the monk(僧侣)-第1章

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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　BalladAnd　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。




The　Monk

by　Matthew　Lewis




THE　MONK　…　A　ROMANCE


　Somnia；　terrores　magicos；　miracula；　fagas；
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。





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！　
Uncove