the castle of otranto-第11部分

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d　putting　off　his　doublet；　　and　unbuttoning；　his　collar；　knelt　down　to　his　prayers。　　As　he　　stooped；　his　shirt　slipped　down　below　his　shoulder；　and　discovered　the　　mark　of　a　bloody　arrow。

〃Gracious　heaven！〃　cried　the　holy　man；　starting；　〃what　do　I　see？　　It　　is　my　child！　my　Theodore！〃

The　passions　that　ensued　must　be　conceived；　they　cannot　be　painted。　　　The　tears　of　the　assistants　were　suspended　by　wonder；　rather　than　　stopped　by　joy。　　They　seemed　to　inquire　in　the　eyes　of　their　Lord　what　　they　ought　to　feel。　　Surprise；　doubt；　tenderness；　respect；　succeeded　　each　other　in　the　countenance　of　the　youth。　　He　received　with　modest　　submission　the　effusion　of　the　old　man's　tears　and　embraces。　　Yet　　afraid　of　giving　a　loose　to　hope；　and　suspecting　from　what　had　passed　　the　inflexibility　of　Manfred's　temper；　he　cast　a　glance　towards　the　　Prince；　as　if　to　say；　canst　thou　be　unmoved　at　such　a　scene　as　this？

Manfred's　heart　was　capable　of　being　touched。　　He　forgot　his　anger　in　　his　astonishment；　yet　his　pride　forbad　his　owning　himself　affected。　　　He　even　doubted　whether　this　discovery　was　not　a　contrivance　of　the　　Friar　to　save　the　youth。

〃What　may　this　mean？〃　said　he。　　〃How　can　he　be　thy　son？　　Is　it　　consistent　with　thy　profession　or　reputed　sanctity　to　avow　a　peasant's　　offspring　for　the　fruit　of　thy　irregular　amours！〃

〃Oh；　God！〃　said　the　holy　man；　〃dost　thou　question　his　being　mine？　　　Could　I　feel　the　anguish　I　do　if　I　were　not　his　father？　　Spare　him！　　good　Prince！　spare　him！　and　revile　me　as　thou　pleasest。〃

〃Spare　him！　spare　him！〃　cried　the　attendants；　〃for　this　good　man's　　sake！〃

〃Peace！〃　said　Manfred；　sternly。　　〃I　must　know　more　ere　I　am　disposed　　to　pardon。　　A　Saint's　bastard　may　be　no　saint　himself。〃

〃Injurious　Lord！〃　said　Theodore；　〃add　not　insult　to　cruelty。　　If　I　am　　this　venerable　man's　son；　though　no　Prince；　as　thou　art；　know　the　　blood　that　flows　in　my　veins　…　〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Friar；　interrupting　him；　〃his　blood　is　noble；　nor　is　　he　that　abject　thing；　my　Lord；　you　speak　him。　　He　is　my　lawful　son；　　and　Sicily　can　boast　of　few　houses　more　ancient　than　that　of　　Falconara。　　But　alas！　my　Lord；　what　is　blood！　what　is　nobility！　　We　　are　all　reptiles；　miserable；　sinful　creatures。　　It　is　piety　alone　that　　can　distinguish　us　from　the　dust　whence　we　sprung；　and　whither　we　must　　return。〃

〃Truce　to　your　sermon；〃　said　Manfred；　〃you　forget　you　are　no　longer　　Friar　Jerome；　but　the　Count　of　Falconara。　　Let　me　know　your　history；　　you　will　have　time　to　moralise　hereafter；　if　you　should　not　happen　to　　obtain　the　grace　of　that　sturdy　criminal　there。〃

〃Mother　of　God！〃　said　the　Friar；　〃is　it　possible　my　Lord　can　refuse　a　　father　the　life　of　his　only；　his　long…lost；　child！　　Trample　me；　my　　Lord；　scorn；　afflict　me；　accept　my　life　for　his；　but　spare　my　son！〃

〃Thou　canst　feel；　then；〃　said　Manfred；　〃what　it　is　to　lose　an　only　　son！　　A　little　hour　ago　thou　didst　preach　up　resignation　to　me：　　MY　　house；　if　fate　so　pleased；　must　perish　…　but　the　Count　of　Falconara　…　　〃

〃Alas！　my　Lord；〃　said　Jerome；　〃I　confess　I　have　offended；　but　　aggravate　not　an　old　man's　sufferings！　　I　boast　not　of　my　family；　nor　　think　of　such　vanities　…　it　is　nature；　that　pleads　for　this　boy；　it　is　　the　memory　of　the　dear　woman　that　bore　him。　　Is　she；　Theodore；　is　she　　dead？〃

〃Her　soul　has　long　been　with　the　blessed；〃　said　Theodore。

〃Oh！　how？〃　cried　Jerome；　〃tell　me　…　no　…　she　is　happy！　　Thou　art　all　　my　care　now！　…　Most　dread　Lord！　will　you　…　will　you　grant　me　my　poor　　boy's　life？〃

〃Return　to　thy　convent；〃　answered　Manfred；　〃conduct　the　Princess　　hither；　obey　me　in　what　else　thou　knowest；　and　I　promise　thee　the　life　　of　thy　son。〃

〃Oh！　my　Lord；〃　said　Jerome；　〃is　my　honesty　the　price　I　must　pay　for　　this　dear　youth's　safety？〃

〃For　me！〃　cried　Theodore。　　〃Let　me　die　a　thousand　deaths；　rather　than　　stain　thy　conscience。　　What　is　it　the　tyrant　would　exact　of　thee？　　Is　　the　Princess　still　safe　from　his　power？　　Protect　her；　thou　venerable　　old　man；　and　let　all　the　weight　of　his　wrath　fall　on　me。〃

Jerome　endeavoured　to　check　the　impetuosity　of　the　youth；　and　ere　　Manfred　could　reply；　the　trampling　of　horses　was　heard；　and　a　brazen　　trumpet；　which　hung　without　the　gate　of　the　castle；　was　suddenly　　sounded。　　At　the　same　instant　the　sable　plumes　on　the　enchanted　　helmet；　which　still　remained　at　the　other　end　of　the　court；　were　　tempestuously　agitated；　and　nodded　thrice；　as　if　bowed　by　some　　invisible　wearer。



CHAPTER　III。



MANFRED'S　heart　misgave　him　when　he　beheld　the　plumage　on　the　　miraculous　casque　shaken　in　concert　with　the　sounding　of　the　brazen　　trumpet。

〃Father！〃　said　he　to　Jerome；　whom　he　now　ceased　to　treat　as　Count　of　　Falconara；　〃what　mean　these　portents？　　If　I　have　offended　…　〃　the　　plumes　were　shaken　with　greater　violence　than　before。

〃Unhappy　Prince　that　I　am；〃　cried　Manfred。　　〃Holy　Father！　will　you　not　　assist　me　with　your　prayers？〃

〃My　Lord；〃　replied　Jerome；　〃heaven　is　no　doubt　displeased　with　your　　mockery　of　its　servants。　　Submit　yourself　to　the　church；　and　cease　to　　persecute　her　ministers。　　Dismiss　this　innocent　youth；　and　learn　to　　respect　the　holy　character　I　wear。　　Heaven　will　not　be　trifled　with：　　　you　see　…　〃　the　trumpet　sounded　again。

〃I　acknowledge　I　have　been　too　hasty；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃Father；　do　you　　go　to　the　wicket；　and　demand　who　is　at　the　gate。〃

〃Do　you　grant　me　the　life　of　Theodore？〃　replied　the　Friar。

〃I　do；〃　said　Manfred；　〃but　inquire　who　is　without！〃

Jerome；　falling　on　the　neck　of　his　son；　discharged　a　flood　of　tears；　　that　spoke　the　fulness　of　his　soul。

〃You　promised　to　go　to　the　gate；〃　said　Manfred。

〃I　thought；〃　replied　the　Friar；　〃your　Highness　would　excuse　my　　thanking　you　first　in　this　tribute　of　my　heart。〃

〃Go；　dearest　Sir；〃　said　Theodore；　〃obey　the　Prince。　　I　do　not　deserve　　that　you　should　delay　his　satisfaction　for　me。〃

Jerome；　inquiring　who　was　without；　was　answered；　〃A　Herald。〃

〃From　whom？〃　said　he。

〃From　the　Knight　of　the　Gigantic　Sabre；〃　said　the　Herald；　〃and　I　must　　speak　with　the　usurper　of　Otranto。〃

Jerome　returned　to　the　Prince；　and　did　not　fail　to　repeat　the　message　　in　the　very　words　it　had　been　uttered。　　The　first　sounds　struck　　Manfred　with　terror；　but　when　he　heard　himself　styled　usurper；　his　　rage　rekindled；　and　all　his　courage　revived。

〃Usurper！　…　insolent　villain！〃　cried　he；　〃who　dares　to　question　my　　title？　　Retire；　Father；　this　is　no　business　for　Monks：　　I　will　meet　　this　presumptuous　man　myself。　　Go　to　your　convent　and　prepare　the　　Princess's　return。　　Your　son　shall　be　a　hostage　for　your　fidelity：　　　his　life　depends　on　your　obedience。〃

〃Good　heaven！　my　Lord；〃　cried　Jerome；　〃your　Highness　did　but　this　　instant　freely　pardon　my　child　…　have　you　so　soon　forgot　the　　interposition　of　heaven？〃

〃Heaven；〃　replied　Manfred；　〃does　not　send　Heralds　to　question　the　　title　of　a　lawful　Prince。　　I　doubt　whether　it　even　notifies　its　will　　through　Friars　…　but　that　is　your　affair；　not　mine。　　At　present　you　　know　my　pleasure；　and　it　is　not　a　saucy　Herald　that　shall　save　your　　son；　if　you　do　not　return　with　the　Princess。〃

It　was　in　vain　for　the　holy　man　to　reply。　　Manfred　commanded　him　to　be　　conducted　to　the　postern…gate；　and　shut　out　from　the　castle。　　And　he　　ordered　some　of　his　attendants　to　carry　Theodore　to　the　top　of　the　　black　tower；　and　guard　him　strictly；　scarce　permitting　the　father　and　　son　to　exchange　a　hasty　embrace　at　parting。　　He　then　withdrew　to　the　　hall；　and　seating　himself　in　princely　state；　ordered　the　Herald　to　be　　admitted　to　his　presence。

〃Well！　thou　insolent！〃　said　the　Prince；　〃what　wouldst　thou　with　me？〃

〃I　come；〃　replied　he；　〃to　thee；　Manfred；　usurper　of　the　principality　　of　Otranto；　from　the　renowned　and　invincible　Knight；　the　Knight　of　the　　Gigantic　Sabre：　　in　the　name　of　his　Lord；　Frederic；　Marquis　of　　Vicenza；　he　demands　the　Lady　Isabella；　daughter　of　that　Prince；　whom　　thou　hast　basely　and　traitorously　got　into　thy　power；　by　bribing　her　　false　guardians　during　his　absence；　and　he　requires　thee　to　resign　the　　principality　of　Otranto；　which　thou　hast　usurped　from　the　said　Lord　　Frederic；　the　nearest　of　blood　to　the　last　rightful　Lord；　Alfonso　the　　Good。　　If　thou　dost　not　instantly　comply　with　these　just　demands；　he　　defies　thee　to　single　combat　to　the　last　extremity。〃　　And　so　saying　　the　Herald　cast　down　his　warder。

〃And　where　is　this　braggart　who　sends　thee？〃　said　Manfred。

〃At　the　distance　of　a　league；〃　said　the　Herald：　　〃he　comes　to　make　　good　his　Lord's　claim　against　thee；　as　he　is　a　true　knight；　and　thou　　an　usurper　and　ravisher。〃

Injurious　as　this　challenge　was；　Manfred　reflected　that　it　was　not　his　　interest　to　provoke　the　Marquis。　　He　knew　how　well　founded　the　claim　　of　Frederic　was；　nor　was　this　the　first　time　he　had　heard　of　it。　　　Frederic's　ancestors　had　assumed　the　style　of　Princes　of　Otranto；　from　　the　death　of　Alfonso　the　Good　without　issue；　but　Manfred；　his　father；　　and　grandfather；　had　been　too　powerful　for　the　house　of　Vicenza　to　　dispossess　them。　　Frederic；　a　martial　and　amorous　young　Prince；　had　　married　a　beautiful　young　lady；　of　whom　he　was　enamoured；　and　who　had　　died　in　childbed　of　Isabella。　　Her　death　affected　him　so　much　that　he　　had　taken　the　cross　and　gone　to　the　Holy　L