the monk(僧侣)-第15部分

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the　Grotto；　and　seated　themselves。　　Both　seemed　unwilling　to
begin　the　conversation；　and　to　labour　under　the　influence　of
mutual　embarrassment。　　At　length　the　Abbot　spoke：　　He　conversed
only　on　indifferent　topics；　and　Matilda　answered　him　in　the　same
tone。　　She　seemed　anxious　to　make　him　forget　that　the　Person　who
sat　by　him　was　any　other　than　Rosario。　　Neither　of　them　dared；　or
indeed　wished　to　make　an　allusion；　to　the　subject　which　was　most
at　the　hearts　of　both。

Matilda's　efforts　to　appear　gay　were　evidently　forced：　Her
spirits　were　oppressed　by　the　weight　of　anxiety；　and　when　She
spoke　her　voice　was　low　and　feeble。　　She　seemed　desirous　of
finishing　a　conversation　which　embarrassed　her；　and　complaining
that　She　was　unwell；　She　requested　Ambrosio's　permission　to
return　to　the　Abbey。　　He　accompanied　her　to　the　door　of　her　cell；
and　when　arrived　there；　He　stopped　her　to　declare　his　consent　to
her　continuing　the　Partner　of　his　solitude　so　long　as　should　be
agreeable　to　herself。

She　discovered　no　marks　of　pleasure　at　receiving　this
intelligence；　though　on　the　preceding　day　She　had　been　so　anxious
to　obtain　the　permission。

'Alas！　Father；'　She　said；　waving　her　head　mournfully；　'Your
kindness　comes　too　late！　　My　doom　is　fixed。　　We　must　separate　for
ever。　　Yet　believe；　that　I　am　grateful　for　your　generosity；　for
your　compassion　of　an　Unfortunate　who　is　but　too　little　deserving
of　it！'

She　put　her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes。　　Her　Cowl　was　only　half
drawn　over　her　face。　　Ambrosio　observed　that　She　was　pale；　and
her　eyes　sunk　and　heavy。

'Good　God！'　He　cried；　'You　are　very　ill；　Matilda！　I　shall　send
Father　Pablos　to　you　instantly。'

'No；　Do　not。　　I　am　ill；　'tis　true；　But　He　cannot　cure　my　malady。　
Farewell；　Father！　　Remember　me　in　your　prayers　tomorrow；　while　I
shall　remember　you　in　heaven！'

She　entered　her　cell；　and　closed　the　door。

The　Abbot　dispatched　to　her　the　Physician　without　losing　a
moment；　and　waited　his　report　impatiently。　　But　Father　Pablos
soon　returned；　and　declared　that　his　errand　had　been　fruitless。　
Rosario　refused　to　admit　him；　and　had　positively　rejected　his
offers　of　assistance。　　The　uneasiness　which　this　account　gave
Ambrosio　was　not　trifling：　　Yet　He　determined　that　Matilda　should
have　her　own　way　for　that　night：　　But　that　if　her　situation　did
not　mend　by　the　morning；　he　would　insist　upon　her　taking　the
advice　of　Father　Pablos。

He　did　not　find　himself　inclined　to　sleep。　　He　opened　his
casement；　and　gazed　upon　the　moonbeams　as　they　played　upon　the
small　stream　whose　waters　bathed　the　walls　of　the　Monastery。　　The
coolness　of　the　night　breeze　and　tranquillity　of　the　hour
inspired　the　Friar's　mind　with　sadness。　　He　thought　upon
Matilda's　beauty　and　affection；　Upon　the　pleasures　which　He　might
have　shared　with　her；　had　He　not　been　restrained　by　monastic　
fetters。　　He　reflected；　that　unsustained　by　hope　her　love　for　him
could　not　long　exist；　That　doubtless　She　would　succeed　in
extinguishing　her　passion；　and　seek　for　happiness　in　the　arms　of
One　more　fortunate。　　He　shuddered　at　the　void　which　her　absence
would　leave　in　his　bosom。　　He　looked　with　disgust　on　the　monotony
of　a　Convent；　and　breathed　a　sigh　towards　that　world　from　which
He　was　for　ever　separated。　　Such　were　the　reflections　which　a
loud　knocking　at　his　door　interrupted。　　The　Bell　of　the　Church
had　already　struck　Two。　　The　Abbot　hastened　to　enquire　the　cause
of　this　disturbance。　　He　opened　the　door　of　his　Cell；　and　a
Lay…Brother　entered；　whose　looks　declared　his　hurry　and
confusion。

'Hasten；　reverend　Father！'　said　He；　'Hasten　to　the　young　Rosario。

He　earnestly　requests　to　see　you；　He　lies　at　the　point　of　death。'

'Gracious　God！　　Where　is　Father　Pablos？　　Why　is　He　not　with　him？　
Oh！　I　fear！　I　fear！'

'Father　Pablos　has　seen　him；　but　his　art　can　do　nothing。　　He
says　that　He　suspects　the　Youth　to　be　poisoned。'

'Poisoned？　　Oh！　　The　Unfortunate！　　It　is　then　as　I　suspected！　
But　let　me　not　lose　a　moment；　Perhaps　it　may　yet　be　time　to　save
her！'

He　said；　and　flew　towards　the　Cell　of　the　Novice。　　Several　Monks
were　already　in　the　chamber。　　Father　Pablos　was　one　of　them；　and
held　a　medicine　in　his　hand　which　He　was　endeavouring　to
persuade　Rosario　to　swallow。　　The　Others　were　employed　in
admiring　the　Patient's　divine　countenance；　which　They　now　saw　for
the　first　time。　　She　looked　lovelier　than　ever。　　She　was　no
longer　pale　or　languid；　A　bright　glow　had　spread　itself　over　her
cheeks；　her　eyes　sparkled　with　a　serene　delight；　and　her
countenance　was　expressive　of　confidence　and　resignation。

'Oh！　torment　me　no　more！'　was　She　saying　to　Pablos；　when　the
terrified　Abbot　rushed　hastily　into　the　Cell；　'My　disease　is　far
beyond　the　reach　of　your　skill；　and　I　wish　not　to　be　cured　of
it'Then　perceiving　Ambrosio；　'Ah！　'tis　He！'　She　cried；　'I　see
him　once　again；　before　we　part　for　ever！　　Leave　me；　my　Brethren；
Much　have　I　to　tell　this　holy　Man　in　private。'

The　Monks　retired　immediately；　and　Matilda　and　the　Abbot　remained
together。

'What　have　you　done；　imprudent　Woman！'　exclaimed　the　Latter；　as
soon　as　they　were　left　alone；　'Tell　me；　Are　my　suspicions　just？　
Am　I　indeed　to　lose　you？　　Has　your　own　hand　been　the　instrument
of　your　destruction？'

She　smiled；　and　grasped　his　hand。

'In　what　have　I　been　imprudent；　Father？　　I　have　sacrificed　a
pebble；　and　saved　a　diamond：　　My　death　preserves　a　life　valuable
to　the　world；　and　more　dear　to　me　than　my　own。　　Yes；　Father；　I　am
poisoned；　But　know　that　the　poison　once　circulated　in　your
veins。'

'Matilda！'

'What　I　tell　you　I　resolved　never　to　discover　to　you　but　on　the
bed　of　death：　　That　moment　is　now　arrived。　You　cannot　have
forgotten　the　day　already；　when　your　life　was　endangered　by　the
bite　of　a　Cientipedoro。　　The　Physician　gave　you　over；　declaring
himself　ignorant　how　to　extract　the　venom：　　I　knew　but　of　one
means；　and　hesitated　not　a　moment　to　employ　it。　　I　was　left　alone
with　you：　　You　slept；　I　loosened　the　bandage　from　your　hand；　I
kissed　the　wound；　and　drew　out　the　poison　with　my　lips。　　The
effect　has　been　more　sudden　than　I　expected。　　I　feel　death　at　my
heart；　Yet　an　hour；　and　I　shall　be　in　a　better　world。'

'Almighty　God！'　exclaimed　the　Abbot；　and　sank　almost　lifeless
upon　the　Bed。

After　a　few　minutes　He　again　raised　himself　up　suddenly；　and
gazed　upon　Matilda　with　all　the　wildness　of　despair。

'And　you　have　sacrificed　yourself　for　me！　　You　die；　and　die　to
preserve　Ambrosio！　　And　is　there　indeed　no　remedy；　Matilda？　　And
is　there　indeed　no　hope？　　Speak　to　me；　Oh！　　speak　to　me！　　Tell
me；　that　you　have　still　the　means　of　life！'

'Be　comforted；　my　only　Friend！　　Yes；　I　have　still　the　means　of
life　in　my　power：　　But　'tis　a　means　which　I　dare　not　employ。　　It
is　dangerous！　　It　is　dreadful！　　Life　would　be　purchased　at　too
dear　a　rate；　。　。　。　unless　it　were　permitted　me　to　live　for　you。'

'Then　live　for　me；　Matilda；　for　me　and　gratitude！'　（He　caught
her　hand；　and　pressed　it　rapturously　to　his　lips。）'Remember　our
late　conversations；　I　now　consent　to　every　thing：　　Remember　in
what　lively　colours　you　described　the　union　of　souls；　Be　it　ours
to　realize　those　ideas。　　Let　us　forget　the　distinctions　of　sex；
despise　the　world's　prejudices；　and　only　consider　each　other　as
Brother　and　Friend。　　Live　then；　Matilda！　　Oh！　live　for　me！'

'Ambrosio；　it　must　not　be。　　When　I　thought　thus；　I　deceived　both
you　and　myself。　　Either　I　must　die　at　present；　or　expire　by　the
lingering　torments　of　unsatisfied　desire。　　Oh！　since　we　last
conversed　together；　a　dreadful　veil　has　been　rent　from　before　my
eyes。　　I　love　you　no　longer　with　the　devotion　which　is　paid　to　a
Saint：　　I　prize　you　no　more　for　the　virtues　of　your　soul；　I　lust
for　the　enjoyment　of　your　person。　　The　Woman　reigns　in　my　bosom；
and　I　am　become　a　prey　to　the　wildest　of　passions。　　Away　with
friendship！　'tis　a　cold　unfeeling　word。　　My　bosom　burns　with
love；　with　unutterable　love；　and　love　must　be　its　return。　
Tremble　then；　Ambrosio；　tremble　to　succeed　in　your　prayers。　　If　I
live；　your　truth；　your　reputation；　your　reward　of　a　life　past　in
sufferings；　all　that　you　value　is　irretrievably　lost。　　I　shall　no
longer　be　able　to　combat　my　passions；　shall　seize　every
opportunity　to　excite　your　desires；　and　labour　to　effect　your
dishonour　and　my　own。　　No；　no；　Ambrosio；　I　must　not　live！　　I　am
convinced　with　every　moment；　that　I　have　but　one　alternative；　I
feel　with　every　heart…throb；　that　I　must　enjoy　you；　or　die。'

'Amazement！Matilda！　Can　it　be　you　who　speak　to　me？'

He　made　a　movement　as　if　to　quit　his　seat。　　She　uttered　a　loud
shriek；　and　raising　herself　half　out　of　the　Bed；　threw　her　arms
round　the　Friar　to　detain　him。

'Oh！　do　not　leave　me！　　Listen　to　my　errors　with　compassion！　　In　a
few　hours　I　shall　be　no　more；　Yet　a　little；　and　I　am　free　from
this　disgraceful　passion。'

'Wretched　Woman；　what　can　I　say　to　you！　　I　cannot　。　。　。　I　must
not　。　。　。　But　live；　Matilda！　　Oh！　live！'

'You　do　not　reflect　on　what　you　ask。　　What？　　Live　to　plunge
myself　in　infamy？　　To　become　the　Agent　of　Hell？　　To　work　the
destruction　both　of　you　and　of　Myself？　Feel　this　heart；　Father！'

She　took　his　hand：　　Confused；　embarrassed；　and　fascinated；　He
withdrew　it　not；　and　felt　her　heart　throb　under　it。

'Feel　this　heart；　Father！　　It　is　yet　the　seat　of　honour；　truth；
and　chastity：　　If　it　beats　tomorrow；　it　must　fall　a　prey　to　the
blackest　crimes。　　Oh！　let　me　then　die　today！　　Let　me　die；　while
I　yet　deserve　the　tears　of　the　virtuous！　　Thus　will
expire！'（She　reclined　her　head　upon　his　shoulder；　Her　golden
Hair　poured　itself　over　his　Chest。）　'Folded　in　your　arms；　I
shall　sink　to　sleep；　Your　hand　shall　close　my　eyes　for　ever；　and
your　lips　receive　my　dying　breath。　　And　will　you　not　sometimes
think　of　me？　　Will　you　not　sometimes　shed　a　tear　upon　my　Tomb？　
Oh！　　Yes！　　Yes！　　Yes！　　That　kiss　is　my　assurance！'

The　hour　was　night。　　All　was　silence　around。　　The　faint　beams　of
a　solitary　Lamp　darted　upon　Matilda's　figure；　and　shed　through
the　chamber　a　dim　mysterious　light。　　No　prying　eye；　or　curious
ear　was　near　the　Lovers：　Nothing　was　heard　but　Matilda's
melodious　accents。　　Ambrosio　was　in　the　full　vigour　of　Manhood。　
He　saw　before　him　a　young　and　beautiful