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The first idea of this Romance was suggested by the story of the
Santon Barsisa； related in The Guardian。The Bleeding Nun is a
tradition still credited in many parts of Germany； and I have
been told that the ruins of the Castle of Lauenstein； which She
is supposed to haunt； may yet be seen upon the borders of
Thuringia。The Water…King； from the third to the twelfth stanza；
is the fragment of an original Danish BalladAnd Belerma and
Durandarte is translated from some stanzas to be found in a
collection of old Spanish poetry； which contains also the popular
song of Gayferos and Melesindra； mentioned in Don Quixote。I
have now made a full avowal of all the plagiarisms of which I am
aware myself； but I doubt not； many more may be found； of which I
am at present totally unconscious。
The Monk
by Matthew Lewis
THE MONK … A ROMANCE
Somnia； terrores magicos； miracula； fagas；
Nocturnos lemures； portentaque。
Horat。
Dreams； magic terrors； spells of mighty power；
Witches； and ghosts who rove at midnight hour。
PREFACE
IMITATION OF HORACE
Ep。 20。B。 1。
Methinks； Oh！ vain ill…judging Book；
I see thee cast a wishful look；
Where reputations won and lost are
In famous row called Paternoster。
Incensed to find your precious olio
Buried in unexplored port…folio；
You scorn the prudent lock and key；
And pant well bound and gilt to see
Your Volume in the window set
Of Stockdale； Hookham； or Debrett。
Go then； and pass that dangerous bourn
Whence never Book can back return：
And when you find； condemned； despised；
Neglected； blamed； and criticised；
Abuse from All who read you fall；
（If haply you be read at all
Sorely will you your folly sigh at；
And wish for me； and home； and quiet。
Assuming now a conjuror's office； I
Thus on your future Fortune prophesy：
Soon as your novelty is o'er；
And you are young and new no more；
In some dark dirty corner thrown；
Mouldy with damps； with cobwebs strown；
Your leaves shall be the Book…worm's prey；
Or sent to Chandler…Shop away；
And doomed to suffer public scandal；
Shall line the trunk； or wrap the candle！
But should you meet with approbation；
And some one find an inclination
To ask； by natural transition
Respecting me and my condition；
That I am one； the enquirer teach；
Nor very poor； nor very rich；
Of passions strong； of hasty nature；
Of graceless form and dwarfish stature；
By few approved； and few approving；
Extreme in hating and in loving；
Abhorring all whom I dislike；
Adoring who my fancy strike；
In forming judgements never long；
And for the most part judging wrong；
In friendship firm； but still believing
Others are treacherous and deceiving；
And thinking in the present aera
That Friendship is a pure chimaera：
More passionate no creature living；
Proud； obstinate； and unforgiving；
But yet for those who kindness show；
Ready through fire and smoke to go。
Again； should it be asked your page；
'Pray； what may be the author's age？'
Your faults； no doubt； will make it clear；
I scarce have seen my twentieth year；
Which passed； kind Reader； on my word；
While England's Throne held George the Third。
Now then your venturous course pursue：
Go； my delight！ Dear Book； adieu！
Hague；
Oct。 28； 1794。 M。 G。 L。
VOLUME I
CHAPTER I
Lord Angelo is precise；
Stands at a guard with envy； Scarce confesses
That his blood flows； or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone。
Measure for Measure。
Scarcely had the Abbey Bell tolled for five minutes；and already
was the Church of the Capuchins thronged with Auditors。 Do not
encourage the idea that the Crowd was assembled either from
motives of piety or thirst of information。 But very few were
influenced by those reasons； and in a city where superstition
reigns with such despotic sway as in Madrid； to seek for true
devotion would be a fruitless attempt。 The Audience now
assembled in the Capuchin Church was collected by various causes；
but all of them were foreign to the ostensible motive。 The Women
came to show themselves； the Men to see the Women： Some were
attracted by curiosity to hear an Orator so celebrated； Some came
because they had no better means of employing their time till the
play began； Some； from being assured that it would be impossible
to find places in the Church； and one half of Madrid was brought
thither by expecting to meet the other half。 The only persons
truly anxious to hear the Preacher were a few antiquated
devotees； and half a dozen rival Orators； determined to find
fault with and ridicule the discourse。 As to the remainder of
the Audience； the Sermon might have been omitted altogether；
certainly without their being disappointed； and very probably
without their perceiving the omission。
Whatever was the occasion； it is at least certain that the
Capuchin Church had never witnessed a more numerous assembly。
Every corner was filled； every seat was occupied。 The very
Statues which ornamented the long aisles were pressed into the
service。 Boys suspended themselves upon the wings of Cherubims；
St。 Francis and St。 Mark bore each a spectator on his shoulders；
and St。 Agatha found herself under the necessity of carrying
double。 The consequence was； that in spite of all their hurry
and expedition； our two newcomers； on entering the Church； looked
round in vain for places。
However； the old Woman continued to move forwards。 In vain were
exclamations of displeasure vented against her from all sides：
In vain was She addressed with'I assure you； Segnora； there are
no places here。' 'I beg； Segnora； that you will not crowd me so
intolerably！''Segnora； you cannot pass this way。 Bless me！
How can people be so troublesome！'The old Woman was obstinate；
and on She went。 By dint of perseverance and two brawny arms She
made a passage through the Crowd； and managed to bustle herself
into the very body of the Church； at no great distance from the
Pulpit。 Her companion had followed her with timidity and in
silence； profiting by the exertions of her conductress。
'Holy Virgin！' exclaimed the old Woman in a tone of
disappointment； while She threw a glance of enquiry round her；
'Holy Virgin！ What heat！ What a Crowd！ I wonder what can be the
meaning of all this。 I believe we must return： There is no such
thing as a seat to be had； and nobody seems kind enough to
accommodate us with theirs。'
This broad hint attracted the notice of two Cavaliers； who
occupied stools on the right hand； and were leaning their backs
against the seventh column from the Pulpit。 Both were young； and
richly habited。 Hearing this appeal to their politeness
pronounced in a female voice； they interrupted their conversation
to look at the speaker。 She had thrown up her veil in order to
take a clearer look round the Cathedral。 Her hair was red； and
She squinted。 The Cavaliers turned round； and renewed their
conversation。
'By all means；' replied the old Woman's companion； 'By all means；
Leonella； let us return home immediately； The heat is excessive；
and I am terrified at such a crowd。'
These words were pronounced in a tone of unexampled sweetness。
The Cavaliers again broke off their discourse； but for this time
they were not contented with looking up： Both started
involuntarily from their seats； and turned themselves towards the
Speaker。
The voice came from a female； the delicacy and elegance of whose
figure inspired the Youths with the most lively curiosity to view
the face to which it belonged。 This satisfaction was denied
them。 Her features were hidden by a thick veil； But struggling
through the crowd had deranged it sufficiently to discover a neck
which for symmetry and beauty might have vied with the Medicean
Venus。 It was of the most dazzling whiteness； and received
additional charms from being shaded by the tresses of her long
fair hair； which descended in ringlets to her waist。 Her figure
was rather below than above the middle size： It was light and
airy as that of an Hamadryad。 Her bosom was carefully veiled。
Her dress was white； it was fast