the monk(僧侣)-第47章

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First　has　a　Daughter；　who　is　Queen　of　the　Elves　and　Fairies；　The
Second　has　a　Mother；　who　is　a　powerful　Enchantress：　Neither　of
these　Ladies　are　worth　more　than　the　Gentlemen：　　I　do　not
remember　to　have　heard　any　family　assigned　to　the　two　other
Daemons；　but　at　present　I　have　no　business　with　any　of　them
except　the　Fiend　of　the　Waters。　　He　is　the　Hero　of　my　Ballad；　but
I　thought　it　necessary　before　I　began；　to　give　you　some　account
of　his　proceedings'

Theodore　then　played　a　short　symphony；　After　which；　stretching
his　voice　to　its　utmost　extent　to　facilitate　its　reaching　the　ear
of　Agnes；　He　sang　the　following　Stanzas。

THE　WATER…KING

A　DANISH　BALLAD

With　gentle　murmur　flowed　the　Tide；　　
While　by　the　fragrant　flowery　side　　
The　lovely　Maid　with　carols　gay　　
To　Mary's　Church　pursued　her　way。

The　Water…Fiend's　malignant　eye　　
Along　the　Banks　beheld　her　hie；　
Straight　to　his　Mother…witch　He　sped；　
And　thus　in　suppliant　accents　said：

'Oh！　Mother！　Mother！　now　advise；　　
How　I　may　yonder　Maid　surprize：　　
Oh！　　Mother！　　Mother！　　Now　explain；　　
How　I　may　yonder　Maid　obtain。'

The　Witch　She　gave　him　armour　white；　　
She　formed　him　like　a　gallant　Knight；　　
Of　water　clear　next　made　her　hand　　
A　Steed；　whose　housings　were　of　sand。

The　Water…King　then　swift　He　went；　　
To　Mary's　Church　his　steps　He　bent：　　
He　bound　his　Courser　to　the　Door；　　
And　paced　the　Church…yard　three　times　four。

His　Courser　to　the　door　bound　He；　　
And　paced　the　Church…yard　four　time　three：　　
Then　hastened　up　the　Aisle；　where　all　　
The　People　flocked；　both　great　and　small。

The　Priest　said；　as　the　Knight　drew　near；　　
'And　wherefore　comes　the　white　Chief　here？'　　
The　lovely　Maid　She　smiled　aside；　　
'Oh！　would　I　were　the　white　Chief's　Bride！'

He　stept　o'er　Benches　one　and　two；　　
'Oh！　lovely　Maid；　I　die　for　You！'　　
He　stept　o'er　Benches　two　and　three；　　
'Oh！　lovely　Maiden；　go　with　me！'

Then　sweet　She　smiled；　the　lovely　Maid；　　
And　while　She　gave　her　hand；　She　said；　　
'Betide　me　joy；　betide　me　woe；　　
O'er　Hill；　o'er　dale；　with　thee　I　go。'

The　Priest　their　hands　together　joins：　　
They　dance；　while　clear　the　moon…beam　shines；　　
And　little　thinks　the　Maiden　bright；　　
Her　Partner　is　the　Water…spright。

Oh！　had　some　spirit　deigned　to　sing；　　
'Your　Partner　is　the　Water…King！'　　
The　Maid　had　fear　and　hate　confest；　　
And　cursed　the　hand　which　then　She　prest。

But　nothing　giving　cause　to　think；　　
How　near　She　strayed　to　danger's　brink；　　
Still　on　She　went；　and　hand　in　hand　　
The　Lovers　reached　the　yellow　sand。

'Ascend　this　Steed　with　me；　my　Dear；　　
We　needs　must　cross　the　streamlet　here；　　
Ride　boldly　in；　It　is　not　deep；　　
The　winds　are　hushed；　the　billows　sleep。'

Thus　spoke　the　Water…King。　　The　Maid　　
Her　Traitor…Bride…groom's　wish　obeyed：　　
And　soon　She　saw　the　Courser　lave　　
Delighted　in　his　parent　wave。

'Stop！　　Stop！　my　Love！　　The　waters　blue　　
E'en　now　my　shrinking　foot　bedew！'　　
'Oh！　lay　aside　your　fears；　sweet　Heart！　　
We　now　have　reached　the　deepest　part。'

'Stop！　Stop！　my　Love！　　For　now　I　see　　
The　waters　rise　above　my　knee。'　　
'Oh！　lay　aside　your　fears；　sweet　Heart！　　
We　now　have　reached　the　deepest　part。'

'Stop！　Stop！　for　God's　sake；　stop！　For　Oh！　　
The　waters　o'er　my　bosom　flow！'　　
Scarce　was　the　word　pronounced；　when　Knight　　
And　Courser　vanished　from　her　sight。

She　shrieks；　but　shrieks　in　vain；　for　high　　
The　wild　winds　rising　dull　the　cry；　　
The　Fiend　exults；　The　Billows　dash；　　
And　o'er　their　hapless　Victim　wash。

Three　times　while　struggling　with　the　stream；　　
The　lovely　Maid　was　heard　to　scream；　　
But　when　the　Tempest's　rage　was　o'er；　　
The　lovely　Maid　was　seen　no　more。

Warned　by　this　Tale；　ye　Damsels　fair；　　
To　whom　you　give　your　love　beware！　　
Believe　not　every　handsome　Knight；　　
And　dance　not　with　the　Water…Spright！


The　Youth　ceased　to　sing。　　The　Nuns　were　delighted　with　the
sweetness　of　his　voice　and　masterly　manner　of　touching　the
Instrument：　　But　however　acceptable　this　applause　would　have　been
at　any　other　time；　at　present　it　was　insipid　to　Theodore。　　His
artifice　had　not　succeeded。　He　paused　in　vain　between　the
Stanzas：　　No　voice　replied　to　his；　and　He　abandoned　the　hope　of
equalling　Blondel。

The　Convent　Bell　now　warned　the　Nuns　that　it　was　time　to
assemble　in　the　Refectory。　　They　were　obliged　to　quit　the　Grate；
They　thanked　the　Youth　for　the　entertainment　which　his　Music　had
afforded　them；　and　charged　him　to　return　the　next　day。　　This　He
promised：　The　Nuns；　to　give　him　the　greater　inclination　to　keep
his　word；　told　him　that　He　might　always　depend　upon　the　Convent
for　his　meals；　and　each　of　them　made　him　some　little　present。　
One　gave　him　a　box　of　sweetmeats；　Another；　an　Agnus　Dei；　Some
brought　reliques　of　Saints；　waxen　Images；　and　consecrated
Crosses；　and　Others　presented　him　with　pieces　of　those　works　in
which　the　Religious　excel；　such　as　embroidery；　artificial
flowers；　lace；　and　needlework。　　All　these　He　was　advised　to
sell；　in　order　to　put　himself　into　better　case；　and　He　was
assured　that　it　would　be　easy　to　dispose　of　them；　since　the
Spaniards　hold　the　performances　of　the　Nuns　in　high　estimation。　
Having　received　these　gifts　with　seeming　respect　and　gratitude；
He　remarked　that；　having　no　Basket；　He　knew　not　how　to　convey
them　away。　　Several　of　the　Nuns　were　hastening　in　search　of　one；
when　they　were　stopped　by　the　return　of　an　elderly　Woman；　whom
Theodore　had　not　till　then　observed：　　Her　mild　countenance；　and
respectable　air　prejudiced　him　immediately　in　her　favour。

'Hah！'　said　the　Porteress；　'Here　comes　the　Mother　St。　Ursula　with
a　Basket。'

The　Nun　approached　the　Grate；　and　presented　the　Basket　to
Theodore：　　It　was　of　willow；　lined　with　blue　satin；　and　upon　the
four　sides　were　painted　scenes　from　the　legend　of　St。　Genevieve。

'Here　is　my　gift；'　said　She；　as　She　gave　it　into　his　hand；　'Good
Youth；　despise　it　not；　Though　its　value　seems　insignificant；　it
has　many　hidden　virtues。'

She　accompanied　these　words　with　an　expressive　look。　It　was　not
lost　upon　Theodore；　In　receiving　the　present；　He　drew　as　near　the
Grate　as　possible。

'Agnes！'　She　whispered　in　a　voice　scarcely　intelligible。
Theodore；　however；　caught　the　sound：　　He　concluded　that　some
mystery　was　concealed　in　the　Basket；　and　his　heart　beat　with
impatience　and　joy。　　At　this　moment　the　Domina　returned。　　Her　air
was　gloomy　and　frowning；　and　She　looked　if　possible　more　stern
than　ever。

'Mother　St。　Ursula；　I　would　speak　with　you　in　private。'

The　Nun　changed　colour；　and　was　evidently　disconcerted。

'With　me？'　She　replied　in　a　faltering　voice。

The　Domina　motioned　that　She　must　follow　her；　and　retired。　　The
Mother　St。　Ursula　obeyed　her；　Soon　after；　the　Refectory　Bell
ringing　a　second　time；　the　Nuns　quitted　the　Grate；　and　Theodore
was　left　at　liberty　to　carry　off　his　prize。　　Delighted　that　at
length　He　had　obtained　some　intelligence　for　the　Marquis；　He　flew
rather　than　ran；　till　He　reached　the　Hotel　de　las　Cisternas。　　In
a　few　minutes　He　stood　by　his　Master's　Bed　with　the　Basket　in　his
hand。　　Lorenzo　was　in　the　chamber；　endeavouring　to　reconcile　his
Friend　to　a　misfortune　which　He　felt　himself　but　too　severely。　
Theodore　related　his　adventure；　and　the　hopes　which　had　been
created　by　the　Mother　St。　Ursula's　gift。　　The　Marquis　started
from
his　pillow：　　That　fire　which　since　the　death　of　Agnes　had　been
extinguished；　now　revived　in　his　bosom；　and　his　eyes　sparkled
with　the　eagerness　of　expectation。　　The　emotions　which　Lorenzo's
countenance　betrayed；　were　scarcely　weaker；　and　He　waited　with
inexpressible　impatience　for　the　solution　of　this　mystery。　
Raymond　caught　the　basket　from　the　hands　of　his　Page：　　He　emptied
the　contents　upon　the　bed；　and　examined　them　with　minute
attention。　　He　hoped　that　a　letter　would　be　found　at　the　bottom；
Nothing　of　the　kind　appeared。　　The　search　was　resumed；　and　still
with　no　better　success。　　At　length　Don　Raymond　observed　that　one
corner　of　the　blue　satin　lining　was　unripped；　He　tore　it　open
hastily；　and　drew　forth　a　small　scrap　of　paper　neither　folded　or
sealed。　　It　was　addressed　to　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　and
the　contents　were　as　follows。

Having　recognised　your　Page；　I　venture　to　send　these　few　lines。　
Procure　an　order　from　the　Cardinal…Duke　for　seizing　my　Person；
and　that　of　the　Domina；　But　let　it　not　be　executed　till　Friday　at
midnight。　　It　is　the　Festival　of　St。　Clare：　　There　will　be　a
procession　of　Nuns　by　torch…light；　and　I　shall　be　among　them。　
Beware　not　to　let　your　intention　be　known：　　Should　a　syllable　be
dropt　to　excite　the　Domina's　suspicions；　you　will　never　hear　of
me　more。　　Be　cautious；　if　you　prize　the　memory　of　Agnes；　and　wish
to　punish　her　Assassins。　　I　have　that　to　tell；　will　freeze　your
blood　with　horror。　　　　　　St。　Ursula。

No　sooner　had　the　Marquis　read　the　note　than　He　fell　back　upon
his　pillow　deprived　of　sense　or　motion。　　The　hope　failed　him
which　till　now　had　supported　his　existence；　and　these　lines
convinced　him　but　too　positively　that　Agnes　was　indeed　no　more。　
Lorenzo　felt　this　circumstance　less　forcibly；　since　it　had　always
been　his　idea　that　his　Sister　had　perished　by　unfair　means。　　When
He　found　by　the　Mother　St。　Ursula's　letter　how　true　were　his
suspicions；　the　confirmation　excited　no　other　sentiment　in　his
bosom　than　a　wish　to　punish　the　Murderers　as　they　deserved。　　It
was　no　easy　task　to　recall　the　Marquis　to　himself。　　As　soon　as　He
recovered　his　speech；　He　broke　out　into　execrations　against　the
Assassins　of　his　Beloved；　and　vowed　to　take　upon　them　a　signal
vengeance。　　He　continued　to　rave　and　torment　himself　with
impotent　passion　till　his　constitution；　enfeebled　by　grief　and
illness；　could　support　itself　no　longer；　and　He　relapsed　into
insensibility。　　His　melancholy　situation　sincerely　affected
Lorenzo；　who　would　willingly　have　remained　in　the　apartment　of
his　Friend；　But　other　cares　now　demanded　his　presence。　　It　was
necessary　to　procure　the　order　for　seizing　the　Prioress　of　St。
Clare。　　For　this　purpose；　having　committed　Raymond　to　the　care　of
the　best　Physicians　in　Madrid；　He　quitted　the　Hotel　de　las
Cisternas；　and　bent　his　course　towards　the　Palace　of　the
Cardinal…Duke。

His　disappointment　was　excessive；　when　He　found　that　affairs　of
State　had　obliged　the　Cardinal　to　set　out　for　a　distant　Province。

It　wanted　but　five　to　Friday：　　Yet　by　travelling　day　and　night；
He　hoped　to　return　in　time　for　the　Pilgrimage　of　St。　Clare。　　In
this　He　succeeded。　　He　found　the　Cardinal…Duke；　and　represented
to　him　the　supposed　culpability　of　the　Prioress；　as　also　the
violent　effects　which　it　had　produced　upon　Don　Raymond。　　He　could
have　used　no　argument　so　forcible　as　this　last。　　Of　all　his
Nephews；　the　Marquis　was　the　only　one　to　whom　the　Cardinal…Duke
was　sincerely　attached：　　He　perfectly　doated　upon　him；　and　the
Prioress　could　have　committed　no　greater　crime　in　his　eyes　than
to　have　endangered　the　life　of　the　Marquis。　　Consequently；　He
granted　the　order　of　arrest　without　difficulty：　　He　also　gave
Lorenzo　a　letter　to　a　principal　Officer　of　the　Inquisition；
desiring　him　to　see　his　mandate　executed。　　Furnished　with　these
papers；　Medina　hastened　back　to　Madrid；　which　He　reached　on　the
Friday　a　few　hours