the monk(僧侣)-第25章

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while　I　reflected　on　the　influence　of　superstition　and　weakness
of　human　reason。　　Suddenly　I　heard　a　faint　chorus　steal　upon　the
silence　of　the　night。

'What　can　occasion　that　noise；　Theodore？'

'A　Stranger　of　distinction；'　replied　He；　'passed　through　the
Village　today　in　his　way　to　the　Castle：　　He　is　reported　to　be
the　Father　of　Donna　Agnes。　　Doubtless；　the　Baron　has　given　an
entertainment　to　celebrate　his　arrival。'

The　Castle　Bell　announced　the　hour　of　midnight：　This　was　the
usual　signal　for　the　family　to　retire　to　Bed。　　Soon　after　I
perceived　lights　in　the　Castle　moving　backwards　and　forwards　in
different　directions。　　I　conjectured　the　company　to　be
separating。　　I　could　hear　the　heavy　doors　grate　as　they　opened
with　difficulty；　and　as　they　closed　again　the　rotten　Casements
rattled　in　their　frames。　　The　chamber　of　Agnes　was　on　the　other
side　of　the　Castle。　　I　trembled　lest　She　should　have　failed　in
obtaining　the　Key　of　the　haunted　Room：　　Through　this　it　was
necessary　for　her　to　pass　in　order　to　reach　the　narrow
Staircase　by　which　the　Ghost　was　supposed　to　descend　into　the
great　Hall。　　Agitated　by　this　apprehension；　I　kept　my　eyes
constantly　fixed　upon　the　window；　where　I　hoped　to　perceive　the
friendly　glare　of　a　Lamp　borne　by　Agnes。　　I　now　heard　the　massy
Gates　unbarred。　　By　the　candle　in　his　hand　I　distinguished　old
Conrad；　the　Porter。　　He　set　the　Portal　doors　wide　open；　and
retired。　　The　lights　in　the　Castle　gradually　disappeared；　and　at
length　the　whole　Building　was　wrapt　in　darkness。

While　I　sat　upon　a　broken　ridge　of　the　Hill；　the　stillness　of　the
scene　inspired　me　with　melancholy　ideas　not　altogether
unpleasing。　　The　Castle　which　stood　full　in　my　sight；　formed　an
object　equally　awful　and　picturesque。　Its　ponderous　Walls　tinged
by　the　moon　with　solemn　brightness；　its　old　and　partly…ruined
Towers　lifting　themselves　into　the　clouds　and　seeming　to　frown　on
the　plains　around　them；　its　lofty　battlements　oergrown　with　ivy；
and　folding　Gates　expanding　in　honour　of　the　Visionary
Inhabitant；　made　me　sensible　of　a　sad　and　reverential　horror。　
Yet　did　not　these　sensations　occupy　me　so　fully；　as　to　prevent　me
from　witnessing　with　impatience　the　slow　progress　of　time。　　I
approached　the　Castle；　and　ventured　to　walk　round　it。　　A　few　rays
of　light　still　glimmered　in　the　chamber　of　Agnes。　　I　observed
them　with　joy。　　I　was　still　gazing　upon　them；　when　I　perceived　a
figure　draw　near　the　window；　and　the　Curtain　was　carefully　closed
to　conceal　the　Lamp　which　burned　there。　　Convinced　by　this
observation　that　Agnes　had　not　abandoned　our　plan；　I　returned
with　a　light　heart　to　my　former　station。

The　half…hour　struck！　　The　three…quarters　struck！　　My　bosom　beat
high　with　hope　and　expectation。　　At　length　the　wished…for　sound
was　heard。　　The　Bell　tolled　'One；'　and　the　Mansion　echoed　with
the　noise　loud　and　solemn。　　I　looked　up　to　the　Casement　of　the
haunted　Chamber。　　Scarcely　had　five　minutes　elapsed；　when　the
expected　light　appeared。　　I　was　now　close　to　the　Tower。　　The
window　was　not　so　far　from　the　Ground　but　that　I　fancied　I
perceived　a　female　figure　with　a　Lamp　in　her　hand　moving　slowly
along　the　Apartment。　　The　light　soon　faded　away；　and　all　was
again　dark　and　gloomy。

Occasional　gleams　of　brightness　darted　from　the　Staircase
windows　as　the　lovely　Ghost　past　by　them。　　I　traced　the　light
through　the　Hall：　　It　reached　the　Portal；　and　at　length　I　beheld
Agnes　pass　through　the　folding　gates。　　She　was　habited　exactly
as　She　had　described　the　Spectre。　　A　chaplet　of　Beads　hung　upon
her　arm；　her　head　was　enveloped　in　a　long　white　veil；　Her　Nun's
dress　was　stained　with　blood；　and　She　had　taken　care　to　provide
herself　with　a　Lamp　and　dagger。　　She　advanced　towards　the　spot
where　I　stood。　　I　flew　to　meet　her；　and　clasped　her　in　my　arms。

'Agnes！'　said　I　while　I　pressed　her　to　my　bosom；　　　　　　
Agnes！　　Agnes！　　Thou　art　mine！　　　　　　　
Agnes！　Agnes！　I　am　thine！　　　　
In　my　veins　while　blood　shall　roll；　　　　　　　
Thou　art　mine！　　　　　　　
I　am　thine！　　　　　　　
Thine　my　body！　Thine　my　soul！

Terrified　and　breathless　She　was　unable　to　speak：　She　dropt　her
Lamp　and　dagger；　and　sank　upon　my　bosom　in　silence。　　I　raised　her
in　my　arms；　and　conveyed　her　to　the　Carriage。　　Theodore　remained
behind　in　order　to　release　Dame　Cunegonda。　　I　also　charged　him
with　a　letter　to　the　Baroness　explaining　the　whole　affair；　and
entreating　her　good　offices　in　reconciling　Don　Gaston　to　my　union
with　his　Daughter。　　I　discovered　to　her　my　real　name：　　I　proved
to　her　that　my　birth　and　expectations　justified　my　pretending　to
her　Niece；　and　assured　her；　though　it　was　out　of　my　power　to
return　her　love；　that　I　would　strive　unceasingly　to　obtain　her
esteem　and　friendship。

I　stepped　into　the　Carriage；　where　Agnes　was　already　seated。　
Theodore　closed　the　door；　and　the　Postillions　drove　away。　　At
first　I　was　delighted　with　the　rapidity　of　our　progress；　But　as
soon　as　we　were　in　no　danger　of　pursuit；　I　called　to　the　Drivers；
and　bad　them　moderate　their　pace。　　They　strove　in　vain　to　obey
me。　　The　Horses　refused　to　answer　the　rein；　and　continued　to　rush
on　with　astonishing　swiftness。　　The　Postillions　redoubled　their
efforts　to　stop　them；　but　by　kicking　and　plunging　the　Beasts　soon
released　themselves　from　this　restraint。　　Uttering　a　loud　shriek；
the　Drivers　were　hurled　upon　the　ground。　　Immediately　thick
clouds　obscured　the　sky：　　The　winds　howled　around　us；　the
lightning　flashed；　and　the　Thunder　roared　tremendously。　　Never
did　I　behold　so　frightful　a　Tempest！　　Terrified　by　the　jar　of
contending　elements；　the　Horses　seemed　every　moment　to　increase
their　speed。　　Nothing　could　interrupt　their　career；　They　dragged
the　Carriage　through　Hedges　and　Ditches；　dashed　down　the　most
dangerous　precipices；　and　seemed　to　vye　in　swiftness　with　the
rapidity　of　the　winds。

All　this　while　my　Companion　lay　motionless　in　my　arms。　　Truly
alarmed　by　the　magnitude　of　the　danger；　I　was　in　vain　attempting
to　recall　her　to　her　senses；　when　a　loud　crash　announced；　that　a
stop　was　put　to　our　progress　in　the　most　disagreeable　manner。　
The　Carriage　was　shattered　to　pieces。　　In　falling　I　struck　my
temple　against　a　flint。　　The　pain　of　the　wound；　the　violence　of
the　shock；　and　apprehension　for　the　safety　of　Agnes　combined　to
overpower　me　so　compleatly；　that　my　senses　forsook　me；　and　I　lay
without　animation　on　the　ground。

I　probably　remained　for　some　time　in　this　situation；　since　when　I
opened　my　eyes；　it　was　broad　daylight。　　Several　Peasants　were
standing　round　me；　and　seemed　disputing　whether　my　recovery　was
possible。　　I　spoke　German　tolerably　well。　　As　soon　as　I　could
utter　an　articulate　sound；　I　enquired　after　Agnes。　　What　was　my
surprise　and　distress；　when　assured　by　the　Peasants；　that　nobody
had　been　seen　answering　the　description　which　I　gave　of　her！　
They　told　me　that　in　going　to　their　daily　labour　they　had　been
alarmed　by　observing　the　fragments　of　my　Carriage；　and　by　hearing
the　groans　of　an　Horse；　the　only　one　of　the　four　which　remained
alive：　The　other　Three　lay　dead　by　my　side。　　Nobody　was　near　me
when　they　came　up；　and　much　time　had　been　lost；　before　they
succeeded　in　recovering　me。　　Uneasy　beyond　expression　respecting
the　fate　of　my　Companion；　I　besought　the　Peasants　to　disperse
themselves　in　search　of　her：　　I　described　her　dress；　and　promised
immense　rewards　to　whoever　brought　me　any　intelligence。　　As　for
myself；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　join　in　the　pursuit：　I　had
broken　two　of　my　ribs　in　the　fall：　　My　arm　being　dislocated　hung
useless　by　my　side；　and　my　left　leg　was　shattered　so　terribly；
that　I　never　expected　to　recover　its　use。

The　Peasants　complied　with　my　request：　　All　left　me　except　Four；
who　made　a　litter　of　boughs　and　prepared　to　convey　me　to　the
neighbouring　Town。　　I　enquired　its　name。　　It　proved　to　be
Ratisbon；　and　I　could　scarcely　persuade　myself　that　I　had
travelled　to　such　a　distance　in　a　single　night。　　I　told　the
Countrymen　that　at　one　o'clock　that　morning　I　had　past　through
the　Village　of　Rosenwald。　　They　shook　their　heads　wistfully；　and
made　signs　to　each　other　that　I　must　certainly　be　delirious。　　I
was　conveyed　to　a　decent　Inn　and　immediately　put　to　bed。　　A
Physician　was　sent　for；　who　set　my　arm　with　success。　　He　then
examined　my　other　hurts；　and　told　me　that　I　need　be　under　no
apprehension　of　the　consequences　of　any　of　them；　But　ordered　me
to　keep　myself　quiet；　and　be　prepared　for　a　tedious　and　painful
cure。　　I　answered　him　that　if　He　hoped　to　keep　me　quiet；　He　must
first　endeavour　to　procure　me　some　news　of　a　Lady　who　had
quitted　Rosenwald　in　my　company　the　night　before；　and　had　been
with　me　at　the　moment　when　the　Coach　broke　down。　　He　smiled；　and
only　replied　by　advising　me　to　make　myself　easy；　for　that　all
proper　care　should　be　taken　of　me。　　As　He　quitted　me；　the　Hostess
met　him　at　the　door　of　the　room。

'The　Gentleman　is　not　quite　in　his　right　senses；'　I　heard　him　say
to　her　in　a　low　voice；　'　'Tis　the　natural　consequence　of　his
fall；　but　that　will　soon　be　over。'

One　after　another　the　Peasants　returned　to　the　Inn；　and　informed
me　that　no　traces　had　been　discovered　of　my　unfortunate　Mistress。

Uneasiness　now　became　despair。　I　entreated　them　to　renew　their
search　in　the　most　urgent　terms；　doubling　the　promises　which　I
had　already　made　them。　　My　wild　and　frantic　manner　confirmed　the
bye…standers　in　the　idea　of　my　being　delirious。　　No　signs　of　the
Lady　having　appeared；　they　believed　her　to　be　a　creature
fabricated　by　my　over…heated　brain；　and　paid　no　attention　to　my
entreaties。　　However；　the　Hostess　assured　me　that　a　fresh　enquiry
should　be　made；　but　I　found　afterwards　that　her　promise　was　only
given　to　quiet　me。　　No　further　steps　were　taken　in　the　business。

Though　my　Baggage　was　left　at　Munich　under　the　care　of　my　French
Servant；　having　prepared　myself　for　a　long　journey；　my　purse　was
amply　furnished：　　Besides　my　equipage　proved　me　to　be　of
distinction；　and　in　consequence　all　possible　attention　was　paid
me　at　the　Inn。　　The　day　passed　away：　　Still　no　news　arrived　of
Agnes。　　The　anxiety　of　fear　now　gave　place　to　despondency。　　I
ceased　to　rave　about　her　and　was　plunged　in　the　depth　of
melancholy　reflections。　　Perceiving　me　to　be　silent　and　tranquil；
my　Attendants　believed　my　delirium　to　have　abated；　and　that　my
malady　had　taken　a　favourable　turn。　　According　to　the　Physician's
order　I　swallowed　a　composing　medicine；　and　as　soon　as　the　night
shut　in；　my　attendants　withdrew　and　left　me　to　repose。

That　repose　I　wooed　in　vain。　　The　agitation　of　my　bosom　chased
away　sleep。　　Restless　in　my　mind；　in　spite　of　the　fatigue　of　my
body；　I　continued　to　toss　about　from　side　to　side；　till　the　Clock
in　a　neighbouring　Steeple　struck　'One。'　　As　I　listened　to　the
mournful　hollow　sound；　and　heard　it　die　away　in　the　wind；　I　felt
a　sudden　chillness　spread　itself　over　my　body。　　I　shuddered
without　knowing　wherefore；　Cold　dews　poured　down　my　forehead；　and
my　hair　stood　bristling　with　alarm。　　Suddenly　I　heard　slow　and
heavy　steps　ascending　the　staircase。　By　an　involuntary　movement
I　started　up　in　my　bed；　and　drew　back　the　curtain。　　A　single
rush…light　which　glimmered　upon　the　hearth　shed　a　faint　gleam
through　the　apartment；　which　was　hung　with　tapestr