volume02-第23部分
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'Holy Virgin! As you say; that is very true。Oh! But might He not have been born in the Abbey?'
Elvira smiled。
'Why; not very easily。'
'Stay; Stay! Now I recollect how it was。 He was put into the Abbey quite a Child; The common People say that He fell from heaven; and was sent as a present to the Capuchins by the Virgin。'
'That was very kind of her。 And so He fell from heaven; Antonia?
He must have had a terrible tumble。'
'Many do not credit this; and I fancy; my dear Mother; that I must number you among the Unbelievers。 Indeed; as our Landlady told my Aunt; the general idea is that his Parents; being poor and unable to maintain him; left him just born at the Abbey door。 The late Superior from pure charity had him educated in the Convent; and He proved to be a model of virtue; and piety; and learning; and I know not what else besides: In consequence; He was first received as a Brother of the order; and not long ago was chosen Abbot。 However; whether this account or the other is the true one; at least all agree that when the Monks took him under their care; He could not speak: Therefore; you could not have heard his voice before He entered the Monastery; because at that time He had no voice at all。'
'Upon my word; Antonia; you argue very closely! Your conclusions are infallible! I did not suspect you of being so able a Logician。'
'Ah! You are mocking me! But so much the better。 It delights me to see you in spirits: Besides you seem tranquil and easy; and I hope that you will have no more convulsions。 Oh! I was sure the Abbot's visit would do you good!'
'It has indeed done me good; my Child。 He has quieted my mind upon some points which agitated me; and I already feel the effects of his attention。 My eyes grow heavy; and I think I can sleep a little。 Draw the curtains; my Antonia: But if I should not wake before midnight; do not sit up with me; I charge you。'
Antonia promised to obey her; and having received her blessing drew the curtains of the Bed。 She then seated herself in silence at her embroidery frame; and beguiled the hours with building Castles in the air。 Her spirits were enlivened by the evident change for the better in Elvira; and her fancy presented her with visions bright and pleasing。 In these dreams Ambrosio made no despicable figure。 She thought of him with joy and gratitude; But for every idea which fell to the Friar's share; at least two were unconsciously bestowed upon Lorenzo。 Thus passed the time; till the Bell in the neighbouring Steeple of the Capuchin Cathedral announced the hour of midnight: Antonia remembered her Mother's injunctions; and obeyed them; though with reluctance。 She undrew the curtains with caution。 Elvira was enjoying a profound and quiet slumber; Her cheek glowed with health's returning colours: A smile declared that her dreams were pleasant; and as Antonia bent over her; She fancied that She heard her name pronounced。 She kissed her Mother's forehead softly; and retired to her chamber。 There She knelt before a Statue of St。 Rosolia; her Patroness; She recommended herself to the protection of heaven; and as had been her custom from infancy; concluded her devotions by chaunting the following Stanzas。
MIDNIGHT HYMN
Now all is hushed; The solemn chime No longer swells the nightly gale: Thy awful presence; Hour sublime; With spotless heart once more I hail。
'Tis now the moment still and dread; When Sorcerers use their baleful power; When Graves give up their buried dead To profit by the sanctioned hour:
From guilt and guilty thoughts secure; To duty and devotion true; With bosom light and conscience pure; Repose; thy gentle aid I woo。
Good Angels; take my thanks; that still The snares of vice I view with scorn; Thanks; that to…night as free from ill I sleep; as when I woke at morn。
Yet may not my unconscious breast Harbour some guilt to me unknown? Some wish impure; which unreprest You blush to see; and I to own?
If such there be; in gentle dream Instruct my feet to shun the snare; Bid truth upon my errors beam; And deign to make me still your care。
Chase from my peaceful bed away The witching Spell; a foe to rest; The nightly Goblin; wanton Fay; The Ghost in pain; and Fiend unblest:
Let not the Tempter in mine ear Pour lessons of unhallowed joy; Let not the Night…mare; wandering near My Couch; the calm of sleep destroy;
Let not some horrid dream affright With strange fantastic forms mine eyes; But rather bid some vision bright Display the blissof yonder skies。
Show me the crystal Domes of Heaven; The worlds of light where Angels lie; Shew me the lot to Mortals given; Who guiltless live; who guiltless die。
Then show me how a seat to gain Amidst those blissful realms of Air; Teach me to shun each guilty stain; And guide me to the good and fair。
So every morn and night; my Voice To heaven the grateful strain shall raise; In You as Guardian Powers rejoice; Good Angels; and exalt your praise:
So will I strive with zealous fire Each vice to shun; each fault correct; Will love the lessons you inspire; And Prize the virtues you protect。
Then when at length by high command My body seeks the Grave's repose; When Death draws nigh with friendly hand My failing Pilgrim eyes to close;
Pleased that my soul has 'scaped the wreck; Sighless will I my life resign; And yield to God my Spirit back; As pure as when it first was mine。
Having finished her usual devotions; Antonia retired to bed。 Sleep soon stole over her senses; and for several hours She enjoyed that calm repose which innocence alone can know; and for which many a Monarch with pleasure would exchange his Crown。
CHAPTER IV
Ah! how dark These long…extended realms and rueful wastes; Where nought but silence reigns; and night; dark night; Dark as was Chaos ere the Infant Sun Was rolled together; or had tried its beams Athwart the gloom profound! The sickly Taper By glimmering through thy low…browed misty vaults; Furred round with mouldy damps; and ropy slime; Lets fall a supernumerary horror; And only serves to make Thy night more irksome! Blair。
Returned undiscovered to the Abbey; Ambrosio's mind was filled with the most pleasing images。 He was wilfully blind to the danger of exposing himself to Antonia's charms: He only remembered the pleasure which her society had afforded him; and rejoiced in the prospect of that pleasure being repeated。 He failed not to profit by Elvira's indisposition to obtain a sight of her Daughter every day。 At first He bounded his wishes to inspire Antonia with friendship: But no sooner was He convinced that She felt that sentiment in its fullest extent; than his aim became more decided; and his attentions assumed a warmer colour。 The innocent familiarity with which She treated him; encouraged his desires: Grown used to her modesty; it no longer commanded the same respect and awe: He still admired it; but it only made him more anxious to deprive her of that quality which formed her principal charm。 Warmth of passion; and natural penetration; of which latter unfortunately both for himself and Antonia He possessed an ample share; supplied a knowledge of the arts of seduction。 He easily distinguished the emotions which were favourable to his designs; and seized every means with avidity of infusing corruption into Antonia's bosom。 This He found no easy matter。 Extreme simplicity prevented her from perceiving the aim to which the Monk's insinuations tended; But the excellent morals which She owed to Elvira's care; the solidity and correctness of her understanding; and a strong sense of what was right implanted in her heart by Nature; made her feel that his precepts must be faulty。 By a few simple words She frequently overthrew the whole bulk of his sophistical arguments; and made him conscious how weak they were when opposed to Virtue and Truth。 On such occasion He took refuge in his eloquence; He overpowered her with a torrent of Philosophical paradoxes; to which; not understanding them; it was impossible for her to reply; And thus though He did not convince her that his reasoning was just; He at least prevented her from discovering it to be false。 He perceived that her respect for his judgment augmented daily; and doubted not with time to bring her to the point desired。
He was not unconscious that his attempts were highly criminal: He saw clearly the baseness of seducing the innocent Girl: But his passion was too violent to permit his abandoning his design。 He resolved to pursue it; let the consequences be what they might。 He depended upon finding Antonia in some unguarded moment; And seeing no other Man admitted into her society; nor hearing any mentioned either by her or by Elvira; He imagined that her young heart was still unoccupied。 While He waited for the opportunity of satisfying his unwarrantable lust; every day increased his coldness for Matilda。 Not a little was this occasioned by the consciousness of his faults to her。 To hide them from her He was not sufficiently master of himself: Yet He dreaded lest; in a transport of jealous rage; She should betray the secret on which his character and even his life depended。 Matilda could not but remark his indifference: He was conscious that She remarked it; and fearing her reproaches; shunned her studiously。 Yet when He could not avoid her; her mildness might have convinced him that He had nothing to dread from her resentment。 She had resumed the character of the gentle interesting Rosario: She taxed him not with ingratitude; But her eyes filled with involuntary tears; and the soft melancholy of her countenance and voice uttered complaints far more touching than words could have conveyed。 Ambrosio was not unmoved by her sorrow; But unable to remove its cause; He forbore to show that it affected him。 As her conduct convinced him that He needed not fear her vengeance; He continued to neglect her; and avoided her company with care。 Matilda saw that She in vain attempted to regain his affections: Yet She stifled the impulse of resentment; and continued to treat her inconstant Lover wi