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nquillity； and perceiving his frailty unsuspected； abandoned himself to his passions in full security。 Shame and remorse no longer tormented him。 Frequent repetitions made him familiar with sin； and his bosom became proof against the stings of Conscience。 In these sentiments He was encouraged by Matilda； But She soon was aware that She had satiated her Lover by the unbounded freedom of her caresses。 Her charms becoming accustomed to him； they ceased to excite the same desires which at first they had inspired。 The delirium of passion being past； He had leisure to observe every trifling defect： Where none were to be found； Satiety made him fancy them。 The Monk was glutted with the fullness of pleasure： A Week had scarcely elapsed before He was wearied of his Paramour： His warm constitution still made him seek in her arms the gratification of his lust： But when the moment of passion was over； He quitted her with disgust； and his humour； naturally inconstant； made him sigh impatiently for variety。
Possession； which cloys Man； only increases the affection of Woman。 Matilda with every succeeding day grew more attached to the Friar。 Since He had obtained her favours； He was become dearer to her than ever； and She felt grateful to him for the pleasures in which they had equally been Sharers。 Unfortunately as her passion grew ardent； Ambrosio's grew cold； The very marks of her fondness excited his disgust； and its excess served to extinguish the flame which already burned but feebly in his bosom。 Matilda could not but remark that her society seemed to him daily less agreeable： He was inattentive while She spoke： her musical talents； which She possessed in perfection； had lost the power of amusing him； Or if He deigned to praise them； his compliments were evidently forced and cold。 He no longer gazed upon her with affection； or applauded her sentiments with a Lover's partiality。 This Matilda well perceived； and redoubled her efforts to revive those sentiments which He once had felt。 She could not but fail； since He considered as importunities the pains which She took to please him； and was disgusted by the very means which She used to recall the Wanderer。 Still； however； their illicit Commerce continued： But it was clear that He was led to her arms； not by love； but the cravings of brutal appetite。 His constitution made a Woman necessary to him； and Matilda was the only one with whom He could indulge his passions safely： In spite of her beauty； He gazed upon every other Female with more desire； But fearing that his Hypocrisy should be made public； He confined his inclinations to his own breast。
It was by no means his nature to be timid： But his education had impressed his mind with fear so strongly； that apprehension was now become part of his character。 Had his Youth been passed in the world； He would have shown himself possessed of many brilliant and manly qualities。 He was naturally enterprizing； firm； and fearless： He had a Warrior's heart； and He might have shone with splendour at the head of an Army。 There was no want of generosity in his nature： The Wretched never failed to find in him a compassionate Auditor： His abilities were quick and shining； and his judgment； vast； solid； and decisive。 With such qualifications He would have been an ornament to his Country： That He possessed them； He had given proofs in his earliest infancy； and his Parents had beheld his dawning virtues with the fondest delight and admiration。 Unfortunately； while yet a Child He was deprived of those Parents。 He fell into the power of a Relation whose only wish about him was never to hear of him more； For that purpose He gave him in charge to his Friend； the former Superior of the Capuchins。 The Abbot； a very Monk； used all his endeavours to persuade the Boy that happiness existed not without the walls of a Convent。 He succeeded fully。 To deserve admittance into the order of St。 Francis was Ambrosio's highest ambition。 His Instructors carefully repressed those virtues whose grandeur and disinterestedness were ill…suited to the Cloister。 Instead of universal benevolence； He adopted a selfish partiality for his own particular establishment： He was taught to consider compassion for the errors of Others as a crime of the blackest dye： The noble frankness of his temper was exchanged for servile humility； and in order to break his natural spirit； the Monks terrified his young mind by placing before him all the horrors with which Superstition could furnish them： They painted to him the torments of the Damned in colours the most dark； terrible； and fantastic； and threatened him at the slightest fault with eternal perdition。 No wonder that his imagination constantly dwelling upon these fearful objects should have rendered his character timid and apprehensive。 Add to this； that his long absence from the great world； and total unacquaintance with the common dangers of life； made him form of them an idea far more dismal than the reality。 While the Monks were busied in rooting out his virtues and narrowing his sentiments； they allowed every vice which had fallen to his share to arrive at full perfection。 He was suffered to be proud； vain； ambitious； and disdainful： He was jealous of his Equals； and despised all merit but his own： He was implacable when offended； and cruel in his revenge。 Still in spite of the pains taken to pervert them； his natural good qualities would occasionally break through the gloom cast over them so carefully：
At such times the contest for superiority between his real and acquired character was striking and unaccountable to those unacquainted with his original disposition。 He pronounced the most severe sentences upon Offenders； which； the moment after； Compassion induced him to mitigate： He undertook the most daring enterprizes； which the fear of their consequences soon obliged him to abandon： His inborn genius darted a brilliant light upon subjects the most obscure； and almost instantaneously his Superstition replunged them in darkness more profound than that from which they had just been rescued。 His Brother Monks； regarding him as a Superior Being； remarked not this contradiction in their Idol's conduct。 They were persuaded that what He did must be right； and supposed him to have good reasons for changing his resolutions。 The fact was； that the different sentiments with which Education and Nature had inspired him were combating in his bosom： It remained for his passions； which as yet no opportunity had called into play； to decide the victory。 Unfortunately his passions were the very worst Judges； to whom He could possibly have applied。 His monastic seclusion had till now been in his favour； since it gave him no room for discovering his bad qualities。 The superiority of his talents raised him too far above his Companions to permit his being jealous of them： His exemplary piety； persuasive eloquence； and pleasing manners had secured him universal Esteem； and consequently He had no injuries to revenge： His Ambition was justified by his acknowledged merit； and his pride considered as no more than proper confidence。 He never saw； much less conversed with； the other sex： He was ignorant of the pleasures in Woman's power to bestow； and if He read in the course of his studies
'That Men were fond； He smiled； and wondered how！'
For a time； spare diet； frequent watching； and severe penance cooled and represt the natural warmth of his constitution： But no sooner did opportunity present itself； no sooner did He catch a glimpse of joys to which He was still a Stranger； than Religion's barriers were too feeble to resist the overwhelming torrent of his desires。 All impediments yielded before the force of his temperament； warm； sanguine； and voluptuous in the excess。
As yet his other passions lay dormant； But they only needed to be once awakened； to display themselves with violence as great and irresistible。
He continued to be the admiration of Madrid。 The Enthusiasm created by his eloquence seemed rather to increase than diminish。
Every Thursday； which was the only day when He appeared in public； the Capuchin Cathedral was crowded with Auditors； and his discourse was always received with the same approbation。 He was named Confessor to all the chief families in Madrid； and no one was counted fashionable who was injoined penance by any other than Ambrosio。 In his resolution of never stirring out of his Convent； He still persisted。 This circumstance created a still greater opinion of his sanctity and self…denial。 Above all； the Women sang forth his praises loudly； less influenced by devotion than by his noble countenance； majestic air； and well…turned； graceful figure。 The Abbey door was thronged with Carriages from morning to night； and the noblest and fairest Dames of Madrid confessed to the Abbot their secret peccadilloes。
The eyes of the luxurious Friar devoured their charms： Had his Penitents consulted those Interpreters； He would have needed no other means of expressing his desires。 For his misfortune； they were so strongly persuaded of his continence； that the possibility of his harbouring indecent thoughts never once entered their imaginations。 The climate's heat； 'ti