第14部分(第1/7 页)

arder　todispense　with。　Public　ceremonies；　such　as　ordinations；　theinstallation　of　magistrates；　and　all　that　could　give　majesty　to　theforms　in　which　a　new　government　manifested　itself　to　the　people；　were；as　a　matter　of　policy；　marked　by　a　stately　and　well…conductedceremonial；　and　a　sombre；　but　yet　a　studied　magnificence。　Deepruffs；　painfully　wrought　bands；　and　gorgeously　embroidered　gloves　wereall　deemed　necessary　to　the　official　state　of　men　assuming　the　reinsof　power；　and　were　readily　allowed　to　individuals　dignified　by　rank　orwealth；　even　while　sumptuary　laws　forbade　these　and　similarextravagances　to　the　plebeian　order。　In　the　array　of　funerals；　too…whether　for　the　apparel　of　the　dead　body；　or　to　typify；　by　manifoldemblematic…devices　of　sable　cloth　and　snowy　lawn；　the　sorrow　of　thesurvivors…　there　was　a　frequent　and　characteristic　demand　for　suchlabour　as　Hester　Prynne　could　supply。　Baby…linen…　for　babies　then　worerobes　of　state… afforded　still　another　possibility　of　toil　andemolument。 By　degrees；　nor　very　slowly；　her　handiwork　became　what　would　nowbe　termed　the　fashion。　Whether　from　miseration　for　a　woman　of　somiserable　a　destiny；　or　from　the　morbid　curiosity　that　gives　afictitious　value　even　to　mon　or　worthless　things；　or　by　whateverother　intangible　circumstance　was　then；　as　now；　sufficient　tobestow；　on　some　persons；　what　others　might　seek　in　vain；　or　becauseHester　really　filled　a　gap　which　must　otherwise　have　remainedvacant；　it　is　certain　that　she　had　ready　and　fairly　requitedemployment　for　as　many　hours　as　she　saw　fit　to　occupy　with　her　needle。Vanity；　it　may　be；　chose　to　mortify　itself；　by　putting　on；　forceremonials　of　pomp　and　state；　the　garments　that　had　been　wrought　byher　sinful　hands。　Her　needle…work　was　seen　on　the　ruff　of　theGovernor；　military　men　wore