the monk(僧侣)-第52节

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truly　and　tenderly！'

'Indeed；　I　do：　　Let　my　Mother　be　excepted；　and　the　world　holds　no
one　more　dear　to　me！'

At　this　frank　avowal　Ambrosio　no　longer　possessed　himself；　Wild
with　desire；　He　clasped　the　blushing　Trembler　in　his　arms。　　He
fastened　his　lips　greedily　upon　hers；　sucked　in　her　pure
delicious　breath；　violated　with　his　bold　hand　the　treasures　of
her　bosom；　and　wound　around　him　her　soft　and　yielding　limbs。　
Startled；　alarmed；　and　confused　at　his　action；　surprize　at　first
deprived　her　of　the　power　of　resistance。　　At　length　recovering
herself；　She　strove　to　escape　from　his　embrace。

'Father！　　。　。　。　。　　Ambrosio！'　She　cried；　'Release　me；　for　God's
sake！'

But　the　licentious　Monk　heeded　not　her　prayers：　　He　persisted　in
his　design；　and　proceeded　to　take　still　greater　liberties。　
Antonia　prayed；　wept；　and　struggled：　　Terrified　to　the　extreme；
though　at　what　She　knew　not；　She　exerted　all　her　strength　to
repulse　the　Friar；　and　was　on　the　point　of　shrieking　for
assistance　when　the　chamber　door　was　suddenly　thrown　open。　
Ambrosio　had　just　sufficient　presence　of　mind　to　be　sensible　of
his　danger。　　Reluctantly　He　quitted　his　prey；　and　started　hastily
from　the　Couch。　　Antonia　uttered　an　exclamation　of　joy；　flew
towards　the　door；　and　found　herself　clasped　in　the　arms　of　her
Mother。

Alarmed　at　some　of　the　Abbot's　speeches；　which　Antonia　had
innocently　repeated；　Elvira　resolved　to　ascertain　the　truth　of
her　suspicions。　　She　had　known　enough　of　Mankind　not　to　be
imposed　upon　by　the　Monk's　reputed　virtue。　　She　reflected　on
several　circumstances；　which　though　trifling；　on　being　put
together　seemed　to　authorize　her　fears。　　His　frequent　visits；
which　as　far　as　She　could　see；　were　confined　to　her　family；　His
evident　emotion；　whenever　She　spoke　of　Antonia；　His　being　in　the
full　prime　and　heat　of　Manhood；　and　above　all；　his　pernicious
philosophy　communicated　to　her　by　Antonia；　and　which　accorded　but
ill　with　his　conversation　in　her　presence；　all　these
circumstances　inspired　her　with　doubts　respecting　the　purity　of
Ambrosio's　friendship。　　In　consequence；　She　resolved；　when　He
should　next　be　alone　with　Antonia；　to　endeavour　at　surprizing
him。　　Her　plan　had　succeeded。　　'Tis　true；　that　when　She　entered
the　room；　He　had　already　abandoned　his　prey；　But　the　disorder　of
her　Daughter's　dress；　and　the　shame　and　confusion　stamped　upon
the　Friar's　countenance；　sufficed　to　prove　that　her　suspicions
were　but　too　well…founded。　　However；　She　was　too　prudent　to　make
those　suspicions　known。　　She　judged　that　to　unmask　the　Imposter
would　be　no　easy　matter；　the　public　being　so　much　prejudiced　in
his　favour：　and　having　but　few　Friends；　She　thought　it　dangerous
to　make　herself　so　powerful　an　Enemy。　　She　affected　therefore　not
to　remark　his　agitation；　seated　herself　tranquilly　upon　the
Sopha；　assigned　some　trifling　reason　for　having　quitted　her　room
unexpectedly；　and　conversed　on　various　subjects　with　seeming
confidence　and　ease。

Reassured　by　her　behaviour；　the　Monk　began　to　recover　himself。　
He　strove　to　answer　Elvira　without　appearing　embarrassed：　　But　He
was　still　too　great　a　novice　in　dissimulation；　and　He　felt　that
He　must　look　confused　and　awkward。　　He　soon　broke　off　the
conversation；　and　rose　to　depart。　　What　was　his　vexation；　when　on
taking　leave；　Elvira　told　him　in　polite　terms；　that　being　now
perfectly　reestablished；　She　thought　it　an　injustice　to　deprive
Others　of　his　company；　who　might　be　more　in　need　of　it！　　She
assured　him　of　her　eternal　gratitude；　for　the　benefit　which
during　her　illness　She　had　derived　from　his　society　and
exhortations：　　And　She　lamented　that　her　domestic　affairs；　as
well　as　the　multitude　of　business　which　his　situation　must　of
necessity　impose　upon　him；　would　in　future　deprive　her　of　the
pleasure　of　his　visits。　　Though　delivered　in　the　mildest　language
this　hint　was　too　plain　to　be　mistaken。　　Still；　He　was　preparing
to　put　in　a　remonstrance　when　an　expressive　look　from　Elvira
stopped　him　short。　　He　dared　not　press　her　to　receive　him；　for
her　manner　convinced　him　that　He　was　discovered：　　He　submitted
without　reply；　took　an　hasty　leave；　and　retired　to　the　Abbey；　his
heart　filled　with　rage　and　shame；　with　bitterness　and
disappointment。

Antonia's　mind　felt　relieved　by　his　departure；　Yet　She　could　not
help　lamenting　that　She　was　never　to　see　him　more。　　Elvira　also
felt　a　secret　sorrow；　She　had　received　too　much　pleasure　from
thinking　him　her　Friend；　not　to　regret　the　necessity　of　changing
her　opinion：　　But　her　mind　was　too　much　accustomed　to　the　fallacy
of　worldly　friendships　to　permit　her　present　disappointment　to
weigh　upon　it　long。　　She　now　endeavoured　to　make　her　Daughter
aware　of　the　risque　which　She　had　ran：　　But　She　was　obliged　to
treat　the　subject　with　caution；　lest　in　removing　the　bandage　of
ignorance；　the　veil　of　innocence　should　be　rent　away。　　She
therefore　contented　herself　with　warning　Antonia　to　be　upon　her
guard；　and　ordering　her；　should　the　Abbot　persist　in　his　visits；
never　to　receive　them　but　in　company。　　With　this　injunction
Antonia　promised　to　comply。

Ambrosio　hastened　to　his　Cell。　　He　closed　the　door　after　him；　and
threw　himself　upon　the　bed　in　despair。　The　impulse　of　desire；　the
stings　of　disappointment；　the　shame　of　detection；　and　the　fear　of
being　publicly　unmasked；　rendered　his　bosom　a　scene　of　the　most
horrible　confusion。　　He　knew　not　what　course　to　pursue。　　Debarred
the　presence　of　Antonia；　He　had　no　hopes　of　satisfying　that
passion　which　was　now　become　a　part　of　his　existence。　　He
reflected　that　his　secret　was　in　a　Woman's　power：　　He　trembled
with　apprehension　when　He　beheld　the　precipice　before　him；　and
with　rage；　when　He　thought　that　had　it　not　been　for　Elvira；　He
should　now　have　possessed　the　object　of　his　desires。　　With　the
direct　imprecations　He　vowed　vengeance　against　her；　He　swore
that；　cost　what　it　would；　He　still　would　possess　Antonia。　
Starting　from　the　Bed；　He　paced　the　chamber　with　disordered
steps；　howled　with　impotent　fury；　dashed　himself　violently
against　the　walls；　and　indulged　all　the　transports　of　rage　and
madness。

He　was　still　under　the　influence　of　this　storm　of　passions　when
He　heard　a　gentle　knock　at　the　door　of　his　Cell。　　Conscious　that
his　voice　must　have　been　heard；　He　dared　not　refuse　admittance　to
the　Importuner：　　He　strove　to　compose　himself；　and　to　hide　his
agitation。　　Having　in　some　degree　succeeded；　He　drew　back　the
bolt：　　The　door　opened；　and　Matilda　appeared。

At　this　precise　moment　there　was　no　one　with　whose　presence　He
could　better　have　dispensed。　　He　had　not　sufficient　command　over
himself　to　conceal　his　vexation。　He　started　back；　and　frowned。

'I　am　busy；'　said　He　in　a　stern　and　hasty　tone；　'Leave　me！'

Matilda　heeded　him　not：　　She　again　fastened　the　door；　and　then
advanced　towards　him　with　an　air　gentle　and　supplicating。

'Forgive　me；　Ambrosio；'　said　She；　'For　your　own　sake　I　must　not
obey　you。　　Fear　no　complaints　from　me；　I　come　not　to　reproach　you
with　your　ingratitude。　　I　pardon　you　from　my　heart；　and　since
your　love　can　no　longer　be　mine；　I　request　the　next　best　gift；
your　confidence　and　friendship。　　We　cannot　force　our
inclinations；　The　little　beauty　which　you　once　saw　in　me　has
perished　with　its　novelty；　and　if　it　can　no　longer　excite　desire；
mine　is　the　fault；　not　yours。　　But　why　persist　in　shunning　me？
Why　such　anxiety　to　fly　my　presence？　　You　have　sorrows；　but　will
not　permit　me　to　share　them；　You　have　disappointments；　but　will
not　accept　my　comfort；　You　have　wishes；　but　forbid　my　aiding　your
pursuits。　　'Tis　of　this　which　I　complain；　not　of　your
indifference　to　my　person。　　I　have　given　up　the　claims　of　the
Mistress；　but　nothing　shall　prevail　on　me　to　give　up　those　of　the
Friend。'

Her　mildness　had　an　instantaneous　effect　upon　Ambrosio's
feelings。

'Generous　Matilda！'　He　replied；　taking　her　hand；　'How　far　do　you
rise　superior　to　the　foibles　of　your　sex！　　Yes；　I　accept　your
offer。　　I　have　need　of　an　adviser；　and　a　Confident：　　In　you　I
find　every　needful　quality　united。　　But　to　aid　my　pursuits　。　。　。
。　Ah！　Matilda；　it　lies　not　in　your　power！'

'It　lies　in　no　one's　power　but　mine。　　Ambrosio；　your　secret　is
none　to　me；　Your　every　step；　your　every　action　has　been　observed
by　my　attentive　eye。　　You　love。'

'Matilda！'

'Why　conceal　it　from　me？　　Fear　not　the　little　jealousy　which
taints　the　generality　of　Women：　　My　soul　disdains　so　despicable　a
passion。　　You　love；　Ambrosio；　Antonia　Dalfa　is　the　object　of　your
flame。　　I　know　every　circumstance　respecting　your　passion：　　Every
conversation　has　been　repeated　to　me。　　I　have　been　informed　of
your　attempt　to　enjoy　Antonia's　person；　your　disappointment；　and
dismission　from　Elvira's　House。　　You　now　despair　of　possessing
your　Mistress；　But　I　come　to　revive　your　hopes；　and　point　out　the
road　to　success。'

'To　success？　　Oh！　impossible！'

'To　them　who　dare　nothing　is　impossible。　　Rely　upon　me；　and　you
may　yet　be　happy。　　The　time　is　come；　Ambrosio；　when　regard　for
your　comfort　and　tranquillity　compels　me　to　reveal　a　part　of　my
History；　with　which　you　are　still　unacquainted。　　Listen；　and　do
not　interrupt　me：　　Should　my　confession　disgust　you；　remember
that　in　making　it　m