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the castle of otranto-第10章

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nt。  Who is the youth that I  found in the vault?  He must have been privy to Isabella's flight:   tell me truly; is he her lover? or is he an agent for another's  passion?  I have often suspected Isabella's indifference to my son:  a  thousand circumstances crowd on my mind that confirm that suspicion。   She herself was so conscious of it; that while I discoursed her in the  gallery; she outran my suspicious; and endeavoured to justify herself  from coolness to Conrad。〃

The Friar; who knew nothing of the youth; but what he had learnt  occasionally from the Princess; ignorant what was become of him; and  not sufficiently reflecting on the impetuosity of Manfred's temper;  conceived that it might not be amiss to sow the seeds of jealousy in  his mind:  they might be turned to some use hereafter; either by  prejudicing the Prince against Isabella; if he persisted in that union  or by diverting his attention to a wrong scent; and employing his  thoughts on a visionary intrigue; prevent his engaging in any new  pursuit。  With this unhappy policy; he answered in a manner to confirm  Manfred in the belief of some connection between Isabella and the  youth。  The Prince; whose passions wanted little fuel to throw them  into a blaze; fell into a rage at the idea of what the Friar  suggested。

 〃I will fathom to the bottom of this intrigue;〃 cried he; and  quitting Jerome abruptly; with a command to remain there till his  return; he hastened to the great hall of the castle; and ordered the  peasant to be brought before him。

〃Thou hardened young impostor!〃 said the Prince; as soon as he saw the  youth; 〃what becomes of thy boasted veracity now? it was Providence;  was it; and the light of the moon; that discovered the lock of the  trap…door to thee?  Tell me; audacious boy; who thou art; and how long  thou hast been acquainted with the Princess … and take care to answer  with less equivocation than thou didst last night; or tortures shall  wring the truth from thee。〃

The young man; perceiving that his share in the flight of the Princess  was discovered; and concluding that anything he should say could no  longer be of any service or detriment to her; replied …

〃I am no impostor; my Lord; nor have I deserved opprobrious language。   I answered to every question your Highness put to me last night with  the same veracity that I shall speak now:  and that will not be from  fear of your tortures; but because my soul abhors a falsehood。  Please  to repeat your questions; my Lord; I am ready to give you all the  satisfaction in my power。〃

〃You know my questions;〃 replied the Prince; 〃and only want time to  prepare an evasion。  Speak directly; who art thou? and how long hast  thou been known to the Princess?〃

〃I am a labourer at the next village;〃 said the peasant; 〃my name is  Theodore。  The Princess found me in the vault last night:  before that  hour I never was in her presence。〃

〃I may believe as much or as little as I please of this;〃 said  Manfred; 〃but I will hear thy own story before I examine into the  truth of it。  Tell me; what reason did the Princess give thee for  making her escape? thy life depends on thy answer。〃

〃She told me;〃 replied Theodore; 〃that she was on the brink of  destruction; and that if she could not escape from the castle; she was  in danger in a few moments of being made miserable for ever。〃

〃And on this slight foundation; on a silly girl's report;〃 said  Manfred; 〃thou didst hazard my displeasure?〃

〃I fear no man's displeasure;〃 said Theodore; 〃when a woman in  distress puts herself under my protection。〃

During this examination; Matilda was going to the apartment of  Hippolita。  At the upper end of the hall; where Manfred sat; was a  boarded gallery with latticed windows; through which Matilda and  Bianca were to pass。  Hearing her father's voice; and seeing the  servants assembled round him; she stopped to learn the occasion。  The  prisoner soon drew her attention:  the steady and composed manner in  which he answered; and the gallantry of his last reply; which were the  first words she heard distinctly; interested her in his flavour。  His  person was noble; handsome; and commanding; even in that situation:   but his countenance soon engrossed her whole care。

〃Heavens!  Bianca;〃 said the Princess softly; 〃do I dream? or is not  that youth the exact resemblance of Alfonso's picture in the gallery?〃

She could say no more; for her father's voice grew louder at every  word。

〃This bravado;〃 said he; 〃surpasses all thy former insolence。  Thou  shalt experience the wrath with which thou darest to trifle。  Seize  him;〃 continued Manfred; 〃and 'bind him … the first news the Princess  hears of her champion shall be; that he has lost his head for her  sake。〃

〃The injustice of which thou art guilty towards me;〃 said Theodore;  〃convinces me that I have done a good deed in delivering the Princess  from thy tyranny。  May she be happy; whatever becomes of me!〃

〃This is a lover!〃 cried Manfred in a rage:  〃a peasant within sight  of death is not animated by such sentiments。  Tell me; tell me; rash  boy; who thou art; or the rack shall force thy secret from thee。〃

〃Thou hast threatened me with death already;〃 said the youth; 〃for the  truth I have told thee:  if that is all the encouragement I am to  expect for sincerity; I am not tempted to indulge thy vain curiosity  farther。〃

〃Then thou wilt not speak?〃 said Manfred。

〃I will not;〃 replied he。

〃Bear him away into the courtyard;〃 said Manfred; 〃I will see his head  this instant severed from his body。〃

Matilda fainted at hearing those words。  Bianca shrieked; and cried …

〃Help! help! the Princess is dead!〃  Manfred started at this  ejaculation; and demanded what was the matter!  The young peasant; who  heard it too; was struck with horror; and asked eagerly the same  question; but Manfred ordered him to be hurried into the court; and  kept there for execution; till he had informed himself of the cause of  Bianca's shrieks。  When he learned the meaning; he treated it as a  womanish panic; and ordering Matilda to be carried to her apartment;  he rushed into the court; and calling for one of his guards; bade  Theodore kneel down; and prepare to receive the fatal blow。

The undaunted youth received the bitter sentence with a resignation  that touched every heart but Manfred's。  He wished earnestly to know  the meaning of the words he had heard relating to the Princess; but  fearing to exasperate the tyrant more against her; he desisted。  The  only boon he deigned to ask was; that he might be permitted to have a  confessor; and make his peace with heaven。  Manfred; who hoped by the  confessor's means to come at the youth's history; readily granted his  request; and being convinced that Father Jerome was now in his  interest; he ordered him to be called and shrive the prisoner。  The  holy man; who had little foreseen the catastrophe that his imprudence  occasioned; fell on his knees to the Prince; and adjured him in the  most solemn manner not to shed innocent blood。  He accused himself in  the bitterest terms for his indiscretion; endeavoured to disculpate  the youth; and left no method untried to soften the tyrant's rage。   Manfred; more incensed than appeased by Jerome's intercession; whose  retraction now made him suspect he had been imposed upon by both;  commanded the Friar to do his duty; telling him he would not allow the  prisoner many minutes for confession。

〃Nor do I ask many; my Lord;〃 said the unhappy young man。  〃My sins;  thank heaven; have not been numerous; nor exceed what might be  expected at my years。  Dry your tears; good Father; and let us  despatch。  This is a bad world; nor have I had cause to leave it with  regret。〃

〃Oh wretched youth!〃 said Jerome; 〃how canst thou bear the sight of me  with patience?  I am thy murderer! it is I have brought this dismal  hour upon thee!〃

〃I forgive thee from my soul;〃 said the youth; 〃as I hope heaven will  pardon me。  Hear my confession; Father; and give me thy blessing。〃

〃How can I prepare thee for thy passage as I ought?〃 said Jerome。   〃Thou canst not be saved without pardoning thy foes … and canst thou  forgive that impious man there?〃

〃I can;〃 said Theodore; 〃I do。〃

〃And does not this touch thee; cruel Prince?〃 said the Friar。

〃I sent for thee to confess him;〃 said Manfred; sternly; 〃not to plead  for him。  Thou didst first incense me against him … his blood be upon  thy head!〃

〃It will! it will!〃 said the good main; in an agony of sorrow。  〃Thou  and I must never hope to go where this blessed youth is going!〃

〃Despatch!〃 said Manfred; 〃I am no more to be moved by the whining of  priests than by the shrieks of women。〃

〃What!〃 said the youth; 〃is it possible that my fate could have  occasioned what I heard!  Is the Princess then again in thy power?〃

〃Thou dost but remember me of my wrath;〃 said Manfred。  〃Prepare thee;  for this moment is thy last。〃

The youth; who felt his indignation rise; and who was touched with the  sorrow which he saw he had infused into all the spectators; as well as  into the Friar; suppressed his emotions; and putting off his doublet;  and unbuttoning; his collar; knelt down to his prayers。  As he  stooped;
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