volume01-第5章

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nia　for　his　Niece。　　Her　birth　therefore　will　be　no　objection　to　my　offering　her　my　hand。　　I　should　be　a　Villain　could　I　think　of　her　on　any　other　terms　than　marriage；　and　in　truth　She　seems　possessed　of　every　quality　requisite　to　make　me　happy　in　a　Wife。　　Young；　lovely；　gentle；　sensible。　。　。　。'

'Sensible？　　Why；　She　said　nothing　but　''Yes；''　and　''No''。'

'She　did　not　say　much　more；　I　must　confessBut　then　She　always　said　''Yes；''　or　''No；''　in　the　right　place。'

'Did　She　so？　　Oh！　your　most　obedient！　　That　is　using　a　right　Lover's　argument；　and　I　dare　dispute　no　longer　with　so　profound　a　Casuist。　　Suppose　we　adjourn　to　the　Comedy？'

'It　is　out　of　my　power。　　I　only　arrived　last　night　at　Madrid；　and　have　not　yet　had　an　opportunity　of　seeing　my　Sister；　You　know　that　her　Convent　is　in　this　Street；　and　I　was　going　thither　when　the　Crowd　which　I　saw　thronging　into　this　Church　excited　my　curiosity　to　know　what　was　the　matter。　　I　shall　now　pursue　my　first　intention；　and　probably　pass　the　Evening　with　my　Sister　at　the　Parlour　grate。'

'Your　Sister　in　a　Convent；　say　you？　　Oh！　very　true；　I　had　forgotten。　　And　how　does　Donna　Agnes？　　I　am　amazed；　Don　Lorenzo；　how　you　could　possibly　think　of　immuring　so　charming　a　Girl　within　the　walls　of　a　Cloister！'

'I　think　of　it；　Don　Christoval？　　How　can　you　suspect　me　of　such　barbarity？　　You　are　conscious　that　She　took　the　veil　by　her　own　desire；　and　that　particular　circumstances　made　her　wish　for　a　seclusion　from　the　World。　　I　used　every　means　in　my　power　to　induce　her　to　change　her　resolution；　The　endeavour　was　fruitless；　and　I　lost　a　Sister！'

'The　luckier　fellow　you；　I　think；　Lorenzo；　you　were　a　considerable　gainer　by　that　loss：　　If　I　remember　right；　Donna　Agnes　had　a　portion　of　ten　thousand　pistoles；　half　of　which　reverted　to　your　Lordship。　　By　St。　Jago！　I　wish　that　I　had　fifty　Sisters　in　the　same　predicament。　I　should　consent　to　losing　them　every　soul　without　much　heart…burning'

'How；　Conde？'　said　Lorenzo　in　an　angry　voice；　'Do　you　suppose　me　base　enough　to　have　influenced　my　Sister's　retirement？　　Do　you　suppose　that　the　despicable　wish　to　make　myself　Master　of　her　fortune　could。　。　。　。'

'Admirable！　　Courage；　Don　Lorenzo！　　Now　the　Man　is　all　in　a　blaze。　　God　grant　that　Antonia　may　soften　that　fiery　temper；　or　we　shall　certainly　cut　each　other's　throat　before　the　Month　is　over！　　However；　to　prevent　such　a　tragical　Catastrophe　for　the　present；　I　shall　make　a　retreat；　and　leave　you　Master　of　the　field。　　Farewell；　my　Knight　of　Mount　Aetna！　　Moderate　that　inflammable　disposition；　and　remember　that　whenever　it　is　necessary　to　make　love　to　yonder　Harridan；　you　may　reckon　upon　my　services。'

He　said；　and　darted　out　of　the　Cathedral。

'How　wild…brained！'　said　Lorenzo；　'With　so　excellent　an　heart；　what　pity　that　He　possesses　so　little　solidity　of　judgment！'

The　night　was　now　fast　advancing。　　The　Lamps　were　not　yet　lighted。　　The　faint　beams　of　the　rising　Moon　scarcely　could　pierce　through　the　gothic　obscurity　of　the　Church。　　Lorenzo　found　himself　unable　to　quit　the　Spot。　　The　void　left　in　his　bosom　by　Antonia's　absence；　and　his　Sister's　sacrifice　which　Don　Christoval　had　just　recalled　to　his　imagination；　created　that　melancholy　of　mind　which　accorded　but　too　well　with　the　religious　gloom　surrounding　him。　　He　was　still　leaning　against　the　seventh　column　from　the　Pulpit。　　A　soft　and　cooling　air　breathed　along　the　solitary　Aisles：　　The　Moonbeams　darting　into　the　Church　through　painted　windows　tinged　the　fretted　roofs　and　massy　pillars　with　a　thousand　various　tints　of　light　and　colours：

Universal　silence　prevailed　around；　only　interrupted　by　the　occasional　closing　of　Doors　in　the　adjoining　Abbey。

The　calm　of　the　hour　and　solitude　of　the　place　contributed　to　nourish　Lorenzo's　disposition　to　melancholy。　He　threw　himself　upon　a　seat　which　stood　near　him；　and　abandoned　himself　to　the　delusions　of　his　fancy。　　He　thought　of　his　union　with　Antonia；　He　thought　of　the　obstacles　which　might　oppose　his　wishes；　and　a　thousand　changing　visions　floated　before　his　fancy；　sad　'tis　true；　but　not　unpleasing。　　Sleep　insensibly　stole　over　him；　and　the　tranquil　solemnity　of　his　mind　when　awake　for　a　while　continued　to　influence　his　slumbers。

He　still　fancied　himself　to　be　in　the　Church　of　the　Capuchins；　but　it　was　no　longer　dark　and　solitary。　　Multitudes　of　silver　Lamps　shed　splendour　from　the　vaulted　Roof；　Accompanied　by　the　captivating　chaunt　of　distant　choristers；　the　Organ's　melody　swelled　through　the　Church；　The　Altar　seemed　decorated　as　for　some　distinguished　feast；　It　was　surrounded　by　a　brilliant　Company；　and　near　it　stood　Antonia　arrayed　in　bridal　white；　and　blushing　with　all　the　charms　of　Virgin　Modesty。

Half　hoping；　half　fearing；　Lorenzo　gazed　upon　the　scene　before　him。　　Sudden　the　door　leading　to　the　Abbey　unclosed；　and　He　saw；　attended　by　a　long　train　of　Monks；　the　Preacher　advance　to　whom　He　had　just　listened　with　so　much　admiration。　　He　drew　near　Antonia。

'And　where　is　the　Bridegroom？'　said　the　imaginary　Friar。

Antonia　seemed　to　look　round　the　Church　with　anxiety。　　Involuntarily　the　Youth　advanced　a　few　steps　from　his　concealment。　　She　saw　him；　The　blush　of　pleasure　glowed　upon　her　cheek；　With　a　graceful　motion　of　her　hand　She　beckoned　to　him　to　advance。　　He　disobeyed　not　the　command；　He　flew　towards　her；　and　threw　himself　at　her　feet。

She　retreated　for　a　moment；　Then　gazing　upon　him　with　unutterable　delight；'Yes！'　She　exclaimed；　'My　Bridegroom！　　My　destined　Bridegroom！'　She　said；　and　hastened　to　throw　herself　into　his　arms；　But　before　He　had　time　to　receive　her；　an　Unknown　rushed　between　them。　　His　form　was　gigantic；　His　complexion　was　swarthy；　His　eyes　fierce　and　terrible；　his　Mouth　breathed　out　volumes　of　fire；　and　on　his　forehead　was　written　in　legible　characters'Pride！　Lust！　Inhumanity！'

Antonia　shrieked。　　The　Monster　clasped　her　in　his　arms；　and　springing　with　her　upon　the　Altar；　tortured　her　with　his　odious　caresses。　　She　endeavoured　in　vain　to　escape　from　his　embrace。　　Lorenzo　flew　to　her　succour；　but　ere　He　had　time　to　reach　her；　a　loud　burst　of　thunder　was　heard。　　Instantly　the　Cathedral　seemed　crumbling　into　pieces；　The　Monks　betook　themselves　to　flight；　shrieking　fearfully；　The　Lamps　were　extinguished；　the　Altar　sank　down；　and　in　its　place　appeared　an　abyss　vomiting　forth　clouds　of　flame。　　Uttering　a　loud　and　terrible　cry　the　Monster　plunged　into　the　Gulph；　and　in　his　fall　attempted　to　drag　Antonia　with　him。　　He　strove　in　vain。　　Animated　by　supernatural　powers　She　disengaged　herself　from　his　embrace；　But　her　white　Robe　was　left　in　his　possession。　　Instantly　a　wing　of　brilliant　splendour　spread　itself　from　either　of　Antonia's　arms。　　She　darted　upwards；　and　while　ascending　cried　to　Lorenzo；

'Friend！　we　shall　meet　above！'

At　the　same　moment　the　Roof　of　the　Cathedral　opened；　Harmonious　voices　pealed　along　the　Vaults；　and　the　glory　into　which　Antonia　was　received　was　composed　of　rays　of　such　dazzling　brightness；　that　Lorenzo　was　unable　to　sustain　the　gaze。　　His　sight　failed；　and　He　sank　upon　the　ground。

When　He　woke；　He　found　himself　extended　upon　the　pavement　of　the　Church：　　It　was　Illuminated；　and　the　chaunt　of　Hymns　sounded　from　a　distance。　　For　a　while　Lorenzo　could　not　persuade　himself　that　what　He　had　just　witnessed　had　been　a　dream；　so　strong　an　impression　had　it　made　upon　his　fancy。　　A　little　recollection　convinced　him　of　its　fallacy：　　The　Lamps　had　been　lighted　during　his　sleep；　and　the　music　which　he　heard　was　occasioned　by　the　Monks；　who　were　celebrating　their　Vespers　in　the　Abbey　Chapel。

Lorenzo　rose；　and　prepared　to　bend　his　steps　towards　his　Sister's　Convent。　　His　mind　fully　occupied　by　the　singularity　of　his　dream；　He　already　drew　near　the　Porch；　when　his　attention　was　attracted　by　perceiving　a　Shadow　moving　upon　the　opposite　wall。　　He　looked　curiously　round；　and　soon　descried　a　Man　wrapped　up　in　his　Cloak；　who　seemed　carefully　examining　whether　his　actions　were　observed。　　Very　few　people　are　exempt　from　the　influence　of　curiosity。　　The　Unknown　seemed　anxious　to　conceal　his　business　in　the　Cathedral；　and　it　was　this　very　circumstance；　which　made　Lorenzo　wish　to　discover　what　He　was　about。

Our　Hero　was　conscious　that　He　had　no　right　to　pry