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ill…grounded hopes of escaping punishment； and dispelled by the
irresistible brightness of Truth and convinction； Philosophy's
deceitful vapours faded away like a dream。
In anguish almost too great for mortal frame to bear； He expected
the time when He was again to be examined。 He busied himself in
planning ineffectual schemes for escaping both present and future
punishment。 Of the first there was no possibility； Of the second
Despair made him neglect the only means。 While Reason forced him
to acknowledge a God's existence； Conscience made him doubt the
infinity of his goodness。 He disbelieved that a Sinner like him
could find mercy。 He had not been deceived into error：
Ignorance could furnish him with no excuse。 He had seen vice in
her true colours； Before He committed his crimes； He had computed
every scruple of their weight； and yet he had committed them。
'Pardon？' He would cry in an access of phrenzy 'Oh！ there can be
none for me！'
Persuaded of this； instead of humbling himself in penitence； of
deploring his guilt； and employing his few remaining hours in
deprecating Heaven's wrath； He abandoned himself to the
transports of desperate rage； He sorrowed for the punishment of
his crimes； not their commission； and exhaled his bosom's anguish
in idle sighs； in vain lamentations； in blasphemy and despair。
As the few beams of day which pierced through the bars of his
prison window gradually disappeared； and their place was
supplied by the pale and glimmering Lamp； He felt his terrors
redouble； and his ideas become more gloomy； more solemn； more
despondent。 He dreaded the approach of sleep： No sooner did his
eyes close； wearied with tears and watching； than the dreadful
visions seemed to be realised on which his mind had dwelt during
the day。 He found himself in sulphurous realms and burning
Caverns； surrounded by Fiends appointed his Tormentors； and who
drove him through a variety of tortures； each of which was more
dreadful than the former。 Amidst these dismal scenes wandered
the Ghosts of Elvira and her Daughter。 They reproached him with
their deaths； recounted his crimes to the Daemons； and urged them
to inflict torments of cruelty yet more refined。 Such were the
pictures which floated before his eyes in sleep： They vanished
not till his repose was disturbed by excess of agony。 Then would
He start from the ground on which He had stretched himself； his
brows running down with cold sweat； his eyes wild and phrenzied；
and He only exchanged the terrible certainty for surmizes
scarcely more supportable。 He paced his dungeon with disordered
steps； He gazed with terror upon the surrounding darkness； and
often did He cry；
'Oh！ fearful is night to the Guilty！'
The day of his second examination was at hand。 He had been
compelled to swallow cordials； whose virtues were calculated to
restore his bodily strength； and enable him to support the
question longer。 On the night preceding this dreaded day； his
fears for the morrow permitted him not to sleep。 His terrors
were so violent； as nearly to annihilate his mental powers。 He
sat like one stupefied near the Table on which his Lamp was
burning dimly。 Despair chained up his faculties in Idiotism； and
He remained for some hours； unable to speak or move； or indeed to
think。
'Look up； Ambrosio！' said a Voice in accents well…known to him
The Monk started； and raised his melancholy eyes。 Matilda stood
before him。 She had quitted her religious habit。 She now wore a
female dress； at once elegant and splendid： A profusion of
diamonds blazed upon her robes； and her hair was confined by a
coronet of Roses。 In her right hand She held a small Book： A
lively expression of pleasure beamed upon her countenance； But
still it was mingled with a wild imperious majesty which
inspired the Monk with awe； and represt in some measure his
transports at seeing her。
'You here； Matilda？' He at length exclaimed； 'How have you gained
entrance？ Where are your Chains？ What means this magnificence；
and the joy which sparkles in your eyes？ Have our Judges
relented？ Is there a chance of my escaping？ Answer me for pity；
and tell me； what I have to hope； or fear。'
'Ambrosio！' She replied with an air of commanding dignity； 'I
have baffled the Inquisition's fury。 I am free： A few moments
will place kingdoms between these dungeons and me。 Yet I
purchase my liberty at a dear； at a dreadful price！ Dare you pay
the same； Ambrosio？ Dare you spring without fear over the
bounds which separate Men from Angels？You are silent。You
look upon me with eyes of suspicion and alarmI read your
thoughts and confess their justice。 Yes； Ambrosio ； I have
sacrificed all for life and liberty。 I am no longer a candidate
for heaven！ I have renounced God's service； and am enlisted
beneath the banners of his Foes。 The deed is past recall： Yet
were it in my power to go back； I would not。 Oh！ my Friend； to
expire in such torments！ To die amidst curses and execrations！
To bear the insults of an exasperated Mob！ To be exposed to all
the mortifications of shame and infamy！ Who can reflect without
horror on such a doom？ Let me then exult in my exchange。 I have
sold distant and uncertain happiness for present and secure： I
have preserved a life which otherwise I had lost in torture； and
I have obtained the power of procuring every bliss which can
make that life delicious！ The Infernal Spirits obey me as their
Sovereign： By their aid shall my days be past in every
refinement of luxury and voluptuousness。 I will enjoy
unrestrained the gratification of my senses： Every passion shall
be indulged； even to satiety； Then will I bid my Servants invent
new pleasures； to revive and stimulate my glutted appetites！ I
go impatient to exercise my newly…gained dominion。 I pant to be
at liberty。 Nothing should hold me one moment longer in this
abhorred abode； but the hope of persuading you to follow my
example。 Ambrosio； I still love you： Our mutual guilt and
danger have rendered you dearer to me than ever； and I would fain
save you from impending destruction。 Summon then your resolution
to your aid； and renounce for immediate and certain benefits the
hopes of a salvation； difficult to obtain； and perhaps altogether
erroneous。 Shake off the prejudice of vulgar souls； Abandon a
God who has abandoned you； and raise yourself to the level of
superior Beings！'
She paused for the Monk's reply： He shuddered； while He gave it。
'Matilda！' He said after a long silence in a low and unsteady
voice； 'What price gave you for liberty？'
She answered him firm and dauntless。
'Ambrosio； it was my Soul！'
'Wretched Woman； what have you done？ Pass but a few years； and
how dreadful will be your sufferings！'
'Weak Man； pass but this night； and how dreadful will be your
own！ Do you remember what you have already endured？ Tomorrow
you must bear torments doubly exquisite。 Do you remember the
horrors of a fiery punishment？ In two days you must be led a
Victim to the Stake！ What then will become of you？ Still dare
you hope for pardon？ Still are you beguiled with visions of
salvation？ Think upon your crimes！ Think upon your lust； your
perjury； inhumanity； and hypocrisy！ Think upon the innocent
blood which cries to the Throne of God for vengeance； and then
hope for mercy！ Then dream of heaven； and sigh for worlds of
light； and realms of peace and pleasure！ Absurd！ Open your
eyes； Ambrosio； and be prudent。 Hell is your lot； You are doomed
to eternal perdition； Nought lies beyond your grave but a gulph
of devouring flames。 And will you then speed towards that Hell？
Will you clasp that perdition in your arms； ere 'tis needful？
Will you plunge into those flames while you still have the power
to shun them？ 'Tis a Madman's action。 No； no； Ambrosio： Let us
for awhile fly from divine vengeance。 Be advised by me； Purchase
by one moment's courage the bliss of years； Enjoy the present；
and forget that a future lags behind。'
'Matilda； your counsels are dangerous： I dare not； I will not
follow them。 I must not give up my claim to salvation。
Monstrous are my crimes； But God is merciful；