the monk(僧侣)-第95章
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spirted upon his habit from Antonia's wound； sufficiently marked
him out for the Assassin。 He waited with agony for the day of
examination： He had no resource to comfort him in his distress。
Religion could not inspire him with fortitude： If He read the
Books of morality which were put into his hands； He saw in them
nothing but the enormity of his offences； If he attempted to
pray； He recollected that He deserved not heaven's protection；
and believed his crimes so monstrous as to baffle even God's
infinite goodness。 For every other Sinner He thought there
might be hope； but for him there could be none。 Shuddering at
the past； anguished by the present； and dreading the future； thus
passed He the few days preceding that which was marked for his
Trial。
That day arrived。 At nine in the morning his prison door was
unlocked； and his Gaoler entering； commanded him to follow him。
He obeyed with trembling。 He was conducted into a spacious Hall；
hung with black cloth。 At the Table sat three grave；
stern…looking Men； also habited in black： One was the Grand
Inquisitor； whom the importance of this cause had induced to
examine into it himself。 At a smaller table at a little distance
sat the Secretary； provided with all necessary implements for
writing。 Ambrosio was beckoned to advance； and take his station
at the lower end of the Table。 As his eye glanced downwards； He
perceived various iron instruments lying scattered upon the
floor。 Their forms were unknown to him； but apprehension
immediately guessed them to be engines of torture。 He turned
pale； and with difficulty prevented himself from sinking upon the
ground。
Profound silence prevailed； except when the Inquisitors whispered
a few words among themselves mysteriously。 Near an hour past
away； and with every second of it Ambrosio's fears grew more
poignant。 At length a small Door； opposite to that by which He
had entered the Hall； grated heavily upon its hinges。 An Officer
appeared； and was immediately followed by the beautiful Matilda。
Her hair hung about her face wildly； Her cheeks were pale； and
her eyes sunk and hollow。 She threw a melancholy look upon
Ambrosio： He replied by one of aversion and reproach。 She was
placed opposite to him。 A Bell then sounded thrice。 It was the
signal for opening the Court； and the Inquisitors entered upon
their office。
In these trials neither the accusation is mentioned； or the name
of the Accuser。 The Prisoners are only asked； whether they will
confess： If they reply that having no crime they can make no
confession； they are put to the torture without delay。 This is
repeated at intervals； either till the suspected avow themselves
culpable； or the perseverance of the examinants is worn out and
exhausted： But without a direct acknowledgment of their guilt；
the Inquisition never pronounces the final doom of its Prisoners。
In general much time is suffered to elapse without their being
questioned： But Ambrosio's trial had been hastened； on account
of a solemn Auto da Fe which would take place in a few days； and
in which the Inquisitors meant this distinguished Culprit to
perform a part； and give a striking testimony of their vigilance。
The Abbot was not merely accused of rape and murder： The crime
of Sorcery was laid to his charge； as well as to Matilda's。 She
had been seized as an Accomplice in Antonia's assassination。 On
searching her Cell； various suspicious books and instruments were
found which justified the accusation brought against her。 To
criminate the Monk； the constellated Mirror was produced； which
Matilda had accidentally left in his chamber。 The strange figures
engraved upon it caught the attention of Don Ramirez； while
searching the Abbot's Cell： In consequence； He carried it away
with him。 It was shown to the Grand Inquisitor； who having
considered it for some time； took off a small golden Cross which
hung at his girdle； and laid it upon the Mirror。 Instantly a loud
noise was heard； resembling a clap of thunder； and the steel
shivered into a thousand pieces。 This circumstance confirmed the
suspicion of the Monk's having dealt in Magic： It was even
supposed that his former influence over the minds of the People
was entirely to be ascribed to witchcraft。
Determined to make him confess not only the crimes which He had
committed； but those also of which He was innocent； the
Inquisitors began their examination。 Though dreading the
tortures； as He dreaded death still more which would consign him
to eternal torments； the Abbot asserted his purity in a voice
bold and resolute。 Matilda followed his example； but spoke with
fear and trembling。 Having in vain exhorted him to confess； the
Inquisitors ordered the Monk to be put to the question。 The
Decree was immediately executed。 Ambrosio suffered the most
excruciating pangs that ever were invented by human cruelty：
Yet so dreadful is Death when guilt accompanies it； that He had
sufficient fortitude to persist in his disavowal。 His agonies
were redoubled in consequence： Nor was He released till fainting
from excess of pain； insensibility rescued him from the hands of
his Tormentors。
Matilda was next ordered to the torture： But terrified by the
sight of the Friar's sufferings； her courage totally deserted
her。 She sank upon her knees； acknowledged her corresponding
with infernal Spirits； and that She had witnessed the Monk's
assassination of Antonia： But as to the crime of Sorcery； She
declared herself the sole criminal； and Ambrosio perfectly
innocent。 The latter assertion met with no credit。 The Abbot
had recovered his senses in time to hear the confession of his
Accomplice： But He was too much enfeebled by what He had already
undergone to be capable at that time of sustaining new torments。
He was commanded back to his Cell； but first informed that as
soon as He had gained strength sufficient； He must prepare
himself for a second examination。 The Inquisitors hoped that He
would then be less hardened and obstinate。 To Matilda it was
announced that She must expiate her crime in fire on the
approaching Auto da Fe。 All her tears and entreaties could
procure no mitigation of her doom； and She was dragged by force
from the Hall of Trial。
Returned to his dungeon； the sufferings of Ambrosio's body were
far more supportable than those of his mind。 His dislocated
limbs； the nails torn from his hands and feet； and his fingers
mashed and broken by the pressure of screws； were far surpassed
in anguish by the agitation of his soul and vehemence of his
terrors。 He saw that； guilty or innocent； his Judges were bent
upon condemning him： The remembrance of what his denial had
already cost him terrified him at the idea of being again
applied to the question； and almost engaged him to confess his
crimes。 Then again the consequences of his confession flashed
before him； and rendered him once more irresolute。 His death
would be inevitable； and that a death the most dreadful： He had
listened to Matilda's doom； and doubted not that a similar was
reserved for him。 He shuddered at the approaching Auto da Fe； at
the idea of perishing in flames； and only escaping from indurable
torments to pass into others more subtile and ever…lasting！ With
affright did He bend his mind's eye on the space beyond the
grave； nor could hide from himself how justly he ought to dread
Heaven's vengeance。 In this Labyrinth of terrors； fain would He
have taken his refuge in the gloom of Atheism： Fain would He
have denied the soul's immortality； have persuaded himself that
when his eyes once closed； they would never more open； and that
the same moment would annihilate his soul and body。 Even this
resource was refused to him。 To permit his being blind to the
fallacy of this belief； his knowledge was too extensive； his
understanding too solid and just。 He could not help feeling the
existence of a God。 Those truths； once his comfort； now
presented themselves before him in the clearest light； But they
only served to drive him to distraction。 They destroyed his
ill…grounded hopes of escaping punishment； and dispelled by the
irresistible brightness of Truth a
