the monk(僧侣)-第76章
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to Father Pablos the Abbot's orders。 She then betook herself to
the House of old Simon Gonzalez； whom She resolved never to quit；
till She had made him her Husband； and his dwelling her own。
Father Pablos had no sooner beheld Antonia； than He pronounced
her incurable。 The convulsions continued for an hour： During
that time her agonies were much milder than those which her
groans created in the Abbot's heart。 Her every pang seemed a
dagger in his bosom； and He cursed himself a thousand times for
having adopted so barbarous a project。 The hour being expired；
by degrees the Fits became less frequent； and Antonia less
agitated。 She felt that her dissolution was approaching； and
that nothing could save her。
'Worthy Ambrosio；' She said in a feeble voice； while She pressed
his hand to her lips； 'I am now at liberty to express； how
grateful is my heart for your attention and kindness。 I am upon
the bed of death； Yet an hour； and I shall be no more。 I may
therefore acknowledge without restraint； that to relinquish your
society was very painful to me： But such was the will of a
Parent； and I dared not disobey。 I die without repugnance：
There are few； who will lament my leaving them； There are few；
whom I lament to leave。 Among those few； I lament for none more
than for yourself； But we shall meet again； Ambrosio！ We shall
one day meet in heaven： There shall our friendship be renewed；
and my Mother shall view it with pleasure！'
She paused。 The Abbot shuddered when She mentioned Elvira：
Antonia imputed his emotion to pity and concern for her。
'You are grieved for me； Father；' She continued； 'Ah！ sigh not
for my loss。 I have no crimes to repent； at least none of which
I am conscious； and I restore my soul without fear to him from
whom I received it。 I have but few requests to make： Yet let me
hope that what few I have shall be granted。 Let a solemn Mass be
said for my soul's repose； and another for that of my beloved
Mother。 Not that I doubt her resting in her Grave： I am now
convinced that my reason wandered； and the falsehood of the
Ghost's prediction is sufficient to prove my error。 But every
one has some failing： My Mother may have had hers； though I knew
them not： I therefore wish a Mass to be celebrated for her
repose； and the expence may be defrayed by the little wealth of
which I am possessed。 Whatever may then remain； I bequeath to my
Aunt Leonella。 When I am dead； let the Marquis de las Cisternas
know that his Brother's unhappy family can no longer importune
him。 But disappointment makes me unjust： They tell me that He
is ill； and perhaps had it been in his power； He wished to have
protected me。 Tell him then； Father； only that I am dead； and
that if He had any faults to me； I forgave him from my heart。
This done； I have nothing more to ask for； than your prayers：
Promise to remember my requests； and I shall resign my life
without a pang or sorrow。'
Ambrosio engaged to comply with her desires； and proceeded to
give her absolution。 Every moment announced the approach of
Antonia's fate： Her sight failed； Her heart beat sluggishly； Her
fingers stiffened； and grew cold； and at two in the morning She
expired without a groan。 As soon as the breath had forsaken her
body； Father Pablos retired； sincerely affected at the melancholy
scene。 On her part； Flora gave way to the most unbridled sorrow。
Far different concerns employed Ambrosio： He sought for the
pulse whose throbbing； so Matilda had assured him； would prove
Antonia's death but temporal。 He found it； He pressed it； It
palpitated beneath his hand； and his heart was filled with
ecstacy。 However； He carefully concealed his satisfaction at the
success of his plan。 He assumed a melancholy air； and addressing
himself to Flora； warned her against abandoning herself to
fruitless sorrow。 Her tears were too sincere to permit her
listening to his counsels； and She continued to weep unceasingly。
The Friar withdrew； first promising to give orders himself about
the Funeral； which； out of consideration for Jacintha as He
pretended； should take place with all expedition。 Plunged in
grief for the loss of her beloved Mistress； Flora scarcely
attended to what He said。 Ambrosio hastened to command the
Burial。 He obtained permission from the Prioress； that the Corse
should be deposited in St。 Clare's Sepulchre： and on the Friday
Morning； every proper and needful ceremony being performed；
Antonia's body was committed to the Tomb。
On the same day Leonella arrived at Madrid； intending to present
her young Husband to Elvira。 Various circumstances had obliged
her to defer her journey from Tuesday to Friday； and She had no
opportunity of making this alteration in her plans known to her
Sister。 As her heart was truly affectionate； and as She had ever
entertained a sincere regard for Elvira and her Daughter； her
surprize at hearing of their sudden and melancholy fate was fully
equalled by her sorrow and disappointment。 Ambrosio sent to
inform her of Antonia's bequest： At her solication； He promised；
as soon as Elvira's trifling debts were discharged； to transmit
to her the remainder。 This being settled； no other business
detained Leonella in Madrid； and She returned to Cordova with all
diligence。
CHAPTER III
Oh！ could I worship aught beneath the skies
That earth hath seen or fancy could devise；
Thine altar； sacred Liberty； should stand；
Built by no mercenary vulgar hand；
With fragrant turf； and flowers as wild and fair；
As ever dressed a bank； or scented summer air。
Cowper。
His whole attention bent upon bringing to justice the Assassins
of his Sister； Lorenzo little thought how severely his interest
was suffering in another quarter。 As was before mentioned； He
returned not to Madrid till the evening of that day on which
Antonia was buried。 Signifying to the Grand Inquisitor the order
of the Cardinal…Duke （a ceremony not to be neglected； when a
Member of the Church was to be arrested publicly） communicating
his design to his Uncle and Don Ramirez； and assembling a troop
of Attendants sufficiently to prevent opposition； furnished him
with full occupation during the few hours preceding midnight。
Consequently； He had no opportunity to enquire about his
Mistress； and was perfectly ignorant both of her death and her
Mother's。
The Marquis was by no means out of danger： His delirium was
gone； but had left him so much exhausted that the Physicians
declined pronouncing upon the consequences likely to ensue。 As
for Raymond himself； He wished for nothing more earnestly than to
join Agnes in the grave。 Existence was hateful to him： He saw
nothing in the world deserving his attention； and He hoped to
hear that Agnes was revenged； and himself given over in the same
moment。
Followed by Raymond's ardent prayers for success； Lorenzo was at
the Gates of St。 Clare a full hour before the time appointed by
the Mother St。 Ursula。 He was accompanied by his Uncle； by Don
Ramirez de Mello； and a party of chosen Archers。 Though in
considerable numbers their appearance created no surprize： A
great Crowd was already assembled before the Convent doors； in
order to witness the Procession。 It was naturally supposed that
Lorenzo and his Attendants were conducted thither by the same
design。 The Duke of Medina being recognised； the People drew
back； and made way for his party to advance。 Lorenzo placed
himself opposite to the great Gate； through which the Pilgrims
were to pass。 Convinced that the Prioress could not escape him；
He waited patiently for her appearance； which She was expected to
make exactly at Midnight。
The Nuns were employed in religious duties established in honour
of St。 Clare； and to which no Prophane was ever admitted。 The
Chapel windows were illuminated。 As they stood on the outside；
the Auditors heard the full swell of the organ； accompanied by a
chorus of female voices； rise upon the stillness of the night。
This died away； and was succeeded by a single strain of harmony：
It was the voice of her who was destined to sustain in the
procession the character of St。
