the monk(僧侣)-第69章

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Lorenzo　witnessed　with　admiration　her　beautiful　person；　elegant
manners；　innumerable　talents；　and　sweet　disposition：　　He　was　also
much　flattered　by　her　prejudice　in　his　favour；　which　She　had　not
sufficient　art　to　conceal。　　However；　his　sentiments　partook　not
of　that　ardent　character　which　had　marked　his　affection　for
Antonia。　　The　image　of　that　lovely　and　unfortunate　Girl　still
lived　in　his　heart；　and　baffled　all　Virginia's　efforts　to
displace　it。　　Still　when　the　Duke　proposed　to　him　the　match；
which　He　wished　to　earnestly　to　take　place；　his　Nephew　did　not
reject　the　offer。　　The　urgent　supplications　of　his　Friends；　and
the　Lady's　merit　conquered　his　repugnance　to　entering　into　new
engagements。　He　proposed　himself　to　the　Marquis　de　Villa…　Franca；
and　was　accepted　with　joy　and　gratitude。　　Virginia　became　his
Wife；　nor　did　She　ever　give　him　cause　to　repent　his　choice。　　His
esteem　increased　for　her　daily。　　Her　unremitted　endeavours　to
please　him　could　not　but　succeed。　　His　affection　assumed　stronger
and　warmer　colours。　　Antonia's　image　was　gradually　effaced　from
his　bosom；　and　Virginia　became　sole　Mistress　of　that　heart；　which
She　well　deserved　to　possess　without　a　Partner。

The　remaining　years　of　Raymond　and　Agnes；　of　Lorenzo　and
Virginia；　were　happy　as　can　be　those　allotted　to　Mortals；　born　to
be　the　prey　of　grief；　and　sport　of　disappointment。　　The　exquisite
sorrows　with　which　they　had　been　afflicted；　made　them　think
lightly　of　every　succeeding　woe。　　They　had　felt　the　sharpest
darts　in　misfortune's　quiver；　Those　which　remained　appeared　blunt
in　comparison。　　Having　weathered　Fate's　heaviest　Storms；　they
looked　calmly　upon　its　terrors：　or　if　ever　they　felt　Affliction's
casual　gales；　they　seemed　to　them　gentle　as　Zephyrs　which
breathe　over　summer…seas。


　CHAPTER　V

　He　was　a　fell　despightful　Fiend：　　
Hell　holds　none　worse　in　baleful　bower　below：　　
By　pride；　and　wit；　and　rage；　and　rancor　keened；　　
Of　Man　alike；　if　good　or　bad　the　Foe。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　Thomson。　

On　the　day　following　Antonia's　death；　all　Madrid　was　a　scene　of
consternation　and　amazement。　　An　Archer　who　had　witnessed　the
adventure　in　the　Sepulchre　had　indiscreetly　related　the
circumstances　of　the　murder：　　He　had　also　named　the　Perpetrator。　
The　confusion　was　without　example　which　this　intelligence　raised
among　the　Devotees。　　Most　of　them　disbelieved　it；　and　went
themselves　to　the　Abbey　to　ascertain　the　fact。　　Anxious　to　avoid
the　shame　to　which　their　Superior's　ill…conduct　exposed　the　whole
Brotherhood；　the　Monks　assured　the　Visitors　that　Ambrosio　was
prevented　from　receiving　them　as　usual　by　nothing　but　illness。　
This　attempt　was　unsuccessful：　　The　same　excuse　being　repeated
day　after　day；　the　Archer's　story　gradually　obtained　confidence。
His　Partizans　abandoned　him：　　No　one　entertained　a　doubt　of　his
guilt；　and　they　who　before　had　been　the　warmest　in　his　praise
were　now　the　most　vociferous　in　his　condemnation。

While　his　innocence　or　guilt　was　debated　in　Madrid　with　the
utmost　acrimony；　Ambrosio　was　a　prey　to　the　pangs　of　conscious
villainy；　and　the　terrors　of　punishment　impending　over　him。　　When
He　looked　back　to　the　eminence　on　which　He　had　lately　stood；
universally　honoured　and　respected；　at　peace　with　the　world　and
with　himself；　scarcely　could　He　believe　that　He　was　indeed　the
culprit　whose　crimes　and　whose　fate　He　trembled　to　envisage。　
But　a　few　weeks　had　elapsed；　since　He　was　pure　and　virtuous；
courted　by　the　wisest　and　noblest　in　Madrid；　and　regarded　by　the
People　with　a　reverence　that　approached　idolatry：　　He　now　saw
himself　stained　with　the　most　loathed　and　monstrous　sins；　the
object　of　universal　execration；　a　Prisoner　of　the　Holy　Office；
and　probably　doomed　to　perish　in　tortures　the　most　severe。　　He
could　not　hope　to　deceive　his　Judges：　　The　proofs　of　his　guilt
were　too　strong。　　His　being　in　the　Sepulchre　at　so　late　an　hour；
his　confusion　at　the　discovery；　the　dagger　which　in　his　first
alarm　He　owned　had　been　concealed　by　him；　and　the　blood　which　had
spirted　upon　his　habit　from　Antonia's　wound；　sufficiently　marked
him　out　for　the　Assassin。　　He　waited　with　agony　for　the　day　of
examination：　　He　had　no　resource　to　comfort　him　in　his　distress。　
Religion　could　not　inspire　him　with　fortitude：　If　He　read　the
Books　of　morality　which　were　put　into　his　hands；　He　saw　in　them
nothing　but　the　enormity　of　his　offences；　If　he　attempted　to
pray；　He　recollected　that　He　deserved　not　heaven's　protection；
and　believed　his　crimes　so　monstrous　as　to　baffle　even　God's
infinite　goodness。　　For　every　other　Sinner　He　thought　there
might　be　hope；　but　for　him　there　could　be　none。　　Shuddering　at
the　past；　anguished　by　the　present；　and　dreading　the　future；　thus
passed　He　the　few　days　preceding　that　which　was　marked　for　his
Trial。

That　day　arrived。　　At　nine　in　the　morning　his　prison　door　was
unlocked；　and　his　Gaoler　entering；　commanded　him　to　follow　him。　
He　obeyed　with　trembling。　　He　was　conducted　into　a　spacious　Hall；
hung　with　black　cloth。　At　the　Table　sat　three　grave；
stern…looking　Men；　also　habited　in　black：　　One　was　the　Grand
Inquisitor；　whom　the　importance　of　this　cause　had　induced　to
examine　into　it　himself。　　At　a　smaller　table　at　a　little　distance
sat　the　Secretary；　provided　with　all　necessary　implements　for
writing。　　Ambrosio　was　beckoned　to　advance；　and　take　his　station
at　the　lower　end　of　the　Table。　　As　his　eye　glanced　downwards；　He
perceived　various　iron　instruments　lying　scattered　upon　the
floor。　　Their　forms　were　unknown　to　him；　but　apprehension
immediately　guessed　them　to　be　engines　of　torture。　　He　turned
pale；　and　with　difficulty　prevented　himself　from　sinking　upon　the
ground。

Profound　silence　prevailed；　except　when　the　Inquisitors　whispered
a　few　words　among　themselves　mysteriously。　　Near　an　hour　past
away；　and　with　every　second　of　it　Ambrosio's　fears　grew　more
poignant。　　At　length　a　small　Door；　opposite　to　that　by　which　He
had　entered　the　Hall；　grated　heavily　upon　its　hinges。　　An　Officer
appeared；　and　was　immediately　followed　by　the　beautiful　Matilda。　
Her　hair　hung　about　her　face　wildly；　Her　cheeks　were　pale；　and
her　eyes　sunk　and　hollow。　She　threw　a　melancholy　look　upon
Ambrosio：　　He　replied　by　one　of　aversion　and　reproach。　　She　was
placed　opposite　to　him。　　A　Bell　then　sounded　thrice。　　It　was　the
signal　for　opening　the　Court；　and　the　Inquisitors　entered　upon
their　office。

In　these　trials　neither　the　accusation　is　mentioned；　or　the　name
of　the　Accuser。　　The　Prisoners　are　only　asked；　whether　they　will
confess：　　If　they　reply　that　having　no　crime　they　can　make　no
confession；　they　are　put　to　the　torture　without　delay。　　This　is
repeated　at　intervals；　either　till　the　suspected　avow　themselves
culpable；　or　the　perseverance　of　the　examinants　is　worn　out　and
exhausted：　But　without　a　direct　acknowledgment　of　their　guilt；
the　Inquisition　never　pronounces　the　final　doom　of　its　Prisoners。

In　general　much　time　is　suffered　to　elapse　without　their　being
questioned：　　But　Ambrosio's　trial　had　been　hastened；　on　account
of　a　solemn　Auto　da　Fe　which　would　take　place　in　a　few　days；　and
in　which　the　Inquisitors　meant　this　distinguished　Culprit　to
perform　a　part；　and　give　a　striking　testimony　of　their　vigilance。

The　Abbot　was　not　merely　accused　of　rape　and　murder：　　The　crime
of　Sorcery　was　laid　to　his　charge；　as　well　as　to　Matilda's。　　She
had　been　seized　as　an　Accomplice　in　Antonia's　assassination。　　On
searching　her　Cell；　various　suspicious　books　and　instruments　were
found　which　justified　the　accusation　brought　against　her。　　To
criminate　the　Monk；　the　constellated　Mirror　was　produced；　which
Matilda　had　accidentally　left　in　his　chamber。　The　strange　figures
engraved　upon　it　caught　the　attention　of　Don　Ramirez；　while
searching　the　Abbot's　Cell：　　In　consequence；　He　carried　it　away
with　him。　　It　was　shown　to　the　Grand　Inquisitor；　who　having
considered　it　for　some　time；　took　off　a　small　golden　Cross　which
hung　at　his　girdle；　and　laid　it　upon　the　Mirror。　Instantly　a　loud
noise　was　heard；　resembling　a　clap　of　thunder；　and　the　steel
shivered　into　a　thousand　pieces。　This　circumstance　confirmed　the
suspicion　of　the　Monk's　having　dealt　in　Magic：　　It　was　even
supposed　that　his　former　influence　over　the　minds　of　the　People
was　entirely　to　be　ascribed　to　witchcraft。

Determined　to　make　him　confess　not　only　the　crimes　which　He　had
committed；　but　those　also　of　which　He　was　innocent；　the
Inquisitors　began　their　examination。　Though　dreading　the
tortures；　as　He　dreaded　death　still　more　which　would　consign　him
to　eternal　torments；　the　Abbot　asserted　his　purity　in　a　voice
bold　and　resolute。　　Matilda　followed　his　example；　but　spoke　with
fear　and　trembling。　　Having　in　vain　exhorted　him　to　confess；　the
Inquisitors　ordered　the　Monk　to　be　put　to　the　question。　　The
Decree　was　immediately　executed。　　Ambrosio　suffered　the　most
excruciating　pangs　that　ever　were　invented　by　human　cruelty：　
Yet　so　dreadful　is　Death　when　guilt　accompanies　it；　that　He　had
sufficient　fortitude　to　persist　in　his　disavowal。　　His　agonies
were　redoubled　in　consequence：　　Nor　was　He　released　till　fainting
from　excess　of　pain；　insensibility　rescued　him　from　the　hands　of
his　Tormentors。

Matilda　was　next　ordered　to　the　torture：　　But　terrified　by　the
sight　of　the　Friar's　sufferings；　her　courage　totally　deserted
her。　　She　sank　upon　her　knees；　acknowledged　her　corresponding
with　infernal　Spirits；　and　that　She　had　witnessed　the　Monk's
assassination　of　Antonia：　　But　as　to　the　crime　of　Sorcery；　She
declared　herself　the　sole　criminal；　and　Ambrosio　perfectly
innocent。　　The　latter　assertion　met　with　no　credit。　　The　Abbot
had　recovered　his　senses　in　time　to　hear　the　confession　of　his
Accomplice：　But　He　was　too　much　enfeebled　by　what　He　had　already
undergone　to　be　capable　at　that　time　of　sustaining　new　torments。

He　was　commanded　back　to　his　Cell；　but　first　informed　that　as
soon　as　He　had　gained　strength　sufficient；　He　must　prepare
himself　for　a　second　examination。　　The　Inquisitors　hoped　that　He
would　then　be　less　hardened　and　obstinate。　　To　Matilda　it　was
announced　that　She　must　expiate　her　crime　in　fire　on　the
approaching　Auto　da　Fe。　　All　her　tears　and　entreaties　could
procure　no　mitigation　of　her　doom；　and　She　was　dragged　by　force
from　the　Hall　of　Trial。

Returned　to　his　dungeon；　the　sufferings　of　Ambrosio's　body　were
far　more　supportable　than　those　of　his　mind。　　His　dislocated
limbs；　the　nails　torn　from　his　hands　and　feet；　and　his　fingers
mashed　and　broken　by　the　pressure　of　screws；　were　far　surpassed
in　anguish　by　the　agitation　of　his　soul　and　vehemence　of　his
terrors。　　He　saw　that；　guilty　or　innocent；　his　Judges　were　bent
upon　condemning　him：　　The　remembrance　of　what　his　denial　had
already　cost　him　terrified　him　at　the　idea　of　being　again
applied　to　the　question；　and　almost　engaged　him　to　confess　his
crimes。　　Then　again　the　consequences　of　his　confession　flashed
before　him；　and　rendered　him　once　more　irresolute。　　His　death
would　be　inevitable；　and　that　a　death　the　most　dreadful：　　He　had
listened　to　Matilda's　doom；　and　doubted　not　that　a　similar　was
reserved　for　him。　　He　shuddered　at　the　approaching　Auto　da　Fe；　at
the　idea　of　perishing　in　flames；　and　only　esca