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the castle of otranto-第12章

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bed of Isabella。  Her death affected him so much that he  had taken the cross and gone to the Holy Land; where he was wounded in  an engagement against the infidels; made prisoner; and reported to be  dead。  When the news reached Manfred's ears; he bribed the guardians  of the Lady Isabella to deliver her up to him as a bride for his son  Conrad; by which alliance he had proposed to unite the claims of the  two houses。  This motive; on Conrad's death; had co…operated to make  him so suddenly resolve on espousing her himself; and the same  reflection determined him now to endeavour at obtaining the consent of  Frederic to this marriage。  A like policy inspired him with the  thought of inviting Frederic's champion into the castle; lest he  should be informed of Isabella's flight; which he strictly enjoined  his domestics not to disclose to any of the Knight's retinue。

〃Herald;〃 said Manfred; as soon as he had digested these reflections;  〃return to thy master; and tell him; ere we liquidate our differences  by the sword; Manfred would hold some converse with him。  Bid him  welcome to my castle; where by my faith; as I am a true Knight; he  shall have courteous reception; and full security for himself and  followers。  If we cannot adjust our quarrel by amicable means; I swear  he shall depart in safety; and shall have full satisfaction according  to the laws of arms:  So help me God and His holy Trinity!〃

The Herald made three obeisances and retired。

During this interview Jerome's mind was agitated by a thousand  contrary passions。  He trembled for the life of his son; and his first  thought was to persuade Isabella to return to the castle。  Yet he was  scarce less alarmed at the thought of her union with Manfred。  He  dreaded Hippolita's unbounded submission to the will of her Lord; and  though he did not doubt but he could alarm her piety not to consent to  a divorce; if he could get access to her; yet should Manfred discover  that the obstruction came from him; it might be equally fatal to  Theodore。  He was impatient to know whence came the Herald; who with  so little management had questioned the title of Manfred:  yet he did  not dare absent himself from the convent; lest Isabella should leave  it; and her flight be imputed to him。  He returned disconsolately to  the monastery; uncertain on what conduct to resolve。  A Monk; who met  him in the porch and observed his melancholy air; said …

〃Alas! brother; is it then true that we have lost our excellent  Princess Hippolita?〃

The holy man started; and cried; 〃What meanest thou; brother?  I come  this instant from the castle; and left her in perfect health。〃

〃Martelli;〃 replied the other Friar; 〃passed by the convent but a  quarter of an hour ago on his way from the castle; and reported that  her Highness was dead。  All our brethren are gone to the chapel to  pray for her happy transit to a better life; and willed me to wait thy  arrival。  They know thy holy attachment to that good Lady; and are  anxious for the affliction it will cause in thee … indeed we have all  reason to weep; she was a mother to our house。  But this life is but a  pilgrimage; we must not murmur … we shall all follow her!  May our end  be like hers!〃

 〃Good brother; thou dreamest;〃 said Jerome。  〃I tell thee I come from  the castle; and left the Princess well。  Where is the Lady Isabella?〃

〃Poor Gentlewoman!〃 replied the Friar; 〃I told her the sad news; and  offered her spiritual comfort。  I reminded her of the transitory  condition of mortality; and advised her to take the veil:  I quoted  the example of the holy Princess Sanchia of Arragon。〃

〃Thy zeal was laudable;〃 said Jerome; impatiently; 〃but at present it  was unnecessary:  Hippolita is well … at least I trust in the Lord she  is; I heard nothing to the contrary … yet; methinks; the Prince's  earnestness … Well; brother; but where is the Lady Isabella?〃

〃I know not;〃 said the Friar; 〃she wept much; and said she would  retire to her chamber。〃

Jerome left his comrade abruptly; and hastened to the Princess; but  she was not in her chamber。  He inquired of the domestics of the  convent; but could learn no news of her。  He searched in vain  throughout the monastery and the church; and despatched messengers  round the neighbourhood; to get intelligence if she had been seen; but  to no purpose。  Nothing could equal the good man's perplexity。  He  judged that Isabella; suspecting Manfred of having precipitated his  wife's death; had taken the alarm; and withdrawn herself to some more  secret place of concealment。  This new flight would probably carry the  Prince's fury to the height。  The report of Hippolita's death; though  it seemed almost incredible; increased his consternation; and though  Isabella's escape bespoke her aversion of Manfred for a husband;  Jerome could feel no comfort from it; while it endangered the life of  his son。  He determined to return to the castle; and made several of  his brethren accompany him to attest his innocence to Manfred; and; if  necessary; join their intercession with his for Theodore。

The Prince; in the meantime; had passed into the court; and ordered  the gates of the castle to be flung open for the reception of the  stranger Knight and his train。  In a few minutes the cavalcade  arrived。  First came two harbingers with wands。  Next a herald;  followed by two pages and two trumpets。  Then a hundred foot…guards。   These were attended by as many horse。  After them fifty footmen;  clothed in scarlet and black; the colours of the Knight。  Then a led  horse。  Two heralds on each side of a gentleman on horseback bearing a  banner with the arms of Vicenza and Otranto quarterly … a circumstance  that much offended Manfred … but he stifled his resentment。  Two more  pages。  The Knight's confessor telling his beads。  Fifty more footmen  clad as before。  Two Knights habited in complete armour; their beavers  down; comrades to the principal Knight。  The squires of the two  Knights; carrying their shields and devices。  The Knight's own squire。   A hundred gentlemen bearing an enormous sword; and seeming to faint  under the weight of it。  The Knight himself on a chestnut steed; in  complete armour; his lance in the rest; his face entirely concealed by  his vizor; which was surmounted by a large plume of scarlet and black  feathers。  Fifty foot…guards with drums and trumpets closed the  procession; which wheeled off to the right and left to make room for  the principal Knight。

As soon as he approached the gate he stopped; and the herald  advancing; read again the words of the challenge。  Manfred's eyes were  fixed on the gigantic sword; and he scarce seemed to attend to the  cartel:  but his attention was soon diverted by a tempest of wind that  rose behind him。  He turned and beheld the Plumes of the enchanted  helmet agitated in the same extraordinary manner as before。  It  required intrepidity like Manfred's not to sink under a concurrence of  circumstances that seemed to announce his fate。  Yet scorning in the  presence of strangers to betray the courage he had always manifested;  he said boldly …

〃Sir Knight; whoever thou art; I bid thee welcome。  If thou art of  mortal mould; thy valour shall meet its equal:  and if thou art a true  Knight; thou wilt scorn to employ sorcery to carry thy point。  Be  these omens from heaven or hell; Manfred trusts to the righteousness  of his cause and to the aid of St。 Nicholas; who has ever protected  his house。  Alight; Sir Knight; and repose thyself。  To…morrow thou  shalt have a fair field; and heaven befriend the juster side!〃

The Knight made no reply; but dismounting; was conducted by Manfred to  the great hall of the castle。  As they traversed the court; the Knight  stopped to gaze on the miraculous casque; and kneeling down; seemed to  pray inwardly for some minutes。  Rising; he made a sign to the Prince  to lead on。  As soon as they entered the hall; Manfred proposed to the  stranger to disarm; but the Knight shook his head in token of refusal。

〃Sir Knight;〃 said Manfred; 〃this is not courteous; but by my good  faith I will not cross thee; nor shalt thou have cause to complain of  the Prince of Otranto。  No treachery is designed on my part; I hope  none is intended on thine; here take my gage〃 (giving him his ring):   〃your friends and you shall enjoy the laws of hospitality。  Rest here  until refreshments are brought。  I will but give orders for the  accommodation of your train; and return to you。〃  The three Knights  bowed as accepting his courtesy。  Manfred directed the stranger's  retinue to be conducted to an adjacent hospital; founded by the  Princess Hippolita for the reception of pilgrims。  As they made the  circuit of the court to return towards the gate; the gigantic sword  burst from the supporters; and falling to the ground opposite to the  helmet; remained immovable。  Manfred; almost hardened to preternatural  appearances; surmounted the shock of this new prodigy; and returning  to the hall; where by this time the feast was ready; he invited his  silent guests to take their places。  Manfred; however ill his heart  was at ease; endeavoured to inspire the company with mirth。  He put  several questions to them; but was answered only by sig
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