the monk(僧侣)-第66部分

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the　ground；　and　then　perceived　the　Pedestal　to　be　hollow；　and
covered　at　the　opening　with　an　heavy　iron　grate。

This　excited　such　general　curiosity　that　the　Sisters　forgot　both
their　real　and　imaginary　dangers。　　Lorenzo　proceeded　to　raise　the
Grate；　in　which　the　Nuns　assisted　him　to　the　utmost　of　their
strength。　　The　attempt　was　accomplished　with　little　difficulty。　
A　deep　abyss　now　presented　itself　before　them；　whose　thick
obscurity　the　eye　strove　in　vain　to　pierce。　　The　rays　of　the　Lamp
were　too　feeble　to　be　of　much　assistance。　　Nothing　was
discernible；　save　a　flight　of　rough　unshapen　steps　which　sank
into　the　yawning　Gulph　and　were　soon　lost　in　darkness。　　The
groans　were　heard　no　more；　But　All　believed　them　to　have　ascended
from　this　Cavern。　　As　He　bent　over　it；　Lorenzo　fancied　that　He
distinguished　something　bright　twinkling　through　the　gloom。　　He
gazed　attentively　upon　the　spot　where　it　showed　itself；　and　was
convinced　that　He　saw　a　small　spark　of　light；　now　visible；　now
disappearing。　　He　communicated　this　circumstance　to　the　Nuns：　
They　also　perceived　the　spark；　But　when　He　declared　his　intention
to　descend　into　the　Cave；　they　united　to　oppose　his　resolution。　
All　their　remonstrances　could　not　prevail　on　him　to　alter　it。　
None　of　them　had　courage　enough　to　accompany　him；　neither　could
He　think　of　depriving　them　of　the　Lamp。　Alone　therefore；　and　in
darkness；　He　prepared　to　pursue　his　design；　while　the　Nuns　were
contented　to　offer　up　prayers　for　his　success　and　safety。

The　steps　were　so　narrow　and　uneven；　that　to　descend　them　was
like　walking　down　the　side　of　a　precipice。　　The　obscurity　by
which　He　was　surrounded　rendered　his　footing　insecure。　　He　was
obliged　to　proceed　with　great　caution；　lest　He　should　miss　the
steps　and　fall　into　the　Gulph　below　him。　　This　He　was　several
times　on　the　point　of　doing。　　However；　He　arrived　sooner　upon
solid　ground　than　He　had　expected：　　He　now　found　that　the　thick
darkness　and　impenetrable　mists　which　reigned　through　the　Cavern
had　deceived　him　into　the　belief　of　its　being　much　more　profound
than　it　proved　upon　inspection。　　He　reached　the　foot　of　the
Stairs　unhurt：　　He　now　stopped；　and　looked　round　for　the　spark　
which　had　before　caught　his　attention。　　He　sought　it　in　vain：　All
was　dark　and　gloomy。　　He　listened　for　the　groans；　But　his　ear
caught　no　sound；　except　the　distant　murmur　of　the　Nuns　above；　as
in　low　voices　they　repeated　their　Ave…Marias。　　He　stood
irresolute　to　which　side　He　should　address　his　steps。　　At　all
events　He　determined　to　proceed：　　He　did　so；　but　slowly；　fearing
lest　instead　of　approaching；　He　should　be　retiring　from　the
object　of　his　search。　　The　groans　seemed　to　announce　one　in　pain；
or　at　least　in　sorrow；　and　He　hoped　to　have　the　power　of
relieving　the　Mourner's　calamities。　　A　plaintive　tone；　sounding
at　no　great　distance；　at　length　reached　his　hearing；　He　bent　his
course　joyfully　towards　it。　　It　became　more　audible　as　He
advanced；　and　He　soon　beheld　again　the　spark　of　light；　which　a
low　projecting　Wall　had　hitherto　concealed　from　him。

It　proceeded　from　a　small　Lamp　which　was　placed　upon　an　heap　of
stones；　and　whose　faint　and　melancholy　rays　served　rather　to
point　out；　than　dispell　the　horrors　of　a　narrow　gloomy　dungeon
formed　in　one　side　of　the　Cavern；　It　also　showed　several　other
recesses　of　similar　construction；　but　whose　depth　was　buried　in
obscurity。　　Coldly　played　the　light　upon　the　damp　walls；　whose
dew…stained　surface　gave　back　a　feeble　reflection。　　A　thick　and
pestilential　fog　clouded　the　height　of　the　vaulted　dungeon。　　As
Lorenzo　advanced；　He　felt　a　piercing　chillness　spread　itself
through　his　veins。　　The　frequent　groans　still　engaged　him　to　move
forwards。　　He　turned　towards　them；　and　by　the　Lamp's　glimmering
beams　beheld　in　a　corner　of　this　loathsome　abode；　a　Creature
stretched　upon　a　bed　of　straw；　so　wretched；　so　emaciated；　so
pale；　that　He　doubted　to　think　her　Woman。　　She　was　half…naked：　
Her　long　dishevelled　hair　fell　in　disorder　over　her　face；　and
almost　entirely　concealed　it。　　One　wasted　Arm　hung　listlessly
upon　a　tattered　rug　which　covered　her　convulsed　and　shivering
limbs：　　The　Other　was　wrapped　round　a　small　bundle；　and　held　it
closely　to　her　bosom。　　A　large　Rosary　lay　near　her：　　Opposite　to
her　was　a　Crucifix；　on　which　She　bent　her　sunk　eyes　fixedly；　and
by　her　side　stood　a　Basket　and　a　small　Earthen　Pitcher。

Lorenzo　stopped：　　He　was　petrified　with　horror。　　He　gazed　upon
the　miserable　Object　with　disgust　and　pity。　　He　trembled　at　the
spectacle；　He　grew　sick　at　heart：　His　strength　failed　him；　and
his　limbs　were　unable　to　support　his　weight。　　He　was　obliged　to
lean　against　the　low　Wall　which　was　near　him；　unable　to　go
forward；　or　to　address　the　Sufferer。　　She　cast　her　eyes　towards
the　Staircase：　　The　Wall　concealed　Lorenzo；　and　She　observed　him
not。

'No　one　comes！'　She　at　length　murmured。

As　She　spoke；　her　voice　was　hollow；　and　rattled　in　her　throat：　
She　sighed　bitterly。

'No　one　comes！'　She　repeated；　'No！　　They　have　forgotten　me！　　They
will　come　no　more！'

She　paused　for　a　moment：　　Then　continued　mournfully。

'Two　days！　　Two　long；　long　days；　and　yet　no　food！　　And　yet　no
hope；　no　comfort！　　Foolish　Woman！　　How　can　I　wish　to　lengthen　a
life　so　wretched！　　Yet　such　a　death！　　O！　God！　　To　perish　by　such
a　death！　　To　linger　out　such　ages　in　torture！　　Till　now；　I　knew
not　what　it　was　to　hunger！　　Hark！　　No。　　No　one　comes！　　They　will
come　no　more！'

She　was　silent。　　She　shivered；　and　drew　the　rug　over　her　naked
shoulders。

'I　am　very　cold！　　I　am　still　unused　to　the　damps　of　this　dungeon！

'Tis　strange：　　But　no　matter。　　Colder　shall　I　soon　be；　and　yet
not　feel　itI　shall　be　cold；　cold　as　Thou　art！'

She　looked　at　the　bundle　which　lay　upon　her　breast。　She　bent
over　it；　and　kissed　it：　　Then　drew　back　hastily；　and　shuddered
with　disgust。

'It　was　once　so　sweet！　　It　would　have　been　so　lovely；　so　like
him！　　I　have　lost　it　for　ever！　　How　a　few　days　have　changed　it！　
I　should　not　know　it　again　myself！　　Yet　it　is　dear　to　me！　　God！
how　dear！　　I　will　forget　what　it　is：　I　will　only　remember　what　it
was；　and　love　it　as　well；　as　when　it　was　so　sweet！　so　lovely！　so
like　him！　　I　thought　that　I　had　wept　away　all　my　tears；　but　here
is　one　still　lingering。'

She　wiped　her　eyes　with　a　tress　of　her　hair。　　She　put　out　her
hand　for　the　Pitcher；　and　reached　it　with　difficulty。　　She　cast
into　it　a　look　of　hopeless　enquiry。　　She　sighed；　and　replaced　it
upon　the　ground。

'Quite　a　void！　　Not　a　drop！　　Not　one　drop　left　to　cool　my
scorched…up　burning　palate！　　Now　would　I　give　treasures　for　a
draught　of　water！　　And　they　are　God's　Servants；　who　make　me
suffer　thus！　　They　think　themselves　holy；　while　they　torture　me
like　Fiends！　　They　are　cruel　and　unfeeling；　And　'tis　they　who　bid
me　repent；　And　'tis　they；　who　threaten　me　with　eternal　perdition！
Saviour；　Saviour！　You　think　not　so！'

She　again　fixed　her　eyes　upon　the　Crucifix；　took　her　Rosary；　and
while　She　told　her　beads；　the　quick　motion　of　her　lips　declared
her　to　be　praying　with　fervency。

While　He　listened　to　her　melancholy　accents；　Lorenzo's
sensibility　became　yet　more　violently　affected。　　The　first　sight
of　such　misery　had　given　a　sensible　shock　to　his　feelings：　　But
that　being　past；　He　now　advanced　towards　the　Captive。　　She　heard
his　steps；　and　uttering　a　cry　of　joy；　dropped　the　Rosary。

'Hark！　　Hark！　　Hark！'　She　cried：　　'Some　one　comes！'

She　strove　to　raise　herself；　but　her　strength　was　unequal　to　the
attempt：　　She　fell　back；　and　as　She　sank　again　upon　the　bed　of
straw；　Lorenzo　heard　the　rattling　of　heavy　chains。　　He　still
approached；　while　the　Prisoner　thus　continued。

'Is　it　you；　Camilla？　　You　are　come　then　at　last？　　Oh！　it　was
time！　　I　thought　that　you　had　forsaken　me；　that　I　was　doomed　to
perish　of　hunger。　　Give　me　to　drink；　Camilla；　for　pity's　sake！　　I
am　faint　with　long　fasting；　and　grown　so　weak　that　I　cannot　raise
myself　from　the　ground。　　Good　Camilla；　give　me　to　drink；　lest　I
expire　before　you！'

Fearing　that　surprize　in　her　enfeebled　state　might　be　fatal；
Lorenzo　was　at　a　loss　how　to　address　her。

'It　is　not　Camilla；'　said　He　at　length；　speaking　in　a　slow　and
gentle　voice。

'Who　is　it　then？'　replied　the　Sufferer：　　'Alix；　perhaps；　or
Violante。　　My　eyes　are　grown　so　dim　and　feeble　that　I　cannot
distinguish　your　features。　　But　whichever　it　is；　if　your　breast
is　sensible　of　the　least　compassion；　if　you　are　not　more　cruel
than　Wolves　and　Tigers；　take　pity　on　my　sufferings。　　You　know
that　I　am　dying　for　want　of　sustenance。　　This　is　the　third　day；
since　these　lips　have　received　nourishment。　　Do　you　bring　me
food？　　Or　come　you　only　to　announce　my　death；　and　learn　how　long
I　have　yet　to　exist　in　agony？'

'You　mistake　my　business；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'I　am　no　Emissary　of
the　cruel　Prioress。　　I　pity　your　sorrows；　and　come　hither　to
relieve　them。'

'To　relieve　them？'　repeated　the　Captive；　'Said　you；　to　relieve
them？'

At　the　same　time　starting　from　the　ground；　and　supporting　herself
upon　her　hands；　She　gazed　upon　the　Stranger　earnestly。

'Great　God！　　It　is　no　illusion！　　A　Man！　　Speak！　　Who　are　you？　
What　brings　you　hither？　　Come　you　to　save　me；　to　restore　me　to
liberty；　to　life　and　light？　　Oh！　speak；　speak　quickly；　lest　I
encourage　an　hope　whose　disappointment　will　destroy　me。'

'Be　calm！'　replied　Lorenzo　in　a　voice　soothing　and　compassionate；
'The　Domina　of　whose　cruelty　you　complain；　has　already　paid　the
forfeit　of　her　offences：　　You　have　nothing　more　to　fear　from　her。

A　few　minutes　will　restore　you　to　liberty；　and　the　embraces　of
your　Friends　from　whom　you　have　been　secluded。　　You　may　rely　upon
my　protection。　　Give　me　your　hand；　and　be　not　fearful。　Let　me
conduct　you　where　you　may　receive　those　attentions　which　your
feeble　state　requires。'

'Oh！　　Yes！　　Yes！　　Yes！'　cried　the　Prisoner　with　an　exulting
shriek；　'There　is　a　God　then；　and　a　just　one！　Joy！　　Joy！　　I　shall
once　more　breath　the　fresh　air；　and　view　the　light　of　the
glorious　sunbeams！　I　will　go　with　you！　Stranger；　I　will　go　with
you！　　Oh！　　Heaven　will　bless　you　for　pitying　an　Unfortunate！　　But
this　too　must　go　with　me；'　She　added　pointing　to　the　small
bundle　which　She　still　clasped　to　her