Monk: A Romance (Version 2) — Chapter 6- Part 1
LEE.
The burst of transport was past: Ambrosio’s lust was satisfied;
Pleasure fled, and Shame usurped her seat in his bosom.
Confused and terrified at his weakness, He drew himself from Matilda’s arms.
His perjury presented itself before him: He reflected on the scene which had just been acted, and trembled at the consequences of a discovery.
He looked forward with horror; His heart was despondent, and became the abode of satiety and disgust.
He avoided the eyes of his Partner in frailty; A melancholy silence prevailed, during which Both seemed busied with disagreeable reflections.
Matilda was the first to break it.
She took his hand gently, and pressed it to her burning lips.
“Ambrosio!
” She murmured in a soft and trembling voice.
The Abbot started at the sound.
He turned his eyes upon Matilda’s: They were filled with tears; Her cheeks were covered with blushes, and her supplicating looks seemed to solicit his compassion.
“Dangerous Woman!
” said He; “Into what an abyss of misery have you plunged me!
Should your sex be discovered, my honour, nay my life, must pay for the pleasure of a few moments.
Fool that I was, to trust myself to your seductions!
What can now be done?
How can my offence be expiated?
What atonement can purchase the pardon of my crime?
Wretched Matilda, you have destroyed my quiet for ever!
” “To me these reproaches, Ambrosio?
To me, who have sacrificed for you the world’s pleasures, the luxury of wealth, the delicacy of sex, my Friends, my fortune, and my fame?
What have you lost, which I preserved?
Have _I_ not shared in _your_ guilt?
Have _you_ not shared in _my_ pleasure?
Guilt, did I say?
In what consists ours, unless in the opinion of an ill-judging World?
Let that World be ignorant of them, and our joys become divine and blameless!
Unnatural were your vows of Celibacy; Man was not created for such a state; And were Love a crime, God never would have made it so sweet, so irresistible!
Then banish those clouds from your brow, my Ambrosio!
Indulge in those pleasures freely, without which life is a worthless gift: Cease to reproach me with having taught you what is bliss, and feel equal transports with the Woman who adores you!
” As She spoke, her eyes were filled with a delicious languor.
Her bosom panted: She twined her arms voluptuously round him, drew him towards her, and glewed her lips to his.
Ambrosio again raged with desire: The die was thrown: His vows were already broken; He had already committed the crime, and why should He refrain from enjoying its reward?
He clasped her to his breast with redoubled ardour.
No longer repressed by the sense of shame, He gave a loose to his intemperate appetites.
While the fair Wanton put every invention of lust in practice, every refinement in the art of pleasure which might heighten the bliss of her possession, and render her Lover’s transports still more exquisite, Ambrosio rioted in delights till then unknown to him: Swift fled the night, and the Morning blushed to behold him still clasped in the embraces of Matilda.
Intoxicated with pleasure, the Monk rose from the Syren’s luxurious Couch.
He no longer reflected with shame upon his incontinence, or dreaded the vengeance of offended heaven.
His only fear was lest Death should rob him of enjoyments, for which his long Fast had only given a keener edge to his appetite.
Matilda was still under the influence of poison, and the voluptuous Monk trembled less for his Preserver’s life than his Concubine’s. Deprived of her, He would not easily find another Mistress with whom He could indulge his passions so fully, and so safely.
He therefore pressed her with earnestness to use the means of preservation which She had declared to be in her possession.
“Yes!
” replied Matilda; “Since you have made me feel that Life is valuable, I will rescue mine at any rate.
No dangers shall appall me: I will look upon the consequences of my action boldly, nor shudder at the horrors which they present.
I will think my sacrifice scarcely worthy to purchase your possession, and remember that a moment past in your arms in this world o’er-pays an age of punishment in the next.
But before I take this step, Ambrosio, give me your solemn oath never to enquire by what means I shall preserve myself.
” He did so in a manner the most binding.
“I thank you, my Beloved.
This precaution is necessary, for though you know it not, you are under the command of vulgar prejudices: The Business on which I must be employed this night, might startle you from its singularity, and lower me in your opinion.
Tell me; Are you possessed of the Key of the low door on the western side of the Garden?
” “The Door which opens into the burying-ground common to us and the Sisterhood of St. Clare?
I have not the Key, but can easily procure it.
” “You have only this to do.
Admit me into the burying-ground at midnight; Watch while I descend into the vaults of St. Clare, lest some prying eye should observe my actions; Leave me there alone for an hour, and that life is safe which I dedicate to your pleasures.
To prevent creating suspicion, do not visit me during the day.
Remember the Key, and that I expect you before twelve.
Hark!
I hear steps approaching!
Leave me; I will pretend to sleep.
” The Friar obeyed, and left the Cell.
As He opened the door, Father Pablos made his appearance.
“I come,” said the Latter, “to enquire after the health of my young Patient.
” “Hush!
” replied Ambrosio, laying his finger upon his lip; “Speak softly; I am just come from him.
He has fallen into a profound slumber, which doubtless will be of service to him.
Do not disturb him at present, for He wishes to repose.
” Father Pablos obeyed, and hearing the Bell ring, accompanied the Abbot to Matins.
Ambrosio felt embarrassed as He entered the Chapel.
Guilt was new to him, and He fancied that every eye could read the transactions of the night upon his countenance.
He strove to pray; His bosom no longer glowed with devotion; His thoughts insensibly wandered to Matilda’s secret charms.
But what He wanted in purity of heart, He supplied by exterior sanctity.
The better to cloak his transgression, He redoubled his pretensions to the semblance of virtue, and never appeared more devoted to Heaven as since He had broken through his engagements.
Thus did He unconsciously add Hypocrisy to perjury and incontinence; He had fallen into the latter errors from yielding to seduction almost irresistible; But he was now guilty of a voluntary fault by endeavouring to conceal those into which Another had betrayed him.
The Matins concluded, Ambrosio retired to his Cell.
The pleasures which He had just tasted for the first time were still impressed upon his mind.
His brain was bewildered, and presented a confused Chaos of remorse, voluptuousness, inquietude, and fear.
He looked back with regret to that peace of soul, that security of virtue, which till then had been his portion.
He had indulged in excesses whose very idea but four and twenty hours before He had recoiled at with horror.
He shuddered at reflecting that a trifling indiscretion on his part, or on Matilda’s, would overturn that fabric of reputation which it had cost him thirty years to erect, and render him the abhorrence of that People of whom He was then the Idol.
Conscience painted to him in glaring colours his perjury and weakness; Apprehension magnified to him the horrors of punishment, and He already fancied himself in the prisons of the Inquisition.
To these tormenting ideas succeeded Matilda’s beauty, and those delicious lessons which, once learnt, can never be forgotten.
A single glance thrown upon these reconciled him with himself.
He considered the pleasures of the former night to have been purchased at an easy price by the sacrifice of innocence and honour.
Their very remembrance filled his soul with ecstacy; He cursed his foolish vanity, which had induced him to waste in obscurity the bloom of life, ignorant of the blessings of Love and Woman.
He determined at all events to continue his commerce with Matilda, and called every argument to his aid which might confirm his resolution.
He asked himself, provided his irregularity was unknown, in what would his fault consist, and what consequences He had to apprehend?
By adhering strictly to every rule of his order save Chastity, He doubted not to retain the esteem of Men, and even the protection of heaven.
He trusted easily to be forgiven so slight and natural a deviation from his vows: But He forgot that having pronounced those vows, Incontinence, in Laymen the most venial of errors, became in his person the most heinous of crimes.
Once decided upon his future conduct, his mind became more easy.
He threw himself upon his bed, and strove by sleeping to recruit his strength exhausted by his nocturnal excesses.
He awoke refreshed, and eager for a repetition of his pleasures.
Obedient to Matilda’s order, He visited not her Cell during the day.
Father Pablos mentioned in the Refectory that Rosario had at length been prevailed upon to follow his prescription; But that the medicine had not produced the slightest effect, and that He believed no mortal skill could rescue him from the Grave.
With this opinion the Abbot agreed, and affected to lament the untimely fate of a Youth, whose talents had appeared so promising.
The night arrived.
Ambrosio had taken care to procure from the Porter the Key of the low door opening into the Cemetery.
Furnished with this, when all was silent in the Monastery, He quitted his Cell, and hastened to Matilda’s. She had left her bed, and was drest before his arrival.
“I have been expecting you with impatience,” said She; “My life depends upon these moments.
Have you the Key?
” “I have.
” “Away then to the garden.
We have no time to lose.
Follow me!
” She took a small covered Basket from the Table.
Bearing this in one hand, and the Lamp, which was flaming upon the Hearth, in the other, She hastened from the Cell.
Ambrosio followed her.
Both maintained a profound silence.
She moved on with quick but cautious steps, passed through the Cloisters, and reached the Western side of the Garden.
Her eyes flashed with a fire and wildness which impressed the Monk at once with awe and horror.
A determined desperate courage reigned upon her brow.
She gave the Lamp to Ambrosio; Then taking from him the Key, She unlocked the low Door, and entered the Cemetery.
It was a vast and spacious Square planted with yew trees: Half of it belonged to the Abbey; The other half was the property of the Sisterhood of St. Clare, and was protected by a roof of Stone.
The Division was marked by an iron railing, the wicket of which was generally left unlocked.
Thither Matilda bent her course.
She opened the wicket and sought for the door leading to the subterraneous Vaults, where reposed the mouldering Bodies of the Votaries of St. Clare.
The night was perfectly dark; Neither Moon or Stars were visible.
Luckily there was not a breath of Wind, and the Friar bore his Lamp in full security: By the assistance of its beams, the door of the Sepulchre was soon discovered.
It was sunk within the hollow of a wall, and almost concealed by thick festoons of ivy hanging over it.
Three steps of rough-hewn Stone conducted to it, and Matilda was on the point of descending them when She suddenly started back.
“There are People in the Vaults!
” She whispered to the Monk; “Conceal yourself till they are past.
She took refuge behind a lofty and magnificent Tomb, erected in honour of the Convent’s Foundress.
Ambrosio followed her example, carefully hiding his Lamp lest its beams should betray them.
But a few moments had elapsed when the Door was pushed open leading to the subterraneous Caverns.
Rays of light proceeded up the Staircase: They enabled the concealed Spectators to observe two Females drest in religious habits, who seemed engaged in earnest conversation.
The Abbot had no difficulty to recognize the Prioress of St. Clare in the first, and one of the elder Nuns in her Companion.
“Every thing is prepared,” said the Prioress; “Her fate shall be decided tomorrow.
All her tears and sighs will be unavailing.
No!
In five and twenty years that I have been Superior of this Convent, never did I witness a transaction more infamous!
” “You must expect much opposition to your will;” the Other replied in a milder voice; “Agnes has many Friends in the Convent, and in particular the Mother St. Ursula will espouse her cause most warmly.
In truth, She merits to have Friends; and I wish I could prevail upon you to consider her youth, and her peculiar situation.
She seems sensible of her fault;
The excess of her grief proves her penitence, and I am convinced that her tears flow more from contrition than fear of punishment.
Reverend Mother, would you be persuaded to mitigate the severity of your sentence, would you but deign to overlook this first transgression, I offer myself as the pledge of her future conduct.
” “Overlook it, say you?
Mother Camilla, you amaze me!
What?
After disgracing me in the presence of Madrid’s Idol, of the very Man on whom I most wished to impress an idea of the strictness of my discipline?
How despicable must I have appeared to the reverend Abbot!
No, Mother, No!
I never can forgive the insult.
I cannot better convince Ambrosio that I abhor such crimes, than by punishing that of Agnes with all the rigour of which our severe laws admit.
Cease then your supplications;
They will all be unavailing.
My resolution is taken: Tomorrow Agnes shall be made a terrible example of my justice and resentment.
” The Mother Camilla seemed not to give up the point, but by this time the Nuns were out of hearing.
The Prioress unlocked the door which communicated with St. Clare’s Chapel, and having entered with her Companion, closed it again after them.
Matilda now asked, who was this Agnes with whom the Prioress was thus incensed, and what connexion She could have with Ambrosio.
He related her adventure; and He added, that since that time his ideas having undergone a thorough revolution, He now felt much compassion for the unfortunate Nun.
“I design,” said He, “to request an audience of the Domina tomorrow, and use every means of obtaining a mitigation of her sentence.
” “Beware of what you do!
” interrupted Matilda; “Your sudden change of sentiment may naturally create surprize, and may give birth to suspicions which it is most our interest to avoid.
Rather, redouble your outward austerity, and thunder out menaces against the errors of others, the better to conceal your own.
Abandon the Nun to her fate.
Your interfering might be dangerous, and her imprudence merits to be punished: She is unworthy to enjoy Love’s pleasures, who has not wit enough to conceal them.
But in discussing this trifling subject I waste moments which are precious.
The night flies apace, and much must be done before morning.
The Nuns are retired; All is safe.
Give me the Lamp, Ambrosio.
I must descend alone into these Caverns: Wait here, and if any one approaches, warn me by your voice; But as you value your existence, presume not to follow me.
Your life would fall a victim to your imprudent curiosity.
” Thus saying She advanced towards the Sepulchre, still holding her Lamp in one hand, and her little Basket in the other.
She touched the door: It turned slowly upon its grating hinges, and a narrow winding staircase of black marble presented itself to her eyes.
She descended it.
Ambrosio remained above, watching the faint beams of the Lamp as they still proceeded up the stairs.
They disappeared, and He found himself in total darkness.
Left to himself He could not reflect without surprize on the sudden change in Matilda’s character and sentiments.
But a few days had past since She appeared the mildest and softest of her sex, devoted to his will, and looking up to him as to a superior Being.
Now She assumed a sort of courage and manliness in her manners and discourse but ill-calculated to please him.
She spoke no longer to insinuate, but command: He found himself unable to cope with her in argument, and was unwillingly obliged to confess the superiority of her judgment.
Every moment convinced him of the astonishing powers of her mind: But what She gained in the opinion of the Man, She lost with interest in the affection of the Lover.
He regretted Rosario, the fond, the gentle, and submissive: He grieved that Matilda preferred the virtues of his sex to those of her own; and when He thought of her expressions respecting the devoted Nun, He could not help blaming them as cruel and unfeminine.
Pity is a sentiment so natural, so appropriate to the female character, that it is scarcely a merit for a Woman to possess it, but to be without it is a grievous crime.
Ambrosio could not easily forgive his Mistress for being deficient in this amiable quality.
However, though he blamed her insensibility, He felt the truth of her observations; and though He pitied sincerely the unfortunate Agnes, He resolved to drop the idea of interposing in her behalf.
Near an hour had elapsed, since Matilda descended into the Caverns;
Still She returned not.
Ambrosio’s curiosity was excited.
He drew near the Staircase.
He listened.
All was silent, except that at intervals He caught the sound of Matilda’s voice, as it wound along the subterraneous passages, and was re-echoed by the Sepulchre’s vaulted roofs.
She was at too great a distance for him to distinguish her words, and ere they reached him they were deadened into a low murmur.
He longed to penetrate into this mystery.
He resolved to disobey her injunctions and follow her into the Cavern.
He advanced to the Staircase; He had already descended some steps when his courage failed him.
He remembered Matilda’s menaces if He infringed her orders, and his bosom was filled with a secret unaccountable awe.
He returned up the stairs, resumed his former station, and waited impatiently for the conclusion of this adventure.
Suddenly He was sensible of a violent shock: An earthquake rocked the ground.
The Columns which supported the roof under which He stood were so strongly shaken, that every moment menaced him with its fall, and at the same moment He heard a loud and tremendous burst of thunder.
It ceased, and his eyes being fixed upon the Staircase, He saw a bright column of light flash along the Caverns beneath.
It was seen but for an instant.
No sooner did it disappear, than all was once more quiet and obscure.
Profound Darkness again surrounded him, and the silence of night was only broken by the whirring Bat, as She flitted slowly by him.
