The Castle of Otranto

and of no promising disposition; yet he was the darling of his father, who never showed any symptoms of affection to Matilda. Manfred had contracted a marriage for his son with the Marquis of Vice

at youth, and greater infirmities; but she never received any other answer than reflections on her own sterility, who had given him but one heir. His tenants and subjects were less cautious in their discourses. They attributed this hasty wedding to the Prince's dread of seeing accomplished an ancient prophecy, which was said to have pronounced that the castle

ssing. Manfred, impatient of the least delay, and who had not observed his son retire, despatched one of his attendants to summon the young Prince. The servant, who had not stayed long eno

red, less apprehensive than enraged at the procrastination of the nuptials, and at the folly of his domestic, asked imperiously what was the matter? The fe

be alarmed at not seeing his son, went himself to get information of what occasioned this strange confusion. Matilda remained endeavouring to assist her mot

ervants endeavouring to raise something that appeared to him a

ried Manfred, wrathful

h! my Lord! the Prince! the Pr

father's eyes!-he beheld his child dashed to pieces, and almost buried under an enormous helmet, an hundred times

asted longer than even grief could occasion. He fixed his eyes on what he wished in vain to believe a vision; and seemed less attentive to his loss, than buried in meditation on the stupendous

They conveyed the disfigured corpse into the hall, without receiving the least direction from Manfred. As little was he attentive to the ladies who remained in the chapel.

s, to consider it as peculiarly addressed to her situation, and flew to her assistance. They conveyed her to her ch

me time endeavouring to partake and lessen the weight of sorrow which she saw Matilda strove to suppress, for whom she had conceived the warmest sympathy of friendship. Yet her own situation could not help finding its place in her thoughts. She felt no concern for the death of young Conrad, except commiseration; and she was n

man knew from whence it could have come? Nobody could give him the least information. However, as it seemed to be the sole object of his curiosity, it soon became so to the rest of the spectators, whose conjectures were as absurd and improbable, as the catastrophe itself was unprecedente

nce in a tempest of rage, and seizing the young man by the collar

g himself, with a mixture of grace and humility, he disengaged himself from Manfred's grip, and then with an obeisance, which discovered more jealousy of innocence than dismay, he asked, with respect, of what he was guilty? Manfred, more enraged at the vigour, however

back open-mouthed, declaring that the helmet was missing from Alfonso's statue. Manfred, at this news, grew perfectly fran

'tis thou hast done this! '

cities, on whom they might discharge their bewildered reasonin

t," never reflecting how enormous the disproportion was between the marble helmet that had been in the church, and that of steel b

wishing to bury any such rumour under so impertinent a supposition, he gravely pronounced that the young man was certainly a necromancer, and that till the Church could take cognisance of the affair, he would have the Magician, whom th

ere charmed with their lord's decision, which, to their apprehensions, carried great appearance of justice, as the Magician was to be punished by the very instrument with which he had offended:

nt any food being conveyed to the prisoner, he dismissed his friends and attendants, and retired to his

affectionate duty to Manfred, though she trembled at his austerity, obeyed the orders of Hippolita, whom she tenderly recommended to Isabella; and inquiring of the domestics for her father, was informed that he was retired to his chamber, and had commanded that nobody should have admittance to him. Concluding that he was immersed in so

ed steps; a mood which increased her apprehensions. She was, however, just going to beg admittance, when Manfred suddenly opened the door; and as it wa

ther, it is I,

do not want a daughter;" and flinging back abruptl

eception, she wiped away her tears to prevent the additional stab that the knowledge of it would give to Hippolita, who questioned her in the most

of her Lord? Or do you deceive me, Matilda? I know how Manfred doted on his son: is not the stroke too heavy for him? has he not sunk under it? You do no

women were using their gentle violence to stop and calm the Princess, when a servant, on

!" cried

f his own family. He thinks you less disordered than we are, and dreads the shock of my grief.

a torch before her. When they came to Manfred, who was walki

that light,

himself upon a bench against the wall, and ba

he-and then stopped under g

Lo

tears, young Lady-you have lost your bridegroom. Yes, cruel fate! and I h

ot suspect me of not feeling the concern I ou

st the honours of my house on so frail a foundation. The line of Manfred calls for numerous supports. My foolish fondness for that boy

's understanding. Her next thought suggested that this strange discourse was designed to ensnare her: she f

ad would have engrossed all my care; and wherever fate shall dispose of me, I shall alwa

and undeserving of your charms: they shall now be better disposed of. Instead of a sickly boy, you shall have a hu

my father returns, and it shall be his pleasure, I shall obey, as I did when I consented to give my hand to your son: but until his return, per

an: from this hour she must be a stranger to you, as she must be to me.

do I hear? You! my Lord! You! My father-in-law! the father

ce her from this hour. Too long has she cursed me by her unfruitfulness. My fate

up, and gleamed in at the opposite casement, presented to his sight the plumes of the fatal helmet, which rose to the height of the windows, waving backwards and forwards in a tempestuous

en itself declares agains

y designs," said Manfred, advan

which hung over the bench where they had been sit

icture, saw not the motion, nor knew whe

was that?" and at the same

s eyes from the picture, which began to move, had, however, advanced some steps after her, still looking back

ctre! Or, if thou art my grandsire, why dost thou too conspire against thy wretched descendant, who too dearly

; "I will follow thee to

e distance, full of anxiety and horror, but resolved. As he would have entered the chamber, the door was clapped to with violence by an invisible hand

anfred, "I will use the human means in my power fo

d, and guards placed in the court. Should she, as her heart prompted her, go and prepare Hippolita for the cruel destiny that awaited her, she did not doubt but Manfred would seek her there, and that his violence would incite him to double the injury he meditated, without leaving room for them to avoid the i

e she was overtaken, she knew even Manfred's violence would not dare to profane the sacredness of the place; and she determined, if no other means of deliverance offered, to shut herself up for

silence reigned throughout those subterraneous regions, except now and then some blasts of wind that shook the doors she had passed, and which, grating on the rusty hinges, were re-

nspire rushed into her mind. She condemned her rash flight, which had thus exposed her to his rage in a place where her cries were not likely to draw anybody to her assistance. Yet the sound seemed not to come from behind. If Manfred knew where she was, he must have followed her. She was still in one of the cloisters, and the steps she had heard were too di

me domestic belonging to the castle. Her gentleness had never raised her an enemy, and conscious innocence made her hope that, unless sent by the Prince's order to seek her, his servants would rather assist than prevent her flight. Fortifying herself with these

val of Manfred, and far from tranquil on knowing she was within reach of somebody, she knew not whom, who for some cause seemed concealed thereabouts; all these thoughts crowded on her distracted mind

momentary joy to perceive an imperfect ray of clouded moonshine gleam from the roof of the vault, which seemed to be fallen in, and from whence hung a fragment of earth or building,

of her betrothed Conrad. The figure,

, Lady; I will

f the stranger, and recollecting that this must be the person

g on the brink of destruction. Assist me to escape from this fat

assist you? I will die in your defence; but

o find a trap-door that must be hereabout, and it is the grea

, and directed the stranger to search likewise, for

hat, I may escape-if not, alas! courteous stranger, I fear I shall have involved you in my misfortunes:

"and it will be some comfort to lose it

id Isabella, "how sh

ne, streaming through a cranny of the ruin a

king out the key, she touched the spring, which, starting aside,

appeared some stone steps desce

hurch of St. Nicholas. But, perhaps," added the Princess modestly, "you have no reason to leave the castle, nor have I farther

il I have placed you in safety-nor think me, Princess, m

noise of voices that seemed approaching

ll you she must be in the castle; I w

voice of Manfred! Make haste, or we are

he spring closed over it. He tried in vain to open it, not having observed Isabella's method of touching the spring; nor had he many moments to make

entered the vault. "She is escaping by the sub

sabella, the light of the torches discovered to him the yo

amest thou here? I thought thee

e young man boldly, "nor am I

my wrath? Tell me, how hast thou escaped from above? Thou

he ministers of a tyrant's wrath, to thee they are faithful, and but t

the Prince; "but tortures shall force the truth

" said the youth, smiling

s way through the pavement of the court, as his servants had let it fall over the peasant, and had broken through int

which thou didst de

" said t

said Manfred, "which I hear

d the peasant; "I hea

" said Manf

ant; "this is the first time I ever entered it, and t

if the youth had discovered the trap-door), "it was t

ciously, "to be sure it was the trap-do

, how should he come on this side? I will know from his own mouth what

fe," said the peasant; "nor would I pur

Manfred contemptuously; "tell me,

aid he, "and put me to death

t the steady valour and indi

h, answer! Was it the fall of

" said t

nd how didst thou come to kno

rass by a gleam of mo

?" said Manfred. "How didst thou

m the helmet, was able to direct m

idence had taught thee to open the lock, it abandoned thee for a fool, who did not know how to make use of its favours. Why dids

vade your questions. Wherever those steps lead to, perhaps I should have explored the way-I could not be in a worse situation than I was. But the truth is, I

"yet on reflection I suspect thou dost but trifle with me

the escape of the Princess. This presence of mind, joined to the frankness of the youth, staggered Manfred. He even felt a disposition towards pardoning one who had been guilty of no crime. Manfred was not one of those savage ty

istant vaults. As the sound approached, he distinguished the clamours of some of his d

Lord? where i

as they came nearer; "hav

eplied, "Oh, my Lord! I a

anfred; "have you

ord," said the fellow, l

ed the Prince; "

and I, m

ed the second, who came up in

e," said Manfred; "I ask y

both together; "but we are

" said Manfred; "what is

o has seen such a sight! your Hig

" cried Manfred; "give me a

ur Highness to hear me," said

aquez-" cried

he Prince: "you, Jaquez, answer; for the other fool se

Highness's orders, went to search for the young Lady; but being comprehensive that we might meet the g

rage; "is it only a ghost,

cried Diego: "I had rather

ou, Jaquez, tell me in one word, art thou sober? art thou raving? thou wast wont to have some se

one of us your Highness's faithful servants-indeed we are, my Lord, though poor men-I say, not one of us has dared to set a foot about the castle, but two together: s

as made her escape, because you were afraid of goblins!-Why, tho

Jaquez; "but the devil shall have me before I seek her there

it is has terrified these rascals?-but I lose my time;

aquez, "do not go to the gallery. Satan himself

at this new circumstance. He recollected the apparition of the portrait, and the sudden cl

n the grea

, for he said he had more courage than I. So when we came into the gallery we

ures in their plac

aquez; "but we did not thi

" said Manfr

the great chamber," continu

you open it?"

as not I neither; it was Diego: he was grown foolhardy, and would go

ng, "but tell me what you saw in the

ez; "I was behind Diego

tell me, I adjure thee by the souls of my ancestors,

t of his leg, and they are as large as the helmet below in the court.' As he said these words, my Lord, we heard a violent motion and the rattling of armour, as if the giant was rising, for Diego has told me since that he believes the giant was lying down, for the foot and leg were stretched at length on the floor. Before we could get to

the servants at once, "or we mus

red, "and follow me; I will

not go up to the gallery for your Highness's revenue

is adventure? My life is of consequence to nobody;

ion-"hereafter I will reward your bravery-but now," continued he with a sigh, "I am so circ

had retired thither. Hippolita, who knew his step, rose with anxious fondness to meet her Lord, whom she had not seen since the d

is Is

d!" said the asto

ed Manfred imperious

behaviour had shocked her mother, "she has not been wit

the Prince; "I do not want

ur command, and has not returned since;-but, my good Lord, compose yourself: retire to you

irectly, for I will not lose an instant-and you, woman," speak

she is not accustomed to watch at this late hour. Gracious my Lord," cont

stions," said Manfred, "

e Princess. "Sit down, my Lord, a

lla?" replied he, "that you wish

said Hippolita, "what i

ed," said the cruel Prince. "Send your ch

aving the amazed ladies thunderstruck with his words and frantic

of the reality of the vision, yet affected to treat it as a delirium of the servant. Willing, however, to save her Lord from any additional shock, and prepared by a series of griefs not to tremble at any accession to it, she determined to make herself the first sacrifice, if fate had marked the present hour for their destruction. Dismissing the reluctant Matilda to her rest, who in vain sued for leave to accompany her mother, and attended

uman treatment of a Princess who returned every injury with new marks of tenderness and duty, he felt returning love forcing itself into his eyes; but not less ashamed of feeling remorse towards one agai

cted that Isabella was not to be found. Coming to himself, he gave orders that every avenue to the castle should be strictly guarded, and charged his domestics on pain of their lives to suffer nobody to pass out. The young peasant, to whom he spoke favourably, he ordered to remain