the monk(僧侣)-第85章
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when seeking in penitence the Virgin's pardon； Hope not that
your moving innocence； your beauteous grief； or all your
suppliant arts shall ransom you from my embraces。 Before the
break of day； mine you must； and mine you shall be！'
He lifted her still motionless from the Tomb： He seated himself
upon a bank of Stone； and supporting her in his arms； watched
impatiently for the symptoms of returning animation。 Scarcely
could He command his passions sufficiently； to restrain himself
from enjoying her while yet insensible。 His natural lust was
increased in ardour by the difficulties which had opposed his
satisfying it： As also by his long abstinence from Woman； since
from the moment of resigning her claim to his love； Matilda had
exiled him from her arms for ever。
'I am no Prostitute； Ambrosio；' Had She told him； when in the
fullness of his lust He demanded her favours with more than usual
earnestness； 'I am now no more than your Friend； and will not be
your Mistress。 Cease then to solicit my complying with desires；
which insult me。 While your heart was mine； I gloried in your
embraces： Those happy times are past： My person is become
indifferent to you； and 'tis necessity； not love； which makes you
seek my enjoyment。 I cannot yield to a request so humiliating
to my pride。'
Suddenly deprived of pleasures； the use of which had made them an
absolute want； the Monk felt this restraint severely。 Naturally
addicted to the gratification of the senses； in the full vigour
of manhood； and heat of blood； He had suffered his temperament to
acquire such ascendency that his lust was become madness。 Of
his fondness for Antonia； none but the grosser particles
remained： He longed for the possession of her person； and even
the gloom of the vault； the surrounding silence； and the
resistance which He expected from her； seemed to give a fresh
edge to his fierce and unbridled desires。
Gradually He felt the bosom which rested against his； glow with
returning warmth。 Her heart throbbed again； Her blood flowed
swifter； and her lips moved。 At length She opened her eyes； but
still opprest and bewildered by the effects of the strong opiate；
She closed them again immediately。 Ambrosio watched her
narrowly； nor permitted a movement to escape him。 Perceiving
that She was fully restored to existence； He caught her in
rapture to his bosom； and closely pressed his lips to hers。 The
suddenness of his action sufficed to dissipate the fumes which
obscured Antonia's reason。 She hastily raised herself； and cast
a wild look round her。 The strange Images which presented
themselves on every side contributed to confuse her。 She put her
hand to her head； as if to settle her disordered imagination。 At
length She took it away； and threw her eyes through the dungeon a
second time。 They fixed upon the Abbot's face。
'Where am I？' She said abruptly。 'How came I here？ Where is my
Mother？ Methought； I saw her！ Oh！ a dream； a dreadful dreadful
dream told me 。 。 。 。 。 。 But where am I？ Let me go！ I cannot
stay here！'
She attempted to rise； but the Monk prevented her。
'Be calm； lovely Antonia！' He replied； 'No danger is near you：
Confide in my protection。 Why do you gaze on me so earnestly？
Do you not know me？ Not know your Friend？ Ambrosio？'
'Ambrosio？ My Friend？ Oh！ yes； yes； I remember 。 。 。 。 。 。
But why am I here？ Who has brought me？ Why are you with me？
Oh！ Flora bad me beware 。 。 。 。 。！ Here are nothing but Graves；
and Tombs； and Skeletons！ This place frightens me！ Good Ambrosio
take me away from it； for it recalls my fearful dream！ Methought
I was dead； and laid in my grave！ Good Ambrosio； take me from
hence。 Will you not？ Oh！ will you not？ Do not look on me thus！
Your flaming eyes terrify me！ Spare me； Father！ Oh！ spare me for
God's sake！'
'Why these terrors； Antonia？' rejoined the Abbot； folding her in
his arms； and covering her bosom with kisses which She in vain
struggled to avoid： 'What fear you from me； from one who adores
you？ What matters it where you are？ This Sepulchre seems to me
Love's bower； This gloom is the friendly night of mystery which
He spreads over our delights！ Such do I think it； and such must
my Antonia。 Yes； my sweet Girl！ Yes！ Your veins shall glow with
fire which circles in mine； and my transports shall be doubled
by your sharing them！'
While He spoke thus； He repeated his embraces； and permitted
himself the most indecent liberties。 Even Antonia's ignorance
was not proof against the freedom of his behaviour。 She was
sensible of her danger； forced herself from his arms； and her
shroud being her only garment； She wrapped it closely round her。
'Unhand me； Father！' She cried； her honest indignation tempered
by alarm at her unprotected position； 'Why have you brought me to
this place？ Its appearance freezes me with horror！ Convey me
from hence； if you have the least sense of pity and humanity！
Let me return to the House which I have quitted I know not how；
But stay here one moment longer； I neither will； or ought。'
Though the Monk was somewhat startled by the resolute tone in
which this speech was delivered； it produced upon him no other
effect than surprize。 He caught her hand； forced her upon his
knee； and gazing upon her with gloting eyes； He thus replied to
her。
'Compose yourself； Antonia。 Resistance is unavailing； and I need
disavow my passion for you no longer。 You are imagined dead：
Society is for ever lost to you。 I possess you here alone； You
are absolutely in my power； and I burn with desires which I must
either gratify or die： But I would owe my happiness to
yourself。 My lovely Girl！ My adorable Antonia！ Let me instruct
you in joys to which you are still a Stranger； and teach you to
feel those pleasures in my arms which I must soon enjoy in
yours。 Nay； this struggling is childish；' He continued； seeing
her repell his caresses； and endeavour to escape from his grasp；
'No aid is near： Neither heaven or earth shall save you from my
embraces。 Yet why reject pleasures so sweet； so rapturous？ No
one observes us： Our loves will be a secret to all the world：
Love and opportunity invite your giving loose to your passions。
Yield to them； my Antonia！ Yield to them； my lovely Girl！ Throw
your arms thus fondly round me； Join your lips thus closely to
mine！ Amidst all her gifts； has Nature denied her most precious；
the sensibility of Pleasure？ Oh！ impossible！ Every feature；
look； and motion declares you formed to bless； and to be blessed
yourself！ Turn not on me those supplicating eyes： Consult your
own charms； They will tell you that I am proof against entreaty。
Can I relinquish these limbs so white； so soft； so delicate；
These swelling breasts； round； full； and elastic！ These lips
fraught with such inexhaustible sweetness？ Can I relinquish
these treasures； and leave them to another's enjoyment？ No；
Antonia； never； never！ I swear it by this kiss； and this！ and
this！'
With every moment the Friar's passion became more ardent； and
Antonia's terror more intense。 She struggled to disengage
herself from his arms： Her exertions were unsuccessful； and
finding that Ambrosio's conduct became still freer； She shrieked
for assistance with all her strength。 The aspect of the Vault；
the pale glimmering of the Lamp； the surrounding obscurity； the
sight of the Tomb； and the objects of mortality which met her
eyes on either side； were ill…calculated to inspire her with
those emotions by which the Friar was agitated。 Even his
caresses terrified her from their fury； and created no other
sentiment than fear。 On the contrary； her alarm； her evident
disgust； and incessant opposition； seemed only to inflame the
Monk's desires； and supply his brutality with additional
strength。 Antonia's shrieks were unheard： Yet She continued
them； nor abandoned her endeavours to escape； till exhausted and
out of breath She sank from his arms upon her knees； and once
more had recourse to prayers and supplications。 This attempt had
no better success than the former。 On the contrary； taking
advantage of her situation； the Ravisher threw himself by her
sid
