the castle of otranto-第20部分

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　proceed　in　thy　cursed　purpose　　of　a　divorce；　until　her　sentence　be　known；　and　here　I　lance　her　　anathema　at　thy　head。〃

〃Audacious　rebel！〃　said　Manfred；　endeavouring　to　conceal　the　awe　with　　which　the　Friar's　words　inspired　him。　　〃Dost　thou　presume　to　threaten　　thy　lawful　Prince？〃

〃Thou　art　no　lawful　Prince；〃　said　Jerome；　〃thou　art　no　Prince　…　go；　　discuss　thy　claim　with　Frederic；　and　when　that　is　done　…　〃

〃It　is　done；〃　replied　Manfred；　〃Frederic　accepts　Matilda's　hand；　and　　is　content　to　waive　his　claim；　unless　I　have　no　male　issue〃　…　as　he　　spoke　those　words　three　drops　of　blood　fell　from　the　nose　of　Alfonso's　　statue。　　Manfred　turned　pale；　and　the　Princess　sank　on　her　knees。

〃Behold！〃　said　the　Friar；　〃mark　this　miraculous　indication　that　the　　blood　of　Alfonso　will　never　mix　with　that　of　Manfred！〃

〃My　gracious　Lord；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃let　us　submit　ourselves　to　　heaven。　　Think　not　thy　ever　obedient　wife　rebels　against　thy　　authority。　　I　have　no　will　but　that　of　my　Lord　and　the　Church。　　To　　that　revered　tribunal　let　us　appeal。　　It　does　not　depend　on　us　to　　burst　the　bonds　that　unite　us。　　If　the　Church　shall　approve　the　　dissolution　of　our　marriage；　be　it　so　…　I　have　but　few　years；　and　　those　of　sorrow；　to　pass。　　Where　can　they　be　worn　away　so　well　as　at　　the　foot　of　this　altar；　in　prayers　for　thine　and　Matilda's　safety？〃

〃But　thou　shalt　not　remain　here　until　then；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃Repair　　with　me　to　the　castle；　and　there　I　will　advise　on　the　proper　measures　　for　a　divorce；　…　but　this　meddling　Friar　comes　not　thither；　my　　hospitable　roof　shall　never　more　harbour　a　traitor　…　and　for　thy　　Reverence's　off…spring；〃　continued　he；　〃I　banish　him　from　my　　dominions。　　He；　I　ween；　is　no　sacred　personage；　nor　under　the　　protection　of　the　Church。　　Whoever　weds　Isabella；　it　shall　not　be　　Father　Falconara's　started…up　son。〃

〃They　start　up；〃　said　the　Friar；　〃who　are　suddenly　beheld　in　the　seat　　of　lawful　Princes；　but　they　wither　away　like　the　grass；　and　their　　place　knows　them　no　more。〃

Manfred；　casting　a　look　of　scorn　at　the　Friar；　led　Hippolita　forth；　　but　at　the　door　of　the　church　whispered　one　of　his　attendants　to　　remain　concealed　about　the　convent；　and　bring　him　instant　notice；　if　　any　one　from　the　castle　should　repair　thither。



CHAPTER　V。



EVERY　reflection　which　Manfred　made　on　the　Friar's　behaviour；　　conspired　to　persuade　him　that　Jerome　was　privy　to　an　amour　between　　Isabella　and　Theodore。　　But　Jerome's　new　presumption；　so　dissonant　　from　his　former　meekness；　suggested　still　deeper　apprehensions。　　The　　Prince　even　suspected　that　the　Friar　depended　on　some　secret　support　　from　Frederic；　whose　arrival；　coinciding　with　the　novel　appearance　of　　Theodore；　seemed　to　bespeak　a　correspondence。　　Still　more　was　he　　troubled　with　the　resemblance　of　Theodore　to　Alfonso's　portrait。　　The　　latter　he　knew　had　unquestionably　died　without　issue。　　Frederic　had　　consented　to　bestow　Isabella　on　him。　　These　contradictions　agitated　　his　mind　with　numberless　pangs。

He　saw　but　two　methods　of　extricating　himself　from　his　difficulties。　　　The　one　was　to　resign　his　dominions　to　the　Marquis　…　pride；　ambition；　　and　his　reliance　on　ancient　prophecies；　which　had　pointed　out　a　　possibility　of　his　preserving　them　to　his　posterity；　combated　that　　thought。　　The　other　was　to　press　his　marriage　with　Isabella。　　After　　long　ruminating　on　these　anxious　thoughts；　as　he　marched　silently　with　　Hippolita　to　the　castle；　he　at　last　discoursed　with　that　Princess　on　　the　subject　of　his　disquiet；　and　used　every　insinuating　and　plausible　　argument　to　extract　her　consent　to；　even　her　promise　of　promoting　the　　divorce。　　Hippolita　needed　little　persuasions　to　bend　her　to　his　　pleasure。　　She　endeavoured　to　win　him　over　to　the　measure　of　resigning　　his　dominions；　but　finding　her　exhortations　fruitless；　she　assured　　him；　that　as　far　as　her　conscience　would　allow；　she　would　raise　no　　opposition　to　a　separation；　though　without　better　founded　scruples　　than　what　he　yet　alleged；　she　would　not　engage　to　be　active　in　　demanding　it。

This　compliance；　though　inadequate；　was　sufficient　to　raise　Manfred's　　hopes。　　He　trusted　that　his　power　and　wealth　would　easily　advance　his　　suit　at　the　court　of　Rome；　whither　he　resolved　to　engage　Frederic　to　　take　a　journey　on　purpose。　　That　Prince　had　discovered　so　much　passion　　for　Matilda；　that　Manfred　hoped　to　obtain　all　he　wished　by　holding　out　　or　withdrawing　his　daughter's　charms；　according　as　the　Marquis　should　　appear　more　or　less　disposed　to　co…operate　in　his　views。　　Even　the　　absence　of　Frederic　would　be　a　material　point　gained；　until　he　could　　take　further　measures　for　his　security。

Dismissing　Hippolita　to　her　apartment；　he　repaired　to　that　of　the　　Marquis；　but　crossing　the　great　hall　through　which　he　was　to　pass　he　　met　Bianca。　　The　damsel　he　knew　was　in　the　confidence　of　both　the　　young　ladies。　　It　immediately　occurred　to　him　to　sift　her　on　the　　subject　of　Isabella　and　Theodore。　　Calling　her　aside　into　the　recess　　of　the　oriel　window　of　the　hall；　and　soothing　her　with　many　fair　words　　and　promises；　he　demanded　of　her　whether　she　knew　aught　of　the　state　　of　Isabella's　affections。

〃I！　my　Lord！　no　my　Lord　…　yes　my　Lord　…　poor　Lady！　she　is　wonderfully　　alarmed　about　her　father's　wounds；　but　I　tell　her　he　will　do　well；　　don't　your　Highness　think　so？〃

〃I　do　not　ask　you；〃　replied　Manfred；　〃what　she　thinks　about　her　　father；　but　you　are　in　her　secrets。　　Come；　be　a　good　girl　and　tell　me；　　is　there　any　young　man　…　ha！　…　you　understand　me。〃

〃Lord　bless　me！　understand　your　Highness？　no；　not　I。　　I　told　her　a　few　　vulnerary　herbs　and　repose　…　〃

〃I　am　not　talking；〃　replied　the　Prince；　impatiently；　〃about　her　　father；　I　know　he　will　do　well。〃

〃Bless　me；　I　rejoice　to　hear　your　Highness　say　so；　for　though　I　　thought　it　not　right　to　let　my　young　Lady　despond；　methought　his　　greatness　had　a　wan　look；　and　a　something　…　I　remember　when　young　　Ferdinand　was　wounded　by　the　Venetian　…　〃

　〃Thou　answerest　from　the　point；〃　interrupted　Manfred；　〃but　here；　take　　this　jewel；　perhaps　that　may　fix　thy　attention　…　nay；　no　reverences；　　my　favour　shall　not　stop　here　…　come；　tell　me　truly；　how　stands　　Isabella's　heart？〃

〃Well！　your　Highness　has　such　a　way！〃　said　Bianca；　〃to　be　sure　…　but　　can　your　Highness　keep　a　secret？　if　it　should　ever　come　out　of　your　　lips　…　〃

〃It　shall　not；　it　shall　not；〃　cried　Manfred。

〃Nay；　but　swear；　your　Highness。〃

〃By　my　halidame；　if　it　should　ever　be　known　that　I　said　it　…　〃

〃Why；　truth　is　truth；　I　do　not　think　my　Lady　Isabella　ever　much　　affectioned　my　young　Lord　your　son；　yet　he　was　a　sweet　youth　as　one　　should　see；　I　am　sure；　if　I　had　been　a　Princess　…　but　bless　me！　　I　　must　attend　my　Lady　Matilda；　she　will　marvel　what　is　become　of　me。〃

〃Stay；〃　cried　Manfred；　〃thou　hast　not　satisfied　my　question。　　Hast　　thou　ever　carried　any　message；　any　letter？〃

〃I！　good　gracious！〃　cried　Bianca；　〃I　carry　a　letter？　　I　would　not　to　　be　a　Queen。　　I　hope　your　Highness　thinks；　though　I　am　poor；　I　am　　honest。　　Did　your　Highness　never　hear　what　Count　Marsigli　offered　me；　　when　he　came　a　wooing　to　my　Lady　Matilda？〃

〃I　have　not　leisure；〃　said　Manfred；　〃to　listen　to　thy　tale。　　I　do　not　　question　thy　honesty。　　But　it　is　thy　duty　to　conceal　nothing　from　me。　　　How　long　has　Isabella　been　acquainted　with　Theodore？〃

〃Nay；　there　is　nothing　can　escape　your　Highness！〃　said　Bianca；　〃not　　that　I　know　any　thing　of　the　matter。　　Theodore；　to　be　sure；　is　a　　proper　young　man；　and；　as　my　Lady　Matilda　says；　the　very　image　of　good　　Alfonso。　　Has　not　your　Highness　remarked　it？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　…　No　…　thou　torturest　me；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃Where　did　they　　meet？　when？〃

〃Who！　my　Lady　Matilda？〃　said　Bianca。

〃No；　no；　not　Matilda：　　Isabella；　when　did　Isabella　first　become　　acquainted　with　this　Theodore！〃

〃Virgin　Mary！〃　said　Bianca；　〃how　should　I　know？〃

〃Thou　dost　know；〃　said　Manfred；　〃and　I　must　know；　I　will　…　〃

〃Lord！　your　Highness　is　not　jealous　of　young　Theodore！〃　said　Bianca。

〃Jealous！　no；　no。　　Why　should　I　be　jealous？　perhaps　I　mean　to　unite　　them　…　If　I　were　sure　Isabella　would　have　no　repugnance。〃

〃Repugnance！　no；　I'll　warrant　her；〃　said　Bianca；　〃he　is　as　comely　a　　youth　as　ever　trod　on　Christian　ground。　　We　are　all　in　love　with　him；　　there　is　not　a　soul　in　the　castle　but　would　be　rejoiced　to　have　him　　for　our　Prince　…　I　mean；　when　it　shall　please　heaven　to　call　your　　Highness　to　itself。〃

〃Indeed！〃　said　Manfred；　〃has　it　gone　so　far！　oh！　this　cursed　Friar！　…　　but　I　must　not　lose　time　…　go；　Bianca；　attend　Isabella；　but　I　charge　　thee；　not　a　word　of　what　has　passed。　　Find　out　how　she　is　affected　　towards　Theodore；　bring　me　good　news；　and　that　ring　has　a　companion。　　　Wait　at　the　foot　of　the　winding　staircase：　　I　am　going　to　visit　the　　Marquis；　and　will　talk　further　with　thee　at　my　return。〃

Manfred；　after　some　general　conversation；　desired　Frederic　to　dismiss　　the　two　Knights；　his　companions；　having　to　talk　with　him　on　urgent　　affairs。

As　soon　as　they　were　alone；　he　began　in　artful　guise　to　sound　the　　Marquis　on　the　subject　of　Matilda；　and　finding　him　disposed　to　his　　wish；　he　let　drop　hints　on　the　difficulties　that　would　attend　the　　celebration　of　their　marriage；　unless　…　At　that　instant　Bianca　burst　　in