the castle of otranto-第13部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


tch　like　Theodore？　　Let　us　fly　together：　　the　life　thou　bestowest　　shall　be　dedicated　to　thy　defence。〃

〃Alas！　thou　mistakest；〃　said　Matilda；　signing：　　〃I　am　Manfred's　　daughter；　but　no　dangers　await　me。〃

〃Amazement！〃　said　Theodore；　〃but　last　night　I　blessed　myself　for　　yielding　thee　the　service　thy　gracious　compassion　so　charitably　　returns　me　now。〃

〃Still　thou　art　in　an　error；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃but　this　is　no　time　　for　explanation。　　Fly；　virtuous　youth；　while　it　is　in　my　power　to　save　　thee：　　should　my　father　return；　thou　and　I　both　should　indeed　have　　cause　to　tremble。〃

〃How！〃　said　Theodore；　〃thinkest　thou；　charming　maid；　that　I　will　　accept　of　life　at　the　hazard　of　aught　calamitous　to　thee？　　Better　I　　endured　a　thousand　deaths。〃

〃I　run　no　risk；〃　said　Matilda；　〃but　by　thy　delay。　　Depart；　it　cannot　　be　known　that　I　have　assisted　thy　flight。〃

〃Swear　by　the　saints　above；〃　said　Theodore；　〃that　thou　canst　not　be　　suspected；　else　here　I　vow　to　await　whatever　can　befall　me。〃

〃Oh！　thou　art　too　generous；〃　said　Matilda；　〃but　rest　assured　that　no　　suspicion　can　alight　on　me。〃

〃Give　me　thy　beauteous　hand　in　token　that　thou　dost　not　deceive　me；〃　　said　Theodore；　〃and　let　me　bathe　it　with　the　warm　tears　of　gratitude。〃

〃Forbear！〃　said　the　Princess；　〃this　must　not　be。〃

〃Alas！〃　said　Theodore；　〃I　have　never　known　but　calamity　until　this　　hour　…　perhaps　shall　never　know　other　fortune　again：　　suffer　the　　chaste　raptures　of　holy　gratitude：　　'tis　my　soul　would　print　its　　effusions　on　thy　hand。〃

〃Forbear；　and　be　gone；〃　said　Matilda。　　〃How　would　Isabella　approve　of　　seeing　thee　at　my　feet？〃

〃Who　is　Isabella？〃　said　the　young　man　with　surprise。

〃Ah；　me！　　I　fear；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　am　serving　a　deceitful　one。　　　Hast　thou　forgot　thy　curiosity　this　morning？〃

〃Thy　looks；　thy　actions；　all　thy　beauteous　self　seem　an　emanation　of　　divinity；〃　said　Theodore；　〃but　thy　words　are　dark　and　mysterious。　　　Speak；　Lady；　speak　to　thy　servant's　comprehension。〃

〃Thou　understandest　but　too　well！〃　said　Matilda；　〃but　once　more　I　　command　thee　to　be　gone：　　thy　blood；　which　I　may　preserve；　will　be　on　　my　head；　if　I　waste　the　time　in　vain　discourse。〃

〃I　go；　Lady；〃　said　Theodore；　〃because　it　is　thy　will；　and　because　I　　would　not　bring　the　grey　hairs　of　my　father　with　sorrow　to　the　grave。　　　Say　but；　adored　Lady；　that　I　have　thy　gentle　pity。〃

〃Stay；〃　said　Matilda；　〃I　will　conduct　thee　to　the　subterraneous　vault　　by　which　Isabella　escaped；　it　will　lead　thee　to　the　church　of　St。　　Nicholas；　where　thou　mayst　take　sanctuary。〃

〃What！〃　said　Theodore；　〃was　it　another；　and　not　thy　lovely　self　that　I　　assisted　to　find　the　subterraneous　passage？〃

〃It　was；〃　said　Matilda；　〃but　ask　no　more；　I　tremble　to　see　thee　still　　abide　here；　fly　to　the　sanctuary。〃

〃To　sanctuary；〃　said　Theodore；　〃no；　Princess；　sanctuaries　are　for　　helpless　damsels；　or　for　criminals。　　Theodore's　soul　is　free　from　　guilt；　nor　will　wear　the　appearance　of　it。　　Give　me　a　sword；　Lady；　and　　thy　father　shall　learn　that　Theodore　scorns　an　ignominious　flight。〃

〃Rash　youth！〃　said　Matilda；　〃thou　wouldst　not　dare　to　lift　thy　　presumptuous　arm　against　the　Prince　of　Otranto？〃

〃Not　against　thy　father；　indeed；　I　dare　not；〃　said　Theodore。　　〃Excuse　　me；　Lady；　I　had　forgotten。　　But　could　I　gaze　on　thee；　and　remember　　thou　art　sprung　from　the　tyrant　Manfred！　　But　he　is　thy　father；　and　　from　this　moment　my　injuries　are　buried　in　oblivion。〃

A　deep　and　hollow　groan；　which　seemed　to　come　from　above；　startled　the　　Princess　and　Theodore。

〃Good　heaven！　we　are　overheard！〃　said　the　Princess。　　They　listened；　　but　perceiving　no　further　noise；　they　both　concluded　it　the　effect　of　　pent…up　vapours。　　And　the　Princess；　preceding　Theodore　softly；　carried　　him　to　her　father's　armoury；　where；　equipping　him　with　a　complete　　suit；　he　was　conducted　by　Matilda　to　the　postern…gate。

〃Avoid　the　town；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃and　all　the　western　side　of　the　　castle。　　'Tis　there　the　search　must　be　making　by　Manfred　and　the　　strangers；　but　hie　thee　to　the　opposite　quarter。　　Yonder　behind　that　　forest　to　the　east　is　a　chain　of　rocks；　hollowed　into　a　labyrinth　of　　caverns　that　reach　to　the　sea　coast。　　There　thou　mayst　lie　concealed；　　till　thou　canst　make　signs　to　some　vessel　to　put　on　shore；　and　take　　thee　off。　　Go！　heaven　be　thy　guide！　…　and　sometimes　in　thy　prayers　　remember　…　Matilda！〃

Theodore　flung　himself　at　her　feet；　and　seizing　her　lily　hand；　which　　with　struggles　she　suffered　him　to　kiss；　he　vowed　on　the　earliest　　opportunity　to　get　himself　knighted；　and　fervently　entreated　her　　permission　to　swear　himself　eternally　her　knight。　　Ere　the　Princess　　could　reply；　a　clap　of　thunder　was　suddenly　heard　that　shook　the　　battlements。　　Theodore；　regardless　of　the　tempest；　would　have　urged　　his　suit：　　but　the　Princess；　dismayed；　retreated　hastily　into　the　　castle；　and　commanded　the　youth　to　be　gone　with　an　air　that　would　not　　be　disobeyed。　　He　sighed；　and　retired；　but　with　eyes　fixed　on　the　　gate；　until　Matilda；　closing　it；　put　an　end　to　an　interview；　in　which　　the　hearts　of　both　had　drunk　so　deeply　of　a　passion；　which　both　now　　tasted　for　the　first　time。

Theodore　went　pensively　to　the　convent；　to　acquaint　his　father　with　　his　deliverance。　　There　he　learned　the　absence　of　Jerome；　and　the　　pursuit　that　was　making　after　the　Lady　Isabella；　with　some　particulars　　of　whose　story　he　now　first　became　acquainted。　　The　generous　gallantry　　of　his　nature　prompted　him　to　wish　to　assist　her；　but　the　Monks　could　　lend　him　no　lights　to　guess　at　the　route　she　had　taken。　　He　was　not　　tempted　to　wander　far　in　search　of　her；　for　the　idea　of　Matilda　had　　imprinted　itself　so　strongly　on　his　heart；　that　he　could　not　bear　to　　absent　himself　at　much　distance　from　her　abode。　　The　tenderness　Jerome　　had　expressed　for　him　concurred　to　confirm　this　reluctance；　and　he　　even　persuaded　himself　that　filial　affection　was　the　chief　cause　of　　his　hovering　between　the　castle　and　monastery。

Until　Jerome　should　return　at　night；　Theodore　at　length　determined　to　　repair　to　the　forest　that　Matilda　had　pointed　out　to　him。　　Arriving　　there；　he　sought　the　gloomiest　shades；　as　best　suited　to　the　pleasing　　melancholy　that　reigned　in　his　mind。　　In　this　mood　he　roved　insensibly　　to　the　caves　which　had　formerly　served　as　a　retreat　to　hermits；　and　　were　now　reported　round　the　country　to　be　haunted　by　evil　spirits。　　He　　recollected　to　have　heard　this　tradition；　and　being　of　a　brave　and　　adventurous　disposition；　he　willingly　indulged　his　curiosity　in　　exploring　the　secret　recesses　of　this　labyrinth。　　He　had　not　　penetrated　far　before　he　thought　he　heard　the　steps　of　some　person　who　　seemed　to　retreat　before　him。

Theodore；　though　firmly　grounded　in　all　our　holy　faith　enjoins　to　be　　believed；　had　no　apprehension　that　good　men　were　abandoned　without　　cause　to　the　malice　of　the　powers　of　darkness。　　He　thought　the　place　　more　likely　to　be　infested　by　robbers　than　by　those　infernal　agents　　who　are　reported　to　molest　and　bewilder　travellers。　　He　had　long　　burned　with　impatience　to　approve　his　valour。　　Drawing　his　sabre；　he　　marched　sedately　onwards；　still　directing　his　steps　as　the　imperfect　　rustling　sound　before　him　led　the　way。　　The　armour　he　wore　was　a　like　　indication　to　the　person　who　avoided　him。　　Theodore；　now　convinced　　that　he　was　not　mistaken；　redoubled　his　pace；　and　evidently　gained　on　　the　person　that　fled；　whose　haste　increasing；　Theodore　came　up　just　as　　a　woman　fell　breathless　before　him。　　He　hasted　to　raise　her；　but　her　　terror　was　so　great　that　he　apprehended　she　would　faint　in　his　arms。　　　He　used　every　gentle　word　to　dispel　her　alarms；　and　assured　her　that　　far　from　injuring；　he　would　defend　her　at　the　peril　of　his　life。　　The　　Lady　recovering　her　spirits　from　his　courteous　demeanour；　and　gazing　　on　her　protector；　said　…

〃Sure；　I　have　heard　that　voice　before！〃

〃Not　to　my　knowledge；〃　replied　Theodore；　〃unless；　as　I　conjecture；　　thou　art　the　Lady　Isabella。〃

〃Merciful　heaven！〃　cried　she。　　〃Thou　art　not　sent　in　quest　of　me；　art　　thou？〃　　And　saying　those　words；　she　threw　herself　at　his　feet；　and　　besought　him　not　to　deliver　her　up　to　Manfred。

〃To　Manfred！〃　cried　Theodore　…　〃no；　Lady；　I　have　once　already　　delivered　thee　from　his　tyranny；　and　it　shall　fare　hard　with　me　now；　　but　I　will　place　thee　out　of　the　reach　of　his　daring。〃

〃Is　it　possible；〃　said　she；　〃that　thou　shouldst　be　the　generous　　unknown　whom　I　met　last　night　in　the　vault　of　the　castle？　　Sure　thou　　art　not　a　mortal；　but　my　guardian　angel。　　On　my　knees；　let　me　thank　…　　〃

〃Hold！　gentle　Princess；〃　said　Theodore；　〃nor　demean　thyself　before　a　　poor　and　friendless　young　man。　　If　heaven　has　selected　me　for　thy　　deliverer；　it　will　accomplish　its　work；　and　strengthen　my　arm　in　thy　　cause。　　But　come；　Lady；　we　are　too　near　the　mouth　of　the　cavern；　let　　us　seek　its　inmost　recesses。　　I　can　have　no　tranquillity　till　I　have　　placed　thee　beyond　the　reach　of　danger。〃

〃Alas！　what　mean　you；　sir？〃　said　she。　　〃Though　all　your　actions　are　　noble；　though　your　sentiments　speak　the　purity　of　your　soul；　is　it　　fitting　that　I　should　accompany　you　alone　into　these　perplexed　　retreats？　　Should　we　be　found　together；　what　would　a　censorious　world　　think　of　my　conduct？〃

〃I　respect　your　virtuous　delicacy；〃　said　Theodore；　〃nor　do　you　harbour　　a　suspicion　that　wounds　my　honour。　　I　meant　to　conduct　you　into　the　　most　private　cavity　of　these　rocks；　and　then　at　the　hazard　of　my　life　　to　guard　their　entrance　against　every　living　thing。　　Besides；　Lady；〃　　continued　he；　drawing　a　deep　sigh；　〃beauteous　and　all　perfect　as　your　　form　is；　and　though　my　wishes　are　not　guiltless　of　aspiring；　know；　my　　soul　is　dedicated　to　another；　and　although　…　〃　　A　sudden　noise　　prevented　Theodore　from　proceeding。　　They　soon　distinguished　these　　sounds　…

〃Isabella！　what；　ho！　Isabella！〃　　The　trembling　Princess　relapsed　into　　her　former　agony　of　fear。　　Theodore　endeavoured　to　encourage　her；　but　　in　vain。　　He　assured　her　he　would　die　rather　than　suffer　her　to　return　　under　Manfred's　power；　and　begging　her　to　remain　concealed；　he　went　　forth　to　prevent　the　person　in　search　of　her　from　approaching。

At　the　mouth　of　the　cavern　he　found　an　armed　Knight；　discoursing　with　　a　peasant；　who　assured　him　he　had　seen　a　lady　enter　the