the monk(僧侣)-第80节

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was　no　sooner　reestablished　by　the　care　of　Virginia　and　the
Marchioness；　than　She　hastened　to　attend　her　Lover）　soon　enabled
him　to　overcome　the　effects　of　his　late　dreadful　malady。　　The
calm　of　his　soul　communicated　itself　to　his　body；　and　He
recovered　with　such　rapidity　as　to　create　universal　surprize。

No　so　Lorenzo。　　Antonia's　death　accompanied　with　such　terrible
circumstances　weighed　upon　his　mind　heavily。　　He　was　worn　down　to
a　shadow。　　Nothing　could　give　him　pleasure。　　He　was　persuaded
with　difficulty　to　swallow　nourishment　sufficient　for　the　support
of　life；　and　a　consumption　was　apprehended。　　The　society　of　Agnes
formed　his　only　comfort。　　Though　accident　had　never　permitted
their　being　much　together；　He　entertained　for　her　a　sincere
friendship　and　attachment。　　Perceiving　how　necessary　She　was　to
him；　She　seldom　quitted　his　chamber。　　She　listened　to　his
complaints　with　unwearied　attention；　and　soothed　him　by　the
gentleness　of　her　manners；　and　by　sympathising　with　his　distress。
She　still　inhabited　the　Palace　de　Villa…Franca；　the　Possessors　of
which　treated　her　with　marked　affection。　　The　Duke　had　intimated
to　the　Marquis　his　wishes　respecting　Virginia。　　The　match　was
unexceptionable：　Lorenzo　was　Heir　to　his　Uncle's　immense
property；　and　was　distinguished　in　Madrid　for　his　agreeable
person；　extensive　knowledge；　and　propriety　of　conduct：　　Add　to
this；　that　the　Marchioness　had　discovered　how　strong　was　her
Daughter's　prepossession　in　his　favour。

In　consequence　the　Duke's　proposal　was　accepted　without
hesitation：　　Every　precaution　was　taken　to　induce　Lorenzo's
seeing　the　Lady　with　those　sentiments　which　She　so　well　merited
to　excite。　　In　her　visits　to　her　Brother　Agnes　was　frequently
accompanied　by　the　Marchioness；　and　as　soon　as　He　was　able　to
move　into　his　Antichamber；　Virginia　under　her　mother's
protection　was　sometimes　permitted　to　express　her　wishes　for　his
recovery。　　This　She　did　with　such　delicacy；　the　manner　in　which
She　mentioned　Antonia　was　so　tender　and　soothing；　and　when　She
lamented　her　Rival's　melancholy　fate；　her　bright　eyes　shone　so
beautiful　through　her　tears；　that　Lorenzo　could　not　behold；　or
listen　to　her　without　emotion。　　His　Relations；　as　well　as　the
Lady；　perceived　that　with　every　day　her　society　seemed　to　give
him　fresh　pleasure；　and　that　He　spoke　of　her　in　terms　of　stronger
admiration。　　However；　they　prudently　kept　their　observations　to
themselves。　　No　word　was　dropped　which　might　lead　him　to　suspect
their　designs。　　They　continued　their　former　conduct　and
attention；　and　left　Time　to　ripen　into　a　warmer　sentiment　the
friendship　which　He　already　felt　for　Virginia。

In　the　mean　while；　her　visits　became　more　frequent；　and　latterly
there　was　scarce　a　day；　of　which　She　did　not　pass　some　part　by
the　side　of　Lorenzo's　Couch。　　He　gradually　regained　his　strength；
but　the　progress　of　his　recovery　was　slow　and　doubtful。　　One
evening　He　seemed　to　be　in　better　spirits　than　usual：　　Agnes　and
her　Lover；　the　Duke；　Virginia；　and　her　Parents　were　sitting　round
him。　　He　now　for　the　first　time　entreated　his　Sister　to　inform
him　how　She　had　escaped　the　effects　of　the　poison　which　St。
Ursula　had　seen　her　swallow。　　Fearful　of　recalling　those　scenes
to　his　mind　in　which　Antonia　had　perished；　She　had　hitherto
concealed　from　him　the　history　of　her　sufferings。　　As　He　now
started　the　subject　himself；　and　thinking　that　perhaps　the
narrative　of　her　sorrows　might　draw　him　from　the　contemplation　of
those　on　which　He　dwelt　too　constantly；　She　immediately　complied
with　his　request。　　The　rest　of　the　company　had　already　heard　her
story；　But　the　interest　which　all　present　felt　for　its　Heroine
made　them　anxious　to　hear　it　repeated。　　The　whole　society
seconding　Lorenzo's　entreaties；　Agnes　obeyed。　　She　first
recounted　the　discovery　which　had　taken　place　in　the
Abbey　Chapel；　the　Domina's　resentment；　and　the　midnight　scene　of
which　St。　Ursula　had　been　a　concealed　witness。　　Though　the　Nun
had　already　described　this　latter　event；　Agnes　now　related　it
more　circumstantially　and　at　large：　　After　which　She　proceeded　in
her　narrative　as　follows。

　　　　　　Conclusion　of　the　History　of　Agnes　de　Medina

My　supposed　death　was　attended　with　the　greatest　agonies。　　Those
moments　which　I　believed　my　last；　were　embittered　by　the　Domina's
assurances　that　I　could　not　escape　perdition；　and　as　my　eyes
closed；　I　heard　her　rage　exhale　itself　in　curses　on　my　offence。　
The　horror　of　this　situation；　of　a　death…bed　from　which　hope　was
banished；　of　a　sleep　from　which　I　was　only　to　wake　to　find　myself
the　prey　of　flames　and　Furies；　was　more　dreadful　than　I　can
describe。　　When　animation　revived　in　me；　my　soul　was　still
impressed　with　these　terrible　ideas：　　I　looked　round　with　fear；
expecting　to　behold　the　Ministers　of　divine　vengeance。　　For　the
first　hour；　my　senses　were　so　bewildered；　and　my　brain　so　dizzy；
that　I　strove　in　vain　to　arrange　the　strange　images　which　floated
in　wild　confusion　before　me。　　If　I　endeavoured　to　raise　myself
from　the　ground；　the　wandering　of　my　head　deceived　me。　Every
thing　around　me　seemed　to　rock；　and　I　sank　once　more　upon　the
earth。　　My　weak　and　dazzled　eyes　were　unable　to　bear　a　nearer
approach　to　a　gleam　of　light　which　I　saw　trembling　above　me。　　I
was　compelled　to　close　them　again；　and　remain　motionless　in　the
same　posture。

A　full　hour　elapsed；　before　I　was　sufficiently　myself　to　examine
the　surrounding　Objects。　　When　I　did　examine　them；　what　terror
filled　my　bosom　I　found　myself　extended　upon　a　sort　of　wicker
Couch：　　It　had　six　handles　to　it；　which　doubtless　had　served　the
Nuns　to　convey　me　to　my　grave。　　I　was　covered　with　a　linen　cloth：

Several　faded　flowers　were　strown　over　me：　　On　one　side　lay　a
small　wooden　Crucifix；　On　the　other；　a　Rosary　of　large　Beads。
Four　low　narrow　walls　confined　me。　　The　top　was　also　covered；　and
in　it　was　practised　a　small　grated　Door：　Through　this　was
admitted　the　little　air　which　circulated　in　this　miserable
place。　　A　faint　glimmering　of　light　which　streamed　through　the
Bars；　permitted　me　to　distinguish　the　surrounding　horrors。　　I　was
opprest　by　a　noisome　suffocating　smell；　and　perceiving　that　the
grated　door　was　unfastened；　I　thought　that　I　might　possibly
effect　my　escape。　　As　I　raised　myself　with　this　design；　my　hand
rested　upon　something　soft：　　I　grasped　it；　and　advanced　it
towards　the　light。　　Almighty　God！　　What　was　my　disgust；　my
consternation！　　In　spite　of　its　putridity；　and　the　worms　which
preyed　upon　it；　I　perceived　a　corrupted　human　head；　and
recognised　the　features　of　a　Nun　who　had　died　some　months　before！

I　threw　it　from　me；　and　sank　almost　lifeless　upon　my　Bier。

When　my　strength　returned；　this　circumstance；　and　the
consciousness　of　being　surrounded　by　the　loathsome　and　mouldering
Bodies　of　my　Companions；　increased　my　desire　to　escape　from　my
fearful　prison。　　I　again　moved　towards　the　light。　　The　grated
door　was　within　my　reach：　I　lifted　it　without　difficulty；
Probably　it　had　been　left　unclosed　to　facilitate　my　quitting　the
dungeon。　　Aiding　myself　by　the　irregularity　of　the　Walls　some　of
whose　stones　projected　beyond　the　rest；　I　contrived　to　ascend
them；　and　drag　myself　out　of　my　prison。　　I　now　found　Myself　in　a
Vault　tolerably　spacious。　　Several　Tombs；　similar　in　appearance
to　that　whence　I　had　just　escaped；　were　ranged　along　the　sides　in
order；　and　seemed　to　be　considerably　sunk　within　the　earth。　　A
sepulchral　Lamp　was　suspended　from　the　roof　by　an　iron　chain；　and
shed　a　gloomy　light　through　the　dungeon。　　Emblems　of　Death　were
seen　on　every　side：　　Skulls；　shoulder…blades；　thigh…bones；　and
other　leavings　of　Mortality　were　scattered　upon　the　dewy　ground。　
Each　Tomb　was　ornamented　with　a　large　Crucifix；　and　in　one　corner
stood　a　wooden　Statue　of　St。　Clare。　　To　these　objects　I　at　first
paid　no　attention：　　A　Door；　the　only　outlet　from　the　Vault；　had
attracted　my　eyes。　　I　hastened　towards　it；　having　wrapped　my
winding…sheet　closely　round　me。　　I　pushed　against　the　door；　and
to　my　inexpressible　terror　found　that　it　was　fastened　on　the
outside。

I　guessed　immediately　that　the　Prioress；　mistaking　the　nature　of
the　liquor　which　She　had　compelled　me　to　drink；　instead　of　poison
had　administered　a　strong　Opiate。　　From　this　I　concluded　that
being　to　all　appearance　dead　I　had　received　the　rites　of　burial；
and　that　deprived　of　the　power　of　making　my　existence　known；　it
would　be　my　fate　to　expire　of　hunger。　　This　idea　penetrated　me
with　horror；　not　merely　for　my　own　sake；　but　that　of　the　innocent
Creature；　who　still　lived　within　my　bosom。　　I　again　endeavoured
to　open　the　door；　but　it　resisted　all　my　efforts。　　I　stretched　my
voice　to　the　extent　of　its　compass；　and　shrieked　for　aid：　　I　was
remote　from　the　hearing　of　every　one：　　No　friendly　voice　replied
to　mine。　　A　profound　and　melancholy　silence　prevailed　through　the
Vault；　and　I　despaired　of　liberty。　　My　long　abstinence　from　food
now　began　to　torment　me。　　The　tortures　which　hunger　inflicted　on
me；　were　the　most　painful　and　insupportable：　Yet　they　seemed　to
increase　with　every　hour　which　past　over　my　head。　　Sometimes　I
threw　myself　upon　the　ground；　and　rolled　upon　it　wild　and
desperate：　　Sometimes　starting　up；　I　return