volume02-第19部分

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er　St。　Ursula　will　espouse　her　cause　most　warmly。　　In　truth；　She　merits　to　have　Friends；　and　I　wish　I　could　prevail　upon　you　to　consider　her　youth；　and　her　peculiar　situation。　　She　seems　sensible　of　her　fault；　The　excess　of　her　grief　proves　her　penitence；　and　I　am　convinced　that　her　tears　flow　more　from　contrition　than　fear　of　punishment。　　Reverend　Mother；　would　you　be　persuaded　to　mitigate　the　severity　of　your　sentence；　would　you　but　deign　to　overlook　this　first　transgression；　I　offer　myself　as　the　pledge　of　her　future　conduct。'

'Overlook　it；　say　you？　　Mother　Camilla；　you　amaze　me！　　What？　　After　disgracing　me　in　the　presence　of　Madrid's　Idol；　of　the　very　Man　on　whom　I　most　wished　to　impress　an　idea　of　the　strictness　of　my　discipline？　　How　despicable　must　I　have　appeared　to　the　reverend　Abbot！　　No；　Mother；　No！　I　never　can　forgive　the　insult。　I　cannot　better　convince　Ambrosio　that　I　abhor　such　crimes；　than　by　punishing　that　of　Agnes　with　all　the　rigour　of　which　our　severe　laws　admit。　　Cease　then　your　supplications；　They　will　all　be　unavailing。　　My　resolution　is　taken：　　Tomorrow　Agnes　shall　be　made　a　terrible　example　of　my　justice　and　resentment。'

The　Mother　Camilla　seemed　not　to　give　up　the　point；　but　by　this　time　the　Nuns　were　out　of　hearing。　　The　Prioress　unlocked　the　door　which　communicated　with　St。　Clare's　Chapel；　and　having　entered　with　her　Companion；　closed　it　again　after　them。

Matilda　now　asked；　who　was　this　Agnes　with　whom　the　Prioress　was　thus　incensed；　and　what　connexion　She　could　have　with　Ambrosio。　　He　related　her　adventure；　and　He　added；　that　since　that　time　his　ideas　having　undergone　a　thorough　revolution；　He　now　felt　much　compassion　for　the　unfortunate　Nun。

'I　design；'　said　He；　'to　request　an　audience　of　the　Domina　tomorrow；　and　use　every　means　of　obtaining　a　mitigation　of　her　sentence。'

'Beware　of　what　you　do！'　interrupted　Matilda；　'Your　sudden　change　of　sentiment　may　naturally　create　surprize；　and　may　give　birth　to　suspicions　which　it　is　most　our　interest　to　avoid。　　Rather；　redouble　your　outward　austerity；　and　thunder　out　menaces　against　the　errors　of　others；　the　better　to　conceal　your　own。　　Abandon　the　Nun　to　her　fate。　　Your　interfering　might　be　dangerous；　and　her　imprudence　merits　to　be　punished：　　She　is　unworthy　to　enjoy　Love's　pleasures；　who　has　not　wit　enough　to　conceal　them。　　But　in　discussing　this　trifling　subject　I　waste　moments　which　are　precious。　　The　night　flies　apace；　and　much　must　be　done　before　morning。　　The　Nuns　are　retired；　All　is　safe。　　Give　me　the　Lamp；　Ambrosio。　I　must　descend　alone　into　these　Caverns：　　Wait　here；　and　if　any　one　approaches；　warn　me　by　your　voice；　But　as　you　value　your　existence；　presume　not　to　follow　me。　　Your　life　would　fall　a　victim　to　your　imprudent　curiosity。'

Thus　saying　She　advanced　towards　the　Sepulchre；　still　holding　her　Lamp　in　one　hand；　and　her　little　Basket　in　the　other。　　She　touched　the　door：　　It　turned　slowly　upon　its　grating　hinges；　and　a　narrow　winding　staircase　of　black　marble　presented　itself　to　her　eyes。　　She　descended　it。　　Ambrosio　remained　above；　watching　the　faint　beams　of　the　Lamp　as　they　still　proceeded　up　the　stairs。　　They　disappeared；　and　He　found　himself　in　total　darkness。

Left　to　himself　He　could　not　reflect　without　surprize　on　the　sudden　change　in　Matilda's　character　and　sentiments。　　But　a　few　days　had　past　since　She　appeared　the　mildest　and　softest　of　her　sex；　devoted　to　his　will；　and　looking　up　to　him　as　to　a　superior　Being。　　Now　She　assumed　a　sort　of　courage　and　manliness　in　her　manners　and　discourse　but　ill…calculated　to　please　him。　　She　spoke　no　longer　to　insinuate；　but　command：　　He　found　himself　unable　to　cope　with　her　in　argument；　and　was　unwillingly　obliged　to　confess　the　superiority　of　her　judgment。　　Every　moment　convinced　him　of　the　astonishing　powers　of　her　mind：　　But　what　She　gained　in　the　opinion　of　the　Man；　She　lost　with　interest　in　the　affection　of　the　Lover。　　He　regretted　Rosario；　the　fond；　the　gentle；　and　submissive：　　He　grieved　that　Matilda　preferred　the　virtues　of　his　sex　to　those　of　her　own；　and　when　He　thought　of　her　expressions　respecting　the　devoted　Nun；　He　could　not　help　blaming　them　as　cruel　and　unfeminine。　　Pity　is　a　sentiment　so　natural；　so　appropriate　to　the　female　character；　that　it　is　scarcely　a　merit　for　a　Woman　to　possess　it；　but　to　be　without　it　is　a　grievous　crime。　　Ambrosio　could　not　easily　forgive　his　Mistress　for　being　deficient　in　this　amiable　quality。　　However；　though　he　blamed　her　insensibility；　He　felt　the　truth　of　her　observations；　and　though　He　pitied　sincerely　the　unfortunate　Agnes；　He　resolved　to　drop　the　idea　of　interposing　in　her　behalf。

Near　an　hour　had　elapsed；　since　Matilda　descended　into　the　Caverns；　Still　She　returned　not。　　Ambrosio's　curiosity　was　excited。　　He　drew　near　the　Staircase。　　He　listened。　　All　was　silent；　except　that　at　intervals　He　caught　the　sound　of　Matilda's　voice；　as　it　wound　along　the　subteraneous　passages；　and　was　re…echoed　by　the　Sepulchre's　vaulted　roofs。　　She　was　at　too　great　a　distance　for　him　to　distinguish　her　words；　and　ere　they　reached　him　they　were　deadened　into　a　low　murmur。　　He　longed　to　penetrate　into　this　mystery。　　He　resolved　to　disobey　her　injunctions　and　follow　her　into　the　Cavern。　　He　advanced　to　the　Staircase；　He　had　already　descended　some　steps　when　his　courage　failed　him。　　He　remembered　Matilda's　menaces　if　He　infringed　her　orders；　and　his　bosom　was　filled　with　a　secret　unaccountable　awe。　　He　returned　up　the　stairs；　resumed　his　former　station；　and　waited　impatiently　for　the　conclusion　of　this　adventure。

Suddenly　He　was　sensible　of　a　violent　shock：　　An　earthquake　rocked　the　ground。　　The　Columns　which　supported　the　roof　under　which　He　stood　were　so　strongly　shaken；　that　every　moment　menaced　him　with　its　fall；　and　at　the　same　moment　He　heard　a　loud　and　tremendous　burst　of　thunder。　　It　ceased；　and　his　eyes　being　fixed　upon　the　Staircase；　He　saw　a　bright　column　of　light　flash　along　the　Caverns　beneath。　　It　was　seen　but　for　an　instant。　　No　sooner　did　it　disappear；　than　all　was　once　more　quiet　and　obscure。　　Profound　Darkness　again　surrounded　him；　and　the　silence　of　night　was　only　broken　by　the　whirring　Bat；　as　She　flitted　slowly　by　him。

With　every　instant　Ambrosio's　amazement　increased。　　Another　hour　elapsed；　after　which　the　same　light　again　appeared　and　was　lost　again　as　suddenly。　　It　was　accompanied　by　a　strain　of　sweet　but　solemn　Music；　which　as　it　stole　through　the　Vaults　below；　inspired　the　Monk　with　mingled　delight　and　terror。　　It　had　not　long　been　hushed；　when　He　heard　Matilda's　steps　upon　the　Staircase。　　She　ascended　from　the　Cavern；　The　most　lively　joy　animated　her　beautiful　features。

'Did　you　see　any　thing？'　She　asked。

'Twice　I　saw　a　column　of　light　flash　up　the　Staircase。'

'Nothing　else？'

'Nothing。'

'The　Morning　is　on　the　point　of　breaking。　　Let　us　retire　to　the　Abbey；　lest　daylight　should　betray　us。'

With　a　light　step　She　hastened　from　the　burying…ground。　　She　regained　her　Cell；　and　the　curious　Abbot　still　accompanied　her。　　She　closed　the　door；　and　disembarrassed　herself　of　her　Lamp　and　Basket。

'I　have　succeeded！'　She　cried；　throwing　herself　upon　his　bosom：　　'Succeeded　beyond　my　fondest　hopes！　　I　shall　live；　Ambrosio；　shall　live　for　you！　　The　step　which　I　shuddered　at　taking　proves　to　me　a　source　of　joys　inexpressible！　　Oh！　that　I　dared　communicate　those　joys　to　you！　　Oh！　that　I　were　permitted　to　share　with　you　my　power；　and　raise　you　as　high　above　the　level　of　your　sex；　as　one　bold　deed　has　exalted　me　above　mine！'

'And　what　prevents　you；　Matilda？'　interrupted　the　Friar；　'Why　is　your　business　in　the　Cavern　made　a　secret？　　Do　you　think　me　undeserving　of　your　confidence？　　Matilda；　I　must　doubt　the　truth　of　your　affection；　while　you　have　joys　in　which　I　am　forbidden　to　share。'

'You　reproach　me　with　injustice。　　I　grieve　sincerely　that　I　am　obliged　to　conceal　from　you　my　happiness。　　But　I　am　not　to　blame：　The　fault　lies　not　in　me；　but　in　yourself；　my　Ambrosio！　　You　are　still　too　much　the　Monk。　　Your　mind　is　enslaved　by　the　prejudices　of　Education；　And　Superstition　might　make　you　shudder　at　the　idea　of　that　which　experience　has　taught　me　to　prize　and　value。　　At　present　you　are　unfit　to　be　trusted　with　a　secret　of　such　importance：　　But　the　strength　of　your　judgment；　and　the　curiosity　which　I　rejoice　to　see　sparkling　in　your　eyes；　makes　me　hope　that　you　will　one　day　deserve　my　confidence。　　Till　that　period　arrives；　restrain　your　impatience。　　Remember　that　you　have　given　me　your　solemn　oath　never　to　enquire　into　this　night's　adventures。　　I　insist　upon　your　keeping　this　oath：　For　though'　She　added　smiling；　while　She　sealed　his　lips　with　a　wanton　kiss；　'Though　I　forgive　your　breaking　your　vows　to　heaven；　I　expect　you　to　keep　your　vows　to　me。'

The　Friar　returned　the　embrace　which　had　set　his　blood　on　fire。　　The　luxurious　and　unbounded　excesses　of　the　former　night　were　renewed；　and　they　separated　not　till　the　Bell　rang　for　Matins。

The　same　pleasures　were　frequently　repeated。　　The　Monks　rejoiced　in　the　feigned　Rosario's　unexpected　recovery；　and　none　of　them　suspected　his　real　sex。　　The　Abbot　possessed　his　Mistress　in　tranquillity；　and　perceiving　his　frailty　unsuspected；　abandoned　himself　to　his　passions　in　full　security。　　Shame　and　remorse　no　longer　tormented　him。　　Frequent　repetitions　made　him　familiar　with　sin；　and　his　bosom　became　proof　against　the　stings　of　Conscience。　　In　these　sentiments　He　was　encouraged　by　Matilda；　But　She　soon　was　aware　that　She　had　satiated　her　Lover　by　the　unbounded　freedom　of　her　caresses。　　Her　charms　becoming　accustomed　to　him；　they　ceased　to　excite　the　same　desires　which　at　first　they　had　inspired。　　The　delirium　of　passion　being　past；　He　had　leisure　to　observe　every　trifling　defect：　　Where　none　were　to　be　found；　Satiety　made　him　fancy　them。　　The　Monk　was　glutted　with　the　fullness　of　pleasure：　　A　Week　had　scarcely　elapsed　before　He　was　wearied　of　his　Paramour：　His　warm　constitution　still　made　him　seek　in　her　arms　the　gratification　of　his　lust：　　But　when　the　moment　of　passion　was　over；　He　quitted　her　with　disgust；　and　his　humour；　naturally　inconstant；　made　him　sigh　impatiently　for　variety。

Possession；　which　cloys　Man；　only　increases　the　affection　of　Woman。　　Matilda　with　every　succeeding　day