the castle of otranto-第9部分

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〃The　Lady　Isabella；〃　resumed　Jerome；　〃commends　herself　to　both　your　　Highnesses；　she　thanks　both　for　the　kindness　with　which　she　has　been　　treated　in　your　castle：　　she　deplores　the　loss　of　your　son；　and　her　　own　misfortune　in　not　becoming　the　daughter　of　such　wise　and　noble　　Princes；　whom　she　shall　always　respect　as　Parents；　she　prays　for　　uninterrupted　union　and　felicity　between　you〃　＇Manfred's　colour　　changed＇：　　〃but　as　it　is　no　longer　possible　for　her　to　be　allied　to　　you；　she　entreats　your　consent　to　remain　in　sanctuary；　till　she　can　　learn　news　of　her　father；　or；　by　the　certainty　of　his　death；　be　at　　liberty；　with　the　approbation　of　her　guardians；　to　dispose　of　herself　　in　suitable　marriage。〃

〃I　shall　give　no　such　consent；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃but　insist　on　her　　return　to　the　castle　without　delay：　　I　am　answerable　for　her　person　to　　her　guardians；　and　will　not　brook　her　being　in　any　hands　but　my　own。〃

〃Your　Highness　will　recollect　whether　that　can　any　longer　be　proper；〃　　replied　the　Friar。

〃I　want　no　monitor；〃　said　Manfred；　colouring；　〃Isabella's　conduct　　leaves　room　for　strange　suspicions　…　and　that　young　villain；　who　was　　at　least　the　accomplice　of　her　flight；　if　not　the　cause　of　it　…　〃

〃The　cause！〃　interrupted　Jerome；　〃was　a　YOUNG　man　the　cause？〃

〃This　is　not　to　be　borne！〃　cried　Manfred。　　〃Am　I　to　be　bearded　in　my　　own　palace　by　an　insolent　Monk？　　Thou　art　privy；　I　guess；　to　their　　amours。〃

〃I　would　pray　to　heaven　to　clear　up　your　uncharitable　surmises；〃　said　　Jerome；　〃if　your　Highness　were　not　satisfied　in　your　conscience　how　　unjustly　you　accuse　me。　　I　do　pray　to　heaven　to　pardon　that　　uncharitableness：　　and　I　implore　your　Highness　to　leave　the　Princess　　at　peace　in　that　holy　place；　where　she　is　not　liable　to　be　disturbed　　by　such　vain　and　worldly　fantasies　as　discourses　of　love　from　any　　man。〃

〃Cant　not　to　me；〃　said　Manfred；　〃but　return　and　bring　the　Princess　to　　her　duty。〃

〃It　is　my　duty　to　prevent　her　return　hither；〃　said　Jerome。　　〃She　is　　where　orphans　and　virgins　are　safest　from　the　snares　and　wiles　of　this　　world；　and　nothing　but　a　parent's　authority　shall　take　her　thence。〃

〃I　am　her　parent；〃　cried　Manfred；　〃and　demand　her。〃

〃She　wished　to　have　you　for　her　parent；〃　said　the　Friar；　〃but　Heaven　　that　forbad　that　connection　has　for　ever　dissolved　all　ties　betwixt　　you：　　and　I　announce　to　your　Highness　…　〃

〃Stop！　audacious　man；〃　said　Manfred；　〃and　dread　my　displeasure。〃

〃Holy　farther；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃it　is　your　office　to　be　no　respecter　　of　persons：　　you　must　speak　as　your　duty　prescribes：　　but　it　is　my　　duty　to　hear　nothing　that　it　pleases　not　my　Lord　I　should　hear。　　　Attend　the　Prince　to　his　chamber。　　I　will　retire　to　my　oratory；　and　　pray　to　the　blessed　Virgin　to　inspire　you　with　her　holy　counsels；　and　　to　restore　the　heart　of　my　gracious　Lord　to　its　wonted　peace　and　　gentleness。〃

〃Excellent　woman！〃　said　the　Friar。　　〃My　Lord；　I　attend　your　pleasure。〃

Manfred；　accompanied　by　the　Friar；　passed　to　his　own　apartment；　where　　shutting　the　door；　〃I　perceive；　Father；〃　said　he；　〃that　Isabella　has　　acquainted　you　with　my　purpose。　　Now　hear　my　resolve；　and　obey。　　　Reasons　of　state；　most　urgent　reasons；　my　own　and　the　safety　of　my　　people；　demand　that　I　should　have　a　son。　　It　is　in　vain　to　expect　an　　heir　from　Hippolita。　　I　have　made　choice　of　Isabella。　　You　must　bring　　her　back；　and　you　must　do　more。　　I　know　the　influence　you　have　with　　Hippolita：　　her　conscience　is　in　your　hands。　　She　is；　I　allow；　a　　faultless　woman：　　her　soul　is　set　on　heaven；　and　scorns　the　little　　grandeur　of　this　world：　　you　can　withdraw　her　from　it　entirely。　　　Persuade　her　to　consent　to　the　dissolution　of　our　marriage；　and　to　　retire　into　a　monastery　…　she　shall　endow　one　if　she　will；　and　she　　shall　have　the　means　of　being　as　liberal　to　your　order　as　she　or　you　　can　wish。　　Thus　you　will　divert　the　calamities　that　are　hanging　over　　our　heads；　and　have　the　merit　of　saying　the　principality　of　Otranto　　from　destruction。　　You　are　a　prudent　man；　and　though　the　warmth　of　my　　temper　betrayed　me　into　some　unbecoming　expressions；　I　honour　your　　virtue；　and　wish　to　be　indebted　to　you　for　the　repose　of　my　life　and　　the　preservation　of　my　family。〃

〃The　will　of　heaven　be　done！〃　said　the　Friar。　　〃I　am　but　its　worthless　　instrument。　　It　makes　use　of　my　tongue　to　tell　thee；　Prince；　of　thy　　unwarrantable　designs。　　The　injuries　of　the　virtuous　Hippolita　have　　mounted　to　the　throne　of　pity。　　By　me　thou　art　reprimanded　for　thy　　adulterous　intention　of　repudiating　her：　　by　me　thou　art　warned　not　to　　pursue　the　incestuous　design　on　thy　contracted　daughter。　　Heaven　that　　delivered　her　from　thy　fury；　when　the　judgments　so　recently　fallen　on　　thy　house　ought　to　have　inspired　thee　with　other　thoughts；　will　　continue　to　watch　over　her。　　Even　I；　a　poor　and　despised　Friar；　am　　able　to　protect　her　from　thy　violence　…　I；　sinner　as　I　am；　and　　uncharitably　reviled　by　your　Highness　as　an　accomplice　of　I　know　not　　what　amours；　scorn　the　allurements　with　which　it　has　pleased　thee　to　　tempt　mine　honesty。　　I　love　my　order；　I　honour　devout　souls；　I　respect　　the　piety　of　thy　Princess　…　but　I　will　not　betray　the　confidence　she　　reposes　in　me；　nor　serve　even　the　cause　of　religion　by　foul　and　sinful　　compliances　…　but　forsooth！　the　welfare　of　the　state　depends　on　your　　Highness　having　a　son！　　Heaven　mocks　the　short…sighted　views　of　man。　　　But　yester…morn；　whose　house　was　so　great；　so　flourishing　as　　Manfred's？　…　where　is　young　Conrad　now？　…　My　Lord；　I　respect　your　　tears　…　but　I　mean　not　to　check　them　…　let　them　flow；　Prince！　　They　　will　weigh　more　with　heaven　toward　the　welfare　of　thy　subjects；　than　a　　marriage；　which；　founded　on　lust　or　policy；　could　never　prosper。　　The　　sceptre；　which　passed　from　the　race　of　Alfonso　to　thine；　cannot　be　　preserved　by　a　match　which　the　church　will　never　allow。　　If　it　is　the　　will　of　the　Most　High　that　Manfred's　name　must　perish；　resign　　yourself；　my　Lord；　to　its　decrees；　and　thus　deserve　a　crown　that　can　　never　pass　away。　　Come；　my　Lord；　I　like　this　sorrow　…　let　us　return　to　　the　Princess：　　she　is　not　apprised　of　your　cruel　intentions；　nor　did　I　　mean　more　than　to　alarm　you。　　You　saw　with　what　gentle　patience；　with　　what　efforts　of　love；　she　heard；　she　rejected　hearing；　the　extent　of　　your　guilt。　　I　know　she　longs　to　fold　you　in　her　arms；　and　assure　you　　of　her　unalterable　affection。〃

〃Father；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃you　mistake　my　compunction：　　true；　I　　honour　Hippolita's　virtues；　I　think　her　a　Saint；　and　wish　it　were　for　　my　soul's　health　to　tie　faster　the　knot　that　has　united　us　…　but　alas！　　Father；　you　know　not　the　bitterest　of　my　pangs！　it　is　some　time　that　I　　have　had　scruples　on　the　legality　of　our　union：　　Hippolita　is　related　　to　me　in　the　fourth　degree　…　it　is　true；　we　had　a　dispensation：　　but　I　　have　been　informed　that　she　had　also　been　contracted　to　another。　　This　　it　is　that　sits　heavy　at　my　heart：　　to　this　state　of　unlawful　wedlock　　I　impute　the　visitation　that　has　fallen　on　me　in　the　death　of　Conrad！　　…　ease　my　conscience　of　this　burden：　　dissolve　our　marriage；　and　　accomplish　the　work　of　godliness　…　which　your　divine　exhortations　have　　commenced　in　my　soul。〃

How　cutting　was　the　anguish　which　the　good　man　felt；　when　he　perceived　　this　turn　in　the　wily　Prince！　　He　trembled　for　Hippolita；　whose　ruin　　he　saw　was　determined；　and　he　feared　if　Manfred　had　no　hope　of　　recovering　Isabella；　that　his　impatience　for　a　son　would　direct　him　to　　some　other　object；　who　might　not　be　equally　proof　against　the　　temptation　of　Manfred's　rank。　　For　some　time　the　holy　man　remained　　absorbed　in　thought。　　At　length；　conceiving　some　hopes　from　delay；　he　　thought　the　wisest　conduct　would　be　to　prevent　the　Prince　from　　despairing　of　recovering　Isabella。　　Her　the　Friar　knew　he　could　　dispose；　from　her　affection　to　Hippolita；　and　from　the　aversion　she　　had　expressed　to　him　for　Manfred's　addresses；　to　second　his　views；　　till　the　censures　of　the　church　could　be　fulminated　against　a　divorce。　　　With　this　intention；　as　if　struck　with　the　Prince's　scruples；　he　at　　length　said：

〃My　Lord；　I　have　been　pondering　on　what　your　Highness　has　said；　and　if　　in　truth　it　is　delicacy　of　conscience　that　is　the　real　motive　of　your　　repugnance　to　your　virtuous　Lady；　far　be　it　from　me　to　endeavour　to　　harden　your　heart。　　The　church　is　an　indulgent　mother：　　unfold　your　　griefs　to　her：　　she　alone　can　administer　comfort　to　your　soul；　either　　by　satisfying　your　conscience；　or　upon　examination　of　your　scruples；　　by　setting　you　at　liberty；　and　indulging　you　in　the　lawful　means　of　　continuing　your　lineage。　　In　the　latter　case；　if　the　Lady　Isabella　can　　be　brought　to　consent　…　〃

Manfred；　who　concluded　that　he　had　either　over…reached　the　good　man；　　or　that　his　first　warmth　had　been　but　a　tribute　paid　to　appearance；　　was　overjoyed　at　this　sudden　turn；　and　repeated　the　most　magnificent　　promises；　if　he　should　succeed　by　the　Friar's　mediation。　　The　well…　meaning　priest　suffered　him　to　deceive　himself；　fully　determined　to　　traverse　his　views；　instead　of　seconding　them。

〃Since　we　now　understand　one　another；〃　resumed　the　Prince；　〃I　expect；　　Father；　that　you　satisfy　me　in　one　point。　　Who　is　the　youth　that　I　　found　in　the　vault？　　He　must　have　been　privy　to　Isabella's　f