volume01-第3节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


or　clear　up　the　mystery　which　conceals　his　birth；　and　the　Monks；　who　find　their　account　in　the　favour　which　is　shewn　to　their　establishment　from　respect　to　him；　have　not　hesitated　to　publish　that　He　is　a　present　to　them　from　the　Virgin。　　In　truth　the　singular　austerity　of　his　life　gives　some　countenance　to　the　report。　　He　is　now　thirty　years　old；　every　hour　of　which　period　has　been　passed　in　study；　total　seclusion　from　the　world；　and　mortification　of　the　flesh。　　Till　these　last　three　weeks；　when　He　was　chosen　superior　of　the　Society　to　which　He　belongs；　He　had　never　been　on　the　outside　of　the　Abbey　walls：　　Even　now　He　never　quits　them　except　on　Thursdays；　when　He　delivers　a　discourse　in　this　Cathedral　which　all　Madrid　assembles　to　hear。　　His　knowledge　is　said　to　be　the　most　profound；　his　eloquence　the　most　persuasive。　　In　the　whole　course　of　his　life　He　has　never　been　known　to　transgress　a　single　rule　of　his　order；　The　smallest　stain　is　not　to　be　discovered　upon　his　character；　and　He　is　reported　to　be　so　strict　an　observer　of　Chastity；　that　He　knows　not　in　what　consists　the　difference　of　Man　and　Woman。　　The　common　People　therefore　esteem　him　to　be　a　Saint。'

'Does　that　make　a　Saint？'　enquired　Antonia；　'Bless　me！　　Then　am　I　one？'

'Holy　St。　Barbara！'　exclaimed　Leonella；　'What　a　question！　　Fye；　Child；　Fye！　　These　are　not　fit　subjects　for　young　Women　to　handle。　　You　should　not　seem　to　remember　that　there　is　such　a　thing　as　a　Man　in　the　world；　and　you　ought　to　imagine　every　body　to　be　of　the　same　sex　with　yourself。　　I　should　like　to　see　you　give　people　to　understand；　that　you　know　that　a　Man　has　no　breasts；　and　no　hips；　and　no　。　。　。'。

Luckily　for　Antonia's　ignorance　which　her　Aunt's　lecture　would　soon　have　dispelled；　an　universal　murmur　through　the　Church　announced　the　Preacher's　arrival。　Donna　Leonella　rose　from　her　seat　to　take　a　better　view　of　him；　and　Antonia　followed　her　example。

He　was　a　Man　of　noble　port　and　commanding　presence。　　His　stature　was　lofty；　and　his　features　uncommonly　handsome。　　His　Nose　was　aquiline；　his　eyes　large　black　and　sparkling；　and　his　dark　brows　almost　joined　together。　　His　complexion　was　of　a　deep　but　clear　Brown；　Study　and　watching　had　entirely　deprived　his　cheek　of　colour。　　Tranquillity　reigned　upon　his　smooth　unwrinkled　forehead；　and　Content；　expressed　upon　every　feature；　seemed　to　announce　the　Man　equally　unacquainted　with　cares　and　crimes。　　He　bowed　himself　with　humility　to　the　audience：　　Still　there　was　a　certain　severity　in　his　look　and　manner　that　inspired　universal　awe；　and　few　could　sustain　the　glance　of　his　eye　at　once　fiery　and　penetrating。　　Such　was　Ambrosio；　Abbot　of　the　Capuchins；　and　surnamed；　'The　Man　of　Holiness'。

Antonia；　while　She　gazed　upon　him　eagerly；　felt　a　pleasure　fluttering　in　her　bosom　which　till　then　had　been　unknown　to　her；　and　for　which　She　in　vain　endeavoured　to　account。　　She　waited　with　impatience　till　the　Sermon　should　begin；　and　when　at　length　the　Friar　spoke；　the　sound　of　his　voice　seemed　to　penetrate　into　her　very　soul。　Though　no　other　of　the　Spectators　felt　such　violent　sensations　as　did　the　young　Antonia；　yet　every　one　listened　with　interest　and　emotion。　　They　who　were　insensible　to　Religion's　merits；　were　still　enchanted　with　Ambrosio's　oratory。　　All　found　their　attention　irresistibly　attracted　while　He　spoke；　and　the　most　profound　silence　reigned　through　the　crowded　Aisles。

Even　Lorenzo　could　not　resist　the　charm：　　He　forgot　that　Antonia　was　seated　near　him；　and　listened　to　the　Preacher　with　undivided　attention。

In　language　nervous；　clear；　and　simple；　the　Monk　expatiated　on　the　beauties　of　Religion。　　He　explained　some　abstruse　parts　of　the　sacred　writings　in　a　style　that　carried　with　it　universal　conviction。　　His　voice　at　once　distinct　and　deep　was　fraught　with　all　the　terrors　of　the　Tempest；　while　He　inveighed　against　the　vices　of　humanity；　and　described　the　punishments　reserved　for　them　in　a　future　state。　　Every　Hearer　looked　back　upon　his　past　offences；　and　trembled：　　The　Thunder　seemed　to　roll；　whose　bolt　was　destined　to　crush　him；　and　the　abyss　of　eternal　destruction　to　open　before　his　feet。　　But　when　Ambrosio；　changing　his　theme；　spoke　of　the　excellence　of　an　unsullied　conscience；　of　the　glorious　prospect　which　Eternity　presented　to　the　Soul　untainted　with　reproach；　and　of　the　recompense　which　awaited　it　in　the　regions　of　everlasting　glory；　His　Auditors　felt　their　scattered　spirits　insensibly　return。　　They　threw　themselves　with　confidence　upon　the　mercy　of　their　Judge；　They　hung　with　delight　upon　the　consoling　words　of　the　Preacher；　and　while　his　full　voice　swelled　into　melody；　They　were　transported　to　those　happy　regions　which　He　painted　to　their　imaginations　in　colours　so　brilliant　and　glowing。

The　discourse　was　of　considerable　length；　Yet　when　it　concluded；　the　Audience　grieved　that　it　had　not　lasted　longer。　　Though　the　Monk　had　ceased　to　speak；　enthusiastic　silence　still　prevailed　through　the　Church：　　At　length　the　charm　gradually　dissolving；　the　general　admiration　was　expressed　in　audible　terms。　　As　Ambrosio　descended　from　the　Pulpit；　His　Auditors　crowded　round　him；　loaded　him　with　blessings；　threw　themselves　at　his　feet；　and　kissed　the　hem　of　his　Garment。　　He　passed　on　slowly　with　his　hands　crossed　devoutly　upon　his　bosom；　to　the　door　opening　into　the　Abbey　Chapel；　at　which　his　Monks　waited　to　receive　him。　　He　ascended　the　Steps；　and　then　turning　towards　his　Followers；　addressed　to　them　a　few　words　of　gratitude；　and　exhortation。　　While　He　spoke；　his　Rosary；　composed　of　large　grains　of　amber；　fell　from　his　hand；　and　dropped　among　the　surrounding　multitude。　　It　was　seized　eagerly；　and　immediately　divided　amidst　the　Spectators。　　Whoever　became　possessor　of　a　Bead；　preserved　it　as　a　sacred　relique；　and　had　it　been　the　Chaplet　of　thrice…blessed　St。　Francis　himself；　it　could　not　have　been　disputed　with　greater　vivacity。　　The　Abbot；　smiling　at　their　eagerness；　pronounced　his　benediction；　and　quitted　the　Church；　while　humility　dwelt　upon　every　feature。　　Dwelt　She　also　in　his　heart？

Antonia's　eyes　followed　him　with　anxiety。　　As　the　Door　closed　after　him；　it　seemed　to　her　as　had　she　lost　some　one　essential　to　her　happiness。　　A　tear　stole　in　silence　down　her　cheek。

'He　is　separated　from　the　world！'　said　She　to　herself；　'Perhaps；　I　shall　never　see　him　more！'

As　she　wiped　away　the　tear；　Lorenzo　observed　her　action。

'Are　you　satisfied　with　our　Orator？'　said　He；　'Or　do　you　think　that　Madrid　overrates　his　talents？'

Antonia's　heart　was　so　filled　with　admiration　for　the　Monk；　that　She　eagerly　seized　the　opportunity　of　speaking　of　him：　　Besides；　as　She　now　no　longer　considered　Lorenzo　as　an　absolute　Stranger；　She　was　less　embarrassed　by　her　excessive　timidity。

'Oh！　　He　far　exceeds　all　my　expectations；'　answered　She；　'Till　this　moment　I　had　no　idea　of　the　powers　of　eloquence。　　But　when　He　spoke；　his　voice　inspired　me　with　such　interest；　such　esteem；　I　might　almost　say　such　affection　for　him；　that　I　am　myself　astonished　at　the　acuteness　of　my　feelings。'

Lorenzo　smiled　at　the　strength　of　her　expressions。

'You　are　young　and　just　entering　into　life；'　said　He；　'Your　heart；　new　to　the　world　and　full　of　warmth　and　sensibility；　receives　its　first　impressions　with　eagerness。　　Artless　yourself；　you　suspect　not　others　of　deceit；　and　viewing　the　world　through　the　medium　of　your　own　truth　and　innocence；　you　fancy　all　who　surround　you　to　deserve　your　confidence　and　esteem。　　What　pity；　that　these　gay　visions　must　soon　be　dissipated！　　What　pity；　that　you　must　soon　discover　the　baseness　of　mankind；　and　guard　against　your　fellow…creatures　as　against　your　Foes！'

'Alas！　Segnor；'　replied　Antonia；　'The　misfortunes　of　my　Parents　have　already　placed　before　me　but　too　many　sad　examples　of　the　perfidy　of　the　world！　　Yet　surely　in　the　present　instance　the　warmth　of　sympathy　cannot　have　deceived　me。'

'In　the　present　instance；　I　allow　that　it　has　not。　　Ambrosio's　character　is　perfectly　without　reproach；　and　a　Man　who　has　passed　the　whole　of　his　life　within　the　walls　of　a　Convent　cannot　have　found　the　opportunity　to　be　guilty；　even　were　He　possessed　of　the　inclination。　　But　now；　when；　obliged　by　the　duties　of　his　situation；　He　must　enter　occasionally　into　the　world；　and　be　thrown　into　the　way　of　temptation；　it　is　now　that　it　behoves　him　to　show　the　brilliance　of　his　virtue。　　The　trial　is　dangerous；　He　is　just　at　that　period　of　life　when　the　passions　are　most　vigorous；　unbridled；　and　despotic；　His　established　reputation　will　mark　him　out　to　Seduction　as　an　illustrious　Victim；　Novelty　will　give　additional　charms　to　the　allurements　of　pleasure；　and　even　the　Talents　with　which　Nature　has　endowed　him　will　contribute　to　his　ruin；　by　facilitating　the　means　of　obtaining　his　object。　　Very　few　would　return　victorious　from　a　contest　so　severe。'

'Ah！　surely　Ambrosio　will　be　one　of　those　few。'

'Of　that　I　have　myself　no　doubt：　　By　all　accounts　He　is　an　exception　to　mankind　in　general；　and　Envy　would　seek　in　vain　for　a　blot　upon　his　character。'

'Segnor；　you　delight　me　by　this　assurance！　　It　encourages　me　to　indulge　my　prepossession　in　his　favour；　and　you　know　not　with　what　pain　I　should　have　repressed　the　sentiment！　　Ah！　dearest　Aunt；　entreat　my　Mother　to　choose　hi