°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
by¡¡recommending¡¡secrecy¡¡to¡¡Elvira's¡¡family£»¡¡He¡¡doubted¡¡not¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡Madrid¡¡in¡¡ignorance¡¡that¡¡He¡¡had¡¡broken¡¡his¡¡vow¡¡never¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Abbey¡¡walls¡£¡¡¡¡Matilda¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡person¡¡whose¡¡vigilance¡¡He¡¡dreaded£º¡¡¡¡But¡¡by¡¡informing¡¡her¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Refectory¡¡that¡¡during¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡Business¡¡would¡¡confine¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his¡¡Cell£»¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡himself¡¡secure¡¡from¡¡her¡¡wakeful¡¡jealousy¡£¡¡¡¡Accordingly£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hours¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Spaniards¡¡are¡¡generally¡¡taking¡¡their¡¡Siesta£»¡¡He¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡the¡¡Abbey¡¡by¡¡a¡¡private¡¡door£»¡¡the¡¡Key¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡possession¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Cowl¡¡of¡¡his¡¡habit¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡over¡¡his¡¡face£º¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡heat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡the¡¡Streets¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡totally¡¡deserted£º¡¡The¡¡Monk¡¡met¡¡with¡¡few¡¡people£»¡¡found¡¡the¡¡Strada¡¡di¡¡San¡¡Iago£»¡¡and¡¡arrived¡¡without¡¡accident¡¡at¡¡Donna¡¡Elvira's¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡rang£»¡¡was¡¡admitted£»¡¡and¡¡immediately¡¡ushered¡¡into¡¡an¡¡upper¡¡apartment¡£
It¡¡was¡¡here¡¡that¡¡He¡¡ran¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡risque¡¡of¡¡a¡¡discovery¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡Leonella¡¡been¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡recognized¡¡him¡¡directly£º¡¡¡¡Her¡¡communicative¡¡disposition¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡permitted¡¡her¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡till¡¡all¡¡Madrid¡¡was¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡Ambrosio¡¡had¡¡ventured¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Abbey£»¡¡and¡¡visited¡¡her¡¡Sister¡£¡¡¡¡Fortune¡¡here¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡Monk's¡¡Friend¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡Leonella's¡¡return¡¡home£»¡¡She¡¡found¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡instructing¡¡her¡¡that¡¡a¡¡Cousin¡¡was¡¡just¡¡dead£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡left¡¡what¡¡little¡¡He¡¡possessed¡¡between¡¡Herself¡¡and¡¡Elvira¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡secure¡¡this¡¡bequest¡¡She¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡set¡¡out¡¡for¡¡Cordova¡¡without¡¡losing¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡Amidst¡¡all¡¡her¡¡foibles¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡truly¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡affectionate£»¡¡and¡¡She¡¡was¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡her¡¡Sister¡¡in¡¡so¡¡dangerous¡¡a¡¡state¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Elvira¡¡insisted¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡journey£»¡¡conscious¡¡that¡¡in¡¡her¡¡Daughter's¡¡forlorn¡¡situation¡¡no¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡fortune£»¡¡however¡¡trifling£»¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡neglected¡£¡¡¡¡Accordingly£»¡¡Leonella¡¡left¡¡Madrid£»¡¡sincerely¡¡grieved¡¡at¡¡her¡¡Sister's¡¡illness£»¡¡and¡¡giving¡¡some¡¡few¡¡sighs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡amiable¡¡but¡¡inconstant¡¡Don¡¡Christoval¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡fully¡¡persuaded¡¡that¡¡at¡¡first¡¡She¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡breach¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart£º¡¡¡¡But¡¡hearing¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡She¡¡supposed¡¡that¡¡He¡¡had¡¡quitted¡¡the¡¡pursuit£»¡¡disgusted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lowness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡origin£»¡¡and¡¡knowing¡¡upon¡¡other¡¡terms¡¡than¡¡marriage¡¡He¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡hope¡¡from¡¡such¡¡a¡¡Dragon¡¡of¡¡Virtue¡¡as¡¡She¡¡professed¡¡herself£»¡¡Or¡¡else£»¡¡that¡¡being¡¡naturally¡¡capricious¡¡and¡¡changeable£»¡¡the¡¡remembrance¡¡of¡¡her¡¡charms¡¡had¡¡been¡¡effaced¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Conde's¡¡heart¡¡by¡¡those¡¡of¡¡some¡¡newer¡¡Beauty¡£¡¡¡¡Whatever¡¡was¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡her¡¡losing¡¡him£»¡¡She¡¡lamented¡¡it¡¡sorely¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡strove¡¡in¡¡vain£»¡¡as¡¡She¡¡assured¡¡every¡¡body¡¡who¡¡was¡¡kind¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡to¡¡tear¡¡his¡¡image¡¡from¡¡her¡¡too¡¡susceptible¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡affected¡¡the¡¡airs¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lovesick¡¡Virgin£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡them¡¡all¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡ridiculous¡¡excess¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡heaved¡¡lamentable¡¡sighs£»¡¡walked¡¡with¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡folded£»¡¡uttered¡¡long¡¡soliloquies£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡discourse¡¡generally¡¡turned¡¡upon¡¡some¡¡forsaken¡¡Maid¡¡who¡¡expired¡¡of¡¡a¡¡broken¡¡heart£¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡fiery¡¡locks¡¡were¡¡always¡¡ornamented¡¡with¡¡a¡¡garland¡¡of¡¡willow£»¡¡Every¡¡evening¡¡She¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡straying¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Banks¡¡of¡¡a¡¡rivulet¡¡by¡¡Moonlight£»¡¡and¡¡She¡¡declared¡¡herself¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡Admirer¡¡of¡¡murmuring¡¡Streams¡¡and¡¡Nightingales£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Of¡¡lonely¡¡haunts£»¡¡and¡¡twilight¡¡Groves£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Places¡¡which¡¡pale¡¡Passion¡¡loves£¡'¡¡
Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡Leonella's¡¡mind£»¡¡when¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡Madrid¡£¡¡¡¡Elvira¡¡was¡¡out¡¡of¡¡patience¡¡at¡¡all¡¡these¡¡follies£»¡¡and¡¡endeavoured¡¡at¡¡persuading¡¡her¡¡to¡¡act¡¡like¡¡a¡¡reasonable¡¡Woman¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡advice¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡away£º¡¡Leonella¡¡assured¡¡her¡¡at¡¡parting¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡could¡¡make¡¡her¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡perfidious¡¡Don¡¡Christoval¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡point¡¡She¡¡was¡¡fortunately¡¡mistaken¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡honest¡¡Youth¡¡of¡¡Cordova£»¡¡Journeyman¡¡to¡¡an¡¡Apothecary£»¡¡found¡¡that¡¡her¡¡fortune¡¡would¡¡be¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡set¡¡him¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡genteel¡¡Shop¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own£º¡¡¡¡In¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡this¡¡reflection¡¡He¡¡avowed¡¡himself¡¡her¡¡Admirer¡£¡¡¡¡Leonella¡¡was¡¡not¡¡inflexible¡£¡¡The¡¡ardour¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sighs¡¡melted¡¡her¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡She¡¡soon¡¡consented¡¡to¡¡make¡¡him¡¡the¡¡happiest¡¡of¡¡Mankind¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡inform¡¡her¡¡Sister¡¡of¡¡her¡¡marriage£»¡¡But£»¡¡for¡¡reasons¡¡which¡¡will¡¡be¡¡explained¡¡hereafter£»¡¡Elvira¡¡never¡¡answered¡¡her¡¡letter¡£
Ambrosio¡¡was¡¡conducted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Antichamber¡¡to¡¡that¡¡where¡¡Elvira¡¡was¡¡reposing¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Female¡¡Domestic¡¡who¡¡had¡¡admitted¡¡him¡¡left¡¡him¡¡alone¡¡while¡¡She¡¡announced¡¡his¡¡arrival¡¡to¡¡her¡¡Mistress¡£¡¡¡¡Antonia£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡by¡¡her¡¡Mother's¡¡Bedside£»¡¡immediately¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him¡£
'Pardon¡¡me£»¡¡Father£»'¡¡said¡¡She£»¡¡advancing¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡when¡¡recognizing¡¡his¡¡features£»¡¡She¡¡stopped¡¡suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡uttered¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡joy¡£¡¡¡¡'Is¡¡it¡¡possible£¡'¡¡She¡¡continued£»
'Do¡¡not¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡deceive¡¡me£¿¡¡¡¡Has¡¡the¡¡worthy¡¡Ambrosio¡¡broken¡¡through¡¡his¡¡resolution£»¡¡that¡¡He¡¡may¡¡soften¡¡the¡¡agonies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡Women£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡pleasure¡¡will¡¡this¡¡visit¡¡give¡¡my¡¡Mother£¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡not¡¡delay¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡comfort¡¡which¡¡your¡¡piety¡¡and¡¡wisdom¡¡will¡¡afford¡¡her¡£'
Thus¡¡saying£»¡¡She¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡door£»¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡her¡¡Mother¡¡her¡¡distinguished¡¡Visitor£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡placed¡¡an¡¡armed¡chair¡¡by¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bed£»¡¡withdrew¡¡into¡¡another¡¡department¡£
Elvira¡¡was¡¡highly¡¡gratified¡¡by¡¡this¡¡visit£º¡¡¡¡Her¡¡expectations¡¡had¡¡been¡¡raised¡¡high¡¡by¡¡general¡¡report£»¡¡but¡¡She¡¡found¡¡them¡¡far¡¡exceeded¡£¡¡¡¡Ambrosio£»¡¡endowed¡¡by¡¡nature¡¡with¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡pleasing£»¡¡exerted¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡while¡¡conversing¡¡with¡¡Antonia's¡¡Mother¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡persuasive¡¡eloquence¡¡He¡¡calmed¡¡every¡¡fear£»¡¡and¡¡dissipated¡¡every¡¡scruple£º¡¡¡¡He¡¡bad¡¡her¡¡reflect¡¡on¡¡the¡¡infinite¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡her¡¡Judge£»¡¡despoiled¡¡Death¡¡of¡¡his¡¡darts¡¡and¡¡terrors£»¡¡and¡¡taught¡¡her¡¡to¡¡view¡¡without¡¡shrinking¡¡the¡¡abyss¡¡of¡¡eternity£»¡¡on¡¡whose¡¡brink¡¡She¡¡then¡¡stood¡£¡¡¡¡Elvira¡¡was¡¡absorbed¡¡in¡¡attention¡¡and¡¡delight£º¡¡¡¡While¡¡She¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡his¡¡exhortations£»¡¡confidence¡¡and¡¡comfort¡¡stole¡¡insensibly¡¡into¡¡her¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡unbosomed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡without¡¡hesitation¡¡her¡¡cares¡¡and¡¡apprehensions¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡respecting¡¡a¡¡future¡¡life¡¡He¡¡had¡¡already¡¡quieted£º¡¡¡¡And¡¡He¡¡now¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡former£»¡¡which¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡concerns¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡trembled¡¡for¡¡Antonia¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡none¡¡to¡¡whose¡¡care¡¡She¡¡could¡¡recommend¡¡her£»¡¡save¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Marquis¡¡de¡¡las¡¡Cisternas¡¡and¡¡her¡¡Sister¡¡Leonella¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡protection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡One¡¡was¡¡very¡¡uncertain£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Other£»¡¡though¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡her¡¡Niece£»¡¡Leonella¡¡was¡¡so¡¡thoughtless¡¡and¡¡vain¡¡as¡¡to¡¡make¡¡her¡¡an¡¡improper¡¡person¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Girl¡¡so¡¡young¡¡and¡¡ignorant¡¡of¡¡the¡¡World¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Friar¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡learnt¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡her¡¡alarms¡¡than¡¡He¡¡begged¡¡her¡¡to¡¡make¡¡herself¡¡easy¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡doubted¡¡not¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡for¡¡Antonia¡¡a¡¡safe¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Penitents£»¡¡the¡¡Marchioness¡¡of¡¡Villa¡Franca£º¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡Lady¡¡of¡¡acknowledged¡¡virtue£»¡¡remarkable¡¡for¡¡strict¡¡principles¡¡and¡¡extensive¡¡charity¡£¡¡¡¡Should¡¡accident¡¡deprive¡¡her¡¡of¡¡this¡¡resource£»¡¡He¡¡engaged¡¡to¡¡procure¡¡Antonia¡¡a¡¡reception¡¡in¡¡some¡¡respectable¡¡Convent£º¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡in¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡boarder£»¡¡for¡¡Elvira¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡herself¡¡no¡¡Friend¡¡to¡¡a¡¡monastic¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Monk¡¡was¡¡either¡¡candid¡¡or¡¡complaisant¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡that¡¡her¡¡disapprobation¡¡was¡¡not¡¡unfounded¡£
These¡¡proofs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡which¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡for¡¡her¡¡completely¡¡won¡¡Elvira's¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡thanking¡¡him¡¡She¡¡exhausted¡¡every¡¡expression¡¡which¡¡Gratitude¡¡could¡¡furnish£»¡¡and¡¡protested¡¡that¡¡now¡¡She¡¡should¡¡resign¡¡herself¡¡with¡¡tranquillity¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Grave¡£¡¡¡¡Ambrosio¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡take¡¡leave£º¡¡¡¡He¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡return¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡hour£»¡¡but¡¡requested¡¡that¡¡his¡¡visits¡¡might¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡secret¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡unwilling'¡¡said¡¡He£»¡¡'that¡¡my¡¡breaking¡¡through¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡imposed¡¡by¡¡necessity¡¡should¡¡be¡¡generally¡¡known¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡I¡¡not¡¡resolved¡¡never¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡my¡¡Convent£»¡¡except¡¡upon¡¡circumstances¡¡as¡¡urgent¡¡as¡¡that¡¡which¡¡has¡¡conducted¡¡me¡¡to¡¡your¡¡door£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡frequently¡¡summoned¡¡upon¡¡insignificant¡¡occasions£º¡¡¡¡That¡¡time¡¡would¡¡be¡¡engrossed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Curious£»¡¡the¡¡Unoccupied£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fanciful£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡now¡¡pass¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Bedside¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sick£»¡¡in¡¡comforting¡¡the¡¡expiring¡¡Penitent£»¡¡and¡¡clearing¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡to¡¡Eternity¡¡from¡¡Thorns¡£'
Elvira¡¡commended¡¡equally¡¡his¡¡prudence¡¡and¡¡compassion£»¡¡promising¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡carefully¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡his¡¡visits¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Monk¡¡then¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡his¡¡benediction£»¡¡and¡¡retired¡¡from¡¡the¡¡chamber¡£
In¡¡the¡¡Antiroom¡¡He¡¡found¡¡Antonia£º¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡refuse¡¡himself¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡passing¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments¡¡in¡¡her¡¡society¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡bad¡¡her¡¡take¡¡comfort£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡her¡¡Mother¡¡seemed¡¡composed¡¡and¡¡tranquil£»¡¡and¡¡He¡¡hoped¡¡that¡¡She¡¡might¡¡yet¡¡do¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡enquired¡¡who¡¡attended¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡engaged¡¡to¡¡send¡¡the¡¡Physician¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Convent¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡skilful¡¡in¡¡Madrid¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡then¡¡launched¡¡out¡¡in¡¡Elvira's¡¡commendation£»¡¡praised¡¡her¡¡purity¡¡and¡¡fortitude¡¡of¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡She¡¡had¡¡inspired¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡esteem¡¡and¡¡reverence¡£¡¡¡¡Antonia's¡¡innocent¡¡heart¡¡swelled¡¡with¡¡gratitude£º¡¡¡¡Joy¡¡danced¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡where¡¡a¡¡tear¡¡still¡¡sparkled¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡hopes¡¡which¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡of¡¡her¡¡Mother's¡¡recovery£»¡¡the¡¡lively¡¡interest¡¡which¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flattering¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡She¡¡was¡¡mentioned¡¡by¡¡him£»¡¡added¡¡to¡¡the¡¡report¡¡of¡¡his¡¡judgment¡¡and¡¡virtue£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡made¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡by¡¡his¡¡eloquence£»¡¡confirmed¡¡the¡¡favourable¡¡opinion¡¡with¡¡which¡¡his¡¡first£»¡¡appearance¡¡had¡¡inspired¡¡Antonia¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡replied¡¡with¡¡diffidence£»¡¡but¡¡without¡¡restraint£º¡¡¡¡She¡¡feared¡¡not¡¡to¡¡relate¡¡to¡¡him¡¡all¡¡her¡¡little¡¡sorrows£»¡¡all¡¡her¡¡little¡¡fears¡¡and¡¡anxieties£»¡¡and¡¡She¡¡thanked¡¡him¡¡for¡¡his¡¡goodness¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡genuine¡¡warmth¡¡which¡¡favours¡¡kindle¡¡in¡¡a¡¡young¡¡and¡¡innocent¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡alone¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡estimate¡¡benefits¡¡at¡¡their¡¡full¡¡value¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡who¡¡are¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡Mankind's¡¡perfidy¡¡and¡¡selfishness£»¡¡ever¡¡receive¡¡an¡¡o