第33部分(第1/7 页)

somewhat；　that　he　was　broken　downby　long　and　exquisite　suffering；　that　his　mind　was　darkened　andconfused　by　the　very　remorse　which　harrowed　it；　that；　betweenfleeing　as　an　avowed　criminal；　and　remaining　as　a　hypocrite；conscience　might　find　it　hard　to　strike　the　balance；　that　it　was　humanto　avoid　the　peril　of　death　and　infamy；　and　the　inscrutablemachinations　of　an　enemy；　that；　finally；　to　this　poor　pilgrim；　onhis　dreary　and　desert　path；　faint；　sick；　miserable；　there　appeared　aglimpse　of　human　affection　and　sympathy；　a　new　life；　and　a　true　one；in　exchange　for　the　heavy　doom　which　he　was　now　expiating。　And　bethe　stern　and　sad　truth　spoken；　that　the　breach　which　guilt　has　oncemade　into　the　human　soul　is　never；　in　this　mortal　state；　repaired。It　may　be　watched　and　guarded；　so　that　the　enemy　shall　not　force　hisway　again　into　the　citadel；　and　might　even；　in　his　subsequentassaults；　select　some　other　avenue；　in　preference　to　that　where　he　hadformerly　succeeded。　But　there　is　still　the　ruined　wall；　and；　nearit；　the　stealthy　tread　of　the　foe　that　would　win　over　again　hisunforgotten　triumph。 The　struggle；　if　there　were　one；　need　not　be　described。　Let　itsuffice；　that　the　clergyman　resolved　to　flee；　and　not　alone。 〃If；　in　all　these　past　seven　years；〃　thought　he；　〃I　could　recall　oneinstant　of　peace　or　hope；　I　would　yet　endure；　for　the　sake　of　thatearnest　of　Heaven's　mercy。　But　now…　since　I　am　irrevocably　doomed…wherefore　should　I　not　snatch　the　solace　allowed　to　the　condemnedculprit　before　his　execution？　Or；　if　this　be　the　path　to　a　betterlife；　as　Hester　would　persuade　me；　I　surely　give　up　no　fairer　prospectby　pursuing　it！　Neither　can　I　any　longer　live　without　herpanionship；　so　powerful　is　she　to　sustain…　so　tender　to　soothe！　OThou　to　whom　I　dare　not　lift　mine　eyes；　wilt　Thou　yet　p