the monk(僧侣)-第6章

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continued　to　influence　his　slumbers。

He　still　fancied　himself　to　be　in　the　Church　of　the　Capuchins；
but　it　was　no　longer　dark　and　solitary。　　Multitudes　of　silver
Lamps　shed　splendour　from　the　vaulted　Roof；　Accompanied　by　the
captivating　chaunt　of　distant　choristers；　the　Organ's　melody
swelled　through　the　Church；　The　Altar　seemed　decorated　as　for
some　distinguished　feast；　It　was　surrounded　by　a　brilliant
Company；　and　near　it　stood　Antonia　arrayed　in　bridal　white；　and
blushing　with　all　the　charms　of　Virgin　Modesty。

Half　hoping；　half　fearing；　Lorenzo　gazed　upon　the　scene　before
him。　　Sudden　the　door　leading　to　the　Abbey　unclosed；　and　He　saw；
attended　by　a　long　train　of　Monks；　the　Preacher　advance　to　whom
He　had　just　listened　with　so　much　admiration。　　He　drew　near
Antonia。

'And　where　is　the　Bridegroom？'　said　the　imaginary　Friar。

Antonia　seemed　to　look　round　the　Church　with　anxiety。　
Involuntarily　the　Youth　advanced　a　few　steps　from　his
concealment。　　She　saw　him；　The　blush　of　pleasure　glowed　upon　her
cheek；　With　a　graceful　motion　of　her　hand　She　beckoned　to　him　to
advance。　　He　disobeyed　not　the　command；　He　flew　towards　her；　and
threw　himself　at　her　feet。

She　retreated　for　a　moment；　Then　gazing　upon　him　with　unutterable
delight；'Yes！'　She　exclaimed；　'My　Bridegroom！　　My　destined
Bridegroom！'　She　said；　and　hastened　to　throw　herself　into　his
arms；　But　before　He　had　time　to　receive　her；　an　Unknown　rushed
between　them。　　His　form　was　gigantic；　His　complexion　was　swarthy；
His　eyes　fierce　and　terrible；　his　Mouth　breathed　out　volumes　of
fire；　and　on　his　forehead　was　written　in　legible
characters'Pride！　Lust！　Inhumanity！'

Antonia　shrieked。　　The　Monster　clasped　her　in　his　arms；　and
springing　with　her　upon　the　Altar；　tortured　her　with　his　odious
caresses。　　She　endeavoured　in　vain　to　escape　from　his　embrace。　
Lorenzo　flew　to　her　succour；　but　ere　He　had　time　to　reach　her；　a
loud　burst　of　thunder　was　heard。　　Instantly　the　Cathedral　seemed
crumbling　into　pieces；　The　Monks　betook　themselves　to　flight；
shrieking　fearfully；　The　Lamps　were　extinguished；　the　Altar　sank
down；　and　in　its　place　appeared　an　abyss　vomiting　forth　clouds　of
flame。　　Uttering　a　loud　and　terrible　cry　the　Monster　plunged　into
the　Gulph；　and　in　his　fall　attempted　to　drag　Antonia　with　him。　
He　strove　in　vain。　　Animated　by　supernatural　powers　She
disengaged　herself　from　his　embrace；　But　her　white　Robe　was　left
in　his　possession。　　Instantly　a　wing　of　brilliant　splendour
spread　itself　from　either　of　Antonia's　arms。　　She　darted　upwards；
and　while　ascending　cried　to　Lorenzo；

'Friend！　we　shall　meet　above！'

At　the　same　moment　the　Roof　of　the　Cathedral　opened；　Harmonious
voices　pealed　along　the　Vaults；　and　the　glory　into　which　Antonia
was　received　was　composed　of　rays　of　such　dazzling　brightness；
that　Lorenzo　was　unable　to　sustain　the　gaze。　　His　sight　failed；
and　He　sank　upon　the　ground。

When　He　woke；　He　found　himself　extended　upon　the　pavement　of　the
Church：　　It　was　Illuminated；　and　the　chaunt　of　Hymns　sounded　from
a　distance。　　For　a　while　Lorenzo　could　not　persuade　himself　that
what　He　had　just　witnessed　had　been　a　dream；　so　strong　an
impression　had　it　made　upon　his　fancy。　　A　little　recollection
convinced　him　of　its　fallacy：　　The　Lamps　had　been　lighted　during
his　sleep；　and　the　music　which　he　heard　was　occasioned　by　the
Monks；　who　were　celebrating　their　Vespers　in　the　Abbey　Chapel。

Lorenzo　rose；　and　prepared　to　bend　his　steps　towards　his　Sister's
Convent。　　His　mind　fully　occupied　by　the　singularity　of　his
dream；　He　already　drew　near　the　Porch；　when　his　attention　was
attracted　by　perceiving　a　Shadow　moving　upon　the　opposite　wall。　
He　looked　curiously　round；　and　soon　descried　a　Man　wrapped　up　in
his　Cloak；　who　seemed　carefully　examining　whether　his　actions
were　observed。　　Very　few　people　are　exempt　from　the　influence　of
curiosity。　　The　Unknown　seemed　anxious　to　conceal　his　business　in
the　Cathedral；　and　it　was　this　very　circumstance；　which　made
Lorenzo　wish　to　discover　what　He　was　about。

Our　Hero　was　conscious　that　He　had　no　right　to　pry　into　the
secrets　of　this　unknown　Cavalier。

'I　will　go；'　said　Lorenzo。　　And　Lorenzo　stayed；　where　He　was。

The　shadow　thrown　by　the　Column；　effectually　concealed　him　from
the　Stranger；　who　continued　to　advance　with　caution。　　At　length
He　drew　a　letter　from　beneath　his　cloak；　and　hastily　placed　it
beneath　a　Colossal　Statue　of　St。　Francis。　　Then　retiring　with
precipitation；　He　concealed　himself　in　a　part　of　the　Church　at　a
considerable　distance　from　that　in　which　the　Image　stood。

'So！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'This　is　only　some　foolish　love
affair。　　I　believe；　I　may　as　well　be　gone；　for　I　can　do　no　good
in　it。'

In　truth　till　that　moment　it　never　came　into　his　head　that　He
could　do　any　good　in　it；　But　He　thought　it　necessary　to　make　some
little　excuse　to　himself　for　having　indulged　his　curiosity。　　He
now　made　a　second　attempt　to　retire　from　the　Church：　　For　this
time　He　gained　the　Porch　without　meeting　with　any　impediment；　But
it　was　destined　that　He　should　pay　it　another　visit　that　night。
As　He　descended　the　steps　leading　into　the　Street；　a　Cavalier
rushed　against　him　with　such　violence；　that　Both　were　nearly
overturned　by　the　concussion。　　Lorenzo　put　his　hand　to　his　sword。

'How　now；　Segnor？'　said　He；　'What　mean　you　by　this　rudeness？'

'Ha！　　Is　it　you；　Medina？'　replied　the　Newcomer；　whom　Lorenzo　by
his　voice　now　recognized　for　Don　Christoval；　'You　are　the
luckiest　Fellow　in　the　Universe；　not　to　have　left　the　Church
before　my　return。　　In；　in！　my　dear　Lad！　　They　will　be　here
immediately！'

'Who　will　be　here？'

'The　old　Hen　and　all　her　pretty　little　Chickens！　　In；　I　say；　and
then　you　shall　know　the　whole　History。'

Lorenzo　followed　him　into　the　Cathedral；　and　they　concealed
themselves　behind　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis。

'And　now；'　said　our　Hero；　'may　I　take　the　liberty　of　asking；　what
is　the　meaning　of　all　this　haste　and　rapture？'

'Oh！　Lorenzo；　we　shall　see　such　a　glorious　sight！　　The　Prioress
of　St。　Clare　and　her　whole　train　of　Nuns　are　coming　hither。　　You
are　to　know；　that　the　pious　Father　Ambrosio　（The　Lord　reward　him
for　it！）　will　upon　no　account　move　out　of　his　own　precincts：　　It
being　absolutely　necessary　for　every　fashionable　Convent　to　have
him　for　its　Confessor；　the　Nuns　are　in　consequence　obliged　to
visit　him　at　the　Abbey；　since　when　the　Mountain　will　not　come　to
Mahomet；　Mahomet　must　needs　go　to　the　Mountain。　　Now　the　Prioress
of　St。　Clare；　the　better　to　escape　the　gaze　of　such　impure　eyes
as　belong　to　yourself　and　your　humble　Servant；　thinks　proper　to
bring　her　holy　flock　to　confession　in　the　Dusk：　She　is　to　be
admitted　into　the　Abbey　Chapel　by　yon　private　door。　　The
Porteress　of　St。　Clare；　who　is　a　worthy　old　Soul　and　a　particular
Friend　of　mine；　has　just　assured　me　of　their　being　here　in　a　few
moments。　　There　is　news　for　you；　you　Rogue！　　We　shall　see　some　of
the　prettiest　faces　in　Madrid！'

'In　truth；　Christoval；　we　shall　do　no　such　thing。　　The　Nuns　are
always　veiled。'

'No！　　No！　　I　know　better。　　On　entering　a　place　of　worship；　they
ever　take　off　their　veils　from　respect　to　the　Saint　to　whom　'tis
dedicated。　　But　Hark！　　They　are　coming！　　Silence；　silence！　
Observe；　and　be　convinced。'

'Good！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'I　may　possibly　discover　to　whom
the　vows　are　addressed　of　this　mysterious　Stranger。'

Scarcely　had　Don　Christoval　ceased　to　speak；　when　the　Domina　of
St。　Clare　appeared；　followed　by　a　long　procession　of　Nuns。　　Each
upon　entering　the　Church　took　off　her　veil。　　The　Prioress　crossed
her　hands　upon　her　bosom；　and　made　a　profound　reverence　as　She
passed　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis；　the　Patron　of　this　Cathedral。
The　Nuns　followed　her　example；　and　several　moved　onwards　without
having　satisfied　Lorenzo's　curiosity。　　He　almost　began　to　despair
of　seeing　the　mystery　cleared　up；　when　in　paying　her　respects　to
St。　Francis；　one　of　the　Nuns　happened　to　drop　her　Rosary。　　As　She
stooped　to　pick　it　up；　the　light　flashed　full　upon　her　face。　　At
the　same　moment　She　dexterously　removed　the　letter　from　beneath
the　Image；　placed　it　in　her　bosom；　and　hastened　to　resume　her
rank　in　the　process