友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the castle of otranto-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



 to inspire the company with mirth。  He put  several questions to them; but was answered only by signs。  They  raised their vizors but sufficiently to feed themselves; and that  sparingly。

〃Sirs〃 said the Prince; 〃ye are the first guests I ever treated within  these walls who scorned to hold any intercourse with me:  nor has it  oft been customary; I ween; for princes to hazard their state and  dignity against strangers and mutes。  You say you come in the name of  Frederic of Vicenza; I have ever heard that he was a gallant and  courteous Knight; nor would he; I am bold to say; think it beneath him  to mix in social converse with a Prince that is his equal; and not  unknown by deeds in arms。  Still ye are silent … well! be it as it may  … by the laws of hospitality and chivalry ye are masters under this  roof:  ye shall do your pleasure。  But come; give me a goblet of wine;  ye will not refuse to pledge me to the healths of your fair  mistresses。〃

The principal Knight sighed and crossed himself; and was rising from  the board。

〃Sir Knight;〃 said Manfred; 〃what I said was but in sport。  I shall  constrain you in nothing:  use your good liking。  Since mirth is not  your mood; let us be sad。  Business may hit your fancies better。  Let  us withdraw; and hear if what I have to unfold may be better relished  than the vain efforts I have made for your pastime。〃

Manfred then conducting the three Knights into an inner chamber; shut  the door; and inviting them to be seated; began thus; addressing  himself to the chief personage:…

〃You come; Sir Knight; as I understand; in the name of the Marquis of  Vicenza; to re…demand the Lady Isabella; his daughter; who has been  contracted in the face of Holy Church to my son; by the consent of her  legal guardians; and to require me to resign my dominions to your  Lord; who gives himself for the nearest of blood to Prince Alfonso;  whose soul God rest!  I shall speak to the latter article of your  demands first。  You must know; your Lord knows; that I enjoy the  principality of Otranto from my father; Don Manuel; as he received it  from his father; Don Ricardo。  Alfonso; their predecessor; dying  childless in the Holy Land; bequeathed his estates to my grandfather;  Don Ricardo; in consideration of his faithful services。〃  The stranger  shook his head。

〃Sir Knight;〃 said Manfred; warmly; 〃Ricardo was a valiant and upright  man; he was a pious man; witness his munificent foundation of the  adjoining church and two converts。  He was peculiarly patronised by  St。 Nicholas … my grandfather was incapable … I say; Sir; Don Ricardo  was incapable … excuse me; your interruption has disordered me。  I  venerate the memory of my grandfather。  Well; Sirs; he held this  estate; he held it by his good sword and by the favour of St。 Nicholas  … so did my father; and so; Sirs; will I; come what come will。  But  Frederic; your Lord; is nearest in blood。  I have consented to put my  title to the issue of the sword。  Does that imply a vicious title?  I  might have asked; where is Frederic your Lord?  Report speaks him dead  in captivity。  You say; your actions say; he lives … I question it not  … I might; Sirs; I might … but I do not。  Other Princes would bid  Frederic take his inheritance by force; if he can:  they would not  stake their dignity on a single combat:  they would not submit it to  the decision of unknown mutes! … pardon me; gentlemen; I am too warm:   but suppose yourselves in my situation:  as ye are stout Knights;  would it not move your choler to have your own and the honour of your  ancestors called in question?〃

〃But to the point。  Ye require me to deliver up the Lady Isabella。   Sirs; I must ask if ye are authorised to receive her?〃

The Knight nodded。

〃Receive her;〃 continued Manfred; 〃well; you are authorised to receive  her; but; gentle Knight; may I ask if you have full powers?〃

The Knight nodded。

〃'Tis well;〃 said Manfred; 〃then hear what I have to offer。  Ye see;  gentlemen; before you; the most unhappy of men!〃 (he began to weep);  〃afford me your compassion; I am entitled to it; indeed I am。  Know; I  have lost my only hope; my joy; the support of my house … Conrad died  yester morning。〃

The Knights discovered signs of surprise。

〃Yes; Sirs; fate has disposed of my son。  Isabella is at liberty。〃

〃Do you then restore her?〃 cried the chief Knight; breaking silence。

〃Afford me your patience;〃 said Manfred。  〃I rejoice to find; by this  testimony of your goodwill; that this matter may be adjusted without  blood。  It is no interest of mine dictates what little I have farther  to say。  Ye behold in me a man disgusted with the world:  the loss of  my son has weaned me from earthly cares。  Power and greatness have no  longer any charms in my eyes。  I wished to transmit the sceptre I had  received from my ancestors with honour to my son … but that is over!   Life itself is so indifferent to me; that I accepted your defiance  with joy。  A good Knight cannot go to the grave with more satisfaction  than when falling in his vocation:  whatever is the will of heaven; I  submit; for alas! Sirs; I am a man of many sorrows。  Manfred is no  object of envy; but no doubt you are acquainted with my story。〃

The Knight made signs of ignorance; and seemed curious to have Manfred  proceed。

〃Is it possible; Sirs;〃 continued the Prince; 〃that my story should be  a secret to you?  Have you heard nothing relating to me and the  Princess Hippolita?〃

They shook their heads。

〃No!  Thus; then; Sirs; it is。  You think me ambitious:  ambition;  alas! is composed of more rugged materials。  If I were ambitious; I  should not for so many years have been a prey to all the hell of  conscientious scruples。  But I weary your patience:  I will be brief。   Know; then; that I have long been troubled in mind on my union with  the Princess Hippolita。  Oh! Sirs; if ye were acquainted with that  excellent woman! if ye knew that I adore her like a mistress; and  cherish her as a friend … but man was not born for perfect happiness!   She shares my scruples; and with her consent I have brought this  matter before the church; for we are related within the forbidden  degrees。  I expect every hour the definitive sentence that must  separate us for ever … I am sure you feel for me … I see you do …  pardon these tears!〃

The Knights gazed on each other; wondering where this would end。

Manfred continued …

〃The death of my son betiding while my soul was under this anxiety; I  thought of nothing but resigning my dominions; and retiring for ever  from the sight of mankind。  My only difficulty was to fix on a  successor; who would be tender of my people; and to dispose of the  Lady Isabella; who is dear to me as my own blood。  I was willing to  restore the line of Alfonso; even in his most distant kindred。  And  though; pardon me; I am satisfied it was his will that Ricardo's  lineage should take place of his own relations; yet where was I to  search for those relations?  I knew of none but Frederic; your Lord;  he was a captive to the infidels; or dead; and were he living; and at  home; would he quit the flourishing State of Vicenza for the  inconsiderable principality of Otranto?  If he would not; could I bear  the thought of seeing a hard; unfeeling; Viceroy set over my poor  faithful people? for; Sirs; I love my people; and thank heaven am  beloved by them。  But ye will ask whither tends this long discourse?   Briefly; then; thus; Sirs。  Heaven in your arrival seems to point out  a remedy for these difficulties and my misfortunes。  The Lady Isabella  is at liberty; I shall soon be so。  I would submit to anything for the  good of my people。  Were it not the best; the only way to extinguish  the feuds between our families; if I was to take the Lady Isabella to  wife?  You start。  But though Hippolita's virtues will ever be dear to  me; a Prince must not consider himself; he is born for his people。〃  A  servant at that instant entering the chamber apprised Manfred that  Jerome and several of his brethren demanded immediate access to him。

The Prince; provoked at this interruption; and fearing that the Friar  would discover to the strangers that Isabella had taken sanctuary; was  going to forbid Jerome's entrance。  But recollecting that he was  certainly arrived to notify the Princess's return; Manfred began to  excuse himself to the Knights for leaving them for a few moments; but  was prevented by the arrival of the Friars。  Manfred angrily  reprimanded them for their intrusion; and would have forced them back  from the chamber; but Jerome was too much agitated to be repulsed。  He  declared aloud the flight of Isabella; with protestations of his own  innocence。

Manfred; distracted at the news; and not less at its coming to the  knowledge of the strangers; uttered nothing but incoherent sentences;  now upbraiding the Friar; now apologising to the Knights; earnest to  know what was become of Isabella; yet equally afraid of their knowing;  impatient to pursue her; yet dreading to have them join in the  pursuit。  He offered to despatch messengers in quest of her; but the  chief Knight; no longer keeping silence; reproached Manfred in bitter  terms for his dark and ambiguous dealing; and demanded
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!