the castle of otranto-第13部分

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　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。　　Alfonso；　their　predecessor；　dying　　childless　in　the　Holy　Land；　bequeathed　his　estates　to　my　grandfather；　　Don　Ricardo；　in　consideration　of　his　faithful　services。〃　　The　stranger　　shook　his　head。

〃Sir　Knight；〃　said　Manfred；　warmly；　〃Ricardo　was　a　valiant　and　upright　　man；　he　was　a　pious　man；　witness　his　munificent　foundation　of　the　　adjoining　church　and　two　converts。　　He　was　peculiarly　patronised　by　　St。　Nicholas　…　my　grandfather　was　incapable　…　I　say；　Sir；　Don　Ricardo　　was　incapable　…　excuse　me；　your　interruption　has　disordered　me。　　I　　venerate　the　memory　of　my　grandfather。　　Well；　Sirs；　he　held　this　　estate；　he　held　it　by　his　good　sword　and　by　the　favour　of　St。　Nicholas　　…　so　did　my　father；　and　so；　Sirs；　will　I；　come　what　come　will。　　But　　Frederic；　your　Lord；　is　nearest　in　blood。　　I　have　consented　to　put　my　　title　to　the　issue　of　the　sword。　　Does　that　imply　a　vicious　title？　　I　　might　have　asked；　where　is　Frederic　your　Lord？　　Report　speaks　him　dead　　in　captivity。　　You　say；　your　actions　say；　he　lives　…　I　question　it　not　　…　I　might；　Sirs；　I　might　…　but　I　do　not。　　Other　Princes　would　bid　　Frederic　take　his　inheritance　by　force；　if　he　can：　　they　would　not　　stake　their　dignity　on　a　single　combat：　　they　would　not　submit　it　to　　the　decision　of　unknown　mutes！　…　pardon　me；　gentlemen；　I　am　too　warm：　　　but　suppose　yourselves　in　my　situation：　　as　ye　are　stout　Knights；　　would　it　not　move　your　choler　to　have　your　own　and　the　honour　of　your　　ancestors　called　in　question？〃

〃But　to　the　point。　　Ye　require　me　to　deliver　up　the　Lady　Isabella。　　　Sirs；　I　must　ask　if　ye　are　authorised　to　receive　her？〃

The　Knight　nodded。

〃Receive　her；〃　continued　Manfred；　〃well；　you　are　authorised　to　receive　　her；　but；　gentle　Knight；　may　I　ask　if　you　have　full　powers？〃

The　Knight　nodded。

〃'Tis　well；〃　said　Manfred；　〃then　hear　what　I　have　to　offer。　　Ye　see；　　gentlemen；　before　you；　the　most　unhappy　of　men！〃　（he　began　to　weep）；　　〃afford　me　your　compassion；　I　am　entitled　to　it；　indeed　I　am。　　Know；　I　　have　lost　my　only　hope；　my　joy；　the　support　of　my　house　…　Conrad　died　　yester　morning。〃

The　Knights　discovered　signs　of　surprise。

〃Yes；　Sirs；　fate　has　disposed　of　my　son。　　Isabella　is　at　liberty。〃

〃Do　you　then　restore　her？〃　cried　the　chief　Knight；　breaking　silence。

〃Afford　me　your　patience；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃I　rejoice　to　find；　by　this　　testimony　of　your　goodwill；　that　this　matter　may　be　adjusted　without　　blood。　　It　is　no　interest　of　mine　dictates　what　little　I　have　farther　　to　say。　　Ye　behold　in　me　a　man　disgusted　with　the　world：　　the　loss　of　　my　son　has　weaned　me　from　earthly　cares。　　Power　and　greatness　have　no　　longer　any　charms　in　my　eyes。　　I　wished　to　transmit　the　sceptre　I　had　　received　from　my　ancestors　with　honour　to　my　son　…　but　that　is　over！　　　Life　itself　is　so　indifferent　to　me；　that　I　accepted　your　defiance　　with　joy。　　A　good　Knight　cannot　go　to　the　grave　with　more　satisfaction　　than　when　falling　in　his　vocation：　　whatever　is　the　will　of　heaven；　I　　submit；　for　alas！　Sirs；　I　am　a　man　of　many　sorrows。　　Manfred　is　no　　object　of　envy；　but　no　doubt　you　are　acquainted　with　my　story。〃

The　Knight　made　signs　of　ignorance；　and　seemed　curious　to　have　Manfred　　proceed。

〃Is　it　possible；　Sirs；〃　continued　the　Prince；　〃that　my　story　should　be　　a　secret　to　you？　　Have　you　heard　nothing　relating　to　me　and　the　　Princess　Hippolita？〃

They　shook　their　heads。

〃No！　　Thus；　then；　Sirs；　it　is。　　You　think　me　ambitious：　　ambition；　　alas！　is　composed　of　more　rugged　materials。　　If　I　were　ambitious；　I　　should　not　for　so　many　years　have　been　a　prey　to　all　the　hell　of　　conscientious　scruples。　　But　I　weary　your　patience：　　I　will　be　brief。　　　Know；　then；　that　I　have　long　been　troubled　in　mind　on　my　union　with　　the　Princess　Hippolita。　　Oh！　Sirs；　if　ye　were　acquainted　with　that　　excellent　woman！　if　ye　knew　that　I　adore　her　like　a　mistress；　and　　cherish　her　as　a　friend　…　but　man　was　not　born　for　perfect　happiness！　　　She　shares　my　scruples；　and　with　her　consent　I　have　brought　this　　matter　before　the　church；　for　we　are　related　within　the　forbidden　　degrees。　　I　expect　every　hour　the　definitive　sentence　that　must　　separate　us　for　ever　…　I　am　sure　you　feel　for　me　…　I　see　you　do　…　　pardon　these　tears！〃

The　Knights　gazed　on　each　other；　wondering　where　this　would　end。

Manfred　continued　…

〃The　death　of　my　son　betiding　while　my　soul　was　under　this　anxiety；　I　　thought　of　nothing　but　resigning　my　dominions；　and　retiring　for　ever　　from　the　sight　of　mankind。　　My　only　difficulty　was　to　fix　on　a　　successor；　who　would　be　tender　of　my　people；　and　to　dispose　of　the　　Lady　Isabella；　who　is　dear　to　me　as　my　own　blood。　　I　was　willing　to　　restore　the　line　of　Alfonso；　even　in　his　most　distant　kindred。　　And　　though；　pardon　me；　I　am　satisfied　it　was　his　will　that　Ricardo's　　lineage　should　take　place　of　his　own　relations；　yet　where　was　I　to　　search　for　those　relations？　　I　knew　of　none　but　Frederic；　your　Lord；　　he　was　a　captive　to　the　infidels；　or　dead；　and　were　he　living；　and　at　　home；　would　he　quit　the　flourishing　State　of　Vicenza　for　the　　inconsiderable　principality　of　Otranto？　　If　he　would　not；　could　I　bear　　the　thought　of　seeing　a　hard；　unfeeling；　Viceroy　set　over　my　poor　　faithful　people？　for；　Sirs；　I　love　my　people；　and　thank　heaven　am　　beloved　by　them。　　But　ye　will　ask　whither　tends　this　long　discourse？　　　Briefly；　then；　thus；　Sirs。　　Heaven　in　your　arrival　seems　to　point　out　　a　remedy　for　these　difficulties　and　my　misfortunes。　　The　Lady　Isabella　　is　at　liberty；　I　shall　soon　be　so。　　I　would　submit　to　anything　for　the　　good　of　my　people。　　Were　it　not　the　best；　the　only　way　to　extinguish　　the　feuds　between　our　families；　if　I　was　to　take　the　Lady　Isabella　to　　wife？　　You　start。　　But　though　Hippolita's　virtues　will　ever　be　dear　to　　me；　a　Prince　must　not　consider　himself；　he　is　born　for　his　people。〃　　A　　servant　at　that　instant　entering　the　chamber　apprised　Manfred　that　　Jerome　and　several　of　his　brethren　demanded　immediate　access　to　him。

The　Prince；　provoked　at　this　interruption；　and　fearing　that　the　Friar　　would　discover　to　the　strangers　that　Isabella　had　taken　sanctuary；　was　　going　to　forbid　Jerome's　entrance。　　But　recollecting　that　he　was　　certainly　arrived　to　notify　the　Princess's　return；　Manfred　began　to　　excuse　himself　to　the　Knights　for　leaving　them　for　a　few　moments；　but　　was　prevented　by　the　arrival　of　the　Friars。　　Manfred　angrily　　reprimanded　them　for　their　intrusion；　and　would　have　forced　them　back　　from　the　chamber；　but　Jerome　was　too　much　agitated　to　be　repulsed。　　He　　declared　aloud　the　flight　of　Isabella；　with　protestations　of　his　own　　innocence。

Manfred；　distracted　at　the　news；　and　not　less　at　its　coming　to　the　　knowledge　of　the　strangers；　uttered　nothing　but　incoherent　sentences；　　now　upbraiding　the　Friar；　now　apologising　to　the　Knights；　earnest　to　　know　what　was　become　of　Isabella；　yet　equally　afraid　of　their　knowing；　　impatient　to　pursue　her；　yet　dreading　to　have　them　join　in　the　　pursuit。　　He　offered　to　despatch　messengers　in　quest　of　her；　but　the　　chief　Knight；　no　longer　keeping　silence；　reproached　Manfred　in　bitter　　terms　for　his　dark　and　ambiguous　dealing；　and　demanded