the monk(僧侣)-第65章

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sufficiently　recovered　to　relate　her　History；　She　recognized　in
the　captive　Nun　the　Sister　of　Lorenzo！

This　victim　of　monastic　cruelty　was　indeed　no　other　than　the
unfortunate　Agnes。　　During　her　abode　in　the　Convent；　She　had　been
well　known　to　Virginia：　　But　her　emaciated　form；　her　features
altered　by　affliction；　her　death　universally　credited；　and　her
overgrown　and　matted　hair　which　hung　over　her　face　and　bosom　in
disorder　at　first　had　prevented　her　being　recollected。　　The
Prioress　had　put　every　artifice　in　practice　to　induce　Virginia　to
take　the　veil；　for　the　Heiress　of　Villa…Franca　would　have　been　no
despicable　acquisition。　　Her　seeming　kindness　and　unremitted
attention　so　far　succeeded　that　her　young　Relation　began　to
think　seriously　upon　compliance。　　Better　instructed　in　the
disgust　and　ennui　of　a　monastic　life；　Agnes　had　penetrated　the
designs　of　the　Domina：　　She　trembled　for　the　innocent　Girl；　and
endeavoured　to　make　her　sensible　of　her　error。　　She　painted　in
their　true　colours　the　numerous　inconveniencies　attached　to　a
Convent；　the　continued　restraint；　the　low　jealousies；　the　petty
intrigues；　the　servile　court　and　gross　flattery　expected　by　the
Superior。　　She　then　bad　Virginia　reflect　on　the　brilliant
prospect　which　presented　itself　before　her：　　The　Idol　of　her
Parents；　the　admiration　of　Madrid；　endowed　by　nature　and
education　with　every　perfection　of　person　and　mind；　She　might
look　forward　to　an　establishment　the　most　fortunate。　　Her　riches
furnished　her　with　the　means　of　exercising　in　their　fullest
extent；　charity　and　benevolence；　those　virtues　so　dear　to　her；
and　her　stay　in　the　world　would　enable　her　discovering　Objects
worthy　her　protection；　which　could　not　be　done　in　the　seclusion
of　a　Convent。

Her　persuasions　induced　Virginia　to　lay　aside　all　thoughts　of　the
Veil：　　But　another　argument；　not　used　by　Agnes；　had　more　weight
with　her　than　all　the　others　put　together。　　She　had　seen　Lorenzo；
when　He　visited　his　Sister　at　the　Grate。　　His　Person　pleased　her；
and　her　conversations　with　Agnes　generally　used　to　terminate　in
some　question　about　her　Brother。　　She；　who　doted　upon　Lorenzo；
wished　for　no　better　than　an　opportunity　to　trumpet　out　his
praise。　　She　spoke　of　him　in　terms　of　rapture；　and　to　convince
her　Auditor　how　just　were　his　sentiments；　how　cultivated　his
mind；　and　elegant　his　expressions；　She　showed　her　at　different
times　the　letters　which　She　received　from　him。　　She　soon
perceived　that　from　these　communications　the　heart　of　her　young
Friend　had　imbibed　impressions；　which　She　was　far　from　intending
to　give；　but　was　truly　happy　to　discover。　　She　could　not　have
wished　her　Brother　a　more　desirable　union：　　Heiress　of
Villa…Franca；　virtuous；　affectionate；　beautiful；　and
accomplished；　Virginia　seemed　calculated　to　make　him　happy。　　She
sounded　her　Brother　upon　the　subject；　though　without　mentioning
names　or　circumstances。　He　assured　her　in　his　answers　that　his
heart　and　hand　were　totally　disengaged；　and　She　thought　that

upon　these　grounds　She　might　proceed　without　danger。　She　in
consequence　endeavoured　to　strengthen　the　dawning　passion　of　her
Friend。　　Lorenzo　was　made　the　constant　topic　of　her　discourse；
and　the　avidity　with　which　her　Auditor　listened；　the　sighs　which
frequently　escaped　from　her　bosom；　and　the　eagerness　with　which
upon　any　digression　She　brought　back　the　conversation　to　the
subject　whence　it　had　wandered；　sufficed　to　convince　Agnes　that
her　Brother's　addresses　would　be　far　from　disagreeable。　　She　at
length　ventured　to　mention　her　wishes　to　the　Duke：　　Though　a
Stranger　to　the　Lady　herself；　He　knew　enough　of　her　situation　to
think　her　worthy　his　Nephew's　hand。　　It　was　agreed　between　him
and　his　Niece；　that　She　should　insinuate　the　idea　to　Lorenzo；　and
She　only　waited　his　return　to　Madrid　to　propose　her　Friend　to　him
as　his　Bride。　　The　unfortunate　events　which　took　place　in　the
interim；　prevented　her　from　executing　her　design。　　Virginia　wept
her　loss　sincerely；　both　as　a　Companion；　and　as　the　only　Person
to　whom　She　could　speak　of　Lorenzo。　　Her　passion　continued　to
prey　upon　her　heart　in　secret；　and　She　had　almost　determined　to
confess　her　sentiments　to　her　Mother；　when　accident　once　more
threw　their　object　in　her　way。　　The　sight　of　him　so　near　her；　his
politeness；　his　compassion；　his　intrepidity；　had　combined　to　give
new　ardour　to　her　affection。　　When　She　now　found　her　Friend　and
Advocate　restored　to　her；　She　looked　upon　her　as　a　Gift　from
Heaven；　She　ventured　to　cherish　the　hope　of　being　united　to
Lorenzo；　and　resolved　to　use　with　him　his　Sister's　influence。

Supposing　that　before　her　death　Agnes　might　possibly　have　made
the　proposal；　the　Duke　had　placed　all　his　Nephew's　hints　of
marriage　to　Virginia's　account：　Consequently；　He　gave　them　the
most　favourable　reception。　On　returning　to　his　Hotel；　the
relation　given　him　of　Antonia's　death；　and　Lorenzo's　behaviour　on
the　occasion；　made　evident　his　mistake。　　He　lamented　the
circumstances；　But　the　unhappy　Girl　being　effectually　out　of　the
way；　He　trusted　that　his　designs　would　yet　be　executed。　　'Tis
true　that　Lorenzo's　situation　just　then　ill…suited　him　for
a　Bridegroom。　　His　hopes　disappointed　at　the　moment　when　He
expected　to　realize　them；　and　the　dreadful　and　sudden　death　of
his　Mistress　had　affected　him　very　severely。　　The　Duke　found　him
upon　the　Bed　of　sickness。　　His　Attendants　expressed　serious
apprehensions　for　his　life；　But　the　Uncle　entertained　not　the
same　fears。　　He　was　of　opinion；　and　not　unwisely；　that　'Men　have
died；　and　worms　have　eat　them；　but　not　for　Love！'　　He　therefore
flattered　himself　that　however　deep　might　be　the　impression　made
upon　his　Nephew's　heart；　Time　and　Virginia　would　be　able　to
efface　it。　　He　now　hastened　to　the　afflicted　Youth；　and
endeavoured　to　console　him：　He　sympathised　in　his　distress；　but
encouraged　him　to　resist　the　encroachments　of　despair。　　He
allowed　that　He　could　not　but　feel　shocked　at　an　event　so
terrible；　nor　could　He　blame　his　sensibility；　But　He　besought　him
not　to　torment　himself　with　vain　regrets；　and　rather　to　struggle
with　affliction；　and　preserve　his　life；　if　not　for　his　own　sake；
at　least　for　the　sake　of　those　who　were　fondly　attached　to　him。　
While　He　laboured　thus　to　make　Lorenzo　forget　Antonia's　loss；　the
Duke　paid　his　court　assiduously　to　Virginia；　and　seized　every
opportunity　to　advance　his　Nephew's　interest　in　her　heart。

It　may　easily　be　expected　that　Agnes　was　not　long　without
enquiring　after　Don　Raymond。　　She　was　shocked　to　hear　the
wretched　situation　to　which　grief　had　reduced　him；　Yet　She　could
not　help　exulting　secretly；　when　She　reflected；　that　his　illness
proved　the　sincerity　of　his　love。　The　Duke　undertook　the　office
himself；　of　announcing　to　the　Invalid　the　happiness　which　awaited
him。　　Though　He　omitted　no　precaution　to　prepare　him　for　such　an
event；　at　this　sudden　change　from　despair　to　happiness　Raymond's
transports　were　so　violent；　as　nearly　to　have　proved　fatal　to
him。　　These　once　passed；　the　tranquillity　of　his　mind；　the
assurance　of　felicity；　and　above　all　the　presence　of　Agnes；　（Who
was　no　sooner　reestablished　by　the　care　of　Virginia　and　the
Marchioness；　than　She　hastened　to　attend　her　Lover）　soon　enabled
him　to　overcome　the　effects　of　his　late　dreadful　malady。　　The
calm　of　his　soul　communicated　itself　to　his　body；　and　He
recovered　with　such　rapidity　as　to　create　universal　surprize。

No　so　Lorenzo。　　Antonia's　death　accompanied　with　such　terrible
circumstances　weighed　upon　his　mind　heavily。　　He　was　worn　down　to
a　shadow。　　Nothing　could　give　him　pleasure。　　He　was　persuaded
with　difficulty　to　swallow　nourishment　sufficient　for　the　support
of　life；　and　a　consumption　was　apprehended。　　The　society　of　Agnes
formed　his　only　comfort。　　Though　accident　had　never　permitted
their　being　much　together；　He　entertained　for　her　a　sincere
friendship　and　attachment。　　Perceiving　how　necessary　She　was　to
him；　She　seldom　quitted　his　chamber。　　She　listened　to　his
complaints　with　unwearied　attention；　and　soothed　him　by　the
gentleness　of　her　manners；　and　by　sympathising　with　his　distress。
She　still　inhabited　the　Palace　de　Villa…Franca；　the　Possessors　of
which　treated　her　with　marked　affection。　　The　Duke　had　intimated
to　the　Marquis　his　wishes　respecting　Virginia。　　The　match　was
unexceptionable：　Lorenzo　was　Heir　to　his　Uncle's　immense
property；　and　was　distinguished　in　Madrid　for　his　agreeable
person；　extensive　knowledge；　and　propriety　of　conduct：　　Add　to
this；　that　the　Marchioness　had　discovered　how　strong　was　her
Daughter's　prepossession　in　his　favour。

In　consequence　the　Duke's　proposal　was　accepted　without
hesitation：　　Every　precaution　was　taken　to　induce　Lorenzo's
seeing　the　Lady　with　those　sentiments　which　She　so　well　merited
to　excite。　　In　her　visits　to　her　Brother　Agnes　was　frequently
accompanied　by　the　Marchioness；　and　as　soon　as　He　was　able　to
move　into　his　Antichamber；　Virginia　under　her　mother's
protection　was　sometimes　permitted　to　express　her　wishes　for　his
recovery。　　This　She　did　with　such　delicacy；　the　manner　in　which
She　mentioned　Antonia　was　so　tender　and　soothing；　and　when　She
lamented　her　Rival's　melancholy　fate；　her　bright　eyes　shone　so
beautiful　through　her　tears；　that　Lorenzo　could　not　behold；　or
listen　to　her　without　emotion。　　His　Relations；　as　well　as　the
Lady；　perceived　that　with　every　day　her　society　seemed　to　give
him　fresh　pleasure；　and　that　He　spoke　of　her　in　terms　of　stronger
admiration。　　However；　they　prudently　kept　their　observations　to
themselves。　　No　word　was　dropped　which　might　lead　him　to　suspect
their　designs。　　They　continued　their　former　conduct　and
attention；　and　left　Time　to　ripen　into　a　warmer　sentiment　the
friendship　which　He　already　felt　for　Virginia。

In　the　mean　while；　her　visits　became　more　frequent；　and　latterly
there　was　scarce　a　day；　of　which　She　did　not　pass　some　part　by
the　side　of　Lorenzo's　Couch。　　He　gradually　regained　his　strength；
but　the　progress　of　his　recovery　was　slow　and　doubtful。　　One
evening　He　seemed　to　be　in　better　spirits　than　usual：　　Agnes　and
her　Lover；　the　Duke；　Virginia；　and　her　Parents　were　sitting　round
him。　　He　now　for　the　first　time　entreated　his　Sister　to　inform
him　how　She　had　escaped　the　effects　of　the　poison　which　St。
Ursula　had　seen　her　swallow。　　Fearful　of　recalling　those　scenes
to　his　mind　in　which　Antonia　had　perished；　She　had　hitherto
concealed　from　him　the　history　of　her　sufferings。　　As　He　now
started　the　subject　himself；　and　thinking　that　perhaps　the
narrative　of　her　sorrows　might　draw　him　from　the　contemplation　of
those　on　which　He　dwelt　too　constantly；　She　immediately　complied
with　his　request。　　The　rest　of　the　company　had　already　heard　her
story；　But　the　interest　which　all　present　felt　for　its　Heroine
made　them　anxious　to　hear　it　repeated。　　The　whole　society
seconding　Lorenzo's　entreaties；　Agnes　obeyed。　　She　first
recounted　the　discovery　which　had　taken　place　in　the
Abbey　Chapel；　the　Domina's　resentment；　and　the　midnight　scene　of
which　St。　Ursula　had　been　a　concealed　witness。　　Though　the　Nun
had　already　described　this　latter　event；　Agnes　now　related　it
more　circumstantially　and　at　large：　　After　which　She　proceeded　in
her　narrative　as　follows。