volume02-第28章

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at　their　full　value。　　They　who　are　conscious　of　Mankind's　perfidy　and　selfishness；　ever　receive　an　obligation　with　apprehension　and　distrust：　　They　suspect　that　some　secret　motive　must　lurk　behind　it：　　They　express　their　thanks　with　restraint　and　caution；　and　fear　to　praise　a　kind　action　to　its　full　extent；　aware　that　some　future　day　a　return　may　be　required。　　Not　so　Antonia；　She　thought　the　world　was　composed　only　of　those　who　resembled　her；　and　that　vice　existed；　was　to　her　still　a　secret。　　The　Monk　had　been　of　service　to　her；　He　said　that　He　wished　her　well；　She　was　grateful　for　his　kindness；　and　thought　that　no　terms　were　strong　enough　to　be　the　vehicle　of　her　thanks。　　With　what　delight　did　Ambrosio　listen　to　the　declaration　of　her　artless　gratitude！　　The　natural　grace　of　her　manners；　the　unequalled　sweetness　of　her　voice；　her　modest　vivacity；　her　unstudied　elegance；　her　expressive　countenance；　and　intelligent　eyes　united　to　inspire　him　with　pleasure　and　admiration；　While　the　solidity　and　correctness　of　her　remarks　received　additional　beauty　from　the　unaffected　simplicity　of　the　language　in　which　they　were　conveyed。

Ambrosio　was　at　length　obliged　to　tear　himself　from　this　conversation　which　possessed　for　him　but　too　many　charms。　　He　repeated　to　Antonia　his　wishes　that　his　visits　should　not　be　made　known；　which　desire　She　promised　to　observe。　　He　then　quitted　the　House；　while　his　Enchantress　hastened　to　her　Mother；　ignorant　of　the　mischief　which　her　Beauty　had　caused。　　She　was　eager　to　know　Elvira's　opinion　of　the　Man　whom　She　had　praised　in　such　enthusiastic　terms；　and　was　delighted　to　find　it　equally　favourable；　if　not　even　more　so；　than　her　own。

'Even　before　He　spoke；'　said　Elvira；　'I　was　prejudiced　in　his　favour：　　The　fervour　of　his　exhortations；　dignity　of　his　manner；　and　closeness　of　his　reasoning；　were　very　far　from　inducing　me　to　alter　my　opinion。　　His　fine　and　full…toned　voice　struck　me　particularly；　But　surely；　Antonia；　I　have　heard　it　before。　　It　seemed　perfectly　familiar　to　my　ear。　　Either　I　must　have　known　the　Abbot　in　former　times；　or　his　voice　bears　a　wonderful　resemblance　to　that　of　some　other；　to　whom　I　have　often　listened。

There　were　certain　tones　which　touched　my　very　heart；　and　made　me　feel　sensations　so　singular；　that　I　strive　in　vain　to　account　for　them。'

'My　dearest　Mother；　it　produced　the　same　effect　upon　me：　　Yet　certainly　neither　of　us　ever　heard　his　voice　till　we　came　to　Madrid。　　I　suspect　that　what　we　attribute　to　his　voice；　really　proceeds　from　his　pleasant　manners；　which　forbid　our　considering　him　as　a　Stranger。　　I　know　not　why；　but　I　feel　more　at　my　ease　while　conversing　with　him　than　I　usually　do　with　people　who　are　unknown　to　me。　　I　feared　not　to　repeat　to　him　all　my　childish　thoughts；　and　somehow　I　felt　confident　that　He　would　hear　my　folly　with　indulgence。　　Oh！　I　was　not　deceived　in　him！　　He　listened　to　me　with　such　an　air　of　kindness　and　attention！　　He　answered　me　with　such　gentleness；　such　condescension！　He　did　not　call　me　an　Infant；　and　treat　me　with　contempt；　as　our　cross　old　Confessor　at　the　Castle　used　to　do。　　I　verily　believe　that　if　I　had　lived　in　Murcia　a　thousand　years；　I　never　should　have　liked　that　fat　old　Father　Dominic！'

'I　confess　that　Father　Dominic　had　not　the　most　pleasing　manners　in　the　world；　But　He　was　honest；　friendly；　and　well…meaning。'

'Ah！　　my　dear　Mother；　those　qualities　are　so　common！'

'God　grant；　my　Child；　that　Experience　may　not　teach　you　to　think　them　rare　and　precious：　　I　have　found　them　but　too　much　so！　　But　tell　me；　Antonia；　Why　is　it　impossible　for　me　to　have　seen　the　Abbot　before？'

'Because　since　the　moment　when　He　entered　the　Abbey；　He　has　never　been　on　the　outside　of　its　walls。　　He　told　me　just　now；　that　from　his　ignorance　of　the　Streets；　He　had　some　difficulty　to　find　the　Strada　di　San　Iago；　though　so　near　the　Abbey。'

'All　this　is　possible；　and　still　I　may　have　seen　him　BEFORE　He　entered　the　Abbey：　　In　order　to　come　out；　it　was　rather　necessary　that　He　should　first　go　in。'

'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