volume01-第10节

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s；　as　monotonous　as　the　former。'

'You　amaze　me；　Father！　　Suppose　that　circumstances　condemned　you　to　solitude；　Would　not　the　duties　of　Religion　and　the　consciousness　of　a　life　well　spent　communicate　to　your　heart　that　calm　which。　。　。　。'

'I　should　deceive　myself；　did　I　fancy　that　they　could。　　I　am　convinced　of　the　contrary；　and　that　all　my　fortitude　would　not　prevent　me　from　yielding　to　melancholy　and　disgust。　　After　consuming　the　day　in　study；　if　you　knew　my　pleasure　at　meeting　my　Brethren　in　the　Evening！　　After　passing　many　a　long　hour　in　solitude；　if　I　could　express　to　you　the　joy　which　I　feel　at　once　more　beholding　a　fellow…Creature！　　'Tis　in　this　particular　that　I　place　the　principal　merit　of　a　Monastic　Institution。　　It　secludes　Man　from　the　temptations　of　Vice；　It　procures　that　leisure　necessary　for　the　proper　service　of　the　Supreme；　It　spares　him　the　mortification　of　witnessing　the　crimes　of　the　worldly；　and　yet　permits　him　to　enjoy　the　blessings　of　society。　　And　do　you；　Rosario；　do　YOU　envy　an　Hermit's　life？　　Can　you　be　thus　blind　to　the　happiness　of　your　situation？　　Reflect　upon　it　for　a　moment。　　This　Abbey　is　become　your　Asylum：　　Your　regularity；　your　gentleness；　your　talents　have　rendered　you　the　object　of　universal　esteem：　　You　are　secluded　from　the　world　which　you　profess　to　hate；　yet　you　remain　in　possession　of　the　benefits　of　society；　and　that　a　society　composed　of　the　most　estimable　of　Mankind。'

'Father！　　Father！　'tis　that　which　causes　my　Torment！　　Happy　had　it　been　for　me；　had　my　life　been　passed　among　the　vicious　and　abandoned！　　Had　I　never　heard　pronounced　the　name　of　Virtue！　'Tis　my　unbounded　adoration　of　religion；　'Tis　my　soul's　exquisite　sensibility　of　the　beauty　of　fair　and　good；　that　loads　me　with　shame！　that　hurries　me　to　perdition！　　Oh！　that　I　had　never　seen　these　Abbey　walls！'

'How；　Rosario？　　When　we　last　conversed；　you　spoke　in　a　different　tone。　　Is　my　friendship　then　become　of　such　little　consequence？　　Had　you　never　seen　these　Abbey　walls；　you　never　had　seen　me：　　Can　that　really　be　your　wish？'

'Had　never　seen　you？'　repeated　the　Novice；　starting　from　the　Bank；　and　grasping　the　Friar's　hand　with　a　frantic　air；　'You？　　You？　　Would　to　God；　that　lightning　had　blasted　them；　before　you　ever　met　my　eyes！　　Would　to　God！　that　I　were　never　to　see　you　more；　and　could　forget　that　I　had　ever　seen　you！'

With　these　words　He　flew　hastily　from　the　Grotto。　　Ambrosio　remained　in　his　former　attitude；　reflecting　on　the　Youth's　unaccountable　behaviour。　　He　was　inclined　to　suspect　the　derangement　of　his　senses：　yet　the　general　tenor　of　his　conduct；　the　connexion　of　his　ideas；　and　calmness　of　his　demeanour　till　the　moment　of　his　quitting　the　Grotto；　seemed　to　discountenance　this　conjecture。　　After　a　few　minutes　Rosario　returned。　　He　again　seated　himself　upon　the　Bank：　　He　reclined　his　cheek　upon　one　hand；　and　with　the　other　wiped　away　the　tears　which　trickled　from　his　eyes　at　intervals。

The　Monk　looked　upon　him　with　compassion；　and　forbore　to　interrupt　his　meditations。　　Both　observed　for　some　time　a　profound　silence。　　The　Nightingale　had　now　taken　her　station　upon　an　Orange　Tree　fronting　the　Hermitage；　and　poured　forth　a　strain　the　most　melancholy　and　melodious。　　Rosario　raised　his　head；　and　listened　to　her　with　attention。

'It　was　thus；'　said　He；　with　a　deep…drawn　sigh；　'It　was　thus；　that　during　the　last　month　of　her　unhappy　life；　my　Sister　used　to　sit　listening　to　the　Nightingale。　　Poor　Matilda！　　She　sleeps　in　the　Grave；　and　her　broken　heart　throbs　no　more　with　passion。'

'You　had　a　Sister？'

'You　say　right；　that　I　HAD；　Alas！　　I　have　one　no　longer。　　She　sunk　beneath　the　weight　of　her　sorrows　in　the　very　spring　of　life。'

'What　were　those　sorrows？'

'They　will　not　excite　YOUR　pity：　　YOU　know　not　the　power　of　those　irresistible；　those　fatal　sentiments；　to　which　her　Heart　was　a　prey。　　Father；　She　loved　unfortunately。　　A　passion　for　One　endowed　with　every　virtue；　for　a　Man；　Oh！　rather　let　me　say；　for　a　divinity；　proved　the　bane　of　her　existence。　　His　noble　form；　his　spotless　character；　his　various　talents；　his　wisdom　solid；　wonderful；　and　glorious；　might　have　warmed　the　bosom　of　the　most　insensible。　　My　Sister　saw　him；　and　dared　to　love　though　She　never　dared　to　hope。'

'If　her　love　was　so　well　bestowed；　what　forbad　her　to　hope　the　obtaining　of　its　object？'

'Father；　before　He　knew　her；　Julian　had　already　plighted　his　vows　to　a　Bride　most　fair；　most　heavenly！　　Yet　still　my　Sister　loved；　and　for　the　Husband's　sake　She　doted　upon　the　Wife。　　One　morning　She　found　means　to　escape　from　our　Father's　House：　　Arrayed　in　humble　weeds　She　offered　herself　as　a　Domestic　to　the　Consort　of　her　Beloved；　and　was　accepted。　　She　was　now　continually　in　his　presence：　　She　strove　to　ingratiate　herself　into　his　favour：　　She　succeeded。　　Her　attentions　attracted　Julian's　notice；　　The　virtuous　are　ever　grateful；　and　He　distinguished　Matilda　above　the　rest　of　her　Companions。'

'And　did　not　your　Parents　seek　for　her？　　Did　they　submit　tamely　to　their　loss；　nor　attempt　to　recover　their　wandering　Daughter？'

'Ere　they　could　find　her；　She　discovered　herself。　　Her　love　grew　too　violent　for　concealment；　Yet　She　wished　not　for　Julian's　person；　She　ambitioned　but　a　share　of　his　heart。　　In　an　unguarded　moment　She　confessed　her　affection。　　What　was　the　return？　　Doating　upon　his　Wife；　and　believing　that　a　look　of　pity　bestowed　upon　another　was　a　theft　from　what　He　owed　to　her；　He　drove　Matilda　from　his　presence。　　He　forbad　her　ever　again　appearing　before　him。　　His　severity　broke　her　heart：　　She　returned　to　her　Father's；　and　in　a　few　Months　after　was　carried　to　her　Grave。'

'Unhappy　Girl！　　Surely　her　fate　was　too　severe；　and　Julian　was　too　cruel。'

'Do　you　think　so；　Father？'　cried　the　Novice　with　vivacity；　'Do　you　think　that　He　was　cruel？'

'Doubtless　I　do；　and　pity　her　most　sincerely。'

'You　pity　her？　　You　pity　her？　　Oh！　　Father！　　Father！　Then　pity　me！'

The　Friar　started；　when　after　a　moment's　pause　Rosario　added　with　a　faltering　voice；'for　my　sufferings　are　still　greater。　　My　Sister　had　a　Friend；　a　real　Friend；　who　pitied　the　acuteness　of　her　feelings；　nor　reproached　her　with　her　inability　to　repress　them。　　I　。　。　。！　　I　have　no　Friend！　　The　whole　wide　world　cannot　furnish　an　heart　that　is　willing　to　participate　in　the　sorrows　of　mine！'

As　He　uttered　these　words；　He　sobbed　audibly。　　The　Friar　was　affected。　　He　took　Rosario's　hand；　and　pressed　it　with　tenderness。

'You　have　no　Friend；　say　you？　　What　then　am　I？　　Why　will　you　not　confide　in　me；　and　what　can　you　fear？　　My　severity？　　Have　I　ever　used　it　with　you？　　The　dignity　of　my　habit？　　Rosario；　I　lay　aside　the　Monk；　and　bid　you　consider　me　as　no　other　than　your　Friend；　your　Father。　　Well　may　I　assume　that　title；　for　never　did　Parent　watch　over　a　Child　more　fondly　than　I　have　watched　over　you。　　From　the　moment　in　which　I　first　beheld　you；　I　perceived　sensations　in　my　bosom　till　then　unknown　to　me；　I　found　a　delight　in　your　society　which　no　one's　else　could　afford；　and　when　I　witnessed　the　extent　of　your　genius　and　information；　I　rejoiced　as　does　a　Father　in　the　perfections　of　his　Son。　　Then　lay　aside　your　fears；　Speak　to　me　with　openness：　　Speak　to　me；　Rosario；　and　say　that　you　will　confide　in　me。　　If　my　aid　or　my　pity　can　alleviate　your　distress。　。　。　。'

'Yours　can！　　Yours　only　can！　　Ah！　　Father；　how　willingly　would　I　unveil　to　you　my　heart！　　How　willingly　would　I　declare　the　secret　which　bows　me　down　with　its　weight！　But　Oh！　　I　fear！　　I　fear！'

'What；　my　Son？'

'That　you　should　abhor　me　for　my　weakness；　That　the　reward　of　my　confidence　should　be　the　loss　of　your　esteem。'

'How　shall　I　reassure　you？　　Reflect　upon　the　whole　of　my　past　conduct；　upon　the　paternal　tenderness　which　I　have　ever　shown　you。　　Abhor　you；　Rosario？　　It　is　no　longer　in　my　power。　　To　give　up　your　society　would　be　to　deprive　myself　of　the　greatest　pleasure　of　my　life。　　Then　reveal　to　me　what　afflicts　you；　and　believe　me　while　I　solemnly　swear。　。　。　。'

'Hold！'　interrupted　the　Novice；　'Swear；　that　whatever　be　my　secret；　you　will　not　oblige　me　to　quit　the　Monastery　till　my　Noviciate　shall　expire。'

'I　promise　it　faithfully；　and　as　I　keep　my　vows　to　you；　may　Christ　keep　his　to　Mankind。　　Now　then　explain　this　mystery；　and　rely　upon　my　indulgence。'

'I　obey　you。　　Know　then。　。　。　。　　Oh！　how　I　tremble　to　name　the　word！　　Listen　to　me　with　pity；　revered　Ambrosio！　　Call　up　every　latent　spark　of　human　weakness　that　may　teach　you　compassion　for　mine！　　Father！'　continued　He　throwing　himself　at　the　Friar's　feet；　and　pressing　his　hand　to　his　lips　with　eagerness；　while　agitation　for　a　moment　choaked　his　voice；　'Father！'　continued　He　in　faltering　accents；　'I　am　a　Woman！'

The　Abbot　started　at　this　unexpected　avowal。　Prostrate　on　the　ground　lay　the　feigned　Rosario；　as　if　waiting　in　silence　the　decision　of　his　Judge。　　Astonishment　on　the　one　part；　apprehension　on　the　other；　for　some　minutes　chained　them　in　the　same　attitudes；　as　had　they　been　touched　by　the　Rod　of　some　Magician。　　At　length　recovering　from　his　confusion；　the　Monk　quitted　the　Grotto；　and　sped　with　precipitation　towards　the　Abbey。　　His　action　did　not　escape　the　Suppliant。　　She　sprang　from　the　ground；　She　hastened　to　follow　him；　overtook　him；　thre