the monk(僧侣)-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


unacquainted　with　his　original　disposition。　　He　pronounced　the
most　severe　sentences　upon　Offenders；　which；　the　moment　after；
Compassion　induced　him　to　mitigate：　　He　undertook　the　most　daring
enterprizes；　which　the　fear　of　their　consequences　soon　obliged
him　to　abandon：　　His　inborn　genius　darted　a　brilliant　light　upon
subjects　the　most　obscure；　and　almost　instantaneously　his
Superstition　replunged　them　in　darkness　more　profound　than　that
from　which　they　had　just　been　rescued。　　His　Brother　Monks；
regarding　him　as　a　Superior　Being；　remarked　not　this
contradiction　in　their　Idol's　conduct。　　They　were　persuaded　that
what　He　did　must　be　right；　and　supposed　him　to　have　good　reasons
for　changing　his　resolutions。　　The　fact　was；　that　the　different
sentiments　with　which　Education　and　Nature　had　inspired　him
were　combating　in　his　bosom：　　It　remained　for　his　passions；　which
as　yet　no　opportunity　had　called　into　play；　to　decide　the
victory。　　Unfortunately　his　passions　were　the　very　worst　Judges；
to　whom　He　could　possibly　have　applied。　　His　monastic　seclusion
had　till　now　been　in　his　favour；　since　it　gave　him　no　room　for
discovering　his　bad　qualities。　　The　superiority　of　his　talents
raised　him　too　far　above　his　Companions　to　permit　his　being
jealous　of　them：　　His　exemplary　piety；　persuasive　eloquence；　and
pleasing　manners　had　secured　him　universal　Esteem；　and
consequently　He　had　no　injuries　to　revenge：　　His　Ambition　was
justified　by　his　acknowledged　merit；　and　his　pride　considered　as
no　more　than　proper　confidence。　　He　never　saw；　much　less
conversed　with；　the　other　sex：　　He　was　ignorant　of　the　pleasures
in　Woman's　power　to　bestow；　and　if　He　read　in　the　course　of　his
studies

　　　'That　Men　were　fond；　He　smiled；　and　wondered　how！'　

For　a　time；　spare　diet；　frequent　watching；　and　severe　penance
cooled　and　represt　the　natural　warmth　of　his　constitution：　　But
no　sooner　did　opportunity　present　itself；　no　sooner　did　He　catch
a　glimpse　of　joys　to　which　He　was　still　a　Stranger；　than
Religion's　barriers　were　too　feeble　to　resist　the　overwhelming
torrent　of　his　desires。　　All　impediments　yielded　before　the　force
of　his　temperament；　warm；　sanguine；　and　voluptuous　in　the　excess。

As　yet　his　other　passions　lay　dormant；　But　they　only　needed　to　be
once　awakened；　to　display　themselves　with　violence　as　great　and
irresistible。

He　continued　to　be　the　admiration　of　Madrid。　　The　Enthusiasm
created　by　his　eloquence　seemed　rather　to　increase　than　diminish。

Every　Thursday；　which　was　the　only　day　when　He　appeared　in
public；　the　Capuchin　Cathedral　was　crowded　with　Auditors；　and
his　discourse　was　always　received　with　the　same　approbation。　　He
was　named　Confessor　to　all　the　chief　families　in　Madrid；　and　no
one　was　counted　fashionable　who　was　injoined　penance　by　any
other　than　Ambrosio。　　In　his　resolution　of　never　stirring　out　of
his　Convent；　He　still　persisted。　This　circumstance　created　a
still　greater　opinion　of　his　sanctity　and　self…denial。　　Above
all；　the　Women　sang　forth　his　praises　loudly；　less　influenced　by
devotion　than　by　his　noble　countenance；　majestic　air；　and
well…turned；　graceful　figure。　　The　Abbey　door　was　thronged　with
Carriages　from　morning　to　night；　and　the　noblest　and　fairest
Dames　of　Madrid　confessed　to　the　Abbot　their　secret　peccadilloes。

The　eyes　of　the　luxurious　Friar　devoured　their　charms：　　Had　his
Penitents　consulted　those　Interpreters；　He　would　have　needed　no
other　means　of　expressing　his　desires。　　For　his　misfortune；　they
were　so　strongly　persuaded　of　his　continence；　that　the
possibility　of　his　harbouring　indecent　thoughts　never　once
entered　their　imaginations。　　The　climate's　heat；　'tis　well　known；
operates　with　no　small　influence　upon　the　constitutions　of　the
Spanish　Ladies：　　But　the　most　abandoned　would　have　thought　it　an
easier　task　to　inspire　with　passion　the　marble　Statue　of　St。
Francis　than　the　cold　and　rigid　heart　of　the　immaculate　Ambrosio。

On　his　part；　the　Friar　was　little　acquainted　with　the　depravity
of　the　world；　He　suspected　not　that　but　few　of　his　Penitents
would　have　rejected　his　addresses。　　Yet　had　He　been　better
instructed　on　this　head；　the　danger　attending　such　an　attempt
would　have　sealed　up　his　lips　in　silence。　　He　knew　that　it　would
be　difficult　for　a　Woman　to　keep　a　secret　so　strange　and　so
important　as　his　frailty；　and　He　even　trembled　lest　Matilda
should　betray　him。　　Anxious　to　preserve　a　reputation　which　was
infinitely　dear　to　him；　He　saw　all　the　risque　of　committing　it　to
the　power　of　some　vain　giddy　Female；　and　as　the　Beauties　of
Madrid　affected　only　his　senses　without　touching　his　heart；　He
forgot　them　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　his　sight。　　The　danger　of
discovery；　the　fear　of　being　repulsed；　the　loss　of　reputation；
all　these　considerations　counselled　him　to　stifle　his　desires：　
And　though　He　now　felt　for　it　the　most　perfect　indifference；　He
was　necessitated　to　confine　himself　to　Matilda's　person。

One　morning；　the　confluence　of　Penitents　was　greater　than　usual。　
He　was　detained　in　the　Confessional　Chair　till　a　late　hour。　　At
length　the　crowd　was　dispatched；　and　He　prepared　to　quit　the
Chapel；　when　two　Females　entered　and　drew　near　him　with
humility。　　They　threw　up　their　veils；　and　the　youngest　entreated
him　to　listen　to　her　for　a　few　moments。　　The　melody　of　her　voice；
of　that　voice　to　which　no　Man　ever　listened　without　interest；
immediately　caught　Ambrosio's　attention。　　He　stopped。　　The
Petitioner　seemed　bowed　down　with　affliction：　　Her　cheeks　were
pale；　her　eyes　dimmed　with　tears；　and　her　hair　fell　in　disorder
over　her　face　and　bosom。　　Still　her　countenance　was　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