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！
only fear was lest Death should rob him of enjoyments； for which
his long Fast had only given a keener edge to his appetite。
Matilda was still under the influence of poison； and the
voluptuous Monk trembled less for his Preserver's life than his
Concubine's。 Deprived of her； He would not easily find another
Mistress with whom He could indulge his passions so fully； and
so safely。 He therefore pressed her with earnestness to use the
means of preservation which She had declared to be in her
possession。
'Yes！' replied Matilda； 'Since you have made me feel that Life is
valuable； I will rescue mine at any rate。 No dangers shall
appall me： I will look upon the consequences of my action
boldly； nor shudder at the horrors which they present。 I will
think my sacrifice scarcely worthy to purchase your possession；
and remember that a moment past in your arms in this world
o'er…pays an age of punishment in the next。 But before I take
this step； Ambrosio； give me your solemn oath never to enquire
by what means I shall preserve myself。'
He did so in a manner the most binding。
'I thank you； my Beloved。 This precaution is necessary； for
though you know it not； you are under the command of vulgar
prejudices： The Business on which I must be employed this night；
might startle you from its singularity； and lower me in your
opinion。 Tell me； Are you possessed of the Key of the low door
on the western side of the Garden？'
'The Door which opens into the burying…ground common to us and
the Sisterhood of St。 Clare？ I have not the Key； but can easily
procure it。'
'You have only this to do。 Admit me into the burying…ground at
midnight； Watch while I descend into the vaults of St。 Clare；
lest some prying eye should observe my actions； Leave me there
alone for an hour； and that life is safe which I dedicate to
your pleasures。 To prevent creating suspicion； do not visit me
during the day。 Remember the Key； and that I expect you before
twelve。 Hark！ I hear steps approaching！ Leave me； I will
pretend to sleep。'
The Friar obeyed； and left the Cell。 As He opened the door；
Father Pablos made his appearance。
'I come；' said the Latter； 'to enquire after the health of my
young Patient。'
'Hush！' replied Ambrosio； laying his finger upon his lip； 'Speak
softly； I am just come from him。 He has fallen into a profound
slumber； which doubtless will be of service to him。 Do not
disturb him at present； for He wishes to repose。'
Father Pablos obeyed； and hearing the Bell ring； accompanied the
Abbot to Matins。 Ambrosio felt embarrassed as He entered the
Chapel。 Guilt was new to him； and He fancied that every eye
could read the transactions of the night upon his countenance。
He strove to pray； His bosom no longer glowed with devotion； His
thoughts insensibly wandered to Matilda's secret charms。 But
what He wanted in purity of heart； He supplied by exterior
sanctity。 The better to cloak his transgression； He redoubled
his pretensions to the semblance of virtue； and never appeared
more devoted to Heaven as since He had broken through his
engagements。 Thus did He unconsciously add Hypocrisy to perjury
and incontinence； He had fallen into the latter errors from
yielding to seduction almost irresistible； But he was now guilty
of a voluntary fault by endeavouring to conceal those into which
Another had betrayed him。
The Matins concluded； Ambrosio retired to his Cell。 The
pleasures which He had just tasted for the first time were still
impressed upon his mind。 His brain was bewildered； and presented
a confused Chaos of remorse； voluptuousness； inquietude； and
fear。 He looked back with regret to that peace of soul； that
security of virtue； which till then had been his portion。 He had
indulged in excesses whose very idea but four and twenty hours
before He had recoiled at with horror。 He shuddered at
reflecting that a trifling indiscretion on his part； or on
Matilda's； would overturn that fabric of reputation which it had
cost him thirty years to erect； and render him the abhorrence of
that People of whom He was then the Idol。 Conscience painted to
him in glaring colours his perjury and weakness； Apprehension
magnified to him the horrors of punishment； and He already
fancied himself in the prisons of the Inquisition。 To these
tormenting ideas succeeded Matilda's beauty； and those delicious
lessons which； once learnt； can never be forgotten。 A single
glance thrown upon these reconciled him with himself。 He
considered the pleasures of the former night to have been
purchased at an easy price by the sacrifice of innocence and
honour。 Their very remembrance filled his soul with ecstacy； He
cursed his foolish vanity； which had induced him to waste in
obscurity the bloom of life； ignorant of the blessings of Love
and Woman。 He determined at all events to continue his commerce
with Matilda； and called every argument to his aid which might
confirm his resolution。 He asked himself； provided his
irregularity was unknown； in what would his fault consist； and
what consequences He had to apprehend？ By adhering strictly to
every rule of his order save Chastity； He doubted not to retain
the esteem of Men； and even the protection of heaven。 He trusted
easily to be forgiven so slight and natural a deviation from his
vows： But He forgot that having pronounced those vows；
Incontinence； in Laymen the most venial of errors； became in his
person the most heinous of crimes。
Once decided upon his future conduct； his mind became more easy。
He threw himself upon his bed； and strove by sleeping to recruit
his strength exhausted by his nocturnal excesses。 He awoke
refreshed； and eager for a repetition of his pleasures。 Obedient
to Matilda's order； He visited not her Cell during the day。
Father Pablos mentioned in the Refectory that Rosario had at
length been prevailed upon to follow his prescription； But that
the medicine had not produced the slightest effect； and that He
believed no mortal skill could rescue him from the Grave。 With
this opinion the Abbot agreed； and affected to lament the
untimely fate of a Youth； whose talents had appeared so
promising。
The night arrived。 Ambrosio had taken care to procure from the
Porter the Key of the low door opening into the Cemetery。
Furnished with this； when all was silent in the Monastery； He
quitted his Cell； and hastened to Matilda's。 She had left her
bed； and was drest before his arrival。
'I have been expecting you with impatience；' said She； 'My life
depends upon these moments。 Have you the Key？'
'I have。'
'Away then to the garden。 We have no time to lose。 Follow me！'
She took a small covered Basket from the Table。 Bearing this in
one hand； and the Lamp； which was flaming upon the Hearth； in the
other； She hastened from the Cell。 Ambrosio followed her。 Both
maintained a profound silence。 She moved on with quick but
cautious steps； passed through the Cloisters； and reached the
Western side of the Garden。 Her eyes flashed with a fire and
wildness which impressed the Monk at once with awe and horror。
A determined desperate courage reigned upon her brow。 She gave
the Lamp to Ambrosio； Then taking from him the Key； She unlocked
the low Door； and entered the Cemetery。 It was a vast and
spacious Square planted with yew trees： Half of it belonged to
the Abbey； The other half was the property of the Sisterhood of
St。 Clare； and was protected by a roof of Stone。 The Division
was marked by an iron railing； the wicket of which was generally
left unlocked。
Thither Matilda bent her course。 She opened the wicket and
sought for the door leading to the subterraneous Vaults； where
reposed the mouldering Bodies of the Votaries of St。 Clare。 The
night was perfectly dark； Neither Moon or Stars were visible。
Luckily there was not a breath of Wind； and the Friar bore his
Lamp in full security： By the assistance of its beams； the door
of the Sepulchre was soon discovered。 It was sunk within the
hollow of a wall； and almost concealed by thick festoons of ivy
hanging over it。 Three steps of rough…hewn Stone conducted to
it； and Matilda was on the point of descending t