the monk(僧侣)-第75节

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insensible　and　gave　no　signs　of　life；　except　by　occasional
groans。　　She　was　borne　upon　a　sort　of　litter；　Virginia；　who　was
constantly　by　the　side　of　it；　was　apprehensive　that　exhausted　by
long　abstinence；　and　shaken　by　the　sudden　change　from　bonds　and
darkness　to　liberty　and　light；　her　frame　would　never　get　the
better　of　the　shock。　　Lorenzo　and　Don　Ramirez　still　remained　in
the　Sepulchre。　　After　deliberating　upon　their　proceedings；　it　was
resolved　that　to　prevent　losing　time；　the　Archers　should　be
divided　into　two　Bodies：　　That　with　one　Don　Ramirez　should
examine　the　cavern；　while　Lorenzo　with　the　other　might　penetrate
into　the　further　Vaults。　　This　being　arranged；　and　his　Followers
being　provided　with　Torches；　Don　Ramirez　advanced　to　the　Cavern。　
He　had　already　descended　some　steps　when　He　heard　People
approaching　hastily　from　the　interior　part　of　the　Sepulchre。　
This　surprized　him；　and　He　quitted　the　Cave　precipitately。

'Do　you　hear　footsteps？'　said　Lorenzo；　'Let　us　bend　our　course
towards　them。　　'Tis　from　this　side　that　they　seem　to　proceed。'

At　that　moment　a　loud　and　piercing　shriek　induced　him　to　quicken
his　steps。

'Help！　　Help；　for　God's　sake！　　cried　a　voice；　whose　melodious
tone　penetrated　Lorenzo's　heart　with　terror。

He　flew　towards　the　cry　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　and　was
followed　by　Don　Ramirez　with　equal　swiftness。


　CHAPTER　IV

Great　Heaven！　　How　frail　thy　creature　Man　is　made！　　
How　by　himself　insensibly　betrayed！　　
In　our　own　strength　unhappily　secure；　　
Too　little　cautious　of　the　adverse　power；　　
On　pleasure's　flowery　brink　we　idly　stray；　　
Masters　as　yet　of　our　returning　way：　　
Till　the　strong　gusts　of　raging　passion　rise；　　
Till　the　dire　Tempest　mingles　earth　and　skies；　　
And　swift　into　the　boundless　Ocean　borne；　　
Our　foolish　confidence　too　late　we　mourn：
Round　our　devoted　heads　the　billows　beat；　　
And　from　our　troubled　view　the　lessening　lands　retreat。　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　Prior。　

All　this　while；　Ambrosio　was　unconscious　of　the　dreadful　scenes
which　were　passing　so　near。　　The　execution　of　his　designs　upon
Antonia　employed　his　every　thought。　　Hitherto；　He　was　satisfied
with　the　success　of　his　plans。　　Antonia　had　drank　the　opiate；　was
buried　in　the　vaults　of　St。　Clare；　and　absolutely　in　his
disposal。　　Matilda；　who　was　well　acquainted　with　the　nature　and
effects　of　the　soporific　medicine；　had　computed　that　it　would　not
cease　to　operate　till　one　in　the　Morning。　　For　that　hour　He
waited　with　impatience。　　The　Festival　of　St。　Clare　presented　him
with　a　favourable　opportunity　of　consummating　his　crime。　　He　was
certain　that　the　Friars　and　Nuns　would　be　engaged　in　the
Procession；　and　that　He　had　no　cause　to　dread　an　interruption：
From　appearing　himself　at　the　head　of　his　Monks；　He　had　desired
to　be　excused。　　He　doubted　not；　that　being　beyond　the　reach　of
help；　cut　off　from　all　the　world；　and　totally　in　his　power；
Antonia　would　comply　with　his　desires。　　The　affection　which　She
had　ever　exprest　for　him；　warranted　this　persuasion：　　But　He
resolved　that　should　She　prove　obstinate；　no　consideration
whatever　should　prevent　him　from　enjoying　her。　　Secure　from　a
discovery；　He　shuddered　not　at　the　idea　of　employing　force：　　If
He　felt　any　repugnance；　it　arose　not　from　a　principle　of　shame
or　compassion；　but　from　his　feeling　for　Antonia　the　most　sincere
and　ardent　affection；　and　wishing　to　owe　her　favours　to　no　one
but　herself。

The　Monks　quitted　the　Abbey　at　midnight。　　Matilda　was　among　the
Choristers；　and　led　the　chaunt。　　Ambrosio　was　left　by　himself；
and　at　liberty　to　pursue　his　own　inclinations。　　Convinced　that　no
one　remained　behind　to　watch　his　motions；　or　disturb　his
pleasures；　He　now　hastened　to　the　Western　Aisles。　　His　heart
beating　with　hope　not　unmingled　with　anxiety；　He　crossed　the
Garden；　unlocked　the　door　which　admitted　him　into　the　Cemetery；
and　in　a　few　minutes　He　stood　before　the　Vaults。　　Here　He　paused。

He　looked　round　him　with　suspicion；　conscious　that　his　business
was　unfit　for　any　other　eye。　　As　He　stood　in　hesitation；　He　heard
the　melancholy　shriek　of　the　screech…Owl：　　The　wind　rattled
loudly　against　the　windows　of　the　adjacent　Convent；　and　as　the
current　swept　by　him；　bore　with　it　the　faint　notes　of　the　chaunt
of　Choristers。　　He　opened　the　door　cautiously；　as　if　fearing　to
be　overheard：　　He　entered；　and　closed　it　again　after　him。　
Guided　by　his　Lamp；　He　threaded　the　long　passages；　in　whose
windings　Matilda　had　instructed　him；　and　reached　the　private
Vault　which　contained　his　sleeping　Mistress。

Its　entrance　was　by　no　means　easy　to　discover：　　But　this　was　no
obstacle　to　Ambrosio；　who　at　the　time　of　Antonia's　Funeral　had
observed　it　too　carefully　to　be　deceived。　　He　found　the　door；
which　was　unfastened；　pushed　it　open；　and　descended　into　the
dungeon。　　He　approached　the　humble　Tomb　in　which　Antonia
reposed。　　He　had　provided　himself　with　an　iron　crow　and　a
pick…axe；　But　this　precaution　was　unnecessary。　　The　Grate　was
slightly　fastened　on　the　outside：　　He　raised　it；　and　placing　the
Lamp　upon　its　ridge；　bent　silently　over　the　Tomb。　　By　the　side　of
three　putrid　half…corrupted　Bodies　lay　the　sleeping　Beauty。　　A
lively　red；　the　forerunner　of　returning　animation；　had　already
spread　itself　over　her　cheek；　and　as　wrapped　in　her　shroud　She
reclined　upon　her　funeral　Bier；　She　seemed　to　smile　at　the　Images
of　Death　around　her。　　While　He　gazed　upon　their　rotting　bones　and
disgusting　figures；　who　perhaps　were　once　as　sweet　and　lovely；
Ambrosio　thought　upon　Elvira；　by　him　reduced　to　the　same　state。　
As　the　memory　of　that　horrid　act　glanced　upon　his　mind；　it　was
clouded　with　a　gloomy　horror。　　Yet　it　served　but　to　strengthen
his　resolution　to　destroy　Antonia's　honour。

'For　your　sake；　Fatal　Beauty！'　murmured　the　Monk；　while　gazing　on
his　devoted　prey；　'For　your　sake；　have　I　committed　this　murder；
and　sold　myself　to　eternal　tortures。　　Now　you　are　in　my　power：　
The　produce　of　my　guilt　will　at　least　be　mine。　　Hope　not　that
your　prayers　breathed　in　tones　of　unequalled　melody；　your　bright
eyes　filled　with　tears；　and　your　hands　lifted　in　supplication；　as
when　seeking　in　penitence　the　Virgin's　pardon；　Hope　not　that
your　moving　innocence；　your　beauteous　grief；　or　all　your
suppliant　arts　shall　ransom　you　from　my　embraces。　　Before　the
break　of　day；　mine　you　must；　and　mine　you　shall　be！'

He　lifted　her　still　motionless　from　the　Tomb：　　He　seated　himself
upon　a　bank　of　Stone；　and　supporting　her　in　his　arms；　watched
impatiently　for　the　symptoms　of　returning　animation。　　Scarcely
could　He　command　his　passions　sufficiently；　to　restrain　himself
from　enjoying　her　while　yet　insensible。　　His　natural　lust　was
increased　in　ardour　by　the　difficulties　which　had　opposed　his
satisfying　it：　　As　also　by　his　long　abstinence　from　Woman；　since
from　the　moment　of　resigning　her　claim　to　his　love；　Matilda　had
exiled　him　from　her　arms　for　ever。

'I　am　no　Prostitute；　Ambrosio；'　Had　She　told　him；　when　in　the
fullness　of　his　lust　He　demanded　her　favours　with　more　than　usual
earnestness；　'I　am　now　no　more　than　your　Friend；　and　will　not　be
your　Mistress。　　Cease　then　to　solicit　my　complying　with　desires；
which　insult　me。　　While　your　heart　was　mine；　I　gloried　in　your
embraces：　　Those　happy　times　are　past：　　My　person　is　become
indifferent　to　you；　and　'tis　necessity；　not　love；　which　makes　you
seek　my　enjoyment。　　I　cannot　yield　to　a　request　so　humiliating
to　my　pride。'

Suddenly　deprived　of　pleasures；　the　use　of　which　had　made　them　an
absolute　want；　the　Monk　felt　this　restraint　severely。　　Naturally
addicted　to　the　gratification　of　the　senses；　in　the　full　vigour
of　manhood；　and　heat　of　blood；　He　had　suffered　his　temperament　to
acquire　such　ascendency　that　his　lust　was　become　madness。　　Of
his　fondness　for　Antonia；　none　but　the　grosser　particles
remained：　He　longed　for　the　possession　of　her　person；　and　even
the　gloom　of　the　vault；　the　surrounding　silence；　and　the
resistance　which　He　expected　from　her；　seemed　to　give　a　fresh
edge　to　his　fierce　and　unbridled　desires。

Gradually　He　felt　the　bosom　which　rested　against　his；　glow　with
returning　warmth。　　Her　heart　throbbed　again；　Her　blood　flowed
swifter；　and　her　lips　moved。　　At　length　She　opened　her　eyes；　but
still　opprest　and　bewildered　by　the　effects　of　the　strong　opiate；
She　closed　them　again　immediately。　　Ambrosio　watched　her
narrowly；　nor　permitted　a　movement　to　escape　him。　　Perceiving
that　She　was　fully　restored　to　existence；　He　caught　her　in
rapture　to　his　bosom；　and　closely　pressed　his　lips　to　hers。　　The
suddenness　of　his　action　sufficed　to　dissipate　the　fumes　which
obscured　Antonia's　reason。　　She　hastily　raised　herself；　and　cast
a　wild　look　round　her。　　The　strange　Images　which　presented
themselves　on　every　side　contributed　to　confuse　her。　　She　put　her
hand　to　her　head；　as　if　to　settle　her　disordered　imagination。　　At
length　She　took　it　away；　and　threw　her　eyes　through　the　dungeon　a
second　time。　They　fixed　upon　the　Abbot's　face。

'Where　am　I？'　She　said　abruptly。　　'How　came　I　here？　　Where　is　my
Mother？　　Methought；　I　saw　her！　　Oh！　a　dream；　a　dreadful　dreadful
dream　told　me　。　。　。　。　。　。　But　where　am　I？　　Let　me　go！　　I　cannot
stay　here！'

She　attempted　to　rise