the monk(僧侣)-第34章

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！


constitution；　that　She　had　fallen　ill；　and　was　actually　confined
to　her　bed。　　Lorenzo　did　not　credit　a　syllable　of　this　account：　
He　insisted　upon　seeing　his　Sister；　If　She　was　unable　to　come　to
the　Grate；　He　desired　to　be　admitted　to　her　Cell。　　The　Prioress
crossed　herself！　　She　was　shocked　at　the　very　idea　of　a　Man's
profane　eye　pervading　the　interior　of　her　holy　Mansion；　and
professed　herself　astonished　that　Lorenzo　could　think　of　such　a
thing。　　She　told　him　that　his　request　could　not　be　granted；　But
that　if　He　returned　the　next　day；　She　hoped　that　her　beloved
Daughter　would　then　be　sufficiently　recovered　to　join　him　at　the
Parlour　grate。

With　this　answer　Lorenzo　was　obliged　to　retire；　unsatisfied　and
trembling　for　his　Sister's　safety。

He　returned　the　next　morning　at　an　early　hour。　　'Agnes　was　worse；
The　Physician　had　pronounced　her　to　be　in　imminent　danger；　She
was　ordered　to　remain　quiet；　and　it　was　utterly　impossible　for
her　to　receive　her　Brother's　visit。'　　Lorenzo　stormed　at　this
answer；　but　there　was　no　resource。　　He　raved；　He　entreated；　He
threatened：　　No　means　were　left　untried　to　obtain　a　sight　of
Agnes。　　His　endeavours　were　as　fruitless　as　those　of　the　day
before；　and　He　returned　in　despair　to　the　Marquis。　　On　his　side；
the　Latter　had　spared　no　pains　to　discover　what　had　occasioned
his　plot　to　fail：　　Don　Christoval；　to　whom　the　affair　was　now
entrusted；　endeavoured　to　worm　out　the　secret　from　the　Old
Porteress　of　St。　Clare；　with　whom　He　had　formed　an　acquaintance；
But　She　was　too　much　upon　her　guard；　and　He　gained　from　her　no
intelligence。　The　Marquis　was　almost　distracted；　and　Lorenzo　felt
scarcely　less　inquietude。　　Both　were　convinced　that　the　purposed
elopement　must　have　been　discovered：　　They　doubted　not　but　the
malady　of　Agnes　was　a　pretence；　But　they　knew　not　by　what　means
to　rescue　her　from　the　hands　of　the　Prioress。

Regularly　every　day　did　Lorenzo　visit　the　Convent：　As　regularly
was　He　informed　that　his　Sister　rather　grew　worse　than　better。　
Certain　that　her　indisposition　was　feigned；　these　accounts　did
not　alarm　him：　　But　his　ignorance　of　her　fate；　and　of　the　motives
which　induced　the　Prioress　to　keep　her　from　him；　excited　the　most
serious　uneasiness。　　He　was　still　uncertain　what　steps　He　ought
to　take；　when　the　Marquis　received　a　letter　from　the
Cardinal…Duke　of　Lerma。　　It　inclosed　the　Pope's　expected　Bull；
ordering　that　Agnes　should　be　released　from　her　vows；　and
restored　to　her　Relations。　　This　essential　paper　decided　at　once
the　proceedings　of　her　Friends：　　They　resolved　that　Lorenzo
should　carry　it　to　the　Domina　without　delay；　and　demand　that　his
Sister　should　be　instantly　given　up　to　him。　　Against　this　mandate
illness　could　not　be　pleaded：　　It　gave　her　Brother　the　power　of
removing　her　instantly　to　the　Palace　de　Medina；　and　He　determined
to　use　that　power　on　the　following　day。

His　mind　relieved　from　inquietude　respecting　his　Sister；　and　his
Spirits　raised　by　the　hope　of　soon　restoring　her　to　freedom；　He
now　had　time　to　give　a　few　moments　to　love　and　to　Antonia。　　At
the　same　hour　as　on　his　former　visit　He　repaired　to　Donna
Elvira's：　　She　had　given　orders　for　his　admission。　　As　soon　as　He
was　announced；　her　Daughter　retired　with　Leonella；　and　when　He
entered　the　chamber；　He　found　the　Lady　of　the　House　alone。　　She
received　him　with　less　distance　than　before；　and　desired　him　to
place　himself　near　her　upon　the　Sopha。　　She　then　without　losing
time　opened　her　business；　as　had　been　agreed　between　herself　and
Antonia。

'You　must　not　think　me　ungrateful；　Don　Lorenzo；　or　forgetful　how
essential　are　the　services　which　you　have　rendered　me　with　the
Marquis。　　I　feel　the　weight　of　my　obligations；　Nothing　under　the
Sun　should　induce　my　taking　the　step　to　which　I　am　now　compelled　
but　the　interest　of　my　Child；　of　my　beloved　Antonia。　　My　health
is　declining；　God　only　knows　how　soon　I　may　be　summoned　before
his　Throne。　　My　Daughter　will　be　left　without　Parents；　and　should
She　lose　the　protection　of　the　Cisternas　family；　without　Friends。

She　is　young　and　artless；　uninstructed　in　the　world's　perfidy；
and　with　charms　sufficient　to　render　her　an　object　of　seduction。
Judge　then；　how　I　must　tremble　at　the　prospect　before　her！　
Judge　how　anxious　I　must　be　to　keep　her　from　their　society　who
may　excite　the　yet　dormant　passions　of　her　bosom。　　You　are
amiable；　Don　Lorenzo：　　Antonia　has　a　susceptible；　a　loving　heart；
and　is　grateful　for　the　favours　conferred　upon　us　by　your
interference　with　the　Marquis。　　Your　presence　makes　me　tremble：　
I　fear　lest　it　should　inspire　her　with　sentiments　which　may
embitter　the　remainder　of　her　life；　or　encourage　her　to　cherish
hopes　in　her　situation　unjustifiable　and　futile。　　Pardon　me　when
I　avow　my　terrors；　and　let　my　frankness　plead　in　my　excuse。　　I
cannot　forbid　you　my　House；　for　gratitude　restrains　me；　I　can
only　throw　myself　upon　your　generosity；　and　entreat　you　to　spare
the　feelings　of　an　anxious；　of　a　doting　Mother。　　Believe　me　when
I　assure　you　that　I　lament　the　necessity　of　rejecting　your
acquaintance；　But　there　is　no　remedy；　and　Antonia's　interest
obliges　me　to　beg　you　to　forbear　your　visits。　　By　complying　with
my　request；　you　will　increase　the　esteem　which　I　already　feel　for
you；　and　of　which　everything　convinces　me　that　you　are　truly
deserving。'

'Your　frankness　charms　me；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'You　shall　find　that
in　your　favourable　opinion　of　me　you　were　not　deceived。　　Yet　I
hope　that　the　reasons；　now　in　my　power　to　allege；　will　persuade
you　to　withdraw　a　request　which　I　cannot　obey　without　infinite
reluctance。　　I　love　your　Daughter；　love　her　most　sincerely：　　I
wish　for　no　greater　happiness　than　to　inspire　her　with　the　same
sentiments；　and　receive　her　hand　at　the　Altar　as　her　Husband。　
'Tis　true；　I　am　not　rich　myself；　My　Father's　death　has　left　me
but　little　in　my　own　possession；　But　my　expectations　justify　my
pretending　to　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas'　Daughter。'

He　was　proceeding；　but　Elvira　interrupted　him。

'Ah！　Don　Lorenzo；　you　forget　in　that　pompous　title　the　meanness
of　my　origin。　　You　forget　that　I　have　now　past　fourteen　years　in
Spain；　disavowed　by　my　Husband's　family；　and　existing　upon　a
stipend　barely　sufficient　for　the　support　and　education　of　my
Daughter。　　Nay；　I　have　even　been　neglected　by　most　of　my　own
Relations；　who　out　of　envy　affect　to　doubt　the　reality　of　my
marriage。　　My　allowance　being　discontinued　at　my　Father…in…law's
death；　I　was　reduced　to　the　very　brink　of　want。　　In　this
situation　I　was　found　by　my　Sister；　who　amongst　all　her　foibles
possesses　a　warm；　generous；　and　affectionate　heart。　　She　aided　me
with　the　little　fortune　which　my　Father　left　her；　persuaded　me　to
visit　Madrid；　and　has　supported　my　Child　and　myself　since　our
quitting　Murcia。　　Then　consider　not　Antonia　as　descended　from　the
Conde　de　la　Cisternas：　　Consider　her　as　a　poor　and　unprotected
Orphan；　as　the　Grand…child　of　the　Tradesman　Torribio　Dalfa；　as
the　needy　Pensioner　of　that　Tradesman's　Daughter。　　Reflect　upon
the　difference　between　such　a　situation；　and　that　of　the　Nephew
and　Heir　of　the　potent　Duke　of　Medina。　　I　believe　your　intentions
to　be　honourable；　But　as　there　are　no　hopes　that　your　Uncle　will
approve　of　the　union；　I　foresee　that　the　consequences　of　your
attachment　must　be　fatal　to　my　Child's　repose。'

'Pardon　me；　Segnora；　You　are　misinformed　if　you　suppose　the　Duke
of　Medina　to　resemble　the　generality　of　Men。　　His　sentiments　are
liberal　and　disinterested：　　He　loves　me　well；　and　I　have　no
reason　to　dread　his　forbidding　the　marriage　when　He　perceives
that　my　happiness　depends　upon　Antonia。　　But　supposing　him　to
refuse　his　sanction；　what　have　I　still　to　fear？　　My　Parents　are
no　more；　My　little　fortune　is　in　my　own　possession：　It　will　be
sufficient　to　support　Antonia；　and　I　shall　exchange　for　her　hand
Medina's　Dukedom　without　one　sigh　of　regret。'

'You　are　young　and　eager；　It　is　natural　for　you　to　entertain　such
ideas。　　But　Experience　has　taught　me　to　my　cost　that　curses
accompany　an　unequal　alliance。　　I　married　the　Conde　de　las
Cisternas　in　opposition　to　the　will　of　his　Relations；　Many　an
heart…pang　has　punished　me　for　the　imprudent　step。　　Whereever　we
bent　our　course；　a　Father's　execration　pursued　Gonzalvo。　　Poverty
overtook　us；　and　no　Friend　was　near　to　relieve　our　wants。　　Still
our　mutual　affection　existed；　but　alas！　not　without　interruption。

Accustomed　to　wealth　and　ease；　ill　could　my　Husband　support　the
transition　to　distress　and　indigence。　　He　looked　back　with
repining　to　the　comforts　which　He　once　enjoyed。　　He　regretted　the
situation　which　for　my　sake　He　had　quitted；　and　in　moments　when
Despair　possessed　his　mind；　has　reproached　me　with　having　made
him　the　Companion　of　want　and　wretchedness！　　He　has　called　me　his
bane！　　The　source　of　his　sorrows；　the　cause　of　his　destruction！　
Ah　God！　He　little　knew　how　much　keener　were　my　own　heart's
reproaches！　　He　was　ignorant　that　I　suffered　trebly；　for　myself；
for　my　Children；　and　for　him！　　'Tis　true　that　his　anger　seldom
lasted　long：　　His　sincere　affection　for　me　soon　revived　in　his
heart；　and　then　his　repentance　for　the　tears　which　He　had　made　me
shed　tortured　me　even　more　than　his　reproaches。　　He　would　throw
himself　on　the　ground；　implore　my　forgiveness　in　the　most　frantic
terms；　and　load　himself　with　curses　for　being　the　Murderer　of　my
repose。　　Taught　by　experience　that　an　union　contracted　against
the　inclinations　of　families　on　either　side　must　be　unfortunate；
I　will　save　my　Daughter　from　those　miseries　which　I　have
suffered。　Without　your　Uncle's　consent；　while　I　live；　She　never
shall　be　yours。　　Undoubtedly　He　will　disapprove　of　the　union；　His
power　is　immense；　and　Antonia　shall　not　be　exposed　to　his　anger
and　persecution。'

'His　persecution？　　How　easily　may　that　be　avoided！　Let　the　worst
happen；　it　is　but　quitting　Spain。　　My　wealth　may　easily　be
realised；　The　Indian　Islands　will　offer　us　a　secure　retreat；　I
have　an　estate；　though　not　of　value；　in　Hispaniola：　　Thither　will
we　fly；　and　I　shall　consider　it　to　be　my　native　Country；　if　it
gives　me　Antonia's　undisturbed　possession。'

'Ah！　Youth；　this　is　a　fond　romantic　vision。　　Gonzalvo　thought　the
same。　　He　fancied　that　He　could　leave　Spain　without　regret；　But
the　moment　of　parting　undeceived　him。　　You　know　not　yet　what　it
is　to　quit　your　native　land；　to　quit　it；　never　to　behold　it　more！

You　know　not；　what　it　is　to　exchange　the　scenes　where　you　have
passed　your　infancy；　for　unknown　realms　and　barbarous　climates！　
To　be　forgotten；　utterly　eternally　forgotten；　by　the　Companions
of　your　Youth！　　To　see　your　dearest　Friends；　the　fondest　objects
of　your　affection；　perishing　with　diseases　incidental　to　Indian
atmospheres；　and　find　yourself　unable　to　procure　for　them
necessary　assistance！　　I　have　felt　all　this！　　My　Husband　and　two
sweet　Babes　found　their　Graves　in　Cuba：　　Nothing　would　have　saved
my　young　Antonia　but　my　sudden　return　to　Spain。　　Ah！　Don　Lorenzo；
could　you　conceive　what　I　suffered　during　my　absence！　　Could　you
know　how　sorely　I　regretted　all　that　I　left　behind；　and　how　dear
to　me　was　the　very　name　of　Spain！　　I　envied　the　winds　which　blew
towards　it：　　And　when　the　Spanish　Sailor　chaunted　some　well…known
air　as