the monk(僧侣)-第50章

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groans。　　Flora's　shrieks　soon　reached　the　ears　of　the　Hostess；
whose　terror　and　surprize　were　excessive　on　learning　the　cause　of
this　disturbance。　　A　Physician　was　immediately　sent　for：　　But　on
the　first　moment　of　beholding　the　Corse；　He　declared　that
Elvira's　recovery　was　beyond　the　power　of　art。　　He　proceeded
therefore　to　give　his　assistance　to　Antonia；　who　by　this　time　was
truly　in　need　of　it。　　She　was　conveyed　to　bed；　while　the　Landlady
busied　herself　in　giving　orders　for　Elvira's　Burial。　　Dame
Jacintha　was　a　plain　good　kind　of　Woman；　charitable；　generous；
and　devout：　　But　her　intellects　were　weak；　and　She　was　a
Miserable　Slave　to　fear　and　superstition。　　She　shuddered　at　the
idea　of　passing　the　night　in　the　same　House　with　a　dead　Body：　
She　was　persuaded　that　Elvira's　Ghost　would　appear　to　her；　and　no
less　certain　that　such　a　visit　would　kill　her　with　fright。　　From
this　persuasion；　She　resolved　to　pass　the　night　at　a　Neighbour's；
and　insisted　that　the　Funeral　should　take　place　the　next　day。　
St。　Clare's　Cemetery　being　the　nearest；　it　was　determined　that
Elvira　should　be　buried　there。　　Dame　Jacintha　engaged　to　defray
every　expence　attending　the　burial。　　She　knew　not　in　what
circumstances　Antonia　was　left；　but　from　the　sparing　manner　in
which　the　Family　had　lived；　She　concluded　them　to　be　indifferent。

Consequently；　She　entertained　very　little　hope　of　ever　being
recompensed；　But　this　consideration　prevented　her　not　from　taking
care　that　the　Interment　was　performed　with　decency；　and　from
showing　the　unfortunate　Antonia　all　possible　respect。

Nobody　dies　of　mere　grief；　Of　this　Antonia　was　an　instance。　
Aided　by　her　youth　and　healthy　constitution；　She　shook　off　the
malady　which　her　Mother's　death　had　occasioned；　But　it　was　not
so　easy　to　remove　the　disease　of　her　mind。　　Her　eyes　were
constantly　filled　with　tears：　Every　trifle　affected　her；　and　She
evidently　nourished　in　her　bosom　a　profound　and　rooted
melancholy。　　The　slightest　mention　of　Elvira；　the　most　trivial
circumstance　recalling　that　beloved　Parent　to　her　memory；　was
sufficient　to　throw　her　into　serious　agitation。　　How　much　would
her　grief　have　been　increased；　had　She　known　the　agonies　which
terminated　her　Mother's　existence！　　But　of　this　no　one
entertained　the　least　suspicion。　　Elvira　was　subject　to　strong
convulsions：　　It　was　supposed　that；　aware　of　their　approach；　She
had　dragged　herself　to　her　Daughter's　chamber　in　hopes　of
assistance；　that　a　sudden　access　of　her　fits　had　seized　her；　too
violent　to　be　resisted　by　her　already　enfeebled　state　of　health；
and　that　She　had　expired　ere　She　had　time　to　reach　the　medicine
which　generally　relieved　her；　and　which　stood　upon　a　shelf　in
Antonia's　room。　　This　idea　was　firmly　credited　by　the　few　people；
who　interested　themselves　about　Elvira：　　Her　Death　was　esteemed　a
natural　event；　and　soon　forgotten　by　all　save　by　her；　who　had　but
too　much　reason　to　deplore　her　loss。

In　truth　Antonia's　situation　was　sufficiently　embarrassing　and
unpleasant。　　She　was　alone　in　the　midst　of　a　dissipated　and
expensive　City；　She　was　ill　provided　with　money；　and　worse　with
Friends。　　Her　aunt　Leonella　was　still　at　Cordova；　and　She　knew
not　her　direction。　　Of　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　She　heard　no
news：　　As　to　Lorenzo；　She　had　long　given　up　the　idea　of
possessing　any　interest　in　his　bosom。　　She　knew　not　to　whom　She
could　address　herself　in　her　present　dilemma。　　She　wished　to
consult　Ambrosio；　But　She　remembered　her　Mother's　injunctions　to
shun　him　as　much　as　possible；　and　the　last　conversation　which
Elvira　had　held　with　her　upon　the　subject　had　given　her
sufficient　lights　respecting　his　designs　to　put　her　upon　her
guard　against　him　in　future。　　Still　all　her　Mother's　warnings
could　not　make　her　change　her　good　opinion　of　the　Friar。　　She
continued　to　feel　that　his　friendship　and　society　were　requisite
to　her　happiness：　　She　looked　upon　his　failings　with　a　partial
eye；　and　could　not　persuade　herself　that　He　really　had　intended
her　ruin。　　However；　Elvira　had　positively　commanded　her　to　drop
his　acquaintance；　and　She　had　too　much　respect　for　her　orders　to
disobey　them。

At　length　She　resolved　to　address　herself　for　advice　and
protection　to　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　as　being　her　nearest
Relation。　　She　wrote　to　him；　briefly　stating　her　desolate
situation；　She　besought　him　to　compassionate　his　Brother's　Child；
to　continue　to　her　Elvira's　pension；　and　to　authorise　her
retiring　to　his　old　Castle　in　Murcia；　which　till　now　had　been　her
retreat。　　Having　sealed　her　letter；　She　gave　it　to　the　trusty
Flora；　who　immediately　set　out　to　execute　her　commission。　　But
Antonia　was　born　under　an　unlucky　Star。　　Had　She　made　her
application　to　the　Marquis　but　one　day　sooner；　received　as　his
Niece　and　placed　at　the　head　of　his　Family；　She　would　have
escaped　all　the　misfortunes　with　which　She　was　now　threatened。　
Raymond　had　always　intended　to　execute　this　plan：　　But　first；　his
hopes　of　making　the　proposal　to　Elvira　through　the　lips　of　Agnes；
and　afterwards；　his　disappointment　at　losing　his　intended　Bride；
as　well　as　the　severe　illness　which　for　some　time　had　confined
him　to　his　Bed；　made　him　defer　from　day　to　day　the　giving　an
Asylum　in　his　House　to　his　Brother's　Widow。　　He　had　commissioned
Lorenzo　to　supply　her　liberally　with　money：　　But　Elvira；
unwilling　to　receive　obligations　from　that　Nobleman；　had　assured
him　that　She　needed　no　immediate　pecuniary　assistance。
Consequently；　the　Marquis　did　not　imagine　that　a　trifling　delay
on　his　part　could　create　any　embarrassment；　and　the　distress　and
agitation　of　his　mind　might　well　excuse　his　negligence。

Had　He　been　informed　that　Elvira's　death　had　left　her　Daughter
Friendless　and　unprotected；　He　would　doubtless　have　taken　such
measures；　as　would　have　ensured　her　from　every　danger：　　But
Antonia　was　not　destined　to　be　so　fortunate。　　The　day　on　which
She　sent　her　letter　to　the　Palace　de　las　Cisternas　was　that
following　Lorenzo's　departure　from　Madrid。　　The　Marquis　was　in
the　first　paroxysms　of　despair　at　the　conviction　that　Agnes　was
indeed　no　more：　　He　was　delirious；　and　his　life　being　in　danger；
no　one　was　suffered　to　approach　him。　　Flora　was　informed　that　He
was　incapable　of　attending　to　Letters；　and　that　probably　a　few
hours　would　decide　his　fate。　　With　this　unsatisfactory　answer　She
was　obliged　to　return　to　her　Mistress；　who　now　found　herself
plunged　into　greater　difficulties　than　ever。

Flora　and　Dame　Jacintha　exerted　themselves　to　console　her。　　The
Latter　begged　her　to　make　herself　easy；　for　that　as　long　as　She
chose　to　stay　with　her；　She　would　treat　her　like　her　own　Child。　
Antonia；　finding　that　the　good　Woman　had　taken　a　real　affection
for　her；　was　somewhat　comforted　by　thinking　that　She　had　at
least　one　Friend　in　the　World。　　A　Letter　was　now　brought　to　her；
directed　to　Elvira。　　She　recognized　Leonella's　writing；　and
opening　it　with　joy；　found　a　detailed　account　of　her　Aunt's
adventures　at　Cordova。　　She　informed　her　Sister　that　She　had
recovered　her　Legacy；　had　lost　her　heart；　and　had　received　in
exchange　that　of　the　most　amiable　of　Apothecaries；　past；　present；
and　to　come。　　She　added　that　She　should　be　at　Madrid　on　the
Tuesday　night；　and　meant　to　have　the　pleasure　of　presenting　her
Caro　Sposo　in　form。　　Though　her　nuptials　were　far　from　pleasing
Antonia；　Leonella's　speedy　return　gave　her　Niece　much　delight。　
She　rejoiced　in　thinking　that　She　should　once　more　be　under　a
Relation's　care。　　She　could　not　but　judge　it　to　be　highly
improper；　for　a　young　Woman　to　be　living　among　absolute
Strangers；　with　no　one　to　regulate　her　conduct；　or　protect　her
from　the　insults　to　which；　in　her　defenceless　situation；　She　was
exposed。　　She　therefore　looked　forward　with　impatience　to　the
Tuesday　night。

It　arrived。　　Antonia　listened　anxiously　to　the　Carriages；　as　they
rolled　along　the　Street。　　None　of　them　stopped；　and　it　grew　late
without　Leonella's　appearing。　　Still；　Antonia　resolved　to　sit　up
till　her　Aunt's　arrival；　and　in　spite　of　all　her　remonstrances；
Dame　Jacintha　and　Flora　insisted　upon　doing　the　same。　　The　hours
passed　on　slow　and　tediously。　　Lorenzo's　departure　from　Madrid
had　put　a　stop　to　the　nightly　Serenades：　　She　hoped　in　vain　to
hear　the　usual　sound　of　Guitars　beneath　her　window。　　She　took　up
her　own；　and　struck　a　few　chords：　But　Music　that　evening　had　lost
its　charms　for　her；　and　She　soon　replaced　the　Instrument　in　its
case。　　She　seated　herself　at　her　embroidery　frame；　but　nothing
went　right：　The　silks　were　missing；　the　thread　snapped　every
moment；　and　the　needles　were　so　expert　at　falling　that　they
seemed　to　be　animated。　　At　length　a　flake　of　wax　fell　from　the
Taper　which　stood　near　her　upon　a　favourite　wreath　of　Violets：　
This　compleatly　discomposed　her；　She　threw　down　her　needle；　and
quitted　the　frame。　　It　was　decreed　that　for　that　night　nothing
should　have　the　power　of　amusing　her。　　She　was　the　prey　of　Ennui；
and　employed　herself　in　making　fruitless　wishes　for　the　arrival
of　her　Aunt。

As　She　walked　with　a　listless　air　up　and　down　the　chamber；　the
Door　caught　her　eye　conducting　to　that　which　had　been　her
Mother's。　　She　remembered　that　Elvira's　little　Library　was
arranged　there；　and　thought　that　She　might　possibly　find　in　it
some　Book　to　amuse　her　till　Leonella　should　arrive。　　Accordingly
She　took　her　Taper　from　the　table；　passed　through　the　little
Closet；　and　entered　the　adjoining　apartment。　　As　She　looked
around　her；　the　sight　of　this　room　brought　to　her　recollection　a
thousand　painful　ideas。　　It　was　the　first　time　of　her　entering　it
since　her　Mother's　death。　　The　total　silence　prevailing　through
the　chamber；　the　Bed　despoiled　of　its　furniture；　the　cheerless
hearth　where　stood　an　extinguished　Lamp；　and　a　few　dying　Plants
in　the　window　which；　since　Elvira's　loss；　had　been　neglected；
inspired　Antonia　with　a　melancholy　awe。　　The　gloom　of　night　gave
strength　to　this　sensation。　　She　placed　her　light　upon　the　Table；
and　sank　into　a　large　chair；　in　which　She　had　seen　her　Mother
seated　a　thousand　and　a　thousand　times。　　She　was　never　to　see　her
seated　there　again！　　Tears　unbidden　streamed　down　her　cheek；　and
She　abandoned　herself　to　the　sadness　which　grew　deeper　with
every　moment。

Ashamed　of　her　weakness；　She　at　length　rose　from　her　seat：　　She
proceeded　to　seek　for　what　had　brought　her　to　this　melancholy
scene。　　The　small　collection　of　Books　was　arranged　upon　several
shelves　in　order。　　Antonia　examined　them　without　finding　any
thing　likely　to　interest　her；　till　She　put　her　hand　upon　a　volume
of　old　Spanish　Ballads。　　She　read　a　few　Stanzas　of　one　of　them：　
They　excited　her　curiosity。　　She　took　down　the　Book；　and　seated
herself　to　peruse　it　with　more　ease。　　She　trimmed　the　Taper；
which　now　drew　towards　its　end；　and　then　read　the　following
Ballad。

　ALONZO　THE　BRAVE；　AND　FAIR　IMOGINE

A　Warrior　so　bold；　and　a　Virgin　so　bright　　　　
Conversed；　as　They　sat　on　the　green：　　
They　gazed　on　each　other　with　tender　delight；　
Alonzo　the　Brave　was　the　name　of　the　Knight；
The　Maid's　was　the　Fair　Imogine。

'And　Oh！'　said　the　Youth；　'since　to…morrow　I　go　　　　
To　fight　in　a　far　distant　land；　　　　
Your　tears　for　my　absence　soon　leaving　to　flow；　　
Some　Other　will　court　you；　and