THE SCARLET LETTER I .
THE PRISON DOOR , in sad-coloured garments and grey steeple-crowned hats , inter-mixed with , , and , was assembled in front of , the door of which was heavily timbered with oak , and studded with iron spikes .
The of , whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness might originally project , have invariably recognised it among earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as , and another portion as the site of .
In accordance with this rule it may safely be assumed that had built , almost as seasonably as marked out , on , and round about grave , which subsequently became the nucleus of all the congregated sepulchres in .
Certain it is that , some fifteen or twenty years after the settlement of , was already marked with weather-stains and other indications of age , which gave a yet darker aspect to beetle-browed and gloomy front .
The rust on the ponderous iron-work of oaken door looked more antique than anything else in .
Like all that pertains to crime , seemed never to have known a youthful era .
Before , and between and the wheel-track of , was .
But on one side of the portal , and rooted almost at the threshold , was a wild rose-bush , covered , in this month of June , with its delicate gems , which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to as went in , and to as came forth to doom , in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to .
This rose-bush , by a strange chance , has been kept alive in history ; but whether it had merely survived out of , so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it , or whether , as there is fair authority for believing , it had sprung up under the footsteps of as entered the prison-door , shall not take upon to determine .
Finding it so directly on the threshold of narrative , which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal , could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers , and present it to the reader .
It may serve , let hope , to symbolise some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track , or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow .
II .
, on a certain summer morning , not less than two centuries ago , was occupied by a pretty large number of , all with eyes intently fastened on the iron-clamped oaken door .
Amongst any other population , or at a later period in the history of , the grim rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of would have augured some awful business in hand .
It could have betokened nothing short of the anticipated execution of , on whom the sentence of had but confirmed the verdict of public sentiment .
But , in that early severity of the Puritan character , an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn .
It might be that , or , was to be corrected at the whipping-post .
It might be that , , or , was to be scourged out of , or , was to be driven with stripes into the shadow of .
It might be , too , that , like , , was to die upon the gallows .
In either case , there was very much the same solemnity of demeanour on the part of , as befitted .
Meagre , indeed , and cold , was the sympathy that might look for , from , at the scaffold .
On the other hand , a penalty which , in days , would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule , might then be invested with almost as stern a dignity as the punishment of death itself .
It was a circumstance to be noted on the summer morning when story begins its course , that , of whom there were several in the crowd , appeared to take a peculiar interest in whatever penal infliction might be expected to ensue .
The age had not so much refinement , that any sense of impropriety restrained from stepping forth into the public ways , and wedging , if occasion were , into the throng nearest to the scaffold at an execution .
Morally , as well as materially , there was a coarser fibre in than in , separated from by ; for , throughout that chain of ancestry , had transmitted to a fainter bloom , a more delicate and briefer beauty , and a slighter physical frame , if not character of less force and solidity than own .
stood within less than half a century of the period when had been the not altogether unsuitable representative of the sex .
were : and the beef and ale of , with a moral diet not a whit more refined , entered largely into composition .
The bright morning sun , therefore , shone on broad shoulders and well-developed busts , and on round and ruddy cheeks , that had ripened in , and had hardly yet grown paler or thinner in the atmosphere of .
There was , moreover , a boldness and rotundity of speech among , as most of seemed to be , that would startle at the present day , whether in respect to its purport or its volume of tone .
" , " said , " 'll tell ye a piece of mind .
It would be greatly for the public behoof if , being of mature age and in good repute , should have the handling of .
What think ye , gossips ?
If stood up for judgment before five , that are now here in a knot together , would come off with such a sentence as have awarded ?
Marry , trow not . "
" say , " said , " that , , takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon . "
" are , but merciful overmuch -- that is a truth , " added .
" At the very least , should have put the brand of a hot iron on 's forehead .
would have winced at that , warrant .
But -- -- little will care what put upon the bodice of gown !
Why , look , may cover it with a brooch , or such like heathenish adornment , and so walk as brave as ever ! "
" Ah , but , " interposed , more softly , , holding by the hand , " let cover the mark as will , the pang of it will be always in heart . "
" What do talk of marks and brands , whether on the bodice of gown or the flesh of forehead ? "
cried , .
" has brought shame upon all , and ought to die ; is there not law for it ?
Truly there is , both in the Scripture and the statute-book .
Then let , thank if and go astray . "
" Mercy on , ! "
exclaimed , " is there no virtue in , save what springs from a wholesome fear of the gallows ?
That is the hardest word yet !
Hush now , for the lock is turning in the prison-door , and here comes . "
The door of being flung open from within there appeared , in the first place , like a black shadow emerging into sunshine , the grim and grisly presence of , with a sword by side , and staff of office in hand .
prefigured and represented in aspect the whole dismal severity of the Puritanic code of law , which it was business to administer in its final and closest application to .
Stretching forth the official staff in left hand , laid right upon the shoulder of , whom thus drew forward , until , on the threshold of the prison-door , repelled , by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character , and stepped into the open air as if by own free will .
bore in arms , , who winked and turned aside little face from the too vivid light of day ; because existence , heretofore , had brought acquaintance only with the grey twilight of , or of .
When -- -- stood fully revealed before the crowd , it seemed to be first impulse to clasp closely to bosom ; not so much by an impulse of motherly affection , as that might thereby conceal a certain token , which was wrought or fastened into dress .
In a moment , however , wisely judging that one token of shame would but poorly serve to hide another , took on arm , and with a burning blush , and yet a haughty smile , and a glance that would not be abashed , looked around at and .
On the breast of gown , in fine red cloth , surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread , appeared the letter A .
It was so artistically done , and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy , that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which wore , and which was of a splendour in accordance with the taste of the age , but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of .