the castle of otranto-第17章

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o　Manfred。

〃To　Manfred！〃　cried　Theodore　…　〃no；　Lady；　I　have　once　already　　delivered　thee　from　his　tyranny；　and　it　shall　fare　hard　with　me　now；　　but　I　will　place　thee　out　of　the　reach　of　his　daring。〃

〃Is　it　possible；〃　said　she；　〃that　thou　shouldst　be　the　generous　　unknown　whom　I　met　last　night　in　the　vault　of　the　castle？　　Sure　thou　　art　not　a　mortal；　but　my　guardian　angel。　　On　my　knees；　let　me　thank　…　　〃

〃Hold！　gentle　Princess；〃　said　Theodore；　〃nor　demean　thyself　before　a　　poor　and　friendless　young　man。　　If　heaven　has　selected　me　for　thy　　deliverer；　it　will　accomplish　its　work；　and　strengthen　my　arm　in　thy　　cause。　　But　come；　Lady；　we　are　too　near　the　mouth　of　the　cavern；　let　　us　seek　its　inmost　recesses。　　I　can　have　no　tranquillity　till　I　have　　placed　thee　beyond　the　reach　of　danger。〃

〃Alas！　what　mean　you；　sir？〃　said　she。　　〃Though　all　your　actions　are　　noble；　though　your　sentiments　speak　the　purity　of　your　soul；　is　it　　fitting　that　I　should　accompany　you　alone　into　these　perplexed　　retreats？　　Should　we　be　found　together；　what　would　a　censorious　world　　think　of　my　conduct？〃

〃I　respect　your　virtuous　delicacy；〃　said　Theodore；　〃nor　do　you　harbour　　a　suspicion　that　wounds　my　honour。　　I　meant　to　conduct　you　into　the　　most　private　cavity　of　these　rocks；　and　then　at　the　hazard　of　my　life　　to　guard　their　entrance　against　every　living　thing。　　Besides；　Lady；〃　　continued　he；　drawing　a　deep　sigh；　〃beauteous　and　all　perfect　as　your　　form　is；　and　though　my　wishes　are　not　guiltless　of　aspiring；　know；　my　　soul　is　dedicated　to　another；　and　although　…　〃　　A　sudden　noise　　prevented　Theodore　from　proceeding。　　They　soon　distinguished　these　　sounds　…

〃Isabella！　what；　ho！　Isabella！〃　　The　trembling　Princess　relapsed　into　　her　former　agony　of　fear。　　Theodore　endeavoured　to　encourage　her；　but　　in　vain。　　He　assured　her　he　would　die　rather　than　suffer　her　to　return　　under　Manfred's　power；　and　begging　her　to　remain　concealed；　he　went　　forth　to　prevent　the　person　in　search　of　her　from　approaching。

At　the　mouth　of　the　cavern　he　found　an　armed　Knight；　discoursing　with　　a　peasant；　who　assured　him　he　had　seen　a　lady　enter　the　passes　of　the　　rock。　　The　Knight　was　preparing　to　seek　her；　when　Theodore；　placing　　himself　in　his　way；　with　his　sword　drawn；　sternly　forbad　him　at　his　　peril　to　advance。

〃And　who　art　thou；　who　darest　to　cross　my　way？〃　said　the　Knight；　　haughtily。

〃One　who　does　not　dare　more　than　he　will　perform；〃　said　Theodore。

〃I　seek　the　Lady　Isabella；〃　said　the　Knight；　〃and　understand　she　has　　taken　refuge　among　these　rocks。　　Impede　me　not；　or　thou　wilt　repent　　having　provoked　my　resentment。〃

〃Thy　purpose　is　as　odious　as　thy　resentment　is　contemptible；〃　said　　Theodore。　　〃Return　whence　thou　camest；　or　we　shall　soon　know　whose　　resentment　is　most　terrible。〃

The　stranger；　who　was　the　principal　Knight　that　had　arrived　from　the　　Marquis　of　Vicenza；　had　galloped　from　Manfred　as　he　was　busied　in　　getting　information　of　the　Princess；　and　giving　various　orders　to　　prevent　her　falling　into　the　power　of　the　three　Knights。　　Their　chief　　had　suspected　Manfred　of　being　privy　to　the　Princess's　absconding；　and　　this　insult　from　a　man；　who　he　concluded　was　stationed　by　that　Prince　　to　secrete　her；　confirming　his　suspicions；　he　made　no　reply；　but　　discharging　a　blow　with　his　sabre　at　Theodore；　would　soon　have　removed　　all　obstruction；　if　Theodore；　who　took　him　for　one　of　Manfred's　　captains；　and　who　had　no　sooner　given　the　provocation　than　prepared　to　　support　it；　had　not　received　the　stroke　on　his　shield。　　The　valour　　that　had　so　long　been　smothered　in　his　breast　broke　forth　at　once；　he　　rushed　impetuously　on　the　Knight；　whose　pride　and　wrath　were　not　less　　powerful　incentives　to　hardy　deeds。　　The　combat　was　furious；　but　not　　long。　　Theodore　wounded　the　Knight　in　three　several　places；　and　at　　last　disarmed　him　as　he　fainted　by　the　loss　of　blood。

The　peasant；　who　had　fled　on　the　first　onset；　had　given　the　alarm　to　　some　of　Manfred's　domestics；　who；　by　his　orders；　were　dispersed　　through　the　forest　in　pursuit　of　Isabella。　　They　came　up　as　the　Knight　　fell；　whom　they　soon　discovered　to　be　the　noble　stranger。　　Theodore；　　notwithstanding　his　hatred　to　Manfred；　could　not　behold　the　victory　he　　had　gained　without　emotions　of　pity　and　generosity。　　But　he　was　more　　touched　when　he　learned　the　quality　of　his　adversary；　and　was　informed　　that　he　was　no　retainer；　but　an　enemy；　of　Manfred。　　He　assisted　the　　servants　of　the　latter　in　disarming　the　Knight；　and　in　endeavouring　to　　stanch　the　blood　that　flowed　from　his　wounds。　　The　Knight　recovering　　his　speech；　said；　in　a　faint　and　faltering　voice　…

〃Generous　foe；　we　have　both　been　in　an　error。　　I　took　thee　for　an　　instrument　of　the　tyrant；　I　perceive　thou　hast　made　the　like　mistake。　　　It　is　too　late　for　excuses。　　I　faint。　　If　Isabella　is　at　hand　…　call　　her　…　I　have　important　secrets　to　…　〃

〃He　is　dying！〃　said　one　of　the　attendants；　〃has　nobody　a　crucifix　　about　them？　　Andrea；　do　thou　pray　over　him。〃

〃Fetch　some　water；〃　said　Theodore；　〃and　pour　it　down　his　throat；　while　　I　hasten　to　the　Princess。〃

Saying　this；　he　flew　to　Isabella；　and　in　few　words　told　her　modestly　　that　he　had　been　so　unfortunate　by　mistake　as　to　wound　a　gentleman　　from　her　father's　court；　who　wished；　ere　he　died；　to　impart　something　　of　consequence　to　her。

The　Princess；　who　had　been　transported　at　hearing　the　voice　of　　Theodore；　as　he　called　to　her　to　come　forth；　was　astonished　at　what　　she　heard。　　Suffering　herself　to　be　conducted　by　Theodore；　the　new　　proof　of　whose　valour　recalled　her　dispersed　spirits；　she　came　where　　the　bleeding　Knight　lay　speechless　on　the　ground。　　But　her　fears　　returned　when　she　beheld　the　domestics　of　Manfred。　　She　would　again　　have　fled　if　Theodore　had　not　made　her　observe　that　they　were　unarmed；　　and　had　not　threatened　them　with　instant　death　if　they　should　dare　to　　seize　the　Princess。

The　stranger；　opening　his　eyes；　and　beholding　a　woman；　said；　〃Art　thou　　…　pray　tell　me　truly　…　art　thou　Isabella　of　Vicenza？〃

〃I　am；〃　said　she：　　〃good　heaven　restore　thee！〃

　〃Then　thou　…　then　thou〃　…　said　the　Knight；　struggling　for　utterance　…　　〃seest　…　thy　father。　　Give　me　one　…　〃

〃Oh！　amazement！　horror！　what　do　I　hear！　what　do　I　see！〃　cried　　Isabella。　　〃My　father！　　You　my　father！　　How　came　you　here；　Sir？　　For　　heaven's　sake；　speak！　　Oh！　run　for　help；　or　he　will　expire！〃

〃'Tis　most　true；〃　said　the　wounded　Knight；　exerting　all　his　force；　〃I　　am　Frederic　thy　father。　　Yes；　I　came　to　deliver　thee。　　It　will　not　be。　　　Give　me　a　parting　kiss；　and　take　…　〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Theodore；　〃do　not　exhaust　yourself；　suffer　us　to　convey　　you　to　the　castle。〃

〃To　the　castle！〃　said　Isabella。　　〃Is　there　no　help　nearer　than　the　　castle？　　Would　you　expose　my　father　to　the　tyrant？　　If　he　goes　　thither；　I　dare　not　accompany　him；　and　yet；　can　I　leave　him！〃

〃My　child；〃　said　Frederic；　〃it　matters　not　for　me　whither　I　am　　carried。　　A　few　minutes　will　place　me　beyond　danger；　but　while　I　have　　eyes　to　dote　on　thee；　forsake　me　not；　dear　Isabella！　　This　brave　　Knight　…　I　know　not　who　he　is　…　will　protect　thy　innocence。　　Sir；　you　　will　not　abandon　my　child；　will　you？〃

Theodore；　shedding　tears　over　his　victim；　and　vowing　to　guard　the　　Princess　at　the　expense　of　his　life；　persuaded　Frederic　to　suffer　　himself　to　be　conducted　to　the　castle。　　They　placed　him　on　a　horse　　belonging　to　one　of　the　domestics；　after　binding　up　his　wounds　as　well　　as　they　were　able。　　Theodore　marched　by　his　side；　and　the　afflicted　　Isabella；　who　could　not　bear　to　quit　him；　followed　mournfully　behind。



CHAPTER　IV。



THE　sorrowful　troop　no　sooner　arrived　at　the　castle；　than　they　were　　met　by　Hippolita　and　Matilda；　whom　Isabella　had　sent　one　of　the　　domestics　before　to　advertise　of　their　approach。　　The　ladies　causing　　Frederic　to　be　conveyed　into　the　nearest　chamber；　retired；　while　the　　surgeons　examined　his　wounds。　　Matilda　blushed　at　seeing　Theodore　and　　Isabella　together；　but　endeavoured　to　conceal　it　by　embracing　the　　latter；　and　condoling　with　her　on　her　father's　mischance。　　The　　surgeons　soon　came　to　acquaint　Hippolita　that　none　of　the　Marquis's　　wounds　were　dangerous；　and　that　he　was　desirous　of　seeing　his　daughter　　and　the　Princesses。