The Scarlet Stigma Part 4

_Enter Rev. ARTHUR DIMSDELL through crowd and goes to Portico._

_Crier._ Hester Prynne! Hester Prynne! [_Exit._

_Dimsdell._ Most worthy Governor, I am like one Who waking hears the village clock toll time, Yet, having missed the first few strokes, the hour He cannot tell: and so stand I and hear Fair Hester called. Is it for trial, or For punishment?

_Governor._ For both.

_Dimsdell._ I am her pastor and I speak for her; I would to G.o.d that I could plead "Not guilty,"

Or in her stead could offer up myself To satisfy the law!

_Crowd._ How good he is!

_Dimsdell._ Gentle and wise she is, grave councilors, And with a modest meekness goes about The daily duties of her household care; Oh! I am sure no vulgar palate-bait Did lure her to this shame, but some enticement That took the form of higher nature did Invest the hook. For she is modesty Itself.

_Governor._ Can modesty, then, fall like this?

_Dimsdell._ The modesty of woman is like the blush Upon a tender rose; it is her treasure And her ornament: you cannot touch it, But it fades away; or breathe upon it, But it loses perfume; or bring it to the light, Unwilted.

_Governor._ True, but when the roses fade We cast them forth, nor treasure them again.

_Dimsdell._ 'Tis thus I own; but we have higher teaching.

Our Lord, who knew temptation's mighty power, Yet was himself without sin's d.a.m.ning stain, Did pa.s.s upon a case like this. "Let him Who hath no sin first cast a stone at her."

And then He said, "Go, woman, sin no more."

Oh! wondrous grace that pardoned frailty Which had not sunk to vice!

_Re-enter CRIER with HESTER PRYNNE._

_Governor._ Enough! Here comes the woman.

Hester, thou art accused before this court Of that which blus.h.i.+ng virtue shrinks to name, Adultery.

_Hester._ I pray you spare me.

_Governor._ Thou art the widow of a man of whom Report spake only praise: no act of thine Hath openly offended decency, But that young life which draws its sustenance From thy round breast avows thy hidden shame.

_Hester._ Have mercy on the babe, O, G.o.d!

_Governor._ That thou shouldst sin, and thereby, Hester, bring Dishonor on the name thy spouse did give thee, Is worse than in a meaner woman. If thou Hast aught to say to mitigate the wrath Of justice, speak. And, Hester, bear in mind The penalty is death or banishment.

_Hester._ I would not gloze my crime, nor do I know How to address your wors.h.i.+ps.

Yet since you bid me I will plead my cause As best I can.

That I have sinned is true; and well I know Henceforth for me there's nothing left from all My kind but scorn and hate.

For me hath life no charm to cheat my hope, Or make me wish to linger here; yet I While lives the child would shelter her, the one Sweet flower that lovely grows above the soil Of my most foul debas.e.m.e.nt.

Although the blossom of iniquity, She takes no tinct from whence she springs, but rather Of the sky toward which she doth unfold.

Believe me, sirs, But for my babe's dear love, I'd ask for death To rid me quickly of my misery: For love itself, dishonored in my being, Turns all the gentle cords that bind affection Into hard-knotted thongs to whip me hence.

Therefore, if I do plead for life, think not I do beseech a favor for myself, But rather, that I beg a lingering pain, Than expiate in one quick-ending pang The sum of all my loathed wickedness.

Thus, for my tender babe, I ask my life, And, for myself, I do implore you now, Banish me not.

As for my crime, I have repented it Most bitterly; yea, I've suffered anguish From the very hour when, as the spring Of nature dragged my anchors loose, the soft Entreaty of a lover's sigh did blow Concurrent with my tide, and swept me out Into a troubled sea.

Now, battered on the rocks of hard opinions, My most untimely wreck is quite complete; Yet spare the hulk for that dear freight it bore.

_Governor._ Woman, I pity thee; now, while our laws Are strict, yet may our mercy show itself In staving off the penalty, if thou Wilt aid us.

_Hester._ Your mercy comes with hard condition; For how can I, who stand here helpless, Aid you who have all power?

_Governor._ Tell us who is thy paramour?

_Hester._ That I will not do.

_Governor._ Thou art most obstinate. What say you now, Grave councilors? Need we delay the sentence?

_Bronson._ Quick to forgive and slow in condemnation, Would be our wisest course in such a case.

The life she hath G.o.d gave; we should not take it; Nor should we banish her, for she is useful, And with her needle doth a.s.sist the poor.

There is provision in our law to fit This crime when neither death nor banishment Is proper. It is: [_Reading_] "Th' adulteress shall stand Upon the pillory; and on her breast Shall wear a scarlet letter A, to mark Her criminal incontinence."

_Governor._ A good Suggestion truly; we had forgot the clause From long disuse. What say you?

_Ward._ I think it wise.

_Arnold._ 'Twill be more merciful.

_Langdon._ A living warning 'gainst adultery.

_All._ It is our suffrage.

_Governor._ So be it then.

Hester, thou art to stand upon the pillory A little while, and wear upon thy breast The Scarlet Letter "A" forever; This see thou do on pain of instant death Or banishment. Hath anyone a piece Of scarlet cloth?

_Bronson._ I have the letter here prepared.

_Governor._ Clerk, affix the letter to her breast.

_Enter ROGER PRYNNE, clad as in Scene I.--He keeps to the rear of Hester._

Now, Jailer, lead her to the pillory, There let her stand unbound.

_Hester ascends steps to pillory platform._

Dimsdell, you are her pastor, speak to her.

Hold up her sin before her eyes, and warn The mult.i.tude by her example.

_Dimsdell._ I beg you, sir, let Dr. Wilson speak.

_Wilson._ Nay, Dimsdell. Nay, the charge is yours.

Speak on. And plead that she disclose the man Who was her paramour.

_Dimsdell._ I pray you pardon me. I am not well.

_Governor._ Not well? 'Tis but compa.s.sion weakens thee.

Speak man! thy words are gentlest and will draw Her secret from her, though ours do seal her lips.

Proceed, Dimsdell.