the castle of otranto-第14部分

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eeping　silence；　reproached　Manfred　in　bitter　　terms　for　his　dark　and　ambiguous　dealing；　and　demanded　the　cause　of　　Isabella's　first　absence　from　the　castle。　　Manfred；　casting　a　stern　　look　at　Jerome；　implying　a　command　of　silence；　pretended　that　on　　Conrad's　death　he　had　placed　her　in　sanctuary　until　he　could　determine　　how　to　dispose　of　her。　　Jerome；　who　trembled　for　his　son's　life；　did　　not　dare　contradict　this　falsehood；　but　one　of　his　brethren；　not　under　　the　same　anxiety；　declared　frankly　that　she　had　fled　to　their　church　　in　the　preceding　night。　　The　Prince　in　vain　endeavoured　to　stop　this　　discovery；　which　overwhelmed　him　with　shame　and　confusion。　　The　　principal　stranger；　amazed　at　the　contradictions　he　heard；　and　more　　than　half　persuaded　that　Manfred　had　secreted　the　Princess；　　notwithstanding　the　concern　he　expressed　at　her　flight；　rushing　to　the　　door；　said　…

〃Thou　traitor　Prince！　　Isabella　shall　be　found。〃

Manfred　endeavoured　to　hold　him；　but　the　other　Knights　assisting　their　　comrade；　he　broke　from　the　Prince；　and　hastened　into　the　court；　　demanding　his　attendants。　　Manfred；　finding　it　vain　to　divert　him　from　　the　pursuit；　offered　to　accompany　him　and　summoning　his　attendants；　　and　taking　Jerome　and　some　of　the　Friars　to　guide　them；　they　issued　　from　the　castle；　Manfred　privately　giving　orders　to　have　the　Knight's　　company　secured；　while　to　the　knight　he　affected　to　despatch　a　　messenger　to　require　their　assistance。

The　company　had　no　sooner　quitted　the　castle　than　Matilda；　who　felt　　herself　deeply　interested　for　the　young　peasant；　since　she　had　seen　　him　condemned　to　death　in　the　hall；　and　whose　thoughts　had　been　taken　　up　with　concerting　measures　to　save　him；　was　informed　by　some　of　the　　female　attendants　that　Manfred　had　despatched　all　his　men　various　ways　　in　pursuit　of　Isabella。　　He　had　in　his　hurry　given　this　order　in　　general　terms；　not　meaning　to　extend　it　to　the　guard　he　had　set　upon　　Theodore；　but　forgetting　it。　　The　domestics；　officious　to　obey　so　　peremptory　a　Prince；　and　urged　by　their　own　curiosity　and　love　of　　novelty　to　join　in　any　precipitate　chase；　had　to　a　man　left　the　　castle。　　Matilda　disengaged　herself　from　her　women；　stole　up　to　the　　black　tower；　and　unbolting　the　door；　presented　herself　to　the　　astonished　Theodore。

〃Young　man；〃　said　she；　〃though　filial　duty　and　womanly　modesty　condemn　　the　step　I　am　taking；　yet　holy　charity；　surmounting　all　other　ties；　　justifies　this　act。　　Fly；　the　doors　of　thy　prison　are　open：　　my　father　　and　his　domestics　are　absent；　but　they　may　soon　return。　　Be　gone　in　　safety；　and　may　the　angels　of　heaven　direct　thy　course！〃

〃Thou　art　surely　one　of　those　angels！〃　said　the　enraptured　Theodore：　　　〃none　but　a　blessed　saint　could　speak；　could　act　…　could　look　…　like　　thee。　　May　I　not　know　the　name　of　my　divine　protectress？　　Methought　　thou　namedst　thy　father。　　Is　it　possible？　　Can　Manfred's　blood　feel　　holy　pity！　　Lovely　Lady；　thou　answerest　not。　　But　how　art　thou　here　　thyself？　　Why　dost　thou　neglect　thy　own　safety；　and　waste　a　thought　on　　a　wretch　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　h