by the arm.
他盯着她们的眼神十分可怖;但其中马上就映出温柔和奇异的胜利的成分。那孩子,以她特有的鸟儿一般的动作,朝他飞去,还搂住了他的双膝。海丝特·白兰似乎被必然的命运所推动,但又违背她的坚强意志,也缓缓向前,只是在她够不到他的地方就站住了。就在此刻,老罗杰·齐灵渥斯从人群中脱颖而出——由于他的脸色十分阴暗、十分慌乱、十分邪恶,或许可以说他是从地狱的什么地方钻出来的——想要抓住他的牺牲品,以免他会做出什么举动!无论如何吧,反正那老人冲到前面,一把抓住了牧师的胳臂。

"Madman, hold! what is your purpose?" whispered he. "Wave back that woman! Cast off this child! All shall be well! Do not blacken your fame, and perish in dishonour. I can yet save you! Would you bring infamy on your sacred profession?"
“疯子,稳住!你要干什么?”他小声说。“挥开那女人!甩开这孩子!一切都会好的!不要玷污你的名声,不光彩地毁掉自己!我还能拯救你!你愿意给你神圣的职业蒙受耻辱吗?”

"Ha, tempter! Methinks thou art too late!" answered the minister, encountering his eye, fearfully, but firmly. "Thy power is not what it was! With God's help, I shall escape thee now!"He again extended his hand to the woman of the scarlet letter.
“哈,诱惑者啊!我认为你来得太迟了!”牧师畏惧而坚定地对着他的目光,回答说。“你的权力如今已不象以前了!有了上帝的帮助,我现在要逃脱你的羁绊了!”他又一次向戴红字的女人伸出了手。