the monk(僧侣)-第53节

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History；　with　which　you　are　still　unacquainted。　　Listen；　and　do
not　interrupt　me：　　Should　my　confession　disgust　you；　remember
that　in　making　it　my　sole　aim　is　to　satisfy　your　wishes；　and
restore　that　peace　to　your　heart　which　at　present　has　abandoned
it。　　I　formerly　mentioned　that　my　Guardian　was　a　Man　of　uncommon
knowledge：　　He　took　pains　to　instil　that　knowledge　into　my　infant
mind。　　Among　the　various　sciences　which　curiosity　had　induced　him
to　explore；　He　neglected　not　that　which　by　most　is　esteemed
impious；　and　by　many　chimerical。　　I　speak　of　those　arts　which
relate　to　the　world　of　Spirits。　　His　deep　researches　into　causes
and　effects；　his　unwearied　application　to　the　study　of　natural
philosophy；　his　profound　and　unlimited　knowledge　of　the
properties　and　virtues　of　every　gem　which　enriches　the　deep；　of
every　herb　which　the　earth　produces；　at　length　procured　him　the
distinction　which　He　had　sought　so　long；　so　earnestly。　　His
curiosity　was　fully　slaked；　his　ambition　amply　gratified。　　He
gave　laws　to　the　elements；　He　could　reverse　the　order　of　nature；
His　eye　read　the　mandates　of　futurity；　and　the　infernal　Spirits
were　submissive　to　his　commands。　　Why　shrink　you　from　me？　　I
understand　that　enquiring　look。　　Your　suspicions　are　right；
though　your　terrors　are　unfounded。　　My　Guardian　concealed　not
from　me　his　most　precious　acquisition。　　Yet　had　I　never　seen　YOU；
I　should　never　have　exerted　my　power。　　Like　you　I　shuddered　at
the　thoughts　of　Magic：　　Like　you　I　had　formed　a　terrible　idea　of
the　consequences　of　raising　a　daemon。　　To　preserve　that　life
which　your　love　had　taught　me　to　prize；　I　had　recourse　to　means
which　I　trembled　at　employing。　　You　remember　that　night　which　I
past　in　St。　Clare's　Sepulchre？　　Then　was　it　that；　surrounded　by
mouldering　bodies；　I　dared　to　perform　those　mystic　rites　which
summoned　to　my　aid　a　fallen　Angel。　　Judge　what　must　have　been　my
joy　at　discovering　that　my　terrors　were　imaginary：　　I　saw　the
Daemon　obedient　to　my　orders；　I　saw　him　trembling　at　my　frown；
and　found　that；　instead　of　selling　my　soul　to　a　Master；　my
courage　had　purchased　for　myself　a　Slave。'

'Rash　Matilda！　　What　have　you　done？　　You　have　doomed　yourself　to
endless　perdition；　You　have　bartered　for　momentary　power　eternal
happiness！　　If　on　witchcraft　depends　the　fruition　of　my　desires；
I　renounce　your　aid　most　absolutely。　　The　consequences　are　too
horrible：　　I　doat　upon　Antonia；　but　am　not　so　blinded　by　lust　as
to　sacrifice　for　her　enjoyment　my　existence　both　in　this　world
and　the　next。'

'Ridiculous　prejudices！　　Oh！　blush；　Ambrosio；　blush　at　being
subjected　to　their　dominion。　　Where　is　the　risque　of　accepting　my
offers？　　What　should　induce　my　persuading　you　to　this　step；
except　the　wish　of　restoring　you　to　happiness　and　quiet。　　If
there　is　danger；　it　must　fall　upon　me：　　It　is　I　who　invoke　the
ministry　of　the　Spirits；　Mine　therefore　will　be　the　crime；　and
yours　the　profit。　　But　danger　there　is　none：　　The　Enemy　of
Mankind　is　my　Slave；　not　my　Sovereign。　　Is　there　no　difference
between　giving　and　receiving　laws；　between　serving　and
commanding？　　Awake　from　your　idle　dreams；　Ambrosio！　Throw　from
you　these　terrors　so　ill…suited　to　a　soul　like　yours；　Leave　them
for　common　Men；　and　dare　to　be　happy！　　Accompany　me　this　night　to
St。　Clare's　Sepulchre；　witness　my　incantations；　and　Antonia　is
your　own。'

'To　obtain　her　by　such　means　I　neither　can；　or　will。　　Cease　then
to　persuade　me；　for　I　dare　not　employ　Hell's　agency。

'You　DARE　not？　　How　have　you　deceived　me！　　That　mind　which　I
esteemed　so　great　and　valiant；　proves　to　be　feeble；　puerile；　and
grovelling；　a　slave　to　vulgar　errors；　and　weaker　than　a　Woman's。'

'What？　　Though　conscious　of　the　danger；　wilfully　shall　I　expose
myself　to　the　Seducer's　arts？　　Shall　I　renounce　for　ever　my　title
to　salvation？　　Shall　my　eyes　seek　a　sight　which　I　know　will
blast　them？　　No；　no；　Matilda；　I　will　not　ally　myself　with　God's
Enemy。'

'Are　you　then　God's　Friend　at　present？　　Have　you　not　broken　your
engagements　with　him；　renounced　his　service；　and　abandoned
yourself　to　the　impulse　of　your　passions？　　Are　you　not　planning
the　destruction　of　innocence；　the　ruin　of　a　Creature　whom　He
formed　in　the　mould　of　Angels？　　If　not　of　Daemons；　whose　aid
would　you　invoke　to　forward　this　laudable　design？　　Will　the
Seraphims　protect　it；　conduct　Antonia　to　your　arms；　and　sanction
with　their　ministry　your　illicit　pleasures？　　Absurd！　　But　I　am
not　deceived；　Ambrosio！　　It　is　not　virtue　which　makes　you　reject
my　offer：　　You　WOULD　accept　it；　but　you　dare　not。　　'Tis　not　the
crime　which　holds　your　hand；　but　the　punishment；　'Tis　not　respect
for　God　which　restrains　you；　but　the　terror　of　his　vengeance！　
Fain　would　you　offend　him　in　secret；　but　you　tremble　to　profess
yourself　his　Foe。　　Now　shame　on　the　coward　soul；　which　wants　the
courage　either　to　be　a　firm　Friend　or　open　Enemy！'

'To　look　upon　guilt　with　horror；　Matilda；　is　in　itself　a　merit：　
In　this　respect　I　glory　to　confess　myself　a　Coward。　　Though　my
passions　have　made　me　deviate　from　her　laws；　I　still　feel　in　my
heart　an　innate　love　of　virtue。　　But　it　ill　becomes　you　to　tax　me
with　my　perjury：　　You；　who　first　seduced　me　to　violate　my　vows；
You；　who　first　rouzed　my　sleeping　vices；　made　me　feel　the　weight
of　Religion's　chains；　and　bad　me　be　convinced　that　guilt　had
pleasures。　　Yet　though　my　principles　have　yielded　to　the　force　of
temperament；　I　still　have　sufficient　grace　to　shudder　at　Sorcery；
and　avoid　a　crime　so　monstrous；　so　unpardonable！'

'Unpardonable；　say　you？　　Where　then　is　your　constant　boast　of　the
Almighty's　infinite　mercy？　　Has　He　of　late　set　bounds　to　it？　
Receives　He　no　longer　a　Sinner　with　joy？　　You　injure　him；
Ambrosio；　You　will　always　have　time　to　repent；　and　He　have
goodness　to　forgive。　　Afford　him　a　glorious　opportunity　to　exert
that　goodness：　　The　greater　your　crime；　the　greater　his　merit　in
pardoning。　　Away　then　with　these　childish　scruples：　　Be　persuaded
to　your　good；　and　follow　me　to　the　Sepulchre。'

'Oh！　cease；　Matilda！　　That　scoffing　tone；　that　bold　and　impious
language；　is　horrible　in　every　mouth；　but　most　so　in　a　Woman's。　
Let　us　drop　a　conversation　which　excites　no　other　sentiments
than　horror　and　disgust。　　I　will　not　follow　you　to　the　Sepulchre；
or　accept　the　services　of　your　infernal　Agents。　　Antonia　shall　be
mine；　but　mine　by　human　means。'

'Then　yours　She　will　never　be！　　You　are　banished　her　presence；
Her　Mother　has　opened　her　eyes　to　your　designs；　and　She　is　now
upon　her　guard　against　them。　　Nay　more；　She　loves　another。　　A
Youth　of　distinguished　merit　possesses　her　heart；　and　unless　you
interfere；　a　few　days　will　make　her　his　Bride。　　This　intelligence
was　brought　me　by　my　invisible　Servants；　to　whom　I　had　recourse
on　first　perceiving　your　indifference。　　They　watched　your　every
action；　related　to　me　all　that　past　at　Elvira's；　and　inspired　me
with　the　idea　of　favouring　your　designs。　　Their　reports　have　been
my　only　comfort。　　Though　you　shunned　my　presence；　all　your
proceedings　were　known　to　me：　　Nay；　I　was　constantly　with　you　in
some　degree；　thanks　to　this　precious　gift！'

With　these　words　She　drew　from　beneath　her　habit　a　mirror　of
polished　steel；　the　borders　of　which　were　marked　with　various
strange　and　unknown　characters。

'Amidst　all　my　sorrows；　amidst　all　my　regrets　for　your　coldness；
I　was　sustained　from　despair　by　the　virtues　of　this　Talisman。　　On
pronouncing　certain　words；　the　Person　appears　in　it　on　whom　the
Observer's　thoughts　are　bent：　thus　though　_I_　was　exiled　from
YOUR　sight；　you；　Ambrosio；　were　ever　present　to　mine。'

The　Friar's　curiosity　was　excited　strongly。

'What　you　relate　is　incredible！　　Matilda；　are　you　not　amusing
yourself　with　my　credulity？'

'Be　your　own　eyes　the　Judge。'

She　put　the　Mirror　into　his　hand。　　Curiosity　induced　him　to　take
it；　and　Love；　to　wish　that　Antonia　might　appear。　　Matilda
pronounced　the　magic　words。　　Immediately；　a　thick　smoke　rose　from
the　characters　traced　upon　the　borders；　and　spread　itself　over
the　surface。　　It　dispersed　again　gradually；　A　confused　mixture　of
colours　and　images　presented　themselves　to　the　Friar's　eyes；
which　at　length　arranging　themselves　in　their　proper　places；　He
beheld　in　miniature　Antonia's　lovely　form。

The　scene　was　a　small　closet　belonging　to　her　apartment。　　She　was
undressing　to　bathe　herself。　　The　long　tresses　of　her　hair　were
already　bound　up。　　The　amorous　Monk　had　full　opportunity　to
observe　the　voluptuous　contours　and　admirable　symmetry　of　her
person。　　She　threw　off　her　last　garment；　and　advancing　to　the
Bath　prepared　for　her；　She　put　her　foot　into　the　water。　　It
struck　cold；　and　She　drew　it　back　again。　　Though　unconscious　of
being　observed；　an　inbred　sense　of　modesty　induced　her　to　veil
her　charms；　and　She　stood　hesitating　upon　the　brink；　in　the
attitude　of　the　Venus　de　Medicis。　At　this　moment　a　tame　Linnet
flew　towards　her；　nestled　its　head　between　her　breasts；　and
nibbled　them　in　wanton　play。　　The　smiling　Antonia　strove　in　vain
to　shake　off　the　Bird；　and　at　length　raised　her　hands　to　drive　it
from　its　delightful　harbour。　　Ambrosio　could　bear　no　more：　　His
desires　were　worked　up　to　phrenzy。

'I　yield！'　He　cried；　dashing　the