volume02-第30节

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　to　discover。　　A　profound　obscurity　hovered　through　the　void。　　Damp　vapours　struck　cold　to　the　Friar's　heart；　and　He　listened　sadly　to　the　blast　while　it　howled　along　the　lonely　Vaults。　　Here　Matilda　stopped。　　She　turned　to　Ambrosio。　　His　cheeks　and　lips　were　pale　with　apprehension。　　By　a　glance　of　mingled　scorn　and　anger　She　reproved　his　pusillanimity；　but　She　spoke　not。　　She　placed　the　Lamp　upon　the　ground；　near　the　Basket。　　She　motioned　that　Ambrosio　should　be　silent；　and　began　the　mysterious　rites。　　She　drew　a　circle　round　him；　another　round　herself；　and　then　taking　a　small　Phial　from　the　Basket；　poured　a　few　drops　upon　the　ground　before　her。　　She　bent　over　the　place；　muttered　some　indistinct　sentences；　and　immediately　a　pale　sulphurous　flame　arose　from　the　ground。　　It　increased　by　degrees；　and　at　length　spread　its　waves　over　the　whole　surface；　the　circles　alone　excepted　in　which　stood　Matilda　and　the　Monk。　　It　then　ascended　the　huge　Columns　of　unhewn　stone；　glided　along　the　roof；　and　formed　the　Cavern　into　an　immense　chamber　totally　covered　with　blue　trembling　fire。　　It　emitted　no　heat：　　On　the　contrary；　the　extreme　chillness　of　the　place　seemed　to　augment　with　every　moment。　　Matilda　continued　her　incantations：　　At　intervals　She　took　various　articles　from　the　Basket；　the　nature　and　name　of　most　of　which　were　unknown　to　the　Friar：　　But　among　the　few　which　He　distinguished；　He　particularly　observed　three　human　fingers；　and　an　Agnus　Dei　which　She　broke　in　pieces。　　She　threw　them　all　into　the　flames　which　burned　before　her；　and　they　were　instantly　consumed。

The　Monk　beheld　her　with　anxious　curiosity。　　Suddenly　She　uttered　a　loud　and　piercing　shriek。　　She　appeared　to　be　seized　with　an　access　of　delirium；　She　tore　her　hair；　beat　her　bosom；　used　the　most　frantic　gestures；　and　drawing　the　poignard　from　her　girdle　plunged　it　into　her　left　arm。　　The　blood　gushed　out　plentifully；　and　as　She　stood　on　the　brink　of　the　circle；　She　took　care　that　it　should　fall　on　the　outside。　　The　flames　retired　from　the　spot　on　which　the　blood　was　pouring。　　A　volume　of　dark　clouds　rose　slowly　from　the　ensanguined　earth；　and　ascended　gradually；　till　it　reached　the　vault　of　the　Cavern。　　At　the　same　time　a　clap　of　thunder　was　heard：　The　echo　pealed　fearfully　along　the　subterraneous　passages；　and　the　ground　shook　beneath　the　feet　of　the　Enchantress。

It　was　now　that　Ambrosio　repented　of　his　rashness。　　The　solemn　singularity　of　the　charm　had　prepared　him　for　something　strange　and　horrible。　　He　waited　with　fear　for　the　Spirit's　appearance；　whose　coming　was　announced　by　thunder　and　earthquakes。　　He　looked　wildly　round　him；　expecting　that　some　dreadful　Apparition　would　meet　his　eyes；　the　sight　of　which　would　drive　him　mad。　　A　cold　shivering　seized　his　body；　and　He　sank　upon　one　knee；　unable　to　support　himself。

'He　comes！'　exclaimed　Matilda　in　a　joyful　accent。

Ambrosio　started；　and　expected　the　Daemon　with　terror。　　What　was　his　surprize；　when　the　Thunder　ceasing　to　roll；　a　full　strain　of　melodious　Music　sounded　in　the　air。　　At　the　same　time　the　cloud　dispersed；　and　He　beheld　a　Figure　more　beautiful　than　Fancy's　pencil　ever　drew。　　It　was　a　Youth　seemingly　scarce　eighteen；　the　perfection　of　whose　form　and　face　was　unrivalled。　　He　was　perfectly　naked：　　A　bright　Star　sparkled　upon　his　forehead；　Two　crimson　wings　extended　themselves　from　his　shoulders；　and　his　silken　locks　were　confined　by　a　band　of　many…coloured　fires；　which　played　round　his　head；　formed　themselves　into　a　variety　of　figures；　and　shone　with　a　brilliance　far　surpassing　that　of　precious　Stones。　　Circlets　of　Diamonds　were　fastened　round　his　arms　and　ankles；　and　in　his　right　hand　He　bore　a　silver　branch；　imitating　Myrtle。　　His　form　shone　with　dazzling　glory：　　He　was　surrounded　by　clouds　of　rose…coloured　light；　and　at　the　moment　that　He　appeared；　a　refreshing　air　breathed　perfumes　through　the　Cavern。　　Enchanted　at　a　vision　so　contrary　to　his　expectations；　Ambrosio　gazed　upon　the　Spirit　with　delight　and　wonder：　　Yet　however　beautiful　the　Figure；　He　could　not　but　remark　a　wildness　in　the　Daemon's　eyes；　and　a　mysterious　melancholy　impressed　upon　his　features；　betraying　the　Fallen　Angel；　and　inspiring　the　Spectators　with　secret　awe。

The　Music　ceased。　　Matilda　addressed　herself　to　the　Spirit：　　She　spoke　in　a　language　unintelligible　to　the　Monk；　and　was　answered　in　the　same。　　She　seemed　to　insist　upon　something　which　the　Daemon　was　unwilling　to　grant。　　He　frequently　darted　upon　Ambrosio　angry　glances；　and　at　such　times　the　Friar's　heart　sank　within　him。　　Matilda　appeared　to　grow　incensed。　　She　spoke　in　a　loud　and　commanding　tone；　and　her　gestures　declared　that　She　was　threatening　him　with　her　vengeance。　　Her　menaces　had　the　desired　effect：　　The　Spirit　sank　upon　his　knee；　and　with　a　submissive　air　presented　to　her　the　branch　of　Myrtle。　　No　sooner　had　She　received　it；　than　the　Music　was　again　heard；　A　thick　cloud　spread　itself　over　the　Apparition；　The　blue　flames　disappeared；　and　total　obscurity　reigned　through　the　Cave。　　The　Abbot　moved　not　from　his　place：　　His　faculties　were　all　bound　up　in　pleasure；　anxiety；　and　surprize。　　At　length　the　darkness　dispersing；　He　perceived　Matilda　standing　near　him　in　her　religious　habit；　with　the　Myrtle　in　her　hand。　　No　traces　of　the　incantation；　and　the　Vaults　were　only　illuminated　by　the　faint　rays　of　the　sepulchral　Lamp。

'I　have　succeeded；'　said　Matilda；　'though　with　more　difficulty　than　I　expected。　　Lucifer；　whom　I　summoned　to　my　assistance；　was　at　first　unwilling　to　obey　my　commands：　To　enforce　his　compliance　I　was　constrained　to　have　recourse　to　my　strongest　charms。　　They　have　produced　the　desired　effect；　but　I　have　engaged　never　more　to　invoke　his　agency　in　your　favour。　　Beware　then；　how　you　employ　an　opportunity　which　never　will　return。　　My　magic　arts　will　now　be　of　no　use　to　you：　　In　future　you　can　only　hope　for　supernatural　aid　by　invoking　the　Daemons　yourself；　and　accepting　the　conditions　of　their　service。　　This　you　will　never　do：　　You　want　strength　of　mind　to　force　them　to　obedience；　and　unless　you　pay　their　established　price；　they　will　not　be　your　voluntary　Servants。　　In　this　one　instance　they　consent　to　obey　you：　I　offer　you　the　means　of　enjoying　your　Mistress；　and　be　careful　not　to　lose　the　opportunity。　　Receive　this　constellated　Myrtle：　　While　you　bear　this　in　your　hand；　every　door　will　fly　open　to　you。　　It　will　procure　you　access　tomorrow　night　to　Antonia's　chamber：　　Then　breathe　upon　it　thrice；　pronounce　her　name；　and　place　it　upon　her　pillow。　　A　death…like　slumber　will　immediately　seize　upon　her；　and　deprive　her　of　the　power　of　resisting　your　attempts。　　Sleep　will　hold　her　till　break　of　Morning。　　In　this　state　you　may　satisfy　your　desires　without　danger　of　being　discovered；　since　when　daylight　shall　dispel　the　effects　of　the　enchantment；　Antonia　will　perceive　her　dishonour；　but　be　ignorant　of　the　Ravisher。　　Be　happy　then；　my　Ambrosio；　and　let　this　service　convince　you　that　my　friendship　is　disinterested　and　pure。　　The　night　must　be　near　expiring：　　Let　us　return　to　the　Abbey；　lest　our　absence　should　create　surprize。'

The　Abbot　received　the　talisman　with　silent　gratitude。　　His　ideas　were　too　much　bewildered　by　the　adventures　of　the　night　to　permit　his　expressing　his　thanks　audibly；　or　indeed　as　yet　to　feel　the　whole　value　of　her　present。　　Matilda　took　up　her　Lamp　and　Basket；　and　guided　her　Companion　from　the　mysterious　Cavern。　　She　restored　the　Lamp　to　its　former　place；　and　continued　her　route　in　darkness；　till　She　reached　the　foot　of　the　Staircase。　The　first　beams　of　the　rising　Sun　darting　down　it　facilitated　the　ascent。　　Matilda　and　the　Abbot　hastened　out　of　the　Sepulchre；　closed　the　door　after　them；　and　soon　regained　the　Abbey's　western　Cloister。　　No　one　met　them；　and　they　retired　unobserved　to　their　respective　Cells。

The　confusion　of　Ambrosio's　mind　now　began　to　appease。　　He　rejoiced　in　the　fortunate　issue　of　his　adventure；　and　reflecting　upon　the　virtues　of　the　Myrtle；　looked　upon　Antonia　as　already　in　his　power。　　Imagination　retraced　to　him　those　secret　charms　betrayed　to　him　by　the　Enchanted　Mirror；　and　He　waited　with　impatience　for　the　approach　of　midnight。