volume02-第27节

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'What　it　is　to　love？'　said　She；　repeating　his　question；　'Oh！　yes；　undoubtedly；　I　have　loved　many；　many　People。'

'That　is　not　what　I　mean。　　The　love　of　which　I　speak　can　be　felt　only　for　one。　　Have　you　never　seen　the　Man　whom　you　wished　to　be　your　Husband？'

'Oh！　No；　indeed！'

This　was　an　untruth；　but　She　was　unconscious　of　its　falsehood：　　She　knew　not　the　nature　of　her　sentiments　for　Lorenzo；　and　never　having　seen　him　since　his　first　visit　to　Elvira；　with　every　day　his　Image　grew　less　feebly　impressed　upon　her　bosom。　　Besides；　She　thought　of　an　Husband　with　all　a　Virgin's　terror；　and　negatived　the　Friar's　demand　without　a　moment's　hesitation。

'And　do　you　not　long　to　see　that　Man；　Antonia？　　Do　you　feel　no　void　in　your　heart　which　you　fain　would　have　filled　up？　　Do　you　heave　no　sighs　for　the　absence　of　some　one　dear　to　you；　but　who　that　some　one　is；　you　know　not？　　Perceive　you　not　that　what　formerly　could　please；　has　charms　for　you　no　longer？　　That　a　thousand　new　wishes；　new　ideas；　new　sensations；　have　sprang　in　your　bosom；　only　to　be　felt；　never　to　be　described？　　Or　while　you　fill　every　other　heart　with　passion；　is　it　possible　that　your　own　remains　insensible　and　cold？　　It　cannot　be！　　That　melting　eye；　that　blushing　cheek；　that　enchanting　voluptuous　melancholy　which　at　times　overspreads　your　features；　all　these　marks　belye　your　words。　　You　love；　Antonia；　and　in　vain　would　hide　it　from　me。'

'Father；　you　amaze　me！　　What　is　this　love　of　which　you　speak？　　I　neither　know　its　nature；　nor　if　I　felt　it；　why　I　should　conceal　the　sentiment。'

'Have　you　seen　no　Man；　Antonia；　whom　though　never　seen　before；　you　seemed　long　to　have　sought？　　Whose　form；　though　a　Stranger's；　was　familiar　to　your　eyes？　　The　sound　of　whose　voice　soothed　you；　pleased　you；　penetrated　to　your　very　soul？　　In　whose　presence　you　rejoiced；　for　whose　absence　you　lamented？　　With　whom　your　heart　seemed　to　expand；　and　in　whose　bosom　with　confidence　unbounded　you　reposed　the　cares　of　your　own？　　Have　you　not　felt　all　this；　Antonia？'

'Certainly　I　have：　　The　first　time　that　I　saw　you；　I　felt　it。'

Ambrosio　started。　　Scarcely　dared　He　credit　his　hearing。

'Me；　Antonia？'　He　cried；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　delight　and　impatience；　while　He　seized　her　hand；　and　pressed　it　rapturously　to　his　lips。　　'Me；　Antonia？　　You　felt　these　sentiments　for　me？'

'Even　with　more　strength　than　you　have　described。　　The　very　moment　that　I　beheld　you；　I　felt　so　pleased；　so　interested！　　I　waited　so　eagerly　to　catch　the　sound　of　your　voice；　and　when　I　heard　it；　it　seemed　so　sweet！　　It　spoke　to　me　a　language　till　then　so　unknown！　　Methought；　it　told　me　a　thousand　things　which　I　wished　to　hear！　　It　seemed　as　if　I　had　long　known　you；　as　if　I　had　a　right　to　your　friendship；　your　advice；　and　your　protection。

I　wept　when　you　departed；　and　longed　for　the　time　which　should　restore　you　to　my　sight。'

'Antonia！　　my　charming　Antonia！'　exclaimed　the　Monk；　and　caught　her　to　his　bosom；　'Can　I　believe　my　senses？　　Repeat　it　to　me；　my　sweet　Girl！　　Tell　me　again　that　you　love　me；　that　you　love　me　truly　and　tenderly！'

'Indeed；　I　do：　　Let　my　Mother　be　excepted；　and　the　world　holds　no　one　more　dear　to　me！'

At　this　frank　avowal　Ambrosio　no　longer　possessed　himself；　Wild　with　desire；　He　clasped　the　blushing　Trembler　in　his　arms。　　He　fastened　his　lips　greedily　upon　hers；　sucked　in　her　pure　delicious　breath；　violated　with　his　bold　hand　the　treasures　of　her　bosom；　and　wound　around　him　her　soft　and　yielding　limbs。　　Startled；　alarmed；　and　confused　at　his　action；　surprize　at　first　deprived　her　of　the　power　of　resistance。　　At　length　recovering　herself；　She　strove　to　escape　from　his　embrace。

'Father！　　。　。　。　。　　Ambrosio！'　She　cried；　'Release　me；　for　God's　sake！'

But　the　licentious　Monk　heeded　not　her　prayers：　　He　persisted　in　his　design；　and　proceeded　to　take　still　greater　liberties。　　Antonia　prayed；　wept；　and　struggled：　　Terrified　to　the　extreme；　though　at　what　She　knew　not；　She　exerted　all　her　strength　to　repulse　the　Friar；　and　was　on　the　point　of　shrieking　for　assistance　when　the　chamber　door　was　suddenly　thrown　open。　　Ambrosio　had　just　sufficient　presence　of　mind　to　be　sensible　of　his　danger。　　Reluctantly　He　quitted　his　prey；　and　started　hastily　from　the　Couch。　　Antonia　uttered　an　exclamation　of　joy；　flew　towards　the　door；　and　found　herself　clasped　in　the　arms　of　her　Mother。

Alarmed　at　some　of　the　Abbot's　speeches；　which　Antonia　had　innocently　repeated；　Elvira　resolved　to　ascertain　the　truth　of　her　suspicions。　　She　had　known　enough　of　Mankind　not　to　be　imposed　upon　by　the　Monk's　reputed　virtue。　　She　reflected　on　several　circumstances；　which　though　trifling；　on　being　put　together　seemed　to　authorize　her　fears。　　His　frequent　visits；　which　as　far　as　She　could　see；　were　confined　to　her　family；　His　evident　emotion；　whenever　She　spoke　of　Antonia；　His　being　in　the　full　prime　and　heat　of　Manhood；　and　above　all；　his　pernicious　philosophy　communicated　to　her　by　Antonia；　and　which　accorded　but　ill　with　his　conversation　in　her　presence；　all　these　circumstances　inspired　her　with　doubts　respecting　the　purity　of　Ambrosio's　friendship。　　In　consequence；　She　resolved；　when　He　should　next　be　alone　with　Antonia；　to　endeavour　at　surprizing　him。　　Her　plan　had　succeeded。　　'Tis　true；　that　when　She　entered　the　room；　He　had　already　abandoned　his　prey；　But　the　disorder　of　her　Daughter's　dress；　and　the　shame　and　confusion　stamped　upon　the　Friar's　countenance；　sufficed　to　prove　that　her　suspicions　were　but　too　well…founded。　　However；　She　was　too　prudent　to　make　those　suspicions　known。　　She　judged　that　to　unmask　the　Imposter　would　be　no　easy　matter；　the　public　being　so　much　prejudiced　in　his　favour：　and　having　but　few　Friends；　She　thought　it　dangerous　to　make　herself　so　powerful　an　Enemy。　　She　affected　therefore　not　to　remark　his　agitation；　seated　herself　tranquilly　upon　the　Sopha；　assigned　some　trifling　reason　for　having　quitted　her　room　unexpectedly；　and　conversed　on　various　subjects　with　seeming　confidence　and　ease。

Reassured　by　her　behaviour；　the　Monk　began　to　recover　himself。　　He　strove　to　answer　Elvira　without　appearing　embarrassed：　　But　He　was　still　too　great　a　novice　in　dissimulation；　and　He　felt　that　He　must　look　confused　and　awkward。　　He　soon　broke　off　the　conversation；　and　rose　to　depart。　　What　was　his　vexation；　when　on　taking　leave；　Elvira　told　him　in　polite　terms；　that　being　now　perfectly　reestablished；　She　thought　it　an　injustice　to　deprive　Others　of　his　company；　who　might　be　more　in　need　of　it！　　She　assured　him　of　her　eternal　gratitude；　for　the　benefit　which　during　her　illness　She　had　derived　from　his　society　and　exhortations：　　And　She　lamented　that　her　domestic　affairs；　as　well　as　the　multitude　of　business　which　his　situation　must　of　necessity　impose　upon　him；　would　in　future　deprive　her　of　the　pleasure　of　his　visits。　　Though　delivered　in　the　mildest　language　this　hint　was　too　plain　to　be　mistaken。　　Still；　He　was　preparing　to　put　in　a　remonstrance　when　an　expressive　look　from　Elvira　stopped　him　short。　　He　dared　not　press　her　to　receive　him；　for　her　manner　convinced　him　that　He　was　discovered：　　He　submitted　without　reply；　took　an　hasty　leave；　and　retired　to　the　Abbey；　his　heart　filled　with　rage　and　shame；　with　bitterness　and　disappointment。

Antonia's　mind　felt　relieved　by　his　departure；　Yet　She　could　not　help　lamenting　that　She　was　never　to　see　him　more。　　Elvira　also　felt　a　secret　sorrow；　She　had　received　too　much　pleasure　from　thinking　him　her　Friend；　not　to　regret　the　necessity　of　changing　her　opinion：　　But　her　mind　was　too　much　accustomed　to　the　fallacy　of　worldly　friendships　to　permit　her　present　disappointment　to　weigh　upon　it　long。　　She　now　endeavoured　to　make　her　Daughter　aware　of　the　risque　which　She　had　ran：　　But　She　was　obliged　to　treat　the　subject　with　caution；　lest　in　removing　the　bandage　of　ignorance；　the　veil　of　innocence　should　be　rent　away。　　She　therefore　contented　herself　with　warning　Antonia　to　be　upon　her　guard；　and　ordering　her；　should　the　Abbot　persist　in　his　visits；　never　to　receive　them　but　in　company。　　With　this　injunction　Antonia　promised　to　comply。

Ambrosio　hastened　to　his　Cell。　　He　closed　the　door　after　him；　and　threw　himself　upon　the　bed　in　despair。　The　impulse　of　desire；　the　stings　of　disappointment；　the　shame　of　detection；　and　the　fear　of　being　publicly　unmasked；　rendered　his　bosom　a　scene　of　the　most　horrible　confusion。　　He　knew　not　what　course　to　pursue。　　Debarred　the　presence　of　Antonia；　He　had　no　hopes　of　satisfying　that　passion　which　was　now　become　a　part　of　his　existence。　　He　reflected　that　his　secret　was　in　a　Woman's　power：　　He　trembled　with　apprehension　when　He　beheld　the　precipice　before　him；　and　with　rage；　when　He　thought　that　had　it　not　been　for　Elvira；　He　should　now　have　possessed　the　object　of　his　desires。　　With　the　direct　imprecations　He　vowed　vengeance　against　her；　He　swore　that；　cost　what　it　would；　He　still　would　possess　Antonia。　　Starting　from　the　Bed；　He　paced　the　chamber　with　disordered　steps；　howled　with　impotent　fury；　dashed　himself　violently　against　the　walls；　and　indulged　all　the　transports　of　rage　and　madness。

He　was　still　under　the　influence　of　this　storm　of　passions　when　He　heard　a　gentle　knock　at　the　door　of　his　Cell。　　Conscious　that　his　voice　m