the monk(僧侣)-第14部分

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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　youBut　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