volume02-第30章

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orst　calculated　for　a　female　breast：　　Every　thing　is　called　plainly　and　roundly　by　its　name；　and　the　annals　of　a　Brothel　would　scarcely　furnish　a　greater　choice　of　indecent　expressions。　　Yet　this　is　the　Book　which　young　Women　are　recommended　to　study；　which　is　put　into　the　hands　of　Children；　able　to　comprehend　little　more　than　those　passages　of　which　they　had　better　remain　ignorant；　and　which　but　too　frequently　inculcates　the　first　rudiments　of　vice；　and　gives　the　first　alarm　to　the　still　sleeping　passions。　　Of　this　was　Elvira　so　fully　convinced；　that　She　would　have　preferred　putting　into　her　Daughter's　hands　'Amadis　de　Gaul；'　or　'The　Valiant　Champion；　Tirante　the　White；'　and　would　sooner　have　authorised　her　studying　the　lewd　exploits　of　'Don　Galaor；'　or　the　lascivious　jokes　of　the　'Damsel　Plazer　di　mi　vida。'　　She　had　in　consequence　made　two　resolutions　respecting　the　Bible。　　The　first　was　that　Antonia　should　not　read　it　till　She　was　of　an　age　to　feel　its　beauties；　and　profit　by　its　morality：　　The　second；　that　it　should　be　copied　out　with　her　own　hand；　and　all　improper　passages　either　altered　or　omitted。　　She　had　adhered　to　this　determination；　and　such　was　the　Bible　which　Antonia　was　reading：　　It　had　been　lately　delivered　to　her；　and　She　perused　it　with　an　avidity；　with　a　delight　that　was　inexpressible。　　Ambrosio　perceived　his　mistake；　and　replaced　the　Book　upon　the　Table。

Antonia　spoke　of　her　Mother's　health　with　all　the　enthusiastic　joy　of　a　youthful　heart。

'I　admire　your　filial　affection；'　said　the　Abbot；　'It　proves　the　excellence　and　sensibility　of　your　character；　It　promises　a　treasure　to　him　whom　Heaven　has　destined　to　possess　your　affections。　　The　Breast；　so　capable　of　fondness　for　a　Parent；　what　will　it　feel　for　a　Lover？　　Nay；　perhaps；　what　feels　it　for　one　even　now？　　Tell　me；　my　lovely　Daughter；　Have　you　known　what　it　is　to　love？　　Answer　me　with　sincerity：　　Forget　my　habit；　and　consider　me　only　as　a　Friend。'

'What　it　is　to　love？'　said　She；　repeating　his　question；　'Oh！　yes；　undoubtedly；　I　have　loved　many；　many　People。'

'That　is　not　what　I　mean。　　The　love　of　which　I　speak　can　be　felt　only　for　one。　　Have　you　never　seen　the　Man　whom　you　wished　to　be　your　Husband？'

'Oh！　No；　indeed！'

This　was　an　untruth；　but　She　was　unconscious　of　its　falsehood：　　She　knew　not　the　nature　of　her　sentiments　for　Lorenzo；　and　never　having　seen　him　since　his　first　visit　to　Elvira；　with　every　day　his　Image　grew　less　feebly　impressed　upon　her　bosom。　　Besides；　She　thought　of　an　Husband　with　all　a　Virgin's　terror；　and　negatived　the　Friar's　demand　without　a　moment's　hesitation。

'And　do　you　not　long　to　see　that　Man；　Antonia？　　Do　you　feel　no　void　in　your　heart　which　you　fain　would　have　filled　up？　　Do　you　heave　no　sighs　for　the　absence　of　some　one　dear　to　you；　but　who　that　some　one　is；　you　know　not？　　Perceive　you　not　that　what　formerly　could　please；　has　charms　for　you　no　longer？　　That　a　thousand　new　wishes；　new　ideas；　new　sensations；　have　sprang　in　your　bosom；　only　to　be　felt；　never　to　be　described？　　Or　while　you　fill　every　other　heart　with　passion；　is　it　possible　that　your　own　remains　insensible　and　cold？　　It　cannot　be！　　That　melting　eye；　that　blushing　cheek；　that　enchanting　voluptuous　melancholy　which　at　times　overspreads　your　features；　all　these　marks　belye　your　words。　　You　love；　Antonia；　and　in　vain　would　hide　it　from　me。'

'Father；　you　amaze　me！　　What　is　this　love　of　which　you　speak？　　I　neither　know　its　nature；　nor　if　I　felt　it；　why　I　should　conceal　the　sentiment。'

'Have　you　seen　no　Man；　Antonia；　whom　though　never　seen　before；　you　seemed　long　to　have　sought？　　Whose　form；　though　a　Stranger's；　was　familiar　to　your　eyes？　　The　sound　of　whose　voice　soothed　you；　pleased　you；　penetrated　to　your　very　soul？　　In　whose　presence　you　rejoiced；　for　whose　absence　you　lamented？　　With　whom　your　heart　seemed　to　expand；　and　in　whose　bosom　with　confidence　unbounded　you　reposed　the　cares　of　your　own？　　Have　you　not　felt　all　this；　Antonia？'

'Certainly　I　have：　　The　first　time　that　I　saw　you；　I　felt　it。'

Ambrosio　started。　　Scarcely　dared　He　credit　his　hearing。

'Me；　Antonia？'　He　cried；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　delight　and　impatience；　while　He　seized　her　hand；　and　pressed　it　rapturously　to　his　lips。　　'Me；　Antonia？　　You　felt　these　sentiments　for　me？'

'Even　with　more　strength　than　you　have　described。　　The　very　moment　that　I　beheld　you；　I　felt　so　pleased；　so　interested！　　I　waited　so　eagerly　to　catch　the　sound　of　your　voice；　and　when　I　heard　it；　it　seemed　so　sweet！　　It　spoke　to　me　a　language　till　then　so　unknown！　　Methought；　it　told　me　a　thousand　things　which　I　wished　to　hear！　　It　seemed　as　if　I　had　long　known　you；　as　if　I　had　a　right　to　your　friendship；　your　advice；　and　your　protection。

I　wept　when　you　departed；　and　longed　for　the　time　which　should　restore　you　to　my　sight。'

'Antonia！　　my　charming　Antonia！'　exclaimed　the　Monk；　and　caught　her　to　his　bosom；　'Can　I　believe　my　senses？　　Repeat　it　to　me；　my　sweet　Girl！　　Tell　me　again　that　you　love　me；　that　you　love　me　truly　and　tenderly！'

'Indeed；　I　do：　　Let　my　Mother　be　excepted；　and　the　world　holds　no　one　more　dear　to　me！'

At　this　frank　avowal　Ambrosio　no　longer　possessed　himself；　Wild　with　desire；　He　clasped　the　blushing　Trembler　in　his　arms。　　He　fastened　his　lips　greedily　upon　hers；　sucked　in　her　pure　delicious　breath；　violated　with　his　bold　hand　the　treasures　of　her　bosom；　and　wound　around　him　her　soft　and　yielding　limbs。　　Startled；　alarmed；　and　confused　at　his　action；　surprize　at　first　deprived　her　of　the　power　of　resistance。　　At　length　recovering　herself；　She　strove　to　escape　from　his　embrace。

'Father！　　。　。　。　。　　Ambrosio！'　She　cried；　'Release　me；　for　God's　sake！'

But　the　licentious　Monk　heeded　not　her　prayers：　　He　persisted　in　his　design；　and　proceeded　to　take　still　greater　liberties。　　Antonia　prayed；　wept；　and　struggled：　　Terrified　to　the　extreme；　though　at　what　She　knew　not；　She　exerted　all　her　strength　to　repulse　the　Friar；　and　was　on　the　point　of　shrieking　for　assistance　when　the　chamber　door　was　suddenly　thrown　open。　　Ambrosio　had　just　sufficient　presence　of　mind　to　be　sensible　of　his　danger。　　Reluctantly　He　quitted　his　prey；　and　started　hastily　from　the　Couch。　　Antonia　uttered　an　exclamation　of　joy；　flew　towards　the　door；　and　found　herself　clasped　in　the　arms　of　her　Mother。

Alarmed　at　some　of　the　Abbot's　speeches；　which　Antonia　had　innocently　repeated；　Elvira　resolved　to　ascertain　the　truth　of　her　suspicions。　　She　had　known　enough　of　Mankind　not　to　be　imposed　upon　by　the　Monk's　reputed　virtue。　　She　reflected　on　several　circumstances；　which　though　trifling；　on　being　put　together　seemed　to　authorize　her　fears。　　His　frequent　visits；　which　as　far　as　She　could　see；　were　confined　to　her　family；　His　evident　emotion；　whenever　She　spoke　of　Antonia；　His　being　in　the　full　prime　and　heat　of　Manhood；　and　above　all；　his　pernicious　philosophy　communicated　to　her　by　Antonia；　and　which　accorded　but　ill　with　his　conversation　in　her　presence；　all　these　circumstances　inspired　her　with　doubts　respecting　the　purity　of　Ambrosio's　friendship。　　In　consequence；　She　resolved；　when　He　should　next　be　alone　with　Antonia；　to　endeavour　at　surprizing　him。　　Her　plan　had　succeeded。　　'Tis　true；　that　when　She　entered　the　room；　He　had　already　abandoned　his　prey；　But　the　disorder　of　her　Daughter's　dress；　and　the　shame　and　confusion　stamped　upon　the　Friar's　countenance；　sufficed　to　prove　that　her　suspicions　were　but　too　well…founded。　　However；　She　was　too　prudent　to　make　those　suspicions　known。　　She　judged　that　to　unmask　the　Imposter　would　be　no　easy　matter；　the　public　being　so　much　prejudiced　in　his　favour：　and　having　but　few　Friends；　She　thought　it　dangerous　to　make　herself　so　powerful　an　Enemy。　　She　affected　therefore　not　to　remark　his　agitation；　seated　herself　tranquilly　upon　the　Sopha；　assigned　some　trifling　reason　for　having　quitted　her　room　unexpectedly；　and　conversed　on　various　subjects　with　seeming　confidence　and　ease。

Reassured　by　her　behaviour；　the　Monk　began　to　recover　himself。　　He　strove　to　answer　Elvira　without　appearing　embarrassed：　　But　He　was　still　too　great　a　novice　in　dissimulation；　and　He　felt　that　He　must　look　confused　and　awkward。　　He　soon　broke　off　the　conversation；　and　rose　to　depart。