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moved on； leaning upon Violante； and Camilla preceded her with a
Torch。 Thus passed our sad procession along the passages； in
silence only broken by my sighs and groans。 We stopped before
the principal shrine of St。 Clare。 The Statue was removed from
its Pedestal； though how I knew not。 The Nuns afterwards raised
an iron grate till then concealed by the Image； and let it fall
on the other side with a loud crash。 The awful sound； repeated
by the vaults above； and Caverns below me； rouzed me from the
despondent apathy in which I had been plunged。 I looked before
me： An abyss presented itself to my affrighted eyes； and a steep
and narrow Staircase； whither my Conductors were leading me。 I
shrieked； and started back。 I implored compassion； rent the air
with my cries； and summoned both heaven and earth to my
assistance。 In vain！ I was hurried down the Staircase； and
forced into one of the Cells which lined the Cavern's sides。
My blood ran cold； as I gazed upon this melancholy abode。 The
cold vapours hovering in the air； the walls green with damp； the
bed of Straw so forlorn and comfortless； the Chain destined to
bind me for ever to my prison； and the Reptiles of every
description which as the torches advanced towards them； I
descried hurrying to their retreats； struck my heart with terrors
almost too exquisite for nature to bear。 Driven by despair to
madness； I burst suddenly from the Nuns who held me： I threw
myself upon my knees before the Prioress； and besought her mercy
in the most passionate and frantic terms。
'If not on me；' said I； 'look at least with pity on that innocent
Being； whose life is attached to mine！ Great is my crime； but
let not my Child suffer for it！ My Baby has committed no fault：
Oh！ spare me for the sake of my unborn Offspring； whom ere it
tastes life your severity dooms to destruction！'
The Prioress drew back haughtily： She forced her habit from my
grasp； as if my touch had been contagious。
'What？' She exclaimed with an exasperated air； 'What？ Dare you
plead for the produce of your shame？ Shall a Creature be
permitted to live； conceived in guilt so monstrous？ Abandoned
Woman； speak for him no more！ Better that the Wretch should
perish than live： Begotten in perjury； incontinence； and
pollution； It cannot fail to prove a Prodigy of vice。 Hear me；
thou Guilty！ Expect no mercy from me either for yourself； or
Brat。 Rather pray that Death may seize you before you produce
it； Or if it must see the light； that its eyes may immediately be
closed again for ever！ No aid shall be given you in your labour；
Bring your Offspring into the world yourself； Feed it yourself；
Nurse it yourself； Bury it yourself： God grant that the latter
may happen soon； lest you receive comfort from the fruit of your
iniquity！'
This inhuman speech； the threats which it contained； the dreadful
sufferings foretold to me by the Domina； and her prayers for my
Infant's death； on whom though unborn I already doated； were more
than my exhausted frame could support。 Uttering a deep groan； I
fell senseless at the feet of my unrelenting Enemy。 I know not
how long I remained in this situation； But I imagine that some
time must have elapsed before my recovery； since it sufficed the
Prioress and her Nuns to quit the Cavern。 When my senses
returned； I found myself in silence and solitude。 I heard not
even the retiring footsteps of my Persecutors。 All was hushed；
and all was dreadful！ I had been thrown upon the bed of Straw：
The heavy Chain which I had already eyed with terror； was wound
around my waist； and fastened me to the Wall。 A Lamp glimmering
with dull； melancholy rays through my dungeon； permitted my
distinguishing all its horrors： It was separated from the Cavern
by a low and irregular Wall of Stone： A large Chasm was left open
in it which formed the entrance； for door there was none。 A
leaden Crucifix was in front of my straw Couch。 A tattered rug
lay near me； as did also a Chaplet of Beads； and not far from me
stood a pitcher of water； and a wicker Basket containing a small
loaf； and a bottle of oil to supply my Lamp。
With a despondent eye did I examine this scene of suffering：
When I reflected that I was doomed to pass in it the remainder
of my days； my heart was rent with bitter anguish。 I had once
been taught to look forward to a lot so different！ At one time
my prospects had appeared so bright； so flattering！ Now all was
lost to me。 Friends； comfort； society； happiness； in one moment
I was deprived of all！ Dead to the world； Dead to pleasure； I
lived to nothing but the sense of misery。 How fair did that
world seem to me； from which I was for ever excluded！ How many
loved objects did it contain； whom I never should behold again！
As I threw a look of terror round my prison； as I shrunk from the
cutting wind which howled through my subterraneous dwelling； the
change seemed so striking； so abrupt； that I doubted its reality。
That the Duke de Medina's Niece； that the destined Bride of the
Marquis de las Cisternas； One bred up in affluence； related to
the noblest families in Spain； and rich in a multitude of
affectionate Friends； that She should in one moment become a
Captive； separated from the world for ever； weighed down with
chains； and reduced to support life with the coarsest aliments；
appeared a change so sudden and incredible； that I believed
myself the sport of some frightful vision。 Its continuance
convinced me of my mistake with but too much certainty。 Every
morning my hopes were disappointed。 At length I abandoned all
idea of escaping： I resigned myself to my fate； and only
expected Liberty when She came the Companion of Death。
My mental anguish； and the dreadful scenes in which I had been an
Actress； advanced the period of my labour。 In solitude and
misery； abandoned by all； unassisted by Art； uncomforted by
Friendship； with pangs which if witnessed would have touched the
hardest heart； was I delivered of my wretched burthen。 It came
alive into the world； But I knew not how to treat it； or by what
means to preserve its existence。 I could only bathe it with
tears； warm it in my bosom； and offer up prayers for its safety。
I was soon deprived of this mournful employment： The want of
proper attendance； my ignorance how to nurse it； the bitter cold
of the dungeon； and the unwholesome air which inflated its lungs；
terminated my sweet Babe's short and painful existence。 It
expired in a few hours after its birth； and I witnessed its death
with agonies which beggar all description。
But my grief was unavailing。 My Infant was no more； nor could
all my sighs impart to its little tender frame the breath of a
moment。 I rent my winding…sheet； and wrapped in it my lovely
Child。 I placed it on my bosom； its soft arm folded round my
neck； and its pale cold cheek resting upon mine。 Thus did its
lifeless limbs repose； while I covered it with kisses； talked to
it； wept； and moaned over it without remission； day or night。
Camilla entered my prison regularly once every twenty…four hours；
to bring me food。 In spite of her flinty nature； She could not
behold this spectacle unmoved。 She feared that grief so
excessive would at length turn my brain； and in truth I was not
always in my proper senses。 From a principle of compassion She
urged me to permit the Corse to be buried： But to this I never
would consent。 I vowed not to part with it while I had life：
Its presence was my only comfort； and no persuasion could induce
me to give it up。 It soon became a mass of putridity； and to
every eye was a loathsome and disgusting Object； To every eye
but a Mother's。 In vain did human feelings bid me recoil from
this emblem of mortality with repugnance： I withstood； and
vanquished that repugnance。 I persisted in holding my Infant to
my bosom； in lamenting it； loving it； adoring it！ Hour after
hour have I passed upon my sorry Couch； contemplating what had
once been my Child： I endeavoured to retrace its features
through the livid corruption； with which they were overspread：
During my confinement this sad occupation was my only delight；
and at that time Worlds shou