Introduction：One Sunday the congregation of the Milford church are surprised tosee the Rev。Mr。Hooper ascend his pulpit with a black veil over his face and down to his mouth。When the sermon ends，people rush out of the church and begin to gossip about the veil。With the passage of time he becomes a respectable minister，winning many converts and sympathizing wonderfully with sinners。At last when he is dying he is asked again by a neighboring minister to put aside the ever-present black veil，but he refuses again。
1 The sexton stood in the porch of Milford meeting-house，pulling lustily at the bell-rope。The old people of the village came stooping along the street。Children，with bright faces，tripped merrily beside their parents，or mimicked a graver gait，in the conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes。Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens，and fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on week days。When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch，the sexton began to toll the bell，keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr。Hooper’s door。The first glimpse of the clergyman’s figure was the signal for the bell to cease its summons。
2 “But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face？”cried the sexton in astonishment。
3 All within hearing immediately turned about，and beheld the semblance of Mr。Hooper，pacing slowly his meditative way towards the meeting-house。With one accord they started expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr。Hooper’s pulpit。
sexton：n。教堂司事
meeting-house：n。礼拜堂
lustily：adv。拼命地，起劲地
spruce：adj。整洁的
Sabbath：n。安息日，主日
Reverend：n。对牧师的尊称
behold：v。看，把……视为
semblance：n。外表
meditative：adj。沉思的
cushion：n。坐垫
pulpit：n。教堂里的讲道坛4“Are you sure it is our parson？”inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton。
5 “Of a certainty it is good Mr。Hooper，”replied the sexton。“He wasto have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute，of Westburybut Parson Shute sent to excusehimself yesterday，being to preach a funeral sermon。”
6 The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight。Mr。Hooper，a gentlemanly person，of about thirty，though still a bachelor，was dressed with due clerical neatness，as if a careful wife had starched his band，and brushed the weekly dust from his Sunday’s garb。There was but one thing remarkable in hisappearance。Swathed about his forehead，and hanging down over his face，so low as to be shaken by his breath，Mr。Hooper had on a black veil。On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of crape，which entirely concealed his features，except the mouth and chin，but probably did not intercept his sight，farther than to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things。With this gloomy shade before him，good Mr。Hooper walked onward，at a slow and quiet pace，stooping somewhat，and looking on the ground，as is customary with abstracted men，yet nodding kindly to those of his parishioners who still waited on the meeting-house steps。But so wonderstruck were they，that his greeting hardly met with a return。
7 “I can’t really feel as if good Mr。Hooper’s face was behind thatpiece of crape，”said the sexton。
8 “I don’t like it，”muttered an old woman，as she hobbled into the meeting-house。“He has changed himself into something awful，only by hiding his face。”
9 “Our parson has gone mad！”cried Goodman Gray，following him acrossthe threshold。
10 A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr。Hooper into themeeting-house，and set all the congregation astir。Few could refrain from twistingtheir heads towards the doormany stood upright，and turned directly aboutwhile several little boys clambered upon the seats，and came down again with a terrible racket。There was a general bustle，a rustling of the women’s gowns and shuffling of the men’s feet，greatly at variance with that hushed repose which should attend the entrance of the minister。But Mr。Hooper appeared not to notice the perturbation of his people。He entered with an almost noiseless step，bent his head mildly to the pews on each side，and bowed as he passed his oldest parishioner，a white-haired great-grandsire，who occupied an arm-chair in the centre of the aisle。It was strange to observe how slowly this venerableman became conscious of something singular in the appearance of his pastor。He seemed not fullyto partake of the prevailing wonder，till Mr。Hooper had ascended the stairs，and showed himself in the pulpit，face to face with his congregation，except for the black veil。That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn。It shook with his measured breath，as he gave out the psalmit threw its obscurity between himand the holy page，as he read the Scripturesand while heprayed，the veil layheavily on his uplifted countenance。Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being whom he was addressing？
starch：v。上浆，用淀粉浆硬
band：n。领带，从衣领前面垂下的两条带子，是牧师、学者或律师服装的一部分
swathe：v。绑，裹，包围
abstracted：adj。发呆的，出神的
astir：adj。活动的
bustle：n。奔忙，喧闹
repose：n。休息
perturbation：n。混乱
parishioner：n。教区居民
great-grandsire：n。曾祖父一辈的老人
venerable：adj。值得尊敬的
partake：v。分担，参加
psalm：n。诗篇
the Scriptures：《圣经》
the dread Being：上帝11Such was the effect of this simple piece of crape，that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting-house。Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister，as his blackveil to them。
12 Mr。Hooper had the reputation of a good preacher，but not an energetic one：he strove to win his people heavenward，by mild persuasive influences，ratherthan to drive them thither，by the thunders of the Word。The sermon which he nowdelivered was marked by the same characteristics of style and manner as the general series of his pulpit oratory。But there was something，either in the sentiment of the discourse itself，or in the imagination of the auditors，which made it greatly the most powerful effort that they had ever heard from their pastor’slips。It was tinged，rather more darkly than usual，with the gentle gloom of Mr。Hooper’s temperament。The subject had reference to secret sin，and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest，and would fain conceal from our own consciousness，even forgetting that the Omniscient can detect them。A subtle power was breathed into his words。Each member of the congregation，the most innocent girl，and the man of hardened breast，felt as if the preacher had crept upon them，behind his awful veil，and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought。Many spread their clasped hands on their bosoms。There was nothing terrible in what Mr。Hooper said，at least，no violenceand yet，with every tremor of his melancholy voice，the hearers quaked。And unsought pathos came handin hand with awe。So sensible were the audience of some unwonted attribute in their minister，that they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil，almost believing that a stranger’s visage would be discovered，though the form，gesture，and voice were those of Mr。Hooper。
13 At the close of the services，the people hurried out with indecorous confusion，eager to communicate their pent-up amazement，and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the black veil。Some gathered in little circles，huddled closely together，with their mouths all whispering in the centresome went homeward alone，wrapt in silent meditationsome talked loudly，and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter。A few shook their sagacious heads，intimating that they could penetrate the mysterywhile one or two affirmed that there was no mystery at all，but only that Mr。Hooper’s eyes were so weakened by the midnight lamp，as to require a shade。After a brief interval，forth came good Mr。Hooper also，in the rear of his flock。Turning his veiled face from one group to another，he paid due reverence to the hoary heads，saluted the middle aged with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide，greeted the youngwith mingled authority and love，and laid his hands on the little children’s heads to bless them。Such was always his custom on the Sabbath day。Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy。None，as on former occasions，aspired to the honor of walking by their pastor’s side。
Old Squire Saunders，doubtlessby an accidental lapse of memory，neglected to invite Mr。Hooper to his table，where the good clergyman had been wont to bless the food，almostevery Sunday since his settlement。He returned，therefore，to the parsonage，and，at the momentof closing the door，was observed to look back upon the people，all of whom hadtheir eyes fixed upon the minister。A sad smile gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil，and flickered about his mouth，glimmering as he disappeared。
评注：一贯受村民爱戴的牧师，突然一天戴着块黑面纱出现在大庭广众面前，各位虔诚的基督徒仅仅因为多出的这块面纱就对牧师的态度发生了一百八十度转变。
thither：adv。到那边，向那方
the Word：《圣经》
tinge：v。微染，使带气息
fain：adv。欣然，乐意地
the Omniscient：无所不知者，大写时指God
hoarded：adj。储藏的
iniquity：n。不公正
pathos：n。痛苦，感伤
unwonted：adj。不寻常的，异常的
visage：n。面容，容貌
indecorous：adj。不合礼节的
pent-up：adj。幽闭的，被压抑的
profane：v。亵渎
ostentatious：adj。装饰表面的，卖弄的
sagacious：adj。精明的
hoary：adj。灰白的
Squire：n。乡绅
wont：adj。习惯于
parsonage：n。牧师公馆14“How strange，”said a lady，“that a simple black veil，such as any woman might wear on her bonnet，should become such a terrible thing on Mr。Hooper’s face！”
15 “Something must surely be amiss with Mr。Hooper’s intellects，”observedher husband，the physician of the village。“But the strangest part of the affairis the effect of this vagary，even on a sober-minded man like myself。The black veil，though it covers only our pastor’s face，throws its influence over his whole person，and makes him ghostlike from head to foot。Do you not feel it so？”
16 “Truly do I，”replied the lady“and I would not be alone with him for the world。I wonder he is not afraid to be alone with himself！”
17 “Men sometimes are so，”said her husband。
18 The afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances。At its conclusion，the bell tolled for the funeral of a young lady。The relatives and friends were assembled in the house，and the more distant acquaintances stood about the door，speaking of the good qualities of the deceased，when their talk was interrupted by the appearance of Mr。Hooper，still covered with his black veil。It was now an appropriate emblem。The clergyman stepped into the room where the corpse was laid，and bent over the coffin，to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner。As he stooped，the veil hung straight down from his forehead，so that，if her eyelids had not been closed forever，the dead maiden might have seen his face。Could Mr。Hooper be fearful of her glance，that he so hastily caught back the black veil？A person who watched the interview between the dead and living，scrupled not to affirm，that，at the instantwhen the clergyman’s features were disclosed，the corpse had slightly shuddered，rustling the shroud and muslincap，though the countenance retained the composure of death。A superstitious old woman was the only witness of this prodigy。
From the coffin Mr。Hooper passed into the chambers of the mourners，and hence to the head of the staircase，to make the funeral prayer。It was a tender and heart-dissolving prayer，full of sorrow，yet so imbued with celestial hopes，that the music of a heavenly harp，sweptby the fingers of the dead，seemed faintly to be heard among the saddest accents of the minister。The people trembled，though they but darkly understood him when he prayed that they，and himself，and all of mortal race，might be ready，as he trusted this young maiden had been，for the dreadful hour that should snatch the veil from their faces。The bearers went heavily forth，and the mourners followed，saddening all the street，with the dead before them，and Mr。Hooper in hisblack veil behind。
评注：作为霍桑最富有争议的一个短篇，长期以来文学批评家一直对牧师佩戴黑纱的原因众说纷纭。该段中，胡珀牧师主持一位年轻女士的葬礼，其中某位老妇居然见到了尸体也被黑纱吓得一震。有学者认为，这是霍桑在暗示胡珀也许和这个女士生前有着某种不正常的关系，所以在她去世的那一天戴上黑纱进行忏悔。也有的学者不认同这种看法，认为胡珀只是用黑纱来折射人性原罪的普遍存在。无论如何，对于胡珀佩戴黑纱的原因，霍桑始终语焉不详，这也给了读者更大空间进行阐释。
19 “Why do you look back？”said one in the procession to his partner。
20 “I had a fancy，”replied she，“that the minister and the maiden’s spiritwere walking hand in hand。”
21 “And so had I，at the same moment，”said the other。
22 That night，the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be joined in wedlock。Though reckoned a melancholy man，Mr。Hooper had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions，which often excited a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been thrown away。There was no quality of his disposition which made him more beloved than this。The company at the wedding awaited his arrival with impatience，trusting that the strange awe，which had gathered over him throughout the day，would now be dispelled。But such was not the result。When Mr。Hooper came，the first thing that their eyes rested on was the same horrible blackveil，which had added deeper gloom to the funeral，and could portend nothing but evil to the wedding。Such was its immediate effect on the guests that a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from beneath the black crape，and dimmed the lightof the candles。The bridal pair stood up before the minister。But the bride’s cold fingers quivered in the tremulous hand of the bridegroom，and her deathlike paleness caused a whisper that the maiden who had been buried a few hours beforewas come from her grave to be married。
If ever another wedding were so dismal，it was that famous one where they tolled the wedding knell。After performing theceremony，Mr。Hooper raised a glass of wine to his lips，wishing happiness to the new-married couple in a strain of mild pleasantry that oughtto have brightened the features of the guests，like a cheerful gleam from the heart。At that instant，catching a glimpse of his figure in the looking-glass，the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others。His frame shuddered，his lips grew white，he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet，and rushed forth into the darkness。For the Earth，too，had on her Black Veil。
amiss：adj。错误的
vagary：n。奇特行为
emblem：n。象征
scruple：v。踌躇，有顾忌，迟疑
affirm：v。断言
muslin：n。一种薄细的棉布
prodigy：n。惊人的事物，奇观，奇事
imbue：v。浸透
bearer：n。抬棺人
wedlock：n。婚姻
placid：adj。平静的
portend：v。预示
tremulous：adj。震颤的
toll：v。鸣钟
knell：n。丧钟
pleasantry：n。幽默，玩笑
overwhelm：v。吞没，席卷23The next day，the whole village of Milford talked of little else than Parson Hooper’s black veil。That，and the mystery concealed behind it，supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street，and good women gossiping at their open windows。It was the first item of news that the tavern-keeper told to his guests。The children babbled of it on their way to school。One imitative little imp covered his face with an old black handkerchief，thereby soaffrighting his playmates that the panic seized himself，and he well-nigh losthis wits by his own waggery。
24 It was remarkable that of all the busybodies and impertinent people in theparish，not one ventured to put the plain question to Mr。Hooper，wherefore he did this thing。Hitherto，whenever there appeared the slightest call for such interference，he had never lacked advisers，nor shown himself adverse to be guidedby their judgment。If he erred at all，it was by so painful a degree of self-distrust，that even the mildest censure would lead him to consideran indifferent action as a crime。Yet，though so well acquainted with this amiable weakness，noindividual among his parishioners chose to make the black veil a subject of friendly remonstrance。There was a feeling of dread，neither plainly confessed nor carefully concealed，which caused each to shift the responsibility upon another，till at length it was found expedient to send a deputation of the church，in order to deal with Mr。
Hooper about the mystery，before it should grow into a scandal。Never did an embassy so ill discharge its duties。The minister received them with friendly courtesy，but became silent，after they were seated，leaving to his visitors the whole burden of introducing their important business。The topic，it might be supposed，was obvious enough。There was the black veil swathed round Mr。Hooper’s forehead，and concealing every feature above his placid mouth，on which，at times，they could perceive the glimmering of a melancholy smile。Butthat piece of crape，to their imagination，seemed to hang down before his heart，the symbol of a fearful secret between him and them。Were the veil but cast aside，they might speak freely of it，but not till then。Thus they sat a considerable time，speechless，confused，and shrinking uneasily from Mr。Hooper’s eye，which they felt to be fixed upon them with an invisible glance。Finally，the deputies returned abashed to their constituents，pronouncing the matter too weighty to be handled，except by a council of the churches，if，indeed，it might not require a general synod。
imp：n。顽童
well-nigh：adv。几乎，可谓
waggery：n。玩弄，恶作剧
impertinent：adj。鲁莽的
hitherto：adv。迄今，到目前为止
censure：n。责难
indifferent：adj。平庸的
remonstrance：n。抗议
expedient：adj。有利的
deputation：n。代表团
embassy：n。教会派出的调查小组
abashed：adj。不安的，窘迫的
constituent：n。委托人
council：n。大会
synod：n。（教堂主管们讨论裁定重大教会问题的）教会会议25But there was one person in the village unappalled by the awe with which the black veil had impressed all beside herself。When the deputies returned without an explanation，or even venturing to demand one，she，with the calm energy ofher character，determined to chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be settling round Mr。Hooper，every moment more darkly than before。As his plighted wife，it should be her privilege to know what the black veil concealed。At the minister’s first visit，therefore，she entered upon the subject with a direct simplicity，which made the task easier both for him and her。After he had seated himself，she fixed her eyes steadfastly upon the veil，but could discern nothing of the dreadful gloom that had so overawed the multitude：it was but a double fold of crape，hanging down from his forehead to his mouth，and slightly stirring with his breath。
26 “No，”said she aloud，and smiling，“there is nothing terrible in this pieceof crape，except that it hides a face which I am always glad to look upon。Come，good sir，let the sun shine from behind the cloud。First lay aside your black veil：then tell me why you put it on。”
27 Mr。Hooper’s smile glimmered faintly。
28 “There is an hour to come，”said he，“when all of us shall cast aside our veils。Take it not amiss，beloved friend，if I wear this piece ofcrape till then。”
29 “Your words are a mystery，too，”returned the young lady。“Take away the veil from them，at least。”
30 “Elizabeth，I will，”said he，“so far as my vow may suffer me。Know，then，this veil is a type and a symbol，and I am bound to wear it ever，both in light and darkness，in solitude and before the gaze of multitudes，and as with strangers，so with my familiar friends。No mortal eye will see it withdrawn。This dismal shade must separate me from the world：even you，Elizabeth，can never come behind it！”
31 “What grievous affliction hath befallen you，”she earnestly inquired，“that you should thus darken your eyes forever？”
32 “If it be a sign of mourning，”replied Mr。Hooper，“I，perhaps，like mostother mortals，have sorrows dark enough to be typified by a black veil。”
33 “But what if the world will not believe that it is the type of an innocent sorrow？”urged Elizabeth。“Beloved and respected as you are，there may be whispers that you hide your face under the consciousness of secret sin。For the sake ofyour holy office，do away this scandal！”
34 The color rose into her cheeks as she intimated the natureof the rumors that were already abroad in the village。But Mr。Hooper’s mildness did not forsakehim。He even smiled again—that same sad smile，which always appeared like a faint glimmering of light，proceeding from the obscurity beneath the veil。
35 “If I hide my face for sorrow，there is cause enough，”he merely replied“and if I cover it for secret sin，what mortal might not do the same？”
评注：当教区居民将黑纱视为罪孽的标志而避之惟恐不及时，胡珀牧师却坚持认为，如果有罪才会戴黑纱，那么所有的凡夫俗子都应该效仿他，因为哪个人又不是罪孽深重呢？这里面体现了清教主义中的原罪思想，同时也说明霍桑对人性之恶的确抱有比较悲观的看法。
36 And with this gentle，but unconquerable obstinacy did he resist all her entreaties。At length Elizabeth sat silent。For a few moments she appeared lost in thought，considering，probably，what new methods might be tried to withdraw her lover from so dark a fantasy，which，if it had no other meaning，was perhaps a symptom of mental disease。Though of a firmer character than his own，the tears rolled down her cheeks。But，in an instant，as it were，a new feeling took the place of sorrow：her eyes were fixed insensibly on the black veil，when，like a sudden twilight in the air，its terrors fell around her。She arose，and stood trembling before him。
37 “And do you feel it then，at last？”said he mournfully。
38 She made no reply，but covered her eyes with her hand，and turned to leave the room。He rushed forward and caught her arm。
39 “Have patience with me，Elizabeth！”cried he，passionately。“Do not desert me，though this veil must be between us here on earth。Be mine，and hereafter there shall be no veil over my face，no darkness between our souls！It is but a mortal veil—it is not for eternity！Oh！you know not how lonely I am，and how frightened，to be alone behind my black veil。Do not leave me in this miserable obscurity forever！”
40 “Lift the veil but once，and look me in the face，”said she。
41 “Never！It cannot be！”replied Mr。Hooper。
42 “Then farewell！”said Elizabeth。
43 She withdrew her arm from his grasp，and slowly departed，pausing at the door，to give one long shuddering gaze，that seemed almost to penetrate the mystery of the black veil。But，even amid his grief，Mr。Hooper smiled to think that only a material emblem had separated him from happiness，though the horrors，which it shadowed forth，must be drawn darkly between the fondest of lovers。
评注：胡珀牧师的最大悲哀在于，人们的所谓信仰和爱竟然抵挡不过一块普普通通的黑纱。这证明了信仰和爱的虚妄，还是人性之罪的强大呢？
plighted wife：未婚妻
take it not amiss：不要为此生气
affliction：n。痛苦，苦恼
intimate：v。宣布，明确表示
obstinacy：n。固执
entreaty：n。请求
insensibly：adv。没有知觉地
hereafter：adv。今后，从此以后
shuddering：adj。发抖的44From that time no attempts were made to remove Mr。Hooper’s black veil，or，by a direct appeal，to discover the secret which it was supposed to hide。By persons who claimed a superiority to popular prejudice，it was reckoned merely aneccentric whim，such as often mingles with the sober actions ofmen otherwise rational，and tinges them all with its own semblance of insanity。But with the multitude，good Mr。Hooper was irreparably a bugbear。He could notwalk the streetwith any peace of mind，so conscious was he that the gentle and timid would turn aside to avoid him，and that others would make it a point of hardihood to throw themselves in his way。The impertinence of the latter class compelled him to give up his customary walk at sunset to the burial groundfor when he leaned pensively over the gate，there would always be faces behind the gravestones，peeping at his black veil。
A fable went the rounds that the stare of the dead people drove him thence。It grieved him，to the very depth of his kind heart，to observehow the children fled from his approach，breaking up their merriest sports，while his melancholy figure was yet afar off。Their instinctive dread caused him tofeel more strongly than aught else，that a preternatural horrorwas interwoven with the threads of the black crape。In truth，his own antipathyto the veil wasknown to be so great，that he never willingly passed before a mirror，nor stooped to drink at a still fountain，lest，in its peaceful bosom，he should be affrighted by himself。This was what gave plausibility to the whispers，that Mr。Hooper’s conscience tortured him for some great crime too horrible to be entirely concealed，or otherwise than so obscurely intimated。Thus，from beneath the black veil，there rolled a cloud into the sunshine，an ambiguity of sin or sorrow，which enveloped the poor minister，so that love or sympathy could never reach him。It was said that ghost and fiend consorted with him there。With self-shudderingsand outward terrors，he walked continually in its shadow，groping darkly withinhis own soul，or gazing through a medium that saddened the whole world。Even the lawless wind，it was believed，respected his dreadful secret，and never blew aside the veil。But still good Mr。Hooper sadly smiled at the pale visages of theworldly throng as he passed by。
45 Among all its bad influences，the black veil had the one desirable effect，of making its wearer a very efficient clergyman。By the aid of his mysterious emblem—for there was no other apparent cause—he became a man of awful powerover souls that were in agony for sin。His converts always regarded him with a dread peculiar to themselves，affirming，though but figuratively，that，before he brought them to celestial light，they had been with him behind theblack veil。Itsgloom，indeed，enabled him to sympathize with all dark affections。Dying sinners cried aloud for Mr。Hooper，and would not yield their breath till he appearedthough ever，as he stooped to whisper consolation，they shuddered at the veiledface so near their own。Such were the terrors of the black veil，even when Death had bared his visage！Strangers came long distances to attend service at his church，with the mere idle purpose of gazing at his figure，because it was forbidden them to behold his face。But many were made to quake ere they departed！Once，during Governor Belcher’s administration，Mr。Hooper was appointed to preach the election sermon。Covered with his black veil，he stood before the chief magistrate，the council，and the representatives，and wrought so deep an impression that the legislative measures of that year were characterized by all the gloom and piety of our earliest ancestral sway。
评注：注意故事发生的背景是在18世纪上半叶的新英格兰清教主义盛行的殖民地，当时美国尚未建国。
whim：n。怪念头，奇想
bugbear：n。恐怖之物
hardihood：n。胆大无敌，厚颜
pensively：adv。沉思地
thence：adv。从此，从那时起
preternatural：adj。超自然的
antipathy：n。憎恶，反感
affright：v。惊吓
obscurely：adv。模模糊糊地
figuratively：adv。比喻地，象征性地
celestial：adj。天空的，神圣的
ere：prep。（古语词）以前
Governor Belcher：Jonathan Belcher，1730—1741年间任马萨诸塞州和新罕不什尔州的州长46In this manner Mr。Hooper spent a long life，irreproachable in outward act，yet shrouded in dismal suspicionskind and loving，though unloved，and dimly feareda man apart from men，shunned in their health and joy，but ever summonedto their aid in mortal anguish。As years wore on，shedding their snows above his sable veil，he acquired a name throughout the New England churches，and they called him Father Hooper。Nearly all his parishioners，who were of mature age when he was settled，had been borne away by many a funeral：he had one congregationin the church，and a more crowded one in the churchyardand having wrought so late into the evening，and done his work so well，it was now good Father Hooper’s turn to rest。
47 Several persons were visible by the shaded candle-light，in the death chamber of the old clergyman。Natural connections he had none。But there was the decorously grave，though unmoved physician，seeking only to mitigate the last pangs of the patient whom he could not save。There were the deacons，and other eminently pious members of his church。There，also，was the Reverend Mr。Clark，of Westbury，a young and zealous divine，who had ridden in haste to pray by the bedside of the expiring minister。There was the nurse，no hired handmaiden of death，butone whose calm affection had endured thus long in secrecy，in solitude，amid the chill of age，and would not perish，even at the dying hour。Who，but Elizabeth！And there lay the hoary head of good Father Hooper upon the death pillow，withthe black veil still swathed about his brow，and reaching down over his face，so that each more difficult gasp of his faint breath caused it to stir。All through life that piece of crape had hung between him and the world：it had separatedhim from cheerful brotherhood and woman’s love，and kept him in that saddest ofall prisons，his own heartand still it lay upon his face，as if to deepen thegloom of his darksome chamber，and shade him from the sunshine of eternity。
48 For some time previous，his mind had been confused，wavering doubtfully between the past and the present，and hovering forward，as it were，at intervals，into the indistinctness of the world to come。There had been feverish turns，whichtossed him from side to side，and wore away what little strength he had。But inhis most convulsive struggles，and in the wildest vagaries of his intellect，when no other thought retained its sober influence，he still showed an awful solicitude lest the black veil should slip aside。Even if his bewildered soul could have forgotten，there was a faithful woman at his pillow，who，with averted eyes，would have covered that aged face，which she had last beheld in the comeliness of manhood。At length the death-stricken old man lay quietly in the torpor of mental and bodily exhaustion，with an imperceptible pulse，and breath that grew fainter and fainter，except when a long，deep，and irregular inspiration seemed toprelude the flight of his spirit。
49 The minister of Westbury approached the bedside。
50 “Venerable Father Hooper，”said he，“the moment of your release is at hand。Are you ready for the lifting of the veil that shuts in time from eternity？”
51 Father Hooper at first replied merely by a feeble motion of his headthen，apprehensive，perhaps，that his meaning might be doubtful，he exerted himself to speak。
52 “Yea，”said he，in faint accents，“my soul hath a patient weariness until that veil be lifted。”
irreproachable：adj。无可指责的
shun：v。避开
natural connections：亲戚
waver：v。摇摆
turn：n。疾病的侵袭
convulsive：adj。痉挛性的
comeliness：n。青春活力
torpor：n。迟钝，无感觉
imperceptible：adj。感觉不到的
prelude：v。预示
release：n。（委婉语）死53“And is it fitting，”resumed the Reverend Mr。Clark，“that a man so given to prayer，of such a blameless example，holy in deed and thought，so far as mortal judgment may pronounceis it fitting that a father in the church should leave a shadow on his memory，that may seem to blacken a life so pure？I pray you，my venerable brother，let not this thing be！Suffer us to be gladdened by your triumphant aspect as you go to your reward。Before the veil of eternity be lifted，let me cast aside this black veil from your face！”
54 And thus speaking，the Reverend Mr。Clark bent forward to reveal the mystery of so many years。But，exerting a sudden energy，that made all the beholders stand aghast，Father Hooper snatched both his hands from beneath the bedclothes，and pressed them strongly on the black veil，resolute to struggle，if the minister of Westbury would contend with a dying man。
55 “Never！”cried the veiled clergyman。“On earth，never！”
56 “Dark old man！”exclaimed the affrighted minister，“with what horrible crime upon your soul are you now passing to the judgment？”
57 Father Hooper’s breath heavedit rattled in his throatbut，with a mighty effort，grasping forward with his hands，he caught hold of life，and held it back till he should speak。He even raised himself in bedand there he sat，shivering with the arms of death around him，while the black veil hung down，awful atthat last moment，in the gathered terrors of a lifetime。And yet the faint，sadsmile，so often there，now seemed to glimmer from its obscurity，and linger on Father Hooper’s lips。
58 “Why do you tremble at me alone？”cried he，turning his veiled face round the circle of pale spectators。“Tremble also at each other！Have men avoided men，and women shown no pity，and children screamed and fled，only for my black veil？What，but the mystery which it obscurely typifies，has made this piece of crape so awful？When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friendthe lover to his best belovedwhen man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator，loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sinthen deem me a monster，for the symbol beneath which I have lived，and die！I look around me，and，lo！on every visage a Black Veil！”
59 While his auditors shrank from one another，in mutual affright，Father Hooper fell back upon his pillow，a veiled corpse，with a faint smile lingering on the lips。Still veiled，they laid him in his coffin，and a veiled corpse they bore him to the grave。The grass of many years has sprung up and withered on that grave，the burial stone is moss-grown，and good Mr。Hooper’s face is dustbutawful is still the thought that it mouldered beneath the Black Veil！
suffer：v。允许
aspect：n。相貌
judgment：n。上帝最后的审判
rattle：v。发出喀哒喀哒声
linger on：徘徊在，留存在
lo：int。瞧！看！
wither：v。枯萎
moulder：v。腐朽，崩溃
Comprehension Exercises
1 。For Hawthorne，everyone seems to cover up his innermost“evil”inthe way the minister tries to convince his people with his black veil。Illustrate his belief by some examples from the reading。
2 。In this story Mr。Hooper’s antipathy to the view is known to be sogreat that he never willingly passes before a mirror，nor stoops to drink at a still fountain。Then why does he persist in wearing it？
3 。Hawthorne，who seems to be haunted by his sense of sin and evil in life，thinks all people are sinners。Argue whether you are for or against this notion。
纳撒尼尔·霍桑（1804—1864）：美国小说家，移民望族的后裔，就读于缅因州波多因学院，同学中包括大诗人朗费罗（Longfellow）和罗斯福。大学毕业后回乡隐居，1828年匿名发表小说《范肖》（Fanshawe），1836年到波士顿任海关职员，6年后与索非亚·皮博迪结婚。他于1837年出版第一部短篇小说集《故事重述》（Twice-Told Tales）。不久，与麦尔维尔（Melville）相识结为挚友。成名后还担任过美国驻英国、意大利领事。霍桑开创了美国象征小说的传统，作品或多或少具有象征寓意—人生担负原罪（original sin），人人心中隐藏罪恶。他擅长心理描写和揭示人物复杂的道德、精神冲突作品充满浪漫主义色彩，从不拘泥于事物的真实临摹。对美国短篇小说的建立和发展起过重要的作用。代表作《红字》（The Scarlet Letter，1850）奠定了其在美国文坛上的地位。