the monk(僧侣)-第75部分

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exercise　my　limbs　in　the　narrow　limits；　to　which　the　length　of　my
chain　permitted　me　to　move。　　Though　exhausted；　faint；　and　weary；
I　trembled　to　profit　by　the　approach　of　Sleep：　　My　slumbers　were
constantly　interrupted　by　some　obnoxious　Insect　crawling　over　me。

Sometimes　I　felt　the　bloated　Toad；　hideous　and　pampered　with　the
poisonous　vapours　of　the　dungeon；　dragging　his　loathsome　length
along　my　bosom：　　Sometimes　the　quick　cold　Lizard　rouzed　me
leaving　his　slimy　track　upon　my　face；　and　entangling　itself　in
the　tresses　of　my　wild　and　matted　hair：　　Often　have　I　at　waking
found　my　fingers　ringed　with　the　long　worms　which　bred　in　the
corrupted　flesh　of　my　Infant。　　At　such　times　I　shrieked　with
terror　and　disgust；　and　while　I　shook　off　the　reptile；　trembled
with　all　a　Woman's　weakness。

Such　was　my　situation；　when　Camilla　was　suddenly　taken　ill。　　A
dangerous　fever；　supposed　to　be　infectious；　confined　her　to　her
bed。　　Every　one　except　the　Lay…Sister　appointed　to　nurse　her；
avoided　her　with　caution；　and　feared　to　catch　the　disease。　　She
was　perfectly　delirious；　and　by　no　means　capable　of　attending　to
me。　　The　Domina　and　the　Nuns　admitted　to　the　mystery；　had
latterly　given　me　over　entirely　to　Camilla's　care：　　In
consequence；　they　busied　themselves　no　more　about　me；　and
occupied　by　preparing　for　the　approaching　Festival；　it　is　more
than　probable　that　I　never　once　entered　into　their　thoughts。　　Of
the　reason　of　Camilla's　negligence；　I　have　been　informed　since　my
release　by　the　Mother　St。　Ursula；　At　that　time　I　was　very　far
from　suspecting　its　cause。　　On　the　contrary；　I　waited　for　my
Gaoler's　appearance　at　first　with　impatience；　and　afterwards　with
despair。　One　day　passed　away；　Another　followed　it；　The　Third
arrived。　　Still　no　Camilla！　　Still　no　food！　　I　knew　the　lapse　of
time　by　the　wasting　of　my　Lamp；　to　supply　which　fortunately　a
week's　supply　of　Oil　had　been　left　me。　　I　supposed；　either　that
the　Nuns　had　forgotten　me；　or　that　the　Domina　had　ordered　them　to
let　me　perish。　　The　latter　idea　seemed　the　most　probable；　Yet　so
natural　is　the　love　of　life；　that　I　trembled　to　find　it　true。　
Though　embittered　by　every　species　of　misery；　my　existence　was
still　dear　to　me；　and　I　dreaded　to　lose　it。　　Every　succeeding
minute　proved　to　me　that　I　must　abandon　all　hopes　of　relief。　　I
was　become　an　absolute　skeleton：　　My　eyes　already　failed　me；　and

my　limbs　were　beginning　to　stiffen。　　I　could　only　express　my
anguish；　and　the　pangs　of　that　hunger　which　gnawed　my
heart…strings；　by　frequent　groans；　whose　melancholy　sound　the
vaulted　roof　of　the　dungeon　re…echoed。　　I　resigned　myself　to　my
fate：　　I　already　expected　the　moment　of　dissolution；　when　my
Guardian　Angel；　when　my　beloved　Brother　arrived　in　time　to　save
me。　　My　sight　grown　dim　and　feeble　at　first　refused　to　recognize
him；　and　when　I　did　distinguish　his　features；　the　sudden　burst　of
rapture　was　too　much　for　me　to　bear。　　I　was　overpowered　by　the
swell　of　joy　at　once　more　beholding　a　Friend；　and　that　a　Friend
so　dear　to　me。　　Nature　could　not　support　my　emotions；　and　took
her　refuge　in　insensibility。

You　already　know；　what　are　my　obligations　to　the　Family　of
Villa…Franca：　　But　what　you　cannot　know　is　the　extent　of　my
gratitude；　boundless　as　the　excellence　of　my　Benefactors。　
Lorenzo！　　Raymond！　　Names　so　dear　to　me！　　Teach　me　to　bear　with
fortitude　this　sudden　transition　from　misery　to　bliss。　　So　lately
a　Captive；　opprest　with　chains；　perishing　with　hunger；　suffering
every　in　convenience　of　cold　and　want；　hidden　from　the　light；
excluded　from　society；　hopeless；　neglected；　and　as　I　feared；
forgotten；　Now　restored　to　life　and　liberty；　enjoying　all　the
comforts　of　affluence　and　ease；　surrounded　by　those　who　are　most
loved　by　me；　and　on　the　point　of　becoming　his　Bride　who　has　long
been　wedded　to　my　heart；　my　happiness　is　so　exquisite；　so
perfect；　that　scarcely　can　my　brain　sustain　the　weight。　　One　only
wish　remains　ungratified：　　It　is　to　see　my　Brother　in　his　former
health；　and　to　know　that　Antonia's　memory　is　buried　in　her　grave。

Granted　this　prayer；　I　have　nothing　more　to　desire。　　I　trust；
that　my　past　sufferings　have　purchased　from　heaven　the　pardon　of
my　momentary　weakness。　That　I　have　offended；　offended　greatly　and
grievously；　I　am　fully　conscious；　But　let　not　my　Husband；　because
He　once　conquered　my　virtue；　doubt　the　propriety　of　my　future
conduct。　　I　have　been　frail　and　full　of　error：　　But　I　yielded　not
to　the　　warmth　of　constitution；　Raymond；　affection　for　you
betrayed　me。　　I　was　too　confident　of　my　strength；　But　I　depended
no　less　on　your　honour　than　my　own。　　I　had　vowed　never　to　see　you
more：　　Had　it　not　been　for　the　consequences　of　that　unguarded
moment；　my　resolution　had　been　kept。　　Fate　willed　it　otherwise；
and　I　cannot　but　rejoice　at　its　decree。　　Still　my　conduct　has
been　highly　blameable；　and　while　I　attempt　to　justify　myself；　I
blush　at　recollecting　my　imprudence。　　Let　me　then　dismiss　the
ungrateful　subject；　First　assuring　you；　Raymond；　that　you　shall
have　no　cause　to　repent　our　union；　and　that　the　more　culpable
have　been　the　errors　of　your　Mistress；　the　more　exemplary　shall
be　the　conduct　of　your　Wife。

Here　Agnes　ceased；　and　the　Marquis　replied　to　her　address　in
terms　equally　sincere　and　affectionate。　Lorenzo　expressed　his
satisfaction　at　the　prospect　of　being　so　closely　connected　with　a
Man　for　whom　He　had　ever　entertained　the　highest　esteem。　　The
Pope's　Bull　had　fully　and　effectually　released　Agnes　from　her
religious　engagements：　　The　marriage　was　therefore　celebrated　as
soon　as　the　needful　preparations　had　been　made；　for　the　Marquis
wished　to　have　the　ceremony　performed　with　all　possible　splendour
and　publicity。　　This　being　over；　and　the　Bride　having　received
the　compliments　of　Madrid；　She　departed　with　Don　Raymond　for　his
Castle　in　Andalusia：　　Lorenzo　accompanied　them；　as　did　also　the
Marchioness　de　Villa…Franca　and　her　lovely　Daughter。　　It　is
needless　to　say　that　Theodore　was　of　the　party；　and　would　be
impossible　to　describe　his　joy　at　his　Master's　marriage。　
Previous　to　his　departure；　the　Marquis；　to　atone　in　some　measure
for　his　past　neglect；　made　some　enquiries　relative　to　Elvira。　
Finding　that　She　as　well　as　her　Daughter　had　received　many
services　from　Leonella　and　Jacintha；　He　showed　his　respect　to　the
memory　of　his　Sister…in…law　by　making　the　two　Women　handsome
presents。　　Lorenzo　followed　his　exampleLeonella　was　highly
flattered　by　the　attentions　of　Noblemen　so　distinguished；　and
Jacintha　blessed　the　hour　on　which　her　House　was　bewitched。

On　her　side；　Agnes　failed　not　to　reward　her　Convent　Friends。　
The　worthy　Mother　St。　Ursula；　to　whom　She　owed　her　liberty；　was
named　at　her　request　Superintendent　of　'The　Ladies　of　Charity：'　
This　was　one　of　the　best　and　most　opulent　Societies　throughout
Spain。　　Bertha　and　Cornelia　not　choosing　to　quit　their　Friend；
were　appointed　to　principal　charges　in　the　same　establishment。　
As　to　the　Nuns　who　had　aided　the　Domina　in　persecuting　Agnes；
Camilla　being　confined　by　illness　to　her　bed；　had　perished　in　the
flames　which　consumed　St。　Clare's　Convent。　　Mariana；　Alix；　and
Violante；　as　well　as　two　more；　had　fallen　victims　to　the　popular
rage。　　The　three　Others　who　in　Council　had　supported　the　Domina's
sentence；　were　severely　reprimanded；　and　banished　to　religious
Houses　in　obscure　and　distant　Provinces：　　Here　they　languished
away　a　few　years；　ashamed　of　their　former　weakness；　and　shunned
by　their　Companions　with　aversion　and　contempt。

Nor　was　the　fidelity　of　Flora　permitted　to　go　unrewarded。　Her
wishes　being　consulted；　She　declared　herself　impatient　to　revisit
her　native　land。　　In　consequence；　a　passage　was　procured　for　her
to　Cuba；　where　She　arrived　in　safety；　loaded　with　the　presents　of
Raymond　and　Lorenzo。

The　debts　of　gratitude　discharged；　Agnes　was　at　liberty　to　pursue
her　favourite　plan。　　Lodged　in　the　same　House；　Lorenzo　and
Virginia　were　eternally　together。　The　more　He　saw　of　her；　the
more　was　He　convinced　of　her　merit。　　On　her　part；　She　laid
herself　out　to　please；　and　not　to　succeed　was　for　her　impossible。

Lorenzo　witnessed　with　admiration　her　beautiful　person；　elegant
manners；　innumerable　talents；　and　sweet　disposition：　　He　was　also
much　flattered　by　her　prejudice　in　his　favour；　which　She　had　not
sufficient　art　to　conceal。　　However；　his　sentiments　partook　not
of　that　ardent　character　which　had　marked　his　affection　for
Antonia。　　The　image　of　that　lovely　and　unfortunate　Girl　still
lived　in　his　heart；　and　baffled　all　Virginia's　efforts　to
displace　it。　　Still　when　the　Duke　proposed　to　him　the　match；
which　He　wished　to　earnestly　to　take　place；　his　Nephew　did　not
reject　the　offer。　　The　urgent　supplications　of　his　Friends；　and
the　Lady's　merit　conquered　his　repugnance　to　entering　into　new
engagements。　He　proposed　himself　to　the　Marquis　de　Villa…　Franca；
and　was　accepted　with　joy　and　gratitude。　　Virginia　became　his
Wife；　nor　did　She　ever　give　him　cause　to　repent　his　choice。　　His
esteem　increased　for　her　daily。　　Her　unremitted　endeavours　to
please　him　could　not　but　succeed。　　His　affection　assumed　stronger
and　warmer　colours。　　Antonia's　image　was　gradually　effaced　from
his　bosom；　and　Virginia　became　sole　Mistress　of　that　heart；　which
She　well　deserved　to　possess　without　a　Partner。

The　remaining　years　of　Raymond　and　Agnes；　of　Lorenzo　and
Virginia；　were　happy　as　can　be　those　allotted　to　Mortals；　born　to
be　the　prey　of　grief；　and　sport　of　disappointment。　　The　exquisite
sorrows　with　which　they　had　been　afflicted；　made　them　think
lightly　of　every　succeeding　woe。　　They　had　felt　the　sharpest
darts　in　misfortune's　quiver；　Those　which　remained　appeared　blunt
in　comparison。　　Having　weathered　Fate's　heaviest　Storms；　they
looked　calmly　upon　its　terrors：　or　if　ever　they　felt　Affliction's
casual　gales；　they　seemed　to　them　gentle　as　Zephyrs　which
breathe　over　summer…seas。


　CHAPTER　V

　He　was　a　fell　despightful　Fiend：　　
Hell　holds　none　worse　in　baleful　bower　below：　　
By　pride；　and　wit；　and　rage；　and　rancor　keened；　　
Of　Man　alike；　if　good　or　bad　the　Foe。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　Thomson。　

On　the　day　following　Antonia's　death；　all　Madrid　was　a　scene　of
consternation　and　amazement。　　An　Archer