the castle of otranto-第21部分

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ties　that　would　attend　the　　celebration　of　their　marriage；　unless　…　At　that　instant　Bianca　burst　　into　the　room　with　a　wildness　in　her　look　and　gestures　that　spoke　the　　utmost　terror。

〃Oh！　my　Lord；　my　Lord！〃　cried　she；　〃we　are　all　undone！　it　is　come　　again！　it　is　come　again！〃

〃What　is　come　again？〃　cried　Manfred　amazed。

〃Oh！　the　hand！　the　Giant！　the　hand！　…　support　me！　I　am　terrified　out　　of　my　senses；〃　cried　Bianca。　　〃I　will　not　sleep　in　the　castle　to…　night。　　Where　shall　I　go？　my　things　may　come　after　me　to…morrow　…　　would　I　had　been　content　to　wed　Francesco！　this　comes　of　ambition！〃

〃What　has　terrified　thee　thus；　young　woman？〃　said　the　Marquis。　　〃Thou　　art　safe　here；　be　not　alarmed。〃

〃Oh！　your　Greatness　is　wonderfully　good；〃　said　Bianca；　〃but　I　dare　not　　…　no；　pray　let　me　go　…　I　had　rather　leave　everything　behind　me；　than　　stay　another　hour　under　this　roof。〃

〃Go　to；　thou　hast　lost　thy　senses；〃　said　Manfred。　　〃Interrupt　us　not；　　we　were　communing　on　important　matters　…　My　Lord；　this　wench　is　　subject　to　fits　…　Come　with　me；　Bianca。〃

〃Oh！　the　Saints！　　No；〃　said　Bianca；　〃for　certain　it　comes　to　warn　your　　Highness；　why　should　it　appear　to　me　else？　　I　say　my　prayers　morning　　and　evening　…　oh！　if　your　Highness　had　believed　Diego！　　'Tis　the　same　　hand　that　he　saw　the　foot　to　in　the　gallery…chamber　…　Father　Jerome　　has　often　told　us　the　prophecy　would　be　out　one　of　these　days　…　　'Bianca；'　said　he；　'mark　my　words　…　'〃

〃Thou　ravest；〃　said　Manfred；　in　a　rage；　〃be　gone；　and　keep　these　　fooleries　to　frighten　thy　companions。〃

〃What！　my　Lord；〃　cried　Bianca；　〃do　you　think　I　have　seen　nothing？　go　　to　the　foot　of　the　great　stairs　yourself　…　as　I　live　I　saw　it。〃

〃Saw　what？　tell　us；　fair　maid；　what　thou　hast　seen；〃　said　Frederic。

〃Can　your　Highness　listen；〃　said　Manfred；　〃to　the　delirium　of　a　silly　　wench；　who　has　heard　stories　of　apparitions　until　she　believes　them？〃

〃This　is　more　than　fancy；〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃her　terror　is　too　　natural　and　too　strongly　impressed　to　be　the　work　of　imagination。　　　Tell　us；　fair　maiden；　what　it　is　has　moved　thee　thus？〃

〃Yes；　my　Lord；　thank　your　Greatness；〃　said　Bianca；　〃I　believe　I　look　　very　pale；　I　shall　be　better　when　I　have　recovered　myself　…　I　was　　going　to　my　Lady　Isabella's　chamber；　by　his　Highness's　order　…　〃

〃We　do　not　want　the　circumstances；〃　interrupted　Manfred。　　〃Since　his　　Highness　will　have　it　so；　proceed；　but　be　brief。〃

〃Lord！　your　Highness　thwarts　one　so！〃　replied　Bianca；　〃I　fear　my　hair　　…　I　am　sure　I　never　in　my　life　…　well！　as　I　was　telling　your　　Greatness；　I　was　going　by　his　Highness's　order　to　my　Lady　Isabella's　　chamber；　she　lies　in　the　watchet…coloured　chamber；　on　the　right　hand；　　one　pair　of　stairs：　　so　when　I　came　to　the　great　stairs　…　I　was　　looking　on　his　Highness's　present　here　…　〃

〃Grant　me　patience！　〃　said　Manfred；　〃will　this　wench　never　come　to　the　　point？　what　imports　it　to　the　Marquis；　that　I　gave　thee　a　bauble　for　　thy　faithful　attendance　on　my　daughter？　we　want　to　know　what　thou　　sawest。〃

〃I　was　going　to　tell　your　Highness；〃　said　Bianca；　〃if　you　would　permit　　me。　　So　as　I　was　rubbing　the　ring　…　I　am　sure　I　had　not　gone　up　three　　steps；　but　I　heard　the　rattling　of　armour；　for　all　the　world　such　a　　clatter　as　Diego　says　he　heard　when　the　Giant　turned　him　about　in　the　　gallery…chamber。〃

〃What　Giant　is　this；　my　Lord？〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃is　your　castle　　haunted　by　giants　and　goblins？〃

〃Lord！　what；　has　not　your　Greatness　heard　the　story　of　the　Giant　in　　the　gallery…chamber？〃　cried　Bianca。　　〃I　marvel　his　Highness　has　not　　told　you；　mayhap　you　do　not　know　there　is　a　prophecy　…　〃

〃This　trifling　is　intolerable；〃　interrupted　Manfred。　　〃Let　us　dismiss　　this　silly　wench；　my　Lord！　we　have　more　important　affairs　to　discuss。〃

〃By　your　favour；〃　said　Frederic；　〃these　are　no　trifles。　　The　enormous　　sabre　I　was　directed　to　in　the　wood；　yon　casque；　its　fellow　…　are　　these　visions　of　this　poor　maiden's　brain？〃

〃So　Jaquez　thinks；　may　it　please　your　Greatness；〃　said　Bianca。　　〃He　　says　this　moon　will　not　be　out　without　our　seeing　some　strange　　revolution。　　For　my　part；　I　should　not　be　surprised　if　it　was　to　　happen　to…morrow；　for；　as　I　was　saying；　when　I　heard　the　clattering　of　　armour；　I　was　all　in　a　cold　sweat。　　I　looked　up；　and；　if　your　　Greatness　will　believe　me；　I　saw　upon　the　uppermost　banister　of　the　　great　stairs　a　hand　in　armour　as　big　as　big。　　I　thought　I　should　have　　swooned。　　I　never　stopped　until　I　came　hither　…　would　I　were　well　out　　of　this　castle。　　My　Lady　Matilda　told　me　but　yester…morning　that　her　　Highness　Hippolita　knows　something。〃

〃Thou　art　an　insolent！〃　cried　Manfred。　　〃Lord　Marquis；　it　much　　misgives　me　that　this　scene　is　concerted　to　affront　me。　　Are　my　own　　domestics　suborned　to　spread　tales　injurious　to　my　honour？　　Pursue　　your　claim　by　manly　daring；　or　let　us　bury　our　feuds；　as　was　proposed；　　by　the　intermarriage　of　our　children。　　But　trust　me；　it　ill　becomes　a　　Prince　of　your　bearing　to　practise　on　mercenary　wenches。〃

〃I　scorn　your　imputation；〃　said　Frederic。　　〃Until　this　hour　I　never　　set　eyes　on　this　damsel：　　I　have　given　her　no　jewel。　　My　Lord；　my　　Lord；　your　conscience；　your　guilt　accuses　you；　and　would　throw　the　　suspicion　on　me；　but　keep　your　daughter；　and　think　no　more　of　　Isabella。　　The　judgments　already　fallen　on　your　house　forbid　me　　matching　into　it。〃

Manfred；　alarmed　at　the　resolute　tone　in　which　Frederic　delivered　　these　words；　endeavoured　to　pacify　him。　　Dismissing　Bianca；　he　made　　such　submissions　to　the　Marquis；　and　threw　in　such　artful　encomiums　on　　Matilda；　that　Frederic　was　once　more　staggered。　　However；　as　his　　passion　was　of　so　recent　a　date；　it　could　not　at　once　surmount　the　　scruples　he　had　conceived。　　He　had　gathered　enough　from　Bianca's　　discourse　to　persuade　him　that　heaven　declared　itself　against　Manfred。　　　The　proposed　marriages　too　removed　his　claim　to　a　distance；　and　the　　principality　of　Otranto　was　a　stronger　temptation　than　the　contingent　　reversion　of　it　with　Matilda。　　Still　he　would　not　absolutely　recede　　from　his　engagements；　but　purposing　to　gain　time；　he　demanded　of　　Manfred　if　it　was　true　in　fact　that　Hippolita　consented　to　the　　divorce。　　The　Prince；　transported　to　find　no　other　obstacle；　and　　depending　on　his　influence　over　his　wife；　assured　the　Marquis　it　was　　so；　and　that　he　might　satisfy　himself　of　the　truth　from　her　own　mouth。

As　they　were　thus　discoursing；　word　was　brought　that　the　banquet　was　　prepared。　　Manfred　conducted　Frederic　to　the　great　hall；　where　they　　were　received　by　Hippolita　and　the　young　Princesses。　　Manfred　placed　　the　Marquis　next　to　Matilda；　and　seated　himself　between　his　wife　and　　Isabella。　　Hippolita　comported　herself　with　an　easy　gravity；　but　the　　young　ladies　were　silent　and　melancholy。　　Manfred；　who　was　determined　　to　pursue　his　point　with　the　Marquis　in　the　remainder　of　the　evening；　　pushed　on　the　feast　until　it　waxed　late；　affecting　unrestrained　　gaiety；　and　plying　Frederic　with　repeated　goblets　of　wine。　　The　　latter；　more　upon　his　guard　than　Manfred　wished；　declined　his　frequent　　challenges；　on　pretence　of　his　late　loss　of　blood；　while　the　Prince；　　to　raise　his　own　disordered　spirits；　and　to　counterfeit　unconcern；　　indulged　himself　in　plentiful　draughts；　though　not　to　the　intoxication　　of　his　senses。

The　evening　being　far　advanced；　the　banquet　concluded。　　Manfred　would　　have　withdrawn　with　Frederic；　but　the　latter　pleading　weakness　and　　want　of　repose；　retired　to　his　chamber；　gallantly　telling　the　Prince　　that　his　daughter　should　amuse　his　Highness　until　himself　could　attend　　him。　　Manfred　accepted　the　party；　and　to　the　no　small　grief　of　　Isabella；　accompanied　her　to　her　apartment。　　Matilda　waited　on　her　　mother　to　enjoy　the　freshness　of　the　evening　on　the　ramparts　of　the　　castle。

Soon　as　the　company　were　dispersed　their　several　ways；　Frederic；　　quitting　his　chamber；　inquired　if　Hippolita　was　alone；　and　was　told　by　　one　of　her　attendants；　who　had　not　noticed　her　going　forth；　that　at　　that　hour　she　generally　withdrew　to　her　oratory；　where　he　probably　　would　find　her。　　The　Marquis；　during　the　repast；　had　beheld　Matilda　　with　increase　of　passion。　　He　now　wished　to　find　Hippolita　in　the　　disposition　her　Lord　had　promised。　　The　portents　that　had　alarmed　him　　were　forgotten　in　his　desires。　　Stealing　softly　and　unobserved　to　the　　apartment　of　Hippolita；　he　entered　it　with　a　resolution　to　encourage　　her　acquiescence　to　the　divorce；　having　perceived　that　Manfred　was　　resolved　to　make　the　possession　of　Isabella　an　unalterable　condition；　　before　he　would　grant　Matilda　to　his　wishes。

The　Marquis　was　not　surprised　at　the　silence　that　reigned　in　the　　Princess's　apartment。　　Concluding　her；　as　he　had　been　advertised；　in　　her　oratory；　he　passed　on。　　The　door　was　ajar；　the　evening　gloomy　and　　overcast。　　Pushing　open　the　door　gently；　he　saw　a　person　kneeling　　before　the　altar。　　As　he　approached　nearer；　it　seemed　not　a　woman；　but　　one　in　a　long　woollen　weed；　whose　back　was　towards　him。　　The　person　　seemed　absorbed　in　prayer。　　The　Marquis　was　about　to　return；　when　the　　figure；　rising；　stood　some　moments　fixed　in　meditation；　without　　regarding　him。　　The　Marquis；　expecting　the　holy　person　to　come　forth；　　and　meaning　to　excuse　his　uncivil　interruption；