the monk(僧侣)-第63部分

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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