Алая буква
The Market–Place
Evenhadtherebeenadispositiontoturnthematterintoridicule,itmusthavebeenrepressedandoverpoweredbythesolemnpresenceofmennolessdignifiedthanthegovernor,andseveralofhiscounsellors,ajudge,ageneral,andtheministersofthetown,allofwhomsatorstoodinabalconyofthemeeting-house,lookingdownupontheplatform.Whensuchpersonagescouldconstituteapartofthespectacle,withoutriskingthemajesty,orreverenceofrankandoffice,itwassafelytobeinferredthattheinflictionofalegalsentencewouldhaveanearnestandeffectualmeaning.Accordingly,thecrowdwassombreandgrave.Theunhappyculpritsustainedherselfasbestawomanmight,undertheheavyweightofathousandunrelentingeyes,allfasteneduponher,andconcentratedatherbosom.Itwasalmostintolerabletobeborne.Ofanimpulsiveandpassionatenature,shehadfortifiedherselftoencounterthestingsandvenomousstabsofpubliccontumely,wreakingitselfineveryvarietyofinsult;buttherewasaqualitysomuchmoreterribleinthesolemnmoodofthepopularmind,thatshelongedrathertobeholdallthoserigidcountenancescontortedwithscornfulmerriment,andherselftheobject.Hadaroaroflaughterburstfromthemultitude—eachman,eachwoman,eachlittleshrill-voicedchild,contributingtheirindividualparts—HesterPrynnemighthaverepaidthemallwithabitteranddisdainfulsmile.
