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yourself to the impulse of your passions？ Are you not planning
the destruction of innocence； the ruin of a Creature whom He
formed in the mould of Angels？ If not of Daemons； whose aid
would you invoke to forward this laudable design？ Will the
Seraphims protect it； conduct Antonia to your arms； and sanction
with their ministry your illicit pleasures？ Absurd！ But I am
not deceived； Ambrosio！ It is not virtue which makes you reject
my offer： You WOULD accept it； but you dare not。 'Tis not the
crime which holds your hand； but the punishment； 'Tis not respect
for God which restrains you； but the terror of his vengeance！
Fain would you offend him in secret； but you tremble to profess
yourself his Foe。 Now shame on the coward soul； which wants the
courage either to be a firm Friend or open Enemy！'
'To look upon guilt with horror； Matilda； is in itself a merit：
In this respect I glory to confess myself a Coward。 Though my
passions have made me deviate from her laws； I still feel in my
heart an innate love of virtue。 But it ill becomes you to tax me
with my perjury： You； who first seduced me to violate my vows；
You； who first rouzed my sleeping vices； made me feel the weight
of Religion's chains； and bad me be convinced that guilt had
pleasures。 Yet though my principles have yielded to the force of
temperament； I still have sufficient grace to shudder at Sorcery；
and avoid a crime so monstrous； so unpardonable！'
'Unpardonable； say you？ Where then is your constant boast of the
Almighty's infinite mercy？ Has He of late set bounds to it？
Receives He no longer a Sinner with joy？ You injure him；
Ambrosio； You will always have time to repent； and He have
goodness to forgive。 Afford him a glorious opportunity to exert
that goodness： The greater your crime； the greater his merit in
pardoning。 Away then with these childish scruples： Be persuaded
to your good； and follow me to the Sepulchre。'
'Oh！ cease； Matilda！ That scoffing tone； that bold and impious
language； is horrible in every mouth； but most so in a Woman's。
Let us drop a conversation which excites no other sentiments
than horror and disgust。 I will not follow you to the Sepulchre；
or accept the services of your infernal Agents。 Antonia shall be
mine； but mine by human means。'
'Then yours She will never be！ You are banished her presence；
Her Mother has opened her eyes to your designs； and She is now
upon her guard against them。 Nay more； She loves another。 A
Youth of distinguished merit possesses her heart； and unless you
interfere； a few days will make her his Bride。 This intelligence
was brought me by my invisible Servants； to whom I had recourse
on first perceiving your indifference。 They watched your every
action； related to me all that past at Elvira's； and inspired me
with the idea of favouring your designs。 Their reports have been
my only comfort。 Though you shunned my presence； all your
proceedings were known to me： Nay； I was constantly with you in
some degree； thanks to this precious gift！'
With these words She drew from beneath her habit a mirror of
polished steel； the borders of which were marked with various
strange and unknown characters。
'Amidst all my sorrows； amidst all my regrets for your coldness；
I was sustained from despair by the virtues of this Talisman。 On
pronouncing certain words； the Person appears in it on whom the
Observer's thoughts are bent： thus though _I_ was exiled from
YOUR sight； you； Ambrosio； were ever present to mine。'
The Friar's curiosity was excited strongly。
'What you relate is incredible！ Matilda； are you not amusing
yourself with my credulity？'
'Be your own eyes the Judge。'
She put the Mirror into his hand。 Curiosity induced him to take
it； and Love； to wish that Antonia might appear。 Matilda
pronounced the magic words。 Immediately； a thick smoke rose from
the characters traced upon the borders； and spread itself over
the surface。 It dispersed again gradually； A confused mixture of
colours and images presented themselves to the Friar's eyes；
which at length arranging themselves in their proper places； He
beheld in miniature Antonia's lovely form。
The scene was a small closet belonging to her apartment。 She was
undressing to bathe herself。 The long tresses of her hair were
already bound up。 The amorous Monk had full opportunity to
observe the voluptuous contours and admirable symmetry of her
person。 She threw off her last garment； and advancing to the
Bath prepared for her； She put her foot into the water。 It
struck cold； and She drew it back again。 Though unconscious of
being observed； an inbred sense of modesty induced her to veil
her charms； and She stood hesitating upon the brink； in the
attitude of the Venus de Medicis。 At this moment a tame Linnet
flew towards her； nestled its head between her breasts； and
nibbled them in wanton play。 The smiling Antonia strove in vain
to shake off the Bird； and at length raised her hands to drive it
from its delightful harbour。 Ambrosio could bear no more： His
desires were worked up to phrenzy。
'I yield！' He cried； dashing the mirror upon the ground：
'Matilda； I follow you！ Do with me what you will！'
She waited not to hear his consent repeated。 It was already
midnight。 She flew to her Cell； and soon returned with her
little basket and the Key of the Cemetery； which had remained in
her possession since her first visit to the Vaults。 She gave the
Monk no time for reflection。
'Come！' She said； and took his hand； 'Follow me； and witness the
effects of your resolve！'
This said； She drew him hastily along。 They passed into the
Burying…ground unobserved； opened the door of the Sepulchre； and
found themselves at the head of the subterraneous Staircase。 As
yet the beams of the full Moon had guided their steps； but that
resource now failed them。 Matilda had neglected to provide
herself with a Lamp。 Still holding Ambrosio's hand She descended
the marble steps； But the profound obscurity with which they were
overspread obliged them to walk slow and cautiously。
'You tremble！' said Matilda to her Companion； 'Fear not； The
destined spot is near。'
They reached the foot of the Staircase； and continued to
proceed； feeling their way along the Walls。 On turning a corner
suddenly； they descried faint gleams of light which seemed
burning at a distance。 Thither they bent their steps： The rays
proceeded from a small sepulchral Lamp which flamed unceasingly
before the Statue of St。 Clare。 It tinged with dim and cheerless
beams the massy Columns which supported the Roof； but was too
feeble to dissipate the thick gloom in which the Vaults above
were buried。
Matilda took the Lamp。
'Wait for me！' said She to the Friar； 'In a few moments I am here
again。'
With these words She hastened into one of the passages which
branched in various directions from this spot； and formed a sort
of Labyrinth。 Ambrosio was now left alone： Darkness the most
profound surrounded him； and encouraged the doubts which began
to revive in his bosom。 He had been hurried away by the delirium
of the moment： The shame of betraying his terrors； while in
Matilda's presence； had induced him to repress them； But now that
he was abandoned to himself； they resumed their former
ascendancy。 He trembled at the scene which He was soon to
witness。 He knew not how far the delusions of Magic might
operate upon his mind； and possibly might force him to some deed
whose commission would make the breach between himself and Heaven
irreparable。 In this fearful dilemma； He would have implored
God's assistance； but was conscious that He had forfeited all
claim to such protection。 Gladly would He have returned to the
Abbey； But as He had past through innumerable Caverns and winding
passages； the attempt of regaining the Stairs was hopeless。 His
fate was determined： No possibility of escape presented itself：
He therefore combated his apprehensions； and called every
argument to his succour； which might enable him to support the
trying scene with fortitude。 He reflected that Antonia would be
the reward of his daring： He inflamed his imagination by