volume02-第32章

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　my　desires；　I　renounce　your　aid　most　absolutely。　　The　consequences　are　too　horrible：　　I　doat　upon　Antonia；　but　am　not　so　blinded　by　lust　as　to　sacrifice　for　her　enjoyment　my　existence　both　in　this　world　and　the　next。'

'Ridiculous　prejudices！　　Oh！　blush；　Ambrosio；　blush　at　being　subjected　to　their　dominion。　　Where　is　the　risque　of　accepting　my　offers？　　What　should　induce　my　persuading　you　to　this　step；　except　the　wish　of　restoring　you　to　happiness　and　quiet。　　If　there　is　danger；　it　must　fall　upon　me：　　It　is　I　who　invoke　the　ministry　of　the　Spirits；　Mine　therefore　will　be　the　crime；　and　yours　the　profit。　　But　danger　there　is　none：　　The　Enemy　of　Mankind　is　my　Slave；　not　my　Sovereign。　　Is　there　no　difference　between　giving　and　receiving　laws；　between　serving　and　commanding？　　Awake　from　your　idle　dreams；　Ambrosio！　Throw　from　you　these　terrors　so　ill…suited　to　a　soul　like　yours；　Leave　them　for　common　Men；　and　dare　to　be　happy！　　Accompany　me　this　night　to　St。　Clare's　Sepulchre；　witness　my　incantations；　and　Antonia　is　your　own。'

'To　obtain　her　by　such　means　I　neither　can；　or　will。　　Cease　then　to　persuade　me；　for　I　dare　not　employ　Hell's　agency。

'You　DARE　not？　　How　have　you　deceived　me！　　That　mind　which　I　esteemed　so　great　and　valiant；　proves　to　be　feeble；　puerile；　and　grovelling；　a　slave　to　vulgar　errors；　and　weaker　than　a　Woman's。'

'What？　　Though　conscious　of　the　danger；　wilfully　shall　I　expose　myself　to　the　Seducer's　arts？　　Shall　I　renounce　for　ever　my　title　to　salvation？　　Shall　my　eyes　seek　a　sight　which　I　know　will　blast　them？　　No；　no；　Matilda；　I　will　not　ally　myself　with　God's　Enemy。'

'Are　you　then　God's　Friend　at　present？　　Have　you　not　broken　your　engagements　with　him；　renounced　his　service；　and　abandoned　yourself　to　the　impulse　of　your　passions？　　Are　you　not　planning　the　destruction　of　innocence；　the　ruin　of　a　Creature　whom　He　formed　in　the　mould　of　Angels？　　If　not　of　Daemons；　whose　aid　would　you　invoke　to　forward　this　laudable　design？　　Will　the　Seraphims　protect　it；　conduct　Antonia　to　your　arms；　and　sanction　with　their　ministry　your　illicit　pleasures？　　Absurd！　　But　I　am　not　deceived；　Ambrosio！　　It　is　not　virtue　which　makes　you　reject　my　offer：　　You　WOULD　accept　it；　but　you　dare　not。　　'Tis　not　the　crime　which　holds　your　hand；　but　the　punishment；　'Tis　not　respect　for　God　which　restrains　you；　but　the　terror　of　his　vengeance！　　Fain　would　you　offend　him　in　secret；　but　you　tremble　to　profess　yourself　his　Foe。　　Now　shame　on　the　coward　soul；　which　wants　the　courage　either　to　be　a　firm　Friend　or　open　Enemy！'

'To　look　upon　guilt　with　horror；　Matilda；　is　in　itself　a　merit：　　In　this　respect　I　glory　to　confess　myself　a　Coward。　　Though　my　passions　have　made　me　deviate　from　her　laws；　I　still　feel　in　my　heart　an　innate　love　of　virtue。　　But　it　ill　becomes　you　to　tax　me　with　my　perjury：　　You；　who　first　seduced　me　to　violate　my　vows；　You；　who　first　rouzed　my　sleeping　vices；　made　me　feel　the　weight　of　Religion's　chains；　and　bad　me　be　convinced　that　guilt　had　pleasures。　　Yet　though　my　principles　have　yielded　to　the　force　of　temperament；　I　still　have　sufficient　grace　to　shudder　at　Sorcery；　and　avoid　a　crime　so　monstrous；　so　unpardonable！'

'Unpardonable；　say　you？　　Where　then　is　your　constant　boast　of　the　Almighty's　infinite　mercy？　　Has　He　of　late　set　bounds　to　it？　　Receives　He　no　longer　a　Sinner　with　joy？　　You　injure　him；　Ambrosio；　You　will　always　have　time　to　repent；　and　He　have　goodness　to　forgive。　　Afford　him　a　glorious　opportunity　to　exert　that　goodness：　　The　greater　your　crime；　the　greater　his　merit　in　pardoning。　　Away　then　with　these　childish　scruples：　　Be　persuaded　to　your　good；　and　follow　me　to　the　Sepulchre。'

'Oh！　cease；　Matilda！　　That　scoffing　tone；　that　bold　and　impious　language；　is　horrible　in　every　mouth；　but　most　so　in　a　Woman's。　　Let　us　drop　a　conversation　which　excites　no　other　sentiments　than　horror　and　disgust。　　I　will　not　follow　you　to　the　Sepulchre；　or　accept　the　services　of　your　infernal　Agents。　　Antonia　shall　be　mine；　but　mine　by　human　means。'

'Then　yours　She　will　never　be！　　You　are　banished　her　presence；　Her　Mother　has　opened　her　eyes　to　your　designs；　and　She　is　now　upon　her　guard　against　them。　　Nay　more；　She　loves　another。　　A　Youth　of　distinguished　merit　possesses　her　heart；　and　unless　you　interfere；　a　few　days　will　make　her　his　Bride。　　This　intelligence　was　brought　me　by　my　invisible　Servants；　to　whom　I　had　recourse　on　first　perceiving　your　indifference。　　They　watched　your　every　action；　related　to　me　all　that　past　at　Elvira's；　and　inspired　me　with　the　idea　of　favouring　your　designs。　　Their　reports　have　been　my　only　comfort。　　Though　you　shunned　my　presence；　all　your　proceedings　were　known　to　me：　　Nay；　I　was　constantly　with　you　in　some　degree；　thanks　to　this　precious　gift！'

With　these　words　She　drew　from　beneath　her　habit　a　mirror　of　polished　steel；　the　borders　of　which　were　marked　with　various　strange　and　unknown　characters。

'Amidst　all　my　sorrows；　amidst　all　my　regrets　for　your　coldness；　I　was　sustained　from　despair　by　the　virtues　of　this　Talisman。　　On　pronouncing　certain　words；　the　Person　appears　in　it　on　whom　the　Observer's　thoughts　are　bent：　thus　though　_I_　was　exiled　from　YOUR　sight；　you；　Ambrosio；　were　ever　present　to　mine。'

The　Friar's　curiosity　was　excited　strongly。

'What　you　relate　is　incredible！　　Matilda；　are　you　not　amusing　yourself　with　my　credulity？'

'Be　your　own　eyes　the　Judge。'

She　put　the　Mirror　into　his　hand。　　Curiosity　induced　him　to　take　it；　and　Love；　to　wish　that　Antonia　might　appear。　　Matilda　pronounced　the　magic　words。　　Immediately；　a　thick　smoke　rose　from　the　characters　traced　upon　the　borders；　and　spread　itself　over　the　surface。　　It　dispersed　again　gradually；　A　confused　mixture　of　colours　and　images　presented　themselves　to　the　Friar's　eyes；　which　at　length　arranging　themselves　in　their　proper　places；　He　beheld　in　miniature　Antonia's　lovely　form。

The　scene　was　a　small　closet　belonging　to　her　apartment。　　She　was　undressing　to　bathe　herself。　　The　long　tresses　of　her　hair　were　already　bound　up。　　The　amorous　Monk　had　full　opportunity　to　observe　the　voluptuous　contours　and　admirable　symmetry　of　her　person。　　She　threw　off　her　last　garment；　and　advancing　to　the　Bath　prepared　for　her；　She　put　her　foot　into　the　water。　　It　struck　cold；　and　She　drew　it　back　again。　　Though　unconscious　of　being　observed；　an　inbred　sense　of　modesty　induced　her　to　veil　her　charms；　and　She　stood　hesitating　upon　the　brink；　in　the　attitude　of　the　Venus　de　Medicis。　At　this　moment　a　tame　Linnet　flew　towards　her；　nestled　its　head　between　her　breasts；　and　nibbled　them　in　wanton　play。　　The　smiling　Antonia　strove　in　vain　to　shake　off　the　Bird；　and　at　length　raised　her　hands　to　drive　it　from　its　delightful　harbour。　　Ambrosio　could　bear　no　more：　　His　desires　were　worked　up　to　phrenzy。

'I　yield！'　He　cried；　dashing　the　mirror　upon　the　ground：　　'Matilda；　I　follow　you！　　Do　with　me　what　you　will！'

She　waited　not　to　hear　his　consent　repeated。　　It　was　already　midnight。　　She　flew　to　her　Cell；　and　soon　returned　with　her　little　basket　and　the　Key　of　the　Cemetery；　which　had　remained　in　her　possession　since　her　first　visit　to　the　Vaults。　　She　gave　the　Monk　no　time　for　reflection。

'Come！'　She　said；　and　took　his　hand；　'Follow　me；　and　witness　the　effects　of　your　resolve！'

This　said；　She　drew　him　hastily　along。　　They　passed　into　the　Burying…ground　unobserved；　opened　the　door　of　the　Sepulchre；　and　found　themselves　at　the　head　of　the　subterraneous　Staircase。　　As　yet　the　beams　of　the　full　Moon　had　guided　their　steps；　but　that　resource　now　failed　them。　　Matilda　had　neglected　to　provide　herself　with　a　Lamp。　　Still　holding　Ambrosio's　hand　She　descended　the　marble　steps；　But　the　profound　obscurity　with　which　they　were　overspread　obliged　them　to　walk　slow　and　cautiously。

'You　tremble！'　said　Matilda　to　her　Companion；　'Fear　not；　The　destined　spot　is　near。'

They　reached　the　foot　of　the　Staircase；　and　continued　to　proceed；　feeling　their　way　along　the　Walls。　　On　turning　a　corner　suddenly；　they　descried　faint　gleams　of　light　which　seemed　burning　at　a　distance。　　Thither　they　bent　their　steps：　　The　rays　proceeded　from　a　small　sepulchral　Lamp　which　flamed　unceasingly　before　the　Statue　of　St。　Clare。　　It　tinged　with　dim　a