the monk(僧侣)-第37章

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that　People　of　whom　He　was　then　the　Idol。　　Conscience　painted　to
him　in　glaring　colours　his　perjury　and　weakness；　Apprehension
magnified　to　him　the　horrors　of　punishment；　and　He　already
fancied　himself　in　the　prisons　of　the　Inquisition。　　To　these
tormenting　ideas　succeeded　Matilda's　beauty；　and　those　delicious
lessons　which；　once　learnt；　can　never　be　forgotten。　　A　single
glance　thrown　upon　these　reconciled　him　with　himself。　　He
considered　the　pleasures　of　the　former　night　to　have　been
purchased　at　an　easy　price　by　the　sacrifice　of　innocence　and
honour。　　Their　very　remembrance　filled　his　soul　with　ecstacy；　He
cursed　his　foolish　vanity；　which　had　induced　him　to　waste　in
obscurity　the　bloom　of　life；　ignorant　of　the　blessings　of　Love
and　Woman。　　He　determined　at　all　events　to　continue　his　commerce
with　Matilda；　and　called　every　argument　to　his　aid　which　might
confirm　his　resolution。　He　asked　himself；　provided　his
irregularity　was　unknown；　in　what　would　his　fault　consist；　and
what　consequences　He　had　to　apprehend？　　By　adhering　strictly　to
every　rule　of　his　order　save　Chastity；　He　doubted　not　to　retain
the　esteem　of　Men；　and　even　the　protection　of　heaven。　　He　trusted
easily　to　be　forgiven　so　slight　and　natural　a　deviation　from　his
vows：　　But　He　forgot　that　having　pronounced　those　vows；
Incontinence；　in　Laymen　the　most　venial　of　errors；　became　in　his
person　the　most　heinous　of　crimes。

Once　decided　upon　his　future　conduct；　his　mind　became　more　easy。　
He　threw　himself　upon　his　bed；　and　strove　by　sleeping　to　recruit
his　strength　exhausted　by　his　nocturnal　excesses。　　He　awoke
refreshed；　and　eager　for　a　repetition　of　his　pleasures。　　Obedient
to　Matilda's　order；　He　visited　not　her　Cell　during　the　day。　
Father　Pablos　mentioned　in　the　Refectory　that　Rosario　had　at
length　been　prevailed　upon　to　follow　his　prescription；　But　that
the　medicine　had　not　produced　the　slightest　effect；　and　that　He
believed　no　mortal　skill　could　rescue　him　from　the　Grave。　　With
this　opinion　the　Abbot　agreed；　and　affected　to　lament　the
untimely　fate　of　a　Youth；　whose　talents　had　appeared　so
promising。

The　night　arrived。　　Ambrosio　had　taken　care　to　procure　from　the
Porter　the　Key　of　the　low　door　opening　into　the　Cemetery。　
Furnished　with　this；　when　all　was　silent　in　the　Monastery；　He
quitted　his　Cell；　and　hastened　to　Matilda's。　　She　had　left　her
bed；　and　was　drest　before　his　arrival。

'I　have　been　expecting　you　with　impatience；'　said　She；　'My　life
depends　upon　these　moments。　　Have　you　the　Key？'

'I　have。'

'Away　then　to　the　garden。　　We　have　no　time　to　lose。　Follow　me！'

She　took　a　small　covered　Basket　from　the　Table。　Bearing　this　in
one　hand；　and　the　Lamp；　which　was　flaming　upon　the　Hearth；　in　the
other；　She　hastened　from　the　Cell。　　Ambrosio　followed　her。　　Both
maintained　a　profound　silence。　　She　moved　on　with　quick　but
cautious　steps；　passed　through　the　Cloisters；　and　reached　the
Western　side　of　the　Garden。　　Her　eyes　flashed　with　a　fire　and
wildness　which　impressed　the　Monk　at　once　with　awe　and　horror。　
A　determined　desperate　courage　reigned　upon　her　brow。　　She　gave
the　Lamp　to　Ambrosio；　Then　taking　from　him　the　Key；　She　unlocked
the　low　Door；　and　entered　the　Cemetery。　　It　was　a　vast　and
spacious　Square　planted　with　yew　trees：　　Half　of　it　belonged　to
the　Abbey；　The　other　half　was　the　property　of　the　Sisterhood　of
St。　Clare；　and　was　protected　by　a　roof　of　Stone。　　The　Division
was　marked　by　an　iron　railing；　the　wicket　of　which　was　generally
left　unlocked。

Thither　Matilda　bent　her　course。　　She　opened　the　wicket　and
sought　for　the　door　leading　to　the　subterraneous　Vaults；　where
reposed　the　mouldering　Bodies　of　the　Votaries　of　St。　Clare。　　The
night　was　perfectly　dark；　Neither　Moon　or　Stars　were　visible。　
Luckily　there　was　not　a　breath　of　Wind；　and　the　Friar　bore　his
Lamp　in　full　security：　　By　the　assistance　of　its　beams；　the　door
of　the　Sepulchre　was　soon　discovered。　　It　was　sunk　within　the
hollow　of　a　wall；　and　almost　concealed　by　thick　festoons　of　ivy
hanging　over　it。　　Three　steps　of　rough…hewn　Stone　conducted　to
it；　and　Matilda　was　on　the　point　of　descending　them　when　She
suddenly　started　back。

'There　are　People　in　the　Vaults！'　She　whispered　to　the　Monk；
'Conceal　yourself　till　they　are　past。

She　took　refuge　behind　a　lofty　and　magnificent　Tomb；　erected　in
honour　of　the　Convent's　Foundress。　　Ambrosio　followed　her
example；　carefully　hiding　his　Lamp　lest　its　beams　should　betray
them。　　But　a　few　moments　had　elapsed　when　the　Door　was　pushed
open　leading　to　the　subterraneous　Caverns。　　Rays　of　light
proceeded　up　the　Staircase：　　They　enabled　the　concealed
Spectators　to　observe　two　Females　drest　in　religious　habits；　who
seemed　engaged　in　earnest　conversation。　　The　Abbot　had　no
difficulty　to　recognize　the　Prioress　of　St。　Clare　in　the　first；
and　one　of　the　elder　Nuns　in　her　Companion。

'Every　thing　is　prepared；'　said　the　Prioress；　'Her　fate　shall　be
decided　tomorrow。　　All　her　tears　and　sighs　will　be　unavailing。　
No！　　In　five　and　twenty　years　that　I　have　been　Superior　of　this
Convent；　never　did　I　witness　a　transaction　more　infamous！'

'You　must　expect　much　opposition　to　your　will；'　the　Other　replied
in　a　milder　voice；　'Agnes　has　many　Friends　in　the　Convent；　and　in
particular　the　Mother　St。　Ursula　will　espouse　her　cause　most
warmly。　　In　truth；　She　merits　to　have　Friends；　and　I　wish　I
could　prevail　upon　you　to　consider　her　youth；　and　her　peculiar
situation。　　She　seems　sensible　of　her　fault；　The　excess　of　her
grief　proves　her　penitence；　and　I　am　convinced　that　her　tears
flow　more　from　contrition　than　fear　of　punishment。　　Reverend
Mother；　would　you　be　persuaded　to　mitigate　the　severity　of　your
sentence；　would　you　but　deign　to　overlook　this　first
transgression；　I　offer　myself　as　the　pledge　of　her　future
conduct。'

'Overlook　it；　say　you？　　Mother　Camilla；　you　amaze　me！　　What？　
After　disgracing　me　in　the　presence　of　Madrid's　Idol；　of　the　very
Man　on　whom　I　most　wished　to　impress　an　idea　of　the　strictness　of
my　discipline？　　How　despicable　must　I　have　appeared　to　the
reverend　Abbot！　　No；　Mother；　No！　I　never　can　forgive　the　insult。
I　cannot　better　convince　Ambrosio　that　I　abhor　such　crimes；　than
by　punishing　that　of　Agnes　with　all　the　rigour　of　which　our
severe　laws　admit。　　Cease　then　your　supplications；　They　will　all
be　unavailing。　　My　resolution　is　taken：　　Tomorrow　Agnes　shall　be
made　a　terrible　example　of　my　justice　and　resentment。'

The　Mother　Camilla　seemed　not　to　give　up　the　point；　but　by　this
time　the　Nuns　were　out　of　hearing。　　The　Prioress　unlocked　the
door　which　communicated　with　St。　Clare's　Chapel；　and　having
entered　with　her　Companion；　closed　it　again　after　them。

Matilda　now　asked；　who　was　this　Agnes　with　whom　the　Prioress　was
thus　incensed；　and　what　connexion　She　could　have　with　Ambrosio。　
He　related　her　adventure；　and　He　added；　that　since　that　time　his
ideas　having　undergone　a　thorough　revolution；　He　now　felt　much
compassion　for　the　unfortunate　Nun。

'I　design；'　said　He；　'to　request　an　audience　of　the　Domina
tomorrow；　and　use　every　means　of　obtaining　a　mitigation　of　her
sentence。'

'Beware　of　what　you　do！'　interrupted　Matilda；　'Your　sudden　change
of　sentiment　may　naturally　create　surprize；　and　may　give　birth　to
suspicions　which　it　is　most　our　interest　to　avoid。　　Rather；
redouble　your　outward　austerity；　and　thunder　out　menaces　against
the　errors　of　others；　the　better　to　conceal　your　own。　　Abandon
the　Nun　to　her　fate。　　Your　interfering　might　be　dangerous；　and
her　imprudence　merits　to　be　punished：　　She　is　unworthy　to　enjoy
Love's　pleasures；　who　has　not　wit　enough　to　conceal　them。　　But　in
discussing　this　trifling　subject　I　waste　moments　which　are
precious。　　The　night　flies　apace；　and　much　must　be　done　before
morning。　　The　Nuns　are　retired；　All　is　safe。　　Give　me　the　Lamp；
Ambrosio。　I　must　descend　alone　into　these　Caverns：　　Wait　here；
and　if　any　one　approaches；　warn　me　by　your　voice；　But　as　you
value　your　existence；　presume　not　to　follow　me。　　Your　life　would
fall　a　victim　to　your　imprudent　curiosity。'

Thus　saying　She　advanced　towards　the　Sepulchre；　still　holding　her
Lamp　in　one　hand；　and　her　little　Basket　in　the　other。　　She
touched　the　door：　　It　turned　slowly　upon　its　grating　hinges；　and
a　narrow　winding　staircase　of　black　marble　presented　itself　to
her　eyes。　　She　descended　it。　　Ambrosio　remained　above；　watching
the　faint　beams　of　the　Lamp　as　they　still　proceeded　up　the
stairs。　　They　disappeared；　and　He　found　himself　in　total
darkness。

Left　to　himself　He　could　not　reflect　without　surprize　on　the
sudden　change　in　Matilda's　character　and　sentiments。　　But　a　few
days　had　past　since　She　appeared　the　mildest　and　softest　of　her
sex；　devoted　to　his　will；　and　looking　up　to　him　as　to　a　superior
Being。　　Now　She　assumed　a　sort　of　courage　and　manliness　in　her
manners　and　discourse　but　ill…calculated　to　please　him。　　She
spoke　no　longer　to　insinuate；　but　command：　　He　found　himself
unable　to　cope　with　her　in　argument；　and　was　unwillingly
obliged　to　confess　the　superiority　of　her　judgment。　　Every　moment
convinced　him　of　the　astonishing　powers　of　her　mind：　　But　what
She　gained　in　the　opinion　of　the　Man；　She　lost　with　interest　in
the　affection　of　the　Lover。　　He　regretted　Rosario；　the　fond；　the
gentle；　and　submissive：　　He　grieved　that　Matilda　preferred　the
virtues　of　his　sex　to　those　of　her　own；　and　when　He　thought　of
her　expressions　respecting　the　devoted　Nun；　He　could　not　help
blaming　them　as　cruel　and　unfeminine。　　Pity　is　a　sentiment　so
natural；　so　appropriate　to　the　female　character；　that　it　is
scarcely　a　merit　for　a　Woman　to　possess　it；　but　to　be　without　it
is　a　grievous　crime。　　Ambrosio　could　not　easily　forgive　his
Mistress　for　being　deficient　in　this　amiable　quality。　　However；
though　he　blamed　her　insensibility；　He　felt　the　truth　of　her
observations；　and　though　He　pitied　sincerely　the　unfortunate
Agnes；　He　resolved　to　drop　the　idea　of　interposing　in　her　behalf。

Near　an　hour　had　elapsed；　since　Matilda　descended　into　the
Caverns；　Still　She　returned　not。　　Ambrosio's　curiosity　was
excited。　　He　drew　near　the　Staircase。　　He　listened。　　All　was
silent；　except　that　at　intervals　He　caught　the　sound　of　Matilda's
voice；　as　it　wound　along　the　subteraneous　passages；　and　was
re…echoed　by　the　Sepulchre's　vaulted　roofs。　　She　was　at　too　great
a　distance　for　him　to　distinguish　her　words；　and　ere　they　reached
him　they　were　deadened　into　a　low　murmur。　　He　longed　to　penetrate
into　this　mystery。　　He　resolved　to　disobey　her　injunctions　and
follow　her　into　the　Cavern。　　He　advanced　to　the　Staircase；　He
had　already　descended　some　steps　when　his　courage　failed　him。　
He　remembered　Matilda's　menaces　if　He　infringed　her　orders；　and
his　bosom　was　filled　with　a　secret　unaccountable　awe。　　He
returned　up　the　stairs；　resumed　his　former　station；　and　waited
impatiently　for　the　conclusion　of　this　adventure。

Suddenly　He　was　sensible　of　a　violent　shock：　　An　earthquake
rocked　the　ground。　　The　Columns　which　supported　the　roof　under
which　He　stood　were　so　strongly　shaken；　that　every　moment
menaced　him　with　its　fall；　and　at　the　same　moment　He　heard　a　loud
and　tremendous　burst　of　thunder。　　It　ceased；　and　his　eyes　being
fixed　upon　the　Staircase；　He　saw