the monk(僧侣)-第41部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　th