the monk(僧侣)-第66章

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more　circumstantially　and　at　large：　　After　which　She　proceeded　in
her　narrative　as　follows。

　　　　　　Conclusion　of　the　History　of　Agnes　de　Medina

My　supposed　death　was　attended　with　the　greatest　agonies。　　Those
moments　which　I　believed　my　last；　were　embittered　by　the　Domina's
assurances　that　I　could　not　escape　perdition；　and　as　my　eyes
closed；　I　heard　her　rage　exhale　itself　in　curses　on　my　offence。　
The　horror　of　this　situation；　of　a　death…bed　from　which　hope　was
banished；　of　a　sleep　from　which　I　was　only　to　wake　to　find　myself
the　prey　of　flames　and　Furies；　was　more　dreadful　than　I　can
describe。　　When　animation　revived　in　me；　my　soul　was　still
impressed　with　these　terrible　ideas：　　I　looked　round　with　fear；
expecting　to　behold　the　Ministers　of　divine　vengeance。　　For　the
first　hour；　my　senses　were　so　bewildered；　and　my　brain　so　dizzy；
that　I　strove　in　vain　to　arrange　the　strange　images　which　floated
in　wild　confusion　before　me。　　If　I　endeavoured　to　raise　myself
from　the　ground；　the　wandering　of　my　head　deceived　me。　Every
thing　around　me　seemed　to　rock；　and　I　sank　once　more　upon　the
earth。　　My　weak　and　dazzled　eyes　were　unable　to　bear　a　nearer
approach　to　a　gleam　of　light　which　I　saw　trembling　above　me。　　I
was　compelled　to　close　them　again；　and　remain　motionless　in　the
same　posture。

A　full　hour　elapsed；　before　I　was　sufficiently　myself　to　examine
the　surrounding　Objects。　　When　I　did　examine　them；　what　terror
filled　my　bosom　I　found　myself　extended　upon　a　sort　of　wicker
Couch：　　It　had　six　handles　to　it；　which　doubtless　had　served　the
Nuns　to　convey　me　to　my　grave。　　I　was　covered　with　a　linen　cloth：

Several　faded　flowers　were　strown　over　me：　　On　one　side　lay　a
small　wooden　Crucifix；　On　the　other；　a　Rosary　of　large　Beads。
Four　low　narrow　walls　confined　me。　　The　top　was　also　covered；　and
in　it　was　practised　a　small　grated　Door：　Through　this　was
admitted　the　little　air　which　circulated　in　this　miserable
place。　　A　faint　glimmering　of　light　which　streamed　through　the
Bars；　permitted　me　to　distinguish　the　surrounding　horrors。　　I　was
opprest　by　a　noisome　suffocating　smell；　and　perceiving　that　the
grated　door　was　unfastened；　I　thought　that　I　might　possibly
effect　my　escape。　　As　I　raised　myself　with　this　design；　my　hand
rested　upon　something　soft：　　I　grasped　it；　and　advanced　it
towards　the　light。　　Almighty　God！　　What　was　my　disgust；　my
consternation！　　In　spite　of　its　putridity；　and　the　worms　which
preyed　upon　it；　I　perceived　a　corrupted　human　head；　and
recognised　the　features　of　a　Nun　who　had　died　some　months　before！

I　threw　it　from　me；　and　sank　almost　lifeless　upon　my　Bier。

When　my　strength　returned；　this　circumstance；　and　the
consciousness　of　being　surrounded　by　the　loathsome　and　mouldering
Bodies　of　my　Companions；　increased　my　desire　to　escape　from　my
fearful　prison。　　I　again　moved　towards　the　light。　　The　grated
door　was　within　my　reach：　I　lifted　it　without　difficulty；
Probably　it　had　been　left　unclosed　to　facilitate　my　quitting　the
dungeon。　　Aiding　myself　by　the　irregularity　of　the　Walls　some　of
whose　stones　projected　beyond　the　rest；　I　contrived　to　ascend
them；　and　drag　myself　out　of　my　prison。　　I　now　found　Myself　in　a
Vault　tolerably　spacious。　　Several　Tombs；　similar　in　appearance
to　that　whence　I　had　just　escaped；　were　ranged　along　the　sides　in
order；　and　seemed　to　be　considerably　sunk　within　the　earth。　　A
sepulchral　Lamp　was　suspended　from　the　roof　by　an　iron　chain；　and
shed　a　gloomy　light　through　the　dungeon。　　Emblems　of　Death　were
seen　on　every　side：　　Skulls；　shoulder…blades；　thigh…bones；　and
other　leavings　of　Mortality　were　scattered　upon　the　dewy　ground。　
Each　Tomb　was　ornamented　with　a　large　Crucifix；　and　in　one　corner
stood　a　wooden　Statue　of　St。　Clare。　　To　these　objects　I　at　first
paid　no　attention：　　A　Door；　the　only　outlet　from　the　Vault；　had
attracted　my　eyes。　　I　hastened　towards　it；　having　wrapped　my
winding…sheet　closely　round　me。　　I　pushed　against　the　door；　and
to　my　inexpressible　terror　found　that　it　was　fastened　on　the
outside。

I　guessed　immediately　that　the　Prioress；　mistaking　the　nature　of
the　liquor　which　She　had　compelled　me　to　drink；　instead　of　poison
had　administered　a　strong　Opiate。　　From　this　I　concluded　that
being　to　all　appearance　dead　I　had　received　the　rites　of　burial；
and　that　deprived　of　the　power　of　making　my　existence　known；　it
would　be　my　fate　to　expire　of　hunger。　　This　idea　penetrated　me
with　horror；　not　merely　for　my　own　sake；　but　that　of　the　innocent
Creature；　who　still　lived　within　my　bosom。　　I　again　endeavoured
to　open　the　door；　but　it　resisted　all　my　efforts。　　I　stretched　my
voice　to　the　extent　of　its　compass；　and　shrieked　for　aid：　　I　was
remote　from　the　hearing　of　every　one：　　No　friendly　voice　replied
to　mine。　　A　profound　and　melancholy　silence　prevailed　through　the
Vault；　and　I　despaired　of　liberty。　　My　long　abstinence　from　food
now　began　to　torment　me。　　The　tortures　which　hunger　inflicted　on
me；　were　the　most　painful　and　insupportable：　Yet　they　seemed　to
increase　with　every　hour　which　past　over　my　head。　　Sometimes　I
threw　myself　upon　the　ground；　and　rolled　upon　it　wild　and
desperate：　　Sometimes　starting　up；　I　returned　to　the　door；　again
strove　to　force　it　open；　and　repeated　my　fruitless　cries　for
succour。　Often　was　I　on　the　point　of　striking　my　temple　against
the　sharp　corner　of　some　Monument；　dashing　out　my　brains；　and
thus　terminating　my　woes　at　once；　But　still　the　remembrance　of　my
Baby　vanquished　my　resolution：　I　trembled　at　a　deed　which
equally　endangered　my　Child's　existence　and　my　own。　　Then　would　I
vent　my　anguish　in　loud　exclamations　and　passionate　complaints；
and　then　again　my　strength　failing　me；　silent　and　hopeless　I
would　sit　me　down　upon　the　base　of　St。　Clare's　Statue；　fold　my
arms；　and　abandon　myself　to　sullen　despair。　　Thus　passed　several
wretched　hours。　　Death　advanced　towards　me　with　rapid　strides；
and　I　expected　that　every　succeeding　moment　would　be　that　of　my
dissolution。　　Suddenly　a　neighbouring　Tomb　caught　my　eye：　　A
Basket　stood　upon　it；　which　till　then　I　had　not　observed。　　I
started　from　my　seat：　　I　made　towards　it　as　swiftly　as　my
exhausted　frame　would　permit。　　How　eagerly　did　I　seize　the
Basket；　on　finding　it　to　contain　a　loaf　of　coarse　bread　and　a
small　bottle　of　water。

I　threw　myself　with　avidity　upon　these　humble　aliments。　They　had
to　all　appearance　been　placed　in　the　Vault　for　several　days；　The
bread　was　hard；　and　the　water　tainted；　Yet　never　did　I　taste　food
to　me　so　delicious。　　When　the　cravings　of　appetite　were
satisfied；　I　busied　myself　with　conjectures　upon　this　new
circumstance：　I　debated　whether　the　Basket　had　been　placed　there
with　a　view　to　my　necessity。　　Hope　answered　my　doubts　in　the
affirmative。　　Yet　who　could　guess　me　to　be　in　need　of　such
assistance？　　If　my　existence　was　known；　why　was　I　detained　in
this　gloomy　Vault？　　If　I　was　kept　a　Prisoner；　what　meant　the
ceremony　of　committing　me　to　the　Tomb？　　Or　if　I　was　doomed　to
perish　with　hunger；　to　whose　pity　was　I　indebted　for　provisions
placed　within　my　reach？　　A　Friend　would　not　have　kept　my　dreadful
punishment　a　secret；　Neither　did　it　seem　probable　that　an　Enemy
would　have　taken　pains　to　supply　me　with　the　means　of　existence。　
Upon　the　whole　I　was　inclined　to　think　that　the　Domina's　designs
upon　my　life　had　been　discovered　by　some　one　of　my　Partizans　in
the　Convent；　who　had　found　means　to　substitute　an　opiate　for
poison：　That　She　had　furnished　me　with　food　to　support　me；　till
She　could　effect　my　delivery：　　And　that　She　was　then　employed　in
giving　intelligence　to　my　Relations　of　my　danger；　and　pointing
out　a　way　to　release　me　from　captivity。　　Yet　why　then　was　the
quality　of　my　provisions　so　coarse？　　How　could　my　Friend　have
entered　the　Vault　without　the　Domina's　knowledge？　　And　if　She　had
entered；　why　was　the　Door　fastened　so　carefully？　　These
reflections　staggered　me：　　Yet　still　this　idea　was　the　most
favourable　to　my　hopes；　and　I　dwelt　upon　it　in　preference。

My　meditations　were　interrupted　by　the　sound　of　distant
footsteps。　　They　approached；　but　slowly。　　Rays　of　light　now
darted　through　the　crevices　of　the　Door。　Uncertain　whether　the
Persons　who　advanced　came　to　relieve　me；　or　were　conducted　by
some　other　motive　to　the　Vault；　I　failed　not　to　attract　their
notice　by　loud　cries　for　help。　　Still　the　sounds　drew　near：　　The
light　grew　stronger：　　At　length　with　inexpressible　pleasure　I
heard　the　Key　turning　in　the　Lock。　　Persuaded　that　my　deliverance
was　at　hand；　I　flew　towards　the　Door　with　a　shriek　of　joy。　　It
opened：　　But　all　my　hopes　of　escape　died　away；　when　the　Prioress
appeared　followed　by　the　same　four　Nuns；　who　had　been　witnesses
of　my　supposed　death。　　They　bore　torches　in　their　hands；　and
gazed　upon　me　in　fearful　silence。

I　started　back　in　terror。　　The　Domina　descended　into　the　Vault；
as　did　also　her　Companions。　　She　bent　upon　me　a　stern　resentful
eye；　but　expressed　no　surprize　at　finding　me　still　living。　　She
took　the　seat　which　I　had　just　quitted：　The　door　was　again
closed；　and　the　Nuns　ranged　themselves　behind　their　Superior；
while　the　glare　of　their　torches；　dimmed　by　the　vapours　and
dampness　of　the　Vault；　gilded　with　cold　beams　the　surrounding
Monuments。　　For　some　moments　all　preserved　a　dead　and　solemn
silence。　　I　stood　at　some　distance　from　the　Prioress。　　At　length
She　beckoned　me　to　advance。　　Trembling　at　the　severity　of　her
aspect　my　strength　scarce　sufficed　me　to　obey　her。　　I　drew　near；
but　my　limbs　were　unable　to　support　their　burthen。　　I　sank　upon
my　knees；　I　clasped　my　hands；　and　lifted　them　up　to　her　for
mercy；　but　had　no　power　to　articulate　a　syllable。

She　gazed　upon　me　with　angry　eyes。

'Do　I　see　a　Penitent；　or　a　Criminal？'　She　said　at　length；　'Are
those　hands　raised　in　contrition　for　your　crimes；　or　in　fear　of
meeting　their　punishment？　　Do　those　tears　acknowledge　the　justice
of　your　doom；　or　only　solicit　mitigation　of　your　sufferings？　　I
fear　me；　'tis　the　latter！'

She　paused；　but　kept　her　eye　still　fixt　upon　mine。

'Take　courage；'　She　continued：　　'I　wish　not　for　your　death；　but
your　repentance。　　The　draught　which　I　administered；　was　no
poison；　but　an　opiate。　　My　intention　in　deceiving　you　was　to
make　you　feel　the　agonies　of　a　guilty　conscience；　had　Death
overtaken　you　suddenly　while　your　crimes　were　still　unrepented。　
You　have　suffered　those　agonies：　　I　have　brought　you　to　be
familiar　with　the　sharpness　of　death；　and　I　trust　that　your
momentary　anguish　will　prove　to　you　an　eternal　benefit。　　It　is
not　my　design　to　destroy　your　immortal　soul；　or　bid　you　seek　the
grave；　burthened　with　the　weight　of　sins　unexpiated。　　No；
Daughter；　far　from　it：　　I　will　purify　you　with　wholesome
chastisement；　and　furnish　you　with　full　leisure　for　contrition
and　remorse。　　Hear　then　my　sentence；　The　ill…judged　zeal　of　your
Friends　delayed　its　execution；　but　cannot　now　prevent　it。　　All
Madrid　believes　you　to　be　no　more；　Your　Relations　are　thoroughly
persuaded　of　your　death；　and　the　Nuns　your　Partizans　have
assisted　at　your　funeral。　　Your　existence　can　never　be　suspected；
I　have　taken　such　precautions；　as　must　render　it　an　impenetrable
mystery。　　Then　abandon　all　thoughts　of　a　World　from　which　you　are
eternally　separated；　and