volume02-第26章

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s　so　sweet；　so　innocent；　so　heavenly；　as　might　have　charmed　an　heart　less　susceptible；　than　that　which　panted　in　the　Abbot's　breast。　　With　more　than　usual　softness　of　manner　He　desired　her　to　proceed；　and　heard　her　speak　as　follows　with　an　emotion　which　increased　every　moment。

'Reverend　Father；　you　see　an　Unfortunate；　threatened　with　the　loss　of　her　dearest；　of　almost　her　only　Friend！　　My　Mother；　my　excellent　Mother　lies　upon　the　bed　of　sickness。　　A　sudden　and　dreadful　malady　seized　her　last　night；　and　so　rapid　has　been　its　progress；　that　the　Physicians　despair　of　her　life。　　Human　aid　fails　me；　Nothing　remains　for　me　but　to　implore　the　mercy　of　Heaven。　　Father；　all　Madrid　rings　with　the　report　of　your　piety　and　virtue。　　Deign　to　remember　my　Mother　in　your　prayers：　　Perhaps　they　may　prevail　on　the　Almighty　to　spare　her；　and　should　that　be　the　case；　I　engage　myself　every　Thursday　in　the　next　three　Months　to　illuminate　the　Shrine　of　St。　Francis　in　his　honour。'

'So！'　thought　the　Monk；　'Here　we　have　a　second　Vincentio　della　Ronda。　　Rosario's　adventure　began　thus；'　and　He　wished　secretly　that　this　might　have　the　same　conclusion。

He　acceded　to　the　request。　　The　Petitioner　returned　him　thanks　with　every　mark　of　gratitude；　and　then　continued。

'I　have　yet　another　favour　to　ask。　　We　are　Strangers　in　Madrid；　My　Mother　needs　a　Confessor；　and　knows　not　to　whom　She　should　apply。　　We　understand　that　you　never　quit　the　Abbey；　and　Alas！　my　poor　Mother　is　unable　to　come　hither！　　If　you　would　have　the　goodness；　reverend　Father；　to　name　a　proper　person；　whose　wise　and　pious　consolations　may　soften　the　agonies　of　my　Parent's　deathbed；　you　will　confer　an　everlasting　favour　upon　hearts　not　ungrateful。'

With　this　petition　also　the　Monk　complied。　　Indeed；　what　petition　would　He　have　refused；　if　urged　in　such　enchanting　accents？　　The　suppliant　was　so　interesting！　　Her　voice　was　so　sweet；　so　harmonious！　　Her　very　tears　became　her；　and　her　affliction　seemed　to　add　new　lustre　to　her　charms。　　He　promised　to　send　to　her　a　Confessor　that　same　Evening；　and　begged　her　to　leave　her　address。　The　Companion　presented　him　with　a　Card　on　which　it　was　written；　and　then　withdrew　with　the　fair　Petitioner；　who　pronounced　before　her　departure　a　thousand　benedictions　on　the　Abbot's　goodness。　　His　eyes　followed　her　out　of　the　Chapel。　　It　was　not　till　She　was　out　of　sight　that　He　examined　the　Card；　on　which　He　read　the　following　words。

'Donna　Elvira　Dalfa；　Strada　di　San　Iago；　four　doors　from　the　Palace　d'Albornos。'

The　Suppliant　was　no　other　than　Antonia；　and　Leonella　was　her　Companion。　　The　Latter　had　not　consented　without　difficulty　to　accompany　her　Niece　to　the　Abbey：　　Ambrosio　had　inspired　her　with　such　awe　that　She　trembled　at　the　very　sight　of　him。　　Her　fears　had　conquered　even　her　natural　loquacity；　and　while　in　his　presence　She　uttered　not　a　single　syllable。

The　Monk　retired　to　his　Cell；　whither　He　was　pursued　by　Antonia's　image。　　He　felt　a　thousand　new　emotions　springing　in　his　bosom；　and　He　trembled　to　examine　into　the　cause　which　gave　them　birth。　　They　were　totally　different　from　those　inspired　by　Matilda；　when　She　first　declared　her　sex　and　her　affection。　　He　felt　not　the　provocation　of　lust；　No　voluptuous　desires　rioted　in　his　bosom；　Nor　did　a　burning　imagination　picture　to　him　the　charms　which　Modesty　had　veiled　from　his　eyes。　　On　the　contrary；　what　He　now　felt　was　a　mingled　sentiment　of　tenderness；　admiration；　and　respect。　　A　soft　and　delicious　melancholy　infused　itself　into　his　soul；　and　He　would　not　have　exchanged　it　for　the　most　lively　transports　of　joy。　　Society　now　disgusted　him：　　He　delighted　in　solitude；　which　permitted　his　indulging　the　visions　of　Fancy：　　His　thoughts　were　all　gentle；　sad；　and　soothing；　and　the　whole　wide　world　presented　him　with　no　other　object　than　Antonia。

'Happy　Man！'　He　exclaimed　in　his　romantic　enthusiasm；　'Happy　Man；　who　is　destined　to　possess　the　heart　of　that　lovely　Girl！　　What　delicacy　in　her　features！　　What　elegance　in　her　form！　　How　enchanting　was　the　timid　innocence　of　her　eyes；　and　how　different　from　the　wanton　expression；　the　wild　luxurious　fire　which　sparkles　in　Matilda's！　　Oh！　sweeter　must　one　kiss　be　snatched　from　the　rosy　lips　of　the　First；　than　all　the　full　and　lustful　favours　bestowed　so　freely　by　the　Second。　　Matilda　gluts　me　with　enjoyment　even　to　loathing；　forces　me　to　her　arms；　apes　the　Harlot；　and　glories　in　her　prostitution。　　Disgusting！　　Did　She　know　the　inexpressible　charm　of　Modesty；　how　irresistibly　it　enthralls　the　heart　of　Man；　how　firmly　it　chains　him　to　the　Throne　of　Beauty；　She　never　would　have　thrown　it　off。　　What　would　be　too　dear　a　price　for　this　lovely　Girl's　affections？　　What　would　I　refuse　to　sacrifice；　could　I　be　released　from　my　vows；　and　permitted　to　declare　my　love　in　the　sight　of　earth　and　heaven？　　While　I　strove　to　inspire　her　with　tenderness；　with　friendship　and　esteem；　how　tranquil　and　undisturbed　would　the　hours　roll　away！　　Gracious　God！　　To　see　her　blue　downcast　eyes　beam　upon　mine　with　timid　fondness！　　To　sit　for　days；　for　years　listening　to　that　gentle　voice！　　To　acquire　the　right　of　obliging　her；　and　hear　the　artless　expressions　of　her　gratitude！　　To　watch　the　emotions　of　her　spotless　heart！　　To　encourage　each　dawning　virtue！　　To　share　in　her　joy　when　happy；　to　kiss　away　her　tears　when　distrest；　and　to　see　her　fly　to　my　arms　for　comfort　and　support！　　Yes；　If　there　is　perfect　bliss　on　earth；　'tis　his　lot　alone；　who　becomes　that　Angel's　Husband。'

While　his　fancy　coined　these　ideas；　He　paced　his　Cell　with　a　disordered　air。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　vacancy：　His　head　reclined　upon　his　shoulder；　A　tear　rolled　down　his　cheek；　while　He　reflected　that　the　vision　of　happiness　for　him　could　never　be　realized。

'She　is　lost　to　me！'　He　continued；　'By　marriage　She　cannot　be　mine：　　And　to　seduce　such　innocence；　to　use　the　confidence　reposed　in　me　to　work　her　ruin。　。　。　。　　Oh！　it　would　be　a　crime；　blacker　than　yet　the　world　ever　witnessed！　　Fear　not；　lovely　Girl！　　Your　virtue　runs　no　risque　from　me。　　Not　for　Indies　would　I　make　that　gentle　bosom　know　the　tortures　of　remorse。'

Again　He　paced　his　chamber　hastily。　　Then　stopping；　his　eye　fell　upon　the　picture　of　his　once…admired　Madona。　He　tore　it　with　indignation　from　the　wall：　　He　threw　it　on　the　ground；　and　spurned　it　from　him　with　his　foot。

'The　Prostitute！'

Unfortunate　Matilda！　Her　Paramour　forgot　that　for　his　sake　alone　She　had　forfeited　her　claim　to　virtue；　and　his　only　reason　for　despising　her　was　that　She　had　loved　him　much　too　well。

He　threw　himself　into　a　Chair　which　stood　near　the　Table。　　He　saw　the　card　with　Elvira's　address。　　He　took　it　up；　and　it　brought　to　his　recollection　his　promise　respecting　a　Confessor。　　He　passed　a　few　minutes　in　doubt：　　But　Antonia's　Empire　over　him　was　already　too　much　decided　to　permit　his　making　a　long　resistance　to　the　idea　which　struck　him。　　He　resolved　to　be　the　Confessor　himself。　　He　could　leave　the　Abbey　unobserved　without　difficulty：　　By　wrapping　up　his　head　in　his　Cowl　He　hoped　to　pass　through　the　Streets　without　being　recognised：　By　taking　these　precautions；　and　by　recommending　secrecy　to　Elvira's　family；　He　doubted　not　to　keep　Madrid　in　ignorance　that　He　had　broken　his　vow　never　to　see　the　outside　of　the　Abbey　walls。　　Matilda　was　the　only　person　whose　vigilance　He　dreaded：　　But　by　informing　her　at　the　Refectory　that　during　the　whole　of　that　day；　Business　would　confine　him　to　his　Cell；　He　thought　himself　secure　from　her　wakeful　jealousy。　　Accordingly；　at　the　hours　when　the　Spaniards　are　generally　taking　their　Siesta；　He　ventured　to　quit　the　Abbey　by　a　private　door；　the　Key　of　which　was　in　his　possession。　　The　Cowl　of　his　habit　was　thrown　over　his　face：　　From　the　heat　of　the　weather　the　Streets　were　almost　totally　deserted：　The　Monk　met　with　few　people；　found　the　Strada　di　San　Iago；　and　arrived　without　accident　at　Donna　Elvira's　door。　　He　rang；　was　admitted；　and　immediately　ushered　into　an　upper　apartment。

It　was　here　that　He　ran　the　greatest　risque　of　a　discovery。　　Had　Leonella　been　at　home；　She　would　have　recognized　him　directly：　　Her　communicative　disposition　would　never　have　permitted　her　to　rest　till　all　Madrid　was　informed　that　Ambrosio　had　ventured　out　of