The Monk: A Romance

g, and Man's o'e

f by rest: Ou

ss the rushes,

y He wounde

u becom'st thy

r than th

bel

imself to her without the Duke's consent; and as She heard no more of him or his proposals, Elvira conjectured that He had either met with a better match, or had been commanded to give up all thoughts of her Daughter. Every day made her more uneasy respecting Antonia's fate: While She retained the Abbot's protection, She bore with fortitude the disappointment of her hopes with regard to Lorenzo and the Marquis. That resource now failed her. She was convinced that Ambrosio had meditated her Daughter's ruin: And

zo now waited only for a favourable opportunity to inform the Duke of his intended marriage: However, a

eceased Mistress, that it was evident to all that He never could survive her loss: Nothing could have prevented him from sinking under his grief but the persuasion of her being still alive, and in need of his assistance. Though convinced of its falsehood, his Attendants encouraged him in a belief which formed his only comfort. He was assured daily that fresh perquisitions were making respecting the fate of Agnes: Stories were invented recounting the vari

schemes was the only inducement which could prevail on him to quit Don Raymond. He became a very Proteus, changing his shape every day; but all his metamorphoses were to very little purpose: He regularly returned to the Palace de las C

He, 'and hears my voice, She will recollect it, and po

t the Convent door. This was granted without difficulty: His sweet voice, and in spite of his patched eye, his engaging countenance, won the heart of the good old Porteress, who, aided by a Lay-Sister, was busied in serving to each his Mess. Theodore was bad to stay till the Others should depart, and promised t

en, and soon returned with a double portion of Soup, of better quality than what was given to the Beggars. His Hostess added some fruits and confections from her own private store, and Both encouraged the Youth to dine heartily. To all these attentions He replied with much seeming gratitude, and abundance of blessings upon his benefactresses. While He ate, the Nuns admired the delicacy of his features, the beauty of his hair, and the sw

nvey him to the Parlour grate. In the interim, the supposed Beggar was sifting the Lay-Sister with respect to the fate of Agnes: Her evidence only corroborated the Domina's assertions. She said that Agnes had been taken ill on returning from confession, had never quitted her bed from th

he Superior. She asked several questions respecting his Parents, his religion, and what had reduced him to a state of Beggary. To these demands his answers were perfectly satisfactory and perfectly false. He was then asked his opinion of a monastic life: He replied in terms of high estimation and respect for it. Upon this, the Prioress told him that his obtaining an entrance into a

m to reply. One asked where He was born, since his accent declared him to be a Foreigner: Another wanted to know, why He wore a patch upon his left eye: Sister Helena enquired whether He had not a Sister like him, because She should like such a Companion; and Sister Rachael was fully persuaded that the Brother would be the

phagi, and M

eath their

that He was born in Terra Incognita, was educated at an Hottentot

The Pilgrims were ordered to close their eyes during this ceremony: But though by nature extremely religious, curiosity was too powerful. At the moment ..... I shall penetrate you with horror, reverend Ladies, when I reveal my crime! .... At the moment that the Monks we

at the extent of his travels, and at the strange adventures which He had met with at so early an age. They now remarked his Guitar, and enquired whether he was an adept in

d Porteress, 'take care not

erous it is for young Women to abandon themselves to their passions, illustrate

ture true?' enqui

Heroine was thought so beautiful that She was kno

ed an old Nun; 'Are not the

are of a delicate pea-green with

?' exclaimed Sister Helen

tempt and exultation: 'Not at all: When I was a you

e same scheme would enable him to discover Agnes, should She be in the Convent. He chose a Ballad which She had taught him herself in the Castle of Lindenb

His province is to agitate the deep, occasion ship-wrecks, and drag the drowning Sailors beneath the waves: He wears the appearance of a Warrior, and employs himself in luring young Virgins into his snare: What He does with them, when He catches them in the water, Reverend Ladies, I leave for you to imagine-"The Fire-King" seems to be a Man all formed of flames: He raises the Meteors and wandering lights which beguile Travellers into ponds and marshes, and He directs the lightning where it may do most mischief-The last of these elementary Daemons is called "the Cloud-King;" His figure is that of a beautiful Youth, and He is distinguished by two large sable Wings: Though his

tching his voice to its utmost extent to facilitate its

WATE

ISH B

murmur flo

e fragrant

Maid with

hurch pursu

Fiend's ma

Banks behe

his Mother-w

suppliant

r! Mother!

yonder Mai

! Mother!

yonder Mai

e gave him a

im like a ga

ear next ma

se housings

ing then sw

hurch his s

s Courser t

Church-yard th

to the doo

Church-yard fo

d up the Ais

ocked, both g

id, as the Kn

comes the whi

Maid She sm

ere the white

er Benches

Maid, I di

r Benches tw

y Maiden,

e smiled, the

e gave her h

joy, beti

'er dale, wi

heir hands t

le clear the mo

hinks the Ma

is the Wat

spirit deig

er is the W

d fear and

e hand which

giving cau

strayed to da

e went, and

reached the

Steed with

cross the st

y in; It i

hushed, the

the Water-K

Bride-groom'

e saw the C

in his p

my Love! Th

shrinking

e your fears,

reached the

! my Love!

rise abov

e your fears,

reached the

or God's sake,

o'er my b

word pronounc

vanished fro

ut shrieks in

nds rising

xults; The

eir hapless

le struggling w

aid was hear

Tempest's r

Maid was se

is Tale, ye

give your

every hand

t with the W

: But however acceptable this applause would have been at any other time, at present it was insipid to Theodore. His artifice ha

esent. One gave him a box of sweetmeats; Another, an Agnus Dei; Some brought reliques of Saints, waxen Images, and consecrated Crosses; and Others presented him with pieces of those works in which the Religious excel, such as embroidery, artificial flowers, lace, and needlework. All these He was advised to sell, in order to put himself into better case; and He was assured that it would be easy to dispose of them, since the Spani

; 'Here comes the Mother

dore: It was of willow, lined with blue satin, and upon the fo

s hand; 'Good Youth, despise it not; Though its val

ok. It was not lost upon Theodore; In receiving t

d that some mystery was concealed in the Basket, and his heart beat with impatience and joy. At this mome

, I would speak wi

lour, and was evid

replied in a

nd to a misfortune which He felt himself but too severely. Theodore related his adventure, and the hopes which had been created by the Mother St. Ursula's gift. The Marquis started from his pillow: That fire which since the death of Agnes had been extinguished, now revived in his bosom, and his eyes sparkled with the eagerness of expectation. The emotions which Lorenzo's countenance betrayed, were scarcely weaker, and He waited with inexpressible impatience for the solution of this mystery. Raymond caught the

t. It is the Festival of St. Clare: There will be a procession of Nuns by torch-light, and I shall be among them. Beware not to let your intention be known: Should a syllable be dropt to excite the Do

rmation excited no other sentiment in his bosom than a wish to punish the Murderers as they deserved. It was no easy task to recall the Marquis to himself. As soon as He recovered his speech, He broke out into execrations against the Assassins of his Beloved, and vowed to take upon them a signal vengeance. He continued to rave and torment himself with impotent passion till his constitution, enfeebled by grief and illness, could support itself no longer, an

ound that affairs of State had obliged the

rioress could have committed no greater crime in his eyes than to have endangered the life of the Marquis. Consequently, He granted the order of arrest without difficulty: He also gave Lorenzo a letter to a principal Officer of the Inquisition, desiring him to see his mandate executed. Furnished with these papers, Medina hastened back to Madrid, which He reached on the Friday a few hours before dark. He found the Marquis somewhat easier, but so weak and exhausted that without great exertion He co

d for him by Another. Aided by Matilda's infernal Agents, Ambrosio had resolved upon the innocent Antonia'

and bathed her cheek with tears: She felt uneasy at quitting her, and a secret presentiment assured her that never must they meet again. Elvira observed, and tried

ances She received

r! Oh! would to God

o a Chair, reclined her head upon her arm, and gazed upon the floor with a vacant stare, while the most gloomy images floated before her fancy. She was still in this state of insensibility when She was disturbed by hearing a strain of soft Music breathed beneath her window. She rose, drew near the Casement, and opened it to hear it more distinctly. Having thrown her veil over her face, She ventured to look out. By the light of the Moon She perceived several Men below with Guitars and Lutes in their hands; and at a little distance from them stood Another wrapped in his cloak, whose stature and appearan

Antonia's mind, and She listened with pleasure. After a symphony of some length, it

RE

or

in gentle st

at Beauty lo

e pangs of

faithful Lo

o

eart to fi

oul to fix

lead the wis

Captives ki

power of L

well Love's

pass the l

short and b

ear Objec

corned, to w

e pains of

well Love's

nsent in v

lip ne'er p

sigh of tr

nd kiss, an

pleasures,

heart thy pl

or

Lyre! My vo

le Maid! Ma

thoughts thy

y voice, and h

ow with regret: She as usual recommended herself to the protection of St. Rosolia, said her accustomed prayers

er's Ravisher: On the other hand it was suggested that She could do no more than suspect; that no proofs of his guilt could be produced; that it would seem impossible for the rape to have been committed without Antonia's knowing when, where, or by whom; and finally, He believed that his fame was too firmly established to be shaken by the unsupported accusations of two unknown Women. This latter argument was perfectly false: He knew not how u

eart, and rendered it more timid than a Woman's. Yet still He proceeded. He reached the door of Antonia's chamber. He stopped, and listened. All was hushed within. The total silence persuaded him that his intended Victim was retired to rest, and He ventured to lift up the Latch. The door was fastened, and res

and his eyes flamed with lust and impatience. He now ventured to cast a glance upon the sleeping Beauty. A single Lamp, burning before the Statue of St. Rosolia, shed a faint light through the room, and permitted him to examine all the charms of the lovely Object before him. The heat of the weather had obliged her to throw off part of the Bed-cloathes: Those which still covered her, Ambrosio's insolent hand hastened to remove. She lay with her cheek reclining upon one ivory arm; The Other rested on the side of the Bed with graceful indolence. A few tre

joined his lips to hers, and drew in the fragrance of her breath with rapture. This momentary pleasure increased his longing for still greater. His desires were raised to that frantic height by whic

imed a voice behind h

his an i

Ambrosio's hearing. He started, and turned towards it. Elvira stood at the doo

other! Save me!-Yet a moment, and it will be too late!' Elvira woke in terror. The vision had made too strong an impression upon her mind, to permit her resting till assured of her Daughter's safety. She has

tues both Elvira and the Monk: They remained gazing upon each

Couch of my unhappy Child! Monster of Hypocrisy! I already suspected your designs, but forbore your accusation in pity to human frailty. Silence would now be

baffled Culprit stoo

ant the pardon which He requested. She protested that She would raise the neighbourhood, and make him an example to all future Hypocrites. Then hastening to the Bed, She called to Antonia to wake; and finding tha

h every moment. 'Some mystery is concealed in it; But tremble, Hypocrite; all your villain

r Daughter's honour is still unviolated. Forgive my transgression! Spare me the shame of a discovery, and permit me to regain the Abbey undisturbed

errupted h

of Parents! Your iniquity shall be unveiled to the public eye: All Madrid shall shudder

d with passion that the Servant, who was buried in profound slumber, was insensible to all her cries: Elvira dared not go towards the Closet in which Flora slept, lest the Monk should take that opportunity to escape. Such indeed was his intention: He trusted that could He reach the Abbey unobserved by any other than Elvira, her

e; 'You quit not this room wi

violently upon the ground, He dragged her towards the Bed. Confused by this unexpected attack, She scarcely had power to strive at forcing herself from his grasp: While the Monk, snatching the pillow from beneath her Daughter's head, covering with it Elvira's face, and pressing his knee upon her stomach with all his strength, endeavoured to put an end to her existence. He succeeded but too well. Her natural strength increased by the excess of anguish, long di

led in her veins; Her heart had forgotten t

noble and majestic form, now become a

d usurped the place of that warmth which glowed in his bosom: No ideas offered themselves to his mind but those of death and guilt, of present shame and future punishment. Agitated by remorse and fear He prepared for flight: Yet his terrors did not so compleatly master his recollection, as to prevent his taking the precautions necessary for his safety. He replaced the pillow upon the bed, gathered up his garments, and with the fatal Talisman in his hand, bent his unsteady steps towards