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the castle of otranto-第18章

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〃Bless me;〃 said Matilda; 〃did not you observe his extreme resemblance  to the portrait of Alfonso in the gallery?  I took notice of it to  Bianca even before I saw him in armour; but with the helmet on; he is  the very image of that picture。〃

〃I do not much observe pictures;〃 said Isabella:  〃much less have I  examined this young man so attentively as you seem to have done。  Ah?   Matilda; your heart is in danger; but let me warn you as a friend; he  has owned to me that he is in love; it cannot be with you; for  yesterday was the first time you ever met … was it not?〃

〃Certainly;〃 replied Matilda; 〃but why does my dearest Isabella  conclude from anything I have said; that〃 … she paused … then  continuing:  〃he saw you first; and I am far from having the vanity to  think that my little portion of charms could engage a heart devoted to  you; may you be happy; Isabella; whatever is the fate of Matilda!〃

〃My lovely friend;〃 said Isabella; whose heart was too honest to  resist a kind expression; 〃it is you that Theodore admires; I saw it;  I am persuaded of it; nor shall a thought of my own happiness suffer  me to interfere with yours。〃

This frankness drew tears from the gentle Matilda; and jealousy that  for a moment had raised a coolness between these amiable maidens soon  gave way to the natural sincerity and candour of their souls。  Each  confessed to the other the impression that Theodore had made on her;  and this confidence was followed by a struggle of generosity; each  insisting on yielding her claim to her friend。  At length the dignity  of Isabella's virtue reminding her of the preference which Theodore  had almost declared for her rival; made her determine to conquer her  passion; and cede the beloved object to her friend。

During this contest of amity; Hippolita entered her daughter's  chamber。

〃Madam;〃 said she to Isabella; 〃you have so much tenderness for  Matilda; and interest yourself so kindly in whatever affects our  wretched house; that I can have no secrets with my child which are not  proper for you to hear。〃

The princesses were all attention and anxiety。

〃Know then; Madam;〃 continued Hippolita; 〃and you my dearest Matilda;  that being convinced by all the events of these two last ominous days;  that heaven purposes the sceptre of Otranto should pass from Manfred's  hands into those of the Marquis Frederic; I have been perhaps inspired  with the thought of averting our total destruction by the union of our  rival houses。  With this view I have been proposing to Manfred; my  lord; to tender this dear; dear child to Frederic; your father。〃

〃Me to Lord Frederic!〃 cried Matilda; 〃good heavens! my gracious  mother … and have you named it to my father?〃

〃I have;〃 said Hippolita; 〃he listened benignly to my proposal; and is  gone to break it to the Marquis。〃

〃Ah! wretched princess!〃 cried Isabella; 〃what hast thou done! what  ruin has thy inadvertent goodness been preparing for thyself; for me;  and for Matilda!〃

〃Ruin from me to you and to my child!〃 said Hippolita 〃what can this  mean?〃

〃Alas!〃 said Isabella; 〃the purity of your own heart prevents your  seeing the depravity of others。  Manfred; your lord; that impious man  … 〃

〃Hold;〃 said Hippolita; 〃you must not in my presence; young lady;  mention Manfred with disrespect:  he is my lord and husband; and … 〃

〃Will not long be so;〃 said Isabella; 〃if his wicked purposes can be  carried into execution。〃

〃This language amazes me;〃 said Hippolita。  〃Your feeling; Isabella;  is warm; but until this hour I never knew it betray you into  intemperance。  What deed of Manfred authorises you to treat him as a  murderer; an assassin?〃

〃Thou virtuous; and too credulous Princess!〃 replied Isabella; 〃it is  not thy life he aims at … it is to separate himself from thee! to  divorce thee! to … 〃

〃To divorce me!〃  〃To divorce my mother!〃 cried Hippolita and Matilda  at once。

〃Yes;〃 said Isabella; 〃and to complete his crime; he meditates … I  cannot speak it!〃

〃What can surpass what thou hast already uttered?〃 said Matilda。

Hippolita was silent。  Grief choked her speech; and the recollection  of Manfred's late ambiguous discourses confirmed what she heard。

〃Excellent; dear lady! madam! mother!〃 cried Isabella; flinging  herself at Hippolita's feet in a transport of passion; 〃trust me;  believe me; I will die a thousand deaths sooner than consent to injure  you; than yield to so odious … oh! … 〃

〃This is too much!〃 cried Hippolita:  〃What crimes does one crime  suggest!  Rise; dear Isabella; I do not doubt your virtue。  Oh!  Matilda; this stroke is too heavy for thee! weep not; my child; and  not a murmur; I charge thee。  Remember; he is thy father still!〃

〃But you are my mother too;〃 said Matilda fervently; 〃and you are  virtuous; you are guiltless! … Oh! must not I; must not I complain?〃

〃You must not;〃 said Hippolita … 〃come; all will yet be well。   Manfred; in the agony for the loss of thy brother; knew not what he  said; perhaps Isabella misunderstood him; his heart is good … and; my  child; thou knowest not all!  There is a destiny hangs over us; the  hand of Providence is stretched out; oh! could I but save thee from  the wreck!  Yes;〃 continued she in a firmer tone; 〃perhaps the  sacrifice of myself may atone for all; I will go and offer myself to  this divorce … it boots not what becomes of me。  I will withdraw into  the neighbouring monastery; and waste the remainder of life in prayers  and tears for my child and … the Prince!〃

〃Thou art as much too good for this world;〃 said Isabella; 〃as Manfred  is execrable; but think not; lady; that thy weakness shall determine  for me。  I swear; hear me all ye angels … 〃

〃Stop; I adjure thee;〃 cried Hippolita:  〃remember thou dost not  depend on thyself; thou hast a father。〃

〃My father is too pious; too noble;〃 interrupted Isabella; 〃to command  an impious deed。  But should he command it; can a father enjoin a  cursed act?  I was contracted to the son; can I wed the father?  No;  madam; no; force should not drag me to Manfred's hated bed。  I loathe  him; I abhor him:  divine and human laws forbid … and my friend; my  dearest Matilda! would I wound her tender soul by injuring her adored  mother? my own mother … I never have known another〃 …

〃Oh! she is the mother of both!〃 cried Matilda:  〃can we; can we;  Isabella; adore her too much?〃

〃My lovely children;〃 said the touched Hippolita; 〃your tenderness  overpowers me … but I must not give way to it。  It is not ours to make  election for ourselves:  heaven; our fathers; and our husbands must  decide for us。  Have patience until you hear what Manfred and Frederic  have determined。  If the Marquis accepts Matilda's hand; I know she  will readily obey。  Heaven may interpose and prevent the rest。  What  means my child?〃 continued she; seeing Matilda fall at her feet with a  flood of speechless tears … 〃But no; answer me not; my daughter:  I  must not hear a word against the pleasure of thy father。〃

〃Oh! doubt not my obedience; my dreadful obedience to him and to you!〃  said Matilda。  〃But can I; most respected of women; can I experience  all this tenderness; this world of goodness; and conceal a thought  from the best of mothers?〃

〃What art thou going to utter?〃 said Isabella trembling。  〃Recollect  thyself; Matilda。〃

〃No; Isabella;〃 said the Princess; 〃I should not deserve this  incomparable parent; if the inmost recesses of my soul harboured a  thought without her permission … nay; I have offended her; I have  suffered a passion to enter my heart without her avowal … but here I  disclaim it; here I vow to heaven and her … 〃

〃My child! my child;〃 said Hippolita; 〃what words are these! what new  calamities has fate in store for us!  Thou; a passion?  Thou; in this  hour of destruction … 〃

〃Oh! I see all my guilt!〃 said Matilda。  〃I abhor myself; if I cost my  mother a pang。  She is the dearest thing I have on earth … Oh! I will  never; never behold him more!〃

〃Isabella;〃 said Hippolita; 〃thou art conscious to this unhappy  secret; whatever it is。  Speak!〃

〃What!〃 cried Matilda; 〃have I so forfeited my mother's love; that she  will not permit me even to speak my own guilt? oh! wretched; wretched  Matilda!〃

〃Thou art too cruel;〃 said Isabella to Hippolita:  〃canst thou behold  this anguish of a virtuous mind; and not commiserate it?〃

〃Not pity my child!〃 said Hippolita; catching Matilda in her arms …  〃Oh! I know she is good; she is all virtue; all tenderness; and duty。   I do forgive thee; my excellent; my only hope!〃

The princesses then revealed to Hippolita their mutual inclination for  Theodore; and the purpose of Isabella to resign him to Matilda。   Hippolita blamed their imprudence; and showed them the improbability  that either father would consent to bestow his heiress on so poor a  man; though nobly born。  Some comfort it gave her to find their  passion of so recent a date; and that Theodore had had but little  cause to suspect it in either。  She strictly enjoined them to avoid  all correspondence with him。  This Matilda fervently promised:  but  Isabella; who flattered herself that she meant no more than to promote  his union with her friend; could not determine to avoid h
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