the castle of otranto- 第9部分

〃My　Lord；　I　have　been　pondering　on　what　your　Highness　has　said；　and　if　　in　truth　it　is　delicacy　of　conscience　that　is　the　real　motive　of　your　　repugnance　to　your　virtuous　Lady；　far　be　it　from　me　to　endeavour　to　　harden　your　heart。　　The　church　is　an　indulgent　mother：　　unfold　your　　griefs　to　her：　　she　alone　can　administer　comfort　to　your　soul；　either　　by　satisfying　your　conscience；　or　upon　examination　of　your　scruples；　　by　setting　you　at　liberty；　and　indulging　you　in　the　lawful　means　of　　continuing　your　lineage。　　In　the　latter　case；　if　the　Lady　Isabella　can　　be　brought　to　consent　…　〃

Manfred；　who　concluded　that　he　had　either　over…reached　the　good　man；　　or　that　his　first　warmth　had　been　but　a　tribute　paid　to　appearance；　　was　overjoyed　at　this　sudden　turn；　and　repeated　the　most　magnificent　　promises；　if　he　should　succeed　by　the　Friar's　mediation。　　The　well…　meaning　priest　suffered　him　to　deceive　himself；　fully　determined　to　　traverse　his　views；　instead　of　seconding　them。

〃Since　we　now　understand　one　another；〃　resumed　the　Prince；　〃I　expect；　　Father；　that　you　satisfy　me　in　one　point。　　Who　is　the　youth　that　I　　found　in　the　vault？　　He　must　have　been　privy　to　Isabella's　flight：　　　tell　me　truly；　is　he　her　lover？　or　is　he　an　agent　for　another's　　passion？　　I　have　often　suspected　Isabella's　indifference　to　my　son：　　a　　thousand　circumstances　crowd　on　my　mind　that　confirm　that　suspicion。　　　She　herself　was　so　conscious　of　it；　that　while　I　discoursed　her　in　the　　gallery；　she　outran　my　suspicious；　and　endeavoured　to　justify　herself　　from　coolness　to　Conrad。〃

The　Friar；　who　knew　nothing　of　the　youth；　but　what　he　had　learnt　　occasionally　from　the　Princess；　ignorant　what　was　become　of　him；　and　　not　sufficiently　reflecting　on　the　impetuosity　of　Manfred's　temper；　　conceived　that　it　might　not　be　amiss　to　sow　the　seeds　of　jealousy　in　　his　mind：　　they　might　be　turned　to　some　use　hereafter；　either　by　　prejudicing　the　Prince　against　Isabella；　if　he　persisted　in　that　union　　or　by　diverting　his　attention　to　a　wrong　scent；　and　employing　his　　thoughts　on　a　visionary　intrigue；　prevent　his　engaging　in　any　new　　pursuit。　　With　this　unhappy　policy；　he　answered　in　a　manner　to　confirm　　Manfred　in　the　belief　of　some　connection　between　Isabella　and　the　　youth。　　The　Prince；　whose　passions　wanted　little　fuel　to　throw　them　　into　a　blaze；　fell　into　a　rage　at　the　idea　of　what　the　Friar　　suggested。

　〃I　will　fathom　to　the　bottom　of　this　intrigue；〃　cried　he；　and　　quitting　Jerome　abruptly；　with　a　command　to　remain　there　till　his　　return；　he　hastened　to　the　great　hall　of　the　castle；　and　ordered　the　　peasant　to　be　brought　before　him。

〃Thou　hardened　young　impostor！〃　said　the　Prince；　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　　youth；　〃what　becomes　of　thy　boasted　veracity　now？　it　was　Providence；　　was　it；　and　the　light　of　the　moon；　that　discovered　the　lock　of　the　　trap…door　to　thee？　　Tell　me；　audacious　boy；　who　thou　art；　and　how　long　　thou　hast　been　acquainted　with　the　Princess　…　and　take　care　to　answer　　with　less　equivocation　than　thou　didst　last　night；　or　tortures　shall　　wring　the　truth　from　thee。〃

The　young　man；　perceiving　that　his　share　in　the　flight　of　the　Princess　　was　discovered；　and　concluding　that　anything　he　should　say　could　no　　longer　be　of　any　service　or　detriment　to　her；　replied　…

〃I　am　no　impostor；　my　Lord；　nor　have　I　deserved　opprobrious　language。　　　I　answered　to　every　question　your　Highness　put　to　me　last　night　with　　the　same　veracity　that　I　shall　speak　now：　　and　that　will　not　be　from　　fear　of　your　tortures；　but　because　my　soul　abhors　a　falsehood。　　Please　　to　repeat　your　questions；　my　Lord；　I　am　ready　to　give　you　all　the　　satisfaction　in　my　power。〃

〃You　know　my　questions；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃and　only　want　time　to　　prepare　an　evasion。　　Speak　directly；　who　art　thou？　and　how　long　hast　　thou　been　known　to　the　Princess？〃

〃I　am　a　labourer　at　the　next　village；〃　said　the　peasant；　〃my　name　is　　Theodore。　　The　Princess　found　me　in　the　vault　last　night：　　before　that　　hour　I　never　was　in　her　presence。〃

〃I　may　believe　as　much　or　as　little　as　I　please　of　this；〃　said　　Manfred；　〃but　I　will　hear　thy　own　story　before　I　examine　into　the　　truth　of　it。　　Tell　me；　what　reason　did　the　Princess　give　thee　for　　making　her　escape？　thy　life　depends　on　thy　answer。〃

〃She　told　me；〃　replied　Theodore；　〃that　she　was　on　the　brink　of　　destruction；　and　that　if　she　could　not　escape　from　the　castle；　she　was　　in　danger　in　a　few　moments　of　being　made　miserable　for　ever。〃

〃And　on　this　slight　foundation；　on　a　silly　girl's　report；〃　said　　Manfred；　〃thou　didst　hazard　my　displeasure？〃

〃I　fear　no　man's　displeasure；〃　said　Theodore；　〃when　a　woman　in　　distress　puts　herself　under　my　protection。〃

During　this　examination；　Matilda　was　going　to　the　apartment　of　　Hippolita。　　At　the　upper　end　of　the　hall；　where　Manfred　sat；　was　a　　boarded　gallery　with　latticed　windows；　through　which　Matilda　and　　Bianca　were　to　pass。　　Hearing　her　father's　voice；　and　seeing　the　　servants　assembled　round　him；　she　stopped　to　learn　the　occasion。　　The　　prisoner　soon　drew　her　attention：　　the　steady　and　composed　manner　in　　which　he　answered；　and　the　gallantry　of　his　last　reply；　which　were　the　　first　words　she　heard　distinctly；　interested　her　in　his　flavour。　　His　　person　was　noble；　handsome；　and　commanding；　even　in　that　situation：　　　but　his　countenance　soon　engrossed　her　whole　care。

〃Heavens！　　Bianca；〃　said　the　Princess　softly；　〃do　I　dream？　or　is　not　　that　youth　the　exact　resemblance　of　Alfonso's　picture　in　the　gallery？〃

She　could　say　no　more；　for　her　father's　voice　grew　louder　at　every　　word。

〃This　bravado；〃　said　he；　〃surpasses　all　thy　former　insolence。　　Thou　　shalt　experience　the　wrath　with　which　thou　darest　to　trifle。　　Seize　　him；〃　continued　Manfred；　〃and　'bind　him　…　the　first　news　the　Princess　　hears　of　her　champion　shall　be；　that　he　has　lost　his　head　for　her　　sake。〃

〃The　injustice　of　which　thou　art　guilty　towards　me；〃　said　Theodore；　　〃convinces　me　that　I　have　done　a　good　deed　in　delivering　the　Princess　　from　thy　tyranny。　　May　she　be　happy；　whatever　becomes　of　me！〃

〃This　is　a　lover！〃　cried　Manfred　in　a　rage：　　〃a　peasant　within　sight　　of　death　is　not　animated　by　such　sentiments。　　Tell　me；　tell　me；　rash　　boy；　who　thou　art；　or　the　rack　shall　force　thy　secret　from　thee。〃

〃Thou　hast　threatened　me　with　death　already；〃　said　the　youth；　〃for　the　　truth　I　have　told　thee：　　if　that　is　all　the　encouragement　I　am　to　　expect　for　sincerity；　I　am　not　tempted　to　indulge　thy　vain　curiosity　　farther。〃

〃Then　thou　wilt　not　speak？〃　said　Manfred。

〃I　will　not；〃　replied　he。

〃Bear　him　away　into　the　courtyard；〃　said　Manfred；　〃I　will　see　his　head　　this　instant　severed　from　his　body。〃

Matilda　fainted　at　hearing　those　words。　　Bianca　shrieked；　and　cried　…

〃Help！　help！　the　Princess　is　dead！〃　　Manfred　started　at　this　　ejaculation；　and　demanded　what　was　the　matter！　　The　young　peasant；　who　　heard　it　too；　was　struck　with　horror；　and　asked　eagerly　the　same　　question；　but　Manfred　ordered　him　to　be　hurried　into　the　court；　and　　kept　there　for　execution；　till　he　had　informed　himself　of　the　cause　of　　Bianca's　shrieks。　　When　he　learned　the　meaning；　he　treated　it　as　a　　womanish　panic；　and　ordering　Matilda　to　be　carried　to　her　apartment；　　he　rushed　into　the　court；　and　calling　for　one　of　his　guards；　bade　　Theodore　kneel　down；　and　prepare　to　receive　the　fatal　blow。

The　undaunted　youth　received　the　bitter　sentence　with　a　resignation　　that　touched　every　heart　but　Manfred's。　　He　wished　earnestly　to　know　　the　meaning　of　the　words　he　had　heard　relating　to　the　Princess；　but　　fearing　to　exasperate　the　tyrant　more　against　her；　he　desisted。　　The　　only　boon　he　deigned　to　ask　was；　that　he　might　be　permitted　to　have　a　　confessor；　and　make　his　peace　with　heaven。　　Manfred；　who　hoped　by　the　　confessor's　means　to　come　at　the　youth's　history；　readily　granted　his　　request；　and　being　convinced　that　Father　Jerome　was　now　in　his　　interest；　he　ordered　him　to　be　called　and　shrive　the　prisoner。　　The　　holy　man；　who　had　little　foreseen　the　catastrophe　that　his　imprudence　　occasioned；　fell　on　his　knees　to　the　Prince；　and　adjured　him　in　the　　most　solemn　manner　not　to　shed　innocent　blood。　　He　accused　himself　in　　the　bitterest　terms　for　his　indiscretion；　endeavoured　to　disculpate　　the　youth；　and　left　no　method　untried　to　soften　the　tyrant's　rage。　　　Manfred；　more　incensed　than　appeased　by　Jerome's　intercession；　whose　　retraction　now　made　him　suspect　he　had　been　imposed　upon　by　both；　　commanded　the　Friar　to　do　his　duty；　telling　him　he　would　not　allow　the　　prisoner　many　minutes　for　confession。

〃Nor　do　I　ask　many；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　unhappy　young　man。　　〃My　sins；　　thank　heaven；　have　not　been　numerous；　nor　exceed　what　might　be　　expected　at　my　years。　　Dry　your　tears；　good　Father；　and　let　us　　despatch。　　This　is　a　bad　world；　nor　have　I　had　cause　to　leave　it　with　　regret。〃

〃Oh　wretched　youth！〃　said　Jerome；　〃how　canst　thou　bear　the　sight　of　me　　with　patience？　　I　am　thy　murderer！　it　is　I　have　brought　this　dismal　　hour　upon　thee！〃

〃I　forgive　thee　from　my　soul；〃　said　the　youth；　〃as　I　hope　heaven　will　　pardon　me。　　Hear　my　confession；　Father；　and　give　me　thy　blessing。〃

〃How　can　I　prepare　thee　for　thy　passage　as　I　ought？〃　said　Jerome。　　　〃Thou　canst　not　be　saved　without　pardoning　thy　foes　…　and　canst　thou　　forgive　that　impious　man　there？〃

〃I　can；〃　said　Theodore；　〃I　do。〃

〃And　does　not　this　touch　thee；　cruel　Prince？〃　said　the　Friar。

〃I　sent　for　thee　to　confess　him；〃　said　Manfred；　sternly；　〃not　to　plead　　for　him。　　Thou　didst　first　incense　me　against　him　…　his　blood　be　upon　　thy　head！〃

〃It　will！　it　will！〃　said　the　good　main；　in　an　agony　of　sorrow。　　〃Thou　　and　I　must　never　hope　to　go　where　this　blessed　youth　is　going！〃

〃Despatch！〃　said　Manfred；　〃I　am　no　more　to　be　moved　by　the　whining　of　　priests　than　by　the　shrieks　of　women。〃

〃What！〃　said　the　youth；　〃is　it　possible　that　my　fate　could　have　　occasioned　what　I　heard！　　Is　the　Princess　then　again　in　thy　power？〃

〃Thou　dost　but　remember　me　of　my　wrath；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃Prepare　thee；　　for　this　moment　is　thy　last。〃

The　youth；　who　felt　his　indignation　rise；　and　who　was　touched　with　the　　sorrow　which　he　saw　he　had　infused　into　all　the　spectators；　as　well　as　　into　the　Friar；　suppressed　his　emotions；　and　putting　off　his　doublet