the monk(僧侣)-第26节

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persuading　me　to　take　a　step；　at　which　I　should　hereafter　have
to　blush。　　I　am　young　and　deserted：　　My　Brother；　my　only　Friend；
is　separated　from　me；　and　my　other　Relations　act　with　me　as　my
Enemies。　　Take　pity　on　my　unprotected　situation。　　Instead　of
seducing　me　to　an　action　which　would　cover　me　with　shame；　strive
rather　to　gain　the　affections　of　those　who　govern　me。　　The　Baron
esteems　you。　　My　Aunt；　to　others　ever　harsh　proud　and
contemptuous；　remembers　that　you　rescued　her　from　the　hands　of
Murderers；　and　wears　with　you　alone　the　appearance　of　kindness
and　benignity。　　Try　then　your　influence　over　my　Guardians。　　If
they　consent　to　our　union　my　hand　is　yours：　　From　your　account　of
my　Brother；　I　cannot　doubt　your　obtaining　his　approbation：　　And
when　they　find　the　impossibility　of　executing　their　design；　I
trust　that　my　Parents　will　excuse　my　disobedience；　and　expiate　by
some　other　sacrifice　my　Mother's　fatal　vow。'

From　the　first　moment　that　I　beheld　Agnes；　I　had　endeavoured　to
conciliate　the　favour　of　her　Relations。　　Authorised　by　the
confession　of　her　regard；　I　redoubled　my　exertions。　　My　principal
Battery　was　directed　against　the　Baroness；　It　was　easy　to
discover　that　her　word　was　law　in　the　Castle：　　Her　Husband　paid
her　the　most　absolute　submission；　and　considered　her　as　a
superior　Being。　　She　was　about　forty：　　In　her　youth　She　had　been
a　Beauty；　But　her　charms　had　been　upon　that　large　scale　which　can
but　ill　sustain　the　shock　of　years：　　However　She　still　possessed
some　remains　of　them。　　Her　understanding　was　strong　and　excellent
when　not　obscured　by　prejudice；　which　unluckily　was　but　seldom
the　case。　　Her　passions　were　violent：　　She　spared　no　pains　to
gratify　them；　and　pursued　with　unremitting　vengeance　those　who
opposed　themselves　to　her　wishes。　　The　warmest　of　Friends；　the
most　inveterate　of　Enemies；　such　was　the　Baroness　Lindenberg。

I　laboured　incessantly　to　please　her：　　Unluckily　I　succeeded　but
too　well。　　She　seemed　gratified　by　my　attention；　and　treated　me
with　a　distinction　accorded　by　her　to　no　one　else。　　One　of　my
daily　occupations　was　reading　to　her　for　several　hours：　　Those
hours　I　should　much　rather　have　past　with　Agnes；　But　as　I　was
conscious　that　complaisance　for　her　Aunt　would　advance　our
union；　I　submitted　with　a　good　grace　to　the　penance　imposed　upon
me。　　Donna　Rodolpha's　Library　was　principally　composed　of　old
Spanish　Romances：　　These　were　her　favourite　studies；　and　once　a
day　one　of　these　unmerciful　Volumes　was　put　regularly　into　my
hands。　　I　read　the　wearisome　adventures　of　'Perceforest；'
'Tirante　the　White；'　'Palmerin　of　England；'　and　'the　Knight　of
the　Sun；'　till　the　Book　was　on　the　point　of　falling　from　my　hands
through　Ennui。　　However；　the　increasing　pleasure　which　the
Baroness　seemed　to　take　in　my　society；　encouraged　me　to
persevere；　and　latterly　She　showed　for　me　a　partiality　so　marked；
that　Agnes　advised　me　to　seize　the　first　opportunity　of　declaring
our　mutual　passion　to　her　Aunt。

One　Evening；　I　was　alone　with　Donna　Rodolpha　in　her　own
apartment。　　As　our　readings　generally　treated　of　love；　Agnes　was
never　permitted　to　assist　at　them。　　I　was　just　congratulating
myself　on　having　finished　'The　Loves　of　Tristan　and　the　Queen
Iseult'

'Ah！　　The　Unfortunates！'　cried　the　Baroness；　'How　say　you；
Segnor？　　Do　you　think　it　possible　for　Man　to　feel　an　attachment
so　disinterested　and　sincere？'

'I　cannot　doubt　it；'　replied　I；　'My　own　heart　furnishes　me　with
the　certainty。　　Ah！　Donna　Rodolpha；　might　I　but　hope　for　your
approbation　of　my　love！　　Might　I　but　confess　the　name　of　my
Mistress　without　incurring　your　resentment！'

She　interrupted　me。

'Suppose；　I　were　to　spare　you　that　confession？　　Suppose　I　were
to　acknowledge　that　the　object　of　your　desires　is　not　unknown　to
me？　　Suppose　I　were　to　say　that　She　returns　your　affection；　and
laments　not　less　sincerely　than　yourself　the　unhappy　vows　which
separate　her　from　you？'

'Ah！　Donna　Rodolpha！'　I　exclaimed；　throwing　myself　upon　my　knees
before　her；　and　pressing　her　hand　to　my　lips；　'You　have
discovered　my　secret！　　What　is　your　decision？　　Must　I　despair；　or
may　I　reckon　upon　your　favour？'

She　withdrew　not　the　hand　which　I　held；　But　She　turned　from　me；
and　covered　her　face　with　the　other。

'How　can　I　refuse　it　you？'　She　replied；　'Ah！　Don　Alphonso；　I　have
long　perceived　to　whom　your　attentions　were　directed；　but　till
now　I　perceived　not　the　impression　which　they　made　upon　my　heart。

At　length　I　can　no　longer　hide　my　weakness　either　from　myself　or
from　you。　　I　yield　to　the　violence　of　my　passion；　and　own　that　I
adore　you！　　For　three　long　months　I　stifled　my　desires；　But　grown
stronger　by　resistance；　I　submit　to　their　impetuosity。　　Pride；
fear；　and　honour；　respect　for　myself；　and　my　engagements　to　the
Baron；　all　are　vanquished。　　I　sacrifice　them　to　my　love　for　you；
and　it　still　seems　to　me　that　I　pay　too　mean　a　price　for　your
possession。'

She　paused　for　an　answer。Judge；　my　Lorenzo；　what　must　have　been
my　confusion　at　this　discovery。　　I　at　once　saw　all　the　magnitude
of　this　obstacle；　which　I　had　raised　myself　to　my　happiness。　　The
Baroness　had　placed　those　attentions　to　her　own　account；　which　I
had　merely　paid　her　for　the　sake　of　Agnes：　　And　the　strength　of
her　expressions；　the　looks　which　accompanied　them；　and　my
knowledge　of　her　revengeful　disposition　made　me　tremble　for
myself　and　my　Beloved。　　I　was　silent　for　some　minutes。　　I　knew
not　how　to　reply　to　her　declaration：　　I　could　only　resolve　to
clear　up　the　mistake　without　delay；　and　for　the　present　to
conceal　from　her　knowledge　the　name　of　my　Mistress。　　No　sooner
had　She　avowed　her　passion　than　the　transports　which　before　were
evident　in　my　features　gave　place　to　consternation　and
constraint。　　I　dropped　her　hand；　and　rose　from　my　knees。　　The
change　in　my　countenance　did　not　escape　her　observation。

'What　means　this　silence？'　said　She　in　a　trembling　voice；　'Where
is　that　joy　which　you　led　me　to　expect？'

'Forgive　me；　Segnora；'　I　answered；　'if　what　necessity　forces　from
me　should　seem　harsh　and　ungrateful：　　To　encourage　you　in　an
error；　which；　however　it　may　flatter　myself；　must　prove　to　you
the　source　of　disappointment；　would　make　me　appear　criminal　in
every　eye。　　Honour　obliges　me　to　inform　you　that　you　have
mistaken　for　the　solicitude　of　Love　what　was　only　the　attention
of　Friendship。　　The　latter　sentiment　is　that　which　I　wished　to
excite　in　your　bosom：　　To　entertain　a　warmer；　respect　for　you
forbids　me；　and　gratitude　for　the　Baron's　generous　treatment。　
Perhaps　these　reasons　would　not　be　sufficient　to　shield　me　from
your　attractions；　were　it　not　that　my　affections　are　already
bestowed　upon　another。　　You　have　charms；　Segnora；　which　might
captivate　the　most　insensible；　No　heart　unoccupied　could　resist
them。　　Happy　is　it　for　me　that　mine　is　no　longer　in　my
possession；　or　I　should　have　to　reproach　myself　for　ever　with
having　violated　the　Laws　of　Hospitality。　　Recollect　yourself；
noble　Lady；　Recollect　what　is　owed　by　you　to　honour；　by　me　to　the
Baron；　and　replace　by　esteem　and　friendship　those　sentiments
which　I　never　can　return。'

The　Baroness　turned　pale　at　this　unexpected　and　positive
declaration：　　She　doubted　whether　She　slept　or　woke。　　At　length
recovering　from　her　surprise；　consternation　gave　place　to　rage；
and　the　blood　rushed　back　into　her　cheeks　with　violence。

'Villain！'　She　cried；　'Monster　of　deceit！　　Thus　is　the　avowal　of
my　love　received？　　Is　it　thus　that。　。　。　。　　But　no；　no！　　It
cannot；　it　shall　not　be！　　Alphonso；　behold　me　at　your　feet！　　Be
witness　of　my　despair！　　Look　with　pity　on　a　Woman　who　loves　you
with　sincere　affection！　　She　who　possesses　your　heart；　how　has
She　merited　such　a　treasure？　　What　sacrifice　has　She　made　to　you？

What　raises　her　above　Rodolpha？'

I　endeavoured　to　lift　her　from　her　Knees。

'For　God's　sake；　Segnora；　restrain　these　transports：　They
disgrace　yourself　and　me。　　Your　exclamations　may　be　heard；　and
your　secret　divulged　to　your　Attendants。　　I　see　that　my　presence
only　irritates　you：　permit　me　to　retire。'

I　prepared　to　quit　the　apartment：　　The　Baroness　caught　me
suddenly　by　the　arm。

'And　who　is　this　happy　Rival？'　said　She　in　a　menacing　tone；　'I
will　know　her　name；　and　WHEN　I　know　it。　。　。　。　！　She　is　someone
in　my　power；　You　entreated　my　favour；　my　protection！　　Let　me　but
find　her；　let　me　but　know　who　dares　to　rob　me　of　your　heart；　and
She　shall　suffer　every　torment　which　jealousy　and　disappointment
can　inflict！　　Who　is　She？　　Answer　me　this　moment。　　Hope　not　to
conceal　her　from　my　vengeance！　　Spies　shall　be　set　over　you；
every　step；　every　look　shall　be　watched；　Your　eyes　will　discover
my　Rival；　I　shall　know　her；　and　when　She　is　found；　tremble；
Alphonso　for　her　and　for　yourself！'

As　She　uttered　these　last　words　her　fury　mounted　to　such　a　pitch
as　to　stop　her　powers　of　respiration。　　She　panted；　groaned；　and
at　length　fainted　away。　　As　She　was　falling　I　caught　her　in　my
arms；　and　placed　her　upon　a　Sopha。　　Then　hastening　to　the　door；　I
summoned　her　Women　to　her　assistance；　I　committed　her　to　their
care；　and　seized　the　opportunity　of　escaping。

Agitated　and　confused　beyond　expression　I　bent　my　steps　towards
the　Garden。