volume02-第20节

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ener　edge　to　his　appetite。　　Matilda　was　still　under　the　influence　of　poison；　and　the　voluptuous　Monk　trembled　less　for　his　Preserver's　life　than　his　Concubine's。　　Deprived　of　her；　He　would　not　easily　find　another　Mistress　with　whom　He　could　indulge　his　passions　so　fully；　and　so　safely。　　He　therefore　pressed　her　with　earnestness　to　use　the　means　of　preservation　which　She　had　declared　to　be　in　her　possession。

'Yes！'　replied　Matilda；　'Since　you　have　made　me　feel　that　Life　is　valuable；　I　will　rescue　mine　at　any　rate。　　No　dangers　shall　appall　me：　　I　will　look　upon　the　consequences　of　my　action　boldly；　nor　shudder　at　the　horrors　which　they　present。　　I　will　think　my　sacrifice　scarcely　worthy　to　purchase　your　possession；　and　remember　that　a　moment　past　in　your　arms　in　this　world　o'er…pays　an　age　of　punishment　in　the　next。　　But　before　I　take　this　step；　Ambrosio；　give　me　your　solemn　oath　never　to　enquire　by　what　means　I　shall　preserve　myself。'

He　did　so　in　a　manner　the　most　binding。

'I　thank　you；　my　Beloved。　　This　precaution　is　necessary；　for　though　you　know　it　not；　you　are　under　the　command　of　vulgar　prejudices：　　The　Business　on　which　I　must　be　employed　this　night；　might　startle　you　from　its　singularity；　and　lower　me　in　your　opinion。　　Tell　me；　Are　you　possessed　of　the　Key　of　the　low　door　on　the　western　side　of　the　Garden？'

'The　Door　which　opens　into　the　burying…ground　common　to　us　and　the　Sisterhood　of　St。　Clare？　　I　have　not　the　Key；　but　can　easily　procure　it。'

'You　have　only　this　to　do。　　Admit　me　into　the　burying…ground　at　midnight；　Watch　while　I　descend　into　the　vaults　of　St。　Clare；　lest　some　prying　eye　should　observe　my　actions；　Leave　me　there　alone　for　an　hour；　and　that　life　is　safe　which　I　dedicate　to　your　pleasures。　　To　prevent　creating　suspicion；　do　not　visit　me　during　the　day。　Remember　the　Key；　and　that　I　expect　you　before　twelve。　　Hark！　　I　hear　steps　approaching！　　Leave　me；　I　will　pretend　to　sleep。'

The　Friar　obeyed；　and　left　the　Cell。　　As　He　opened　the　door；　Father　Pablos　made　his　appearance。

'I　come；'　said　the　Latter；　'to　enquire　after　the　health　of　my　young　Patient。'

'Hush！'　replied　Ambrosio；　laying　his　finger　upon　his　lip；　'Speak　softly；　I　am　just　come　from　him。　　He　has　fallen　into　a　profound　slumber；　which　doubtless　will　be　of　service　to　him。　　Do　not　disturb　him　at　present；　for　He　wishes　to　repose。'

Father　Pablos　obeyed；　and　hearing　the　Bell　ring；　accompanied　the　Abbot　to　Matins。　　Ambrosio　felt　embarrassed　as　He　entered　the　Chapel。　　Guilt　was　new　to　him；　and　He　fancied　that　every　eye　could　read　the　transactions　of　the　night　upon　his　countenance。　　He　strove　to　pray；　His　bosom　no　longer　glowed　with　devotion；　His　thoughts　insensibly　wandered　to　Matilda's　secret　charms。　　But　what　He　wanted　in　purity　of　heart；　He　supplied　by　exterior　sanctity。　　The　better　to　cloak　his　transgression；　He　redoubled　his　pretensions　to　the　semblance　of　virtue；　and　never　appeared　more　devoted　to　Heaven　as　since　He　had　broken　through　his　engagements。　　Thus　did　He　unconsciously　add　Hypocrisy　to　perjury　and　incontinence；　He　had　fallen　into　the　latter　errors　from　yielding　to　seduction　almost　irresistible；　But　he　was　now　guilty　of　a　voluntary　fault　by　endeavouring　to　conceal　those　into　which　Another　had　betrayed　him。

The　Matins　concluded；　Ambrosio　retired　to　his　Cell。　　The　pleasures　which　He　had　just　tasted　for　the　first　time　were　still　impressed　upon　his　mind。　　His　brain　was　bewildered；　and　presented　a　confused　Chaos　of　remorse；　voluptuousness；　inquietude；　and　fear。　　He　looked　back　with　regret　to　that　peace　of　soul；　that　security　of　virtue；　which　till　then　had　been　his　portion。　　He　had　indulged　in　excesses　whose　very　idea　but　four　and　twenty　hours　before　He　had　recoiled　at　with　horror。　　He　shuddered　at　reflecting　that　a　trifling　indiscretion　on　his　part；　or　on　Matilda's；　would　overturn　that　fabric　of　reputation　which　it　had　cost　him　thirty　years　to　erect；　and　render　him　the　abhorrence　of　that　People　of　whom　He　was　then　the　Idol。　　Conscience　painted　to　him　in　glaring　colours　his　perjury　and　weakness；　Apprehension　magnified　to　him　the　horrors　of　punishment；　and　He　already　fancied　himself　in　the　prisons　of　the　Inquisition。　　To　these　tormenting　ideas　succeeded　Matilda's　beauty；　and　those　delicious　lessons　which；　once　learnt；　can　never　be　forgotten。　　A　single　glance　thrown　upon　these　reconciled　him　with　himself。　　He　considered　the　pleasures　of　the　former　night　to　have　been　purchased　at　an　easy　price　by　the　sacrifice　of　innocence　and　honour。　　Their　very　remembrance　filled　his　soul　with　ecstacy；　He　cursed　his　foolish　vanity；　which　had　induced　him　to　waste　in　obscurity　the　bloom　of　life；　ignorant　of　the　blessings　of　Love　and　Woman。　　He　determined　at　all　events　to　continue　his　commerce　with　Matilda；　and　called　every　argument　to　his　aid　which　might　confirm　his　resolution。　He　asked　himself；　provided　his　irregularity　was　unknown；　in　what　would　his　fault　consist；　and　what　consequences　He　had　to　apprehend？　　By　adhering　strictly　to　every　rule　of　his　order　save　Chastity；　He　doubted　not　to　retain　the　esteem　of　Men；　and　even　the　protection　of　heaven。　　He　trusted　easily　to　be　forgiven　so　slight　and　natural　a　deviation　from　his　vows：　　But　He　forgot　that　having　pronounced　those　vows；　Incontinence；　in　Laymen　the　most　venial　of　errors；　became　in　his　person　the　most　heinous　of　crimes。

Once　decided　upon　his　future　conduct；　his　mind　became　more　easy。　　He　threw　himself　upon　his　bed；　and　strove　by　sleeping　to　recruit　his　strength　exhausted　by　his　nocturnal　excesses。　　He　awoke　refreshed；　and　eager　for　a　repetition　of　his　pleasures。　　Obedient　to　Matilda's　order；　He　visited　not　her　Cell　during　the　day。　　Father　Pablos　mentioned　in　the　Refectory　that　Rosario　had　at　length　been　prevailed　upon　to　follow　his　prescription；　But　that　the　medicine　had　not　produced　the　slightest　effect；　and　that　He　believed　no　mortal　skill　could　rescue　him　from　the　Grave。　　With　this　opinion　the　Abbot　agreed；　and　affected　to　lament　the　untimely　fate　of　a　Youth；　whose　talents　had　appeared　so　promising。

The　night　arrived。　　Ambrosio　had　taken　care　to　procure　from　the　Porter　the　Key　of　the　low　door　opening　into　the　Cemetery。　　Furnished　with　this；　when　all　was　silent　in　the　Monastery；　He　quitted　his　Cell；　and　hastened　to　Matilda's。　　She　had　left　her　bed；　and　was　drest　before　his　arrival。

'I　have　been　expecting　you　with　impatience；'　said　She；　'My　life　depends　upon　these　moments。　　Have　you　the　Key？'

'I　have。'

'Away　then　to　the　garden。　　We　have　no　time　to　lose。　Follow　me！'

She　took　a　small　covered　Basket　from　the　Table。　Bearing　this　in　one　hand；　and　the　Lamp；　which　was　flaming　upon　the　Hearth；　in　the　other；　She　hastened　from　the　Cell。　　Ambrosio　followed　her。　　Both　maintained　a　profound　silence。　　She　moved　on　with　quick　but　cautious　steps；　passed　through　the　Cloisters；　and　reached　the　Western　side　of　the　Garden。　　Her　eyes　flashed　with　a　fire　and　wildness　which　impressed　the　Monk　at　once　with　awe　and　horror。　　A　determined　desperate　courage　reigned　upon　her　brow。　　She　gave　the　Lamp　to　Ambrosio；　Then　taking　from　him　the　Key；　She　unlocked　the　low　Door；　and　entered　the　Cemetery。　　It　was　a　vast　and　spacious　Square　planted　with　yew　trees：　　Half　of　it　belonged　to　the　Abbey；　The　other　half　was　the　property　of　the　Sisterhood　of　St。　Clare；　and　was　protected　by　a　roof　of　Stone。　　The　Division　was　marked　by　an　iron　railing；　the　wicket　of　which　was　generally　left　unlocked。

Thither　Matilda　bent　her　course。　　She　opened　the　wicket　and　sought　for　the　door　leading　to　the　subterraneous　Vaults；　where　reposed　the　mouldering　Bodies　of　the　Votaries　of　St。　Clare。　　The　night　was　perfectly　dark；　Neither　Moon　or　Stars　were　visible。　　Luckily　there　was　not　a　breath　of　Wind；　and　the　Friar　bore　his　Lamp　in　full　security：　　By　the　assistance　of　its　beams；　the　door　of　the　Sepulchre　was　soon　discovered。　　It　was　sunk　within　the　hollow　of　a　wall；　and　almost　concealed　by　thick　festoons　of　ivy　hanging　over　it。　　Three　steps　of　rough…hewn　Stone　conducted　to　it；　and　Matilda　was　on　the　point　of　descending　them　when　She　suddenly　started　back。

'There　are　People　in　the　Vaults！'　She　whispered　to　the　Monk；　'Conceal　yourself　till　they　are　past。

She　took　refuge　behind　a　lofty　and　magnificent　Tomb；　erected　in　honour　of　the　Convent's　Foundress。　　Ambrosio　followed　her　example；　carefully　hiding　his　Lamp　lest　its　beams　should　betray　them。　　But　a　few　moments　had　elapsed　when　the　Door　was　pushed　open　leading　to　the　subterraneous　Caverns。　　Rays　of　light　proceeded　up　the　Staircase：　　They　enabled　the　concealed　Spectators　to　observe　two　Females　drest　in　religious　habits；　who　seemed　engaged　in　earnest　conversation。　　The　Abbot　had　no　difficulty　to　recognize　the　Prioress　of　St。　Clare　in　the　first；　and　one　of　the　elder　Nuns　in　her　Companion。

'Every　thing　is　prepared；'　said　the　Prioress；　'Her　fate　shall　be　decided　tomorrow。　　All　her　tears　and　sighs　will　be　unavailing。　　No！　　In　five　and　twenty　years　that　I　have　been　Superior　of　this　Convent；　never　did　I　witness　a　transaction　more　infamous！'

'You　must　expect　much　opposition　to　your　will；'　the　Other　replied　in　a　milder　voice；　'Agnes　has　many　Friends　in　the　Convent；　and　in　particular　the　Mother　St。　Ursula　will　espouse　her　cause　most　warmly。　　In　truth；　She　merits　to　have　Friends；　and　I　wish