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the castle of otranto-第3章

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In the meantime; the care and zeal of the young Ladies had brought the  Princess Hippolita to herself; who amidst the transports of her own  sorrow frequently demanded news of her lord; would have dismissed her  attendants to watch over him; and at last enjoined Matilda to leave  her; and visit and comfort her father。  Matilda; who wanted no  affectionate duty to Manfred; though she trembled at his austerity;  obeyed the orders of Hippolita; whom she tenderly recommended to  Isabella; and inquiring of the domestics for her father; was informed  that he was retired to his chamber; and had commanded that nobody  should have admittance to him。  Concluding that he was immersed in  sorrow for the death of her brother; and fearing to renew his tears by  the sight of his sole remaining child; she hesitated whether she  should break in upon his affliction; yet solicitude for him; backed by  the commands of her mother; encouraged her to venture disobeying the  orders he had given; a fault she had never been guilty of before。

The gentle timidity of her nature made her pause for some minutes at  his door。  She heard him traverse his chamber backwards; and forwards  with disordered steps; a mood which increased her apprehensions。  She  was; however; just going to beg admittance; when Manfred suddenly  opened the door; and as it was now twilight; concurring with the  disorder of his mind; he did not distinguish the person; but asked  angrily; who it was?  Matilda replied; trembling …

〃My dearest father; it is I; your daughter。〃

Manfred; stepping back hastily; cried; 〃Begone!  I do not want a  daughter;〃 and flinging back abruptly; clapped the door against the  terrified Matilda。

She was too well acquainted with her father's impetuosity to venture a  second intrusion。  When she had a little recovered the shock of so  bitter a reception; she wiped away her tears to prevent the additional  stab that the knowledge of it would give to Hippolita; who questioned  her in the most anxious terms on the health of Manfred; and how he  bore his loss。  Matilda assured her he was well; and supported his  misfortune with manly fortitude。

〃But will he not let me see him?〃 said Hippolita mournfully; 〃will he  not permit me to blend my tears with his; and shed a mother's sorrows  in the bosom of her Lord?  Or do you deceive me; Matilda?  I know how  Manfred doted on his son:  is not the stroke too heavy for him? has he  not sunk under it?  You do not answer me … alas! I dread the worst! …  Raise me; my maidens; I will; I will see my Lord。  Bear me to him  instantly:  he is dearer to me even than my children。〃

Matilda made signs to Isabella to prevent Hippolita's rising; and both  those lovely young women were using their gentle violence to stop and  calm the Princess; when a servant; on the part of Manfred; arrived and  told Isabella that his Lord demanded to speak with her。

〃With me!〃 cried Isabella。

〃Go;〃 said Hippolita; relieved by a message from her Lord:  〃Manfred  cannot support the sight of his own family。  He thinks you less  disordered than we are; and dreads the shock of my grief。  Console  him; dear Isabella; and tell him I will smother my own anguish rather  than add to his。〃

As it was now evening the servant who conducted Isabella bore a torch  before her。  When they came to Manfred; who was walking impatiently  about the gallery; he started; and said hastily …

〃Take away that light; and begone。〃

Then shutting the door impetuously; he flung himself upon a bench  against the wall; and bade Isabella sit by him。  She obeyed trembling。

〃I sent for you; Lady;〃 said he … and then stopped under great  appearance of confusion。

〃My Lord!〃

〃Yes; I sent for you on a matter of great moment;〃 resumed he。  〃Dry  your tears; young Lady … you have lost your bridegroom。  Yes; cruel  fate! and I have lost the hopes of my race!  But Conrad was not worthy  of your beauty。〃

〃How; my Lord!〃 said Isabella; 〃sure you do not suspect me of not  feeling the concern I ought:  my duty and affection would have always  … 〃

〃Think no more of him;〃 interrupted Manfred; 〃he was a sickly; puny  child; and Heaven has perhaps taken him away; that I might not trust  the honours of my house on so frail a foundation。  The line of Manfred  calls for numerous supports。  My foolish fondness for that boy blinded  the eyes of my prudence … but it is better as it is。  I hope; in a few  years; to have reason to rejoice at the death of Conrad。〃

Words cannot paint the astonishment of Isabella。  At first she  apprehended that grief had disordered Manfred's understanding。  Her  next thought suggested that this strange discourse was designed to  ensnare her:  she feared that Manfred had perceived her indifference  for his son:  and in consequence of that idea she replied …

〃Good my Lord; do not doubt my tenderness:  my heart would have  accompanied my hand。  Conrad would have engrossed all my care; and  wherever fate shall dispose of me; I shall always cherish his memory;  and regard your Highness and the virtuous Hippolita as my parents。〃

〃Curse on Hippolita!〃 cried Manfred。  〃Forget her from this moment; as  I do。  In short; Lady; you have missed a husband undeserving of your  charms:  they shall now be better disposed of。  Instead of a sickly  boy; you shall have a husband in the prime of his age; who will know  how to value your beauties; and who may expect a numerous offspring。〃

〃Alas; my Lord!〃 said Isabella; 〃my mind is too sadly engrossed by the  recent catastrophe in your family to think of another marriage。  If  ever my father returns; and it shall be his pleasure; I shall obey; as  I did when I consented to give my hand to your son:  but until his  return; permit me to remain under your hospitable roof; and employ the  melancholy hours in assuaging yours; Hippolita's; and the fair  Matilda's affliction。〃

〃I desired you once before;〃 said Manfred angrily; 〃not to name that  woman:  from this hour she must be a stranger to you; as she must be  to me。  In short; Isabella; since I cannot give you my son; I offer  you myself。〃

〃Heavens!〃 cried Isabella; waking from her delusion; 〃what do I hear?   You! my Lord!  You!  My father…in…law! the father of Conrad! the  husband of the virtuous and tender Hippolita!〃

〃I tell you;〃 said Manfred imperiously; 〃Hippolita is no longer my  wife; I divorce her from this hour。  Too long has she cursed me by her  unfruitfulness。  My fate depends on having sons; and this night I  trust will give a new date to my hopes。〃

At those words he seized the cold hand of Isabella; who was half dead  with fright and horror。  She shrieked; and started from him; Manfred  rose to pursue her; when the moon; which was now up; and gleamed in at  the opposite casement; presented to his sight the plumes of the fatal  helmet; which rose to the height of the windows; waving backwards and  forwards in a tempestuous manner; and accompanied with a hollow and  rustling sound。  Isabella; who gathered courage from her situation;  and who dreaded nothing so much as Manfred's pursuit of his  declaration; cried …

〃Look; my Lord! see; Heaven itself declares against your impious  intentions!〃

〃Heaven nor Hell shall impede my designs;〃 said Manfred; advancing  again to seize the Princess。

At that instant the portrait of his grandfather; which hung over the  bench where they had been sitting; uttered a deep sigh; and heaved its  breast。

Isabella; whose back was turned to the picture; saw not the motion;  nor knew whence the sound came; but started; and said …

〃Hark; my Lord!  What sound was that?〃 and at the same time made  towards the door。

Manfred; distracted between the flight of Isabella; who had now  reached the stairs; and yet unable to keep his eyes from the picture;  which began to move; had; however; advanced some steps after her;  still looking backwards on the portrait; when he saw it quit its  panel; and descend on the floor with a grave and melancholy air。

〃Do I dream?〃 cried Manfred; returning; 〃or are the devils themselves  in league against me?  Speak; internal spectre!  Or; if thou art my  grandsire; why dost thou too conspire against thy wretched descendant;  who too dearly pays for … 〃  Ere he could finish the sentence; the  vision sighed again; and made a sign to Manfred to follow him。

〃Lead on!〃 cried Manfred; 〃I will follow thee to the gulf of  perdition。〃

The spectre marched sedately; but dejected; to the end of the gallery;  and turned into a chamber on the right hand。  Manfred accompanied him  at a little distance; full of anxiety and horror; but resolved。  As he  would have entered the chamber; the door was clapped to with violence  by an invisible hand。  The Prince; collecting courage from this delay;  would have forcibly burst open the door with his foot; but found that  it resisted his utmost efforts。

〃Since Hell will not satisfy my curiosity;〃 said Manfred; 〃I will use  the human means in my power for preserving my race; Isabella shall not  escape me。〃

The lady; whose resolution had given way to terror the moment she had  quitted Manfred; continued her flight to the bottom of the principal  staircase。  There she stopped; not knowing whither to direct her  steps; nor how
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