the monk(僧侣)-第28章

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Grave；　but　stern　commands　force　me　to　prolong　my　punishment！'

'Knowest　Thou　this　blood？　　Knowest　Thou　in　whose　veins　it　flowed？

Beatrice！　Beatrice！　In　his　name　I　charge　thee　to　answer　me！'

'I　dare　not　disobey　my　taskers。'

'Darest　Thou　disobey　Me？'

He　spoke　in　a　commanding　tone；　and　drew　the　sable　band　from　his
forehead。　　In　spite　of　his　injunctions　to　the　contrary；　
Curiosity　would　not　suffer　me　to　keep　my　eyes　off　his　face：　　I
raised　them；　and　beheld　a　burning　Cross　impressed　upon　his　brow。　
For　the　horror　with　which　this　object　inspired　me　I　cannot
account；　but　I　never　felt　its　equal！　　My　senses　left　me　for　some
moments；　A　mysterious　dread　overcame　my　courage；　and　had　not　the
Exorciser　caught　my　hand；　I　should　have　fallen　out　of　the　Circle。

When　I　recovered　myself；　I　perceived　that　the　burning　Cross　had
produced　an　effect　no　less　violent　upon　the　Spectre。　　Her
countenance　expressed　reverence；　and　horror；　and　her　visionary
limbs　were　shaken　by　fear。

'Yes！'　She　said　at　length；　'I　tremble　at　that　mark！　respect
it！I　obey　you！　　Know　then；　that　my　bones　lie　still　unburied：　
They　rot　in　the　obscurity　of　Lindenberg　Hole。　　None　but　this
Youth　has　the　right　of　consigning　them　to　the　Grave。　　His　own
lips　have　made　over　to　me　his　body　and　his　soul：　　Never　will　I
give　back　his　promise；　never　shall　He　know　a　night　devoid　of
terror；　unless　He　engages　to　collect　my　mouldering　bones；　and
deposit　them　in　the　family　vault　of　his　Andalusian　Castle。　　Then
let　thirty　Masses　be　said　for　the　repose　of　my　Spirit；　and　I
trouble　this　world　no　more。　　Now　let　me　depart！　　Those　flames　are
scorching！'

He　let　the　hand　drop　slowly　which　held　the　Crucifix；　and　which
till　then　He　had　pointed　towards　her。　　The　apparition　bowed　her
head；　and　her　form　melted　into　air。　　The　Exorciser　led　me　out　of
the　Circle。　　He　replaced　the　Bible　&c。　　in　the　Chest；　and　then
addressed　himself　to　me；　who　stood　near　him　speechless　from
astonishment。

'Don　Raymond；　you　have　heard　the　conditions　on　which　repose　is
promised　you。　　Be　it　your　business　to　fulfil　them　to　the　letter。　
For　me　nothing　more　remains　than　to　clear　up　the　darkness　still
spread　over　the　Spectre's　History；　and　inform　you　that　when
living；　Beatrice　bore　the　name　of　las　Cisternas。　　She　was　the
great　Aunt　of　your　Grandfather：　　In　quality　of　your　relation；
her　ashes　demand　respect　from　you；　though　the　enormity　of　her
crimes　must　excite　your　abhorrence。　　The　nature　of　those　crimes
no　one　is　more　capable　of　explaining　to　you　than　myself：　　I　was
personally　acquainted　with　the　holy　Man　who　proscribed　her
nocturnal　riots　in　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；　and　I　hold　this
narrative　from　his　own　lips。

'Beatrice　de　las　Cisternas　took　the　veil　at　an　early　age；　not　by
her　own　choice；　but　at　the　express　command　of　her　Parents。　　She
was　then　too　young　to　regret　the　pleasures　of　which　her
profession　deprived　her：　　But　no　sooner　did　her　warm　and
voluptuous　character　begin　to　be　developed　than　She　abandoned
herself　freely　to　the　impulse　of　her　passions；　and　seized　the
first　opportunity　to　procure　their　gratification。　　This
opportunity　was　at　length　presented；　after　many　obstacles　which
only　added　new　force　to　her　desires。　　She　contrived　to　elope　from
the　Convent；　and　fled　to　Germany　with　the　Baron　Lindenberg。　　She
lived　at　his　Castle　several　months　as　his　avowed　Concubine：　　All
Bavaria　was　scandalized　by　her　impudent　and　abandoned　conduct。　
Her　feasts　vied　in　luxury　with　Cleopatra's；　and　Lindenberg　became
the　Theatre　of　the　most　unbridled　debauchery。　　Not　satisfied　with
displaying　the　incontinence　of　a　Prostitute；　She　professed
herself　an　Atheist：　　She　took　every　opportunity　　to　scoff　at　her
monastic　vows；　and　loaded　with　ridicule　the　most　sacred
ceremonies　of　Religion。

'Possessed　of　a　character　so　depraved；　She　did　not　long　confine
her　affections　to　one　object。　　Soon　after　her　arrival　at　the
Castle；　the　Baron's　younger　Brother　attracted　her　notice　by　his
strong…marked　features；　gigantic　Stature；　and　Herculean　limbs。　
She　was　not　of　an　humour　to　keep　her　inclinations　long　unknown；
But　She　found　in　Otto　von　Lindenberg　her　equal　in　depravity。　　He
returned　her　passion　just　sufficiently　to　increase　it；　and　when
He　had　worked　it　up　to　the　desired　pitch；　He　fixed　the　price　of
his　love　at　his　Brother's　murder。　　The　Wretch　consented　to　this
horrible　agreement。　　A　night　was　pitched　upon　for　perpetrating
the　deed。　　Otto；　who　resided　on　a　small　Estate　a　few　miles
distant　from　the　Castle；　promised　that　at　One　in　the　morning　He
would　be　waiting　for　her　at　Lindenberg　Hole；　that　He　would　bring
with　him　a　party　of　chosen　Friends；　by　whose　aid　He　doubted　not
being　able　to　make　himself　Master　of　the　Castle；　and　that　his
next　step　should　be　the　uniting　her　hand　to　his。　　It　was　this
last　promise；　which　overruled　every　scruple　of　Beatrice；　since　in
spite　of　his　affection　for　her；　the　Baron　had　declared　positively
that　He　never　would　make　her　his　Wife。

'The　fatal　night　arrived。　　The　Baron　slept　in　the　arms　of　his
perfidious　Mistress；　when　the　Castle…Bell　struck　'One。'
Immediately　Beatrice　drew　a　dagger　from　underneath　the　pillow；
and　plunged　it　in　her　Paramour's　heart。　　The　Baron　uttered　a
single　dreadful　groan；　and　expired。　　The　Murderess　quitted　her
bed　hastily；　took　a　Lamp　in　one　hand；　in　the　other　the　bloody
dagger；　and　bent　her　course　towards　the　cavern。　　The　Porter　dared
not　to　refuse　opening　the　Gates　to　one　more　dreaded　in　the
Castle　than　its　Master。　　Beatrice　reached　Lindenberg　Hole
unopposed；　where　according　to　promise　She　found　Otto　waiting　for
her。　　He　received　and　listened　to　her　narrative　with　transport：　
But　ere　She　had　time　to　ask　why　He　came　unaccompanied；　He
convinced　her　that　He　wished　for　no　witnesses　to　their　interview。
Anxious　to　conceal　his　share　in　the　murder；　and　to　free　himself
from　a　Woman；　whose　violent　and　atrocious　character　made　him
tremble　with　reason　for　his　own　safety；　He　had　resolved　on　the
destruction　of　his　wretched　Agent。　　Rushing　upon　her　suddenly；　He
wrested　the　dagger　from　her　hand：　　He　plunged　it　still　reeking
with　his　Brother's　blood　in　her　bosom；　and　put　an　end　to　her
existence　by　repeated　blows。

'Otto　now　succeeded　to　the　Barony　of　Lindenberg。　　The　murder　was
attributed　solely　to　the　fugitive　Nun；　and　no　one　suspected　him
to　have　persuaded　her　to　the　action。　　But　though　his　crime　was
unpunished　by　Man；　God's　justice　permitted　him　not　to　enjoy　in
peace　his　blood…stained　honours。　　Her　bones　lying　still　unburied
in　the　Cave；　the　restless　soul　of　Beatrice　continued　to　inhabit
the　Castle。　　Drest　in　her　religious　habit　in　memory　of　her　vows
broken　to　heaven；　furnished　with　the　dagger　which　had　drank　the
blood　of　her　Paramour；　and　holding　the　Lamp　which　had　guided　her
flying　steps；　every　night　did　She　stand　before　the　Bed　of　Otto。
The　most　dreadful　confusion　reigned　through　the　Castle；　The
vaulted　chambers　resounded　with　shrieks　and　groans；　And　the
Spectre；　as　She　ranged　along　the　antique　Galleries；　uttered　an
incoherent　mixture　of　prayers　and　blasphemies。　　Otto　was　unable
to　withstand　the　shock　which　He　felt　at　this　fearful　Vision：　
Its　horror　increased　with　every　succeeding　appearance：　　His　alarm
at　length　became　so　insupportable　that　his　heart　burst；　and　one
morning　He　was　found　in　his　bed　totally　deprived　of　warmth　and
animation。　　His　death　did　not　put　an　end　to　the　nocturnal　riots。　
The　bones　of　Beatrice　continued　to　lie　unburied；　and　her　Ghost
continued　to　haunt　the　Castle。

'The　domains　of　Lindenberg　now　fell　to　a　distant　Relation。　　But
terrified　by　the　accounts　given　him　of　the　Bleeding　Nun　（So　was
the　Spectre　called　by　the　multitude）；　the　new　Baron　called　to　his
assistance　a　celebrated　Exorciser。　　This　holy　Man　succeeded　in
obliging　her　to　temporary　repose；　But　though　She　discovered　to
him　her　history；　He　was　not　permitted　to　reveal　it　to　others；　or
cause　her　skeleton　to　be　removed　to　hallowed　ground。　　That　Office
was　reserved　for　you；　and　till　your　coming；　her　Ghost　was　doomed
to　wander　about　the　Castle　and　lament　the　crime　which　She　had
there　committed。　　However；　the　Exorciser　obliged　her　to　silence
during　his　lifetime。　　So　long　as　He　existed；　the　haunted　chamber
was　shut　up；　and　the　Spectre　was　invisible。　　At　his　death　which
happened　in　five　years　after；　She　again　appeared；　but　only　once
on　every　fifth　year；　on　the　same　day　and　at　the　same　hour　when
She　plunged　her　Knife　in　the　heart　of　her　sleeping　Lover：　　She
then　visited　the　Cavern　which　held　her　mouldering　skeleton；
returned　to　the　Castle　as　soon　as　the　Clock　struck　'Two；'　and　was
seen　no　more　till　the　next　five　years　had　elapsed。

'She　was　doomed　to　suffer　during　the　space　of　a　Century。　　That
period　is　past。　　Nothing　now　remains　but　to　consign　to　the　Grave
the　ashes　of　Beatrice。　　I　have　been　the　means　of　releasing　you
from　your　visionary　Tormentor；　and　amidst　all　the　sorrows　which
oppress　me；　to　think　that　I　have　been　of　use　to　you；　is　some
consolation。　　Youth；　farewell！　　May　the　Ghost　of　your　Relation
enjoy　that　rest　in　the　Tomb；　which　the　Almighty's　vengeance　has
denied　to　me　for　ever！'

Here　the　Stranger　prepared　to　quit　the　apartment。

'Stay　yet　one　moment！'　said　I；　'You　have　satisfied　my　curiosity
with　regard　to　the　Spectre；　but　you　leave　me　in　prey　to　yet
greater　respecting　yourself。　　Deign　to　inform　me；　to　whom　I　am
under　such　real　obligations。　　You　mention　circumstances　long
past；　and　persons　long　dead：　　You　were　personally　acquainted　with
the　Exorciser；　who　by　your　own　account　has　been　deceased　near　a
Century。　　How　am　I　to　account　for　this？　　What　means　that　burning
Cross　upon　your　forehead；　and　why　did　the　sight　of　it　strike
such　horror　to　my　soul？'

On　these　points　He　for　some　time　refused　to　satisfy　me。　　At
length　overcome　by　my　entreaties；　He　consented　to　clear　up　the
whole；　on　condition　that　I　would　defer　his　explanation　till　the
next　day。　　With　this　request　I　was　obliged　to　comply；　and　He　left
me。　　In　the　Morning　my　first　care　was　to　enquire　after　the
mysterious　Stranger。　　Conceive　my　disappointment　when　informed
that　He　had　already　quitted　Ratisbon。　　I　dispatched　messengers　in
pursuit　of　him　but　in　vain。　　No　traces　of　the　Fugitive　were
discovered。　　Since　that　moment　I　never　have　heard　any　more　of
him；　and　'tis　most　probable　that　I　never　shall。'

（Lorenzo　here　interrupted　his　Friend's　narrative。

'How？'　said　He；　'You　have　never　discovered　who　He　was；　or　even
formed　a　guess？'

'Pardon　me；'　replied　the　Marquis；　'When　I　related　this　adventure
to　my　Uncle；　the　Cardinal…Duke；　He　told　me　that　He　had　no　doubt
of　this　singular　Man's　being　the　celebrated　Character　known
universally　by　the　name　of　'the　wandering　Jew。'　　His　not　being
permitted　to　pass　more　than　fourteen　days　on　the　same　spot；　the
burning　Cross　impressed　upon　his　forehead；　the　effect　which　it
produced　upon　the　Beholders；　and　many　other　circumstances　give
this　supposition　the　colour　of　truth。　　The　Cardinal　is　fully
persuaded　of　it；　and　for　my　own　part　I　am　inclined　to　adopt　the
only　solution　which　offers　itself　to　this　riddle。　　I　return　to
the　narrative　from　which　I　have　digressed。'）

From　this　period　I　recovered　my　health　so　rapidly　as　to　astonish
my　Physicians。　　The　Bleeding　Nun　appeared　no