the castle of otranto-第6部分

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！


our　for　their　destruction。　　Dismissing　the　reluctant　　Matilda　to　her　rest；　who　in　vain　sued　for　leave　to　accompany　her　　mother；　and　attended　only　by　her　chaplain；　Hippolita　had　visited　the　　gallery　and　great　chamber；　and　now　with　more　serenity　of　soul　than　she　　had　felt　for　many　hours；　she　met　her　Lord；　and　assured　him　that　the　　vision　of　the　gigantic　leg　and　foot　was　all　a　fable；　and　no　doubt　an　　impression　made　by　fear；　and　the　dark　and　dismal　hour　of　the　night；　on　　the　minds　of　his　servants。　　She　and　the　chaplain　had　examined　the　　chamber；　and　found　everything　in　the　usual　order。

Manfred；　though　persuaded；　like　his　wife；　that　the　vision　had　been　no　　work　of　fancy；　recovered　a　little　from　the　tempest　of　mind　into　which　　so　many　strange　events　had　thrown　him。　　Ashamed；　too；　of　his　inhuman　　treatment　of　a　Princess　who　returned　every　injury　with　new　marks　of　　tenderness　and　duty；　he　felt　returning　love　forcing　itself　into　his　　eyes；　but　not　less　ashamed　of　feeling　remorse　towards　one　against　whom　　he　was　inwardly　meditating　a　yet　more　bitter　outrage；　he　curbed　the　　yearnings　of　his　heart；　and　did　not　dare　to　lean　even　towards　pity。　　　The　next　transition　of　his　soul　was　to　exquisite　villainy。

Presuming　on　the　unshaken　submission　of　Hippolita；　he　flattered　　himself　that　she　would　not　only　acquiesce　with　patience　to　a　divorce；　　but　would　obey；　if　it　was　his　pleasure；　in　endeavouring　to　persuade　　Isabella　to　give　him　her　hand　…　but　ere　he　could　indulge　his　horrid　　hope；　he　reflected　that　Isabella　was　not　to　be　found。　　Coming　to　　himself；　he　gave　orders　that　every　avenue　to　the　castle　should　be　　strictly　guarded；　and　charged　his　domestics　on　pain　of　their　lives　to　　suffer　nobody　to　pass　out。　　The　young　peasant；　to　whom　he　spoke　　favourably；　he　ordered　to　remain　in　a　small　chamber　on　the　stairs；　in　　which　there　was　a　pallet…bed；　and　the　key　of　which　he　took　away　　himself；　telling　the　youth　he　would　talk　with　him　in　the　morning。　　　Then　dismissing　his　attendants；　and　bestowing　a　sullen　kind　of　half…　nod　on　Hippolita；　he　retired　to　his　own　chamber。



CHAPTER　II。



MATILDA；　who　by　Hippolita's　order　had　retired　to　her　apartment；　was　　ill…disposed　to　take　any　rest。　　The　shocking　fate　of　her　brother　had　　deeply　affected　her。　　She　was　surprised　at　not　seeing　Isabella；　but　　the　strange　words　which　had　fallen　from　her　father；　and　his　obscure　　menace　to　the　Princess　his　wife；　accompanied　by　the　most　furious　　behaviour；　had　filled　her　gentle　mind　with　terror　and　alarm。　　She　　waited　anxiously　for　the　return　of　Bianca；　a　young　damsel　that　　attended　her；　whom　she　had　sent　to　learn　what　was　become　of　Isabella。　　　Bianca　soon　appeared；　and　informed　her　mistress　of　what　she　had　　gathered　from　the　servants；　that　Isabella　was　nowhere　to　be　found。　　　She　related　the　adventure　of　the　young　peasant　who　had　been　discovered　　in　the　vault；　though　with　many　simple　additions　from　the　incoherent　　accounts　of　the　domestics；　and　she　dwelt　principally　on　the　gigantic　　leg　and　foot　which　had　been　seen　in　the　gallery…chamber。　　This　last　　circumstance　had　terrified　Bianca　so　much；　that　she　was　rejoiced　when　　Matilda　told　her　that　she　would　not　go　to　rest；　but　would　watch　till　　the　Princess　should　rise。

The　young　Princess　wearied　herself　in　conjectures　on　the　flight　of　　Isabella；　and　on　the　threats　of　Manfred　to　her　mother。　　〃But　what　　business　could　he　have　so　urgent　with　the　chaplain？〃　said　Matilda；　　〃Does　he　intend　to　have　my　brother's　body　interred　privately　in　the　　chapel？〃

〃Oh；　Madam！〃　said　Bianca；　〃now　I　guess。　　As　you　are　become　his　　heiress；　he　is　impatient　to　have　you　married：　　he　has　always　been　　raving　for　more　sons；　I　warrant　he　is　now　impatient　for　grandsons。　　As　　sure　as　I　live；　Madam；　I　shall　see　you　a　bride　at　last。　…　Good　madam；　　you　won't　cast　off　your　faithful　Bianca：　　you　won't　put　Donna　Rosara　　over　me　now　you　are　a　great　Princess。〃

〃My　poor　Bianca；〃　said　Matilda；　〃how　fast　your　thoughts　amble！　　I　a　　great　princess！　　What　hast　thou　seen　in　Manfred's　behaviour　since　my　　brother's　death　that　bespeaks　any　increase　of　tenderness　to　me？　　No；　　Bianca；　his　heart　was　ever　a　stranger　to　me　…　but　he　is　my　father；　and　　I　must　not　complain。　　Nay；　if　Heaven　shuts　my　father's　heart　against　　me；　it　overpays　my　little　merit　in　the　tenderness　of　my　mother　…　O　　that　dear　mother！　yes；　Bianca；　'tis　there　I　feel　the　rugged　temper　of　　Manfred。　　I　can　support　his　harshness　to　me　with　patience；　but　it　　wounds　my　soul　when　I　am　witness　to　his　causeless　severity　towards　　her。〃

〃Oh！　Madam；〃　said　Bianca；　〃all　men　use　their　wives　so；　when　they　are　　weary　of　them。〃

〃And　yet　you　congratulated　me　but　now；〃　said　Matilda；　〃when　you　　fancied　my　father　intended　to　dispose　of　me！〃

〃I　would　have　you　a　great　Lady；〃　replied　Bianca；　〃come　what　will。　　I　　do　not　wish　to　see　you　moped　in　a　convent；　as　you　would　be　if　you　had　　your　will；　and　if　my　Lady；　your　mother；　who　knows　that　a　bad　husband　　is　better　than　no　husband　at　all；　did　not　hinder　you。　…　Bless　me！　what　　noise　is　that！　　St。　Nicholas　forgive　me！　　I　was　but　in　jest。〃

〃It　is　the　wind；〃　said　Matilda；　〃whistling　through　the　battlements　in　　the　tower　above：　　you　have　heard　it　a　thousand　times。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Bianca；　〃there　was　no　harm　neither　in　what　I　said：　　it　is　　no　sin　to　talk　of　matrimony　…　and　so；　Madam；　as　I　was　saying；　if　my　　Lord　Manfred　should　offer　you　a　handsome　young　Prince　for　a　　bridegroom；　you　would　drop　him　a　curtsey；　and　tell　him　you　would　　rather　take　the　veil？〃

〃Thank　Heaven！　　I　am　in　no　such　danger；〃　said　Matilda：　　〃you　know　how　　many　proposals　for　me　he　has　rejected　…　〃

〃And　you　thank　him；　like　a　dutiful　daughter；　do　you；　Madam？　　But　come；　　Madam；　suppose；　to…morrow　morning；　he　was　to　send　for　you　to　the　great　　council　chamber；　and　there　you　should　find　at　his　elbow　a　lovely　young　　Prince；　with　large　black　eyes；　a　smooth　white　forehead；　and　manly　　curling　locks　like　jet；　in　short；　Madam；　a　young　hero　resembling　the　　picture　of　the　good　Alfonso　in　the　gallery；　which　you　sit　and　gaze　at　　for　hours　together　…　〃

〃Do　not　speak　lightly　of　that　picture；〃　interrupted　Matilda　sighing；　　〃I　know　the　adoration　with　which　I　look　at　that　picture　is　uncommon　…　　but　I　am　not　in　love　with　a　coloured　panel。　　The　character　of　that　　virtuous　Prince；　the　veneration　with　which　my　mother　has　inspired　me　　for　his　memory；　the　orisons　which；　I　know　not　why；　she　has　enjoined　me　　to　pour　forth　at　his　tomb；　all　have　concurred　to　persuade　me　that　　somehow　or　other　my　destiny　is　linked　with　something　relating　to　him。〃

〃Lord；　Madam！　how　should　that　be？〃　said　Bianca；　〃I　have　always　heard　　that　your　family　was　in　no　way　related　to　his：　　and　I　am　sure　I　cannot　　conceive　why　my　Lady；　the　Princess；　sends　you　in　a　cold　morning　or　a　　damp　evening　to　pray　at　his　tomb：　　he　is　no　saint　by　the　almanack。　　If　　you　must　pray；　why　does　she　not　bid　you　address　yourself　to　our　great　　St。　Nicholas？　　I　am　sure　he　is　the　saint　I　pray　to　for　a　husband。〃

〃Perhaps　my　mind　would　be　less　affected；〃　said　Matilda；　〃if　my　mother　　would　explain　her　reasons　to　me：　　but　it　is　the　mystery　she　observes；　　that　inspires　me　with　this　…　I　know　not　what　to　call　it。　　As　she　never　　acts　from　caprice；　I　am　sure　there　is　some　fatal　secret　at　bottom　…　　nay；　I　know　there　is：　　in　her　agony　of　grief　for　my　brother's　death　　she　dropped　some　words　that　intimated　as　much。〃

〃Oh！　dear　Madam；〃　cried　Bianca；　〃what　were　they？〃

〃No；〃　said　Matilda；　〃if　a　parent　lets　fall　a　word；　and　wishes　it　　recalled；　it　is　not　for　a　child　to　utter　it。〃

〃What！　was　she　sorry　for　what　she　had　said？〃　asked　Bianca；　〃I　am　sure；　　Madam；　you　may　trust　me　…　〃

〃With　my　own　little　secrets　when　I　have　any；　I　may；〃　said　Matilda；　　〃but　never　with　my　mother's：　　a　child　ought　to　have　no　ears　or　eyes　　but　as　a　parent　directs。〃

〃Well！　to　be　sure；　Madam；　you　were　born　to　be　a　saint；〃　said　Bianca；　　〃and　there　is　no　resisting　one's　vocation：　　you　will　end　in　a　convent　　at　last。　　But　there　is　my　Lady　Isabella　would　not　be　so　reserved　to　　me：　　she　will　let　me　talk　to　her　of　young　men：　　and　when　a　handsome　　cavalier　has　come　to　the　castle；　she　has　owned　to　me　that　she　wished　　your　brother　Conrad　resembled　him。〃

〃Bianca；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　do　not　allow　you　to　mention　my　friend　　disrespectfully。　　Isabella　is　of　a　cheerful　disposition；　but　her　soul　　is　pure　as　virtue　itself。　　She　knows　your　idle　babbling　humour；　and　　perhaps　has　now　and　then　encouraged　it；　to　divert　melancholy；　and　　enliven　the　solitude　in　which　my　father　keeps　us　…　〃

〃Blessed　Mary！〃　said　Bianca；　starting；　〃there　it　is　again！　　Dear　　Madam；　do　you　hear　nothing？　this　castle　is　certainly　haunted！〃

〃Peace！〃　said　Matilda；　〃and　listen！　　I　did　think　I　heard　a　voice　…　but　　it　must　be　fancy：　　your　terrors；　I　suppose；　have　infected　me。〃

〃Indeed！　indeed！　　Madam；〃　said　Bianca；　half…weeping　with　agony；　〃I　am　　sure　I　heard　a　voice。〃

〃Does　anybody　lie　in　the　chamber　beneath？〃　said　the　Princess。

〃Nobody　has　dared　to　lie　there；〃　answered　Bianca；　〃since　the　great　　astrologer；　that　was　your　brother's　tutor；　drowned　himself。　　For　　certain；　Madam；　his　ghost　and　the　young　Prince's　are　now　met　in　the　　chamber　below　…　for　Heaven's　sake　let　us　fly　to　your　mother's　　apartment！〃

〃I　charge　you　not　to　stir；〃　said　Matilda。　　〃If　they　are　spirits　in　　pain；　we　may　ease　their　sufferings　by　questioning　them。　　They　can　mean　　no　hurt　to　us；　for　we　have　not　injured　them　…　and　if　they　should；　　shall　we　be　more　safe　in　one　chamber　than　in　another？　　Reach　me　my　　beads；　we　will　say　a　prayer；　and　then　speak　to　them。〃

〃Oh！　dear　Lady；　I　would　not　speak　to　a　ghost　for　the　world！〃　cried　　Bianca。　　As　she　said　those　words　they　heard　the　casement　of　the　little　　chamber　below　Matilda's　open。　　They　listened　attentively；　and　in　a　few　　minutes　thought　they　heard　a　person　sing；　but　could　not　distinguish　　the　words。

〃This　can　be　no　evil　spirit；〃　said　the　Princess；　in　a　low　voice；　〃it　　is　undoubtedly　one　of　the　family　…　open　the　window；　and　we　shall　know　　the　voice。〃

〃I　dare　not；　indeed；　Madam；〃　said　Bianca。

〃Thou　art　a　very　fool；〃　said　Matilda；　opening　the　window　gently　　herself。　　The　noise　the　Princess　made　was；　however；　heard　by　the　　person　beneath；　who　stopped；　and　they　concluded　had　heard　the　casement　　open。

〃Is　anybody　below？〃　said　the