the castle of otranto-第24章

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　some　strange　　revolution。　　For　my　part；　I　should　not　be　surprised　if　it　was　to　　happen　to…morrow；　for；　as　I　was　saying；　when　I　heard　the　clattering　of　　armour；　I　was　all　in　a　cold　sweat。　　I　looked　up；　and；　if　your　　Greatness　will　believe　me；　I　saw　upon　the　uppermost　banister　of　the　　great　stairs　a　hand　in　armour　as　big　as　big。　　I　thought　I　should　have　　swooned。　　I　never　stopped　until　I　came　hither　…　would　I　were　well　out　　of　this　castle。　　My　Lady　Matilda　told　me　but　yester…morning　that　her　　Highness　Hippolita　knows　something。〃

〃Thou　art　an　insolent！〃　cried　Manfred。　　〃Lord　Marquis；　it　much　　misgives　me　that　this　scene　is　concerted　to　affront　me。　　Are　my　own　　domestics　suborned　to　spread　tales　injurious　to　my　honour？　　Pursue　　your　claim　by　manly　daring；　or　let　us　bury　our　feuds；　as　was　proposed；　　by　the　intermarriage　of　our　children。　　But　trust　me；　it　ill　becomes　a　　Prince　of　your　bearing　to　practise　on　mercenary　wenches。〃

〃I　scorn　your　imputation；〃　said　Frederic。　　〃Until　this　hour　I　never　　set　eyes　on　this　damsel：　　I　have　given　her　no　jewel。　　My　Lord；　my　　Lord；　your　conscience；　your　guilt　accuses　you；　and　would　throw　the　　suspicion　on　me；　but　keep　your　daughter；　and　think　no　more　of　　Isabella。　　The　judgments　already　fallen　on　your　house　forbid　me　　matching　into　it。〃

Manfred；　alarmed　at　the　resolute　tone　in　which　Frederic　delivered　　these　words；　endeavoured　to　pacify　him。　　Dismissing　Bianca；　he　made　　such　submissions　to　the　Marquis；　and　threw　in　such　artful　encomiums　on　　Matilda；　that　Frederic　was　once　more　staggered。　　However；　as　his　　passion　was　of　so　recent　a　date；　it　could　not　at　once　surmount　the　　scruples　he　had　conceived。　　He　had　gathered　enough　from　Bianca's　　discourse　to　persuade　him　that　heaven　declared　itself　against　Manfred。　　　The　proposed　marriages　too　removed　his　claim　to　a　distance；　and　the　　principality　of　Otranto　was　a　stronger　temptation　than　the　contingent　　reversion　of　it　with　Matilda。　　Still　he　would　not　absolutely　recede　　from　his　engagements；　but　purposing　to　gain　time；　he　demanded　of　　Manfred　if　it　was　true　in　fact　that　Hippolita　consented　to　the　　divorce。　　The　Prince；　transported　to　find　no　other　obstacle；　and　　depending　on　his　influence　over　his　wife；　assured　the　Marquis　it　was　　so；　and　that　he　might　satisfy　himself　of　the　truth　from　her　own　mouth。

As　they　were　thus　discoursing；　word　was　brought　that　the　banquet　was　　prepared。　　Manfred　conducted　Frederic　to　the　great　hall；　where　they　　were　received　by　Hippolita　and　the　young　Princesses。　　Manfred　placed　　the　Marquis　next　to　Matilda；　and　seated　himself　between　his　wife　and　　Isabella。　　Hippolita　comported　herself　with　an　easy　gravity；　but　the　　young　ladies　were　silent　and　melancholy。　　Manfred；　who　was　determined　　to　pursue　his　point　with　the　Marquis　in　the　remainder　of　the　evening；　　pushed　on　the　feast　until　it　waxed　late；　affecting　unrestrained　　gaiety；　and　plying　Frederic　with　repeated　goblets　of　wine。　　The　　latter；　more　upon　his　guard　than　Manfred　wished；　declined　his　frequent　　challenges；　on　pretence　of　his　late　loss　of　blood；　while　the　Prince；　　to　raise　his　own　disordered　spirits；　and　to　counterfeit　unconcern；　　indulged　himself　in　plentiful　draughts；　though　not　to　the　intoxication　　of　his　senses。

The　evening　being　far　advanced；　the　banquet　concluded。　　Manfred　would　　have　withdrawn　with　Frederic；　but　the　latter　pleading　weakness　and　　want　of　repose；　retired　to　his　chamber；　gallantly　telling　the　Prince　　that　his　daughter　should　amuse　his　Highness　until　himself　could　attend　　him。　　Manfred　accepted　the　party；　and　to　the　no　small　grief　of　　Isabella；　accompanied　her　to　her　apartment。　　Matilda　waited　on　her　　mother　to　enjoy　the　freshness　of　the　evening　on　the　ramparts　of　the　　castle。

Soon　as　the　company　were　dispersed　their　several　ways；　Frederic；　　quitting　his　chamber；　inquired　if　Hippolita　was　alone；　and　was　told　by　　one　of　her　attendants；　who　had　not　noticed　her　going　forth；　that　at　　that　hour　she　generally　withdrew　to　her　oratory；　where　he　probably　　would　find　her。　　The　Marquis；　during　the　repast；　had　beheld　Matilda　　with　increase　of　passion。　　He　now　wished　to　find　Hippolita　in　the　　disposition　her　Lord　had　promised。　　The　portents　that　had　alarmed　him　　were　forgotten　in　his　desires。　　Stealing　softly　and　unobserved　to　the　　apartment　of　Hippolita；　he　entered　it　with　a　resolution　to　encourage　　her　acquiescence　to　the　divorce；　having　perceived　that　Manfred　was　　resolved　to　make　the　possession　of　Isabella　an　unalterable　condition；　　before　he　would　grant　Matilda　to　his　wishes。

The　Marquis　was　not　surprised　at　the　silence　that　reigned　in　the　　Princess's　apartment。　　Concluding　her；　as　he　had　been　advertised；　in　　her　oratory；　he　passed　on。　　The　door　was　ajar；　the　evening　gloomy　and　　overcast。　　Pushing　open　the　door　gently；　he　saw　a　person　kneeling　　before　the　altar。　　As　he　approached　nearer；　it　seemed　not　a　woman；　but　　one　in　a　long　woollen　weed；　whose　back　was　towards　him。　　The　person　　seemed　absorbed　in　prayer。　　The　Marquis　was　about　to　return；　when　the　　figure；　rising；　stood　some　moments　fixed　in　meditation；　without　　regarding　him。　　The　Marquis；　expecting　the　holy　person　to　come　forth；　　and　meaning　to　excuse　his　uncivil　interruption；　said；

〃Reverend　Father；　I　sought　the　Lady　Hippolita。〃

〃Hippolita！〃　replied　a　hollow　voice；　〃camest　thou　to　this　castle　to　　seek　Hippolita？〃　and　then　the　figure；　turning　slowly　round；　discovered　　to　Frederic　the　fleshless　jaws　and　empty　sockets　of　a　skeleton；　wrapt　　in　a　hermit's　cowl。

〃Angels　of　grace　protect　me！〃　cried　Frederic；　recoiling。

〃Deserve　their　protection！〃　said　the　Spectre。　　Frederic；　falling　on　　his　knees；　adjured　the　phantom　to　take　pity　on　him。

〃Dost　thou　not　remember　me？〃　said　the　apparition。　　〃Remember　the　wood　　of　Joppa！〃

〃Art　thou　that　holy　hermit？〃　cried　Frederic；　trembling。　　〃Can　I　do　　aught　for　thy　eternal　peace？〃

〃Wast　thou　delivered　from　bondage；〃　said　the　spectre；　〃to　pursue　　carnal　delights？　　Hast　thou　forgotten　the　buried　sabre；　and　the　behest　　of　Heaven　engraven　on　it？〃

〃I　have　not；　I　have　not；〃　said　Frederic；　〃but　say；　blest　spirit；　what　　is　thy　errand　to　me？　　What　remains　to　be　done？〃

〃To　forget　Matilda！〃　said　the　apparition；　and　vanished。

Frederic's　blood　froze　in　his　veins。　　For　some　minutes　he　remained　　motionless。　　Then　falling　prostrate　on　his　face　before　the　altar；　he　　besought　the　intercession　of　every　saint　for　pardon。　　A　flood　of　tears　　succeeded　to　this　transport；　and　the　image　of　the　beauteous　Matilda　　rushing　in　spite　of　him　on　his　thoughts；　he　lay　on　the　ground　in　a　　conflict　of　penitence　and　passion。　　Ere　he　could　recover　from　this　　agony　of　his　spirits；　the　Princess　Hippolita　with　a　taper　in　her　hand　　entered　the　oratory　alone。　　Seeing　a　man　without　motion　on　the　floor；　　she　gave　a　shriek；　concluding　him　dead。　　Her　fright　brought　Frederic　　to　himself。　　Rising　suddenly；　his　face　bedewed　with　tears；　he　would　　have　rushed　from　her　presence；　but　Hippolita　stopping　him；　conjured　　him　in　the　most　plaintive　accents　to　explain　the　cause　of　his　　disorder；　and　by　what　strange　chance　she　had　found　him　there　in　that　　posture。

〃Ah；　virtuous　Princess！〃　said　the　Marquis；　penetrated　with　grief；　and　　stopped。

〃For　the　love　of　Heaven；　my　Lord；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃disclose　the　cause　　of　this　transport！　　What　mean　these　doleful　sounds；　this　alarming　　exclamation　on　my　name？　　What　woes　has　heaven　still　in　store　for　the　　wretched　Hippolita？　　Yet　silent！　　By　every　pitying　angel；　I　adjure　　thee；　noble　Prince；〃　continued　she；　falling　at　his　feet；　〃to　disclose　　the　purport　of　what　lies　at　thy　heart。　　I　see　thou　feelest　for　me；　　thou　feelest　the　sharp　pangs　that　thou　inflictest　…　speak；　for　pity！　　　Does　aught　thou　knowest　concern　my　child？〃

〃I　cannot　speak；〃　cried　Frederic；　bursting　from　her。　　〃Oh；　Matilda！〃

Quitting　the　Princess　thus　abruptly；　he　hastened　to　his　own　apartment。　　　At　the　door　of　it　he　was　accosted　by　Manfred；　who　flushed　by　wine　and　　love　had　come　to　seek　him；　and　to　propose　to　waste　some　hours　of　the　　night　in　music　and　revelling。　　Frederic；　offended　at　an　invitation　so　　dissonant　from　the　mood　of　his　soul；　pushed　him　rudely　aside；　and　　entering　his　chamber；　flung　the　door　intemperately　against　Manfred；　　and　bolted　it　inwards。　　The　haughty　Pri