the monk(僧侣)-第69节

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her　brow　was　ornamented　with　a　sparkling　Diadem。　　After　her
appeared　St。　Genevieve；　surrounded　by　a　number　of　Imps；　who
putting　themselves　into　grotesque　attitudes；　drawing　her　by　the
robe；　and　sporting　round　her　with　antic　gestures；　endeavoured　to
distract　her　attention　from　the　Book；　on　which　her　eyes　were
constantly　fixed。　　These　merry　Devils　greatly　entertained　the
Spectators；　who　testified　their　pleasure　by　repeated　bursts　of
Laughter。　The　Prioress　had　been　careful　to　select　a　Nun　whose
disposition　was　naturally　solemn　and　saturnine。　　She　had　every
reason　to　be　satisfied　with　her　choice：　　The　drolleries　of　the
Imps　were　entirely　thrown　away；　and　St。　Genevieve　moved　on
without　discomposing　a　muscle。

Each　of　these　Saints　was　separated　from　the　Other　by　a　band　of
Choristers；　exalting　her　praise　in　their　Hymns；　but　declaring　her
to　be　very　much　inferior　to　St。　Clare；　the　Convent's　avowed
Patroness。　　These　having　passed；　a　long　train　of　Nuns　appeared；
bearing　like　the　Choristers　each　a　burning　Taper。　　Next　came　the
reliques　of　St。　Clare；　inclosed　in　vases　equally　precious　for
their　materials　and　workmanship：　　But　they　attracted　not
Lorenzo's　attention。　　The　Nun　who　bore　the　heart　occupied　him
entirely。　　According　to　Theodore's　description；　He　doubted　not
her　being　the　Mother　St。　Ursula。　　She　seemed　to　look　round　with
anxiety。　　As　He　stood　foremost　in　the　rank　by　which　the
procession　past；　her　eye　caught　Lorenzo's。　　A　flush　of　joy
overspread　her　till　then　pallid　cheek。　　She　turned　to　her
Companion　eagerly。

'We　are　safe！'　He　heard　her　whisper；　'　'tis　her　Brother！'

His　heart　being　now　at　ease；　Lorenzo　gazed　with　tranquillity　upon
the　remainder　of　the　show。　　Now　appeared　its　most　brilliant
ornament。　　It　was　a　Machine　fashioned　like　a　throne；　rich　with
jewels　and　dazzling　with　light。　　It　rolled　onwards　upon
concealed　wheels；　and　was　guided　by　several　lovely　Children；
dressed　as　Seraphs。　　The　summit　was　covered　with　silver　clouds；
upon　which　reclined　the　most　beautiful　form　that　eyes　ever
witnessed。　It　was　a　Damsel　representing　St。　Clare：　　Her　dress　was
of　inestimable　price；　and　round　her　head　a　wreath　of　Diamonds
formed　an　artificial　glory：　　But　all　these　ornaments　yielded　to
the　lustre　of　her　charms。　　As　She　advanced；　a　murmur　of　delight
ran　through　the　Crowd。　　Even　Lorenzo　confessed　secretly；　that　He
never　beheld　more　perfect　beauty；　and　had　not　his　heart　been
Antonia's；　it　must　have　fallen　a　sacrifice　to　this　enchanting
Girl。　　As　it　was；　He　considered　her　only　as　a　fine　Statue：　　She
obtained　from　him　no　tribute　save　cold　admiration；　and　when　She
had　passed　him；　He　thought　of　her　no　more。

'Who　is　She？'　asked　a　By…stander　in　Lorenzo's　hearing。

'One　whose　beauty　you　must　often　have　heard　celebrated。　Her　name
is　Virginia　de　Villa…Franca：　　She　is　a　Pensioner　of　St。　Clare's
Convent；　a　Relation　of　the　Prioress；　and　has　been　selected　with
justice　as　the　ornament　of　the　Procession。'

The　Throne　moved　onwards。　　It　was　followed　by　the　Prioress
herself：　　She　marched　at　the　head　of　the　remaining　Nuns　with　a
devout　and　sanctified　air；　and　closed　the　procession。　　She　moved
on　slowly：　　Her　eyes　were　raised　to　heaven：　　Her　countenance　calm
and　tranquil　seemed　abstracted　from　all　sublunary　things；　and　no
feature　betrayed　her　secret　pride　at　displaying　the　pomp　and
opulence　of　her　Convent。　　She　passed　along；　accompanied　by　the
prayers　and　benedictions　of　the　Populace：　　But　how　great　was　the
general　confusion　and　surprize；　when　Don　Ramirez　starting
forward；　challenged　her　as　his　Prisoner。

For　a　moment　amazement　held　the　Domina　silent　and　immoveable：　
But　no　sooner　did　She　recover　herself；　than　She　exclaimed　against
sacrilege　and　impiety；　and　called　the　People　to　rescue　a　Daughter
of　the　Church。　　They　were　eagerly　preparing　to　obey　her；　when　Don
Ramirez；　protected　by　the　Archers　from　their　rage；　commanded　them
to　forbear；　and　threatened　them　with　the　severest　vengeance　of
the　Inquisition。　　At　that　dreaded　word　every　arm　fell；　every
sword　shrunk　back　into　its　scabbard。　　The　Prioress　herself　turned
pale；　and　trembled。　　The　general　silence　convinced　her　that　She
had　nothing　to　hope　but　from　innocence；　and　She　besought　Don
Ramirez　in　a　faultering　voice；　to　inform　her　of　what　crime　She
was　accused。

'That　you　shall　know　in　time；'　replied　He；　'But　first　I　must
secure　the　Mother　St。　Ursula。'

'The　Mother　St。　Ursula？'　repeated　the　Domina　faintly。

At　this　moment　casting　her　eyes　round；　She　saw　near　her　Lorenzo
and　the　Duke；　who　had　followed　Don　Ramirez。

'Ah！　great　God！'　She　cried；　clasping　her　hands　together　with　a
frantic　air；　'I　am　betrayed！'

'Betrayed？'　replied　St。　Ursula；　who　now　arrived　conducted　by　some
of　the　Archers；　and　followed　by　the　Nun　her　Companion　in　the
procession：　　'Not　betrayed；　but　discovered。　　In　me　recognise　your
Accuser：　　You　know　not　how　well　I　am　instructed　in　your
guilt！Segnor！'　She　continued；　turning　to　Don　Ramirez；　'I　commit
myself　to　your　custody。　　I　charge　the　Prioress　of　St。　Clare　with
murder；　and　stake　my　life　for　the　justice　of　my　accusation。'

A　general　cry　of　surprize　was　uttered　by　the　whole　Audience；　and
an　explanation　was　demanded　loudly。n　The　trembling　Nuns；
terrifiedat　the　noise　and　universal　confusion；　had　dispersed；　and
fleddifferent　ways。　　Some　regained　the　Convent；　Others　sought
refugein　the　dwellings　of　their　Relations；　and　Many；　only
sensible　oftheir　present　danger；　and　anxious　to　escape　from　the
tumult；　ran　through　the　Streets；　and　wandered；　they　knew　not
whither。　　The　lovely　Virginia　was　one　of　the　first　to　fly：　　And
in　order　that　She　might　be　better　seen　and　heard；　the　People
desired　that　St。　Ursula　should　harangue　them　from　the　vacant
Throne。　　The　Nun　complied；　She　ascended　the　glittering　Machine；
and　then　addressed　the　surrounding　multitude　as　follows。

'However　strange　and　unseemly　may　appear　my　conduct；　when
considered　to　be　adopted　by　a　Female　and　a　Nun；　necessity　will
justify　it　most　fully。　　A　secret；　an　horrible　secret　weighs　heavy
upon　my　soul：　　No　rest　can　be　mine　till　I　have　revealed　it　to　the
world；　and　satisfied　that　innocent　blood　which　calls　from　the
Grave　for　vengeance。　　Much　have　I　dared　to　gain　this　opportunity
of　lightening　my　conscience。　　Had　I　failed　in　my　attempt　to
reveal　the　crime；　had　the　Domina　but　suspected　that　the　mystery
was　none　to　me；　my　ruin　was　inevitable。　　Angels　who　watch
unceasingly　over　those　who　deserve　their　favour；　have　enabled　me
to　escape　detection：　　I　am　now　at　liberty　to　relate　a　Tale；　whose
circumstances　will　freeze　every　honest　soul　with　horror。　　Mine　is
the　task　to　rend　the　veil　from　Hypocrisy；　and　show　misguided
Parents　to　what　dangers　the　Woman　is　exposed；　who　falls　under　the
sway　of　a　monastic　Tyrant。

'Among　the　Votaries　of　St。　Clare；　none　was　more　lovely；　none　more
gentle；　than　Agnes　de　Medina。　　I　knew　her　well；　She　entrusted　to
me　every　secret　of　her　heart；　I　was　her　Friend　and　Confident；　and
I　loved　her　with　sincere　affection。　　Nor　was　I　singular　in　my
attachment。　　　Her　piety　unfeigned；　her　willingness　to　oblige；　and
her　angelic　disposition；　rendered　her　the　Darling　of　all　that　was
estimable　in　the　Convent。　　The　Prioress　herself；　proud；
scrupulous　and　forbidding；　could　not　refuse　Agnes　that　tribute　of
approbation　which　She　bestowed　upon　no　one　else。　　Every　one　has
some　fault：　　Alas！　Agnes　had　her　weakness！　　She　violated　the　laws
of　our　order；　and　incurred　the　inveterate　hate　of　the　unforgiving
Domina。　　St。　Clare's　rules　are　severe：　　But　grown　antiquated　and
neglected；　many　of　late　years　have　either　been　forgotten；　or
changed　by　universal　consent　into　milder　punishments。　　The
penance；　adjudged　to　the　crime　of　Agnes；　was　most　cruel；　most
inhuman！　　The　law　had　been　long　exploded：　　Alas！　　It　still
existed；　and　the　revengeful　Prioress　now　determined　to　revive　it。

This　law　decreed　that　the　Offender　should　be　plunged　into　a
private　dungeon；　expressly　constituted　to　hide　from　the　world　for
ever　the　Victim　of　Cruelty　and　tyrannic　superstition。　　In　this
dreadful　abode　She　was　to　lead　a　perpetual　solitude；　deprived　of
all　society；　and　believed　to　be　dead　by　those　whom　affection
might　have　prompted　to　attempt　her　rescue。　　Thus　was　She　to
languish　out　the　remainder　of　her　days；　with　no　other　food　than
bread　and　water；　and　no　other　comfort　than　the　free　indulgence　of
her　tears。'

The　indignation　created　by　this　account　was　so　violent；　as　for
some　moments　to　interrupt　St。　Ursula's　narrative。　　When　the
disturbance　ceased；　and　silence　again　prevailed　through　the
Assembly；　She　continued　her　discourse；　while　at　every　word　the
Domina's　countenance　betrayed　her　increasing　terrors。

'A　Council　of　the　twelve　elder　Nuns　was　called：　　I　was　of　the
number。　　The　Prioress　in　exaggerated　colours　described　the
offence　of　Agnes；　and　scrupled　not　to　propose　the　revival　of　this
almost　forgotten　law。　　To　the　shame　of　our　sex　be　it　spoken；　that
either　so　absolute　was　the　Domina's　will　in　the　Convent；　or　so
much　had　disappointment；　solitude；　and　self…denial　hardened　their
hearts　and　sowered　their　tempers　that　this　barbarous　proposal
was　assented　to　by　nine　voices　out　of　the　twelve。　　I　was　not　one
of　the　nine。　　Frequent　opportuniti