volume02-第21章

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'Holy　Virgin！　　As　you　say；　that　is　very　true。Oh！　But　might　He　not　have　been　born　in　the　Abbey？'

Elvira　smiled。

'Why；　not　very　easily。'

'Stay；　Stay！　　Now　I　recollect　how　it　was。　　He　was　put　into　the　Abbey　quite　a　Child；　The　common　People　say　that　He　fell　from　heaven；　and　was　sent　as　a　present　to　the　Capuchins　by　the　Virgin。'

'That　was　very　kind　of　her。　　And　so　He　fell　from　heaven；　Antonia？

He　must　have　had　a　terrible　tumble。'

'Many　do　not　credit　this；　and　I　fancy；　my　dear　Mother；　that　I　must　number　you　among　the　Unbelievers。　　Indeed；　as　our　Landlady　told　my　Aunt；　the　general　idea　is　that　his　Parents；　being　poor　and　unable　to　maintain　him；　left　him　just　born　at　the　Abbey　door。　The　late　Superior　from　pure　charity　had　him　educated　in　the　Convent；　and　He　proved　to　be　a　model　of　virtue；　and　piety；　and　learning；　and　I　know　not　what　else　besides：　　In　consequence；　He　was　first　received　as　a　Brother　of　the　order；　and　not　long　ago　was　chosen　Abbot。　　However；　whether　this　account　or　the　other　is　the　true　one；　at　least　all　agree　that　when　the　Monks　took　him　under　their　care；　He　could　not　speak：　　Therefore；　you　could　not　have　heard　his　voice　before　He　entered　the　Monastery；　because　at　that　time　He　had　no　voice　at　all。'

'Upon　my　word；　Antonia；　you　argue　very　closely！　　Your　conclusions　are　infallible！　　I　did　not　suspect　you　of　being　so　able　a　Logician。'

'Ah！　You　are　mocking　me！　　But　so　much　the　better。　It　delights　me　to　see　you　in　spirits：　　Besides　you　seem　tranquil　and　easy；　and　I　hope　that　you　will　have　no　more　convulsions。　　Oh！　I　was　sure　the　Abbot's　visit　would　do　you　good！'

'It　has　indeed　done　me　good；　my　Child。　　He　has　quieted　my　mind　upon　some　points　which　agitated　me；　and　I　already　feel　the　effects　of　his　attention。　　My　eyes　grow　heavy；　and　I　think　I　can　sleep　a　little。　　Draw　the　curtains；　my　Antonia：　　But　if　I　should　not　wake　before　midnight；　do　not　sit　up　with　me；　I　charge　you。'

Antonia　promised　to　obey　her；　and　having　received　her　blessing　drew　the　curtains　of　the　Bed。　　She　then　seated　herself　in　silence　at　her　embroidery　frame；　and　beguiled　the　hours　with　building　Castles　in　the　air。　　Her　spirits　were　enlivened　by　the　evident　change　for　the　better　in　Elvira；　and　her　fancy　presented　her　with　visions　bright　and　pleasing。　　In　these　dreams　Ambrosio　made　no　despicable　figure。　　She　thought　of　him　with　joy　and　gratitude；　But　for　every　idea　which　fell　to　the　Friar's　share；　at　least　two　were　unconsciously　bestowed　upon　Lorenzo。　　Thus　passed　the　time；　till　the　Bell　in　the　neighbouring　Steeple　of　the　Capuchin　Cathedral　announced　the　hour　of　midnight：　　Antonia　remembered　her　Mother's　injunctions；　and　obeyed　them；　though　with　reluctance。　　She　undrew　the　curtains　with　caution。　　Elvira　was　enjoying　a　profound　and　quiet　slumber；　Her　cheek　glowed　with　health's　returning　colours：　　A　smile　declared　that　her　dreams　were　pleasant；　and　as　Antonia　bent　over　her；　She　fancied　that　She　heard　her　name　pronounced。　　She　kissed　her　Mother's　forehead　softly；　and　retired　to　her　chamber。　　There　She　knelt　before　a　Statue　of　St。　Rosolia；　her　Patroness；　She　recommended　herself　to　the　protection　of　heaven；　and　as　had　been　her　custom　from　infancy；　concluded　her　devotions　by　chaunting　the　following　Stanzas。

　MIDNIGHT　HYMN

　Now　all　is　hushed；　The　solemn　chime　　　No　longer　swells　the　nightly　gale：　　　Thy　awful　presence；　Hour　sublime；　　　With　spotless　heart　once　more　I　hail。

　'Tis　now　the　moment　still　and　dread；　　　When　Sorcerers　use　their　baleful　power；　　　When　Graves　give　up　their　buried　dead　　　To　profit　by　the　sanctioned　hour：

　From　guilt　and　guilty　thoughts　secure；　　　To　duty　and　devotion　true；　　　With　bosom　light　and　conscience　pure；　　　Repose；　thy　gentle　aid　I　woo。

　Good　Angels；　take　my　thanks；　that　still　　　The　snares　of　vice　I　view　with　scorn；　　　Thanks；　that　to…night　as　free　from　ill　　　I　sleep；　as　when　I　woke　at　morn。

　Yet　may　not　my　unconscious　breast　　　Harbour　some　guilt　to　me　unknown？　　　Some　wish　impure；　which　unreprest　　　You　blush　to　see；　and　I　to　own？

　If　such　there　be；　in　gentle　dream　　　Instruct　my　feet　to　shun　the　snare；　　　Bid　truth　upon　my　errors　beam；　　　And　deign　to　make　me　still　your　care。

　Chase　from　my　peaceful　bed　away　　　The　witching　Spell；　a　foe　to　rest；　　　The　nightly　Goblin；　wanton　Fay；　　　The　Ghost　in　pain；　and　Fiend　unblest：

　Let　not　the　Tempter　in　mine　ear　　　Pour　lessons　of　unhallowed　joy；　　Let　not　the　Night…mare；　wandering　near　　　My　Couch；　the　calm　of　sleep　destroy；

　Let　not　some　horrid　dream　affright　　　With　strange　fantastic　forms　mine　eyes；　　　But　rather　bid　some　vision　bright　　　Display　the　blissof　yonder　skies。

　Show　me　the　crystal　Domes　of　Heaven；　　　The　worlds　of　light　where　Angels　lie；　　　Shew　me　the　lot　to　Mortals　given；　　　Who　guiltless　live；　who　guiltless　die。

　Then　show　me　how　a　seat　to　gain　　　Amidst　those　blissful　realms　of　Air；　　Teach　me　to　shun　each　guilty　stain；　　　And　guide　me　to　the　good　and　fair。

　So　every　morn　and　night；　my　Voice　　　To　heaven　the　grateful　strain　shall　raise；　　　In　You　as　Guardian　Powers　rejoice；　　　Good　Angels；　and　exalt　your　praise：

　So　will　I　strive　with　zealous　fire　　　Each　vice　to　shun；　each　fault　correct；　　Will　love　the　lessons　you　inspire；　　　And　Prize　the　virtues　you　protect。

　Then　when　at　length　by　high　command　　　My　body　seeks　the　Grave's　repose；　　　When　Death　draws　nigh　with　friendly　hand　　　My　failing　Pilgrim　eyes　to　close；

　Pleased　that　my　soul　has　'scaped　the　wreck；　　　Sighless　will　I　my　life　resign；　　　And　yield　to　God　my　Spirit　back；　　　As　pure　as　when　it　first　was　mine。


Having　finished　her　usual　devotions；　Antonia　retired　to　bed。　　Sleep　soon　stole　over　her　senses；　and　for　several　hours　She　enjoyed　that　calm　repose　which　innocence　alone　can　know；　and　for　which　many　a　Monarch　with　pleasure　would　exchange　his　Crown。　



CHAPTER　IV

　　　Ah！　how　dark　　　These　long…extended　realms　and　rueful　wastes；　　　Where　nought　but　silence　reigns；　and　night；　dark　night；　　Dark　as　was　Chaos　ere　the　Infant　Sun　　　Was　rolled　together；　or　had　tried　its　beams　　　Athwart　the　gloom　profound！　　　The　sickly　Taper　　By　glimmering　through　thy　low…browed　misty　vaults；　　　Furred　round　with　mouldy　damps；　and　ropy　slime；　　　Lets　fall　a　supernumerary　horror；　　　And　only　serves　to　make　　Thy　night　more　irksome！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Blair。

Returned　undiscovered　to　the　Abbey；　Ambrosio's　mind　was　filled　with　the　most　pleasing　images。　　He　was　wilfully　blind　to　the　danger　of　exposing　himself　to　Antonia's　charms：　　He　only　remembered　the　pleasure　which　her　society　had　afforded　him；　and　rejoiced　in　the　prospect　of　that　pleasure　being　repeated。　　He　failed　not　to　profit　by　Elvira's　indisposition　to　obtain　a　sight　of　her　Daughter　every　day。　　At　first　He　bounded　his　wishes　to　inspire　Antonia　with　friendship：　　But　no　sooner　was　He　convinced　that　She　felt　that　sentiment　in　its　fullest　extent；　than　his　aim　became　more　decided；　and　his　attentions　assumed　a　warmer　colour。　　The　innocent　familiarity　with　which　She　treated　him；　encouraged　his　desires：　　Grown　used　to　her　modesty；　it　no　longer　commanded　the　same　respect　and　awe：　　He　still　admired　it；　but　it　only　made　him　more　anxious　to　deprive　her　of　that　quality　which　formed　her　principal　charm。　　Warmth　of　passion；　and　natural　penetration；　of　which　latter　unfortunately　both　for　himself　and　Antonia　He　possessed　an　ample　share；　supplied　a　knowledge　of　the　arts　of　seduction。　　He　easily　distinguished　the　emotions　which　were　favourable　to　his　designs；　and　seized　every　means　with　avidity　of　infusing　corruption　into　Antonia's　bosom。　　This　He　found　no　easy　matter。　　Extreme　simplicity　prevented　her　from　perceiving　the　aim　to　which　the　Monk's　insinuations　tended；　But　the　excellent　morals　which　She　owed　to　Elvira's　care；　the　solidity　and　correctness　of　her　understanding；　and　a　strong　sense　of　what　was　right　implanted　in　her　heart　by　Nature；　made　her　feel　that　his　precepts　must　be　faulty。　By　a　few　simple　words　She　frequently　overthrew　the　whole　bulk　of　his　sophistical　arguments；　and　made　him　conscious　how　weak　they　were　when　opposed　to　Virtue　and　Truth。　　On　such　occasion　He　took　refuge　in　his　eloquence；　He　overpowered　her　with　a　torrent　of　Philosophical　paradoxes；　to　which；　not　understanding　them；　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　reply；　And　thus　though　He　did　not　convince　her　that　his　reasoning　was　just；　He　at　least　prevented　her　from　discovering　it　to　be　false。　　He　perceived　that　her　respect　for　his　judgment　augmented　daily；　and　doubted　not　with　time　to　bring　her　to　the　point　desired。

He　was　not　unconscious　that　his　attempts　were　highly　criminal：　　He　saw　clearly　the　baseness　of　seducing　the　innocent　Girl：　　But　his　passion　was　too　violent　to　permit　his　abandoning　his　design。　　He　resolved　to　pursue　it；　let　the　consequences　be　what　they　might。　　He　depended　upon　finding　Antonia　in　some　unguarded　moment；　And　seeing　no　other　Man　admitted　into　her　society；　nor　hearing　any　mentioned　either　by　her　or　by　Elvira；　He　imagined　that　her　young　heart　was　still　unoccupied。　While　He　waited　for　the　opportunity　of　satisfying　his　unwarrantable　lust；　every　day　increased　his　coldness　for　Matilda。　　Not　a　little　was　this　occasioned　by　the　consciousness　of　his　faults　to　her。　　To　hide　them　from　her　He　was　not　sufficiently　master　of　himself：　　Yet　He　dreaded　lest；　in　a　transport　of　jealous　rage；　She　should　betray　the　secret　on　which　his　character　and　even　his　life　depended。　Matilda　could　not　but　remark　his　indifference：　　He　was　conscious　that　She　remarked　it；　and　fearing　her　reproaches；　shunned　her　studiously。　　Yet　when　He　could　not　avoid　her；　her　mildness　might　have　convinced　him　that　He　had　nothing　to　dread　from　her　resentment。　　She　had　resumed　the　character　of　the　gentle　interesting　Rosario：　She　taxed　him　not　with　ingratitude；　But　her　eyes　filled　with　involuntary　tears；　and　the　soft　melancholy　of　her　countenance　and　voice　uttered　complaints　far　more　touching　than　words　could　have　conveyed。　　Ambrosio　was　not　unmoved　by　her　sorrow；　But　unable　to　remove　its　cause；　He　forbore　to　show　that　it　affected　him。　　As　her　conduct　convinced　him　that　He　needed　not　fear　her　vengeance；　He　continued　to　neglect　her；　and　avoided　her　company　with　care。　　Matilda　saw　that　She　in　vain　attempted　to　regain　his　affections：　　Yet　She　stifled　the　impulse　of　resentment；　and　continued　to　treat　her　inconstant　Lover　with　her　former　fondness　and　attention。

By　degrees　Elvira's　constitution　recovered　itself。　　She　was　no　longer　troubled　with　convulsions；　and　Antonia　ceased　to　tremble　for　her　Mother。　　Ambrosio　beheld　this　reestablishment　with　displeasure。　　He　saw　that　Elvira's　knowledge　of　the　world　would　not　be　the　Dupe　of　his　sanctified　demeanour；　and　that　She　would　easily　perceive　his　views　upon　her　Daughter。　　He　resolved　therefore；　before　She　quitted　her　chamber；　to　try　the　extent　of　his　influence　over　the　innocent　Antonia。

One　evening；　when　He　had　found　Elvira　almost　perfectly　restored　to　health；　He　quitted　her　earlier　than　was　his　usual　custom。　　Not　finding　Antonia　in　the　Antichamber；　He　ventured　to　follow　her　to　her　own。　　It　was　only　separated　from　her　Mother's　by　a　Closet；　in　which　Flora；　the　Waiting…Woman；　generally　slept。　　Antonia　sat　upon　a　Sopha　with　her　back　towards　the　door；　and　read　attentively。　　She　heard　not　his　approach；　till　He　had　seated　himself　by　her。　　She　started；　and　welcomed　him　with　a　look　of　ple