volume01-第11部分

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lare　your　story　to　the　Community。　　You　must　from　hence！I　pity　you；　but　can　do　no　more！'

He　pronounced　these　words　in　a　faint　and　trembling　voice：　　Then　rising　from　his　seat；　He　would　have　hastened　towards　the　Monastery。　　Uttering　a　loud　shriek；　Matilda　followed；　and　detained　him。

'Stay　yet　one　moment；　Ambrosio！　　Hear　me　yet　speak　one　word！'

'I　dare　not　listen！　　Release　me！　　You　know　my　resolution！'

'But　one　word！　　But　one　last　word；　and　I　have　done！'

'Leave　me！　　Your　entreaties　are　in　vain！　　You　must　from　hence　tomorrow！'

'Go　then；　Barbarian！　　But　this　resource　is　still　left　me。'

As　She　said　this；　She　suddenly　drew　a　poignard：　　She　rent　open　her　garment；　and　placed　the　weapon's　point　against　her　bosom。

'Father；　I　will　never　quit　these　Walls　alive！'

'Hold！　　Hold；　Matilda！　　What　would　you　do？'

'You　are　determined；　so　am　I：　　The　Moment　that　you　leave　me；　I　plunge　this　Steel　in　my　heart。'

'Holy　St。　Francis！　　Matilda；　have　you　your　senses？　　Do　you　know　the　consequences　of　your　action？　　That　Suicide　is　the　greatest　of　crimes？　　That　you　destroy　your　Soul？　　That　you　lose　your　claim　to　salvation？　　That　you　prepare　for　yourself　everlasting　torments？'

'I　care　not！　I　care　not！'　She　replied　passionately；　'Either　your　hand　guides　me　to　Paradise；　or　my　own　dooms　me　to　perdition！　　Speak　to　me；　Ambrosio！　　Tell　me　that　you　will　conceal　my　story；　that　I　shall　remain　your　Friend　and　your　Companion；　or　this　poignard　drinks　my　blood！'

As　She　uttered　these　last　words；　She　lifted　her　arm；　and　made　a　motion　as　if　to　stab　herself。　　The　Friar's　eyes　followed　with　dread　the　course　of　the　dagger。　　She　had　torn　open　her　habit；　and　her　bosom　was　half　exposed。　The　weapon's　point　rested　upon　her　left　breast：　　And　Oh！　that　was　such　a　breast！　　The　Moonbeams　darting　full　upon　it　enabled　the　Monk　to　observe　its　dazzling　whiteness。　　His　eye　dwelt　with　insatiable　avidity　upon　the　beauteous　Orb。　　A　sensation　till　then　unknown　filled　his　heart　with　a　mixture　of　anxiety　and　delight：　　A　raging　fire　shot　through　every　limb；　The　blood　boiled　in　his　veins；　and　a　thousand　wild　wishes　bewildered　his　imagination。

'Hold！'　He　cried　in　an　hurried　faultering　voice；　'I　can　resist　no　longer！　　Stay；　then；　Enchantress；　Stay　for　my　destruction！'

He　said；　and　rushing　from　the　place；　hastened　towards　the　Monastery：　　He　regained　his　Cell　and　threw　himself　upon　his　Couch；　distracted　irresolute　and　confused。

He　found　it　impossible　for　some　time　to　arrange　his　ideas。　　The　scene　in　which　He　had　been　engaged　had　excited　such　a　variety　of　sentiments　in　his　bosom；　that　He　was　incapable　of　deciding　which　was　predominant。　He　was　irresolute　what　conduct　He　ought　to　hold　with　the　disturber　of　his　repose。　　He　was　conscious　that　prudence；　religion；　and　propriety　necessitated　his　obliging　her　to　quit　the　Abbey：　　But　on　the　other　hand　such　powerful　reasons　authorized　her　stay　that　He　was　but　too　much　inclined　to　consent　to　her　remaining。　　He　could　not　avoid　being　flattered　by　Matilda's　declaration；　and　at　reflecting　that　He　had　unconsciously　vanquished　an　heart　which　had　resisted　the　attacks　of　Spain's　noblest　Cavaliers：　　The　manner　in　which　He　had　gained　her　affections　was　also　the　most　satisfactory　to　his　vanity：　He　remembered　the　many　happy　hours　which　He　had　passed　in　Rosario's　society；　and　dreaded　that　void　in　his　heart　which　parting　with　him　would　occasion。　　Besides　all　this；　He　considered；　that　as　Matilda　was　wealthy；　her　favour　might　be　of　essential　benefit　to　the　Abbey。

'And　what　do　I　risque；'　said　He　to　himself；　'by　authorizing　her　stay？　　May　I　not　safely　credit　her　assertions？　　Will　it　not　be　easy　for　me　to　forget　her　sex；　and　still　consider　her　as　my　Friend　and　my　disciple？　　Surely　her　love　is　as　pure　as　She　describes。　　Had　it　been　the　offspring　of　mere　licentiousness；　would　She　so　long　have　concealed　it　in　her　own　bosom？　　Would　She　not　have　employed　some　means　to　procure　its　gratification？　　She　has　done　quite　the　contrary：　　She　strove　to　keep　me　in　ignorance　of　her　sex；　and　nothing　but　the　fear　of　detection；　and　my　instances；　would　have　compelled　her　to　reveal　the　secret。　　She　has　observed　the　duties　of　religion　not　less　strictly　than　myself。　　She　has　made　no　attempts　to　rouze　my　slumbering　passions；　nor　has　She　ever　conversed　with　me　till　this　night　on　the　subject　of　Love。　　Had　She　been　desirous　to　gain　my　affections；　not　my　esteem；　She　would　not　have　concealed　from　me　her　charms　so　carefully：　　At　this　very　moment　I　have　never　seen　her　face：　　Yet　certainly　that　face　must　be　lovely；　and　her　person　beautiful；　to　judge　by　her　。　。　。　by　what　I　have　seen。'

As　this　last　idea　passed　through　his　imagination；　a　blush　spread　itself　over　his　cheek。　　Alarmed　at　the　sentiments　which　He　was　indulging；　He　betook　himself　to　prayer；　He　started　from　his　Couch；　knelt　before　the　beautiful　Madona；　and　entreated　her　assistance　in　stifling　such　culpable　emotions。　　He　then　returned　to　his　Bed；　and　resigned　himself　to　slumber。

He　awoke；　heated　and　unrefreshed。　　During　his　sleep　his　inflamed　imagination　had　presented　him　with　none　but　the　most　voluptuous　objects。　　Matilda　stood　before　him　in　his　dreams；　and　his　eyes　again　dwelt　upon　her　naked　breast。　　She　repeated　her　protestations　of　eternal　love；　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　and　loaded　him　with　kisses：　　He　returned　them；　He　clasped　her　passionately　to　his　bosom；　and　。　。　。　the　vision　was　dissolved。　Sometimes　his　dreams　presented　the　image　of　his　favourite　Madona；　and　He　fancied　that　He　was　kneeling　before　her：　　As　He　offered　up　his　vows　to　her；　the　eyes　of　the　Figure　seemed　to　beam　on　him　with　inexpressible　sweetness。　　He　pressed　his　lips　to　hers；　and　found　them　warm：　　The　animated　form　started　from　the　Canvas；　embraced　him　affectionately；　and　his　senses　were　unable　to　support　delight　so　exquisite。　　Such　were　the　scenes；　on　which　his　thoughts　were　employed　while　sleeping：　　His　unsatisfied　Desires　placed　before　him　the　most　lustful　and　provoking　Images；　and　he　rioted　in　joys　till　then　unknown　to　him。

He　started　from　his　Couch；　filled　with　confusion　at　the　remembrance　of　his　dreams。　　Scarcely　was　He　less　ashamed；　when　He　reflected　on　his　reasons　of　the　former　night　which　induced　him　to　authorize　Matilda's　stay。　The　cloud　was　now　dissipated　which　had　obscured　his　judgment：　　He　shuddered　when　He　beheld　his　arguments　blazoned　in　their　proper　colours；　and　found　that　He　had　been　a　slave　to　flattery；　to　avarice；　and　self…love。　　If　in　one　hour's　conversation　Matilda　had　produced　a　change　so　remarkable　in　his　sentiments；　what　had　He　not　to　dread　from　her　remaining　in　the　Abbey？　　Become　sensible　of　his　danger；　awakened　from　his　dream　of　confidence；　He　resolved　to　insist　on　her　departing　without　delay。　　He　began　to　feel　that　He　was　not　proof　against　temptation；　and　that　however　Matilda　might　restrain　herself　within　the　bounds　of　modesty；　He　was　unable　to　contend　with　those　passions；　from　which　He　falsely　thought　himself　exempted。

'Agnes！　　Agnes！'　He　exclaimed；　while　reflecting　on　his　embarrassments；　'I　already　feel　thy　curse！'

He　quitted　his　Cell；　determined　upon　dismissing　the　feigned　Rosario。　　He　appeared　at　Matins；　But　his　thoughts　were　absent；　and　He　paid　them　but　little　attention。　　His　heart　and　brain　were　both　of　them　filled　with　worldly　objects；　and　He　prayed　without　devotion。　The　service　over；　He　descended　into　the　Garden。　　He　bent　his　steps　towards　the　same　spot　where；　on　the　preceding　night；　He　had　made　this　embarrassing　discovery。　　He　doubted　not　but　that　Matilda　would　seek　him　there：　　He　was　not　deceived。　　She　soon　entered　the　Hermitage；　and　approached　the　Monk　with　a　timid　air。　　After　a　few　minutes　during　which　both　were　silent；　She　appeared　as　if　on　the　point　of　speaking；　But　the　Abbot；　who　during　this　time　had　been　summoning　up　all　his　resolution；　hastily　interrupted　her。　　Though　still　unconscious　how　extensive　was　its　influence；　He　dreaded　the　melodious　seduction　of　her　voice。

'Seat　yourself　by　my　side；　Matilda；'　said　He；　assuming　a　look　of　firmness；　though　carefully　avoiding　the　least　mixture　of　severity；　'Listen　to　me　patiently；　and　believe；　that　in　what　I　shall　say；　I　am　not　more　influenced　by　my　own　interest　than　by　yours：　　Believe；　that　I　feel　for　you　the　warmest　friendship；　the　truest　compassion；　and　that　you　cannot　feel　more　grieved　than　I　do；　when　I　declare　to　you　that　we　must　never　meet　again。'

'Ambrosio！'　She　cried；　in　a　voice　at　once　expressive　of　surprise　and　sorrow。

'Be　calm；　my　Friend！　　My　Rosario！　　Still　let　me　call　you　by　that　name　so　dear　to　me！　　Our　separation　is　unavoidable；　I　blush　to　own；　how　sensibly　it　affects　me。　But　yet　it　must　be　so。　　I　feel　myself　incapable　of　treating　you　with　indifference；　and　that　very　conviction　obliges　me　to　insist　upon　your　departure。　　Matilda；　you　must　stay　here　no　longer。'

'Oh！　where　shall　I　now　seek　for　probity？　　Disgusted　with　a　perfidious　world；　in　what　happy　region　does　Truth　conceal　herself？　　Father；　I　hoped　that　She　resided　here；　I　thought　that　your　bosom　had　been　her　favourite　shrine。　　And　you　too　prove　false？　　Oh　God！　　And　you　too　can　betray　me？'

'Matilda！'

'Yes；　Father；　Yes！　'Tis　with　justice　that　I　reproach　you。　　Oh！　where　are　your　promises？　　My　Noviciate　is　not　expired；　and　yet　will　you　compell　me　to　quit　the　Monastery？　　Can　you　have　the　heart　to　drive　me　from　you？　　And　have　I　not　received　your　solemn　oath　to　the　contrary？'

'I　will　not　compell　you　to　quit　the　Monastery：　　You　have　received　my　solemn　oath　to　the　contrary。　　But　yet　when　I　throw　myself　upon　your　generosity；　when　I　declare　to　you　the　embarrassments　in　which　your　presence　involves　me；　will　you　not　release　me　from　that　oath？　　Reflect　upon　the　danger　of　a　discovery；　upon　the　opprobrium　in　which　such　an　event　would　plunge　me：　Reflect　that　my　honour　and　reputation　are　at　stake；　and　that　my　peace　of　mind　depends　on　your　compliance。　　As　yet　my　heart　is　free；　I　shall　separate　from　you　with　regret；　but　not　with　despair。　　Stay　here；　and　a　few　weeks　will　sacrifice　my　happiness　on　the　altar　of　your　charms。　　You　are　but　too　interesting；　too　amiable！　　I　should　love　you；　I　should　doat　on　you！　　My　bosom　would　become　the　prey　of　desires　which　Honour　and　my　profession　forbid　me　to　gratify。　　If　I　resisted　them；　the　impetuosity　of　my　wishes　unsatisfied　would　drive　me　to　madness：　　If