Thus, we seem to see that, as regarded Hester Prynne, the whole seven years of outlaw and ignominy had been little other than a preparation for this very hour. But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were such a man once more to fall, what plea could be urged in extenuation of his crime? None; unless it avail him somewhat, that he was broken down by long and exquisite suffering; that his mind was darkened and confused by the very remorse which harrowed it; that, between fleeing as an avowed criminal, and remaining as a hypocrite, conscience might find it hard to strike the balance; that it was human to avoid the peril of death and infamy, and the inscrutable machinations of an enemy; that, finally, to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there appeared a glimpse of human affection and sympathy, a new life, and a true one, in exchange for the heavy doom which he was now expiating. And be the stern and sad truth spoken, that the breach which guilt has once made into the human soul is never, in this mortal state, repaired. It may be watched and guarded; so that the enemy shall not force his way again into the citadel, and might even, in his subsequent assaults, select some other avenue, in preference to that where he had formerly succeeded. But there is still the ruined wall, and, near it, the stealthy tread of the foe that would win over again his unforgotten triumph.
這樣，我們似乎就明白了：就海絲特·白蘭而論，這備受摒棄和恥辱的整整七年的時間，只不過是為此時此刻做好準備而已。但阿瑟·丁梅斯代爾可不同！倘使象他這樣一個人再次墮落的話，還能為減輕罪行作何辯白呢？沒有了；除非可以勉強說什么：他被長期的劇烈痛苦壓垮了；他的頭腦已經(jīng)被自責折磨得陰暗和混亂了；他要么承認是一名罪犯而逃走，要么繼續(xù)充當一名偽君子而留下，但他的良心已難以從中取得平衡；為了避免死亡和恥辱的危險，以及一個敵人的莫測的詭計，出走原是合乎情理的；最后，還可以說，這個可憐的朝圣者，在他凄涼的旅途中，倍感昏迷、病痛和悲慘的折磨，卻瞥見一道充滿仁愛和同情的閃光，其中有嶄新和真實的生活，可以取代他目前正在贖罪的沉重的命運。如果把那嚴酷而傷感的真理說出來，那就是：罪孽一旦在人的靈魂中造成一個躥隙，今世便萬難彌合。當然，你盡可以用心守望，以防敵人再度闖進禁地，甚至還可以預防他在隨后的襲擊中選擇另一條比他原來成功的突破曰更好的途徑。但是，那斷壁頹垣仍然存在，敵人就在附近暗中移動，試圖再次獲得難忘的勝利。

The struggle, if there were one, need not be described. Let it suffice, that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
如果這算是一場激爭，那是無須描述的。只消一句話就足夠了：牧師決心出走，但不是一個人。

"If, in all these past seven years," thought he, "I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven's mercy. But now- since I am irrevocably doomed-wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution? Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it! Neither can I any longer live without her companionship; so powerful is she to sustain- so tender to soothe! O Thou to whom I dare not lift mine eyes, wilt Thou yet pardon me!"
“在這過去的七個年頭中，”他想著，“如果我還能回憶起有過瞬間的寧靜或希望，我也會看在上天的仁慈的誠意上忍受下去的?？墒侨缃?，我既已命中注定無法挽回，又何必不去捕捉已經(jīng)定罪的犯人臨刑前所能得到的那點慰藉呢？或者說，象海絲特規(guī)勸我的那樣，如果這是一條通往美好生活的途徑，我踏上它肯定不是舍棄什么光明的前程！何況，沒有她的陪伴，我再也活不下去了；她對我的支撐是那樣有力，她對我的撫慰是那么溫柔！啊，我不敢抬眼仰望的天神啊，你還肯再饒恕我吧！”