the monk(僧侣)-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ascended　the　Steps；　and　then　turning　towards　his　Followers；
addressed　to　them　a　few　words　of　gratitude；　and　exhortation。　
While　He　spoke；　his　Rosary；　composed　of　large　grains　of　amber；
fell　from　his　hand；　and　dropped　among　the　surrounding　multitude。　
It　was　seized　eagerly；　and　immediately　divided　amidst　the
Spectators。　　Whoever　became　possessor　of　a　Bead；　preserved　it　as
a　sacred　relique；　and　had　it　been　the　Chaplet　of　thrice…blessed
St。　Francis　himself；　it　could　not　have　been　disputed　with　greater
vivacity。　　The　Abbot；　smiling　at　their　eagerness；　pronounced　his
benediction；　and　quitted　the　Church；　while　humility　dwelt　upon
every　feature。　　Dwelt　She　also　in　his　heart？

Antonia's　eyes　followed　him　with　anxiety。　　As　the　Door　closed
after　him；　it　seemed　to　her　as　had　she　lost　some　one　essential　to
her　happiness。　　A　tear　stole　in　silence　down　her　cheek。

'He　is　separated　from　the　world！'　said　She　to　herself；　'Perhaps；
I　shall　never　see　him　more！'

As　she　wiped　away　the　tear；　Lorenzo　observed　her　action。

'Are　you　satisfied　with　our　Orator？'　said　He；　'Or　do　you　think
that　Madrid　overrates　his　talents？'

Antonia's　heart　was　so　filled　with　admiration　for　the　Monk；　that
She　eagerly　seized　the　opportunity　of　speaking　of　him：　　Besides；
as　She　now　no　longer　considered　Lorenzo　as　an　absolute　Stranger；
She　was　less　embarrassed　by　her　excessive　timidity。

'Oh！　　He　far　exceeds　all　my　expectations；'　answered　She；　'Till
this　moment　I　had　no　idea　of　the　powers　of　eloquence。　　But　when
He　spoke；　his　voice　inspired　me　with　such　interest；　such　esteem；
I　might　almost　say　such　affection　for　him；　that　I　am　myself
astonished　at　the　acuteness　of　my　feelings。'

Lorenzo　smiled　at　the　strength　of　her　expressions。

'You　are　young　and　just　entering　into　life；'　said　He；　'Your
heart；　new　to　the　world　and　full　of　warmth　and　sensibility；
receives　its　first　impressions　with　eagerness。　　Artless　yourself；
you　suspect　not　others　of　deceit；　and　viewing　the　world　through
the　medium　of　your　own　truth　and　innocence；　you　fancy　all　who
surround　you　to　deserve　your　confidence　and　esteem。　　What　pity；
that　these　gay　visions　must　soon　be　dissipated！　　What　pity；　that
you　must　soon　discover　the　baseness　of　mankind；　and　guard　against
your　fellow…creatures　as　against　your　Foes！'

'Alas！　Segnor；'　replied　Antonia；　'The　misfortunes　of　my　Parents
have　already　placed　before　me　but　too　many　sad　examples　of　the
perfidy　of　the　world！　　Yet　surely　in　the　present　instance　the
warmth　of　sympathy　cannot　have　deceived　me。'

'In　the　present　instance；　I　allow　that　it　has　not。　　Ambrosio's
character　is　perfectly　without　reproach；　and　a　Man　who　has　passed
the　whole　of　his　life　within　the　walls　of　a　Convent　cannot　have
found　the　opportunity　to　be　guilty；　even　were　He　possessed　of　the
inclination。　　But　now；　when；　obliged　by　the　duties　of　his
situation；　He　must　enter　occasionally　into　the　world；　and　be
thrown　into　the　way　of　temptation；　it　is　now　that　it　behoves　him
to　show　the　brilliance　of　his　virtue。　　The　trial　is　dangerous；　He
is　just　at　that　period　of　life　when　the　passions　are　most
vigorous；　unbridled；　and　despotic；　His　established　reputation
will　mark　him　out　to　Seduction　as　an　illustrious　Victim；　Novelty
will　give　additional　charms　to　the　allurements　of　pleasure；　and
even　the　Talents　with　which　Nature　has　endowed　him　will
contribute　to　his　ruin；　by　facilitating　the　means　of　obtaining
his　object。　　Very　few　would　return　victorious　from　a　contest　so
severe。'

'Ah！　surely　Ambrosio　will　be　one　of　those　few。'

'Of　that　I　have　myself　no　doubt：　　By　all　accounts　He　is　an
exception　to　mankind　in　general；　and　Envy　would　seek　in　vain　for
a　blot　upon　his　character。'

'Segnor；　you　delight　me　by　this　assurance！　　It　encourages　me　to
indulge　my　prepossession　in　his　favour；　and　you　know　not　with
what　pain　I　should　have　repressed　the　sentiment！　　Ah！　dearest
Aunt；　entreat　my　Mother　to　choose　him　for　our　Confessor。'

'I　entreat　her？'　replied　Leonella；　'I　promise　you　that　I　shall　do
no　such　thing。　　I　do　not　like　this　same　Ambrosio　in　the　least；　He
has　a　look　of　severity　about　him　that　made　me　tremble　from　head
to　foot：　　Were　He　my　Confessor；　I　should　never　have　the　courage
to　avow　one　half　of　my　peccadilloes；　and　then　I　should　be　in　a
rare　condition！　　I　never　saw　such　a　stern…looking　Mortal；　and
hope　that　I　never　shall　see　such　another。　　His　description　of　the
Devil；　God　bless　us！　almost　terrified　me　out　of　my　wits；　and　when
He　spoke　about　Sinners　He　seemed　as　if　He　was　ready　to　eat　them。'

'You　are　right；　Segnora；'　answered　Don　Christoval；　'Too　great
severity　is　said　to　be　Ambrosio's　only　fault。　Exempted　himself
from　human　failings；　He　is　not　sufficiently　indulgent　to　those　of
others；　and　though　strictly　just　and　disinterested　in　his
decisions；　his　government　of　the　Monks　has　already　shown　some
proofs　of　his　inflexibility。　But　the　crowd　is　nearly　dissipated：　
Will　you　permit　us　to　attend　you　home？'

'Oh！　Christ！　Segnor；'　exclaimed　Leonella　affecting　to　blush；　'I
would　not　suffer　such　a　thing　for　the　Universe！　　If　I　came　home
attended　by　so　gallant　a　Cavalier；　My　Sister　is　so　scrupulous
that　She　would　read　me　an　hour's　lecture；　and　I　should　never　hear
the　last　of　it。　　Besides；　I　rather　wish　you　not　to　make　your
proposals　just　at　present。'

'My　proposals？　　I　assure　you；　Segnora。　。　。　。'

'Oh！　Segnor；　I　believe　that　your　assurances　of　impatience　are　all
very　true；　But　really　I　must　desire　a　little　respite。　　It　would
not　be　quite　so　delicate　in　me　to　accept　your　hand　at　first
sight。'

'Accept　my　hand？　　As　I　hope　to　live　and　breathe。　。　。　。'

'Oh！　dear　Segnor；　press　me　no　further；　if　you　love　me！　I　shall
consider　your　obedience　as　a　proof　of　your　affection；　You　shall
hear　from　me　tomorrow；　and　so　farewell。　　But　pray；　Cavaliers；
may　I　not　enquire　your　names？'

'My　Friend's；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'is　the　Conde　d'Ossorio；　and　mine
Lorenzo　de　Medina。'

'　'Tis　sufficient。　　Well；　Don　Lorenzo；　I　shall　acquaint　my　Sister
with　your　obliging　offer；　and　let　you　know　the　result　with　all
expedition。　　Where　may　I　send　to　you？'

'I　am　always　to　be　found　at　the　Medina　Palace。'

'You　may　depend　upon　hearing　from　me。　　Farewell；　Cavaliers。　
Segnor　Conde；　let　me　entreat　you　to　moderate　the　excessive　ardour
of　your　passion：　　However；　to　prove　to　you　that　I　am　not
displeased　with　you；　and　prevent　your　abandoning　yourself　to
despair；　receive　this　mark　of　my　affection；　and　sometimes　bestow
a　thought　upon　the　absent　Leonella。'

As　She　said　this；　She　extended　a　lean　and　wrinkled　hand；　which
her　supposed　Admirer　kissed　with　such　sorry　grace　and　constraint
so　evident；　that　Lorenzo　with　difficulty　repressed　his
inclination　to　laugh。　　Leonella　then　hastened　to　quit　the　Church；
The　lovely　Antonia　followed　her　in　silence；　but　when　She　reached
the　Porch；　She　turned　involuntarily；　and　cast　back　her　eyes
towards　Lorenzo。　　He　bowed　to　her；　as　bidding　her　farewell；　She
returned　the　compliment；　and　hastily　withdrew。

'So；　Lorenzo！'　said　Don　Christoval　as　soon　as　they　were　alone；
'You　have　procured　me　an　agreeable　Intrigue！　　To　favour　your
designs　upon　Antonia；　I　obligingly　make　a　few　civil　speeches
which　mean　nothing　to　the　Aunt；　and　at　the　end　of　an　hour　I　find
myself　upon　the　brink　of　Matrimony！　　How　will　you　reward　me　for
having　suffered　so　grievously　for　your　sake？　　What　can　repay　me
for　having　kissed　the　leathern　paw　of　that　confounded　old　Witch？　
Diavolo！　　She　has　left　such　a　scent　upon　my　lips　that　I　shall
smell　of　garlick　for　this　month　to　come！　　As　I　pass　along　the
Prado；　I　shall　be　taken　for　a　walking　Omelet；　or　some　large　Onion
running　to　seed！'

'I　confess；　my　poor　Count；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'that　your　service
has　been　attended　with　danger；　Yet　am　I　so　far　from　supposing　it
be　past　all　endurance　that　I　shall　probably　solicit　you　to　carry
on　your　amours　still　further。'

'From　that　petition　I　conclude　that　the　little　Antonia　has　made
some　impression　upon　you。'

'I　cannot　express　to　you　how　much　I　am　charmed　with　her。　　Since
my　Father's　death；　My　Uncle　the　Duke　de　Medina；　has　signified　to
me　his　wishes　to　see　me　married；　I　have　till　now　eluded　his
hints；　and　refused　to　understand　them；　But　what　I　have　seen　this
Evening。　。　。　。'

'Well？　　What　have　you　seen　this　Evening？　　Why　surely；　Don
Lorenzo；　You　cannot　be　mad　enough　to　think　of　making　a　Wife　out
of　this　Grand…daughter　of　''as　honest　a　painstaking　Shoe…maker
as　any　in　Cordova''？'

'You　forget；　that　She　is　also　the　Grand…daughter　of　the　late
Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　But　without　disputing　about　birth　and
titles；　I　must　assure　you；　that　I　never　beheld　a　Woman　so
interesting　as　Antonia。'

'Very　possibly；　But　you　cannot　mean　to　marry　her？'

'Why　not；　my　dear　Conde？　　I　shall　have　wealth　enough　for　both　of
us；　and　you　know　that　my　Uncle　thinks　liberally　upon　the　subject。

From　what　I　have　seen　of　Raymond　de　las　Cisternas；　I　am　certain
that　he　will　readily　acknowledge　Antonia　for　his　Niece。　　Her
birth　therefore　will　be　no　objection　to　my　offering　her　my　hand。　
I　should　be　a　Villain　could　I　think　of　her　on　any　other　terms
than　marriage；　and　in　truth　She　seems　possessed　of　every　quality
requisite　to　make　me　happy　in　a　Wife。　　Young；　lovely