the monk(僧侣)-第25节

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gratitude。　　She　was　joined　so　warmly　by　her　Husband　in　pressing
me　to　accompany　them　to　their　Castle　in　Bavaria；　that　I　found　it
impossible　to　resist　their　entreaties。　　During　a　week　which　we
passed　at　Strasbourg；　the　interests　of　Marguerite　were　not
forgotten：　In　our　application　to　her　Father　we　succeeded　as　amply
as　we　could　wish。　　The　good　old　Man　had　lost　his　Wife：　　He　had　no
Children　but　this　unfortunate　Daughter；　of　whom　He　had　received
no　news　for　almost　fourteen　years。　　He　was　surrounded　by　distant
Relations；　who　waited　with　impatience　for　his　decease　in　order　to
get　possession　of　his　money。　　When　therefore　Marguerite　appeared
again　so　unexpectedly；　He　considered　her　as　a　gift　from　heaven：　
He　received　her　and　her　Children　with　open　arms；　and　insisted
upon　their　establishing　themselves　in　his　House　without　delay。　
The　disappointed　Cousins　were　obliged　to　give　place。　　The　old　Man
would　not　hear　of　his　Daughter's　retiring　into　a　Convent：　He
said　that　She　was　too　necessary　to　his　happiness；　and　She　was
easily　persuaded　to　relinquish　her　design。　　But　no　persuasions
could　induce　Theodore　to　give　up　the　plan　which　I　had　at　first
marked　out　for　him。　　He　had　attached　himself　to　me　most
sincerely　during　my　stay　at　Strasbourg；　and　when　I　was　on　the
point　of　leaving　it；　He　besought　me　with　tears　to　take　him　into
my　service：　He　set　forth　all　his　little　talents　in　the　most
favourable　colours；　and　tried　to　convince　me　that　I　should　find
him　of　infinite　use　to　me　upon　the　road。　　I　was　unwilling　to
charge　myself　with　a　Lad　but　scarcely　turned　of　thirteen；　whom　I
knew　could　only　be　a　burthen　to　me：　　However；　I　could　not　resist
the　entreaties　of　this　affectionate　Youth；　who　in　fact　possessed
a　thousand　estimable　qualities。　　With　some　difficulty　He
persuaded　his　relations　to　let　him　follow　me；　and　that　permission
once　obtained；　He　was　dubbed　with　the　title　of　my　Page。　　Having
passed　a　week　at　Strasbourg；　Theodore　and　myself　set　out　for
Bavaria　in　company　with　the　Baron　and　his　Lady。　　These　Latter　as
well　as　myself　had　forced　Marguerite　to　accept　several　presents
of　value；　both　for　herself；　and　her　youngest　Son：　　On　leaving
her；　I　promised　his　Mother　faithfully　that　I　would　restore
Theodore　to　her　within　the　year。

I　have　related　this　adventure　at　length；　Lorenzo；　that　you　might
understand　the　means　by　which　'The　Adventurer；　Alphonso
d'Alvarada　got　introduced　into　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。'　　Judge
from　this　specimen　how　much　faith　should　be　given　to　your　Aunt's
assertions！




VOLUME　II

CHAPTER　I

Avaunt！　and　quit　my　sight！　　Let　the　Earth　hide　thee！　
Thy　bones　are　marrowless；　thy　blood　is　cold！　
Thou　hast　no　speculation　in　those　eyes　
Which　Thou　dost　glare　with！　Hence；　horrible　shadow！
Unreal　mockery　hence！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Macbeth。　

Continuation　of　the　History　of　Don　Raymond。

My　journey　was　uncommonly　agreeable：　　I　found　the　Baron　a　Man　of
some　sense；　but　little　knowledge　of　the　world。　　He　had　past　a
great　part　of　his　life　without　stirring　beyond　the　precincts　of
his　own　domains；　and　consequently　his　manners　were　far　from　being
the　most　polished：　　But　He　was　hearty；　good…humoured；　and
friendly。　　His　attention　to　me　was　all　that　I　could　wish；　and　I
had　every　reason　to　be　satisfied　with　his　behaviour。　His　ruling
passion　was　Hunting；　which　He　had　brought　himself　to　consider　as
a　serious　occupation；　and　when　talking　over　some　remarkable
chace；　He　treated　the　subject　with　as　much　gravity　as　it　had
been　a　Battle　on　which　the　fate　of　two　kingdoms　was　depending。　　I
happened　to　be　a　tolerable　Sportsman：　　Soon　after　my　arrival　at
Lindenberg　I　gave　some　proofs　of　my　dexterity。　　The　Baron
immediately　marked　me　down　for　a　Man　of　Genius；　and　vowed　to　me
an　eternal　friendship。

That　friendship　was　become　to　me　by　no　means　indifferent。　　At　the
Castle　of　Lindenberg　I　beheld　for　the　first　time　your　Sister；　the
lovely　Agnes。　　For　me　whose　heart　was　unoccupied；　and　who　grieved
at　the　void；　to　see　her　and　to　love　her　were　the　same。　　I　found
in　Agnes　all　that　was　requisite　to　secure　my　affection。　　She　was
then　scarcely　sixteen；　Her　person　light　and　elegant　was　already
formed；　She　possessed　several　talents　in　perfection；　particularly
those　of　Music　and　drawing：　　Her　character　was　gay；　open；　and
good…humoured；　and　the　graceful　simplicity　of　her　dress　and
manners　formed　an　advantageous　contrast　to　the　art　and　studied
Coquetry　of　the　Parisian　Dames；　whom　I　had　just　quitted。　　From
the　moment　that　I　beheld　her；　I　felt　the　most　lively　interest　in
her　fate。　　I　made　many　enquiries　respecting　her　of　the　Baroness。

'She　is　my　Niece；'　replied　that　Lady；　'You　are　still　ignorant；
Don　Alphonso；　that　I　am　your　Countrywoman。　　I　am　Sister　to　the
Duke　of　Medina　Celi：　　Agnes　is　the　Daughter　of　my　second　Brother；
Don　Gaston：　　She　has　been　destined　to　the　Convent　from　her
cradle；　and　will　soon　make　her　profession　at　Madrid。'

（Here　Lorenzo　interrupted　the　Marquis　by　an　exclamation　of
surprise。

'Intended　for　the　Convent　from　her　cradle？'　said　He；　'By　heaven；
this　is　the　first　word　that　I　ever　heard　of　such　a　design！'

'I　believe　it；　my　dear　Lorenzo；'　answered　Don　Raymond；　'But　you
must　listen　to　me　with　patience。　　You　will　not　be　less　surprised；
when　I　relate　some　particulars　of　your　family　still　unknown　to
you；　and　which　I　have　learnt　from　the　mouth　of　Agnes　herself。'

He　then　resumed　his　narrative　as　follows。）

You　cannot　but　be　aware　that　your　Parents　were　unfortunately
Slaves　to　the　grossest　superstition：　　When　this　foible　was　called
into　play；　their　every　other　sentiment；　their　every　other　passion
yielded　to　its　irresistible　strength。　　While　She　was　big　with
Agnes；　your　Mother　was　seized　by　a　dangerous　illness；　and　given
over　by　her　Physicians。　　In　this　situation；　Donna　Inesilla　vowed；
that　if　She　recovered　from　her　malady；　the　Child　then　living　in
her　bosom　if　a　Girl　should　be　dedicated　to　St。　Clare；　if　a　Boy　to
St。　Benedict。　　Her　prayers　were　heard；　She　got　rid　of　her
complaint；　Agnes　entered　the　world　alive；　and　was　immediately
destined　to　the　service　of　St。　Clare。

Don　Gaston　readily　chimed　in　with　his　Lady's　wishes：　But　knowing
the　sentiments　of　the　Duke；　his　Brother；　respecting　a　Monastic
life；　it　was　determined　that　your　Sister's　destination　should　be
carefully　concealed　from　him。　　The　better　to　guard　the　secret；　it
was　resolved　that　Agnes　should　accompany　her　Aunt；　Donna　Rodolpha
into　Germany；　whither　that　Lady　was　on　the　point　of　following　her
new…married　Husband；　Baron　Lindenberg。　　On　her　arrival　at　that
Estate；　the　young　Agnes　was　put　into　a　Convent；　situated　but　a
few　miles　from　the　Castle。　　The　Nuns　to　whom　her　education　was
confided　performed　their　charge　with　exactitude：　　They　made　her
a　perfect　Mistress　of　many　talents；　and　strove　to　infuse　into　her
mind　a　taste　for　the　retirement　and　tranquil　pleasures　of　a
Convent。　　But　a　secret　instinct　made　the　young　Recluse　sensible
that　She　was　not　born　for　solitude：　　In　all　the　freedom　of　youth
and　gaiety；　She　scrupled　not　to　treat　as　ridiculous　many
ceremonies　which　the　Nuns　regarded　with　awe；　and　She　was　never
more　happy　than　when　her　lively　imagination　inspired　her　with
some　scheme　to　plague　the　stiff　Lady　Abbess；　or　the　ugly　ill…
tempered　old　Porteress。　　She　looked　with　disgust　upon　the
prospect　before　her：　　However　no　alternative　was　offered　to　her；
and　She　submitted　to　the　decree　of　her　Parents；　though　not
without　secret　repining。

That　repugnance　She　had　not　art　enough　to　conceal　long：　　Don
Gaston　was　informed　of　it。　　Alarmed；　Lorenzo；　lest　your　affection
for　her　should　oppose　itself　to　his　projects；　and　lest　you　should
positively　object　to　your　Sister's　misery；　He　resolved　to　keep
the　whole　affair　from　YOUR　knowledge　as　well　as　the　Duke's；　till
the　sacrifice　should　be　consummated。　　The　season　of　her　taking
the　veil　was　fixed　for　the　time　when　you　should　be　upon　your
travels：　　In　the　meanwhile　no　hint　was　dropped　of　Donna
Inesilla's　fatal　vow。　　Your　Sister　was　never　permitted　to　know
your　direction。　　All　your　letters　were　read　before　She　received
them；　and　those　parts　effaced；　which　were　likely　to　nourish　her
inclination　for　the　world：　　Her　answers　were　dictated　either　by
her　Aunt；　or　by　Dame　Cunegonda；　her　Governess。　　These　particulars
I　learnt　partly　from　Agnes；　partly　from　the　Baroness　herself。

I　immediately　determined　upon　rescuing　this　lovely　Girl　from　a
fate　so　contrary　to　her　inclinations；　and　ill…suited　to　her
merit。　　I　endeavoured　to　ingratiate　myself　into　her　favour：　　I
boasted　of　my　friendship　and　intimacy　with　you。　　She　listened　to
me　with　avidity；　She　seemed　to　devour　my　words　while　I　spoke　in
your　praise；　and　her　eyes　thanked　me　for　my　affection　to　her
Brother。　　My　constant　and　unremitted　attention　at　length　gained
me　her　heart；　and　with　difficulty　I　obliged　her　to　confess　that
She　loved　me。　　When　however；　I　proposed　her　quitting　the　Castle
of　Lindenberg；　She　rejected　the　idea　in　positive　terms。

'Be　generous；　Alphonso；'　She　said；　'You　possess　my　heart；　but　use
not　the　gift　ignobly。　　Employ　not　your　ascendancy　over　me　in
persuading　me　to　take　a　step；　at　which　I　should　hereafter　have
to　blush。　　I　am　yo