the monk(僧侣)-第56章

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inform　her　of　Antonia's　bequest：　　At　her　solication；　He　promised；
as　soon　as　Elvira's　trifling　debts　were　discharged；　to　transmit
to　her　the　remainder。　　This　being　settled；　no　other　business
detained　Leonella　in　Madrid；　and　She　returned　to　Cordova　with　all
diligence。


　CHAPTER　III

Oh！　could　I　worship　aught　beneath　the　skies　　
That　earth　hath　seen　or　fancy　could　devise；　　
Thine　altar；　sacred　Liberty；　should　stand；　　
Built　by　no　mercenary　vulgar　hand；　　
With　fragrant　turf；　and　flowers　as　wild　and　fair；　　
As　ever　dressed　a　bank；　or　scented　summer　air。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cowper。　

His　whole　attention　bent　upon　bringing　to　justice　the　Assassins
of　his　Sister；　Lorenzo　little　thought　how　severely　his　interest
was　suffering　in　another　quarter。　　As　was　before　mentioned；　He
returned　not　to　Madrid　till　the　evening　of　that　day　on　which
Antonia　was　buried。　Signifying　to　the　Grand　Inquisitor　the　order
of　the　Cardinal…Duke　（a　ceremony　not　to　be　neglected；　when　a
Member　of　the　Church　was　to　be　arrested　publicly）　communicating
his　design　to　his　Uncle　and　Don　Ramirez；　and　assembling　a　troop
of　Attendants　sufficiently　to　prevent　opposition；　furnished　him
with　full　occupation　during　the　few　hours　preceding　midnight。　
Consequently；　He　had　no　opportunity　to　enquire　about　his
Mistress；　and　was　perfectly　ignorant　both　of　her　death　and　her
Mother's。

The　Marquis　was　by　no　means　out　of　danger：　　His　delirium　was
gone；　but　had　left　him　so　much　exhausted　that　the　Physicians
declined　pronouncing　upon　the　consequences　likely　to　ensue。　　As
for　Raymond　himself；　He　wished　for　nothing　more　earnestly　than　to
join　Agnes　in　the　grave。　　Existence　was　hateful　to　him：　　He　saw
nothing　in　the　world　deserving　his　attention；　and　He　hoped　to
hear　that　Agnes　was　revenged；　and　himself　given　over　in　the　same
moment。

Followed　by　Raymond's　ardent　prayers　for　success；　Lorenzo　was　at
the　Gates　of　St。　Clare　a　full　hour　before　the　time　appointed　by
the　Mother　St。　Ursula。　　He　was　accompanied　by　his　Uncle；　by　Don
Ramirez　de　Mello；　and　a　party　of　chosen　Archers。　　Though　in
considerable　numbers　their　appearance　created　no　surprize：　　A
great　Crowd　was　already　assembled　before　the　Convent　doors；　in
order　to　witness　the　Procession。　　It　was　naturally　supposed　that
Lorenzo　and　his　Attendants　were　conducted　thither　by　the　same
design。　　The　Duke　of　Medina　being　recognised；　the　People　drew
back；　and　made　way　for　his　party　to　advance。　　Lorenzo　placed
himself　opposite　to　the　great　Gate；　through　which　the　Pilgrims
were　to　pass。　Convinced　that　the　Prioress　could　not　escape　him；
He　waited　patiently　for　her　appearance；　which　She　was　expected　to
make　exactly　at　Midnight。

The　Nuns　were　employed　in　religious　duties　established　in　honour
of　St。　Clare；　and　to　which　no　Prophane　was　ever　admitted。　　The
Chapel　windows　were　illuminated。　As　they　stood　on　the　outside；
the　Auditors　heard　the　full　swell　of　the　organ；　accompanied　by　a
chorus　of　female　voices；　rise　upon　the　stillness　of　the　night。　
This　died　away；　and　was　succeeded　by　a　single　strain　of　harmony：　
It　was　the　voice　of　her　who　was　destined　to　sustain　in　the
procession　the　character　of　St。　Clare。　　For　this　office　the　most
beautiful　Virgin　of　Madrid　was　always　selected；　and　She　upon　whom
the　choice　fell　esteemed　it　as　the　highest　of　honours。　　While
listening　to　the　Music；　whose　melody　distance　only　seemed　to
render　sweeter；　the　Audience　was　wrapped　up　in　profound
attention。　　Universal　silence　prevailed　through　the　Crowd；　and
every　heart　was　filled　with　reverence　for　religion。　　Every　heart
but　Lorenzo's。　　Conscious　that　among　those　who　chaunted　the
praises　of　their　God　so　sweetly；　there　were　some　who　cloaked　with
devotion　the　foulest　sins；　their　hymns　inspired　him　with
detestation　at　their　Hypocrisy。　　He　had　long　observed　with
disapprobation　and　contempt　the　superstition　which　governed
Madrid's　Inhabitants。　　His　good　sense　had　pointed　out　to　him　the
artifices　of　the　Monks；　and　the　gross　absurdity　of　their
miracles；　wonders；　and　supposititious　reliques。　　He　blushed　to
see　his　Countrymen　the　Dupes　of　deceptions　so　ridiculous；　and
only　wished　for　an　opportunity　to　free　them　from　their　monkish
fetters。　　That　opportunity；　so　long　desired　in　vain；　was　at
length　presented　to　him。　　He　resolved　not　to　let　it　slip；　but　to
set　before　the　People　in　glaring　colours　how　enormous　were　the
abuses　but　too　frequently　practised　in　Monasteries；　and　how
unjustly　public　esteem　was　bestowed　indiscriminately　upon　all　who
wore　a　religious　habit。　　He　longed　for　the　moment　destined　to
unmask　the　Hypocrites；　and　convince　his　Countrymen　that　a
sanctified　exterior　does　not　always　hide　a　virtuous　heart。

The　service　lasted；　till　Midnight　was　announced　by　the
Convent　Bell。　　That　sound　being　heard；　the　Music　ceased：　　The
voices　died　away　softly；　and　soon　after　the　lights　disappeared
from　the　Chapel　windows。　　Lorenzo's　heart　beat　high；　when　He
found　the　execution　of　his　plan　to　be　at　hand。　　From　the　natural
superstition　of　the　People　He　had　prepared　himself　for　some
resistance。　　But　He　trusted　that　the　Mother　St。　Ursula　would
bring　good　reasons　to　justify　his　proceeding。　　He　had　force　with
him　to　repel　the　first　impulse　of　the　Populace；　till　his
arguments　should　be　heard：　　His　only　fear　was　lest　the　Domina；
suspecting　his　design；　should　have　spirited　away　the　Nun　on
whose　deposition　every　thing　depended。　　Unless　the　Mother　St。
Ursula　should　be　present；　He　could　only　accuse　the　Prioress　upon
suspicion；　and　this　reflection　gave　him　some　little　apprehension
for　the　success　of　his　enterprize。　　The　tranquillity　which　seemed
to　reign　through　the　Convent　in　some　degree　re…assured　him：　
Still　He　expected　the　moment　eagerly；　when　the　presence　of　his
Ally　should　deprive　him　of　the　power　of　doubting。

The　Abbey　of　Capuchins　was　only　separated　from　the　Convent　by　the
Garden　and　Cemetery。　　The　Monks　had　been　invited　to　assist　at　the
Pilgrimage。　　They　now　arrived；　marching　two　by　two　with　lighted
Torches　in　their　hands；　and　chaunting　Hymns　in　honour　of　St。
Clare。　　Father　Pablos　was　at　their　head；　the　Abbot　having　excused
himself　from　attending。　　The　people　made　way　for　the　holy　Train；
and　the　Friars　placed　themselves　in　ranks　on　either　side　of　the
great　Gates。　　A　few　minutes　sufficed　to　arrange　the　order　of　the
Procession。　　This　being　settled；　the　Convent　doors　were　thrown
open；　and　again　the　female　Chorus　sounded　in　full　melody。　　First
appeared　a　Band　of　Choristers：　　As　soon　as　they　had　passed；　the
Monks　fell　in　two　by　two；　and　followed　with　steps　slow　and
measured。　　Next　came　the　Novices；　They　bore　no　Tapers；　as　did　the
Professed；　but　moved　on　with　eyes　bent　downwards；　and　seemed　to
be　occupied　by　telling　their　Beads。　　To　them　succeeded　a　young
and　lovely　Girl；　who　represented　St。　Lucia：　　She　held　a　golden
bason　in　which　were　two　eyes：　　Her　own　were　covered　by　a　velvet
bandage；　and　She　was　conducted　by　another　Nun　habited　as　an
Angel。　　She　was　followed　by　St。　Catherine；　a　palm…branch　in　one
hand；　a　flaming　Sword　in　the　other：　　She　was　robed　in　white；　and
her　brow　was　ornamented　with　a　sparkling　Diadem。　　After　her
appeared　St。　Genevieve；　surrounded　by　a　number　of　Imps；　who
putting　themselves　into　grotesque　attitudes；　drawing　her　by　the
robe；　and　sporting　round　her　with　antic　gestures；　endeavoured　to
distract　her　attention　from　the　Book；　on　which　her　eyes　were
constantly　fixed。　　These　merry　Devils　greatly　entertained　the
Spectators；　who　testified　their　pleasure　by　repeated　bursts　of
Laughter。　The　Prioress　had　been　careful　to　select　a　Nun　whose
disposition　was　naturally　solemn　and　saturnine。　　She　had　every
reason　to　be　satisfied　with　her　choice：　　The　drolleries　of　the
Imps　were　entirely　thrown　away；　and　St。　Genevieve　moved　on
without　discomposing　a　muscle。

Each　of　these　Saints　was　separated　from　the　Other　by　a　band　of
Choristers；　exalting　her　praise　in　their　Hymns；　but　declaring　her
to　be　very　much　inferior　to　St。　Clare；　the　Convent's　avowed
Patroness。　　These　having　passed；　a　long　train　of　Nuns　appeared；
bearing　like　the　Choristers　each　a　burning　Taper。　　Next　came　the
reliques　of　St。　Clare；　inclosed　in　vases　equally　precious　for
their　materials　and　workmanship：　　But　they　attracted　not
Lorenzo's　attention。　　The　Nun　who　bore　the　heart　occupied　him
entirely。　　According　to　Theodore's　description；　He　doubted　not
her　being　the　Mother　St。　Ursula。　　She　seemed　to　look　round　with
anxiety。　　As　He　stood　foremost　in　the　rank　by　which　the
procession　past；　her　eye　caught　Lorenzo's。　　A　flush　of　joy
overspread　her　till　then　pallid　cheek。　　She　turned　to　her
Companion　eagerly。

'We　are　safe！'　He　heard　her　whisper；　'　'tis　her　Brother！'

His　heart　being　now　at　ease；　Lorenzo　gazed　with　tranquillity　upon
the　remainder　of　the　show。　　Now　appeared　its　most　brilliant
ornament。　　It　was　a　Machine　fashioned　like　a　throne；　rich　with
jewels　and　dazzling　with　light。　　It　rolled　onwards　upon
concealed　wheels；　and　was　guided　by　several　lovely　Children；
dressed　as　Seraphs。　　The　summit　was　covered　with　silver　clouds；
upon　which　reclined　the　most　beautiful　form　that　eyes　ever
witnessed。　It　was　a　Damsel　representing　St。　Clare：　　Her　dress　was
of　inestimable　price；　and　round　her　head　a　wreath　of　Diamonds
formed　an　artificial　glory：　　But　all　these　ornaments　yielded　to
the　lustre　of　her　charms。　　As　She　advanced；　a　murmur　of　delight
ran　through　the　Crowd。　　Even　Lorenzo　confessed　secretly；　that　He
never　beheld　more　perfect　beauty；　and　had　not　his　heart　been
Antonia's；　it　must　have　fallen　a　sacrifice　to　this　enchanting
Girl。　　As　it　was；　He　considered　her　only　as　a　fine　Statue：　　She
obtained　from　him　no　tribute　save　cold　admiration；　and　when　She
had　passed　him；　He　thought　of　her　no　more。

'Who　is　She？'　asked　a　By…stander　in　Lorenzo's　hearing。

'One　whose　beauty　you　must　often　have　heard　celebrated。　Her　name
is　Virginia　de　Villa…Franca：　　She　is　a　Pensioner　of　St。　Clare's
Convent；　a　Relation　of　the　Prioress；　and　has　been　selected　with
justice　as　the　ornament　of　the　Procession。'

The　Throne　moved　onwards。　　It　was　followed　by　the　Prioress
herself：　　She　marched　at　the　head　of　the　remaining　Nuns　with　a
devout　and　sanctified　air；　and　closed　the　procession。　　She　moved
on　slowly：　　Her　eyes　were　raised　to　heaven：　　Her　countenance　calm
and　tranquil　seemed　abstracted　from　all　sublunary　things；　and　no
feature　betrayed　her　secret　pride　at　displaying　the　pomp　and
opulence　of　her　Convent。　　She　passed　along；　accompanied　by　the
prayers　and　benedictions　of　the　Populace：　　But　how　great　was　the
general　confusion　and　surprize；　when　Don　Ramirez　starting
forward；　challenged　her　as　his　Prisoner。

For　a　moment　amazement　held　the　Domina　silent　and　immoveable：　
But　no　sooner　did　She　recover　herself；　than　She　exclaimed　against
sacrilege　and　impiety；　and　called　the　People　to　rescue　a　Daughter
of　the　Church。　　They　were　eagerly　preparing　to　obey　her；　when　Don
Ramirez；　protected　by　the　Archers　from　their　rage；　commanded　them
to　forbear；　and　threatened　them　with　the　severest　vengeance　of
the　Inquisition。　　At　that　dreaded　word　every　arm　fell；　every
sword　shrunk　back　into　its　scabbard。　　The　Prioress　herself　turned
pale；　and　trembled。　　The　general　silence　convinced　her　that　She
had　not