the castle of otranto-第11部分

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by　the　sword；　Manfred　would　hold　some　converse　with　him。　　Bid　him　　welcome　to　my　castle；　where　by　my　faith；　as　I　am　a　true　Knight；　he　　shall　have　courteous　reception；　and　full　security　for　himself　and　　followers。　　If　we　cannot　adjust　our　quarrel　by　amicable　means；　I　swear　　he　shall　depart　in　safety；　and　shall　have　full　satisfaction　according　　to　the　laws　of　arms：　　So　help　me　God　and　His　holy　Trinity！〃

The　Herald　made　three　obeisances　and　retired。

During　this　interview　Jerome's　mind　was　agitated　by　a　thousand　　contrary　passions。　　He　trembled　for　the　life　of　his　son；　and　his　first　　thought　was　to　persuade　Isabella　to　return　to　the　castle。　　Yet　he　was　　scarce　less　alarmed　at　the　thought　of　her　union　with　Manfred。　　He　　dreaded　Hippolita's　unbounded　submission　to　the　will　of　her　Lord；　and　　though　he　did　not　doubt　but　he　could　alarm　her　piety　not　to　consent　to　　a　divorce；　if　he　could　get　access　to　her；　yet　should　Manfred　discover　　that　the　obstruction　came　from　him；　it　might　be　equally　fatal　to　　Theodore。　　He　was　impatient　to　know　whence　came　the　Herald；　who　with　　so　little　management　had　questioned　the　title　of　Manfred：　　yet　he　did　　not　dare　absent　himself　from　the　convent；　lest　Isabella　should　leave　　it；　and　her　flight　be　imputed　to　him。　　He　returned　disconsolately　to　　the　monastery；　uncertain　on　what　conduct　to　resolve。　　A　Monk；　who　met　　him　in　the　porch　and　observed　his　melancholy　air；　said　…

〃Alas！　brother；　is　it　then　true　that　we　have　lost　our　excellent　　Princess　Hippolita？〃

The　holy　man　started；　and　cried；　〃What　meanest　thou；　brother？　　I　come　　this　instant　from　the　castle；　and　left　her　in　perfect　health。〃

〃Martelli；〃　replied　the　other　Friar；　〃passed　by　the　convent　but　a　　quarter　of　an　hour　ago　on　his　way　from　the　castle；　and　reported　that　　her　Highness　was　dead。　　All　our　brethren　are　gone　to　the　chapel　to　　pray　for　her　happy　transit　to　a　better　life；　and　willed　me　to　wait　thy　　arrival。　　They　know　thy　holy　attachment　to　that　good　Lady；　and　are　　anxious　for　the　affliction　it　will　cause　in　thee　…　indeed　we　have　all　　reason　to　weep；　she　was　a　mother　to　our　house。　　But　this　life　is　but　a　　pilgrimage；　we　must　not　murmur　…　we　shall　all　follow　her！　　May　our　end　　be　like　hers！〃

　〃Good　brother；　thou　dreamest；〃　said　Jerome。　　〃I　tell　thee　I　come　from　　the　castle；　and　left　the　Princess　well。　　Where　is　the　Lady　Isabella？〃

〃Poor　Gentlewoman！〃　replied　the　Friar；　〃I　told　her　the　sad　news；　and　　offered　her　spiritual　comfort。　　I　reminded　her　of　the　transitory　　condition　of　mortality；　and　advised　her　to　take　the　veil：　　I　quoted　　the　example　of　the　holy　Princess　Sanchia　of　Arragon。〃

〃Thy　zeal　was　laudable；〃　said　Jerome；　impatiently；　〃but　at　present　it　　was　unnecessary：　　Hippolita　is　well　…　at　least　I　trust　in　the　Lord　she　　is；　I　heard　nothing　to　the　contrary　…　yet；　methinks；　the　Prince's　　earnestness　…　Well；　brother；　but　where　is　the　Lady　Isabella？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　the　Friar；　〃she　wept　much；　and　said　she　would　　retire　to　her　chamber。〃

Jerome　left　his　comrade　abruptly；　and　hastened　to　the　Princess；　but　　she　was　not　in　her　chamber。　　He　inquired　of　the　domestics　of　the　　convent；　but　could　learn　no　news　of　her。　　He　searched　in　vain　　throughout　the　monastery　and　the　church；　and　despatched　messengers　　round　the　neighbourhood；　to　get　intelligence　if　she　had　been　seen；　but　　to　no　purpose。　　Nothing　could　equal　the　good　man's　perplexity。　　He　　judged　that　Isabella；　suspecting　Manfred　of　having　precipitated　his　　wife's　death；　had　taken　the　alarm；　and　withdrawn　herself　to　some　more　　secret　place　of　concealment。　　This　new　flight　would　probably　carry　the　　Prince's　fury　to　the　height。　　The　report　of　Hippolita's　death；　though　　it　seemed　almost　incredible；　increased　his　consternation；　and　though　　Isabella's　escape　bespoke　her　aversion　of　Manfred　for　a　husband；　　Jerome　could　feel　no　comfort　from　it；　while　it　endangered　the　life　of　　his　son。　　He　determined　to　return　to　the　castle；　and　made　several　of　　his　brethren　accompany　him　to　attest　his　innocence　to　Manfred；　and；　if　　necessary；　join　their　intercession　with　his　for　Theodore。

The　Prince；　in　the　meantime；　had　passed　into　the　court；　and　ordered　　the　gates　of　the　castle　to　be　flung　open　for　the　reception　of　the　　stranger　Knight　and　his　train。　　In　a　few　minutes　the　cavalcade　　arrived。　　First　came　two　harbingers　with　wands。　　Next　a　herald；　　followed　by　two　pages　and　two　trumpets。　　Then　a　hundred　foot…guards。　　　These　were　attended　by　as　many　horse。　　After　them　fifty　footmen；　　clothed　in　scarlet　and　black；　the　colours　of　the　Knight。　　Then　a　led　　horse。　　Two　heralds　on　each　side　of　a　gentleman　on　horseback　bearing　a　　banner　with　the　arms　of　Vicenza　and　Otranto　quarterly　…　a　circumstance　　that　much　offended　Manfred　…　but　he　stifled　his　resentment。　　Two　more　　pages。　　The　Knight's　confessor　telling　his　beads。　　Fifty　more　footmen　　clad　as　before。　　Two　Knights　habited　in　complete　armour；　their　beavers　　down；　comrades　to　the　principal　Knight。　　The　squires　of　the　two　　Knights；　carrying　their　shields　and　devices。　　The　Knight's　own　squire。　　　A　hundred　gentlemen　bearing　an　enormous　sword；　and　seeming　to　faint　　under　the　weight　of　it。　　The　Knight　himself　on　a　chestnut　steed；　in　　complete　armour；　his　lance　in　the　rest；　his　face　entirely　concealed　by　　his　vizor；　which　was　surmounted　by　a　large　plume　of　scarlet　and　black　　feathers。　　Fifty　foot…guards　with　drums　and　trumpets　closed　the　　procession；　which　wheeled　off　to　the　right　and　left　to　make　room　for　　the　principal　Knight。

As　soon　as　he　approached　the　gate　he　stopped；　and　the　herald　　advancing；　read　again　the　words　of　the　challenge。　　Manfred's　eyes　were　　fixed　on　the　gigantic　sword；　and　he　scarce　seemed　to　attend　to　the　　cartel：　　but　his　attention　was　soon　diverted　by　a　tempest　of　wind　that　　rose　behind　him。　　He　turned　and　beheld　the　Plumes　of　the　enchanted　　helmet　agitated　in　the　same　extraordinary　manner　as　before。　　It　　required　intrepidity　like　Manfred's　not　to　sink　under　a　concurrence　of　　circumstances　that　seemed　to　announce　his　fate。　　Yet　scorning　in　the　　presence　of　strangers　to　betray　the　courage　he　had　always　manifested；　　he　said　boldly　…

〃Sir　Knight；　whoever　thou　art；　I　bid　thee　welcome。　　If　thou　art　of　　mortal　mould；　thy　valour　shall　meet　its　equal：　　and　if　thou　art　a　true　　Knight；　thou　wilt　scorn　to　employ　sorcery　to　carry　thy　point。　　Be　　these　omens　from　heaven　or　hell；　Manfred　trusts　to　the　righteousness　　of　his　cause　and　to　the　aid　of　St。　Nicholas；　who　has　ever　protected　　his　house。　　Alight；　Sir　Knight；　and　repose　thyself。　　To…morrow　thou　　shalt　have　a　fair　field；　and　heaven　befriend　the　juster　side！〃

The　Knight　made　no　reply；　but　dismounting；　was　conducted　by　Manfred　to　　the　great　hall　of　the　castle。　　As　they　traversed　the　court；　the　Knight　　stopped　to　gaze　on　the　miraculous　casque；　and　kneeling　down；　seemed　to　　pray　inwardly　for　some　minutes。　　Rising；　he　made　a　sign　to　the　Prince　　to　lead　on。　　As　soon　as　they　entered　the　hall；　Manfred　proposed　to　the　　stranger　to　disarm；　but　the　Knight　shook　his　head　in　token　of　refusal。

〃Sir　Knight；〃　said　Manfred；　〃this　is　not　courteous；　but　by　my　good　　faith　I　will　not　cross　thee；　nor　shalt　thou　have　cause　to　complain　of　　the　Prince　of　Otranto。　　No　treachery　is　designed　on　my　part；　I　hope　　none　is　intended　on　thine；　here　take　my　gage〃　（giving　him　his　ring）：　　　〃your　friends　and　you　shall　enjoy　the　laws　of　hospitality。　　Rest　here　　until　refreshments　are　brought。　　I　will　but　give　orders　for　the　　accommodation　of　your　train；　and　return　to　you。〃　　The　three　Knights　　bowed　as　accepting　his　courtesy。　　Manfred　directed　the　stranger's　　retinue　to　be　conducted　to　an　adjacent　hospital；　founded　by　the　　Princess　Hippolita　for　the　reception　of　pilgrims。　　As　they　made　the　　circuit　of　the　court　to　return　towards　the　gate；　the　gigantic　sword　　burst　from　the　supporters；　and　falling　to　the　ground　opposite　to　the　　helmet；　remained　immovable。　　Manfred；　almost　hardened　to　preternatural　　appearances；　surmounted　the　shock　of　this　new　prodigy；　and　returning　　to　the　hall；　where　by　this　time　the　feast　was　ready；　he　invited　his　　silent　guests　to　take　their　places。　　Manfred；　however　ill　his　heart　　was　at　ease；　endeavoured　to　inspire　the　company　with　mirth。　　He　put　　several　questions　to　them；　but　was　answered　only　by　signs。　　They　　raised　their　vizors　but　sufficiently　to　feed　themselves；　and　that　　sparingly。

〃Sirs〃　said　the　Prince；　〃ye　are　the　first　guests　I　ever　treated　within　　these　walls　who　scorned　to　hold　any　intercourse　with　me：　　nor　has　it　　oft　been　customary；　I　ween；　for　princes　to　hazard　their　state　and　　dignity　against　strangers　and　mutes。　　You　say　you　come　in　the　name　of　　Frederic　of　Vicenza；　I　have　ever　heard　that　he　was　a　gallant　and　　courteous　Knight；　nor　would　he；　I　am　bold　to　say；　think　it　beneath　him　　to　mix　in　social　converse　with　a　Prince　that　is　his　equal；　and　not　　unknown　by　deeds　in　arms。　　Still　ye　are　silent　…　well！　be　it　as　it　may　　…　by　the　laws　of　hospitality　and　chivalry　ye　are　masters　under　this　　roof：　　ye　shall　do　your　pleasure。　　But　come；　give　me　a　goblet　of　wine；　　ye　will　not　refuse　to　pledge　me　to　the　healths　of　your　fair　　mistresses。〃

The　principal　Knight　sighed　and　crossed　himself；　and　was　rising　from　　the　board。

〃Sir　Knight；〃　said　Manfred；　〃what　I　said　was　but　in　sport。　　I　shall　　constrain　you　in　nothing：　　use　your　good　liking。　　Since　mirth　is　not　　your　mood；　let　us　be　sad。　　Business　may　hit　your　fancies　better。　　Let　　us　withdraw；　and　hear　if　what　I　have　to　unfold　may　be　better　relished　　than　the　vain　efforts　I　have　made　for　your　pastime。〃

Manfred　then　conducting　the　three　Knights　into　an　inner　chamber；　shut　　the　door；　and　inviting　them　to　be　seated；　began　thus；　addressing　　himself　to　the　chief　personage：…

〃You　come；　Sir　Knight；　as　I　understand；　in　the　name　of　the　Marquis　of　　Vicenza；　to　re…demand　the　Lady　Isabella；　his　daughter；　who　has　been　　contracted　in　the　face　of　Holy　Church　to　my　son；　by　the　consent　of　her　　legal　guardians；　and　to　require　me　to　resign　my　dominions　to　your　　Lord；　who　gives　himself　for　the　nearest　of　blood　to　Prince　Alfonso；　　whose　soul　God　rest！　　I　shall　speak　to　the　latter　article　of　your　　demands　first。　　You　must　know；　your　Lord　knows；　that　I　enjoy　the　　principality　of　Otranto　from　my　father；　Don　Manuel；　as　he　received　it　　from　his　father；　Don　Ricardo。　　Alf