volume02-第11章

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'Beatrice　de　las　Cisternas　took　the　veil　at　an　early　age；　not　by　her　own　choice；　but　at　the　express　command　of　her　Parents。　　She　was　then　too　young　to　regret　the　pleasures　of　which　her　profession　deprived　her：　　But　no　sooner　did　her　warm　and　voluptuous　character　begin　to　be　developed　than　She　abandoned　herself　freely　to　the　impulse　of　her　passions；　and　seized　the　first　opportunity　to　procure　their　gratification。　　This　opportunity　was　at　length　presented；　after　many　obstacles　which　only　added　new　force　to　her　desires。　　She　contrived　to　elope　from　the　Convent；　and　fled　to　Germany　with　the　Baron　Lindenberg。　　She　lived　at　his　Castle　several　months　as　his　avowed　Concubine：　　All　Bavaria　was　scandalized　by　her　impudent　and　abandoned　conduct。　　Her　feasts　vied　in　luxury　with　Cleopatra's；　and　Lindenberg　became　the　Theatre　of　the　most　unbridled　debauchery。　　Not　satisfied　with　displaying　the　incontinence　of　a　Prostitute；　She　professed　herself　an　Atheist：　　She　took　every　opportunity　　to　scoff　at　her　monastic　vows；　and　loaded　with　ridicule　the　most　sacred　ceremonies　of　Religion。

'Possessed　of　a　character　so　depraved；　She　did　not　long　confine　her　affections　to　one　object。　　Soon　after　her　arrival　at　the　Castle；　the　Baron's　younger　Brother　attracted　her　notice　by　his　strong…marked　features；　gigantic　Stature；　and　Herculean　limbs。　　She　was　not　of　an　humour　to　keep　her　inclinations　long　unknown；　But　She　found　in　Otto　von　Lindenberg　her　equal　in　depravity。　　He　returned　her　passion　just　sufficiently　to　increase　it；　and　when　He　had　worked　it　up　to　the　desired　pitch；　He　fixed　the　price　of　his　love　at　his　Brother's　murder。　　The　Wretch　consented　to　this　horrible　agreement。　　A　night　was　pitched　upon　for　perpetrating　the　deed。　　Otto；　who　resided　on　a　small　Estate　a　few　miles　distant　from　the　Castle；　promised　that　at　One　in　the　morning　He　would　be　waiting　for　her　at　Lindenberg　Hole；　that　He　would　bring　with　him　a　party　of　chosen　Friends；　by　whose　aid　He　doubted　not　being　able　to　make　himself　Master　of　the　Castle；　and　that　his　next　step　should　be　the　uniting　her　hand　to　his。　　It　was　this　last　promise；　which　overruled　every　scruple　of　Beatrice；　since　in　spite　of　his　affection　for　her；　the　Baron　had　declared　positively　that　He　never　would　make　her　his　Wife。

'The　fatal　night　arrived。　　The　Baron　slept　in　the　arms　of　his　perfidious　Mistress；　when　the　Castle…Bell　struck　'One。'　Immediately　Beatrice　drew　a　dagger　from　underneath　the　pillow；　and　plunged　it　in　her　Paramour's　heart。　　The　Baron　uttered　a　single　dreadful　groan；　and　expired。　　The　Murderess　quitted　her　bed　hastily；　took　a　Lamp　in　one　hand；　in　the　other　the　bloody　dagger；　and　bent　her　course　towards　the　cavern。　　The　Porter　dared　not　to　refuse　opening　the　Gates　to　one　more　dreaded　in　the　Castle　than　its　Master。　　Beatrice　reached　Lindenberg　Hole　unopposed；　where　according　to　promise　She　found　Otto　waiting　for　her。　　He　received　and　listened　to　her　narrative　with　transport：　　But　ere　She　had　time　to　ask　why　He　came　unaccompanied；　He　convinced　her　that　He　wished　for　no　witnesses　to　their　interview。　Anxious　to　conceal　his　share　in　the　murder；　and　to　free　himself　from　a　Woman；　whose　violent　and　atrocious　character　made　him　tremble　with　reason　for　his　own　safety；　He　had　resolved　on　the　destruction　of　his　wretched　Agent。　　Rushing　upon　her　suddenly；　He　wrested　the　dagger　from　her　hand：　　He　plunged　it　still　reeking　with　his　Brother's　blood　in　her　bosom；　and　put　an　end　to　her　existence　by　repeated　blows。

'Otto　now　succeeded　to　the　Barony　of　Lindenberg。　　The　murder　was　attributed　solely　to　the　fugitive　Nun；　and　no　one　suspected　him　to　have　persuaded　her　to　the　action。　　But　though　his　crime　was　unpunished　by　Man；　God's　justice　permitted　him　not　to　enjoy　in　peace　his　blood…stained　honours。　　Her　bones　lying　still　unburied　in　the　Cave；　the　restless　soul　of　Beatrice　continued　to　inhabit　the　Castle。　　Drest　in　her　religious　habit　in　memory　of　her　vows　broken　to　heaven；　furnished　with　the　dagger　which　had　drank　the　blood　of　her　Paramour；　and　holding　the　Lamp　which　had　guided　her　flying　steps；　every　night　did　She　stand　before　the　Bed　of　Otto。　The　most　dreadful　confusion　reigned　through　the　Castle；　The　vaulted　chambers　resounded　with　shrieks　and　groans；　And　the　Spectre；　as　She　ranged　along　the　antique　Galleries；　uttered　an　incoherent　mixture　of　prayers　and　blasphemies。　　Otto　was　unable　to　withstand　the　shock　which　He　felt　at　this　fearful　Vision：　　Its　horror　increased　with　every　succeeding　appearance：　　His　alarm　at　length　became　so　insupportable　that　his　heart　burst；　and　one　morning　He　was　found　in　his　bed　totally　deprived　of　warmth　and　animation。　　His　death　did　not　put　an　end　to　the　nocturnal　riots。　　The　bones　of　Beatrice　continued　to　lie　unburied；　and　her　Ghost　continued　to　haunt　the　Castle。

'The　domains　of　Lindenberg　now　fell　to　a　distant　Relation。　　But　terrified　by　the　accounts　given　him　of　the　Bleeding　Nun　（So　was　the　Spectre　called　by　the　multitude）；　the　new　Baron　called　to　his　assistance　a　celebrated　Exorciser。　　This　holy　Man　succeeded　in　obliging　her　to　temporary　repose；　But　though　She　discovered　to　him　her　history；　He　was　not　permitted　to　reveal　it　to　others；　or　cause　her　skeleton　to　be　removed　to　hallowed　ground。　　That　Office　was　reserved　for　you；　and　till　your　coming；　her　Ghost　was　doomed　to　wander　about　the　Castle　and　lament　the　crime　which　She　had　there　committed。　　However；　the　Exorciser　obliged　her　to　silence　during　his　lifetime。　　So　long　as　He　existed；　the　haunted　chamber　was　shut　up；　and　the　Spectre　was　invisible。　　At　his　death　which　happened　in　five　years　after；　She　again　appeared；　but　only　once　on　every　fifth　year；　on　the　same　day　and　at　the　same　hour　when　She　plunged　her　Knife　in　the　heart　of　her　sleeping　Lover：　　She　then　visited　the　Cavern　which　held　her　mouldering　skeleton；　returned　to　the　Castle　as　soon　as　the　Clock　struck　'Two；'　and　was　seen　no　more　till　the　next　five　years　had　elapsed。

'She　was　doomed　to　suffer　during　the　space　of　a　Century。　　That　period　is　past。　　Nothing　now　remains　but　to　consign　to　the　Grave　the　ashes　of　Beatrice。　　I　have　been　the　means　of　releasing　you　from　your　visionary　Tormentor；　and　amidst　all　the　sorrows　which　oppress　me；　to　think　that　I　have　been　of　use　to　you；　is　some　consolation。　　Youth；　farewell！　　May　the　Ghost　of　your　Relation　enjoy　that　rest　in　the　Tomb；　which　the　Almighty's　vengeance　has　denied　to　me　for　ever！'

Here　the　Stranger　prepared　to　quit　the　apartment。

'Stay　yet　one　moment！'　said　I；　'You　have　satisfied　my　curiosity　with　regard　to　the　Spectre；　but　you　leave　me　in　prey　to　yet　greater　respecting　yourself。　　Deign　to　inform　me；　to　whom　I　am　under　such　real　obligations。　　You　mention　circumstances　long　past；　and　persons　long　dead：　　You　were　personally　acquainted　with　the　Exorciser；　who　by　your　own　account　has　been　deceased　near　a　Century。　　How　am　I　to　account　for　this？　　What　means　that　burning　Cross　upon　your　forehead；　and　why　did　the　sight　of　it　strike　such　horror　to　my　soul？'

On　these　points　He　for　some　time　refused　to　satisfy　me。　　At　length　overcome　by　my　entreaties；　He　consented　to　clear　up　the　whole；　on　condition　that　I　would　defer　his　explanation　till　the　next　day。　　With　this　request　I　was　obliged　to　comply；　and　He　left　me。　　In　the　Morning　my　first　care　was　to　enquire　after　the　mysterious　Stranger。　　Conceive　my　disappointment　when　informed　that　He　had　already　quitted　Ratisbon。　　I　dispatched　messengers　in　pursuit　of　him　but　in　vain。　　No　traces　of　the　Fugitive　were　discovered。　　Since　that　moment　I　never　have　heard　any　more　of　him；　and　'tis　most　probable　that　I　never　shall。'

（Lorenzo　here　interrupted　his　Friend's　narrative。

'How？'　said　He；　'You　have　never　discovered　who　He　was；　or　even　formed　a　guess？'

'Pardon　me；'　replied　the　Marquis；　'When　I　related　this　adventure　to　my　Uncle；　the　Cardinal…Duke；　He　told　me　that　He　had　no　doubt　of　this　singular　Man's　being　the　celebrated　Character　known　universally　by　the　name　of　'the　wandering　Jew。'　　His　not　being　permitted　to　pass　more　than　fourteen　days　on　the　same　spot；　the　burning　Cross　impressed　upon　his　forehead；　the　effect　which　it　produced　upon　the　Beholders；　and　many　other　circumstances　give　this　supposition　the　colour　of　truth。　　The　Cardinal　is　fully　persuaded　of　it；　and　for　my　own　part　I　am　inclin