the monk(僧侣)-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


this　too　must　go　with　me；'　She　added　pointing　to　the　small
bundle　which　She　still　clasped　to　her　bosom；　'I　cannot　part　with
this。　　I　will　bear　it　away：　　It　shall　convince　the　world　how
dreadful　are　the　abodes　so　falsely　termed　religious。　　Good
Stranger；　lend　me　your　hand　to　rise：　　I　am　faint　with　want；　and
sorrow；　and　sickness；　and　my　forces　have　quite　forsaken　me！　　So；
that　is　well！'

As　Lorenzo　stooped　to　raise　her；　the　beams　of　the　Lamp　struck
full　upon　his　face。

'Almighty　God！'　She　exclaimed；　'Is　it　possible！　　That　look！　
Those　features！　　Oh！　　Yes；　it　is；　it　is　。　。　。　。　。'

She　extended　her　arms　to　throw　them　round　him；　But　her　enfeebled
frame　was　unable　to　sustain　the　emotions　which　agitated　her
bosom。　　She　fainted；　and　again　sank　upon　the　bed　of　straw。

Lorenzo　was　surprized　at　her　last　exclamation。　　He　thought　that
He　had　before　heard　such　accents　as　her　hollow　voice　had　just
formed；　but　where　He　could　not　remember。　　He　saw　that　in　her
dangerous　situation　immediate　physical　aid　was　absolutely
necessary；　and　He　hastened　to　convey　her　from　the　dungeon。　　He
was　at　first　prevented　from　doing　so　by　a　strong　chain　fastened
round　the　prisoner's　body；　and　fixing　her　to　the　neighbouring
Wall。　　However；　his　natural　strength　being　aided　by　anxiety　to
relieve　the　Unfortunate；　He　soon　forced　out　the　Staple　to　which
one　end　of　the　Chain　was　attached。　Then　taking　the　Captive　in　his
arms；　He　bent　his　course　towards　the　Staircase。　　The　rays　of　the
Lamp　above；　as　well　as　the　murmur　of　female　voices；　guided　his
steps。　He　gained　the　Stairs；　and　in　a　few　minutes　after　arrived
at　the　iron…grate。

The　Nuns　during　his　absence　had　been　terribly　tormented　by
curiosity　and　apprehension：　　They　were　equally　surprized　and
delighted　on　seeing　him　suddenly　emerge　from　the　Cave。　　Every
heart　was　filled　with　compassion　for　the　miserable　Creature　whom
He　bore　in　his　arms。　　While　the　Nuns；　and　Virginia　in　particular；
employed　themselves　in　striving　to　recall　her　to　her　senses；
Lorenzo　related　in　few　words　the　manner　of　his　finding　her。　　He
then　observed　to　them　that　by　this　time　the　tumult　must　have　been
quelled；　and　that　He　could　now　conduct　them　to　their　Friends
without　danger。　　All　were　eager　to　quit　the　Sepulchre：　　Still　to
prevent　all　possibility　of　ill…usage；　they　besought　Lorenzo　to
venture　out　first　alone；　and　examine　whether　the　Coast　was
clear。　With　this　request　He　complied。　　Helena　offered　to　conduct
him　to　the　Staircase；　and　they　were　on　the　point　of　departing；
when　a　strong　light　flashed　from　several　passages　upon　the
adjacent　walls。　　At　the　same　time　Steps　were　heard　of　people
approaching　hastily；　and　whose　number　seemed　to　be　considerable。　
The　Nuns　were　greatly　alarmed　at　this　circumstance：　　They
supposed　their　retreat　to　be　discovered；　and　the　Rioters　to　be
advancing　in　pursuit　of　them。　　Hastily　quitting　the　Prisoner　who
remained　insensible；　they　crowded　round　Lorenzo；　and　claimed　his
promise　to　protect　them。　　Virginia　alone　forgot　her　own　danger　by
striving　to　relieve　the　sorrows　of　Another。　　She　supported　the
Sufferer's　head　upon　her　knees；　bathing　her　temples　with
rose…water；　chafing　her　cold　hands；　and　sprinkling　her　face　with
tears　which　were　drawn　from　her　by　compassion。　　The　Strangers
approaching　nearer；　Lorenzo　was　enabled　to　dispel　the　fears　of
the　Suppliants。　　His　name；　pronounced　by　a　number　of　voices　among
which　He　distinguished　the　Duke's；　pealed　along　the　Vaults；　and
convinced　him　that　He　was　the　object　of　their　search。　　He
communicated　this　intelligence　to　the　Nuns；　who　received　it　with
rapture。　　A　few　moments　after　confirmed　his　idea。　　Don　Ramirez；
as　well　as　the　Duke；　appeared；　followed　by　Attendants　with
Torches。　　They　had　been　seeking　him　through　the　Vaults；　in　order
to　let　him　know　that　the　Mob　was　dispersed；　and　the　riot　entirely
over。　　Lorenzo　recounted　briefly　his　adventure　in　the　Cavern；　and
explained　how　much　the　Unknown　was　in　want　of　medical
assistance。　　He　besought　the　Duke　to　take　charge　of　her；　as　well
as　of　the　Nuns　and　Pensioners。

'As　for　me；'　said　He；　'Other　cares　demand　my　attention。　　While
you　with　one　half　of　the　Archers　convey　these　Ladies　to　their
respective　homes；　I　wish　the　other　half　to　be　left　with　me。　　I
will　examine　the　Cavern　below；　and　pervade　the　most　secret
recesses　of　the　Sepulchre。　　I　cannot　rest　till　convinced　that
yonder　wretched　Victim　was　the　only　one　confined　by　Superstition
in　these　vaults。'

The　Duke　applauded　his　intention。　　Don　Ramirez　offered　to　assist
him　in　his　enquiry；　and　his　proposal　was　accepted　with　gratitude。

The　Nuns　having　made　their　acknowledgments　to　Lorenzo；　committed
themselves　to　the　care　of　his　Uncle；　and　were　conducted　from　the
Sepulchre。　　Virginia　requested　that　the　Unknown　might　be　given　to
her　in　charge；　and　promised　to　let　Lorenzo　know　whenever　She　was
sufficiently　recovered　to　accept　his　visits。　　In　truth；　She　made
this　promise　more　from　consideration　for　herself　than　for　either
Lorenzo　or　the　Captive。　　She　had　witnessed　his　politeness；
gentleness；　and　intrepidity　with　sensible　emotion。　　She　wished
earnestly　to　preserve　his　acquaintance；　and　in　addition　to　the
sentiments　of　pity　which　the　Prisoner　excited；　She　hoped　that　her
attention　to　this　Unfortunate　would　raise　her　a　degree　in　the
esteem　of　Lorenzo。　　She　had　no　occasion　to　trouble　herself　upon
this　head。　　The　kindness　already　displayed　by　her　and　the　tender
concern　which　She　had　shown　for　the　Sufferer　had　gained　her　an
exalted　place　in　his　good　graces。　　While　occupied　in　alleviating
the　Captive's　sorrows；　the　nature　of　her　employment　adorned　her
with　new　charms；　and　rendered　her　beauty　a　thousand　times　more
interesting。　　Lorenzo　viewed　her　with　admiration　and　delight：　　He
considered　her　as　a　ministering　Angel　descended　to　the　aid　of
afflicted　innocence；　nor　could　his　heart　have　resisted　her
attractions；　had　it　not　been　steeled　by　the　remembrance　of
Antonia。

The　Duke　now　conveyed　the　Nuns　in　safety　to　the　Dwellings　of
their　respective　Friends。　　The　rescued　Prisoner　was　still
insensible　and　gave　no　signs　of　life；　except　by　occasional
groans。　　She　was　borne　upon　a　sort　of　litter；　Virginia；　who　was
constantly　by　the　side　of　it；　was　apprehensive　that　exhausted　by
long　abstinence；　and　shaken　by　the　sudden　change　from　bonds　and
darkness　to　liberty　and　light；　her　frame　would　never　get　the
better　of　the　shock。　　Lorenzo　and　Don　Ramirez　still　remained　in
the　Sepulchre。　　After　deliberating　upon　their　proceedings；　it　was
resolved　that　to　prevent　losing　time；　the　Archers　should　be
divided　into　two　Bodies：　　That　with　one　Don　Ramirez　should
examine　the　cavern；　while　Lorenzo　with　the　other　might　penetrate
into　the　further　Vaults。　　This　being　arranged；　and　his　Followers
being　provided　with　Torches；　Don　Ramirez　advanced　to　the　Cavern。　
He　had　already　descended　some　steps　when　He　heard　People
approaching　hastily　from　the　interior　part　of　the　Sepulchre。　
This　surprized　him；　and　He　quitted　the　Cave　precipitately。

'Do　you　hear　footsteps？'　said　Lorenzo；　'Let　us　bend　our　course
towards　them。　　'Tis　from　this　side　that　they　seem　to　proceed。'

At　that　moment　a　loud　and　piercing　shriek　induced　him　to　quicken
his　steps。

'Help！　　Help；　for　God's　sake！　　cried　a　voice；　whose　melodious
tone　penetrated　Lorenzo's　heart　with　terror。

He　flew　towards　the　cry　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　and　was
followed　by　Don　Ramirez　with　equal　swiftness。


　CHAPTER　IV

Great　Heaven！　　How　frail　thy　creature　Man　is　made！　　
How　by　himself　insensibly　betrayed！　　
In　our　own　strength　unhappily　secure；　　
Too　little　cautious　of　the　adverse　power；　　
On　pleasure's　flowery　brink　we　idly　stray；　　
Masters　as　yet　of　our　returning　way：　　
Till　the　strong　gusts　of　raging　passion　rise；　　
Till　the　dire　Tempest　mingles　earth　and　skies；　　
And　swift　into　the　boundless　Ocean　borne；　　
Our　foolish　confidence　too　late　we　mourn：
Round　our　devoted　heads　the　billows　beat；　　
And　from　our　troubled　view　the　lessening　lands　retreat。　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　Prior。　

All　this　while；　Ambrosio　was　unconscious　of　the　dreadful　scenes
which　were　passing　so　near。　　The　execution　of　his　designs　upon
Antonia　employed　his　every　thought。　　Hitherto；　He　was　satisfied
with　the　success　of　his　plans。　　Antonia　had　drank　the　opiate；　was
buried　in　the　vaults　of　St。　Clare；　and　absolutely　in　his
disposal。　　Matilda；　who　was　well　acquainted　with　the　nature　and
effects　of　the　soporific　medicine；　had　computed　that　it　would　not
cease　to　operate　till　one　in　the　Morning。　　For　that　hour　He
waited　with　impatience。　　The　Festival　of　St。　Clare　presented　him
with　a　favourable　opportunity　of　consummating　his　crime。　　He　was
certain　that　the　Friars　and　Nuns　would　be　engaged　in　the
Procession；　and　that　He　had　no　cause　to　dread　an　interruption：
From　appearing　himself　at　the　head　of　his　Monks；　He　had　desired
to　be　excused。　　He　doubted　not；　that　being　beyond　the　reach　of
help；　cut　off　from　all　the　world；　and　totally　in　his　power；
Antonia　would　comply　with　his　desires。　　The　affection　which　She
had　ever　exprest　for　him；　warranted　this　persuasion：　　But　He
resolved　that　should　She　prove　obstinate；　no　consideration
whatever　should　prevent　him　from　enjoying　her。　　Secure　from　a
discovery；　He　shuddered　not　at　the　idea　of　employing　force：　　If
He　felt　any　repugnance；　it　arose　not　from　a　principle　of　shame
or　compassion；　but　from　his　feeling　for　Antonia　the　most　sincere
and　ardent　affection；　and　wishing　to　owe　her　favours　to　no　one
but　herself。

The　Monks　quitted　the　Abbey　at　midnight。　　Matilda　was　among　the
Choristers；　and　led　the　chaunt。　　Ambrosio　was　left　by　himself；
and　at　liberty　to　pursue　his　own　inclinations。　　Convinced　that　no
one　remained　behind　to　watch　his　motions；　or　disturb　his
pleasures；　He　now　hastened　to　the　Western　Aisles。　　His　heart
beating　with　hope　not　unmingled　with　anxiety；　He　crossed　the
Garden；　unlocked　the　door　which　admitted　him　into　the　Cemetery；
and　in　a　few　minutes　He　stood　before　the　Vaults。　　Here　He　paused。

He　looked　round　him　with　suspicion；　conscious　that　his　business
was　unfit　for　any　other　eye。　　As　He　stood　in　hesitation；　He　heard
the　melancholy　shriek　of　the　screech…Owl：　　The　wind　rattled
loudly　against　the　windows　of　the　adjacent　Convent；　and　as　the
current　swept　by　him；　bore　with　it　the　faint　notes　of　the　chaunt
of　Choristers。　　He　opened　the　door　cautiously；　as　if　fearing　to
be　overheard：　　He　entered；　and　closed　it　again　after　him。　
Guided　by　his　Lamp；　He　threaded　the　long　passages；　in　whose
windings　Matilda　had　instructed　him；　and　reached　the　private
Vault　which　contained　his　sleeping　Mistress。

Its　entrance　was　by　no　means　easy　to　discover：　　But　this　was　no
obstacle　to　Ambrosio；　who　at　the　time　of　Antonia's　Funeral　had
observed　it　too　carefully　to　be　deceived。　　He　found　the　door；
which　was　unfastened；　pushed　it　open；　and　descended　into　the
dungeon。　　He　approached　the　humble　Tomb　in　which　Antonia
reposed。　　He　had　provided　himself　with　an　iron　crow　and　a
pick…axe；　But　this　precaution　was　unnecessary。　　The　Grate　was
slightly　fastened　on　the　outside：　　He　raised　it；　and　placing　the
Lamp　upon　its　ridge；　bent　silently　over　the　Tomb。　　By　the　side　of
three　putrid　half…corrupted　Bodies　lay　the　sleeping　Beauty。　　A
lively　red