the monk(僧侣)-第62章
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loud and commanding tone； and her gestures declared that She was
threatening him with her vengeance。 Her menaces had the desired
effect： The Spirit sank upon his knee； and with a submissive air
presented to her the branch of Myrtle。 No sooner had She
received it； than the Music was again heard； A thick cloud spread
itself over the Apparition； The blue flames disappeared； and
total obscurity reigned through the Cave。 The Abbot moved not
from his place： His faculties were all bound up in pleasure；
anxiety； and surprize。 At length the darkness dispersing； He
perceived Matilda standing near him in her religious habit； with
the Myrtle in her hand。 No traces of the incantation； and the
Vaults were only illuminated by the faint rays of the sepulchral
Lamp。
'I have succeeded；' said Matilda； 'though with more difficulty
than I expected。 Lucifer； whom I summoned to my assistance； was
at first unwilling to obey my commands： To enforce his compliance
I was constrained to have recourse to my strongest charms。 They
have produced the desired effect； but I have engaged never more
to invoke his agency in your favour。 Beware then； how you employ
an opportunity which never will return。 My magic arts will now
be of no use to you： In future you can only hope for
supernatural aid by invoking the Daemons yourself； and accepting
the conditions of their service。 This you will never do： You
want strength of mind to force them to obedience； and unless you
pay their established price； they will not be your voluntary
Servants。 In this one instance they consent to obey you： I offer
you the means of enjoying your Mistress； and be careful not to
lose the opportunity。 Receive this constellated Myrtle： While
you bear this in your hand； every door will fly open to you。 It
will procure you access tomorrow night to Antonia's chamber：
Then breathe upon it thrice； pronounce her name； and place it
upon her pillow。 A death…like slumber will immediately seize
upon her； and deprive her of the power of resisting your
attempts。 Sleep will hold her till break of Morning。 In this
state you may satisfy your desires without danger of being
discovered； since when daylight shall dispel the effects of the
enchantment； Antonia will perceive her dishonour； but be ignorant
of the Ravisher。 Be happy then； my Ambrosio； and let this
service convince you that my friendship is disinterested and
pure。 The night must be near expiring： Let us return to the
Abbey； lest our absence should create surprize。'
The Abbot received the talisman with silent gratitude。 His ideas
were too much bewildered by the adventures of the night to
permit his expressing his thanks audibly； or indeed as yet to
feel the whole value of her present。 Matilda took up her Lamp
and Basket； and guided her Companion from the mysterious Cavern。
She restored the Lamp to its former place； and continued her
route in darkness； till She reached the foot of the Staircase。
The first beams of the rising Sun darting down it facilitated the
ascent。 Matilda and the Abbot hastened out of the Sepulchre；
closed the door after them； and soon regained the Abbey's western
Cloister。 No one met them； and they retired unobserved to their
respective Cells。
The confusion of Ambrosio's mind now began to appease。 He
rejoiced in the fortunate issue of his adventure； and reflecting
upon the virtues of the Myrtle； looked upon Antonia as already in
his power。 Imagination retraced to him those secret charms
betrayed to him by the Enchanted Mirror； and He waited with
impatience for the approach of midnight。
VOLUME III
CHAPTER I
The crickets sing； and Man's o'er…laboured sense
Repairs itself by rest： Our Tarquin thus
Did softly press the rushes； ere He wakened
The chastity He woundedCytherea；
How bravely thou becom'st thy bed！ Fresh Lily！
And whiter than the sheets！
Cymbeline。
All the researches of the Marquis de las Cisternas proved vain：
Agnes was lost to him for ever。 Despair produced so violent an
effect upon his constitution； that the consequence was a long and
severe illness。 This prevented him from visiting Elvira as He
had intended； and She being ignorant of the cause of his neglect；
it gave her no trifling uneasiness。 His Sister's death had
prevented Lorenzo from communicating to his Uncle his designs
respecting Antonia： The injunctions of her Mother forbad his
presenting himself to her without the Duke's consent； and as She
heard no more of him or his proposals； Elvira conjectured that He
had either met with a better match； or had been commanded to give
up all thoughts of her Daughter。 Every day made her more uneasy
respecting Antonia's fate： While She retained the Abbot's
protection； She bore with fortitude the disappointment of her
hopes with regard to Lorenzo and the Marquis。 That resource now
failed her。 She was convinced that Ambrosio had meditated her
Daughter's ruin： And when She reflected that her death would
leave Antonia friendless and unprotected in a world so base； so
perfidious and depraved； her heart swelled with the bitterness of
apprehension。 At such times She would sit for hours gazing upon
the lovely Girl； and seeming to listen to her innocent prattle；
while in reality her thoughts dwelt upon the sorrows into which
a moment would suffice to plunge her。 Then She would clasp her
in her arms suddenly； lean her head upon her Daughter's bosom；
and bedew it with her tears。
An event was in preparation which； had She known it； would have
relieved her from her inquietude。 Lorenzo now waited only for a
favourable opportunity to inform the Duke of his intended
marriage： However； a circumstance which occurred at this period；
obliged him to delay his explanation for a few days longer。
Don Raymond's malady seemed to gain ground。 Lorenzo was
constantly at his bedside； and treated him with a tenderness
truly fraternal。 Both the cause and effects of the disorder were
highly afflicting to the Brother of Agnes： yet Theodore's grief
was scarcely less sincere。 That amiable Boy quitted not his
Master for a moment； and put every means in practice to console
and alleviate his sufferings。 The Marquis had conceived so
rooted an affection for his deceased Mistress； that it was
evident to all that He never could survive her loss： Nothing
could have prevented him from sinking under his grief but the
persuasion of her being still alive； and in need of his
assistance。 Though convinced of its falsehood； his Attendants
encouraged him in a belief which formed his only comfort。 He
was assured daily that fresh perquisitions were making
respecting the fate of Agnes： Stories were invented recounting
the various attempts made to get admittance into the Convent； and
circumstances were related which； though they did not promise her
absolute recovery； at least were sufficient to keep his hopes
alive。 The Marquis constantly fell into the most terrible excess
of passion when informed of the failure of these supposed
attempts。 Still He would not credit that the succeeding ones
would have the same fate； but flattered himself that the next
would prove more fortunate。
Theodore was the only one who exerted himself to realize his
Master's Chimoeras。 He was eternally busied in planning schemes
for entering the Convent； or at least of obtaining from the Nuns
some intelligence of Agnes。 To execute these schemes was the
only inducement which could prevail on him to quit Don Raymond。
He became a very Proteus； changing his shape every day； but all
his metamorphoses were to very little purpose： He regularly
returned to the Palace de las Cisternas without any intelligence
to confirm his Master's hopes。 One day He took it into his head
to disguise himself as a Beggar。 He put a patch over his left
eye； took his Guitar in hand； and posted himself at the Gate of
the Convent。
'If Agnes is really confined in the Convent；' thought He； 'and
hears my voice； She will recollect it； and possibly may find
means to let me know that She is here。'
With this idea He mingled with a crowd of Beggars who assembled
daily at the Gate of St。 Cla
