the monk(僧侣)-第70章

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reserved　for　him。　　He　shuddered　at　the　approaching　Auto　da　Fe；　at
the　idea　of　perishing　in　flames；　and　only　escaping　from　indurable
torments　to　pass　into　others　more　subtile　and　ever…lasting！　With
affright　did　He　bend　his　mind's　eye　on　the　space　beyond　the
grave；　nor　could　hide　from　himself　how　justly　he　ought　to　dread
Heaven's　vengeance。　　In　this　Labyrinth　of　terrors；　fain　would　He
have　taken　his　refuge　in　the　gloom　of　Atheism：　　Fain　would　He
have　denied　the　soul's　immortality；　have　persuaded　himself　that
when　his　eyes　once　closed；　they　would　never　more　open；　and　that
the　same　moment　would　annihilate　his　soul　and　body。　　Even　this
resource　was　refused　to　him。　　To　permit　his　being　blind　to　the
fallacy　of　this　belief；　his　knowledge　was　too　extensive；　his
understanding　too　solid　and　just。　　He　could　not　help　feeling　the
existence　of　a　God。　　Those　truths；　once　his　comfort；　now
presented　themselves　before　him　in　the　clearest　light；　But　they
only　served　to　drive　him　to　distraction。　　They　destroyed　his
ill…grounded　hopes　of　escaping　punishment；　and　dispelled　by　the
irresistible　brightness　of　Truth　and　convinction；　Philosophy's
deceitful　vapours　faded　away　like　a　dream。

In　anguish　almost　too　great　for　mortal　frame　to　bear；　He　expected
the　time　when　He　was　again　to　be　examined。　He　busied　himself　in
planning　ineffectual　schemes　for　escaping　both　present　and　future
punishment。　　Of　the　first　there　was　no　possibility；　Of　the　second
Despair　made　him　neglect　the　only　means。　　While　Reason　forced　him
to　acknowledge　a　God's　existence；　Conscience　made　him　doubt　the
infinity　of　his　goodness。　　He　disbelieved　that　a　Sinner　like　him
could　find　mercy。　　He　had　not　been　deceived　into　error：　
Ignorance　could　furnish　him　with　no　excuse。　　He　had　seen　vice　in
her　true　colours；　Before　He　committed　his　crimes；　He　had　computed
every　scruple　of　their　weight；　and　yet　he　had　committed　them。

'Pardon？'　He　would　cry　in　an　access　of　phrenzy　'Oh！　there　can　be
none　for　me！'

Persuaded　of　this；　instead　of　humbling　himself　in　penitence；　of
deploring　his　guilt；　and　employing　his　few　remaining　hours　in
deprecating　Heaven's　wrath；　He　abandoned　himself　to　the
transports　of　desperate　rage；　He　sorrowed　for　the　punishment　of
his　crimes；　not　their　commission；　and　exhaled　his　bosom's　anguish
in　idle　sighs；　in　vain　lamentations；　in　blasphemy　and　despair。　
As　the　few　beams　of　day　which　pierced　through　the　bars　of　his
prison　window　gradually　disappeared；　and　their　place　was
supplied　by　the　pale　and　glimmering　Lamp；　He　felt　his　terrors
redouble；　and　his　ideas　become　more　gloomy；　more　solemn；　more
despondent。　　He　dreaded　the　approach　of　sleep：　　No　sooner　did　his
eyes　close；　wearied　with　tears　and　watching；　than　the　dreadful
visions　seemed　to　be　realised　on　which　his　mind　had　dwelt　during
the　day。　He　found　himself　in　sulphurous　realms　and　burning
Caverns；　surrounded　by　Fiends　appointed　his　Tormentors；　and　who
drove　him　through　a　variety　of　tortures；　each　of　which　was　more
dreadful　than　the　former。　　Amidst　these　dismal　scenes　wandered
the　Ghosts　of　Elvira　and　her　Daughter。　　They　reproached　him　with
their　deaths；　recounted　his　crimes　to　the　Daemons；　and　urged　them
to　inflict　torments　of　cruelty　yet　more　refined。　　Such　were　the
pictures　which　floated　before　his　eyes　in　sleep：　　They　vanished
not　till　his　repose　was　disturbed　by　excess　of　agony。　　Then　would
He　start　from　the　ground　on　which　He　had　stretched　himself；　his
brows　running　down　with　cold　sweat；　his　eyes　wild　and　phrenzied；
and　He　only　exchanged　the　terrible　certainty　for　surmizes
scarcely　more　supportable。　　He　paced　his　dungeon　with　disordered
steps；　He　gazed　with　terror　upon　the　surrounding　darkness；　and
often　did　He　cry；

'Oh！　fearful　is　night　to　the　Guilty！'

The　day　of　his　second　examination　was　at　hand。　　He　had　been
compelled　to　swallow　cordials；　whose　virtues　were　calculated　to
restore　his　bodily　strength；　and　enable　him　to　support　the
question　longer。　　On　the　night　preceding　this　dreaded　day；　his
fears　for　the　morrow　permitted　him　not　to　sleep。　　His　terrors
were　so　violent；　as　nearly　to　annihilate　his　mental　powers。　　He
sat　like　one　stupefied　near　the　Table　on　which　his　Lamp　was
burning　dimly。　Despair　chained　up　his　faculties　in　Idiotism；　and
He　remained　for　some　hours；　unable　to　speak　or　move；　or　indeed　to
think。

'Look　up；　Ambrosio！'　said　a　Voice　in　accents　well…known　to　him

The　Monk　started；　and　raised　his　melancholy　eyes。　Matilda　stood
before　him。　　She　had　quitted　her　religious　habit。　　She　now　wore　a
female　dress；　at　once　elegant　and　splendid：　　A　profusion　of
diamonds　blazed　upon　her　robes；　and　her　hair　was　confined　by　a
coronet　of　Roses。　　In　her　right　hand　She　held　a　small　Book：　　A
lively　expression　of　pleasure　beamed　upon　her　countenance；　But
still　it　was　mingled　with　a　wild　imperious　majesty　which
inspired　the　Monk　with　awe；　and　represt　in　some　measure　his
transports　at　seeing　her。　　

'You　here；　Matilda？'　He　at　length　exclaimed；　'How　have　you　gained
entrance？　　Where　are　your　Chains？　　What　means　this　magnificence；
and　the　joy　which　sparkles　in　your　eyes？　　Have　our　Judges
relented？　　Is　there　a　chance　of　my　escaping？　　Answer　me　for　pity；
and　tell　me；　what　I　have　to　hope；　or　fear。'

'Ambrosio！'　She　replied　with　an　air　of　commanding　dignity；　'I
have　baffled　the　Inquisition's　fury。　　I　am　free：　A　few　moments
will　place　kingdoms　between　these　dungeons　and　me。　　Yet　I
purchase　my　liberty　at　a　dear；　at　a　dreadful　price！　　Dare　you　pay
the　same；　Ambrosio？　　Dare　you　spring　without　fear　over　the
bounds　which　separate　Men　from　Angels？You　are　silent。You
look　upon　me　with　eyes　of　suspicion　and　alarmI　read　your
thoughts　and　confess　their　justice。　　Yes；　Ambrosio　；　I　have
sacrificed　all　for　life　and　liberty。　　I　am　no　longer　a　candidate
for　heaven！　　I　have　renounced　God's　service；　and　am　enlisted
beneath　the　banners　of　his　Foes。　　The　deed　is　past　recall：　Yet
were　it　in　my　power　to　go　back；　I　would　not。　　Oh！　my　Friend；　to
expire　in　such　torments！　　To　die　amidst　curses　and　execrations！　
To　bear　the　insults　of　an　exasperated　Mob！　　To　be　exposed　to　all
the　mortifications　of　shame　and　infamy！　　Who　can　reflect　without
horror　on　such　a　doom？　　Let　me　then　exult　in　my　exchange。　　I　have
sold　distant　and　uncertain　happiness　for　present　and　secure：　I
have　preserved　a　life　which　otherwise　I　had　lost　in　torture；　and
I　have　obtained　the　power　of　procuring　every　bliss　which　can
make　that　life　delicious！　　The　Infernal　Spirits　obey　me　as　their
Sovereign：　　By　their　aid　shall　my　days　be　past　in　every
refinement　of　luxury　and　voluptuousness。　　I　will　enjoy
unrestrained　the　gratification　of　my　senses：　　Every　passion　shall
be　indulged；　even　to　satiety；　Then　will　I　bid　my　Servants　invent
new　pleasures；　to　revive　and　stimulate　my　glutted　appetites！　　I
go　impatient　to　exercise　my　newly…gained　dominion。　I　pant　to　be
at　liberty。　　Nothing　should　hold　me　one　moment　longer　in　this
abhorred　abode；　but　the　hope　of　persuading　you　to　follow　my
example。　　Ambrosio；　I　still　love　you：　　Our　mutual　guilt　and
danger　have　rendered　you　dearer　to　me　than　ever；　and　I　would　fain
save　you　from　impending　destruction。　　Summon　then　your　resolution
to　your　aid；　and　renounce　for　immediate　and　certain　benefits　the
hopes　of　a　salvation；　difficult　to　obtain；　and　perhaps　altogether
erroneous。　　Shake　off　the　prejudice　of　vulgar　souls；　Abandon　a
God　who　has　abandoned　you；　and　raise　yourself　to　the　level　of
superior　Beings！'

She　paused　for　the　Monk's　reply：　　He　shuddered；　while　He　gave　it。

'Matilda！'　He　said　after　a　long　silence　in　a　low　and　unsteady
voice；　'What　price　gave　you　for　liberty？'

She　answered　him　firm　and　dauntless。

'Ambrosio；　it　was　my　Soul！'

'Wretched　Woman；　what　have　you　done？　　Pass　but　a　few　years；　and
how　dreadful　will　be　your　sufferings！'

'Weak　Man；　pass　but　this　night；　and　how　dreadful　will　be　your
own！　　Do　you　remember　what　you　have　already　endured？　　Tomorrow
you　must　bear　torments　doubly　exquisite。　　Do　you　remember　the
horrors　of　a　fiery　punishment？　　In　two　days　you　must　be　led　a
Victim　to　the　Stake！　　What　then　will　become　of　you？　　Still　dare
you　hope　for　pardon？　　Still　are　you　beguiled　with　visions　of
salvation？　　Think　upon　your　crimes！　　Think　upon　your　lust；　your
perjury；　inhumanity；　and　hypocrisy！　　Think　upon　the　innocent
blood　which　cries　to　the　Throne　of　God　for　vengeance；　and　then
hope　for　mercy！　　Then　dream　of　heaven；　and　sigh　for　worlds　of
light；　and　realms　of　peace　and　pleasure！　　Absurd！　　Open　your
eyes；　Ambrosio；　and　be　prudent。　　Hell　is　your　lot；　You　are　doomed
to　eternal　perdition；　Nought　lies　beyond　your　grave　but　a　gulph
of　devouring　flames。　　And　will　you　then　speed　towards　that　Hell？　
Will　you　clasp　that　perdition　in　your　arms；　ere　'tis　needful？　
Will　you　plunge　into　those　flames　while　you　still　have　the　power
to　shun　them？　　'Tis　a　Madman's　action。　　No；　no；　Ambrosio：　　Let　us
for　awhile　fly　from　divine　vengeance。　　Be　advised　by　me；　Purchase
by　one　moment's　courage　the　bliss　of　years；　Enjoy　the　present；
and　forget　that　a　future　lags　behind。'

'Matilda；　your　counsels　are　dangerous：　　I　dare　not；　I　will　not
follow　them。　　I　must　not　give　up　my　claim　to　salvation。　
Monstrous　are　my　crimes；　But　God　is　merciful；　and　I　will　not
despair　of　pardon。'

'Is　such　your　resolution？　　I　have　no　more　to　say。　　I　speed　to　joy
and　liberty；　and　abandon　you　to　death　and　eternal　torments。'

'Yet　stay　one　moment；　Matilda！　　You　command　the　infernal　Daemons：

You　can　force　open　these　prison　doors；　You　can　release　me　from
these　chains　which　weigh　me　down。　　Save　me；　I　conjure　you；　and
bear　me　from　these　fearful　abodes！'

'You　ask　the　only　boon　beyond　my　power　to　bestow。　　I　am　forbidden
to　assist　a　Churchman　and　a　Partizan　of　God：　　Renounce　those
titles；　and　command　me。'

'I　will　not　sell　my　soul　to　perdition。'

'Persist　in　your　obstinacy；　till　you　find　yourself　at　the　Stake：　
Then　will　you　repent　your　error；　and　sigh　for　escape　when　the
moment　is　gone　by。　　I　quit　you。　　Yet　ere　the　hour　of　death
arrives　should　wisdom　enlighten　you；　listen　to　the　means　of
repairing　your　present　fault。　　I　leave　with　you　this　Book。　　Read
the　four　first　lines　of　the　seventh　page　backwards：　　The　Spirit
whom　you　have　already　once　beheld　will　immediately　appear　to
you。　　If　you　are　wise；　we　shall　meet　again：　　If　not；　farewell　for
ever！'

She　let　the　Book　fall　upon　the　ground。　　A　cloud　of　blue　fire
wrapped　itself　round　her：　　She　waved　her　hand　to　Ambrosio；　and
disappeared。　　The　momentary　glare　which　the　flames　poured　through
the　dungeon；　on　dissipating　suddenly；　seemed　to　have　increased
its　natural　gloom。　　The　solitary　Lamp　scarcely　gave　light
sufficient　to　guide　the　Monk　to　a　Chair。　　He　threw　himself　into
his　seat；　folded　his　arms；　and　leaning　his　head　upon　the　table；
sank　into　reflections　perplexing　and　unconnected。

He　was　still　in　this　attitude　when　the　opening　of　the　prison　door
rouzed　him　from　his　stupor。　　He　was　summoned　to　appear　before　the
Grand　Inquisitor。　　He　rose；　and　followed　his　Gaoler　with　painful
steps。　　He　was　led　into　the　same　Hall；　placed　before　the　same
Examiners；　and　was　again　interrogated　whether　Hewould　confess。　
He　replied　as　before；　that　having　no　crimes；　He　could　acknowledge
none：　　But　when　the　Exec