volume02-第1章
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VOLUME II
CHAPTER I
Avaunt！ and quit my sight！ Let the Earth hide thee！ Thy bones are marrowless； thy blood is cold！ Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which Thou dost glare with！ Hence； horrible shadow！ Unreal mockery hence！ Macbeth。
Continuation of the History of Don Raymond。
My journey was uncommonly agreeable： I found the Baron a Man of some sense； but little knowledge of the world。 He had past a great part of his life without stirring beyond the precincts of his own domains； and consequently his manners were far from being the most polished： But He was hearty； good…humoured； and friendly。 His attention to me was all that I could wish； and I had every reason to be satisfied with his behaviour。 His ruling passion was Hunting； which He had brought himself to consider as a serious occupation； and when talking over some remarkable chace； He treated the subject with as much gravity as it had been a Battle on which the fate of two kingdoms was depending。 I happened to be a tolerable Sportsman： Soon after my arrival at Lindenberg I gave some proofs of my dexterity。 The Baron immediately marked me down for a Man of Genius； and vowed to me an eternal friendship。
That friendship was become to me by no means indifferent。 At the Castle of Lindenberg I beheld for the first time your Sister； the lovely Agnes。 For me whose heart was unoccupied； and who grieved at the void； to see her and to love her were the same。 I found in Agnes all that was requisite to secure my affection。 She was then scarcely sixteen； Her person light and elegant was already formed； She possessed several talents in perfection； particularly those of Music and drawing： Her character was gay； open； and good…humoured； and the graceful simplicity of her dress and manners formed an advantageous contrast to the art and studied Coquetry of the Parisian Dames； whom I had just quitted。 From the moment that I beheld her； I felt the most lively interest in her fate。 I made many enquiries respecting her of the Baroness。
'She is my Niece；' replied that Lady； 'You are still ignorant； Don Alphonso； that I am your Countrywoman。 I am Sister to the Duke of Medina Celi： Agnes is the Daughter of my second Brother； Don Gaston： She has been destined to the Convent from her cradle； and will soon make her profession at Madrid。'
（Here Lorenzo interrupted the Marquis by an exclamation of surprise。
'Intended for the Convent from her cradle？' said He； 'By heaven； this is the first word that I ever heard of such a design！'
'I believe it； my dear Lorenzo；' answered Don Raymond； 'But you must listen to me with patience。 You will not be less surprised； when I relate some particulars of your family still unknown to you； and which I have learnt from the mouth of Agnes herself。'
He then resumed his narrative as follows。）
You cannot but be aware that your Parents were unfortunately Slaves to the grossest superstition： When this foible was called into play； their every other sentiment； their every other passion yielded to its irresistible strength。 While She was big with Agnes； your Mother was seized by a dangerous illness； and given over by her Physicians。 In this situation； Donna Inesilla vowed； that if She recovered from her malady； the Child then living in her bosom if a Girl should be dedicated to St。 Clare； if a Boy to St。 Benedict。 Her prayers were heard； She got rid of her complaint； Agnes entered the world alive； and was immediately destined to the service of St。 Clare。
Don Gaston readily chimed in with his Lady's wishes： But knowing the sentiments of the Duke； his Brother； respecting a Monastic life； it was determined that your Sister's destination should be carefully concealed from him。 The better to guard the secret； it was resolved that Agnes should accompany her Aunt； Donna Rodolpha into Germany； whither that Lady was on the point of following her new…married Husband； Baron Lindenberg。 On her arrival at that Estate； the young Agnes was put into a Convent； situated but a few miles from the Castle。 The Nuns to whom her education was confided performed their charge with exactitude： They made her a perfect Mistress of many talents； and strove to infuse into her mind a taste for the retirement and tranquil pleasures of a Convent。 But a secret instinct made the young Recluse sensible that She was not born for solitude： In all the freedom of youth and gaiety； She scrupled not to treat as ridiculous many ceremonies which the Nuns regarded with awe； and She was never more happy than when her lively imagination inspired her with some scheme to plague the stiff Lady Abbess； or the ugly ill… tempered old Porteress。 She looked with disgust upon the prospect before her： However no alternative was offered to her； and She submitted to the decree of her Parents； though not without secret repining。
That repugnance She had not art enough to conceal long： Don Gaston was informed of it。 Alarmed； Lorenzo； lest your affection for her should oppose itself to his projects； and lest you should positively object to your Sister's misery； He resolved to keep the whole affair from YOUR knowledge as well as the Duke's； till the sacrifice should be consummated。 The season of her taking the veil was fixed for the time when you should be upon your travels： In the meanwhile no hint was dropped of Donna Inesilla's fatal vow。 Your Sister was never permitted to know your direction。 All your letters were read before She received them； and those parts effaced； which were likely to nourish her inclination for the world： Her answers were dictated either by her Aunt； or by Dame Cunegonda； her Governess。 These particulars I learnt partly from Agnes； partly from the Baroness herself。
I immediately determined upon rescuing this lovely Girl from a fate so contrary to her inclinations； and ill…suited to her merit。 I endeavoured to ingratiate myself into her favour： I boasted of my friendship and intimacy with you。 She listened to me with avidity； She seemed to devour my words while I spoke in your praise； and her eyes thanked me for my affection to her Brother。 My constant and unremitted attention at length gained me her heart； and with difficulty I obliged her to confess that She loved me。 When however； I proposed her quitting the Castle of Lindenberg； She rejected the idea in positive terms。
'Be generous； Alphonso；' She said； 'You possess my heart； but use not the gift ignobly。 Employ not your ascendancy over me in persuading me to take a step； at which I should hereafter have to blush。 I am young and deserted： My Brother； my only Friend； is separated from me； and my other Relations act with me as my Enemies。 Take pity on my unprotected situation。 Instead of seducing me to an action which would cover me with shame； strive rather to gain the affections of those who govern me。 The Baron esteems you。 My Aunt； to others ever harsh proud and contemptuous； remembers that you rescued her from the hands of Murderers； and wears with you alone the appearance of kindness and benignity。 Try then your influence over my Guardians。 If they consent to our union my hand is yours： From your account of my Brother； I cannot doubt your obtaining his approbation： And when they find the impossibility of executing their design； I trust that my Parents will excuse my disobedience； and expiate by some other sacrifice my Mother's fatal vow。'
From the first moment that I beheld Agnes； I had endeavoured to conciliate the favour of her Relations。 Authorised by the confession of her regard； I redoubled my exertions。 My principal Battery was directed against the Baroness； It was easy to discover that her word was law in the Castle： Her Husband paid her the most absolute submission； and considered her as a superior Being。 She was about forty： In her youth She had been a Beauty； But her charms had been upon that large scale which can but ill sustain the shock of years： However She still possessed some remains of them。 Her understanding was strong and excellent when not obscured by prejudice； which unluckily was but seldom the case。 Her passions were violent： She spared no pains to gratify them； an
