the monk(僧侣)-第46章

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attempts。　　Still　He　would　not　credit　that　the　succeeding　ones
would　have　the　same　fate；　but　flattered　himself　that　the　next
would　prove　more　fortunate。

Theodore　was　the　only　one　who　exerted　himself　to　realize　his
Master's　Chimoeras。　　He　was　eternally　busied　in　planning　schemes
for　entering　the　Convent；　or　at　least　of　obtaining　from　the　Nuns
some　intelligence　of　Agnes。　　To　execute　these　schemes　was　the
only　inducement　which　could　prevail　on　him　to　quit　Don　Raymond。　
He　became　a　very　Proteus；　changing　his　shape　every　day；　but　all
his　metamorphoses　were　to　very　little　purpose：　He　regularly
returned　to　the　Palace　de　las　Cisternas　without　any　intelligence
to　confirm　his　Master's　hopes。　　One　day　He　took　it　into　his　head
to　disguise　himself　as　a　Beggar。　　He　put　a　patch　over　his　left
eye；　took　his　Guitar　in　hand；　and　posted　himself　at　the　Gate　of
the　Convent。

'If　Agnes　is　really　confined　in　the　Convent；'　thought　He；　'and
hears　my　voice；　She　will　recollect　it；　and　possibly　may　find
means　to　let　me　know　that　She　is　here。'

With　this　idea　He　mingled　with　a　crowd　of　Beggars　who　assembled
daily　at　the　Gate　of　St。　Clare　to　receive　Soup；　which　the　Nuns
were　accustomed　to　distribute　at　twelve　o'clock。　　All　were
provided　with　jugs　or　bowls　to　carry　it　away；　But　as　Theodore　had
no　utensil　of　this　kind；　He　begged　leave　to　eat　his　portion　at
the　Convent　door。　　This　was　granted　without　difficulty：　　His
sweet　voice；　and　in　spite　of　his　patched　eye；　his　engaging
countenance；　won　the　heart　of　the　good　old　Porteress；　who；　aided
by　a　Lay…Sister；　was　busied　in　serving　to　each　his　Mess。　
Theodore　was　bad　to　stay　till　the　Others　should　depart；　and
promised　that　his　request　should　then　be　granted。　　The　Youth
desired　no　better；　since　it　was　not　to　eat　Soup　that　He　presented
himself　at　the　Convent。　　He　thanked　the　Porteress　for　her
permission；　retired　from　the　Door；　and　seating　himself　upon　a
large　stone；　amused　himself　in　tuning　his　Guitar　while　the
Beggars　were　served。

As　soon　as　the　Crowd　was　gone；　Theodore　was　beckoned　to　the　Gate；
and　desired　to　come　in。　　He　obeyed　with　infinite　readiness；　but
affected　great　respect　at　passing　the　hallowed　Threshold；　and　to
be　much　daunted　by　the　presence　of　the　Reverend　Ladies。　　His
feigned　timidity　flattered　the　vanity　of　the　Nuns；　who
endeavoured　to　reassure　him。　　The　Porteress　took　him　into　her
awn　little　Parlour：　　In　the　meanwhile；　the　Lay…Sister　went　to
the　Kitchen；　and　soon　returned　with　a　double　portion　of　Soup；　of
better　quality　than　what　was　given　to　the　Beggars。　　His　Hostess
added　some　fruits　and　confections　from　her　own　private　store；　and
Both　encouraged　the　Youth　to　dine　heartily。　　To　all　these
attentions　He　replied　with　much　seeming　gratitude；　and　abundance
of　blessings　upon　his　benefactresses。　　While　He　ate；　the　Nuns
admired　the　delicacy　of　his　features；　the　beauty　of　his　hair；　and
the　sweetness　and　grace　which　accompanied　all　his　actions。　　They
lamented　to　each　other　in　whispers；　that　so　charming　a　Youth
should　be　exposed　to　the　seductions　of　the　World；　and　agreed；
that　He　would　be　a　worthy　Pillar　of　the　Catholic　Church。　　They
concluded　their　conference　by　resolving　that　Heaven　would　be
rendered　a　real　service　if　they　entreated　the　Prioress　to
intercede　with　Ambrosio　for　the　Beggar's　admission　into　the　order
of　Capuchins。

This　being　determined；　the　Porteress；　who　was　a　person　of　great
influence　in　the　Convent；　posted　away　in　all　haste　to　the
Domina's　Cell。　　Here　She　made　so　flaming　a　narrative　of
Theodore's　merits　that　the　old　Lady　grew　curious　to　see　him。　
Accordingly；　the　Porteress　was　commissioned　to　convey　him　to　the
Parlour　grate。　　In　the　interim；　the　supposed　Beggar　was　sifting
the　Lay…Sister　with　respect　to　the　fate　of　Agnes：　　Her　evidence
only　corroborated　the　Domina's　assertions。　　She　said　that　Agnes
had　been　taken　ill　on　returning　from　confession；　had　never
quitted　her　bed　from　that　moment；　and　that　She　had　herself　been
present　at　the　Funeral。　　She　even　attested　having　seen　her　dead
body；　and　assisted　with　her　own　hands　in　adjusting　it　upon　the
Bier。　　This　account　discouraged　Theodore：　　Yet　as　He　had　pushed
the　adventure　so　far；　He　resolved　to　witness　its　conclusion。

The　Porteress　now　returned；　and　ordered　him　to　follow　her。　　He
obeyed；　and　was　conducted　into　the　Parlour；　where　the　Lady
Prioress　was　already　posted　at　the　Grate。　　The　Nuns　surrounded
her；　who　all　flocked　with　eagerness　to　a　scene　which　promised
some　diversion。　　Theodore　saluted　them　with　profound　respect；　and
his　presence　had　the　power　to　smooth　for　a　moment　even　the　stern
brow　of　the　Superior。　　She　asked　several　questions　respecting　his
Parents；　his　religion；　and　what　had　reduced　him　to　a　state　of
Beggary。　　To　these　demands　his　answers　were　perfectly
satisfactory　and　perfectly　false。　He　was　then　asked　his　opinion
of　a　monastic　life：　　He　replied　in　terms　of　high　estimation　and
respect　for　it。　　Upon　this；　the　Prioress　told　him　that　his
obtaining　an　entrance　into　a　religious　order　was　not　impossible；
that　her　recommendation　would　not　permit　his　poverty　to　be　an
obstacle；　and　that　if　She　found　him　deserving　it；　He　might　depend
in　future　upon　her　protection。　　Theodore　assured　her　that　to
merit　her　favour　would　be　his　highest　ambition；　and　having
ordered　him　to　return　next　day；　when　She　would　talk　with　him
further；　the　Domina　quitted　the　Parlour。

The　Nuns；　whom　respect　for　the　Superior　had　till　then　kept
silent；　now　crowded　all　together　to　the　Grate；　and　assailed　the
Youth　with　a　multitude　of　questions。　　He　had　already　examined
each　with　attention：　　Alas！　Agnes　was　not　amongst　them。　　The　Nuns
heaped　question　upon　question　so　thickly　that　it　was　scarcely
possible　for　him　to　reply。　　One　asked　where　He　was　born；　since
his　accent　declared　him　to　be　a　Foreigner：　　Another　wanted　to
know；　why　He　wore　a　patch　upon　his　left　eye：　　Sister　Helena
enquired　whether　He　had　not　a　Sister　like　him；　because　She　should
like　such　a　Companion；　and　Sister　Rachael　was　fully　persuaded
that　the　Brother　would　be　the　pleasanter　Companion　of　the　Two。　
Theodore　amused　himself　with　retailing　to　the　credulous　Nuns　for
truths　all　the　strange　stories　which　his　imagination　could
invent。　　He　related　to　them　his　supposed　adventures；　and
penetrated　every　Auditor　with　astonishment；　while　He　talked　of
Giants；　Savages；　Ship…wrecks；　and　Islands　inhabited

　　　　　　'By　Anthropophagi；　and　Men　whose　heads　　　　　　　
　　　　　　Do　grow　beneath　their　shoulders；'　

With　many　other　circumstances　to　the　full　as　remarkable。　He　said；
that　He　was　born　in　Terra　Incognita；　was　educated　at　an　Hottentot
University；　and　had　past　two　years　among　the　Americans　of
Silesia。

'For　what　regards　the　loss　of　my　eye'　said　He；　'it　was　a　just
punishment　upon　me　for　disrespect　to　the　Virgin；　when　I　made　my
second　pilgrimage　to　Loretto。　　I　stood　near　the　Altar　in　the
miraculous　Chapel：　　The　Monks　were　proceeding　to　array　the　Statue
in　her　best　apparel。　　The　Pilgrims　were　ordered　to　close　their
eyes　during　this　ceremony：　　But　though　by　nature　extremely
religious；　curiosity　was　too　powerful。　　At　the　moment　。　。　。　。　。　I
shall　penetrate　you　with　horror；　reverend　Ladies；　when　I　reveal
my　crime！　。　。　。　。　　At　the　moment　that　the　Monks　were　changing　her
shift；　I　ventured　to　open　my　left　eye；　and　gave　a　little　peep
towards　the　Statue。　　That　look　was　my　last！　　The　Glory　which
surrounded　the　Virgin　was　too　great　to　be　supported。　　I　hastily
shut　my　sacrilegious　eye；　and　never　have　been　able　to　unclose　it
since！'

At　the　relation　of　this　miracle　the　Nuns　all　crossed　themselves；
and　promised　to　intercede　with　the　blessed　Virgin　for　the
recovery　of　his　sight。　　They　expressed　their　wonder　at　the　extent
of　his　travels；　and　at　the　strange　adventures　which　He　had　met
with　at　so　early　an　age。　　They　now　remarked　his　Guitar；　and
enquired　whether　he　was　an　adept　in　Music。　　He　replied　with
modesty　that　it　was　not　for　him　to　decide　upon　his　talents；　but
requested　permission　to　appeal　to　them　as　Judges。　　This　was
granted　without　difficulty。

'But　at　least；'　said　the　old　Porteress；　'take　care　not　to　sing
any　thing　profane。'

'You　may　depend　upon　my　discretion；'　replied　Theodore：　'You　shall
hear　how　dangerous　it　is　for　young　Women　to　abandon　themselves
to　their　passions；　illustrated　by　the　adventure　of　a　Damsel　who
fell　suddenly　in　love　with　an　unknown　Knight。'

'But　is　the　adventure　true？'　enquired　the　Porteress。

'Every　word　of　it。　　It　happened　in　Denmark；　and　the　Heroine　was
thought　so　beautiful　that　She　was　known　by　no　other　name　but
that　of　''the　lovely　Maid''。'

'In　Denmark；　say　you？'　mumbled　an　old　Nun；　'Are　not　the　People
all　Blacks　in　Denmark？'

'By　no　means；　reverend　Lady；　They　are　of　a　delicate　pea…green
with　flame…coloured　hair　and　whiskers。'

'Mother　of　God！　　Pea…green？'　exclaimed　Sister　Helena；　'Oh！　'tis
impossible！'

'Impossible？'　said　the　Porteress　with　a　look　of　contempt　and
exultation：　　'Not　at　all：　　When　I　was　a　young　Woman；　I　remember
seeing　several　of　them　myself。'

Theodore　now　put　his　instrument　in　proper　order。　　He　had　read　the
story　of　a　King　of　England　whose　prison　was　discovered　by　a
Minstrel；　and　He　hoped　that　the　same　scheme　would　enable　him　to
discover　Agnes；　should　She　be　in　the　Convent。　　He　chose　a　Ballad
which　She　had　taught　him　herself　in　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg：　She
might　possibly　catch　the　sound；　and　He　hoped　to　hear　her　replying
to　some　of　the　Stanzas。　　His　Guitar　was　now　in　tune；　and　He
prepared　to　strike　it。

'But　before　I　begin；'　said　He　'it　is　necessary　to　inform　you；
Ladies；　that　this　same　Denmark　is　terribly　infested　by　Sorcerers；
Witches；　and　Evil　Spirits。　　Every　element　possesses　its
appropriate　Daemons。　　The　Woods　are　haunted　by　a　malignant　power；
called　''the　Erl…　or　Oak…King：''　　He　it　is　who　blights　the　Trees；
spoils　the　Harvest；　and　commands　the　Imps　and　Goblins：　　He
appears　in　the　form　of　an　old　Man　of　majestic　figure；　with　a
golden　Crown　and　long　white　beard：　　His　principal　amusement　is　to
entice　young　Children　from　their　Parents；　and　as　soon　as　He　gets
them　into　his　Cave；　He　tears　them　into　a　thousand　piecesThe
Rivers　are　governed　by　another　Fiend；　called　''the　Water…King：''　
His　province　is　to　agitate　the　deep；　occasion　ship…wrecks；　and
drag　the　drowning　Sailors　beneath　the　waves：　　He　wears　the
appearance　of　a　Warrior；　and　employs　himself　in　luring　young
Virgins　into　his　snare：　　What　He　does　with　them；　when　He　catches
them　in　the　water；　Reverend　Ladies；　I　leave　for　you　to
imagine''The　Fire…King''　seems　to　be　a　Man　all　formed　of
flames：　　He　raises　the　Meteors　and　wandering　lights　which
beguile　Travellers　into　ponds　and　marshes；　and　He　directs　the
lightning　where　it　may　do　most　mischiefThe　last　of　these
elementary　Daemons　is　called　''the　Cloud…King；''　His　figure　is
that　of　a　beautiful　Youth；　and　He　is　distinguished　by　two　large
sable　Wings：　　Though　his　outside　is　so　enchanting；　He　is　not　a
bit　better　disposed　than　the　Others：　　He　is　continually　employed
in　raising　Storms；　tearing　up　Forests　by　the　roots；　and　blowing
Castles　and　Convents　about　the　ears　of　their　Inhabitants。　　The
First　has　a　Daughter；　who　is　Queen　of　the　Elves　and　Fairies；　The
Second　has　a　Mother；　who　is　a　powerful　Enchantress：　Neither　of