the monk(僧侣)-第21章

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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　y