the monk(僧侣)-第49章

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Monster　of　Hypocrisy！　　I　already　suspected　your　designs；　but
forbore　your　accusation　in　pity　to　human　frailty。　　Silence　would
now　be　criminal：　　The　whole　City　shall　be　informed　of　your
incontinence。　　I　will　unmask　you；　Villain；　and　convince　the
Church　what　a　Viper　She　cherishes　in　her　bosom。'

Pale　and　confused　the　baffled　Culprit　stood　trembling　before　her。

He　would　fain　have　extenuated　his　offence；　but　could　find　no
apology　for　his　conduct：　　He　could　produce　nothing　but　broken
sentences；　and　excuses　which　contradicted　each　other。　　Elvira　was
too　justly　incensed　to　grant　the　pardon　which　He　requested。　　She
protested　that　She　would　raise　the　neighbourhood；　and　make　him　an
example　to　all　future　Hypocrites。　　Then　hastening　to　the　Bed；　She
called　to　Antonia　to　wake；　and　finding　that　her　voice　had　no
effect；　She　took　her　arm；　and　raised　her　forcibly　from　the
pillow。　　The　charm　operated　too　powerfully。　　Antonia　remained
insensible；　and　on　being　released　by　her　Mother；　sank　back　upon
the　pillow。

'This　slumber　cannot　be　natural！'　cried　the　amazed　Elvira；　whose
indignation　increased　with　every　moment。　'Some　mystery　is
concealed　in　it；　But　tremble；　Hypocrite；　all　your　villainy　shall
soon　be　unravelled！　　Help！　Help！'　She　exclaimed　aloud；　'Within
there！　　Flora！　Flora！'

'Hear　me　for　one　moment；　Lady！'　cried　the　Monk；　restored　to
himself　by　the　urgency　of　the　danger；　'By　all　that　is　sacred　and
holy；　I　swear　that　your　Daughter's　honour　is　still　unviolated。　
Forgive　my　transgression！　　Spare　me　the　shame　of　a　discovery；　and
permit　me　to　regain　the　Abbey　undisturbed。　　Grant　me　this　request
in　mercy！　　I　promise　not　only　that　Antonia　shall　be　secure　from
me　in　future；　but　that　the　rest　of　my　life　shall　prove　。　。　。　。　。'

Elvira　interrupted　him　abruptly。

'Antonia　secure　from　you？　　_I_　will　secure　her！　　You　shall　betray
no　longer　the　confidence　of　Parents！　　Your　iniquity　shall　be
unveiled　to　the　public　eye：　　All　Madrid　shall　shudder　at　your
perfidy；　your　hypocrisy　and　incontinence。　　What　Ho！　there！　Flora！
Flora；　I　say！'

While　She　spoke　thus；　the　remembrance　of　Agnes　struck　upon　his
mind。　　Thus　had　She　sued　to　him　for　mercy；　and　thus　had　He
refused　her　prayer！　　It　was　now　his　turn　to　suffer；　and　He　could
not　but　acknowledge　that　his　punishment　was　just。　　In　the
meanwhile　Elvira　continued　to　call　Flora　to　her　assistance；　but
her　voice　was　so　choaked　with　passion　that　the　Servant；　who　was
buried　in　profound　slumber；　was　insensible　to　all　her　cries：　
Elvira　dared　not　go　towards　the　Closet　in　which　Flora　slept；　lest
the　Monk　should　take　that　opportunity　to　escape。　　Such　indeed　was
his　intention：　　He　trusted　that　could　He　reach　the　Abbey
unobserved　by　any　other　than　Elvira；　her　single　testimony　would
not　suffice　to　ruin　a　reputation　so　well　established　as　his　was
in　Madrid。　　With　this　idea　He　gathered　up　such　garments　as　He　had
already　thrown　off；　and　hastened　towards　the　Door。　　Elvira　was
aware　of　his　design；　She　followed　him；　and　ere　He　could　draw　back
the　bolt；　seized　him　by　the　arm；　and　detained　him。

'Attempt　not　to　fly！'　said　She；　'You　quit　not　this　room　without
Witnesses　of　your　guilt。'

Ambrosio　struggled　in　vain　to　disengage　himself。　　Elvira　quitted
not　her　hold；　but　redoubled　her　cries　for　succour。　　The　Friar's
danger　grew　more　urgent。　　He　expected　every　moment　to　hear　people
assembling　at　her　voice；　And　worked　up　to　madness　by　the　approach
of　ruin；　He　adopted　a　resolution　equally　desperate　and　savage。　
Turning　round　suddenly；　with　one　hand　He　grasped　Elvira's　throat
so　as　to　prevent　her　continuing　her　clamour；　and　with　the　other；
dashing　her　violently　upon　the　ground；　He　dragged　her　towards　the
Bed。　　Confused　by　this　unexpected　attack；　She　scarcely　had　power
to　strive　at　forcing　herself　from　his　grasp：　　While　the　Monk；
snatching　the　pillow　from　beneath　her　Daughter's　head；　covering
with　it　Elvira's　face；　and　pressing　his　knee　upon　her　stomach
with　all　his　strength；　endeavoured　to　put　an　end　to　her
existence。　　He　succeeded　but　too　well。　　Her　natural　strength
increased　by　the　excess　of　anguish；　long　did　the　Sufferer
struggle　to　disengage　herself；　but　in　vain。　　The　Monk　continued
to　kneel　upon　her　breast；　witnessed　without　mercy　the　convulsive
trembling　of　her　limbs　beneath　him；　and　sustained　with　inhuman
firmness　the　spectacle　of　her　agonies；　when　soul　and　body　were　on
the　point　of　separating。　　Those　agonies　at　length　were　over。　　She
ceased　to　struggle　for　life。　　The　Monk　took　off　the　pillow；　and
gazed　upon　her。　　Her　face　was　covered　with　a　frightful　blackness：

Her　limbs　moved　no　more；　The　blood　was　chilled　in　her　veins；　Her
heart　had　forgotten　to　beat；　and　her　hands　were　stiff　and　frozen。

Ambrosio　beheld　before　him　that　once　noble　and　majestic　form；　now
become　a　Corse；　cold；　senseless　and　disgusting。

This　horrible　act　was　no　sooner　perpetrated；　than　the　Friar
beheld　the　enormity　of　his　crime。　　A　cold　dew　flowed　over　his
limbs；　his　eyes　closed；　He　staggered　to　a　chair；　and　sank　into　it
almost　as　lifeless　as　the　Unfortunate　who　lay　extended　at　his
feet。　　From　this　state　He　was　rouzed　by　the　necessity　of　flight；
and　the　danger　of　being　found　in　Antonia's　apartment。　　He　had　no
desire　to　profit　by　the　execution　of　his　crime。　　Antonia　now
appeared　to　him　an　object　of　disgust。　　A　deadly　cold　had　usurped
the　place　of　that　warmth　which　glowed　in　his　bosom：　　No　ideas
offered　themselves　to　his　mind　but　those　of　death　and　guilt；　of
present　shame　and　future　punishment。　　Agitated　by　remorse　and
fear　He　prepared　for　flight：　　Yet　his　terrors　did　not　so
compleatly　master　his　recollection；　as　to　prevent　his　taking　the
precautions　necessary　for　his　safety。　　He　replaced　the　pillow
upon　the　bed；　gathered　up　his　garments；　and　with　the　fatal
Talisman　in　his　hand；　bent　his　unsteady　steps　towards　the　door。　
Bewildered　by　fear；　He　fancied　that　his　flight　was　opposed　by
Legions　of　Phantoms；　Whereever　He　turned；　the　disfigured　Corse
seemed　to　lie　in　his　passage；　and　it　was　long　before　He　succeeded
in　reaching　the　door。　　The　enchanted　Myrtle　produced　its　former
effect。　　The　door　opened；　and　He　hastened　down　the　staircase。　
He　entered　the　Abbey　unobserved；　and　having　shut　himself　into　his
Cell；　He　abandoned　his　soul　to　the　tortures　of　unavailing
remorse；　and　terrors　of　impending　detection。


　CHAPTER　II

Tell　us；　ye　Dead；　will　none　of　you　in　pity　　
To　those　you　left　behind　disclose　the　secret？　　
O！　That　some　courteous　Ghost　would　blab　it　out；　　
What　'tis　you　are；　and　we　must　shortly　be。　　
I've　heard　that　Souls　departed　have　sometimes　　
Fore…warned　Men　of　their　deaths：　　
'Twas　kindly　done　　
To　knock；　and　give　the　alarum。　　

Blair。　


Ambrosio　shuddered　at　himself；　when　He　reflected　on　his　rapid
advances　in　iniquity。　　The　enormous　crime　which　He　had　just
committed　filled　him　with　real　horror。　　The　murdered　Elvira　was
continually　before　his　eyes；　and　his　guilt　was　already　punished
by　the　agonies　of　his　conscience。　　Time；　however；　considerably
weakened　these　impressions：　　One　day　passed　away；　another
followed　it；　and　still　not　the　least　suspicion　was　thrown　upon
him。　　Impunity　reconciled　him　to　his　guilt：　　He　began　to　resume
his　spirits；　and　as　his　fears　of　detection　died　away；　He　paid
less　attention　to　the　reproaches　of　remorse。　　Matilda　exerted
herself　to　quiet　his　alarms。　　At　the　first　intelligence　of
Elvira's　death；　She　seemed　greatly　affected；　and　joined　the　Monk
in　deploring　the　unhappy　catastrophe　of　his　adventure：　　But　when
She　found　his　agitation　to　be　somewhat　calmed；　and　himself　better
disposed　to　listen　to　her　arguments；　She　proceeded　to　mention　his
offence　in　milder　terms；　and　convince　him　that　He　was　not　so
highly　culpable　as　He　appeared　to　consider　himself。　　She
represented　that　He　had　only　availed　himself　of　the　rights　which
Nature　allows　to　every　one；　those　of　self…preservation：　　That
either　Elvira　or　himself　must　have　perished；　and　that　her
inflexibility　and　resolution　to　ruin　him　had　deservedly　marked
her　out　for　the　Victim。　　She　next　stated；　that　as　He　had　before
rendered　himself　suspected　to　Elvira；　it　was　a　fortunate　event
for　him　that　her　lips　were　closed　by　death；　since　without　this
last　adventure；　her　suspicions　if　made　public　might　have　produced
very　disagreeable　consequences。　　He　had　therefore　freed　himself
from　an　Enemy；　to　whom　the　errors　of　his　conduct　were
sufficiently　known　to　make　her　dangerous；　and　who　was　the
greatest　obstacle　to　his　designs　upon　Antonia。　　Those　designs　She
encouraged　him　not　to　abandon。　　She　assured　him　that；　no　longer
protected　by　her　Mother's　watchful　eye；　the　Daughter　would　fall
an　easy　conquest；　and　by　praising　and　enumerating　Antonia's
charms；　She　strove　to　rekindle　the　desires　of　the　Monk。　　In　this
endeavour　She　succeeded　but　too　well。

As　if　the　crimes　into　which　his　passion　had　seduced　him　had　only
increased　its　violence；　He　longed　more　eagerly　than　ever　to　enjoy
Antonia。　　The　same　success　in　concealing　his　present　guilt；　He
trusted　would　attend　his　future。　　He　was　deaf　to　the　murmurs　of
conscience；　and　resolved　to　satisfy　his　desires　at　any　price。　　He
waited　only　for　an　opportunity　of　repeating　his　former
enterprize；　But　to　procure　that　opportunity　by　the　same　means　was
now　impracticable。　　In　the　first　transports　of　despair　He　had
dashed　the　enchanted　Myrtle　into　a　thousand　pieces：　　Matilda　told
him　plainly　that　He　must　expect　no　further　assistance　from　the
infernal　Powers　unless　He　was　willing　to　subscribe　to　their
established　conditions。　　This　Ambrosio　was　determined　not　to　do：　
He　persuaded　himself　that　however　great　might　be　his　iniquity；
so　long　as　he　preserved　his　claim　to　salvation；　He　need　not
despair　of　pardon。　　He　therefore　resolutely　refused　to　enter　into
any　bond　or　compact　with　the　Fiends；　and　Matilda　finding　him
obstinate　upon　this　point；　forbore　to　press　him　further。　　She
exerted　her　invention　to　discover　some　means　of　putting　Antonia
into　the　Abbot's　power：　　Nor　was　it　long　before　that　means
presented　itself。

While　her　ruin　was　thus　meditating；　the　unhappy　Girl　herself
suffered　severely　from　the　loss　of　her　Mother。　　Every　morning　on
waking；　it　was　her　first　care　to　hasten　to　Elvira's　chamber。　　On
that　which　followed　Ambrosio's　fatal　visit；　She　woke　later　than
was　her　usual　custom：　Of　this　She　was　convinced　by　the
Abbey　Chimes。　　She　started　from　her　bed；　threw　on　a　few　loose
garments　hastily；　and　was　speeding　to　enquire　how　her　Mother　had
passed　the　night；　when　her　foot　struck　against　something　which
lay　in　her　passage。　　She　looked　down。　　What　was　her　horror　at
recognizing　Elvira's　livid　Corse！　　She　uttered　a　loud　shriek；　and
threw　herself　upon　the　floor。　　She　clasped　the　inanimate　form　to
her　bosom；　felt　that　it　was　dead…cold；　and　with　a　movement　of
disgust；　of　which　She　was　not　the　Mistress；　let　it　fall　again
from　her　arms。　　The　cry　had　alarmed　Flora；　who　hastened　to　her
assistance。　　The　sight　which　She　beheld　penetrated　her　with
horror；　but　her　alarm　was　more　audible　than　Antonia's。　　She　made
the　House　ring　with　her　lamentations；　while　her　Mistress；　almost
suffocated　with　grief；　could　only　mark　her　distress　by　sobs　and
groans。　　Flora's　shrieks　soon　reached　the　ears　of　the　Hostess；
whose　terror　and　surprize　w