What if I say I shall not wait! 1
What if I burst the fleshly Gate－
And pass escaped－to thee!
What if I file this Mortal－off－4
See where it hurt me－That's enough－
And wade in Liberty!
They cannot take me－any more! 7
Dungeons can call－and Guns implore
Unmeaning－now－to me－
As laughter－was－an hour ago－10
Or Laces－or a Travelling Show－
Or who died－yesterday!
What if I burst the fleshly Gate－
And pass escaped－to thee!
What if I file this Mortal－off－4
See where it hurt me－That's enough－
And wade in Liberty!
They cannot take me－any more! 7
Dungeons can call－and Guns implore
Unmeaning－now－to me－
As laughter－was－an hour ago－10
Or Laces－or a Travelling Show－
Or who died－yesterday!
(F.305/J.277)
[1–3] I:: Hester Prynne, a woman raised an illegitimate child, but refused to reveal her lover's identity.
[3] thee:: Arthur Dimmesdale, a minister.
[6] Liberty:: Hester tried to persuade her lover to escape. "Why shouldst thou tarry so much as one other day in the torments that have so gnawed into thy life!－that have made thee feeble to will and to do!－that will leave thee powerless even to repent! Up, and away!"
[7–9] Unmeaning:: her lover didn't go away with her, but chose to die.
[10, 11] laughter, Show:: Hester's sufferings were unmeaninful to her, for her lover died.