the castle of otranto-第15部分

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tender　silent　affection　with　which　the　Princess　and　her　daughter　　regarded　each　other；　melted　him　almost　to　tears。　　Yet　apprehensive　　that　his　forbearance　to　obey　would　be　more　alarming；　he　repeated　in　a　　faltering　and　low　voice　the　following　lines：


〃Where'er　a　casque　that　suits　this　sword　is　found；　With　perils　is　thy　daughter　compass'd　round；　ALFONSO'S　blood　alone　can　save　the　maid；　And　quiet　a　long　restless　Prince's　shade。〃


〃What　is　there　in　these　lines；〃　said　Theodore　impatiently；　〃that　　affects　these　Princesses？　　Why　were　they　to　be　shocked　by　a　mysterious　　delicacy；　that　has　so　little　foundation？〃

〃Your　words　are　rude；　young　man；〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃and　though　　fortune　has　favoured　you　once　…　〃

〃My　honoured　Lord；〃　said　Isabella；　who　resented　Theodore's　warmth；　　which　she　perceived　was　dictated　by　his　sentiments　for　Matilda；　　〃discompose　not　yourself　for　the　glosing　of　a　peasant's　son：　　he　　forgets　the　reverence　he　owes　you；　but　he　is　not　accustomed　…　〃

Hippolita；　concerned　at　the　heat　that　had　arisen；　checked　Theodore　for　　his　boldness；　but　with　an　air　acknowledging　his　zeal；　and　changing　the　　conversation；　demanded　of　Frederic　where　he　had　left　her　Lord？　　As　the　　Marquis　was　going　to　reply；　they　heard　a　noise　without；　and　rising　to　　inquire　the　cause；　Manfred；　Jerome；　and　part　of　the　troop；　who　had　met　　an　imperfect　rumour　of　what　had　happened；　entered　the　chamber。　　　Manfred　advanced　hastily　towards　Frederic's　bed　to　condole　with　him　on　　his　misfortune；　and　to　learn　the　circumstances　of　the　combat；　when　　starting　in　an　agony　of　terror　and　amazement；　he　cried　…

〃Ha！　what　art　thou？　thou　dreadful　spectre！　is　my　hour　come？〃

〃My　dearest；　gracious　Lord；〃　cried　Hippolita；　clasping　him　in　her　　arms；　〃what　is　it　you　see！　　Why　do　you　fix　your　eye…balls　thus？〃

〃What！〃　cried　Manfred　breathless；　〃dost　thou　see　nothing；　Hippolita？　　　Is　this　ghastly　phantom　sent　to　me　alone　…　to　rue；　who　did　not　…　〃

〃For　mercy's　sweetest　self；　my　Lord；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃resume　your　　soul；　command　your　reason。　　There　is　none　here；　but　us；　your　friends。〃

〃What；　is　not　that　Alfonso？〃　cried　Manfred。　　〃Dost　thou　not　see　him？　　can　it　be　my　brain's　delirium？〃

〃This！　my　Lord；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃this　is　Theodore；　the　youth　who　has　　been　so　unfortunate。〃

〃Theodore！〃　said　Manfred　mournfully；　and　striking　his　forehead；　　〃Theodore　or　a　phantom；　he　has　unhinged　the　soul　of　Manfred。　　But　how　　comes　he　here？　and　how　comes　he　in　armour？〃

〃I　believe　he　went　in　search　of　Isabella；〃　said　Hippolita。

〃Of　Isabella！〃　said　Manfred；　relapsing　into　rage；　〃yes；　yes；　that　is　　not　doubtful　…。　　But　how　did　he　escape　from　durance　in　which　I　left　　him？　　Was　it　Isabella；　or　this　hypocritical　old　Friar；　that　procured　　his　enlargement？〃

〃And　would　a　parent　be　criminal；　my　Lord；〃　said　Theodore；　〃if　he　　meditated　the　deliverance　of　his　child？〃

Jerome；　amazed　to　hear　himself　in　a　manner　accused　by　his　son；　and　　without　foundation；　knew　not　what　to　think。　　He　could　not　comprehend　　how　Theodore　had　escaped；　how　he　came　to　be　armed；　and　to　encounter　　Frederic。　　Still　he　would　not　venture　to　ask　any　questions　that　might　　tend　to　inflame　Manfred's　wrath　against　his　son。　　Jerome's　silence　　convinced　Manfred　that　he　had　contrived　Theodore's　release。

〃And　is　it　thus；　thou　ungrateful　old　man；〃　said　the　Prince；　addressing　　himself　to　the　Friar；　〃that　thou　repayest　mine　and　Hippolita's　　bounties？　　And　not　content　with　traversing　my　heart's　nearest　wishes；　　thou　armest　thy　bastard；　and　bringest　him　into　my　own　castle　to　insult　　me！〃

〃My　Lord；〃　said　Theodore；　〃you　wrong　my　father：　　neither　he　nor　I　are　　capable　of　harbouring　a　thought　against　your　peace。　　Is　it　insolence　　thus　to　surrender　myself　to　your　Highness's　pleasure？〃　added　he；　　laying　his　sword　respectfully　at　Manfred's　feet。　　〃Behold　my　bosom；　　strike；　my　Lord；　if　you　suspect　that　a　disloyal　thought　is　lodged　　there。　　There　is　not　a　sentiment　engraven　on　my　heart　that　does　not　　venerate　you　and　yours。〃

The　grace　and　fervour　with　which　Theodore　uttered　these　words　　interested　every　person　present　in　his　favour。　　Even　Manfred　was　　touched　…　yet　still　possessed　with　his　resemblance　to　Alfonso；　his　　admiration　was　dashed　with　secret　horror。

〃Rise；〃　said　he；　〃thy　life　is　not　my　present　purpose。　　But　tell　me　thy　　history；　and　how　thou　camest　connected　with　this　old　traitor　here。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　said　Jerome　eagerly。

〃Peace！　impostor！〃　said　Manfred；　〃I　will　not　have　him　prompted。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　said　Theodore；　〃I　want　no　assistance；　my　story　is　very　　brief。　　I　was　carried　at　five　years　of　age　to　Algiers　with　my　mother；　　who　had　been　taken　by　corsairs　from　the　coast　of　Sicily。　　She　died　of　　grief　in　less　than　a　twelvemonth；〃　the　tears　gushed　from　Jerome's　　eyes；　on　whose　countenance　a　thousand　anxious　passions　stood　　expressed。　　〃Before　she　died；〃　continued　Theodore；　〃she　bound　a　　writing　about　my　arm　under　my　garments；　which　told　me　I　was　the　son　of　　the　Count　Falconara。〃

〃It　is　most　true；〃　said　Jerome；　〃I　am　that　wretched　father。〃

〃Again　I　enjoin　thee　silence；〃　said　Manfred：　　〃proceed。〃

〃I　remained　in　slavery；〃　said　Theodore；　〃until　within　these　two　years；　　when　attending　on　my　master　in　his　cruises；　I　was　delivered　by　a　　Christian　vessel；　which　overpowered　the　pirate；　and　discovering　myself　　to　the　captain；　he　generously　put　me　on　shore　in　Sicily；　but　alas！　　instead　of　finding　a　father；　I　learned　that　his　estate；　which　was　　situated　on　the　coast；　had；　during　his　absence；　been　laid　waste　by　the　　Rover　who　had　carried　my　mother　and　me　into　captivity：　　that　his　　castle　had　been　burnt　to　the　ground；　and　that　my　father　on　his　return　　had　sold　what　remained；　and　was　retired　into　religion　in　the　kingdom　　of　Naples；　but　where　no　man　could　inform　me。　　Destitute　and　　friendless；　hopeless　almost　of　attaining　the　transport　of　a　parent's　　embrace；　I　took　the　first　opportunity　of　setting　sail　for　Naples；　from　　whence；　within　these　six　days；　I　wandered　into　this　province；　still　　supporting　myself　by　the　labour　of　my　hands；　nor　until　yester…morn　did　　I　believe　that　heaven　had　reserved　any　lot　for　me　but　peace　of　mind　　and　contented　poverty。　　This；　my　Lord；　is　Theodore's　story。　　I　am　　blessed　beyond　my　hope　in　finding　a　father；　I　am　unfortunate　beyond　my　　desert　in　having　incurred　your　Highness's　displeasure。〃

He　ceased。　　A　murmur　of　approbation　gently　arose　from　the　audience。

〃This　is　not　all；〃　said　Frederic；　〃I　am　bound　in　honour　to　add　what　he　　suppresses。　　Though　he　is　modest；　I　must　be　generous；　he　is　one　of　the　　bravest　youths　on　Christian　ground。　　He　is　warm　too；　and　from　the　　short　knowledge　I　have　of　him；　I　will　pledge　myself　for　his　veracity：　　　if　what　he　reports　of　himself　were　not　true；　he　would　not　utter　it　…　　and　for　me；　youth；　I　honour　a　frankness　which　becomes　thy　birth；　but　　now；　and　thou　didst　offend　me：　　yet　the　noble　blood　which　flows　in　thy　　veins；　may　well　be　allowed　to　boil　out；　when　it　has　so　recently　traced　　itself　to　its　source。　　Come；　my　Lord；〃　（turning　to　Manfred）；　〃if　I　can　　pardon　him；　surely　you　may；　it　is　not　the　youth's　fault；　if　you　took　　him　for　a　spectre。〃

This　bitter　taunt　galled　the　soul　of　Manfred。

〃If　beings　from　another　world；〃　replied　he　haughtily；　〃have　power　to　　impress　my　mind　with　awe；　it　is　more　than　living　man　can　do；　nor　could　　a　stripling's　arm。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　interrupted　Hippolita；　〃your　guest　has　occasion　for　repose：　　　shall　we　not　leave　him　to　his　rest？〃　　Saying　this；　and　taking　Manfred　　by　the　hand；　she　took　leave　of　Frederic；　and　led　the　company　forth。

The　Prince；　not　sorry　to　quit　a　conversation　which　recalled　to　mind　　the　discovery　he　had　made　of　his　most　secret　sensations；　suffered　　himself　to　be　conducted　to　his　own　apartment；　after　permitting　　Theodore；　though　under　engagement　to　return　to　the　castle　on　the　　morrow　（a　condition　the　young　man　gladly　accepted）；　to　retire　with　his　　father　to　the　convent。　　Matilda　and　Isabella　were　too　much　occupied　　with　their　own　reflections；　and　too　little　content　with　each　other；　to　　wish　for　farther　converse　that　night。　　They　separated　each　to　her　　chamber；　with　more　expressions　of　ceremony　and　fewer　of　affection　thou　　had　passed　between　them　since　their　childhood。

If　they　parted　with　small　cordiality；　they　did　but　meet　with　greater　　impatience；　as　soon　as　the　sun　was　risen。　　Their　minds　were　in　a　　situation　that　excluded　sleep；　and　each　recollected　a　thousand　　questions　which　she　wished　she　had　put　to　the　other　overnight。　　　Matilda　reflected　that　Isabella　had　been　twice　delivered　by　Theodore　　in　very　critical　situations；　which　she　could　not　believe　accidental。　　　His　eyes；　it　was　true；　had　been　fixed　on　her　in　Frederic's　chamber；　　but　that　might　have　been　to　disguise　his　passion　for　Isabella　from　the　　fathers　of　both。　　It　were　better　to　clear　this　up。　　She　wished　to　know　　the　truth；　lest　she　should　wrong　her　friend　by　entertaining　a　passion　　for　Isabella's　lover。　　Thus　jealousy　prompted；　and　at　the　same　time　　borrowed　an　excuse　from　friendship　to　justify　its　curiosity。

Isabella；　not　less　restless；　had　better　foundation　for　her　suspicions。　　　Both　Theodore's　tongue　and　eyes　had　told　her　his　heart　was　engaged；　it　　was　true　…　yet；　perhaps；　Matilda　might　not　correspond　to　his　passion；　　she　had　ever　appeared　insensible　to　love：　　all　her　thoughts　were　set　　on　heaven。

〃Why　did　I　dissuade　her？〃　said　Isabella　to　herself；　〃I　am　punished　for　　my　generosity；　but　when　did　they　meet？　where？　　It　cannot　be；　I　have　　deceived　myself；　perhaps　last　night　was　the　first　time　they　ever　　beheld　each　other；　it　must　be　some　other　object　that　has　prepossessed　　his　affections　…　if　it　is；　I　am　not　so　unhappy　as　I　thought；　if　it　is　　not　my　friend　Matilda　…　how！　　Can　I　stoop　to　wish　for　the　affection　of　　a　man；　who　rudely　and　unnecessarily　acquainted　me　with　his　　indifference？　and　that　at　the　very　moment　in　which　common　courtesy　　demanded　at　least　expressions　of　civility。　　I　will　go　to　my　dear　　Matilda；　who　will　confirm　me　in　this　becoming　pride。　　Man　is　false　…　I　　will　advise　with　her　on　taking　the　veil：　　she　will　rejoice　to　find　me　　in　this　disposition；　and　I　will　acquaint　her　that　I　no　longer　oppose　　her　inclination　for　the　cloister。〃

In　this　frame　of　mind；　and　determined　to　open　her　heart　entirely　to　　Matilda；　she　wen