第18部分(第2/7 页)

ing　with　the　appliances　of　worldly　enjoyment　wherewithhe　had　evidently　done　his　utmost　to　surround　himself。　But　it　is　anerror　to　suppose　that　our　grave　forefathers…　though　accustomed　tospeak　and　think　of　human　existence　as　a　state　merely　of　trial　andwarfare；　and　though　unfeignedly　prepared　to　sacrifice　goods　and　lifeat　the　behest　of　duty…　made　it　a　matter　of　conscience　to　reject　suchmeans　of　fort；　or　even　luxury；　as　lay　fairly　within　their　grasp。This　creed　was　never　taught；　for　instance；　by　the　venerable　pastor；John　Wilson；　whose　beard；　white　as　a　snow…drift；　was　seen　overGovernor　Bellingham's　shoulder；　while　its　wearer　suggested　thatpears　and　peaches　might　yet　be　naturalised　in　the　New　England　climate；and　that　purple　grapes　might　possibly　be　pelled　to　flourish；against　the　sunny　garden…wall。　The　old　clergyman；　nurtured　at　the　richbosom　of　the　English　Church；　had　a　long…established　and　legitimatetaste　for　all　good　and　fortable　things；　and　however　stern　hemight　show　himself　in　the　pulpit；　or　in　his　public　reproof　of　suchtransgressions　as　that　of　Hester　Prynne；　still；　the　genial　benevolenceof　his　private　life　had　won　him　warmer　affection　than　was　accordedto　any　of　his　professional　contemporaries。 Behind　the　Governor　and　Mr。　Wilson　came　two　other　guests；　one　theReverend　Arthur　Dimmesdale；　whom　the　reader　may　remember　as　havingtaken　a　brief　and　reluctant　part　in　the　scene　of　Hester　Prynne'sdisgrace；　and；　in　close　panionship　with　him；　old　RogerChillingworth；　a　person　of　great　skill　in　physic；　who；　for　two　orthree　years　past；　had　been　settled　in　the　town。　It　was　understood　thatthis　learned　man　was　the　physician　as　well　as　friend　of　the　youngminister；　whose　health　had　severely　suffered；　of　late；　by　his　toounreserved　self…sacrifice　to　the　labours　and　duties　of　the　pastoralrelat