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diff --git a/old/tmonk10.txt b/old/tmonk10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..827e753 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tmonk10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15725 @@ +***The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Monk, by Matthew Lewis*** + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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Keller <keller@Ra.MsState.Edu> + + + + + +MATTHEW LEWIS + + + +THE MONK - A ROMANCE + + + Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, sagas, +Nocturnos lemures, portentaque. + Horat. + + Dreams, magic terrors, spells of mighty power, +Witches, and ghosts who rove at midnight hour. + + +PREFACE + +IMITATION OF HORACE +Ep. 20.--B. 1. + + Methinks, Oh! vain ill-judging Book, +I see thee cast a wishful look, +Where reputations won and lost are +In famous row called Paternoster. +Incensed to find your precious olio +Buried in unexplored port-folio, +You scorn the prudent lock and key, +And pant well bound and gilt to see +Your Volume in the window set +Of Stockdale, Hookham, or Debrett. + + Go then, and pass that dangerous bourn +Whence never Book can back return: +And when you find, condemned, despised, +Neglected, blamed, and criticised, +Abuse from All who read you fall, +(If haply you be read at all +Sorely will you your folly sigh at, +And wish for me, and home, and quiet. + + Assuming now a conjuror's office, I +Thus on your future Fortune prophesy:-- +Soon as your novelty is o'er, +And you are young and new no more, +In some dark dirty corner thrown, +Mouldy with damps, with cobwebs strown, +Your leaves shall be the Book-worm's prey; +Or sent to Chandler-Shop away, +And doomed to suffer public scandal, +Shall line the trunk, or wrap the candle! + + But should you meet with approbation, +And some one find an inclination +To ask, by natural transition +Respecting me and my condition; +That I am one, the enquirer teach, +Nor very poor, nor very rich; +Of passions strong, of hasty nature, +Of graceless form and dwarfish stature; +By few approved, and few approving; +Extreme in hating and in loving; + + Abhorring all whom I dislike, +Adoring who my fancy strike; +In forming judgements never long, +And for the most part judging wrong; +In friendship firm, but still believing +Others are treacherous and deceiving, +And thinking in the present aera +That Friendship is a pure chimaera: +More passionate no creature living, +Proud, obstinate, and unforgiving, +But yet for those who kindness show, +Ready through fire and smoke to go. + + Again, should it be asked your page, +'Pray, what may be the author's age?' +Your faults, no doubt, will make it clear, +I scarce have seen my twentieth year, +Which passed, kind Reader, on my word, +While England's Throne held George the Third. + + Now then your venturous course pursue: +Go, my delight! Dear Book, adieu! + +Hague, +Oct. 28, 1794. M. G. L. + + +ADVERTISEMENT +The first idea of this Romance was suggested by the story of the +Santon Barsisa, related in The Guardian.--The Bleeding Nun is a +tradition still credited in many parts of Germany; and I have +been told that the ruins of the Castle of Lauenstein, which She +is supposed to haunt, may yet be seen upon the borders of +Thuringia.--The Water-King, from the third to the twelfth stanza, +is the fragment of an original Danish Ballad--And Belerma and +Durandarte is translated from some stanzas to be found in a +collection of old Spanish poetry, which contains also the popular +song of Gayferos and Melesindra, mentioned in Don Quixote.--I +have now made a full avowal of all the plagiarisms of which I am +aware myself; but I doubt not, many more may be found, of which I +am at present totally unconscious. + + + +VOLUME I + +CHAPTER I + +----Lord Angelo is precise; +Stands at a guard with envy; Scarce confesses +That his blood flows, or that his appetite +Is more to bread than stone. + Measure for Measure. + + +Scarcely had the Abbey Bell tolled for five minutes,and already +was the Church of the Capuchins thronged with Auditors. Do not +encourage the idea that the Crowd was assembled either from +motives of piety or thirst of information. But very few were +influenced by those reasons; and in a city where superstition +reigns with such despotic sway as in Madrid, to seek for true +devotion would be a fruitless attempt. The Audience now +assembled in the Capuchin Church was collected by various causes, +but all of them were foreign to the ostensible motive. The Women +came to show themselves, the Men to see the Women: Some were +attracted by curiosity to hear an Orator so celebrated; Some came +because they had no better means of employing their time till the +play began; Some, from being assured that it would be impossible +to find places in the Church; and one half of Madrid was brought +thither by expecting to meet the other half. The only persons +truly anxious to hear the Preacher were a few antiquated +devotees, and half a dozen rival Orators, determined to find +fault with and ridicule the discourse. As to the remainder of +the Audience, the Sermon might have been omitted altogether, +certainly without their being disappointed, and very probably +without their perceiving the omission. + +Whatever was the occasion, it is at least certain that the +Capuchin Church had never witnessed a more numerous assembly. +Every corner was filled, every seat was occupied. The very +Statues which ornamented the long aisles were pressed into the +service. Boys suspended themselves upon the wings of Cherubims; +St. Francis and St. Mark bore each a spectator on his shoulders; +and St. Agatha found herself under the necessity of carrying +double. The consequence was, that in spite of all their hurry +and expedition, our two newcomers, on entering the Church, looked +round in vain for places. + +However, the old Woman continued to move forwards. In vain were +exclamations of displeasure vented against her from all sides: +In vain was She addressed with--'I assure you, Segnora, there are +no places here.'-- 'I beg, Segnora, that you will not crowd me so +intolerably!'--'Segnora, you cannot pass this way. Bless me! +How can people be so troublesome!'--The old Woman was obstinate, +and on She went. By dint of perseverance and two brawny arms She +made a passage through the Crowd, and managed to bustle herself +into the very body of the Church, at no great distance from the +Pulpit. Her companion had followed her with timidity and in +silence, profiting by the exertions of her conductress. + +'Holy Virgin!' exclaimed the old Woman in a tone of +disappointment, while She threw a glance of enquiry round her; +'Holy Virgin! What heat! What a Crowd! I wonder what can be the +meaning of all this. I believe we must return: There is no such +thing as a seat to be had, and nobody seems kind enough to +accommodate us with theirs.' + +This broad hint attracted the notice of two Cavaliers, who +occupied stools on the right hand, and were leaning their backs +against the seventh column from the Pulpit. Both were young, and +richly habited. Hearing this appeal to their politeness +pronounced in a female voice, they interrupted their conversation +to look at the speaker. She had thrown up her veil in order to +take a clearer look round the Cathedral. Her hair was red, and +She squinted. The Cavaliers turned round, and renewed their +conversation. + +'By all means,' replied the old Woman's companion; 'By all means, +Leonella, let us return home immediately; The heat is excessive, +and I am terrified at such a crowd.' + +These words were pronounced in a tone of unexampled sweetness. +The Cavaliers again broke off their discourse, but for this time +they were not contented with looking up: Both started +involuntarily from their seats, and turned themselves towards the +Speaker. + +The voice came from a female, the delicacy and elegance of whose +figure inspired the Youths with the most lively curiosity to view +the face to which it belonged. This satisfaction was denied +them. Her features were hidden by a thick veil; But struggling +through the crowd had deranged it sufficiently to discover a neck +which for symmetry and beauty might have vied with the Medicean +Venus. It was of the most dazzling whiteness, and received +additional charms from being shaded by the tresses of her long +fair hair, which descended in ringlets to her waist. Her figure +was rather below than above the middle size: It was light and +airy as that of an Hamadryad. Her bosom was carefully veiled. +Her dress was white; it was fastened by a blue sash, and just +permitted to peep out from under it a little foot of the most +delicate proportions. A chaplet of large grains hung upon her +arm, and her face was covered with a veil of thick black gauze. +Such was the female, to whom the youngest of the Cavaliers now +offered his seat, while the other thought it necessary to pay the +same attention to her companion. + +The old Lady with many expressions of gratitude, but without much +difficulty, accepted the offer, and seated herself: The young +one followed her example, but made no other compliment than a +simple and graceful reverence. Don Lorenzo (such was the +Cavalier's name, whose seat She had accepted) placed himself near +her; But first He whispered a few words in his Friend's ear, who +immediately took the hint, and endeavoured to draw off the old +Woman's attention from her lovely charge. + +'You are doubtless lately arrived at Madrid,' said Lorenzo to his +fair Neighbour; 'It is impossible that such charms should have +long remained unobserved; and had not this been your first public +appearance, the envy of the Women and adoration of the Men would +have rendered you already sufficiently remarkable.' + +He paused, in expectation of an answer. As his speech did not +absolutely require one, the Lady did not open her lips: After a +few moments He resumed his discourse: + +'Am I wrong in supposing you to be a Stranger to Madrid?' + +The Lady hesitated; and at last, in so low a voice as to be +scarcely intelligible, She made shift to answer,-- 'No, Segnor.' + +'Do you intend making a stay of any length?' + +'Yes, Segnor.' + +'I should esteem myself fortunate, were it in my power to +contribute to making your abode agreeable. I am well known at +Madrid, and my Family has some interest at Court. If I can be of +any service, you cannot honour or oblige me more than by +permitting me to be of use to you.'--'Surely,' said He to +himself, 'She cannot answer that by a monosyllable; now She must +say something to me.' + +Lorenzo was deceived, for the Lady answered only by a bow. + +By this time He had discovered that his Neighbour was not very +conversible; But whether her silence proceeded from pride, +discretion, timidity, or idiotism, He was still unable to decide. + +After a pause of some minutes--'It is certainly from your being a +Stranger,' said He, 'and as yet unacquainted with our customs, +that you continue to wear your veil. Permit me to remove it.' + +At the same time He advanced his hand towards the Gauze: The +Lady raised hers to prevent him. + +'I never unveil in public, Segnor.' + +'And where is the harm, I pray you?' interrupted her Companion +somewhat sharply; 'Do not you see that the other Ladies have all +laid their veils aside, to do honour no doubt to the holy place +in which we are? I have taken off mine already; and surely if I +expose my features to general observation, you have no cause to +put yourself in such a wonderful alarm! Blessed Maria! Here is a +fuss and a bustle about a chit's face! Come, come, Child! +Uncover it; I warrant you that nobody will run away with it from +you--' + +'Dear aunt, it is not the custom in Murcia.' + +'Murcia, indeed! Holy St. Barbara, what does that signify? You +are always putting me in mind of that villainous Province. If it +is the custom in Madrid, that is all that we ought to mind, and +therefore I desire you to take off your veil immediately. Obey +me this moment Antonia, for you know that I cannot bear +contradiction--' + +Her niece was silent, but made no further opposition to Don +Lorenzo's efforts, who, armed with the Aunt's sanction hastened +to remove the Gauze. What a Seraph's head presented itself to +his admiration! Yet it was rather bewitching than beautiful; It +wasnot so lovely from regularity of features as from sweetness +and sensibility of Countenance. The several parts of her face +considered separately, many of them were far from handsome; but +when examined together, the whole was adorable. Her skin though +fair was not entirely without freckles; Her eyes were not very +large, nor their lashes particularly long. But then her lips +were of the most rosy freshness; Her fair and undulating hair, +confined by a simple ribband, poured itself below her waist in a +profusion of ringlets; Her throat was full and beautiful in the +extreme; Her hand and arm were formed with the most perfect +symmetry; Her mild blue eyes seemed an heaven of sweetness, and +the crystal in which they moved sparkled with all the brilliance +of Diamonds: She appeared to be scarcely fifteen; An arch smile, +playing round her mouth, declared her to be possessed of +liveliness, which excess of timidity at present represt; She +looked round her with a bashful glance; and whenever her eyes +accidentally met Lorenzo's, She dropt them hastily upon her +Rosary; Her cheek was immediately suffused with blushes, and She +began to tell her beads; though her manner evidently showed that +She knew not what She was about. + +Lorenzo gazed upon her with mingled surprise and admiration; but +the Aunt thought it necessary to apologize for Antonia's +mauvaise honte. + +' 'Tis a young Creature,' said She, 'who is totally ignorant of +the world. She has been brought up in an old Castle in Murcia; +with no other Society than her Mother's, who, God help her! has +no more sense, good Soul, than is necessary to carry her Soup to +her mouth. Yet She is my own Sister, both by Father and Mother.' + +'And has so little sense?' said Don Christoval with feigned +astonishment; 'How very Extraordinary!' + +'Very true, Segnor; Is it not strange? However, such is the +fact; and yet only to see the luck of some people! A young +Nobleman, of the very first quality, took it into his head that +Elvira had some pretensions to Beauty--As to pretensions, in +truth, She had always enough of THEM; But as to Beauty. . . .! +If I had only taken half the pains to set myself off which She +did. . . .! But this is neither here nor there. As I was +saying, Segnor, a young Nobleman fell in love with her, and +married her unknown to his Father. Their union remained a secret +near three years, But at last it came to the ears of the old +Marquis, who, as you may well suppose, was not much pleased with +the intelligence. Away He posted in all haste to Cordova, +determined to seize Elvira, and send her away to some place or +other, where She would never be heard of more. Holy St. Paul! +How He stormed on finding that She had escaped him, had joined +her Husband, and that they had embarked together for the Indies. +He swore at us all, as if the Evil Spirit had possessed him; He +threw my Father into prison, as honest a painstaking Shoe-maker +as any in Cordova; and when He went away, He had the cruelty to +take from us my Sister's little Boy, then scarcely two years old, +and whom in the abruptness of her flight, She had been obliged to +leave behind her. I suppose, that the poor little Wretch met +with bitter bad treatment from him, for in a few months after, we +received intelligence of his death.' + +'Why, this was a most terrible old Fellow, Segnora!' + +'Oh! shocking! and a Man so totally devoid of taste! Why, would +you believe it, Segnor? When I attempted to pacify him, He +cursed me for a Witch, and wished that to punish the Count, my +Sister might become as ugly as myself! Ugly indeed! I like him +for that.' + +'Ridiculous', cried Don Christoval; 'Doubtless the Count would +have thought himself fortunate, had he been permitted to exchange +the one Sister for the other.' + +'Oh! Christ! Segnor, you are really too polite. However, I am +heartily glad that the Conde was of a different way of thinking. +A mighty pretty piece of business, to be sure, Elvira has made of +it! After broiling and stewing in the Indies for thirteen long +years, her Husband dies, and She returns to Spain, without an +House to hide her head, or money to procure her one! This +Antonia was then but an Infant, and her only remaining Child. +She found that her Father-in-Law had married again, that he was +irreconcileable to the Conde, and that his second Wife had +produced him a Son, who is reported to be a very fine young Man. +The old Marquis refused to see my Sister or her Child; But sent +her word that on condition of never hearing any more of her, He +would assign her a small pension, and She might live in an old +Castle which He possessed in Murcia; This had been the favourite +habitation of his eldest Son; But since his flight from Spain, +the old Marquis could not bear the place, but let it fall to ruin +and confusion--My Sister accepted the proposal; She retired to +Murcia, and has remained there till within the last Month.' + +'And what brings her now to Madrid?' enquired Don Lorenzo, whom +admiration of the young Antonia compelled to take a lively +interest in the talkative old Woman's narration. + +'Alas! Segnor, her Father-in-Law being lately dead, the Steward +of his Murcian Estates has refused to pay her pension any longer. + +With the design of supplicating his Son to renew it, She is now +come to Madrid; But I doubt, that She might have saved herself +the trouble! You young Noblemen have always enough to do with +your money, and are not very often disposed to throw it away upon +old Women. I advised my Sister to send Antonia with her +petition; But She would not hear of such a thing. She is so +obstinate! Well! She will find herself the worse for not +following my counsels: the Girl has a good pretty face, and +possibly might have done much.' + +'Ah! Segnora,' interrupted Don Christoval, counterfeiting a +passionate air; 'If a pretty face will do the business, why has +not your Sister recourse to you?' + +'Oh! Jesus! my Lord, I swear you quite overpower me with your +gallantry! But I promise you that I am too well aware of the +danger of such Expeditions to trust myself in a young Nobleman's +power! No, no; I have as yet preserved my reputation without +blemish or reproach, and I always knew how to keep the Men at a +proper distance.' + +'Of that, Segnora, I have not the least doubt. But permit me to +ask you; Have you then any aversion to Matrimony?' + +'That is an home question. I cannot but confess, that if an +amiable Cavalier was to present himself. . . .' + +Here She intended to throw a tender and significant look upon Don +Christoval; But, as She unluckily happened to squint most +abominably, the glance fell directly upon his Companion: Lorenzo +took the compliment to himself, and answered it by a profound +bow. + +'May I enquire,' said He, 'the name of the Marquis?' + +'The Marquis de las Cisternas.' + +'I know him intimately well. He is not at present in Madrid, but +is expected here daily. He is one of the best of Men; and if the +lovely Antonia will permit me to be her Advocate with him, I +doubt not my being able to make a favourable report of her +cause.' + +Antonia raised her blue eyes, and silently thanked him for the +offer by a smile of inexpressible sweetness. Leonella's +satisfaction was much more loud and audible: Indeed, as her Niece +was generally silent in her company, She thought it incumbent +upon her to talk enough for both: This She managed without +difficulty, for She very seldom found herself deficient in words. + +'Oh! Segnor!' She cried; 'You will lay our whole family under the +most signal obligations! I accept your offer with all possible +gratitude, and return you a thousand thanks for the generosity of +your proposal. Antonia, why do not you speak, Child? While the +Cavalier says all sorts of civil things to you, you sit like a +Statue, and never utter a syllable of thanks, either bad, good, +or indifferent!' + +'My dear Aunt, I am very sensible that. . . .' + +'Fye, Niece! How often have I told you, that you never should +interrupt a Person who is speaking!? When did you ever know me +do such a thing? Are these your Murcian manners? Mercy on me! +I shall never be able to make this Girl any thing like a Person +of good breeding. But pray, Segnor,' She continued, addressing +herself to Don Christoval, 'inform me, why such a Crowd is +assembled today in this Cathedral?' + +'Can you possibly be ignorant, that Ambrosio, Abbot of this +Monastery, pronounces a Sermon in this Church every Thursday? +All Madrid rings with his praises. As yet He has preached but +thrice; But all who have heard him are so delighted with his +eloquence, that it is as difficult to obtain a place at Church, +as at the first representation of a new Comedy. His fame +certainly must have reached your ears--' + +'Alas! Segnor, till yesterday I never had the good fortune to see +Madrid; and at Cordova we are so little informed of what is +passing in the rest of the world, that the name of Ambrosio has +never been mentioned in its precincts.' + +'You will find it in every one's mouth at Madrid. He seems to +have fascinated the Inhabitants; and not having attended his +Sermons myself, I am astonished at the Enthusiasm which He has +excited. The adoration paid him both by Young and Old, by Man +and Woman is unexampled. The Grandees load him with presents; +Their Wives refuse to have any other Confessor, and he is known +through all the city by the name of the ''Man of Holiness''.' + +'Undoubtedly, Segnor, He is of noble origin--' + +'That point still remains undecided. The late Superior of the +Capuchins found him while yet an Infant at the Abbey door. All +attempts to discover who had left him there were vain, and the +Child himself could give no account of his Parents. He was +educated in the Monastery, where He has remained ever since. He +early showed a strong inclination for study and retirement, and +as soon as He was of a proper age, He pronounced his vows. No +one has ever appeared to claim him, or clear up the mystery which +conceals his birth; and the Monks, who find their account in the +favour which is shewn to their establishment from respect to him, +have not hesitated to publish that He is a present to them from +the Virgin. In truth the singular austerity of his life gives +some countenance to the report. He is now thirty years old, +every hour of which period has been passed in study, total +seclusion from the world, and mortification of the flesh. Till +these last three weeks, when He was chosen superior of the +Society to which He belongs, He had never been on the outside of +the Abbey walls: Even now He never quits them except on +Thursdays, when He delivers a discourse in this Cathedral which +all Madrid assembles to hear. His knowledge is said to be the +most profound, his eloquence the most persuasive. In the whole +course of his life He has never been known to transgress a single +rule of his order; The smallest stain is not to be discovered +upon his character; and He is reported to be so strict an +observer of Chastity, that He knows not in what consists the +difference of Man and Woman. The common People therefore esteem +him to be a Saint.' + +'Does that make a Saint?' enquired Antonia; 'Bless me! Then am I +one?' + +'Holy St. Barbara!' exclaimed Leonella; 'What a question! Fye, +Child, Fye! These are not fit subjects for young Women to +handle. You should not seem to remember that there is such a +thing as a Man in the world, and you ought to imagine every body +to be of the same sex with yourself. I should like to see you +give people to understand, that you know that a Man has no +breasts, and no hips, and no . . .'. + +Luckily for Antonia's ignorance which her Aunt's lecture would +soon have dispelled, an universal murmur through the Church +announced the Preacher's arrival. Donna Leonella rose from her +seat to take a better view of him, and Antonia followed her +example. + +He was a Man of noble port and commanding presence. His stature +was lofty, and his features uncommonly handsome. His Nose was +aquiline, his eyes large black and sparkling, and his dark brows +almost joined together. His complexion was of a deep but clear +Brown; Study and watching had entirely deprived his cheek of +colour. Tranquillity reigned upon his smooth unwrinkled +forehead; and Content, expressed upon every feature, seemed to +announce the Man equally unacquainted with cares and crimes. He +bowed himself with humility to the audience: Still there was a +certain severity in his look and manner that inspired universal +awe, and few could sustain the glance of his eye at once fiery +and penetrating. Such was Ambrosio, Abbot of the Capuchins, and +surnamed, 'The Man of Holiness'. + +Antonia, while She gazed upon him eagerly, felt a pleasure +fluttering in her bosom which till then had been unknown to her, +and for which She in vain endeavoured to account. She waited +with impatience till the Sermon should begin; and when at length +the Friar spoke, the sound of his voice seemed to penetrate into +her very soul. Though no other of the Spectators felt such +violent sensations as did the young Antonia, yet every one +listened with interest and emotion. They who were insensible to +Religion's merits, were still enchanted with Ambrosio's oratory. +All found their attention irresistibly attracted while He spoke, +and the most profound silence reigned through the crowded Aisles. + +Even Lorenzo could not resist the charm: He forgot that Antonia +was seated near him, and listened to the Preacher with undivided +attention. + +In language nervous, clear, and simple, the Monk expatiated on +the beauties of Religion. He explained some abstruse parts of +the sacred writings in a style that carried with it universal +conviction. His voice at once distinct and deep was fraught with +all the terrors of the Tempest, while He inveighed against the +vices of humanity, and described the punishments reserved for +them in a future state. Every Hearer looked back upon his past +offences, and trembled: The Thunder seemed to roll, whose bolt +was destined to crush him, and the abyss of eternal destruction +to open before his feet. But when Ambrosio, changing his theme, +spoke of the excellence of an unsullied conscience, of the +glorious prospect which Eternity presented to the Soul untainted +with reproach, and of the recompense which awaited it in the +regions of everlasting glory, His Auditors felt their scattered +spirits insensibly return. They threw themselves with confidence +upon the mercy of their Judge; They hung with delight upon the +consoling words of the Preacher; and while his full voice swelled +into melody, They were transported to those happy regions which +He painted to their imaginations in colours so brilliant and +glowing. + +The discourse was of considerable length; Yet when it concluded, +the Audience grieved that it had not lasted longer. Though the +Monk had ceased to speak, enthusiastic silence still prevailed +through the Church: At length the charm gradually dissolving, +the general admiration was expressed in audible terms. As +Ambrosio descended from the Pulpit, His Auditors crowded round +him, loaded him with blessings, threw themselves at his feet, and +kissed the hem of his Garment. He passed on slowly with his +hands crossed devoutly upon his bosom, to the door opening into +the Abbey Chapel, at which his Monks waited to receive him. He +ascended the Steps, and then turning towards his Followers, +addressed to them a few words of gratitude, and exhortation. +While He spoke, his Rosary, composed of large grains of amber, +fell from his hand, and dropped among the surrounding multitude. +It was seized eagerly, and immediately divided amidst the +Spectators. Whoever became possessor of a Bead, preserved it as +a sacred relique; and had it been the Chaplet of thrice-blessed +St. Francis himself, it could not have been disputed with greater +vivacity. The Abbot, smiling at their eagerness, pronounced his +benediction, and quitted the Church, while humility dwelt upon +every feature. Dwelt She also in his heart? + +Antonia's eyes followed him with anxiety. As the Door closed +after him, it seemed to her as had she lost some one essential to +her happiness. A tear stole in silence down her cheek. + +'He is separated from the world!' said She to herself; 'Perhaps, +I shall never see him more!' + +As she wiped away the tear, Lorenzo observed her action. + +'Are you satisfied with our Orator?' said He; 'Or do you think +that Madrid overrates his talents?' + +Antonia's heart was so filled with admiration for the Monk, that +She eagerly seized the opportunity of speaking of him: Besides, +as She now no longer considered Lorenzo as an absolute Stranger, +She was less embarrassed by her excessive timidity. + +'Oh! He far exceeds all my expectations,' answered She; 'Till +this moment I had no idea of the powers of eloquence. But when +He spoke, his voice inspired me with such interest, such esteem, +I might almost say such affection for him, that I am myself +astonished at the acuteness of my feelings.' + +Lorenzo smiled at the strength of her expressions. + +'You are young and just entering into life,' said He; 'Your +heart, new to the world and full of warmth and sensibility, +receives its first impressions with eagerness. Artless yourself, +you suspect not others of deceit; and viewing the world through +the medium of your own truth and innocence, you fancy all who +surround you to deserve your confidence and esteem. What pity, +that these gay visions must soon be dissipated! What pity, that +you must soon discover the baseness of mankind, and guard against +your fellow-creatures as against your Foes!' + +'Alas! Segnor,' replied Antonia; 'The misfortunes of my Parents +have already placed before me but too many sad examples of the +perfidy of the world! Yet surely in the present instance the +warmth of sympathy cannot have deceived me.' + +'In the present instance, I allow that it has not. Ambrosio's +character is perfectly without reproach; and a Man who has passed +the whole of his life within the walls of a Convent cannot have +found the opportunity to be guilty, even were He possessed of the +inclination. But now, when, obliged by the duties of his +situation, He must enter occasionally into the world, and be +thrown into the way of temptation, it is now that it behoves him +to show the brilliance of his virtue. The trial is dangerous; He +is just at that period of life when the passions are most +vigorous, unbridled, and despotic; His established reputation +will mark him out to Seduction as an illustrious Victim; Novelty +will give additional charms to the allurements of pleasure; and +even the Talents with which Nature has endowed him will +contribute to his ruin, by facilitating the means of obtaining +his object. Very few would return victorious from a contest so +severe.' + +'Ah! surely Ambrosio will be one of those few.' + +'Of that I have myself no doubt: By all accounts He is an +exception to mankind in general, and Envy would seek in vain for +a blot upon his character.' + +'Segnor, you delight me by this assurance! It encourages me to +indulge my prepossession in his favour; and you know not with +what pain I should have repressed the sentiment! Ah! dearest +Aunt, entreat my Mother to choose him for our Confessor.' + +'I entreat her?' replied Leonella; 'I promise you that I shall do +no such thing. I do not like this same Ambrosio in the least; He +has a look of severity about him that made me tremble from head +to foot: Were He my Confessor, I should never have the courage +to avow one half of my peccadilloes, and then I should be in a +rare condition! I never saw such a stern-looking Mortal, and +hope that I never shall see such another. His description of the +Devil, God bless us! almost terrified me out of my wits, and when +He spoke about Sinners He seemed as if He was ready to eat them.' + +'You are right, Segnora,' answered Don Christoval; 'Too great +severity is said to be Ambrosio's only fault. Exempted himself +from human failings, He is not sufficiently indulgent to those of +others; and though strictly just and disinterested in his +decisions, his government of the Monks has already shown some +proofs of his inflexibility. But the crowd is nearly dissipated: +Will you permit us to attend you home?' + +'Oh! Christ! Segnor,' exclaimed Leonella affecting to blush; 'I +would not suffer such a thing for the Universe! If I came home +attended by so gallant a Cavalier, My Sister is so scrupulous +that She would read me an hour's lecture, and I should never hear +the last of it. Besides, I rather wish you not to make your +proposals just at present.' + +'My proposals? I assure you, Segnora. . . .' + +'Oh! Segnor, I believe that your assurances of impatience are all +very true; But really I must desire a little respite. It would +not be quite so delicate in me to accept your hand at first +sight.' + +'Accept my hand? As I hope to live and breathe. . . .' + +'Oh! dear Segnor, press me no further, if you love me! I shall +consider your obedience as a proof of your affection; You shall +hear from me tomorrow, and so farewell. But pray, Cavaliers, +may I not enquire your names?' + +'My Friend's,' replied Lorenzo, 'is the Conde d'Ossorio, and mine +Lorenzo de Medina.' + +' 'Tis sufficient. Well, Don Lorenzo, I shall acquaint my Sister +with your obliging offer, and let you know the result with all +expedition. Where may I send to you?' + +'I am always to be found at the Medina Palace.' + +'You may depend upon hearing from me. Farewell, Cavaliers. +Segnor Conde, let me entreat you to moderate the excessive ardour +of your passion: However, to prove to you that I am not +displeased with you, and prevent your abandoning yourself to +despair, receive this mark of my affection, and sometimes bestow +a thought upon the absent Leonella.' + +As She said this, She extended a lean and wrinkled hand; which +her supposed Admirer kissed with such sorry grace and constraint +so evident, that Lorenzo with difficulty repressed his +inclination to laugh. Leonella then hastened to quit the Church; +The lovely Antonia followed her in silence; but when She reached +the Porch, She turned involuntarily, and cast back her eyes +towards Lorenzo. He bowed to her, as bidding her farewell; She +returned the compliment, and hastily withdrew. + +'So, Lorenzo!' said Don Christoval as soon as they were alone, +'You have procured me an agreeable Intrigue! To favour your +designs upon Antonia, I obligingly make a few civil speeches +which mean nothing to the Aunt, and at the end of an hour I find +myself upon the brink of Matrimony! How will you reward me for +having suffered so grievously for your sake? What can repay me +for having kissed the leathern paw of that confounded old Witch? +Diavolo! She has left such a scent upon my lips that I shall +smell of garlick for this month to come! As I pass along the +Prado, I shall be taken for a walking Omelet, or some large Onion +running to seed!' + +'I confess, my poor Count,' replied Lorenzo, 'that your service +has been attended with danger; Yet am I so far from supposing it +be past all endurance that I shall probably solicit you to carry +on your amours still further.' + +'From that petition I conclude that the little Antonia has made +some impression upon you.' + +'I cannot express to you how much I am charmed with her. Since +my Father's death, My Uncle the Duke de Medina, has signified to +me his wishes to see me married; I have till now eluded his +hints, and refused to understand them; But what I have seen this +Evening. . . .' + +'Well? What have you seen this Evening? Why surely, Don +Lorenzo, You cannot be mad enough to think of making a Wife out +of this Grand-daughter of ''as honest a painstaking Shoe-maker +as any in Cordova''?' + +'You forget, that She is also the Grand-daughter of the late +Marquis de las Cisternas; But without disputing about birth and +titles, I must assure you, that I never beheld a Woman so +interesting as Antonia.' + +'Very possibly; But you cannot mean to marry her?' + +'Why not, my dear Conde? I shall have wealth enough for both of +us, and you know that my Uncle thinks liberally upon the subject. + +From what I have seen of Raymond de las Cisternas, I am certain +that he will readily acknowledge Antonia for his Niece. Her +birth therefore will be no objection to my offering her my hand. +I should be a Villain could I think of her on any other terms +than marriage; and in truth She seems possessed of every quality +requisite to make me happy in a Wife. Young, lovely, gentle, +sensible. . . .' + +'Sensible? Why, She said nothing but ''Yes,'' and ''No''.' + +'She did not say much more, I must confess--But then She always +said ''Yes,'' or ''No,'' in the right place.' + +'Did She so? Oh! your most obedient! That is using a right +Lover's argument, and I dare dispute no longer with so profound a +Casuist. Suppose we adjourn to the Comedy?' + +'It is out of my power. I only arrived last night at Madrid, and +have not yet had an opportunity of seeing my Sister; You know +that her Convent is in this Street, and I was going thither when +the Crowd which I saw thronging into this Church excited my +curiosity to know what was the matter. I shall now pursue my +first intention, and probably pass the Evening with my Sister at +the Parlour grate.' + +'Your Sister in a Convent, say you? Oh! very true, I had +forgotten. And how does Donna Agnes? I am amazed, Don Lorenzo, +how you could possibly think of immuring so charming a Girl +within the walls of a Cloister!' + +'I think of it, Don Christoval? How can you suspect me of such +barbarity? You are conscious that She took the veil by her own +desire, and that particular circumstances made her wish for a +seclusion from the World. I used every means in my power to +induce her to change her resolution; The endeavour was fruitless, +and I lost a Sister!' + +'The luckier fellow you; I think, Lorenzo, you were a +considerable gainer by that loss: If I remember right, Donna +Agnes had a portion of ten thousand pistoles, half of which +reverted to your Lordship. By St. Jago! I wish that I had fifty +Sisters in the same predicament. I should consent to losing them +every soul without much heart-burning--' + +'How, Conde?' said Lorenzo in an angry voice; 'Do you suppose me +base enough to have influenced my Sister's retirement? Do you +suppose that the despicable wish to make myself Master of her +fortune could. . . .' + +'Admirable! Courage, Don Lorenzo! Now the Man is all in a +blaze. God grant that Antonia may soften that fiery temper, or +we shall certainly cut each other's throat before the Month is +over! However, to prevent such a tragical Catastrophe for the +present, I shall make a retreat, and leave you Master of the +field. Farewell, my Knight of Mount Aetna! Moderate that +inflammable disposition, and remember that whenever it is +necessary to make love to yonder Harridan, you may reckon upon my +services.' + +He said, and darted out of the Cathedral. + +'How wild-brained!' said Lorenzo; 'With so excellent an heart, +what pity that He possesses so little solidity of judgment!' + +The night was now fast advancing. The Lamps were not yet +lighted. The faint beams of the rising Moon scarcely could +pierce through the gothic obscurity of the Church. Lorenzo found +himself unable to quit the Spot. The void left in his bosom by +Antonia's absence, and his Sister's sacrifice which Don +Christoval had just recalled to his imagination, created that +melancholy of mind which accorded but too well with the +religious gloom surrounding him. He was still leaning against +the seventh column from the Pulpit. A soft and cooling air +breathed along the solitary Aisles: The Moonbeams darting into +the Church through painted windows tinged the fretted roofs and +massy pillars with a thousand various tints of light and colours: + +Universal silence prevailed around, only interrupted by the +occasional closing of Doors in the adjoining Abbey. + +The calm of the hour and solitude of the place contributed to +nourish Lorenzo's disposition to melancholy. He threw himself +upon a seat which stood near him, and abandoned himself to the +delusions of his fancy. He thought of his union with Antonia; He +thought of the obstacles which might oppose his wishes; and a +thousand changing visions floated before his fancy, sad 'tis +true, but not unpleasing. Sleep insensibly stole over him, and +the tranquil solemnity of his mind when awake for a while +continued to influence his slumbers. + +He still fancied himself to be in the Church of the Capuchins; +but it was no longer dark and solitary. Multitudes of silver +Lamps shed splendour from the vaulted Roof; Accompanied by the +captivating chaunt of distant choristers, the Organ's melody +swelled through the Church; The Altar seemed decorated as for +some distinguished feast; It was surrounded by a brilliant +Company; and near it stood Antonia arrayed in bridal white, and +blushing with all the charms of Virgin Modesty. + +Half hoping, half fearing, Lorenzo gazed upon the scene before +him. Sudden the door leading to the Abbey unclosed, and He saw, +attended by a long train of Monks, the Preacher advance to whom +He had just listened with so much admiration. He drew near +Antonia. + +'And where is the Bridegroom?' said the imaginary Friar. + +Antonia seemed to look round the Church with anxiety. +Involuntarily the Youth advanced a few steps from his +concealment. She saw him; The blush of pleasure glowed upon her +cheek; With a graceful motion of her hand She beckoned to him to +advance. He disobeyed not the command; He flew towards her, and +threw himself at her feet. + +She retreated for a moment; Then gazing upon him with unutterable +delight;--'Yes!' She exclaimed, 'My Bridegroom! My destined +Bridegroom!' She said, and hastened to throw herself into his +arms; But before He had time to receive her, an Unknown rushed +between them. His form was gigantic; His complexion was swarthy, +His eyes fierce and terrible; his Mouth breathed out volumes of +fire; and on his forehead was written in legible +characters--'Pride! Lust! Inhumanity!' + +Antonia shrieked. The Monster clasped her in his arms, and +springing with her upon the Altar, tortured her with his odious +caresses. She endeavoured in vain to escape from his embrace. +Lorenzo flew to her succour, but ere He had time to reach her, a +loud burst of thunder was heard. Instantly the Cathedral seemed +crumbling into pieces; The Monks betook themselves to flight, +shrieking fearfully; The Lamps were extinguished, the Altar sank +down, and in its place appeared an abyss vomiting forth clouds of +flame. Uttering a loud and terrible cry the Monster plunged into +the Gulph, and in his fall attempted to drag Antonia with him. +He strove in vain. Animated by supernatural powers She +disengaged herself from his embrace; But her white Robe was left +in his possession. Instantly a wing of brilliant splendour +spread itself from either of Antonia's arms. She darted upwards, +and while ascending cried to Lorenzo, + +'Friend! we shall meet above!' + +At the same moment the Roof of the Cathedral opened; Harmonious +voices pealed along the Vaults; and the glory into which Antonia +was received was composed of rays of such dazzling brightness, +that Lorenzo was unable to sustain the gaze. His sight failed, +and He sank upon the ground. + +When He woke, He found himself extended upon the pavement of the +Church: It was Illuminated, and the chaunt of Hymns sounded from +a distance. For a while Lorenzo could not persuade himself that +what He had just witnessed had been a dream, so strong an +impression had it made upon his fancy. A little recollection +convinced him of its fallacy: The Lamps had been lighted during +his sleep, and the music which he heard was occasioned by the +Monks, who were celebrating their Vespers in the Abbey Chapel. + +Lorenzo rose, and prepared to bend his steps towards his Sister's +Convent. His mind fully occupied by the singularity of his +dream, He already drew near the Porch, when his attention was +attracted by perceiving a Shadow moving upon the opposite wall. +He looked curiously round, and soon descried a Man wrapped up in +his Cloak, who seemed carefully examining whether his actions +were observed. Very few people are exempt from the influence of +curiosity. The Unknown seemed anxious to conceal his business in +the Cathedral, and it was this very circumstance, which made +Lorenzo wish to discover what He was about. + +Our Hero was conscious that He had no right to pry into the +secrets of this unknown Cavalier. + +'I will go,' said Lorenzo. And Lorenzo stayed, where He was. + +The shadow thrown by the Column, effectually concealed him from +the Stranger, who continued to advance with caution. At length +He drew a letter from beneath his cloak, and hastily placed it +beneath a Colossal Statue of St. Francis. Then retiring with +precipitation, He concealed himself in a part of the Church at a +considerable distance from that in which the Image stood. + +'So!' said Lorenzo to himself; 'This is only some foolish love +affair. I believe, I may as well be gone, for I can do no good +in it.' + +In truth till that moment it never came into his head that He +could do any good in it; But He thought it necessary to make some +little excuse to himself for having indulged his curiosity. He +now made a second attempt to retire from the Church: For this +time He gained the Porch without meeting with any impediment; But +it was destined that He should pay it another visit that night. +As He descended the steps leading into the Street, a Cavalier +rushed against him with such violence, that Both were nearly +overturned by the concussion. Lorenzo put his hand to his sword. + +'How now, Segnor?' said He; 'What mean you by this rudeness?' + +'Ha! Is it you, Medina?' replied the Newcomer, whom Lorenzo by +his voice now recognized for Don Christoval; 'You are the +luckiest Fellow in the Universe, not to have left the Church +before my return. In, in! my dear Lad! They will be here +immediately!' + +'Who will be here?' + +'The old Hen and all her pretty little Chickens! In, I say, and +then you shall know the whole History.' + +Lorenzo followed him into the Cathedral, and they concealed +themselves behind the Statue of St. Francis. + +'And now,' said our Hero, 'may I take the liberty of asking, what +is the meaning of all this haste and rapture?' + +'Oh! Lorenzo, we shall see such a glorious sight! The Prioress +of St. Clare and her whole train of Nuns are coming hither. You +are to know, that the pious Father Ambrosio (The Lord reward him +for it!) will upon no account move out of his own precincts: It +being absolutely necessary for every fashionable Convent to have +him for its Confessor, the Nuns are in consequence obliged to +visit him at the Abbey; since when the Mountain will not come to +Mahomet, Mahomet must needs go to the Mountain. Now the Prioress +of St. Clare, the better to escape the gaze of such impure eyes +as belong to yourself and your humble Servant, thinks proper to +bring her holy flock to confession in the Dusk: She is to be +admitted into the Abbey Chapel by yon private door. The +Porteress of St. Clare, who is a worthy old Soul and a particular +Friend of mine, has just assured me of their being here in a few +moments. There is news for you, you Rogue! We shall see some of +the prettiest faces in Madrid!' + +'In truth, Christoval, we shall do no such thing. The Nuns are +always veiled.' + +'No! No! I know better. On entering a place of worship, they +ever take off their veils from respect to the Saint to whom 'tis +dedicated. But Hark! They are coming! Silence, silence! +Observe, and be convinced.' + +'Good!' said Lorenzo to himself; 'I may possibly discover to whom +the vows are addressed of this mysterious Stranger.' + +Scarcely had Don Christoval ceased to speak, when the Domina of +St. Clare appeared, followed by a long procession of Nuns. Each +upon entering the Church took off her veil. The Prioress crossed +her hands upon her bosom, and made a profound reverence as She +passed the Statue of St. Francis, the Patron of this Cathedral. +The Nuns followed her example, and several moved onwards without +having satisfied Lorenzo's curiosity. He almost began to despair +of seeing the mystery cleared up, when in paying her respects to +St. Francis, one of the Nuns happened to drop her Rosary. As She +stooped to pick it up, the light flashed full upon her face. At +the same moment She dexterously removed the letter from beneath +the Image, placed it in her bosom, and hastened to resume her +rank in the procession. + +'Ha!' said Christoval in a low voice; 'Here we have some little +Intrigue, no doubt.' + +'Agnes, by heaven!' cried Lorenzo. + +'What, your Sister? Diavolo! Then somebody, I suppose, will +have to pay for our peeping.' + +'And shall pay for it without delay,' replied the incensed +Brother. + +The pious procession had now entered the Abbey; The Door was +already closed upon it. The Unknown immediately quitted his +concealment and hastened to leave the Church: Ere He could +effect his intention, He descried Medina stationed in his +passage. The Stranger hastily retreated, and drew his Hat over +his eyes. + +'Attempt not to fly me!' exclaimed Lorenzo; 'I will know who you +are, and what were the contents of that Letter.' + +'Of that Letter?' repeated the Unknown. 'And by what title do +you ask the question?' + +'By a title of which I am now ashamed; But it becomes not you to +question me. Either reply circumstantially to my demands, or +answer me with your Sword.' + +'The latter method will be the shortest,' rejoined the Other, +drawing his Rapier; 'Come on, Segnor Bravo! I am ready!' + +Burning with rage, Lorenzo hastened to the attack: The +Antagonists had already exchanged several passes before +Christoval, who at that moment had more sense than either of +them, could throw himself between their weapons. + +'Hold! Hold! Medina!' He exclaimed; 'Remember the consequences +of shedding blood on consecrated ground!' + +The Stranger immediately dropped his Sword. + +'Medina?' He cried; 'Great God, is it possible! Lorenzo, have you +quite forgotten Raymond de las Cisternas?' + +Lorenzo's astonishment increased with every succeeding moment. +Raymond advanced towards him, but with a look of suspicion He +drew back his hand, which the Other was preparing to take. + +'You here, Marquis? What is the meaning of all this? You +engaged in a clandestine correspondence with my Sister, whose +affections. . . .' + +'Have ever been, and still are mine. But this is no fit place +for an explanation. Accompany me to my Hotel, and you shall know +every thing. Who is that with you?' + +'One whom I believe you to have seen before,' replied Don +Christoval, 'though probably not at Church.' + +'The Conde d'Ossorio?' + +'Exactly so, Marquis.' + +'I have no objection to entrusting you with my secret, for I am +sure that I may depend upon your silence.' + +'Then your opinion of me is better than my own, and therefore I +must beg leave to decline your confidence. Do you go your own +way, and I shall go mine. Marquis, where are you to be found?' + +'As usual, at the Hotel de las Cisternas; But remember, that I am +incognito, and that if you wish to see me, you must ask for +Alphonso d'Alvarada.' + +'Good! Good! Farewell, Cavaliers!' said Don Christoval, and +instantly departed. + +'You, Marquis,' said Lorenzo in the accent of surprise; 'You, +Alphonso d'Alvarada?' + +'Even so, Lorenzo: But unless you have already heard my story +from your Sister, I have much to relate that will astonish you. +Follow me, therefore, to my Hotel without delay.' + +At this moment the Porter of the Capuchins entered the Cathedral +to lock up the doors for the night. The two Noblemen instantly +withdrew, and hastened with all speed to the Palace de las +Cisternas. + +'Well, Antonia!' said the Aunt, as soon as She had quitted the +Church; 'What think you of our Gallants? Don Lorenzo really +seems a very obliging good sort of young Man: He paid you some +attention, and nobody knows what may come of it. But as to Don +Christoval, I protest to you, He is the very Phoenix of +politeness. So gallant! so well-bred! So sensible, and so +pathetic! Well! If ever Man can prevail upon me to break my vow +never to marry, it will be that Don Christoval. You see, Niece, +that every thing turns out exactly as I told you: The very +moment that I produced myself in Madrid, I knew that I should be +surrounded by Admirers. When I took off my veil, did you see, +Antonia, what an effect the action had upon the Conde? And when +I presented him my hand, did you observe the air of passion with +which He kissed it? If ever I witnessed real love, I then saw it +impressed upon Don Christoval's countenance!' + +Now Antonia had observed the air, with which Don Christoval had +kissed this same hand; But as She drew conclusions from it +somewhat different from her Aunt's, She was wise enough to hold +her tongue. As this is the only instance known of a Woman's ever +having done so, it was judged worthy to be recorded here. + +The old Lady continued her discourse to Antonia in the same +strain, till they gained the Street in which was their Lodging. +Here a Crowd collected before their door permitted them not to +approach it; and placing themselves on the opposite side of the +Street, they endeavoured to make out what had drawn all these +people together. After some minutes the Crowd formed itself into +a Circle; And now Antonia perceived in the midst of it a Woman of +extraordinary height, who whirled herself repeatedly round and +round, using all sorts of extravagant gestures. Her dress was +composed of shreds of various-coloured silks and Linens +fantastically arranged, yet not entirely without taste. Her head +was covered with a kind of Turban, ornamented with vine leaves +and wild flowers. She seemed much sun-burnt, and her complexion +was of a deep olive: Her eyes looked fiery and strange; and in +her hand She bore a long black Rod, with which She at intervals +traced a variety of singular figures upon the ground, round about +which She danced in all the eccentric attitudes of folly and +delirium. Suddenly She broke off her dance, whirled herself +round thrice with rapidity, and after a moment's pause She sang +the following Ballad. + + THE GYPSY'S SONG + + Come, cross my hand! My art surpasses + All that did ever Mortal know; +Come, Maidens, come! My magic glasses + Your future Husband's form can show: + + For 'tis to me the power is given + Unclosed the book of Fate to see; + To read the fixed resolves of heaven, + And dive into futurity. + + I guide the pale Moon's silver waggon; + The winds in magic bonds I hold; + I charm to sleep the crimson Dragon, + Who loves to watch o'er buried gold: + + Fenced round with spells, unhurt I venture + Their sabbath strange where Witches keep; + Fearless the Sorcerer's circle enter, + And woundless tread on snakes asleep. + + Lo! Here are charms of mighty power! + This makes secure an Husband's truth + And this composed at midnight hour + Will force to love the coldest Youth: + + If any Maid too much has granted, + Her loss this Philtre will repair; + This blooms a cheek where red is wanted, + And this will make a brown girl fair! + + Then silent hear, while I discover + What I in Fortune's mirror view; + And each, when many a year is over, + Shall own the Gypsy's sayings true. + +'Dear Aunt!' said Antonia when the Stranger had finished, 'Is She +not mad?' + +'Mad? Not She, Child; She is only wicked. She is a Gypsy, a +sort of Vagabond, whose sole occupation is to run about the +country telling lyes, and pilfering from those who come by their +money honestly. Out upon such Vermin! If I were King of Spain, +every one of them should be burnt alive who was found in my +dominions after the next three weeks.' + +These words were pronounced so audibly that they reached the +Gypsy's ears. She immediately pierced through the Crowd and +made towards the Ladies. She saluted them thrice in the Eastern +fashion, and then addressed herself to Antonia. + +THE GYPSY + + 'Lady! gentle Lady! Know, + I your future fate can show; + Give your hand, and do not fear; + Lady! gentle Lady! hear!' + +'Dearest Aunt!' said Antonia, 'Indulge me this once! Let me have +my fortune told me!' + +'Nonsense, Child! She will tell you nothing but falsehoods.' + +'No matter; Let me at least hear what She has to say. Do, my dear +Aunt! Oblige me, I beseech you!' + +'Well, well! Antonia, since you are so bent upon the thing, . . . +Here, good Woman, you shall see the hands of both of us. There +is money for you, and now let me hear my fortune.' + +As She said this, She drew off her glove, and presented her hand; +The Gypsy looked at it for a moment, and then made this reply. + + +THE GYPSY + + 'Your fortune? You are now so old, + Good Dame, that 'tis already told: + Yet for your money, in a trice + I will repay you in advice. + Astonished at your childish vanity, + Your Friends alltax you with insanity, + And grieve to see you use your art + To catch some youthful Lover's heart. + Believe me, Dame, when all is done, + Your age will still be fifty one; + And Men will rarely take an hint + Of love, from two grey eyes that squint. + Take then my counsels; Lay aside + Your paint and patches, lust and pride, + And on the Poor those sums bestow, + Which now are spent on useless show. + Think on your Maker, not a Suitor; + Think on your past faults, not on future; + And think Time's Scythe will quickly mow + The few red hairs, which deck your brow. + +The audience rang with laughter during the Gypsy's address; +and--'fifty one,'--'squinting eyes,' 'red hair,' --'paint and +patches,' &c. were bandied from mouth to mouth. Leonella was +almost choaked with passion, and loaded her malicious Adviser +with the bitterest reproaches. The swarthy Prophetess for some +time listened to her with a contemptuous smile: at length She +made her a short answer, and then turned to Antonia. + +THE GYPSY + + 'Peace, Lady! What I said was true; + And now, my lovely Maid, to you; + Give me your hand, and let me see + Your future doom, and heaven's decree.' + +In imitation of Leonella, Antonia drew off her glove, and +presented her white hand to the Gypsy, who having gazed upon it +for some time with a mingled expression of pity and astonishment, +pronounced her Oracle in the following words. + +THE GYPSY + + 'Jesus! what a palm is there! + Chaste, and gentle, young and fair, + Perfect mind and form possessing, + You would be some good Man's blessing: + But Alas! This line discovers, + That destruction o'er you hovers; + Lustful Man and crafty Devil + Will combine to work your evil; + And from earth by sorrows driven, + Soon your Soul must speed to heaven. + Yet your sufferings to delay, + Well remember what I say. + When you One more virtuous see + Than belongs to Man to be, + One, whose self no crimes assailing, + Pities not his Neighbour's Failing, + Call the Gypsy's words to mind: + Though He seem so good and kind, + Fair Exteriors oft will hide + Hearts, that swell with lust and pride! + Lovely Maid, with tears I leave you! + Let not my prediction grieve you; + Rather with submission bending + Calmly wait distress impending, + And expect eternal bliss + In a better world than this. + +Having said this, the Gypsy again whirled herself round thrice, +and then hastened out of the Street with frantic gesture. The +Crowd followed her; and Elvira's door being now unembarrassed +Leonella entered the House out of honour with the Gypsy, with her +Niece, and with the People; In short with every body, but herself +and her charming Cavalier. The Gypsy's predictions had also +considerably affected Antonia; But the impression soon wore off, +and in a few hours She had forgotten the adventure as totally as +had it never taken place. + + +CHAPTER II + +Forse se tu gustassi una sol volta +La millesima parte delle gioje, +Che gusta un cor amato riamando, +Diresti ripentita sospirando, +Perduto e tutto il tempo +Che in amar non si sponde. + Tasso. + + Hadst Thou but tasted once the thousandth part + Of joys, which bless the loved and loving heart, + Your words repentant and your sighs would prove, + Lost is the time which is not past in love. + +The monks having attended their Abbot to the door of his Cell, He +dismissed them with an air of conscious superiority in which +Humility's semblance combated with the reality of pride. + +He was no sooner alone, than He gave free loose to the indulgence +of his vanity. When He remembered the Enthusiasm which his +discourse had excited, his heart swelled with rapture, and his +imagination presented him with splendid visions of +aggrandizement. He looked round him with exultation, and Pride +told him loudly that He was superior to the rest of his +fellow-Creatures. + +'Who,' thought He; 'Who but myself has passed the ordeal of +Youth, yet sees no single stain upon his conscience? Who else +has subdued the violence of strong passions and an impetuous +temperament, and submitted even from the dawn of life to +voluntary retirement? I seek for such a Man in vain. I see no +one but myself possessed of such resolution. Religion cannot +boast Ambrosio's equal! How powerful an effect did my discourse +produce upon its Auditors! How they crowded round me! How they +loaded me with benedictions, and pronounced me the sole +uncorrupted Pillar of the Church! What then now is left for me +to do? Nothing, but to watch as carefully over the conduct of my +Brothers as I have hitherto watched over my own. Yet hold! May +I not be tempted from those paths which till now I have pursued +without one moment's wandering? Am I not a Man, whose nature is +frail, and prone to error? I must now abandon the solitude of my +retreat; The fairest and noblest Dames of Madrid continually +present themselves at the Abbey, and will use no other Confessor. + +I must accustom my eyes to Objects of temptation, and expose +myself to the seduction of luxury and desire. Should I meet in +that world which I am constrained to enter some lovely Female, +lovely . . . as you, Madona. . . .!' + +As He said this, He fixed his eyes upon a picture of the Virgin, +which was suspended opposite to him: This for two years had been +the Object of his increasing wonder and adoration. He paused, +and gazed upon it with delight. + +'What Beauty in that countenance!' He continued after a silence +of some minutes; 'How graceful is the turn of that head! What +sweetness, yet what majesty in her divine eyes! How softly her +cheek reclines upon her hand! Can the Rose vie with the blush of +that cheek? Can the Lily rival the whiteness of that hand? Oh! +if such a Creature existed, and existed but for me! Were I +permitted to twine round my fingers those golden ringlets, and +press with my lips the treasures of that snowy bosom! Gracious +God, should I then resist the temptation? Should I not barter +for a single embrace the reward of my sufferings for thirty +years? Should I not abandon. . . . Fool that I am! Whither do +I suffer my admiration of this picture to hurry me? Away, impure +ideas! Let me remember that Woman is for ever lost to me. +Never was Mortal formed so perfect as this picture. But even did +such exist, the trial might be too mighty for a common virtue, +but Ambrosio's is proof against temptation. Temptation, did I +say? To me it would be none. What charms me, when ideal and +considered as a superior Being, would disgust me, become Woman +and tainted with all the failings of Mortality. It is not the +Woman's beauty that fills me with such enthusiasm; It is the +Painter's skill that I admire, it is the Divinity that I adore! +Are not the passions dead in my bosom? Have I not freed myself +from the frailty of Mankind? Fear not, Ambrosio! Take +confidence in the strength of your virtue. Enter boldly into a +world to whose failings you are superior; Reflect that you are +now exempted from Humanity's defects, and defy all the arts of +the Spirits of Darkness. They shall know you for what you are!' + +Here his Reverie was interrupted by three soft knocks at the door +of his Cell. With difficulty did the Abbot awake from his +delirium. The knocking was repeated. + +'Who is there?' said Ambrosio at length. + +'It is only Rosario,' replied a gentle voice. + +'Enter! Enter, my Son!' + +The Door was immediately opened, and Rosario appeared with a +small basket in his hand. + +Rosario was a young Novice belonging to the Monastery, who in +three Months intended to make his profession. A sort of mystery +enveloped this Youth which rendered him at once an object of +interest and curiosity. His hatred of society, his profound +melancholy, his rigid observation of the duties of his order, and +his voluntary seclusion from the world at his age so unusual, +attracted the notice of the whole fraternity. He seemed fearful +of being recognised, and no one had ever seen his face. His head +was continually muffled up in his Cowl; Yet such of his features +as accident discovered, appeared the most beautiful and noble. +Rosario was the only name by which He was known in the Monastery. + +No one knew from whence He came, and when questioned in the +subject He preserved a profound silence. A Stranger, whose rich +habit and magnificent equipage declared him to be of +distinguished rank, had engaged the Monks to receive a Novice, +and had deposited the necessary sums. The next day He returned +with Rosario, and from that time no more had been heard of him. + +The Youth had carefully avoided the company of the Monks: He +answered their civilities with sweetness, but reserve, and +evidently showed that his inclination led him to solitude. To +this general rule the Superior was the only exception. To him He +looked up with a respect approaching idolatry: He sought his +company with the most attentive assiduity, and eagerly seized +every means to ingratiate himself in his favour. In the Abbot's +society his Heart seemed to be at ease, and an air of gaiety +pervaded his whole manners and discourse. Ambrosio on his side +did not feel less attracted towards the Youth; With him alone did +He lay aside his habitual severity. When He spoke to him, He +insensibly assumed a tone milder than was usual to him; and no +voice sounded so sweet to him as did Rosario's. He repayed the +Youth's attentions by instructing him in various sciences; The +Novice received his lessons with docility; Ambrosio was every day +more charmed with the vivacity of his Genius, the simplicity of +his manners, and the rectitude of his heart: In short He loved +him with all the affection of a Father. He could not help +sometimes indulging a desire secretly to see the face of his +Pupil; But his rule of self-denial extended even to curiosity, +and prevented him from communicating his wishes to the Youth. + +'Pardon my intrusion, Father,' said Rosario, while He placed his +basket upon the Table; 'I come to you a Suppliant. Hearing that +a dear Friend is dangerously ill, I entreat your prayers for his +recovery. If supplications can prevail upon heaven to spare him, +surely yours must be efficacious.' + +'Whatever depends upon me, my Son, you know that you may command. + +What is your Friend's name?' + +'Vincentio della Ronda.' + +' 'Tis sufficient. I will not forget him in my prayers, and may +our thrice-blessed St. Francis deign to listen to my +intercession!--What have you in your basket, Rosario?' + +'A few of those flowers, reverend Father, which I have observed +to be most acceptable to you. Will you permit my arranging them +in your chamber?' + +'Your attentions charm me, my Son.' + +While Rosario dispersed the contents of his Basket in small +Vases placed for that purpose in various parts of the room, the +Abbot thus continued the conversation. + +'I saw you not in the Church this evening, Rosario.' + +'Yet I was present, Father. I am too grateful for your +protection to lose an opportunity of witnessing your Triumph.' + +'Alas! Rosario, I have but little cause to triumph: The Saint +spoke by my mouth; To him belongs all the merit. It seems then +you were contented with my discourse?' + +'Contented, say you? Oh! you surpassed yourself! Never did I +hear such eloquence . . . save once!' + +Here the Novice heaved an involuntary sigh. + +'When was that once?' demanded the Abbot. + +'When you preached upon the sudden indisposition of our late +Superior.' + +'I remember it: That is more than two years ago. And were you +present? I knew you not at that time, Rosario.' + +' 'Tis true, Father; and would to God! I had expired, ere I +beheld that day! What sufferings, what sorrows should I have +escaped!' + +'Sufferings at your age, Rosario?' + +'Aye, Father; Sufferings, which if known to you, would equally +raise your anger and compassion! Sufferings, which form at once +the torment and pleasure of my existence! Yet in this retreat my +bosom would feel tranquil, were it not for the tortures of +apprehension. Oh God! Oh God! how cruel is a life of +fear!--Father! I have given up all; I have abandoned the world +and its delights for ever: Nothing now remains, Nothing now has +charms for me, but your friendship, but your affection. If I +lose that, Father! Oh! if I lose that, tremble at the effects of +my despair!' + +'You apprehend the loss of my friendship? How has my conduct +justified this fear? Know me better, Rosario, and think me +worthy of your confidence. What are your sufferings? Reveal +them to me, and believe that if 'tis in my power to relieve them. +. . .' + +'Ah! 'tis in no one's power but yours. Yet I must not let you +know them. You would hate me for my avowal! You would drive me +from your presence with scorn and ignominy!' + +'My Son, I conjure you! I entreat you!' + +'For pity's sake, enquire no further! I must not . . . I dare +not . . . Hark! The Bell rings for Vespers! Father, your +benediction, and I leave you!' + +As He said this, He threw himself upon his knees and received +the blessing which He demanded. Then pressing the Abbot's hand +to his lips, He started from the ground and hastily quitted the +apartment. Soon after Ambrosio descended to Vespers (which were +celebrated in a small chapel belonging to the Abbey), filled with +surprise at the singularity of the Youth's behaviour. + +Vespers being over, the Monks retired to their respective Cells. +The Abbot alone remained in the Chapel to receive the Nuns of St. +Clare. He had not been long seated in the confessional chair +before the Prioress made her appearance. Each of the Nuns was +heard in her turn, while the Others waited with the Domina in the +adjoining Vestry. Ambrosio listened to the confessions with +attention, made many exhortations, enjoined penance proportioned +to each offence, and for some time every thing went on as usual: +till at last one of the Nuns, conspicuous from the nobleness of +her air and elegance of her figure, carelessly permitted a letter +to fall from her bosom. She was retiring, unconscious of her +loss. Ambrosio supposed it to have been written by some one of +her Relations, and picked it up intending to restore it to her. + +'Stay, Daughter,' said He; 'You have let fall. . . .' + +At this moment, the paper being already open, his eye +involuntarily read the first words. He started back with +surprise! The Nun had turned round on hearing his voice: She +perceived her letter in his hand, and uttering a shriek of +terror, flew hastily to regain it. + +'Hold!' said the Friar in a tone of severity; 'Daughter, I must +read this letter.' + +'Then I am lost!' She exclaimed clasping her hands together +wildly. + +All colour instantly faded from her face; she trembled with +agitation, and was obliged to fold her arms round a Pillar of the +Chapel to save herself from sinking upon the floor. In the +meanwhile the Abbot read the following lines. + +'All is ready for your escape, my dearest Agnes. At twelve +tomorrow night I shall expect to find you at the Garden door: I +have obtained the Key, and a few hours will suffice to place you +in a secure asylum. Let no mistaken scruples induce you to +reject the certain means of preserving yourself and the innocent +Creature whom you nourish in your bosom. Remember that you had +promised to be mine, long ere you engaged yourself to the church; +that your situation will soon be evident to the prying eyes of +your Companions; and that flight is the only means of avoiding +the effects of their malevolent resentment. Farewell, my Agnes! +my dear and destined Wife! Fail not to be at the Garden door at +twelve!' + +As soon as He had finished, Ambrosio bent an eye stern and angry +upon the imprudent Nun. + +'This letter must to the Prioress!' said He, and passed her. + +His words sounded like thunder to her ears: She awoke from her +torpidity only to be sensible of the dangers of her situation. +She followed him hastily, and detained him by his garment. + +'Stay! Oh! stay!' She cried in the accents of despair, while She +threw herself at the Friar's feet, and bathed them with her +tears. 'Father, compassionate my youth! Look with indulgence on +a Woman's weakness, and deign to conceal my frailty! The +remainder of my life shall be employed in expiating this single +fault, and your lenity will bring back a soul to heaven!' + +'Amazing confidence! What! Shall St. Clare's Convent become the +retreat of Prostitutes? Shall I suffer the Church of Christ to +cherish in its bosom debauchery and shame? Unworthy Wretch! such +lenity would make me your accomplice. Mercy would here be +criminal. You have abandoned yourself to a Seducer's lust; You +have defiled the sacred habit by your impurity; and still dare +you think yourself deserving my compassion? Hence, nor detain me +longer! Where is the Lady Prioress?' He added, raising his +voice. + +'Hold! Father, Hold! Hear me but for one moment! Tax me not with +impurity, nor think that I have erred from the warmth of +temperament. Long before I took the veil, Raymond was Master of +my heart: He inspired me with the purest, the most +irreproachable passion, and was on the point of becoming my +lawful husband. An horrible adventure, and the treachery of a +Relation, separated us from each other: I believed him for ever +lost to me, and threw myself into a Convent from motives of +despair. Accident again united us; I could not refuse myself the +melancholy pleasure of mingling my tears with his: We met +nightly in the Gardens of St. Clare, and in an unguarded moment I +violated my vows of Chastity. I shall soon become a Mother: +Reverend Ambrosio, take compassion on me; take compassion on the +innocent Being whose existence is attached to mine. If you +discover my imprudence to the Domina, both of us are lost: The +punishment which the laws of St. Clare assign to Unfortunates +like myself is most severe and cruel. Worthy, worthy Father! +Let not your own untainted conscience render you unfeeling +towards those less able to withstand temptation! Let not mercy +be the only virtue of which your heart is unsusceptible! Pity +me, most reverend! Restore my letter, nor doom me to inevitable +destruction!' + +'Your boldness confounds me! Shall I conceal your crime, I whom +you have deceived by your feigned confession? No, Daughter, no! +I will render you a more essential service. I will rescue you +from perdition in spite of yourself; Penance and mortification +shall expiate your offence, and Severity force you back to the +paths of holiness. What; Ho! Mother St. Agatha!' + +'Father! By all that is sacred, by all that is most dear to you, +I supplicate, I entreat. . . .' + +'Release me! I will not hear you. Where is the Domina? Mother +St. Agatha, where are you?' + +The door of the Vestry opened, and the Prioress entered the +Chapel, followed by her Nuns. + +'Cruel! Cruel!' exclaimed Agnes, relinquishing her hold. + +Wild and desperate, She threw herself upon the ground, beating +her bosom and rending her veil in all the delirium of despair. +The Nuns gazed with astonishment upon the scene before them. The +Friar now presented the fatal paper to the Prioress, informed her +of the manner in which he had found it, and added, that it was +her business to decide, what penance the delinquent merited. + +While She perused the letter, the Domina's countenance grew +inflamed with passion. What! Such a crime committed in her +Convent, and made known to Ambrosio, to the Idol of Madrid, to +the Man whom She was most anxious to impress with the opinion of +the strictness and regularity of her House! Words were +inadequate to express her fury. She was silent, and darted upon +the prostrate Nun looks of menace and malignity. + +'Away with her to the Convent!' said She at length to some of her +Attendants. + +Two of the oldest Nuns now approaching Agnes, raised her forcibly +from the ground, and prepared to conduct her from the Chapel. + +'What!' She exclaimed suddenly shaking off their hold with +distracted gestures; 'Is all hope then lost? Already do you drag +me to punishment? Where are you, Raymond? Oh! save me! save +me!' + +Then casting upon the Abbot a frantic look, 'Hear me!' She +continued; 'Man of an hard heart! Hear me, Proud, Stern, and +Cruel! You could have saved me; you could have restored me to +happiness and virtue, but would not! You are the destroyer of my +Soul; You are my Murderer, and on you fall the curse of my death +and my unborn Infant's! Insolent in your yet-unshaken virtue, +you disdained the prayers of a Penitent; But God will show mercy, +though you show none. And where is the merit of your boasted +virtue? What temptations have you vanquished? Coward! you have +fled from it, not opposed seduction. But the day of Trial will +arrive! Oh! then when you yield to impetuous passions! when you +feel that Man is weak, and born to err; When shuddering you look +back upon your crimes, and solicit with terror the mercy of your +God, Oh! in that fearful moment think upon me! Think upon your +Cruelty! Think upon Agnes, and despair of pardon!' + +As She uttered these last words, her strength was exhausted, and +She sank inanimate upon the bosom of a Nun who stood near her. +She was immediately conveyed from the Chapel, and her Companions +followed her. + +Ambrosio had not listened to her reproaches without emotion. A +secret pang at his heart made him feel, that He had treated this +Unfortunate with too great severity. He therefore detained the +Prioress and ventured to pronounce some words in favour of the +Delinquent. + +'The violence of her despair,' said He, 'proves, that at least +Vice is not become familiar to her. Perhaps by treating her with +somewhat less rigour than is generally practised, and mitigating +in some degree the accustomed penance. . . .' + +'Mitigate it, Father?' interrupted the Lady Prioress; 'Not I, +believe me. The laws of our order are strict and severe; they +have fallen into disuse of late, But the crime of Agnes shows me +the necessity of their revival. I go to signify my intention to +the Convent, and Agnes shall be the first to feel the rigour of +those laws, which shall be obeyed to the very letter. Father, +Farewell.' + +Thus saying, She hastened out of the Chapel. + +'I have done my duty,' said Ambrosio to himself. + +Still did He not feel perfectly satisfied by this reflection. To +dissipate the unpleasant ideas which this scene had excited in +him, upon quitting the Chapel He descended into the Abbey Garden. + +In all Madrid there was no spot more beautiful or better +regulated. It was laid out with the most exquisite taste; The +choicest flowers adorned it in the height of luxuriance, and +though artfully arranged, seemed only planted by the hand of +Nature: Fountains, springing from basons of white Marble, cooled +the air with perpetual showers; and the Walls were entirely +covered by Jessamine, vines, and Honeysuckles. The hour now +added to the beauty of the scene. The full Moon, ranging through +a blue and cloudless sky, shed upon the trees a trembling lustre, +and the waters of the fountains sparkled in the silver beam: A +gentle breeze breathed the fragrance of Orange-blossoms along the +Alleys; and the Nightingale poured forth her melodious murmur +from the shelter of an artificial wilderness. Thither the Abbot +bent his steps. + +In the bosom of this little Grove stood a rustic Grotto, formed +in imitation of an Hermitage. The walls were constructed of +roots of trees, and the interstices filled up with Moss and Ivy. +Seats of Turf were placed on either side, and a natural Cascade +fell from the Rock above. Buried in himself the Monk approached +the spot. The universal calm had communicated itself to his +bosom, and a voluptuous tranquillity spread languor through his +soul. + +He reached the Hermitage, and was entering to repose himself, +when He stopped on perceiving it to be already occupied. +Extended upon one of the Banks lay a man in a melancholy posture. + +His head was supported upon his arm, and He seemed lost in +mediation. The Monk drew nearer, and recognised Rosario: He +watched him in silence, and entered not the Hermitage. After +some minutes the Youth raised his eyes, and fixed them mournfully +upon the opposite Wall. + +'Yes!' said He with a deep and plaintive sigh; 'I feel all the +happiness of thy situation, all the misery of my own! Happy were +I, could I think like Thee! Could I look like Thee with disgust +upon Mankind, could bury myself for ever in some impenetrable +solitude, and forget that the world holds Beings deserving to be +loved! Oh God! What a blessing would Misanthropy be to me!' + +'That is a singular thought, Rosario,' said the Abbot, entering +the Grotto. + +'You here, reverend Father?' cried the Novice. + +At the same time starting from his place in confusion, He drew +his Cowl hastily over his face. Ambrosio seated himself upon the +Bank, and obliged the Youth to place himself by him. + +'You must not indulge this disposition to melancholy,' said He; +'What can possibly have made you view in so desirable a light, +Misanthropy, of all sentiments the most hateful?' + +'The perusal of these Verses, Father, which till now had escaped +my observation. The Brightness of the Moonbeams permitted my +reading them; and Oh! how I envy the feelings of the Writer!' + +As He said this, He pointed to a marble Tablet fixed against the +opposite Wall: On it were engraved the following lines. + + INSCRIPTION IN AN HERMITAGE + +Who-e'er Thou art these lines now reading, +Think not, though from the world receding +I joy my lonely days to lead in + This Desart drear, +That with remorse aconscience bleeding + Hath led me here. + +No thought of guilt my bosom sowrs: +Free-willed I fled from courtly bowers; +For well I saw in Halls and Towers + That Lust and Pride, +The Arch-Fiend's dearest darkest Powers, + In state preside. + +I saw Mankind with vice incrusted; +I saw that Honour's sword was rusted; +That few for aught but folly lusted; +That He was still deceiv'd, who trusted + In Love or Friend; +And hither came with Men disgusted + My life to end. + +In this lone Cave, in garments lowly, +Alike a Foe to noisy folly, +And brow-bent gloomy melancholy + I wear away +My life, and in my office holy + Consume the day. + +Content and comfort bless me more in +This Grot, than e'er I felt before in +A Palace, and with thoughts still soaring + To God on high, +Each night and morn with voice imploring + This wish I sigh. + +'Let me, Oh! Lord! from life retire, +Unknown each guilty worldly fire, +Remorseful throb, or loose desire; + And when I die, +Let me in this belief expire, + ''To God I fly''!' + +Stranger, if full of youth and riot +As yet no grief has marred thy quiet, +Thou haply throw'st a scornful eye at + The Hermit's prayer: +But if Thou hast a cause to sigh at + Thy fault, or care; + +If Thou hast known false Love's vexation, +Or hast been exil'd from thy Nation, +Or guilt affrights thy contemplation, + And makes thee pine, +Oh! how must Thou lament thy station, + And envy mine! + +'Were it possible' said the Friar, 'for Man to be so totally +wrapped up in himself as to live in absolute seclusion from human +nature, and could yet feel the contented tranquillity which these +lines express, I allow that the situation would be more +desirable, than to live in a world so pregnant with every vice +and every folly. But this never can be the case. This +inscription was merely placed here for the ornament of the +Grotto, and the sentiments and the Hermit are equally imaginary. +Man was born for society. However little He may be attached to +the World, He never can wholly forget it, or bear to be wholly +forgotten by it. Disgusted at the guilt or absurdity of Mankind, +the Misanthrope flies from it: He resolves to become an Hermit, +and buries himself in the Cavern of some gloomy Rock. While Hate +inflames his bosom, possibly He may feel contented with his +situation: But when his passions begin to cool; when Time has +mellowed his sorrows, and healed those wounds which He bore with +him to his solitude, think you that Content becomes his +Companion? Ah! no, Rosario. No longer sustained by the violence +of his passions, He feels all the monotony of his way of living, +and his heart becomes the prey of Ennui and weariness. He looks +round, and finds himself alone in the Universe: The love of +society revives in his bosom, and He pants to return to that +world which He has abandoned. Nature loses all her charms in his +eyes: No one is near him to point out her beauties, or share in +his admiration of her excellence and variety. Propped upon the +fragment of some Rock, He gazes upon the tumbling waterfall with +a vacant eye, He views without emotion the glory of the setting +Sun. Slowly He returns to his Cell at Evening, for no one there +is anxious for his arrival; He has no comfort in his solitary +unsavoury meal: He throws himself upon his couch of Moss +despondent and dissatisfied, and wakes only to pass a day as +joyless, as monotonous as the former.' + +'You amaze me, Father! Suppose that circumstances condemned you +to solitude; Would not the duties of Religion and the +consciousness of a life well spent communicate to your heart that +calm which. . . .' + +'I should deceive myself, did I fancy that they could. I am +convinced of the contrary, and that all my fortitude would not +prevent me from yielding to melancholy and disgust. After +consuming the day in study, if you knew my pleasure at meeting my +Brethren in the Evening! After passing many a long hour in +solitude, if I could express to you the joy which I feel at once +more beholding a fellow-Creature! 'Tis in this particular that I +place the principal merit of a Monastic Institution. It secludes +Man from the temptations of Vice; It procures that leisure +necessary for the proper service of the Supreme; It spares him +the mortification of witnessing the crimes of the worldly, and +yet permits him to enjoy the blessings of society. And do you, +Rosario, do YOU envy an Hermit's life? Can you be thus blind to +the happiness of your situation? Reflect upon it for a moment. +This Abbey is become your Asylum: Your regularity, your +gentleness, your talents have rendered you the object of +universal esteem: You are secluded from the world which you +profess to hate; yet you remain in possession of the benefits of +society, and that a society composed of the most estimable of +Mankind.' + +'Father! Father! 'tis that which causes my Torment! Happy had +it been for me, had my life been passed among the vicious and +abandoned! Had I never heard pronounced the name of Virtue! 'Tis +my unbounded adoration of religion; 'Tis my soul's exquisite +sensibility of the beauty of fair and good, that loads me with +shame! that hurries me to perdition! Oh! that I had never seen +these Abbey walls!' + +'How, Rosario? When we last conversed, you spoke in a different +tone. Is my friendship then become of such little consequence? +Had you never seen these Abbey walls, you never had seen me: +Can that really be your wish?' + +'Had never seen you?' repeated the Novice, starting from the +Bank, and grasping the Friar's hand with a frantic air; 'You? +You? Would to God, that lightning had blasted them, before you +ever met my eyes! Would to God! that I were never to see you +more, and could forget that I had ever seen you!' + +With these words He flew hastily from the Grotto. Ambrosio +remained in his former attitude, reflecting on the Youth's +unaccountable behaviour. He was inclined to suspect the +derangement of his senses: yet the general tenor of his conduct, +the connexion of his ideas, and calmness of his demeanour till +the moment of his quitting the Grotto, seemed to discountenance +this conjecture. After a few minutes Rosario returned. He again +seated himself upon the Bank: He reclined his cheek upon one +hand, and with the other wiped away the tears which trickled from +his eyes at intervals. + +The Monk looked upon him with compassion, and forbore to +interrupt his meditations. Both observed for some time a +profound silence. The Nightingale had now taken her station upon +an Orange Tree fronting the Hermitage, and poured forth a strain +the most melancholy and melodious. Rosario raised his head, and +listened to her with attention. + +'It was thus,' said He, with a deep-drawn sigh; 'It was thus, +that during the last month of her unhappy life, my Sister used to +sit listening to the Nightingale. Poor Matilda! She sleeps in +the Grave, and her broken heart throbs no more with passion.' + +'You had a Sister?' + +'You say right, that I HAD; Alas! I have one no longer. She +sunk beneath the weight of her sorrows in the very spring of +life.' + +'What were those sorrows?' + +'They will not excite YOUR pity: YOU know not the power of those +irresistible, those fatal sentiments, to which her Heart was a +prey. Father, She loved unfortunately. A passion for One +endowed with every virtue, for a Man, Oh! rather let me say, for +a divinity, proved the bane of her existence. His noble form, +his spotless character, his various talents, his wisdom solid, +wonderful, and glorious, might have warmed the bosom of the most +insensible. My Sister saw him, and dared to love though She +never dared to hope.' + +'If her love was so well bestowed, what forbad her to hope the +obtaining of its object?' + +'Father, before He knew her, Julian had already plighted his vows +to a Bride most fair, most heavenly! Yet still my Sister loved, +and for the Husband's sake She doted upon the Wife. One morning +She found means to escape from our Father's House: Arrayed in +humble weeds She offered herself as a Domestic to the Consort of +her Beloved, and was accepted. She was now continually in his +presence: She strove to ingratiate herself into his favour: She +succeeded. Her attentions attracted Julian's notice; The +virtuous are ever grateful, and He distinguished Matilda above +the rest of her Companions.' + +'And did not your Parents seek for her? Did they submit tamely +to their loss, nor attempt to recover their wandering Daughter?' + +'Ere they could find her, She discovered herself. Her love grew +too violent for concealment; Yet She wished not for Julian's +person, She ambitioned but a share of his heart. In an unguarded +moment She confessed her affection. What was the return? +Doating upon his Wife, and believing that a look of pity bestowed +upon another was a theft from what He owed to her, He drove +Matilda from his presence. He forbad her ever again appearing +before him. His severity broke her heart: She returned to her +Father's, and in a few Months after was carried to her Grave.' + +'Unhappy Girl! Surely her fate was too severe, and Julian was +too cruel.' + +'Do you think so, Father?' cried the Novice with vivacity; 'Do +you think that He was cruel?' + +'Doubtless I do, and pity her most sincerely.' + +'You pity her? You pity her? Oh! Father! Father! Then pity +me!' + +The Friar started; when after a moment's pause Rosario added with +a faltering voice,--'for my sufferings are still greater. My +Sister had a Friend, a real Friend, who pitied the acuteness of +her feelings, nor reproached her with her inability to repress +them. I . . .! I have no Friend! The whole wide world cannot +furnish an heart that is willing to participate in the sorrows +of mine!' + +As He uttered these words, He sobbed audibly. The Friar was +affected. He took Rosario's hand, and pressed it with +tenderness. + +'You have no Friend, say you? What then am I? Why will you not +confide in me, and what can you fear? My severity? Have I ever +used it with you? The dignity of my habit? Rosario, I lay aside +the Monk, and bid you consider me as no other than your Friend, +your Father. Well may I assume that title, for never did Parent +watch over a Child more fondly than I have watched over you. +From the moment in which I first beheld you, I perceived +sensations in my bosom till then unknown to me; I found a +delight in your society which no one's else could afford; and +when I witnessed the extent of your genius and information, I +rejoiced as does a Father in the perfections of his Son. Then +lay aside your fears; Speak to me with openness: Speak to me, +Rosario, and say that you will confide in me. If my aid or my +pity can alleviate your distress. . . .' + +'Yours can! Yours only can! Ah! Father, how willingly would I +unveil to you my heart! How willingly would I declare the +secret which bows me down with its weight! But Oh! I fear! I +fear!' + +'What, my Son?' + +'That you should abhor me for my weakness; That the reward of my +confidence should be the loss of your esteem.' + +'How shall I reassure you? Reflect upon the whole of my past +conduct, upon the paternal tenderness which I have ever shown +you. Abhor you, Rosario? It is no longer in my power. To give +up your society would be to deprive myself of the greatest +pleasure of my life. Then reveal to me what afflicts you, and +believe me while I solemnly swear. . . .' + +'Hold!' interrupted the Novice; 'Swear, that whatever be my +secret, you will not oblige me to quit the Monastery till my +Noviciate shall expire.' + +'I promise it faithfully, and as I keep my vows to you, may +Christ keep his to Mankind. Now then explain this mystery, and +rely upon my indulgence.' + +'I obey you. Know then. . . . Oh! how I tremble to name the +word! Listen to me with pity, revered Ambrosio! Call up every +latent spark of human weakness that may teach you compassion for +mine! Father!' continued He throwing himself at the Friar's +feet, and pressing his hand to his lips with eagerness, while +agitation for a moment choaked his voice; 'Father!' continued He +in faltering accents, 'I am a Woman!' + +The Abbot started at this unexpected avowal. Prostrate on the +ground lay the feigned Rosario, as if waiting in silence the +decision of his Judge. Astonishment on the one part, +apprehension on the other, for some minutes chained them in the +same attitudes, as had they been touched by the Rod of some +Magician. At length recovering from his confusion, the Monk +quitted the Grotto, and sped with precipitation towards the +Abbey. His action did not escape the Suppliant. She sprang from +the ground; She hastened to follow him, overtook him, threw +herself in his passage, and embraced his knees. Ambrosio strove +in vain to disengage himself from her grasp. + +'Do not fly me!' She cried; 'Leave me not abandoned to the +impulse of despair! Listen, while I excuse my imprudence; while +I acknowledge my Sister's story to be my own! I am Matilda; You +are her Beloved.' + +If Ambrosio's surprise was great at her first avowal, upon +hearing her second it exceeded all bounds. Amazed, embarrassed, +and irresolute He found himself incapable of pronouncing a +syllable, and remained in silence gazing upon Matilda: This gave +her opportunity to continue her explanation as follows. + +'Think not, Ambrosio, that I come to rob your Bride of your +affections. No, believe me: Religion alone deserves you; and +far is it from Matilda's wish to draw you from the paths of +virtue. What I feel for you is love, not licentiousness; I sigh +to be possessor of your heart, not lust for the enjoyment of your +person. Deign to listen to my vindication: A few moments will +convince you that this holy retreat is not polluted by my +presence, and that you may grant me your compassion without +trespassing against your vows.'--She seated herself: Ambrosio, +scarcely conscious of what He did, followed her example, and She +proceeded in her discourse. + +'I spring from a distinguished family: My Father was Chief of +the noble House of Villanegas. He died while I was still an +Infant, and left me sole Heiress of his immense possessions. +Young and wealthy, I was sought in marriage by the noblest Youths +of Madrid; But no one succeeded in gaining my affections. I had +been brought up under the care of an Uncle possessed of the most +solid judgment and extensive erudition. He took pleasure in +communicating to me some portion of his knowledge. Under his +instructions my understanding acquired more strength and +justness than generally falls to the lot of my sex: The ability +of my Preceptor being aided by natural curiosity, I not only made +a considerable progress in sciences universally studied, but in +others, revealed but to few, and lying under censure from the +blindness of superstition. But while my Guardian laboured to +enlarge the sphere of my knowledge, He carefully inculcated every +moral precept: He relieved me from the shackles of vulgar +prejudice; He pointed out the beauty of Religion; He taught me to +look with adoration upon the pure and virtuous, and, woe is me! +I have obeyed him but too well! + +'With such dispositions, Judge whether I could observe with any +other sentiment than disgust the vice, dissipation, and +ignorance, which disgrace our Spanish Youth. I rejected every +offer with disdain. My heart remained without a Master till +chance conducted me to the Cathedral of the Capuchins. Oh! +surely on that day my Guardian Angel slumbered neglectful of his +charge! Then was it that I first beheld you: You supplied the +Superior's place, absent from illness. You cannot but remember +the lively enthusiasm which your discourse created. Oh! how I +drank your words! How your eloquence seemed to steal me from +myself! I scarcely dared to breathe, fearing to lose a syllable; +and while you spoke, Methought a radiant glory beamed round your +head, and your countenance shone with the majesty of a God. I +retired from the Church, glowing with admiration. From that +moment you became the idol of my heart, the never-changing object +of my Meditations. I enquired respecting you. The reports which +were made me of your mode of life, of your knowledge, piety, and +self-denial riveted the chains imposed on me by your eloquence. +I was conscious that there was no longer a void in my heart; That +I had found the Man whom I had sought till then in vain. In +expectation of hearing you again, every day I visited your +Cathedral: You remained secluded within the Abbey walls, and I +always withdrew, wretched and disappointed. The Night was more +propitious to me, for then you stood before me in my dreams; You +vowed to me eternal friendship; You led me through the paths of +virtue, and assisted me to support the vexations of life. The +Morning dispelled these pleasing visions; I woke, and found +myself separated from you by Barriers which appeared +insurmountable. Time seemed only to increase the strength of my +passion: I grew melancholy and despondent; I fled from society, +and my health declined daily. At length no longer able to exist +in this state of torture, I resolved to assume the disguise in +which you see me. My artifice was fortunate: I was received +into the Monastery, and succeeded in gaining your esteem. + +'Now then I should have felt compleatly happy, had not my quiet +been disturbed by the fear of detection. The pleasure which I +received from your society, was embittered by the idea that +perhaps I should soon be deprived of it: and my heart throbbed so +rapturously at obtaining the marks of your friendship, as to +convince me that I never should survive its loss. I resolved, +therefore, not to leave the discovery of my sex to chance, to +confess the whole to you, and throw myself entirely on your mercy +and indulgence. Ah! Ambrosio, can I have been deceived? Can you +be less generous than I thought you? I will not suspect it. You +will not drive a Wretch to despair; I shall still be permitted to +see you, to converse with you, to adore you! Your virtues shall +be my example through life; and when we expire, our bodies shall +rest in the same Grave.' + +She ceased. While She spoke, a thousand opposing sentiments +combated in Ambrosio's bosom. Surprise at the singularity of +this adventure, Confusion at her abrupt declaration, Resentment +at her boldness in entering the Monastery, and Consciousness of +the austerity with which it behoved him to reply, such were the +sentiments of which He was aware; But there were others also +which did not obtain his notice. He perceived not, that his +vanity was flattered by the praises bestowed upon his eloquence +and virtue; that He felt a secret pleasure in reflecting that a +young and seemingly lovely Woman had for his sake abandoned the +world, and sacrificed every other passion to that which He had +inspired: Still less did He perceive that his heart throbbed +with desire, while his hand was pressed gently by Matilda's ivory +fingers. + +By degrees He recovered from his confusion. His ideas became +less bewildered: He was immediately sensible of the extreme +impropriety, should Matilda be permitted to remain in the Abbey +after this avowal of her sex. He assumed an air of severity, and +drew away his hand. + +'How, Lady!' said He; 'Can you really hope for my permission to +remain amongst us? Even were I to grant your request, what good +could you derive from it? Think you that I ever can reply to an +affection, which . . .'. + +'No, Father, No! I expect not to inspire you with a love like +mine. I only wish for the liberty to be near you, to pass some +hours of the day in your society; to obtain your compassion, your +friendship and esteem. Surely my request is not unreasonable.' + +'But reflect, Lady! Reflect only for a moment on the impropriety +of my harbouring a Woman in the Abbey; and that too a Woman, who +confesses that She loves me. It must not be. The risque of your +being discovered is too great, and I will not expose myself to so +dangerous a temptation.' + +'Temptation, say you? Forget that I am a Woman, and it no +longer exists: Consider me only as a Friend, as an Unfortunate, +whose happiness, whose life depends upon your protection. Fear +not lest I should ever call to your remembrance that love the +most impetuous, the most unbounded, has induced me to disguise my +sex; or that instigated by desires, offensive to YOUR vows and my +own honour, I should endeavour to seduce you from the path of +rectitude. No, Ambrosio, learn to know me better. I love you +for your virtues: Lose them, and with them you lose my +affections. I look upon you as a Saint; Prove to me that you are +no more than Man, and I quit you with disgust. Is it then from +me that you fear temptation? From me, in whom the world's +dazzling pleasures created no other sentiment than contempt? +From me, whose attachment is grounded on your exemption from +human frailty? Oh! dismiss such injurious apprehensions! Think +nobler of me, think nobler of yourself. I am incapable of +seducing you to error; and surely your Virtue is established on a +basis too firm to be shaken by unwarranted desires. Ambrosio, +dearest Ambrosio! drive me not from your presence; Remember your +promise, and authorize my stay!' + +'Impossible, Matilda; YOUR interest commands me to refuse your +prayer, since I tremble for you, not for myself. After +vanquishing the impetuous ebullitions of Youth; After passing +thirty years in mortification and penance, I might safely permit +your stay, nor fear your inspiring me with warmer sentiments than +pity. But to yourself, remaining in the Abbey can produce none +but fatal consequences. You will misconstrue my every word and +action; You will seize every circumstance with avidity, which +encourages you to hope the return of your affection; Insensibly +your passions will gain a superiority over your reason; and far +from these being repressed by my presence, every moment which we +pass together, will only serve to irritate and excite them. +Believe me, unhappy Woman! you possess my sincere compassion. I +am convinced that you have hitherto acted upon the purest +motives; But though you are blind to the imprudence of your +conduct, in me it would be culpable not to open your eyes. I +feel that Duty obliges my treating you with harshness: I must +reject your prayer, and remove every shadow of hope which may +aid to nourish sentiments so pernicious to your repose. Matilda, +you must from hence tomorrow.' + +'Tomorrow, Ambrosio? Tomorrow? Oh! surely you cannot mean it! + +You cannot resolve on driving me to despair! You cannot have the +cruelty. . . .' + +'You have heard my decision, and it must be obeyed. The Laws of +our Order forbid your stay: It would be perjury to conceal that +a Woman is within these Walls, and my vows will oblige me to +declare your story to the Community. You must from hence!--I +pity you, but can do no more!' + +He pronounced these words in a faint and trembling voice: Then +rising from his seat, He would have hastened towards the +Monastery. Uttering a loud shriek, Matilda followed, and +detained him. + +'Stay yet one moment, Ambrosio! Hear me yet speak one word!' + +'I dare not listen! Release me! You know my resolution!' + +'But one word! But one last word, and I have done!' + +'Leave me! Your entreaties are in vain! You must from hence +tomorrow!' + +'Go then, Barbarian! But this resource is still left me.' + +As She said this, She suddenly drew a poignard: She rent open +her garment, and placed the weapon's point against her bosom. + +'Father, I will never quit these Walls alive!' + +'Hold! Hold, Matilda! What would you do?' + +'You are determined, so am I: The Moment that you leave me, I +plunge this Steel in my heart.' + +'Holy St. Francis! Matilda, have you your senses? Do you know +the consequences of your action? That Suicide is the greatest of +crimes? That you destroy your Soul? That you lose your claim to +salvation? That you prepare for yourself everlasting torments?' + +'I care not! I care not!' She replied passionately; 'Either your +hand guides me to Paradise, or my own dooms me to perdition! +Speak to me, Ambrosio! Tell me that you will conceal my story, +that I shall remain your Friend and your Companion, or this +poignard drinks my blood!' + +As She uttered these last words, She lifted her arm, and made a +motion as if to stab herself. The Friar's eyes followed with +dread the course of the dagger. She had torn open her habit, and +her bosom was half exposed. The weapon's point rested upon her +left breast: And Oh! that was such a breast! The Moonbeams +darting full upon it enabled the Monk to observe its dazzling +whiteness. His eye dwelt with insatiable avidity upon the +beauteous Orb. A sensation till then unknown filled his heart +with a mixture of anxiety and delight: A raging fire shot +through every limb; The blood boiled in his veins, and a thousand +wild wishes bewildered his imagination. + +'Hold!' He cried in an hurried faultering voice; 'I can resist no +longer! Stay, then, Enchantress; Stay for my destruction!' + +He said, and rushing from the place, hastened towards the +Monastery: He regained his Cell and threw himself upon his +Couch, distracted irresolute and confused. + +He found it impossible for some time to arrange his ideas. The +scene in which He had been engaged had excited such a variety of +sentiments in his bosom, that He was incapable of deciding which +was predominant. He was irresolute what conduct He ought to hold +with the disturber of his repose. He was conscious that +prudence, +religion, and propriety necessitated his obliging her to quit the +Abbey: But on the other hand such powerful reasons authorized +her stay that He was but too much inclined to consent to her +remaining. He could not avoid being flattered by Matilda's +declaration, and at reflecting that He had unconsciously +vanquished an heart which had resisted the attacks of Spain's +noblest Cavaliers: The manner in which He had gained her +affections was also the most satisfactory to his vanity: He +remembered the many happy hours which He had passed in Rosario's +society, and dreaded that void in his heart which parting with +him would occasion. Besides all this, He considered, that as +Matilda was wealthy, her favour might be of essential benefit to +the Abbey. + +'And what do I risque,' said He to himself, 'by authorizing her +stay? May I not safely credit her assertions? Will it not be +easy for me to forget her sex, and still consider her as my +Friend and my disciple? Surely her love is as pure as She +describes. Had it been the offspring of mere licentiousness, +would She so long have concealed it in her own bosom? Would She +not have employed some means to procure its gratification? She +has done quite the contrary: She strove to keep me in ignorance +of her sex; and nothing but the fear of detection, and my +instances, would have compelled her to reveal the secret. She +has observed the duties of religion not less strictly than +myself. She has made no attempts to rouze my slumbering +passions, nor has She ever conversed with me till this night on +the subject of Love. Had She been desirous to gain my +affections, not my esteem, She would not have concealed from me +her charms so carefully: At this very moment I have never seen +her face: Yet certainly that face must be lovely, and her person +beautiful, to judge by her . . . by what I have seen.' + +As this last idea passed through his imagination, a blush spread +itself over his cheek. Alarmed at the sentiments which He was +indulging, He betook himself to prayer; He started from his +Couch, knelt before the beautiful Madona, and entreated her +assistance in stifling such culpable emotions. He then returned +to his Bed, and resigned himself to slumber. + +He awoke, heated and unrefreshed. During his sleep his inflamed +imagination had presented him with none but the most voluptuous +objects. Matilda stood before him in his dreams, and his eyes +again dwelt upon her naked breast. She repeated her +protestations of eternal love, threw her arms round his neck, and +loaded him with kisses: He returned them; He clasped her +passionately to his bosom, and . . . the vision was dissolved. +Sometimes his dreams presented the image of his favourite Madona, +and He fancied that He was kneeling before her: As He offered up +his vows to her, the eyes of the Figure seemed to beam on him +with inexpressible sweetness. He pressed his lips to hers, and +found them warm: The animated form started from the Canvas, +embraced him affectionately, and his senses were unable to +support delight so exquisite. Such were the scenes, on which his +thoughts were employed while sleeping: His unsatisfied Desires +placed before him the most lustful and provoking Images, and he +rioted in joys till then unknown to him. + +He started from his Couch, filled with confusion at the +remembrance of his dreams. Scarcely was He less ashamed, when He +reflected on his reasons of the former night which induced him +to authorize Matilda's stay. The cloud was now dissipated which +had obscured his judgment: He shuddered when He beheld his +arguments blazoned in their proper colours, and found that He had +been a slave to flattery, to avarice, and self-love. If in one +hour's conversation Matilda had produced a change so remarkable +in his sentiments, what had He not to dread from her remaining in +the Abbey? Become sensible of his danger, awakened from his +dream of confidence, He resolved to insist on her departing +without delay. He began to feel that He was not proof against +temptation; and that however Matilda might restrain herself +within the bounds of modesty, He was unable to contend with those +passions, from which He falsely thought himself exempted. + +'Agnes! Agnes!' He exclaimed, while reflecting on his +embarrassments, 'I already feel thy curse!' + +He quitted his Cell, determined upon dismissing the feigned +Rosario. He appeared at Matins; But his thoughts were absent, +and He paid them but little attention. His heart and brain were +both of them filled with worldly objects, and He prayed without +devotion. The service over, He descended into the Garden. He +bent his steps towards the same spot where, on the preceding +night, He had made this embarrassing discovery. He doubted not +but that Matilda would seek him there: He was not deceived. She +soon entered the Hermitage, and approached the Monk with a timid +air. After a few minutes during which both were silent, She +appeared as if on the point of speaking; But the Abbot, who +during this time had been summoning up all his resolution, +hastily interrupted her. Though still unconscious how extensive +was its influence, He dreaded the melodious seduction of her +voice. + +'Seat yourself by my side, Matilda,' said He, assuming a look of +firmness, though carefully avoiding the least mixture of +severity; 'Listen to me patiently, and believe, that in what I +shall say, I am not more influenced by my own interest than by +yours: Believe, that I feel for you the warmest friendship, the +truest compassion, and that you cannot feel more grieved than I +do, when I declare to you that we must never meet again.' + +'Ambrosio!' She cried, in a voice at once expressive of surprise +and sorrow. + +'Be calm, my Friend! My Rosario! Still let me call you by that +name so dear to me! Our separation is unavoidable; I blush to +own, how sensibly it affects me.-- But yet it must be so. I feel +myself incapable of treating you with indifference, and that very +conviction obliges me to insist upon your departure. Matilda, +you must stay here no longer.' + +'Oh! where shall I now seek for probity? Disgusted with a +perfidious world, in what happy region does Truth conceal +herself? Father, I hoped that She resided here; I thought that +your bosom had been her favourite shrine. And you too prove +false? Oh God! And you too can betray me?' + +'Matilda!' + +'Yes, Father, Yes! 'Tis with justice that I reproach you. Oh! +where are your promises? My Noviciate is not expired, and yet +will you compell me to quit the Monastery? Can you have the +heart to drive me from you? And have I not received your solemn +oath to the contrary?' + +'I will not compell you to quit the Monastery: You have received +my solemn oath to the contrary. But yet when I throw myself upon +your generosity, when I declare to you the embarrassments in +which your presence involves me, will you not release me from +that oath? Reflect upon the danger of a discovery, upon the +opprobrium in which such an event would plunge me: Reflect that +my honour and reputation are at stake, and that my peace of mind +depends on your compliance. As yet my heart is free; I shall +separate from you with regret, but not with despair. Stay here, +and a few weeks will sacrifice my happiness on the altar of your +charms. You are but too interesting, too amiable! I should love +you, I should doat on you! My bosom would become the prey of +desires which Honour and my profession forbid me to gratify. If +I resisted them, the impetuosity of my wishes unsatisfied would +drive me to madness: If I yielded to the temptation, I should +sacrifice to one moment of guilty pleasure my reputation in this +world, my salvation in the next. To you then I fly for defence +against myself. Preserve me from losing the reward of thirty +years of sufferings! Preserve me from becoming the Victim of +Remorse! YOUR heart has already felt the anguish of hopeless +love; Oh! then if you really value me, spare mine that anguish! +Give me back my promise; Fly from these walls. Go, and you bear +with you my warmest prayers for your happiness, my friendship, my +esteem and admiration: Stay, and you become to me the source of +danger, of sufferings, of despair! Answer me, Matilda; What is +your resolve?'--She was silent--'Will you not speak, Matilda? +Will you not name your choice?' + +'Cruel! Cruel!' She exclaimed, wringing her hands in agony; 'You +know too well that you offer me no choice! You know too well that +I can have no will but yours!' + +'I was not then deceived! Matilda's generosity equals my +expectations.' + +'Yes; I will prove the truth of my affection by submitting to a +decree which cuts me to the very heart. Take back your promise. +I will quit the Monastery this very day. I have a Relation, +Abbess of a Covent in Estramadura: To her will I bend my steps, +and shut myself from the world for ever. Yet tell me, Father; +Shall I bear your good wishes with me to my solitude? Will you +sometimes abstract your attention from heavenly objects to bestow +a thought upon me?' + +'Ah! Matilda, I fear that I shall think on you but too often for +my repose!' + +'Then I have nothing more to wish for, save that we may meet in +heaven. Farewell, my Friend! my Ambrosio!-- And yet methinks, I +would fain bear with me some token of your regard!' + +'What shall I give you?' + +'Something.--Any thing.--One of those flowers will be +sufficient.' (Here She pointed to a bush of Roses, planted at the +door of the Grotto.) 'I will hide it in my bosom, and when I am +dead, the Nuns shall find it withered upon my heart.' + +The Friar was unable to reply: With slow steps, and a soul heavy +with affliction, He quitted the Hermitage. He approached the +Bush, and stooped to pluck one of the Roses. Suddenly He uttered +a piercing cry, started back hastily, and let the flower, which +He already held, fall from his hand. Matilda heard the shriek, +and flew anxiously towards him. + +'What is the matter?' She cried; 'Answer me, for God's sake! +What has happened?' + +'I have received my death!' He replied in a faint voice; +'Concealed among the Roses . . . A Serpent. . . .' + +Here the pain of his wound became so exquisite, that Nature was +unable to bear it: His senses abandoned him, and He sank +inanimate into Matilda's arms. + +Her distress was beyond the power of description. She rent her +hair, beat her bosom, and not daring to quit Ambrosio, +endeavoured by loud cries to summon the Monks to her assistance. +She at length succeeded. Alarmed by her shrieks, Several of the +Brothers hastened to the spot, and the Superior was conveyed back +to the Abbey. He was immediately put to bed, and the Monk who +officiated as Surgeon to the Fraternity prepared to examine the +wound. By this time Ambrosio's hand had swelled to an +extraordinary size; The remedies which had been administered to +him, 'tis true, restored him to life, but not to his senses; He +raved in all the horrors of delirium, foamed at the mouth, and +four of the strongest Monks were scarcely able to hold him in his +bed. + +Father Pablos, such was the Surgeon's name, hastened to examine +the wounded hand. The Monks surrounded the Bed, anxiously +waiting for the decision: Among these the feigned Rosario +appeared not the most insensible to the Friar's calamity. He +gazed upon the Sufferer with inexpressible anguish; and the +groans which every moment escaped from his bosom sufficiently +betrayed the violence of his affliction. + +Father Pablos probed the wound. As He drew out his Lancet, its +point was tinged with a greenish hue. He shook his head +mournfully, and quitted the bedside. + +' 'Tis as I feared!' said He; 'There is no hope.' + +'No hope?' exclaimed the Monks with one voice; 'Say you, no +hope?' + +'From the sudden effects, I suspected that the Abbot was stung by +a Cientipedoro: The venom which you see upon my Lancet +confirms my idea: He cannot live three days.' + +'And can no possible remedy be found?' enquired Rosario. + +'Without extracting the poison, He cannot recover; and how to +extract it is to me still a secret. All that I can do is to +apply such herbs to the wound as will relieve the anguish: The +Patient will be restored to his senses; But the venom will +corrupt the whole mass of his blood, and in three days He will +exist no longer.' + +Excessive was the universal grief at hearing this decision. +Pablos, as He had promised, dressed the wound, and then retired, +followed by his Companions: Rosario alone remained in the Cell, +the Abbot at his urgent entreaty having been committed to his +care. Ambrosio's strength worn out by the violence of his +exertions, He had by this time fallen into a profound sleep. So +totally was He overcome by weariness, that He scarcely gave any +signs of life; He was still in this situation, when the Monks +returned to enquire whether any change had taken place. Pablos +loosened the bandage which concealed the wound, more from a +principle of curiosity than from indulging the hope of +discovering any favourable symptoms. What was his astonishment +at finding, that the inflammation had totally subsided! He +probed the hand; His Lancet came out pure and unsullied; No +traces of the venom were perceptible; and had not the orifice +still been visible, Pablos might have doubted that there had ever +been a wound. + +He communicated this intelligence to his Brethren; their delight +was only equalled by their surprize. From the latter sentiment, +however, they were soon released by explaining the circumstance +according to their own ideas: They were perfectly convinced that +their Superior was a Saint, and thought, that nothing could be +more natural than for St. Francis to have operated a miracle in +his favour. This opinion was adopted unanimously: They declared +it so loudly, and vociferated,--'A miracle! a miracle!'--with +such fervour, that they soon interrupted Ambrosio's slumbers. + +The Monks immediately crowded round his Bed, and expressed their +satisfaction at his wonderful recovery. He was perfectly in his +senses, and free from every complaint except feeling weak and +languid. Pablos gave him a strengthening medicine, and advised +his keeping his bed for the two succeeding days: He then +retired, having desired his Patient not to exhaust himself by +conversation, but rather to endeavour at taking some repose. The +other Monks followed his example, and the Abbot and Rosario were +left without Observers. + +For some minutes Ambrosio regarded his Attendant with a look of +mingled pleasure and apprehension. She was seated upon the side +of the Bed, her head bending down, and as usual enveloped in the +Cowl of her Habit. + +'And you are still here, Matilda?' said the Friar at length. +'Are you not satisfied with having so nearly effected my +destruction, that nothing but a miracle could have saved me from +the Grave? Ah! surely Heaven sent that Serpent to punish. . . .' + +Matilda interrupted him by putting her hand before his lips with +an air of gaiety. + +'Hush! Father, Hush! You must not talk!' + +'He who imposed that order, knew not how interesting are the +subjects on which I wish to speak.' + +'But I know it, and yet issue the same positive command. I am +appointed your Nurse, and you must not disobey my orders.' + +'You are in spirits, Matilda!' + +'Well may I be so: I have just received a pleasure unexampled +through my whole life.' + +'What was that pleasure?' + +'What I must conceal from all, but most from you.' + +'But most from me? Nay then, I entreat you, Matilda. . . .' + +'Hush, Father! Hush! You must not talk. But as you do not seem +inclined to sleep, shall I endeavour to amuse you with my Harp?' + +'How? I knew not that you understood Music.' + +'Oh! I am a sorry Performer! Yet as silence is prescribed you +for eight and forty hours, I may possibly entertain you, when +wearied of your own reflections. I go to fetch my Harp.' + +She soon returned with it. + +'Now, Father; What shall I sing? Will you hear the Ballad which +treats of the gallant Durandarte, who died in the famous battle +of Roncevalles?' + +'What you please, Matilda.' + +'Oh! call me not Matilda! Call me Rosario, call me your Friend! +Those are the names, which I love to hear from your lips. Now +listen!' + +She then tuned her harp, and afterwards preluded for some moments +with such exquisite taste as to prove her a perfect Mistress of +the Instrument. The air which She played was soft and plaintive: + +Ambrosio, while He listened, felt his uneasiness subside, and a +pleasing melancholy spread itself into his bosom. Suddenly +Matilda changed the strain: With an hand bold and rapid She +struck a few loud martial chords, and then chaunted the following +Ballad to an air at once simple and melodious. + + DURANDARTE AND BELERMA + +Sad and fearful is the story +Of the Roncevalles fight; +On those fatal plains of glory +Perished many a gallant Knight. + +There fell Durandarte; Never +Verse a nobler Chieftain named: +He, before his lips for ever +Closed in silence thus exclaimed. + +'Oh! Belerma! Oh! my dear-one! +For my pain and pleasure born! +Seven long years I served thee, fair-one, +Seven long years my fee was scorn: + +'And when now thy heart replying +To my wishes, burns like mine, +Cruel Fate my bliss denying +Bids me every hope resign. + +'Ah! Though young I fall, believe me, +Death would never claim a sigh; +'Tis to lose thee, 'tis to leave thee, +Makes me think it hard to die! + +'Oh! my Cousin Montesinos, +By that friendship firm and dear +Which from Youth has lived between us, +Now my last petition hear! + +'When my Soul these limbs forsaking +Eager seeks a purer air, +From my breast the cold heart taking, +Give it to Belerma's care. + +Say, I of my lands Possessor +Named her with my dying breath: +Say, my lips I op'd to bless her, +Ere they closed for aye in death: + +'Twice a week too how sincerely +I adored her, Cousin, say; +Twice a week for one who dearly +Loved her, Cousin, bid her pray. + +'Montesinos, now the hour +Marked by fate is near at hand: +Lo! my arm has lost its power! +Lo! I drop my trusty brand! + +'Eyes, which forth beheld me going, +Homewards ne'er shall see me hie! +Cousin, stop those tears o'er-flowing, +Let me on thy bosom die! + +'Thy kind hand my eyelids closing, +Yet one favour I implore: +Pray Thou for my Soul's reposing, +When my heart shall throb no more; + +'So shall Jesus, still attending +Gracious to a Christian's vow, +Pleased accept my Ghost ascending, +And a seat in heaven allow.' + +Thus spoke gallant Durandarte; +Soon his brave heart broke in twain. +Greatly joyed the Moorish party, +That the gallant Knight was slain. + +Bitter weeping Montesinos +Took from him his helm and glaive; +Bitter weeping Montesinos +Dug his gallant Cousin's grave. + +To perform his promise made, He +Cut the heart from out the breast, +That Belerma, wretched Lady! +Might receive the last bequest. + +Sad was Montesinos' heart, He +Felt distress his bosom rend. +'Oh! my Cousin Durandarte, +Woe is me to view thy end! + +'Sweet in manners, fair in favour, +Mild in temper, fierce in fight, +Warrior, nobler, gentler, braver, +Never shall behold the light! + +'Cousin, Lo! my tears bedew thee! +How shall I thy loss survive! +Durandarte, He who slew thee, +Wherefore left He me alive!' + +While She sung, Ambrosio listened with delight: Never had He +heard a voice more harmonious; and He wondered how such heavenly +sounds could be produced by any but Angels. But though He +indulged the sense of hearing, a single look convinced him that +He must not trust to that of sight. The Songstress sat at a +little distance from his Bed. The attitude in which She bent +over her harp, was easy and graceful: Her Cowl had fallen back- +warder than usual: Two coral lips were visible, ripe, fresh, and +melting, and a Chin in whose dimples seemed to lurk a thousand +Cupids. Her Habit's long sleeve would have swept along the +Chords of the Instrument: To prevent this inconvenience She had +drawn it above her elbow, and by this means an arm was discovered +formed in the most perfect symmetry, the delicacy of whose skin +might have contended with snow in whiteness. Ambrosio dared to +look on her but once: That glance sufficed to convince him, how +dangerous was the presence of this seducing Object. He closed +his eyes, but strove in vain to banish her from his thoughts. +There She still moved before him, adorned with all those charms +which his heated imagination could supply: Every beauty which He +had seen, appeared embellished, and those still concealed Fancy +represented to him in glowing colours. Still, however, his vows +and the necessity of keeping to them were present to his memory. +He struggled with desire, and shuddered when He beheld how deep +was the precipice before him. + +Matilda ceased to sing. Dreading the influence of her charms, +Ambrosio remained with his eyes closed, and offered up his +prayers to St. Francis to assist him in this dangerous trial! +Matilda believed that He was sleeping. She rose from her seat, +approached the Bed softly, and for some minutes gazed upon him +attentively. + +'He sleeps!' said She at length in a low voice, but whose accents +the Abbot distinguished perfectly; 'Now then I may gaze upon him +without offence! I may mix my breath with his; I may doat upon +his features, and He cannot suspect me of impurity and +deceit!--He fears my seducing him to the violation of his vows! +Oh! the Unjust! Were it my wish to excite desire, should I +conceal my features from him so carefully? Those features, of +which I daily hear him. . . .' + +She stopped, and was lost in her reflections. + +'It was but yesterday!' She continued; 'But a few short hours +have past, since I was dear to him! He esteemed me, and my heart +was satisfied! Now!. . . Oh! now how cruelly is my situation +changed! He looks on me with suspicion! He bids me leave him, +leave him for ever! Oh! You, my Saint! my Idol! You, holding +the next place to God in my breast! Yet two days, and my heart +will be unveiled to you.--Could you know my feelings, when I +beheld your agony! Could you know, how much your sufferings have +endeared you to me! But the time will come, when you will be +convinced that my passion is pure and disinterested. Then you +will pity me, and feel the whole weight of these sorrows!' + +As She said this, her voice was choaked by weeping. While She +bent over Ambrosio, a tear fell upon his cheek. + +'Ah! I have disturbed him!' cried Matilda, and retreated +hastily. + +Her alarm was ungrounded. None sleep so profoundly, as those who +are determined not to wake. The Friar was in this predicament: +He still seemed buried in a repose, which every succeeding minute +rendered him less capable of enjoying. The burning tear had +communicated its warmth to his heart. + +'What affection! What purity!' said He internally; 'Ah! since +my bosom is thus sensible of pity, what would it be if agitated +by love?' + +Matilda again quitted her seat, and retired to some distance from +the Bed. Ambrosio ventured to open his eyes, and to cast them +upon her fearfully. Her face was turned from him. She rested +her head in a melancholy posture upon her Harp, and gazed on the +picture which hung opposite to the Bed. + +'Happy, happy Image!' Thus did She address the beautiful Madona; +' 'Tis to you that He offers his prayers! 'Tis on you that He +gazes with admiration! I thought you would have lightened my +sorrows; You have only served to increase their weight: You have +made me feel that had I known him ere his vows were pronounced, +Ambrosio and happiness might have been mine. With what pleasure +He views this picture! With what fervour He addresses his +prayers to the insensible Image! Ah! may not his sentiments be +inspired by some kind and secret Genius, Friend to my affection? +May it not be Man's natural instinct which informs him. . . Be +silent, idle hopes! Let me not encourage an idea which takes +from the brilliance of Ambrosio's virtue. 'Tis Religion, not +Beauty which attracts his admiration; 'Tis not to the Woman, but +the Divinity that He kneels. Would He but address to me the +least tender expression which He pours forth to this Madona! +Would He but say that were He not already affianced to the +Church, He would not have despised Matilda! Oh! let me nourish +that fond idea! Perhaps He may yet acknowledge that He feels for +me more than pity, and that affection like mine might well have +deserved a return; Perhaps, He may own thus much when I lye on my +deathbed! He then need not fear to infringe his vows, and the +confession of his regard will soften the pangs of dying. Would I +were sure of this! Oh! how earnestly should I sigh for the +moment of dissolution!' + +Of this discourse the Abbot lost not a syllable; and the tone in +which She pronounced these last words pierced to his heart. +Involuntarily He raised himself from his pillow. + +'Matilda!' He said in a troubled voice; 'Oh! my Matilda!' + +She started at the sound, and turned towards him hastily. The +suddenness of her movement made her Cowl fall back from her head; +Her features became visible to the Monk's enquiring eye. What +was his amazement at beholding the exact resemblance of his +admired Madona? The same exquisite proportion of features, the +same profusion of golden hair, the same rosy lips, heavenly eyes, +and majesty of countenance adorned Matilda! Uttering an +exclamation of surprize, Ambrosio sank back upon his pillow, and +doubted whether the Object before him was mortal or divine. + +Matilda seemed penetrated with confusion. She remained +motionless in her place, and supported herself upon her +Instrument. Her eyes were bent upon the earth, and her fair +cheeks overspread with blushes. On recovering herself, her +first action was to conceal her features. She then in an +unsteady and troubled voice ventured to address these words to +the Friar. + +'Accident has made you Master of a secret, which I never would +have revealed but on the Bed of death. Yes, Ambrosio; In Matilda +de Villanegas you see the original of your beloved Madona. Soon +after I conceived my unfortunate passion, I formed the project of +conveying to you my Picture: Crowds of Admirers had persuaded me +that I possessed some beauty, and I was anxious to know what +effect it would produce upon you. I caused my Portrait to be +drawn by Martin Galuppi, a celebrated Venetian at that time +resident in Madrid. The resemblance was striking: I sent it to +the Capuchin Abbey as if for sale, and the Jew from whom you +bought it was one of my Emissaries. You purchased it. Judge of +my rapture, when informed that you had gazed upon it with +delight, or rather with adoration; that you had suspended it in +your Cell, and that you addressed your supplications to no other +Saint. Will this discovery make me still more regarded as an +object of suspicion? Rather should it convince you how pure is +my affection, and engage you to suffer me in your society and +esteem. I heard you daily extol the praises of my Portrait: I +was an eyewitness of the transports, which its beauty excited +in you: Yet I forbore to use against your virtue those arms, with +which yourself had furnished me. I concealed those features from +your sight, which you loved unconsciously. I strove not to +excite desire by displaying my charms, or to make myself Mistress +of your heart through the medium of your senses. To attract your +notice by studiously attending to religious duties, to endear +myself to you by convincing you that my mind was virtuous and my +attachment sincere, such was my only aim. I succeeded; I became +your companion and your Friend. I concealed my sex from your +knowledge; and had you not pressed me to reveal my secret, had I +not been tormented by the fear of a discovery, never had you +known me for any other than Rosario. And still are you resolved +to drive me from you? The few hours of life which yet remain for +me, may I not pass them in your presence? Oh! speak, Ambrosio, +and tell me that I may stay!' + +This speech gave the Abbot an opportunity of recollecting +himself. He was conscious that in the present disposition of his +mind, avoiding her society was his only refuge from the power of +this enchanting Woman. + +'You declaration has so much astonished me,' said He, 'that I am +at present incapable of answering you. Do not insist upon a +reply, Matilda; Leave me to myself; I have need to be alone.' + +'I obey you--But before I go, promise not to insist upon my +quitting the Abbey immediately.' + +'Matilda, reflect upon your situation; Reflect upon the +consequences of your stay. Our separation is indispensable, and +we must part.' + +'But not to-day, Father! Oh! in pity not today!' + +'You press me too hard, but I cannot resist that tone of +supplication. Since you insist upon it, I yield to your prayer: +I consent to your remaining here a sufficient time to prepare in +some measure the Brethren for your departure. Stay yet two days; +But on the third,' . . . (He sighed involuntarily)--'Remember, +that on the third we must part for ever!' + +She caught his hand eagerly, and pressed it to her lips. + +'On the third?' She exclaimed with an air of wild solemnity; 'You +are right, Father! You are right! On the third we must part for +ever!' + +There was a dreadful expression in her eye as She uttered these +words, which penetrated the Friar's soul with horror: Again She +kissed his hand, and then fled with rapidity from the chamber. + +Anxious to authorise the presence of his dangerous Guest, yet +conscious that her stay was infringing the laws of his order, +Ambrosio's bosom became the Theatre of a thousand contending +passions. At length his attachment to the feigned Rosario, aided +by the natural warmth of his temperament, seemed likely to obtain +the victory: The success was assured, when that presumption which +formed the groundwork of his character came to Matilda's +assistance. The Monk reflected that to vanquish temptation was +an infinitely greater merit than to avoid it: He thought that +He ought rather to rejoice in the opportunity given him of +proving the firmness of his virtue. St. Anthony had withstood +all seductions to lust; Then why should not He? Besides, St. +Anthony was tempted by the Devil, who put every art into practice +to excite his passions: Whereas, Ambrosio's danger proceeded +from a mere mortal Woman, fearful and modest, whose apprehensions +of his yielding were not less violent than his own. + +'Yes,' said He; 'The Unfortunate shall stay; I have nothing to +fear from her presence. Even should my own prove too weak to +resist the temptation, I am secured from danger by the innocence +of Matilda.' + +Ambrosio was yet to learn, that to an heart unacquainted with +her, Vice is ever most dangerous when lurking behind the Mask of +Virtue. + +He found himself so perfectly recovered, that when Father Pablos +visited him again at night, He entreated permission to quit his +chamber on the day following. His request was granted. Matilda +appeared no more that evening, except in company with the Monks +when they came in a body to enquire after the Abbot's health. +She seemed fearful of conversing with him in private, and stayed +but a few minutes in his room. The Friar slept well; But the +dreams of the former night were repeated, and his sensations of +voluptuousness were yet more keen and exquisite. The same +lust-exciting visions floated before his eyes: Matilda, in all +the pomp of beauty, warm, tender, and luxurious, clasped him to +her bosom, and lavished upon him the most ardent caresses. He +returned them as eagerly, and already was on the point of +satisfying his desires, when the faithless form disappeared, and +left him to all the horrors of shame and disappointment. + +The Morning dawned. Fatigued, harassed, and exhausted by his +provoking dreams, He was not disposed to quit his Bed. He +excused himself from appearing at Matins: It was the first +morning in his life that He had ever missed them. He rose late. +During the whole of the day He had no opportunity of speaking to +Matilda without witnesses. His Cell was thronged by the Monks, +anxious to express their concern at his illness; And He was still +occupied in receiving their compliments on his recovery, when the +Bell summoned them to the Refectory. + +After dinner the Monks separated, and dispersed themselves in +various parts of the Garden, where the shade of trees or +retirement of some Grotto presented the most agreeable means of +enjoying the Siesta. The Abbot bent his steps towards the +Hermitage: A glance of his eye invited Matilda to accompany him. + +She obeyed, and followed him thither in silence. They entered +the Grotto, and seated themselves. Both seemed unwilling to +begin the conversation, and to labour under the influence of +mutual embarrassment. At length the Abbot spoke: He conversed +only on indifferent topics, and Matilda answered him in the same +tone. She seemed anxious to make him forget that the Person who +sat by him was any other than Rosario. Neither of them dared, or +indeed wished to make an allusion, to the subject which was most +at the hearts of both. + +Matilda's efforts to appear gay were evidently forced: Her +spirits were oppressed by the weight of anxiety, and when She +spoke her voice was low and feeble. She seemed desirous of +finishing a conversation which embarrassed her; and complaining +that She was unwell, She requested Ambrosio's permission to +return to the Abbey. He accompanied her to the door of her cell; +and when arrived there, He stopped her to declare his consent to +her continuing the Partner of his solitude so long as should be +agreeable to herself. + +She discovered no marks of pleasure at receiving this +intelligence, though on the preceding day She had been so anxious +to obtain the permission. + +'Alas! Father,' She said, waving her head mournfully; 'Your +kindness comes too late! My doom is fixed. We must separate for +ever. Yet believe, that I am grateful for your generosity, for +your compassion of an Unfortunate who is but too little deserving +of it!' + +She put her handkerchief to her eyes. Her Cowl was only half +drawn over her face. Ambrosio observed that She was pale, and +her eyes sunk and heavy. + +'Good God!' He cried; 'You are very ill, Matilda! I shall send +Father Pablos to you instantly.' + +'No; Do not. I am ill, 'tis true; But He cannot cure my malady. +Farewell, Father! Remember me in your prayers tomorrow, while I +shall remember you in heaven!' + +She entered her cell, and closed the door. + +The Abbot dispatched to her the Physician without losing a +moment, and waited his report impatiently. But Father Pablos +soon returned, and declared that his errand had been fruitless. +Rosario refused to admit him, and had positively rejected his +offers of assistance. The uneasiness which this account gave +Ambrosio was not trifling: Yet He determined that Matilda should +have her own way for that night: But that if her situation did +not mend by the morning, he would insist upon her taking the +advice of Father Pablos. + +He did not find himself inclined to sleep. He opened his +casement, and gazed upon the moonbeams as they played upon the +small stream whose waters bathed the walls of the Monastery. The +coolness of the night breeze and tranquillity of the hour +inspired the Friar's mind with sadness. He thought upon +Matilda's beauty and affection; Upon the pleasures which He might +have shared with her, had He not been restrained by monastic +fetters. He reflected, that unsustained by hope her love for him +could not long exist; That doubtless She would succeed in +extinguishing her passion, and seek for happiness in the arms of +One more fortunate. He shuddered at the void which her absence +would leave in his bosom. He looked with disgust on the monotony +of a Convent, and breathed a sigh towards that world from which +He was for ever separated. Such were the reflections which a +loud knocking at his door interrupted. The Bell of the Church +had already struck Two. The Abbot hastened to enquire the cause +of this disturbance. He opened the door of his Cell, and a +Lay-Brother entered, whose looks declared his hurry and +confusion. + +'Hasten, reverend Father!' said He; 'Hasten to the young Rosario. + +He earnestly requests to see you; He lies at the point of death.' + +'Gracious God! Where is Father Pablos? Why is He not with him? +Oh! I fear! I fear!' + +'Father Pablos has seen him, but his art can do nothing. He +says that He suspects the Youth to be poisoned.' + +'Poisoned? Oh! The Unfortunate! It is then as I suspected! +But let me not lose a moment; Perhaps it may yet be time to save +her!' + +He said, and flew towards the Cell of the Novice. Several Monks +were already in the chamber. Father Pablos was one of them, and +held a medicine in his hand which He was endeavouring to +persuade Rosario to swallow. The Others were employed in +admiring the Patient's divine countenance, which They now saw for +the first time. She looked lovelier than ever. She was no +longer pale or languid; A bright glow had spread itself over her +cheeks; her eyes sparkled with a serene delight, and her +countenance was expressive of confidence and resignation. + +'Oh! torment me no more!' was She saying to Pablos, when the +terrified Abbot rushed hastily into the Cell; 'My disease is far +beyond the reach of your skill, and I wish not to be cured of +it'--Then perceiving Ambrosio,-- 'Ah! 'tis He!' She cried; 'I see +him once again, before we part for ever! Leave me, my Brethren; +Much have I to tell this holy Man in private.' + +The Monks retired immediately, and Matilda and the Abbot remained +together. + +'What have you done, imprudent Woman!' exclaimed the Latter, as +soon as they were left alone; 'Tell me; Are my suspicions just? +Am I indeed to lose you? Has your own hand been the instrument +of your destruction?' + +She smiled, and grasped his hand. + +'In what have I been imprudent, Father? I have sacrificed a +pebble, and saved a diamond: My death preserves a life valuable +to the world, and more dear to me than my own. Yes, Father; I am +poisoned; But know that the poison once circulated in your +veins.' + +'Matilda!' + +'What I tell you I resolved never to discover to you but on the +bed of death: That moment is now arrived. You cannot have +forgotten the day already, when your life was endangered by the +bite of a Cientipedoro. The Physician gave you over, declaring +himself ignorant how to extract the venom: I knew but of one +means, and hesitated not a moment to employ it. I was left alone +with you: You slept; I loosened the bandage from your hand; I +kissed the wound, and drew out the poison with my lips. The +effect has been more sudden than I expected. I feel death at my +heart; Yet an hour, and I shall be in a better world.' + +'Almighty God!' exclaimed the Abbot, and sank almost lifeless +upon the Bed. + +After a few minutes He again raised himself up suddenly, and +gazed upon Matilda with all the wildness of despair. + +'And you have sacrificed yourself for me! You die, and die to +preserve Ambrosio! And is there indeed no remedy, Matilda? And +is there indeed no hope? Speak to me, Oh! speak to me! Tell +me, that you have still the means of life!' + +'Be comforted, my only Friend! Yes, I have still the means of +life in my power: But 'tis a means which I dare not employ. It +is dangerous! It is dreadful! Life would be purchased at too +dear a rate, . . . unless it were permitted me to live for you.' + +'Then live for me, Matilda, for me and gratitude!'-- (He caught +her hand, and pressed it rapturously to his lips.)--'Remember our +late conversations; I now consent to every thing: Remember in +what lively colours you described the union of souls; Be it ours +to realize those ideas. Let us forget the distinctions of sex, +despise the world's prejudices, and only consider each other as +Brother and Friend. Live then, Matilda! Oh! live for me!' + +'Ambrosio, it must not be. When I thought thus, I deceived both +you and myself. Either I must die at present, or expire by the +lingering torments of unsatisfied desire. Oh! since we last +conversed together, a dreadful veil has been rent from before my +eyes. I love you no longer with the devotion which is paid to a +Saint: I prize you no more for the virtues of your soul; I lust +for the enjoyment of your person. The Woman reigns in my bosom, +and I am become a prey to the wildest of passions. Away with +friendship! 'tis a cold unfeeling word. My bosom burns with +love, with unutterable love, and love must be its return. +Tremble then, Ambrosio, tremble to succeed in your prayers. If I +live, your truth, your reputation, your reward of a life past in +sufferings, all that you value is irretrievably lost. I shall no +longer be able to combat my passions, shall seize every +opportunity to excite your desires, and labour to effect your +dishonour and my own. No, no, Ambrosio; I must not live! I am +convinced with every moment, that I have but one alternative; I +feel with every heart-throb, that I must enjoy you, or die.' + +'Amazement!--Matilda! Can it be you who speak to me?' + +He made a movement as if to quit his seat. She uttered a loud +shriek, and raising herself half out of the Bed, threw her arms +round the Friar to detain him. + +'Oh! do not leave me! Listen to my errors with compassion! In a +few hours I shall be no more; Yet a little, and I am free from +this disgraceful passion.' + +'Wretched Woman, what can I say to you! I cannot . . . I must +not . . . But live, Matilda! Oh! live!' + +'You do not reflect on what you ask. What? Live to plunge +myself in infamy? To become the Agent of Hell? To work the +destruction both of you and of Myself? Feel this heart, Father!' + +She took his hand: Confused, embarrassed, and fascinated, He +withdrew it not, and felt her heart throb under it. + +'Feel this heart, Father! It is yet the seat of honour, truth, +and chastity: If it beats tomorrow, it must fall a prey to the +blackest crimes. Oh! let me then die today! Let me die, while +I yet deserve the tears of the virtuous! Thus will +expire!'--(She reclined her head upon his shoulder; Her golden +Hair poured itself over his Chest.)-- 'Folded in your arms, I +shall sink to sleep; Your hand shall close my eyes for ever, and +your lips receive my dying breath. And will you not sometimes +think of me? Will you not sometimes shed a tear upon my Tomb? +Oh! Yes! Yes! Yes! That kiss is my assurance!' + +The hour was night. All was silence around. The faint beams of +a solitary Lamp darted upon Matilda's figure, and shed through +the chamber a dim mysterious light. No prying eye, or curious +ear was near the Lovers: Nothing was heard but Matilda's +melodious accents. Ambrosio was in the full vigour of Manhood. +He saw before him a young and beautiful Woman, the preserver of +his life, the Adorer of his person, and whom affection for him +had reduced to the brink of the Grave. He sat upon her Bed; His +hand rested upon her bosom; Her head reclined voluptuously upon +his breast. Who then can wonder, if He yielded to the +temptation? Drunk with desire, He pressed his lips to those +which sought them: His kisses vied with Matilda's in warmth and +passion. He clasped her rapturously in his arms; He forgot his +vows, his sanctity, and his fame: He remembered nothing but the +pleasure and opportunity. + +'Ambrosio! Oh! my Ambrosio!' sighed Matilda. + +'Thine, ever thine!' murmured the Friar, and sank upon her bosom. + + +CHAPTER III + + ----These are the Villains +Whom all the Travellers do fear so much. +--------Some of them are Gentlemen +Such as the fury of ungoverned Youth +Thrust from the company of awful Men. + Two Gentlemen of Verona. + +The Marquis and Lorenzo proceeded to the Hotel in silence. The +Former employed himself in calling every circumstance to his +mind, which related might give Lorenzo's the most favourable idea +of his connexion with Agnes. The Latter, justly alarmed for the +honour of his family, felt embarrassed by the presence of the +Marquis: The adventure which He had just witnessed forbad his +treating him as a Friend; and Antonia's interests being entrusted +to his mediation, He saw the impolicy of treating him as a Foe. +He concluded from these reflections, that profound silence would +be the wisest plan, and waited with impatience for Don Raymond's +explanation. + +They arrived at the Hotel de las Cisternas. The Marquis +immediately conducted him to his apartment, and began to express +his satisfaction at finding him at Madrid. Lorenzo interrupted +him. + +'Excuse me, my Lord,' said He with a distant air, 'if I reply +somewhat coldly to your expressions of regard. A Sister's honour +is involved in this affair: Till that is established, and the +purport of your correspondence with Agnes cleared up, I cannot +consider you as my Friend. I am anxious to hear the meaning of +your conduct, and hope that you will not delay the promised +explanation.' + +'First give me your word, that you will listen with patience and +indulgence.' + +'I love my Sister too well to judge her harshly; and till this +moment I possessed no Friend so dear to me as yourself. I will +also confess, that your having it in your power to oblige me in a +business which I have much at heart, makes me very anxious to +find you still deserving my esteem.' + +'Lorenzo, you transport me! No greater pleasure can be given me, +than an opportunity of serving the Brother of Agnes.' + +'Convince me that I can accept your favours without dishonour, +and there is no Man in the world to whom I am more willing to be +obliged.' + +'Probably, you have already heard your Sister mention the name of +Alphonso d'Alvarada?' + +'Never. Though I feel for Agnes an affection truly fraternal, +circumstances have prevented us from being much together. While +yet a Child She was consigned to the care of her Aunt, who had +married a German Nobleman. At his Castle She remained till two +years since, when She returned to Spain, determined upon +secluding herself from the world.' + +'Good God! Lorenzo, you knew of her intention, and yet strove +not to make her change it?' + +'Marquis, you wrong me. The intelligence, which I received at +Naples, shocked me extremely, and I hastened my return to Madrid +for the express purpose of preventing the sacrifice. The moment +that I arrived, I flew to the Convent of St. Clare, in which +Agnes had chosen to perform her Noviciate. I requested to see my +Sister. Conceive my surprise when She sent me a refusal; She +declared positively, that apprehending my influence over her +mind, She would not trust herself in my society till the day +before that on which She was to receive the Veil. I supplicated +the Nuns; I insisted upon seeing Agnes, and hesitated not to avow +my suspicions that her being kept from me was against her own +inclinations. To free herself from the imputation of violence, +the Prioress brought me a few lines written in my Sister's +well-known hand, repeating the message already delivered. All +future attempts to obtain a moment's conversation with her were +as fruitless as the first. She was inflexible, and I was not +permitted to see her till the day preceding that on which She +entered the Cloister never to quit it more. This interview took +place in the presence of our principal Relations. It was for the +first time since her childhood that I saw her, and the scene was +most affecting. She threw herself upon my bosom, kissed me, and +wept bitterly. By every possible argument, by tears, by prayers, +by kneeling, I strove to make her abandon her intention. I +represented to her all the hardships of a religious life; I +painted to her imagination all the pleasures which She was going +to quit, and besought her to disclose to me, what occasioned her +disgust to the world. At this last question She turned pale, and +her tears flowed yet faster. She entreated me not to press her +on that subject; That it sufficed me to know that her resolution +was taken, and that a Convent was the only place where She could +now hope for tranquillity. She persevered in her design, and +made her profession. I visited her frequently at the Grate, and +every moment that I passed with her, made me feel more affliction +at her loss. I was shortly after obliged to quit Madrid; I +returned but yesterday evening, and since then have not had time +to call at St. Clare's Convent.' + +'Then till I mentioned it, you never heard the name of Alphonso +d'Alvarada?' + +'Pardon me: my Aunt wrote me word that an Adventurer so called +had found means to get introduced into the Castle of Lindenberg; +That He had insinuated himself into my Sister's good graces, and +that She had even consented to elope with him. However, before +the plan could be executed, the Cavalier discovered that the +estates which He believed Agnes to possess in Hispaniola, in +reality belonged to me. This intelligence made him change his +intention; He disappeared on the day that the elopement was to +have taken place, and Agnes, in despair at his perfidy and +meanness, had resolved upon seclusion in a Convent. She added, +that as this adventurer had given himself out to be a Friend of +mine, She wished to know whether I had any knowledge of him. I +replied in the negative. I had then very little idea, that +Alphonso d'Alvarada and the Marquis de las Cisternas were one and +the same person: The description given me of the first by no +means tallied with what I knew of the latter.' + +'In this I easily recognize Donna Rodolpha's perfidious +character. Every word of this account is stamped with marks of +her malice, of her falsehood, of her talents for misrepresenting +those whom She wishes to injure. Forgive me, Medina, for +speaking so freely of your Relation. The mischief which She has +done me authorises my resentment, and when you have heard my +story, you will be convinced that my expressions have not been +too severe.' + +He then began his narrative in the following manner. + +HISTORY OF DON RAYMOND, MARQUIS DE LAS CISTERNAS + +Long experience, my dear Lorenzo, has convinced me how generous +is your nature: I waited not for your declaration of ignorance +respecting your Sister's adventures to suppose that they had +been purposely concealed from you. Had they reached your +knowledge, from what misfortunes should both Agnes and myself +have escaped! Fate had ordained it otherwise! You were on your +Travels when I first became acquainted with your Sister; and as +our Enemies took care to conceal from her your direction, it was +impossible for her to implore by letter your protection and +advice. + +On leaving Salamanca, at which University as I have since heard, +you remained a year after I quitted it, I immediately set out +upon my Travels. My Father supplied me liberally with money; But +He insisted upon my concealing my rank, and presenting myself as +no more than a private Gentleman. This command was issued by the +counsels of his Friend, the Duke of Villa Hermosa, a Nobleman for +whose abilities and knowledge of the world I have ever +entertained the most profound veneration. + +'Believe me,' said He, 'my dear Raymond, you will hereafter feel +the benefits of this temporary degradation. 'Tis true, that as +the Conde de las Cisternas you would have been received with open +arms; and your youthful vanity might have felt gratified by the +attentions showered upon you from all sides. At present, much +will depend upon yourself: You have excellent recommendations, +but it must be your own business to make them of use to you. You +must lay yourself out to please; You must labour to gain the +approbation of those, to whom you are presented: They who would +have courted the friendship of the Conde de las Cisternas will +have no interest in finding out the merits, or bearing patiently +with the faults, of Alphonso d'Alvarada. Consequently, when you +find yourself really liked, you may safely ascribe it to your +good qualities, not your rank, and the distinction shown you will +be infinitely more flattering. Besides, your exalted birth would +not permit your mixing with the lower classes of society, which +will now be in your power, and from which, in my opinion, you +will derive considerable benefit. Do not confine yourself to the +Illustrious of those Countries through which you pass. Examine +the manners and customs of the multitude: Enter into the +Cottages; and by observing how the Vassals of Foreigners are +treated, learn to diminish the burthens and augment the comforts +of your own. According to my ideas, of those advantages which a +Youth destined to the possession of power and wealth may reap +from travel, He should not consider as the least essential, the +opportunity of mixing with the classes below him, and becoming an +eyewitness of the sufferings of the People.' + +Forgive me, Lorenzo, if I seem tedious in my narration. The close +connexion which now exists between us, makes me anxious that you +should know every particular respecting me; and in my fear of +omitting the least circumstance which may induce you to think +favourably of your Sister and myself, I may possibly relate many +which you may think uninteresting. + +I followed the Duke's advice; I was soon convinced of its wisdom. + +I quitted Spain, calling myself by the assumed title of Don +Alphonso d'Alvarada, and attended by a single Domestic of +approved fidelity. Paris was my first station. For some time I +was enchanted with it, as indeed must be every Man who is young, +rich, and fond of pleasure. Yet among all its gaieties, I felt +that something was wanting to my heart. I grew sick of +dissipation: I discovered, that the People among whom I lived, +and whose exterior was so polished and seducing, were at bottom +frivolous, unfeeling and insincere. I turned from the +Inhabitants of Paris with disgust, and quitted that Theatre of +Luxury without heaving one sigh of regret. + +I now bent my course towards Germany, intending to visit most of +the principal courts: Prior to this expedition, I meant to make +some little stay at Strasbourg. On quitting my Chaise at +Luneville to take some refreshment, I observed a splendid +Equipage, attended by four Domestics in rich liveries, waiting at +the door of the Silver Lion. Soon after as I looked out of the +window, I saw a Lady of noble presence, followed by two female +Attendants, step into the Carriage, which drove off immediately. + +I enquired of the Host, who the Lady was, that had just departed. + +'A German Baroness, Monsieur, of great rank and fortune. She has +been upon a visit to the Duchess of Longueville, as her Servants +informed me; She is going to Strasbourg, where She will find her +Husband, and then both return to their Castle in Germany.' + +I resumed my journey, intending to reach Strasbourg that night. +My hopes, however were frustrated by the breaking down of my +Chaise. The accident happened in the middle of a thick Forest, +and I was not a little embarrassed as to the means of proceeding. + +It was the depth of winter: The night was already closing round +us; and Strasbourg, which was the nearest Town, was still distant +from us several leagues. It seemed to me that my only +alternative to passing the night in the Forest, was to take my +Servant's Horse and ride on to Strasbourg, an undertaking at +that season very far from agreeable. However, seeing no other +resource, I was obliged to make up my mind to it. Accordingly I +communicated my design to the Postillion, telling him that I +would send People to assist him as soon as I reached Strasbourg. +I had not much confidence in his honesty; But Stephano being +well-armed, and the Driver to all appearance considerably +advanced in years, I believed I ran no danger of losing my +Baggage. + +Luckily, as I then thought, an opportunity presented itself of +passing the night more agreeably than I expected. On mentioning +my design of proceeding by myself to Strasbourg, the Postillion +shook his head in disapprobation. + +'It is a long way,' said He; 'You will find it a difficult matter +to arrive there without a Guide. Besides, Monsieur seems +unaccustomed to the season's severity, and 'tis possible that +unable to sustain the excessive cold. . . .' + +'What use is there to present me with all these objections?' said +I, impatiently interrupting him; 'I have no other resource: I +run still greater risque of perishing with cold by passing the +night in the Forest.' + +'Passing the night in the Forest?' He replied; 'Oh! by St. Denis! +We are not in quite so bad a plight as that comes to yet. If I +am not mistaken, we are scarcely five minutes walk from the +Cottage of my old Friend, Baptiste. He is a Wood-cutter, and a +very honest Fellow. I doubt not but He will shelter you for the +night with pleasure. In the meantime I can take the +saddle-Horse, ride to Strasbourg, and be back with proper people +to mend your Carriage by break of day.' + +'And in the name of God,' said I, 'How could you leave me so long +in suspense? Why did you not tell me of this Cottage sooner? +What excessive stupidity!' + +'I thought that perhaps Monsieur would not deign to accept. . . +.' + +'Absurd! Come, come! Say no more, but conduct us without delay +to the Wood-man's Cottage.' + +He obeyed, and we moved onwards: The Horses contrived with some +difficulty to drag the shattered vehicle after us. My Servant +was become almost speechless, and I began to feel the effects of +the cold myself, before we reached the wished-for Cottage. It +was a small but neat Building: As we drew near it, I rejoiced at +observing through the window the blaze of a comfortable fire. +Our Conductor knocked at the door: It was some time before any +one answered; The People within seemed in doubt whether we should +be admitted. + +'Come! Come, Friend Baptiste!' cried the Driver with impatience; +'What are you about? Are you asleep? Or will you refuse a +night's lodging to a Gentleman, whose Chaise has just broken down +in the Forest?' + +'Ah! is it you, honest Claude?' replied a Man's voice from +within; 'Wait a moment, and the door shall be opened.' + +Soon after the bolts were drawn back. The door was unclosed, and +a Man presented himself to us with a Lamp in his hand. He gave +the Guide an hearty reception, and then addressed himself to me. + +'Walk in, Monsieur; Walk in, and welcome! Excuse me for not +admitting you at first: But there are so many Rogues about this +place, that saving your presence, I suspected you to be one.' + +Thus saying, He ushered me into the room, where I had observed +the fire: I was immediately placed in an Easy Chair, which stood +close to the Hearth. A Female, whom I supposed to be the Wife of +my Host, rose from her seat upon my entrance, and received me +with a slight and distant reverence. She made no answer to my +compliment, but immediately re-seating herself, continued the +work on which She had been employed. Her Husband's manners were +as friendly as hers were harsh and repulsive. + +'I wish, I could lodge you more conveniently, Monsieur,' said He; +'But we cannot boast of much spare room in this hovel. However, +a chamber for yourself, and another for your Servant, I think, we +can make shift to supply. You must content yourself with sorry +fare; But to what we have, believe me, you are heartily welcome.' +----Then turning to his wife--'Why, how you sit there, +Marguerite, with as much tranquillity as if you had nothing +better to do! Stir about, Dame! Stir about! Get some supper; +Look out some sheets; Here, here; throw some logs upon the fire, +for the Gentleman seems perished with cold.' + +The Wife threw her work hastily upon the Table, and proceeded to +execute his commands with every mark of unwillingness. Her +countenance had displeased me on the first moment of my examining +it. Yet upon the whole her features were handsome +unquestionably; But her skin was sallow, and her person thin and +meagre; A louring gloom over-spread her countenance; and it bore +such visible marks of rancour and ill-will, as could not escape +being noticed by the most inattentive Observer. Her every look +and action expressed discontent and impatience, and the answers +which She gave Baptiste, when He reproached her good-humouredly +for her dissatisfied air, were tart, short, and cutting. In +fine, I conceived at first sight equal disgust for her, and +prepossession in favour of her Husband, whose appearance was +calculated to inspire esteem and confidence. His countenance was +open, sincere, and friendly; his manners had all the Peasant's +honesty unaccompanied by his rudeness; His cheeks were broad, +full, and ruddy; and in the solidity of his person He seemed to +offer an ample apology for the leanness of his Wife's. From the +wrinkles on his brow I judged him to be turned of sixty; But He +bore his years well, and seemed still hearty and strong: The Wife +could not be more than thirty, but in spirits and vivacity She +was infinitely older than the Husband. + +However, in spite of her unwillingness, Marguerite began to +prepare the supper, while the Wood-man conversed gaily on +different subjects. The Postillion, who had been furnished with +a bottle of spirits, was now ready to set out for Strasbourg, and +enquired, whether I had any further commands. + +'For Strasbourg?' interrupted Baptiste; 'You are not going +thither tonight?' + +'I beg your pardon: If I do not fetch Workmen to mend the +Chaise, How is Monsieur to proceed tomorrow?' + +'That is true, as you say; I had forgotten the Chaise. Well, but +Claude; You may at least eat your supper here? That can make you +lose very little time, and Monsieur looks too kind-hearted to +send you out with an empty stomach on such a bitter cold night as +this is.' + +To this I readily assented, telling the Postillion that my +reaching Strasbourg the next day an hour or two later would be +perfectly immaterial. He thanked me, and then leaving the +Cottage with Stephano, put up his Horses in the Wood-man's +Stable. Baptiste followed them to the door, and looked out with +anxiety. + +' 'Tis a sharp biting wind!' said He; 'I wonder, what detains my +Boys so long! Monsieur, I shall show you two of the finest Lads, +that ever stept in shoe of leather. The eldest is three and +twenty, the second a year younger: Their Equals for sense, +courage, and activity, are not to be found within fifty miles of +Strasbourg. Would They were back again! I begin to feel uneasy +about them.' + +Marguerite was at this time employed in laying the cloth. + +'And are you equally anxious for the return of your Sons?' said I +to her. + +'Not I!' She replied peevishly; 'They are no children of mine.' + +'Come! Come, Marguerite!' said the Husband; 'Do not be out of +humour with the Gentleman for asking a simple question. Had you +not looked so cross, He would never have thought you old enough +to have a Son of three and twenty: But you see how many years +ill-temper adds to you!--Excuse my Wife's rudeness, Monsieur. A +little thing puts her out, and She is somewhat displeased at +your not thinking her to be under thirty. That is the truth, is +it not, Marguerite? You know, Monsieur, that Age is always a +ticklish subject with a Woman. Come! come! Marguerite, clear up +a little. If you have not Sons as old, you will some twenty +years hence, and I hope, that we shall live to see them just such +Lads as Jacques and Robert.' + +Marguerite clasped her hands together passionately. + +'God forbid!' said She; 'God forbid! If I thought it, I would +strangle them with my own hands!' + +She quitted the room hastily, and went up stairs. + +I could not help expressing to the Wood-man how much I pitied +him for being chained for life to a Partner of such ill-humour. + +'Ah! Lord! Monsieur, Every one has his share of grievances, and +Marguerite has fallen to mine. Besides, after all She is only +cross, and not malicious. The worst is, that her affection for +two children by a former Husband makes her play the Step-mother +with my two Sons. She cannot bear the sight of them, and by her +good-will they would never set a foot within my door. But on +this point I always stand firm, and never will consent to abandon +the poor Lads to the world's mercy, as She has often solicited me +to do. In every thing else I let her have her own way; and truly +She manages a family rarely, that I must say for her.' + +We were conversing in this manner, when our discourse was +interrupted by a loud halloo, which rang through the Forest. + +'My Sons, I hope!' exclaimed the Wood-man, and ran to open the +door. + +The halloo was repeated: We now distinguished the trampling of +Horses, and soon after a Carriage, attended by several Cavaliers +stopped at the Cottage door. One of the Horsemen enquired how +far they were still from Strasbourg. As He addressed himself to +me, I answered in the number of miles which Claude had told me; +Upon which a volley of curses was vented against the Drivers for +having lost their way. The Persons in the Coach were now +informed of the distance of Strasbourg, and also that the Horses +were so fatigued as to be incapable of proceeding further. A +Lady, who appeared to be the principal, expressed much chagrin at +this intelligence; But as there was no remedy, one of the +Attendants asked the Wood-man, whether He could furnish them with +lodging for the night. + +He seemed much embarrassed, and replied in the negative; Adding +that a Spanish Gentleman and his Servant were already in +possession of the only spare apartments in his House. On hearing +this, the gallantry of my nation would not permit me to retain +those accommodations, of which a Female was in want. I instantly +signified to the Wood-man, that I transferred my right to the +Lady; He made some objections; But I overruled them, and +hastening to the Carriage, opened the door, and assisted the Lady +to descend. I immediately recognized her for the same person +whom I had seen at the Inn at Luneville. I took an opportunity +of asking one of her Attendants, what was her name? + +'The Baroness Lindenberg,' was the answer. + +I could not but remark how different a reception our Host had +given these newcomers and myself. His reluctance to admit them +was visibly expressed on his countenance, and He prevailed on +himself with difficulty to tell the Lady that She was welcome. +I conducted her into the House, and placed her in the +armed-chair, which I had just quitted. She thanked me very +graciously; and made a thousand apologies for putting me to an +inconvenience. Suddenly the Wood-man's countenance cleared up. + +'At last I have arranged it!' said He, interrupting her excuses; +'I can lodge you and your suite, Madam, and you will not be under +the necessity of making this Gentleman suffer for his politeness. + +We have two spare chambers, one for the Lady, the other, +Monsieur, for you: My Wife shall give up hers to the two +Waiting-women; As for the Men-servants, they must content +themselves with passing the night in a large Barn, which stands +at a few yards distance from the House. There they shall have a +blazing fire, and as good a supper as we can make shift to give +them.' + +After several expressions of gratitude on the Lady's part, and +opposition on mine to Marguerite's giving up her bed, this +arrangement was agreed to. As the Room was small, the Baroness +immediately dismissed her Male Domestics: Baptiste was on the +point of conducting them to the Barn which He had mentioned when +two young Men appeared at the door of the Cottage. + +'Hell and Furies!' exclaimed the first starting back; 'Robert, +the House is filled with Strangers!' + +'Ha! There are my Sons!' cried our Host. 'Why, Jacques! Robert! +whither are you running, Boys? There is room enough still for +you.' + +Upon this assurance the Youths returned. The Father presented +them to the Baroness and myself: After which He withdrew with +our Domestics, while at the request of the two Waiting-women, +Marguerite conducted them to the room designed for their +Mistress. + +The two new-comers were tall, stout, well-made young Men, +hard-featured, and very much sun-burnt. They paid their +compliments to us in few words, and acknowledged Claude, who now +entered the room, as an old acquaintance. They then threw aside +their cloaks in which they were wrapped up, took off a leathern +belt to which a large Cutlass was suspended, and each drawing a +brace of pistols from his girdle laid them upon a shelf. + +'You travel well-armed,' said I. + +'True, Monsieur;' replied Robert. 'We left Strasbourg late this +Evening, and 'tis necessary to take precautions at passing +through this Forest after dark. It does not bear a good repute, +I promise you.' + +'How?' said the Baroness; 'Are there Robbers hereabout?' + +'So it is said, Madame; For my own part, I have travelled through +the wood at all hours, and never met with one of them.' + +Here Marguerite returned. Her Stepsons drew her to the other +end of the room, and whispered her for some minutes. By the +looks which they cast towards us at intervals, I conjectured them +to be enquiring our business in the Cottage. + +In the meanwhile the Baroness expressed her apprehensions, that +her Husband would be suffering much anxiety upon her account. +She had intended to send on one of her Servants to inform the +Baron of her delay; But the account which the young Men gave of +the Forest rendered this plan impracticable. Claude relieved +her from her embarrassment. He informed her that He was under +the necessity of reaching Strasbourg that night, and that would +She trust him with a letter, She might depend upon its being +safely delivered. + +'And how comes it,' said I, 'that you are under no apprehension +of meeting these Robbers?' + +'Alas! Monsieur, a poor Man with a large family must not lose +certain profit because 'tis attended with a little danger, and +perhaps my Lord the Baron may give me a trifle for my pains. +Besides, I have nothing to lose except my life, and that will not +be worth the Robbers taking.' + +I thought his arguments bad, and advised his waiting till the +Morning; But as the Baroness did not second me, I was obliged to +give up the point. The Baroness Lindenberg, as I found +afterwards, had long been accustomed to sacrifice the interests +of others to her own, and her wish to send Claude to Strasbourg +blinded her to the danger of the undertaking. Accordingly, it +was resolved that He should set out without delay. The Baroness +wrote her letter to her Husband, and I sent a few lines to my +Banker, apprising him that I should not be at Strasbourg till the +next day. Claude took our letters, and left the Cottage. + +The Lady declared herself much fatigued by her journey: Besides +having come from some distance, the Drivers had contrived to lose +their way in the Forest. She now addressed herself to +Marguerite, desiring to be shown to her chamber, and permitted to +take half an hour's repose. One of the Waiting-women was +immediately summoned; She appeared with a light, and the Baroness +followed her up stairs. The cloth was spreading in the chamber +where I was, and Marguerite soon gave me to understand that I +was in her way. Her hints were too broad to be easily mistaken; +I therefore desired one of the young Men to conduct me to the +chamber where I was to sleep, and where I could remain till +supper was ready. + +'Which chamber is it, Mother?' said Robert. + +'The One with green hangings,' She replied; 'I have just been at +the trouble of getting it ready, and have put fresh sheets upon +the Bed; If the Gentleman chooses to lollop and lounge upon it, +He may make it again himself for me.' + +'You are out of humour, Mother, but that is no novelty. Have the +goodness to follow me, Monsieur.' + +He opened the door, and advanced towards a narrow staircase. + +'You have got no light!' said Marguerite; 'Is it your own neck or +the Gentleman's that you have a mind to break?' + +She crossed by me, and put a candle into Robert's hand, having +received which, He began to ascend the staircase. Jacques was +employed in laying the cloth, and his back was turned towards me. + +Marguerite seized the moment, when we were unobserved. She +caught my hand, and pressed it strongly. + +'Look at the Sheets!' said She as She passed me, and immediately +resumed her former occupation. + +Startled by the abruptness of her action, I remained as if +petrified. Robert's voice, desiring me to follow him, recalled +me to myself. I ascended the staircase. My conductor ushered +me into a chamber, where an excellent wood-fire was blazing upon +the hearth. He placed the light upon the Table, enquired whether +I had any further commands, and on my replying in the negative, +He left me to myself. You may be certain that the moment when I +found myself alone was that on which I complied with Marguerite's +injunction. I took the candle, hastily approached the Bed, and +turned down the Coverture. What was my astonishment, my horror, +at finding the sheets crimsoned with blood! + +At that moment a thousand confused ideas passed before my +imagination. The Robbers who infested the Wood, Marguerite's +exclamation respecting her Children, the arms and appearance of +the two young Men, and the various Anecdotes which I had heard +related, respecting the secret correspondence which frequently +exists between Banditti and Postillions, all these circumstances +flashed upon my mind, and inspired me with doubt and +apprehension. I ruminated on the most probable means of +ascertaining the truth of my conjectures. Suddenly I was aware +of Someone below pacing hastily backwards and forwards. Every +thing now appeared to me an object of suspicion. With precaution +I drew near the window, which, as the room had been long shut up, +was left open in spite of the cold. I ventured to look out. The +beams of the Moon permitted me to distinguish a Man, whom I had +no difficulty to recognize for my Host. I watched his movements. + +He walked swiftly, then stopped, and seemed to listen: He +stamped upon the ground, and beat his stomach with his arms as if +to guard himself from the inclemency of the season. At the least +noise, if a voice was heard in the lower part of the House, if a +Bat flitted past him, or the wind rattled amidst the leafless +boughs, He started, and looked round with anxiety. + +'Plague take him!' said He at length with impatience; 'What can +He be about!' + +He spoke in a low voice; but as He was just below my window, I +had no difficulty to distinguish his words. + +I now heard the steps of one approaching. Baptiste went towards +the sound; He joined a man, whom his low stature and the Horn +suspended from his neck, declared to be no other than my faithful +Claude, whom I had supposed to be already on his way to +Strasbourg. Expecting their discourse to throw some light upon +my situation, I hastened to put myself in a condition to hear it +with safety. For this purpose I extinguished the candle, which +stood upon a table near the Bed: The flame of the fire was not +strong enough to betray me, and I immediately resumed my place at +the window. + +The objects of my curiosity had stationed themselves directly +under it. I suppose that during my momentary absence the +Wood-man had been blaming Claude for tardiness, since when I +returned to the window, the latter was endeavouring to excuse his +fault. + +'However,' added He, 'my diligence at present shall make up for +my past delay.' + +'On that condition,' answered Baptiste, 'I shall readily forgive +you. But in truth as you share equally with us in our prizes, +your own interest will make you use all possible diligence. +'Twould be a shame to let such a noble booty escape us! You say, +that this Spaniard is rich?' + +'His Servant boasted at the Inn, that the effects in his Chaise +were worth above two thousand Pistoles.' + +Oh! how I cursed Stephano's imprudent vanity! + +'And I have been told,' continued the Postillion, 'that this +Baroness carries about her a casket of jewels of immense value.' + +'May be so, but I had rather She had stayed away. The Spaniard +was a secure prey. The Boys and myself could easily have +mastered him and his Servant, and then the two thousand Pistoles +would have been shared between us four. Now we must let in the +Band for a share, and perhaps the whole Covey may escape us. +Should our Friends have betaken themselves to their different +posts before you reach the Cavern, all will be lost. The Lady's +Attendants are too numerous for us to overpower them: Unless +our Associates arrive in time, we must needs let these Travellers +set out tomorrow without damage or hurt.' + +' 'Tis plaguy unlucky that my Comrades who drove the Coach +should be those unacquainted with our Confederacy! But never +fear, Friend Baptiste. An hour will bring me to the Cavern; It +is now but ten o'clock, and by twelve you may expect the arrival +of the Band. By the bye, take care of your Wife: You know how +strong is her repugnance to our mode of life, and She may find +means to give information to the Lady's Servants of our design.' + +'Oh! I am secure of her silence; She is too much afraid of me, +and fond of her children, to dare to betray my secret. Besides, +Jacques and Robert keep a strict eye over her, and She is not +permitted to set a foot out of the Cottage. The Servants are +safely lodged in the Barn; I shall endeavour to keep all quiet +till the arrival of our Friends. Were I assured of your finding +them, the Strangers should be dispatched this instant; But as it +is possible for you to miss the Banditti, I am fearful of being +summoned to produce them by their Domestics in the Morning.' + +'And suppose either of the Travellers should discover your +design?' + +'Then we must poignard those in our power, and take our chance +about mastering the rest. However, to avoid running such a +risque, hasten to the Cavern: The Banditti never leave it before +eleven, and if you use diligence, you may reach it in time to +stop them.' + +'Tell Robert that I have taken his Horse: My own has broken his +bridle, and escaped into the Wood. What is the watch-word?' + +'The reward of Courage.' + +' 'Tis sufficient. I hasten to the Cavern.' + +'And I to rejoin my Guests, lest my absence should create +suspicion. Farewell, and be diligent.' + +These worthy Associates now separated: The One bent his course +towards the Stable, while the Other returned to the House. + +You may judge, what must have been my feelings during this +conversation, of which I lost not a single syllable. I dared not +trust myself to my reflections, nor did any means present itself +to escape the dangers which threatened me. Resistance, I knew to +be vain; I was unarmed, and a single Man against Three: However, +I resolved at least to sell my life as dearly as I could. +Dreading lest Baptiste should perceive my absence, and suspect me +to have overheard the message with which Claude was dispatched, I +hastily relighted my candle and quitted the chamber. On +descending, I found the Table spread for six Persons. The +Baroness sat by the fireside: Marguerite was employed in +dressing a sallad, and her Step-sons were whispering together at +the further end of the room. Baptiste having the round of the +Garden to make, ere He could reach the Cottage door, was not yet +arrived. I seated myself quietly opposite to the Baroness. + +A glance upon Marguerite told her that her hint had not been +thrown away upon me. How different did She now appear to me! +What before seemed gloom and sullenness, I now found to be +disgust at her Associates, and compassion for my danger. I +looked up to her as to my only resource; Yet knowing her to be +watched by her Husband with a suspicious eye, I could place but +little reliance on the exertions of her good-will. + +In spite of all my endeavours to conceal it, my agitation was but +too visibly expressed upon my countenance. I was pale, and both +my words and actions were disordered and embarrassed. The young +Men observed this, and enquired the cause. I attributed it to +excess of fatigue, and the violent effect produced on me by the +severity of the season. Whether they believed me or not, I will +not pretend to say: They at least ceased to embarrass me with +their questions. I strove to divert my attention from the perils +which surrounded me, by conversing on different subjects with the +Baroness. I talked of Germany, declaring my intention of +visiting it immediately: God knows, that I little thought at +that moment of ever seeing it! She replied to me with great ease +and politeness, professed that the pleasure of making my +acquaintance amply compensated for the delay in her journey, and +gave me a pressing invitation to make some stay at the Castle of +Lindenberg. As She spoke thus, the Youths exchanged a malicious +smile, which declared that She would be fortunate if She ever +reached that Castle herself. This action did not escape me; But +I concealed the emotion which it excited in my breast. I +continued to converse with the Lady; But my discourse was so +frequently incoherent, that as She has since informed me, She +began to doubt whether I was in my right senses. The fact was, +that while my conversation turned upon one subject, my thoughts +were entirely occupied by another. I meditated upon the means of +quitting the Cottage, finding my way to the Barn, and giving the +Domestics information of our Host's designs. I was soon +convinced, how impracticable was the attempt. Jacques and Robert +watched my every movement with an attentive eye, and I was +obliged to abandon the idea. All my hopes now rested upon +Claude's not finding the Banditti: In that case, according to +what I had overheard, we should be permitted to depart unhurt. + +I shuddered involuntarily as Baptiste entered the room. He made +many apologies for his long absence, but 'He had been detained by +affairs impossible to be delayed.' He then entreated permission +for his family to sup at the same table with us, without which, +respect would not authorize his taking such a liberty. Oh! how +in my heart I cursed the Hypocrite! How I loathed his presence, +who was on the point of depriving me of an existence, at that +time infinitely dear! I had every reason to be satisfied with +life; I had youth, wealth, rank, and education; and the fairest +prospects presented themselves before me. I saw those prospects +on the point of closing in the most horrible manner: Yet was I +obliged to dissimulate, and to receive with a semblance of +gratitude the false civilities of him who held the dagger to my +bosom. + +The permission which our Host demanded, was easily obtained. We +seated ourselves at the Table. The Baroness and myself occupied +one side: The Sons were opposite to us with their backs to the +door. Baptiste took his seat by the Baroness at the upper end, +and the place next to him was left for his Wife. She soon +entered the room, and placed before us a plain but comfortable +Peasant's repast. Our Host thought it necessary to apologize for +the poorness of the supper: 'He had not been apprized of our +coming; He could only offer us such fare as had been intended for +his own family:' + +'But,' added He, 'should any accident detain my noble Guests +longer than they at present intend, I hope to give them a better +treatment.' + +The Villain! I well knew the accident to which He alluded; I +shuddered at the treatment which He taught us to expect! + +My Companion in danger seemed entirely to have got rid of her +chagrin at being delayed. She laughed, and conversed with the +family with infinite gaiety. I strove but in vain to follow her +example. My spirits were evidently forced, and the constraint +which I put upon myself escaped not Baptiste's observation. + +'Come, come, Monsieur, cheer up!' said He; 'You seem not quite +recovered from your fatigue. To raise your spirits, what say you +to a glass of excellent old wine which was left me by my Father? +God rest his soul, He is in a better world! I seldom produce +this wine; But as I am not honoured with such Guests every day, +this is an occasion which deserves a Bottle.' + +He then gave his Wife a Key, and instructed her where to find the +wine of which He spoke. She seemed by no means pleased with the +commission; She took the Key with an embarrassed air, and +hesitated to quit the Table. + +'Did you hear me?' said Baptiste in an angry tone. + +Marguerite darted upon him a look of mingled anger and fear, and +left the chamber. His eyes followed her suspiciously, till She +had closed the door. + +She soon returned with a bottle sealed with yellow wax. She +placed it upon the table, and gave the Key back to her Husband. +I suspected that this liquor was not presented to us without +design, and I watched Marguerite's movements with inquietude. +She was employed in rinsing some small horn Goblets. As She +placed them before Baptiste, She saw that my eye was fixed upon +her; and at the moment when She thought herself unobserved by the +Banditti, She motioned to me with her head not to taste the +liquor, She then resumed her place. + +In the mean while our Host had drawn the Cork, and filling two of +the Goblets, offered them to the Lady and myself. She at first +made some objections, but the instances of Baptiste were so +urgent, that She was obliged to comply. Fearing to excite +suspicion, I hesitated not to take the Goblet presented to me. +By its smell and colour I guessed it to be Champagne; But some +grains of powder floating upon the top convinced me that it was +not unadulterated. However, I dared not to express my repugnance +to drinking it; I lifted it to my lips, and seemed to be +swallowing it: Suddenly starting from my chair, I made the best +of my way towards a Vase of water at some distance, in which +Marguerite had been rinsing the Goblets. I pretended to spit out +the wine with disgust, and took an opportunity unperceived of +emptying the liquor into the Vase. + +The Banditti seemed alarmed at my action. Jacques half rose from +his chair, put his hand into his bosom, and I discovered the haft +of a dagger. I returned to my seat with tranquillity, and +affected not to have observed their confusion. + +'You have not suited my taste, honest Friend,' said I, addressing +myself to Baptiste. 'I never can drink Champagne without its +producing a violent illness. I swallowed a few mouthfuls ere I +was aware of its quality, and fear that I shall suffer for my +imprudence.' + +Baptiste and Jacques exchanged looks of distrust. + +'Perhaps,' said Robert, 'the smell may be disagreeable to you.' + +He quitted his chair, and removed the Goblet. I observed, that +He examined, whether it was nearly empty. + +'He must have drank sufficient,' said He to his Brother in a low +voice, while He reseated himself. + +Marguerite looked apprehensive, that I had tasted the liquor: A +glance from my eye reassured her. + +I waited with anxiety for the effects which the Beverage would +produce upon the Lady. I doubted not but the grains which I had +observed were poisonous, and lamented that it had been +impossible for me to warn her of the danger. But a few minutes +had elapsed before I perceived her eyes grow heavy; Her head +sank upon her shoulder, and She fell into a deep sleep. I +affected not to attend to this circumstance, and continued my +conversation with Baptiste, with all the outward gaiety in my +power to assume. But He no longer answered me without +constraint. He eyed me with distrust and astonishment, and I saw +that the Banditti were frequently whispering among themselves. +My situation became every moment more painful; I sustained the +character of confidence with a worse grace than ever. Equally +afraid of the arrival of their Accomplices and of their +suspecting my knowledge of their designs, I knew not how to +dissipate the distrust which the Banditti evidently entertained +for me. In this new dilemma the friendly Marguerite again +assisted me. She passed behind the Chairs of her Stepsons, +stopped for a moment opposite to me, closed her eyes, and +reclined her head upon her shoulder. This hint immediately +dispelled my incertitude. It told me, that I ought to imitate +the Baroness, and pretend that the liquor had taken its full +effect upon me. I did so, and in a few minutes seemed perfectly +overcome with slumber. + +'So!' cried Baptiste, as I fell back in my chair; 'At last He +sleeps! I began to think that He had scented our design, and +that we should have been forced to dispatch him at all events.' + +'And why not dispatch him at all events?' enquired the ferocious +Jacques. 'Why leave him the possibility of betraying our secret? +Marguerite, give me one of my Pistols: A single touch of the +trigger will finish him at once.' + +'And supposing,' rejoined the Father, 'Supposing that our Friends +should not arrive tonight, a pretty figure we should make when +the Servants enquire for him in the Morning! No, no, Jacques; We +must wait for our Associates. If they join us, we are strong +enough to dispatch the Domestics as well as their Masters, and +the booty is our own; If Claude does not find the Troop, we must +take patience, and suffer the prey to slip through our fingers. +Ah! Boys, Boys, had you arrived but five minutes sooner, the +Spaniard would have been done for, and two thousand Pistoles our +own. But you are always out of the way when you are most wanted. + +You are the most unlucky Rogues!' + +'Well, well, Father!' answered Jacques; 'Had you been of my mind, +all would have been over by this time. You, Robert, Claude, and +myself, why the Strangers were but double the number, and I +warrant you we might have mastered them. However, Claude is +gone; 'Tis too late to think of it now. We must wait patiently +for the arrival of the Gang; and if the Travellers escape us +tonight, we must take care to waylay them tomorrow.' + +'True! True!' said Baptiste; 'Marguerite, have you given the +sleeping-draught to the Waiting-women?' + +She replied in the affirmative. + +'All then is safe. Come, come, Boys; Whatever falls out, we have +no reason to complain of this adventure. We run no danger, may +gain much, and can lose nothing.' + +At this moment I heard a trampling of Horses. Oh! how dreadful +was the sound to my ears. A cold sweat flowed down my forehead, +and I felt all the terrors of impending death. I was by no means +reassured by hearing the compassionate Marguerite exclaim in the +accents of despair, + +'Almighty God! They are lost!' + +Luckily the Wood-man and his Sons were too much occupied by the +arrival of their Associates to attend to me, or the violence of +my agitation would have convinced them that my sleep was +feigned. + +'Open! Open!' exclaimed several voices on the outside of the +Cottage. + +'Yes! Yes!' cried Baptiste joyfully; 'They are our Friends sure +enough! Now then our booty is certain. Away! Lads, Away! Lead +them to the Barn; You know what is to be done there.' + +Robert hastened to open the door of the Cottage. + +'But first,' said Jacques, taking up his arms; 'first let me +dispatch these Sleepers.' + +'No, no, no!' replied his Father; 'Go you to the Barn, where your +presence is wanted. Leave me to take care of these and the Women +above.' + +Jacques obeyed, and followed his Brother. They seemed to +converse with the New-Comers for a few minutes: After which I +heard the Robbers dismount, and as I conjectured, bend their +course towards the Barn. + +'So! That is wisely done!' muttered Baptiste; 'They have quitted +their Horses, that They may fall upon the Strangers by surprise. +Good! Good! and now to business.' + +I heard him approach a small Cupboard which was fixed up in a +distant part of the room, and unlock it. At this moment I felt +myself shaken gently. + +'Now! Now!' whispered Marguerite. + +I opened my eyes. Baptiste stood with his back towards me. No +one else was in the room save Marguerite and the sleeping Lady. +The Villain had taken a dagger from the Cupboard and seemed +examining whether it was sufficiently sharp. I had neglected to +furnish myself with arms; But I perceived this to be my only +chance of escaping, and resolved not to lose the opportunity. I +sprang from my seat, darted suddenly upon Baptiste, and clasping +my hands round his throat, pressed it so forcibly as to prevent +his uttering a single cry. You may remember that I was +remarkable at Salamanca for the power of my arm: It now rendered +me an essential service. Surprised, terrified, and breathless, +the Villain was by no means an equal Antagonist. I threw him +upon the ground; I grasped him still tighter; and while I fixed +him without motion upon the floor, Marguerite, wresting the +dagger from his hand, plunged it repeatedly in his heart till He +expired. + +No sooner was this horrible but necessary act perpetrated than +Marguerite called on me to follow her. + +'Flight is our only refuge!' said She; 'Quick! Quick! Away!' + +I hesitated not to obey her: but unwilling to leave the Baroness +a victim to the vengeance of the Robbers, I raised her in my arms +still sleeping, and hastened after Marguerite. The Horses of the +Banditti were fastened near the door: My Conductress sprang upon +one of them. I followed her example, placed the Baroness before +me, and spurred on my Horse. Our only hope was to reach +Strasbourg, which was much nearer than the perfidious Claude had +assured me. Marguerite was well acquainted with the road, and +galloped on before me. We were obliged to pass by the Barn, +where the Robbers were slaughtering our Domestics. The door was +open: We distinguished the shrieks of the dying and imprecations +of the Murderers! What I felt at that moment language is unable +to describe! + +Jacques heard the trampling of our Horses as we rushed by the +Barn. He flew to the Door with a burning Torch in his hand, and +easily recognised the Fugitives. + +'Betrayed! Betrayed!' He shouted to his Companions. + +Instantly they left their bloody work, and hastened to regain +their Horses. We heard no more. I buried my spurs in the sides +of my Courser, and Marguerite goaded on hers with the poignard, +which had already rendered us such good service. We flew like +lightning, and gained the open plains. Already was Strasbourg's +Steeple in sight, when we heard the Robbers pursuing us. +Marguerite looked back, and distinguished our followers +descending a small Hill at no great distance. It was in vain +that we urged on our Horses; The noise approached nearer with +every moment. + +'We are lost!' She exclaimed; 'The Villains gain upon us!' + +'On! On!' replied I; 'I hear the trampling of Horses coming from +the Town.' + +We redoubled our exertions, and were soon aware of a numerous +band of Cavaliers, who came towards us at full speed. They were +on the point of passing us. + +'Stay! Stay!' shrieked Marguerite; 'Save us! For God's sake, +save us!' + +The Foremost, who seemed to act as Guide, immediately reined in +his Steed. + +' 'Tis She! 'Tis She!' exclaimed He, springing upon the ground; +'Stop, my Lord, stop! They are safe! 'Tis my Mother!' + +At the same moment Marguerite threw herself from her Horse, +clasped him in her arms, and covered him with Kisses. The other +Cavaliers stopped at the exclamation. + +'The Baroness Lindenberg?' cried another of the Strangers +eagerly; 'Where is She? Is She not with you?' + +He stopped on beholding her lying senseless in my arms. Hastily +He caught her from me. The profound sleep in which She was +plunged made him at first tremble for her life; but the beating +of her heart soon reassured him. + +'God be thanked!' said He; 'She has escaped unhurt.' + +I interrupted his joy by pointing out the Brigands, who continued +to approach. No sooner had I mentioned them than the greatest +part of the Company, which appeared to be chiefly composed of +soldiers, hastened forward to meet them. The Villains stayed not +to receive their attack: Perceiving their danger they turned the +heads of their Horses, and fled into the wood, whither they were +followed by our Preservers. In the mean while the Stranger, whom +I guessed to be the Baron Lindenberg, after thanking me for my +care of his Lady, proposed our returning with all speed to the +Town. The Baroness, on whom the effects of the opiate had not +ceased to operate, was placed before him; Marguerite and her Son +remounted their Horses; the Baron's Domestics followed, and we +soon arrived at the Inn, where He had taken his apartments. + +This was at the Austrian Eagle, where my Banker, whom before my +quitting Paris I had apprised of my intention to visit +Strasbourg, had prepared Lodgings for me. I rejoiced at this +circumstance. It gave me an opportunity of cultivating the +Baron's acquaintance, which I foresaw would be of use to me in +Germany. Immediately upon our arrival the Lady was conveyed to +bed; A Physician was sent for, who prescribed a medicine likely +to counteract the effects of the sleepy potion, and after it had +been poured down her throat, She was committed to the care of the +Hostess. The Baron then addressed himself to me, and entreated +me to recount the particulars of this adventure. I complied with +his request instantaneously; for in pain respecting Stephano's +fate, whom I had been compelled to abandon to the cruelty of the +Banditti, I found it impossible for me to repose, till I had some +news of him. I received but too soon the intelligence, that my +trusty Servant had perished. The Soldiers who had pursued the +Brigands returned while I was employed in relating my adventure +to the Baron. By their account I found that the Robbers had been +overtaken: Guilt and true courage are incompatible; They had +thrown themselves at the feet of their Pursuers, had surrendered +themselves without striking a blow, had discovered their secret +retreat, made known their signals by which the rest of the Gang +might be seized, and in short had betrayed ever mark of cowardice +and baseness. By this means the whole of the Band, consisting of +near sixty persons, had been made Prisoners, bound, and conducted +to Strasbourg. Some of the Soldiers hastened to the Cottage, One +of the Banditti serving them as Guide. Their first visit was to +the fatal Barn, where they were fortunate enough to find two of +the Baron's Servants still alive, though desperately wounded. +The rest had expired beneath the swords of the Robbers, and of +these my unhappy Stephano was one. + +Alarmed at our escape, the Robbers in their haste to overtake +us, had neglected to visit the Cottage. In consequence, the +Soldiers found the two Waiting-women unhurt, and buried in the +same death-like slumber which had overpowered their Mistress. +There was nobody else found in the Cottage, except a child not +above four years old, which the Soldiers brought away with them. +We were busying ourselves with conjectures respecting the birth +of this little unfortunate, when Marguerite rushed into the room +with the Baby in her arms. She fell at the feet of the Officer +who was making us this report, and blessed him a thousand times +for the preservation of her Child. + +When the first burst of maternal tenderness was over, I besought +her to declare, by what means She had been united to a Man whose +principles seemed so totally discordant with her own. She bent +her eyes downwards, and wiped a few tears from her cheek. + +'Gentlemen,' said She after a silence of some minutes, 'I would +request a favour of you: You have a right to know on whom you +confer an obligation. I will not therefore stifle a confession +which covers me with shame; But permit me to comprise it in as +few words as possible. + +'I was born in Strasbourg of respectable Parents; Their names I +must at present conceal: My Father still lives, and deserves not +to be involved in my infamy; If you grant my request, you shall +be informed of my family name. A Villain made himself Master of +my affections, and to follow him I quitted my Father's House. +Yet though my passions overpowered my virtue, I sank not into +that degeneracy of vice, but too commonly the lot of Women who +make the first false step. I loved my Seducer; dearly loved him! +I was true to his Bed; this Baby, and the Youth who warned you, +my Lord Baron, of your Lady's danger, are the pledges of our +affection. Even at this moment I lament his loss, though 'tis to +him that I owe all the miseries of my existence. + +'He was of noble birth, but He had squandered away his paternal +inheritance. His Relations considered him as a disgrace to their +name, and utterly discarded him. His excesses drew upon him the +indignation of the Police. He was obliged to fly from +Strasbourg, and saw no other resource from beggary than an union +with the Banditti who infested the neighbouring Forest, and +whose Troop was chiefly composed of Young Men of family in the +same predicament with himself. I was determined not to forsake +him. I followed him to the Cavern of the Brigands, and shared +with him the misery inseparable from a life of pillage. But +though I was aware that our existence was supported by plunder, I +knew not all the horrible circumstances attached to my Lover's +profession. These He concealed from me with the utmost care; He +was conscious that my sentiments were not sufficiently depraved +to look without horror upon assassination: He supposed, and with +justice, that I should fly with detestation from the embraces of +a Murderer. Eight years of possession had not abated his love +for me; and He cautiously removed from my knowledge every +circumstance, which might lead me to suspect the crimes in which +He but too often participated. He succeeded perfectly: It was +not till after my Seducer's death, that I discovered his hands to +have been stained with the blood of innocence. + +'One fatal night He was brought back to the Cavern covered with +wounds: He received them in attacking an English Traveller, whom +his Companions immediately sacrificed to their resentment. He +had only time to entreat my pardon for all the sorrows which He +had caused me: He pressed my hand to his lips, and expired. My +grief was inexpressible. As soon as its violence abated, I +resolved to return to Strasbourg, to throw myself with my two +Children at my Father's feet, and implore his forgiveness, though +I little hoped to obtain it. What was my consternation when +informed that no one entrusted with the secret of their retreat +was ever permitted to quit the troop of the Banditti; That I must +give up all hopes of ever rejoining society, and consent +instantly to accepting one of their Band for my Husband! My +prayers and remonstrances were vain. They cast lots to decide to +whose possession I should fall; I became the property of the +infamous Baptiste. A Robber, who had once been a Monk, +pronounced over us a burlesque rather than a religious Ceremony: +I and my Children were delivered into the hands of my new +Husband, and He conveyed us immediately to his home. + +'He assured me that He had long entertained for me the most +ardent regard; But that Friendship for my deceased Lover had +obliged him to stifle his desires. He endeavoured to reconcile +me to my fate, and for some time treated me with respect and +gentleness: At length finding that my aversion rather increased +than diminished, He obtained those favours by violence, which I +persisted to refuse him. No resource remained for me but to bear +my sorrows with patience; I was conscious that I deserved them +but too well. Flight was forbidden: My Children were in the +power of Baptiste, and He had sworn that if I attempted to +escape, their lives should pay for it. I had had too many +opportunities of witnessing the barbarity of his nature to doubt +his fulfilling his oath to the very letter. Sad experience had +convinced me of the horrors of my situation: My first Lover had +carefully concealed them from me; Baptiste rather rejoiced in +opening my eyes to the cruelties of his profession, and strove to +familiarise me with blood and slaughter. + +'My nature was licentious and warm, but not cruel: My conduct had +been imprudent, but my heart was not unprincipled. Judge then +what I must have felt at being a continual witness of crimes the +most horrible and revolting! Judge how I must have grieved at +being united to a Man who received the unsuspecting Guest with +an air of openness and hospitality, at the very moment that He +meditated his destruction. Chagrin and discontent preyed upon my +constitution: The few charms bestowed on me by nature withered +away, and the dejection of my countenance denoted the sufferings +of my heart. I was tempted a thousand times to put an end to my +existence; But the remembrance of my Children held my hand. I +trembled to leave my dear Boys in my Tyrant's power, and trembled +yet more for their virtue than their lives. The Second was still +too young to benefit by my instructions; But in the heart of my +Eldest I laboured unceasingly to plant those principles, which +might enable him to avoid the crimes of his Parents. He listened +to me with docility, or rather with eagerness. Even at his early +age, He showed that He was not calculated for the society of +Villains; and the only comfort which I enjoyed among my sorrows, +was to witness the dawning virtues of my Theodore. + +'Such was my situation, when the perfidy of Don Alphonso's +postillion conducted him to the Cottage. His youth, air, and +manners interested me most forcibly in his behalf. The absence +of my Husband's Sons gave me an opportunity which I had long +wished to find, and I resolved to risque every thing to preserve +the Stranger. The vigilance of Baptiste prevented me from +warning Don Alphonso of his danger: I knew that my betraying the +secret would be immediately punished with death; and however +embittered was my life by calamities, I wanted courage to +sacrifice it for the sake of preserving that of another Person. +My only hope rested upon procuring succour from Strasbourg: At +this I resolved to try; and should an opportunity offer of +warning Don Alphonso of his danger unobserved, I was determined +to seize it with avidity. By Baptiste's orders I went upstairs +to make the Stranger's Bed: I spread upon it Sheets in which a +Traveller had been murdered but a few nights before, and which +still were stained with blood. I hoped that these marks would +not escape the vigilance of our Guest, and that He would collect +from them the designs of my perfidious Husband. Neither was this +the only step which I took to preserve the Stranger. Theodore +was confined to his bed by illness. I stole into his room +unobserved by my Tyrant, communicated to him my project, and He +entered into it with eagerness. He rose in spite of his malady, +and dressed himself with all speed. I fastened one of the Sheets +round his arms, and lowered him from the Window. He flew to the +Stable, took Claude's Horse, and hastened to Strasbourg. Had He +been accosted by the Banditti, He was to have declared himself +sent upon a message by Baptiste, but fortunately He reached the +Town without meeting any obstacle. Immediately upon his arrival +at Strasbourg, He entreated assistance from the Magistrature: +His Story passed from mouth to mouth, and at length came to the +knowledge of my Lord the Baron. Anxious for the safety of his +Lady, whom He knew would be upon the road that Evening, it struck +him that She might have fallen into the power of the Robbers. He +accompanied Theodore who guided the Soldiers towards the Cottage, +and arrived just in time to save us from falling once more into +the hands of our Enemies.' + +Here I interrupted Marguerite to enquire why the sleepy potion +had been presented to me. She said that Baptiste supposed me to +have arms about me, and wished to incapacitate me from making +resistance: It was a precaution which He always took, since as +the Travellers had no hopes of escaping, Despair would have +incited them to sell their lives dearly. + +The Baron then desired Marguerite to inform him, what were her +present plans. I joined him in declaring my readiness to show my +gratitude to her for the preservation of my life. + +'Disgusted with a world,' She replied, 'in which I have met with +nothing but misfortunes, my only wish is to retire into a +Convent. But first I must provide for my Children. I find that +my Mother is no more, probably driven to an untimely grave by my +desertion! My Father is still living; He is not an hard Man; +Perhaps, Gentlemen, in spite of my ingratitude and imprudence, +your intercessions may induce him to forgive me, and to take +charge of his unfortunate Grand-sons. If you obtain this boon +for me, you will repay my services a thousand-fold!' + +Both the Baron and myself assured Marguerite, that we would spare +no pains to obtain her pardon: and that even should her Father be +inflexible, She need be under no apprehensions respecting the +fate of her Children. I engaged myself to provide for Theodore, +and the Baron promised to take the youngest under his protection. + +The grateful Mother thanked us with tears for what She called +generosity, but which in fact was no more than a proper sense of +our obligations to her. She then left the room to put her little +Boy to bed, whom fatigue and sleep had compleatly overpowered. + +The Baroness, on recovering and being informed from what dangers +I had rescued her, set no bounds to the expressions of her +gratitude. She was joined so warmly by her Husband in pressing +me to accompany them to their Castle in Bavaria, that I found it +impossible to resist their entreaties. During a week which we +passed at Strasbourg, the interests of Marguerite were not +forgotten: In our application to her Father we succeeded as amply +as we could wish. The good old Man had lost his Wife: He had no +Children but this unfortunate Daughter, of whom He had received +no news for almost fourteen years. He was surrounded by distant +Relations, who waited with impatience for his decease in order to +get possession of his money. When therefore Marguerite appeared +again so unexpectedly, He considered her as a gift from heaven: +He received her and her Children with open arms, and insisted +upon their establishing themselves in his House without delay. +The disappointed Cousins were obliged to give place. The old Man +would not hear of his Daughter's retiring into a Convent: He +said that She was too necessary to his happiness, and She was +easily persuaded to relinquish her design. But no persuasions +could induce Theodore to give up the plan which I had at first +marked out for him. He had attached himself to me most +sincerely during my stay at Strasbourg; and when I was on the +point of leaving it, He besought me with tears to take him into +my service: He set forth all his little talents in the most +favourable colours, and tried to convince me that I should find +him of infinite use to me upon the road. I was unwilling to +charge myself with a Lad but scarcely turned of thirteen, whom I +knew could only be a burthen to me: However, I could not resist +the entreaties of this affectionate Youth, who in fact possessed +a thousand estimable qualities. With some difficulty He +persuaded his relations to let him follow me, and that permission +once obtained, He was dubbed with the title of my Page. Having +passed a week at Strasbourg, Theodore and myself set out for +Bavaria in company with the Baron and his Lady. These Latter as +well as myself had forced Marguerite to accept several presents +of value, both for herself, and her youngest Son: On leaving +her, I promised his Mother faithfully that I would restore +Theodore to her within the year. + +I have related this adventure at length, Lorenzo, that you might +understand the means by which 'The Adventurer, Alphonso +d'Alvarada got introduced into the Castle of Lindenberg.' Judge +from this specimen how much faith should be given to your Aunt's +assertions! + + + +VOLUME II + +CHAPTER I + +Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the Earth hide thee! +Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold! +Thou hast no speculation in those eyes +Which Thou dost glare with! Hence, horrible shadow! +Unreal mockery hence! + Macbeth. + +Continuation of the History of Don Raymond. + +My journey was uncommonly agreeable: I found the Baron a Man of +some sense, but little knowledge of the world. He had past a +great part of his life without stirring beyond the precincts of +his own domains, and consequently his manners were far from being +the most polished: But He was hearty, good-humoured, and +friendly. His attention to me was all that I could wish, and I +had every reason to be satisfied with his behaviour. His ruling +passion was Hunting, which He had brought himself to consider as +a serious occupation; and when talking over some remarkable +chace, He treated the subject with as much gravity as it had +been a Battle on which the fate of two kingdoms was depending. I +happened to be a tolerable Sportsman: Soon after my arrival at +Lindenberg I gave some proofs of my dexterity. The Baron +immediately marked me down for a Man of Genius, and vowed to me +an eternal friendship. + +That friendship was become to me by no means indifferent. At the +Castle of Lindenberg I beheld for the first time your Sister, the +lovely Agnes. For me whose heart was unoccupied, and who grieved +at the void, to see her and to love her were the same. I found +in Agnes all that was requisite to secure my affection. She was +then scarcely sixteen; Her person light and elegant was already +formed; She possessed several talents in perfection, particularly +those of Music and drawing: Her character was gay, open, and +good-humoured; and the graceful simplicity of her dress and +manners formed an advantageous contrast to the art and studied +Coquetry of the Parisian Dames, whom I had just quitted. From +the moment that I beheld her, I felt the most lively interest in +her fate. I made many enquiries respecting her of the Baroness. + +'She is my Niece,' replied that Lady; 'You are still ignorant, +Don Alphonso, that I am your Countrywoman. I am Sister to the +Duke of Medina Celi: Agnes is the Daughter of my second Brother, +Don Gaston: She has been destined to the Convent from her +cradle, and will soon make her profession at Madrid.' + +(Here Lorenzo interrupted the Marquis by an exclamation of +surprise. + +'Intended for the Convent from her cradle?' said He; 'By heaven, +this is the first word that I ever heard of such a design!' + +'I believe it, my dear Lorenzo,' answered Don Raymond; 'But you +must listen to me with patience. You will not be less surprised, +when I relate some particulars of your family still unknown to +you, and which I have learnt from the mouth of Agnes herself.' + +He then resumed his narrative as follows.) + +You cannot but be aware that your Parents were unfortunately +Slaves to the grossest superstition: When this foible was called +into play, their every other sentiment, their every other passion +yielded to its irresistible strength. While She was big with +Agnes, your Mother was seized by a dangerous illness, and given +over by her Physicians. In this situation, Donna Inesilla vowed, +that if She recovered from her malady, the Child then living in +her bosom if a Girl should be dedicated to St. Clare, if a Boy to +St. Benedict. Her prayers were heard; She got rid of her +complaint; Agnes entered the world alive, and was immediately +destined to the service of St. Clare. + +Don Gaston readily chimed in with his Lady's wishes: But knowing +the sentiments of the Duke, his Brother, respecting a Monastic +life, it was determined that your Sister's destination should be +carefully concealed from him. The better to guard the secret, it +was resolved that Agnes should accompany her Aunt, Donna Rodolpha +into Germany, whither that Lady was on the point of following her +new-married Husband, Baron Lindenberg. On her arrival at that +Estate, the young Agnes was put into a Convent, situated but a +few miles from the Castle. The Nuns to whom her education was +confided performed their charge with exactitude: They made her +a perfect Mistress of many talents, and strove to infuse into her +mind a taste for the retirement and tranquil pleasures of a +Convent. But a secret instinct made the young Recluse sensible +that She was not born for solitude: In all the freedom of youth +and gaiety, She scrupled not to treat as ridiculous many +ceremonies which the Nuns regarded with awe; and She was never +more happy than when her lively imagination inspired her with +some scheme to plague the stiff Lady Abbess, or the ugly ill- +tempered old Porteress. She looked with disgust upon the +prospect before her: However no alternative was offered to her, +and She submitted to the decree of her Parents, though not +without secret repining. + +That repugnance She had not art enough to conceal long: Don +Gaston was informed of it. Alarmed, Lorenzo, lest your affection +for her should oppose itself to his projects, and lest you should +positively object to your Sister's misery, He resolved to keep +the whole affair from YOUR knowledge as well as the Duke's, till +the sacrifice should be consummated. The season of her taking +the veil was fixed for the time when you should be upon your +travels: In the meanwhile no hint was dropped of Donna +Inesilla's fatal vow. Your Sister was never permitted to know +your direction. All your letters were read before She received +them, and those parts effaced, which were likely to nourish her +inclination for the world: Her answers were dictated either by +her Aunt, or by Dame Cunegonda, her Governess. These particulars +I learnt partly from Agnes, partly from the Baroness herself. + +I immediately determined upon rescuing this lovely Girl from a +fate so contrary to her inclinations, and ill-suited to her +merit. I endeavoured to ingratiate myself into her favour: I +boasted of my friendship and intimacy with you. She listened to +me with avidity; She seemed to devour my words while I spoke in +your praise, and her eyes thanked me for my affection to her +Brother. My constant and unremitted attention at length gained +me her heart, and with difficulty I obliged her to confess that +She loved me. When however, I proposed her quitting the Castle +of Lindenberg, She rejected the idea in positive terms. + +'Be generous, Alphonso,' She said; 'You possess my heart, but use +not the gift ignobly. Employ not your ascendancy over me in +persuading me to take a step, at which I should hereafter have +to blush. I am young and deserted: My Brother, my only Friend, +is separated from me, and my other Relations act with me as my +Enemies. Take pity on my unprotected situation. Instead of +seducing me to an action which would cover me with shame, strive +rather to gain the affections of those who govern me. The Baron +esteems you. My Aunt, to others ever harsh proud and +contemptuous, remembers that you rescued her from the hands of +Murderers, and wears with you alone the appearance of kindness +and benignity. Try then your influence over my Guardians. If +they consent to our union my hand is yours: From your account of +my Brother, I cannot doubt your obtaining his approbation: And +when they find the impossibility of executing their design, I +trust that my Parents will excuse my disobedience, and expiate by +some other sacrifice my Mother's fatal vow.' + +From the first moment that I beheld Agnes, I had endeavoured to +conciliate the favour of her Relations. Authorised by the +confession of her regard, I redoubled my exertions. My principal +Battery was directed against the Baroness; It was easy to +discover that her word was law in the Castle: Her Husband paid +her the most absolute submission, and considered her as a +superior Being. She was about forty: In her youth She had been +a Beauty; But her charms had been upon that large scale which can +but ill sustain the shock of years: However She still possessed +some remains of them. Her understanding was strong and excellent +when not obscured by prejudice, which unluckily was but seldom +the case. Her passions were violent: She spared no pains to +gratify them, and pursued with unremitting vengeance those who +opposed themselves to her wishes. The warmest of Friends, the +most inveterate of Enemies, such was the Baroness Lindenberg. + +I laboured incessantly to please her: Unluckily I succeeded but +too well. She seemed gratified by my attention, and treated me +with a distinction accorded by her to no one else. One of my +daily occupations was reading to her for several hours: Those +hours I should much rather have past with Agnes; But as I was +conscious that complaisance for her Aunt would advance our +union, I submitted with a good grace to the penance imposed upon +me. Donna Rodolpha's Library was principally composed of old +Spanish Romances: These were her favourite studies, and once a +day one of these unmerciful Volumes was put regularly into my +hands. I read the wearisome adventures of 'Perceforest,' +'Tirante the White,' 'Palmerin of England,' and 'the Knight of +the Sun,' till the Book was on the point of falling from my hands +through Ennui. However, the increasing pleasure which the +Baroness seemed to take in my society, encouraged me to +persevere; and latterly She showed for me a partiality so marked, +that Agnes advised me to seize the first opportunity of declaring +our mutual passion to her Aunt. + +One Evening, I was alone with Donna Rodolpha in her own +apartment. As our readings generally treated of love, Agnes was +never permitted to assist at them. I was just congratulating +myself on having finished 'The Loves of Tristan and the Queen +Iseult----' + +'Ah! The Unfortunates!' cried the Baroness; 'How say you, +Segnor? Do you think it possible for Man to feel an attachment +so disinterested and sincere?' + +'I cannot doubt it,' replied I; 'My own heart furnishes me with +the certainty. Ah! Donna Rodolpha, might I but hope for your +approbation of my love! Might I but confess the name of my +Mistress without incurring your resentment!' + +She interrupted me. + +'Suppose, I were to spare you that confession? Suppose I were +to acknowledge that the object of your desires is not unknown to +me? Suppose I were to say that She returns your affection, and +laments not less sincerely than yourself the unhappy vows which +separate her from you?' + +'Ah! Donna Rodolpha!' I exclaimed, throwing myself upon my knees +before her, and pressing her hand to my lips, 'You have +discovered my secret! What is your decision? Must I despair, or +may I reckon upon your favour?' + +She withdrew not the hand which I held; But She turned from me, +and covered her face with the other. + +'How can I refuse it you?' She replied; 'Ah! Don Alphonso, I have +long perceived to whom your attentions were directed, but till +now I perceived not the impression which they made upon my heart. + +At length I can no longer hide my weakness either from myself or +from you. I yield to the violence of my passion, and own that I +adore you! For three long months I stifled my desires; But grown +stronger by resistance, I submit to their impetuosity. Pride, +fear, and honour, respect for myself, and my engagements to the +Baron, all are vanquished. I sacrifice them to my love for you, +and it still seems to me that I pay too mean a price for your +possession.' + +She paused for an answer.--Judge, my Lorenzo, what must have been +my confusion at this discovery. I at once saw all the magnitude +of this obstacle, which I had raised myself to my happiness. The +Baroness had placed those attentions to her own account, which I +had merely paid her for the sake of Agnes: And the strength of +her expressions, the looks which accompanied them, and my +knowledge of her revengeful disposition made me tremble for +myself and my Beloved. I was silent for some minutes. I knew +not how to reply to her declaration: I could only resolve to +clear up the mistake without delay, and for the present to +conceal from her knowledge the name of my Mistress. No sooner +had She avowed her passion than the transports which before were +evident in my features gave place to consternation and +constraint. I dropped her hand, and rose from my knees. The +change in my countenance did not escape her observation. + +'What means this silence?' said She in a trembling voice; 'Where +is that joy which you led me to expect?' + +'Forgive me, Segnora,' I answered, 'if what necessity forces from +me should seem harsh and ungrateful: To encourage you in an +error, which, however it may flatter myself, must prove to you +the source of disappointment, would make me appear criminal in +every eye. Honour obliges me to inform you that you have +mistaken for the solicitude of Love what was only the attention +of Friendship. The latter sentiment is that which I wished to +excite in your bosom: To entertain a warmer, respect for you +forbids me, and gratitude for the Baron's generous treatment. +Perhaps these reasons would not be sufficient to shield me from +your attractions, were it not that my affections are already +bestowed upon another. You have charms, Segnora, which might +captivate the most insensible; No heart unoccupied could resist +them. Happy is it for me that mine is no longer in my +possession; or I should have to reproach myself for ever with +having violated the Laws of Hospitality. Recollect yourself, +noble Lady; Recollect what is owed by you to honour, by me to the +Baron, and replace by esteem and friendship those sentiments +which I never can return.' + +The Baroness turned pale at this unexpected and positive +declaration: She doubted whether She slept or woke. At length +recovering from her surprise, consternation gave place to rage, +and the blood rushed back into her cheeks with violence. + +'Villain!' She cried; 'Monster of deceit! Thus is the avowal of +my love received? Is it thus that. . . . But no, no! It +cannot, it shall not be! Alphonso, behold me at your feet! Be +witness of my despair! Look with pity on a Woman who loves you +with sincere affection! She who possesses your heart, how has +She merited such a treasure? What sacrifice has She made to you? + +What raises her above Rodolpha?' + +I endeavoured to lift her from her Knees. + +'For God's sake, Segnora, restrain these transports: They +disgrace yourself and me. Your exclamations may be heard, and +your secret divulged to your Attendants. I see that my presence +only irritates you: permit me to retire.' + +I prepared to quit the apartment: The Baroness caught me +suddenly by the arm. + +'And who is this happy Rival?' said She in a menacing tone; 'I +will know her name, and WHEN I know it. . . . ! She is someone +in my power; You entreated my favour, my protection! Let me but +find her, let me but know who dares to rob me of your heart, and +She shall suffer every torment which jealousy and disappointment +can inflict! Who is She? Answer me this moment. Hope not to +conceal her from my vengeance! Spies shall be set over you; +every step, every look shall be watched; Your eyes will discover +my Rival; I shall know her, and when She is found, tremble, +Alphonso for her and for yourself!' + +As She uttered these last words her fury mounted to such a pitch +as to stop her powers of respiration. She panted, groaned, and +at length fainted away. As She was falling I caught her in my +arms, and placed her upon a Sopha. Then hastening to the door, I +summoned her Women to her assistance; I committed her to their +care, and seized the opportunity of escaping. + +Agitated and confused beyond expression I bent my steps towards +the Garden. The benignity with which the Baroness had listened +to me at first raised my hopes to the highest pitch: I imagined +her to have perceived my attachment for her Niece, and to approve +of it. Extreme was my disappointment at understanding the true +purport of her discourse. I knew not what course to take: The +superstition of the Parents of Agnes, aided by her Aunt's +unfortunate passion, seemed to oppose such obstacles to our union +as were almost insurmountable. + +As I past by a low parlour, whose windows looked into the Garden, +through the door which stood half open I observed Agnes seated at +a Table. She was occupied in drawing, and several unfinished +sketches were scattered round her. I entered, still undetermined +whether I should acquaint her with the declaration of the +Baroness. + +'Oh! is it only you?' said She, raising her head; 'You are no +Stranger, and I shall continue my occupation without ceremony. +Take a Chair, and seat yourself by me.' + +I obeyed, and placed myself near the Table. Unconscious what I +was doing, and totally occupied by the scene which had just +passed, I took up some of the drawings, and cast my eye over +them. One of the subjects struck me from its singularity. It +represented the great Hall of the Castle of Lindenberg. A door +conducting to a narrow staircase stood half open. In the +foreground appeared a Groupe of figures, placed in the most +grotesque attitudes; Terror was expressed upon every countenance. + +Here was One upon his knees with his eyes cast up to heaven, and +praying most devoutly; There Another was creeping away upon all +fours. Some hid their faces in their cloaks or the laps of their +Companions; Some had concealed themselves beneath a Table, on +which the remnants of a feast were visible; While Others with +gaping mouths and eyes wide-stretched pointed to a Figure, +supposed to have created this disturbance. It represented a +Female of more than human stature, clothed in the habit of some +religious order. Her face was veiled; On her arm hung a chaplet +of beads; Her dress was in several places stained with the blood +which trickled from a wound upon her bosom. In one hand She held +a Lamp, in the other a large Knife, and She seemed advancing +towards the iron gates of the Hall. + +'What does this mean, Agnes?' said I; 'Is this some invention of +your own?' + +She cast her eye upon the drawing. + +'Oh! no,' She replied; ' 'Tis the invention of much wiser heads +than mine. But can you possibly have lived at Lindenberg for +three whole Months without hearing of the Bleeding Nun?' + +'You are the first, who ever mentioned the name to me. Pray, who +may the Lady be?' + +'That is more than I can pretend to tell you. All my knowledge +of her History comes from an old tradition in this family, which +has been handed down from Father to Son, and is firmly credited +throughout the Baron's domains. Nay, the Baron believes it +himself; and as for my Aunt who has a natural turn for the +marvellous, She would sooner doubt the veracity of the Bible, +than of the Bleeding Nun. Shall I tell you this History?' + +I answered that She would oblige me much by relating it: She +resumed her drawing, and then proceeded as follows in a tone of +burlesqued gravity. + +'It is surprising that in all the Chronicles of past times, this +remarkable Personage is never once mentioned. Fain would I +recount to you her life; But unluckily till after her death She +was never known to have existed. Then first did She think it +necessary to make some noise in the world, and with that +intention She made bold to seize upon the Castle of Lindenberg. +Having a good taste, She took up her abode in the best room of +the House: and once established there, She began to amuse +herself by knocking about the tables and chairs in the middle of +the night. Perhaps She was a bad Sleeper, but this I have never +been able to ascertain. According to the tradition, this +entertainment commenced about a Century ago. It was accompanied +with shrieking, howling, groaning, swearing, and many other +agreeable noises of the same kind. But though one particular +room was more especially honoured with her visits, She did not +entirely confine herself to it. She occasionally ventured into +the old Galleries, paced up and down the spacious Halls, or +sometimes stopping at the doors of the Chambers, She wept and +wailed there to the universal terror of the Inhabitants. In +these nocturnal excursions She was seen by different People, who +all describe her appearance as you behold it here, traced by the +hand of her unworthy Historian.' + +The singularity of this account insensibly engaged my attention. + +'Did She never speak to those who met her?' said I. + +'Not She. The specimens indeed, which She gave nightly of her +talents for conversation, were by no means inviting. Sometimes +the Castle rung with oaths and execrations: A Moment after She +repeated her Paternoster: Now She howled out the most horrible +blasphemies, and then chaunted De Profundis, as orderly as if +still in the Choir. In short She seemed a mighty capricious +Being: But whether She prayed or cursed, whether She was impious +or devout, She always contrived to terrify her Auditors out of +their senses. The Castle became scarcely habitable; and its Lord +was so frightened by these midnight Revels, that one fine morning +He was found dead in his bed. This success seemed to please the +Nun mightily, for now She made more noise than ever. But the +next Baron proved too cunning for her. He made his appearance +with a celebrated Exorciser in his hand, who feared not to shut +himself up for a night in the haunted Chamber. There it seems +that He had an hard battle with the Ghost, before She would +promise to be quiet. She was obstinate, but He was more so, and +at length She consented to let the Inhabitants of the Castle take +a good night's rest. For some time after no news was heard of +her. But at the end of five years the Exorciser died, and then +the Nun ventured to peep abroad again. However, She was now +grown much more tractable and well-behaved. She walked about in +silence, and never made her appearance above once in five years. +This custom, if you will believe the Baron, She still continues. +He is fully persuaded, that on the fifth of May of every fifth +year, as soon as the Clock strikes One, the Door of the haunted +Chamber opens. (Observe, that this room has been shut up for +near a Century.) Then out walks the Ghostly Nun with her Lamp +and dagger: She descends the staircase of the Eastern Tower; +and crosses the great Hall! On that night the Porter always +leaves the Gates of the Castle open, out of respect to the +Apparition: Not that this is thought by any means necessary, +since She could easily whip through the Keyhole if She chose it; +But merely out of politeness, and to prevent her from making her +exit in a way so derogatory to the dignity of her Ghost-ship.' + +'And whither does She go on quitting the Castle?' + +'To Heaven, I hope; But if She does, the place certainly is not +to her taste, for She always returns after an hour's absence. +The Lady then retires to her chamber, and is quiet for another +five years.' + +'And you believe this, Agnes?' + +'How can you ask such a question? No, no, Alphonso! I have too +much reason to lament superstition's influence to be its Victim +myself. However I must not avow my incredulity to the Baroness: +She entertains not a doubt of the truth of this History. As to +Dame Cunegonda, my Governess, She protests that fifteen years ago +She saw the Spectre with her own eyes. She related to me one +evening how She and several other Domestics had been terrified +while at Supper by the appearance of the Bleeding Nun, as the +Ghost is called in the Castle: 'Tis from her account that I drew +this sketch, and you may be certain that Cunegonda was not +omitted. There She is! I shall never forget what a passion She +was in, and how ugly She looked while She scolded me for having +made her picture so like herself!' + +Here She pointed to a burlesque figure of an old Woman in an +attitude of terror. + +In spite of the melancholy which oppressed me, I could not help +smiling at the playful imagination of Agnes: She had perfectly +preserved Dame Cunegonda's resemblance, but had so much +exaggerated every fault, and rendered every feature so +irresistibly laughable, that I could easily conceive the Duenna's +anger. + +'The figure is admirable, my dear Agnes! I knew not that you +possessed such talents for the ridiculous.' + +'Stay a moment,' She replied; 'I will show you a figure still +more ridiculous than Dame Cunegonda's. If it pleases you, you +may dispose of it as seems best to yourself.' + +She rose, and went to a Cabinet at some little distance. +Unlocking a drawer, She took out a small case, which She opened, +and presented to me. + +'Do you know the resemblance?' said She smiling. + +It was her own. + +Transported at the gift, I pressed the portrait to my lips with +passion: I threw myself at her feet, and declared my gratitude +in the warmest and most affectionate terms. She listened to me +with complaisance, and assured me that She shared my sentiments: +When suddenly She uttered a loud shriek, disengaged the hand +which I held, and flew from the room by a door which opened to +the Garden. Amazed at this abrupt departure, I rose hastily from +my knees. I beheld with confusion the Baroness standing near me +glowing with jealousy, and almost choaked with rage. On +recovering from her swoon, She had tortured her imagination to +discover her concealed Rival. No one appeared to deserve her +suspicions more than Agnes. She immediately hastened to find her +Niece, tax her with encouraging my addresses, and assure herself +whether her conjectures were well-grounded. Unfortunately She +had already seen enough to need no other confirmation. She +arrived at the door of the room at the precise moment, when Agnes +gave me her Portrait. She heard me profess an everlasting +attachment to her Rival, and saw me kneeling at her feet. She +advanced to separate us; We were too much occupied by each other +to perceive her approach, and were not aware of it, till Agnes +beheld her standing by my side. + +Rage on the part of Donna Rodolpha, embarrassment on mine, for +some time kept us both silent. The Lady recovered herself first. + +'My suspicions then were just,' said She; 'The Coquetry of my +Niece has triumphed, and 'tis to her that I am sacrificed. In +one respect however I am fortunate: I shall not be the only one +who laments a disappointed passion. You too shall know, what it +is to love without hope! I daily expect orders for restoring +Agnes to her Parents. Immediately upon her arrival in Spain, She +will take the veil, and place an insuperable barrier to your +union. You may spare your supplications.' She continued, +perceiving me on the point of speaking; 'My resolution is fixed +and immoveable. Your Mistress shall remain a close Prisoner in +her chamber till She exchanges this Castle for the Cloister. +Solitude will perhaps recall her to a sense of her duty: But to +prevent your opposing that wished event, I must inform you, Don +Alphonso, that your presence here is no longer agreeable either +to the Baron or Myself. It was not to talk nonsense to my Niece +that your Relations sent you to Germany: Your business was to +travel, and I should be sorry to impede any longer so excellent a +design. Farewell, Segnor; Remember, that tomorrow morning we +meet for the last time.' + +Having said this, She darted upon me a look of pride, contempt, +and malice, and quitted the apartment. I also retired to mine, +and consumed the night in planning the means of rescuing Agnes +from the power of her tyrannical Aunt. + +After the positive declaration of its Mistress, it was impossible +for me to make a longer stay at the Castle of Lindenberg. +Accordingly I the next day announced my immediate departure. The +Baron declared that it gave him sincere pain; and He expressed +himself in my favour so warmly, that I endeavoured to win him +over to my interest. Scarcely had I mentioned the name of Agnes +when He stopped me short, and said, that it was totally out of +his power to interfere in the business. I saw that it was in +vain to argue; The Baroness governed her Husband with despotic +sway, and I easily perceived that She had prejudiced him against +the match. Agnes did not appear: I entreated permission to take +leave of her, but my prayer was rejected. I was obliged to +depart without seeing her. + +At quitting him the Baron shook my hand affectionately, and +assured me that as soon as his Niece was gone, I might consider +his House as my own. + +'Farewell, Don Alphonso!' said the Baroness, and stretched out +her hand to me. + +I took it, and offered to carry it to my lips. She prevented me. + +Her Husband was at the other end of the room, and out of hearing. + +'Take care of yourself,' She continued; 'My love is become +hatred, and my wounded pride shall not be unatoned. Go where +you will, my vengeance shall follow you!' + +She accompanied these words with a look sufficient to make me +tremble. I answered not, but hastened to quit the Castle. + +As my Chaise drove out of the Court, I looked up to the windows +of your Sister's chamber. Nobody was to be seen there: I threw +myself back despondent in my Carriage. I was attended by no +other servants than a Frenchman whom I had hired at Strasbourg +in Stephano's room, and my little Page whom I before mentioned to +you. The fidelity, intelligence, and good temper of Theodore had +already made him dear to me; But He now prepared to lay an +obligation on me, which made me look upon him as a Guardian +Genius. Scarcely had we proceeded half a mile from the Castle, +when He rode up to the Chaise-door. + +'Take courage, Segnor!' said He in Spanish, which He had already +learnt to speak with fluency and correctness. 'While you were +with the Baron, I watched the moment when Dame Cunegonda was +below stairs, and mounted into the chamber over that of Donna +Agnes. I sang as loud as I could a little German air well-known +to her, hoping that She would recollect my voice. I was not +disappointed, for I soon heard her window open. I hastened to +let down a string with which I had provided myself: Upon hearing +the casement closed again, I drew up the string, and fastened to +it I found this scrap of paper.' + +He then presented me with a small note addressed to me. I opened +it with impatience: It contained the following words written in +pencil: + +Conceal yourself for the next fortnight in some neighbouring +Village. My Aunt will believe you to have quitted Lindenberg, +and I shall be restored to liberty. I will be in the West +Pavilion at twelve on the night of the thirtieth. Fail not to be +there, and we shall have an opportunity of concerting our future +plans. Adieu. Agnes. + +At perusing these lines my transports exceeded all bounds; +Neither did I set any to the expressions of gratitude which I +heaped upon Theodore. In fact his address and attention merited +my warmest praise. You will readily believe that I had not +entrusted him with my passion for Agnes; But the arch Youth had +too much discernment not to discover my secret, and too much +discretion not to conceal his knowledge of it. He observed in +silence what was going on, nor strove to make himself an Agent in +the business till my interests required his interference. I +equally admired his judgment, his penetration, his address, and +his fidelity. This was not the first occasion in which I had +found him of infinite use, and I was every day more convinced of +his quickness and capacity. During my short stay at Strasbourg, +He had applied himself diligently to learning the rudiments of +Spanish: He continued to study it, and with so much success that +He spoke it with the same facility as his native language. He +past the greatest part of his time in reading; He had acquired +much information for his Age; and united the advantages of a +lively countenance and prepossessing figure to an excellent +understanding and the very best of hearts. He is now fifteen; He +is still in my service, and when you see him, I am sure that He +will please you. But excuse this digression: I return to the +subject which I quitted. + +I obeyed the instructions of Agnes. I proceeded to Munich. +There I left my Chaise under the care of Lucas, my French +Servant, and then returned on Horseback to a small Village about +four miles distant from the Castle of Lindenberg. Upon arriving +there a story was related to the Host at whose Inn I descended, +which prevented his wondering at my making so long a stay in his +House. The old Man fortunately was credulous and incurious: He +believed all I said, and sought to know no more than what I +thought proper to tell him. Nobody was with me but Theodore; +Both were disguised, and as we kept ourselves close, we were not +suspected to be other than what we seemed. In this manner the +fortnight passed away. During that time I had the pleasing +conviction that Agnes was once more at liberty. She past through +the Village with Dame Cunegonda: She seemed in health and +spirits, and talked to her Companion without any appearance of +constraint. + +'Who are those Ladies?' said I to my Host, as the Carriage past. + +'Baron Lindenberg's Niece with her Governess,' He replied; 'She +goes regularly every Friday to the Convent of St. Catharine, in +which She was brought up, and which is situated about a mile from +hence.' + +You may be certain that I waited with impatience for the ensuing +Friday. I again beheld my lovely Mistress. She cast her eyes +upon me, as She passed the Inn-door. A blush which overspread +her cheek told me that in spite of my disguise I had been +recognised. I bowed profoundly. She returned the compliment by +a slight inclination of the head as if made to one inferior, and +looked another way till the Carriage was out of sight. + +The long-expected, long-wished for night arrived. It was calm, +and the Moon was at the full. As soon as the Clock struck eleven +I hastened to my appointment, determined not to be too late. +Theodore had provided a Ladder; I ascended the Garden wall +without difficulty; The Page followed me, and drew the Ladder +after us. I posted myself in the West Pavilion, and waited +impatiently for the approach of Agnes. Every breeze that +whispered, every leaf that fell, I believed to be her footstep, +and hastened to meet her. Thus was I obliged to pass a full +hour, every minute of which appeared to me an age. The +Castle Bell at length tolled twelve, and scarcely could I believe +the night to be no further advanced. Another quarter of an hour +elapsed, and I heard the light foot of my Mistress approaching +the Pavilion with precaution. I flew to receive her, and +conducted her to a seat. I threw myself at her feet, and was +expressing my joy at seeing her, when She thus interrupted me. + +'We have no time to lose, Alphonso: The moments are precious, +for though no more a Prisoner, Cunegonda watches my every step. +An express is arrived from my Father; I must depart immediately +for Madrid, and 'tis with difficulty that I have obtained a +week's delay. The superstition of my Parents, supported by the +representations of my cruel Aunt, leaves me no hope of softening +them to compassion. In this dilemma I have resolved to commit +myself to your honour: God grant that you may never give me +cause to repent my resolution! Flight is my only resource from +the horrors of a Convent, and my imprudence must be excused by +the urgency of the danger. Now listen to the plan by which I +hope to effect my escape. + +'We are now at the thirtieth of April. On the fifth day from +this the Visionary Nun is expected to appear. In my last visit +to the Convent I provided myself with a dress proper for the +character: A Friend, whom I have left there and to whom I made +no scruple to confide my secret, readily consented to supply me +with a religious habit. Provide a carriage, and be with it at a +little distance from the great Gate of the Castle. As soon as +the Clock strikes 'one,' I shall quit my chamber, drest in the +same apparel as the Ghost is supposed to wear. Whoever meets me +will be too much terrified to oppose my escape. I shall easily +reach the door, and throw myself under your protection. Thus far +success is certain: But Oh! Alphonso, should you deceive me! +Should you despise my imprudence and reward it with ingratitude, +the World will not hold a Being more wretched than myself! I +feel all the dangers to which I shall be exposed. I feel that I +am giving you a right to treat me with levity: But I rely upon +your love, upon your honour! The step which I am on the point of +taking, will incense my Relations against me: Should you desert +me, should you betray the trust reposed in you, I shall have no +friend to punish your insult, or support my cause. On yourself +alone rests all my hope, and if your own heart does not plead in +my behalf, I am undone for ever!' + +The tone in which She pronounced these words was so touching, +that in spite of my joy at receiving her promise to follow me, I +could not help being affected. I also repined in secret at not +having taken the precaution to provide a Carriage at the Village, +in which case I might have carried off Agnes that very night. +Such an attempt was now impracticable: Neither Carriage or +Horses were to be procured nearer than Munich, which was distant +from Lindenberg two good days journey. I was therefore obliged +to chime in with her plan, which in truth seemed well arranged: +Her disguise would secure her from being stopped in quitting the +Castle, and would enable her to step into the Carriage at the +very Gate without difficulty or losing time. + +Agnes reclined her head mournfully upon my shoulder, and by the +light of the Moon I saw tears flowing down her cheek. I strove +to dissipate her melancholy, and encouraged her to look forward +to the prospect of happiness. I protested in the most solemn +terms that her virtue and innocence would be safe in my keeping, +and that till the church had made her my lawful Wife, her honour +should be held by me as sacred as a Sister's. I told her that +my first care should be to find you out, Lorenzo, and reconcile +you to our union; and I was continuing to speak in the same +strain, when a noise without alarmed me. Suddenly the door of +the Pavilion was thrown open, and Cunegonda stood before us. She +had heard Agnes steal out of her chamber, followed her into the +Garden, and perceived her entering the Pavilion. Favoured by the +Trees which shaded it, and unperceived by Theodore who waited at +a little distance, She had approached in silence, and overheard +our whole conversation. + +'Admirable!' cried Cunegonda in a voice shrill with passion, +while Agnes uttered a loud shriek; 'By St. Barbara, young Lady, +you have an excellent invention! You must personate the Bleeding +Nun, truly? What impiety! What incredulity! Marry, I have a +good mind to let you pursue your plan: When the real Ghost met +you, I warrant, you would be in a pretty condition! Don +Alphonso, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for seducing a +young ignorant Creature to leave her family and Friends: +However, for this time at least I shall mar your wicked designs. +The noble Lady shall be informed of the whole affair, and Agnes +must defer playing the Spectre till a better opportunity. +Farewell, Segnor-- Donna Agnes, let me have the honour of +conducting your Ghost-ship back to your apartment.' + +She approached the Sopha on which her trembling Pupil was seated, +took her by the hand, and prepared to lead her from the Pavilion. + +I detained her, and strove by entreaties, soothing, promises, and +flattery to win her to my party: But finding all that I could +say of no avail, I abandoned the vain attempt. + +'Your obstinacy must be its own punishment,' said I; 'But one +resource remains to save Agnes and myself, and I shall not +hesitate to employ it.' + +Terrified at this menace, She again endeavoured to quit the +Pavilion; But I seized her by the wrist, and detained her +forcibly. At the same moment Theodore, who had followed her into +the room, closed the door, and prevented her escape. I took the +veil of Agnes: I threw it round the Duenna's head, who uttered +such piercing shrieks that in spite of our distance from the +Castle, I dreaded their being heard. At length I succeeded in +gagging her so compleatly that She could not produce a single +sound. Theodore and myself with some difficulty next contrived +to bind her hands and feet with our handkerchiefs; And I advised +Agnes to regain her chamber with all diligence. I promised that +no harm should happen to Cunegonda, bad her remember that on the +fifth of May I should be in waiting at the Great Gate of the +Castle, and took of her an affectionate farewell. Trembling and +uneasy She had scarce power enough to signify her consent to my +plans, and fled back to her apartment in disorder and confusion. + +In the meanwhile Theodore assisted me in carrying off my +antiquated Prize. She was hoisted over the wall, placed before +me upon my Horse like a Portmanteau, and I galloped away with her +from the Castle of Lindenberg. The unlucky Duenna never had made +a more disagreeable journey in her life: She was jolted and +shaken till She was become little more than an animated Mummy; +not to mention her fright when we waded through a small River +through which it was necessary to pass in order to regain the +Village. Before we reached the Inn, I had already determined how +to dispose of the troublesome Cunegonda. We entered the Street +in which the Inn stood, and while the page knocked, I waited at a +little distance. The Landlord opened the door with a Lamp in his +hand. + +'Give me the light!' said Theodore; 'My Master is coming.' + +He snatched the Lamp hastily, and purposely let it fall upon the +ground: The Landlord returned to the Kitchen to re-light the +Lamp, leaving the door open. I profited by the obscurity, sprang +from my Horse with Cunegonda in my arms, darted up stairs, +reached my chamber unperceived, and unlocking the door of a +spacious Closet, stowed her within it, and then turned the Key. +The Landlord and Theodore soon after appeared with lights: The +Former expressed himself a little surprised at my returning so +late, but asked no impertinent questions. He soon quitted the +room, and left me to exult in the success of my undertaking. + +I immediately paid a visit to my Prisoner. I strove to persuade +her submitting with patience to her temporary confinement. My +attempt was unsuccessful. Unable to speak or move, She expressed +her fury by her looks, and except at meals I never dared to +unbind her, or release her from the Gag. At such times I stood +over her with a drawn sword, and protested, that if She uttered a +single cry, I would plunge it in her bosom. As soon as She had +done eating, the Gag was replaced. I was conscious that this +proceeding was cruel, and could only be justified by the urgency +of circumstances: As to Theodore, He had no scruples upon the +subject. Cunegonda's captivity entertained him beyond measure. +During his abode in the Castle, a continual warfare had been +carried on between him and the Duenna; and now that He found his +Enemy so absolutely in his power, He triumphed without mercy. He +seemed to think of nothing but how to find out new means of +plaguing her: Sometimes He affected to pity her misfortune, then +laughed at, abused, and mimicked her; He played her a thousand +tricks, each more provoking than the other, and amused himself by +telling her that her elopement must have occasioned much +surprise at the Baron's. This was in fact the case. No one +except Agnes could imagine what was become of Dame Cunegonda: +Every hole and corner was searched for her; The Ponds were +dragged, and the Woods underwent a thorough examination. Still +no Dame Cunegonda made her appearance. Agnes kept the secret, +and I kept the Duenna: The Baroness, therefore, remained in +total ignorance respecting the old Woman's fate, but suspected +her to have perished by suicide. Thus past away five days, +during which I had prepared every thing necessary for my +enterprise. On quitting Agnes, I had made it my first business +to dispatch a Peasant with a letter to Lucas at Munich, ordering +him to take care that a Coach and four should arrive about ten +o'clock on the fifth of May at the Village of Rosenwald. He +obeyed my instructions punctually: The Equipage arrived at the +time appointed. As the period of her Lady's elopement drew +nearer, Cunegonda's rage increased. I verily believe that spight +and passion would have killed her, had I not luckily discovered +her prepossession in favour of Cherry Brandy. With this favourite +liquor She was plentifully supplied, and Theodore always +remaining to guard her, the Gag was occasionally removed. The +liquor seemed to have a wonderful effect in softening the +acrimony of her nature; and her confinement not admitting of any +other amusement, She got drunk regularly once a day just by way +of passing the time. + +The fifth of May arrived, a period by me never to be forgotten! +Before the Clock struck twelve, I betook myself to the scene of +action. Theodore followed me on horseback. I concealed the +Carriage in a spacious Cavern of the Hill, on whose brow the +Castle was situated: This Cavern was of considerable depth, and +among the peasants was known by the name of Lindenberg Hole. The +night was calm and beautiful: The Moonbeams fell upon the +antient Towers of the Castle, and shed upon their summits a +silver light. All was still around me: Nothing was to be heard +except the night breeze sighing among the leaves, the distant +barking of Village Dogs, or the Owl who had established herself +in a nook of the deserted Eastern Turret. I heard her melancholy +shriek, and looked upwards. She sat upon the ride of a window, +which I recognized to be that of the haunted Room. This brought +to my remembrance the story of the Bleeding Nun, and I sighed +while I reflected on the influence of superstition and weakness +of human reason. Suddenly I heard a faint chorus steal upon the +silence of the night. + +'What can occasion that noise, Theodore?' + +'A Stranger of distinction,' replied He, 'passed through the +Village today in his way to the Castle: He is reported to be +the Father of Donna Agnes. Doubtless, the Baron has given an +entertainment to celebrate his arrival.' + +The Castle Bell announced the hour of midnight: This was the +usual signal for the family to retire to Bed. Soon after I +perceived lights in the Castle moving backwards and forwards in +different directions. I conjectured the company to be +separating. I could hear the heavy doors grate as they opened +with difficulty, and as they closed again the rotten Casements +rattled in their frames. The chamber of Agnes was on the other +side of the Castle. I trembled lest She should have failed in +obtaining the Key of the haunted Room: Through this it was +necessary for her to pass in order to reach the narrow +Staircase by which the Ghost was supposed to descend into the +great Hall. Agitated by this apprehension, I kept my eyes +constantly fixed upon the window, where I hoped to perceive the +friendly glare of a Lamp borne by Agnes. I now heard the massy +Gates unbarred. By the candle in his hand I distinguished old +Conrad, the Porter. He set the Portal doors wide open, and +retired. The lights in the Castle gradually disappeared, and at +length the whole Building was wrapt in darkness. + +While I sat upon a broken ridge of the Hill, the stillness of the +scene inspired me with melancholy ideas not altogether +unpleasing. The Castle which stood full in my sight, formed an +object equally awful and picturesque. Its ponderous Walls tinged +by the moon with solemn brightness, its old and partly-ruined +Towers lifting themselves into the clouds and seeming to frown on +the plains around them, its lofty battlements oergrown with ivy, +and folding Gates expanding in honour of the Visionary +Inhabitant, made me sensible of a sad and reverential horror. +Yet did not these sensations occupy me so fully, as to prevent me +from witnessing with impatience the slow progress of time. I +approached the Castle, and ventured to walk round it. A few rays +of light still glimmered in the chamber of Agnes. I observed +them with joy. I was still gazing upon them, when I perceived a +figure draw near the window, and the Curtain was carefully closed +to conceal the Lamp which burned there. Convinced by this +observation that Agnes had not abandoned our plan, I returned +with a light heart to my former station. + +The half-hour struck! The three-quarters struck! My bosom beat +high with hope and expectation. At length the wished-for sound +was heard. The Bell tolled 'One,' and the Mansion echoed with +the noise loud and solemn. I looked up to the Casement of the +haunted Chamber. Scarcely had five minutes elapsed, when the +expected light appeared. I was now close to the Tower. The +window was not so far from the Ground but that I fancied I +perceived a female figure with a Lamp in her hand moving slowly +along the Apartment. The light soon faded away, and all was +again dark and gloomy. + +Occasional gleams of brightness darted from the Staircase +windows as the lovely Ghost past by them. I traced the light +through the Hall: It reached the Portal, and at length I beheld +Agnes pass through the folding gates. She was habited exactly +as She had described the Spectre. A chaplet of Beads hung upon +her arm; her head was enveloped in a long white veil; Her Nun's +dress was stained with blood, and She had taken care to provide +herself with a Lamp and dagger. She advanced towards the spot +where I stood. I flew to meet her, and clasped her in my arms. + +'Agnes!' said I while I pressed her to my bosom, +Agnes! Agnes! Thou art mine! +Agnes! Agnes! I am thine! +In my veins while blood shall roll, +Thou art mine! +I am thine! +Thine my body! Thine my soul! + +Terrified and breathless She was unable to speak: She dropt her +Lamp and dagger, and sank upon my bosom in silence. I raised her +in my arms, and conveyed her to the Carriage. Theodore remained +behind in order to release Dame Cunegonda. I also charged him +with a letter to the Baroness explaining the whole affair, and +entreating her good offices in reconciling Don Gaston to my union +with his Daughter. I discovered to her my real name: I proved +to her that my birth and expectations justified my pretending to +her Niece, and assured her, though it was out of my power to +return her love, that I would strive unceasingly to obtain her +esteem and friendship. + +I stepped into the Carriage, where Agnes was already seated. +Theodore closed the door, and the Postillions drove away. At +first I was delighted with the rapidity of our progress; But as +soon as we were in no danger of pursuit, I called to the Drivers, +and bad them moderate their pace. They strove in vain to obey +me. The Horses refused to answer the rein, and continued to rush +on with astonishing swiftness. The Postillions redoubled their +efforts to stop them, but by kicking and plunging the Beasts soon +released themselves from this restraint. Uttering a loud shriek, +the Drivers were hurled upon the ground. Immediately thick +clouds obscured the sky: The winds howled around us, the +lightning flashed, and the Thunder roared tremendously. Never +did I behold so frightful a Tempest! Terrified by the jar of +contending elements, the Horses seemed every moment to increase +their speed. Nothing could interrupt their career; They dragged +the Carriage through Hedges and Ditches, dashed down the most +dangerous precipices, and seemed to vye in swiftness with the +rapidity of the winds. + +All this while my Companion lay motionless in my arms. Truly +alarmed by the magnitude of the danger, I was in vain attempting +to recall her to her senses; when a loud crash announced, that a +stop was put to our progress in the most disagreeable manner. +The Carriage was shattered to pieces. In falling I struck my +temple against a flint. The pain of the wound, the violence of +the shock, and apprehension for the safety of Agnes combined to +overpower me so compleatly, that my senses forsook me, and I lay +without animation on the ground. + +I probably remained for some time in this situation, since when I +opened my eyes, it was broad daylight. Several Peasants were +standing round me, and seemed disputing whether my recovery was +possible. I spoke German tolerably well. As soon as I could +utter an articulate sound, I enquired after Agnes. What was my +surprise and distress, when assured by the Peasants, that nobody +had been seen answering the description which I gave of her! +They told me that in going to their daily labour they had been +alarmed by observing the fragments of my Carriage, and by hearing +the groans of an Horse, the only one of the four which remained +alive: The other Three lay dead by my side. Nobody was near me +when they came up, and much time had been lost, before they +succeeded in recovering me. Uneasy beyond expression respecting +the fate of my Companion, I besought the Peasants to disperse +themselves in search of her: I described her dress, and promised +immense rewards to whoever brought me any intelligence. As for +myself, it was impossible for me to join in the pursuit: I had +broken two of my ribs in the fall: My arm being dislocated hung +useless by my side; and my left leg was shattered so terribly, +that I never expected to recover its use. + +The Peasants complied with my request: All left me except Four, +who made a litter of boughs and prepared to convey me to the +neighbouring Town. I enquired its name. It proved to be +Ratisbon, and I could scarcely persuade myself that I had +travelled to such a distance in a single night. I told the +Countrymen that at one o'clock that morning I had past through +the Village of Rosenwald. They shook their heads wistfully, and +made signs to each other that I must certainly be delirious. I +was conveyed to a decent Inn and immediately put to bed. A +Physician was sent for, who set my arm with success. He then +examined my other hurts, and told me that I need be under no +apprehension of the consequences of any of them; But ordered me +to keep myself quiet, and be prepared for a tedious and painful +cure. I answered him that if He hoped to keep me quiet, He must +first endeavour to procure me some news of a Lady who had +quitted Rosenwald in my company the night before, and had been +with me at the moment when the Coach broke down. He smiled, and +only replied by advising me to make myself easy, for that all +proper care should be taken of me. As He quitted me, the Hostess +met him at the door of the room. + +'The Gentleman is not quite in his right senses;' I heard him say +to her in a low voice; ' 'Tis the natural consequence of his +fall, but that will soon be over.' + +One after another the Peasants returned to the Inn, and informed +me that no traces had been discovered of my unfortunate Mistress. + +Uneasiness now became despair. I entreated them to renew their +search in the most urgent terms, doubling the promises which I +had already made them. My wild and frantic manner confirmed the +bye-standers in the idea of my being delirious. No signs of the +Lady having appeared, they believed her to be a creature +fabricated by my over-heated brain, and paid no attention to my +entreaties. However, the Hostess assured me that a fresh enquiry +should be made, but I found afterwards that her promise was only +given to quiet me. No further steps were taken in the business. + +Though my Baggage was left at Munich under the care of my French +Servant, having prepared myself for a long journey, my purse was +amply furnished: Besides my equipage proved me to be of +distinction, and in consequence all possible attention was paid +me at the Inn. The day passed away: Still no news arrived of +Agnes. The anxiety of fear now gave place to despondency. I +ceased to rave about her and was plunged in the depth of +melancholy reflections. Perceiving me to be silent and tranquil, +my Attendants believed my delirium to have abated, and that my +malady had taken a favourable turn. According to the Physician's +order I swallowed a composing medicine; and as soon as the night +shut in, my attendants withdrew and left me to repose. + +That repose I wooed in vain. The agitation of my bosom chased +away sleep. Restless in my mind, in spite of the fatigue of my +body, I continued to toss about from side to side, till the Clock +in a neighbouring Steeple struck 'One.' As I listened to the +mournful hollow sound, and heard it die away in the wind, I felt +a sudden chillness spread itself over my body. I shuddered +without knowing wherefore; Cold dews poured down my forehead, and +my hair stood bristling with alarm. Suddenly I heard slow and +heavy steps ascending the staircase. By an involuntary movement +I started up in my bed, and drew back the curtain. A single +rush-light which glimmered upon the hearth shed a faint gleam +through the apartment, which was hung with tapestry. The door +was thrown open with violence. A figure entered, and drew near +my Bed with solemn measured steps. With trembling apprehension I +examined this midnight Visitor. God Almighty! It was the +Bleeding Nun! It was my lost Companion! Her face was still +veiled, but She no longer held her Lamp and dagger. She lifted +up her veil slowly. What a sight presented itself to my startled +eyes! I beheld before me an animated Corse. Her countenance was +long and haggard; Her cheeks and lips were bloodless; The +paleness of death was spread over her features, and her eyeballs +fixed stedfastly upon me were lustreless and hollow. + +I gazed upon the Spectre with horror too great to be described. +My blood was frozen in my veins. I would have called for aid, +but the sound expired ere it could pass my lips. My nerves were +bound up in impotence, and I remained in the same attitude +inanimate as a Statue. + +The visionary Nun looked upon me for some minutes in silence: +There was something petrifying in her regard. At length in a low +sepulchral voice She pronounced the following words. + + ''Raymond! Raymond! Thou art mine! + Raymond! Raymond! I am thine! + In thy veins while blood shall roll, + I am thine! + Thou art mine! + Mine thy body! Mine thy soul!----'' + +Breathless with fear, I listened while She repeated my own +expressions. The Apparition seated herself opposite to me at the +foot of the Bed, and was silent. Her eyes were fixed earnestly +upon mine: They seemed endowed with the property of the +Rattlesnake's, for I strove in vain to look off her. My eyes +were fascinated, and I had not the power of withdrawing them from +the Spectre's. + +In this attitude She remained for a whole long hour without +speaking or moving; nor was I able to do either. At length the +Clock struck two. The Apparition rose from her seat, and +approached the side of the bed. She grasped with her icy fingers +my hand which hung lifeless upon the Coverture, and pressing her +cold lips to mine, again repeated, + + ''Raymond! Raymond! Thou art mine! + Raymond! Raymond! + I am thine! &c.----'' + +She then dropped my hand, quitted the chamber with slow steps, +and the Door closed after her. Till that moment the faculties of +my body had been all suspended; Those of my mind had alone been +waking. The charm now ceased to operate: The blood which had +been frozen in my veins rushed back to my heart with violence: I +uttered a deep groan, and sank lifeless upon my pillow. + +The adjoining room was only separated from mine by a thin +partition: It was occupied by the Host and his Wife: The Former +was rouzed by my groan, and immediately hastened to my chamber: +The Hostess soon followed him. With some difficulty they +succeeded in restoring me to my senses, and immediately sent for +the Physician, who arrived in all diligence. He declared my +fever to be very much increased, and that if I continued to +suffer such violent agitation, He would not take upon him to +ensure my life. Some medicines which He gave me in some degree +tranquillized my spirits. I fell into a sort of slumber towards +daybreak; But fearful dreams prevented me from deriving any +benefit from my repose. Agnes and the Bleeding Nun presented +themselves by turns to my fancy, and combined to harass and +torment me. I awoke fatigued and unrefreshed. My fever seemed +rather augmented than diminished; The agitation of my mind +impeded my fractured bones from knitting: I had frequent +fainting fits, and during the whole day the Physician judged it +expedient not to quit me for two hours together. + +The singularity of my adventure made me determine to conceal it +from every one, since I could not expect that a circumstance so +strange should gain credit. I was very uneasy about Agnes. I +knew not what She would think at not finding me at the +rendezvous, and dreaded her entertaining suspicions of my +fidelity. However, I depended upon Theodore's discretion, and +trusted that my letter to the Baroness would convince her of the +rectitude of my intentions. These considerations somewhat +lightened my inquietude upon her account: But the impression +left upon my mind by my nocturnal Visitor grew stronger with +every succeeding moment. The night drew near; I dreaded its +arrival. Yet I strove to persuade myself that the Ghost would +appear no more, and at all events I desired that a Servant might +sit up in my chamber. + +The fatigue of my body from not having slept on the former night, +co-operating with the strong opiates administered to me in +profusion, at length procured me that repose of which I was so +much in need. I sank into a profound and tranquil slumber, and +had already slept for some hours, when the neighbouring Clock +rouzed me by striking 'One'. Its sound brought with it to my +memory all the horrors of the night before. The same cold +shivering seized me. I started up in my bed, and perceived the +Servant fast asleep in an armed-Chair near me. I called him by +his name: He made no answer. I shook him forcibly by the arm, +and strove in vain to wake him. He was perfectly insensible to +my efforts. I now heard the heavy steps ascending the +staircase; The Door was thrown open, and again the Bleeding Nun +stood before me. Once more my limbs were chained in second +infancy. Once more I heard those fatal words repeated, + + ''Raymond! Raymond! Thou art mine! + Raymond! Raymond! I am thine! &c.----'' + +The scene which had shocked me so sensibly on the former night, +was again presented. The Spectre again pressed her lips to mine, +again touched me with her rotting fingers, and as on her first +appearance, quitted the chamber as soon as the Clock told 'Two.' + +Even night was this repeated. Far from growing accustomed to the +Ghost, every succeeding visit inspired me with greater horror. +Her idea pursued me continually, and I became the prey of +habitual melancholy. The constant agitation of my mind naturally +retarded the re-establishment of my health. Several months +elapsed before I was able to quit my bed; and when at length I +was moved to a Sopha, I was so faint, spiritless, and emaciated, +that I could not cross the room without assistance. The looks of +my Attendants sufficiently denoted the little hope, which they +entertained of my recovery. The profound sadness, which +oppressed me without remission made the Physician consider me to +be an Hypochondriac. The cause of my distress I carefully +concealed in my own bosom, for I knew that no one could give me +relief: The Ghost was not even visible to any eye but mine. I +had frequently caused Attendants to sit up in my room: But the +moment that the Clock struck 'One,' irresistible slumber seized +them, nor left them till the departure of the Ghost. + +You may be surprized that during this time I made no enquiries +after your Sister. Theodore, who with difficulty had discovered +my abode, had quieted my apprehensions for her safety: At the +same time He convinced me that all attempts to release her from +captivity must be fruitless till I should be in a condition to +return to Spain. The particulars of her adventure which I shall +now relate to you, were partly communicated to me by Theodore, +and partly by Agnes herself. + +On the fatal night when her elopement was to have taken place, +accident had not permitted her to quit her chamber at the +appointed time. At length She ventured into the haunted room, +descended the staircase leading into the Hall, found the Gates +open as She expected, and left the Castle unobserved. What was +her surprize at not finding me ready to receive her! She +examined the Cavern, ranged through every Alley of the +neighbouring wood, and passed two full hours in this fruitless +enquiry. She could discover no traces either of me or of the +Carriage. Alarmed and disappointed, her only resource was to +return to the Castle before the Baroness missed her: But here +She found herself in a fresh embarrassment. The Bell had already +tolled 'Two:' The Ghostly hour was past, and the careful Porter +had locked the folding gates. After much irresolution She +ventured to knock softly. Luckily for her, Conrad was still +awake: He heard the noise and rose, murmuring at being called +up a second time. No sooner had He opened one of the Doors, and +beheld the supposed Apparition waiting there for admittance, than +He uttered a loud cry, and sank upon his knees. Agnes profited +by his terror. She glided by him, flew to her own apartment, and +having thrown off her Spectre's trappings, retired to bed +endeavouring in vain to account for my disappearing. + +In the mean while Theodore having seen my Carriage drive off with +the false Agnes, returned joyfully to the Village. The next +morning He released Cunegonda from her confinement, and +accompanied her to the Castle. There He found the Baron, his +Lady, and Don Gaston, disputing together upon the Porter's +relation. All of them agreed in believing the existence of +Spectres: But the Latter contended, that for a Ghost to knock +for admittance was a proceeding till then unwitnessed, and +totally incompatible with the immaterial nature of a Spirit. +They were still discussing this subject when the Page appeared +with Cunegonda and cleared up the mystery. On hearing his +deposition, it was agreed unanimously that the Agnes whom +Theodore had seen step into my Carriage must have been the +Bleeding Nun, and that the Ghost who had terrified Conrad was no +other than Don Gaston's Daughter. + +The first surprize which this discovery occasioned being over, +the Baroness resolved to make it of use in persuading her Niece +to take the veil. Fearing lest so advantageous an establishment +for his Daughter should induce Don Gaston to renounce his +resolution, She suppressed my letter, and continued to represent +me as a needy unknown Adventurer. A childish vanity had led me +to conceal my real name even from my Mistress; I wished to be +loved for myself, not for being the Son and Heir of the Marquis +de las Cisternas. The consequence was that my rank was known to +no one in the Castle except the Baroness, and She took good care +to confine the knowledge to her own breast. Don Gaston having +approved his Sister's design, Agnes was summoned to appear before +them. She was taxed with having meditated an elopement, obliged +to make a full confession, and was amazed at the gentleness with +which it was received: But what was her affliction, when +informed that the failure of her project must be attributed to +me! Cunegonda, tutored by the Baroness, told her that when I +released her, I had desired her to inform her Lady that our +connexion was at an end, that the whole affair was occasioned by +a false report, and that it by no means suited my circumstances +to marry a Woman without fortune or expectations. + +To this account my sudden disappearing gave but too great an air +of probability. Theodore, who could have contradicted the story, +by Donna Rodolpha's order was kept out of her sight: What proved +a still greater confirmation of my being an Impostor, was the +arrival of a letter from yourself declaring that you had no sort +of acquaintance with Alphonso d'Alvarada. These seeming proofs +of my perfidy, aided by the artful insinuations of her Aunt, by +Cunegonda's flattery, and her Father's threats and anger, +entirely conquered your Sister's repugnance to a Convent. +Incensed at my behaviour, and disgusted with the world in +general, She consented to receive the veil. She past another +Month at the Castle of Lindenberg, during which my non-appearance +confirmed her in her resolution, and then accompanied Don Gaston +into Spain. Theodore was now set at liberty. He hastened to +Munich, where I had promised to let him hear from me; But finding +from Lucas that I had never arrived there, He pursued his search +with indefatigable perseverance, and at length succeeded in +rejoining me at Ratisbon. + +So much was I altered, that scarcely could He recollect my +features: The distress visible upon his sufficiently testified +how lively was the interest which He felt for me. The society of +this amiable Boy, whom I had always considered rather as a +Companion than a Servant, was now my only comfort. His +conversation was gay yet sensible, and his observations shrewd +and entertaining: He had picked up much more knowledge than is +usual at his Age: But what rendered him most agreeable to me, +was his having a delightful voice, and some skill in Music. He +had also acquired some taste in poetry, and even ventured +sometimes to write verses himself. He occasionally composed +little Ballads in Spanish, his compositions were but indifferent, +I must confess; yet they were pleasing to me from their novelty, +and hearing him sing them to his guitar was the only amusement, +which I was capable of receiving. Theodore perceived well enough +that something preyed upon my mind; But as I concealed the cause +of my grief even from him, Respect would not permit him to pry +into my secrets. + +One Evening I was lying upon my Sopha, plunged in reflections +very far from agreeable: Theodore amused himself by observing +from the window a Battle between two Postillions, who were +quarrelling in the Inn-yard. + +'Ha! Ha!' cried He suddenly; 'Yonder is the Great Mogul.' + +'Who?' said I. + +'Only a Man who made me a strange speech at Munich.' + +'What was the purport of it?' + +'Now you put me in mind of it, Segnor, it was a kind of message +to you; but truly it was not worth delivering. I believe the +Fellow to be mad, for my part. When I came to Munich in search +of you, I found him living at 'The King of the Romans,' and the +Host gave me an odd account of him. By his accent He is supposed +to be a Foreigner, but of what Country nobody can tell. He +seemed to have no acquaintance in the Town, spoke very seldom, +and never was seen to smile. He had neither Servants or Baggage; +But his Purse seemed well-furnished, and He did much good in the +Town. Some supposed him to be an Arabian Astrologer, Others to +be a Travelling Mountebank, and many declared that He was Doctor +Faustus, whom the Devil had sent back to Germany. The Landlord, +however told me, that He had the best reasons to believe him to +be the Great Mogul incognito.' + +'But the strange speech, Theodore.' + +'True, I had almost forgotten the speech: Indeed for that +matter, it would not have been a great loss if I had forgotten +it altogether. You are to know, Segnor, that while I was +enquiring about you of the Landlord, this Stranger passed by. He +stopped, and looked at me earnestly. 'Youth!' said He in a solemn +voice, 'He whom you seek, has found that which He would fain +lose. My hand alone can dry up the blood: Bid your Master wish +for me when the Clock strikes, 'One.' + +'How?' cried I, starting from my Sopha. (The words which +Theodore had repeated, seemed to imply the Stranger's knowledge +of my secret) 'Fly to him, my Boy! Entreat him to grant me one +moment's conversation!' + +Theodore was surprised at the vivacity of my manner: However, He +asked no questions, but hastened to obey me. I waited his return +impatiently. But a short space of time had elapsed when He again +appeared and ushered the expected Guest into my chamber. He was +a Man of majestic presence: His countenance was strongly marked, +and his eyes were large, black, and sparkling: Yet there was a +something in his look which, the moment that I saw him, inspired +me with a secret awe, not to say horror. He was drest plainly, +his hair was unpowdered, and a band of black velvet which +encircled his forehead spread over his features an additional +gloom. His countenance wore the marks of profound melancholy; +his step was slow, and his manner grave, stately, and solemn. + +He saluted me with politeness; and having replied to the usual +compliments of introduction, He motioned to Theodore to quit the +chamber. The Page instantly withdrew. + +'I know your business,' said He, without giving me time to speak. + +'I have the power of releasing you from your nightly Visitor; But +this cannot be done before Sunday. On the hour when the Sabbath +Morning breaks, Spirits of darkness have least influence over +Mortals. After Saturday the Nun shall visit you no more.' + +'May I not enquire,' said I, 'by what means you are in possession +of a secret which I have carefully concealed from the knowledge +of everyone?' + +'How can I be ignorant of your distress, when their cause at this +moment stands beside you?' + +I started. The Stranger continued. + +'Though to you only visible for one hour in the twenty-four, +neither day or night does She ever quit you; Nor will She ever +quit you till you have granted her request.' + +'And what is that request?' + +'That She must herself explain: It lies not in my knowledge. +Wait with patience for the night of Saturday: All shall be then +cleared up.' + +I dared not press him further. He soon after changed the +conversation and talked of various matters. He named People who +had ceased to exist for many Centuries, and yet with whom He +appeared to have been personally acquainted. I could not mention +a Country however distant which He had not visited, nor could I +sufficiently admire the extent and variety of his information. +I remarked to him that having travelled, seen, and known so much, +must have given him infinite pleasure. He shook his head +mournfully. + +'No one,' He replied, 'is adequate to comprehending the misery of +my lot! Fate obliges me to be constantly in movement: I am not +permitted to pass more than a fortnight in the same place. I +have no Friend in the world, and from the restlessness of my +destiny I never can acquire one. Fain would I lay down my +miserable life, for I envy those who enjoy the quiet of the +Grave: But Death eludes me, and flies from my embrace. In vain +do I throw myself in the way of danger. I plunge into the Ocean; +The Waves throw me back with abhorrence upon the shore: I rush +into fire; The flames recoil at my approach: I oppose myself to +the fury of Banditti; Their swords become blunted, and break +against my breast: The hungry Tiger shudders at my approach, and +the Alligator flies from a Monster more horrible than itself. +God has set his seal upon me, and all his Creatures respect this +fatal mark!' + +He put his hand to the velvet, which was bound round his +forehead. There was in his eyes an expression of fury, despair, +and malevolence, that struck horror to my very soul. An +involuntary convulsion made me shudder. The Stranger perceived +it. + +'Such is the curse imposed on me,' he continued: 'I am doomed to +inspire all who look on me with terror and detestation. You +already feel the influence of the charm, and with every +succeeding moment will feel it more. I will not add to your +sufferings by my presence. Farewell till Saturday. As soon as +the Clock strikes twelve, expect me at your chamber door.' + +Having said this He departed, leaving me in astonishment at the +mysterious turn of his manner and conversation. + +His assurances that I should soon be relieved from the +Apparition's visits produced a good effect upon my constitution. +Theodore, whom I rather treated as an adopted Child than a +Domestic, was surprized at his return to observe the amendment in +my looks. He congratulated me on this symptom of returning +health, and declared himself delighted at my having received so +much benefit from my conference with the Great Mogul. Upon +enquiry I found that the Stranger had already past eight days in +Ratisbon: According to his own account, therefore, He was only +to remain there six days longer. Saturday was still at the +distance of Three. Oh! with what impatience did I expect its +arrival! In the interim, the Bleeding Nun continued her +nocturnal visits; But hoping soon to be released from them +altogether, the effects which they produced on me became less +violent than before. + +The wished-for night arrived. To avoid creating suspicion I +retired to bed at my usual hour: But as soon as my Attendants +had left me, I dressed myself again, and prepared for the +Stranger's reception. He entered my room upon the turn of +midnight. A small Chest was in his hand, which He placed near +the Stove. He saluted me without speaking; I returned the +compliment, observing an equal silence. He then opened his +Chest. The first thing which He produced was a small wooden +Crucifix: He sank upon his knees, gazed upon it mournfully, and +cast his eyes towards heaven. He seemed to be praying devoutly. +At length He bowed his head respectfully, kissed the Crucifix +thrice, and quitted his kneeling posture. He next drew from the +Chest a covered Goblet: With the liquor which it contained, and +which appeared to be blood, He sprinkled the floor, and then +dipping in it one end of the Crucifix, He described a circle in +the middle of the room. Round about this He placed various +reliques, sculls, thigh-bones &c; I observed, that He disposed +them all in the forms of Crosses. Lastly He took out a large +Bible, and beckoned me to follow him into the Circle. I obeyed. + +'Be cautious not to utter a syllable!' whispered the Stranger; +'Step not out of the circle, and as you love yourself, dare not +to look upon my face!' + +Holding the Crucifix in one hand, the Bible in the other, He +seemed to read with profound attention. The Clock struck 'One'! +As usual I heard the Spectre's steps upon the Staircase: But I +was not seized with the accustomed shivering. I waited her +approach with confidence. She entered the room, drew near the +Circle, and stopped. The Stranger muttered some words, to me +unintelligible. Then raising his head from the Book, and +extending the Crucifix towards the Ghost, He pronounced in a +voice distinct and solemn, + +'Beatrice! Beatrice! Beatrice!' + +'What wouldst Thou?' replied the Apparition in a hollow faltering +tone. + +'What disturbs thy sleep? Why dost thou afflict and torture this +Youth? How can rest be restored to thy unquiet Spirit?' + +'I dare not tell!--I must not tell!--Fain would I repose in my +Grave, but stern commands force me to prolong my punishment!' + +'Knowest Thou this blood? Knowest Thou in whose veins it flowed? + +Beatrice! Beatrice! In his name I charge thee to answer me!' + +'I dare not disobey my taskers.' + +'Darest Thou disobey Me?' + +He spoke in a commanding tone, and drew the sable band from his +forehead. In spite of his injunctions to the contrary, +Curiosity would not suffer me to keep my eyes off his face: I +raised them, and beheld a burning Cross impressed upon his brow. +For the horror with which this object inspired me I cannot +account, but I never felt its equal! My senses left me for some +moments; A mysterious dread overcame my courage, and had not the +Exorciser caught my hand, I should have fallen out of the Circle. + +When I recovered myself, I perceived that the burning Cross had +produced an effect no less violent upon the Spectre. Her +countenance expressed reverence, and horror, and her visionary +limbs were shaken by fear. + +'Yes!' She said at length; 'I tremble at that mark!-- respect +it!--I obey you! Know then, that my bones lie still unburied: +They rot in the obscurity of Lindenberg Hole. None but this +Youth has the right of consigning them to the Grave. His own +lips have made over to me his body and his soul: Never will I +give back his promise, never shall He know a night devoid of +terror, unless He engages to collect my mouldering bones, and +deposit them in the family vault of his Andalusian Castle. Then +let thirty Masses be said for the repose of my Spirit, and I +trouble this world no more. Now let me depart! Those flames are +scorching!' + +He let the hand drop slowly which held the Crucifix, and which +till then He had pointed towards her. The apparition bowed her +head, and her form melted into air. The Exorciser led me out of +the Circle. He replaced the Bible &c. in the Chest, and then +addressed himself to me, who stood near him speechless from +astonishment. + +'Don Raymond, you have heard the conditions on which repose is +promised you. Be it your business to fulfil them to the letter. +For me nothing more remains than to clear up the darkness still +spread over the Spectre's History, and inform you that when +living, Beatrice bore the name of las Cisternas. She was the +great Aunt of your Grandfather: In quality of your relation, +her ashes demand respect from you, though the enormity of her +crimes must excite your abhorrence. The nature of those crimes +no one is more capable of explaining to you than myself: I was +personally acquainted with the holy Man who proscribed her +nocturnal riots in the Castle of Lindenberg, and I hold this +narrative from his own lips. + +'Beatrice de las Cisternas took the veil at an early age, not by +her own choice, but at the express command of her Parents. She +was then too young to regret the pleasures of which her +profession deprived her: But no sooner did her warm and +voluptuous character begin to be developed than She abandoned +herself freely to the impulse of her passions, and seized the +first opportunity to procure their gratification. This +opportunity was at length presented, after many obstacles which +only added new force to her desires. She contrived to elope from +the Convent, and fled to Germany with the Baron Lindenberg. She +lived at his Castle several months as his avowed Concubine: All +Bavaria was scandalized by her impudent and abandoned conduct. +Her feasts vied in luxury with Cleopatra's, and Lindenberg became +the Theatre of the most unbridled debauchery. Not satisfied with +displaying the incontinence of a Prostitute, She professed +herself an Atheist: She took every opportunity to scoff at her +monastic vows, and loaded with ridicule the most sacred +ceremonies of Religion. + +'Possessed of a character so depraved, She did not long confine +her affections to one object. Soon after her arrival at the +Castle, the Baron's younger Brother attracted her notice by his +strong-marked features, gigantic Stature, and Herculean limbs. +She was not of an humour to keep her inclinations long unknown; +But She found in Otto von Lindenberg her equal in depravity. He +returned her passion just sufficiently to increase it; and when +He had worked it up to the desired pitch, He fixed the price of +his love at his Brother's murder. The Wretch consented to this +horrible agreement. A night was pitched upon for perpetrating +the deed. Otto, who resided on a small Estate a few miles +distant from the Castle, promised that at One in the morning He +would be waiting for her at Lindenberg Hole; that He would bring +with him a party of chosen Friends, by whose aid He doubted not +being able to make himself Master of the Castle; and that his +next step should be the uniting her hand to his. It was this +last promise, which overruled every scruple of Beatrice, since in +spite of his affection for her, the Baron had declared positively +that He never would make her his Wife. + +'The fatal night arrived. The Baron slept in the arms of his +perfidious Mistress, when the Castle-Bell struck 'One.' +Immediately Beatrice drew a dagger from underneath the pillow, +and plunged it in her Paramour's heart. The Baron uttered a +single dreadful groan, and expired. The Murderess quitted her +bed hastily, took a Lamp in one hand, in the other the bloody +dagger, and bent her course towards the cavern. The Porter dared +not to refuse opening the Gates to one more dreaded in the +Castle than its Master. Beatrice reached Lindenberg Hole +unopposed, where according to promise She found Otto waiting for +her. He received and listened to her narrative with transport: +But ere She had time to ask why He came unaccompanied, He +convinced her that He wished for no witnesses to their interview. +Anxious to conceal his share in the murder, and to free himself +from a Woman, whose violent and atrocious character made him +tremble with reason for his own safety, He had resolved on the +destruction of his wretched Agent. Rushing upon her suddenly, He +wrested the dagger from her hand: He plunged it still reeking +with his Brother's blood in her bosom, and put an end to her +existence by repeated blows. + +'Otto now succeeded to the Barony of Lindenberg. The murder was +attributed solely to the fugitive Nun, and no one suspected him +to have persuaded her to the action. But though his crime was +unpunished by Man, God's justice permitted him not to enjoy in +peace his blood-stained honours. Her bones lying still unburied +in the Cave, the restless soul of Beatrice continued to inhabit +the Castle. Drest in her religious habit in memory of her vows +broken to heaven, furnished with the dagger which had drank the +blood of her Paramour, and holding the Lamp which had guided her +flying steps, every night did She stand before the Bed of Otto. +The most dreadful confusion reigned through the Castle; The +vaulted chambers resounded with shrieks and groans; And the +Spectre, as She ranged along the antique Galleries, uttered an +incoherent mixture of prayers and blasphemies. Otto was unable +to withstand the shock which He felt at this fearful Vision: +Its horror increased with every succeeding appearance: His alarm +at length became so insupportable that his heart burst, and one +morning He was found in his bed totally deprived of warmth and +animation. His death did not put an end to the nocturnal riots. +The bones of Beatrice continued to lie unburied, and her Ghost +continued to haunt the Castle. + +'The domains of Lindenberg now fell to a distant Relation. But +terrified by the accounts given him of the Bleeding Nun (So was +the Spectre called by the multitude), the new Baron called to his +assistance a celebrated Exorciser. This holy Man succeeded in +obliging her to temporary repose; But though She discovered to +him her history, He was not permitted to reveal it to others, or +cause her skeleton to be removed to hallowed ground. That Office +was reserved for you, and till your coming, her Ghost was doomed +to wander about the Castle and lament the crime which She had +there committed. However, the Exorciser obliged her to silence +during his lifetime. So long as He existed, the haunted chamber +was shut up, and the Spectre was invisible. At his death which +happened in five years after, She again appeared, but only once +on every fifth year, on the same day and at the same hour when +She plunged her Knife in the heart of her sleeping Lover: She +then visited the Cavern which held her mouldering skeleton, +returned to the Castle as soon as the Clock struck 'Two,' and was +seen no more till the next five years had elapsed. + +'She was doomed to suffer during the space of a Century. That +period is past. Nothing now remains but to consign to the Grave +the ashes of Beatrice. I have been the means of releasing you +from your visionary Tormentor; and amidst all the sorrows which +oppress me, to think that I have been of use to you, is some +consolation. Youth, farewell! May the Ghost of your Relation +enjoy that rest in the Tomb, which the Almighty's vengeance has +denied to me for ever!' + +Here the Stranger prepared to quit the apartment. + +'Stay yet one moment!' said I; 'You have satisfied my curiosity +with regard to the Spectre, but you leave me in prey to yet +greater respecting yourself. Deign to inform me, to whom I am +under such real obligations. You mention circumstances long +past, and persons long dead: You were personally acquainted with +the Exorciser, who by your own account has been deceased near a +Century. How am I to account for this? What means that burning +Cross upon your forehead, and why did the sight of it strike +such horror to my soul?' + +On these points He for some time refused to satisfy me. At +length overcome by my entreaties, He consented to clear up the +whole, on condition that I would defer his explanation till the +next day. With this request I was obliged to comply, and He left +me. In the Morning my first care was to enquire after the +mysterious Stranger. Conceive my disappointment when informed +that He had already quitted Ratisbon. I dispatched messengers in +pursuit of him but in vain. No traces of the Fugitive were +discovered. Since that moment I never have heard any more of +him, and 'tis most probable that I never shall.' + +(Lorenzo here interrupted his Friend's narrative. + +'How?' said He; 'You have never discovered who He was, or even +formed a guess?' + +'Pardon me,' replied the Marquis; 'When I related this adventure +to my Uncle, the Cardinal-Duke, He told me that He had no doubt +of this singular Man's being the celebrated Character known +universally by the name of 'the wandering Jew.' His not being +permitted to pass more than fourteen days on the same spot, the +burning Cross impressed upon his forehead, the effect which it +produced upon the Beholders, and many other circumstances give +this supposition the colour of truth. The Cardinal is fully +persuaded of it; and for my own part I am inclined to adopt the +only solution which offers itself to this riddle. I return to +the narrative from which I have digressed.') + +From this period I recovered my health so rapidly as to astonish +my Physicians. The Bleeding Nun appeared no more, and I was soon +able to set out for Lindenberg. The Baron received me with open +arms. I confided to him the sequel of my adventure; and He was +not a little pleased to find that his Mansion would be no longer +troubled with the Phantom's quiennial visits. I was sorry to +perceive that absence had not weakened Donna Rodolpha's +imprudent passion. In a private conversation which I had with +her during my short stay at the Castle, She renewed her attempts +to persuade me to return her affection. Regarding her as the +primary cause of all my sufferings, I entertained for her no +other sentiment than disgust. The Skeleton of Beatrice was found +in the place which She had mentioned. This being all that I +sought at Lindenberg, I hastened to quit the Baron's domains, +equally anxious to perform the obsequies of the murdered Nun, and +escape the importunity of a Woman whom I detested. I departed, +followed by Donna Rodolpha's menaces that my contempt should not +be long unpunished. + +I now bent my course towards Spain with all diligence. Lucas +with my Baggage had joined me during my abode at Lindenberg. I +arrived in my native Country without any accident, and +immediately proceeded to my Father's Castle in Andalusia. The +remains of Beatrice were deposited in the family vault, all due +ceremonies performed, and the number of Masses said which She had +required. Nothing now hindered me from employing all my +endeavours to discover the retreat of Agnes. The Baroness had +assured me that her Niece had already taken the veil: This +intelligence I suspected to have been forged by jealousy, and +hoped to find my Mistress still at liberty to accept my hand. I +enquired after her family; I found that before her Daughter could +reach Madrid, Donna Inesilla was no more: You, my dear Lorenzo, +were said to be abroad, but where I could not discover: Your +Father was in a distant Province on a visit to the Duke de +Medina, and as to Agnes, no one could or would inform me what was +become of her. Theodore, according to promise, had returned to +Strasbourg, where He found his Grandfather dead, and Marguerite +in possession of his fortune. All her persuations to remain with +her were fruitless: He quitted her a second time, and followed +me to Madrid. He exerted himself to the utmost in forwarding my +search: But our united endeavours were unattended by success. +The retreat, which concealed Agnes remained an impenetrable +mystery, and I began to abandon all hopes of recovering her. + +About eight months ago I was returning to my Hotel in a +melancholy humour, having past the evening at the Play-House. +The Night was dark, and I was unaccompanied. Plunged in +reflections which were far from being agreeable, I perceived not +that three Men had followed me from the Theatre; till, on turning +into an unfrequented Street, they all attacked me at the same +time with the utmost fury. I sprang back a few paces, drew my +sword, and threw my cloak over my left arm. The obscurity of the +night was in my favour. For the most part the blows of the +Assassins, being aimed at random, failed to touch me. I at +length was fortunate enough to lay one of my Adversaries at my +feet; But before this I had already received so many wounds, and +was so warmly pressed, that my destruction would have been +inevitable, had not the clashing of swords called a Cavalier to +my assistance. He ran towards me with his sword drawn: Several +Domestics followed him with torches. His arrival made the combat +equal: Yet would not the Bravoes abandon their design till the +Servants were on the point of joining us. They then fled away, +and we lost them in the obscurity. + +The Stranger now addressed himself to me with politeness, and +enquired whether I was wounded. Faint with the loss of blood, I +could scarcely thank him for his seasonable aid, and entreat him +to let some of his Servants convey me to the Hotel de las +Cisternas. I no sooner mentioned the name than He profest +himself an acquaintance of my Father's, and declared that He +would not permit my being transported to such a distance before +my wounds had been examined. He added that his House was hard +by, and begged me to accompany him thither. His manner was so +earnest, that I could not reject his offer, and leaning upon his +arm, a few minutes brought me to the Porch of a magnificent +Hotel. + +On entering the House, an old grey-headed Domestic came to +welcome my Conductor: He enquired when the Duke, his Master, +meant to quit the Country, and was answered that He would remain +there yet some months. My Deliverer then desired the +family Surgeon to be summoned without delay. His orders were +obeyed. I was seated upon a Sopha in a noble apartment; and my +wounds being examined, they were declared to be very slight. The +Surgeon, however, advised me not to expose myself to the +night air; and the Stranger pressed me so earnestly to take a bed +in his House, that I consented to remain where I was for the +present. + +Being now left alone with my Deliverer, I took the opportunity of +thanking him in more express terms, than I had done hitherto: +But He begged me to be silent upon the subject. + +'I esteem myself happy,' said He, 'in having had it in my power +to render you this little service; and I shall think myself +eternally obliged to my Daughter for detaining me so late at the +Convent of St. Clare. The high esteem in which I have ever held +the Marquis de las Cisternas, though accident has not permitted +our being so intimate as I could wish, makes me rejoice in the +opportunity of making his Son's acquaintance. I am certain that +my Brother in whose House you now are, will lament his not being +at Madrid to receive you himself: But in the Duke's absence I am +Master of the family, and may assure you in his name, that every +thing in the Hotel de Medina is perfectly at your disposal.' + +Conceive my surprize, Lorenzo, at discovering in the person of my +Preserver Don Gaston de Medina: It was only to be equalled by my +secret satisfaction at the assurance that Agnes inhabited the +Convent of St. Clare. This latter sensation was not a little +weakened, when in answer to my seemingly indifferent questions He +told me that his Daughter had really taken the veil. I suffered +not my grief at this circumstance to take root in my mind: I +flattered myself with the idea that my Uncle's credit at the +Court of Rome would remove this obstacle, and that without +difficulty I should obtain for my Mistress a dispensation from +her vows. Buoyed up with this hope I calmed the uneasiness of my +bosom; and I redoubled my endeavours to appear grateful for the +attention and pleased with the society of Don Gaston. + +A Domestic now entered the room, and informed me that the Bravo +whom I had wounded discovered some signs of life. I desired +that He might be carried to my Father's Hotel, and that as soon +as He recovered his voice, I would examine him respecting his +reasons for attempting my life. I was answered that He was +already able to speak, though with difficulty: Don Gaston's +curiosity made him press me to interrogate the Assassin in his +presence, but this curiosity I was by no means inclined to +gratify. One reason was, that doubting from whence the blow +came, I was unwilling to place before Don Gaston's eyes the guilt +of a Sister: Another was, that I feared to be recognized for +Alphonso d'Alvarada, and precautions taken in consequence to keep +me from the sight of Agnes. To avow my passion for his Daughter, +and endeavour to make him enter into my schemes, what I knew of +Don Gaston's character convinced me would be an imprudent step: +and considering it to be essential that He should know me for no +other than the Conde de las Cisternas, I was determined not to +let him hear the Bravo's confession. I insinuated to him, that +as I suspected a Lady to be concerned in the Business, whose name +might accidentally escape from the Assassin, it was necessary for +me to examine the Man in private. Don Gaston's delicacy would +not permit his urging the point any longer, and in consequence +the Bravo was conveyed to my Hotel. + +The next Morning I took leave of my Host, who was to return to +the Duke on the same day. My wounds had been so trifling that, +except being obliged to wear my arm in a sling for a short time, +I felt no inconvenience from the night's adventure. The Surgeon +who examined the Bravo's wound declared it to be mortal: He had +just time to confess that He had been instigated to murder me by +the revengeful Donna Rodolpha, and expired in a few minutes +after. + +All my thoughts were now bent upon getting to the speech of my +lovely Nun. Theodore set himself to work, and for this time with +better success. He attacked the Gardener of St. Clare so +forcibly with bribes and promises that the Old Man was entirely +gained over to my interests; and it was settled that I should be +introduced into the Convent in the character of his Assistant. +The plan was put into execution without delay. Disguised in a +common habit, and a black patch covering one of my eyes, I was +presented to the Lady Prioress, who condescended to approve of +the Gardener's choice. I immediately entered upon my employment. +Botany having been a favourite study with me, I was by no means +at a loss in my new station. For some days I continued to work +in the Convent Garden without meeting the Object of my disguise: +On the fourth Morning I was more successful. I heard the voice +of Agnes, and was speeding towards the sound, when the sight of +the Domina stopped me. I drew back with caution, and concealed +myself behind a thick clump of Trees. + +The Prioress advanced and seated herself with Agnes on a Bench +at no great distance. I heard her in an angry tone blame her +Companion's continual melancholy: She told her that to weep the +loss of any Lover in her situation was a crime; But that to weep +the loss of a faithless one was folly and absurdity in the +extreme. Agnes replied in so low a voice that I could not +distinguish her words, but I perceived that She used terms of +gentleness and submission. The conversation was interrupted by +the arrival of a young Pensioner who informed the Domina that +She was waited for in the Parlour. The old Lady rose, kissed the +cheek of Agnes, and retired. The newcomer remained. Agnes spoke +much to her in praise of somebody whom I could not make out, but +her Auditor seemed highly delighted, and interested by the +conversation. The Nun showed her several letters; the Other +perused them with evident pleasure, obtained permission to copy +them, and withdrew for that purpose to my great satisfaction. + +No sooner was She out of sight, than I quitted my concealment. +Fearing to alarm my lovely Mistress, I drew near her gently, +intending to discover myself by degrees. But who for a moment +can deceive the eyes of love? She raised her head at my +approach, and recognised me in spite of my disguise at a single +glance. She rose hastily from her seat with an exclamation of +surprize, and attempted to retire; But I followed her, detained +her, and entreated to be heard. Persuaded of my falsehood She +refused to listen to me, and ordered me positively to quit the +Garden. It was now my turn to refuse. I protested that however +dangerous might be the consequences, I would not leave her till +She had heard my justification. I assured her that She had been +deceived by the artifices of her Relations; that I could convince +her beyond the power of doubt that my passion had been pure and +disinterested; and I asked her what should induce me to seek her +in the Convent, were I influenced by the selfish motives which my +Enemies had ascribed to me. + +My prayers, my arguments, and vows not to quit her, till She had +promised to listen to me, united to her fears lest the Nuns +should see me with her, to her natural curiosity, and to the +effection which She still felt for me in spite of my supposed +desertion, at length prevailed. She told me that to grant my +request at that moment was impossible; But She engaged to be in +the same spot at eleven that night, and to converse with me for +the last time. Having obtained this promise I released her hand, +and She fled back with rapidity towards the Convent. + +I communicated my success to my Ally, the old Gardener: He +pointed out an hiding place where I might shelter myself till +night without fear of a discovery. Thither I betook myself at +the hour when I ought to have retired with my supposed Master, +and waited impatiently for the appointed time. The chillness of +the night was in my favour, since it kept the other Nuns confined +to their Cells. Agnes alone was insensible of the inclemency of +the Air, and before eleven joined me at the spot which had +witnessed our former interview. Secure from interruption, I +related to her the true cause of my disappearing on the fatal +fifth of May. She was evidently much affected by my narrative: +When it was concluded, She confessed the injustice of her +suspicions, and blamed herself for having taken the veil through +despair at my ingratitude. + +'But now it is too late to repine!' She added; 'The die is +thrown: I have pronounced my vows, and dedicated myself to the +service of heaven. I am sensible, how ill I am calculated for a +Convent. My disgust at a monastic life increases daily: Ennui +and discontent are my constant Companions; and I will not conceal +from you that the passion which I formerly felt for one so near +being my Husband is not yet extinguished in my bosom. But we +must part! Insuperable Barriers divide us from each other, and +on this side the Grave we must never meet again!' + +I now exerted myself to prove that our union was not so +impossible as She seemed to think it. I vaunted to her the +Cardinal-Duke of Lerma's influence at the Court of Rome: I +assured her that I should easily obtain a dispensation from her +vows; and I doubted not but Don Gaston would coincide with my +views, when informed of my real name and long attachment. Agnes +replied that since I encouraged such an hope, I could know but +little of her Father. Liberal and kind in every other respect, +Superstition formed the only stain upon his character. Upon this +head He was inflexible; He sacrificed his dearest interests to +his scruples, and would consider it an insult to suppose him +capable of authorising his daughter to break her vows to heaven. + +'But suppose,' said I interrupting her; 'Suppose that He should +disapprove of our union; Let him remain ignorant of my +proceedings, till I have rescued you from the prison in which +you are now confined. Once my Wife, you are free from his +authority: I need from him no pecuniary assistance; and when He +sees his resentment to be unavailing, He will doubtless restore +you to his favour. But let the worst happen; Should Don Gaston +be irreconcileable, my Relations will vie with each other in +making you forget his loss: and you will find in my Father a +substitute for the Parent of whom I shall deprive you.' + +'Don Raymond,' replied Agnes in a firm and resolute voice, 'I +love my Father: He has treated me harshly in this one instance; +but I have received from him in every other so many proofs of +love that his affection is become necessary to my existence. +Were I to quit the Convent, He never would forgive me; nor can I +think that on his deathbed He would leave me his curse, without +shuddering at the very idea. Besides, I am conscious myself, +that my vows are binding: Wilfully did I contract my engagement +with heaven; I cannot break it without a crime. Then banish from +your mind the idea of our being ever united. I am devoted to +religion; and however I may grieve at our separation, I would +oppose obstacles myself, to what I feel would render me guilty.' + +I strove to overrule these ill-grounded scruples: We were still +disputing upon the subject, when the Convent Bell summoned the +Nuns to Matins. Agnes was obliged to attend them; But She left +me not till I had compelled her to promise that on the following +night She would be at the same place at the same hour. These +meetings continued for several Weeks uninterrupted; and 'tis now, +Lorenzo, that I must implore your indulgence. Reflect upon our +situation, our youth, our long attachment: Weigh all the +circumstances which attended our assignations, and you will +confess the temptation to have been irresistible; you will even +pardon me when I acknowledge, that in an unguarded moment, the +honour of Agnes was sacrificed to my passion.' + +(Lorenzo's eyes sparkled with fury: A deep crimson spread itself +over his face. He started from his seat, and attempted to draw +his sword. The Marquis was aware of his movement, and caught his +hand: He pressed it affectionately. + +'My Friend! My Brother! Hear me to the conclusion! Till then +restrain your passion, and be at least convinced, that if what I +have related is criminal, the blame must fall upon me, and not +upon your Sister.' + +Lorenzo suffered himself to be prevailed upon by Don Raymond's +entreaties. He resumed his place, and listened to the rest of +the narrative with a gloomy and impatient countenance. The +Marquis thus continued.) + +'Scarcely was the first burst of passion past when Agnes, +recovering herself, started from my arms with horror. She called +me infamous Seducer, loaded me with the bitterest reproaches, and +beat her bosom in all the wildness of delirium. Ashamed of my +imprudence, I with difficulty found words to excuse myself. I +endeavoured to console her; I threw myself at her feet, and +entreated her forgiveness. She forced her hand from me, which I +had taken, and would have prest to my lips. + +'Touch me not!' She cried with a violence which terrified me; +'Monster of perfidy and ingratitude, how have I been deceived in +you! I looked upon you as my Friend, my Protector: I trusted +myself in your hands with confidence, and relying upon your +honour, thought that mine ran no risque. And 'tis by you, whom I +adored, that I am covered with infamy! 'Tis by you that I have +been seduced into breaking my vows to God, that I am reduced to a +level with the basest of my sex! Shame upon you, Villain, you +shall never see me more!' + +She started from the Bank on which She was seated. I endeavoured +to detain her; But She disengaged herself from me with violence, +and took refuge in the Convent. + +I retired, filled with confusion and inquietude. The next +morning I failed not as usual to appear in the Garden; but Agnes +was no where to be seen. At night I waited for her at the place +where we generally met; I found no better success. Several days +and nights passed away in the same manner. At length I saw my +offended Mistress cross the walk on whose borders I was working: +She was accompanied by the same young Pensioner, on whose arm She +seemed from weakness obliged to support herself. She looked upon +me for a moment, but instantly turned her head away. I waited +her return; But She passed on to the Convent without paying any +attention to me, or the penitent looks with which I implored her +forgiveness. + +As soon as the Nuns were retired, the old Gardener joined me with +a sorrowful air. + +'Segnor,' said He, 'it grieves me to say, that I can be no longer +of use to you. The Lady whom you used to meet has just assured +me that if I admitted you again into the Garden, She would +discover the whole business to the Lady Prioress. She bade me +tell you also, that your presence was an insult, and that if you +still possess the least respect for her, you will never attempt +to see her more. Excuse me then for informing you that I can +favour your disguise no longer. Should the Prioress be +acquainted with my conduct, She might not be contented with +dismissing me her service: Out of revenge She might accuse me of +having profaned the Convent, and cause me to be thrown into the +Prisons of the Inquisition.' + +Fruitless were my attempts to conquer his resolution. He denied +me all future entrance into the Garden, and Agnes persevered in +neither letting me see or hear from her. In about a fortnight +after, a violent illness which had seized my Father obliged me to +set out for Andalusia. I hastened thither, and as I imagined, +found the Marquis at the point of death. Though on its first +appearance his complaint was declared mortal, He lingered out +several Months; during which my attendance upon him during his +malady, and the occupation of settling his affairs after his +decease, permitted not my quitting Andalusia. Within these four +days I returned to Madrid, and on arriving at my Hotel, I there +found this letter waiting for me. + +(Here the Marquis unlocked the drawer of a Cabinet: He took out a +folded paper, which He presented to his Auditor. Lorenzo opened +it, and recognised his Sister's hand. The Contents were as +follows. + +Into what an abyss of misery have you plunged me! Raymond, you +force me to become as criminal as yourself. I had resolved never +to see you more; if possible, to forget you; If not, only to +remember you with hate. A Being for whom I already feel a +Mother's tenderness, solicits me to pardon my Seducer, and apply +to his love for the means of preservation. Raymond, your child +lives in my bosom. I tremble at the vengeance of the Prioress; I +tremble much for myself, yet more for the innocent Creature whose +existence depends upon mine. Both of us are lost, should my +situation be discovered. Advise me then what steps to take, but +seek not to see me. The Gardener, who undertakes to deliver +this, is dismissed, and we have nothing to hope from that +quarter: The Man engaged in his place is of incorruptible +fidelity. The best means of conveying to me your answer, is by +concealing it under the great Statue of St. Francis, which stands +in the Capuchin Cathedral. Thither I go every Thursday to +confession, and shall easily have an opportunity of securing your +letter. I hear that you are now absent from Madrid; Need I +entreat you to write the very moment of your return? I will not +think it. Ah! Raymond! Mine is a cruel situation! Deceived by +my nearest Relations, compelled to embrace a profession the +duties of which I am ill-calculated to perform, conscious of the +sanctity of those duties, and seduced into violating them by One +whom I least suspected of perfidy, I am now obliged by +circumstances to chuse between death and perjury. Woman's +timidity, and maternal affection, permit me not to balance in the +choice. I feel all the guilt into which I plunge myself, when I +yield to the plan which you before proposed to me. My poor +Father's death which has taken place since we met, has removed +one obstacle. He sleeps in his grave, and I no longer dread his +anger. But from the anger of God, Oh! Raymond! who shall shield +me? Who can protect me against my conscience, against myself? I +dare not dwell upon these thoughts; They will drive me mad. I +have taken my resolution: Procure a dispensation from my vows; I +am ready to fly with you. Write to me, my Husband! Tell me, +that absence has not abated your love, tell me that you will +rescue from death your unborn Child, and its unhappy Mother. I +live in all the agonies of terror: Every eye which is fixed upon +me seems to read my secret and my shame. And you are the cause +of those agonies! Oh! When my heart first loved you, how little +did it suspect you of making it feel such pangs! + Agnes. + +Having perused the letter, Lorenzo restored it in silence. The +Marquis replaced it in the Cabinet, and then proceeded.) + +'Excessive was my joy at reading this intelligence so +earnestly-desired, so little expected. My plan was soon +arranged. When Don Gaston discovered to me his Daughter's +retreat, I entertained no doubt of her readiness to quit the +Convent: I had, therefore, entrusted the Cardinal-Duke of Lerma +with the whole affair, who immediately busied himself in +obtaining the necessary Bull. Fortunately I had afterwards +neglected to stop his proceedings. Not long since I received a +letter from him, stating that He expected daily to receive the +order from the Court of Rome. Upon this I would willingly have +relyed: But the Cardinal wrote me word, that I must find some +means of conveying Agnes out of the Convent, unknown to the +Prioress. He doubted not but this Latter would be much incensed +by losing a Person of such high rank from her society, and +consider the renunciation of Agnes as an insult to her House. He +represented her as a Woman of a violent and revengeful character, +capable of proceeding to the greatest extremities. It was +therefore to be feared, lest by confining Agnes in the Convent +She should frustrate my hopes, and render the Pope's mandate +unavailing. Influenced by this consideration, I resolved to +carry off my Mistress, and conceal her till the arrival of the +expected Bull in the Cardinal-Duke's Estate. He approved of my +design, and profest himself ready to give a shelter to the +Fugitive. I next caused the new Gardener of St. Clare to be +seized privately, and confined in my Hotel. By this means I +became Master of the Key to the Garden door, and I had now +nothing more to do than prepare Agnes for the elopement. This +was done by the letter, which you saw me deliver this Evening. I +told her in it, that I should be ready to receive her at twelve +tomorrow night, that I had secured the Key of the Garden, and +that She might depend upon a speedy release. + +You have now, Lorenzo, heard the whole of my long narrative. I +have nothing to say in my excuse, save that my intentions towards +your Sister have been ever the most honourable: That it has +always been, and still is my design to make her my Wife: And +that I trust, when you consider these circumstances, our youth, +and our attachment, you will not only forgive our momentary lapse +from virtue, but will aid me in repairing my faults to Agnes, and +securing a lawful title to her person and her heart. + + +CHAPTER II + +O You! whom Vanity's light bark conveys +On Fame's mad voyage by the wind of praise, +With what a shifting gale your course you ply, +For ever sunk too low, or borne too high! +Who pants for glory finds but short repose, +A breath revives him, and a breath o'er-throws. + Pope. + +Here the Marquis concluded his adventures. Lorenzo, before He +could determine on his reply, past some moments in reflection. +At length He broke silence. + +'Raymond,' said He taking his hand, 'strict honour would oblige +me to wash off in your blood the stain thrown upon my family; But +the circumstances of your case forbid me to consider you as an +Enemy. The temptation was too great to be resisted. 'Tis the +superstition of my Relations which has occasioned these +misfortunes, and they are more the Offenders than yourself and +Agnes. What has past between you cannot be recalled, but may yet +be repaired by uniting you to my Sister. You have ever been, you +still continue to be, my dearest and indeed my only Friend. I +feel for Agnes the truest affection, and there is no one on whom +I would bestow her more willingly than on yourself. Pursue then +your design. I will accompany you tomorrow night, and conduct +her myself to the House of the Cardinal. My presence will be a +sanction for her conduct, and prevent her incurring blame by her +flight from the Convent.' + +The Marquis thanked him in terms by no means deficient in +gratitude. Lorenzo then informed him that He had nothing more +to apprehend from Donna Rodolpha's enmity. Five Months had +already elapsed since, in an excess of passion, She broke a +blood-vessel and expired in the course of a few hours. He then +proceeded to mention the interests of Antonia. The Marquis was +much surprized at hearing of this new Relation: His Father had +carried his hatred of Elvira to the Grave, and had never given +the least hint that He knew what was become of his eldest Son's +Widow. Don Raymond assured his friend that He was not mistaken +in supposing him ready to acknowledge his Sister-in-law and her +amiable Daughter. The preparations for the elopement would not +permit his visiting them the next day; But in the meanwhile He +desired Lorenzo to assure them of his friendship, and to supply +Elvira upon his account with any sums which She might want. This +the Youth promised to do, as soon as her abode should be known to +him: He then took leave of his future Brother, and returned to +the Palace de Medina. + +The day was already on the point of breaking when the Marquis +retired to his chamber. Conscious that his narrative would take +up some hours, and wishing to secure himself from interruption +on returning to the Hotel, He ordered his Attendants not to sit +upfor him. Consequently, He was somewhat surprised on entering +his Antiroom, to find Theodore established there. The Page sat +near a Table with a pen in his hand, and was so totally occupied +by his employment that He perceived not his Lord's approach. The +Marquis stopped to observe him. Theodore wrote a few lines, then +paused, and scratched out a part of the writing: Then wrote +again, smiled, and seemed highly pleased with what He had been +about. At last He threw down his pen, sprang from his chair, and +clapped his hands together joyfully. + +'There it is!' cried He aloud: 'Now they are charming!' + +His transports were interrupted by a laugh from the Marquis, who +suspected the nature of his employment. + +'What is so charming, Theodore?' + +The Youth started, and looked round. He blushed, ran to the +Table, seized the paper on which He had been writing, and +concealed it in confusion. + +'Oh! my Lord, I knew not that you were so near me. Can I be of +use to you? Lucas is already gone to bed.' + +'I shall follow his example when I have given my opinion of your +verses.' + +'My verses, my Lord?' + +'Nay, I am sure that you have been writing some, for nothing else +could have kept you awake till this time of the morning. Where +are they, Theodore? I shall like to see your composition.' + +Theodore's cheeks glowed with still deeper crimson: He longed to +show his poetry, but first chose to be pressed for it. + +'Indeed, my Lord, they are not worthy your attention.' + +'Not these verses, which you just now declared to be so charming? + +Come, come, let me see whether our opinions are the same. I +promise that you shall find in me an indulgent Critic.' + +The Boy produced his paper with seeming reluctance; but the +satisfaction which sparkled in his dark expressive eyes betrayed +the vanity of his little bosom. The Marquis smiled while He +observed the emotions of an heart as yet but little skilled in +veiling its sentiments. He seated himself upon a Sopha: +Theodore, while Hope and fear contended on his anxious +countenance, waited with inquietude for his Master's decision, +while the Marquis read the following lines. + + LOVE AND AGE + + The night was dark; The wind blew cold; +Anacreon, grown morose and old, +Sat by his fire, and fed the chearful flame: +Sudden the Cottage-door expands, +And lo! before him Cupid stands, +Casts round a friendly glance, and greets him by his name. + + 'What is it Thou?' the startled Sire +In sullen tone exclaimed, while ire +With crimson flushed his pale and wrinkled cheek: +'Wouldst Thou again with amorous rage +Inflame my bosom? Steeled by age, +Vain Boy, to pierce my breast thine arrows are too weak. + + 'What seek You in this desart drear? +No smiles or sports inhabit here; +Ne'er did these vallies witness dalliance sweet: +Eternal winter binds the plains; +Age in my house despotic reigns, +My Garden boasts no flower, my bosom boasts no heat. + + 'Begone, and seek the blooming bower, +Where some ripe Virgin courts thy power, +Or bid provoking dreams flit round her bed; +On Damon's amorous breast repose; +Wanton-on Chloe's lip of rose, +Or make her blushing cheek a pillow for thy head. + + 'Be such thy haunts; These regions cold +Avoid! Nor think grown wise and old +This hoary head again thy yoke shall bear: +Remembering that my fairest years +By Thee were marked with sighs and tears, +I think thy friendship false, and shun the guileful snare. + + 'I have not yet forgot the pains +I felt, while bound in Julia's chains; +The ardent flames with which my bosom burned; +The nights I passed deprived of rest; +The jealous pangs which racked my breast; +My disappointed hopes, and passion unreturned. + +'Then fly, and curse mine eyes no more! +Fly from my peaceful Cottage-door! +No day, no hour, no moment shalt Thou stay. +I know thy falsehood, scorn thy arts, +Distrust thy smiles, and fear thy darts; +Traitor, begone, and seek some other to betray!' + + 'Does Age, old Man, your wits confound?' +Replied the offended God, and frowned; +(His frown was sweet as is the Virgin's smile!) +'Do You to Me these words address? +To Me, who do not love you less, +Though You my friendship scorn, and pleasures past revile! + + 'If one proud Fair you chanced to find, +An hundred other Nymphs were kind, +Whose smiles might well for Julia's frowns atone: +But such is Man! His partial hand +Unnumbered favours writes on sand, +But stamps one little fault on solid lasting stone. + + 'Ingrate! Who led Thee to the wave, +At noon where Lesbia loved to lave? +Who named the bower alone where Daphne lay? +And who, when Caelia shrieked for aid, +Bad you with kisses hush the Maid? +What other was't than Love, Oh! false Anacreon, say! + + 'Then You could call me--''Gentle Boy! +''My only bliss! my source of joy !''-- +Then You could prize me dearer than your soul! +Could kiss, and dance me on your knees; +And swear, not wine itself would please, +Had not the lip of Love first touched the flowing bowl! + + 'Must those sweet days return no more? +Must I for aye your loss deplore, +Banished your heart, and from your favour driven? +Ah! no; My fears that smile denies; +That heaving breast, those sparkling eyes +Declare me ever dear and all my faults forgiven. + + 'Again beloved, esteemed, carest, +Cupid shall in thine arms be prest, +Sport on thy knees, or on thy bosom sleep: +My Torch thine age-struck heart shall warm; +My Hand pale Winter's rage disarm, +And Youth and Spring shall here once more their revels keep.'-- + + A feather now of golden hue +He smiling from his pinion drew; +This to the Poet's hand the Boy commits; +And straight before Anacreon's eyes +The fairest dreams of fancy rise, +And round his favoured head wild inspiration flits. + + His bosom glows with amorous fire +Eager He grasps the magic lyre; +Swift o'er the tuneful chords his fingers move: +The Feather plucked from Cupid's wing +Sweeps the too-long-neglected string, +While soft Anacreon sings the power +and praise of Love. + + Soon as that name was heard, the Woods +Shook off their snows; The melting floods +Broke their cold chains, and Winter fled away. +Once more the earth was deckt with flowers; +Mild Zephyrs breathed through blooming bowers; +High towered the glorious Sun, and poured the blaze of day. + + Attracted by the harmonious sound, +Sylvans and Fauns the Cot surround, +And curious crowd the Minstrel to behold: +The Wood-nymphs haste the spell to prove; +Eager They run; They list, they love, +And while They hear the strain, forget the Man is old. + + Cupid, to nothing constant long, +Perched on the Harp attends the song, +Or stifles with a kiss the dulcet notes: +Now on the Poet's breast reposes, +Now twines his hoary locks with roses, +Or borne on wings of gold in wanton circle floats. + + Then thus Anacreon--'I no more +At other shrine my vows will pour, +Since Cupid deigns my numbers to inspire: +From Phoebus or the blue-eyed Maid +Now shall my verse request no aid, +For Love alone shall be the Patron of my Lyre. + + 'In lofty strain, of earlier days, +I spread the King's or Hero's praise, +And struck the martial Chords with epic fire: +But farewell, Hero! farewell, King! +Your deeds my lips no more shall sing, +For Love alone shall be the subject of my Lyre. + +The Marquis returned the paper with a smile of encouragement. + +'Your little poem pleases me much,' said He; 'However, you must +not count my opinion for anything. I am no judge of verses, and +for my own part, never composed more than six lines in my life: +Those six produced so unlucky an effect that I am fully resolved +never to compose another. But I wander from my subject. I was +going to say that you cannot employ your time worse than in +making verses. An Author, whether good or bad, or between both, +is an Animal whom everybody is privileged to attack; For though +All are not able to write books, all conceive themselves able to +judge them. A bad composition carries with it its own +punishment, contempt and ridicule. A good one excites envy, and +entails upon its Author a thousand mortifications. He finds +himself assailed by partial and ill-humoured Criticism: One Man +finds fault with the plan, Another with the style, a Third with +the precept, which it strives to inculcate; and they who cannot +succeed in finding fault with the Book, employ themselves in +stigmatizing its Author. They maliciously rake out from +obscurity every little circumstance which may throw ridicule +upon his private character or conduct, and aim at wounding the +Man, since They cannot hurt the Writer. In short, to enter the +lists of literature is wilfully to expose yourself to the arrows +of neglect, ridicule, envy, and disappointment. Whether you +write well or ill, be assured that you will not escape from +blame; Indeed this circumstance contains a young Author's chief +consolation: He remembers that Lope de Vega and Calderona had +unjust and envious Critics, and He modestly conceives himself to +be exactly in their predicament. But I am conscious that all +these sage observations are thrown away upon you. Authorship is +a mania to conquer which no reasons are sufficiently strong; and +you might as easily persuade me not to love, as I persuade you +not to write. However, if you cannot help being occasionally +seized with a poetical paroxysm, take at least the precaution of +communicating your verses to none but those whose partiality for +you secures their approbation.' + +'Then, my Lord, you do not think these lines tolerable?' said +Theodore with an humble and dejected air. + +'You mistake my meaning. As I said before, they have pleased me +much; But my regard for you makes me partial, and Others might +judge them less favourably. I must still remark that even my +prejudice in your favour does not blind me so much as to prevent +my observing several faults. For instance, you make a terrible +confusion of metaphors; You are too apt to make the strength of +your lines consist more in the words than sense; Some of the +verses only seem introduced in order to rhyme with others; and +most of the best ideas are borrowed from other Poets, though +possibly you are unconscious of the theft yourself. These faults +may occasionally be excused in a work of length; But a short Poem +must be correct and perfect.' + +'All this is true, Segnor; But you should consider that I only +write for pleasure.' + +'Your defects are the less excusable. Their incorrectness may be +forgiven in those who work for money, who are obliged to compleat +a given task in a given time, and are paid according to the bulk, +not value of their productions. But in those whom no necessity +forces to turn Author, who merely write for fame, and have full +leisure to polish their compositions, faults are impardonable, +and merit the sharpest arrows of criticism.' + +The Marquis rose from the Sopha; the Page looked discouraged and +melancholy, and this did not escape his Master's observation. + +'However' added He smiling, 'I think that these lines do you no +discredit. Your versification is tolerably easy, and your ear +seems to be just. The perusal of your little poem upon the whole +gave me much pleasure; and if it is not asking too great a +favour, I shall be highly obliged to you for a Copy.' + +The Youth's countenance immediately cleared up. He perceived not +the smile, half approving, half ironical, which accompanied the +request, and He promised the Copy with great readiness. The +Marquis withdrew to his chamber, much amused by the +instantaneous effect produced upon Theodore's vanity by the +conclusion of his Criticism. He threw himself upon his Couch; +Sleep soon stole over him, and his dreams presented him with the +most flattering pictures of happiness with Agnes. + +On reaching the Hotel de Medina, Lorenzo's first care was to +enquire for Letters. He found several waiting for him; but that +which He sought was not amongst them. Leonella had found it +impossible to write that evening. However, her impatience to +secure Don Christoval's heart, on which She flattered herself +with having made no slight impression, permitted her not to pass +another day without informing him where She was to be found. On +her return from the Capuchin Church, She had related to her +Sister with exultation how attentive an handsome Cavalier had +been to her; as also how his Companion had undertaken to plead +Antonia's cause with the Marquis de las Cisternas. Elvira +received this intelligence with sensations very different from +those with which it was communicated. She blamed her Sister's +imprudence in confiding her history to an absolute Stranger, and +expressed her fears lest this inconsiderate step should +prejudice the Marquis against her. The greatest of her +apprehensions She concealed in her own breast. She had observed +with inquietude that at the mention of Lorenzo, a deep blush +spread itself over her Daughter's cheek. The timid Antonia dared +not to pronounce his name: Without knowing wherefore, She felt +embarrassed when He was made the subject of discourse, and +endeavoured to change the conversation to Ambrosio. Elvira +perceived the emotions of this young bosom: In consequence, She +insisted upon Leonella's breaking her promise to the Cavaliers. +A sigh, which on hearing this order escaped from Antonia, +confirmed the wary Mother in her resolution. + +Through this resolution Leonella was determined to break: She +conceived it to be inspired by envy, and that her Sister dreaded +her being elevated above her. Without imparting her design to +anyone, She took an opportunity of dispatching the following +note to Lorenzo; It was delivered to him as soon as He woke. + +'Doubtless, Segnor Don Lorenzo, you have frequently accused me of +ingratitude and forgetfulness: But on the word of a Virgin, it +was out of my power to perform my promise yesterday. I know not +in what words to inform you how strange a reception my Sister +gave your kind wish to visit her. She is an odd Woman, with many +good points about her; But her jealousy of me frequently makes +her conceive notions quite unaccountable. On hearing that your +Friend had paid some little attention to me, She immediately took +the alarm: She blamed my conduct, and has absolutely forbidden +me to let you know our abode. My strong sense of gratitude for +your kind offers of service, and . . . Shall I confess it? my +desire to behold once more the too amiable Don Christoval, will +not permit my obeying her injunctions. I have therefore stolen a +moment to inform you, that we lodge in the Strada di San Iago, +four doors from the Palace d'Albornos, and nearly opposite to the +Barber's Miguel Coello. Enquire for Donna Elvira Dalfa, since in +compliance with her Father-in-law's order, my Sister continues to +be called by her maiden name. At eight this evening you will be +sure of finding us: But let not a word drop which may raise a +suspicion of my having written this letter. Should you see the +Conde d'Ossorio, tell him . . . I blush while I declare it . . . + +Tell him that his presence will be but too acceptable to the +sympathetic Leonella. + +The latter sentences were written in red ink, to express the +blushes of her cheek, while She committed an outrage upon her +virgin modesty. + +Lorenzo had no sooner perused this note than He set out in +search of Don Christoval. Not being able to find him in the +course of the day, He proceeded to Donna Elvira's alone, to +Leonella's infinite disappointment. The Domestic by whom He +sent up his name, having already declared his Lady to be at home, +She had no excuse for refusing his visit: Yet She consented to +receive it with much reluctance. That reluctance was increased +by the changes which his approach produced in Antonia's +countenance; nor was it by any means abated when the Youth +himself appeared. The symmetry of his person, animation of his +features, and natural elegance of his manners and address, +convinced Elvira that such a Guest must be dangerous for her +Daughter. She resolved to treat him with distant politeness, to +decline his services with gratitude for the tender of them, and +to make him feel, without offence, that his future visits would +be far from acceptable. + +On his entrance He found Elvira, who was indisposed, reclining +upon a Sopha: Antonia sat by her embroidery frame, and Leonella, +in a pastoral dress, held 'Montemayor's Diana.' In spite of +her being the Mother of Antonia, Lorenzo could not help expecting +to find in Elvira Leonella's true Sister, and the Daughter of 'as +honest a painstaking Shoe-maker, as any in Cordova.' A single +glance was sufficient to undeceive him. He beheld a Woman whose +features, though impaired by time and sorrow, still bore the +marks of distinguished beauty: A serious dignity reigned upon +her countenance, but was tempered by a grace and sweetness which +rendered her truly enchanting. Lorenzo fancied that She must +have resembled her Daughter in her youth, and readily excused the +imprudence of the late Conde de las Cisternas. She desired him +to be seated, and immediately resumed her place upon the Sopha. + +Antonia received him with a simple reverence, and continued her +work: Her cheeks were suffused with crimson, and She strove to +conceal her emotion by leaning over her embroidery frame. Her +Aunt also chose to play off her airs of modesty; She affected to +blush and tremble, and waited with her eyes cast down to receive, +as She expected, the compliments of Don Christoval. Finding +after some time that no sign of his approach was given, She +ventured to look round the room, and perceived with vexation that +Medina was unaccompanied. Impatience would not permit her +waiting for an explanation: Interrupting Lorenzo, who was +delivering Raymond's message, She desired to know what was become +of his Friend. + +He, who thought it necessary to maintain himself in her good +graces, strove to console her under her disappointment by +committing a little violence upon truth. + +'Ah! Segnora,' He replied in a melancholy voice 'How grieved will +He be at losing this opportunity of paying you his respects! A +Relation's illness has obliged him to quit Madrid in haste: But +on his return, He will doubtless seize the first moment with +transport to throw himself at your feet!' + +As He said this, his eyes met those of Elvira: She punished his +falsehood sufficiently by darting at him a look expressive of +displeasure and reproach. Neither did the deceit answer his +intention. Vexed and disappointed Leonella rose from her seat, +and retired in dudgeon to her own apartment. + +Lorenzo hastened to repair the fault, which had injured him in +Elvira's opinion. He related his conversation with the Marquis +respecting her: He assured her that Raymond was prepared to +acknowledge her for his Brother's Widow; and that till it was in +his power to pay his compliments to her in person, Lorenzo was +commissioned to supply his place. This intelligence relieved +Elvira from an heavy weight of uneasiness: She had now found a +Protector for the fatherless Antonia, for whose future fortunes +She had suffered the greatest apprehensions. She was not sparing +of her thanks to him who had interfered so generously in her +behalf; But still She gave him no invitation to repeat his visit. + +However, when upon rising to depart He requested permission to +enquire after her health occasionally, the polite earnestness of +his manner, gratitude for his services, and respect for his +Friend the Marquis, would not admit of a refusal. She consented +reluctantly to receive him: He promised not to abuse her +goodness, and quitted the House. + +Antonia was now left alone with her Mother: A temporary silence +ensued. Both wished to speak upon the same subject, but Neither +knew how to introduce it. The one felt a bashfulness which +sealed up her lips, and for which She could not account: The +other feared to find her apprehensions true, or to inspire her +Daughter with notions to which She might be still a Stranger. At +length Elvira began the conversation. + +'That is a charming young Man, Antonia; I am much pleased with +him. Was He long near you yesterday in the Cathedral?' + +'He quitted me not for a moment while I staid in the Church: He +gave me his seat, and was very obliging and attentive.' + +'Indeed? Why then have you never mentioned his name to me? Your +Aunt lanched out in praise of his Friend, and you vaunted +Ambrosio's eloquence: But Neither said a word of Don Lorenzo's +person and accomplishments. Had not Leonella spoken of his +readiness to undertake our cause, I should not have known him to +be in existence.' + +She paused. Antonia coloured, but was silent. + +'Perhaps you judge him less favourably than I do. In my opinion +his figure is pleasing, his conversation sensible, and manners +engaging. Still He may have struck you differently: You may +think him disagreeable, and . . .'. + +'Disagreeable? Oh! dear Mother, how should I possibly think him +so? I should be very ungrateful were I not sensible of his +kindness yesterday, and very blind if his merits had escaped me. +His figure is so graceful, so noble! His manners so gentle, yet +so manly! I never yet saw so many accomplishments united in one +person, and I doubt whether Madrid can produce his equal.' + +'Why then were you so silent in praise of this Phoenix of Madrid? + +Why was it concealed from me that his society had afforded you +pleasure?' + +'In truth, I know not: You ask me a question which I cannot +resolve myself. I was on the point of mentioning him a thousand +times: His name was constantly upon my lips, but when I would +have pronounced it, I wanted courage to execute my design. +However, if I did not speak of him, it was not that I thought of +him the less.' + +'That I believe; But shall I tell you why you wanted courage? It +was because, accustomed to confide to me your most secret +thoughts, you knew not how to conceal, yet feared to acknowledge, +that your heart nourished a sentiment which you were conscious I +should disapprove. Come hither to me, my Child.' + +Antonia quitted her embroidery frame, threw herself upon her +knees by the Sopha, and hid her face in her Mother's lap. + +'Fear not, my sweet Girl! Consider me equally as your Friend and +Parent, and apprehend no reproof from me. I have read the +emotions of your bosom; you are yet ill-skilled in concealing +them, and they could not escape my attentive eye. This Lorenzo +is dangerous to your repose; He has already made an impression +upon your heart. 'Tis true that I perceive easily that your +affection is returned; But what can be the consequences of this +attachment? You are poor and friendless, my Antonia; Lorenzo is +the Heir of the Duke of Medina Celi. Even should Himself mean +honourably, his Uncle never will consent to your union; Nor +without that Uncle's consent, will I. By sad experience I know +what sorrows She must endure, who marries into a family unwilling +to receive her. Then struggle with your affection: Whatever +pains it may cost you, strive to conquer it. Your heart is +tender and susceptible: It has already received a strong +impression; But when once convinced that you should not encourage +such sentiments, I trust, that you have sufficient fortitude to +drive them from your bosom.' + +Antonia kissed her hand, and promised implicit obedience. Elvira +then continued. + +'To prevent your passion from growing stronger, it will be +needful to prohibit Lorenzo's visits. The service which He has +rendered me permits not my forbidding them positively; But unless +I judge too favourably of his character, He will discontinue them +without taking offence, if I confess to him my reasons, and throw +myself entirely on his generosity. The next time that I see him, +I will honestly avow to him the embarrassment which his presence +occasions. How say you, my Child? Is not this measure +necessary?' + +Antonia subscribed to every thing without hesitation, though not +without regret. Her Mother kissed her affectionately, and +retired to bed. Antonia followed her example, and vowed so +frequently never more to think of Lorenzo, that till Sleep closed +her eyes She thought of nothing else. + +While this was passing at Elvira's, Lorenzo hastened to rejoin +the Marquis. Every thing was ready for the second elopement of +Agnes; and at twelve the two Friends with a Coach and four were +at the Garden wall of the Convent. Don Raymond drew out his Key, +and unlocked the door. They entered, and waited for some time in +expectation of being joined by Agnes. At length the Marquis grew +impatient: Beginning to fear that his second attempt would +succeed no better than the first, He proposed to reconnoitre the +Convent. The Friends advanced towards it. Every thing was still +and dark. The Prioress was anxious to keep the story a secret, +fearing lest the crime of one of its members should bring +disgrace upon the whole community, or that the interposition of +powerful Relations should deprive her vengeance of its intended +victim. She took care therefore to give the Lover of Agnes no +cause to suppose that his design was discovered, and his +Mistress on the point of suffering the punishment of her fault. +The same reason made her reject the idea of arresting the unknown +Seducer in the Garden; Such a proceeding would have created much +disturbance, and the disgrace of her Convent would have been +noised about Madrid. She contented herself with confining Agnes +closely; As to the Lover, She left him at liberty to pursue his +designs. What She had expected was the result. The Marquis and +Lorenzo waited in vain till the break of day: They then retired +without noise, alarmed at the failure of their plan, and ignorant +of the cause of its ill-success. + +The next morning Lorenzo went to the Convent, and requested to +see his Sister. The Prioress appeared at the Grate with a +melancholy countenance: She informed him that for several days +Agnes had appeared much agitated; That She had been prest by the +Nuns in vain to reveal the cause, and apply to their tenderness +for advice and consolation; That She had obstinately persisted in +concealing the cause of her distress; But that on Thursday +Evening it had produced so violent an effect upon her +constitution, that She had fallen ill, and was actually confined +to her bed. Lorenzo did not credit a syllable of this account: +He insisted upon seeing his Sister; If She was unable to come to +the Grate, He desired to be admitted to her Cell. The Prioress +crossed herself! She was shocked at the very idea of a Man's +profane eye pervading the interior of her holy Mansion, and +professed herself astonished that Lorenzo could think of such a +thing. She told him that his request could not be granted; But +that if He returned the next day, She hoped that her beloved +Daughter would then be sufficiently recovered to join him at the +Parlour grate. + +With this answer Lorenzo was obliged to retire, unsatisfied and +trembling for his Sister's safety. + +He returned the next morning at an early hour. 'Agnes was worse; +The Physician had pronounced her to be in imminent danger; She +was ordered to remain quiet, and it was utterly impossible for +her to receive her Brother's visit.' Lorenzo stormed at this +answer, but there was no resource. He raved, He entreated, He +threatened: No means were left untried to obtain a sight of +Agnes. His endeavours were as fruitless as those of the day +before, and He returned in despair to the Marquis. On his side, +the Latter had spared no pains to discover what had occasioned +his plot to fail: Don Christoval, to whom the affair was now +entrusted, endeavoured to worm out the secret from the Old +Porteress of St. Clare, with whom He had formed an acquaintance; +But She was too much upon her guard, and He gained from her no +intelligence. The Marquis was almost distracted, and Lorenzo felt +scarcely less inquietude. Both were convinced that the purposed +elopement must have been discovered: They doubted not but the +malady of Agnes was a pretence, But they knew not by what means +to rescue her from the hands of the Prioress. + +Regularly every day did Lorenzo visit the Convent: As regularly +was He informed that his Sister rather grew worse than better. +Certain that her indisposition was feigned, these accounts did +not alarm him: But his ignorance of her fate, and of the motives +which induced the Prioress to keep her from him, excited the most +serious uneasiness. He was still uncertain what steps He ought +to take, when the Marquis received a letter from the +Cardinal-Duke of Lerma. It inclosed the Pope's expected Bull, +ordering that Agnes should be released from her vows, and +restored to her Relations. This essential paper decided at once +the proceedings of her Friends: They resolved that Lorenzo +should carry it to the Domina without delay, and demand that his +Sister should be instantly given up to him. Against this mandate +illness could not be pleaded: It gave her Brother the power of +removing her instantly to the Palace de Medina, and He determined +to use that power on the following day. + +His mind relieved from inquietude respecting his Sister, and his +Spirits raised by the hope of soon restoring her to freedom, He +now had time to give a few moments to love and to Antonia. At +the same hour as on his former visit He repaired to Donna +Elvira's: She had given orders for his admission. As soon as He +was announced, her Daughter retired with Leonella, and when He +entered the chamber, He found the Lady of the House alone. She +received him with less distance than before, and desired him to +place himself near her upon the Sopha. She then without losing +time opened her business, as had been agreed between herself and +Antonia. + +'You must not think me ungrateful, Don Lorenzo, or forgetful how +essential are the services which you have rendered me with the +Marquis. I feel the weight of my obligations; Nothing under the +Sun should induce my taking the step to which I am now compelled +but the interest of my Child, of my beloved Antonia. My health +is declining; God only knows how soon I may be summoned before +his Throne. My Daughter will be left without Parents, and should +She lose the protection of the Cisternas family, without Friends. + +She is young and artless, uninstructed in the world's perfidy, +and with charms sufficient to render her an object of seduction. +Judge then, how I must tremble at the prospect before her! +Judge how anxious I must be to keep her from their society who +may excite the yet dormant passions of her bosom. You are +amiable, Don Lorenzo: Antonia has a susceptible, a loving heart, +and is grateful for the favours conferred upon us by your +interference with the Marquis. Your presence makes me tremble: +I fear lest it should inspire her with sentiments which may +embitter the remainder of her life, or encourage her to cherish +hopes in her situation unjustifiable and futile. Pardon me when +I avow my terrors, and let my frankness plead in my excuse. I +cannot forbid you my House, for gratitude restrains me; I can +only throw myself upon your generosity, and entreat you to spare +the feelings of an anxious, of a doting Mother. Believe me when +I assure you that I lament the necessity of rejecting your +acquaintance; But there is no remedy, and Antonia's interest +obliges me to beg you to forbear your visits. By complying with +my request, you will increase the esteem which I already feel for +you, and of which everything convinces me that you are truly +deserving.' + +'Your frankness charms me,' replied Lorenzo; 'You shall find that +in your favourable opinion of me you were not deceived. Yet I +hope that the reasons, now in my power to allege, will persuade +you to withdraw a request which I cannot obey without infinite +reluctance. I love your Daughter, love her most sincerely: I +wish for no greater happiness than to inspire her with the same +sentiments, and receive her hand at the Altar as her Husband. +'Tis true, I am not rich myself; My Father's death has left me +but little in my own possession; But my expectations justify my +pretending to the Conde de las Cisternas' Daughter.' + +He was proceeding, but Elvira interrupted him. + +'Ah! Don Lorenzo, you forget in that pompous title the meanness +of my origin. You forget that I have now past fourteen years in +Spain, disavowed by my Husband's family, and existing upon a +stipend barely sufficient for the support and education of my +Daughter. Nay, I have even been neglected by most of my own +Relations, who out of envy affect to doubt the reality of my +marriage. My allowance being discontinued at my Father-in-law's +death, I was reduced to the very brink of want. In this +situation I was found by my Sister, who amongst all her foibles +possesses a warm, generous, and affectionate heart. She aided me +with the little fortune which my Father left her, persuaded me to +visit Madrid, and has supported my Child and myself since our +quitting Murcia. Then consider not Antonia as descended from the +Conde de la Cisternas: Consider her as a poor and unprotected +Orphan, as the Grand-child of the Tradesman Torribio Dalfa, as +the needy Pensioner of that Tradesman's Daughter. Reflect upon +the difference between such a situation, and that of the Nephew +and Heir of the potent Duke of Medina. I believe your intentions +to be honourable; But as there are no hopes that your Uncle will +approve of the union, I foresee that the consequences of your +attachment must be fatal to my Child's repose.' + +'Pardon me, Segnora; You are misinformed if you suppose the Duke +of Medina to resemble the generality of Men. His sentiments are +liberal and disinterested: He loves me well; and I have no +reason to dread his forbidding the marriage when He perceives +that my happiness depends upon Antonia. But supposing him to +refuse his sanction, what have I still to fear? My Parents are +no more; My little fortune is in my own possession: It will be +sufficient to support Antonia, and I shall exchange for her hand +Medina's Dukedom without one sigh of regret.' + +'You are young and eager; It is natural for you to entertain such +ideas. But Experience has taught me to my cost that curses +accompany an unequal alliance. I married the Conde de las +Cisternas in opposition to the will of his Relations; Many an +heart-pang has punished me for the imprudent step. Whereever we +bent our course, a Father's execration pursued Gonzalvo. Poverty +overtook us, and no Friend was near to relieve our wants. Still +our mutual affection existed, but alas! not without interruption. + +Accustomed to wealth and ease, ill could my Husband support the +transition to distress and indigence. He looked back with +repining to the comforts which He once enjoyed. He regretted the +situation which for my sake He had quitted; and in moments when +Despair possessed his mind, has reproached me with having made +him the Companion of want and wretchedness! He has called me his +bane! The source of his sorrows, the cause of his destruction! +Ah God! He little knew how much keener were my own heart's +reproaches! He was ignorant that I suffered trebly, for myself, +for my Children, and for him! 'Tis true that his anger seldom +lasted long: His sincere affection for me soon revived in his +heart; and then his repentance for the tears which He had made me +shed tortured me even more than his reproaches. He would throw +himself on the ground, implore my forgiveness in the most frantic +terms, and load himself with curses for being the Murderer of my +repose. Taught by experience that an union contracted against +the inclinations of families on either side must be unfortunate, +I will save my Daughter from those miseries which I have +suffered. Without your Uncle's consent, while I live, She never +shall be yours. Undoubtedly He will disapprove of the union; His +power is immense, and Antonia shall not be exposed to his anger +and persecution.' + +'His persecution? How easily may that be avoided! Let the worst +happen, it is but quitting Spain. My wealth may easily be +realised; The Indian Islands will offer us a secure retreat; I +have an estate, though not of value, in Hispaniola: Thither will +we fly, and I shall consider it to be my native Country, if it +gives me Antonia's undisturbed possession.' + +'Ah! Youth, this is a fond romantic vision. Gonzalvo thought the +same. He fancied that He could leave Spain without regret; But +the moment of parting undeceived him. You know not yet what it +is to quit your native land; to quit it, never to behold it more! + +You know not, what it is to exchange the scenes where you have +passed your infancy, for unknown realms and barbarous climates! +To be forgotten, utterly eternally forgotten, by the Companions +of your Youth! To see your dearest Friends, the fondest objects +of your affection, perishing with diseases incidental to Indian +atmospheres, and find yourself unable to procure for them +necessary assistance! I have felt all this! My Husband and two +sweet Babes found their Graves in Cuba: Nothing would have saved +my young Antonia but my sudden return to Spain. Ah! Don Lorenzo, +could you conceive what I suffered during my absence! Could you +know how sorely I regretted all that I left behind, and how dear +to me was the very name of Spain! I envied the winds which blew +towards it: And when the Spanish Sailor chaunted some well-known +air as He past my window, tears filled my eyes while I thought +upon my native land. Gonzalvo too . . . My Husband . . .'. + +Elvira paused. Her voice faltered, and She concealed her face +with her handkerchief. After a short silence She rose from the +Sopha, and proceeded. + +'Excuse my quitting you for a few moments: The remembrance of +what I have suffered has much agitated me, and I need to be +alone. Till I return peruse these lines. After my Husband's +death I found them among his papers; Had I known sooner that He +entertained such sentiments, Grief would have killed me. He +wrote these verses on his voyage to Cuba, when his mind was +clouded by sorrow, and He forgot that He had a Wife and Children. + +What we are losing, ever seems to us the most precious: Gonzalvo +was quitting Spain for ever, and therefore was Spain dearer to +his eyes than all else which the World contained. Read them, +Don Lorenzo; They will give you some idea of the feelings of a +banished Man!' + +Elvira put a paper into Lorenzo's hand, and retired from the +chamber. The Youth examined the contents, and found them to be +as follows. + + THE EXILE + +Farewell, Oh! native Spain! Farewell for ever! +These banished eyes shall view thy coasts no more; +A mournful presage tells my heart, that never +Gonzalvo's steps again shall press thy shore. + +Hushed are the winds; While soft the Vessel sailing +With gentle motion plows the unruffled Main, +I feel my bosom's boasted courage failing, +And curse the waves which bear me far from Spain. + +I see it yet! Beneath yon blue clear Heaven +Still do the Spires, so well beloved, appear; +From yonder craggy point the gale of Even +Still wafts my native accents to mine ear: + +Propped on some moss-crowned Rock, and gaily singing, +There in the Sun his nets the Fisher dries; +Oft have I heard the plaintive Ballad, bringing +Scenes of past joys before my sorrowing eyes. + + Ah! Happy Swain! He waits the accustomed hour, +When twilight-gloom obscures the closing sky; +Then gladly seeks his loved paternal bower, +And shares the feast his native fields supply: + +Friendship and Love, his Cottage Guests, receive him +With honest welcome and with smile sincere; +No threatening woes of present joys bereave him, +No sigh his bosom owns, his cheek no tear. + + Ah! Happy Swain! Such bliss to me denying, +Fortune thy lot with envy bids me view; +Me, who from home and Spain an Exile flying, +Bid all I value, all I love, adieu. + +No more mine ear shall list the well-known ditty +Sung by some Mountain-Girl, who tends her Goats, +Some Village-Swain imploring amorous pity, +Or Shepherd chaunting wild his rustic notes: + +No more my arms a Parent's fond embraces, +No more my heart domestic calm, must know; +Far from these joys, with sighs which Memory traces, +To sultry skies, and distant climes I go. + +Where Indian Suns engender new diseases, +Where snakes and tigers breed, I bend my way +To brave the feverish thirst no art appeases, +The yellow plague, and madding blaze of day: + +But not to feel slow pangs consume my liver, +To die by piece-meal in the bloom of age, +My boiling blood drank by insatiate fever, +And brain delirious with the day-star's rage, + +Can make me know such grief, as thus to sever +With many a bitter sigh, Dear Land, from Thee; +To feel this heart must doat on thee for ever, +And feel, that all thy joys are torn from me! + +Ah me! How oft will Fancy's spells in slumber +Recall my native Country to my mind! +How oft regret will bid me sadly number +Each lost delight and dear Friend left behind! + +Wild Murcia's Vales, and loved romantic bowers, +The River on whose banks a Child I played, +My Castle's antient Halls, its frowning Towers, +Each much-regretted wood, and well-known Glade, + +Dreams of the land where all my wishes centre, +Thy scenes, which I am doomed no more to know, +Full oft shall Memory trace, my soul's Tormentor, +And turn each pleasure past to present woe. + +But Lo! The Sun beneath the waves retires; +Night speeds apace her empire to restore: +Clouds from my sight obscure the village-spires, +Now seen but faintly, and now seen no more. + +Oh! breathe not, Winds! Still be the Water's motion! +Sleep, sleep, my Bark, in silence on the Main! +So when to-morrow's light shall gild the Ocean, +Once more mine eyes shall see the coast of Spain. + +Vain is the wish! My last petition scorning, +Fresh blows the Gale, and high the Billows swell: +Far shall we be before the break of Morning; +Oh! then for ever, native Spain, farewell! + + +Lorenzo had scarcely time to read these lines, when Elvira +returned to him: The giving a free course to her tears had +relieved her, and her spirits had regained their usual composure. + +'I have nothing more to say, my Lord,' said She; 'You have heard +my apprehensions, and my reasons for begging you not to repeat +your visits. I have thrown myself in full confidence upon your +honour: I am certain that you will not prove my opinion of you +to have been too favourable.' + +'But one question more, Segnora, and I leave you. Should the +Duke of Medina approve my love, would my addresses be +unacceptable to yourself and the fair Antonia?' + +'I will be open with you, Don Lorenzo: There being little +probability of such an union taking place, I fear that it is +desired but too ardently by my Daughter. You have made an +impression upon her young heart, which gives me the most serious +alarm: To prevent that impression from growing stronger, I am +obliged to decline your acquaintance. For me, you may be sure +that I should rejoice at establishing my Child so advantageously. +Conscious that my constitution, impaired by grief and illness, +forbids me to expect a long continuance in this world, I tremble +at the thought of leaving her under the protection of a perfect +Stranger. The Marquis de las Cisternas is totally unknown to me: + +He will marry; His Lady may look upon Antonia with an eye of +displeasure, and deprive her of her only Friend. Should the +Duke, your Uncle, give his consent, you need not doubt obtaining +mine, and my Daughter's: But without his, hope not for ours. At +all events, what ever steps you may take, what ever may be the +Duke's decision, till you know it let me beg your forbearing to +strengthen by your presence Antonia's prepossession. If the +sanction of your Relations authorises your addressing her as your +Wife, my Doors fly open to you: If that sanction is refused, be +satisfied to possess my esteem and gratitude, but remember, that +we must meet no more.' + +Lorenzo promised reluctantly to conform to this decree: But He +added that He hoped soon to obtain that consent which would give +him a claim to the renewal of their acquaintance. He then +explained to her why the Marquis had not called in person, and +made no scruple of confiding to her his Sister's History. He +concluded by saying that He hoped to set Agnes at liberty the +next day; and that as soon as Don Raymond's fears were quieted +upon this subject, He would lose no time in assuring Donna Elvira +of his friendship and protection. + +The Lady shook her head. + +'I tremble for your Sister,' said She; 'I have heard many traits +of the Domina of St. Clare's character, from a Friend who was +educated in the same Convent with her. She reported her to be +haughty, inflexible, superstitious, and revengeful. I have since +heard that She is infatuated with the idea of rendering her +Convent the most regular in Madrid, and never forgave those whose +imprudence threw upon it the slightest stain. Though naturally +violent and severe, when her interests require it, She well knows +how to assume an appearance of benignity. She leaves no means +untried to persuade young Women of rank to become Members of her +Community: She is implacable when once incensed, and has too +much intrepidity to shrink at taking the most rigorous measures +for punishing the Offender. Doubtless, She will consider your +Sister's quitting the Convent as a disgrace thrown upon it: She +will use every artifice to avoid obeying the mandate of his +Holiness, and I shudder to think that Donna Agnes is in the +hands of this dangerous Woman.' + +Lorenzo now rose to take leave. Elvira gave him her hand at +parting, which He kissed respectfully; and telling her that He +soon hoped for the permission to salute that of Antonia, He +returned to his Hotel. The Lady was perfectly satisfied with the +conversation which had past between them. She looked forward +with satisfaction to the prospect of his becoming her Son-in- +law; But Prudence bad her conceal from her Daughter's knowledge +the flattering hopes which Herself now ventured to entertain. + +Scarcely was it day, and already Lorenzo was at the Convent of +St. Clare, furnished with the necessary mandate. The Nuns were +at Matins. He waited impatiently for the conclusion of the +service, and at length the Prioress appeared at the Parlour +Grate. Agnes was demanded. The old Lady replied, with a +melancholy air, that the dear Child's situation grew hourly more +dangerous; That the Physicians despaired of her life; But that +they had declared the only chance for her recovery to consist in +keeping her quiet, and not to permit those to approach her whose +presence was likely to agitate her. Not a word of all this was +believed by Lorenzo, any more than He credited the expressions of +grief and affection for Agnes, with which this account was +interlarded. To end the business, He put the Pope's Bull into +the hands of the Domina, and insisted that, ill or in health, his +Sister should be delivered to him without delay. + +The Prioress received the paper with an air of humility: But no +sooner had her eye glanced over the contents, than her resentment +baffled all the efforts of Hypocrisy. A deep crimson spread +itself over her face, and She darted upon Lorenzo looks of rage +and menace. + +'This order is positive,' said She in a voice of anger, which She +in vain strove to disguise; 'Willingly would I obey it; But +unfortunately it is out of my power.' + +Lorenzo interrupted her by an exclamation of surprize. + +'I repeat it, Segnor; to obey this order is totally out of my +power. From tenderness to a Brother's feelings, I would have +communicated the sad event to you by degrees, and have prepared +you to hear it with fortitude. My measures are broken through: +This order commands me to deliver up to you the Sister Agnes +without delay; I am therefore obliged to inform you without +circumlocution, that on Friday last, She expired.' + +Lorenzo started back with horror, and turned pale. A moment's +recollection convinced him that this assertion must be false, +and it restored him to himself. + +'You deceive me!' said He passionately; 'But five minutes past +since you assured me that though ill She was still alive. +Produce her this instant! See her I must and will, and every +attempt to keep her from me will be unavailing.' + +'You forget yourself, Segnor; You owe respect to my age as well +as my profession. Your Sister is no more. If I at first +concealed her death, it was from dreading lest an event so +unexpected should produce on you too violent an effect. In +truth, I am but ill repaid for my attention. And what interest, +I pray you, should I have in detaining her? To know her wish of +quitting our society is a sufficient reason for me to wish her +absence, and think her a disgrace to the Sisterhood of St. +Clare: But She has forfeited my affection in a manner yet more +culpable. Her crimes were great, and when you know the cause of +her death, you will doubtless rejoice, Don Lorenzo, that such a +Wretch is no longer in existence. She was taken ill on Thursday +last on returning from confession in the Capuchin Chapel. Her +malady seemed attended with strange circumstances; But She +persisted in concealing its cause: Thanks to the Virgin, we were +too ignorant to suspect it! Judge then what must have been our +consternation, our horror, when She was delivered the next day of +a stillborn Child, whom She immediately followed to the Grave. +How, Segnor? Is it possible that your countenance expresses no +surprize, no indignation? Is it possible that your Sister's +infamy was known to you, and that still She possessed your +affection? In that case, you have no need of my compassion. I +can say nothing more, except repeat my inability of obeying the +orders of his Holiness. Agnes is no more, and to convince you +that what I say is true, I swear by our blessed Saviour, that +three days have past since She was buried.' + +Here She kissed a small crucifix which hung at her girdle. She +then rose from her chair, and quitted the Parlour. As She +withdrew, She cast upon Lorenzo a scornful smile. + +'Farewell, Segnor,' said She; 'I know no remedy for this +accident: I fear that even a second Bull from the Pope will not +procure your Sister's resurrection.' + +Lorenzo also retired, penetrated with affliction: But Don +Raymond's at the news of this event amounted to Madness. He +would not be convinced that Agnes was really dead, and continued +to insist that the Walls of St. Clare still confined her. No +arguments could make him abandon his hopes of regaining her: +Every day some fresh scheme was invented for procuring +intelligence of her, and all of them were attended with the same +success. + +On his part, Medina gave up the idea of ever seeing his Sister +more: Yet He believed that She had been taken off by unfair +means. Under this persuasion, He encouraged Don Raymond's +researches, determined, should He discover the least warrant for +his suspicions, to take a severe vengeance upon the unfeeling +Prioress. The loss of his Sister affected him sincerely; Nor was +it the least cause of his distress that propriety obliged him +for some time to defer mentioning Antonia to the Duke. In the +meanwhile his emissaries constantly surrounded Elvira's Door. +He had intelligence of all the movements of his Mistress: As She +never failed every Thursday to attend the Sermon in the Capuchin +Cathedral, He was secure of seeing her once a week, though in +compliance with his promise, He carefully shunned her +observation. Thus two long Months passed away. Still no +information was procured of Agnes: All but the Marquis credited +her death; and now Lorenzo determined to disclose his sentiments +to his Uncle. He had already dropt some hints of his intention +to marry; They had been as favourably received as He could +expect, and He harboured no doubt of the success of his +application. + + +CHAPTER III + + While in each other's arms entranced They lay, +They blessed the night, and curst the coming day. + Lee. + +The burst of transport was past: Ambrosio's lust was satisfied; +Pleasure fled, and Shame usurped her seat in his bosom. Confused +and terrified at his weakness, He drew himself from Matilda's +arms. His perjury presented itself before him: He reflected on +the scene which had just been acted, and trembled at the +consequences of a discovery. He looked forward with horror; His +heart was despondent, and became the abode of satiety and +disgust. He avoided the eyes of his Partner in frailty; A +melancholy silence prevailed, during which Both seemed busied +with disagreable reflections. + +Matilda was the first to break it. She took his hand gently, and +pressed it to her burning lips. + +'Ambrosio!' She murmured in a soft and trembling voice. + +The Abbot started at the sound. He turned his eyes upon +Matilda's: They were filled with tears; Her cheeks were covered +with blushes, and her supplicating looks seemed to solicit his +compassion. + +'Dangerous Woman!' said He; 'Into what an abyss of misery have +you plunged me! Should your sex be discovered, my honour, nay my +life, must pay for the pleasure of a few moments. Fool that I +was, to trust myself to your seductions! What can now be done? +How can my offence be expiated? What atonement can purchase the +pardon of my crime? Wretched Matilda, you have destroyed my +quiet for ever!' + +'To me these reproaches, Ambrosio? To me, who have sacrificed +for you the world's pleasures, the luxury of wealth, the delicacy +of sex, my Friends, my fortune, and my fame? What have you lost, +which I preserved? Have _I_ not shared in YOUR guilt? Have YOU +not shared in MY pleasure? Guilt, did I say? In what consists +ours, unless in the opinion of an ill-judging World? Let that +World be ignorant of them, and our joys become divine and +blameless! Unnatural were your vows of Celibacy; Man was not +created for such a state; And were Love a crime, God never would +have made it so sweet, so irresistible! Then banish those clouds +from your brow, my Ambrosio! Indulge in those pleasures freely, +without which life is a worthless gift: Cease to reproach me +with having taught you what is bliss, and feel equal transports +with the Woman who adores you!' + +As She spoke, her eyes were filled with a delicious languor. Her +bosom panted: She twined her arms voluptuously round him, drew +him towards her, and glewed her lips to his. Ambrosio again +raged with desire: The die was thrown: His vows were already +broken; He had already committed the crime, and why should He +refrain from enjoying its reward? He clasped her to his breast +with redoubled ardour. No longer repressed by the sense of +shame, He gave a loose to his intemperate appetites. While the +fair Wanton put every invention of lust in practice, every +refinement in the art of pleasure which might heighten the bliss +of her possession, and render her Lover's transports still more +exquisite, Ambrosio rioted in delights till then unknown to him: +Swift fled the night, and the Morning blushed to behold him still +clasped in the embraces of Matilda. + +Intoxicated with pleasure, the Monk rose from the Syren's +luxurious Couch. He no longer reflected with shame upon his +incontinence, or dreaded the vengeance of offended heaven. His +only fear was lest Death should rob him of enjoyments, for which +his long Fast had only given a keener edge to his appetite. +Matilda was still under the influence of poison, and the +voluptuous Monk trembled less for his Preserver's life than his +Concubine's. Deprived of her, He would not easily find another +Mistress with whom He could indulge his passions so fully, and +so safely. He therefore pressed her with earnestness to use the +means of preservation which She had declared to be in her +possession. + +'Yes!' replied Matilda; 'Since you have made me feel that Life is +valuable, I will rescue mine at any rate. No dangers shall +appall me: I will look upon the consequences of my action +boldly, nor shudder at the horrors which they present. I will +think my sacrifice scarcely worthy to purchase your possession, +and remember that a moment past in your arms in this world +o'er-pays an age of punishment in the next. But before I take +this step, Ambrosio, give me your solemn oath never to enquire +by what means I shall preserve myself.' + +He did so in a manner the most binding. + +'I thank you, my Beloved. This precaution is necessary, for +though you know it not, you are under the command of vulgar +prejudices: The Business on which I must be employed this night, +might startle you from its singularity, and lower me in your +opinion. Tell me; Are you possessed of the Key of the low door +on the western side of the Garden?' + +'The Door which opens into the burying-ground common to us and +the Sisterhood of St. Clare? I have not the Key, but can easily +procure it.' + +'You have only this to do. Admit me into the burying-ground at +midnight; Watch while I descend into the vaults of St. Clare, +lest some prying eye should observe my actions; Leave me there +alone for an hour, and that life is safe which I dedicate to +your pleasures. To prevent creating suspicion, do not visit me +during the day. Remember the Key, and that I expect you before +twelve. Hark! I hear steps approaching! Leave me; I will +pretend to sleep.' + +The Friar obeyed, and left the Cell. As He opened the door, +Father Pablos made his appearance. + +'I come,' said the Latter, 'to enquire after the health of my +young Patient.' + +'Hush!' replied Ambrosio, laying his finger upon his lip; 'Speak +softly; I am just come from him. He has fallen into a profound +slumber, which doubtless will be of service to him. Do not +disturb him at present, for He wishes to repose.' + +Father Pablos obeyed, and hearing the Bell ring, accompanied the +Abbot to Matins. Ambrosio felt embarrassed as He entered the +Chapel. Guilt was new to him, and He fancied that every eye +could read the transactions of the night upon his countenance. +He strove to pray; His bosom no longer glowed with devotion; His +thoughts insensibly wandered to Matilda's secret charms. But +what He wanted in purity of heart, He supplied by exterior +sanctity. The better to cloak his transgression, He redoubled +his pretensions to the semblance of virtue, and never appeared +more devoted to Heaven as since He had broken through his +engagements. Thus did He unconsciously add Hypocrisy to perjury +and incontinence; He had fallen into the latter errors from +yielding to seduction almost irresistible; But he was now guilty +of a voluntary fault by endeavouring to conceal those into which +Another had betrayed him. + +The Matins concluded, Ambrosio retired to his Cell. The +pleasures which He had just tasted for the first time were still +impressed upon his mind. His brain was bewildered, and presented +a confused Chaos of remorse, voluptuousness, inquietude, and +fear. He looked back with regret to that peace of soul, that +security of virtue, which till then had been his portion. He had +indulged in excesses whose very idea but four and twenty hours +before He had recoiled at with horror. He shuddered at +reflecting that a trifling indiscretion on his part, or on +Matilda's, would overturn that fabric of reputation which it had +cost him thirty years to erect, and render him the abhorrence of +that People of whom He was then the Idol. Conscience painted to +him in glaring colours his perjury and weakness; Apprehension +magnified to him the horrors of punishment, and He already +fancied himself in the prisons of the Inquisition. To these +tormenting ideas succeeded Matilda's beauty, and those delicious +lessons which, once learnt, can never be forgotten. A single +glance thrown upon these reconciled him with himself. He +considered the pleasures of the former night to have been +purchased at an easy price by the sacrifice of innocence and +honour. Their very remembrance filled his soul with ecstacy; He +cursed his foolish vanity, which had induced him to waste in +obscurity the bloom of life, ignorant of the blessings of Love +and Woman. He determined at all events to continue his commerce +with Matilda, and called every argument to his aid which might +confirm his resolution. He asked himself, provided his +irregularity was unknown, in what would his fault consist, and +what consequences He had to apprehend? By adhering strictly to +every rule of his order save Chastity, He doubted not to retain +the esteem of Men, and even the protection of heaven. He trusted +easily to be forgiven so slight and natural a deviation from his +vows: But He forgot that having pronounced those vows, +Incontinence, in Laymen the most venial of errors, became in his +person the most heinous of crimes. + +Once decided upon his future conduct, his mind became more easy. +He threw himself upon his bed, and strove by sleeping to recruit +his strength exhausted by his nocturnal excesses. He awoke +refreshed, and eager for a repetition of his pleasures. Obedient +to Matilda's order, He visited not her Cell during the day. +Father Pablos mentioned in the Refectory that Rosario had at +length been prevailed upon to follow his prescription; But that +the medicine had not produced the slightest effect, and that He +believed no mortal skill could rescue him from the Grave. With +this opinion the Abbot agreed, and affected to lament the +untimely fate of a Youth, whose talents had appeared so +promising. + +The night arrived. Ambrosio had taken care to procure from the +Porter the Key of the low door opening into the Cemetery. +Furnished with this, when all was silent in the Monastery, He +quitted his Cell, and hastened to Matilda's. She had left her +bed, and was drest before his arrival. + +'I have been expecting you with impatience,' said She; 'My life +depends upon these moments. Have you the Key?' + +'I have.' + +'Away then to the garden. We have no time to lose. Follow me!' + +She took a small covered Basket from the Table. Bearing this in +one hand, and the Lamp, which was flaming upon the Hearth, in the +other, She hastened from the Cell. Ambrosio followed her. Both +maintained a profound silence. She moved on with quick but +cautious steps, passed through the Cloisters, and reached the +Western side of the Garden. Her eyes flashed with a fire and +wildness which impressed the Monk at once with awe and horror. +A determined desperate courage reigned upon her brow. She gave +the Lamp to Ambrosio; Then taking from him the Key, She unlocked +the low Door, and entered the Cemetery. It was a vast and +spacious Square planted with yew trees: Half of it belonged to +the Abbey; The other half was the property of the Sisterhood of +St. Clare, and was protected by a roof of Stone. The Division +was marked by an iron railing, the wicket of which was generally +left unlocked. + +Thither Matilda bent her course. She opened the wicket and +sought for the door leading to the subterraneous Vaults, where +reposed the mouldering Bodies of the Votaries of St. Clare. The +night was perfectly dark; Neither Moon or Stars were visible. +Luckily there was not a breath of Wind, and the Friar bore his +Lamp in full security: By the assistance of its beams, the door +of the Sepulchre was soon discovered. It was sunk within the +hollow of a wall, and almost concealed by thick festoons of ivy +hanging over it. Three steps of rough-hewn Stone conducted to +it, and Matilda was on the point of descending them when She +suddenly started back. + +'There are People in the Vaults!' She whispered to the Monk; +'Conceal yourself till they are past. + +She took refuge behind a lofty and magnificent Tomb, erected in +honour of the Convent's Foundress. Ambrosio followed her +example, carefully hiding his Lamp lest its beams should betray +them. But a few moments had elapsed when the Door was pushed +open leading to the subterraneous Caverns. Rays of light +proceeded up the Staircase: They enabled the concealed +Spectators to observe two Females drest in religious habits, who +seemed engaged in earnest conversation. The Abbot had no +difficulty to recognize the Prioress of St. Clare in the first, +and one of the elder Nuns in her Companion. + +'Every thing is prepared,' said the Prioress; 'Her fate shall be +decided tomorrow. All her tears and sighs will be unavailing. +No! In five and twenty years that I have been Superior of this +Convent, never did I witness a transaction more infamous!' + +'You must expect much opposition to your will;' the Other replied +in a milder voice; 'Agnes has many Friends in the Convent, and in +particular the Mother St. Ursula will espouse her cause most +warmly. In truth, She merits to have Friends; and I wish I +could prevail upon you to consider her youth, and her peculiar +situation. She seems sensible of her fault; The excess of her +grief proves her penitence, and I am convinced that her tears +flow more from contrition than fear of punishment. Reverend +Mother, would you be persuaded to mitigate the severity of your +sentence, would you but deign to overlook this first +transgression, I offer myself as the pledge of her future +conduct.' + +'Overlook it, say you? Mother Camilla, you amaze me! What? +After disgracing me in the presence of Madrid's Idol, of the very +Man on whom I most wished to impress an idea of the strictness of +my discipline? How despicable must I have appeared to the +reverend Abbot! No, Mother, No! I never can forgive the insult. +I cannot better convince Ambrosio that I abhor such crimes, than +by punishing that of Agnes with all the rigour of which our +severe laws admit. Cease then your supplications; They will all +be unavailing. My resolution is taken: Tomorrow Agnes shall be +made a terrible example of my justice and resentment.' + +The Mother Camilla seemed not to give up the point, but by this +time the Nuns were out of hearing. The Prioress unlocked the +door which communicated with St. Clare's Chapel, and having +entered with her Companion, closed it again after them. + +Matilda now asked, who was this Agnes with whom the Prioress was +thus incensed, and what connexion She could have with Ambrosio. +He related her adventure; and He added, that since that time his +ideas having undergone a thorough revolution, He now felt much +compassion for the unfortunate Nun. + +'I design,' said He, 'to request an audience of the Domina +tomorrow, and use every means of obtaining a mitigation of her +sentence.' + +'Beware of what you do!' interrupted Matilda; 'Your sudden change +of sentiment may naturally create surprize, and may give birth to +suspicions which it is most our interest to avoid. Rather, +redouble your outward austerity, and thunder out menaces against +the errors of others, the better to conceal your own. Abandon +the Nun to her fate. Your interfering might be dangerous, and +her imprudence merits to be punished: She is unworthy to enjoy +Love's pleasures, who has not wit enough to conceal them. But in +discussing this trifling subject I waste moments which are +precious. The night flies apace, and much must be done before +morning. The Nuns are retired; All is safe. Give me the Lamp, +Ambrosio. I must descend alone into these Caverns: Wait here, +and if any one approaches, warn me by your voice; But as you +value your existence, presume not to follow me. Your life would +fall a victim to your imprudent curiosity.' + +Thus saying She advanced towards the Sepulchre, still holding her +Lamp in one hand, and her little Basket in the other. She +touched the door: It turned slowly upon its grating hinges, and +a narrow winding staircase of black marble presented itself to +her eyes. She descended it. Ambrosio remained above, watching +the faint beams of the Lamp as they still proceeded up the +stairs. They disappeared, and He found himself in total +darkness. + +Left to himself He could not reflect without surprize on the +sudden change in Matilda's character and sentiments. But a few +days had past since She appeared the mildest and softest of her +sex, devoted to his will, and looking up to him as to a superior +Being. Now She assumed a sort of courage and manliness in her +manners and discourse but ill-calculated to please him. She +spoke no longer to insinuate, but command: He found himself +unable to cope with her in argument, and was unwillingly +obliged to confess the superiority of her judgment. Every moment +convinced him of the astonishing powers of her mind: But what +She gained in the opinion of the Man, She lost with interest in +the affection of the Lover. He regretted Rosario, the fond, the +gentle, and submissive: He grieved that Matilda preferred the +virtues of his sex to those of her own; and when He thought of +her expressions respecting the devoted Nun, He could not help +blaming them as cruel and unfeminine. Pity is a sentiment so +natural, so appropriate to the female character, that it is +scarcely a merit for a Woman to possess it, but to be without it +is a grievous crime. Ambrosio could not easily forgive his +Mistress for being deficient in this amiable quality. However, +though he blamed her insensibility, He felt the truth of her +observations; and though He pitied sincerely the unfortunate +Agnes, He resolved to drop the idea of interposing in her behalf. + +Near an hour had elapsed, since Matilda descended into the +Caverns; Still She returned not. Ambrosio's curiosity was +excited. He drew near the Staircase. He listened. All was +silent, except that at intervals He caught the sound of Matilda's +voice, as it wound along the subteraneous passages, and was +re-echoed by the Sepulchre's vaulted roofs. She was at too great +a distance for him to distinguish her words, and ere they reached +him they were deadened into a low murmur. He longed to penetrate +into this mystery. He resolved to disobey her injunctions and +follow her into the Cavern. He advanced to the Staircase; He +had already descended some steps when his courage failed him. +He remembered Matilda's menaces if He infringed her orders, and +his bosom was filled with a secret unaccountable awe. He +returned up the stairs, resumed his former station, and waited +impatiently for the conclusion of this adventure. + +Suddenly He was sensible of a violent shock: An earthquake +rocked the ground. The Columns which supported the roof under +which He stood were so strongly shaken, that every moment +menaced him with its fall, and at the same moment He heard a loud +and tremendous burst of thunder. It ceased, and his eyes being +fixed upon the Staircase, He saw a bright column of light flash +along the Caverns beneath. It was seen but for an instant. No +sooner did it disappear, than all was once more quiet and +obscure. Profound Darkness again surrounded him, and the silence +of night was only broken by the whirring Bat, as She flitted +slowly by him. + +With every instant Ambrosio's amazement increased. Another hour +elapsed, after which the same light again appeared and was lost +again as suddenly. It was accompanied by a strain of sweet but +solemn Music, which as it stole through the Vaults below, +inspired the Monk with mingled delight and terror. It had not +long been hushed, when He heard Matilda's steps upon the +Staircase. She ascended from the Cavern; The most lively joy +animated her beautiful features. + +'Did you see any thing?' She asked. + +'Twice I saw a column of light flash up the Staircase.' + +'Nothing else?' + +'Nothing.' + +'The Morning is on the point of breaking. Let us retire to the +Abbey, lest daylight should betray us.' + +With a light step She hastened from the burying-ground. She +regained her Cell, and the curious Abbot still accompanied her. +She closed the door, and disembarrassed herself of her Lamp and +Basket. + +'I have succeeded!' She cried, throwing herself upon his bosom: +'Succeeded beyond my fondest hopes! I shall live, Ambrosio, +shall live for you! The step which I shuddered at taking +proves to me a source of joys inexpressible! Oh! that I dared +communicate those joys to you! Oh! that I were permitted to +share with you my power, and raise you as high above the level of +your sex, as one bold deed has exalted me above mine!' + +'And what prevents you, Matilda?' interrupted the Friar; 'Why is +your business in the Cavern made a secret? Do you think me +undeserving of your confidence? Matilda, I must doubt the truth +of your affection, while you have joys in which I am forbidden to +share.' + +'You reproach me with injustice. I grieve sincerely that I am +obliged to conceal from you my happiness. But I am not to blame: +The fault lies not in me, but in yourself, my Ambrosio! You are +still too much the Monk. Your mind is enslaved by the prejudices +of Education; And Superstition might make you shudder at the idea +of that which experience has taught me to prize and value. At +present you are unfit to be trusted with a secret of such +importance: But the strength of your judgment; and the curiosity +which I rejoice to see sparkling in your eyes, makes me hope +that you will one day deserve my confidence. Till that period +arrives, restrain your impatience. Remember that you have given +me your solemn oath never to enquire into this night's +adventures. I insist upon your keeping this oath: For though' +She added smiling, while She sealed his lips with a wanton kiss; +'Though I forgive your breaking your vows to heaven, I expect you +to keep your vows to me.' + +The Friar returned the embrace which had set his blood on fire. +The luxurious and unbounded excesses of the former night were +renewed, and they separated not till the Bell rang for Matins. + +The same pleasures were frequently repeated. The Monks rejoiced +in the feigned Rosario's unexpected recovery, and none of them +suspected his real sex. The Abbot possessed his Mistress in +tranquillity, and perceiving his frailty unsuspected, abandoned +himself to his passions in full security. Shame and remorse no +longer tormented him. Frequent repetitions made him familiar +with sin, and his bosom became proof against the stings of +Conscience. In these sentiments He was encouraged by Matilda; +But She soon was aware that She had satiated her Lover by the +unbounded freedom of her caresses. Her charms becoming +accustomed to him, they ceased to excite the same desires which +at first they had inspired. The delirium of passion being past, +He had leisure to observe every trifling defect: Where none were +to be found, Satiety made him fancy them. The Monk was glutted +with the fullness of pleasure: A Week had scarcely elapsed +before He was wearied of his Paramour: His warm constitution +still made him seek in her arms the gratification of his lust: +But when the moment of passion was over, He quitted her with +disgust, and his humour, naturally inconstant, made him sigh +impatiently for variety. + +Possession, which cloys Man, only increases the affection of +Woman. Matilda with every succeeding day grew more attached to +the Friar. Since He had obtained her favours, He was become +dearer to her than ever, and She felt grateful to him for the +pleasures in which they had equally been Sharers. Unfortunately +as her passion grew ardent, Ambrosio's grew cold; The very marks +of her fondness excited his disgust, and its excess served to +extinguish the flame which already burned but feebly in his +bosom. Matilda could not but remark that her society seemed to +him daily less agreeable: He was inattentive while She spoke: +her musical talents, which She possessed in perfection, had lost +the power of amusing him; Or if He deigned to praise them, his +compliments were evidently forced and cold. He no longer gazed +upon her with affection, or applauded her sentiments with a +Lover's partiality. This Matilda well perceived, and redoubled +her efforts to revive those sentiments which He once had felt. +She could not but fail, since He considered as importunities the +pains which She took to please him, and was disgusted by the very +means which She used to recall the Wanderer. Still, however, +their illicit Commerce continued: But it was clear that He was +led to her arms, not by love, but the cravings of brutal +appetite. His constitution made a Woman necessary to him, and +Matilda was the only one with whom He could indulge his passions +safely: In spite of her beauty, He gazed upon every other Female +with more desire; But fearing that his Hypocrisy should be made +public, He confined his inclinations to his own breast. + +It was by no means his nature to be timid: But his education had +impressed his mind with fear so strongly, that apprehension was +now become part of his character. Had his Youth been passed in +the world, He would have shown himself possessed of many +brilliant and manly qualities. He was naturally enterprizing, +firm, and fearless: He had a Warrior's heart, and He might have +shone with splendour at the head of an Army. There was no want +of generosity in his nature: The Wretched never failed to find +in him a compassionate Auditor: His abilities were quick and +shining, and his judgment, vast, solid, and decisive. With such +qualifications He would have been an ornament to his Country: +That He possessed them, He had given proofs in his earliest +infancy, and his Parents had beheld his dawning virtues with the +fondest delight and admiration. Unfortunately, while yet a Child +He was deprived of those Parents. He fell into the power of a +Relation whose only wish about him was never to hear of him +more; For that purpose He gave him in charge to his Friend, the +former Superior of the Capuchins. The Abbot, a very Monk, used +all his endeavours to persuade the Boy that happiness existed +not without the walls of a Convent. He succeeded fully. To +deserve admittance into the order of St. Francis was Ambrosio's +highest ambition. His Instructors carefully repressed those +virtues whose grandeur and disinterestedness were ill-suited to +the Cloister. Instead of universal benevolence, He adopted a +selfish partiality for his own particular establishment: He was +taught to consider compassion for the errors of Others as a crime +of the blackest dye: The noble frankness of his temper was +exchanged for servile humility; and in order to break his natural +spirit, the Monks terrified his young mind by placing before him +all the horrors with which Superstition could furnish them: They +painted to him the torments of the Damned in colours the most +dark, terrible, and fantastic, and threatened him at the +slightest fault with eternal perdition. No wonder that his +imagination constantly dwelling upon these fearful objects should +have rendered his character timid and apprehensive. Add to this, +that his long absence from the great world, and total +unacquaintance with the common dangers of life, made him form of +them an idea far more dismal than the reality. While the Monks +were busied in rooting out his virtues and narrowing his +sentiments, they allowed every vice which had fallen to his +share to arrive at full perfection. He was suffered to be +proud, vain, ambitious, and disdainful: He was jealous of his +Equals, and despised all merit but his own: He was implacable +when offended, and cruel in his revenge. Still in spite of the +pains taken to pervert them, his natural good qualities would +occasionally break through the gloom cast over them so carefully: + +At such times the contest for superiority between his real and +acquired character was striking and unaccountable to those +unacquainted with his original disposition. He pronounced the +most severe sentences upon Offenders, which, the moment after, +Compassion induced him to mitigate: He undertook the most daring +enterprizes, which the fear of their consequences soon obliged +him to abandon: His inborn genius darted a brilliant light upon +subjects the most obscure; and almost instantaneously his +Superstition replunged them in darkness more profound than that +from which they had just been rescued. His Brother Monks, +regarding him as a Superior Being, remarked not this +contradiction in their Idol's conduct. They were persuaded that +what He did must be right, and supposed him to have good reasons +for changing his resolutions. The fact was, that the different +sentiments with which Education and Nature had inspired him +were combating in his bosom: It remained for his passions, which +as yet no opportunity had called into play, to decide the +victory. Unfortunately his passions were the very worst Judges, +to whom He could possibly have applied. His monastic seclusion +had till now been in his favour, since it gave him no room for +discovering his bad qualities. The superiority of his talents +raised him too far above his Companions to permit his being +jealous of them: His exemplary piety, persuasive eloquence, and +pleasing manners had secured him universal Esteem, and +consequently He had no injuries to revenge: His Ambition was +justified by his acknowledged merit, and his pride considered as +no more than proper confidence. He never saw, much less +conversed with, the other sex: He was ignorant of the pleasures +in Woman's power to bestow, and if He read in the course of his +studies + + 'That Men were fond, He smiled, and wondered how!' + +For a time, spare diet, frequent watching, and severe penance +cooled and represt the natural warmth of his constitution: But +no sooner did opportunity present itself, no sooner did He catch +a glimpse of joys to which He was still a Stranger, than +Religion's barriers were too feeble to resist the overwhelming +torrent of his desires. All impediments yielded before the force +of his temperament, warm, sanguine, and voluptuous in the excess. + +As yet his other passions lay dormant; But they only needed to be +once awakened, to display themselves with violence as great and +irresistible. + +He continued to be the admiration of Madrid. The Enthusiasm +created by his eloquence seemed rather to increase than diminish. + +Every Thursday, which was the only day when He appeared in +public, the Capuchin Cathedral was crowded with Auditors, and +his discourse was always received with the same approbation. He +was named Confessor to all the chief families in Madrid; and no +one was counted fashionable who was injoined penance by any +other than Ambrosio. In his resolution of never stirring out of +his Convent, He still persisted. This circumstance created a +still greater opinion of his sanctity and self-denial. Above +all, the Women sang forth his praises loudly, less influenced by +devotion than by his noble countenance, majestic air, and +well-turned, graceful figure. The Abbey door was thronged with +Carriages from morning to night; and the noblest and fairest +Dames of Madrid confessed to the Abbot their secret peccadilloes. + +The eyes of the luxurious Friar devoured their charms: Had his +Penitents consulted those Interpreters, He would have needed no +other means of expressing his desires. For his misfortune, they +were so strongly persuaded of his continence, that the +possibility of his harbouring indecent thoughts never once +entered their imaginations. The climate's heat, 'tis well known, +operates with no small influence upon the constitutions of the +Spanish Ladies: But the most abandoned would have thought it an +easier task to inspire with passion the marble Statue of St. +Francis than the cold and rigid heart of the immaculate Ambrosio. + +On his part, the Friar was little acquainted with the depravity +of the world; He suspected not that but few of his Penitents +would have rejected his addresses. Yet had He been better +instructed on this head, the danger attending such an attempt +would have sealed up his lips in silence. He knew that it would +be difficult for a Woman to keep a secret so strange and so +important as his frailty; and He even trembled lest Matilda +should betray him. Anxious to preserve a reputation which was +infinitely dear to him, He saw all the risque of committing it to +the power of some vain giddy Female; and as the Beauties of +Madrid affected only his senses without touching his heart, He +forgot them as soon as they were out of his sight. The danger of +discovery, the fear of being repulsed, the loss of reputation, +all these considerations counselled him to stifle his desires: +And though He now felt for it the most perfect indifference, He +was necessitated to confine himself to Matilda's person. + +One morning, the confluence of Penitents was greater than usual. +He was detained in the Confessional Chair till a late hour. At +length the crowd was dispatched, and He prepared to quit the +Chapel, when two Females entered and drew near him with +humility. They threw up their veils, and the youngest entreated +him to listen to her for a few moments. The melody of her voice, +of that voice to which no Man ever listened without interest, +immediately caught Ambrosio's attention. He stopped. The +Petitioner seemed bowed down with affliction: Her cheeks were +pale, her eyes dimmed with tears, and her hair fell in disorder +over her face and bosom. Still her countenance was so sweet, so +innocent, so heavenly, as might have charmed an heart less +susceptible, than that which panted in the Abbot's breast. With +more than usual softness of manner He desired her to proceed, and +heard her speak as follows with an emotion which increased every +moment. + +'Reverend Father, you see an Unfortunate, threatened with the +loss of her dearest, of almost her only Friend! My Mother, my +excellent Mother lies upon the bed of sickness. A sudden and +dreadful malady seized her last night; and so rapid has been its +progress, that the Physicians despair of her life. Human aid +fails me; Nothing remains for me but to implore the mercy of +Heaven. Father, all Madrid rings with the report of your piety +and virtue. Deign to remember my Mother in your prayers: +Perhaps they may prevail on the Almighty to spare her; and should +that be the case, I engage myself every Thursday in the next +three Months to illuminate the Shrine of St. Francis in his +honour.' + +'So!' thought the Monk; 'Here we have a second Vincentio della +Ronda. Rosario's adventure began thus,' and He wished secretly +that this might have the same conclusion. + +He acceded to the request. The Petitioner returned him thanks +with every mark of gratitude, and then continued. + +'I have yet another favour to ask. We are Strangers in Madrid; +My Mother needs a Confessor, and knows not to whom She should +apply. We understand that you never quit the Abbey, and Alas! my +poor Mother is unable to come hither! If you would have the +goodness, reverend Father, to name a proper person, whose wise +and pious consolations may soften the agonies of my Parent's +deathbed, you will confer an everlasting favour upon hearts not +ungrateful.' + +With this petition also the Monk complied. Indeed, what petition +would He have refused, if urged in such enchanting accents? The +suppliant was so interesting! Her voice was so sweet, so +harmonious! Her very tears became her, and her affliction seemed +to add new lustre to her charms. He promised to send to her a +Confessor that same Evening, and begged her to leave her address. +The Companion presented him with a Card on which it was written, +and then withdrew with the fair Petitioner, who pronounced +before her departure a thousand benedictions on the Abbot's +goodness. His eyes followed her out of the Chapel. It was not +till She was out of sight that He examined the Card, on which He +read the following words. + +'Donna Elvira Dalfa, Strada di San Iago, four doors from the +Palace d'Albornos.' + +The Suppliant was no other than Antonia, and Leonella was her +Companion. The Latter had not consented without difficulty to +accompany her Niece to the Abbey: Ambrosio had inspired her with +such awe that She trembled at the very sight of him. Her fears +had conquered even her natural loquacity, and while in his +presence She uttered not a single syllable. + +The Monk retired to his Cell, whither He was pursued by Antonia's +image. He felt a thousand new emotions springing in his bosom, +and He trembled to examine into the cause which gave them birth. +They were totally different from those inspired by Matilda, when +She first declared her sex and her affection. He felt not the +provocation of lust; No voluptuous desires rioted in his bosom; +Nor did a burning imagination picture to him the charms which +Modesty had veiled from his eyes. On the contrary, what He now +felt was a mingled sentiment of tenderness, admiration, and +respect. A soft and delicious melancholy infused itself into his +soul, and He would not have exchanged it for the most lively +transports of joy. Society now disgusted him: He delighted in +solitude, which permitted his indulging the visions of Fancy: +His thoughts were all gentle, sad, and soothing, and the whole +wide world presented him with no other object than Antonia. + +'Happy Man!' He exclaimed in his romantic enthusiasm; 'Happy Man, +who is destined to possess the heart of that lovely Girl! What +delicacy in her features! What elegance in her form! How +enchanting was the timid innocence of her eyes, and how different +from the wanton expression, the wild luxurious fire which +sparkles in Matilda's! Oh! sweeter must one kiss be snatched +from the rosy lips of the First, than all the full and lustful +favours bestowed so freely by the Second. Matilda gluts me with +enjoyment even to loathing, forces me to her arms, apes the +Harlot, and glories in her prostitution. Disgusting! Did She +know the inexpressible charm of Modesty, how irresistibly it +enthralls the heart of Man, how firmly it chains him to the +Throne of Beauty, She never would have thrown it off. What would +be too dear a price for this lovely Girl's affections? What +would I refuse to sacrifice, could I be released from my vows, +and permitted to declare my love in the sight of earth and +heaven? While I strove to inspire her with tenderness, with +friendship and esteem, how tranquil and undisturbed would the +hours roll away! Gracious God! To see her blue downcast eyes +beam upon mine with timid fondness! To sit for days, for years +listening to that gentle voice! To acquire the right of obliging +her, and hear the artless expressions of her gratitude! To watch +the emotions of her spotless heart! To encourage each dawning +virtue! To share in her joy when happy, to kiss away her tears +when distrest, and to see her fly to my arms for comfort and +support! Yes; If there is perfect bliss on earth, 'tis his lot +alone, who becomes that Angel's Husband.' + +While his fancy coined these ideas, He paced his Cell with a +disordered air. His eyes were fixed upon vacancy: His head +reclined upon his shoulder; A tear rolled down his cheek, while +He reflected that the vision of happiness for him could never be +realized. + +'She is lost to me!' He continued; 'By marriage She cannot be +mine: And to seduce such innocence, to use the confidence +reposed in me to work her ruin. . . . Oh! it would be a crime, +blacker than yet the world ever witnessed! Fear not, lovely +Girl! Your virtue runs no risque from me. Not for Indies would +I make that gentle bosom know the tortures of remorse.' + +Again He paced his chamber hastily. Then stopping, his eye fell +upon the picture of his once-admired Madona. He tore it with +indignation from the wall: He threw it on the ground, and +spurned it from him with his foot. + +'The Prostitute!' + +Unfortunate Matilda! Her Paramour forgot that for his sake alone +She had forfeited her claim to virtue; and his only reason for +despising her was that She had loved him much too well. + +He threw himself into a Chair which stood near the Table. He +saw the card with Elvira's address. He took it up, and it +brought to his recollection his promise respecting a Confessor. +He passed a few minutes in doubt: But Antonia's Empire over him +was already too much decided to permit his making a long +resistance to the idea which struck him. He resolved to be the +Confessor himself. He could leave the Abbey unobserved without +difficulty: By wrapping up his head in his Cowl He hoped to pass +through the Streets without being recognised: By taking these +precautions, and by recommending secrecy to Elvira's family, He +doubted not to keep Madrid in ignorance that He had broken his +vow never to see the outside of the Abbey walls. Matilda was the +only person whose vigilance He dreaded: But by informing her at +the Refectory that during the whole of that day, Business would +confine him to his Cell, He thought himself secure from her +wakeful jealousy. Accordingly, at the hours when the Spaniards +are generally taking their Siesta, He ventured to quit the Abbey +by a private door, the Key of which was in his possession. The +Cowl of his habit was thrown over his face: From the heat of the +weather the Streets were almost totally deserted: The Monk met +with few people, found the Strada di San Iago, and arrived +without accident at Donna Elvira's door. He rang, was admitted, +and immediately ushered into an upper apartment. + +It was here that He ran the greatest risque of a discovery. Had +Leonella been at home, She would have recognized him directly: +Her communicative disposition would never have permitted her to +rest till all Madrid was informed that Ambrosio had ventured out +of the Abbey, and visited her Sister. Fortune here stood the +Monk's Friend. On Leonella's return home, She found a letter +instructing her that a Cousin was just dead, who had left what +little He possessed between Herself and Elvira. To secure this +bequest She was obliged to set out for Cordova without losing a +moment. Amidst all her foibles her heart was truly warm and +affectionate, and She was unwilling to quit her Sister in so +dangerous a state. But Elvira insisted upon her taking the +journey, conscious that in her Daughter's forlorn situation no +increase of fortune, however trifling, ought to be neglected. +Accordingly, Leonella left Madrid, sincerely grieved at her +Sister's illness, and giving some few sighs to the memory of the +amiable but inconstant Don Christoval. She was fully persuaded +that at first She had made a terrible breach in his heart: But +hearing nothing more of him, She supposed that He had quitted the +pursuit, disgusted by the lowness of her origin, and knowing upon +other terms than marriage He had nothing to hope from such a +Dragon of Virtue as She professed herself; Or else, that being +naturally capricious and changeable, the remembrance of her +charms had been effaced from the Conde's heart by those of some +newer Beauty. Whatever was the cause of her losing him, She +lamented it sorely. She strove in vain, as She assured every +body who was kind enough to listen to her, to tear his image from +her too susceptible heart. She affected the airs of a lovesick +Virgin, and carried them all to the most ridiculous excess. She +heaved lamentable sighs, walked with her arms folded, uttered +long soliloquies, and her discourse generally turned upon some +forsaken Maid who expired of a broken heart! Her fiery locks +were always ornamented with a garland of willow; Every evening +She was seen straying upon the Banks of a rivulet by Moonlight; +and She declared herself a violent Admirer of murmuring Streams +and Nightingales; + + 'Of lonely haunts, and twilight Groves, + 'Places which pale Passion loves!' + +Such was the state of Leonella's mind, when obliged to quit +Madrid. Elvira was out of patience at all these follies, and +endeavoured at persuading her to act like a reasonable Woman. +Her advice was thrown away: Leonella assured her at parting that +nothing could make her forget the perfidious Don Christoval. In +this point She was fortunately mistaken. An honest Youth of +Cordova, Journeyman to an Apothecary, found that her fortune +would be sufficient to set him up in a genteel Shop of his own: +In consequence of this reflection He avowed himself her Admirer. +Leonella was not inflexible. The ardour of his sighs melted her +heart, and She soon consented to make him the happiest of +Mankind. She wrote to inform her Sister of her marriage; But, +for reasons which will be explained hereafter, Elvira never +answered her letter. + +Ambrosio was conducted into the Antichamber to that where +Elvira was reposing. The Female Domestic who had admitted him +left him alone while She announced his arrival to her Mistress. +Antonia, who had been by her Mother's Bedside, immediately came +to him. + +'Pardon me, Father,' said She, advancing towards him; when +recognizing his features, She stopped suddenly, and uttered a cry +of joy. 'Is it possible!' She continued; + +'Do not my eyes deceive me? Has the worthy Ambrosio broken +through his resolution, that He may soften the agonies of the +best of Women? What pleasure will this visit give my Mother! +Let me not delay for a moment the comfort which your piety and +wisdom will afford her.' + +Thus saying, She opened the chamber door, presented to her Mother +her distinguished Visitor, and having placed an armed-chair by +the side of the Bed, withdrew into another department. + +Elvira was highly gratified by this visit: Her expectations had +been raised high by general report, but She found them far +exceeded. Ambrosio, endowed by nature with powers of pleasing, +exerted them to the utmost while conversing with Antonia's +Mother. With persuasive eloquence He calmed every fear, and +dissipated every scruple: He bad her reflect on the infinite +mercy of her Judge, despoiled Death of his darts and terrors, and +taught her to view without shrinking the abyss of eternity, on +whose brink She then stood. Elvira was absorbed in attention and +delight: While She listened to his exhortations, confidence and +comfort stole insensibly into her mind. She unbosomed to him +without hesitation her cares and apprehensions. The latter +respecting a future life He had already quieted: And He now +removed the former, which She felt for the concerns of this. She +trembled for Antonia. She had none to whose care She could +recommend her, save to the Marquis de las Cisternas and her +Sister Leonella. The protection of the One was very uncertain; +and as to the Other, though fond of her Niece, Leonella was so +thoughtless and vain as to make her an improper person to have +the sole direction of a Girl so young and ignorant of the World. +The Friar no sooner learnt the cause of her alarms than He +begged her to make herself easy upon that head. He doubted not +being able to secure for Antonia a safe refuge in the House of +one of his Penitents, the Marchioness of Villa-Franca: This was +a Lady of acknowledged virtue, remarkable for strict principles +and extensive charity. Should accident deprive her of this +resource, He engaged to procure Antonia a reception in some +respectable Convent: That is to say, in quality of boarder; for +Elvira had declared herself no Friend to a monastic life, and the +Monk was either candid or complaisant enough to allow that her +disapprobation was not unfounded. + +These proofs of the interest which He felt for her completely +won Elvira's heart. In thanking him She exhausted every +expression which Gratitude could furnish, and protested that now +She should resign herself with tranquillity to the Grave. +Ambrosio rose to take leave: He promised to return the next day +at the same hour, but requested that his visits might be kept +secret. + +'I am unwilling' said He, 'that my breaking through a rule +imposed by necessity should be generally known. Had I not +resolved never to quit my Convent, except upon circumstances as +urgent as that which has conducted me to your door, I should be +frequently summoned upon insignificant occasions: That time +would be engrossed by the Curious, the Unoccupied, and the +fanciful, which I now pass at the Bedside of the Sick, in +comforting the expiring Penitent, and clearing the passage to +Eternity from Thorns.' + +Elvira commended equally his prudence and compassion, promising +to conceal carefully the honour of his visits. The Monk then +gave her his benediction, and retired from the chamber. + +In the Antiroom He found Antonia: He could not refuse himself +the pleasure of passing a few moments in her society. He bad her +take comfort, for that her Mother seemed composed and tranquil, +and He hoped that She might yet do well. He enquired who +attended her, and engaged to send the Physician of his Convent to +see her, one of the most skilful in Madrid. He then launched out +in Elvira's commendation, praised her purity and fortitude of +mind, and declared that She had inspired him with the highest +esteem and reverence. Antonia's innocent heart swelled with +gratitude: Joy danced in her eyes, where a tear still sparkled. +The hopes which He gave her of her Mother's recovery, the lively +interest which He seemed to feel for her, and the flattering way +in which She was mentioned by him, added to the report of his +judgment and virtue, and to the impression made upon her by his +eloquence, confirmed the favourable opinion with which his first, +appearance had inspired Antonia. She replied with diffidence, +but without restraint: She feared not to relate to him all her +little sorrows, all her little fears and anxieties; and She +thanked him for his goodness with all the genuine warmth which +favours kindle in a young and innocent heart. Such alone know +how to estimate benefits at their full value. They who are +conscious of Mankind's perfidy and selfishness, ever receive an +obligation with apprehension and distrust: They suspect that +some secret motive must lurk behind it: They express their +thanks with restraint and caution, and fear to praise a kind +action to its full extent, aware that some future day a return +may be required. Not so Antonia; She thought the world was +composed only of those who resembled her, and that vice existed, +was to her still a secret. The Monk had been of service to her; +He said that He wished her well; She was grateful for his +kindness, and thought that no terms were strong enough to be the +vehicle of her thanks. With what delight did Ambrosio listen to +the declaration of her artless gratitude! The natural grace of +her manners, the unequalled sweetness of her voice, her modest +vivacity, her unstudied elegance, her expressive countenance, and +intelligent eyes united to inspire him with pleasure and +admiration, While the solidity and correctness of her remarks +received additional beauty from the unaffected simplicity of the +language in which they were conveyed. + +Ambrosio was at length obliged to tear himself from this +conversation which possessed for him but too many charms. He +repeated to Antonia his wishes that his visits should not be +made known, which desire She promised to observe. He then +quitted the House, while his Enchantress hastened to her Mother, +ignorant of the mischief which her Beauty had caused. She was +eager to know Elvira's opinion of the Man whom She had praised in +such enthusiastic terms, and was delighted to find it equally +favourable, if not even more so, than her own. + +'Even before He spoke,' said Elvira, 'I was prejudiced in his +favour: The fervour of his exhortations, dignity of his manner, +and closeness of his reasoning, were very far from inducing me to +alter my opinion. His fine and full-toned voice struck me +particularly; But surely, Antonia, I have heard it before. It +seemed perfectly familiar to my ear. Either I must have known +the Abbot in former times, or his voice bears a wonderful +resemblance to that of some other, to whom I have often listened. + +There were certain tones which touched my very heart, and made me +feel sensations so singular, that I strive in vain to account for +them.' + +'My dearest Mother, it produced the same effect upon me: Yet +certainly neither of us ever heard his voice till we came to +Madrid. I suspect that what we attribute to his voice, really +proceeds from his pleasant manners, which forbid our considering +him as a Stranger. I know not why, but I feel more at my ease +while conversing with him than I usually do with people who are +unknown to me. I feared not to repeat to him all my childish +thoughts; and somehow I felt confident that He would hear my +folly with indulgence. Oh! I was not deceived in him! He +listened to me with such an air of kindness and attention! He +answered me with such gentleness, such condescension! He did not +call me an Infant, and treat me with contempt, as our cross old +Confessor at the Castle used to do. I verily believe that if I +had lived in Murcia a thousand years, I never should have liked +that fat old Father Dominic!' + +'I confess that Father Dominic had not the most pleasing manners +in the world; But He was honest, friendly, and well-meaning.' + +'Ah! my dear Mother, those qualities are so common!' + +'God grant, my Child, that Experience may not teach you to think +them rare and precious: I have found them but too much so! But +tell me, Antonia; Why is it impossible for me to have seen the +Abbot before?' + +'Because since the moment when He entered the Abbey, He has never +been on the outside of its walls. He told me just now, that from +his ignorance of the Streets, He had some difficulty to find the +Strada di San Iago, though so near the Abbey.' + +'All this is possible, and still I may have seen him BEFORE He +entered the Abbey: In order to come out, it was rather necessary +that He should first go in.' + +'Holy Virgin! As you say, that is very true.--Oh! But might He +not have been born in the Abbey?' + +Elvira smiled. + +'Why, not very easily.' + +'Stay, Stay! Now I recollect how it was. He was put into the +Abbey quite a Child; The common People say that He fell from +heaven, and was sent as a present to the Capuchins by the +Virgin.' + +'That was very kind of her. And so He fell from heaven, Antonia? + +He must have had a terrible tumble.' + +'Many do not credit this, and I fancy, my dear Mother, that I +must number you among the Unbelievers. Indeed, as our Landlady +told my Aunt, the general idea is that his Parents, being poor +and unable to maintain him, left him just born at the Abbey door. +The late Superior from pure charity had him educated in the +Convent, and He proved to be a model of virtue, and piety, and +learning, and I know not what else besides: In consequence, He +was first received as a Brother of the order, and not long ago +was chosen Abbot. However, whether this account or the other is +the true one, at least all agree that when the Monks took him +under their care, He could not speak: Therefore, you could not +have heard his voice before He entered the Monastery, because at +that time He had no voice at all.' + +'Upon my word, Antonia, you argue very closely! Your conclusions +are infallible! I did not suspect you of being so able a +Logician.' + +'Ah! You are mocking me! But so much the better. It delights me +to see you in spirits: Besides you seem tranquil and easy, and I +hope that you will have no more convulsions. Oh! I was sure the +Abbot's visit would do you good!' + +'It has indeed done me good, my Child. He has quieted my mind +upon some points which agitated me, and I already feel the +effects of his attention. My eyes grow heavy, and I think I can +sleep a little. Draw the curtains, my Antonia: But if I should +not wake before midnight, do not sit up with me, I charge you.' + +Antonia promised to obey her, and having received her blessing +drew the curtains of the Bed. She then seated herself in silence +at her embroidery frame, and beguiled the hours with building +Castles in the air. Her spirits were enlivened by the evident +change for the better in Elvira, and her fancy presented her with +visions bright and pleasing. In these dreams Ambrosio made no +despicable figure. She thought of him with joy and gratitude; +But for every idea which fell to the Friar's share, at least two +were unconsciously bestowed upon Lorenzo. Thus passed the time, +till the Bell in the neighbouring Steeple of the Capuchin +Cathedral announced the hour of midnight: Antonia remembered her +Mother's injunctions, and obeyed them, though with reluctance. +She undrew the curtains with caution. Elvira was enjoying a +profound and quiet slumber; Her cheek glowed with health's +returning colours: A smile declared that her dreams were +pleasant, and as Antonia bent over her, She fancied that She +heard her name pronounced. She kissed her Mother's forehead +softly, and retired to her chamber. There She knelt before a +Statue of St. Rosolia, her Patroness; She recommended herself to +the protection of heaven, and as had been her custom from +infancy, concluded her devotions by chaunting the following +Stanzas. + + MIDNIGHT HYMN + + Now all is hushed; The solemn chime +No longer swells the nightly gale: +Thy awful presence, Hour sublime, +With spotless heart once more I hail. + + 'Tis now the moment still and dread, +When Sorcerers use their baleful power; +When Graves give up their buried dead +To profit by the sanctioned hour: + + From guilt and guilty thoughts secure, +To duty and devotion true, +With bosom light and conscience pure, +Repose, thy gentle aid I woo. + + Good Angels, take my thanks, that still +The snares of vice I view with scorn; +Thanks, that to-night as free from ill +I sleep, as when I woke at morn. + + Yet may not my unconscious breast +Harbour some guilt to me unknown? +Some wish impure, which unreprest +You blush to see, and I to own? + + If such there be, in gentle dream +Instruct my feet to shun the snare; +Bid truth upon my errors beam, +And deign to make me still your care. + + Chase from my peaceful bed away +The witching Spell, a foe to rest, +The nightly Goblin, wanton Fay, +The Ghost in pain, and Fiend unblest: + + Let not the Tempter in mine ear +Pour lessons of unhallowed joy; +Let not the Night-mare, wandering near +My Couch, the calm of sleep destroy; + + Let not some horrid dream affright +With strange fantastic forms mine eyes; +But rather bid some vision bright +Display the blissof yonder skies. + + Show me the crystal Domes of Heaven, +The worlds of light where Angels lie; +Shew me the lot to Mortals given, +Who guiltless live, who guiltless die. + + Then show me how a seat to gain +Amidst those blissful realms of +Air; Teach me to shun each guilty stain, +And guide me to the good and fair. + + So every morn and night, my Voice +To heaven the grateful strain shall raise; +In You as Guardian Powers rejoice, +Good Angels, and exalt your praise: + + So will I strive with zealous fire +Each vice to shun, each fault correct; +Will love the lessons you inspire, +And Prize the virtues you protect. + + Then when at length by high command +My body seeks the Grave's repose, +When Death draws nigh with friendly hand +My failing Pilgrim eyes to close; + + Pleased that my soul has 'scaped the wreck, +Sighless will I my life resign, +And yield to God my Spirit back, +As pure as when it first was mine. + + +Having finished her usual devotions, Antonia retired to bed. +Sleep soon stole over her senses; and for several hours She +enjoyed that calm repose which innocence alone can know, and for +which many a Monarch with pleasure would exchange his Crown. + + + +CHAPTER IV + + ----Ah! how dark +These long-extended realms and rueful wastes; +Where nought but silence reigns, and night, dark night, +Dark as was Chaos ere the Infant Sun +Was rolled together, or had tried its beams +Athwart the gloom profound! +The sickly Taper +By glimmering through thy low-browed misty vaults, +Furred round with mouldy damps, and ropy slime, +Lets fall a supernumerary horror, +And only serves to make +Thy night more irksome! + Blair. + +Returned undiscovered to the Abbey, Ambrosio's mind was filled +with the most pleasing images. He was wilfully blind to the +danger of exposing himself to Antonia's charms: He only +remembered the pleasure which her society had afforded him, and +rejoiced in the prospect of that pleasure being repeated. He +failed not to profit by Elvira's indisposition to obtain a sight +of her Daughter every day. At first He bounded his wishes to +inspire Antonia with friendship: But no sooner was He convinced +that She felt that sentiment in its fullest extent, than his aim +became more decided, and his attentions assumed a warmer colour. +The innocent familiarity with which She treated him, encouraged +his desires: Grown used to her modesty, it no longer commanded +the same respect and awe: He still admired it, but it only made +him more anxious to deprive her of that quality which formed her +principal charm. Warmth of passion, and natural penetration, of +which latter unfortunately both for himself and Antonia He +possessed an ample share, supplied a knowledge of the arts of +seduction. He easily distinguished the emotions which were +favourable to his designs, and seized every means with avidity of +infusing corruption into Antonia's bosom. This He found no easy +matter. Extreme simplicity prevented her from perceiving the aim +to which the Monk's insinuations tended; But the excellent morals +which She owed to Elvira's care, the solidity and correctness of +her understanding, and a strong sense of what was right implanted +in her heart by Nature, made her feel that his precepts must be +faulty. By a few simple words She frequently overthrew the whole +bulk of his sophistical arguments, and made him conscious how +weak they were when opposed to Virtue and Truth. On such +occasion He took refuge in his eloquence; He overpowered her +with a torrent of Philosophical paradoxes, to which, not +understanding them, it was impossible for her to reply; And thus +though He did not convince her that his reasoning was just, He at +least prevented her from discovering it to be false. He +perceived that her respect for his judgment augmented daily, and +doubted not with time to bring her to the point desired. + +He was not unconscious that his attempts were highly criminal: +He saw clearly the baseness of seducing the innocent Girl: But +his passion was too violent to permit his abandoning his design. +He resolved to pursue it, let the consequences be what they +might. He depended upon finding Antonia in some unguarded +moment; And seeing no other Man admitted into her society, nor +hearing any mentioned either by her or by Elvira, He imagined +that her young heart was still unoccupied. While He waited for +the opportunity of satisfying his unwarrantable lust, every day +increased his coldness for Matilda. Not a little was this +occasioned by the consciousness of his faults to her. To hide +them from her He was not sufficiently master of himself: Yet He +dreaded lest, in a transport of jealous rage, She should betray +the secret on which his character and even his life depended. +Matilda could not but remark his indifference: He was conscious +that She remarked it, and fearing her reproaches, shunned her +studiously. Yet when He could not avoid her, her mildness might +have convinced him that He had nothing to dread from her +resentment. She had resumed the character of the gentle +interesting Rosario: She taxed him not with ingratitude; But her +eyes filled with involuntary tears, and the soft melancholy of +her countenance and voice uttered complaints far more touching +than words could have conveyed. Ambrosio was not unmoved by her +sorrow; But unable to remove its cause, He forbore to show that +it affected him. As her conduct convinced him that He needed not +fear her vengeance, He continued to neglect her, and avoided her +company with care. Matilda saw that She in vain attempted to +regain his affections: Yet She stifled the impulse of +resentment, and continued to treat her inconstant Lover with her +former fondness and attention. + +By degrees Elvira's constitution recovered itself. She was no +longer troubled with convulsions, and Antonia ceased to tremble +for her Mother. Ambrosio beheld this reestablishment with +displeasure. He saw that Elvira's knowledge of the world would +not be the Dupe of his sanctified demeanour, and that She would +easily perceive his views upon her Daughter. He resolved +therefore, before She quitted her chamber, to try the extent of +his influence over the innocent Antonia. + +One evening, when He had found Elvira almost perfectly restored +to health, He quitted her earlier than was his usual custom. Not +finding Antonia in the Antichamber, He ventured to follow her +to her own. It was only separated from her Mother's by a Closet, +in which Flora, the Waiting-Woman, generally slept. Antonia sat +upon a Sopha with her back towards the door, and read +attentively. She heard not his approach, till He had seated +himself by her. She started, and welcomed him with a look of +pleasure: Then rising, She would have conducted him to the +sitting-room; But Ambrosio taking her hand, obliged her by gentle +violence to resume her place. She complied without difficulty: +She knew not that there was more impropriety in conversing with +him in one room than another. She thought herself equally secure +of his principles and her own, and having replaced herself upon +the Sopha, She began to prattle to him with her usual ease and +vivacity. + +He examined the Book which She had been reading, and had now +placed upon the Table. It was the Bible. + +'How!' said the Friar to himself; 'Antonia reads the Bible, and +is still so ignorant?' + +But, upon a further inspection, He found that Elvira had made +exactly the same remark. That prudent Mother, while She admired +the beauties of the sacred writings, was convinced that, +unrestricted, no reading more improper could be permitted a young +Woman. Many of the narratives can only tend to excite ideas the +worst calculated for a female breast: Every thing is called +plainly and roundly by its name; and the annals of a Brothel +would scarcely furnish a greater choice of indecent expressions. +Yet this is the Book which young Women are recommended to study; +which is put into the hands of Children, able to comprehend +little more than those passages of which they had better remain +ignorant; and which but too frequently inculcates the first +rudiments of vice, and gives the first alarm to the still +sleeping passions. Of this was Elvira so fully convinced, that +She would have preferred putting into her Daughter's hands +'Amadis de Gaul,' or 'The Valiant Champion, Tirante the +White;' and would sooner have authorised her studying the lewd +exploits of 'Don Galaor,' or the lascivious jokes of the +'Damsel Plazer di mi vida.' She had in consequence made two +resolutions respecting the Bible. The first was that Antonia +should not read it till She was of an age to feel its beauties, +and profit by its morality: The second, that it should be copied +out with her own hand, and all improper passages either altered +or omitted. She had adhered to this determination, and such was +the Bible which Antonia was reading: It had been lately +delivered to her, and She perused it with an avidity, with a +delight that was inexpressible. Ambrosio perceived his mistake, +and replaced the Book upon the Table. + +Antonia spoke of her Mother's health with all the enthusiastic +joy of a youthful heart. + +'I admire your filial affection,' said the Abbot; 'It proves the +excellence and sensibility of your character; It promises a +treasure to him whom Heaven has destined to possess your +affections. The Breast, so capable of fondness for a Parent, +what will it feel for a Lover? Nay, perhaps, what feels it for +one even now? Tell me, my lovely Daughter; Have you known what +it is to love? Answer me with sincerity: Forget my habit, and +consider me only as a Friend.' + +'What it is to love?' said She, repeating his question; 'Oh! yes, +undoubtedly; I have loved many, many People.' + +'That is not what I mean. The love of which I speak can be felt +only for one. Have you never seen the Man whom you wished to be +your Husband?' + +'Oh! No, indeed!' + +This was an untruth, but She was unconscious of its falsehood: +She knew not the nature of her sentiments for Lorenzo; and never +having seen him since his first visit to Elvira, with every day +his Image grew less feebly impressed upon her bosom. Besides, +She thought of an Husband with all a Virgin's terror, and +negatived the Friar's demand without a moment's hesitation. + +'And do you not long to see that Man, Antonia? Do you feel no +void in your heart which you fain would have filled up? Do you +heave no sighs for the absence of some one dear to you, but who +that some one is, you know not? Perceive you not that what +formerly could please, has charms for you no longer? That a +thousand new wishes, new ideas, new sensations, have sprang in +your bosom, only to be felt, never to be described? Or while you +fill every other heart with passion, is it possible that your own +remains insensible and cold? It cannot be! That melting eye, +that blushing cheek, that enchanting voluptuous melancholy which +at times overspreads your features, all these marks belye your +words. You love, Antonia, and in vain would hide it from me.' + +'Father, you amaze me! What is this love of which you speak? I +neither know its nature, nor if I felt it, why I should conceal +the sentiment.' + +'Have you seen no Man, Antonia, whom though never seen before, +you seemed long to have sought? Whose form, though a Stranger's, +was familiar to your eyes? The sound of whose voice soothed you, +pleased you, penetrated to your very soul? In whose presence you +rejoiced, for whose absence you lamented? With whom your heart +seemed to expand, and in whose bosom with confidence unbounded +you reposed the cares of your own? Have you not felt all this, +Antonia?' + +'Certainly I have: The first time that I saw you, I felt it.' + +Ambrosio started. Scarcely dared He credit his hearing. + +'Me, Antonia?' He cried, his eyes sparkling with delight and +impatience, while He seized her hand, and pressed it rapturously +to his lips. 'Me, Antonia? You felt these sentiments for me?' + +'Even with more strength than you have described. The very +moment that I beheld you, I felt so pleased, so interested! I +waited so eagerly to catch the sound of your voice, and when I +heard it, it seemed so sweet! It spoke to me a language till +then so unknown! Methought, it told me a thousand things which I +wished to hear! It seemed as if I had long known you; as if I +had a right to your friendship, your advice, and your protection. + +I wept when you departed, and longed for the time which should +restore you to my sight.' + +'Antonia! my charming Antonia!' exclaimed the Monk, and caught +her to his bosom; 'Can I believe my senses? Repeat it to me, my +sweet Girl! Tell me again that you love me, that you love me +truly and tenderly!' + +'Indeed, I do: Let my Mother be excepted, and the world holds no +one more dear to me!' + +At this frank avowal Ambrosio no longer possessed himself; Wild +with desire, He clasped the blushing Trembler in his arms. He +fastened his lips greedily upon hers, sucked in her pure +delicious breath, violated with his bold hand the treasures of +her bosom, and wound around him her soft and yielding limbs. +Startled, alarmed, and confused at his action, surprize at first +deprived her of the power of resistance. At length recovering +herself, She strove to escape from his embrace. + +'Father! . . . . Ambrosio!' She cried; 'Release me, for God's +sake!' + +But the licentious Monk heeded not her prayers: He persisted in +his design, and proceeded to take still greater liberties. +Antonia prayed, wept, and struggled: Terrified to the extreme, +though at what She knew not, She exerted all her strength to +repulse the Friar, and was on the point of shrieking for +assistance when the chamber door was suddenly thrown open. +Ambrosio had just sufficient presence of mind to be sensible of +his danger. Reluctantly He quitted his prey, and started hastily +from the Couch. Antonia uttered an exclamation of joy, flew +towards the door, and found herself clasped in the arms of her +Mother. + +Alarmed at some of the Abbot's speeches, which Antonia had +innocently repeated, Elvira resolved to ascertain the truth of +her suspicions. She had known enough of Mankind not to be +imposed upon by the Monk's reputed virtue. She reflected on +several circumstances, which though trifling, on being put +together seemed to authorize her fears. His frequent visits, +which as far as She could see, were confined to her family; His +evident emotion, whenever She spoke of Antonia; His being in the +full prime and heat of Manhood; and above all, his pernicious +philosophy communicated to her by Antonia, and which accorded but +ill with his conversation in her presence, all these +circumstances inspired her with doubts respecting the purity of +Ambrosio's friendship. In consequence, She resolved, when He +should next be alone with Antonia, to endeavour at surprizing +him. Her plan had succeeded. 'Tis true, that when She entered +the room, He had already abandoned his prey; But the disorder of +her Daughter's dress, and the shame and confusion stamped upon +the Friar's countenance, sufficed to prove that her suspicions +were but too well-founded. However, She was too prudent to make +those suspicions known. She judged that to unmask the Imposter +would be no easy matter, the public being so much prejudiced in +his favour: and having but few Friends, She thought it dangerous +to make herself so powerful an Enemy. She affected therefore not +to remark his agitation, seated herself tranquilly upon the +Sopha, assigned some trifling reason for having quitted her room +unexpectedly, and conversed on various subjects with seeming +confidence and ease. + +Reassured by her behaviour, the Monk began to recover himself. +He strove to answer Elvira without appearing embarrassed: But He +was still too great a novice in dissimulation, and He felt that +He must look confused and awkward. He soon broke off the +conversation, and rose to depart. What was his vexation, when on +taking leave, Elvira told him in polite terms, that being now +perfectly reestablished, She thought it an injustice to deprive +Others of his company, who might be more in need of it! She +assured him of her eternal gratitude, for the benefit which +during her illness She had derived from his society and +exhortations: And She lamented that her domestic affairs, as +well as the multitude of business which his situation must of +necessity impose upon him, would in future deprive her of the +pleasure of his visits. Though delivered in the mildest language +this hint was too plain to be mistaken. Still, He was preparing +to put in a remonstrance when an expressive look from Elvira +stopped him short. He dared not press her to receive him, for +her manner convinced him that He was discovered: He submitted +without reply, took an hasty leave, and retired to the Abbey, his +heart filled with rage and shame, with bitterness and +disappointment. + +Antonia's mind felt relieved by his departure; Yet She could not +help lamenting that She was never to see him more. Elvira also +felt a secret sorrow; She had received too much pleasure from +thinking him her Friend, not to regret the necessity of changing +her opinion: But her mind was too much accustomed to the fallacy +of worldly friendships to permit her present disappointment to +weigh upon it long. She now endeavoured to make her Daughter +aware of the risque which She had ran: But She was obliged to +treat the subject with caution, lest in removing the bandage of +ignorance, the veil of innocence should be rent away. She +therefore contented herself with warning Antonia to be upon her +guard, and ordering her, should the Abbot persist in his visits, +never to receive them but in company. With this injunction +Antonia promised to comply. + +Ambrosio hastened to his Cell. He closed the door after him, and +threw himself upon the bed in despair. The impulse of desire, the +stings of disappointment, the shame of detection, and the fear of +being publicly unmasked, rendered his bosom a scene of the most +horrible confusion. He knew not what course to pursue. Debarred +the presence of Antonia, He had no hopes of satisfying that +passion which was now become a part of his existence. He +reflected that his secret was in a Woman's power: He trembled +with apprehension when He beheld the precipice before him, and +with rage, when He thought that had it not been for Elvira, He +should now have possessed the object of his desires. With the +direct imprecations He vowed vengeance against her; He swore +that, cost what it would, He still would possess Antonia. +Starting from the Bed, He paced the chamber with disordered +steps, howled with impotent fury, dashed himself violently +against the walls, and indulged all the transports of rage and +madness. + +He was still under the influence of this storm of passions when +He heard a gentle knock at the door of his Cell. Conscious that +his voice must have been heard, He dared not refuse admittance to +the Importuner: He strove to compose himself, and to hide his +agitation. Having in some degree succeeded, He drew back the +bolt: The door opened, and Matilda appeared. + +At this precise moment there was no one with whose presence He +could better have dispensed. He had not sufficient command over +himself to conceal his vexation. He started back, and frowned. + +'I am busy,' said He in a stern and hasty tone; 'Leave me!' + +Matilda heeded him not: She again fastened the door, and then +advanced towards him with an air gentle and supplicating. + +'Forgive me, Ambrosio,' said She; 'For your own sake I must not +obey you. Fear no complaints from me; I come not to reproach you +with your ingratitude. I pardon you from my heart, and since +your love can no longer be mine, I request the next best gift, +your confidence and friendship. We cannot force our +inclinations; The little beauty which you once saw in me has +perished with its novelty, and if it can no longer excite desire, +mine is the fault, not yours. But why persist in shunning me? +Why such anxiety to fly my presence? You have sorrows, but will +not permit me to share them; You have disappointments, but will +not accept my comfort; You have wishes, but forbid my aiding your +pursuits. 'Tis of this which I complain, not of your +indifference to my person. I have given up the claims of the +Mistress, but nothing shall prevail on me to give up those of the +Friend.' + +Her mildness had an instantaneous effect upon Ambrosio's +feelings. + +'Generous Matilda!' He replied, taking her hand, 'How far do you +rise superior to the foibles of your sex! Yes, I accept your +offer. I have need of an adviser, and a Confident: In you I +find every needful quality united. But to aid my pursuits . . . +. Ah! Matilda, it lies not in your power!' + +'It lies in no one's power but mine. Ambrosio, your secret is +none to me; Your every step, your every action has been observed +by my attentive eye. You love.' + +'Matilda!' + +'Why conceal it from me? Fear not the little jealousy which +taints the generality of Women: My soul disdains so despicable a +passion. You love, Ambrosio; Antonia Dalfa is the object of your +flame. I know every circumstance respecting your passion: Every +conversation has been repeated to me. I have been informed of +your attempt to enjoy Antonia's person, your disappointment, and +dismission from Elvira's House. You now despair of possessing +your Mistress; But I come to revive your hopes, and point out the +road to success.' + +'To success? Oh! impossible!' + +'To them who dare nothing is impossible. Rely upon me, and you +may yet be happy. The time is come, Ambrosio, when regard for +your comfort and tranquillity compels me to reveal a part of my +History, with which you are still unacquainted. Listen, and do +not interrupt me: Should my confession disgust you, remember +that in making it my sole aim is to satisfy your wishes, and +restore that peace to your heart which at present has abandoned +it. I formerly mentioned that my Guardian was a Man of uncommon +knowledge: He took pains to instil that knowledge into my infant +mind. Among the various sciences which curiosity had induced him +to explore, He neglected not that which by most is esteemed +impious, and by many chimerical. I speak of those arts which +relate to the world of Spirits. His deep researches into causes +and effects, his unwearied application to the study of natural +philosophy, his profound and unlimited knowledge of the +properties and virtues of every gem which enriches the deep, of +every herb which the earth produces, at length procured him the +distinction which He had sought so long, so earnestly. His +curiosity was fully slaked, his ambition amply gratified. He +gave laws to the elements; He could reverse the order of nature; +His eye read the mandates of futurity, and the infernal Spirits +were submissive to his commands. Why shrink you from me? I +understand that enquiring look. Your suspicions are right, +though your terrors are unfounded. My Guardian concealed not +from me his most precious acquisition. Yet had I never seen YOU, +I should never have exerted my power. Like you I shuddered at +the thoughts of Magic: Like you I had formed a terrible idea of +the consequences of raising a daemon. To preserve that life +which your love had taught me to prize, I had recourse to means +which I trembled at employing. You remember that night which I +past in St. Clare's Sepulchre? Then was it that, surrounded by +mouldering bodies, I dared to perform those mystic rites which +summoned to my aid a fallen Angel. Judge what must have been my +joy at discovering that my terrors were imaginary: I saw the +Daemon obedient to my orders, I saw him trembling at my frown, +and found that, instead of selling my soul to a Master, my +courage had purchased for myself a Slave.' + +'Rash Matilda! What have you done? You have doomed yourself to +endless perdition; You have bartered for momentary power eternal +happiness! If on witchcraft depends the fruition of my desires, +I renounce your aid most absolutely. The consequences are too +horrible: I doat upon Antonia, but am not so blinded by lust as +to sacrifice for her enjoyment my existence both in this world +and the next.' + +'Ridiculous prejudices! Oh! blush, Ambrosio, blush at being +subjected to their dominion. Where is the risque of accepting my +offers? What should induce my persuading you to this step, +except the wish of restoring you to happiness and quiet. If +there is danger, it must fall upon me: It is I who invoke the +ministry of the Spirits; Mine therefore will be the crime, and +yours the profit. But danger there is none: The Enemy of +Mankind is my Slave, not my Sovereign. Is there no difference +between giving and receiving laws, between serving and +commanding? Awake from your idle dreams, Ambrosio! Throw from +you these terrors so ill-suited to a soul like yours; Leave them +for common Men, and dare to be happy! Accompany me this night to +St. Clare's Sepulchre, witness my incantations, and Antonia is +your own.' + +'To obtain her by such means I neither can, or will. Cease then +to persuade me, for I dare not employ Hell's agency. + +'You DARE not? How have you deceived me! That mind which I +esteemed so great and valiant, proves to be feeble, puerile, and +grovelling, a slave to vulgar errors, and weaker than a Woman's.' + +'What? Though conscious of the danger, wilfully shall I expose +myself to the Seducer's arts? Shall I renounce for ever my title +to salvation? Shall my eyes seek a sight which I know will +blast them? No, no, Matilda; I will not ally myself with God's +Enemy.' + +'Are you then God's Friend at present? Have you not broken your +engagements with him, renounced his service, and abandoned +yourself to the impulse of your passions? Are you not planning +the destruction of innocence, the ruin of a Creature whom He +formed in the mould of Angels? If not of Daemons, whose aid +would you invoke to forward this laudable design? Will the +Seraphims protect it, conduct Antonia to your arms, and sanction +with their ministry your illicit pleasures? Absurd! But I am +not deceived, Ambrosio! It is not virtue which makes you reject +my offer: You WOULD accept it, but you dare not. 'Tis not the +crime which holds your hand, but the punishment; 'Tis not respect +for God which restrains you, but the terror of his vengeance! +Fain would you offend him in secret, but you tremble to profess +yourself his Foe. Now shame on the coward soul, which wants the +courage either to be a firm Friend or open Enemy!' + +'To look upon guilt with horror, Matilda, is in itself a merit: +In this respect I glory to confess myself a Coward. Though my +passions have made me deviate from her laws, I still feel in my +heart an innate love of virtue. But it ill becomes you to tax me +with my perjury: You, who first seduced me to violate my vows; +You, who first rouzed my sleeping vices, made me feel the weight +of Religion's chains, and bad me be convinced that guilt had +pleasures. Yet though my principles have yielded to the force of +temperament, I still have sufficient grace to shudder at Sorcery, +and avoid a crime so monstrous, so unpardonable!' + +'Unpardonable, say you? Where then is your constant boast of the +Almighty's infinite mercy? Has He of late set bounds to it? +Receives He no longer a Sinner with joy? You injure him, +Ambrosio; You will always have time to repent, and He have +goodness to forgive. Afford him a glorious opportunity to exert +that goodness: The greater your crime, the greater his merit in +pardoning. Away then with these childish scruples: Be persuaded +to your good, and follow me to the Sepulchre.' + +'Oh! cease, Matilda! That scoffing tone, that bold and impious +language, is horrible in every mouth, but most so in a Woman's. +Let us drop a conversation which excites no other sentiments +than horror and disgust. I will not follow you to the Sepulchre, +or accept the services of your infernal Agents. Antonia shall be +mine, but mine by human means.' + +'Then yours She will never be! You are banished her presence; +Her Mother has opened her eyes to your designs, and She is now +upon her guard against them. Nay more, She loves another. A +Youth of distinguished merit possesses her heart, and unless you +interfere, a few days will make her his Bride. This intelligence +was brought me by my invisible Servants, to whom I had recourse +on first perceiving your indifference. They watched your every +action, related to me all that past at Elvira's, and inspired me +with the idea of favouring your designs. Their reports have been +my only comfort. Though you shunned my presence, all your +proceedings were known to me: Nay, I was constantly with you in +some degree, thanks to this precious gift!' + +With these words She drew from beneath her habit a mirror of +polished steel, the borders of which were marked with various +strange and unknown characters. + +'Amidst all my sorrows, amidst all my regrets for your coldness, +I was sustained from despair by the virtues of this Talisman. On +pronouncing certain words, the Person appears in it on whom the +Observer's thoughts are bent: thus though _I_ was exiled from +YOUR sight, you, Ambrosio, were ever present to mine.' + +The Friar's curiosity was excited strongly. + +'What you relate is incredible! Matilda, are you not amusing +yourself with my credulity?' + +'Be your own eyes the Judge.' + +She put the Mirror into his hand. Curiosity induced him to take +it, and Love, to wish that Antonia might appear. Matilda +pronounced the magic words. Immediately, a thick smoke rose from +the characters traced upon the borders, and spread itself over +the surface. It dispersed again gradually; A confused mixture of +colours and images presented themselves to the Friar's eyes, +which at length arranging themselves in their proper places, He +beheld in miniature Antonia's lovely form. + +The scene was a small closet belonging to her apartment. She was +undressing to bathe herself. The long tresses of her hair were +already bound up. The amorous Monk had full opportunity to +observe the voluptuous contours and admirable symmetry of her +person. She threw off her last garment, and advancing to the +Bath prepared for her, She put her foot into the water. It +struck cold, and She drew it back again. Though unconscious of +being observed, an inbred sense of modesty induced her to veil +her charms; and She stood hesitating upon the brink, in the +attitude of the Venus de Medicis. At this moment a tame Linnet +flew towards her, nestled its head between her breasts, and +nibbled them in wanton play. The smiling Antonia strove in vain +to shake off the Bird, and at length raised her hands to drive it +from its delightful harbour. Ambrosio could bear no more: His +desires were worked up to phrenzy. + +'I yield!' He cried, dashing the mirror upon the ground: +'Matilda, I follow you! Do with me what you will!' + +She waited not to hear his consent repeated. It was already +midnight. She flew to her Cell, and soon returned with her +little basket and the Key of the Cemetery, which had remained in +her possession since her first visit to the Vaults. She gave the +Monk no time for reflection. + +'Come!' She said, and took his hand; 'Follow me, and witness the +effects of your resolve!' + +This said, She drew him hastily along. They passed into the +Burying-ground unobserved, opened the door of the Sepulchre, and +found themselves at the head of the subterraneous Staircase. As +yet the beams of the full Moon had guided their steps, but that +resource now failed them. Matilda had neglected to provide +herself with a Lamp. Still holding Ambrosio's hand She descended +the marble steps; But the profound obscurity with which they were +overspread obliged them to walk slow and cautiously. + +'You tremble!' said Matilda to her Companion; 'Fear not; The +destined spot is near.' + +They reached the foot of the Staircase, and continued to +proceed, feeling their way along the Walls. On turning a corner +suddenly, they descried faint gleams of light which seemed +burning at a distance. Thither they bent their steps: The rays +proceeded from a small sepulchral Lamp which flamed unceasingly +before the Statue of St. Clare. It tinged with dim and cheerless +beams the massy Columns which supported the Roof, but was too +feeble to dissipate the thick gloom in which the Vaults above +were buried. + +Matilda took the Lamp. + +'Wait for me!' said She to the Friar; 'In a few moments I am here +again.' + +With these words She hastened into one of the passages which +branched in various directions from this spot, and formed a sort +of Labyrinth. Ambrosio was now left alone: Darkness the most +profound surrounded him, and encouraged the doubts which began +to revive in his bosom. He had been hurried away by the delirium +of the moment: The shame of betraying his terrors, while in +Matilda's presence, had induced him to repress them; But now that +he was abandoned to himself, they resumed their former +ascendancy. He trembled at the scene which He was soon to +witness. He knew not how far the delusions of Magic might +operate upon his mind, and possibly might force him to some deed +whose commission would make the breach between himself and Heaven +irreparable. In this fearful dilemma, He would have implored +God's assistance, but was conscious that He had forfeited all +claim to such protection. Gladly would He have returned to the +Abbey; But as He had past through innumerable Caverns and winding +passages, the attempt of regaining the Stairs was hopeless. His +fate was determined: No possibility of escape presented itself: +He therefore combated his apprehensions, and called every +argument to his succour, which might enable him to support the +trying scene with fortitude. He reflected that Antonia would be +the reward of his daring: He inflamed his imagination by +enumerating her charms. He persuaded himself that (as Matilda +had observed), He always should have time sufficient for +repentance, and that as He employed HER assistance, not that of +the Daemons, the crime of Sorcery could not be laid to his +charge. He had read much respecting witchcraft: He understood +that unless a formal Act was signed renouncing his claim to +salvation, Satan would have no power over him. He was fully +determined not to execute any such act, whatever threats might be +used, or advantages held out to him. + +Such were his meditations while waiting for Matilda. They were +interrupted by a low murmur which seemed at no great distance +from him. He was startled. He listened. Some minutes past in +silence, after which the murmur was repeated. It appeared to be +the groaning of one in pain. In any other situation, this +circumstance would only have excited his attention and curiosity: + +In the present, his predominant sensation was that of terror. His +imagination totally engrossed by the ideas of sorcery and +Spirits, He fancied that some unquiet Ghost was wandering near +him; or else that Matilda had fallen a Victim to her presumption, +and was perishing under the cruel fangs of the Daemons. The +noise seemed not to approach, but continued to be heard at +intervals. Sometimes it became more audible, doubtless as the +sufferings of the person who uttered the groans became +more acute and insupportable. Ambrosio now and then thought +that He could distinguish accents; and once in particular He was +almost convinced that He heard a faint voice exclaim, + +'God! Oh! God! No hope! No succour!' + +Yet deeper groans followed these words. They died away +gradually, and universal silence again prevailed. + +'What can this mean?' thought the bewildered Monk. + +At that moment an idea which flashed into his mind, almost +petrified him with horror. He started, and shuddered at himself. + +'Should it be possible!' He groaned involuntarily; 'Should it but +be possible, Oh! what a Monster am I!' + +He wished to resolve his doubts, and to repair his fault, if it +were not too late already: But these generous and compassionate +sentiments were soon put to flight by the return of Matilda. He +forgot the groaning Sufferer, and remembered nothing but the +danger and embarrassment of his own situation. The light of the +returning Lamp gilded the walls, and in a few moments after +Matilda stood beside him. She had quitted her religious habit: +She was now cloathed in a long sable Robe, on which was traced in +gold embroidery a variety of unknown characters: It was fastened +by a girdle of precious stones, in which was fixed a poignard. +Her neck and arms were uncovered. In her hand She bore a golden +wand. Her hair was loose and flowed wildly upon her shoulders; +Her eyes sparkled with terrific expression; and her whole +Demeanour was calculated to inspire the beholder with awe and +admiration. + +'Follow me!' She said to the Monk in a low and solemn voice; 'All +is ready!' + +His limbs trembled, while He obeyed her. She led him through +various narrow passages; and on every side as they past along, +the beams of the Lamp displayed none but the most revolting +objects; Skulls, Bones, Graves, and Images whose eyes seemed to +glare on them with horror and surprize. At length they reached a +spacious Cavern, whose lofty roof the eye sought in vain to +discover. A profound obscurity hovered through the void. Damp +vapours struck cold to the Friar's heart; and He listened sadly +to the blast while it howled along the lonely Vaults. Here +Matilda stopped. She turned to Ambrosio. His cheeks and lips +were pale with apprehension. By a glance of mingled scorn and +anger She reproved his pusillanimity, but She spoke not. She +placed the Lamp upon the ground, near the Basket. She motioned +that Ambrosio should be silent, and began the mysterious rites. +She drew a circle round him, another round herself, and then +taking a small Phial from the Basket, poured a few drops upon the +ground before her. She bent over the place, muttered some +indistinct sentences, and immediately a pale sulphurous flame +arose from the ground. It increased by degrees, and at length +spread its waves over the whole surface, the circles alone +excepted in which stood Matilda and the Monk. It then ascended +the huge Columns of unhewn stone, glided along the roof, and +formed the Cavern into an immense chamber totally covered with +blue trembling fire. It emitted no heat: On the contrary, the +extreme chillness of the place seemed to augment with every +moment. Matilda continued her incantations: At intervals She +took various articles from the Basket, the nature and name of +most of which were unknown to the Friar: But among the few which +He distinguished, He particularly observed three human fingers, +and an Agnus Dei which She broke in pieces. She threw them all +into the flames which burned before her, and they were instantly +consumed. + +The Monk beheld her with anxious curiosity. Suddenly She uttered +a loud and piercing shriek. She appeared to be seized with an +access of delirium; She tore her hair, beat her bosom, used the +most frantic gestures, and drawing the poignard from her girdle +plunged it into her left arm. The blood gushed out plentifully, +and as She stood on the brink of the circle, She took care that +it should fall on the outside. The flames retired from the spot +on which the blood was pouring. A volume of dark clouds rose +slowly from the ensanguined earth, and ascended gradually, till +it reached the vault of the Cavern. At the same time a clap of +thunder was heard: The echo pealed fearfully along the +subterraneous passages, and the ground shook beneath the feet of +the Enchantress. + +It was now that Ambrosio repented of his rashness. The solemn +singularity of the charm had prepared him for something strange +and horrible. He waited with fear for the Spirit's appearance, +whose coming was announced by thunder and earthquakes. He looked +wildly round him, expecting that some dreadful Apparition would +meet his eyes, the sight of which would drive him mad. A cold +shivering seized his body, and He sank upon one knee, unable to +support himself. + +'He comes!' exclaimed Matilda in a joyful accent. + +Ambrosio started, and expected the Daemon with terror. What was +his surprize, when the Thunder ceasing to roll, a full strain of +melodious Music sounded in the air. At the same time the cloud +dispersed, and He beheld a Figure more beautiful than Fancy's +pencil ever drew. It was a Youth seemingly scarce eighteen, the +perfection of whose form and face was unrivalled. He was +perfectly naked: A bright Star sparkled upon his forehead; Two +crimson wings extended themselves from his shoulders; and his +silken locks were confined by a band of many-coloured fires, +which played round his head, formed themselves into a variety of +figures, and shone with a brilliance far surpassing that of +precious Stones. Circlets of Diamonds were fastened round his +arms and ankles, and in his right hand He bore a silver branch, +imitating Myrtle. His form shone with dazzling glory: He was +surrounded by clouds of rose-coloured light, and at the moment +that He appeared, a refreshing air breathed perfumes through the +Cavern. Enchanted at a vision so contrary to his expectations, +Ambrosio gazed upon the Spirit with delight and wonder: Yet +however beautiful the Figure, He could not but remark a wildness +in the Daemon's eyes, and a mysterious melancholy impressed upon +his features, betraying the Fallen Angel, and inspiring the +Spectators with secret awe. + +The Music ceased. Matilda addressed herself to the Spirit: She +spoke in a language unintelligible to the Monk, and was answered +in the same. She seemed to insist upon something which the +Daemon was unwilling to grant. He frequently darted upon +Ambrosio angry glances, and at such times the Friar's heart sank +within him. Matilda appeared to grow incensed. She spoke in a +loud and commanding tone, and her gestures declared that She was +threatening him with her vengeance. Her menaces had the desired +effect: The Spirit sank upon his knee, and with a submissive air +presented to her the branch of Myrtle. No sooner had She +received it, than the Music was again heard; A thick cloud spread +itself over the Apparition; The blue flames disappeared, and +total obscurity reigned through the Cave. The Abbot moved not +from his place: His faculties were all bound up in pleasure, +anxiety, and surprize. At length the darkness dispersing, He +perceived Matilda standing near him in her religious habit, with +the Myrtle in her hand. No traces of the incantation, and the +Vaults were only illuminated by the faint rays of the sepulchral +Lamp. + +'I have succeeded,' said Matilda, 'though with more difficulty +than I expected. Lucifer, whom I summoned to my assistance, was +at first unwilling to obey my commands: To enforce his compliance +I was constrained to have recourse to my strongest charms. They +have produced the desired effect, but I have engaged never more +to invoke his agency in your favour. Beware then, how you employ +an opportunity which never will return. My magic arts will now +be of no use to you: In future you can only hope for +supernatural aid by invoking the Daemons yourself, and accepting +the conditions of their service. This you will never do: You +want strength of mind to force them to obedience, and unless you +pay their established price, they will not be your voluntary +Servants. In this one instance they consent to obey you: I offer +you the means of enjoying your Mistress, and be careful not to +lose the opportunity. Receive this constellated Myrtle: While +you bear this in your hand, every door will fly open to you. It +will procure you access tomorrow night to Antonia's chamber: +Then breathe upon it thrice, pronounce her name, and place it +upon her pillow. A death-like slumber will immediately seize +upon her, and deprive her of the power of resisting your +attempts. Sleep will hold her till break of Morning. In this +state you may satisfy your desires without danger of being +discovered; since when daylight shall dispel the effects of the +enchantment, Antonia will perceive her dishonour, but be ignorant +of the Ravisher. Be happy then, my Ambrosio, and let this +service convince you that my friendship is disinterested and +pure. The night must be near expiring: Let us return to the +Abbey, lest our absence should create surprize.' + +The Abbot received the talisman with silent gratitude. His ideas +were too much bewildered by the adventures of the night to +permit his expressing his thanks audibly, or indeed as yet to +feel the whole value of her present. Matilda took up her Lamp +and Basket, and guided her Companion from the mysterious Cavern. +She restored the Lamp to its former place, and continued her +route in darkness, till She reached the foot of the Staircase. +The first beams of the rising Sun darting down it facilitated the +ascent. Matilda and the Abbot hastened out of the Sepulchre, +closed the door after them, and soon regained the Abbey's western +Cloister. No one met them, and they retired unobserved to their +respective Cells. + +The confusion of Ambrosio's mind now began to appease. He +rejoiced in the fortunate issue of his adventure, and reflecting +upon the virtues of the Myrtle, looked upon Antonia as already in +his power. Imagination retraced to him those secret charms +betrayed to him by the Enchanted Mirror, and He waited with +impatience for the approach of midnight. + + + + +VOLUME III + +CHAPTER I + +The crickets sing, and Man's o'er-laboured sense +Repairs itself by rest: Our Tarquin thus +Did softly press the rushes, ere He wakened +The chastity He wounded--Cytherea, +How bravely thou becom'st thy bed! Fresh Lily! +And whiter than the sheets! + Cymbeline. + +All the researches of the Marquis de las Cisternas proved vain: +Agnes was lost to him for ever. Despair produced so violent an +effect upon his constitution, that the consequence was a long and +severe illness. This prevented him from visiting Elvira as He +had intended; and She being ignorant of the cause of his neglect, +it gave her no trifling uneasiness. His Sister's death had +prevented Lorenzo from communicating to his Uncle his designs +respecting Antonia: The injunctions of her Mother forbad his +presenting himself to her without the Duke's consent; and as She +heard no more of him or his proposals, Elvira conjectured that He +had either met with a better match, or had been commanded to give +up all thoughts of her Daughter. Every day made her more uneasy +respecting Antonia's fate: While She retained the Abbot's +protection, She bore with fortitude the disappointment of her +hopes with regard to Lorenzo and the Marquis. That resource now +failed her. She was convinced that Ambrosio had meditated her +Daughter's ruin: And when She reflected that her death would +leave Antonia friendless and unprotected in a world so base, so +perfidious and depraved, her heart swelled with the bitterness of +apprehension. At such times She would sit for hours gazing upon +the lovely Girl; and seeming to listen to her innocent prattle, +while in reality her thoughts dwelt upon the sorrows into which +a moment would suffice to plunge her. Then She would clasp her +in her arms suddenly, lean her head upon her Daughter's bosom, +and bedew it with her tears. + +An event was in preparation which, had She known it, would have +relieved her from her inquietude. Lorenzo now waited only for a +favourable opportunity to inform the Duke of his intended +marriage: However, a circumstance which occurred at this period, +obliged him to delay his explanation for a few days longer. + +Don Raymond's malady seemed to gain ground. Lorenzo was +constantly at his bedside, and treated him with a tenderness +truly fraternal. Both the cause and effects of the disorder were +highly afflicting to the Brother of Agnes: yet Theodore's grief +was scarcely less sincere. That amiable Boy quitted not his +Master for a moment, and put every means in practice to console +and alleviate his sufferings. The Marquis had conceived so +rooted an affection for his deceased Mistress, that it was +evident to all that He never could survive her loss: Nothing +could have prevented him from sinking under his grief but the +persuasion of her being still alive, and in need of his +assistance. Though convinced of its falsehood, his Attendants +encouraged him in a belief which formed his only comfort. He +was assured daily that fresh perquisitions were making +respecting the fate of Agnes: Stories were invented recounting +the various attempts made to get admittance into the Convent; and +circumstances were related which, though they did not promise her +absolute recovery, at least were sufficient to keep his hopes +alive. The Marquis constantly fell into the most terrible excess +of passion when informed of the failure of these supposed +attempts. Still He would not credit that the succeeding ones +would have the same fate, but flattered himself that the next +would prove more fortunate. + +Theodore was the only one who exerted himself to realize his +Master's Chimoeras. He was eternally busied in planning schemes +for entering the Convent, or at least of obtaining from the Nuns +some intelligence of Agnes. To execute these schemes was the +only inducement which could prevail on him to quit Don Raymond. +He became a very Proteus, changing his shape every day; but all +his metamorphoses were to very little purpose: He regularly +returned to the Palace de las Cisternas without any intelligence +to confirm his Master's hopes. One day He took it into his head +to disguise himself as a Beggar. He put a patch over his left +eye, took his Guitar in hand, and posted himself at the Gate of +the Convent. + +'If Agnes is really confined in the Convent,' thought He, 'and +hears my voice, She will recollect it, and possibly may find +means to let me know that She is here.' + +With this idea He mingled with a crowd of Beggars who assembled +daily at the Gate of St. Clare to receive Soup, which the Nuns +were accustomed to distribute at twelve o'clock. All were +provided with jugs or bowls to carry it away; But as Theodore had +no utensil of this kind, He begged leave to eat his portion at +the Convent door. This was granted without difficulty: His +sweet voice, and in spite of his patched eye, his engaging +countenance, won the heart of the good old Porteress, who, aided +by a Lay-Sister, was busied in serving to each his Mess. +Theodore was bad to stay till the Others should depart, and +promised that his request should then be granted. The Youth +desired no better, since it was not to eat Soup that He presented +himself at the Convent. He thanked the Porteress for her +permission, retired from the Door, and seating himself upon a +large stone, amused himself in tuning his Guitar while the +Beggars were served. + +As soon as the Crowd was gone, Theodore was beckoned to the Gate, +and desired to come in. He obeyed with infinite readiness, but +affected great respect at passing the hallowed Threshold, and to +be much daunted by the presence of the Reverend Ladies. His +feigned timidity flattered the vanity of the Nuns, who +endeavoured to reassure him. The Porteress took him into her +awn little Parlour: In the meanwhile, the Lay-Sister went to +the Kitchen, and soon returned with a double portion of Soup, of +better quality than what was given to the Beggars. His Hostess +added some fruits and confections from her own private store, and +Both encouraged the Youth to dine heartily. To all these +attentions He replied with much seeming gratitude, and abundance +of blessings upon his benefactresses. While He ate, the Nuns +admired the delicacy of his features, the beauty of his hair, and +the sweetness and grace which accompanied all his actions. They +lamented to each other in whispers, that so charming a Youth +should be exposed to the seductions of the World, and agreed, +that He would be a worthy Pillar of the Catholic Church. They +concluded their conference by resolving that Heaven would be +rendered a real service if they entreated the Prioress to +intercede with Ambrosio for the Beggar's admission into the order +of Capuchins. + +This being determined, the Porteress, who was a person of great +influence in the Convent, posted away in all haste to the +Domina's Cell. Here She made so flaming a narrative of +Theodore's merits that the old Lady grew curious to see him. +Accordingly, the Porteress was commissioned to convey him to the +Parlour grate. In the interim, the supposed Beggar was sifting +the Lay-Sister with respect to the fate of Agnes: Her evidence +only corroborated the Domina's assertions. She said that Agnes +had been taken ill on returning from confession, had never +quitted her bed from that moment, and that She had herself been +present at the Funeral. She even attested having seen her dead +body, and assisted with her own hands in adjusting it upon the +Bier. This account discouraged Theodore: Yet as He had pushed +the adventure so far, He resolved to witness its conclusion. + +The Porteress now returned, and ordered him to follow her. He +obeyed, and was conducted into the Parlour, where the Lady +Prioress was already posted at the Grate. The Nuns surrounded +her, who all flocked with eagerness to a scene which promised +some diversion. Theodore saluted them with profound respect, and +his presence had the power to smooth for a moment even the stern +brow of the Superior. She asked several questions respecting his +Parents, his religion, and what had reduced him to a state of +Beggary. To these demands his answers were perfectly +satisfactory and perfectly false. He was then asked his opinion +of a monastic life: He replied in terms of high estimation and +respect for it. Upon this, the Prioress told him that his +obtaining an entrance into a religious order was not impossible; +that her recommendation would not permit his poverty to be an +obstacle, and that if She found him deserving it, He might depend +in future upon her protection. Theodore assured her that to +merit her favour would be his highest ambition; and having +ordered him to return next day, when She would talk with him +further, the Domina quitted the Parlour. + +The Nuns, whom respect for the Superior had till then kept +silent, now crowded all together to the Grate, and assailed the +Youth with a multitude of questions. He had already examined +each with attention: Alas! Agnes was not amongst them. The Nuns +heaped question upon question so thickly that it was scarcely +possible for him to reply. One asked where He was born, since +his accent declared him to be a Foreigner: Another wanted to +know, why He wore a patch upon his left eye: Sister Helena +enquired whether He had not a Sister like him, because She should +like such a Companion; and Sister Rachael was fully persuaded +that the Brother would be the pleasanter Companion of the Two. +Theodore amused himself with retailing to the credulous Nuns for +truths all the strange stories which his imagination could +invent. He related to them his supposed adventures, and +penetrated every Auditor with astonishment, while He talked of +Giants, Savages, Ship-wrecks, and Islands inhabited + + 'By Anthropophagi, and Men whose heads + Do grow beneath their shoulders,' + +With many other circumstances to the full as remarkable. He said, +that He was born in Terra Incognita, was educated at an Hottentot +University, and had past two years among the Americans of +Silesia. + +'For what regards the loss of my eye' said He, 'it was a just +punishment upon me for disrespect to the Virgin, when I made my +second pilgrimage to Loretto. I stood near the Altar in the +miraculous Chapel: The Monks were proceeding to array the Statue +in her best apparel. The Pilgrims were ordered to close their +eyes during this ceremony: But though by nature extremely +religious, curiosity was too powerful. At the moment . . . . . I +shall penetrate you with horror, reverend Ladies, when I reveal +my crime! . . . . At the moment that the Monks were changing her +shift, I ventured to open my left eye, and gave a little peep +towards the Statue. That look was my last! The Glory which +surrounded the Virgin was too great to be supported. I hastily +shut my sacrilegious eye, and never have been able to unclose it +since!' + +At the relation of this miracle the Nuns all crossed themselves, +and promised to intercede with the blessed Virgin for the +recovery of his sight. They expressed their wonder at the extent +of his travels, and at the strange adventures which He had met +with at so early an age. They now remarked his Guitar, and +enquired whether he was an adept in Music. He replied with +modesty that it was not for him to decide upon his talents, but +requested permission to appeal to them as Judges. This was +granted without difficulty. + +'But at least,' said the old Porteress, 'take care not to sing +any thing profane.' + +'You may depend upon my discretion,' replied Theodore: 'You shall +hear how dangerous it is for young Women to abandon themselves +to their passions, illustrated by the adventure of a Damsel who +fell suddenly in love with an unknown Knight.' + +'But is the adventure true?' enquired the Porteress. + +'Every word of it. It happened in Denmark, and the Heroine was +thought so beautiful that She was known by no other name but +that of ''the lovely Maid''.' + +'In Denmark, say you?' mumbled an old Nun; 'Are not the People +all Blacks in Denmark?' + +'By no means, reverend Lady; They are of a delicate pea-green +with flame-coloured hair and whiskers.' + +'Mother of God! Pea-green?' exclaimed Sister Helena; 'Oh! 'tis +impossible!' + +'Impossible?' said the Porteress with a look of contempt and +exultation: 'Not at all: When I was a young Woman, I remember +seeing several of them myself.' + +Theodore now put his instrument in proper order. He had read the +story of a King of England whose prison was discovered by a +Minstrel; and He hoped that the same scheme would enable him to +discover Agnes, should She be in the Convent. He chose a Ballad +which She had taught him herself in the Castle of Lindenberg: She +might possibly catch the sound, and He hoped to hear her replying +to some of the Stanzas. His Guitar was now in tune, and He +prepared to strike it. + +'But before I begin,' said He 'it is necessary to inform you, +Ladies, that this same Denmark is terribly infested by Sorcerers, +Witches, and Evil Spirits. Every element possesses its +appropriate Daemons. The Woods are haunted by a malignant power, +called ''the Erl- or Oak-King:'' He it is who blights the Trees, +spoils the Harvest, and commands the Imps and Goblins: He +appears in the form of an old Man of majestic figure, with a +golden Crown and long white beard: His principal amusement is to +entice young Children from their Parents, and as soon as He gets +them into his Cave, He tears them into a thousand pieces--The +Rivers are governed by another Fiend, called ''the Water-King:'' +His province is to agitate the deep, occasion ship-wrecks, and +drag the drowning Sailors beneath the waves: He wears the +appearance of a Warrior, and employs himself in luring young +Virgins into his snare: What He does with them, when He catches +them in the water, Reverend Ladies, I leave for you to +imagine--''The Fire-King'' seems to be a Man all formed of +flames: He raises the Meteors and wandering lights which +beguile Travellers into ponds and marshes, and He directs the +lightning where it may do most mischief--The last of these +elementary Daemons is called ''the Cloud-King;'' His figure is +that of a beautiful Youth, and He is distinguished by two large +sable Wings: Though his outside is so enchanting, He is not a +bit better disposed than the Others: He is continually employed +in raising Storms, tearing up Forests by the roots, and blowing +Castles and Convents about the ears of their Inhabitants. The +First has a Daughter, who is Queen of the Elves and Fairies; The +Second has a Mother, who is a powerful Enchantress: Neither of +these Ladies are worth more than the Gentlemen: I do not +remember to have heard any family assigned to the two other +Daemons, but at present I have no business with any of them +except the Fiend of the Waters. He is the Hero of my Ballad; but +I thought it necessary before I began, to give you some account +of his proceedings--' + +Theodore then played a short symphony; After which, stretching +his voice to its utmost extent to facilitate its reaching the ear +of Agnes, He sang the following Stanzas. + +THE WATER-KING + +A DANISH BALLAD + +With gentle murmur flowed the Tide, +While by the fragrant flowery side +The lovely Maid with carols gay +To Mary's Church pursued her way. + +The Water-Fiend's malignant eye +Along the Banks beheld her hie; +Straight to his Mother-witch He sped, +And thus in suppliant accents said: + +'Oh! Mother! Mother! now advise, +How I may yonder Maid surprize: +Oh! Mother! Mother! Now explain, +How I may yonder Maid obtain.' + +The Witch She gave him armour white; +She formed him like a gallant Knight; +Of water clear next made her hand +A Steed, whose housings were of sand. + +The Water-King then swift He went; +To Mary's Church his steps He bent: +He bound his Courser to the Door, +And paced the Church-yard three times four. + +His Courser to the door bound He, +And paced the Church-yard four time three: +Then hastened up the Aisle, where all +The People flocked, both great and small. + +The Priest said, as the Knight drew near, +'And wherefore comes the white Chief here?' +The lovely Maid She smiled aside; +'Oh! would I were the white Chief's Bride!' + +He stept o'er Benches one and two; +'Oh! lovely Maid, I die for You!' +He stept o'er Benches two and three; +'Oh! lovely Maiden, go with me!' + +Then sweet She smiled, the lovely Maid, +And while She gave her hand, She said, +'Betide me joy, betide me woe, +O'er Hill, o'er dale, with thee I go.' + +The Priest their hands together joins: +They dance, while clear the moon-beam shines; +And little thinks the Maiden bright, +Her Partner is the Water-spright. + +Oh! had some spirit deigned to sing, +'Your Partner is the Water-King!' +The Maid had fear and hate confest, +And cursed the hand which then She prest. + +But nothing giving cause to think, +How near She strayed to danger's brink, +Still on She went, and hand in hand +The Lovers reached the yellow sand. + +'Ascend this Steed with me, my Dear; +We needs must cross the streamlet here; +Ride boldly in; It is not deep; +The winds are hushed, the billows sleep.' + +Thus spoke the Water-King. The Maid +Her Traitor-Bride-groom's wish obeyed: +And soon She saw the Courser lave +Delighted in his parent wave. + +'Stop! Stop! my Love! The waters blue +E'en now my shrinking foot bedew!' +'Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet Heart! +We now have reached the deepest part.' + +'Stop! Stop! my Love! For now I see +The waters rise above my knee.' +'Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet Heart! +We now have reached the deepest part.' + +'Stop! Stop! for God's sake, stop! For Oh! +The waters o'er my bosom flow!'-- +Scarce was the word pronounced, when Knight +And Courser vanished from her sight. + +She shrieks, but shrieks in vain; for high +The wild winds rising dull the cry; +The Fiend exults; The Billows dash, +And o'er their hapless Victim wash. + +Three times while struggling with the stream, +The lovely Maid was heard to scream; +But when the Tempest's rage was o'er, +The lovely Maid was seen no more. + +Warned by this Tale, ye Damsels fair, +To whom you give your love beware! +Believe not every handsome Knight, +And dance not with the Water-Spright! + + +The Youth ceased to sing. The Nuns were delighted with the +sweetness of his voice and masterly manner of touching the +Instrument: But however acceptable this applause would have been +at any other time, at present it was insipid to Theodore. His +artifice had not succeeded. He paused in vain between the +Stanzas: No voice replied to his, and He abandoned the hope of +equalling Blondel. + +The Convent Bell now warned the Nuns that it was time to +assemble in the Refectory. They were obliged to quit the Grate; +They thanked the Youth for the entertainment which his Music had +afforded them, and charged him to return the next day. This He +promised: The Nuns, to give him the greater inclination to keep +his word, told him that He might always depend upon the Convent +for his meals, and each of them made him some little present. +One gave him a box of sweetmeats; Another, an Agnus Dei; Some +brought reliques of Saints, waxen Images, and consecrated +Crosses; and Others presented him with pieces of those works in +which the Religious excel, such as embroidery, artificial +flowers, lace, and needlework. All these He was advised to +sell, in order to put himself into better case; and He was +assured that it would be easy to dispose of them, since the +Spaniards hold the performances of the Nuns in high estimation. +Having received these gifts with seeming respect and gratitude, +He remarked that, having no Basket, He knew not how to convey +them away. Several of the Nuns were hastening in search of one, +when they were stopped by the return of an elderly Woman, whom +Theodore had not till then observed: Her mild countenance, and +respectable air prejudiced him immediately in her favour. + +'Hah!' said the Porteress; 'Here comes the Mother St. Ursula with +a Basket.' + +The Nun approached the Grate, and presented the Basket to +Theodore: It was of willow, lined with blue satin, and upon the +four sides were painted scenes from the legend of St. Genevieve. + +'Here is my gift,' said She, as She gave it into his hand; 'Good +Youth, despise it not; Though its value seems insignificant, it +has many hidden virtues.' + +She accompanied these words with an expressive look. It was not +lost upon Theodore; In receiving the present, He drew as near the +Grate as possible. + +'Agnes!' She whispered in a voice scarcely intelligible. +Theodore, however, caught the sound: He concluded that some +mystery was concealed in the Basket, and his heart beat with +impatience and joy. At this moment the Domina returned. Her air +was gloomy and frowning, and She looked if possible more stern +than ever. + +'Mother St. Ursula, I would speak with you in private.' + +The Nun changed colour, and was evidently disconcerted. + +'With me?' She replied in a faltering voice. + +The Domina motioned that She must follow her, and retired. The +Mother St. Ursula obeyed her; Soon after, the Refectory Bell +ringing a second time, the Nuns quitted the Grate, and Theodore +was left at liberty to carry off his prize. Delighted that at +length He had obtained some intelligence for the Marquis, He flew +rather than ran, till He reached the Hotel de las Cisternas. In +a few minutes He stood by his Master's Bed with the Basket in his +hand. Lorenzo was in the chamber, endeavouring to reconcile his +Friend to a misfortune which He felt himself but too severely. +Theodore related his adventure, and the hopes which had been +created by the Mother St. Ursula's gift. The Marquis started +from +his pillow: That fire which since the death of Agnes had been +extinguished, now revived in his bosom, and his eyes sparkled +with the eagerness of expectation. The emotions which Lorenzo's +countenance betrayed, were scarcely weaker, and He waited with +inexpressible impatience for the solution of this mystery. +Raymond caught the basket from the hands of his Page: He emptied +the contents upon the bed, and examined them with minute +attention. He hoped that a letter would be found at the bottom; +Nothing of the kind appeared. The search was resumed, and still +with no better success. At length Don Raymond observed that one +corner of the blue satin lining was unripped; He tore it open +hastily, and drew forth a small scrap of paper neither folded or +sealed. It was addressed to the Marquis de las Cisternas, and +the contents were as follows. + +Having recognised your Page, I venture to send these few lines. +Procure an order from the Cardinal-Duke for seizing my Person, +and that of the Domina; But let it not be executed till Friday at +midnight. It is the Festival of St. Clare: There will be a +procession of Nuns by torch-light, and I shall be among them. +Beware not to let your intention be known: Should a syllable be +dropt to excite the Domina's suspicions, you will never hear of +me more. Be cautious, if you prize the memory of Agnes, and wish +to punish her Assassins. I have that to tell, will freeze your +blood with horror. St. Ursula. + +No sooner had the Marquis read the note than He fell back upon +his pillow deprived of sense or motion. The hope failed him +which till now had supported his existence; and these lines +convinced him but too positively that Agnes was indeed no more. +Lorenzo felt this circumstance less forcibly, since it had always +been his idea that his Sister had perished by unfair means. When +He found by the Mother St. Ursula's letter how true were his +suspicions, the confirmation excited no other sentiment in his +bosom than a wish to punish the Murderers as they deserved. It +was no easy task to recall the Marquis to himself. As soon as He +recovered his speech, He broke out into execrations against the +Assassins of his Beloved, and vowed to take upon them a signal +vengeance. He continued to rave and torment himself with +impotent passion till his constitution, enfeebled by grief and +illness, could support itself no longer, and He relapsed into +insensibility. His melancholy situation sincerely affected +Lorenzo, who would willingly have remained in the apartment of +his Friend; But other cares now demanded his presence. It was +necessary to procure the order for seizing the Prioress of St. +Clare. For this purpose, having committed Raymond to the care of +the best Physicians in Madrid, He quitted the Hotel de las +Cisternas, and bent his course towards the Palace of the +Cardinal-Duke. + +His disappointment was excessive, when He found that affairs of +State had obliged the Cardinal to set out for a distant Province. + +It wanted but five to Friday: Yet by travelling day and night, +He hoped to return in time for the Pilgrimage of St. Clare. In +this He succeeded. He found the Cardinal-Duke; and represented +to him the supposed culpability of the Prioress, as also the +violent effects which it had produced upon Don Raymond. He could +have used no argument so forcible as this last. Of all his +Nephews, the Marquis was the only one to whom the Cardinal-Duke +was sincerely attached: He perfectly doated upon him, and the +Prioress could have committed no greater crime in his eyes than +to have endangered the life of the Marquis. Consequently, He +granted the order of arrest without difficulty: He also gave +Lorenzo a letter to a principal Officer of the Inquisition, +desiring him to see his mandate executed. Furnished with these +papers, Medina hastened back to Madrid, which He reached on the +Friday a few hours before dark. He found the Marquis somewhat +easier, but so weak and exhausted that without great exertion He +could neither speak or more. Having past an hour by his Bedside, +Lorenzo left him to communicate his design to his Uncle, as also +to give Don Ramirez de Mello the Cardinal's letter. The First +was petrified with horror when He learnt the fate of his unhappy +Niece: He encouraged Lorenzo to punish her Assassins, and +engaged to accompany him at night to St. Clare's Convent. Don +Ramirez promised his firmest support, and selected a band of +trusty Archers to prevent opposition on the part of the Populace. + +But while Lorenzo was anxious to unmask one religious Hypocrite, +He was unconscious of the sorrows prepared for him by Another. +Aided by Matilda's infernal Agents, Ambrosio had resolved upon +the innocent Antonia's ruin. The moment destined to be so fatal +to her arrived. She had taken leave of her Mother for the night. + +As She kissed her, She felt an unusual despondency infuse itself +into her bosom. She left her, and returned to her instantly, +threw herself into her maternal arms, and bathed her cheek with +tears: She felt uneasy at quitting her, and a secret +presentiment assured her that never must they meet again. Elvira +observed, and tried to laugh her out of this childish prejudice: +She chid her mildly for encouraging such ungrounded sadness, and +warned her how dangerous it was to encourage such ideas. + +To all her remonstrances She received no other answer than, + +'Mother! Dear Mother! Oh! would to God, it were Morning!' + +Elvira, whose inquietude respecting her Daughter was a great +obstacle to her perfect reestablishment, was still labouring +under the effects of her late severe illness. She was this +Evening more than usually indisposed, and retired to bed before +her accustomed hour. Antonia withdrew from her Mother's chamber +with regret, and till the Door closed, kept her eyes fixed upon +her with melancholy expression. She retired to her own +apartment; Her heart was filled with bitterness: It seemed to +her that all her prospects were blasted, and the world contained +nothing for which it was worth existing. She sank into a Chair, +reclined her head upon her arm, and gazed upon the floor with a +vacant stare, while the most gloomy images floated before her +fancy. She was still in this state of insensibility when She +was disturbed by hearing a strain of soft Music breathed beneath +her window. She rose, drew near the Casement, and opened it to +hear it more distinctly. Having thrown her veil over her face, +She ventured to look out. By the light of the Moon She perceived +several Men below with Guitars and Lutes in their hands; and at a +little distance from them stood Another wrapped in his cloak, +whose stature and appearance bore a strong resemblance to +Lorenzo's. She was not deceived in this conjecture. It was +indeed Lorenzo himself, who bound by his word not to present +himself to Antonia without his Uncle's consent, endeavoured by +occasional Serenades, to convince his Mistress that his +attachment still existed. His stratagem had not the desired +effect. Antonia was far from supposing that this nightly music +was intended as a compliment to her: She was too modest to think +herself worthy such attentions; and concluding them to be +addressed to some neighbouring Lady, She grieved to find that +they were offered by Lorenzo. + +The air which was played, was plaintive and melodious. It +accorded with the state of Antonia's mind, and She listened with +pleasure. After a symphony of some length, it was succeeded by +the sound of voices, and Antonia distinguished the following +words. + +SERENADE + + Chorus + +Oh! Breathe in gentle strain, my Lyre! +'Tis here that Beauty loves to rest: +Describe the pangs of fond desire, +Which rend a faithful Lover's breast. + + Song + +In every heart to find a Slave, +In every Soul to fix his reign, +In bonds to lead the wise and brave, +And make the Captives kiss his chain, +Such is the power of Love, and Oh! +I grieve so well Love's power to know. + +In sighs to pass the live-long day, +To taste a short and broken sleep, +For one dear Object far away, +All others scorned, to watch and weep, +Such are the pains of Love, and Oh! +I grieve so well Love's pains to know! + +To read consent in virgin eyes, +To press the lip ne'er prest till then +To hear the sigh of transport rise, +And kiss, and kiss, and kiss again, +Such are thy pleasures, Love, But Oh! +When shall my heart thy pleasures know? + + Chorus + +Now hush, my Lyre! My voice be still! +Sleep, gentle Maid! May fond desire +With amorous thoughts thy visions fill, +Though still my voice, and hushed my Lyre. + +The Music ceased: The Performers dispersed, and silence +prevailed through the Street. Antonia quitted the window with +regret: She as usual recommended herself to the protection of +St. Rosolia, said her accustomed prayers, and retired to bed. +Sleep was not long absent, and his presence relieved her from her +terrors and inquietude + +It was almost two o'clock before the lustful Monk ventured to +bend his steps towards Antonia's dwelling. It has been already +mentioned that the Abbey was at no great distance from the +Strada di San Iago. He reached the House unobserved. Here He +stopped, and hesitated for a moment. He reflected on the +enormity of the crime, the consequences of a discovery, and the +probability, after what had passed, of Elvira's suspecting him to +be her Daughter's Ravisher: On the other hand it was suggested +that She could do no more than suspect; that no proofs of his +guilt could be produced; that it would seem impossible for the +rape to have been committed without Antonia's knowing when, +where, or by whom; and finally, He believed that his fame was too +firmly established to be shaken by the unsupported accusations of +two unknown Women. This latter argument was perfectly false: He +knew not how uncertain is the air of popular applause, and that a +moment suffices to make him today the detestation of the world, +who yesterday was its Idol. The result of the Monk's +deliberations was that He should proceed in his enterprize. He +ascended the steps leading to the House. No sooner did He touch +the door with the silver Myrtle, than it flew open, and presented +him with a free passage. He entered, and the door closed after +him of its own accord. + +Guided by the moonbeams, He proceeded up the Staircase with +slow and cautious steps. He looked round him every moment with +apprehension and anxiety. He saw a Spy in every shadow, and +heard a voice in every murmur of the night breeze. Consciousness +of the guilty business on which He was employed appalled his +heart, and rendered it more timid than a Woman's. Yet still He +proceeded. He reached the door of Antonia's chamber. He stopped, +and listened. All was hushed within. The total silence +persuaded him that his intended Victim was retired to rest, and +He ventured to lift up the Latch. The door was fastened, and +resisted his efforts: But no sooner was it touched by the +Talisman, than the Bolt flew back. The Ravisher stept on, and +found himself in the chamber, where slept the innocent Girl, +unconscious how dangerous a Visitor was drawing near her Couch. +The door closed after him, and the Bolt shot again into its +fastening. + +Ambrosio advanced with precaution. He took care that not a board +should creak under his foot, and held in his breath as He +approached the Bed. His first attention was to perform the magic +ceremony, as Matilda had charged him: He breathed thrice upon +the silver Myrtle, pronounced over it Antonia's name, and laid it +upon her pillow. The effects which it had already produced +permitted not his doubting its success in prolonging the slumbers +of his devoted Mistress. No sooner was the enchantment +performed than He considered her to be absolutely in his power, +and his eyes flamed with lust and impatience. He now ventured to +cast a glance upon the sleeping Beauty. A single Lamp, burning +before the Statue of St. Rosolia, shed a faint light through the +room, and permitted him to examine all the charms of the lovely +Object before him. The heat of the weather had obliged her to +throw off part of the Bed-cloathes: Those which still covered +her, Ambrosio's insolent hand hastened to remove. She lay with +her cheek reclining upon one ivory arm; The Other rested on the +side of the Bed with graceful indolence. A few tresses of her +hair had escaped from beneath the Muslin which confined the rest, +and fell carelessly over her bosom, as it heaved with slow and +regular suspiration. The warm air had spread her cheek with +higher colour than usual. A smile inexpressibly sweet played +round her ripe and coral lips, from which every now and then +escaped a gentle sigh or an half-pronounced sentence. An air of +enchanting innocence and candour pervaded her whole form; and +there was a sort of modesty in her very nakedness which added +fresh stings to the desires of the lustful Monk. + +He remained for some moments devouring those charms with his +eyes which soon were to be subjected to his ill-regulated +passions. Her mouth half-opened seemed to solicit a kiss: He +bent over her; he joined his lips to hers, and drew in the +fragrance of her breath with rapture. This momentary pleasure +increased his longing for still greater. His desires were raised +to that frantic height by which Brutes are agitated. He +resolved not to delay for one instant longer the accomplishment +of his wishes, and hastily proceeded to tear off those garments +which impeded the gratification of his lust. + +'Gracious God!' exclaimed a voice behind him; 'Am I not deceived? + +Is not this an illusion?' + +Terror, confusion, and disappointment accompanied these words, as +they struck Ambrosio's hearing. He started, and turned towards +it. Elvira stood at the door of the chamber, and regarded the +Monk with looks of surprize and detestation. + +A frightful dream had represented to her Antonia on the verge of +a precipice. She saw her trembling on the brink: Every moment +seemed to threaten her fall, and She heard her exclaim with +shrieks, 'Save me, Mother! Save me!--Yet a moment, and it will be +too late!' Elvira woke in terror. The vision had made too +strong an impression upon her mind, to permit her resting till +assured of her Daughter's safety. She hastily started from her +Bed, threw on a loose night-gown, and passing through the Closet +in which slept the Waiting-woman, She reached Antonia's chamber +just in time to rescue her from the grasp of the Ravisher. + +His shame and her amazement seemed to have petrified into Statues +both Elvira and the Monk: They remained gazing upon each other +in silence. The Lady was the first to recover herself. + +'It is no dream!' She cried; 'It is really Ambrosio, who stands +before me! It is the Man whom Madrid esteems a Saint, that I +find at this late hour near the Couch of my unhappy Child! +Monster of Hypocrisy! I already suspected your designs, but +forbore your accusation in pity to human frailty. Silence would +now be criminal: The whole City shall be informed of your +incontinence. I will unmask you, Villain, and convince the +Church what a Viper She cherishes in her bosom.' + +Pale and confused the baffled Culprit stood trembling before her. + +He would fain have extenuated his offence, but could find no +apology for his conduct: He could produce nothing but broken +sentences, and excuses which contradicted each other. Elvira was +too justly incensed to grant the pardon which He requested. She +protested that She would raise the neighbourhood, and make him an +example to all future Hypocrites. Then hastening to the Bed, She +called to Antonia to wake; and finding that her voice had no +effect, She took her arm, and raised her forcibly from the +pillow. The charm operated too powerfully. Antonia remained +insensible, and on being released by her Mother, sank back upon +the pillow. + +'This slumber cannot be natural!' cried the amazed Elvira, whose +indignation increased with every moment. 'Some mystery is +concealed in it; But tremble, Hypocrite; all your villainy shall +soon be unravelled! Help! Help!' She exclaimed aloud; 'Within +there! Flora! Flora!' + +'Hear me for one moment, Lady!' cried the Monk, restored to +himself by the urgency of the danger; 'By all that is sacred and +holy, I swear that your Daughter's honour is still unviolated. +Forgive my transgression! Spare me the shame of a discovery, and +permit me to regain the Abbey undisturbed. Grant me this request +in mercy! I promise not only that Antonia shall be secure from +me in future, but that the rest of my life shall prove . . . . .' + +Elvira interrupted him abruptly. + +'Antonia secure from you? _I_ will secure her! You shall betray +no longer the confidence of Parents! Your iniquity shall be +unveiled to the public eye: All Madrid shall shudder at your +perfidy, your hypocrisy and incontinence. What Ho! there! Flora! +Flora, I say!' + +While She spoke thus, the remembrance of Agnes struck upon his +mind. Thus had She sued to him for mercy, and thus had He +refused her prayer! It was now his turn to suffer, and He could +not but acknowledge that his punishment was just. In the +meanwhile Elvira continued to call Flora to her assistance; but +her voice was so choaked with passion that the Servant, who was +buried in profound slumber, was insensible to all her cries: +Elvira dared not go towards the Closet in which Flora slept, lest +the Monk should take that opportunity to escape. Such indeed was +his intention: He trusted that could He reach the Abbey +unobserved by any other than Elvira, her single testimony would +not suffice to ruin a reputation so well established as his was +in Madrid. With this idea He gathered up such garments as He had +already thrown off, and hastened towards the Door. Elvira was +aware of his design; She followed him, and ere He could draw back +the bolt, seized him by the arm, and detained him. + +'Attempt not to fly!' said She; 'You quit not this room without +Witnesses of your guilt.' + +Ambrosio struggled in vain to disengage himself. Elvira quitted +not her hold, but redoubled her cries for succour. The Friar's +danger grew more urgent. He expected every moment to hear people +assembling at her voice; And worked up to madness by the approach +of ruin, He adopted a resolution equally desperate and savage. +Turning round suddenly, with one hand He grasped Elvira's throat +so as to prevent her continuing her clamour, and with the other, +dashing her violently upon the ground, He dragged her towards the +Bed. Confused by this unexpected attack, She scarcely had power +to strive at forcing herself from his grasp: While the Monk, +snatching the pillow from beneath her Daughter's head, covering +with it Elvira's face, and pressing his knee upon her stomach +with all his strength, endeavoured to put an end to her +existence. He succeeded but too well. Her natural strength +increased by the excess of anguish, long did the Sufferer +struggle to disengage herself, but in vain. The Monk continued +to kneel upon her breast, witnessed without mercy the convulsive +trembling of her limbs beneath him, and sustained with inhuman +firmness the spectacle of her agonies, when soul and body were on +the point of separating. Those agonies at length were over. She +ceased to struggle for life. The Monk took off the pillow, and +gazed upon her. Her face was covered with a frightful blackness: + +Her limbs moved no more; The blood was chilled in her veins; Her +heart had forgotten to beat, and her hands were stiff and frozen. + +Ambrosio beheld before him that once noble and majestic form, now +become a Corse, cold, senseless and disgusting. + +This horrible act was no sooner perpetrated, than the Friar +beheld the enormity of his crime. A cold dew flowed over his +limbs; his eyes closed; He staggered to a chair, and sank into it +almost as lifeless as the Unfortunate who lay extended at his +feet. From this state He was rouzed by the necessity of flight, +and the danger of being found in Antonia's apartment. He had no +desire to profit by the execution of his crime. Antonia now +appeared to him an object of disgust. A deadly cold had usurped +the place of that warmth which glowed in his bosom: No ideas +offered themselves to his mind but those of death and guilt, of +present shame and future punishment. Agitated by remorse and +fear He prepared for flight: Yet his terrors did not so +compleatly master his recollection, as to prevent his taking the +precautions necessary for his safety. He replaced the pillow +upon the bed, gathered up his garments, and with the fatal +Talisman in his hand, bent his unsteady steps towards the door. +Bewildered by fear, He fancied that his flight was opposed by +Legions of Phantoms; Whereever He turned, the disfigured Corse +seemed to lie in his passage, and it was long before He succeeded +in reaching the door. The enchanted Myrtle produced its former +effect. The door opened, and He hastened down the staircase. +He entered the Abbey unobserved, and having shut himself into his +Cell, He abandoned his soul to the tortures of unavailing +remorse, and terrors of impending detection. + + + CHAPTER II + +Tell us, ye Dead, will none of you in pity +To those you left behind disclose the secret? +O! That some courteous Ghost would blab it out, +What 'tis you are, and we must shortly be. +I've heard that Souls departed have sometimes +Fore-warned Men of their deaths: +'Twas kindly done +To knock, and give the alarum. + +Blair. + + +Ambrosio shuddered at himself, when He reflected on his rapid +advances in iniquity. The enormous crime which He had just +committed filled him with real horror. The murdered Elvira was +continually before his eyes, and his guilt was already punished +by the agonies of his conscience. Time, however, considerably +weakened these impressions: One day passed away, another +followed it, and still not the least suspicion was thrown upon +him. Impunity reconciled him to his guilt: He began to resume +his spirits; and as his fears of detection died away, He paid +less attention to the reproaches of remorse. Matilda exerted +herself to quiet his alarms. At the first intelligence of +Elvira's death, She seemed greatly affected, and joined the Monk +in deploring the unhappy catastrophe of his adventure: But when +She found his agitation to be somewhat calmed, and himself better +disposed to listen to her arguments, She proceeded to mention his +offence in milder terms, and convince him that He was not so +highly culpable as He appeared to consider himself. She +represented that He had only availed himself of the rights which +Nature allows to every one, those of self-preservation: That +either Elvira or himself must have perished, and that her +inflexibility and resolution to ruin him had deservedly marked +her out for the Victim. She next stated, that as He had before +rendered himself suspected to Elvira, it was a fortunate event +for him that her lips were closed by death; since without this +last adventure, her suspicions if made public might have produced +very disagreeable consequences. He had therefore freed himself +from an Enemy, to whom the errors of his conduct were +sufficiently known to make her dangerous, and who was the +greatest obstacle to his designs upon Antonia. Those designs She +encouraged him not to abandon. She assured him that, no longer +protected by her Mother's watchful eye, the Daughter would fall +an easy conquest; and by praising and enumerating Antonia's +charms, She strove to rekindle the desires of the Monk. In this +endeavour She succeeded but too well. + +As if the crimes into which his passion had seduced him had only +increased its violence, He longed more eagerly than ever to enjoy +Antonia. The same success in concealing his present guilt, He +trusted would attend his future. He was deaf to the murmurs of +conscience, and resolved to satisfy his desires at any price. He +waited only for an opportunity of repeating his former +enterprize; But to procure that opportunity by the same means was +now impracticable. In the first transports of despair He had +dashed the enchanted Myrtle into a thousand pieces: Matilda told +him plainly that He must expect no further assistance from the +infernal Powers unless He was willing to subscribe to their +established conditions. This Ambrosio was determined not to do: +He persuaded himself that however great might be his iniquity, +so long as he preserved his claim to salvation, He need not +despair of pardon. He therefore resolutely refused to enter into +any bond or compact with the Fiends; and Matilda finding him +obstinate upon this point, forbore to press him further. She +exerted her invention to discover some means of putting Antonia +into the Abbot's power: Nor was it long before that means +presented itself. + +While her ruin was thus meditating, the unhappy Girl herself +suffered severely from the loss of her Mother. Every morning on +waking, it was her first care to hasten to Elvira's chamber. On +that which followed Ambrosio's fatal visit, She woke later than +was her usual custom: Of this She was convinced by the +Abbey Chimes. She started from her bed, threw on a few loose +garments hastily, and was speeding to enquire how her Mother had +passed the night, when her foot struck against something which +lay in her passage. She looked down. What was her horror at +recognizing Elvira's livid Corse! She uttered a loud shriek, and +threw herself upon the floor. She clasped the inanimate form to +her bosom, felt that it was dead-cold, and with a movement of +disgust, of which She was not the Mistress, let it fall again +from her arms. The cry had alarmed Flora, who hastened to her +assistance. The sight which She beheld penetrated her with +horror; but her alarm was more audible than Antonia's. She made +the House ring with her lamentations, while her Mistress, almost +suffocated with grief, could only mark her distress by sobs and +groans. Flora's shrieks soon reached the ears of the Hostess, +whose terror and surprize were excessive on learning the cause of +this disturbance. A Physician was immediately sent for: But on +the first moment of beholding the Corse, He declared that +Elvira's recovery was beyond the power of art. He proceeded +therefore to give his assistance to Antonia, who by this time was +truly in need of it. She was conveyed to bed, while the Landlady +busied herself in giving orders for Elvira's Burial. Dame +Jacintha was a plain good kind of Woman, charitable, generous, +and devout: But her intellects were weak, and She was a +Miserable Slave to fear and superstition. She shuddered at the +idea of passing the night in the same House with a dead Body: +She was persuaded that Elvira's Ghost would appear to her, and no +less certain that such a visit would kill her with fright. From +this persuasion, She resolved to pass the night at a Neighbour's, +and insisted that the Funeral should take place the next day. +St. Clare's Cemetery being the nearest, it was determined that +Elvira should be buried there. Dame Jacintha engaged to defray +every expence attending the burial. She knew not in what +circumstances Antonia was left, but from the sparing manner in +which the Family had lived, She concluded them to be indifferent. + +Consequently, She entertained very little hope of ever being +recompensed; But this consideration prevented her not from taking +care that the Interment was performed with decency, and from +showing the unfortunate Antonia all possible respect. + +Nobody dies of mere grief; Of this Antonia was an instance. +Aided by her youth and healthy constitution, She shook off the +malady which her Mother's death had occasioned; But it was not +so easy to remove the disease of her mind. Her eyes were +constantly filled with tears: Every trifle affected her, and She +evidently nourished in her bosom a profound and rooted +melancholy. The slightest mention of Elvira, the most trivial +circumstance recalling that beloved Parent to her memory, was +sufficient to throw her into serious agitation. How much would +her grief have been increased, had She known the agonies which +terminated her Mother's existence! But of this no one +entertained the least suspicion. Elvira was subject to strong +convulsions: It was supposed that, aware of their approach, She +had dragged herself to her Daughter's chamber in hopes of +assistance; that a sudden access of her fits had seized her, too +violent to be resisted by her already enfeebled state of health; +and that She had expired ere She had time to reach the medicine +which generally relieved her, and which stood upon a shelf in +Antonia's room. This idea was firmly credited by the few people, +who interested themselves about Elvira: Her Death was esteemed a +natural event, and soon forgotten by all save by her, who had but +too much reason to deplore her loss. + +In truth Antonia's situation was sufficiently embarrassing and +unpleasant. She was alone in the midst of a dissipated and +expensive City; She was ill provided with money, and worse with +Friends. Her aunt Leonella was still at Cordova, and She knew +not her direction. Of the Marquis de las Cisternas She heard no +news: As to Lorenzo, She had long given up the idea of +possessing any interest in his bosom. She knew not to whom She +could address herself in her present dilemma. She wished to +consult Ambrosio; But She remembered her Mother's injunctions to +shun him as much as possible, and the last conversation which +Elvira had held with her upon the subject had given her +sufficient lights respecting his designs to put her upon her +guard against him in future. Still all her Mother's warnings +could not make her change her good opinion of the Friar. She +continued to feel that his friendship and society were requisite +to her happiness: She looked upon his failings with a partial +eye, and could not persuade herself that He really had intended +her ruin. However, Elvira had positively commanded her to drop +his acquaintance, and She had too much respect for her orders to +disobey them. + +At length She resolved to address herself for advice and +protection to the Marquis de las Cisternas, as being her nearest +Relation. She wrote to him, briefly stating her desolate +situation; She besought him to compassionate his Brother's Child, +to continue to her Elvira's pension, and to authorise her +retiring to his old Castle in Murcia, which till now had been her +retreat. Having sealed her letter, She gave it to the trusty +Flora, who immediately set out to execute her commission. But +Antonia was born under an unlucky Star. Had She made her +application to the Marquis but one day sooner, received as his +Niece and placed at the head of his Family, She would have +escaped all the misfortunes with which She was now threatened. +Raymond had always intended to execute this plan: But first, his +hopes of making the proposal to Elvira through the lips of Agnes, +and afterwards, his disappointment at losing his intended Bride, +as well as the severe illness which for some time had confined +him to his Bed, made him defer from day to day the giving an +Asylum in his House to his Brother's Widow. He had commissioned +Lorenzo to supply her liberally with money: But Elvira, +unwilling to receive obligations from that Nobleman, had assured +him that She needed no immediate pecuniary assistance. +Consequently, the Marquis did not imagine that a trifling delay +on his part could create any embarrassment; and the distress and +agitation of his mind might well excuse his negligence. + +Had He been informed that Elvira's death had left her Daughter +Friendless and unprotected, He would doubtless have taken such +measures, as would have ensured her from every danger: But +Antonia was not destined to be so fortunate. The day on which +She sent her letter to the Palace de las Cisternas was that +following Lorenzo's departure from Madrid. The Marquis was in +the first paroxysms of despair at the conviction that Agnes was +indeed no more: He was delirious, and his life being in danger, +no one was suffered to approach him. Flora was informed that He +was incapable of attending to Letters, and that probably a few +hours would decide his fate. With this unsatisfactory answer She +was obliged to return to her Mistress, who now found herself +plunged into greater difficulties than ever. + +Flora and Dame Jacintha exerted themselves to console her. The +Latter begged her to make herself easy, for that as long as She +chose to stay with her, She would treat her like her own Child. +Antonia, finding that the good Woman had taken a real affection +for her, was somewhat comforted by thinking that She had at +least one Friend in the World. A Letter was now brought to her, +directed to Elvira. She recognized Leonella's writing, and +opening it with joy, found a detailed account of her Aunt's +adventures at Cordova. She informed her Sister that She had +recovered her Legacy, had lost her heart, and had received in +exchange that of the most amiable of Apothecaries, past, present, +and to come. She added that She should be at Madrid on the +Tuesday night, and meant to have the pleasure of presenting her +Caro Sposo in form. Though her nuptials were far from pleasing +Antonia, Leonella's speedy return gave her Niece much delight. +She rejoiced in thinking that She should once more be under a +Relation's care. She could not but judge it to be highly +improper, for a young Woman to be living among absolute +Strangers, with no one to regulate her conduct, or protect her +from the insults to which, in her defenceless situation, She was +exposed. She therefore looked forward with impatience to the +Tuesday night. + +It arrived. Antonia listened anxiously to the Carriages, as they +rolled along the Street. None of them stopped, and it grew late +without Leonella's appearing. Still, Antonia resolved to sit up +till her Aunt's arrival, and in spite of all her remonstrances, +Dame Jacintha and Flora insisted upon doing the same. The hours +passed on slow and tediously. Lorenzo's departure from Madrid +had put a stop to the nightly Serenades: She hoped in vain to +hear the usual sound of Guitars beneath her window. She took up +her own, and struck a few chords: But Music that evening had lost +its charms for her, and She soon replaced the Instrument in its +case. She seated herself at her embroidery frame, but nothing +went right: The silks were missing, the thread snapped every +moment, and the needles were so expert at falling that they +seemed to be animated. At length a flake of wax fell from the +Taper which stood near her upon a favourite wreath of Violets: +This compleatly discomposed her; She threw down her needle, and +quitted the frame. It was decreed that for that night nothing +should have the power of amusing her. She was the prey of Ennui, +and employed herself in making fruitless wishes for the arrival +of her Aunt. + +As She walked with a listless air up and down the chamber, the +Door caught her eye conducting to that which had been her +Mother's. She remembered that Elvira's little Library was +arranged there, and thought that She might possibly find in it +some Book to amuse her till Leonella should arrive. Accordingly +She took her Taper from the table, passed through the little +Closet, and entered the adjoining apartment. As She looked +around her, the sight of this room brought to her recollection a +thousand painful ideas. It was the first time of her entering it +since her Mother's death. The total silence prevailing through +the chamber, the Bed despoiled of its furniture, the cheerless +hearth where stood an extinguished Lamp, and a few dying Plants +in the window which, since Elvira's loss, had been neglected, +inspired Antonia with a melancholy awe. The gloom of night gave +strength to this sensation. She placed her light upon the Table, +and sank into a large chair, in which She had seen her Mother +seated a thousand and a thousand times. She was never to see her +seated there again! Tears unbidden streamed down her cheek, and +She abandoned herself to the sadness which grew deeper with +every moment. + +Ashamed of her weakness, She at length rose from her seat: She +proceeded to seek for what had brought her to this melancholy +scene. The small collection of Books was arranged upon several +shelves in order. Antonia examined them without finding any +thing likely to interest her, till She put her hand upon a volume +of old Spanish Ballads. She read a few Stanzas of one of them: +They excited her curiosity. She took down the Book, and seated +herself to peruse it with more ease. She trimmed the Taper, +which now drew towards its end, and then read the following +Ballad. + + ALONZO THE BRAVE, AND FAIR IMOGINE + +A Warrior so bold, and a Virgin so bright +Conversed, as They sat on the green: +They gazed on each other with tender delight; +Alonzo the Brave was the name of the Knight, +The Maid's was the Fair Imogine. + +'And Oh!' said the Youth, 'since to-morrow I go +To fight in a far distant land, +Your tears for my absence soon leaving to flow, +Some Other will court you, and you will bestow +On a wealthier Suitor your hand.' + +'Oh! hush these suspicions,' Fair Imogine said, +'Offensive to Love and to me! +For if ye be living, or if ye be dead, +I swear by the Virgin, that none in your stead +Shall Husband of Imogine be. + +'If e'er I by lust or by wealth led aside +Forget my Alonzo the Brave, +God grant, that to punish my falsehood and pride +Your Ghost at the Marriage may sit by my side, +May tax me with perjury, claim me as Bride, +And bear me away to the Grave!' + +To Palestine hastened the Hero so bold; +His Love, She lamented him sore: +But scarce had a twelve-month elapsed, when behold, +A Baron all covered with jewels and gold +Arrived at Fair Imogine's door. + +His treasure, his presents, his spacious domain +Soon made her untrue to her vows: +He dazzled her eyes; He bewildered her brain; +He caught her affections so light and so vain, +And carried her home as his Spouse. + +And now had the Marriage been blest by the Priest; +The revelry now was begun: +The Tables, they groaned with the weightof the Feast; +Nor yet had the laughter and merriment ceased, +When the Bell of the Castle told,--'One!' + +Then first with amazement Fair Imogine found +That a Stranger was placed by her side: His air was terrific; +He uttered no sound; He spoke not, He moved not, +He looked not around, +But earnestly gazed on the Bride. + +His vizor was closed, and gigantic his height; +His armour was sable to view: +All pleasure and laughter were hushed at his sight; +The Dogs as They eyed him drew back in affright, +The Lights in the chamber burned blue! + +His presence all bosoms appeared to dismay; +The Guests sat in silence and fear. +At length spoke the Bride, while She trembled; +'I pray, Sir Knight, that your Helmet aside you would lay, +And deign to partake of our chear.' + +The Lady is silent: The Stranger complies. +His vizor lie slowly unclosed: +Oh! God! what a sight met Fair Imogine's eyes! +What words can express her dismay and surprize, +When a Skeleton's head was exposed. + +All present then uttered a terrified shout; +All turned with disgust from the scene. +The worms, They crept in, and the worms, They crept out, +And sported his eyes and his temples about, +While the Spectre addressed Imogine. + +'Behold me, Thou false one! Behold me!' He cried; +'Remember Alonzo the Brave! +God grants, that to punish thy falsehood and pride +My Ghost at thy marriage should sit by thy side, +Should tax thee with perjury, claim thee as Bride +And bear thee away to the Grave!' + +Thus saying, his arms round the Lady He wound, +While loudly She shrieked in dismay; +Then sank with his prey through the wide-yawning ground: +Nor ever again was Fair Imogine found, +Or the Spectre who bore her away. + +Not long lived the Baron; and none since that time +To inhabit the Castle presume: +For Chronicles tell, that by order sublime +There Imogine suffers the pain of her crime, +And mourns her deplorable doom. + +At midnight four times in each year does her Spright +When Mortals in slumber are bound, +Arrayed in her bridal apparel of white, +Appear in the Hall with the Skeleton-Knight, +And shriek, as He whirls her around. + +While They drink out of skulls newly torn from the grave, +Dancing round them the Spectres are seen: +Their liquor is blood, and this horrible Stave +They howl.--'To the health of Alonzo the Brave, +And his Consort, the False Imogine!' + +The perusal of this story was ill-calculated to dispel Antonia's +melancholy. She had naturally a strong inclination to the +marvellous; and her Nurse, who believed firmly in Apparitions, +had related to her when an Infant so many horrible adventures of +this kind, that all Elvira's attempts had failed to eradicate +their impressions from her Daughter's mind. Antonia still +nourished a superstitious prejudice in her bosom: She was often +susceptible of terrors which, when She discovered their natural +and insignificant cause, made her blush at her own weakness. +With such a turn of mind, the adventure which She had just been +reading sufficed to give her apprehensions the alarm. The hour +and the scene combined to authorize them. It was the dead of +night: She was alone, and in the chamber once occupied by her +deceased Mother. The weather was comfortless and stormy: The +wind howled around the House, the doors rattled in their frames, +and the heavy rain pattered against the windows. No other sound +was heard. The Taper, now burnt down to the socket, sometimes +flaring upwards shot a gleam of light through the room, then +sinking again seemed upon the point of expiring. Antonia's heart +throbbed with agitation: Her eyes wandered fearfully over the +objects around her, as the trembling flame illuminated them at +intervals. She attempted to rise from her seat; But her limbs +trembled so violently that She was unable to proceed. She then +called Flora, who was in a room at no great distance: But +agitation choaked her voice, and her cries died away in hollow +murmurs. + +She passed some minutes in this situation, after which her +terrors began to diminish. She strove to recover herself, and +acquire strength enough to quit the room: Suddenly She fancied, +that She heard a low sigh drawn near her. This idea brought back +her former weakness. She had already raised herself from her +seat, and was on the point of taking the Lamp from the Table. +The imaginary noise stopped her: She drew back her hand, and +supported herself upon the back of a Chair. She listened +anxiously, but nothing more was heard. + +'Gracious God!' She said to herself; 'What could be that sound? +Was I deceived, or did I really hear it?' + +Her reflections were interrupted by a noise at the door scarcely +audible: It seemed as if somebody was whispering. Antonia's +alarm increased: Yet the Bolt She knew to be fastened, and this +idea in some degree reassured her. Presently the Latch was +lifted up softly, and the Door moved with caution backwards and +forwards. Excess of terror now supplied Antonia with that +strength, of which She had till then been deprived. She started +from her place and made towards the Closet door, whence She +might soon have reached the chamber where She expected to find +Flora and Dame Jacintha. Scarcely had She reached the middle of +the room when the Latch was lifted up a second time. An +involuntary movement obliged her to turn her head. Slowly and +gradually the Door turned upon its hinges, and standing upon the +Threshold She beheld a tall thin Figure, wrapped in a white +shroud which covered it from head to foot. + +This vision arrested her feet: She remained as if petrified in +the middle of the apartment. The Stranger with measured and +solemn steps drew near the Table. The dying Taper darted a blue +and melancholy flame as the Figure advanced towards it. Over the +Table was fixed a small Clock; The hand of it was upon the stroke +of three. The Figure stopped opposite to the Clock: It raised +its right arm, and pointed to the hour, at the same time looking +earnestly upon Antonia, who waited for the conclusion of this +scene, motionless and silent. + +The figure remained in this posture for some moments. The clock +struck. When the sound had ceased, the Stranger advanced yet a +few steps nearer Antonia. + +'Yet three days,' said a voice faint, hollow, and sepulchral; +'Yet three days, and we meet again!' + +Antonia shuddered at the words. + +'We meet again?' She pronounced at length with difficulty: +'Where shall we meet? Whom shall I meet?' + +The figure pointed to the ground with one hand, and with the +other raised the Linen which covered its face. + +'Almighty God! My Mother!' + +Antonia shrieked, and fell lifeless upon the floor. + +Dame Jacintha who was at work in a neighbouring chamber, was +alarmed by the cry: Flora was just gone down stairs to fetch +fresh oil for the Lamp, by which they had been sitting. Jacintha +therefore hastened alone to Antonia's assistance, and great was +her amazement to find her extended upon the floor. She raised +her in her arms, conveyed her to her apartment, and placed her +upon the Bed still senseless. She then proceeded to bathe her +temples, chafe her hands, and use all possible means of bringing +her to herself. With some difficulty She succeeded. Antonia +opened her eyes, and looked round her wildly. + +'Where is She?' She cried in a trembling voice; 'Is She gone? Am +I safe? Speak to me! Comfort me! Oh! speak to me for God's +sake!' + +'Safe from whom, my Child?' replied the astonished Jacintha; +'What alarms you? Of whom are you afraid?' + +'In three days! She told me that we should meet in three days! I +heard her say it! I saw her, Jacintha, I saw her but this +moment!' + +She threw herself upon Jacintha's bosom. + +'You saw her? Saw whom?' + +'My Mother's Ghost!' + +'Christ Jesus!' cried Jacintha, and starting from the Bed, let +fall Antonia upon the pillow, and fled in consternation out of +the room. + +As She hastened down stairs, She met Flora ascending them. + +'Go to your Mistress, Flora,' said She; 'Here are rare doings! +Oh! I am the most unfortunate Woman alive! My House is filled +with Ghosts and dead Bodies, and the Lord knows what besides; Yet +I am sure, nobody likes such company less than I do. But go +your way to Donna Antonia, Flora, and let me go mine.' + +Thus saying, She continued her course to the Street door, which +She opened, and without allowing herself time to throw on her +veil, She made the best of her way to the Capuchin Abbey. In the +meanwhile, Flora hastened to her Lady's chamber, equally +surprized and alarmed at Jacintha's consternation. She found +Antonia lying upon the bed insensible. She used the same means +for her recovery that Jacintha had already employed; But finding +that her Mistress only recovered from one fit to fall into +another, She sent in all haste for a Physician. While expecting +his arrival, She undrest Antonia, and conveyed her to Bed. + +Heedless of the storm, terrified almost out of her senses, +Jacintha ran through the Streets, and stopped not till She +reached the Gate of the Abbey. She rang loudly at the bell, and +as soon as the Porter appeared, She desired permission to speak +to the Superior. Ambrosio was then conferring with Matilda upon +the means of procuring access to Antonia. The cause of Elvira's +death remaining unknown, He was convinced that crimes were not so +swiftly followed by punishment, as his Instructors the Monks had +taught him, and as till then He had himself believed. This +persuasion made him resolve upon Antonia's ruin, for the +enjoyment of whose person dangers and difficulties only seemed to +have increased his passion. The Monk had already made one +attempt to gain admission to her presence; But Flora had refused +him in such a manner as to convince him that all future +endeavours must be vain. Elvira had confided her suspicions to +that trusty Servant: She had desired her never to leave Ambrosio +alone with her Daughter, and if possible to prevent their meeting +altogether. Flora promised to obey her, and had executed her +orders to the very letter. Ambrosio's visit had been rejected +that morning, though Antonia was ignorant of it. He saw that to +obtain a sight of his Mistress by open means was out of the +question; and both Himself and Matilda had consumed the night, in +endeavouring to invent some plan, whose event might be more +successful. Such was their employment, when a Lay-Brother +entered the Abbot's Cell, and informed him that a Woman calling +herself Jacintha Zuniga requested audience for a few minutes. + +Ambrosio was by no means disposed to grant the petition of his +Visitor. He refused it positively, and bad the Lay-Brother tell +the Stranger to return the next day. Matilda interrupted him. + +'See this Woman,' said She in a low voice; 'I have my reasons.' + +The Abbot obeyed her, and signified that He would go to the +Parlour immediately. With this answer the Lay-Brother +withdrew. As soon as they were alone Ambrosio enquired why +Matilda wished him to see this Jacintha. + +'She is Antonia's Hostess,' replied Matilda; 'She may possibly be +of use to you: but let us examine her, and learn what brings her +hither.' + +They proceeded together to the Parlour, where Jacintha was +already waiting for the Abbot. She had conceived a great opinion +of his piety and virtue; and supposing him to have much influence +over the Devil, thought that it must be an easy matter for him to +lay Elvira's Ghost in the Red Sea. Filled with this persuasion +She had hastened to the Abbey. As soon as She saw the Monk enter +the Parlour, She dropped upon her knees, and began her story as +follows. + +'Oh! Reverend Father! Such an accident! Such an adventure! I +know not what course to take, and unless you can help me, I shall +certainly go distracted. Well, to be sure, never was Woman so +unfortunate, as myself! All in my power to keep clear of such +abomination have I done, and yet that all is too little. What +signifies my telling my beads four times a day, and observing +every fast prescribed by the Calendar? What signifies my having +made three Pilgrimages to St. James of Compostella, and purchased +as many pardons from the Pope as would buy off Cain's +punishment? Nothing prospers with me! All goes wrong, and God +only knows, whether any thing will ever go right again! Why now, +be your Holiness the Judge. My Lodger dies in convulsions; Out +of pure kindness I bury her at my own expence; (Not that She is +any Relation of mine, or that I shall be benefited a single +pistole by her death: I got nothing by it, and therefore you +know, reverend Father, that her living or dying was just the same +to me. But that is nothing to the purpose; To return to what I +was saying,) I took care of her funeral, had every thing +performed decently and properly, and put myself to expence +enough, God knows! And how do you think the Lady repays me for +my kindness? Why truly by refusing to sleep quietly in her +comfortable deal Coffin, as a peaceable well-disposed Spirit +ought to do, and coming to plague me, who never wish to set eyes +on her again. Forsooth, it well becomes her to go racketing +about my House at midnight, popping into her Daughter's room +through the Keyhole, and frightening the poor Child out of her +wits! Though She be a Ghost, She might be more civil than to +bolt into a Person's House, who likes her company so little. But +as for me, reverend Father, the plain state of the case is this: +If She walks into my House, I must walk out of it, for I cannot +abide such Visitors, not I! Thus you see, your Sanctity, that +without your assistance I am ruined and undone for ever. I shall +be obliged to quit my House; Nobody will take it, when 'tis known +that She haunts it, and then I shall find myself in a fine +situation! Miserable Woman that I am! What shall I do! What +will become of me!' + +Here She wept bitterly, wrung her hands, and begged to know the +Abbot's opinion of her case. + +'In truth, good Woman,' replied He, 'It will be difficult for me +to relieve you without knowing what is the matter with you. You +have forgotten to tell me what has happened, and what it is you +want.' + +'Let me die' cried Jacintha, 'but your Sanctity is in the right! +This then is the fact stated briefly. A lodger of mine is lately +dead, a very good sort of Woman that I must needs say for her as +far as my knowledge of her went, though that was not a great way: + +She kept me too much at a distance; for indeed She was given to +be upon the high ropes, and whenever I ventured to speak to her, +She had a look with her which always made me feel a little +queerish, God forgive me for saying so. However, though She was +more stately than needful, and affected to look down upon me +(Though if I am well informed, I come of as good Parents as She +could do for her ears, for her Father was a Shoe-maker at +Cordova, and Mine was an Hatter at Madrid, aye, and a very +creditable Hatter too, let me tell you,) Yet for all her pride, +She was a quiet well-behaved Body, and I never wish to have a +better Lodger. This makes me wonder the more at her not sleeping +quietly in her Grave: But there is no trusting to people in this +world! For my part, I never saw her do amiss, except on the +Friday before her death. To be sure, I was then much scandalized +by seeing her eat the wing of a Chicken! ''How, Madona Flora!'' +quoth I; (Flora, may it please your Reverence, is the name of the +waiting Maid)--''How, Madona Flora!'' quoth I; ''Does your +Mistress eat flesh upon Fridays? Well! Well! See the event, +and then remember that Dame Jacintha warned you of it!'' These +were my very words, but Alas! I might as well have held my +tongue! Nobody minded me; and Flora, who is somewhat pert and +snappish, (More is the pity, say I) told me that there was no +more harm in eating a Chicken than the egg from which it came. +Nay, She even declared that if her Lady added a slice of bacon, +She would not be an inch nearer Damnation, God protect us! A +poor ignorant sinful soul! I protest to your Holiness, I +trembled to hear her utter such blasphemies, and expected every +moment to see the ground open and swallow her up, Chicken and +all! For you must know, worshipful Father, that while She talked +thus, She held the plate in her hand, on which lay the identical +roast Fowl. And a fine Bird it was, that I must say for it! Done +to a turn, for I superintended the cooking of it myself: It was +a little Gallician of my own raising, may it please your +Holiness, and the flesh was as white as an egg-shell, as indeed +Donna Elvira told me herself. ''Dame Jacintha,'' said She, very +good-humouredly, though to say the truth, She was always very +polite to me . . . . .' + +Here Ambrosio's patience failed him. Eager to know Jacintha's +business in which Antonia seemed to be concerned, He was almost +distracted while listening to the rambling of this prosing old +Woman. He interrupted her, and protested that if She did not +immediately tell her story and have done with it, He should quit +the Parlour, and leave her to get out of her difficulties by +herself. This threat had the desired effect. Jacintha related +her business in as few words as She could manage; But her account +was still so prolix that Ambrosio had need of his patience to +bear him to the conclusion. + +'And so, your Reverence,' said She, after relating Elvira's death +and burial, with all their circumstances; 'And so, your +Reverence, upon hearing the shriek, I put away my work, and away +posted I to Donna Antonia's chamber. Finding nobody there, I +past on to the next; But I must own, I was a little timorous at +going in, for this was the very room where Donna Elvira used to +sleep. However, in I went, and sure enough, there lay the young +Lady at full length upon the floor, as cold as a stone, and as +white as a sheet. I was surprized at this, as your Holiness may +well suppose; But Oh me! how I shook when I saw a great tall +figure at my elbow whose head touched the ceiling! The face was +Donna Elvira's, I must confess; But out of its mouth came clouds +of fire, its arms were loaded with heavy chains which it rattled +piteously, and every hair on its head was a Serpent as big as my +arm! At this I was frightened enough, and began to say my +Ave-Maria: But the Ghost interrupting me uttered three loud +groans, and roared out in a terrible voice, ''Oh! That Chicken's +wing! My poor soul suffers for it!'' As soon as She had said +this, the Ground opened, the Spectre sank down, I heard a clap of +thunder, and the room was filled with a smell of brimstone. When +I recovered from my fright, and had brought Donna Antonia to +herself, who told me that She had cried out upon seeing her +Mother's Ghost, (And well might She cry, poor Soul! Had I been +in her place, I should have cried ten times louder) it directly +came into my head, that if any one had power to quiet this +Spectre, it must be your Reverence. So hither I came in all +diligence, to beg that you will sprinkle my House with holy +water, and lay the Apparition in the Red Sea.' + +Ambrosio stared at this strange story, which He could not credit. + +'Did Donna Antonia also see the Ghost?' said He. + +'As plain as I see you, Reverend Father!' + +Ambrosio paused for a moment. Here was an opportunity offered +him of gaining access to Antonia, but He hesitated to employ it. +The reputation which He enjoyed in Madrid was still dear to him; +and since He had lost the reality of virtue, it appeared as if +its semblance was become more valuable. He was conscious that +publicly to break through the rule never to quit the +Abbey precincts, would derogate much from his supposed austerity. +In visiting Elvira, He had always taken care to keep his features +concealed from the Domestics. Except by the Lady, her Daughter, +and the faithful Flora, He was known in the Family by no other +name than that of Father Jerome. Should He comply with +Jacintha's request, and accompany her to her House, He knew that +the violation of his rule could not be kept a secret. However, +his eagerness to see Antonia obtained the victory: He even hoped, +that the singularity of this adventure would justify him in the +eyes of Madrid: But whatever might be the consequences, He +resolved to profit by the opportunity which chance had presented +to him. An expressive look from Matilda confirmed him in this +resolution. + +'Good Woman,' said He to Jacintha, 'what you tell me is so +extraordinary that I can scarcely credit your assertions. +However, I will comply with your request. Tomorrow after Matins +you may expect me at your House: I will then examine into what I +can do for you, and if it is in my power, will free you from this +unwelcome Visitor. Now then go home, and peace be with you!' + +'Home?' exclaimed Jacintha; 'I go home? Not I by my troth! +except under your protection, I set no foot of mine within the +threshold. God help me, the Ghost may meet me upon the Stairs, +and whisk me away with her to the devil! Oh! That I had +accepted young Melchior Basco's offer! Then I should have had +somebody to protect me; But now I am a lone Woman, and meet with +nothing but crosses and misfortunes! Thank Heaven, it is not yet +too late to repent! There is Simon Gonzalez will have me any day +of the week, and if I live till daybreak, I will marry him out +of hand: An Husband I will have, that is determined, for now +this Ghost is once in my House, I shall be frightened out of my +wits to sleep alone. But for God's sake, reverend Father, come +with me now. I shall have no rest till the House is purified, or +the poor young Lady either. The dear Girl! She is in a piteous +taking: I left her in strong convulsions, and I doubt, She will +not easily recover her fright.' + +The Friar started, and interrupted her hastily. + +'In convulsions, say you? Antonia in convulsions? Lead on, good +Woman! I follow you this moment!' + +Jacintha insisted upon his stopping to furnish himself with the +vessel of holy water: With this request He complied. Thinking +herself safe under his protection should a Legion of Ghosts +attack her, the old Woman returned the Monk a profusion of +thanks, and they departed together for the Strada di San Iago. + +So strong an impression had the Spectre made upon Antonia, that +for the first two or three hours the Physician declared her life +to be in danger. The fits at length becoming less frequent +induced him to alter his opinion. He said that to keep her quiet +was all that was necessary; and He ordered a medicine to be +prepared which would tranquillize her nerves, and procure her +that repose which at present She much wanted. The sight of +Ambrosio, who now appeared with Jacintha at her Bedside, +contributed essentially to compose her ruffled spirits. Elvira +had not sufficiently explained herself upon the nature of his +designs, to make a Girl so ignorant of the world as her Daughter +aware how dangerous was his acquaintance. At this moment, when +penetrated with horror at the scene which had just past, and +dreading to contemplate the Ghost's prediction, her mind had need +of all the succours of friendship and religion, Antonia regarded +the Abbot with an eye doubly partial. That strong prepossession +in his favour still existed which She had felt for him at first +sight: She fancied, yet knew not wherefore, that his presence +was a safeguard to her from every danger, insult, or misfortune. + +She thanked him gratefully for his visit, and related to him the +adventure, which had alarmed her so seriously. + +The Abbot strove to reassure her, and convince her that the +whole had been a deception of her overheated fancy. The +solitude in which She had passed the Evening, the gloom of night, +the Book which She had been reading, and the Room in which She +sat, were all calculated to place before her such a vision. He +treated the idea of Ghosts with ridicule, and produced strong +arguments to prove the fallacy of such a system. His +conversation tranquillized and comforted her, but did not +convince her. She could not believe that the Spectre had been a +mere creature of her imagination; Every circumstance was +impressed upon her mind too forcibly, to permit her flattering +herself with such an idea. She persisted in asserting that She +had really seen her Mother's Ghost, had heard the period of her +dissolution announced and declared that She never should quit +her bed alive. Ambrosio advised her against encouraging these +sentiments, and then quitted her chamber, having promised to +repeat his visit on the morrow. Antonia received this assurance +with every mark of joy: But the Monk easily perceived that He +was not equally acceptable to her Attendant. Flora obeyed +Elvira's injunctions with the most scrupulous observance. She +examined every circumstance with an anxious eye likely in the +least to prejudice her young Mistress, to whom She had been +attached for many years. She was a Native of Cuba, had followed +Elvira to Spain, and loved the young Antonia with a Mother's +affection. Flora quitted not the room for a moment while the +Abbot remained there: She watched his every word, his every +look, his every action. He saw that her suspicious eye was +always fixed upon him, and conscious that his designs would not +bear inspection so minute, He felt frequently confused and +disconcerted. He was aware that She doubted the purity of his +intentions; that She would never leave him alone with Antonia, +and his Mistress defended by the presence of this vigilant +Observer, He despaired of finding the means to gratify his +passion. + +As He quitted the House, Jacintha met him, and begged that some +Masses might be sung for the repose of Elvira's soul, which She +doubted not was suffering in Purgatory. He promised not to +forget her request; But He perfectly gained the old Woman's +heart by engaging to watch during the whole of the approaching +night in the haunted chamber. Jacintha could find no terms +sufficiently strong to express her gratitude, and the Monk +departed loaded with her benedictions. + +It was broad day when He returned to the Abbey. His first care +was to communicate what had past to his Confident. He felt too +sincere a passion for Antonia to have heard unmoved the +prediction of her speedy death, and He shuddered at the idea of +losing an object so dear to him. Upon this head Matilda +reassured him. She confirmed the arguments which Himself had +already used: She declared Antonia to have been deceived by the +wandering of her brain, by the Spleen which opprest her at the +moment, and by the natural turn of her mind to superstition, and +the marvellous. As to Jacintha's account, the absurdity refuted +itself; The Abbot hesitated not to believe that She had +fabricated the whole story, either confused by terror, or hoping +to make him comply more readily with her request. Having +overruled the Monk's apprehensions, Matilda continued thus. + +'The prediction and the Ghost are equally false; But it must be +your care, Ambrosio, to verify the first. Antonia within three +days must indeed be dead to the world; But She must live for you. + +Her present illness, and this fancy which She has taken into her +head, will colour a plan which I have long meditated, but which +was impracticable without your procuring access to Antonia. She +shall be yours, not for a single night, but for ever. All the +vigilance of her Duenna shall not avail her: You shall riot +unrestrained in the charms of your Mistress. This very day must +the scheme be put in execution, for you have no time to lose. +The Nephew of the Duke of Medina Celi prepares to demand Antonia +for his Bride: In a few days She will be removed to the Palace +of her Relation, the Marquis de las Cisternas, and there She will +be secure from your attempts. Thus during your absence have I +been informed by my Spies, who are ever employed in bringing me +intelligence for your service. Now then listen to me. There is +a juice extracted from certain herbs, known but to few, which +brings on the Person who drinks it the exact image of Death. Let +this be administered to Antonia: You may easily find means to +pour a few drops into her medicine. The effect will be throwing +her into strong convulsions for an hour: After which her blood +will gradually cease to flow, and heart to beat; A mortal +paleness will spread itself over her features, and She will +appear a Corse to every eye. She has no Friends about her: You +may charge yourself unsuspected with the superintendence of her +funeral, and cause her to be buried in the Vaults of St. Clare. +Their solitude and easy access render these Caverns favourable to +your designs. Give Antonia the soporific draught this Evening: +Eight and forty hours after She has drank it, Life will revive to +her bosom. She will then be absolutely in your power: She will +find all resistance unavailing, and necessity will compel her to +receive you in her arms.' + +'Antonia will be in my power!' exclaimed the Monk; 'Matilda, you +transport me! At length then, happiness will be mine, and that +happiness will be Matilda's gift, will be the gift of friendship! + +I shall clasp Antonia in my arms, far from every prying eye, from +every tormenting Intruder! I shall sigh out my soul upon her +bosom; Shall teach her young heart the first rudiments of +pleasure, and revel uncontrouled in the endless variety of her +charms! And shall this delight indeed by mine? Shall I give the +reins to my desires, and gratify every wild tumultuous wish? Oh! +Matilda, how can I express to you my gratitude?' + +'By profiting by my counsels. Ambrosio, I live but to serve you: + +Your interest and happiness are equally mine. Be your person +Antonia's, but to your friendship and your heart I still assert +my claim. Contributing to yours forms now my only pleasure. +Should my exertions procure the gratification of your wishes, I +shall consider my trouble to be amply repaid. But let us lose no +time. The liquor of which I spoke is only to be found in St. +Clare's Laboratory. Hasten then to the Prioress; Request of her +admission to the Laboratory, and it will not be denied. There is +a Closet at the lower end of the great Room, filled with liquids +of different colours and qualities. The Bottle in question +stands by itself upon the third shelf on the left. It contains a +greenish liquor: Fill a small phial with it when you are +unobserved, and Antonia is your own.' + +The Monk hesitated not to adopt this infamous plan. His desires, +but too violent before, had acquired fresh vigour from the sight +of Antonia. As He sat by her bedside, accident had discovered to +him some of those charms which till then had been concealed from +him: He found them even more perfect, than his ardent imagination +had pictured them. Sometimes her white and polished arm was +displayed in arranging the pillow: Sometimes a sudden movement +discovered part of her swelling bosom: But whereever the +new-found charm presented itself, there rested the Friar's +gloting eyes. Scarcely could He master himself sufficiently to +conceal his desires from Antonia and her vigilant Duenna. +Inflamed by the remembrance of these beauties, He entered into +Matilda's scheme without hesitation. + +No sooner were Matins over than He bent his course towards the +Convent of St. Clare: His arrival threw the whole Sisterhood +into the utmost amazement. The Prioress was sensible of the +honour done her Convent by his paying it his first visit, and +strove to express her gratitude by every possible attention. He +was paraded through the Garden, shown all the reliques of Saints +and Martyrs, and treated with as much respect and distinction as +had He been the Pope himself. On his part, Ambrosio received the +Domina's civilities very graciously, and strove to remove her +surprize at his having broken through his resolution. He stated, +that among his penitents, illness prevented many from quitting +their Houses. These were exactly the People who most needed his +advice and the comforts of Religion: Many representations had +been made to him upon this account, and though highly repugnant +to his own wishes, He had found it absolutely necessary for the +service of heaven to change his determination, and quit his +beloved retirement. The Prioress applauded his zeal in his +profession and his charity towards Mankind: She declared that +Madrid was happy in possessing a Man so perfect and +irreproachable. In such discourse, the Friar at length reached +the Laboratory. He found the Closet: The Bottle stood in the +place which Matilda had described, and the Monk seized an +opportunity to fill his phial unobserved with the soporific +liquor. Then having partaken of a Collation in the Refectory, He +retired from the Convent pleased with the success of his visit, +and leaving the Nuns delighted by the honour conferred upon them. + +He waited till Evening before He took the road to Antonia's +dwelling. Jacintha welcomed him with transport, and besought him +not to forget his promise to pass the night in the haunted +Chamber: That promise He now repeated. He found Antonia +tolerably well, but still harping upon the Ghost's prediction. +Flora moved not from her Lady's Bed, and by symptoms yet stronger +than on the former night testified her dislike to the Abbot's +presence. Still Ambrosio affected not to observe them. The +Physician arrived, while He was conversing with Antonia. It was +dark already; Lights were called for, and Flora was compelled to +descend for them herself. However, as She left a third Person in +the room, and expected to be absent but a few minutes, She +believed that She risqued nothing in quitting her post. No +sooner had She left the room, than Ambrosio moved towards the +Table, on which stood Antonia's medicine: It was placed in a +recess of the window. The Physician seated in an armed-chair, +and employed in questioning his Patient, paid no attention to the +proceedings of the Monk. Ambrosio seized the opportunity: He +drew out the fatal Phial, and let a few drops fall into the +medicine. He then hastily left the Table, and returned to the +seat which He had quitted. When Flora made her appearance with +lights, every thing seemed to be exactly as She had left it. + +The Physician declared that Antonia might quit her chamber the +next day with perfect safety. He recommended her following the +same prescription which, on the night before, had procured her a +refreshing sleep: Flora replied that the draught stood ready +upon the Table: He advised the Patient to take it without delay, +and then retired. Flora poured the medicine into a Cup and +presented it to her Mistress. At that moment Ambrosio's courage +failed him. Might not Matilda have deceived him? Might not +Jealousy have persuaded her to destroy her Rival, and substitute +poison in the room of an opiate? This idea appeared so +reasonable that He was on the point of preventing her from +swallowing the medicine. His resolution was adopted too late: +The Cup was already emptied, and Antonia restored it into Flora's +hands. No remedy was now to be found: Ambrosio could only +expect the moment impatiently, destined to decide upon Antonia's +life or death, upon his own happiness or despair. + +Dreading to create suspicion by his stay, or betray himself by +his mind's agitation, He took leave of his Victim, and withdrew +from the room. Antonia parted from him with less cordiality than +on the former night. Flora had represented to her Mistress that +to admit his visits was to disobey her Mother's orders: She +described to her his emotion on entering the room, and the fire +which sparkled in his eyes while He gazed upon her. This had +escaped Antonia's observation, but not her Attendant's; Who +explaining the Monk's designs and their probable consequences in +terms much clearer than Elvira's, though not quite so delicate, +had succeeded in alarming her young Lady, and persuading her to +treat him more distantly than She had done hitherto. The idea of +obeying her Mother's will at once determined Antonia. Though She +grieved at losing his society, She conquered herself sufficiently +to receive the Monk with some degree of reserve and coldness. +She thanked him with respect and gratitude for his former visits, +but did not invite his repeating them in future. It now was not +the Friar's interest to solicit admission to her presence, and He +took leave of her as if not designing to return. Fully +persuaded that the acquaintance which She dreaded was now at an +end, Flora was so much worked upon by his easy compliance that +She began to doubt the justice of her suspicions. As She lighted +him down Stairs, She thanked him for having endeavoured to root +out from Antonia's mind her superstitious terrors of the +Spectre's prediction: She added, that as He seemed interested in +Donna Antonia's welfare, should any change take place in her +situation, She would be careful to let him know it. The Monk in +replying took pains to raise his voice, hoping that Jacintha +would hear it. In this He succeeded; As He reached the foot of +the Stairs with his Conductress, the Landlady failed not to make +her appearance. + +'Why surely you are not going away, reverend Father?' cried She; +'Did you not promise to pass the night in the haunted Chamber? +Christ Jesus! I shall be left alone with the Ghost, and a fine +pickle I shall be in by morning! Do all I could, say all I +could, that obstinate old Brute, Simon Gonzalez, refused to marry +me today; And before tomorrow comes, I suppose, I shall be torn +to pieces, by the Ghosts, and Goblins, and Devils, and what not! +For God's sake, your Holiness, do not leave me in such a woeful +condition! On my bended knees I beseech you to keep your +promise: Watch this night in the haunted chamber; Lay the +Apparition in the Red Sea, and Jacintha remembers you in her +prayers to the last day of her existence!' + +This request Ambrosio expected and desired; Yet He affected to +raise objections, and to seem unwilling to keep his word. He +told Jacintha that the Ghost existed nowhere but in her own +brain, and that her insisting upon his staying all night in the +House was ridiculous and useless. Jacintha was obstinate: She +was not to be convinced, and pressed him so urgently not to leave +her a prey to the Devil, that at length He granted her request. +All this show of resistance imposed not upon Flora, who was +naturally of a suspicious temper. She suspected the Monk to be +acting a part very contrary to his own inclinations, and that He +wished for no better than to remain where He was. She even went +so far as to believe that Jacintha was in his interest; and the +poor old Woman was immediately set down, as no better than a +Procuress. While She applauded herself for having penetrated +into this plot against her Lady's honour, She resolved in secret +to render it fruitless. + +'So then,' said She to the Abbot with a look half-satirical and +half indignant; 'So then you mean to stay here tonight? Do so, +in God's name! Nobody will prevent you. Sit up to watch for the +Ghost's arrival: I shall sit up too, and the Lord grant that I +may see nothing worse than a Ghost! I quit not Donna Antonia's +Bedside during this blessed night: Let me see any one dare to +enter the room, and be He mortal or immortal, be He Ghost, Devil, +or Man, I warrant his repenting that ever He crossed the +threshold!' + +This hint was sufficiently strong, and Ambrosio understood its +meaning. But instead of showing that He perceived her +suspicions; He replied mildly that He approved the Duenna's +precautions, and advised her to persevere in her intention. +This, She assured him faithfully that He might depend upon her +doing. Jacintha then conducted him into the chamber where the +Ghost had appeared, and Flora returned to her Lady's. + +Jacintha opened the door of the haunted room with a trembling +hand: She ventured to peep in; But the wealth of India would not +have tempted her to cross the threshold. She gave the Taper to +the Monk, wished him well through the adventure, and hastened to +be gone. Ambrosio entered. He bolted the door, placed the light +upon the Table, and seated himself in the Chair which on the +former night had sustained Antonia. In spite of Matilda's +assurances that the Spectre was a mere creation of fancy, his +mind was impressed with a certain mysterious horror. He in vain +endeavoured to shake it off. The silence of the night, the story +of the Apparition, the chamber wainscotted with dark oak +pannells, the recollection which it brought with it of the +murdered Elvira, and his incertitude respecting the nature of the +drops given by him to Antonia, made him feel uneasy at his +present situation. But He thought much less of the Spectre, than +of the poison. Should He have destroyed the only object which +rendered life dear to him; Should the Ghost's prediction prove +true; Should Antonia in three days be no more, and He the +wretched cause of her death . . . . . . The supposition was too +horrible to dwell upon. He drove away these dreadful images, and +as often they presented themselves again before him. Matilda had +assured him that the effects of the Opiate would be speedy. He +listened with fear, yet with eagerness, expecting to hear some +disturbance in the adjoining chamber. All was still silent. He +concluded that the drops had not begun to operate. Great was +the stake, for which He now played: A moment would suffice to +decide upon his misery or happiness. Matilda had taught him the +means of ascertaining that life was not extinct for ever: Upon +this assay depended all his hopes. With every instant his +impatience redoubled; His terrors grew more lively, his anxiety +more awake. Unable to bear this state of incertitude, He +endeavoured to divert it by substituting the thoughts of Others +to his own. The Books, as was before mentioned, were ranged upon +shelves near the Table: This stood exactly opposite to the Bed, +which was placed in an Alcove near the Closet door. Ambrosio +took down a Volume, and seated himself by the Table: But his +attention wandered from the Pages before him. Antonia's image +and that of the murdered Elvira persisted to force themselves +before his imagination. Still He continued to read, though his +eyes ran over the characters without his mind being conscious of +their import. Such was his occupation, when He fancied that He +heard a footstep. He turned his head, but nobody was to be seen. + +He resumed his Book; But in a few minutes after the same sound +was repeated, and followed by a rustling noise close behind him. +He now started from his seat, and looking round him, perceived +the Closet door standing half-unclosed. On his first entering +the room He had tried to open it, but found it bolted on the +inside. + +'How is this?' said He to himself; 'How comes this door +unfastened?' + +He advanced towards it: He pushed it open, and looked into the +closet: No one was there. While He stood irresolute, He +thought that He distinguished a groaning in the adjacent +chamber: It was Antonia's, and He supposed that the drops began +to take effect: But upon listening more attentively, He found +the noise to be caused by Jacintha, who had fallen asleep by the +Lady's Bedside, and was snoring most lustily. Ambrosio drew +back, and returned to the other room, musing upon the sudden +opening of the Closet door, for which He strove in vain to +account. + +He paced the chamber up and down in silence. At length He +stopped, and the Bed attracted his attention. The curtain of the +Recess was but half-drawn. He sighed involuntarily. + +'That Bed,' said He in a low voice, 'That Bed was Elvira's! +There has She past many a quiet night, for She was good and +innocent. How sound must have been her sleep! And yet now She +sleeps sounder! Does She indeed sleep? Oh! God grant that She +may! What if She rose from her Grave at this sad and silent +hour? What if She broke the bonds of the Tomb, and glided +angrily before my blasted eyes? Oh! I never could support the +sight! Again to see her form distorted by dying agonies, her +blood-swollen veins, her livid countenance, her eyes bursting +from their sockets with pain! To hear her speak of future +punishment, menace me with Heaven's vengeance, tax me with the +crimes I have committed, with those I am going to commit . . . . +. Great God! What is that?' + +As He uttered these words, his eyes which were fixed upon the +Bed, saw the curtain shaken gently backwards and forwards. The +Apparition was recalled to his mind, and He almost fancied that +He beheld Elvira's visionary form reclining upon the Bed. A few +moments consideration sufficed to reassure him. + +'It was only the wind,' said He, recovering himself. + +Again He paced the chamber; But an involuntary movement of awe +and inquietude constantly led his eye towards the Alcove. He +drew near it with irresolution. He paused before He ascended the +few steps which led to it. He put out his hand thrice to remove +the curtain, and as often drew it back. + +'Absurd terrors!' He cried at length, ashamed of his own +weakness---- + +Hastily he mounted the steps; When a Figure drest in white +started from the Alcove, and gliding by him, made with +precipitation towards the Closet. Madness and despair now +supplied the Monk with that courage, of which He had till then +been destitute. He flew down the steps, pursued the Apparition, +and attempted to grasp it. + +'Ghost, or Devil, I hold you!' He exclaimed, and seized the +Spectre by the arm. + +'Oh! Christ Jesus!' cried a shrill voice; 'Holy Father, how you +gripe me! I protest that I meant no harm!' + +This address, as well as the arm which He held, convinced the +Abbot that the supposed Ghost was substantial flesh and blood. +He drew the Intruder towards the Table, and holding up the light, +discovered the features of . . . . . . Madona Flora! + +Incensed at having been betrayed by this trifling cause into +fears so ridiculous, He asked her sternly, what business had +brought her to that chamber. Flora, ashamed at being found out, +and terrified at the severity of Ambrosio's looks, fell upon her +knees, and promised to make a full confession. + +'I protest, reverend Father,' said She, 'that I am quite grieved +at having disturbed you: Nothing was further from my intention. +I meant to get out of the room as quietly as I got in; and had +you been ignorant that I watched you, you know, it would have +been the same thing as if I had not watched you at all. To be +sure, I did very wrong in being a Spy upon you, that I cannot +deny; But Lord! your Reverence, how can a poor weak Woman resist +curiosity? Mine was so strong to know what you were doing, that +I could not but try to get a little peep, without any body +knowing any thing about it. So with that I left old Dame +Jacintha sitting by my Lady's Bed, and I ventured to steal into +the Closet. Being unwilling to interrupt you, I contented myself +at first with putting my eye to the Keyhole; But as I could see +nothing by this means, I undrew the bolt, and while your back was +turned to the Alcove, I whipt me in softly and silently. Here I +lay snug behind the curtain, till your Reverence found me out, +and seized me ere I had time to regain the Closet door. This is +the whole truth, I assure you, Holy Father, and I beg your pardon +a thousand times for my impertinence.' + +During this speech the Abbot had time to recollect himself: He +was satisfied with reading the penitent Spy a lecture upon the +dangers of curiosity, and the meanness of the action in which She +had been just discovered. Flora declared herself fully +persuaded that She had done wrong; She promised never to be +guilty of the same fault again, and was retiring very humble and +contrite to Antonia's chamber, when the Closet door was suddenly +thrown open, and in rushed Jacintha pale and out of breath. + +'Oh! Father! Father!' She cried in a voice almost choaked with +terror; 'What shall I do! What shall I do! Here is a fine piece +of work! Nothing but misfortunes! Nothing but dead people, and +dying people! Oh! I shall go distracted! I shall go +distracted!' + +'Speak! Speak!' cried Flora and the Monk at the same time; 'What +has happened? What is the matter?' + +'Oh! I shall have another Corse in my House! Some Witch has +certainly cast a spell upon it, upon me, and upon all about me! +Poor Donna Antonia! There She lies in just such convulsions, as +killed her Mother! The Ghost told her true! I am sure, the Ghost +has told her true!' + +Flora ran, or rather flew to her Lady's chamber: Ambrosio +followed her, his bosom trembling with hope and apprehension. +They found Antonia as Jacintha had described, torn by racking +convulsions from which they in vain endeavoured to relieve her. +The Monk dispatched Jacintha to the Abbey in all haste, and +commissioned her to bring Father Pablos back with her, without +losing a moment. + +'I will go for him,' replied Jacintha, 'and tell him to come +hither; But as to bringing him myself, I shall do no such thing. +I am sure that the House is bewitched, and burn me if ever I set +foot in it again.' + +With this resolution She set out for the Monastery, and delivered +to Father Pablos the Abbot's orders. She then betook herself to +the House of old Simon Gonzalez, whom She resolved never to quit, +till She had made him her Husband, and his dwelling her own. + +Father Pablos had no sooner beheld Antonia, than He pronounced +her incurable. The convulsions continued for an hour: During +that time her agonies were much milder than those which her +groans created in the Abbot's heart. Her every pang seemed a +dagger in his bosom, and He cursed himself a thousand times for +having adopted so barbarous a project. The hour being expired, +by degrees the Fits became less frequent, and Antonia less +agitated. She felt that her dissolution was approaching, and +that nothing could save her. + +'Worthy Ambrosio,' She said in a feeble voice, while She pressed +his hand to her lips; 'I am now at liberty to express, how +grateful is my heart for your attention and kindness. I am upon +the bed of death; Yet an hour, and I shall be no more. I may +therefore acknowledge without restraint, that to relinquish your +society was very painful to me: But such was the will of a +Parent, and I dared not disobey. I die without repugnance: +There are few, who will lament my leaving them; There are few, +whom I lament to leave. Among those few, I lament for none more +than for yourself; But we shall meet again, Ambrosio! We shall +one day meet in heaven: There shall our friendship be renewed, +and my Mother shall view it with pleasure!' + +She paused. The Abbot shuddered when She mentioned Elvira: +Antonia imputed his emotion to pity and concern for her. + +'You are grieved for me, Father,' She continued; 'Ah! sigh not +for my loss. I have no crimes to repent, at least none of which +I am conscious, and I restore my soul without fear to him from +whom I received it. I have but few requests to make: Yet let me +hope that what few I have shall be granted. Let a solemn Mass be +said for my soul's repose, and another for that of my beloved +Mother. Not that I doubt her resting in her Grave: I am now +convinced that my reason wandered, and the falsehood of the +Ghost's prediction is sufficient to prove my error. But every +one has some failing: My Mother may have had hers, though I knew +them not: I therefore wish a Mass to be celebrated for her +repose, and the expence may be defrayed by the little wealth of +which I am possessed. Whatever may then remain, I bequeath to my +Aunt Leonella. When I am dead, let the Marquis de las Cisternas +know that his Brother's unhappy family can no longer importune +him. But disappointment makes me unjust: They tell me that He +is ill, and perhaps had it been in his power, He wished to have +protected me. Tell him then, Father, only that I am dead, and +that if He had any faults to me, I forgave him from my heart. +This done, I have nothing more to ask for, than your prayers: +Promise to remember my requests, and I shall resign my life +without a pang or sorrow.' + +Ambrosio engaged to comply with her desires, and proceeded to +give her absolution. Every moment announced the approach of +Antonia's fate: Her sight failed; Her heart beat sluggishly; Her +fingers stiffened, and grew cold, and at two in the morning She +expired without a groan. As soon as the breath had forsaken her +body, Father Pablos retired, sincerely affected at the melancholy +scene. On her part, Flora gave way to the most unbridled sorrow. + +Far different concerns employed Ambrosio: He sought for the +pulse whose throbbing, so Matilda had assured him, would prove +Antonia's death but temporal. He found it; He pressed it; It +palpitated beneath his hand, and his heart was filled with +ecstacy. However, He carefully concealed his satisfaction at the +success of his plan. He assumed a melancholy air, and addressing +himself to Flora, warned her against abandoning herself to +fruitless sorrow. Her tears were too sincere to permit her +listening to his counsels, and She continued to weep unceasingly. + +The Friar withdrew, first promising to give orders himself about +the Funeral, which, out of consideration for Jacintha as He +pretended, should take place with all expedition. Plunged in +grief for the loss of her beloved Mistress, Flora scarcely +attended to what He said. Ambrosio hastened to command the +Burial. He obtained permission from the Prioress, that the Corse +should be deposited in St. Clare's Sepulchre: and on the Friday +Morning, every proper and needful ceremony being performed, +Antonia's body was committed to the Tomb. + +On the same day Leonella arrived at Madrid, intending to present +her young Husband to Elvira. Various circumstances had obliged +her to defer her journey from Tuesday to Friday, and She had no +opportunity of making this alteration in her plans known to her +Sister. As her heart was truly affectionate, and as She had ever +entertained a sincere regard for Elvira and her Daughter, her +surprize at hearing of their sudden and melancholy fate was fully +equalled by her sorrow and disappointment. Ambrosio sent to +inform her of Antonia's bequest: At her solication, He promised, +as soon as Elvira's trifling debts were discharged, to transmit +to her the remainder. This being settled, no other business +detained Leonella in Madrid, and She returned to Cordova with all +diligence. + + + CHAPTER III + +Oh! could I worship aught beneath the skies +That earth hath seen or fancy could devise, +Thine altar, sacred Liberty, should stand, +Built by no mercenary vulgar hand, +With fragrant turf, and flowers as wild and fair, +As ever dressed a bank, or scented summer air. + Cowper. + +His whole attention bent upon bringing to justice the Assassins +of his Sister, Lorenzo little thought how severely his interest +was suffering in another quarter. As was before mentioned, He +returned not to Madrid till the evening of that day on which +Antonia was buried. Signifying to the Grand Inquisitor the order +of the Cardinal-Duke (a ceremony not to be neglected, when a +Member of the Church was to be arrested publicly) communicating +his design to his Uncle and Don Ramirez, and assembling a troop +of Attendants sufficiently to prevent opposition, furnished him +with full occupation during the few hours preceding midnight. +Consequently, He had no opportunity to enquire about his +Mistress, and was perfectly ignorant both of her death and her +Mother's. + +The Marquis was by no means out of danger: His delirium was +gone, but had left him so much exhausted that the Physicians +declined pronouncing upon the consequences likely to ensue. As +for Raymond himself, He wished for nothing more earnestly than to +join Agnes in the grave. Existence was hateful to him: He saw +nothing in the world deserving his attention; and He hoped to +hear that Agnes was revenged, and himself given over in the same +moment. + +Followed by Raymond's ardent prayers for success, Lorenzo was at +the Gates of St. Clare a full hour before the time appointed by +the Mother St. Ursula. He was accompanied by his Uncle, by Don +Ramirez de Mello, and a party of chosen Archers. Though in +considerable numbers their appearance created no surprize: A +great Crowd was already assembled before the Convent doors, in +order to witness the Procession. It was naturally supposed that +Lorenzo and his Attendants were conducted thither by the same +design. The Duke of Medina being recognised, the People drew +back, and made way for his party to advance. Lorenzo placed +himself opposite to the great Gate, through which the Pilgrims +were to pass. Convinced that the Prioress could not escape him, +He waited patiently for her appearance, which She was expected to +make exactly at Midnight. + +The Nuns were employed in religious duties established in honour +of St. Clare, and to which no Prophane was ever admitted. The +Chapel windows were illuminated. As they stood on the outside, +the Auditors heard the full swell of the organ, accompanied by a +chorus of female voices, rise upon the stillness of the night. +This died away, and was succeeded by a single strain of harmony: +It was the voice of her who was destined to sustain in the +procession the character of St. Clare. For this office the most +beautiful Virgin of Madrid was always selected, and She upon whom +the choice fell esteemed it as the highest of honours. While +listening to the Music, whose melody distance only seemed to +render sweeter, the Audience was wrapped up in profound +attention. Universal silence prevailed through the Crowd, and +every heart was filled with reverence for religion. Every heart +but Lorenzo's. Conscious that among those who chaunted the +praises of their God so sweetly, there were some who cloaked with +devotion the foulest sins, their hymns inspired him with +detestation at their Hypocrisy. He had long observed with +disapprobation and contempt the superstition which governed +Madrid's Inhabitants. His good sense had pointed out to him the +artifices of the Monks, and the gross absurdity of their +miracles, wonders, and supposititious reliques. He blushed to +see his Countrymen the Dupes of deceptions so ridiculous, and +only wished for an opportunity to free them from their monkish +fetters. That opportunity, so long desired in vain, was at +length presented to him. He resolved not to let it slip, but to +set before the People in glaring colours how enormous were the +abuses but too frequently practised in Monasteries, and how +unjustly public esteem was bestowed indiscriminately upon all who +wore a religious habit. He longed for the moment destined to +unmask the Hypocrites, and convince his Countrymen that a +sanctified exterior does not always hide a virtuous heart. + +The service lasted, till Midnight was announced by the +Convent Bell. That sound being heard, the Music ceased: The +voices died away softly, and soon after the lights disappeared +from the Chapel windows. Lorenzo's heart beat high, when He +found the execution of his plan to be at hand. From the natural +superstition of the People He had prepared himself for some +resistance. But He trusted that the Mother St. Ursula would +bring good reasons to justify his proceeding. He had force with +him to repel the first impulse of the Populace, till his +arguments should be heard: His only fear was lest the Domina, +suspecting his design, should have spirited away the Nun on +whose deposition every thing depended. Unless the Mother St. +Ursula should be present, He could only accuse the Prioress upon +suspicion; and this reflection gave him some little apprehension +for the success of his enterprize. The tranquillity which seemed +to reign through the Convent in some degree re-assured him: +Still He expected the moment eagerly, when the presence of his +Ally should deprive him of the power of doubting. + +The Abbey of Capuchins was only separated from the Convent by the +Garden and Cemetery. The Monks had been invited to assist at the +Pilgrimage. They now arrived, marching two by two with lighted +Torches in their hands, and chaunting Hymns in honour of St. +Clare. Father Pablos was at their head, the Abbot having excused +himself from attending. The people made way for the holy Train, +and the Friars placed themselves in ranks on either side of the +great Gates. A few minutes sufficed to arrange the order of the +Procession. This being settled, the Convent doors were thrown +open, and again the female Chorus sounded in full melody. First +appeared a Band of Choristers: As soon as they had passed, the +Monks fell in two by two, and followed with steps slow and +measured. Next came the Novices; They bore no Tapers, as did the +Professed, but moved on with eyes bent downwards, and seemed to +be occupied by telling their Beads. To them succeeded a young +and lovely Girl, who represented St. Lucia: She held a golden +bason in which were two eyes: Her own were covered by a velvet +bandage, and She was conducted by another Nun habited as an +Angel. She was followed by St. Catherine, a palm-branch in one +hand, a flaming Sword in the other: She was robed in white, and +her brow was ornamented with a sparkling Diadem. After her +appeared St. Genevieve, surrounded by a number of Imps, who +putting themselves into grotesque attitudes, drawing her by the +robe, and sporting round her with antic gestures, endeavoured to +distract her attention from the Book, on which her eyes were +constantly fixed. These merry Devils greatly entertained the +Spectators, who testified their pleasure by repeated bursts of +Laughter. The Prioress had been careful to select a Nun whose +disposition was naturally solemn and saturnine. She had every +reason to be satisfied with her choice: The drolleries of the +Imps were entirely thrown away, and St. Genevieve moved on +without discomposing a muscle. + +Each of these Saints was separated from the Other by a band of +Choristers, exalting her praise in their Hymns, but declaring her +to be very much inferior to St. Clare, the Convent's avowed +Patroness. These having passed, a long train of Nuns appeared, +bearing like the Choristers each a burning Taper. Next came the +reliques of St. Clare, inclosed in vases equally precious for +their materials and workmanship: But they attracted not +Lorenzo's attention. The Nun who bore the heart occupied him +entirely. According to Theodore's description, He doubted not +her being the Mother St. Ursula. She seemed to look round with +anxiety. As He stood foremost in the rank by which the +procession past, her eye caught Lorenzo's. A flush of joy +overspread her till then pallid cheek. She turned to her +Companion eagerly. + +'We are safe!' He heard her whisper; ' 'tis her Brother!' + +His heart being now at ease, Lorenzo gazed with tranquillity upon +the remainder of the show. Now appeared its most brilliant +ornament. It was a Machine fashioned like a throne, rich with +jewels and dazzling with light. It rolled onwards upon +concealed wheels, and was guided by several lovely Children, +dressed as Seraphs. The summit was covered with silver clouds, +upon which reclined the most beautiful form that eyes ever +witnessed. It was a Damsel representing St. Clare: Her dress was +of inestimable price, and round her head a wreath of Diamonds +formed an artificial glory: But all these ornaments yielded to +the lustre of her charms. As She advanced, a murmur of delight +ran through the Crowd. Even Lorenzo confessed secretly, that He +never beheld more perfect beauty, and had not his heart been +Antonia's, it must have fallen a sacrifice to this enchanting +Girl. As it was, He considered her only as a fine Statue: She +obtained from him no tribute save cold admiration, and when She +had passed him, He thought of her no more. + +'Who is She?' asked a By-stander in Lorenzo's hearing. + +'One whose beauty you must often have heard celebrated. Her name +is Virginia de Villa-Franca: She is a Pensioner of St. Clare's +Convent, a Relation of the Prioress, and has been selected with +justice as the ornament of the Procession.' + +The Throne moved onwards. It was followed by the Prioress +herself: She marched at the head of the remaining Nuns with a +devout and sanctified air, and closed the procession. She moved +on slowly: Her eyes were raised to heaven: Her countenance calm +and tranquil seemed abstracted from all sublunary things, and no +feature betrayed her secret pride at displaying the pomp and +opulence of her Convent. She passed along, accompanied by the +prayers and benedictions of the Populace: But how great was the +general confusion and surprize, when Don Ramirez starting +forward, challenged her as his Prisoner. + +For a moment amazement held the Domina silent and immoveable: +But no sooner did She recover herself, than She exclaimed against +sacrilege and impiety, and called the People to rescue a Daughter +of the Church. They were eagerly preparing to obey her; when Don +Ramirez, protected by the Archers from their rage, commanded them +to forbear, and threatened them with the severest vengeance of +the Inquisition. At that dreaded word every arm fell, every +sword shrunk back into its scabbard. The Prioress herself turned +pale, and trembled. The general silence convinced her that She +had nothing to hope but from innocence, and She besought Don +Ramirez in a faultering voice, to inform her of what crime She +was accused. + +'That you shall know in time,' replied He; 'But first I must +secure the Mother St. Ursula.' + +'The Mother St. Ursula?' repeated the Domina faintly. + +At this moment casting her eyes round, She saw near her Lorenzo +and the Duke, who had followed Don Ramirez. + +'Ah! great God!' She cried, clasping her hands together with a +frantic air; 'I am betrayed!' + +'Betrayed?' replied St. Ursula, who now arrived conducted by some +of the Archers, and followed by the Nun her Companion in the +procession: 'Not betrayed, but discovered. In me recognise your +Accuser: You know not how well I am instructed in your +guilt!--Segnor!' She continued, turning to Don Ramirez; 'I commit +myself to your custody. I charge the Prioress of St. Clare with +murder, and stake my life for the justice of my accusation.' + +A general cry of surprize was uttered by the whole Audience, and +an explanation was demanded loudly.n The trembling Nuns, +terrifiedat the noise and universal confusion, had dispersed, and +fleddifferent ways. Some regained the Convent; Others sought +refugein the dwellings of their Relations; and Many, only +sensible oftheir present danger, and anxious to escape from the +tumult, ran through the Streets, and wandered, they knew not +whither. The lovely Virginia was one of the first to fly: And +in order that She might be better seen and heard, the People +desired that St. Ursula should harangue them from the vacant +Throne. The Nun complied; She ascended the glittering Machine, +and then addressed the surrounding multitude as follows. + +'However strange and unseemly may appear my conduct, when +considered to be adopted by a Female and a Nun, necessity will +justify it most fully. A secret, an horrible secret weighs heavy +upon my soul: No rest can be mine till I have revealed it to the +world, and satisfied that innocent blood which calls from the +Grave for vengeance. Much have I dared to gain this opportunity +of lightening my conscience. Had I failed in my attempt to +reveal the crime, had the Domina but suspected that the mystery +was none to me, my ruin was inevitable. Angels who watch +unceasingly over those who deserve their favour, have enabled me +to escape detection: I am now at liberty to relate a Tale, whose +circumstances will freeze every honest soul with horror. Mine is +the task to rend the veil from Hypocrisy, and show misguided +Parents to what dangers the Woman is exposed, who falls under the +sway of a monastic Tyrant. + +'Among the Votaries of St. Clare, none was more lovely, none more +gentle, than Agnes de Medina. I knew her well; She entrusted to +me every secret of her heart; I was her Friend and Confident, and +I loved her with sincere affection. Nor was I singular in my +attachment. Her piety unfeigned, her willingness to oblige, and +her angelic disposition, rendered her the Darling of all that was +estimable in the Convent. The Prioress herself, proud, +scrupulous and forbidding, could not refuse Agnes that tribute of +approbation which She bestowed upon no one else. Every one has +some fault: Alas! Agnes had her weakness! She violated the laws +of our order, and incurred the inveterate hate of the unforgiving +Domina. St. Clare's rules are severe: But grown antiquated and +neglected, many of late years have either been forgotten, or +changed by universal consent into milder punishments. The +penance, adjudged to the crime of Agnes, was most cruel, most +inhuman! The law had been long exploded: Alas! It still +existed, and the revengeful Prioress now determined to revive it. + +This law decreed that the Offender should be plunged into a +private dungeon, expressly constituted to hide from the world for +ever the Victim of Cruelty and tyrannic superstition. In this +dreadful abode She was to lead a perpetual solitude, deprived of +all society, and believed to be dead by those whom affection +might have prompted to attempt her rescue. Thus was She to +languish out the remainder of her days, with no other food than +bread and water, and no other comfort than the free indulgence of +her tears.' + +The indignation created by this account was so violent, as for +some moments to interrupt St. Ursula's narrative. When the +disturbance ceased, and silence again prevailed through the +Assembly, She continued her discourse, while at every word the +Domina's countenance betrayed her increasing terrors. + +'A Council of the twelve elder Nuns was called: I was of the +number. The Prioress in exaggerated colours described the +offence of Agnes, and scrupled not to propose the revival of this +almost forgotten law. To the shame of our sex be it spoken, that +either so absolute was the Domina's will in the Convent, or so +much had disappointment, solitude, and self-denial hardened their +hearts and sowered their tempers that this barbarous proposal +was assented to by nine voices out of the twelve. I was not one +of the nine. Frequent opportunities had convinced me of the +virtues of Agnes, and I loved and pitied her most sincerely. The +Mothers Bertha and Cornelia joined my party: We made the +strongest opposition possible, and the Superior found herself +compelled to change her intention. In spite of the majority in +her favour, She feared to break with us openly. She knew that +supported by the Medina family, our forces would be too strong +for her to cope with: And She also knew that after being once +imprisoned and supposed dead, should Agnes be discovered, her +ruin would be inevitable. She therefore gave up her design, +though which much reluctance. She demanded some days to reflect +upon a mode of punishment which might be agreeable to the whole +Community; and She promised, that as soon as her resolution was +fixed, the same Council should be again summoned. Two days +passed away: On the Evening of the Third it was announced that +on the next day Agnes should be examined; and that according to +her behaviour on that occasion, her punishment should be either +strengthened or mitigated. + +'On the night preceding this examination, I stole to the Cell of +Agnes at an hour when I supposed the other Nuns to be buried in +sleep. I comforted her to the best of my power: I bad her take +courage, told her to rely upon the support of her friends, and +taught her certain signs, by which I might instruct her to answer +the Domina's questions by an assent or negative. Conscious that +her Enemy would strive to confuse, embarrass, and daunt her, I +feared her being ensnared into some confession prejudicial to her +interests. Being anxious to keep my visit secret, I stayed with +Agnes but a short time. I bad her not let her spirits be cast +down; I mingled my tears with those which streamed down her +cheek, embraced her fondly, and was on the point of retiring, +when I heard the sound of steps approaching the Cell. I started +back. A Curtain which veiled a large Crucifix offered me a +retreat, and I hastened to place myself behind it. The door +opened. The Prioress entered, followed by four other Nuns. They +advanced towards the bed of Agnes. The Superior reproached her +with her errors in the bitterest terms: She told her that She +was a disgrace to the Convent, that She was resolved to deliver +the world and herself from such a Monster, and commanded her to +drink the contents of a Goblet now presented to her by one of the +Nuns. Aware of the fatal properties of the liquor, and trembling +to find herself upon the brink of Eternity, the unhappy Girl +strove to excite the Domina's pity by the most affecting prayers. + +She sued for life in terms which might have melted the heart of a +Fiend: She promised to submit patiently to any punishment, to +shame, imprisonment, and torture, might She but be permitted to +live! Oh! might She but live another month, or week, or day! +Her merciless Enemy listened to her complaints unmoved: She told +her that at first She meant to have spared her life, and that if +She had altered her intention, She had to thank the opposition of +her Friends. She continued to insist upon her swallowing the +poison: She bad her recommend herself to the Almighty's mercy, +not to hers, and assured her that in an hour She would be +numbered with the Dead. Perceiving that it was vain to implore +this unfeeling Woman, She attempted to spring from her bed, and +call for assistance: She hoped, if She could not escape the fate +announced to her, at least to have witnesses of the violence +committed. The Prioress guessed her design. She seized her +forcibly by the arm, and pushed her back upon her pillow. At the +same time drawing a dagger, and placing it at the breast of the +unfortunate Agnes, She protested that if She uttered a single +cry, or hesitated a single moment to drink the poison, She would +pierce her heart that instant. Already half-dead with fear, She +could make no further resistance. The Nun approached with the +fatal Goblet. The Domina obliged her to take it, and swallow the +contents. She drank, and the horrid deed was accomplished. The +Nuns then seated themselves round the Bed. They answered her +groans with reproaches; They interrupted with sarcasms the +prayers in which She recommended her parting soul to mercy: They +threatened her with heaven's vengeance and eternal perdition: +They bad her despair of pardon, and strowed with yet sharper +thorns Death's painful pillow. Such were the sufferings of this +young Unfortunate, till released by fate from the malice of her +Tormentors. She expired in horror of the past, in fears for the +future; and her agonies were such as must have amply gratified +the hate and vengeance of her Enemies. As soon as her Victim +ceased to breathe, the Domina retired, and was followed by her +Accomplices. + +'It was now that I ventured from my concealment. I dared not to +assist my unhappy Friend, aware that without preserving her, I +should only have brought on myself the same destruction. Shocked +and terrified beyond expression at this horrid scene, scarcely +had I sufficient strength to regain my Cell. As I reached the +door of that of Agnes, I ventured to look towards the bed, on +which lay her lifeless body, once so lovely and so sweet! I +breathed a prayer for her departed Spirit, and vowed to revenge +her death by the shame and punishment of her Assassins. With +danger and difficulty have I kept my oath. I unwarily dropped +some words at the funeral of Agnes, while thrown off my guard by +excessive grief, which alarmed the guilty conscience of the +Prioress. My every action was observed; My every step was +traced. I was constantly surrounded by the Superior's spies. It +was long before I could find the means of conveying to the +unhappy Girl's Relations an intimation of my secret. It was +given out that Agnes had expired suddenly: This account was +credited not only by her Friends in Madrid, but even by those +within the Convent. The poison had left no marks upon her body: +No one suspected the true cause of her death, and it remained +unknown to all, save the Assassins and Myself. + +'I have no more to say: For what I have already said, I will +answer with my life. I repeat that the Prioress is a Murderess; +That She has driven from the world, perhaps from heaven, an +Unfortunate whose offence was light and venial; that She has +abused the power intrusted to her hands, and has been a Tyrant, a +Barbarian, and an Hypocrite. I also accuse the four Nuns, +Violante, Camilla, Alix, and Mariana, as being her Accomplices, +and equally criminal.' + +Here St. Ursula ended her narrative. It created horror and +surprize throughout: But when She related the inhuman murder of +Agnes, the indignation of the Mob was so audibly testified, that +it was scarcely possible to hear the conclusion. This confusion +increased with every moment: At length a multitude of voices +exclaimed that the Prioress should be given up to their fury. +To this Don Ramirez refused to consent positively. Even Lorenzo +bad the People remember that She had undergone no trial, and +advised them to leave her punishment to the Inquisition. All +representations were fruitless: The disturbance grew still more +violent, and the Populace more exasperated. In vain did Ramirez +attempt to convey his Prisoner out of the Throng. Wherever He +turned, a band of Rioters barred his passage, and demanded her +being delivered over to them more loudly than before. Ramirez +ordered his Attendants to cut their way through the multitude: +Oppressed by numbers, it was impossible for them to draw their +swords. He threatened the Mob with the vengeance of the +Inquisition: But in this moment of popular phrenzy even this +dreadful name had lost its effect. Though regret for his Sister +made him look upon the Prioress with abhorrence, Lorenzo could +not help pitying a Woman in a situation so terrible: But in +spite of all his exertions, and those of the Duke, of Don +Ramirez, and the Archers, the People continued to press onwards. +They forced a passage through the Guards who protected their +destined Victim, dragged her from her shelter, and proceeded to +take upon her a most summary and cruel vengeance. Wild with +terror, and scarcely knowing what She said, the wretched Woman +shrieked for a moment's mercy: She protested that She was +innocent of the death of Agnes, and could clear herself from the +suspicion beyond the power of doubt. The Rioters heeded nothing +but the gratification of their barbarous vengeance. They refused +to listen to her: They showed her every sort of insult, loaded +her with mud and filth, and called her by the most opprobrious +appellations. They tore her one from another, and each new +Tormentor was more savage than the former. They stifled with +howls and execrations her shrill cries for mercy; and dragged her +through the Streets, spurning her, trampling her, and treating +her with every species of cruelty which hate or vindictive fury +could invent. At length a Flint, aimed by some well-directing +hand, struck her full upon the temple. She sank upon the ground +bathed in blood, and in a few minutes terminated her miserable +existence. Yet though She no longer felt their insults, the +Rioters still exercised their impotent rage upon her lifeless +body. They beat it, trod upon it, and ill-used it, till it +became no more than a mass of flesh, unsightly, shapeless, and +disgusting. + +Unable to prevent this shocking event, Lorenzo and his Friends +had beheld it with the utmost horror: But they were rouzed from +their compelled inactivity, on hearing that the Mob was attacking +the Convent of St. Clare. The incensed Populace, confounding the +innocent with the guilty, had resolved to sacrifice all the Nuns +of that order to their rage, and not to leave one stone of the +building upon another. Alarmed at this intelligence, they +hastened to the Convent, resolved to defend it if possible, or at +least to rescue the Inhabitants from the fury of the Rioters. +Most of the Nuns had fled, but a few still remained in their +habitation. Their situation was truly dangerous. However, as +they had taken the precaution of fastening the inner Gates, with +this assistance Lorenzo hoped to repel the Mob, till Don Ramirez +should return to him with a more sufficient force. + +Having been conducted by the former disturbance to the distance +of some Streets from the Convent, He did not immediately reach +it: When He arrived, the throng surrounding it was so excessive +as to prevent his approaching the Gates. In the interim, the +Populace besieged the Building with persevering rage: They +battered the walls, threw lighted torches in at the windows, and +swore that by break of day not a Nun of St. Clare's order should +be left alive. Lorenzo had just succeeded in piercing his way +through the Crowd, when one of the Gates was forced open. The +Rioters poured into the interior part of the Building, where they +exercised their vengeance upon every thing which found itself in +their passage. They broke the furniture into pieces, tore down +the pictures, destroyed the reliques, and in their hatred of her +Servant forgot all respect to the Saint. Some employed +themselves in searching out the Nuns, Others in pulling down +parts of the Convent, and Others again in setting fire to the +pictures and valuable furniture which it contained. These +Latter produced the most decisive desolation: Indeed the +consequences of their action were more sudden than themselves +had expected or wished. The Flames rising from the burning piles +caught part of the Building, which being old and dry, the +conflagration spread with rapidity from room to room. The Walls +were soon shaken by the devouring element: The Columns gave way: +The Roofs came tumbling down upon the Rioters, and crushed many +of them beneath their weight. Nothing was to be heard but +shrieks and groans; The Convent was wrapped in flames, and the +whole presented a scene of devastation and horror. + +Lorenzo was shocked at having been the cause, however innocent, +of this frightful disturbance: He endeavoured to repair his +fault by protecting the helpless Inhabitants of the Convent. He +entered it with the Mob, and exerted himself to repress the +prevailing Fury, till the sudden and alarming progress of the +flames compelled him to provide for his own safety. The People +now hurried out, as eagerly as they had before thronged in; But +their numbers clogging up the doorway, and the fire gaining upon +them rapidly, many of them perished ere they had time to effect +their escape. Lorenzo's good fortune directed him to a small +door in a farther Aisle of the Chapel. The bolt was already +undrawn: He opened the door, and found himself at the foot of +St. Clare's Sepulchre. + +Here He stopped to breathe. The Duke and some of his Attendants +had followed him, and thus were in security for the present. +They now consulted, what steps they should take to escape from +this scene of disturbance: But their deliberations were +considerably interrupted by the sight of volumes of fire rising +from amidst the Convent's massy walls, by the noise of some heavy +Arch tumbling down in ruins, or by the mingled shrieks of the +Nuns and Rioters, either suffocating in the press, perishing in +the flames, or crushed beneath the weight of the falling Mansion. + +Lorenzo enquired, whither the Wicket led? He was answered, to +the Garden of the Capuchins, and it was resolved to explore an +outlet upon that side. Accordingly the Duke raised the Latch, +and passed into the adjoining Cemetery. The Attendants followed +without ceremony. Lorenzo, being the last, was also on the point +of quitting the Colonnade, when He saw the door of the Sepulchre +opened softly. Someone looked out, but on perceiving Strangers +uttered a loud shriek, started back again, and flew down the +marble Stairs. + +'What can this mean?' cried Lorenzo; 'Here is some mystery +concealed. Follow me without delay!' + +Thus saying, He hastened into the Sepulchre, and pursued the +person who continued to fly before him. The Duke knew not the +cause of his exclamation, but supposing that He had good reasons +for it, he followed him without hesitation. The Others did the +same, and the whole Party soon arrived at the foot of the Stairs. + +The upper door having been left open, the neighbouring flames +darted from above a sufficient light to enable Lorenzo's catching +a glance of the Fugitive running through the long passages and +distant Vaults: But when a sudden turn deprived him of this +assistance, total darkness succeeded, and He could only trace the +object of his enquiry by the faint echo of retiring feet. The +Pursuers were now compelled to proceed with caution: As well as +they could judge, the Fugitive also seemed to slacken pace, for +they heard the steps follow each other at longer intervals. They +at length were bewildered by the Labyrinth of passages, and +dispersed in various directions. Carried away by his eagerness +to clear up this mystery, and to penetrate into which He was +impelled by a movement secret and unaccountable, Lorenzo heeded +not this circumstance till He found himself in total solitude. +The noise of footsteps had ceased. All was silent around, and +no clue offered itself to guide him to the flying Person. He +stopped to reflect on the means most likely to aid his pursuit. +He was persuaded that no common cause would have induced the +Fugitive to seek that dreary place at an hour so unusual: The +cry which He had heard, seemed uttered in a voice of terror, and +He was convinced that some mystery was attached to this event. +After some minutes past in hesitation He continued to proceed, +feeling his way along the walls of the passage. He had already +past some time in this slow progress, when He descried a spark of +light glimmering at a distance. Guided by this observation, and +having drawn his sword, He bent his steps towards the place, +whence the beam seemed to be emitted. + +It proceeded from the Lamp which flamed before St. Clare's +Statue. Before it stood several Females, their white Garments +streaming in the blast, as it howled along the vaulted dungeons. +Curious to know what had brought them together in this melancholy +spot, Lorenzo drew near with precaution. The Strangers seemed +earnestly engaged in conversation. They heard not Lorenzo's +steps, and He approached unobserved, till He could hear their +voices distinctly. + +'I protest,' continued She who was speaking when He arrived, and +to whom the rest were listening with great attention; 'I protest, +that I saw them with my own eyes. I flew down the steps; They +pursued me, and I escaped falling into their hands with +difficulty. Had it not been for the Lamp, I should never have +found you.' + +'And what could bring them hither?' said another in a trembling +voice; 'Do you think that they were looking for us?' + +'God grant that my fears may be false,' rejoined the First; 'But +I doubt they are Murderers! If they discover us, we are lost! +As for me, my fate is certain: My affinity to the Prioress will +be a sufficient crime to condemn me; and though till now these +Vaults have afforded me a retreat. . . . . . .' + +Here looking up, her eye fell upon Lorenzo, who had continued to +approach softly. + +'The Murderers!' She cried-- + +She started away from the Statue's Pedestal on which She had been +seated, and attempted to escape by flight. Her Companions at the +same moment uttered a terrified scream, while Lorenzo arrested +the Fugitive by the arm. Frightened and desperate She sank upon +her knees before him. + +'Spare me!' She exclaimed; 'For Christ's sake, spare me! I am +innocent, indeed, I am!' + +While She spoke, her voice was almost choaked with fear. The +beams of the Lamp darting full upon her face which was unveiled, +Lorenzo recognized the beautiful Virginia de Villa-Franca. He +hastened to raise her from the ground, and besought her to take +courage. He promised to protect her from the Rioters, assured +her that her retreat was still a secret, and that She might +depend upon his readiness to defend her to the last drop of his +blood. During this conversation, the Nuns had thrown themselves +into various attitudes: One knelt, and addressed herself to +heaven; Another hid her face in the lap of her Neighbour; Some +listened motionless with fear to the discourse of the supposed +Assassin; while Others embraced the Statue of St. Clare, and +implored her protection with frantic cries. On perceiving their +mistake, they crowded round Lorenzo and heaped benedictions on +him by dozens. He found that, on hearing the threats of the Mob, +and terrified by the cruelties which from the Convent Towers +they had seen inflicted on the Superior, many of the Pensioners +and Nuns had taken refuge in the Sepulchre. Among the former was +to be reckoned the lovely Virginia. Nearly related to the +Prioress, She had more reason than the rest to dread the Rioters, +and now besought Lorenzo earnestly not to abandon her to their +rage. Her Companions, most of whom were Women of noble family, +made the same request, which He readily granted. He promised not +to quit them, till He had seen each of them safe in the arms of +her Relations: But He advised their deferring to quit the +Sepulchre for some time longer, when the popular fury should be +somewhat calmed, and the arrival of military force have dispersed +the multitude. + +'Would to God!' cried Virginia, 'That I were already safe in my +Mother's embraces! How say you, Segnor; Will it be long, ere we +may leave this place? Every moment that I pass here, I pass in +torture!' + +'I hope, not long,' said He; 'But till you can proceed with +security, this Sepulchre will prove an impenetrable asylum. Here +you run no risque of a discovery, and I would advise your +remaining quiet for the next two or three hours.' + +'Two or three hours?' exclaimed Sister Helena; 'If I stay another +hour in these vaults, I shall expire with fear! Not the wealth +of worlds should bribe me to undergo again what I have suffered +since my coming hither. Blessed Virgin! To be in this melancholy +place in the middle of night, surrounded by the mouldering bodies +of my deceased Companions, and expecting every moment to be torn +in pieces by their Ghosts who wander about me, and complain, and +groan, and wail in accents that make my blood run cold, . . . . . +. Christ Jesus! It is enough to drive me to madness!' + +'Excuse me,' replied Lorenzo, 'if I am surprized that while +menaced by real woes you are capable of yielding to imaginary +dangers. These terrors are puerile and groundless: Combat them, +holy Sister; I have promised to guard you from the Rioters, but +against the attacks of superstition you must depend for +protection upon yourself. The idea of Ghosts is ridiculous in the +extreme; And if you continue to be swayed by ideal terrors . . . +. . .' + +'Ideal?' exclaimed the Nuns with one voice; 'Why we heard it +ourselves, Segnor! Every one of us heard it! It was frequently +repeated, and it sounded every time more melancholy and deep. +You will never persuade me that we could all have been deceived. +Not we, indeed; No, no; Had the noise been merely created by +fancy . . . .' + +'Hark! Hark!' interrupted Virginia in a voice of terror; 'God +preserve us! There it is again!' + +The Nuns clasped their hands together, and sank upon their knees. + +Lorenzo looked round him eagerly, and was on the point of +yielding to the fears which already had possessed the Women. +Universal silence prevailed. He examined the Vault, but nothing +was to be seen. He now prepared to address the Nuns, and +ridicule their childish apprehensions, when his attention was +arrested by a deep and long-drawn groan. + +'What was that?' He cried, and started. + +'There, Segnor!' said Helena; 'Now you must be convinced! You +have heard the noise yourself! Now judge, whether our terrors +are imaginary. Since we have been here, that groaning has been +repeated almost every five minutes. Doubtless, it proceeds from +some Soul in pain, who wishes to be prayed out of purgatory: But +none of us here dares ask it the question. As for me, were I to +see an Apparition, the fright, I am very certain, would kill me +out of hand.' + +As She said this, a second groan was heard yet more distinctly. +The Nuns crossed themselves, and hastened to repeat their prayers +against evil Spirits. Lorenzo listened attentively. He even +thought that He could distinguish sounds, as of one speaking in +complaint; But distance rendered them inarticulate. The noise +seemed to come from the midst of the small Vault in which He and +the Nuns then were, and which a multitude of passages branching +out in various directions, formed into a sort of Star. Lorenzo's +curiosity which was ever awake, made him anxious to solve this +mystery. He desired that silence might be kept. The Nuns obeyed +him. All was hushed, till the general stillness was again +disturbed by the groaning, which was repeated several times +successively. He perceived it to be most audible, when upon +following the sound He was conducted close to the shrine of St. +Clare; + +'The noise comes from hence,' said He; 'Whose is this Statue?' + +Helena, to whom He addressed the question, paused for a moment. +Suddenly She clapped her hands together. + +'Aye!' cried She, 'it must be so. I have discovered the meaning +of these groans.' + +The Nuns crowded round her, and besought her eagerly to explain +herself. She gravely replied that for time immemorial the +Statue had been famous for performing miracles: From this She +inferred that the Saint was concerned at the conflagration of a +Convent which She protected, and expressed her grief by audible +lamentations. Not having equal faith in the miraculous Saint, +Lorenzo did not think this solution of the mystery quite so +satisfactory, as the Nuns, who subscribed to it without +hesitation. In one point, 'tis true, that He agreed with Helena. + +He suspected that the groans proceeded from the Statue: The more +He listened, the more was He confirmed in this idea. He drew +nearer to the Image, designing to inspect it more closely: But +perceiving his intention, the Nuns besought him for God's sake to +desist, since if He touched the Statue, his death was inevitable. + +'And in what consists the danger?' said He. + +'Mother of God! In what?' replied Helena, ever eager to relate a +miraculous adventure; 'If you had only heard the hundredth part +of those marvellous Stories about this Statue which the Domina +used to recount! She assured us often and often, that if we only +dared to lay a finger upon it, we might expect the most fatal +consequences. Among other things She told us that a Robber +having entered these Vaults by night, He observed yonder Ruby, +whose value is inestimable. Do you see it, Segnor? It sparkles +upon the third finger of the hand, in which She holds a crown of +Thorns. This Jewel naturally excited the Villain's cupidity. He +resolved to make himself Master of it. For this purpose He +ascended the Pedestal: He supported himself by grasping the +Saint's right arm, and extended his own towards the Ring. What +was his surprize, when He saw the Statue's hand raised in a +posture of menace, and heard her lips pronounce his eternal +perdition! Penetrated with awe and consternation, He desisted +from his attempt, and prepared to quit the Sepulchre. In this He +also failed. Flight was denied him. He found it impossible to +disengage the hand, which rested upon the right arm of the +Statue. In vain did He struggle: He remained fixed to the +Image, till the insupportable and fiery anguish which darted +itself through his veins, compelled his shrieking for assistance. + +The Sepulchre was now filled with Spectators. The Villain +confessed his sacrilege, and was only released by the separation +of his hand from his body. It has remained ever since fastened +to the Image. The Robber turned Hermit, and led ever after an +exemplary life: But yet the Saint's decree was performed, and +Tradition says that He continues to haunt this Sepulchre, and +implore St. Clare's pardon with groans and lamentations. Now I +think of it, those which we have just heard, may very possibly +have been uttered by the Ghost of this Sinner: But of this I will +not be positive. All that I can say is, that since that time no +one has ever dared to touch the Statue: Then do not be +foolhardy, good Segnor! For the love of heaven, give up your +design, nor expose yourself unnecessarily to certain +destruction.' + +Not being convinced that his destruction would be so certain as +Helena seemed to think it, Lorenzo persisted in his resolution. +The Nuns besought him to desist in piteous terms, and even +pointed out the Robber's hand, which in effect was still visible +upon the arm of the Statue. This proof, as they imagined, must +convince him. It was very far from doing so; and they were +greatly scandalized when he declared his suspicion that the +dried and shrivelled fingers had been placed there by order of +the Prioress. In spite of their prayers and threats He +approached the Statue. He sprang over the iron Rails which +defended it, and the Saint underwent a thorough examination. +The Image at first appeared to be of Stone, but proved on further +inspection to be formed of no more solid materials than coloured +Wood. He shook it, and attempted to move it; But it appeared to +be of a piece with the Base which it stood upon. He examined it +over and over: Still no clue guided him to the solution of this +mystery, for which the Nuns were become equally solicitous, when +they saw that He touched the Statue with impunity. He paused, +and listened: The groans were repeated at intervals, and He was +convinced of being in the spot nearest to them. He mused upon +this singular event, and ran over the Statue with enquiring eyes. +Suddenly they rested upon the shrivelled hand. It struck him, +that so particular an injunction was not given without cause, not +to touch the arm of the Image. He again ascended the Pedestal; +He examined the object of his attention, and discovered a small +knob of iron concealed between the Saint's shoulder and what was +supposed to have been the hand of the Robber. This observation +delighted him. He applied his fingers to the knob, and pressed +it down forcibly. Immediately a rumbling noise was heard within +the Statue, as if a chain tightly stretched was flying back. +Startled at the sound the timid Nuns started away, prepared to +hasten from the Vault at the first appearance of danger. All +remaining quiet and still, they again gathered round Lorenzo, and +beheld his proceedings with anxious curiosity. + +Finding that nothing followed this discovery, He descended. As +He took his hand from the Saint, She trembled beneath his touch. +This created new terrors in the Spectators, who believed the +Statue to be animated. Lorenzo's ideas upon the subject were +widely different. He easily comprehended that the noise which He +had heard, was occasioned by his having loosened a chain which +attached the Image to its Pedestal. He once more attempted to +move it, and succeeded without much exertion. He placed it upon +the ground, and then perceived the Pedestal to be hollow, and +covered at the opening with an heavy iron grate. + +This excited such general curiosity that the Sisters forgot both +their real and imaginary dangers. Lorenzo proceeded to raise the +Grate, in which the Nuns assisted him to the utmost of their +strength. The attempt was accomplished with little difficulty. +A deep abyss now presented itself before them, whose thick +obscurity the eye strove in vain to pierce. The rays of the Lamp +were too feeble to be of much assistance. Nothing was +discernible, save a flight of rough unshapen steps which sank +into the yawning Gulph and were soon lost in darkness. The +groans were heard no more; But All believed them to have ascended +from this Cavern. As He bent over it, Lorenzo fancied that He +distinguished something bright twinkling through the gloom. He +gazed attentively upon the spot where it showed itself, and was +convinced that He saw a small spark of light, now visible, now +disappearing. He communicated this circumstance to the Nuns: +They also perceived the spark; But when He declared his intention +to descend into the Cave, they united to oppose his resolution. +All their remonstrances could not prevail on him to alter it. +None of them had courage enough to accompany him; neither could +He think of depriving them of the Lamp. Alone therefore, and in +darkness, He prepared to pursue his design, while the Nuns were +contented to offer up prayers for his success and safety. + +The steps were so narrow and uneven, that to descend them was +like walking down the side of a precipice. The obscurity by +which He was surrounded rendered his footing insecure. He was +obliged to proceed with great caution, lest He should miss the +steps and fall into the Gulph below him. This He was several +times on the point of doing. However, He arrived sooner upon +solid ground than He had expected: He now found that the thick +darkness and impenetrable mists which reigned through the Cavern +had deceived him into the belief of its being much more profound +than it proved upon inspection. He reached the foot of the +Stairs unhurt: He now stopped, and looked round for the spark +which had before caught his attention. He sought it in vain: All +was dark and gloomy. He listened for the groans; But his ear +caught no sound, except the distant murmur of the Nuns above, as +in low voices they repeated their Ave-Marias. He stood +irresolute to which side He should address his steps. At all +events He determined to proceed: He did so, but slowly, fearing +lest instead of approaching, He should be retiring from the +object of his search. The groans seemed to announce one in pain, +or at least in sorrow, and He hoped to have the power of +relieving the Mourner's calamities. A plaintive tone, sounding +at no great distance, at length reached his hearing; He bent his +course joyfully towards it. It became more audible as He +advanced; and He soon beheld again the spark of light, which a +low projecting Wall had hitherto concealed from him. + +It proceeded from a small Lamp which was placed upon an heap of +stones, and whose faint and melancholy rays served rather to +point out, than dispell the horrors of a narrow gloomy dungeon +formed in one side of the Cavern; It also showed several other +recesses of similar construction, but whose depth was buried in +obscurity. Coldly played the light upon the damp walls, whose +dew-stained surface gave back a feeble reflection. A thick and +pestilential fog clouded the height of the vaulted dungeon. As +Lorenzo advanced, He felt a piercing chillness spread itself +through his veins. The frequent groans still engaged him to move +forwards. He turned towards them, and by the Lamp's glimmering +beams beheld in a corner of this loathsome abode, a Creature +stretched upon a bed of straw, so wretched, so emaciated, so +pale, that He doubted to think her Woman. She was half-naked: +Her long dishevelled hair fell in disorder over her face, and +almost entirely concealed it. One wasted Arm hung listlessly +upon a tattered rug which covered her convulsed and shivering +limbs: The Other was wrapped round a small bundle, and held it +closely to her bosom. A large Rosary lay near her: Opposite to +her was a Crucifix, on which She bent her sunk eyes fixedly, and +by her side stood a Basket and a small Earthen Pitcher. + +Lorenzo stopped: He was petrified with horror. He gazed upon +the miserable Object with disgust and pity. He trembled at the +spectacle; He grew sick at heart: His strength failed him, and +his limbs were unable to support his weight. He was obliged to +lean against the low Wall which was near him, unable to go +forward, or to address the Sufferer. She cast her eyes towards +the Staircase: The Wall concealed Lorenzo, and She observed him +not. + +'No one comes!' She at length murmured. + +As She spoke, her voice was hollow, and rattled in her throat: +She sighed bitterly. + +'No one comes!' She repeated; 'No! They have forgotten me! They +will come no more!' + +She paused for a moment: Then continued mournfully. + +'Two days! Two long, long days, and yet no food! And yet no +hope, no comfort! Foolish Woman! How can I wish to lengthen a +life so wretched! Yet such a death! O! God! To perish by such +a death! To linger out such ages in torture! Till now, I knew +not what it was to hunger! Hark! No. No one comes! They will +come no more!' + +She was silent. She shivered, and drew the rug over her naked +shoulders. + +'I am very cold! I am still unused to the damps of this dungeon! + +'Tis strange: But no matter. Colder shall I soon be, and yet +not feel it--I shall be cold, cold as Thou art!' + +She looked at the bundle which lay upon her breast. She bent +over it, and kissed it: Then drew back hastily, and shuddered +with disgust. + +'It was once so sweet! It would have been so lovely, so like +him! I have lost it for ever! How a few days have changed it! +I should not know it again myself! Yet it is dear to me! God! +how dear! I will forget what it is: I will only remember what it +was, and love it as well, as when it was so sweet! so lovely! so +like him! I thought that I had wept away all my tears, but here +is one still lingering.' + +She wiped her eyes with a tress of her hair. She put out her +hand for the Pitcher, and reached it with difficulty. She cast +into it a look of hopeless enquiry. She sighed, and replaced it +upon the ground. + +'Quite a void! Not a drop! Not one drop left to cool my +scorched-up burning palate! Now would I give treasures for a +draught of water! And they are God's Servants, who make me +suffer thus! They think themselves holy, while they torture me +like Fiends! They are cruel and unfeeling; And 'tis they who bid +me repent; And 'tis they, who threaten me with eternal perdition! +Saviour, Saviour! You think not so!' + +She again fixed her eyes upon the Crucifix, took her Rosary, and +while She told her beads, the quick motion of her lips declared +her to be praying with fervency. + +While He listened to her melancholy accents, Lorenzo's +sensibility became yet more violently affected. The first sight +of such misery had given a sensible shock to his feelings: But +that being past, He now advanced towards the Captive. She heard +his steps, and uttering a cry of joy, dropped the Rosary. + +'Hark! Hark! Hark!' She cried: 'Some one comes!' + +She strove to raise herself, but her strength was unequal to the +attempt: She fell back, and as She sank again upon the bed of +straw, Lorenzo heard the rattling of heavy chains. He still +approached, while the Prisoner thus continued. + +'Is it you, Camilla? You are come then at last? Oh! it was +time! I thought that you had forsaken me; that I was doomed to +perish of hunger. Give me to drink, Camilla, for pity's sake! I +am faint with long fasting, and grown so weak that I cannot raise +myself from the ground. Good Camilla, give me to drink, lest I +expire before you!' + +Fearing that surprize in her enfeebled state might be fatal, +Lorenzo was at a loss how to address her. + +'It is not Camilla,' said He at length, speaking in a slow and +gentle voice. + +'Who is it then?' replied the Sufferer: 'Alix, perhaps, or +Violante. My eyes are grown so dim and feeble that I cannot +distinguish your features. But whichever it is, if your breast +is sensible of the least compassion, if you are not more cruel +than Wolves and Tigers, take pity on my sufferings. You know +that I am dying for want of sustenance. This is the third day, +since these lips have received nourishment. Do you bring me +food? Or come you only to announce my death, and learn how long +I have yet to exist in agony?' + +'You mistake my business,' replied Lorenzo; 'I am no Emissary of +the cruel Prioress. I pity your sorrows, and come hither to +relieve them.' + +'To relieve them?' repeated the Captive; 'Said you, to relieve +them?' + +At the same time starting from the ground, and supporting herself +upon her hands, She gazed upon the Stranger earnestly. + +'Great God! It is no illusion! A Man! Speak! Who are you? +What brings you hither? Come you to save me, to restore me to +liberty, to life and light? Oh! speak, speak quickly, lest I +encourage an hope whose disappointment will destroy me.' + +'Be calm!' replied Lorenzo in a voice soothing and compassionate; +'The Domina of whose cruelty you complain, has already paid the +forfeit of her offences: You have nothing more to fear from her. + +A few minutes will restore you to liberty, and the embraces of +your Friends from whom you have been secluded. You may rely upon +my protection. Give me your hand, and be not fearful. Let me +conduct you where you may receive those attentions which your +feeble state requires.' + +'Oh! Yes! Yes! Yes!' cried the Prisoner with an exulting +shriek; 'There is a God then, and a just one! Joy! Joy! I shall +once more breath the fresh air, and view the light of the +glorious sunbeams! I will go with you! Stranger, I will go with +you! Oh! Heaven will bless you for pitying an Unfortunate! But +this too must go with me,' She added pointing to the small +bundle which She still clasped to her bosom; 'I cannot part with +this. I will bear it away: It shall convince the world how +dreadful are the abodes so falsely termed religious. Good +Stranger, lend me your hand to rise: I am faint with want, and +sorrow, and sickness, and my forces have quite forsaken me! So, +that is well!' + +As Lorenzo stooped to raise her, the beams of the Lamp struck +full upon his face. + +'Almighty God!' She exclaimed; 'Is it possible! That look! +Those features! Oh! Yes, it is, it is . . . . .' + +She extended her arms to throw them round him; But her enfeebled +frame was unable to sustain the emotions which agitated her +bosom. She fainted, and again sank upon the bed of straw. + +Lorenzo was surprized at her last exclamation. He thought that +He had before heard such accents as her hollow voice had just +formed, but where He could not remember. He saw that in her +dangerous situation immediate physical aid was absolutely +necessary, and He hastened to convey her from the dungeon. He +was at first prevented from doing so by a strong chain fastened +round the prisoner's body, and fixing her to the neighbouring +Wall. However, his natural strength being aided by anxiety to +relieve the Unfortunate, He soon forced out the Staple to which +one end of the Chain was attached. Then taking the Captive in his +arms, He bent his course towards the Staircase. The rays of the +Lamp above, as well as the murmur of female voices, guided his +steps. He gained the Stairs, and in a few minutes after arrived +at the iron-grate. + +The Nuns during his absence had been terribly tormented by +curiosity and apprehension: They were equally surprized and +delighted on seeing him suddenly emerge from the Cave. Every +heart was filled with compassion for the miserable Creature whom +He bore in his arms. While the Nuns, and Virginia in particular, +employed themselves in striving to recall her to her senses, +Lorenzo related in few words the manner of his finding her. He +then observed to them that by this time the tumult must have been +quelled, and that He could now conduct them to their Friends +without danger. All were eager to quit the Sepulchre: Still to +prevent all possibility of ill-usage, they besought Lorenzo to +venture out first alone, and examine whether the Coast was +clear. With this request He complied. Helena offered to conduct +him to the Staircase, and they were on the point of departing, +when a strong light flashed from several passages upon the +adjacent walls. At the same time Steps were heard of people +approaching hastily, and whose number seemed to be considerable. +The Nuns were greatly alarmed at this circumstance: They +supposed their retreat to be discovered, and the Rioters to be +advancing in pursuit of them. Hastily quitting the Prisoner who +remained insensible, they crowded round Lorenzo, and claimed his +promise to protect them. Virginia alone forgot her own danger by +striving to relieve the sorrows of Another. She supported the +Sufferer's head upon her knees, bathing her temples with +rose-water, chafing her cold hands, and sprinkling her face with +tears which were drawn from her by compassion. The Strangers +approaching nearer, Lorenzo was enabled to dispel the fears of +the Suppliants. His name, pronounced by a number of voices among +which He distinguished the Duke's, pealed along the Vaults, and +convinced him that He was the object of their search. He +communicated this intelligence to the Nuns, who received it with +rapture. A few moments after confirmed his idea. Don Ramirez, +as well as the Duke, appeared, followed by Attendants with +Torches. They had been seeking him through the Vaults, in order +to let him know that the Mob was dispersed, and the riot entirely +over. Lorenzo recounted briefly his adventure in the Cavern, and +explained how much the Unknown was in want of medical +assistance. He besought the Duke to take charge of her, as well +as of the Nuns and Pensioners. + +'As for me,' said He, 'Other cares demand my attention. While +you with one half of the Archers convey these Ladies to their +respective homes, I wish the other half to be left with me. I +will examine the Cavern below, and pervade the most secret +recesses of the Sepulchre. I cannot rest till convinced that +yonder wretched Victim was the only one confined by Superstition +in these vaults.' + +The Duke applauded his intention. Don Ramirez offered to assist +him in his enquiry, and his proposal was accepted with gratitude. + +The Nuns having made their acknowledgments to Lorenzo, committed +themselves to the care of his Uncle, and were conducted from the +Sepulchre. Virginia requested that the Unknown might be given to +her in charge, and promised to let Lorenzo know whenever She was +sufficiently recovered to accept his visits. In truth, She made +this promise more from consideration for herself than for either +Lorenzo or the Captive. She had witnessed his politeness, +gentleness, and intrepidity with sensible emotion. She wished +earnestly to preserve his acquaintance; and in addition to the +sentiments of pity which the Prisoner excited, She hoped that her +attention to this Unfortunate would raise her a degree in the +esteem of Lorenzo. She had no occasion to trouble herself upon +this head. The kindness already displayed by her and the tender +concern which She had shown for the Sufferer had gained her an +exalted place in his good graces. While occupied in alleviating +the Captive's sorrows, the nature of her employment adorned her +with new charms, and rendered her beauty a thousand times more +interesting. Lorenzo viewed her with admiration and delight: He +considered her as a ministering Angel descended to the aid of +afflicted innocence; nor could his heart have resisted her +attractions, had it not been steeled by the remembrance of +Antonia. + +The Duke now conveyed the Nuns in safety to the Dwellings of +their respective Friends. The rescued Prisoner was still +insensible and gave no signs of life, except by occasional +groans. She was borne upon a sort of litter; Virginia, who was +constantly by the side of it, was apprehensive that exhausted by +long abstinence, and shaken by the sudden change from bonds and +darkness to liberty and light, her frame would never get the +better of the shock. Lorenzo and Don Ramirez still remained in +the Sepulchre. After deliberating upon their proceedings, it was +resolved that to prevent losing time, the Archers should be +divided into two Bodies: That with one Don Ramirez should +examine the cavern, while Lorenzo with the other might penetrate +into the further Vaults. This being arranged, and his Followers +being provided with Torches, Don Ramirez advanced to the Cavern. +He had already descended some steps when He heard People +approaching hastily from the interior part of the Sepulchre. +This surprized him, and He quitted the Cave precipitately. + +'Do you hear footsteps?' said Lorenzo; 'Let us bend our course +towards them. 'Tis from this side that they seem to proceed.' + +At that moment a loud and piercing shriek induced him to quicken +his steps. + +'Help! Help, for God's sake! cried a voice, whose melodious +tone penetrated Lorenzo's heart with terror. + +He flew towards the cry with the rapidity of lightning, and was +followed by Don Ramirez with equal swiftness. + + + CHAPTER IV + +Great Heaven! How frail thy creature Man is made! +How by himself insensibly betrayed! +In our own strength unhappily secure, +Too little cautious of the adverse power, +On pleasure's flowery brink we idly stray, +Masters as yet of our returning way: +Till the strong gusts of raging passion rise, +Till the dire Tempest mingles earth and skies, +And swift into the boundless Ocean borne, +Our foolish confidence too late we mourn: +Round our devoted heads the billows beat, +And from our troubled view the lessening lands retreat. + + Prior. + +All this while, Ambrosio was unconscious of the dreadful scenes +which were passing so near. The execution of his designs upon +Antonia employed his every thought. Hitherto, He was satisfied +with the success of his plans. Antonia had drank the opiate, was +buried in the vaults of St. Clare, and absolutely in his +disposal. Matilda, who was well acquainted with the nature and +effects of the soporific medicine, had computed that it would not +cease to operate till one in the Morning. For that hour He +waited with impatience. The Festival of St. Clare presented him +with a favourable opportunity of consummating his crime. He was +certain that the Friars and Nuns would be engaged in the +Procession, and that He had no cause to dread an interruption: +From appearing himself at the head of his Monks, He had desired +to be excused. He doubted not, that being beyond the reach of +help, cut off from all the world, and totally in his power, +Antonia would comply with his desires. The affection which She +had ever exprest for him, warranted this persuasion: But He +resolved that should She prove obstinate, no consideration +whatever should prevent him from enjoying her. Secure from a +discovery, He shuddered not at the idea of employing force: If +He felt any repugnance, it arose not from a principle of shame +or compassion, but from his feeling for Antonia the most sincere +and ardent affection, and wishing to owe her favours to no one +but herself. + +The Monks quitted the Abbey at midnight. Matilda was among the +Choristers, and led the chaunt. Ambrosio was left by himself, +and at liberty to pursue his own inclinations. Convinced that no +one remained behind to watch his motions, or disturb his +pleasures, He now hastened to the Western Aisles. His heart +beating with hope not unmingled with anxiety, He crossed the +Garden, unlocked the door which admitted him into the Cemetery, +and in a few minutes He stood before the Vaults. Here He paused. + +He looked round him with suspicion, conscious that his business +was unfit for any other eye. As He stood in hesitation, He heard +the melancholy shriek of the screech-Owl: The wind rattled +loudly against the windows of the adjacent Convent, and as the +current swept by him, bore with it the faint notes of the chaunt +of Choristers. He opened the door cautiously, as if fearing to +be overheard: He entered; and closed it again after him. +Guided by his Lamp, He threaded the long passages, in whose +windings Matilda had instructed him, and reached the private +Vault which contained his sleeping Mistress. + +Its entrance was by no means easy to discover: But this was no +obstacle to Ambrosio, who at the time of Antonia's Funeral had +observed it too carefully to be deceived. He found the door, +which was unfastened, pushed it open, and descended into the +dungeon. He approached the humble Tomb in which Antonia +reposed. He had provided himself with an iron crow and a +pick-axe; But this precaution was unnecessary. The Grate was +slightly fastened on the outside: He raised it, and placing the +Lamp upon its ridge, bent silently over the Tomb. By the side of +three putrid half-corrupted Bodies lay the sleeping Beauty. A +lively red, the forerunner of returning animation, had already +spread itself over her cheek; and as wrapped in her shroud She +reclined upon her funeral Bier, She seemed to smile at the Images +of Death around her. While He gazed upon their rotting bones and +disgusting figures, who perhaps were once as sweet and lovely, +Ambrosio thought upon Elvira, by him reduced to the same state. +As the memory of that horrid act glanced upon his mind, it was +clouded with a gloomy horror. Yet it served but to strengthen +his resolution to destroy Antonia's honour. + +'For your sake, Fatal Beauty!' murmured the Monk, while gazing on +his devoted prey; 'For your sake, have I committed this murder, +and sold myself to eternal tortures. Now you are in my power: +The produce of my guilt will at least be mine. Hope not that +your prayers breathed in tones of unequalled melody, your bright +eyes filled with tears, and your hands lifted in supplication, as +when seeking in penitence the Virgin's pardon; Hope not that +your moving innocence, your beauteous grief, or all your +suppliant arts shall ransom you from my embraces. Before the +break of day, mine you must, and mine you shall be!' + +He lifted her still motionless from the Tomb: He seated himself +upon a bank of Stone, and supporting her in his arms, watched +impatiently for the symptoms of returning animation. Scarcely +could He command his passions sufficiently, to restrain himself +from enjoying her while yet insensible. His natural lust was +increased in ardour by the difficulties which had opposed his +satisfying it: As also by his long abstinence from Woman, since +from the moment of resigning her claim to his love, Matilda had +exiled him from her arms for ever. + +'I am no Prostitute, Ambrosio;' Had She told him, when in the +fullness of his lust He demanded her favours with more than usual +earnestness; 'I am now no more than your Friend, and will not be +your Mistress. Cease then to solicit my complying with desires, +which insult me. While your heart was mine, I gloried in your +embraces: Those happy times are past: My person is become +indifferent to you, and 'tis necessity, not love, which makes you +seek my enjoyment. I cannot yield to a request so humiliating +to my pride.' + +Suddenly deprived of pleasures, the use of which had made them an +absolute want, the Monk felt this restraint severely. Naturally +addicted to the gratification of the senses, in the full vigour +of manhood, and heat of blood, He had suffered his temperament to +acquire such ascendency that his lust was become madness. Of +his fondness for Antonia, none but the grosser particles +remained: He longed for the possession of her person; and even +the gloom of the vault, the surrounding silence, and the +resistance which He expected from her, seemed to give a fresh +edge to his fierce and unbridled desires. + +Gradually He felt the bosom which rested against his, glow with +returning warmth. Her heart throbbed again; Her blood flowed +swifter, and her lips moved. At length She opened her eyes, but +still opprest and bewildered by the effects of the strong opiate, +She closed them again immediately. Ambrosio watched her +narrowly, nor permitted a movement to escape him. Perceiving +that She was fully restored to existence, He caught her in +rapture to his bosom, and closely pressed his lips to hers. The +suddenness of his action sufficed to dissipate the fumes which +obscured Antonia's reason. She hastily raised herself, and cast +a wild look round her. The strange Images which presented +themselves on every side contributed to confuse her. She put her +hand to her head, as if to settle her disordered imagination. At +length She took it away, and threw her eyes through the dungeon a +second time. They fixed upon the Abbot's face. + +'Where am I?' She said abruptly. 'How came I here? Where is my +Mother? Methought, I saw her! Oh! a dream, a dreadful dreadful +dream told me . . . . . . But where am I? Let me go! I cannot +stay here!' + +She attempted to rise, but the Monk prevented her. + +'Be calm, lovely Antonia!' He replied; 'No danger is near you: +Confide in my protection. Why do you gaze on me so earnestly? +Do you not know me? Not know your Friend? Ambrosio?' + +'Ambrosio? My Friend? Oh! yes, yes; I remember . . . . . . +But why am I here? Who has brought me? Why are you with me? +Oh! Flora bad me beware . . . . .! Here are nothing but Graves, +and Tombs, and Skeletons! This place frightens me! Good Ambrosio +take me away from it, for it recalls my fearful dream! Methought +I was dead, and laid in my grave! Good Ambrosio, take me from +hence. Will you not? Oh! will you not? Do not look on me thus! + +Your flaming eyes terrify me! Spare me, Father! Oh! spare me for +God's sake!' + +'Why these terrors, Antonia?' rejoined the Abbot, folding her in +his arms, and covering her bosom with kisses which She in vain +struggled to avoid: 'What fear you from me, from one who adores +you? What matters it where you are? This Sepulchre seems to me +Love's bower; This gloom is the friendly night of mystery which +He spreads over our delights! Such do I think it, and such must +my Antonia. Yes, my sweet Girl! Yes! Your veins shall glow with +fire which circles in mine, and my transports shall be doubled +by your sharing them!' + +While He spoke thus, He repeated his embraces, and permitted +himself the most indecent liberties. Even Antonia's ignorance +was not proof against the freedom of his behaviour. She was +sensible of her danger, forced herself from his arms, and her +shroud being her only garment, She wrapped it closely round her. + +'Unhand me, Father!' She cried, her honest indignation tempered +by alarm at her unprotected position; 'Why have you brought me to +this place? Its appearance freezes me with horror! Convey me +from hence, if you have the least sense of pity and humanity! +Let me return to the House which I have quitted I know not how; +But stay here one moment longer, I neither will, or ought.' + +Though the Monk was somewhat startled by the resolute tone in +which this speech was delivered, it produced upon him no other +effect than surprize. He caught her hand, forced her upon his +knee, and gazing upon her with gloting eyes, He thus replied to +her. + +'Compose yourself, Antonia. Resistance is unavailing, and I need +disavow my passion for you no longer. You are imagined dead: +Society is for ever lost to you. I possess you here alone; You +are absolutely in my power, and I burn with desires which I must +either gratify or die: But I would owe my happiness to +yourself. My lovely Girl! My adorable Antonia! Let me instruct +you in joys to which you are still a Stranger, and teach you to +feel those pleasures in my arms which I must soon enjoy in +yours. Nay, this struggling is childish,' He continued, seeing +her repell his caresses, and endeavour to escape from his grasp; +'No aid is near: Neither heaven or earth shall save you from my +embraces. Yet why reject pleasures so sweet, so rapturous? No +one observes us: Our loves will be a secret to all the world: +Love and opportunity invite your giving loose to your passions. +Yield to them, my Antonia! Yield to them, my lovely Girl! Throw +your arms thus fondly round me; Join your lips thus closely to +mine! Amidst all her gifts, has Nature denied her most precious, +the sensibility of Pleasure? Oh! impossible! Every feature, +look, and motion declares you formed to bless, and to be blessed +yourself! Turn not on me those supplicating eyes: Consult your +own charms; They will tell you that I am proof against entreaty. +Can I relinquish these limbs so white, so soft, so delicate; +These swelling breasts, round, full, and elastic! These lips +fraught with such inexhaustible sweetness? Can I relinquish +these treasures, and leave them to another's enjoyment? No, +Antonia; never, never! I swear it by this kiss, and this! and +this!' + +With every moment the Friar's passion became more ardent, and +Antonia's terror more intense. She struggled to disengage +herself from his arms: Her exertions were unsuccessful; and +finding that Ambrosio's conduct became still freer, She shrieked +for assistance with all her strength. The aspect of the Vault, +the pale glimmering of the Lamp, the surrounding obscurity, the +sight of the Tomb, and the objects of mortality which met her +eyes on either side, were ill-calculated to inspire her with +those emotions by which the Friar was agitated. Even his +caresses terrified her from their fury, and created no other +sentiment than fear. On the contrary, her alarm, her evident +disgust, and incessant opposition, seemed only to inflame the +Monk's desires, and supply his brutality with additional +strength. Antonia's shrieks were unheard: Yet She continued +them, nor abandoned her endeavours to escape, till exhausted and +out of breath She sank from his arms upon her knees, and once +more had recourse to prayers and supplications. This attempt had +no better success than the former. On the contrary, taking +advantage of her situation, the Ravisher threw himself by her +side: He clasped her to his bosom almost lifeless with terror, +and faint with struggling. He stifled her cries with kisses, +treated her with the rudeness of an unprincipled Barbarian, +proceeded from freedom to freedom, and in the violence of his +lustful delirium, wounded and bruised her tender limbs. Heedless +of her tears, cries and entreaties, He gradually made himself +Master of her person, and desisted not from his prey, till He had +accomplished his crime and the dishonour of Antonia. + +Scarcely had He succeeded in his design than He shuddered at +himself and the means by which it was effected. The very excess +of his former eagerness to possess Antonia now contributed to +inspire him with disgust; and a secret impulse made him feel how +base and unmanly was the crime which He had just committed. He +started hastily from her arms. She, who so lately had been the +object of his adoration, now raised no other sentiment in his +heart than aversion and rage. He turned away from her; or if his +eyes rested upon her figure involuntarily, it was only to dart +upon her looks of hate. The Unfortunate had fainted ere the +completion of her disgrace: She only recovered life to be +sensible of her misfortune. She remained stretched upon the earth +in silent despair: The tears chased each other slowly down her +cheeks, and her bosom heaved with frequent sobs. Oppressed with +grief, She continued for some time in this state of torpidity. +At length She rose with difficulty, and dragging her feeble steps +towards the door, prepared to quit the dungeon. + +The sound of her footsteps rouzed the Monk from his sullen +apathy. Starting from the Tomb against which He reclined, while +his eyes wandered over the images of corruption contained in it, +He pursued the Victim of his brutality, and soon overtook her. +He seized her by the arm, and violently forced her back into the +dungeon. + +'Whither go you?' He cried in a stern voice; 'Return this +instant!' + +Antonia trembled at the fury of his countenance. + +'What, would you more?' She said with timidity: 'Is not my ruin +compleated? Am I not undone, undone for ever? Is not your +cruelty contented, or have I yet more to suffer? Let me depart. +Let me return to my home, and weep unrestrained my shame and my +affliction!' + +'Return to your home?' repeated the Monk, with bitter and +contemptuous mockery; Then suddenly his eyes flaming with +passion, 'What? That you may denounce me to the world? That +you may proclaim me an Hypocrite, a Ravisher, a Betrayer, a +Monster of cruelty, lust, and ingratitude? No, no, no! I know +well the whole weight of my offences; Well that your complaints +would be too just, and my crimes too notorious! You shall not +from hence to tell Madrid that I am a Villain; that my conscience +is loaded with sins which make me despair of Heaven's pardon. +Wretched Girl, you must stay here with me! Here amidst these +lonely Tombs, these images of Death, these rotting loathsome +corrupted bodies! Here shall you stay, and witness my +sufferings; witness what it is to die in the horrors of +despondency, and breathe the last groan in blasphemy and curses! +And who am I to thank for this? What seduced me into crimes, +whose bare remembrance makes me shudder? Fatal Witch! was it not +thy beauty? Have you not plunged my soul into infamy? Have you +not made me a perjured Hypocrite, a Ravisher, an Assassin! Nay, +at this moment, does not that angel look bid me despair of God's +forgiveness? Oh! when I stand before his judgment-throne, that +look will suffice to damn me! You will tell my Judge that you +were happy, till I saw you; that you were innocent, till I +polluted you! You will come with those tearful eyes, those +cheeks pale and ghastly, those hands lifted in supplication, as +when you sought from me that mercy which I gave not! Then will +my perdition be certain! Then will come your Mother's Ghost, and +hurl me down into the dwellings of Fiends, and flames, and +Furies, and everlasting torments! And 'tis you, who will accuse +me! 'Tis you, who will cause my eternal anguish! You, wretched +Girl! You! You!' + +As He thundered out these words, He violently grasped Antonia's +arm, and spurned the earth with delirious fury. + +Supposing his brain to be turned, Antonia sank in terror upon her +knees: She lifted up her hands, and her voice almost died away, +ere She could give it utterance. + +'Spare me! Spare me!' She murmured with difficulty. + +'Silence!' cried the Friar madly, and dashed her upon the +ground---- + +He quitted her, and paced the dungeon with a wild and disordered +air. His eyes rolled fearfully: Antonia trembled whenever She +met their gaze. He seemed to meditate on something horrible, and +She gave up all hopes of escaping from the Sepulchre with life. +Yet in harbouring this idea, She did him injustice. Amidst the +horror and disgust to which his soul was a prey, pity for his +Victim still held a place in it. The storm of passion once over, +He would have given worlds had He possest them, to have restored +to her that innocence of which his unbridled lust had deprived +her. Of the desires which had urged him to the crime, no trace +was left in his bosom: The wealth of India would not have +tempted him to a second enjoyment of her person. His nature +seemed to revolt at the very idea, and fain would He have wiped +from his memory the scene which had just past. As his gloomy +rage abated, in proportion did his compassion augment for +Antonia. He stopped, and would have spoken to her words of +comfort; But He knew not from whence to draw them, and remained +gazing upon her with mournful wildness. Her situation seemed so +hopeless, so woebegone, as to baffle mortal power to relieve +her. What could He do for her? Her peace of mind was lost, her +honour irreparably ruined. She was cut off for ever from +society, nor dared He give her back to it. He was conscious +that were She to appear in the world again, his guilt would be +revealed, and his punishment inevitable. To one so laden with +crimes, Death came armed with double terrors. Yet should He +restore Antonia to light, and stand the chance of her betraying +him, how miserable a prospect would present itself before her. +She could never hope to be creditably established; She would be +marked with infamy, and condemned to sorrow and solitude for the +remainder of her existence. What was the alternative? A +resolution far more terrible for Antonia, but which at least +would insure the Abbot's safety. He determined to leave the +world persuaded of her death, and to retain her a captive in this +gloomy prison: There He proposed to visit her every night, to +bring her food, to profess his penitence, and mingle his tears +with hers. The Monk felt that this resolution was unjust and +cruel; but it was his only means to prevent Antonia from +publishing his guilt and her own infamy. Should He release her, +He could not depend upon her silence: His offence was too +flagrant to permit his hoping for her forgiveness. Besides, her +reappearing would excite universal curiosity, and the violence +of her affliction would prevent her from concealing its cause. +He determined therefore, that Antonia should remain a Prisoner in +the dungeon. + +He approached her with confusion painted on his countenance. He +raised her from the ground. Her hand trembled, as He took it, +and He dropped it again as if He had touched a Serpent. Nature +seemed to recoil at the touch. He felt himself at once repulsed +from and attracted towards her, yet could account for neither +sentiment. There was something in her look which penetrated him +with horror; and though his understanding was still ignorant of +it, Conscience pointed out to him the whole extent of his crime. +In hurried accents yet the gentlest He could find, while his eye +was averted, and his voice scarcely audible, He strove to console +her under a misfortune which now could not be avoided. He +declared himself sincerely penitent, and that He would gladly +shed a drop of his blood, for every tear which his barbarity had +forced from her. Wretched and hopeless, Antonia listened to him +in silent grief: But when He announced her confinement in the +Sepulchre, that dreadful doom to which even death seemed +preferable roused her from her insensibility at once. To linger +out a life of misery in a narrow loathsome Cell, known to exist +by no human Being save her Ravisher, surrounded by mouldering +Corses, breathing the pestilential air of corruption, never more +to behold the light, or drink the pure gale of heaven, the idea +was more terrible than She could support. It conquered even her +abhorrence of the Friar. Again She sank upon her knees: She +besought his compassion in terms the most pathetic and urgent. +She promised, would He but restore her to liberty, to conceal her +injuries from the world; to assign any reason for her +reappearance which He might judge proper; and in order to +prevent the least suspicion from falling upon him, She offered to +quit Madrid immediately. Her entreaties were so urgent as to +make a considerable impression upon the Monk. He reflected that +as her person no longer excited his desires, He had no interest +in keeping her concealed as He had at first intended; that He was +adding a fresh injury to those which She had already suffered; +and that if She adhered to her promises, whether She was confined +or at liberty, his life and reputation were equally secure. On +the other hand, He trembled lest in her affliction Antonia should +unintentionally break her engagement; or that her excessive +simplicity and ignorance of deceit should permit some one more +artful to surprize her secret. However well-founded were these +apprehensions, compassion, and a sincere wish to repair his fault +as much as possible solicited his complying with the prayers of +his Suppliant. The difficulty of colouring Antonia's unexpected +return to life, after her supposed death and public interment, +was the only point which kept him irresolute. He was still +pondering on the means of removing this obstacle, when He heard +the sound of feet approaching with precipitation. The door of +the Vault was thrown open, and Matilda rushed in, evidently much +confused and terrified. + +On seeing a Stranger enter, Antonia uttered a cry of joy: But +her hopes of receiving succour from him were soon dissipated. +The supposed Novice, without expressing the least surprize at +finding a Woman alone with the Monk, in so strange a place, and +at so late an hour, addressed him thus without losing a moment. + +'What is to be done, Ambrosio? We are lost, unless some speedy +means is found of dispelling the Rioters. Ambrosio, the Convent +of St. Clare is on fire; The Prioress has fallen a victim to the +fury of the Mob. Already is the Abbey menaced with a similar +fate. Alarmed at the threats of the People, the Monks seek for +you everywhere. They imagine that your authority alone will +suffice to calm this disturbance. No one knows what is become +of you, and your absence creates universal astonishment and +despair. I profited by the confusion, and fled hither to warn +you of the danger.' + +'This will soon be remedied,' answered the Abbot; 'I will hasten +back to my Cell: a trivial reason will account for my having +been missed.' + +'Impossible!' rejoined Matilda: 'The Sepulchre is filled with +Archers. Lorenzo de Medina, with several Officers of the +Inquisition, searches through the Vaults, and pervades every +passage. You will be intercepted in your flight; Your reasons +for being at this late hour in the Sepulchre will be examined; +Antonia will be found, and then you are undone for ever!' + +'Lorenzo de Medina? Officers of the Inquisition? What brings +them here? Seek they for me? Am I then suspected? Oh! speak, +Matilda! Answer me, in pity!' + +'As yet they do not think of you, but I fear that they will ere +long. Your only chance of escaping their notice rests upon the +difficulty of exploring this Vault. The door is artfully hidden: + +Haply it may not be observed, and we may remain concealed till +the search is over.' + +'But Antonia . . . . . Should the Inquisitors draw near, and her +cries be heard . . . .' + +'Thus I remove that danger!' interrupted Matilda. + +At the same time drawing a poignard, She rushed upon her devoted +prey. + +'Hold! Hold!' cried Ambrosio, seizing her hand, and wresting from +it the already lifted weapon. 'What would you do, cruel Woman? +The Unfortunate has already suffered but too much, thanks to your +pernicious consels! Would to God that I had never followed them! + +Would to God that I had never seen your face!' + +Matilda darted upon him a look of scorn. + +'Absurd!' She exclaimed with an air of passion and majesty which +impressed the Monk with awe. 'After robbing her of all that made +it dear, can you fear to deprive her of a life so miserable? But +'tis well! Let her live to convince you of your folly. I +abandon you to your evil destiny! I disclaim your alliance! Who +trembles to commit so insignificant a crime, deserves not my +protection. Hark! Hark! Ambrosio; Hear you not the Archers? +They come, and your destruction is inevitable!' + +At this moment the Abbot heard the sound of distant voices. He +flew to close the door on whose concealment his safety depended, +and which Matilda had neglected to fasten. Ere He could reach +it, He saw Antonia glide suddenly by him, rush through the door, +and fly towards the noise with the swiftness of an arrow. She +had listened attentively to Matilda: She heard Lorenzo's name +mentioned, and resolved to risque every thing to throw herself +under his protection. The door was open. The sounds convinced +her that the Archers could be at no great distance. She +mustered up her little remaining strength, rushed by the Monk ere +He perceived her design, and bent her course rapidly towards the +voices. As soon as He recovered from his first surprize, the +Abbot failed not to pursue her. In vain did Antonia redouble her +speed, and stretch every nerve to the utmost. Her Enemy gained +upon her every moment: She heard his steps close after her, and +felt the heat of his breath glow upon her neck. He overtook +her; He twisted his hand in the ringlets of her streaming hair, +and attempted to drag her back with him to the dungeon. Antonia +resisted with all her strength: She folded her arms round a +Pillar which supported the roof, and shrieked loudly for +assistance. In vain did the Monk strive to threaten her to +silence. + +'Help!' She continued to exclaim; 'Help! Help! for God's sake!' + +Quickened by her cries, the sound of footsteps was heard +approaching. The Abbot expected every moment to see the +Inquisitors arrive. Antonia still resisted, and He now enforced +her silence by means the most horrible and inhuman. He still +grasped Matilda's dagger: Without allowing himself a moment's +reflection, He raised it, and plunged it twice in the bosom of +Antonia! She shrieked, and sank upon the ground. The Monk +endeavoured to bear her away with him, but She still embraced the +Pillar firmly. At that instant the light of approaching Torches +flashed upon the Walls. Dreading a discovery, Ambrosio was +compelled to abandon his Victim, and hastily fled back to the +Vault, where He had left Matilda. + +He fled not unobserved. Don Ramirez happening to arrive the +first, perceived a Female bleeding upon the ground, and a Man +flying from the spot, whose confusion betrayed him for the +Murderer. He instantly pursued the Fugitive with some part of +the Archers, while the Others remained with Lorenzo to protect +the wounded Stranger. They raised her, and supported her in their +arms. She had fainted from excess of pain, but soon gave signs +of returning life. She opened her eyes, and on lifting up her +head, the quantity of fair hair fell back which till then had +obscured her features. + +'God Almighty! It is Antonia!' + +Such was Lorenzo's exclamation, while He snatched her from the +Attendant's arms, and clasped her in his own. + +Though aimed by an uncertain hand, the poignard had answered but +too well the purpose of its Employer. The wounds were mortal, and +Antonia was conscious that She never could recover. Yet the few +moments which remained for her were moments of happiness. The +concern exprest upon Lorenzo's countenance, the frantic fondness +of his complaints, and his earnest enquiries respecting her +wounds, convinced her beyond a doubt that his affections were her +own. She would not be removed from the Vaults, fearing lest +motion should only hasten her death; and She was unwilling to +lose those moments which She past in receiving proofs of +Lorenzo's love, and assuring him of her own. She told him that +had She still been undefiled She might have lamented the loss of +life; But that deprived of honour and branded with shame, Death +was to her a blessing: She could not have been his Wife, and +that hope being denied her, She resigned herself to the Grave +without one sigh of regret. She bad him take courage, conjured +him not to abandon himself to fruitless sorrow, and declared that +She mourned to leave nothing in the whole world but him. While +every sweet accent increased rather than lightened Lorenzo's +grief, She continued to converse with him till the moment of +dissolution. Her voice grew faint and scarcely audible; A thick +cloud spread itself over her eyes; Her heart beat slow and +irregular, and every instant seemed to announce that her fate was +near at hand. + +She lay, her head reclining upon Lorenzo's bosom, and her lips +still murmuring to him words of comfort. She was interrupted by +the Convent Bell, as tolling at a distance, it struck the hour. +Suddenly Antonia's eyes sparkled with celestial brightness: Her +frame seemed to have received new strength and animation. She +started from her Lover's arms. + +'Three o'clock!' She cried; 'Mother, I come!' + +She clasped her hands, and sank lifeless upon the ground. +Lorenzo in agony threw himself beside her: He tore his hair, +beat his breast, and refused to be separated from the Corse. At +length his force being exhausted, He suffered himself to be led +from the Vault, and was conveyed to the Palace de Medina scarcely +more alive than the unfortunate Antonia. + +In the meanwhile, though closely pursued, Ambrosio succeeded in +regaining the Vault. The Door was already fastened when Don +Ramirez arrived, and much time elapsed, ere the Fugitive's +retreat was discovered. But nothing can resist perseverance. +Though so artfully concealed, the Door could not escape the +vigilance of the Archers. They forced it open, and entered the +Vault to the infinite dismay of Ambrosio and his Companion. The +Monk's confusion, his attempt to hide himself, his rapid flight, +and the blood sprinkled upon his cloaths, left no room to doubt +his being Antonia's Murderer. But when He was recognized for the +immaculate Ambrosio, 'The Man of Holiness,' the Idol of Madrid, +the faculties of the Spectators were chained up in surprize, and +scarcely could they persuade themselves that what they saw was no +vision. The Abbot strove not to vindicate himself, but preserved +a sullen silence. He was secured and bound. The same precaution +was taken with Matilda: Her Cowl being removed, the delicacy of +her features and profusion of her golden hair betrayed her sex, +and this incident created fresh amazement. The dagger was also +found in the Tomb, where the Monk had thrown it; and the dungeon +having undergone a thorough search, the two Culprits were +conveyed to the prisons of the Inquisition. + +Don Ramirez took care that the populace should remain ignorant +both of the crimes and profession of the Captives. He feared a +repetition of the riots which had followed the apprehending the +Prioress of St. Clare. He contented himself with stating to the +Capuchins the guilt of their Superior. To avoid the shame of a +public accusation, and dreading the popular fury from which they +had already saved their Abbey with much difficulty, the Monks +readily permitted the Inquisitors to search their Mansion without +noise. No fresh discoveries were made. The effects found in the +Abbot's and Matilda's Cells were seized, and carried to the +Inquisition to be produced in evidence. Every thing else +remained in its former position, and order and tranquillity once +more prevailed through Madrid. + +St. Clare's Convent was completely ruined by the united ravages +of the Mob and conflagration. Nothing remained of it but the +principal Walls, whose thickness and solidity had preserved them +from the flames. The Nuns who had belonged to it were obliged +in consequence to disperse themselves into other Societies: But +the prejudice against them ran high, and the Superiors were very +unwilling to admit them. However, most of them being related to +Families the most distinguished for their riches birth and power, +the several Convents were compelled to receive them, though they +did it with a very ill grace. This prejudice was extremely false +and unjustifiable: After a close investigation, it was proved +that All in the Convent were persuaded of the death of Agnes, +except the four Nuns whom St. Ursula had pointed out. These had +fallen Victims to the popular fury; as had also several who were +perfectly innocent and unconscious of the whole affair. Blinded +by resentment, the Mob had sacrificed every Nun who fell into +their hands: They who escaped were entirely indebted to the Duke +de Medina's prudence and moderation. Of this they were +conscious, and felt for that Nobleman a proper sense of +gratitude. + +Virginia was not the most sparing of her thanks: She wished +equally to make a proper return for his attentions, and to obtain +the good graces of Lorenzo's Uncle. In this She easily succeeded. + +The Duke beheld her beauty with wonder and admiration; and while +his eyes were enchanted with her Form, the sweetness of her +manners and her tender concern for the suffering Nun prepossessed +his heart in her favour. This Virginia had discernment enough to +perceive, and She redoubled her attention to the Invalid. When +He parted from her at the door of her Father's Palace, the Duke +entreated permission to enquire occasionally after her health. +His request was readily granted: Virginia assured him that the +Marquis de Villa-Franca would be proud of an opportunity to thank +him in person for the protection afforded to her. They now +separated, He enchanted with her beauty and gentleness, and She +much pleased with him and more with his Nephew. + +On entering the Palace, Virginia's first care was to summon the +family Physician, and take care of her unknown charge. Her +Mother hastened to share with her the charitable office. Alarmed +by the riots, and trembling for his Daughter's safety, who was +his only child, the Marquis had flown to St. Clare's Convent, and +was still employed in seeking her. Messengers were now +dispatched on all sides to inform him that He would find her +safe at his Hotel, and desire him to hasten thither immediately. +His absence gave Virginia liberty to bestow her whole attention +upon her Patient; and though much disordered herself by the +adventures of the night, no persuasion could induce her to quit +the bedside of the Sufferer. Her constitution being much +enfeebled by want and sorrow, it was some time before the +Stranger was restored to her senses. She found great difficulty +in swallowing the medicines prescribed to her: But this obstacle +being removed, She easily conquered her disease which proceeded +from nothing but weakness. The attention which was paid her, the +wholesome food to which She had been long a Stranger, and her joy +at being restored to liberty, to society, and, as She dared to +hope, to Love, all this combined to her speedy re-establishment. + +From the first moment of knowing her, her melancholy situation, +her sufferings almost unparalleled had engaged the affections of +her amiable Hostess: Virginia felt for her the most lively +interest; But how was She delighted, when her Guest being +sufficiently recovered to relate her History, She recognized in +the captive Nun the Sister of Lorenzo! + +This victim of monastic cruelty was indeed no other than the +unfortunate Agnes. During her abode in the Convent, She had been +well known to Virginia: But her emaciated form, her features +altered by affliction, her death universally credited, and her +overgrown and matted hair which hung over her face and bosom in +disorder at first had prevented her being recollected. The +Prioress had put every artifice in practice to induce Virginia to +take the veil; for the Heiress of Villa-Franca would have been no +despicable acquisition. Her seeming kindness and unremitted +attention so far succeeded that her young Relation began to +think seriously upon compliance. Better instructed in the +disgust and ennui of a monastic life, Agnes had penetrated the +designs of the Domina: She trembled for the innocent Girl, and +endeavoured to make her sensible of her error. She painted in +their true colours the numerous inconveniencies attached to a +Convent, the continued restraint, the low jealousies, the petty +intrigues, the servile court and gross flattery expected by the +Superior. She then bad Virginia reflect on the brilliant +prospect which presented itself before her: The Idol of her +Parents, the admiration of Madrid, endowed by nature and +education with every perfection of person and mind, She might +look forward to an establishment the most fortunate. Her riches +furnished her with the means of exercising in their fullest +extent, charity and benevolence, those virtues so dear to her; +and her stay in the world would enable her discovering Objects +worthy her protection, which could not be done in the seclusion +of a Convent. + +Her persuasions induced Virginia to lay aside all thoughts of the +Veil: But another argument, not used by Agnes, had more weight +with her than all the others put together. She had seen Lorenzo, +when He visited his Sister at the Grate. His Person pleased her, +and her conversations with Agnes generally used to terminate in +some question about her Brother. She, who doted upon Lorenzo, +wished for no better than an opportunity to trumpet out his +praise. She spoke of him in terms of rapture; and to convince +her Auditor how just were his sentiments, how cultivated his +mind, and elegant his expressions, She showed her at different +times the letters which She received from him. She soon +perceived that from these communications the heart of her young +Friend had imbibed impressions, which She was far from intending +to give, but was truly happy to discover. She could not have +wished her Brother a more desirable union: Heiress of +Villa-Franca, virtuous, affectionate, beautiful, and +accomplished, Virginia seemed calculated to make him happy. She +sounded her Brother upon the subject, though without mentioning +names or circumstances. He assured her in his answers that his +heart and hand were totally disengaged, and She thought that +upon these grounds She might proceed without danger. She in +consequence endeavoured to strengthen the dawning passion of her +Friend. Lorenzo was made the constant topic of her discourse; +and the avidity with which her Auditor listened, the sighs which +frequently escaped from her bosom, and the eagerness with which +upon any digression She brought back the conversation to the +subject whence it had wandered, sufficed to convince Agnes that +her Brother's addresses would be far from disagreeable. She at +length ventured to mention her wishes to the Duke: Though a +Stranger to the Lady herself, He knew enough of her situation to +think her worthy his Nephew's hand. It was agreed between him +and his Niece, that She should insinuate the idea to Lorenzo, and +She only waited his return to Madrid to propose her Friend to him +as his Bride. The unfortunate events which took place in the +interim, prevented her from executing her design. Virginia wept +her loss sincerely, both as a Companion, and as the only Person +to whom She could speak of Lorenzo. Her passion continued to +prey upon her heart in secret, and She had almost determined to +confess her sentiments to her Mother, when accident once more +threw their object in her way. The sight of him so near her, his +politeness, his compassion, his intrepidity, had combined to give +new ardour to her affection. When She now found her Friend and +Advocate restored to her, She looked upon her as a Gift from +Heaven; She ventured to cherish the hope of being united to +Lorenzo, and resolved to use with him his Sister's influence. + +Supposing that before her death Agnes might possibly have made +the proposal, the Duke had placed all his Nephew's hints of +marriage to Virginia's account: Consequently, He gave them the +most favourable reception. On returning to his Hotel, the +relation given him of Antonia's death, and Lorenzo's behaviour on +the occasion, made evident his mistake. He lamented the +circumstances; But the unhappy Girl being effectually out of the +way, He trusted that his designs would yet be executed. 'Tis +true that Lorenzo's situation just then ill-suited him for +a Bridegroom. His hopes disappointed at the moment when He +expected to realize them, and the dreadful and sudden death of +his Mistress had affected him very severely. The Duke found him +upon the Bed of sickness. His Attendants expressed serious +apprehensions for his life; But the Uncle entertained not the +same fears. He was of opinion, and not unwisely, that 'Men have +died, and worms have eat them; but not for Love!' He therefore +flattered himself that however deep might be the impression made +upon his Nephew's heart, Time and Virginia would be able to +efface it. He now hastened to the afflicted Youth, and +endeavoured to console him: He sympathised in his distress, but +encouraged him to resist the encroachments of despair. He +allowed that He could not but feel shocked at an event so +terrible, nor could He blame his sensibility; But He besought him +not to torment himself with vain regrets, and rather to struggle +with affliction, and preserve his life, if not for his own sake, +at least for the sake of those who were fondly attached to him. +While He laboured thus to make Lorenzo forget Antonia's loss, the +Duke paid his court assiduously to Virginia, and seized every +opportunity to advance his Nephew's interest in her heart. + +It may easily be expected that Agnes was not long without +enquiring after Don Raymond. She was shocked to hear the +wretched situation to which grief had reduced him; Yet She could +not help exulting secretly, when She reflected, that his illness +proved the sincerity of his love. The Duke undertook the office +himself, of announcing to the Invalid the happiness which awaited +him. Though He omitted no precaution to prepare him for such an +event, at this sudden change from despair to happiness Raymond's +transports were so violent, as nearly to have proved fatal to +him. These once passed, the tranquillity of his mind, the +assurance of felicity, and above all the presence of Agnes, (Who +was no sooner reestablished by the care of Virginia and the +Marchioness, than She hastened to attend her Lover) soon enabled +him to overcome the effects of his late dreadful malady. The +calm of his soul communicated itself to his body, and He +recovered with such rapidity as to create universal surprize. + +No so Lorenzo. Antonia's death accompanied with such terrible +circumstances weighed upon his mind heavily. He was worn down to +a shadow. Nothing could give him pleasure. He was persuaded +with difficulty to swallow nourishment sufficient for the support +of life, and a consumption was apprehended. The society of Agnes +formed his only comfort. Though accident had never permitted +their being much together, He entertained for her a sincere +friendship and attachment. Perceiving how necessary She was to +him, She seldom quitted his chamber. She listened to his +complaints with unwearied attention, and soothed him by the +gentleness of her manners, and by sympathising with his distress. +She still inhabited the Palace de Villa-Franca, the Possessors of +which treated her with marked affection. The Duke had intimated +to the Marquis his wishes respecting Virginia. The match was +unexceptionable: Lorenzo was Heir to his Uncle's immense +property, and was distinguished in Madrid for his agreeable +person, extensive knowledge, and propriety of conduct: Add to +this, that the Marchioness had discovered how strong was her +Daughter's prepossession in his favour. + +In consequence the Duke's proposal was accepted without +hesitation: Every precaution was taken to induce Lorenzo's +seeing the Lady with those sentiments which She so well merited +to excite. In her visits to her Brother Agnes was frequently +accompanied by the Marchioness; and as soon as He was able to +move into his Antichamber, Virginia under her mother's +protection was sometimes permitted to express her wishes for his +recovery. This She did with such delicacy, the manner in which +She mentioned Antonia was so tender and soothing, and when She +lamented her Rival's melancholy fate, her bright eyes shone so +beautiful through her tears, that Lorenzo could not behold, or +listen to her without emotion. His Relations, as well as the +Lady, perceived that with every day her society seemed to give +him fresh pleasure, and that He spoke of her in terms of stronger +admiration. However, they prudently kept their observations to +themselves. No word was dropped which might lead him to suspect +their designs. They continued their former conduct and +attention, and left Time to ripen into a warmer sentiment the +friendship which He already felt for Virginia. + +In the mean while, her visits became more frequent; and latterly +there was scarce a day, of which She did not pass some part by +the side of Lorenzo's Couch. He gradually regained his strength, +but the progress of his recovery was slow and doubtful. One +evening He seemed to be in better spirits than usual: Agnes and +her Lover, the Duke, Virginia, and her Parents were sitting round +him. He now for the first time entreated his Sister to inform +him how She had escaped the effects of the poison which St. +Ursula had seen her swallow. Fearful of recalling those scenes +to his mind in which Antonia had perished, She had hitherto +concealed from him the history of her sufferings. As He now +started the subject himself, and thinking that perhaps the +narrative of her sorrows might draw him from the contemplation of +those on which He dwelt too constantly, She immediately complied +with his request. The rest of the company had already heard her +story; But the interest which all present felt for its Heroine +made them anxious to hear it repeated. The whole society +seconding Lorenzo's entreaties, Agnes obeyed. She first +recounted the discovery which had taken place in the +Abbey Chapel, the Domina's resentment, and the midnight scene of +which St. Ursula had been a concealed witness. Though the Nun +had already described this latter event, Agnes now related it +more circumstantially and at large: After which She proceeded in +her narrative as follows. + + Conclusion of the History of Agnes de Medina + +My supposed death was attended with the greatest agonies. Those +moments which I believed my last, were embittered by the Domina's +assurances that I could not escape perdition; and as my eyes +closed, I heard her rage exhale itself in curses on my offence. +The horror of this situation, of a death-bed from which hope was +banished, of a sleep from which I was only to wake to find myself +the prey of flames and Furies, was more dreadful than I can +describe. When animation revived in me, my soul was still +impressed with these terrible ideas: I looked round with fear, +expecting to behold the Ministers of divine vengeance. For the +first hour, my senses were so bewildered, and my brain so dizzy, +that I strove in vain to arrange the strange images which floated +in wild confusion before me. If I endeavoured to raise myself +from the ground, the wandering of my head deceived me. Every +thing around me seemed to rock, and I sank once more upon the +earth. My weak and dazzled eyes were unable to bear a nearer +approach to a gleam of light which I saw trembling above me. I +was compelled to close them again, and remain motionless in the +same posture. + +A full hour elapsed, before I was sufficiently myself to examine +the surrounding Objects. When I did examine them, what terror +filled my bosom I found myself extended upon a sort of wicker +Couch: It had six handles to it, which doubtless had served the +Nuns to convey me to my grave. I was covered with a linen cloth: + +Several faded flowers were strown over me: On one side lay a +small wooden Crucifix; On the other, a Rosary of large Beads. +Four low narrow walls confined me. The top was also covered, and +in it was practised a small grated Door: Through this was +admitted the little air which circulated in this miserable +place. A faint glimmering of light which streamed through the +Bars, permitted me to distinguish the surrounding horrors. I was +opprest by a noisome suffocating smell; and perceiving that the +grated door was unfastened, I thought that I might possibly +effect my escape. As I raised myself with this design, my hand +rested upon something soft: I grasped it, and advanced it +towards the light. Almighty God! What was my disgust, my +consternation! In spite of its putridity, and the worms which +preyed upon it, I perceived a corrupted human head, and +recognised the features of a Nun who had died some months before! + +I threw it from me, and sank almost lifeless upon my Bier. + +When my strength returned, this circumstance, and the +consciousness of being surrounded by the loathsome and mouldering +Bodies of my Companions, increased my desire to escape from my +fearful prison. I again moved towards the light. The grated +door was within my reach: I lifted it without difficulty; +Probably it had been left unclosed to facilitate my quitting the +dungeon. Aiding myself by the irregularity of the Walls some of +whose stones projected beyond the rest, I contrived to ascend +them, and drag myself out of my prison. I now found Myself in a +Vault tolerably spacious. Several Tombs, similar in appearance +to that whence I had just escaped, were ranged along the sides in +order, and seemed to be considerably sunk within the earth. A +sepulchral Lamp was suspended from the roof by an iron chain, and +shed a gloomy light through the dungeon. Emblems of Death were +seen on every side: Skulls, shoulder-blades, thigh-bones, and +other leavings of Mortality were scattered upon the dewy ground. +Each Tomb was ornamented with a large Crucifix, and in one corner +stood a wooden Statue of St. Clare. To these objects I at first +paid no attention: A Door, the only outlet from the Vault, had +attracted my eyes. I hastened towards it, having wrapped my +winding-sheet closely round me. I pushed against the door, and +to my inexpressible terror found that it was fastened on the +outside. + +I guessed immediately that the Prioress, mistaking the nature of +the liquor which She had compelled me to drink, instead of poison +had administered a strong Opiate. From this I concluded that +being to all appearance dead I had received the rites of burial; +and that deprived of the power of making my existence known, it +would be my fate to expire of hunger. This idea penetrated me +with horror, not merely for my own sake, but that of the innocent +Creature, who still lived within my bosom. I again endeavoured +to open the door, but it resisted all my efforts. I stretched my +voice to the extent of its compass, and shrieked for aid: I was +remote from the hearing of every one: No friendly voice replied +to mine. A profound and melancholy silence prevailed through the +Vault, and I despaired of liberty. My long abstinence from food +now began to torment me. The tortures which hunger inflicted on +me, were the most painful and insupportable: Yet they seemed to +increase with every hour which past over my head. Sometimes I +threw myself upon the ground, and rolled upon it wild and +desperate: Sometimes starting up, I returned to the door, again +strove to force it open, and repeated my fruitless cries for +succour. Often was I on the point of striking my temple against +the sharp corner of some Monument, dashing out my brains, and +thus terminating my woes at once; But still the remembrance of my +Baby vanquished my resolution: I trembled at a deed which +equally endangered my Child's existence and my own. Then would I +vent my anguish in loud exclamations and passionate complaints; +and then again my strength failing me, silent and hopeless I +would sit me down upon the base of St. Clare's Statue, fold my +arms, and abandon myself to sullen despair. Thus passed several +wretched hours. Death advanced towards me with rapid strides, +and I expected that every succeeding moment would be that of my +dissolution. Suddenly a neighbouring Tomb caught my eye: A +Basket stood upon it, which till then I had not observed. I +started from my seat: I made towards it as swiftly as my +exhausted frame would permit. How eagerly did I seize the +Basket, on finding it to contain a loaf of coarse bread and a +small bottle of water. + +I threw myself with avidity upon these humble aliments. They had +to all appearance been placed in the Vault for several days; The +bread was hard, and the water tainted; Yet never did I taste food +to me so delicious. When the cravings of appetite were +satisfied, I busied myself with conjectures upon this new +circumstance: I debated whether the Basket had been placed there +with a view to my necessity. Hope answered my doubts in the +affirmative. Yet who could guess me to be in need of such +assistance? If my existence was known, why was I detained in +this gloomy Vault? If I was kept a Prisoner, what meant the +ceremony of committing me to the Tomb? Or if I was doomed to +perish with hunger, to whose pity was I indebted for provisions +placed within my reach? A Friend would not have kept my dreadful +punishment a secret; Neither did it seem probable that an Enemy +would have taken pains to supply me with the means of existence. +Upon the whole I was inclined to think that the Domina's designs +upon my life had been discovered by some one of my Partizans in +the Convent, who had found means to substitute an opiate for +poison: That She had furnished me with food to support me, till +She could effect my delivery: And that She was then employed in +giving intelligence to my Relations of my danger, and pointing +out a way to release me from captivity. Yet why then was the +quality of my provisions so coarse? How could my Friend have +entered the Vault without the Domina's knowledge? And if She had +entered, why was the Door fastened so carefully? These +reflections staggered me: Yet still this idea was the most +favourable to my hopes, and I dwelt upon it in preference. + +My meditations were interrupted by the sound of distant +footsteps. They approached, but slowly. Rays of light now +darted through the crevices of the Door. Uncertain whether the +Persons who advanced came to relieve me, or were conducted by +some other motive to the Vault, I failed not to attract their +notice by loud cries for help. Still the sounds drew near: The +light grew stronger: At length with inexpressible pleasure I +heard the Key turning in the Lock. Persuaded that my deliverance +was at hand, I flew towards the Door with a shriek of joy. It +opened: But all my hopes of escape died away, when the Prioress +appeared followed by the same four Nuns, who had been witnesses +of my supposed death. They bore torches in their hands, and +gazed upon me in fearful silence. + +I started back in terror. The Domina descended into the Vault, +as did also her Companions. She bent upon me a stern resentful +eye, but expressed no surprize at finding me still living. She +took the seat which I had just quitted: The door was again +closed, and the Nuns ranged themselves behind their Superior, +while the glare of their torches, dimmed by the vapours and +dampness of the Vault, gilded with cold beams the surrounding +Monuments. For some moments all preserved a dead and solemn +silence. I stood at some distance from the Prioress. At length +She beckoned me to advance. Trembling at the severity of her +aspect my strength scarce sufficed me to obey her. I drew near, +but my limbs were unable to support their burthen. I sank upon +my knees; I clasped my hands, and lifted them up to her for +mercy, but had no power to articulate a syllable. + +She gazed upon me with angry eyes. + +'Do I see a Penitent, or a Criminal?' She said at length; 'Are +those hands raised in contrition for your crimes, or in fear of +meeting their punishment? Do those tears acknowledge the justice +of your doom, or only solicit mitigation of your sufferings? I +fear me, 'tis the latter!' + +She paused, but kept her eye still fixt upon mine. + +'Take courage;' She continued: 'I wish not for your death, but +your repentance. The draught which I administered, was no +poison, but an opiate. My intention in deceiving you was to +make you feel the agonies of a guilty conscience, had Death +overtaken you suddenly while your crimes were still unrepented. +You have suffered those agonies: I have brought you to be +familiar with the sharpness of death, and I trust that your +momentary anguish will prove to you an eternal benefit. It is +not my design to destroy your immortal soul; or bid you seek the +grave, burthened with the weight of sins unexpiated. No, +Daughter, far from it: I will purify you with wholesome +chastisement, and furnish you with full leisure for contrition +and remorse. Hear then my sentence; The ill-judged zeal of your +Friends delayed its execution, but cannot now prevent it. All +Madrid believes you to be no more; Your Relations are thoroughly +persuaded of your death, and the Nuns your Partizans have +assisted at your funeral. Your existence can never be suspected; +I have taken such precautions, as must render it an impenetrable +mystery. Then abandon all thoughts of a World from which you are +eternally separated, and employ the few hours which are allowed +you, in preparing for the next.' + +This exordium led me to expect something terrible. I trembled, +and would have spoken to deprecate her wrath: but a motion of the +Domina commanded me to be silent. She proceeded. + +'Though of late years unjustly neglected, and now opposed by many +of our misguided Sisters, (whom Heaven convert!) it is my +intention to revive the laws of our order in their full force. +That against incontinence is severe, but no more than so +monstrous an offence demands: Submit to it, Daughter, without +resistance; You will find the benefit of patience and resignation +in a better life than this. Listen then to the sentence of St. +Clare. Beneath these Vaults there exist Prisons, intended to +receive such criminals as yourself: Artfully is their entrance +concealed, and She who enters them, must resign all hopes of +liberty. Thither must you now be conveyed. Food shall be +supplied you, but not sufficient for the indulgence of appetite: +You shall have just enough to keep together body and soul, and +its quality shall be the simplest and coarsest. Weep, Daughter, +weep, and moisten your bread with your tears: God knows that +you have ample cause for sorrow! Chained down in one of these +secret dungeons, shut out from the world and light for ever, with +no comfort but religion, no society but repentance, thus must you +groan away the remainder of your days. Such are St. Clare's +orders; Submit to them without repining. Follow me!' + +Thunderstruck at this barbarous decree, my little remaining +strength abandoned me. I answered only by falling at her feet, +and bathing them with tears. The Domina, unmoved by my +affliction, rose from her seat with a stately air. She repeated +her commands in an absolute tone: But my excessive faintness +made me unable to obey her. Mariana and Alix raised me from the +ground, and carried me forwards in their arms. The Prioress +moved on, leaning upon Violante, and Camilla preceded her with a +Torch. Thus passed our sad procession along the passages, in +silence only broken by my sighs and groans. We stopped before +the principal shrine of St. Clare. The Statue was removed from +its Pedestal, though how I knew not. The Nuns afterwards raised +an iron grate till then concealed by the Image, and let it fall +on the other side with a loud crash. The awful sound, repeated +by the vaults above, and Caverns below me, rouzed me from the +despondent apathy in which I had been plunged. I looked before +me: An abyss presented itself to my affrighted eyes, and a steep +and narrow Staircase, whither my Conductors were leading me. I +shrieked, and started back. I implored compassion, rent the air +with my cries, and summoned both heaven and earth to my +assistance. In vain! I was hurried down the Staircase, and +forced into one of the Cells which lined the Cavern's sides. + +My blood ran cold, as I gazed upon this melancholy abode. The +cold vapours hovering in the air, the walls green with damp, the +bed of Straw so forlorn and comfortless, the Chain destined to +bind me for ever to my prison, and the Reptiles of every +description which as the torches advanced towards them, I +descried hurrying to their retreats, struck my heart with terrors +almost too exquisite for nature to bear. Driven by despair to +madness, I burst suddenly from the Nuns who held me: I threw +myself upon my knees before the Prioress, and besought her mercy +in the most passionate and frantic terms. + +'If not on me,' said I, 'look at least with pity on that innocent +Being, whose life is attached to mine! Great is my crime, but +let not my Child suffer for it! My Baby has committed no fault: +Oh! spare me for the sake of my unborn Offspring, whom ere it +tastes life your severity dooms to destruction!' + +The Prioress drew back haughtily: She forced her habit from my +grasp, as if my touch had been contagious. + +'What?' She exclaimed with an exasperated air; 'What? Dare you +plead for the produce of your shame? Shall a Creature be +permitted to live, conceived in guilt so monstrous? Abandoned +Woman, speak for him no more! Better that the Wretch should +perish than live: Begotten in perjury, incontinence, and +pollution, It cannot fail to prove a Prodigy of vice. Hear me, +thou Guilty! Expect no mercy from me either for yourself, or +Brat. Rather pray that Death may seize you before you produce +it; Or if it must see the light, that its eyes may immediately be +closed again for ever! No aid shall be given you in your labour; +Bring your Offspring into the world yourself, Feed it yourself, +Nurse it yourself, Bury it yourself: God grant that the latter +may happen soon, lest you receive comfort from the fruit of your +iniquity!' + +This inhuman speech, the threats which it contained, the dreadful +sufferings foretold to me by the Domina, and her prayers for my +Infant's death, on whom though unborn I already doated, were more +than my exhausted frame could support. Uttering a deep groan, I +fell senseless at the feet of my unrelenting Enemy. I know not +how long I remained in this situation; But I imagine that some +time must have elapsed before my recovery, since it sufficed the +Prioress and her Nuns to quit the Cavern. When my senses +returned, I found myself in silence and solitude. I heard not +even the retiring footsteps of my Persecutors. All was hushed, +and all was dreadful! I had been thrown upon the bed of Straw: +The heavy Chain which I had already eyed with terror, was wound +around my waist, and fastened me to the Wall. A Lamp glimmering +with dull, melancholy rays through my dungeon, permitted my +distinguishing all its horrors: It was separated from the Cavern +by a low and irregular Wall of Stone: A large Chasm was left open +in it which formed the entrance, for door there was none. A +leaden Crucifix was in front of my straw Couch. A tattered rug +lay near me, as did also a Chaplet of Beads; and not far from me +stood a pitcher of water, and a wicker Basket containing a small +loaf, and a bottle of oil to supply my Lamp. + +With a despondent eye did I examine this scene of suffering: +When I reflected that I was doomed to pass in it the remainder +of my days, my heart was rent with bitter anguish. I had once +been taught to look forward to a lot so different! At one time +my prospects had appeared so bright, so flattering! Now all was +lost to me. Friends, comfort, society, happiness, in one moment +I was deprived of all! Dead to the world, Dead to pleasure, I +lived to nothing but the sense of misery. How fair did that +world seem to me, from which I was for ever excluded! How many +loved objects did it contain, whom I never should behold again! +As I threw a look of terror round my prison, as I shrunk from the +cutting wind which howled through my subterraneous dwelling, the +change seemed so striking, so abrupt, that I doubted its reality. + +That the Duke de Medina's Niece, that the destined Bride of the +Marquis de las Cisternas, One bred up in affluence, related to +the noblest families in Spain, and rich in a multitude of +affectionate Friends, that She should in one moment become a +Captive, separated from the world for ever, weighed down with +chains, and reduced to support life with the coarsest aliments, +appeared a change so sudden and incredible, that I believed +myself the sport of some frightful vision. Its continuance +convinced me of my mistake with but too much certainty. Every +morning my hopes were disappointed. At length I abandoned all +idea of escaping: I resigned myself to my fate, and only +expected Liberty when She came the Companion of Death. + +My mental anguish, and the dreadful scenes in which I had been an +Actress, advanced the period of my labour. In solitude and +misery, abandoned by all, unassisted by Art, uncomforted by +Friendship, with pangs which if witnessed would have touched the +hardest heart, was I delivered of my wretched burthen. It came +alive into the world; But I knew not how to treat it, or by what +means to preserve its existence. I could only bathe it with +tears, warm it in my bosom, and offer up prayers for its safety. +I was soon deprived of this mournful employment: The want of +proper attendance, my ignorance how to nurse it, the bitter cold +of the dungeon, and the unwholesome air which inflated its lungs, +terminated my sweet Babe's short and painful existence. It +expired in a few hours after its birth, and I witnessed its death +with agonies which beggar all description. + +But my grief was unavailing. My Infant was no more; nor could +all my sighs impart to its little tender frame the breath of a +moment. I rent my winding-sheet, and wrapped in it my lovely +Child. I placed it on my bosom, its soft arm folded round my +neck, and its pale cold cheek resting upon mine. Thus did its +lifeless limbs repose, while I covered it with kisses, talked to +it, wept, and moaned over it without remission, day or night. +Camilla entered my prison regularly once every twenty-four hours, +to bring me food. In spite of her flinty nature, She could not +behold this spectacle unmoved. She feared that grief so +excessive would at length turn my brain, and in truth I was not +always in my proper senses. From a principle of compassion She +urged me to permit the Corse to be buried: But to this I never +would consent. I vowed not to part with it while I had life: +Its presence was my only comfort, and no persuasion could induce +me to give it up. It soon became a mass of putridity, and to +every eye was a loathsome and disgusting Object; To every eye +but a Mother's. In vain did human feelings bid me recoil from +this emblem of mortality with repugnance: I withstood, and +vanquished that repugnance. I persisted in holding my Infant to +my bosom, in lamenting it, loving it, adoring it! Hour after +hour have I passed upon my sorry Couch, contemplating what had +once been my Child: I endeavoured to retrace its features +through the livid corruption, with which they were overspread: +During my confinement this sad occupation was my only delight; +and at that time Worlds should not have bribed me to give it up. +Even when released from my prison, I brought away my Child in my +arms. The representations of my two kind Friends,''--(Here She +took the hands of the Marchioness and Virginia, and pressed them +alternately to her lips)--''at length persuaded me to resign my +unhappy Infant to the Grave. Yet I parted from it with +reluctance: However, reason at length prevailed; I suffered it +to be taken from me, and it now reposes in consecrated ground. + +I before mentioned that regularly once a day Camilla brought me +food. She sought not to embitter my sorrows with reproach: She +bad me, 'tis true, resign all hopes of liberty and worldly +happiness; But She encouraged me to bear with patience my +temporary distress, and advised me to draw comfort from religion. + +My situation evidently affected her more than She ventured to +express: But She believed that to extenuate my fault would make +me less anxious to repent it. Often while her lips painted the +enormity of my guilt in glaring colours, her eyes betrayed, how +sensible She was to my sufferings. In fact I am certain that +none of my Tormentors, (for the three other Nuns entered my +prison occasionally) were so much actuated by the spirit of +oppressive cruelty as by the idea that to afflict my body was +the only way to preserve my soul. Nay, even this persuasion +might not have had such weight with them, and they might have +thought my punishment too severe, had not their good dispositions +been represt by blind obedience to their Superior. Her +resentment existed in full force. My project of elopement having +been discovered by the Abbot of the Capuchins, She supposed +herself lowered in his opinion by my disgrace, and in consequence +her hate was inveterate. She told the Nuns to whose custody I +was committed that my fault was of the most heinous nature, that +no sufferings could equal the offence, and that nothing could +save me from eternal perdition but punishing my guilt with the +utmost severity. The Superior's word is an oracle to but too +many of a Convent's Inhabitants. The Nuns believed whatever the +Prioress chose to assert: Though contradicted by reason and +charity, they hesitated not to admit the truth of her arguments. +They followed her injunctions to the very letter, and were fully +persuaded that to treat me with lenity, or to show the least +pity for my woes, would be a direct means to destroy my chance +for salvation. + +Camilla, being most employed about me, was particularly charged +by the Prioress to treat me with harshness. In compliance with +these orders, She frequently strove to convince me, how just was +my punishment, and how enormous was my crime: She bad me think +myself too happy in saving my soul by mortifying my body, and +even threatened me sometimes with eternal perdition. Yet as I +before observed, She always concluded by words of encouragement +and comfort; and though uttered by Camilla's lips, I easily +recognised the Domina's expressions. Once, and once only, the +Prioress visited me in my dungeon. She then treated me with the +most unrelenting cruelty: She loaded me with reproaches, taunted +me with my frailty, and when I implored her mercy, told me to ask +it of heaven, since I deserved none on earth. She even gazed +upon my lifeless Infant without emotion; and when She left me, I +heard her charge Camilla to increase the hardships of my +Captivity. Unfeeling Woman! But let me check my resentment: +She has expiated her errors by her sad and unexpected death. +Peace be with her; and may her crimes be forgiven in heaven, as I +forgive her my sufferings on earth! + +Thus did I drag on a miserable existence. Far from growing +familiar with my prison, I beheld it every moment with new +horror. The cold seemed more piercing and bitter, the air more +thick and pestilential. My frame became weak, feverish, and +emaciated. I was unable to rise from the bed of Straw, and +exercise my limbs in the narrow limits, to which the length of my +chain permitted me to move. Though exhausted, faint, and weary, +I trembled to profit by the approach of Sleep: My slumbers were +constantly interrupted by some obnoxious Insect crawling over me. + +Sometimes I felt the bloated Toad, hideous and pampered with the +poisonous vapours of the dungeon, dragging his loathsome length +along my bosom: Sometimes the quick cold Lizard rouzed me +leaving his slimy track upon my face, and entangling itself in +the tresses of my wild and matted hair: Often have I at waking +found my fingers ringed with the long worms which bred in the +corrupted flesh of my Infant. At such times I shrieked with +terror and disgust, and while I shook off the reptile, trembled +with all a Woman's weakness. + +Such was my situation, when Camilla was suddenly taken ill. A +dangerous fever, supposed to be infectious, confined her to her +bed. Every one except the Lay-Sister appointed to nurse her, +avoided her with caution, and feared to catch the disease. She +was perfectly delirious, and by no means capable of attending to +me. The Domina and the Nuns admitted to the mystery, had +latterly given me over entirely to Camilla's care: In +consequence, they busied themselves no more about me; and +occupied by preparing for the approaching Festival, it is more +than probable that I never once entered into their thoughts. Of +the reason of Camilla's negligence, I have been informed since my +release by the Mother St. Ursula; At that time I was very far +from suspecting its cause. On the contrary, I waited for my +Gaoler's appearance at first with impatience, and afterwards with +despair. One day passed away; Another followed it; The Third +arrived. Still no Camilla! Still no food! I knew the lapse of +time by the wasting of my Lamp, to supply which fortunately a +week's supply of Oil had been left me. I supposed, either that +the Nuns had forgotten me, or that the Domina had ordered them to +let me perish. The latter idea seemed the most probable; Yet so +natural is the love of life, that I trembled to find it true. +Though embittered by every species of misery, my existence was +still dear to me, and I dreaded to lose it. Every succeeding +minute proved to me that I must abandon all hopes of relief. I +was become an absolute skeleton: My eyes already failed me, and +my limbs were beginning to stiffen. I could only express my +anguish, and the pangs of that hunger which gnawed my +heart-strings, by frequent groans, whose melancholy sound the +vaulted roof of the dungeon re-echoed. I resigned myself to my +fate: I already expected the moment of dissolution, when my +Guardian Angel, when my beloved Brother arrived in time to save +me. My sight grown dim and feeble at first refused to recognize +him; and when I did distinguish his features, the sudden burst of +rapture was too much for me to bear. I was overpowered by the +swell of joy at once more beholding a Friend, and that a Friend +so dear to me. Nature could not support my emotions, and took +her refuge in insensibility. + +You already know, what are my obligations to the Family of +Villa-Franca: But what you cannot know is the extent of my +gratitude, boundless as the excellence of my Benefactors. +Lorenzo! Raymond! Names so dear to me! Teach me to bear with +fortitude this sudden transition from misery to bliss. So lately +a Captive, opprest with chains, perishing with hunger, suffering +every in convenience of cold and want, hidden from the light, +excluded from society, hopeless, neglected, and as I feared, +forgotten; Now restored to life and liberty, enjoying all the +comforts of affluence and ease, surrounded by those who are most +loved by me, and on the point of becoming his Bride who has long +been wedded to my heart, my happiness is so exquisite, so +perfect, that scarcely can my brain sustain the weight. One only +wish remains ungratified: It is to see my Brother in his former +health, and to know that Antonia's memory is buried in her grave. + +Granted this prayer, I have nothing more to desire. I trust, +that my past sufferings have purchased from heaven the pardon of +my momentary weakness. That I have offended, offended greatly and +grievously, I am fully conscious; But let not my Husband, because +He once conquered my virtue, doubt the propriety of my future +conduct. I have been frail and full of error: But I yielded not +to the warmth of constitution; Raymond, affection for you +betrayed me. I was too confident of my strength; But I depended +no less on your honour than my own. I had vowed never to see you +more: Had it not been for the consequences of that unguarded +moment, my resolution had been kept. Fate willed it otherwise, +and I cannot but rejoice at its decree. Still my conduct has +been highly blameable, and while I attempt to justify myself, I +blush at recollecting my imprudence. Let me then dismiss the +ungrateful subject; First assuring you, Raymond, that you shall +have no cause to repent our union, and that the more culpable +have been the errors of your Mistress, the more exemplary shall +be the conduct of your Wife. + +Here Agnes ceased, and the Marquis replied to her address in +terms equally sincere and affectionate. Lorenzo expressed his +satisfaction at the prospect of being so closely connected with a +Man for whom He had ever entertained the highest esteem. The +Pope's Bull had fully and effectually released Agnes from her +religious engagements: The marriage was therefore celebrated as +soon as the needful preparations had been made, for the Marquis +wished to have the ceremony performed with all possible splendour +and publicity. This being over, and the Bride having received +the compliments of Madrid, She departed with Don Raymond for his +Castle in Andalusia: Lorenzo accompanied them, as did also the +Marchioness de Villa-Franca and her lovely Daughter. It is +needless to say that Theodore was of the party, and would be +impossible to describe his joy at his Master's marriage. +Previous to his departure, the Marquis, to atone in some measure +for his past neglect, made some enquiries relative to Elvira. +Finding that She as well as her Daughter had received many +services from Leonella and Jacintha, He showed his respect to the +memory of his Sister-in-law by making the two Women handsome +presents. Lorenzo followed his example--Leonella was highly +flattered by the attentions of Noblemen so distinguished, and +Jacintha blessed the hour on which her House was bewitched. + +On her side, Agnes failed not to reward her Convent Friends. +The worthy Mother St. Ursula, to whom She owed her liberty, was +named at her request Superintendent of 'The Ladies of Charity:' +This was one of the best and most opulent Societies throughout +Spain. Bertha and Cornelia not choosing to quit their Friend, +were appointed to principal charges in the same establishment. +As to the Nuns who had aided the Domina in persecuting Agnes, +Camilla being confined by illness to her bed, had perished in the +flames which consumed St. Clare's Convent. Mariana, Alix, and +Violante, as well as two more, had fallen victims to the popular +rage. The three Others who in Council had supported the Domina's +sentence, were severely reprimanded, and banished to religious +Houses in obscure and distant Provinces: Here they languished +away a few years, ashamed of their former weakness, and shunned +by their Companions with aversion and contempt. + +Nor was the fidelity of Flora permitted to go unrewarded. Her +wishes being consulted, She declared herself impatient to revisit +her native land. In consequence, a passage was procured for her +to Cuba, where She arrived in safety, loaded with the presents of +Raymond and Lorenzo. + +The debts of gratitude discharged, Agnes was at liberty to pursue +her favourite plan. Lodged in the same House, Lorenzo and +Virginia were eternally together. The more He saw of her, the +more was He convinced of her merit. On her part, She laid +herself out to please, and not to succeed was for her impossible. + +Lorenzo witnessed with admiration her beautiful person, elegant +manners, innumerable talents, and sweet disposition: He was also +much flattered by her prejudice in his favour, which She had not +sufficient art to conceal. However, his sentiments partook not +of that ardent character which had marked his affection for +Antonia. The image of that lovely and unfortunate Girl still +lived in his heart, and baffled all Virginia's efforts to +displace it. Still when the Duke proposed to him the match, +which He wished to earnestly to take place, his Nephew did not +reject the offer. The urgent supplications of his Friends, and +the Lady's merit conquered his repugnance to entering into new +engagements. He proposed himself to the Marquis de Villa- Franca, +and was accepted with joy and gratitude. Virginia became his +Wife, nor did She ever give him cause to repent his choice. His +esteem increased for her daily. Her unremitted endeavours to +please him could not but succeed. His affection assumed stronger +and warmer colours. Antonia's image was gradually effaced from +his bosom; and Virginia became sole Mistress of that heart, which +She well deserved to possess without a Partner. + +The remaining years of Raymond and Agnes, of Lorenzo and +Virginia, were happy as can be those allotted to Mortals, born to +be the prey of grief, and sport of disappointment. The exquisite +sorrows with which they had been afflicted, made them think +lightly of every succeeding woe. They had felt the sharpest +darts in misfortune's quiver; Those which remained appeared blunt +in comparison. Having weathered Fate's heaviest Storms, they +looked calmly upon its terrors: or if ever they felt Affliction's +casual gales, they seemed to them gentle as Zephyrs which +breathe over summer-seas. + + + CHAPTER V + + ----He was a fell despightful Fiend: +Hell holds none worse in baleful bower below: +By pride, and wit, and rage, and rancor keened; +Of Man alike, if good or bad the Foe. + Thomson. + +On the day following Antonia's death, all Madrid was a scene of +consternation and amazement. An Archer who had witnessed the +adventure in the Sepulchre had indiscreetly related the +circumstances of the murder: He had also named the Perpetrator. +The confusion was without example which this intelligence raised +among the Devotees. Most of them disbelieved it, and went +themselves to the Abbey to ascertain the fact. Anxious to avoid +the shame to which their Superior's ill-conduct exposed the whole +Brotherhood, the Monks assured the Visitors that Ambrosio was +prevented from receiving them as usual by nothing but illness. +This attempt was unsuccessful: The same excuse being repeated +day after day, the Archer's story gradually obtained confidence. +His Partizans abandoned him: No one entertained a doubt of his +guilt; and they who before had been the warmest in his praise +were now the most vociferous in his condemnation. + +While his innocence or guilt was debated in Madrid with the +utmost acrimony, Ambrosio was a prey to the pangs of conscious +villainy, and the terrors of punishment impending over him. When +He looked back to the eminence on which He had lately stood, +universally honoured and respected, at peace with the world and +with himself, scarcely could He believe that He was indeed the +culprit whose crimes and whose fate He trembled to envisage. +But a few weeks had elapsed, since He was pure and virtuous, +courted by the wisest and noblest in Madrid, and regarded by the +People with a reverence that approached idolatry: He now saw +himself stained with the most loathed and monstrous sins, the +object of universal execration, a Prisoner of the Holy Office, +and probably doomed to perish in tortures the most severe. He +could not hope to deceive his Judges: The proofs of his guilt +were too strong. His being in the Sepulchre at so late an hour, +his confusion at the discovery, the dagger which in his first +alarm He owned had been concealed by him, and the blood which had +spirted upon his habit from Antonia's wound, sufficiently marked +him out for the Assassin. He waited with agony for the day of +examination: He had no resource to comfort him in his distress. +Religion could not inspire him with fortitude: If He read the +Books of morality which were put into his hands, He saw in them +nothing but the enormity of his offences; If he attempted to +pray, He recollected that He deserved not heaven's protection, +and believed his crimes so monstrous as to baffle even God's +infinite goodness. For every other Sinner He thought there +might be hope, but for him there could be none. Shuddering at +the past, anguished by the present, and dreading the future, thus +passed He the few days preceding that which was marked for his +Trial. + +That day arrived. At nine in the morning his prison door was +unlocked, and his Gaoler entering, commanded him to follow him. +He obeyed with trembling. He was conducted into a spacious Hall, +hung with black cloth. At the Table sat three grave, +stern-looking Men, also habited in black: One was the Grand +Inquisitor, whom the importance of this cause had induced to +examine into it himself. At a smaller table at a little distance +sat the Secretary, provided with all necessary implements for +writing. Ambrosio was beckoned to advance, and take his station +at the lower end of the Table. As his eye glanced downwards, He +perceived various iron instruments lying scattered upon the +floor. Their forms were unknown to him, but apprehension +immediately guessed them to be engines of torture. He turned +pale, and with difficulty prevented himself from sinking upon the +ground. + +Profound silence prevailed, except when the Inquisitors whispered +a few words among themselves mysteriously. Near an hour past +away, and with every second of it Ambrosio's fears grew more +poignant. At length a small Door, opposite to that by which He +had entered the Hall, grated heavily upon its hinges. An Officer +appeared, and was immediately followed by the beautiful Matilda. +Her hair hung about her face wildly; Her cheeks were pale, and +her eyes sunk and hollow. She threw a melancholy look upon +Ambrosio: He replied by one of aversion and reproach. She was +placed opposite to him. A Bell then sounded thrice. It was the +signal for opening the Court, and the Inquisitors entered upon +their office. + +In these trials neither the accusation is mentioned, or the name +of the Accuser. The Prisoners are only asked, whether they will +confess: If they reply that having no crime they can make no +confession, they are put to the torture without delay. This is +repeated at intervals, either till the suspected avow themselves +culpable, or the perseverance of the examinants is worn out and +exhausted: But without a direct acknowledgment of their guilt, +the Inquisition never pronounces the final doom of its Prisoners. + +In general much time is suffered to elapse without their being +questioned: But Ambrosio's trial had been hastened, on account +of a solemn Auto da Fe which would take place in a few days, and +in which the Inquisitors meant this distinguished Culprit to +perform a part, and give a striking testimony of their vigilance. + +The Abbot was not merely accused of rape and murder: The crime +of Sorcery was laid to his charge, as well as to Matilda's. She +had been seized as an Accomplice in Antonia's assassination. On +searching her Cell, various suspicious books and instruments were +found which justified the accusation brought against her. To +criminate the Monk, the constellated Mirror was produced, which +Matilda had accidentally left in his chamber. The strange figures +engraved upon it caught the attention of Don Ramirez, while +searching the Abbot's Cell: In consequence, He carried it away +with him. It was shown to the Grand Inquisitor, who having +considered it for some time, took off a small golden Cross which +hung at his girdle, and laid it upon the Mirror. Instantly a loud +noise was heard, resembling a clap of thunder, and the steel +shivered into a thousand pieces. This circumstance confirmed the +suspicion of the Monk's having dealt in Magic: It was even +supposed that his former influence over the minds of the People +was entirely to be ascribed to witchcraft. + +Determined to make him confess not only the crimes which He had +committed, but those also of which He was innocent, the +Inquisitors began their examination. Though dreading the +tortures, as He dreaded death still more which would consign him +to eternal torments, the Abbot asserted his purity in a voice +bold and resolute. Matilda followed his example, but spoke with +fear and trembling. Having in vain exhorted him to confess, the +Inquisitors ordered the Monk to be put to the question. The +Decree was immediately executed. Ambrosio suffered the most +excruciating pangs that ever were invented by human cruelty: +Yet so dreadful is Death when guilt accompanies it, that He had +sufficient fortitude to persist in his disavowal. His agonies +were redoubled in consequence: Nor was He released till fainting +from excess of pain, insensibility rescued him from the hands of +his Tormentors. + +Matilda was next ordered to the torture: But terrified by the +sight of the Friar's sufferings, her courage totally deserted +her. She sank upon her knees, acknowledged her corresponding +with infernal Spirits, and that She had witnessed the Monk's +assassination of Antonia: But as to the crime of Sorcery, She +declared herself the sole criminal, and Ambrosio perfectly +innocent. The latter assertion met with no credit. The Abbot +had recovered his senses in time to hear the confession of his +Accomplice: But He was too much enfeebled by what He had already +undergone to be capable at that time of sustaining new torments. + +He was commanded back to his Cell, but first informed that as +soon as He had gained strength sufficient, He must prepare +himself for a second examination. The Inquisitors hoped that He +would then be less hardened and obstinate. To Matilda it was +announced that She must expiate her crime in fire on the +approaching Auto da Fe. All her tears and entreaties could +procure no mitigation of her doom, and She was dragged by force +from the Hall of Trial. + +Returned to his dungeon, the sufferings of Ambrosio's body were +far more supportable than those of his mind. His dislocated +limbs, the nails torn from his hands and feet, and his fingers +mashed and broken by the pressure of screws, were far surpassed +in anguish by the agitation of his soul and vehemence of his +terrors. He saw that, guilty or innocent, his Judges were bent +upon condemning him: The remembrance of what his denial had +already cost him terrified him at the idea of being again +applied to the question, and almost engaged him to confess his +crimes. Then again the consequences of his confession flashed +before him, and rendered him once more irresolute. His death +would be inevitable, and that a death the most dreadful: He had +listened to Matilda's doom, and doubted not that a similar was +reserved for him. He shuddered at the approaching Auto da Fe, at +the idea of perishing in flames, and only escaping from indurable +torments to pass into others more subtile and ever-lasting! With +affright did He bend his mind's eye on the space beyond the +grave; nor could hide from himself how justly he ought to dread +Heaven's vengeance. In this Labyrinth of terrors, fain would He +have taken his refuge in the gloom of Atheism: Fain would He +have denied the soul's immortality; have persuaded himself that +when his eyes once closed, they would never more open, and that +the same moment would annihilate his soul and body. Even this +resource was refused to him. To permit his being blind to the +fallacy of this belief, his knowledge was too extensive, his +understanding too solid and just. He could not help feeling the +existence of a God. Those truths, once his comfort, now +presented themselves before him in the clearest light; But they +only served to drive him to distraction. They destroyed his +ill-grounded hopes of escaping punishment; and dispelled by the +irresistible brightness of Truth and convinction, Philosophy's +deceitful vapours faded away like a dream. + +In anguish almost too great for mortal frame to bear, He expected +the time when He was again to be examined. He busied himself in +planning ineffectual schemes for escaping both present and future +punishment. Of the first there was no possibility; Of the second +Despair made him neglect the only means. While Reason forced him +to acknowledge a God's existence, Conscience made him doubt the +infinity of his goodness. He disbelieved that a Sinner like him +could find mercy. He had not been deceived into error: +Ignorance could furnish him with no excuse. He had seen vice in +her true colours; Before He committed his crimes, He had computed +every scruple of their weight; and yet he had committed them. + +'Pardon?' He would cry in an access of phrenzy 'Oh! there can be +none for me!' + +Persuaded of this, instead of humbling himself in penitence, of +deploring his guilt, and employing his few remaining hours in +deprecating Heaven's wrath, He abandoned himself to the +transports of desperate rage; He sorrowed for the punishment of +his crimes, not their commission; and exhaled his bosom's anguish +in idle sighs, in vain lamentations, in blasphemy and despair. +As the few beams of day which pierced through the bars of his +prison window gradually disappeared, and their place was +supplied by the pale and glimmering Lamp, He felt his terrors +redouble, and his ideas become more gloomy, more solemn, more +despondent. He dreaded the approach of sleep: No sooner did his +eyes close, wearied with tears and watching, than the dreadful +visions seemed to be realised on which his mind had dwelt during +the day. He found himself in sulphurous realms and burning +Caverns, surrounded by Fiends appointed his Tormentors, and who +drove him through a variety of tortures, each of which was more +dreadful than the former. Amidst these dismal scenes wandered +the Ghosts of Elvira and her Daughter. They reproached him with +their deaths, recounted his crimes to the Daemons, and urged them +to inflict torments of cruelty yet more refined. Such were the +pictures which floated before his eyes in sleep: They vanished +not till his repose was disturbed by excess of agony. Then would +He start from the ground on which He had stretched himself, his +brows running down with cold sweat, his eyes wild and phrenzied; +and He only exchanged the terrible certainty for surmizes +scarcely more supportable. He paced his dungeon with disordered +steps; He gazed with terror upon the surrounding darkness, and +often did He cry, + +'Oh! fearful is night to the Guilty!' + +The day of his second examination was at hand. He had been +compelled to swallow cordials, whose virtues were calculated to +restore his bodily strength, and enable him to support the +question longer. On the night preceding this dreaded day, his +fears for the morrow permitted him not to sleep. His terrors +were so violent, as nearly to annihilate his mental powers. He +sat like one stupefied near the Table on which his Lamp was +burning dimly. Despair chained up his faculties in Idiotism, and +He remained for some hours, unable to speak or move, or indeed to +think. + +'Look up, Ambrosio!' said a Voice in accents well-known to him-- + +The Monk started, and raised his melancholy eyes. Matilda stood +before him. She had quitted her religious habit. She now wore a +female dress, at once elegant and splendid: A profusion of +diamonds blazed upon her robes, and her hair was confined by a +coronet of Roses. In her right hand She held a small Book: A +lively expression of pleasure beamed upon her countenance; But +still it was mingled with a wild imperious majesty which +inspired the Monk with awe, and represt in some measure his +transports at seeing her. + +'You here, Matilda?' He at length exclaimed; 'How have you gained +entrance? Where are your Chains? What means this magnificence, +and the joy which sparkles in your eyes? Have our Judges +relented? Is there a chance of my escaping? Answer me for pity, +and tell me, what I have to hope, or fear.' + +'Ambrosio!' She replied with an air of commanding dignity; 'I +have baffled the Inquisition's fury. I am free: A few moments +will place kingdoms between these dungeons and me. Yet I +purchase my liberty at a dear, at a dreadful price! Dare you pay +the same, Ambrosio? Dare you spring without fear over the +bounds which separate Men from Angels?--You are silent.--You +look upon me with eyes of suspicion and alarm--I read your +thoughts and confess their justice. Yes, Ambrosio ; I have +sacrificed all for life and liberty. I am no longer a candidate +for heaven! I have renounced God's service, and am enlisted +beneath the banners of his Foes. The deed is past recall: Yet +were it in my power to go back, I would not. Oh! my Friend, to +expire in such torments! To die amidst curses and execrations! +To bear the insults of an exasperated Mob! To be exposed to all +the mortifications of shame and infamy! Who can reflect without +horror on such a doom? Let me then exult in my exchange. I have +sold distant and uncertain happiness for present and secure: I +have preserved a life which otherwise I had lost in torture; and +I have obtained the power of procuring every bliss which can +make that life delicious! The Infernal Spirits obey me as their +Sovereign: By their aid shall my days be past in every +refinement of luxury and voluptuousness. I will enjoy +unrestrained the gratification of my senses: Every passion shall +be indulged, even to satiety; Then will I bid my Servants invent +new pleasures, to revive and stimulate my glutted appetites! I +go impatient to exercise my newly-gained dominion. I pant to be +at liberty. Nothing should hold me one moment longer in this +abhorred abode, but the hope of persuading you to follow my +example. Ambrosio, I still love you: Our mutual guilt and +danger have rendered you dearer to me than ever, and I would fain +save you from impending destruction. Summon then your resolution +to your aid; and renounce for immediate and certain benefits the +hopes of a salvation, difficult to obtain, and perhaps altogether +erroneous. Shake off the prejudice of vulgar souls; Abandon a +God who has abandoned you, and raise yourself to the level of +superior Beings!' + +She paused for the Monk's reply: He shuddered, while He gave it. + +'Matilda!' He said after a long silence in a low and unsteady +voice; 'What price gave you for liberty?' + +She answered him firm and dauntless. + +'Ambrosio, it was my Soul!' + +'Wretched Woman, what have you done? Pass but a few years, and +how dreadful will be your sufferings!' + +'Weak Man, pass but this night, and how dreadful will be your +own! Do you remember what you have already endured? Tomorrow +you must bear torments doubly exquisite. Do you remember the +horrors of a fiery punishment? In two days you must be led a +Victim to the Stake! What then will become of you? Still dare +you hope for pardon? Still are you beguiled with visions of +salvation? Think upon your crimes! Think upon your lust, your +perjury, inhumanity, and hypocrisy! Think upon the innocent +blood which cries to the Throne of God for vengeance, and then +hope for mercy! Then dream of heaven, and sigh for worlds of +light, and realms of peace and pleasure! Absurd! Open your +eyes, Ambrosio, and be prudent. Hell is your lot; You are doomed +to eternal perdition; Nought lies beyond your grave but a gulph +of devouring flames. And will you then speed towards that Hell? +Will you clasp that perdition in your arms, ere 'tis needful? +Will you plunge into those flames while you still have the power +to shun them? 'Tis a Madman's action. No, no, Ambrosio: Let us +for awhile fly from divine vengeance. Be advised by me; Purchase +by one moment's courage the bliss of years; Enjoy the present, +and forget that a future lags behind.' + +'Matilda, your counsels are dangerous: I dare not, I will not +follow them. I must not give up my claim to salvation. +Monstrous are my crimes; But God is merciful, and I will not +despair of pardon.' + +'Is such your resolution? I have no more to say. I speed to joy +and liberty, and abandon you to death and eternal torments.' + +'Yet stay one moment, Matilda! You command the infernal Daemons: + +You can force open these prison doors; You can release me from +these chains which weigh me down. Save me, I conjure you, and +bear me from these fearful abodes!' + +'You ask the only boon beyond my power to bestow. I am forbidden +to assist a Churchman and a Partizan of God: Renounce those +titles, and command me.' + +'I will not sell my soul to perdition.' + +'Persist in your obstinacy, till you find yourself at the Stake: +Then will you repent your error, and sigh for escape when the +moment is gone by. I quit you. Yet ere the hour of death +arrives should wisdom enlighten you, listen to the means of +repairing your present fault. I leave with you this Book. Read +the four first lines of the seventh page backwards: The Spirit +whom you have already once beheld will immediately appear to +you. If you are wise, we shall meet again: If not, farewell for +ever!' + +She let the Book fall upon the ground. A cloud of blue fire +wrapped itself round her: She waved her hand to Ambrosio, and +disappeared. The momentary glare which the flames poured through +the dungeon, on dissipating suddenly, seemed to have increased +its natural gloom. The solitary Lamp scarcely gave light +sufficient to guide the Monk to a Chair. He threw himself into +his seat, folded his arms, and leaning his head upon the table, +sank into reflections perplexing and unconnected. + +He was still in this attitude when the opening of the prison door +rouzed him from his stupor. He was summoned to appear before the +Grand Inquisitor. He rose, and followed his Gaoler with painful +steps. He was led into the same Hall, placed before the same +Examiners, and was again interrogated whether Hewould confess. +He replied as before, that having no crimes, He could acknowledge +none: But when the Executioners prepared to put him to the +question, when He saw the engines of torture, and remembered the +pangs which they had already inflicted, his resolution failed him +entirely. Forgetting the consequences, and only anxious to +escape the terrors of the present moment, He made an ample +confession. He disclosed every circumstance of his guilt, and +owned not merely the crimes with which He was charged, but those +of which He had never been suspected. Being interrogated as to +Matilda's flight which had created much confusion, He confessed +that She had sold herself to Satan, and that She was indebted to +Sorcery for her escape. He still assured his Judges that for +his own part He had never entered into any compact with the +infernal Spirits; But the threat of being tortured made him +declare himself to be a Sorcerer, and Heretic, and whatever other +title the Inquisitors chose to fix upon him. In consequence of +this avowal, his sentence was immediately pronounced. He was +ordered to prepare himself to perish in the Auto da Fe, which was +to be solemnized at twelve o'clock that night. This hour was +chosen from the idea that the horror of the flames being +heightened by the gloom of midnight, the execution would have a +greater effect upon the mind of the People. + +Ambrosio rather dead than alive was left alone in his dungeon. +The moment in which this terrible decree was pronounced had +nearly proved that of his dissolution. He looked forward to the +morrow with despair, and his terrors increased with the approach +of midnight. Sometimes He was buried in gloomy silence: At +others He raved with delirious passion, wrung his hands, and +cursed the hour when He first beheld the light. In one of these +moments his eye rested upon Matilda's mysterious gift. His +transports of rage were instantly suspended. He looked earnestly +at the Book; He took it up, but immediately threw it from him +with horror. He walked rapidly up and down his dungeon: Then +stopped, and again fixed his eyes on the spot where the Book had +fallen. He reflected that here at least was a resource from the +fate which He dreaded. He stooped, and took it up a second time. + +He remained for some time trembling and irresolute: He longed to +try the charm, yet feared its consequences. The recollection of +his sentence at length fixed his indecision. He opened the +Volume; but his agitation was so great that He at first sought +in vain for the page mentioned by Matilda. Ashamed of himself, +He called all his courage to his aid. He turned to the seventh +leaf. He began to read it aloud; But his eyes frequently +wandered from the Book, while He anxiously cast them round in +search of the Spirit, whom He wished, yet dreaded to behold. +Still He persisted in his design; and with a voice unassured and +frequent interruptions, He contrived to finish the four first +lines of the page. + +They were in a language, whose import was totally unknown to him. + +Scarce had He pronounced the last word when the effects of the +charm were evident. A loud burst of Thunder was heard; The +prison shook to its very foundations; A blaze of lightning +flashed through the Cell; and in the next moment, borne upon +sulphurous whirl-winds, Lucifer stood before him a second time. +But He came not as when at Matilda's summons He borrowed the +Seraph's form to deceive Ambrosio. He appeared in all that +ugliness which since his fall from heaven had been his portion: +His blasted limbs still bore marks of the Almighty's thunder: A +swarthy darkness spread itself over his gigantic form: His hands +and feet were armed with long Talons: Fury glared in his eyes, +which might have struck the bravest heart with terror: Over his +huge shoulders waved two enormous sable wings; and his hair was +supplied by living snakes, which twined themselves round his +brows with frightful hissings. In one hand He held a roll of +parchment, and in the other an iron pen. Still the lightning +flashed around him, and the Thunder with repeated bursts, seemed +to announce the dissolution of Nature. + +Terrified at an Apparition so different from what He had +expected, Ambrosio remained gazing upon the Fiend, deprived of +the power of utterance. The Thunder had ceased to roll: +Universal silence reigned through the dungeon. + +'For what am I summoned hither?' said the Daemon, in a voice +which sulphurous fogs had damped to hoarseness-- + +At the sound Nature seemed to tremble: A violent earthquake +rocked the ground, accompanied by a fresh burst of Thunder, +louder and more appalling than the first. + +Ambrosio was long unable to answer the Daemon's demand. + +'I am condemned to die;' He said with a faint voice, his blood +running cold, while He gazed upon his dreadful Visitor. 'Save +me! Bear me from hence!' + +'Shall the reward of my services be paid me? Dare you embrace my +cause? Will you be mine, body and soul? Are you prepared to +renounce him who made you, and him who died for you? Answer but +''Yes'' and Lucifer is your Slave.' + +'Will no less price content you? Can nothing satisfy you but my +eternal ruin? Spirit, you ask too much. Yet convey me from this +dungeon: Be my Servant for one hour, and I will be yours for a +thousand years. Will not this offer suffice?' + +'It will not. I must have your soul; must have it mine, and mine +for ever.' + +'Insatiate Daemon, I will not doom myself to endless torments. I +will not give up my hopes of being one day pardoned.' + +'You will not? On what Chimaera rest then your hopes? +Short-sighted Mortal! Miserable Wretch! Are you not guilty? +Are you not infamous in the eyes of Men and Angels. Can such +enormous sins be forgiven? Hope you to escape my power? Your +fate is already pronounced. The Eternal has abandoned you; Mine +you are marked in the book of destiny, and mine you must and +shall be!' + +'Fiend, 'tis false! Infinite is the Almighty's mercy, and the +Penitent shall meet his forgiveness. My crimes are monstrous, +but I will not despair of pardon: Haply, when they have received +due chastisement . . . .' + +'Chastisement? Was Purgatory meant for guilt like yours? Hope +you that your offences shall be bought off by prayers of +superstitious dotards and droning Monks? Ambrosio, be wise! +Mine +you must be: You are doomed to flames, but may shun them for the +present. Sign this parchment: I will bear you from hence, and +you may pass your remaining years in bliss and liberty. Enjoy +your existence: Indulge in every pleasure to which appetite may +lead you: But from the moment that it quits your body, remember +that your soul belongs to me, and that I will not be defrauded of +my right.' + +The Monk was silent; But his looks declared that the Tempter's +words were not thrown away. He reflected on the conditions +proposed with horror: On the other hand, He believed himself +doomed to perdition and that, by refusing the Daemon's succour, +He only hastened tortures which He never could escape. The Fiend +saw that his resolution was shaken: He renewed his instances, +and endeavoured to fix the Abbot's indecision. He described the +agonies of death in the most terrific colours; and He worked so +powerfully upon Ambrosio's despair and fears that He prevailed +upon him to receive the Parchment. He then struck the iron Pen +which He held into a vein of the Monk's left hand. It pierced +deep, and was instantly filled with blood; Yet Ambrosio felt no +pain from the wound. The Pen was put into his hand: It +trembled. The Wretch placed the Parchment on the Table before +him, and prepared to sign it. Suddenly He held his hand: He +started away hastily, and threw the Pen upon the table. + +'What am I doing?' He cried--Then turning to the Fiend with a +desperate air, 'Leave me! Begone! I will not sign the +Parchment.' + +'Fool!' exclaimed the disappointed Daemon, darting looks so +furious as penetrated the Friar's soul with horror; 'Thus am I +trifled with? Go then! Rave in agony, expire in tortures, and +then learn the extent of the Eternal's mercy! But beware how you +make me again your mock! Call me no more till resolved to accept +my offers! Summon me a second time to dismiss me thus idly, and +these Talons shall rend you into a thousand pieces! Speak yet +again; Will you sign the Parchment?' + +'I will not! Leave me! Away!' + +Instantly the Thunder was heard to roll horribly: Once more the +earth trembled with violence: The Dungeon resounded with loud +shrieks, and the Daemon fled with blasphemy and curses. + +At first, the Monk rejoiced at having resisted the Seducer's +arts, and obtained a triumph over Mankind's Enemy: But as the +hour of punishment drew near, his former terrors revived in his +heart. Their momentary repose seemed to have given them fresh +vigour. The nearer that the time approached, the more did He +dread appearing before the Throne of God. He shuddered to think +how soon He must be plunged into eternity; How soon meet the eyes +of his Creator, whom He had so grievously offended. The Bell +announced midnight: It was the signal for being led to the +Stake! As He listened to the first stroke, the blood ceased to +circulate in the Abbot's veins: He heard death and torture +murmured in each succeeding sound. He expected to see the +Archers entering his prison; and as the Bell forbore to toll, he +seized the magic volume in a fit of despair. He opened it, +turned hastily to the seventh page, and as if fearing to allow +himself a moment's thought ran over the fatal lines with +rapidity. Accompanied by his former terrors, Lucifer again stood +before the Trembler. + +'You have summoned me,' said the Fiend; 'Are you determined to be +wise? Will you accept my conditions? You know them already. +Renounce your claim to salvation, make over to me your soul, and +I bear you from this dungeon instantly. Yet is it time. +Resolve, or it will be too late. Will you sign the Parchment?' + +'I must!--Fate urges me! I accept your conditions.' + +'Sign the Parchment!' replied the Daemon in an exulting tone. + +The Contract and the bloody Pen still lay upon the Table. +Ambrosio drew near it. He prepared to sign his name. A moment's +reflection made him hesitate. + +'Hark!' cried the Tempter; 'They come! Be quick! Sign the +Parchment, and I bear you from hence this moment.' + +In effect, the Archers were heard approaching, appointed to lead +Ambrosio to the Stake. The sound encouraged the Monk in his +resolution. + +'What is the import of this writing?' said He. + +'It makes your soul over to me for ever, and without reserve.' + +'What am I to receive in exchange?' + +'My protection, and release from this dungeon. Sign it, and this +instant I bear you away.' + +Ambrosio took up the Pen; He set it to the Parchment. Again his +courage failed him: He felt a pang of terror at his heart, and +once more threw the Pen upon the Table. + +'Weak and Puerile!' cried the exasperated Fiend: 'Away with this +folly! Sign the writing this instant, or I sacrifice you to my +rage!' + +At this moment the bolt of the outward Door was drawn back. The +Prisoner heard the rattling of Chains; The heavy Bar fell; The +Archers were on the point of entering. Worked up to phrenzy by +the urgent danger, shrinking from the approach of death, +terrified by the Daemon's threats, and seeing no other means to +escape destruction, the wretched Monk complied. He signed the +fatal contract, and gave it hastily into the evil Spirit's hands, +whose eyes, as He received the gift, glared with malicious +rapture. + +'Take it!' said the God-abandoned; 'Now then save me! Snatch me +from hence!' + +'Hold! Do you freely and absolutely renounce your Creator and +his Son?' + +'I do! I do!' + +'Do you make over your soul to me for ever?' + +'For ever!' + +'Without reserve or subterfuge? Without future appeal to the +divine mercy?' + +The last Chain fell from the door of the prison: The key was +heard turning in the Lock: Already the iron door grated heavily +upon its rusty hinges. + +'I am yours for ever and irrevocably!' cried the Monk wild with +terror: 'I abandon all claim to salvation! I own no power but +yours! Hark! Hark! They come! Oh! save me! Bear me away!' + +'I have triumphed! You are mine past reprieve, and I fulfil my +promise.' + +While He spoke, the Door unclosed. Instantly the Daemon grasped +one of Ambrosio's arms, spread his broad pinions, and sprang with +him into the air. The roof opened as they soared upwards, and +closed again when they had quitted the Dungeon. + +In the meanwhile, the Gaoler was thrown into the utmost surprize +by the disappearance of his Prisoner. Though neither He nor the +Archers were in time to witness the Monk's escape, a sulphurous +smell prevailing through the prison sufficiently informed them by +whose aid He had been liberated. They hastened to make their +report to the Grand Inquisitor. The story, how a Sorcerer had +been carried away by the Devil, was soon noised about Madrid; and +for some days the whole City was employed in discussing the +subject. Gradually it ceased to be the topic of conversation: +Other adventures arose whose novelty engaged universal attention; +and Ambrosio was soon forgotten as totally, as if He never had +existed. While this was passing, the Monk supported by his +infernal guide, traversed the air with the rapidity of an arrow, +and a few moments placed him upon a Precipice's brink, the +steepest in Sierra Morena. + +Though rescued from the Inquisition, Ambrosio as yet was +insensible of the blessings of liberty. The damning contract +weighed heavy upon his mind; and the scenes in which He had been +a principal actor had left behind them such impressions as +rendered his heart the seat of anarchy and confusion. The +Objects now before his eyes, and which the full Moon sailing +through clouds permitted him to examine, were ill-calculated to +inspire that calm, of which He stood so much in need. The +disorder of his imagination was increased by the wildness of the +surrounding scenery; By the gloomy Caverns and steep rocks, +rising above each other, and dividing the passing clouds; +solitary clusters of Trees scattered here and there, among whose +thick-twined branches the wind of night sighed hoarsely and +mournfully; the shrill cry of mountain Eagles, who had built +their nests among these lonely Desarts; the stunning roar of +torrents, as swelled by late rains they rushed violently down +tremendous precipices; and the dark waters of a silent sluggish +stream which faintly reflected the moonbeams, and bathed the +Rock's base on which Ambrosio stood. The Abbot cast round him a +look of terror. His infernal Conductor was still by his side, +and eyed him with a look of mingled malice, exultation, and +contempt. + +'Whither have you brought me?' said the Monk at length in an +hollow trembling voice: 'Why am I placed in this melancholy +scene? Bear me from it quickly! Carry me to Matilda!' + +The Fiend replied not, but continued to gaze upon him in silence. + +Ambrosio could not sustain his glance; He turned away his eyes, +while thus spoke the Daemon: + +'I have him then in my power! This model of piety! This being +without reproach! This Mortal who placed his puny virtues on a +level with those of Angels. He is mine! Irrevocably, eternally +mine! Companions of my sufferings! Denizens of hell! How +grateful will be my present!' + +He paused; then addressed himself to the Monk---- + +'Carry you to Matilda?' He continued, repeating Ambrosio's words: + +'Wretch! you shall soon be with her! You well deserve a place +near her, for hell boasts no miscreant more guilty than yourself. + +Hark, Ambrosio, while I unveil your crimes! You have shed the +blood of two innocents; Antonia and Elvira perished by your hand. +That Antonia whom you violated, was your Sister! That Elvira whom +you murdered, gave you birth! Tremble, abandoned Hypocrite! +Inhuman Parricide! Incestuous Ravisher! Tremble at the extent of +your offences! And you it was who thought yourself proof against +temptation, absolved from human frailties, and free from error +and vice! Is pride then a virtue? Is inhumanity no fault? +Know, vain Man! That I long have marked you for my prey: I +watched the movements of your heart; I saw that you were virtuous +from vanity, not principle, and I seized the fit moment of +seduction. I observed your blind idolatry of the Madona's +picture. I bad a subordinate but crafty spirit assume a similar +form, and you eagerly yielded to the blandishments of Matilda. +Your pride was gratified by her flattery; Your lust only needed +an opportunity to break forth; You ran into the snare blindly, +and scrupled not to commit a crime which you blamed in another +with unfeeling severity. It was I who threw Matilda in your way; +It was I who gave you entrance to Antonia's chamber; It was I who +caused the dagger to be given you which pierced your Sister's +bosom; and it was I who warned Elvira in dreams of your designs +upon her Daughter, and thus, by preventing your profiting by her +sleep, compelled you to add rape as well as incest to the +catalogue of your crimes. Hear, hear, Ambrosio! Had you +resisted me one minute longer, you had saved your body and soul. +The guards whom you heard at your prison door came to signify +your pardon. But I had already triumphed: My plots had already +succeeded. Scarcely could I propose crimes so quick as you +performed them. You are mine, and Heaven itself cannot rescue +you from my power. Hope not that your penitence will make void +our contract. Here is your bond signed with your blood; You have +given up your claim to mercy, and nothing can restore to you the +rights which you have foolishly resigned. Believe you that your +secret thoughts escaped me? No, no, I read them all! You +trusted that you should still have time for repentance. I saw +your artifice, knew its falsity, and rejoiced in deceiving the +deceiver! You are mine beyond reprieve: I burn to possess my +right, and alive you quit not these mountains.' + +During the Daemon's speech, Ambrosio had been stupefied by terror +and surprize. This last declaration rouzed him. + +'Not quit these mountains alive?' He exclaimed: 'Perfidious, what +mean you? Have you forgotten our contract?' + +The Fiend answered by a malicious laugh: + +'Our contract? Have I not performed my part? What more did I +promise than to save you from your prison? Have I not done so? +Are you not safe from the Inquisition--safe from all but from +me? Fool that you were to confide yourself to a Devil! Why did +you not stipulate for life, and power, and pleasure? Then all +would have been granted: Now, your reflections come too late. +Miscreant, prepare for death; You have not many hours to live!' + +On hearing this sentence, dreadful were the feelings of the +devoted Wretch! He sank upon his knees, and raised his hands +towards heaven. The Fiend read his intention and prevented it-- + +'What?' He cried, darting at him a look of fury: 'Dare you still +implore the Eternal's mercy? Would you feign penitence, and +again act an Hypocrite's part? Villain, resign your hopes of +pardon. Thus I secure my prey!' + +As He said this, darting his talons into the Monk's shaven crown, +He sprang with him from the rock. The Caves and mountains rang +with Ambrosio's shrieks. The Daemon continued to soar aloft, till +reaching a dreadful height, He released the sufferer. Headlong +fell the Monk through the airy waste; The sharp point of a rock +received him; and He rolled from precipice to precipice, till +bruised and mangled He rested on the river's banks. Life still +existed in his miserable frame: He attempted in vain to raise +himself; His broken and dislocated limbs refused to perform their +office, nor was He able to quit the spot where He had first +fallen. The Sun now rose above the horizon; Its scorching beams +darted full upon the head of the expiring Sinner. Myriads of +insects were called forth by the warmth; They drank the blood +which trickled from Ambrosio's wounds; He had no power to drive +them from him, and they fastened upon his sores, darted their +stings into his body, covered him with their multitudes, and +inflicted on him tortures the most exquisite and insupportable. +The Eagles of the rock tore his flesh piecemeal, and dug out his +eyeballs with their crooked beaks. A burning thirst tormented +him; He heard the river's murmur as it rolled beside him, but +strove in vain to drag himself towards the sound. Blind, maimed, +helpless, and despairing, venting his rage in blasphemy and +curses, execrating his existence, yet dreading the arrival of +death destined to yield him up to greater torments, six miserable +days did the Villain languish. On the Seventh a violent storm +arose: The winds in fury rent up rocks and forests: The sky was +now black with clouds, now sheeted with fire: The rain fell in +torrents; It swelled the stream; The waves overflowed their +banks; They reached the spot where Ambrosio lay, and when they +abated carried with them into the river the Corse of the +despairing Monk. + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Monk, by Matthew Lewis + |