the castle of otranto-第14部分

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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。

Theodore；　under　pretence　of　expressing　his　joy　at　being　freed　from　his　　apprehensions　of　the　combat　being　fatal　to　Frederic；　could　not　resist　　the　impulse　of　following　Matilda。　　Her　eyes　were　so　often　cast　down　on　　meeting　his；　that　Isabella；　who　regarded　Theodore　as　attentively　as　he　　gazed　on　Matilda；　soon　divined　who　the　object　was　that　he　had　told　her　　in　the　cave　engaged　his　affections。　　While　this　mute　scene　passed；　　Hippolita　demanded　of　Frederic　the　cause　of　his　having　taken　that　　mysterious　course　for　reclaiming　his　daughter；　and　threw　in　various　　apologies　to　excuse　her　Lord　for　the　match　contracted　between　their　　children。

Frederic；　however　incensed　against　Manfred；　was　not　insensible　to　the　　courtesy　and　benevolence　of　Hippolita：　　but　he　was　still　more　struck　　with　the　lovely　form　of　Matilda。　　Wishing　to　detain　them　by　his　　bedside；　he　informed　Hippolita　of　his　story。　　He　told　her　that；　while　　prisoner　to　the　infidels；　he　had　dreamed　that　his　daughter；　of　whom　he　　had　learned　no　news　since　his　captivity；　was　detained　in　a　castle；　　where　she　was　in　danger　of　the　most　dreadful　misfortunes：　　and　that　if　　he　obtained　his　liberty；　and　repaired　to　a　wood　near　Joppa；　he　would　　learn　more。　　Alarmed　at　this　dream；　and　incapable　of　obeying　the　　direction　given　by　it；　his　chains　became　more　grievous　than　ever。　　But　　while　his　thoughts　were　occupied　on　the　means　of　obtaining　his　　liberty；　he　received　the　agreeable　news　that　the　confederate　Princes　　who　were　warring　in　Palestine　had　paid　his　ransom。　　He　instantly　set　　out　for　the　wood　that　had　been　marked　in　his　dream。

For　three　days　he　and　his　attendants　had　wandered　in　the　forest　　without　seeing　a　human　form：　　but　on　the　evening　of　the　third　they　　came　to　a　cell；　in　which　they　found　a　venerable　hermit　in　the　agonies　　of　death。　　Applying　rich　cordials；　they　brought　the　fainting　man　to　　his　speech。

〃My　sons；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　bounden　to　your　charity　…　but　it　is　in　vain　　…　I　am　going　to　my　eternal　rest　…　yet　I　die　with　the　satisfaction　of　　performing　the　will　of　heaven。　　When　first　I　repaired　to　this　　solitude；　after　seeing　my　country　become　a　prey　to　unbelievers　…　it　is　　alas！　above　fifty　years　since　I　was　witness　to　that　dreadful　scene！　　　St。　Nicholas　appeared　to　me；　and　revealed　a　secret；　which　he　bade　me　　never　disclose　to　mortal　man；　but　on　my　death…bed。　　This　is　that　　tremendous　hour；　and　ye　are　no　doubt　the　chosen　warriors　to　whom　I　was　　ordered　to　reveal　my　trust。　　As　soon　as　ye　have　done　the　last　offices　　to　this　wretched　corse；　dig　under　the　seventh　tree　on　the　left　hand　of　　this　poor　cave；　and　your　pains　will　…　Oh！　good　heaven　receive　my　　soul！〃　　With　those　words　the　devout　man　breathed　his　last。

〃By　break　of　day；〃　continued　Frederic；　〃when　we　had　committed　the　holy　　relics　to　earth；　we　dug　according　to　direction。　　But　what　was　our　　astonishment　when　about　the　depth　of　six　feet　we　discovered　an　　enormous　sabre　…　the　very　weapon　yonder　in　the　court。　　On　the　blade；　　which　was　then　partly　out　of　the　scabbard；　though　since　closed　by　our　　efforts　in　removing　it；　were　written　the　following　lines　…　no；　excuse　　me；　Madam；〃　added　the　Marquis；　turning　to　Hippolita；　〃if　I　forbear　to　　repeat　them：　　I　respect　your　sex　and　rank；　and　would　not　be　guilty　of　　offending　your　ear　with　sounds　injurious　to　aught　that　is　dear　to　　you。〃

He　paused。　　Hippolita　trembled。　　She　did　not　doubt　but　Frederic　was　　destined　by　heaven　to　accomplish　the　fate　that　seemed　to　threaten　her　　house。　　Looking　with　anxious　fondness　at　Matilda；　a　silent　tear　stole　　down　her　cheek：　　but　recollecting　herself；　she　said　…

〃Proceed；　my　Lord；　heaven　does　nothing　in　vain；　mortals　must　receive　　its　divine　behests　with　lowliness　and　submission。　　It　is　our　part　to　　deprecate　its　wrath；　or　bow　to　its　decrees。　　Repeat　the　sentence；　my　　Lord；　we　listen　resigned。〃

Frederic　was　grieved　that　he　had　proceeded　so　far。　　The　dignity　and　　patient　firmness　of　Hippolita　penetrated　him　with　respect；　and　the　　tender　silent　affection　with　which　the　Princess　and　her　daughter　　regar