the monk(僧侣)-第12章

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unaccountable　behaviour。　　He　was　inclined　to　suspect　the
derangement　of　his　senses：　yet　the　general　tenor　of　his　conduct；
the　connexion　of　his　ideas；　and　calmness　of　his　demeanour　till
the　moment　of　his　quitting　the　Grotto；　seemed　to　discountenance
this　conjecture。　　After　a　few　minutes　Rosario　returned。　　He　again
seated　himself　upon　the　Bank：　　He　reclined　his　cheek　upon　one
hand；　and　with　the　other　wiped　away　the　tears　which　trickled　from
his　eyes　at　intervals。

The　Monk　looked　upon　him　with　compassion；　and　forbore　to
interrupt　his　meditations。　　Both　observed　for　some　time　a
profound　silence。　　The　Nightingale　had　now　taken　her　station　upon
an　Orange　Tree　fronting　the　Hermitage；　and　poured　forth　a　strain
the　most　melancholy　and　melodious。　　Rosario　raised　his　head；　and
listened　to　her　with　attention。

'It　was　thus；'　said　He；　with　a　deep…drawn　sigh；　'It　was　thus；
that　during　the　last　month　of　her　unhappy　life；　my　Sister　used　to
sit　listening　to　the　Nightingale。　　Poor　Matilda！　　She　sleeps　in
the　Grave；　and　her　broken　heart　throbs　no　more　with　passion。'

'You　had　a　Sister？'

'You　say　right；　that　I　HAD；　Alas！　　I　have　one　no　longer。　　She
sunk　beneath　the　weight　of　her　sorrows　in　the　very　spring　of
life。'

'What　were　those　sorrows？'

'They　will　not　excite　YOUR　pity：　　YOU　know　not　the　power　of　those
irresistible；　those　fatal　sentiments；　to　which　her　Heart　was　a
prey。　　Father；　She　loved　unfortunately。　　A　passion　for　One
endowed　with　every　virtue；　for　a　Man；　Oh！　rather　let　me　say；　for
a　divinity；　proved　the　bane　of　her　existence。　　His　noble　form；
his　spotless　character；　his　various　talents；　his　wisdom　solid；
wonderful；　and　glorious；　might　have　warmed　the　bosom　of　the　most
insensible。　　My　Sister　saw　him；　and　dared　to　love　though　She
never　dared　to　hope。'

'If　her　love　was　so　well　bestowed；　what　forbad　her　to　hope　the
obtaining　of　its　object？'

'Father；　before　He　knew　her；　Julian　had　already　plighted　his　vows
to　a　Bride　most　fair；　most　heavenly！　　Yet　still　my　Sister　loved；
and　for　the　Husband's　sake　She　doted　upon　the　Wife。　　One　morning
She　found　means　to　escape　from　our　Father's　House：　　Arrayed　in
humble　weeds　She　offered　herself　as　a　Domestic　to　the　Consort　of
her　Beloved；　and　was　accepted。　　She　was　now　continually　in　his
presence：　　She　strove　to　ingratiate　herself　into　his　favour：　　She
succeeded。　　Her　attentions　attracted　Julian's　notice；　　The
virtuous　are　ever　grateful；　and　He　distinguished　Matilda　above
the　rest　of　her　Companions。'

'And　did　not　your　Parents　seek　for　her？　　Did　they　submit　tamely
to　their　loss；　nor　attempt　to　recover　their　wandering　Daughter？'

'Ere　they　could　find　her；　She　discovered　herself。　　Her　love　grew
too　violent　for　concealment；　Yet　She　wished　not　for　Julian's
person；　She　ambitioned　but　a　share　of　his　heart。　　In　an　unguarded
moment　She　confessed　her　affection。　　What　was　the　return？　
Doating　upon　his　Wife；　and　believing　that　a　look　of　pity　bestowed
upon　another　was　a　theft　from　what　He　owed　to　her；　He　drove
Matilda　from　his　presence。　　He　forbad　her　ever　again　appearing
before　him。　　His　severity　broke　her　heart：　　She　returned　to　her
Father's；　and　in　a　few　Months　after　was　carried　to　her　Grave。'

'Unhappy　Girl！　　Surely　her　fate　was　too　severe；　and　Julian　was
too　cruel。'

'Do　you　think　so；　Father？'　cried　the　Novice　with　vivacity；　'Do
you　think　that　He　was　cruel？'

'Doubtless　I　do；　and　pity　her　most　sincerely。'

'You　pity　her？　　You　pity　her？　　Oh！　　Father！　　Father！　Then　pity
me！'

The　Friar　started；　when　after　a　moment's　pause　Rosario　added　with
a　faltering　voice；'for　my　sufferings　are　still　greater。　　My
Sister　had　a　Friend；　a　real　Friend；　who　pitied　the　acuteness　of
her　feelings；　nor　reproached　her　with　her　inability　to　repress
them。　　I　。　。　。！　　I　have　no　Friend！　　The　whole　wide　world　cannot
furnish　an　heart　that　is　willing　to　participate　in　the　sorrows
of　mine！'

As　He　uttered　these　words；　He　sobbed　audibly。　　The　Friar　was
affected。　　He　took　Rosario's　hand；　and　pressed　it　with
tenderness。

'You　have　no　Friend；　say　you？　　What　then　am　I？　　Why　will　you　not
confide　in　me；　and　what　can　you　fear？　　My　severity？　　Have　I　ever
used　it　with　you？　　The　dignity　of　my　habit？　　Rosario；　I　lay　aside
the　Monk；　and　bid　you　consider　me　as　no　other　than　your　Friend；
your　Father。　　Well　may　I　assume　that　title；　for　never　did　Parent
watch　over　a　Child　more　fondly　than　I　have　watched　over　you。　
From　the　moment　in　which　I　first　beheld　you；　I　perceived
sensations　in　my　bosom　till　then　unknown　to　me；　I　found　a
delight　in　your　society　which　no　one's　else　could　afford；　and
when　I　witnessed　the　extent　of　your　genius　and　information；　I
rejoiced　as　does　a　Father　in　the　perfections　of　his　Son。　　Then
lay　aside　your　fears；　Speak　to　me　with　openness：　　Speak　to　me；
Rosario；　and　say　that　you　will　confide　in　me。　　If　my　aid　or　my
pity　can　alleviate　your　distress。　。　。　。'

'Yours　can！　　Yours　only　can！　　Ah！　　Father；　how　willingly　would　I
unveil　to　you　my　heart！　　How　willingly　would　I　declare　the
secret　which　bows　me　down　with　its　weight！　But　Oh！　　I　fear！　　I
fear！'

'What；　my　Son？'

'That　you　should　abhor　me　for　my　weakness；　That　the　reward　of　my
confidence　should　be　the　loss　of　your　esteem。'

'How　shall　I　reassure　you？　　Reflect　upon　the　whole　of　my　past
conduct；　upon　the　paternal　tenderness　which　I　have　ever　shown
you。　　Abhor　you；　Rosario？　　It　is　no　longer　in　my　power。　　To　give
up　your　society　would　be　to　deprive　myself　of　the　greatest
pleasure　of　my　life。　　Then　reveal　to　me　what　afflicts　you；　and
believe　me　while　I　solemnly　swear。　。　。　。'

'Hold！'　interrupted　the　Novice；　'Swear；　that　whatever　be　my
secret；　you　will　not　oblige　me　to　quit　the　Monastery　till　my
Noviciate　shall　expire。'

'I　promise　it　faithfully；　and　as　I　keep　my　vows　to　you；　may
Christ　keep　his　to　Mankind。　　Now　then　explain　this　mystery；　and
rely　upon　my　indulgence。'

'I　obey　you。　　Know　then。　。　。　。　　Oh！　how　I　tremble　to　name　the
word！　　Listen　to　me　with　pity；　revered　Ambrosio！　　Call　up　every
latent　spark　of　human　weakness　that　may　teach　you　compassion　for
mine！　　Father！'　continued　He　throwing　himself　at　the　Friar's
feet；　and　pressing　his　hand　to　his　lips　with　eagerness；　while
agitation　for　a　moment　choaked　his　voice；　'Father！'　continued　He
in　faltering　accents；　'I　am　a　Woman！'

The　Abbot　started　at　this　unexpected　avowal。　Prostrate　on　the
ground　lay　the　feigned　Rosario；　as　if　waiting　in　silence　the
decision　of　his　Judge。　　Astonishment　on　the　one　part；
apprehension　on　the　other；　for　some　minutes　chained　them　in　the
same　attitudes；　as　had　they　been　touched　by　the　Rod　of　some
Magician。　　At　length　recovering　from　his　confusion；　the　Monk
quitted　the　Grotto；　and　sped　with　precipitation　towards　the
Abbey。　　His　action　did　not　escape　the　Suppliant。　　She　sprang　from
the　ground；　She　hastened　to　follow　him；　overtook　him；　threw
herself　in　his　passage；　and　embraced　his　knees。　　Ambrosio　strove
in　vain　to　disengage　himself　from　her　grasp。

'Do　not　fly　me！'　She　cried；　'Leave　me　not　abandoned　to　the
impulse　of　despair！　　Listen；　while　I　excuse　my　imprudence；　while
I　acknowledge　my　Sister's　story　to　be　my　own！　　I　am　Matilda；　You
are　her　Beloved。'

If　Ambrosio's　surprise　was　great　at　her　first　avowal；　upon
hearing　her　second　it　exceeded　all　bounds。　　Amazed；　embarrassed；
and　irresolute　He　found　himself　incapable　of　pronouncing　a
syllable；　and　remained　in　silence　gazing　upon　Matilda：　　This　gave
her　opportunity　to　continue　her　explanation　as　follows。

'Think　not；　Ambrosio；　that　I　come　to　rob　your　Bride　of　your
affections。　　No；　believe　me：　　Religion　alone　deserves　you；　and
far　is　it　from　Matilda's　wish　to　draw　you　from　the　paths　of
virtue。　　What　I　feel　for　you　is　love；　not　licentiousness；　I　sigh
to　be　possessor　of　your　heart；　not　lust　for　the　enjoyment　of　your
person。　　Deign　to　listen　to　my　vindication：　　A　few　moments　will
convince　you　that　this　holy　retreat　is　not　polluted　by　my
presence；　and　that　you　may　grant　me　your　compassion　without
trespassing　against　your　vows。'She　seated　herself：　　Ambrosio；
scarcely　conscious　of　what　He　did；　followed　her　example；　and　She
proceeded　in　her　discourse。

'I　spring　from　a　distinguished　family：　　My　Father　was　Chief　of
the　n