Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
https://books.google.com
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRAR
||
|||3343 |
NN
\ \s
Tºr. Moriſ.
Z Zºne, º
e %.”º^ ſº 2….”
THE MONK:
A ROMANCE.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
BY M. G. LEWIS, ESQ. M. P.
--~~~tte‘sect t----
--~~~000<=>00c
WOL. III.
PARIS:
PRINTED FOR THEoPHILUs BARRoſs, JUNIOR,
LookSELLER, N." 5. QUAY VoITAIRE.
-eCº
M DCCC. VII.
(. 1
THE MON K.
--~~~~004-060--~~~
CHAPTE R IX.
º ". º
s
2 The MON ra.
A 4
8 the Moxr.
- THE MON.K. . . 9
embarrassment; and the distress and agitation of
his mind might well excuse his negligence.
Had he been informed that Elvira's death had
left her daughter friendless and unprotected, he
would doubtless have taken such measures as
would have ensured her from every danger. But
Antonia was not destined to be so fortunate. The
day on which she sent her letter to the palace de
las Cisternas, was that following Lorenzo's depar
ture from Madrid. The Marquis was in the first
paroxysms of despair, at the conviction that Agnes
was indeed no more : he was delirious; and,
his life being in danger, no one was suffered to
approach him. Flora was informed that he was
incapable of attending to letters, and that pro
bably a few hours would decide his fate. With
this unsatisfactory answer she was obliged to
return to her mistress, who now found herself
plunged into greater difficulties than ever.
Flora and dame Jacintha exerted themselves
to console her. The latter begged her to make
herself easy, for that as long as she chose to stay
with her she would treat her like her own child.
Antonia, finding that the good woman had taken
a real affection for her, was somewhat comforted,
by thinking that she had at least one friend in
the world. A letter was now brought to her,
directed to Elvira. She recognised Leonella's
writing, and, opening it with joy, found a de
A 3
º
no thir. Monk,
AND
FAI IR I.M. O. G. I AY E.
Not long liv'd the Baron; and none, since that time,
To inhabit the castle presume;
For chronicles tell that, by order sublime,
There Imogime suffers the pain of her crime,
And mourns her deplorable doom.
While they drink out of skulls newly torn from the grave,
Dancing round them the spectres are seen:
Their liquor is blood, and this horrible stave
They howl:—“To the health of Alonzo the Brave,
And his consort, the False Imogine !”
TIIE MONE, - 2i
22 The MONK.
~
3o THE MONK.
B 5
34 The MONIC,
5o The Monr.
c 4
56 The monic.
CHAPTER X.
c 5
58 Thir MONK.
99.2078A
1OO Tur Monk.
E 4
noſ, THE MONR.
CHAPTER XI.
*
THE MONK. I 13
felt for her the most lively interest: but how was
she delighted, when, her guest being sufficiently
recovered to relate her history, she recognised
in the captive nun the sister of Lorenzo
This victim of monastic cruelty was indeed ne
other than the unfortunate Agnes. During her
abode in the convent, she had been well known
to Virginia; but her emaciated form, her features
altered by affliction, her death universally credited,
and her overgrown and matted hair which hung
over her face and bosom in disorder, at first-had
prevented her being recollected. The prioress
had put every artifice in practice to induce Vir
ginia to take the veil; for the heiress of Villa
Franca would have been no despicable acqui
sition. Her seeming kindness and unremitted
attention so far succeeded, that her young relation
began to think seriously upon compliance. Better
instructed in the disgust and ennui of a monastic
life, Agnes had penetrated the designs of the
domina. She trembled for the innocent girl, and
º to make her sensible of her error.
She painted in their true colors the numerous
inconveniencies attached to a convent, the con
tinued restraint, the low jealousies, the petty in
trigues, the servile court, and gross flattery ex
pected by the superior. She then bade Virginia
reflect on the brilliant prospect which presented
itself before her. The idol of her parents, the
w
THE MONK, 133
THE MONK,
w
159
sad and unexpected death. Peace be with her
and may her crimes be forgiven in heaven, as I
forgive her my sufferings on earth !
Thus did I drag on a miserable existence.
Far from growing familiar with my prison, I
beheld it every moment with new horror. The
cold seemed more piercing and bitter, the air
more thick and pestilential. My frame became
weak, feverish, and emaciated. I was unable
to rise from the bed of straw, and exercise my
limbs in the narrow limits to which the length
of my chain permitted me to move. Though
exhausted, faint, and weary, I trembled to profit
by the approach of sleep. My slumbers were
constantly interrupted by some obnoxious insect
crawling over me. Sometimes I felt the bloated
toad, hideous and pampered with the poisonous
vapours of the dungeon, dragging his loathsome
length along my bosom : sometimes the quick
cold lizard roused me, leaving his slimy track
upon my face, and entangling itself in the tresses
of my wild and matted hair. Often have I at
waking found my fingers ringed with the long
worms which bred in the corrupted flesh of my
infant. At such times, I shrieked with terror
and disgust; and, while I shook off the reptile,
trembled with all a woman's weakness.
Such was my situation when Camilla was sud
denly taken ill. A dangerous fever, supposed to
160 - The Monk.
.
THE MONE…e. 167
CHAPTER XII.
w
THE MONR. 187
Mine you are marked in the book of destiny, and
mine you must and shall be.”
“ Fiend! 'tis false. Infinite is the Almighty's
mercy, and the penitent shall meet his forgive
ness. My crimes are monstrous, but I will not
despair of pardon. Haply, when they have re
ceived due chastisement—”
“Chastisement? Was purgatory meant for
guilt like yours? Hope you, that your offences
shall be bought off by prayers of superstitious
dotards and droning monks? Ambrosio! be wise.
Mine you must be. You are doomed to flames,
but may shun them for the present. Sign this
parchment: I will bear you from hence, and you
may pass your remaining years in bliss and liberty.
Enjoy your existence: indulge in every pleasure
to which appetite may lead you. But from the
moment that it quits your body, remember that
your soul belongs to me, and that I will not be
defrauded of my right.”
The monk was silent: but his looks declared
that the tempter's words were not thrown away.
He reflected on the eonditions proposed with
horror. On the other hand, he believed himself
doomed to perdition, and that, by refusing the
demon's succour, he only hastened tortures which
he never could escape. The fiend saw that his
resolution was shaken. He renewed his instances,
and endeavoured to fix the abbot's indecision,
188 Trip Mox K.
FI NIS,
COLLECTION
ANGLAIS,
PREMIÈRE SÉRIE,
coNTENANT 2O VOLUMES,
ºº
- |
|
º
- º
º
º