The Scarlet Letter
Get this No Fear to go!
Chapter 17: The Pastor and His Parishioner: Page 5
Original Text | Modern Text |
| “O Hester!” cried Arthur Dimmesdale, in whose eyes a fitful light, kindled by her enthusiasm, flashed up and died away, “thou tellest of running a race to a man whose knees are tottering beneath him! I must die here. There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the wide, strange, difficult world, alone!” | “Oh, Hester,” cried Arthur Dimmesdale. Her enthusiasm sparked a flickering light in his eyes: It flashed up and died away. “You talk of running a race to a man whose knees are wobbling beneath him! I must die here! I do not have the strength or the courage to venture into the wide, strange, difficult world alone!” |
| It was the last expression of the despondency of a broken spirit. He lacked energy to grasp the better fortune that seemed within his reach. | It was the last expression of the despair of a broken spirit. He lacked the energy to grab onto the better fortune that seemed within his reach. |
| He repeated the word. | He repeated the words: |
| “Alone, Hester!” | “Alone, Hester!” |
| “Thou shalt not go alone!” answered she, in a deep whisper. | “You will not go alone!” she answered, in a deep whisper. |
| Then, all was spoken! | And when she’d said that, she’d said everything there was to say. |
