the castle of otranto-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　abhors　him；　and　if　you　　still　retain　the　friendship　for　me　that　you　have　vowed　from　your　　infancy；　you　will　detest　a　man　who　has　been　on　the　point　of　making　me　　miserable　for　ever。〃

Matilda　held　down　her　head　and　replied：　　〃I　hope　my　dearest　Isabella　　does　not　doubt　her　Matilda's　friendship：　　I　never　beheld　that　youth　　until　yesterday；　he　is　almost　a　stranger　to　me：　　but　as　the　surgeons　　have　pronounced　your　father　out　of　danger；　you　ought　not　to　harbour　　uncharitable　resentment　against　one；　who　I　am　persuaded　did　not　know　　the　Marquis　was　related　to　you。〃

〃You　plead　his　cause　very　pathetically；〃　said　Isabella；　〃considering　　he　is　so　much　a　stranger　to　you！　　I　am　mistaken；　or　he　returns　your　　charity。〃

〃What　mean　you？〃　said　Matilda。

〃Nothing；〃　said　Isabella；　repenting　that　she　had　given　Matilda　a　hint　　of　Theodore's　inclination　for　her。　　Then　changing　the　discourse；　she　　asked　Matilda　what　occasioned　Manfred　to　take　Theodore　for　a　spectre？

〃Bless　me；〃　said　Matilda；　〃did　not　you　observe　his　extreme　resemblance　　to　the　portrait　of　Alfonso　in　the　gallery？　　I　took　notice　of　it　to　　Bianca　even　before　I　saw　him　in　armour；　but　with　the　helmet　on；　he　is　　the　very　image　of　that　picture。〃

〃I　do　not　much　observe　pictures；〃　said　Isabella：　　〃much　less　have　I　　examined　this　young　man　so　attentively　as　you　seem　to　have　done。　　Ah？　　　Matilda；　your　heart　is　in　danger；　but　let　me　warn　you　as　a　friend；　he　　has　owned　to　me　that　he　is　in　love；　it　cannot　be　with　you；　for　　yesterday　was　the　first　time　you　ever　met　…　was　it　not？〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　Matilda；　〃but　why　does　my　dearest　Isabella　　conclude　from　anything　I　have　said；　that〃　…　she　paused　…　then　　continuing：　　〃he　saw　you　first；　and　I　am　far　from　having　the　vanity　to　　think　that　my　little　portion　of　charms　could　engage　a　heart　devoted　to　　you；　may　you　be　happy；　Isabella；　whatever　is　the　fate　of　Matilda！〃

〃My　lovely　friend；〃　said　Isabella；　whose　heart　was　too　honest　to　　resist　a　kind　expression；　〃it　is　you　that　Theodore　admires；　I　saw　it；　　I　am　persuaded　of　it；　nor　shall　a　thought　of　my　own　happiness　suffer　　me　to　interfere　with　yours。〃

This　frankness　drew　tears　from　the　gentle　Matilda；　and　jealousy　that　　for　a　moment　had　raised　a　coolness　between　these　amiable　maidens　soon　　gave　way　to　the　natural　sincerity　and　candour　of　their　souls。　　Each　　confessed　to　the　other　the　impression　that　Theodore　had　made　on　her；　　and　this　confidence　was　followed　by　a　struggle　of　generosity；　each　　insisting　on　yielding　her　claim　to　her　friend。　　At　length　the　dignity　　of　Isabella's　virtue　reminding　her　of　the　preference　which　Theodore　　had　almost　declared　for　her　rival；　made　her　determine　to　conquer　her　　passion；　and　cede　the　beloved　object　to　her　friend。

During　this　contest　of　amity；　Hippolita　entered　her　daughter's　　chamber。

〃Madam；〃　said　she　to　Isabella；　〃you　have　so　much　tenderness　for　　Matilda；　and　interest　yourself　so　kindly　in　whatever　affects　our　　wretched　house；　that　I　can　have　no　secrets　with　my　child　which　are　not　　proper　for　you　to　hear。〃

The　princesses　were　all　attention　and　anxiety。

〃Know　then；　Madam；〃　continued　Hippolita；　〃and　you　my　dearest　Matilda；　　that　being　convinced　by　all　the　events　of　these　two　last　ominous　days；　　that　heaven　purposes　the　sceptre　of　Otranto　should　pass　from　Manfred's　　hands　into　those　of　the　Marquis　Frederic；　I　have　been　perhaps　inspired　　with　the　thought　of　averting　our　total　destruction　by　the　union　of　our　　rival　houses。　　With　this　view　I　have　been　proposing　to　Manfred；　my　　lord；　to　tender　this　dear；　dear　child　to　Frederic；　your　father。〃

〃Me　to　Lord　Frederic！〃　cried　Matilda；　〃good　heavens！　my　gracious　　mother　…　and　have　you　named　it　to　my　father？〃

〃I　have；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃he　listened　benignly　to　my　proposal；　and　is　　gone　to　break　it　to　the　Marquis。〃

〃Ah！　wretched　princess！〃　cried　Isabella；　〃what　hast　thou　done！　what　　ruin　has　thy　inadvertent　goodness　been　preparing　for　thyself；　for　me；　　and　for　Matilda！〃

〃Ruin　from　me　to　you　and　to　my　child！〃　said　Hippolita　〃what　can　this　　mean？〃

〃Alas！〃　said　Isabella；　〃the　purity　of　your　own　heart　prevents　your　　seeing　the　depravity　of　others。　　Manfred；　your　lord；　that　impious　man　　…　〃

〃Hold；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃you　must　not　in　my　presence；　young　lady；　　mention　Manfred　with　disrespect：　　he　is　my　lord　and　husband；　and　…　〃

〃Will　not　long　be　so；〃　said　Isabella；　〃if　his　wicked　purposes　can　be　　carried　into　execution。〃

〃This　language　amazes　me；〃　said　Hippolita。　　〃Your　feeling；　Isabella；　　is　warm；　but　until　this　hour　I　never　knew　it　betray　you　into　　intemperance。　　What　deed　of　Manfred　authorises　you　to　treat　him　as　a　　murderer；　an　assassin？〃

〃Thou　virtuous；　and　too　credulous　Princess！〃　replied　Isabella；　〃it　is　　not　thy　life　he　aims　at　…　it　is　to　separate　himself　from　thee！　to　　divorce　thee！　to　…　〃

〃To　divorce　me！〃　　〃To　divorce　my　mother！〃　cried　Hippolita　and　Matilda　　at　once。

〃Yes；〃　said　Isabella；　〃and　to　complete　his　crime；　he　meditates　…　I　　cannot　speak　it！〃

〃What　can　surpass　what　thou　hast　already　uttered？〃　said　Matilda。

Hippolita　was　silent。　　Grief　choked　her　speech；　and　the　recollection　　of　Manfred's　late　ambiguous　discourses　confirmed　what　she　heard。

〃Excellent；　dear　lady！　madam！　mother！〃　cried　Isabella；　flinging　　herself　at　Hippolita's　feet　in　a　transport　of　passion；　〃trust　me；　　believe　me；　I　will　die　a　thousand　deaths　sooner　than　consent　to　injure　　you；　than　yield　to　so　odious　…　oh！　…　〃

〃This　is　too　much！〃　cried　Hippolita：　　〃What　crimes　does　one　crime　　suggest！　　Rise；　dear　Isabella；　I　do　not　doubt　your　virtue。　　Oh！　　Matilda；　this　stroke　is　too　heavy　for　thee！　weep　not；　my　child；　and　　not　a　murmur；　I　charge　thee。　　Remember；　he　is　thy　father　still！〃

〃But　you　are　my　mother　too；〃　said　Matilda　fervently；　〃and　you　are　　virtuous；　you　are　guiltless！　…　Oh！　must　not　I；　must　not　I　complain？〃

〃You　must　not；〃　said　Hippolita　…　〃come；　all　will　yet　be　well。　　　Manfred；　in　the　agony　for　the　loss　of　thy　brother；　knew　not　what　he　　said；　perhaps　Isabella　misunderstood　him；　his　heart　is　good　…　and；　my　　child；　thou　knowest　not　all！　　There　is　a　destiny　hangs　over　us；　the　　hand　of　Providence　is　stretched　out；　oh！　could　I　but　save　thee　from　　the　wreck！　　Yes；〃　continued　she　in　a　firmer　tone；　〃perhaps　the　　sacrifice　of　myself　may　atone　for　all；　I　will　go　and　offer　myself　to　　this　divorce　…　it　boots　not　what　becomes　of　me。　　I　will　withdraw　into　　the　neighbouring　monastery；　and　waste　the　remainder　of　life　in　prayers　　and　tears　for　my　child　and　…　the　Prince！〃

〃Thou　art　as　much　too　good　for　this　world；〃　said　Isabella；　〃as　Manfred　　is　execrable；　but　think　not；　lady；　that　thy　weakness　shall　determine　　for　me。　　I　swear；　hear　me　all　ye　angels　…　〃

〃Stop；　I　adjure　thee；〃　cried　Hippolita：　　〃remember　thou　dost　not　　depend　on　thyself；　thou　hast　a　father。〃

〃My　father　is　too　pious；　too　noble；〃　interrupted　Isabella；　〃to　command　　an　impious　deed。　　But　should　he　command　it；　can　a　father　enjoin　a　　cursed　act？　　I　was　contracted　to　the　son；　can　I　wed　the　father？　　No；　　madam；　no；　force　should　not　drag　me　to　Manfred's　hated　bed。　　I　loathe　　him；　I　abhor　him：　　divine　and　human　laws　forbid　…　and　my　friend；　my　　dearest　Matilda！　would　I　wound　her　tender　soul　by　injuring　her　adored　　mother？　my　own　mother　…　I　never　have　known　another〃　…

〃Oh！　she　is　the　mother　of　both！〃　cried　Matilda：　　〃can　we；　can　we；　　Isabella；　adore　her　too　much？〃

〃My　lovely　children；〃　said　the　touched　Hippolita；　〃your　tenderness　　overpowers　me　…　but　I　must　not　give　way　to　it。　　It　is　not　ours　to　make　　election　for　ourselves：　　heaven；　our　fathers；　and　our　husbands　must　　decide　for　us。　　Have　patience　until　you　hear　what　Manfred　and　Frederic　　have　determined。　　If　the　Marquis　accepts　Matilda's　hand；　I　know　she　　will　readily　obey。　　Heaven　may　interpose　and　prevent　the　rest。　　What　　means　my　child？〃　continued　she；　seeing　Matilda　fall　at　her　feet　with　a　　flood　of　speechless　tears　…　〃But　no；　answer　me　not；　my　daughter：　　I　　must　not　hear　a　word　against　the　pleasure　of　thy　father。〃

〃Oh！　doubt　not　my　obedience；　my　dreadful　obedience　to　him　and　to　you！〃　　said　Matilda。　　〃But　can　I；　most　respected　of　women；　can　I　experience　　all　this　tenderness；　this　world　of　goodness；　and　conceal　a　thought　　from　the　best　of　mothers？〃

〃What　art　thou　going