the monk(僧侣)-第79部分

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The　Contract　and　the　bloody　Pen　still　lay　upon　the　Table。　
Ambrosio　drew　near　it。　　He　prepared　to　sign　his　name。　　A　moment's
reflection　made　him　hesitate。

'Hark！'　cried　the　Tempter；　'They　come！　　Be　quick！　Sign　the
Parchment；　and　I　bear　you　from　hence　this　moment。'

In　effect；　the　Archers　were　heard　approaching；　appointed　to　lead
Ambrosio　to　the　Stake。　　The　sound　encouraged　the　Monk　in　his
resolution。

'What　is　the　import　of　this　writing？'　said　He。

'It　makes　your　soul　over　to　me　for　ever；　and　without　reserve。'

'What　am　I　to　receive　in　exchange？'

'My　protection；　and　release　from　this　dungeon。　　Sign　it；　and　this
instant　I　bear　you　away。'

Ambrosio　took　up　the　Pen；　He　set　it　to　the　Parchment。　Again　his
courage　failed　him：　　He　felt　a　pang　of　terror　at　his　heart；　and
once　more　threw　the　Pen　upon　the　Table。

'Weak　and　Puerile！'　cried　the　exasperated　Fiend：　'Away　with　this
folly！　　Sign　the　writing　this　instant；　or　I　sacrifice　you　to　my
rage！'

At　this　moment　the　bolt　of　the　outward　Door　was　drawn　back。　　The
Prisoner　heard　the　rattling　of　Chains；　The　heavy　Bar　fell；　The
Archers　were　on　the　point　of　entering。　　Worked　up　to　phrenzy　by
the　urgent　danger；　shrinking　from　the　approach　of　death；
terrified　by　the　Daemon's　threats；　and　seeing　no　other　means　to
escape　destruction；　the　wretched　Monk　complied。　　He　signed　the
fatal　contract；　and　gave　it　hastily　into　the　evil　Spirit's　hands；
whose　eyes；　as　He　received　the　gift；　glared　with　malicious
rapture。

'Take　it！'　said　the　God…abandoned；　'Now　then　save　me！　　Snatch　me
from　hence！'

'Hold！　　Do　you　freely　and　absolutely　renounce　your　Creator　and
his　Son？'

'I　do！　I　do！'

'Do　you　make　over　your　soul　to　me　for　ever？'

'For　ever！'

'Without　reserve　or　subterfuge？　　Without　future　appeal　to　the
divine　mercy？'

The　last　Chain　fell　from　the　door　of　the　prison：　　The　key　was
heard　turning　in　the　Lock：　　Already　the　iron　door　grated　heavily
upon　its　rusty　hinges。

'I　am　yours　for　ever　and　irrevocably！'　cried　the　Monk　wild　with
terror：　　'I　abandon　all　claim　to　salvation！　　I　own　no　power　but
yours！　　Hark！　Hark！　　They　come！　　Oh！　save　me！　　Bear　me　away！'

'I　have　triumphed！　　You　are　mine　past　reprieve；　and　I　fulfil　my
promise。'

While　He　spoke；　the　Door　unclosed。　　Instantly　the　Daemon　grasped
one　of　Ambrosio's　arms；　spread　his　broad　pinions；　and　sprang　with
him　into　the　air。　　The　roof　opened　as　they　soared　upwards；　and
closed　again　when　they　had　quitted　the　Dungeon。

In　the　meanwhile；　the　Gaoler　was　thrown　into　the　utmost　surprize
by　the　disappearance　of　his　Prisoner。　　Though　neither　He　nor　the
Archers　were　in　time　to　witness　the　Monk's　escape；　a　sulphurous
smell　prevailing　through　the　prison　sufficiently　informed　them　by
whose　aid　He　had　been　liberated。　　They　hastened　to　make　their
report　to　the　Grand　Inquisitor。　　The　story；　how　a　Sorcerer　had
been　carried　away　by　the　Devil；　was　soon　noised　about　Madrid；　and
for　some　days　the　whole　City　was　employed　in　discussing　the
subject。　　Gradually　it　ceased　to　be　the　topic　of　conversation：　
Other　adventures　arose　whose　novelty　engaged　universal　attention；
and　Ambrosio　was　soon　forgotten　as　totally；　as　if　He　never　had
existed。　　While　this　was　passing；　the　Monk　supported　by　his
infernal　guide；　traversed　the　air　with　the　rapidity　of　an　arrow；
and　a　few　moments　placed　him　upon　a　Precipice's　brink；　the
steepest　in　Sierra　Morena。

Though　rescued　from　the　Inquisition；　Ambrosio　as　yet　was
insensible　of　the　blessings　of　liberty。　　The　damning　contract
weighed　heavy　upon　his　mind；　and　the　scenes　in　which　He　had　been
a　principal　actor　had　left　behind　them　such　impressions　as
rendered　his　heart　the　seat　of　anarchy　and　confusion。　　The
Objects　now　before　his　eyes；　and　which　the　full　Moon　sailing
through　clouds　permitted　him　to　examine；　were　ill…calculated　to
inspire　that　calm；　of　which　He　stood　so　much　in　need。　　The
disorder　of　his　imagination　was　increased　by　the　wildness　of　the
surrounding　scenery；　By　the　gloomy　Caverns　and　steep　rocks；
rising　above　each　other；　and　dividing　the　passing　clouds；
solitary　clusters　of　Trees　scattered　here　and　there；　among　whose
thick…twined　branches　the　wind　of　night　sighed　hoarsely　and
mournfully；　the　shrill　cry　of　mountain　Eagles；　who　had　built
their　nests　among　these　lonely　Desarts；　the　stunning　roar　of
torrents；　as　swelled　by　late　rains　they　rushed　violently　down
tremendous　precipices；　and　the　dark　waters　of　a　silent　sluggish
stream　which　faintly　reflected　the　moonbeams；　and　bathed　the
Rock's　base　on　which　Ambrosio　stood。　　The　Abbot　cast　round　him　a
look　of　terror。　　His　infernal　Conductor　was　still　by　his　side；
and　eyed　him　with　a　look　of　mingled　malice；　exultation；　and
contempt。

'Whither　have　you　brought　me？'　said　the　Monk　at　length　in　an
hollow　trembling　voice：　　'Why　am　I　placed　in　this　melancholy
scene？　　Bear　me　from　it　quickly！　　Carry　me　to　Matilda！'

The　Fiend　replied　not；　but　continued　to　gaze　upon　him　in　silence。

Ambrosio　could　not　sustain　his　glance；　He　turned　away　his　eyes；
while　thus　spoke　the　Daemon：

'I　have　him　then　in　my　power！　　This　model　of　piety！　　This　being
without　reproach！　　This　Mortal　who　placed　his　puny　virtues　on　a
level　with　those　of　Angels。　　He　is　mine！　　Irrevocably；　eternally
mine！　　Companions　of　my　sufferings！　　Denizens　of　hell！　　How
grateful　will　be　my　present！'

He　paused；　then　addressed　himself　to　the　Monk

'Carry　you　to　Matilda？'　He　continued；　repeating　Ambrosio's　words：

'Wretch！　you　shall　soon　be　with　her！　You　well　deserve　a　place
near　her；　for　hell　boasts　no　miscreant　more　guilty　than　yourself。

Hark；　Ambrosio；　while　I　unveil　your　crimes！　　You　have　shed　the
blood　of　two　innocents；　Antonia　and　Elvira　perished　by　your　hand。
That　Antonia　whom　you　violated；　was　your　Sister！　That　Elvira　whom
you　murdered；　gave　you　birth！　Tremble；　abandoned　Hypocrite！　
Inhuman　Parricide！　Incestuous　Ravisher！　　Tremble　at　the　extent　of
your　offences！　　And　you　it　was　who　thought　yourself　proof　against
temptation；　absolved　from　human　frailties；　and　free　from　error
and　vice！　　Is　pride　then　a　virtue？　　Is　inhumanity　no　fault？　
Know；　vain　Man！　　That　I　long　have　marked　you　for　my　prey：　　I
watched　the　movements　of　your　heart；　I　saw　that　you　were　virtuous
from　vanity；　not　principle；　and　I　seized　the　fit　moment　of
seduction。　　I　observed　your　blind　idolatry　of　the　Madona's
picture。　　I　bad　a　subordinate　but　crafty　spirit　assume　a　similar
form；　and　you　eagerly　yielded　to　the　blandishments　of　Matilda。　
Your　pride　was　gratified　by　her　flattery；　Your　lust　only　needed
an　opportunity　to　break　forth；　You　ran　into　the　snare　blindly；
and　scrupled　not　to　commit　a　crime　which　you　blamed　in　another
with　unfeeling　severity。　　It　was　I　who　threw　Matilda　in　your　way；
It　was　I　who　gave　you　entrance　to　Antonia's　chamber；　It　was　I　who
caused　the　dagger　to　be　given　you　which　pierced　your　Sister's
bosom；　and　it　was　I　who　warned　Elvira　in　dreams　of　your　designs
upon　her　Daughter；　and　thus；　by　preventing　your　profiting　by　her
sleep；　compelled　you　to　add　rape　as　well　as　incest　to　the
catalogue　of　your　crimes。　　Hear；　hear；　Ambrosio！　　Had　you
resisted　me　one　minute　longer；　you　had　saved　your　body　and　soul。　
The　guards　whom　you　heard　at　your　prison　door　came　to　signify
your　pardon。　　But　I　had　already　triumphed：　　My　plots　had　already
succeeded。　　Scarcely　could　I　propose　crimes　so　quick　as　you
performed　them。　　You　are　mine；　and　Heaven　itself　cannot　rescue
you　from　my　power。　　Hope　not　that　your　penitence　will　make　void
our　contract。　Here　is　your　bond　signed　with　your　blood；　You　have
given　up　your　claim　to　mercy；　and　nothing　can　restore　to　you　the
rights　which　you　have　foolishly　resigned。　　Believe　you　that　your
secret　thoughts　escaped　me？　　No；　no；　I　read　them　all！　　You
trusted　that　you　should　still　have　time　for　repentance。　　I　saw
your　artifice；　knew　its　falsity；　and　rejoiced　in　deceiving　the
deceiver！　　You　are　mine　beyond　reprieve：　　I　burn　to　possess　my
right；　and　alive　you　quit　not　these　mountains。'

During　the　Daemon's　speech；　Ambrosio　had　been　stupefied　by　terror
and　surprize。　　This　last　declaration　rouzed　him。

'Not　quit　these　mountains　alive？'　He　exclaimed：　'Perfidious；　what
mean　you？　　Have　you　forgotten　our　contract？'

The　Fiend　answered　by　a　malicious　laugh：

'Our　contract？　　Have　I　not　performed　my　part？　　What　more　did　I
promise　than　to　save　you　from　your　prison？　　Have　I　not　done　so？　
Are　you　not　safe　from　the　Inquisitionsafe　from　all　but　from
me？　　Fool　that　you　were　to　confide　yourself　to　a　Devil！　　Why　did
you　not　stipulate　for　life；　and　power；　and　pleasure？　　Then　all
would　have　been　granted：　　Now；　your　reflections　come　too　late。　
Miscreant；　prepare　for　death；　You　have　not　many　hours　to　live！'

On　hearing　this　sentence；　dreadful　were　the　feelings　of　the
devoted　Wretch！　　He　sank　upon　his　knees；　and　raised　his　hands
towards　heaven。　　The　Fiend　read　his　intention　and　prevented　it

'What？'　He　cried；　darting　at　him　a　look　of　fury：　　'Dare　you　still
implore　the　Eternal's　mercy？　　Would　you　feign　penitence；　and
again　act　an　Hypocrite's　part？　　Villain；　resign　your　hopes　of
pardon。　　Thus　I　secure　my　prey！'

As　He　said　this；　darting　his　talons　into　the　Monk's　shaven　crown；
He　sprang　with　him　from　the　rock。　　The　Caves　and　mountains　rang
with　Ambrosio's　shrieks。　The　Daemon　continued　to　soar　aloft；　till
reaching　a　dreadful　height；　He　released　the　sufferer。　　Headlong
fell　the　Monk　through　the　airy　waste；　The　sharp　point　of　a　rock
received　him；　and　He　rolled　from　precipice　to　precipice；　till
bruised　and　mangled　He　rested　on　the　river's　banks。　　Life　still
existed　in　his　miserable　frame：　He　attempted　in　vain　to　raise
himself；　His　broken　and　dislocated　limbs　refused　to　perform　their
office；　nor　was　He　able　to　quit　the　spot　where　He　had　first
fallen。　　The　Sun　now　rose　above　the　horizon；　Its　scorching　beams
darted　full　upon　the　head　of　the　expiring　Sinner。　　Myriads　of
insects　were　called　forth　by　the　warmth；　They　drank　the　blood
which　trickled　from　Ambrosio's　wounds；　He　had　no　power　to　drive
them　from　him；　and　they　fastened　upon　his　sores；　darted　their
stings　into　his　body；　covered　him　with　their　multitudes；　and
inflicted　on　him　tortures　the　most　exquisite　and　insupportable。　
The　Eagles　of　the　rock