the monk(僧侣)-第8章
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Here； good Woman； you shall see the hands of both of us。 There
is money for you； and now let me hear my fortune。'
As She said this； She drew off her glove； and presented her hand；
The Gypsy looked at it for a moment； and then made this reply。
THE GYPSY
'Your fortune？ You are now so old；
Good Dame； that 'tis already told：
Yet for your money； in a trice
I will repay you in advice。
Astonished at your childish vanity；
Your Friends alltax you with insanity；
And grieve to see you use your art
To catch some youthful Lover's heart。
Believe me； Dame； when all is done；
Your age will still be fifty one；
And Men will rarely take an hint
Of love； from two grey eyes that squint。
Take then my counsels； Lay aside
Your paint and patches； lust and pride；
And on the Poor those sums bestow；
Which now are spent on useless show。
Think on your Maker； not a Suitor；
Think on your past faults； not on future；
And think Time's Scythe will quickly mow
The few red hairs； which deck your brow。
The audience rang with laughter during the Gypsy's address；
and'fifty one；''squinting eyes；' 'red hair；' 'paint and
patches；' &c。 were bandied from mouth to mouth。 Leonella was
almost choaked with passion； and loaded her malicious Adviser
with the bitterest reproaches。 The swarthy Prophetess for some
time listened to her with a contemptuous smile： at length She
made her a short answer； and then turned to Antonia。
THE GYPSY
'Peace； Lady！ What I said was true；
And now； my lovely Maid； to you；
Give me your hand； and let me see
Your future doom； and heaven's decree。'
In imitation of Leonella； Antonia drew off her glove； and
presented her white hand to the Gypsy； who having gazed upon it
for some time with a mingled expression of pity and astonishment；
pronounced her Oracle in the following words。
THE GYPSY
'Jesus！ what a palm is there！
Chaste； and gentle； young and fair；
Perfect mind and form possessing；
You would be some good Man's blessing：
But Alas！ This line discovers；
That destruction o'er you hovers；
Lustful Man and crafty Devil
Will combine to work your evil；
And from earth by sorrows driven；
Soon your Soul must speed to heaven。
Yet your sufferings to delay；
Well remember what I say。
When you One more virtuous see
Than belongs to Man to be；
One； whose self no crimes assailing；
Pities not his Neighbour's Failing；
Call the Gypsy's words to mind：
Though He seem so good and kind；
Fair Exteriors oft will hide
Hearts； that swell with lust and pride！
Lovely Maid； with tears I leave you！
Let not my prediction grieve you；
Rather with submission bending
Calmly wait distress impending；
And expect eternal bliss
In a better world than this。
Having said this； the Gypsy again whirled herself round thrice；
and then hastened out of the Street with frantic gesture。 The
Crowd followed her； and Elvira's door being now unembarrassed
Leonella entered the House out of honour with the Gypsy； with her
Niece； and with the People； In short with every body； but herself
and her charming Cavalier。 The Gypsy's predictions had also
considerably affected Antonia； But the impression soon wore off；
and in a few hours She had forgotten the adventure as totally as
had it never taken place。
CHAPTER II
Forse se tu gustassi una sol volta
La millesima parte delle gioje；
Che gusta un cor amato riamando；
Diresti ripentita sospirando；
Perduto e tutto il tempo
Che in amar non si sponde。
Tasso。
Hadst Thou but tasted once the thousandth part
Of joys； which bless the loved and loving heart；
Your words repentant and your sighs would prove；
Lost is the time which is not past in love。
The monks having attended their Abbot to the door of his Cell； He
dismissed them with an air of conscious superiority in which
Humility's semblance combated with the reality of pride。
He was no sooner alone； than He gave free loose to the indulgence
of his vanity。 When He remembered the Enthusiasm which his
discourse had excited； his heart swelled with rapture； and his
imagination presented him with splendid visions of
aggrandizement。 He looked round him with exultation； and Pride
told him loudly that He was superior to the rest of his
fellow…Creatures。
'Who；' thought He； 'Who but myself has passed the ordeal of
Youth； yet sees no single stain upon his conscience？ Who else
has subdued the violence of strong passions and an impetuous
temperament； and submitted even from the dawn of life to
voluntary retirement？ I seek for such a Man in vain。 I see no
one but myself possessed of such resolution。 Religion cannot
boast Ambrosio's equal！ How powerful an effect did my discourse
produce upon its Auditors！ How they crowded round me！ How they
loaded me with benedictions； and pronounced me the sole
uncorrupted Pillar of the Church！ What then now is left for me
to do？ Nothing； but to watch as carefully over the conduct of my
Brothers as I have hitherto watched over my own。 Yet hold！ May
I not be tempted from those paths which till now I have pursued
without one moment's wandering？ Am I not a Man； whose nature is
frail； and prone to error？ I must now abandon the solitude of my
retreat； The fairest and noblest Dames of Madrid continually
present themselves at the Abbey； and will use no other Confessor。
I must accustom my eyes to Objects of temptation； and expose
myself to the seduction of luxury and desire。 Should I meet in
that world which I am constrained to enter some lovely Female；
lovely 。 。 。 as you； Madona。 。 。 。！'
As He said this； He fixed his eyes upon a picture of the Virgin；
which was suspended opposite to him： This for two years had been
the Object of his increasing wonder and adoration。 He paused；
and gazed upon it with delight。
'What Beauty in that countenance！' He continued after a silence
of some minutes； 'How graceful is the turn of that head！ What
sweetness； yet what majesty in her divine eyes！ How softly her
cheek reclines upon her hand！ Can the Rose vie with the blush of
that cheek？ Can the Lily rival the whiteness of that hand？ Oh！
if such a Creature existed； and existed but for me！ Were I
permitted to twine round my fingers those golden ringlets； and
press with my lips the treasures of that snowy bosom！ Gracious
God； should I then resist the temptation？ Should I not barter
for a single embrace the reward of my sufferings for thirty
years？ Should I not abandon。 。 。 。 Fool that I am！ Whither do
I suffer my admiration of this picture to hurry me？ Away； impure
ideas！ Let me remember that Woman is for ever lost to me。
Never was Mortal formed so perfect as this picture。 But even did
such exist； the trial might be too mighty for a common virtue；
but Ambrosio's is proof against temptation。 Temptation； did I
say？ To me it would be none。 What charms me； when ideal and
considered as a superior Being； would disgust me； become Woman
and tainted with all the failings of Mortality。 It is not the
Woman's beauty that fills me with such enthusiasm； It is the
Painter's skill that I admire； it is the Divinity that I adore！
Are not the passions dead in my bosom？ Have I not freed myself
from the frailty of Mankind？ Fear not； Ambrosio！ Take
confidence in the strength of your virtue。 Enter boldly into a
world to whose failings you are superior； Reflect that you are
now exempted from Humanity's defects； and defy all the arts of
the Spirits of Darkness。 They shall know you for what you are！'
Here his Reverie was interrupted by three soft knocks at the door
of his Cell。 With difficulty did the Abbot awake from his
delirium。 The knocking was repeated。
'Who is there？' said Ambrosio at length。
'It is only Rosario；' replied a gentle voice。
'Enter！ Enter； my Son！'
The Door was immediately opened； and Rosario appeared with a
small basket in his hand。
Rosario was a young Novice belonging to the Monastery； who in
three Months intended to make his profession。 A sort of mystery
enveloped this Youth which rendered him at once an object of
inter
