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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7371-h.zip b/7371-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b2679a --- /dev/null +++ b/7371-h.zip diff --git a/7371-h/7371-h.htm b/7371-h/7371-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e89211 --- /dev/null +++ b/7371-h/7371-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8377 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of A Sicilian Romance, by Ann Radcliffe +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 4% } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.contents {text-indent: -3%; + margin-left: 5% } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 4em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.intro {font-size: 90% ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sicilian Romance, by Ann Radcliffe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Sicilian Romance + +Author: Ann Radcliffe + +Posting Date: April 12, 2014 [EBook #7371] +Release Date: January, 2005 +First Posted: April 22, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SICILIAN ROMANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Jean Lefever. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1> +<br /><br /><br /> +A Sicilian Romance +</h1> + +<p class="t2"> +by Ann Radcliffe +</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p> +On the northern shore of Sicily are still to be seen the magnificent +remains of a castle, which formerly belonged to the noble house of +Mazzini. It stands in the centre of a small bay, and upon a gentle +acclivity, which, on one side, slopes towards the sea, and on the +other rises into an eminence crowned by dark woods. The situation is +admirably beautiful and picturesque, and the ruins have an air of +ancient grandeur, which, contrasted with the present solitude of the +scene, impresses the traveller with awe and curiosity. During my +travels abroad I visited this spot. As I walked over the loose +fragments of stone, which lay scattered through the immense area of +the fabrick, and surveyed the sublimity and grandeur of the ruins, I +recurred, by a natural association of ideas, to the times when these +walls stood proudly in their original splendour, when the halls were +the scenes of hospitality and festive magnificence, and when they +resounded with the voices of those whom death had long since swept +from the earth. 'Thus,' said I, 'shall the present generation—he who +now sinks in misery—and he who now swims in pleasure, alike pass +away and be forgotten.' My heart swelled with the reflection; and, as +I turned from the scene with a sigh, I fixed my eyes upon a friar, +whose venerable figure, gently bending towards the earth, formed no +uninteresting object in the picture. He observed my emotion; and, as +my eye met his, shook his head and pointed to the ruin. 'These walls,' +said he, 'were once the seat of luxury and vice. They exhibited a +singular instance of the retribution of Heaven, and were from that +period forsaken, and abandoned to decay.' His words excited my +curiosity, and I enquired further concerning their meaning. +</p> + +<p> +'A solemn history belongs to this castle, said he, 'which is too long +and intricate for me to relate. It is, however, contained in a +manuscript in our library, of which I could, perhaps, procure you a +sight. A brother of our order, a descendant of the noble house of +Mazzini, collected and recorded the most striking incidents relating +to his family, and the history thus formed, he left as a legacy to our +convent. If you please, we will walk thither.' +</p> + +<p> +I accompanied him to the convent, and the friar introduced me to his +superior, a man of an intelligent mind and benevolent heart, with whom +I passed some hours in interesting conversation. I believe my +sentiments pleased him; for, by his indulgence, I was permitted to +take abstracts of the history before me, which, with some further +particulars obtained in conversation with the abate, I have arranged +in the following pages. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER I +</h3> + +<p> +Towards the close of the sixteenth century, this castle was in the +possession of Ferdinand, fifth marquis of Mazzini, and was for some +years the principal residence of his family. He was a man of a +voluptuous and imperious character. To his first wife, he married +Louisa Bernini, second daughter of the Count della Salario, a lady yet +more distinguished for the sweetness of her manners and the gentleness +of her disposition, than for her beauty. She brought the marquis one +son and two daughters, who lost their amiable mother in early +childhood. The arrogant and impetuous character of the marquis +operated powerfully upon the mild and susceptible nature of his lady: +and it was by many persons believed, that his unkindness and neglect +put a period to her life. However this might be, he soon afterwards +married Maria de Vellorno, a young lady eminently beautiful, but of a +character very opposite to that of her predecessor. She was a woman of +infinite art, devoted to pleasure, and of an unconquerable spirit. The +marquis, whose heart was dead to paternal tenderness, and whose +present lady was too volatile to attend to domestic concerns, +committed the education of his daughters to the care of a lady, +completely qualified for the undertaking, and who was distantly +related to the late marchioness. +</p> + +<p> +He quitted Mazzini soon after his second marriage, for the gaieties +and splendour of Naples, whither his son accompanied him. Though +naturally of a haughty and overbearing disposition, he was governed by +his wife. His passions were vehement, and she had the address to bend +them to her own purpose; and so well to conceal her influence, that he +thought himself most independent when he was most enslaved. He paid an +annual visit to the castle of Mazzini; but the marchioness seldom +attended him, and he staid only to give such general directions +concerning the education of his daughters, as his pride, rather than +his affection, seemed to dictate. +</p> + +<p> +Emilia, the elder, inherited much of her mother's disposition. She had +a mild and sweet temper, united with a clear and comprehensive mind. +Her younger sister, Julia, was of a more lively cast. An extreme +sensibility subjected her to frequent uneasiness; her temper was warm, +but generous; she was quickly irritated, and quickly appeased; and to +a reproof, however gentle, she would often weep, but was never sullen. +Her imagination was ardent, and her mind early exhibited symptoms of +genius. It was the particular care of Madame de Menon to counteract +those traits in the disposition of her young pupils, which appeared +inimical to their future happiness; and for this task she had +abilities which entitled her to hope for success. A series of early +misfortunes had entendered her heart, without weakening the powers of +her understanding. In retirement she had acquired tranquillity, and +had almost lost the consciousness of those sorrows which yet threw a +soft and not unpleasing shade over her character. She loved her young +charge with maternal fondness, and their gradual improvement and +respectful tenderness repaid all her anxiety. Madame excelled in music +and drawing. She had often forgot her sorrows in these amusements, +when her mind was too much occupied to derive consolation from books, +and she was assiduous to impart to Emilia and Julia a power so +valuable as that of beguiling the sense of affliction. Emilia's taste +led her to drawing, and she soon made rapid advances in that art. +Julia was uncommonly susceptible of the charms of harmony. She had +feelings which trembled in unison to all its various and enchanting +powers. +</p> + +<p> +The instructions of madame she caught with astonishing quickness, and +in a short time attained to a degree of excellence in her favorite +study, which few persons have ever exceeded. Her manner was entirely +her own. It was not in the rapid intricacies of execution, that she +excelled so much in as in that delicacy of taste, and in those +enchanting powers of expression, which seem to breathe a soul through +the sound, and which take captive the heart of the hearer. The lute +was her favorite instrument, and its tender notes accorded well with +the sweet and melting tones of her voice. +</p> + +<p> +The castle of Mazzini was a large irregular fabrick, and seemed suited +to receive a numerous train of followers, such as, in those days, +served the nobility, either in the splendour of peace, or the +turbulence of war. Its present family inhabited only a small part of +it; and even this part appeared forlorn and almost desolate from the +spaciousness of the apartments, and the length of the galleries which +led to them. A melancholy stillness reigned through the halls, and the +silence of the courts, which were shaded by high turrets, was for many +hours together undisturbed by the sound of any foot-step. Julia, who +discovered an early taste for books, loved to retire in an evening to +a small closet in which she had collected her favorite authors. This +room formed the western angle of the castle: one of its windows looked +upon the sea, beyond which was faintly seen, skirting the horizon, the +dark rocky coast of Calabria; the other opened towards a part of the +castle, and afforded a prospect of the neighbouring woods. Her musical +instruments were here deposited, with whatever assisted her favorite +amusements. This spot, which was at once elegant, pleasant, and +retired, was embellished with many little ornaments of her own +invention, and with some drawings executed by her sister. The cioset +was adjoining her chamber, and was separated from the apartments of +madame only by a short gallery. This gallery opened into another, long +and winding, which led to the grand staircase, terminating in the +north hall, with which the chief apartments of the north side of the +edifice communicated. +</p> + +<p> +Madame de Menon's apartment opened into both galleries. It was in one +of these rooms that she usually spent the mornings, occupied in the +improvement of her young charge. The windows looked towards the sea, +and the room was light and pleasant. It was their custom to dine in +one of the lower apartments, and at table they were always joined by a +dependant of the marquis's, who had resided many years in the castle, +and who instructed the young ladies in the Latin tongue, and in +geography. During the fine evenings of summer, this little party +frequently supped in a pavilion, which was built on an eminence in the +woods belonging to the castle. From this spot the eye had an almost +boundless range of sea and land. It commanded the straits of Messina, +with the opposite shores of Calabria, and a great extent of the wild +and picturesque scenery of Sicily. Mount Etna, crowned with eternal +snows, and shooting from among the clouds, formed a grand and sublime +picture in the background of the scene. The city of Palermo was also +distinguishable; and Julia, as she gazed on its glittering spires; +would endeavour in imagination to depicture its beauties, while she +secretly sighed for a view of that world, from which she had hitherto +been secluded by the mean jealousy of the marchioness, upon whose mind +the dread of rival beauty operated strongly to the prejudice of Emilia +and Julia. She employed all her influence over the marquis to detain +them in retirement; and, though Emilia was now twenty, and her sister +eighteen, they had never passed the boundaries of their father's +domains. +</p> + +<p> +Vanity often produces unreasonable alarm; but the marchioness had in +this instance just grounds for apprehension; the beauty of her lord's +daughters has seldom been exceeded. The person of Emilia was finely +proportioned. Her complexion was fair, her hair flaxen, and her dark +blue eyes were full of sweet expression. Her manners were dignified +and elegant, and in her air was a feminine softness, a tender timidity +which irresistibly attracted the heart of the beholder. The figure of +Julia was light and graceful—her step was airy—her mien animated, +and her smile enchanting. Her eyes were dark, and full of fire, but +tempered with modest sweetness. Her features were finely turned—every +laughing grace played round her mouth, and her countenance quickly +discovered all the various emotions of her soul. The dark auburn hair, +which curled in beautiful profusion in her neck, gave a finishing +charm to her appearance. +</p> + +<p> +Thus lovely, and thus veiled in obscurity, were the daughters of the +noble Mazzini. But they were happy, for they knew not enough of the +world seriously to regret the want of its enjoyments, though Julia +would sometimes sigh for the airy image which her fancies painted, and +a painful curiosity would arise concerning the busy scenes from which +she was excluded. A return to her customary amusements, however, would +chase the ideal image from her mind, and restore her usual happy +complacency. Books, music, and painting, divided the hours of her +leisure, and many beautiful summer-evenings were spent in the +pavilion, where the refined conversation of madame, the poetry of +Tasso, the lute of Julia, and the friendship of Emilia, combined to +form a species of happiness, such as elevated and highly susceptible +minds are alone capable of receiving or communicating. Madame +understood and practised all the graces of conversation, and her young +pupils perceived its value, and caught the spirit of its character. +</p> + +<p> +Conversation may be divided into two classes—the familiar and the +sentimental. It is the province of the familiar, to diffuse +cheerfulness and ease—to open the heart of man to man, and to beam a +temperate sunshine upon the mind.—Nature and art must conspire to +render us susceptible of the charms, and to qualify us for the +practice of the second class of conversation, here termed sentimental, +and in which Madame de Menon particularly excelled. To good sense, +lively feeling, and natural delicacy of taste, must be united an +expansion of mind, and a refinement of thought, which is the result of +high cultivation. To render this sort of conversation irresistibly +attractive, a knowledge of the world is requisite, and that enchanting +case, that elegance of manner, which is to be acquired only by +frequenting the higher circles of polished life. In sentimental +conversation, subjects interesting to the heart, and to the +imagination, are brought forward; they are discussed in a kind of +sportive way, with animation and refinement, and are never continued +longer than politeness allows. Here fancy flourishes,—the +sensibilities expand—and wit, guided by delicacy and embellished by +taste—points to the heart. +</p> + +<p> +Such was the conversation of Madame de Menon; and the pleasant gaiety +of the pavilion seemed peculiarly to adapt it for the scene of social +delights. On the evening of a very sultry day, having supped in their +favorite spot, the coolness of the hour, and the beauty of the night, +tempted this happy party to remain there later than usual. Returning +home, they were surprised by the appearance of a light through the +broken window-shutters of an apartment, belonging to a division of the +castle which had for many years been shut up. They stopped to observe +it, when it suddenly disappeared, and was seen no more. Madame de +Menon, disturbed at this phaenomenon, hastened into the castle, with a +view of enquiring into the cause of it, when she was met in the north +hall by Vincent. She related to him what she had seen, and ordered an +immediate search to be made for the keys of those apartments. She +apprehended that some person had penetrated that part of the edifice +with an intention of plunder; and, disdaining a paltry fear where her +duty was concerned, she summoned the servants of the castle, with an +intention of accompanying them thither. Vincent smiled at her +apprehensions, and imputed what she had seen to an illusion, which the +solemnity of the hour had impressed upon her fancy. Madame, however, +persevered in her purpose; and, after along and repeated search, a +massey key, covered with rust, was produced. She then proceeded to the +southern side of the edifice, accompanied by Vincent, and followed by +the servants, who were agitated with impatient wonder. The key was +applied to an iron gate, which opened into a court that separated this +division from the other parts of the castle. They entered this court, +which was overgrown with grass and weeds, and ascended some steps that +led to a large door, which they vainly endeavoured to open. All the +different keys of the castle were applied to the lock, without effect, +and they were at length compelled to quit the place, without having +either satisfied their curiosity, or quieted their fears. Everything, +however, was still, and the light did not reappear. Madame concealed +her apprehensions, and the family retired to rest. +</p> + +<p> +This circumstance dwelt on the mind of Madame de Menon, and it was +some time before she ventured again to spend an evening in the +pavilion. After several months passed, without further disturbance or +discovery, another occurrence renewed the alarm. Julia had one night +remained in her closet later than usual. A favorite book had engaged +her attention beyond the hour of customary repose, and every +inhabitant of the castle, except herself, had long been lost in sleep. +She was roused from her forgetfulness, by the sound of the castle +clock, which struck one. Surprised at the lateness of the hour, she +rose in haste, and was moving to her chamber, when the beauty of the +night attracted her to the window. She opened it; and observing a fine +effect of moonlight upon the dark woods, leaned forwards. In that +situation she had not long remained, when she perceived a light +faintly flash through a casement in the uninhabited part of the +castle. A sudden tremor seized her, and she with difficulty supported +herself. In a few moments it disappeared, and soon after a figure, +bearing a lamp, proceeded from an obscure door belonging to the south +tower; and stealing along the outside of the castle walls, turned +round the southern angle, by which it was afterwards hid from the +view. Astonished and terrified at what she had seen, she hurried to +the apartment of Madame de Menon, and related the circumstance. The +servants were immediately roused, and the alarm became general. Madame +arose and descended into the north hall, where the domestics were +already assembled. No one could be found of courage sufficient to +enter into the courts; and the orders of madame were disregarded, when +opposed to the effects of superstitious terror. She perceived that +Vincent was absent, but as she was ordering him to be called, he +entered the hall. Surprised to find the family thus assembled, he was +told the occasion. He immediately ordered a party of the servants to +attend him round the castle walls; and with some reluctance, and more +fear, they obeyed him. They all returned to the hall, without having +witnessed any extraordinary appearance; but though their fears were +not confirmed, they were by no means dissipated. The appearance of a +light in a part of the castle which had for several years been shut +up, and to which time and circumstance had given an air of singular +desolation, might reasonably be supposed to excite a strong degree of +surprise and terror. In the minds of the vulgar, any species of the +wonderful is received with avidity; and the servants did not hesitate +in believing the southern division of the castle to be inhabited by a +supernatural power. Too much agitated to sleep, they agreed to watch +for the remainder of the night. For this purpose they arranged +themselves in the east gallery, where they had a view of the south +tower from which the light had issued. The night, however, passed +without any further disturbance; and the morning dawn, which they +beheld with inexpressible pleasure, dissipated for a while the glooms +of apprehension. But the return of evening renewed the general fear, +and for several successive nights the domestics watched the southern +tower. Although nothing remarkable was seen, a report was soon raised, +and believed, that the southern side of the castle was haunted. Madame +de Menon, whose mind was superior to the effects of superstition, was +yet disturbed and perplexed, and she determined, if the light +reappeared, to inform the marquis of the circumstance, and request the +keys of those apartments. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis, immersed in the dissipations of Naples, seldom remembered +the castle, or its inhabitants. His son, who had been educated under +his immediate care, was the sole object of his pride, as the +marchioness was that of his affection. He loved her with romantic +fondness, which she repaid with seeming tenderness, and secret +perfidy. She allowed herself a free indulgence in the most licentious +pleasures, yet conducted herself with an art so exquisite as to elude +discovery, and even suspicion. In her amours she was equally +inconstant as ardent, till the young Count Hippolitus de Vereza +attracted her attention. The natural fickleness of her disposition +seemed then to cease, and upon him she centered all her desires. +</p> + +<p> +The count Vereza lost his father in early childhood. He was now of +age, and had just entered upon the possession of his estates. His +person was graceful, yet manly; his mind accomplished, and his manners +elegant; his countenance expressed a happy union of spirit, dignity, +and benevolence, which formed the principal traits of his character. +He had a sublimity of thought, which taught him to despise the +voluptuous vices of the Neapolitans, and led him to higher pursuits. +He was the chosen and early friend of young Ferdinand, the son of the +marquis, and was a frequent visitor in the family. When the +marchioness first saw him, she treated him with great distinction, and +at length made such advances, as neither the honor nor the +inclinations of the count permitted him to notice. He conducted +himself toward her with frigid indifference, which served only to +inflame the passion it was meant to chill. The favors of the +marchioness had hitherto been sought with avidity, and accepted with +rapture; and the repulsive insensibility which she now experienced, +roused all her pride, and called into action every refinement of +coquetry. +</p> + +<p> +It was about this period that Vincent was seized with a disorder which +increased so rapidly, as in a short time to assume the most alarming +appearance. Despairing of life, he desired that a messenger might be +dispatched to inform the marquis of his situation, and to signify his +earnest wish to see him before he died. The progress of his disorder +defied every art of medicine, and his visible distress of mind seemed +to accelerate his fate. Perceiving his last hour approaching, he +requested to have a confessor. The confessor was shut up with him a +considerable time, and he had already received extreme unction, when +Madame de Menon was summoned to his bedside. The hand of death was now +upon him, cold damps hung upon his brows, and he, with difficulty, +raised his heavy eyes to madame as she entered the apartment. He +beckoned her towards him, and desiring that no person might be +permitted to enter the room, was for a few moments silent. His mind +appeared to labour under oppressive remembrances; he made several +attempts to speak, but either resolution or strength failed him. At +length, giving madame a look of unutterable anguish, 'Alas, madam,' +said he, 'Heaven grants not the prayer of such a wretch as I am. I +must expire long before the marquis can arrive. Since I shall see him +no more, I would impart to you a secret which lies heavy at my heart, +and which makes my last moments dreadful, as they are without hope.' +'Be comforted,' said madame, who was affected by the energy of his +manner, 'we are taught to believe that forgiveness is never denied to +sincere repentance.' 'You, madam, are ignorant of the enormity of my +crime, and of the secret—the horrid secret which labours at my +breast. My guilt is beyond remedy in this world, and I fear will be +without pardon in the next; I therefore hope little from confession +even to a priest. Yet some good it is still in my power to do; let me +disclose to you that secret which is so mysteriously connected with +the southern apartments of this castle.'—'What of them!' exclaimed +madame, with impatience. Vincent returned no answer; exhausted by the +effort of speaking, he had fainted. Madame rung for assistance, and by +proper applications, his senses were recalled. He was, however, +entirely speechless, and in this state he remained till he expired, +which was about an hour after he had conversed with madame. +</p> + +<p> +The perplexity and astonishment of madame, were by the late scene +heightened to a very painful degree. She recollected the various +particulars relative to the southern division of the castle, the many +years it had stood uninhabited—the silence which had been observed +concerning it—the appearance of the light and the figure—the +fruitless search for the keys, and the reports so generally believed; +and thus remembrance presented her with a combination of +circumstances, which served only to increase her wonder, and heighten +her curiosity. A veil of mystery enveloped that part of the castle, +which it now seemed impossible should ever be penetrated, since the +only person who could have removed it, was no more. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis arrived on the day after that on which Vincent had +expired. He came attended by servants only, and alighted at the gates +of the castle with an air of impatience, and a countenance expressive +of strong emotion. Madame, with the young ladies, received him in the +hall. He hastily saluted his daughters, and passed on to the oak +parlour, desiring madame to follow him. She obeyed, and the marquis +enquired with great agitation after Vincent. When told of his death, +he paced the room with hurried steps, and was for some time silent. At +length seating himself, and surveying madame with a scrutinizing eye, +he asked some questions concerning the particulars of Vincent's death. +She mentioned his earnest desire to see the marquis, and repeated his +last words. The marquis remained silent, and madame proceeded to +mention those circumstances relative to the southern division of the +castle, which she thought it of so much importance to discover. He +treated the affair very lightly, laughed at her conjectures, +represented the appearances she described as the illusions of a weak +and timid mind, and broke up the conversation, by going to visit the +chamber of Vincent, in which he remained a considerable time. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day Emilia and Julia dined with the marquis. He was +gloomy and silent; their efforts to amuse him seemed to excite +displeasure rather than kindness; and when the repast was concluded, +he withdrew to his own apartment, leaving his daughters in a state of +sorrow and surprise. +</p> + +<p> +Vincent was to be interred, according to his own desire, in the church +belonging to the convent of St Nicholas. One of the servants, after +receiving some necessary orders concerning the funeral, ventured to +inform the marquis of the appearance of the lights in the south tower. +He mentioned the superstitious reports that prevailed amongst the +household, and complained that the servants would not cross the courts +after it was dark. 'And who is he that has commissioned you with this +story?' said the marquis, in a tone of displeasure; 'are the weak and +ridiculous fancies of women and servants to be obtruded upon my +notice? Away—appear no more before me, till you have learned to +speak what it is proper for me to hear.' Robert withdrew abashed, and +it was some time before any person ventured to renew the subject with +the marquis. +</p> + +<p> +The majority of young Ferdinand now drew near, and the marquis +determined to celebrate the occasion with festive magnificence at the +castle of Mazzini. He, therefore, summoned the marchioness and his son +from Naples, and very splendid preparations were ordered to be made. +Emilia and Julia dreaded the arrival of the marchioness, whose +influence they had long been sensible of, and from whose presence they +anticipated a painful restraint. Beneath the gentle guidance of Madame +de Menon, their hours had passed in happy tranquillity, for they were +ignorant alike of the sorrows and the pleasures of the world. Those +did not oppress, and these did not inflame them. Engaged in the +pursuits of knowledge, and in the attainment of elegant +accomplishments, their moments flew lightly away, and the flight of +time was marked only by improvement. In madame was united the +tenderness of the mother, with the sympathy of a friend; and they +loved her with a warm and inviolable affection. +</p> + +<p> +The purposed visit of their brother, whom they had not seen for +several years, gave them great pleasure. Although their minds retained +no very distinct remembrance of him, they looked forward with eager +and delightful expectation to his virtues and his talents; and hoped +to find in his company, a consolation for the uneasiness which the +presence of the marchioness would excite. Neither did Julia +contemplate with indifference the approaching festival. A new scene +was now opening to her, which her young imagination painted in the +warm and glowing colours of delight. The near approach of pleasure +frequently awakens the heart to emotions, which would fail to be +excited by a more remote and abstracted observance. Julia, who, in the +distance, had considered the splendid gaieties of life with +tranquillity, now lingered with impatient hope through the moments +which withheld her from their enjoyments. Emilia, whose feelings were +less lively, and whose imagination was less powerful, beheld the +approaching festival with calm consideration, and almost regretted the +interruption of those tranquil pleasures, which she knew to be more +congenial with her powers and disposition. +</p> + +<p> +In a few days the marchioness arrived at the castle. She was followed +by a numerous retinue, and accompanied by Ferdinand, and several of +the Italian noblesse, whom pleasure attracted to her train. Her +entrance was proclaimed by the sound of music, and those gates which +had long rusted on their hinges, were thrown open to receive her. The +courts and halls, whose aspect so lately expressed only gloom and +desolation, now shone with sudden splendour, and echoed the sounds of +gaiety and gladness. Julia surveyed the scene from an obscure window; +and as the triumphal strains filled the air, her breast throbbed; her +heart beat quick with joy, and she lost her apprehensions from the +marchioness in a sort of wild delight hitherto unknown to her. The +arrival of the marchioness seemed indeed the signal of universal and +unlimited pleasure. When the marquis came out to receive her, the +gloom that lately clouded his countenance, broke away in smiles of +welcome, which the whole company appeared to consider as invitations +to joy. +</p> + +<p> +The tranquil heart of Emilia was not proof against a scene so +alluring, and she sighed at the prospect, yet scarcely knew why. Julia +pointed out to her sister, the graceful figure of a young man who +followed the marchioness, and she expressed her wishes that he might +be her brother. From the contemplation of the scene before them, they +were summoned to meet the marchioness. Julia trembled with +apprehension, and for a few moments wished the castle was in its +former state. As they advanced through the saloon, in which they were +presented, Julia was covered with blushes; but Emilia, tho' equally +timid, preserved her graceful dignity. The marchioness received them +with a mingled smile of condescension and politeness, and immediately +the whole attention of the company was attracted by their elegance and +beauty. The eager eyes of Julia sought in vain to discover her +brother, of whose features she had no recollection in those of any of +the persons then present. At length her father presented him, and she +perceived, with a sigh of regret, that he was not the youth she had +observed from the window. He advanced with a very engaging air, and +she met him with an unfeigned welcome. His figure was tall and +majestic; he had a very noble and spirited carriage; and his +countenance expressed at once sweetness and dignity. Supper was served +in the east hall, and the tables were spread with a profusion of +delicacies. A band of music played during the repast, and the evening +concluded with a concert in the saloon. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER II +</h3> + +<p> +The day of the festival, so long and so impatiently looked for by +Julia, was now arrived. All the neighbouring nobility were invited, +and the gates of the castle were thrown open for a general rejoicing. +A magnificent entertainment, consisting of the most luxurious and +expensive dishes, was served in the halls. Soft music floated along +the vaulted roofs, the walls were hung with decorations, and it seemed +as if the hand of a magician had suddenly metamorphosed this once +gloomy fabric into the palace of a fairy. The marquis, notwithstanding +the gaiety of the scene, frequently appeared abstracted from its +enjoyments, and in spite of all his efforts at cheerfulness, the +melancholy of his heart was visible in his countenance. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening there was a grand ball: the marchioness, who was still +distinguished for her beauty, and for the winning elegance of her +manners, appeared in the most splendid attire. Her hair was ornamented +with a profusion of jewels, but was so disposed as to give an air +rather of voluptuousness than of grace, to her figure. Although +conscious of her charms, she beheld the beauty of Emilia and Julia +with a jealous eye, and was compelled secretly to acknowledge, that +the simple elegance with which they were adorned, was more enchanting +than all the studied artifice of splendid decoration. They were +dressed alike in light Sicilian habits, and the beautiful luxuriance +of their flowing hair was restrained only by bandellets of pearl. The +ball was opened by Ferdinand and the lady Matilda Constanza. Emilia +danced with the young Marquis della Fazelli, and acquitted herself +with the ease and dignity so natural to her. Julia experienced a +various emotion of pleasure and fear when the Count de Vereza, in whom +she recollected the cavalier she had observed from the window, led her +forth. The grace of her step, and the elegant symmetry of her figure, +raised in the assembly a gentle murmur of applause, and the soft blush +which now stole over her cheek, gave an additional charm to her +appearance. But when the music changed, and she danced to the soft +Sicilian measure, the airy grace of her movement, and the unaffected +tenderness of her air, sunk attention into silence, which continued +for some time after the dance had ceased. The marchioness observed the +general admiration with seeming pleasure, and secret uneasiness. She +had suffered a very painful solicitude, when the Count de Vereza +selected her for his partner in the dance, and she pursued him through +the evening with an eye of jealous scrutiny. Her bosom, which before +glowed only with love, was now torn by the agitation of other passions +more violent and destructive. Her thoughts were restless, her mind +wandered from the scene before her, and it required all her address to +preserve an apparent ease. She saw, or fancied she saw, an impassioned +air in the count, when he addressed himself to Julia, that corroded +her heart with jealous fury. +</p> + +<p> +At twelve the gates of the castle were thrown open, and the company +quitted it for the woods, which were splendidly illuminated. Arcades +of light lined the long vistas, which were terminated by pyramids of +lamps that presented to the eye one bright column of flame. At +irregular distances buildings were erected, hung with variegated +lamps, disposed in the gayest and most fantastic forms. Collations +were spread under the trees; and music, touched by unseen hands, +breathed around. The musicians were placed in the most obscure and +embowered spots, so as to elude the eye and strike the imagination. +The scene appeared enchanting. Nothing met the eye but beauty and +romantic splendour; the ear received no sounds but those of mirth and +melody. The younger part of the company formed themselves into +groups, which at intervals glanced through the woods, and were again +unseen. Julia seemed the magic queen of the place. Her heart dilated +with pleasure, and diffused over her features an expression of pure +and complacent delight. A generous, frank, and exalted sentiment +sparkled in her eyes, and animated her manner. Her bosom glowed with +benevolent affections; and she seemed anxious to impart to all around +her, a happiness as unmixed as that she experienced. Wherever she +moved, admiration followed her steps. Ferdinand was as gay as the +scene around him. Emilia was pleased; and the marquis seemed to have +left his melancholy in the castle. The marchioness alone was wretched. +She supped with a select party, in a pavilion on the sea-shore, which +was fitted up with peculiar elegance. It was hung with white silk, +drawn up in festoons, and richly fringed with gold. The sofas were of +the same materials, and alternate wreaths of lamps and of roses +entwined the columns. A row of small lamps placed about the cornice, +formed an edge of light round the roof which, with the other numerous +lights, was reflected in a blaze of splendour from the large mirrors +that adorned the room. The Count Muriani was of the party;—he +complimented the marchioness on the beauty of her daughters; and after +lamenting with gaiety the captives which their charms would enthral, +he mentioned the Count de Vereza. 'He is certainly of all others the +man most deserving the lady Julia. As they danced, I thought they +exhibited a perfect model of the beauty of either sex; and if I +mistake not, they are inspired with a mutual admiration.' The +marchioness, endeavouring to conceal her uneasiness, said, 'Yes, my +lord, I allow the count all the merit you adjudge him, but from the +little I have seen of his disposition, he is too volatile for a +serious attachment.' At that instant the count entered the pavilion: +'Ah,' said Muriani, laughingly, 'you was the subject of our +conversation, and seem to be come in good time to receive the honors +allotted you. I was interceding with the marchioness for her interest +in your favor, with the lady Julia; but she absolutely refuses it; and +though she allows you merit, alleges, that you are by nature fickle +and inconstant. What say you—would not the beauty of lady Julia bind +your unsteady heart?'. +</p> + +<p> +'I know not how I have deserved that character of the marchioness,' +said the count with a smile, 'but that heart must be either fickle or +insensible in an uncommon degree, which can boast of freedom in the +presence of lady Julia.' The marchioness, mortified by the whole +conversation, now felt the full force of Vereza's reply, which she +imagined he pointed with particular emphasis. +</p> + +<p> +The entertainment concluded with a grand firework, which was exhibited +on the margin of the sea, and the company did not part till the dawn +of morning. Julia retired from the scene with regret. She was +enchanted with the new world that was now exhibited to her, and she +was not cool enough to distinguish the vivid glow of imagination from +the colours of real bliss. The pleasure she now felt she believed +would always be renewed, and in an equal degree, by the objects which +first excited it. The weakness of humanity is never willingly +perceived by young minds. It is painful to know, that we are operated +upon by objects whose impressions are variable as they are +indefinable—and that what yesterday affected us strongly, is to-day +but imperfectly felt, and to-morrow perhaps shall be disregarded. When +at length this unwelcome truth is received into the mind, we at first +reject, with disgust, every appearance of good, we disdain to partake +of a happiness which we cannot always command, and we not unfrequently +sink into a temporary despair. Wisdom or accident, at length, recal us +from our error, and offers to us some object capable of producing a +pleasing, yet lasting effect, which effect, therefore, we call +happiness. Happiness has this essential difference from what is +commonly called pleasure, that virtue forms its basis, and virtue +being the offspring of reason, may be expected to produce uniformity of +effect. +</p> + +<p> +The passions which had hitherto lain concealed in Julia's heart, +touched by circumstance, dilated to its power, and afforded her a +slight experience of the pain and delight which flow from their +influence. The beauty and accomplishments of Vereza raised in her a +new and various emotion, which reflection made her fear to encourage, +but which was too pleasing to be wholly resisted. Tremblingly alive to +a sense of delight, and unchilled by disappointment, the young heart +welcomes every feeling, not simply painful, with a romantic +expectation that it will expand into bliss. +</p> + +<p> +Julia sought with eager anxiety to discover the sentiments of Vereza +towards her; she revolved each circumstance of the day, but they +afforded her little satisfaction; they reflected only a glimmering and +uncertain light, which instead of guiding, served only to perplex her. +Now she remembered some instance of particular attention, and then +some mark of apparent indifference. She compared his conduct with that +of the other young noblesse; and thought each appeared equally +desirous of the favor of every lady present. All the ladies, however, +appeared to her to court the admiration of Vereza, and she trembled +lest he should be too sensible of the distinction. She drew from these +reflections no positive inference; and though distrust rendered pain +the predominate sensation, it was so exquisitely interwoven with +delight, that she could not wish it exchanged for her former ease. +Thoughtful and restless, sleep fled from her eyes, and she longed with +impatience for the morning, which should again present Vereza, and +enable her to pursue the enquiry. She rose early, and adorned herself +with unusual care. In her favorite closet she awaited the hour of +breakfast, and endeavoured to read, but her thoughts wandered from the +subject. Her lute and favorite airs lost half their power to please; +the day seemed to stand still—she became melancholy, and thought the +breakfast-hour would never arrive. At length the clock struck the +signal, the sound vibrated on every nerve, and trembling she quitted +the closet for her sister's apartment. Love taught her disguise. Till +then Emilia had shared all her thoughts; they now descended to the +breakfast-room in silence, and Julia almost feared to meet her eye. In +the breakfast-room they were alone. Julia found it impossible to +support a conversation with Emilia, whose observations interrupting +the course of her thoughts, became uninteresting and tiresome. She was +therefore about to retire to her closet, when the marquis entered. His +air was haughty, and his look severe. He coldly saluted his daughters, +and they had scarcely time to reply to his general enquiries, when the +marchioness entered, and the company soon after assembled. Julia, who +had awaited with so painful an impatience for the moment which should +present Vereza to her sight, now sighed that it was arrived. She +scarcely dared to lift her timid eyes from the ground, and when by +accident they met his, a soft tremour seized her; and apprehension +lest he should discover her sentiments, served only to render her +confusion conspicuous. At length, a glance from the marchioness +recalled her bewildered thoughts; and other fears superseding those of +love, her mind, by degrees, recovered its dignity. She could +distinguish in the behaviour of Vereza no symptoms of particular +admiration, and she resolved to conduct herself towards him with the +most scrupulous care. +</p> + +<p> +This day, like the preceding one, was devoted to joy. In the evening +there was a concert, which was chiefly performed by the nobility. +Ferdinand played the violoncello, Vereza the German flute, and Julia +the piana-forte, which she touched with a delicacy and execution that +engaged every auditor. The confusion of Julia may be easily imagined, +when Ferdinand, selecting a beautiful duet, desired Vereza would +accompany his sister. The pride of conscious excellence, however, +quickly overcame her timidity, and enabled her to exert all her +powers. The air was simple and pathetic, and she gave it those charms +of expression so peculiarly her own. She struck the chords of her +piana-forte in beautiful accompaniment, and towards the close of the +second stanza, her voice resting on one note, swelled into a tone so +exquisite, and from thence descended to a few simple notes, which she +touched with such impassioned tenderness that every eye wept to the +sounds. The breath of the flute trembled, and Hippolitus entranced, +forgot to play. A pause of silence ensued at the conclusion of the +piece, and continued till a general sigh seemed to awaken the audience +from their enchantment. Amid the general applause, Hippolitus was +silent. Julia observed his behaviour, and gently raising her eyes to +his, there read the sentiments which she had inspired. An exquisite +emotion thrilled her heart, and she experienced one of those rare +moments which illuminate life with a ray of bliss, by which the +darkness of its general shade is contrasted. Care, doubt, every +disagreeable sensation vanished, and for the remainder of the evening +she was conscious only of delight. A timid respect marked the manner +of Hippolitus, more flattering to Julia than the most ardent +professions. The evening concluded with a ball, and Julia was again +the partner of the count. +</p> + +<p> +When the ball broke up, she retired to her apartment, but not to +sleep. Joy is as restless as anxiety or sorrow. She seemed to have +entered upon a new state of existence;—those fine springs of +affection which had hitherto lain concealed, were now touched, and +yielded to her a happiness more exalted than any her imagination had +ever painted. She reflected on the tranquillity of her past life, and +comparing it with the emotions of the present hour, exulted in the +difference. All her former pleasures now appeared insipid; she +wondered that they ever had power to affect her, and that she had +endured with content the dull uniformity to which she had been +condemned. It was now only that she appeared to live. Absorbed in the +single idea of being beloved, her imagination soared into the regions +of romantic bliss, and bore her high above the possibility of evil. +Since she was beloved by Hippolitus, she could only be happy. +</p> + +<p> +From this state of entranced delight, she was awakened by the sound of +music immediately under her window. It was a lute touched by a +masterly hand. After a wild and melancholy symphony, a voice of more +than magic expression swelled into an air so pathetic and tender, that +it seemed to breathe the very soul of love. The chords of the lute +were struck in low and sweet accompaniment. Julia listened, and +distinguished the following words; +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + SONNET<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Still is the night-breeze!—not a lonely sound<br /> + Steals through the silence of this dreary hour;<br /> + O'er these high battlements Sleep reigns profound,<br /> + And sheds on all, his sweet oblivious power.<br /> + On all but me—I vainly ask his dews<br /> + To steep in short forgetfulness my cares.<br /> + Th' affrighted god still flies when Love pursues,<br /> + Still—still denies the wretched lover's prayers.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +An interval of silence followed, and the air was repeated; after which +the music was heard no more. If before Julia believed that she was +loved by Hippolitus, she was now confirmed in the sweet reality. But +sleep at length fell upon her senses, and the airy forms of ideal +bliss no longer fleeted before her imagination. Morning came, and she +arose light and refreshed. How different were her present sensations +from those of the preceding day. Her anxiety had now evaporated in +joy, and she experienced that airy dance of spirits which accumulates +delight from every object; and with a power like the touch of +enchantment, can transform a gloomy desert into a smiling Eden. She +flew to the breakfast-room, scarcely conscious of motion; but, as she +entered it, a soft confusion overcame her; she blushed, and almost +feared to meet the eyes of Vereza. She was presently relieved, +however, for the Count was not there. The company assembled—Julia +watched the entrance of every person with painful anxiety, but he for +whom she looked did not appear. Surprised and uneasy, she fixed her +eyes on the door, and whenever it opened, her heart beat with an +expectation which was as often checked by disappointment. In spite of +all her efforts, her vivacity sunk into languor, and she then +perceived that love may produce other sensations than those of +delight. She found it possible to be unhappy, though loved by +Hippolitus; and acknowledged with a sigh of regret, which was yet new +to her, how tremblingly her peace depended upon him. He neither +appeared nor was mentioned at breakfast; but though delicacy prevented +her enquiring after him, conversation soon became irksome to her, and +she retired to the apartment of Madame de Menon. There she employed +herself in painting, and endeavoured to beguile the time till the hour +of dinner, when she hoped to see Hippolitus. Madame was, as usual, +friendly and cheerful, but she perceived a reserve in the conduct of +Julia, and penetrated without difficulty into its cause. She was, +however, ignorant of the object of her pupil's admiration. The hour so +eagerly desired by Julia at length arrived, and with a palpitating +heart she entered the hall. The Count was not there, and in the course +of conversation, she learned that he had that morning sailed for +Naples. The scene which so lately appeared enchanting to her eyes, now +changed its hue; and in the midst of society, and surrounded by +gaiety, she was solitary and dejected. She accused herself of having +suffered her wishes to mislead her judgment; and the present conduct +of Hippolitus convinced her, that she had mistaken admiration for a +sentiment more tender. She believed, too, that the musician who had +addressed her in his sonnet, was not the Count; and thus at once was +dissolved all the ideal fabric of her happiness. How short a period +often reverses the character of our sentiments, rendering that which +yesterday we despised, to-day desirable. The tranquil state which she +had so lately delighted to quit, she now reflected upon with regret. +She had, however, the consolation of believing that her sentiments +towards the Count were unknown, and the sweet consciousness that her +conduct had been governed by a nice sense of propriety. +</p> + +<p> +The public rejoicings at the castle closed with the week; but the gay +spirit of the marchioness forbade a return to tranquillity; and she +substituted diversions more private, but in splendour scarcely +inferior to the preceding ones. She had observed the behaviour of +Hippolitus on the night of the concert with chagrin, and his +departure with sorrow; yet, disdaining to perpetuate misfortune by +reflection, she sought to lose the sense of disappointment in the +hurry of dissipation. But her efforts to erase him from her +remembrance were ineffectual. Unaccustomed to oppose the bent of her +inclinations, they now maintained unbounded sway; and she found too +late, that in order to have a due command of our passions, it is +necessary to subject them to early obedience. Passion, in its undue +influence, produces weakness as well as injustice. The pain which now +recoiled upon her heart from disappointment, she had not strength of +mind to endure, and she sought relief from its pressure in afflicting +the innocent. Julia, whose beauty she imagined had captivated the +count, and confirmed him in indifference towards herself, she +incessantly tormented by the exercise of those various and splenetic +little arts which elude the eye of the common observer, and are only +to be known by those who have felt them. Arts, which individually are +inconsiderable, but in the aggregate amount to a cruel and decisive +effect. +</p> + +<p> +From Julia's mind the idea of happiness was now faded. Pleasure had +withdrawn her beam from the prospect, and the objects no longer +illumined by her ray, became dark and colourless. As often as her +situation would permit, she withdrew from society, and sought the +freedom of solitude, where she could indulge in melancholy thoughts, +and give a loose to that despair which is so apt to follow the +disappointment of our first hopes. +</p> + +<p> +Week after week elapsed, yet no mention was made of returning to +Naples. The marquis at length declared it his intention to spend the +remainder of the summer in the castle. To this determination the +marchioness submitted with decent resignation, for she was here +surrounded by a croud of flatterers, and her invention supplied her +with continual diversions: that gaiety which rendered Naples so dear +to her, glittered in the woods of Mazzini, and resounded through the +castle. +</p> + +<p> +The apartments of Madame de Menon were spacious and noble. The windows +opened upon the sea, and commanded a view of the straits of Messina, +bounded on one side by the beautiful shores of the isle of Sicily, and +on the other by the high mountains of Calabria. The straits, filled +with vessels whose gay streamers glittered to the sun-beam, presented +to the eye an ever-moving scene. The principal room opened upon a +gallery that overhung the grand terrace of the castle, and it +commanded a prospect which for beauty and extent has seldom been +equalled. These were formerly considered the chief apartments of the +castle; and when the Marquis quitted them for Naples, were allotted +for the residence of Madame de Menon, and her young charge. The +marchioness, struck with the prospect which the windows afforded, and +with the pleasantness of the gallery, determined to restore the rooms +to their former splendour. She signified this intention to madame, for +whom other apartments were provided. The chambers of Emilia and Julia +forming part of the suite, they were also claimed by the marchioness, +who left Julia only her favorite closet. The rooms to which they +removed were spacious, but gloomy; they had been for some years +uninhabited; and though preparations had been made for the reception +of their new inhabitants, an air of desolation reigned within them +that inspired melancholy sensations. Julia observed that her chamber, +which opened beyond madame's, formed a part of the southern building, +with which, however, there appeared no means of communication. The +late mysterious circumstances relating to this part of the fabric, now +arose to her imagination, and conjured up a terror which reason could +not subdue. She told her emotions to madame, who, with more prudence +than sincerity, laughed at her fears. The behaviour of the marquis, +the dying words of Vincent, together with the preceding circumstances +of alarm, had sunk deep in the mind of madame, but she saw the +necessity of confining to her own breast doubts which time only could +resolve. +</p> + +<p> +Julia endeavoured to reconcile herself to the change, and a +circumstance soon occurred which obliterated her present sensations, +and excited others far more interesting. One day that she was +arranging some papers in the small drawers of a cabinet that stood in +her apartment, she found a picture which fixed all her attention. It +was a miniature of a lady, whose countenance was touched with sorrow, +and expressed an air of dignified resignation. The mournful sweetness +of her eyes, raised towards Heaven with a look of supplication, and +the melancholy languor that shaded her features, so deeply affected +Julia, that her eyes were filled with involuntary tears. She sighed +and wept, still gazing on the picture, which seemed to engage her by a +kind of fascination. She almost fancied that the portrait breathed, +and that the eyes were fixed on hers with a look of penetrating +softness. Full of the emotions which the miniature had excited, she +presented it to madame, whose mingled sorrow and surprise increased +her curiosity. But what were the various sensations which pressed upon +her heart, on learning that she had wept over the resemblance of her +mother! Deprived of a mother's tenderness before she was sensible of +its value, it was now only that she mourned the event which +lamentation could not recall. Emilia, with an emotion as exquisite, +mingled her tears with those of her sister. With eager impatience they +pressed madame to disclose the cause of that sorrow which so +emphatically marked the features of their mother. +</p> + +<p> +'Alas! my dear children,' said madame, deeply sighing, 'you engage me +in a task too severe, not only for your peace, but for mine; since in +giving you the information you require, I must retrace scenes of my +own life, which I wish for ever obliterated. It would, however, be +both cruel and unjust to withhold an explanation so nearly interesting +to you, and I will sacrifice my own ease to your wishes. +</p> + +<p> +'Louisa de Bernini, your mother, was, as you well know, the only +daughter of the Count de Bernini. Of the misfortunes of your family, I +believe you are yet ignorant. The chief estates of the count were +situated in the <i>Val di Demona</i>, a valley deriving its name from its +vicinity to Mount AEtna, which vulgar tradition has peopled with +devils. In one of those dreadful eruptions of AEtna, which deluged +this valley with a flood of fire, a great part of your grandfather's +domains in that quarter were laid waste. The count was at that time +with a part of his family at Messina, but the countess and her son, +who were in the country, were destroyed. The remaining property of the +count was proportionably inconsiderable, and the loss of his wife and +son deeply affected him. He retired with Louisa, his only surviving +child, who was then near fifteen, to a small estate near Cattania. +There was some degree of relationship between your grandfather and +myself; and your mother was attached to me by the ties of sentiment, +which, as we grew up, united us still more strongly than those of +blood. Our pleasures and our tastes were the same; and a similarity of +misfortunes might, perhaps, contribute to cement our early friendship. +I, like herself, had lost a parent in the eruption of AEtna. My mother +had died before I understood her value; but my father, whom I revered +and tenderly loved, was destroyed by one of those terrible events; his +lands were buried beneath the lava, and he left an only son and myself +to mourn his fate, and encounter the evils of poverty. The count, who +was our nearest surviving relation, generously took us home to his +house, and declared that he considered us as his children. To amuse +his leisure hours, he undertook to finish the education of my brother, +who was then about seventeen, and whose rising genius promised to +reward the labours of the count. Louisa and myself often shared the +instruction of her father, and at those hours Orlando was generally of +the party. The tranquil retirement of the count's situation, the +rational employment of his time between his own studies, the education +of those whom he called his children, and the conversation of a few +select friends, anticipated the effect of time, and softened the +asperities of his distress into a tender complacent melancholy. As for +Louisa and myself, who were yet new in life, and whose spirits +possessed the happy elasticity of youth, our minds gradually shifted +from suffering to tranquillity, and from tranquillity to happiness. I +have sometimes thought that when my brother has been reading to her a +delightful passage, the countenance of Louisa discovered a tender +interest, which seemed to be excited rather by the reader than by the +author. These days, which were surely the most enviable of our lives, +now passed in serene enjoyments, and in continual gradations of +improvement. +</p> + +<p> +'The count designed my brother for the army, and the time now drew +nigh when he was to join the Sicilian regiment, in which he had a +commission. The absent thoughts, and dejected spirits of my cousin, +now discovered to me the secret which had long been concealed even +from herself; for it was not till Orlando was about to depart, that +she perceived how dear he was to her peace. On the eve of his +departure, the count lamented, with fatherly yet manly tenderness, the +distance which was soon to separate us. "But we shall meet again," +said he, "when the honors of war shall have rewarded the bravery of my +son." Louisa grew pale, a half suppressed sigh escaped her, and, to +conceal her emotion, she turned to her harpsichord. +</p> + +<p> +'My brother had a favorite dog, which, before he set off, he presented +to Louisa, and committing it to her care, begged she would be kind to +it, and sometimes remember its master. He checked his rising emotion, +but as he turned from her, I perceived the tear that wetted his cheek. +He departed, and with him the spirit of our happiness seemed to +evaporate. The scenes which his presence had formerly enlivened, were +now forlorn and melancholy, yet we loved to wander in what were once +his favorite haunts. Louisa forbore to mention my brother even to me, +but frequently, when she thought herself unobserved, she would steal +to her harpsichord, and repeat the strain which she had played on the +evening before his departure. +</p> + +<p> +'We had the pleasure to hear from time to time that he was well: and +though his own modesty threw a veil over his conduct, we could collect +from other accounts that he had behaved with great bravery. At length +the time of his return approached, and the enlivened spirits of Louisa +declared the influence he retained in her heart. He returned, bearing +public testimony of his valour in the honors which had been conferred +upon him. He was received with universal joy; the count welcomed him +with the pride and fondness of a father, and the villa became again +the seat of happiness. His person and manners were much improved; the +elegant beauty of the youth was now exchanged for the graceful dignity +of manhood, and some knowledge of the world was added to that of the +sciences. The joy which illumined his countenance when he met Louisa, +spoke at once his admiration and his love; and the blush which her +observation of it brought upon her cheek, would have discovered, even +to an uninterested spectator, that this joy was mutual. +</p> + +<p> +'Orlando brought with him a young Frenchman, a brother officer, who +had rescued him from imminent danger in battle, and whom he introduced +to the count as his preserver. The count received him with gratitude +and distinction, and he was for a considerable time an inmate at the +villa. His manners were singularly pleasing, and his understanding was +cultivated and refined. He soon discovered a partiality for me, and he +was indeed too pleasing to be seen with indifference. Gratitude for +the valuable life he had preserved, was perhaps the groundwork of an +esteem which soon increased into the most affectionate love. Our +attachment grew stronger as our acquaintance increased; and at length +the chevalier de Menon asked me of the count, who consulted my heart, +and finding it favorable to the connection, proceeded to make the +necessary enquiries concerning the family of the stranger. He obtained +a satisfactory and pleasing account of it. The chevalier was the +second son of a French gentleman of large estates in France, who had +been some years deceased. He had left several sons; the family-estate, +of course, devolved to the eldest, but to the two younger he +had bequeathed considerable property. Our marriage was solemnized in a +private manner at the villa, in the presence of the count, Louisa, and +my brother. Soon after the nuptials, my husband and Orlando were +remanded to their regiments. My brother's affections were now +unalterably fixed upon Louisa, but a sentiment of delicacy and +generosity still kept him silent. He thought, poor as he was, to +solicit the hand of Louisa, would be to repay the kindness of the +count with ingratitude. I have seen the inward struggles of his heart, +and mine has bled for him. The count and Louisa so earnestly solicited +me to remain at the villa during the campaign, that at length my +husband consented. We parted—O! let me forget that period!—Had I +accompanied him, all might have been well; and the long, long years of +affliction which followed had been spared me.' +</p> + +<p> +The horn now sounded the signal for dinner, and interrupted the +narrative of Madame. Her beauteous auditors wiped the tears from their +eyes, and with extreme reluctance descended to the hall. The day was +occupied with company and diversions, and it was not till late in the +evening that they were suffered to retire. They hastened to madame +immediately upon their being released; and too much interested for +sleep, and too importunate to be repulsed, solicited the sequel of her +story. She objected the lateness of the hour, but at length yielded to +their entreaties. They drew their chairs close to hers; and every +sense being absorbed in the single one of hearing, followed her +through the course of her narrative. +</p> + +<p> +'My brother again departed without disclosing his sentiments; the +effort it cost him was evident, but his sense of honor surmounted +every opposing consideration. Louisa again drooped, and pined in +silent sorrow. I lamented equally for my friend and my brother; and +have a thousand times accused that delicacy as false, which withheld +them from the happiness they might so easily and so innocently have +obtained. The behaviour of the count, at least to my eye, seemed to +indicate the satisfaction which this union would have given him. It +was about this period that the marquis Mazzini first saw and became +enamoured of Louisa. His proposals were very flattering, but the +count forbore to exert the undue authority of a father; and he ceased +to press the connection, when he perceived that Louisa was really +averse to it. Louisa was sensible of the generosity of his conduct, +and she could scarcely reject the alliance without a sigh, which her +gratitude paid to the kindness of her father. +</p> + +<p> +'But an event now happened which dissolved at once our happiness, and +all our air-drawn schemes for futurity. A dispute, which it seems +originated in a trifle, but soon increased to a serious degree, arose +between the <i>Chevalier de Menon</i> and my brother. It was decided by the +sword, and my dear brother fell by the hand of my husband. I shall +pass over this period of my life. It is too painful for recollection. +The effect of this event upon Louisa was such as may be imagined. The +world was now become indifferent to her, and as she had no prospect of +happiness for herself, she was unwilling to withhold it from the +father who had deserved so much of her. After some time, when the +marquis renewed his addresses, she gave him her hand. The characters +of the marquis and his lady were in their nature too opposite to form +a happy union. Of this Louisa was very soon sensible; and though the +mildness of her disposition made her tamely submit to the unfeeling +authority of her husband, his behaviour sunk deep in her heart, and +she pined in secret. It was impossible for her to avoid opposing the +character of the marquis to that of him upon whom her affections had +been so fondly and so justly fixed. The comparison increased her +sufferings, which soon preyed upon her constitution, and very visibly +affected her health. Her situation deeply afflicted the count, and +united with the infirmities of age to shorten his life. +</p> + +<p> +'Upon his death, I bade adieu to my cousin, and quitted Sicily for +Italy, where the Chevalier de Menon had for some time expected me. Our +meeting was very affecting. My resentment towards him was done away, +when I observed his pale and altered countenance, and perceived the +melancholy which preyed upon his heart. All the airy vivacity of his +former manner was fled, and he was devoured by unavailing grief and +remorse. He deplored with unceasing sorrow the friend he had murdered, +and my presence seemed to open afresh the wounds which time had begun +to close. His affliction, united with my own, was almost more than I +could support, but I was doomed to suffer, and endure yet more. In a +subsequent engagement my husband, weary of existence, rushed into the +heat of battle, and there obtained an honorable death. In a paper +which he left behind him, he said it was his intention to die in that +battle; that he had long wished for death, and waited for an +opportunity of obtaining it without staining his own character by the +cowardice of suicide, or distressing me by an act of butchery. This +event gave the finishing stroke to my afflictions;—yet let me +retract;—another misfortune awaited me when I least expected one. The +<i>Chevalier de Menon</i> died without a will, and his brothers refused to +give up his estate, unless I could produce a witness of my marriage. I +returned to Sicily, and, to my inexpressible sorrow, found that your +mother had died during my stay abroad, a prey, I fear, to grief. The +priest who performed the ceremony of my marriage, having been +threatened with punishment for some ecclesiastical offences, had +secretly left the country; and thus was I deprived of those proofs +which were necessary to authenticate my claims to the estates of my +husband. His brothers, to whom I was an utter stranger, were either +too prejudiced to believe, or believing, were too dishonorable to +acknowledge the justice of my claims. I was therefore at once +abandoned to sorrow and to poverty; a small legacy from the count de +Bernini being all that now remained to me. +</p> + +<p> +'When the marquis married Maria de Vellorno, which was about this +period, he designed to quit Mazzini for Naples. His son was to +accompany him, but it was his intention to leave you, who were both +very young, to the care of some person qualified to superintend your +education. My circumstances rendered the office acceptable, and my +former friendship for your mother made the duty pleasing to me. The +marquis was, I believe, glad to be spared the trouble of searching +further for what he had hitherto found it difficult to obtain—a +person whom inclination as well as duty would bind to his interest.' +</p> + +<p> +Madame ceased to speak, and Emilia and Julia wept to the memory of the +mother, whose misfortunes this story recorded. The sufferings of +madame, together with her former friendship for the late marchioness, +endeared her to her pupils, who from this period endeavoured by every +kind and delicate attention to obliterate the traces of her sorrows. +Madame was sensible of this tenderness, and it was productive in some +degree of the effect desired. But a subject soon after occurred, which +drew off their minds from the consideration of their mother's fate to +a subject more wonderful and equally interesting. +</p> + +<p> +One night that Emilia and Julia had been detained by company, in +ceremonial restraint, later than usual, they were induced, by the easy +conversation of madame, and by the pleasure which a return to liberty +naturally produces, to defer the hour of repose till the night was far +advanced. They were engaged in interesting discourse, when madame, +who was then speaking, was interrupted by a low hollow sound, which +arose from beneath the apartment, and seemed like the closing of a +door. Chilled into a silence, they listened and distinctly heard it +repeated. Deadly ideas crowded upon their imaginations, and inspired a +terror which scarcely allowed them to breathe. The noise lasted only +for a moment, and a profound silence soon ensued. Their feelings at +length relaxed, and suffered them to move to Emilia's apartment, when +again they heard the same sounds. Almost distracted with fear, they +rushed into madame's apartment, where Emilia sunk upon the bed and +fainted. It was a considerable time ere the efforts of madame recalled +her to sensation. When they were again tranquil, she employed all her +endeavours to compose the spirits of the young ladies, and dissuade +them from alarming the castle. Involved in dark and fearful doubts, +she yet commanded her feelings, and endeavoured to assume an +appearance of composure. The late behaviour of the marquis had +convinced her that he was nearly connected with the mystery which hung +over this part of the edifice; and she dreaded to excite his +resentment by a further mention of alarms, which were perhaps only +ideal, and whose reality she had certainly no means of proving. +</p> + +<p> +Influenced by these considerations, she endeavoured to prevail on +Emilia and Julia to await in silence some confirmation of their +surmises; but their terror made this a very difficult task. They +acquiesced, however, so far with her wishes, as to agree to conceal +the preceding circumstances from every person but their brother, +without whose protecting presence they declared it utterly impossible +to pass another night in the apartments. For the remainder of this +night they resolved to watch. To beguile the tediousness of the time +they endeavoured to converse, but the minds of Emilia and Julia were +too much affected by the late occurrence to wander from the subject. +They compared this with the foregoing circumstance of the figure and +the light which had appeared; their imaginations kindled wild +conjectures, and they submitted their opinions to madame, entreating +her to inform them sincerely, whether she believed that disembodied +spirits were ever permitted to visit this earth. +</p> + +<p> +'My children,' said she, 'I will not attempt to persuade you that the +existence of such spirits is impossible. Who shall say that any thing +is impossible to God? We know that he has made us, who are embodied +spirits; he, therefore, can make unembodied spirits. If we cannot +understand how such spirits exist, we should consider the limited +powers of our minds, and that we cannot understand many things which +are indisputably true. No one yet knows why the magnetic needle points +to the north; yet you, who have never seen a magnet, do not hesitate +to believe that it has this tendency, because you have been well +assured of it, both from books and in conversation. Since, therefore, +we are sure that nothing is impossible to God, and that such beings +<i>may</i> exist, though we cannot tell how, we ought to consider by what +evidence their existence is supported. I do not say that spirits +<i>have</i> appeared; but if several discreet unprejudiced persons were to +assure me that they had seen one, I should not be proud or bold enough +to reply—'it is impossible.' Let not, however, such considerations +disturb your minds. I have said thus much, because I was unwilling to +impose upon your understandings; it is now your part to exercise your +reason, and preserve the unmoved confidence of virtue. Such spirits, +if indeed they have ever been seen, can have appeared only by the +express permission of God, and for some very singular purposes; be +assured that there are no beings who act unseen by him; and that, +therefore, there are none from whom innocence can ever suffer harm.' +</p> + +<p> +No further sounds disturbed them for that time; and before the morning +dawned, weariness insensibly overcame apprehension, and sunk them in +repose. +</p> + +<p> +When Ferdinand learned the circumstances relative to the southern side +of the castle, his imagination seized with avidity each appearance of +mystery, and inspired him with an irresistible desire to penetrate the +secrets of his desolate part of the fabric. He very readily consented +to watch with his sisters in Julia's apartment; but as his chamber was +in a remote part of the castle, there would be some difficulty in +passing unobserved to her's. It was agreed, however, that when all was +hushed, he should make the attempt. Having thus resolved, Emilia and +Julia waited the return of night with restless and fearful impatience. +</p> + +<p> +At length the family retired to rest. The castle clock had struck one, +and Julia began to fear that Ferdinand had been discovered, when a +knocking was heard at the door of the outer chamber. +</p> + +<p> +Her heart beat with apprehensions, which reason could not justify. +Madame rose, and enquiring who was there, was answered by the voice of +Ferdinand. The door was cheerfully opened. They drew their chairs +round him, and endeavoured to pass the time in conversation; but fear +and expectation attracted all their thoughts to one subject, and +madame alone preserved her composure. The hour was now come when the +sounds had been heard the preceding night, and every ear was given to +attention. All, however, remained quiet, and the night passed without +any new alarm. +</p> + +<p> +The greater part of several succeeding nights were spent in watching, +but no sounds disturbed their silence. Ferdinand, in whose mind the +late circumstances had excited a degree of astonishment and curiosity +superior to common obstacles, determined, if possible, to gain +admittance to those recesses of the castle, which had for so many +years been hid from human eye. This, however, was a design which he +saw little probability of accomplishing, for the keys of that part of +the edifice were in the possession of the marquis, of whose late +conduct he judged too well to believe he would suffer the apartments +to be explored. He racked his invention for the means of getting +access to them, and at length recollected that Julia's chamber formed +a part of these buildings, it occurred to him, that according to the +mode of building in old times, there might formerly have been a +communication between them. This consideration suggested to him the +possibility of a concealed door in her apartment, and he determined to +survey it on the following night with great care. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER III +</h3> + +<p> +The castle was buried in sleep when Ferdinand again joined his sisters +in madame's apartment. With anxious curiosity they followed him to the +chamber. The room was hung with tapestry. Ferdinand carefully sounded +the wall which communicated with the southern buildings. From one part +of it a sound was returned, which convinced him there was something +less solid than stone. He removed the tapestry, and behind it +appeared, to his inexpressible satisfaction, a small door. With a hand +trembling through eagerness, he undrew the bolts, and was rushing +forward, when he perceived that a lock withheld his passage. The keys +of madame and his sisters were applied in vain, and he was compelled +to submit to disappointment at the very moment when he congratulated +himself on success, for he had with him no means of forcing the door. +</p> + +<p> +He stood gazing on the door, and inwardly lamenting, when a low hollow +sound was heard from beneath. Emilia and Julia seized his arm; and +almost sinking with apprehension, listened in profound silence. A +footstep was distinctly heard, as if passing through the apartment +below, after which all was still. Ferdinand, fired by this +confirmation of the late report, rushed on to the door, and again +tried to burst his way, but it resisted all the efforts of his +strength. The ladies now rejoiced in that circumstance which they so +lately lamented; for the sounds had renewed their terror, and though +the night passed without further disturbance, their fears were very +little abated. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand, whose mind was wholly occupied with wonder, could with +difficulty await the return of night. Emilia and Julia were scarcely +less impatient. They counted the minutes as they passed; and when the +family retired to rest, hastened with palpitating hearts to the +apartment of madame. They were soon after joined by Ferdinand, who +brought with him tools for cutting away the lock of the door. They +paused a few moments in the chamber in fearful silence, but no sound +disturbed the stillness of night. Ferdinand applied a knife to the +door, and in a short time separated the lock. The door yielded, and +disclosed a large and gloomy gallery. He took a light. Emilia and +Julia, fearful of remaining in the chamber, resolved to accompany him, +and each seizing an arm of madame, they followed in silence. The +gallery was in many parts falling to decay, the ceiling was broke, and +the window-shutters shattered, which, together with the dampness of +the walls, gave the place an air of wild desolation. +</p> + +<p> +They passed lightly on, for their steps ran in whispering echoes +through the gallery, and often did Julia cast a fearful glance around. +</p> + +<p> +The gallery terminated in a large old stair-case, which led to a hall +below; on the left appeared several doors which seemed to lead to +separate apartments. While they hesitated which course to pursue, a +light flashed faintly up the stair-case, and in a moment after passed +away; at the same time was heard the sound of a distant footstep. +Ferdinand drew his sword and sprang forward; his companions, screaming +with terror, ran back to madame's apartment. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand descended a large vaulted hall; he crossed it towards a low +arched door, which was left half open, and through which streamed a +ray of light. The door opened upon a narrow winding passage; he +entered, and the light retiring, was quickly lost in the windings of +the place. Still he went on. The passage grew narrower, and the +frequent fragments of loose stone made it now difficult to proceed. A +low door closed the avenue, resembling that by which he had entered. +He opened it, and discovered a square room, from whence rose a winding +stair-case, which led up the south tower of the castle. Ferdinand +paused to listen; the sound of steps was ceased, and all was +profoundly silent. A door on the right attracted his notice; he tried +to open it, but it was fastened. He concluded, therefore, that the +person, if indeed a human being it was that bore the light he had +seen, had passed up the tower. After a momentary hesitation, he +determined to ascend the stair-case, but its ruinous condition made +this an adventure of some difficulty. The steps were decayed and +broken, and the looseness of the stones rendered a footing very +insecure. Impelled by an irresistible curiosity, he was undismayed, +and began the ascent. He had not proceeded very far, when the stones +of a step which his foot had just quitted, loosened by his weight, +gave way; and dragging with them those adjoining, formed a chasm in +the stair-case that terrified even Ferdinand, who was left tottering +on the suspended half of the steps, in momentary expectation of +falling to the bottom with the stone on which he rested. In the terror +which this occasioned, he attempted to save himself by catching at a +kind of beam which projected over the stairs, when the lamp dropped +from his hand, and he was left in total darkness. Terror now usurped +the place of every other interest, and he was utterly perplexed how to +proceed. He feared to go on, lest the steps above, as infirm as those +below, should yield to his weight;—to return was impracticable, for +the darkness precluded the possibility of discovering a means. He +determined, therefore, to remain in this situation till light should +dawn through the narrow grates in the walls, and enable him to +contrive some method of letting himself down to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +He had remained here above an hour, when he suddenly heard a voice +from below. It seemed to come from the passage leading to the tower, +and perceptibly drew nearer. His agitation was now extreme, for he +had no power of defending himself, and while he remained in this state +of torturing expectation, a blaze of light burst upon the stair-case +beneath him. In the succeeding moment he heard his own name sounded +from below. His apprehensions instantly vanished, for he distinguished +the voices of madame and his sisters. +</p> + +<p> +They had awaited his return in all the horrors of apprehension, till +at length all fear for themselves was lost in their concern for him; +and they, who so lately had not dared to enter this part of the +edifice, now undauntedly searched it in quest of Ferdinand. What were +their emotions when they discovered his perilous situation! +</p> + +<p> +The light now enabled him to take a more accurate survey of the place. +He perceived that some few stones of the steps which had fallen still +remained attached to the wall, but he feared to trust to their support +only. He observed, however, that the wall itself was partly decayed, +and consequently rugged with the corners of half-worn stones. On these +small projections he contrived, with the assistance of the steps +already mentioned, to suspend himself, and at length gained the +unbroken part of the stairs in safety. It is difficult to determine +which individual of the party rejoiced most at this escape. The +morning now dawned, and Ferdinand desisted for the present from +farther enquiry. +</p> + +<p> +The interest which these mysterious circumstances excited in the mind +of Julia, had withdrawn her attention from a subject more dangerous to +its peace. The image of Vereza, notwithstanding, would frequently +intrude upon her fancy; and, awakening the recollection of happy +emotions, would call forth a sigh which all her efforts could not +suppress. She loved to indulge the melancholy of her heart in the +solitude of the woods. One evening she took her lute to a favorite +spot on the seashore, and resigning herself to a pleasing sadness, +touched some sweet and plaintive airs. The purple flush of evening was +diffused over the heavens. The sun, involved in clouds of splendid and +innumerable hues, was setting o'er the distant waters, whose clear +bosom glowed with rich reflection. The beauty of the scene, the +soothing murmur of the high trees, waved by the light air which +overshadowed her, and the soft shelling of the waves that flowed +gently in upon the shores, insensibly sunk her mind into a state of +repose. She touched the chords of her lute in sweet and wild melody, +and sung the following ode: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + EVENING<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Evening veil'd in dewy shades,<br /> + Slowly sinks upon the main;<br /> + See th'empurpled glory fades,<br /> + Beneath her sober, chasten'd reign.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Around her car the pensive Hours,<br /> + In sweet illapses meet the sight,<br /> + Crown'd their brows with closing flow'rs<br /> + Rich with chrystal dews of night.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Her hands, the dusky hues arrange<br /> + O'er the fine tints of parting day;<br /> + Insensibly the colours change,<br /> + And languish into soft decay.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Wide o'er the waves her shadowy veil she draws.<br /> + As faint they die along the distant shores;<br /> + Through the still air I mark each solemn pause,<br /> + Each rising murmur which the wild wave pours.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + A browner shadow spreads upon the air,<br /> + And o'er the scene a pensive grandeur throws;<br /> + The rocks—the woods a wilder beauty wear,<br /> + And the deep wave in softer music flows;<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + And now the distant view where vision fails,<br /> + Twilight and grey obscurity pervade;<br /> + Tint following tint each dark'ning object veils,<br /> + Till all the landscape sinks into the shade.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Oft from the airy steep of some lone hill,<br /> + While sleeps the scene beneath the purple glow:<br /> + And evening lives o'er all serene and still,<br /> + Wrapt let me view the magic world below!<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + And catch the dying gale that swells remote,<br /> + That steals the sweetness from the shepherd's flute:<br /> + The distant torrent's melancholy note<br /> + And the soft warblings of the lover's lute.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Still through the deep'ning gloom of bow'ry shades<br /> + To Fancy's eye fantastic forms appear;<br /> + Low whisp'ring echoes steal along the glades<br /> + And thrill the ear with wildly-pleasing fear.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Parent of shades!—of silence!—dewy airs!<br /> + Of solemn musing, and of vision wild!<br /> + To thee my soul her pensive tribute bears,<br /> + And hails thy gradual step, thy influence mild.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Having ceased to sing, her fingers wandered over the lute in +melancholy symphony, and for some moments she remained lost in the +sweet sensations which the music and the scenery had inspired. She was +awakened from her reverie, by a sigh that stole from among the trees, +and directing her eyes whence it came, beheld—Hippolitus! A thousand +sweet and mingled emotions pressed upon her heart, yet she scarcely +dared to trust the evidence of sight. He advanced, and throwing +himself at her feet: 'Suffer me,' said he, in a tremulous voice, 'to +disclose to you the sentiments which you have inspired, and to offer +you the effusions of a heart filled only with love and admiration.' +'Rise, my lord,' said Julia, moving from her seat with an air of +dignity, 'that attitude is neither becoming you to use, or me to +suffer. The evening is closing, and Ferdinand will be impatient to see +you.' +</p> + +<p> +'Never will I rise, madam,' replied the count, with an impassioned +air, 'till'—He was interrupted by the marchioness, who at this moment +entered the grove. On observing the position of the count she was +retiring. 'Stay, madam,' said Julia, almost sinking under her +confusion. 'By no means,' replied the marchioness, in a tone of irony, +'my presence would only interrupt a very agreeable scene. The count, I +see, is willing to pay you his earliest respects.' Saying this she +disappeared, leaving Julia distressed and offended, and the count +provoked at the intrusion. He attempted to renew the subject, but +Julia hastily followed the steps of the marchioness, and entered the +castle. +</p> + +<p> +The scene she had witnessed, raised in the marchioness a tumult of +dreadful emotions. Love, hatred, and jealousy, raged by turns in her +heart, and defied all power of controul. Subjected to their alternate +violence, she experienced a misery more acute than any she had yet +known. Her imagination, invigorated by opposition, heightened to her +the graces of Hippolitus; her bosom glowed with more intense passion, +and her brain was at length exasperated almost to madness. +</p> + +<p> +In Julia this sudden and unexpected interview excited a mingled +emotion of love and vexation, which did not soon subside. At length, +however, the delightful consciousness of Vereza's love bore her high +above every other sensation; again the scene more brightly glowed, and +again her fancy overcame the possibility of evil. +</p> + +<p> +During the evening a tender and timid respect distinguished the +behaviour of the count towards Julia, who, contented with the +certainty of being loved, resolved to conceal her sentiments till an +explanation of his abrupt departure from Mazzini, and subsequent +absence, should have dissipated the shadow of mystery which hung over +this part of his conduct. She observed that the marchioness pursued +her with steady and constant observation, and she carefully avoided +affording the count an opportunity of renewing the subject of the +preceding interview, which, whenever he approached her, seemed to +tremble on his lips. +</p> + +<p> +Night returned, and Ferdinand repaired to the chamber of Julia to +pursue his enquiry. Here he had not long remained, when the strange +and alarming sounds which had been heard on the preceding night were +repeated. The circumstance that now sunk in terror the minds of Emilia +and Julia, fired with new wonder that of Ferdinand, who seizing a +light, darted through the discovered door, and almost instantly +disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +He descended into the same wild hall he had passed on the preceding +night. He had scarcely reached the bottom of the stair-case, when a +feeble light gleamed across the hall, and his eye caught the glimpse +of a figure retiring through the low arched door which led to the +south tower. He drew his sword and rushed on. A faint sound died away +along the passage, the windings of which prevented his seeing the +figure he pursued. Of this, indeed, he had obtained so slight a view, +that he scarcely knew whether it bore the impression of a human form. +The light quickly disappeared, and he heard the door that opened upon +the tower suddenly close. He reached it, and forcing it open, sprang +forward; but the place was dark and solitary, and there was no +appearance of any person having passed along it. He looked up the +tower, and the chasm which the stair-case exhibited, convinced him +that no human being could have passed up. He stood silent and amazed; +examining the place with an eye of strict enquiry, he perceived a +door, which was partly concealed by hanging stairs, and which till now +had escaped his notice. Hope invigorated curiosity, but his +expectation was quickly disappointed, for this door also was fastened. +He tried in vain to force it. He knocked, and a hollow sullen sound +ran in echoes through the place, and died away at a distance. It was +evident that beyond this door were chambers of considerable extent, +but after long and various attempts to reach them, he was obliged to +desist, and he quitted the tower as ignorant and more dissatisfied +than he had entered it. He returned to the hall, which he now for the +first time deliberately surveyed. It was a spacious and desolate +apartment, whose lofty roof rose into arches supported by pillars of +black marble. The same substance inlaid the floor, and formed the +stair-case. The windows were high and gothic. An air of proud +sublimity, united with singular wildness, characterized the place, at +the extremity of which arose several gothic arches, whose dark shade +veiled in obscurity the extent beyond. On the left hand appeared two +doors, each of which was fastened, and on the right the grand entrance +from the courts. Ferdinand determined to explore the dark recess which +terminated his view, and as he traversed the hall, his imagination, +affected by the surrounding scene, often multiplied the echoes of his +footsteps into uncertain sounds of strange and fearful import. +</p> + +<p> +He reached the arches, and discovered beyond a kind of inner hall, of +considerable extent, which was closed at the farther end by a pair of +massy folding-doors, heavily ornamented with carving. They were +fastened by a lock, and defied his utmost strength. +</p> + +<p> +As he surveyed the place in silent wonder, a sullen groan arose from +beneath the spot where he stood. His blood ran cold at the sound, but +silence returning, and continuing unbroken, he attributed his alarm to +the illusion of a fancy, which terror had impregnated. He made another +effort to force the door, when a groan was repeated more hollow, and +more dreadful than the first. At this moment all his courage forsook +him; he quitted the door, and hastened to the stair-case, which he +ascended almost breathless with terror. +</p> + +<p> +He found Madame de Menon and his sisters awaiting his return in the +most painful anxiety; and, thus disappointed in all his endeavours to +penetrate the secret of these buildings, and fatigued with fruitless +search, he resolved to suspend farther enquiry. +</p> + +<p> +When he related the circumstances of his late adventure, the terror of +Emilia and Julia was heightened to a degree that overcame every +prudent consideration. Their apprehension of the marquis's displeasure +was lost in a stronger feeling, and they resolved no longer to remain +in apartments which offered only terrific images to their fancy. +Madame de Menon almost equally alarmed, and more perplexed, by this +combination of strange and unaccountable circumstances, ceased to +oppose their design. It was resolved, therefore, that on the following +day madame should acquaint the marchioness with such particulars of +the late occurrence as their purpose made it necessary she should +know, concealing their knowledge of the hidden door, and the incidents +immediately dependant on it; and that madame should entreat a change +of apartments. +</p> + +<p> +Madame accordingly waited on the marchioness. The marchioness having +listened to the account at first with surprise, and afterwards with +indifference, condescended to reprove madame for encouraging +superstitious belief in the minds of her young charge. She concluded +with ridiculing as fanciful the circumstances related, and with +refusing, on account of the numerous visitants at the castle, the +request preferred to her. +</p> + +<p> +It is true the castle was crowded with visitors; the former apartments +of Madame de Menon were the only ones unoccupied, and these were in +magnificent preparation for the pleasure of the marchioness, who was +unaccustomed to sacrifice her own wishes to the comfort of those +around her. She therefore treated lightly the subject, which, +seriously attended to, would have endangered her new plan of delight. +</p> + +<p> +But Emilia and Julia were too seriously terrified to obey the scruples +of delicacy, or to be easily repulsed. They prevailed on Ferdinand to +represent their situation to the marquis. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Hippolitus, who had passed the night in a state of sleepless +anxiety, watched, with busy impatience, an opportunity of more fully +disclosing to Julia the passion which glowed in his heart. The first +moment in which he beheld her, had awakened in him an admiration which +had since ripened into a sentiment more tender. He had been prevented +formally declaring his passion by the circumstance which so suddenly +called him to Naples. This was the dangerous illness of the Marquis de +Lomelli, his near and much-valued relation. But it was a task too +painful to depart in silence, and he contrived to inform Julia of his +sentiments in the air which she heard so sweetly sung beneath her +window. +</p> + +<p> +When Hippolitus reached Naples, the marquis was yet living, but +expired a few days after his arrival, leaving the count heir to the +small possessions which remained from the extravagance of their +ancestors. +</p> + +<p> +The business of adjusting his rights had till now detained him from +Sicily, whither he came for the sole purpose of declaring his love. +Here unexpected obstacles awaited him. The jealous vigilance of the +marchioness conspired with the delicacy of Julia, to withhold from him +the opportunity he so anxiously sought. +</p> + +<p> +When Ferdinand entered upon the subject of the southern buildings to +the marquis, he carefully avoided mentioning the hidden door. The +marquis listened for some time to the relation in gloomy silence, but +at length assuming an air of displeasure, reprehended Ferdinand for +yielding his confidence to those idle alarms, which he said were the +suggestions of a timid imagination. 'Alarms,' continued he, 'which +will readily find admittance to the weak mind of a woman, but which +the firmer nature of man should disdain.—Degenerate boy! Is it thus +you reward my care? Do I live to see my son the sport of every idle +tale a woman may repeat? Learn to trust reason and your senses, and +you will then be worthy of my attention.' +</p> + +<p> +The marquis was retiring, and Ferdinand now perceived it necessary to +declare, that he had himself witnessed the sounds he mentioned. +'Pardon me, my lord,' said he, 'in the late instance I have been just +to your command—my senses have been the only evidences I have +trusted. I have heard those sounds which I cannot doubt.' The marquis +appeared shocked. Ferdinand perceived the change, and urged the +subject so vigorously, that the marquis, suddenly assuming a look of +grave importance, commanded him to attend him in the evening in his +closet. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand in passing from the marquis met Hippolitus. He was pacing +the gallery in much seeming agitation, but observing Ferdinand, he +advanced to him. 'I am ill at heart,' said he, in a melancholy tone, +'assist me with your advice. We will step into this apartment, where +we can converse without interruption.' +</p> + +<p> +'You are not ignorant,' said he, throwing himself into a chair, 'of +the tender sentiments which your sister Julia has inspired. I entreat +you by that sacred friendship which has so long united us, to afford +me an opportunity of pleading my passion. Her heart, which is so +susceptible of other impressions, is, I fear, insensible to love. +Procure me, however, the satisfaction of certainty upon a point where +the tortures of suspence are surely the most intolerable.' +</p> + +<p> +'Your penetration,' replied Ferdinand, 'has for once forsaken you, +else you would now be spared the tortures of which you complain, for +you would have discovered what I have long observed, that Julia +regards you with a partial eye.' +</p> + +<p> +'Do not,' said Hippolitus, 'make disappointment more terrible by +flattery; neither suffer the partiality of friendship to mislead your +judgment. Your perceptions are affected by the warmth of your +feelings, and because you think I deserve her distinction, you believe +I possess it. Alas! you deceive yourself, but not me!' +</p> + +<p> +'The very reverse,' replied Ferdinand; 'tis you who deceive yourself, +or rather it is the delicacy of the passion which animates you, and +which will ever operate against your clear perception of a truth in +which your happiness is so deeply involved. Believe me, I speak not +without reason:—she loves you.' +</p> + +<p> +At these words Hippolitus started from his seat, and clasping his +hands in fervent joy, 'Enchanting sounds!' cried he, in a voice +tenderly impassioned; '<i>could</i> I but believe ye!—could I <i>but</i> +believe ye-this world were paradise!' +</p> + +<p> +During this exclamation, the emotions of Julia, who sat in her closet +adjoining, can with difficulty be imagined. A door which opened into +it from the apartment where this conversation was held, was only half +closed. Agitated with the pleasure this declaration excited, she yet +trembled with apprehension lest she should be discovered. She hardly +dared to breathe, much less to move across the closet to the door, +which opened upon the gallery, whence she might probably have escaped +unnoticed, lest the sound of her step should betray her. Compelled, +therefore, to remain where she was, she sat in a state of fearful +distress, which no colour of language can paint. +</p> + +<p> +'Alas!' resumed Hippolitus, 'I too eagerly admit the possibility of +what I wish. If you mean that I should really believe you, confirm +your assertion by some proof.'—'Readily,' rejoined Ferdinand. +</p> + +<p> +The heart of Julia beat quick. +</p> + +<p> +'When you was so suddenly called to Naples upon the illness of the +Marquis Lomelli, I marked her conduct well, and in that read the +sentiments of her heart. On the following morning, I observed in her +countenance a restless anxiety which I had never seen before. She +watched the entrance of every person with an eager expectation, which +was as often succeeded by evident disappointment. At dinner your +departure was mentioned:—she spilt the wine she was carrying to her +lips, and for the remainder of the day was spiritless and melancholy. +I saw her ineffectual struggles to conceal the oppression at her +heart. Since that time she has seized every opportunity of +withdrawing from company. The gaiety with which she was so lately +charmed—charmed her no longer; she became pensive, retired, and I +have often heard her singing in some lonely spot, the most moving and +tender airs. Your return produced a visible and instantaneous +alteration; she has now resumed her gaiety; and the soft confusion of +her countenance, whenever you approach, might alone suffice to +convince you of the truth of my assertion.' +</p> + +<p> +'O! talk for ever thus!' sighed Hippolitus. 'These words are so sweet, +so soothing to my soul, that I could listen till I forgot I had a wish +beyond them. Yes!—Ferdinand, these circumstances are not to be +doubted, and conviction opens upon my mind a flow of extacy I never +knew till now. O! lead me to her, that I may speak the sentiments +which swell my heart.' +</p> + +<p> +They arose, when Julia, who with difficulty had supported herself, now +impelled by an irresistible fear of instant discovery, rose also, and +moved softly towards the gallery. The sound of her step alarmed the +count, who, apprehensive lest his conversation had been overheard, was +anxious to be satisfied whether any person was in the closet. He +rushed in, and discovered Julia! She caught at a chair to support her +trembling frame; and overwhelmed with mortifying sensations, sunk into +it, and hid her face in her robe. Hippolitus threw himself at her +feet, and seizing her hand, pressed it to his lips in expressive +silence. Some moments passed before the confusion of either would +suffer them to speak. At length recovering his voice, 'Can you, +madam,' said he, 'forgive this intrusion, so unintentional? or will it +deprive me of that esteem which I have but lately ventured to believe +I possessed, and which I value more than existence itself. O! speak my +pardon! Let me not believe that a single accident has destroyed my +peace for ever.'—'If your peace, sir, depends upon a knowledge of my +esteem,' said Julia, in a tremulous voice, 'that peace is already +secure. If I wished even to deny the partiality I feel, it would now +be useless; and since I no longer wish this, it would also be +painful.' Hippolitus could only weep his thanks over the hand he still +held. 'Be sensible, however, of the delicacy of my situation,' +continued she, rising, 'and suffer me to withdraw.' Saying this she +quitted the closet, leaving Hippolitus overcome with this sweet +confirmation of his wishes, and Ferdinand not yet recovered from the +painful surprize which the discovery of Julia had excited. He was +deeply sensible of the confusion he had occasioned her, and knew that +apologies would not restore the composure he had so cruelly yet +unwarily disturbed. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand awaited the hour appointed by the marquis in impatient +curiosity. The solemn air which the marquis assumed when he commanded +him to attend, had deeply impressed his mind. As the time drew nigh, +expectation increased, and every moment seemed to linger into hours. +At length he repaired to the closet, where he did not remain long +before the marquis entered. The same chilling solemnity marked his +manner. He locked the door of the closet, and seating himself, +addressed Ferdinand as follows:— +</p> + +<p> +'I am now going to repose in you a confidence which will severely +prove the strength of your honour. But before I disclose a secret, +hitherto so carefully concealed, and now reluctantly told, you must +swear to preserve on this subject an eternal silence. If you doubt the +steadiness of your discretion—now declare it, and save yourself from +the infamy, and the fatal consequences, which may attend a breach of +your oath;—if, on the contrary, you believe yourself capable of a +strict integrity—now accept the terms, and receive the secret I +offer.' Ferdinand was awed by this exordium—the impatience of +curiosity was for a while suspended, and he hesitated whether he +should receive the secret upon such terms. At length he signified his +consent, and the marquis arising, drew his sword from the +scabbard.—'Here,' said he, offering it to Ferdinand, 'seal your +vows—swear by this sacred pledge of honor never to repeat what I +shall now reveal.' Ferdinand vowed upon the sword, and raising his +eyes to heaven, solemnly swore. The marquis then resumed his seat, and +proceeded. +</p> + +<p> +'You are now to learn that, about a century ago, this castle was in +the possession of Vincent, third marquis of Mazzini, my grandfather. +At that time there existed an inveterate hatred between our family and +that of della Campo. I shall not now revert to the origin of the +animosity, or relate the particulars of the consequent feuds—suffice +it to observe, that by the power of our family, the della Campos were +unable to preserve their former consequence in Sicily, and they have +therefore quitted it for a foreign land to live in unmolested +security. To return to my subject.—My grandfather, believing his life +endangered by his enemy, planted spies upon him. He employed some of +the numerous banditti who sought protection in his service, and after +some weeks past in waiting for an opportunity, they seized Henry della +Campo, and brought him secretly to this castle. He was for some time +confined in a close chamber of the southern buildings, where he +expired; by what means I shall forbear to mention. The plan had been +so well conducted, and the secrecy so strictly preserved, that every +endeavour of his family to trace the means of his disappearance proved +ineffectual. Their conjectures, if they fell upon our family, were +supported by no proof; and the della Campos are to this day ignorant +of the mode of his death. A rumour had prevailed long before the death +of my father, that the southern buildings of the castle were haunted. +I disbelieved the fact, and treated it accordingly. One night, when +every human being of the castle, except myself, was retired to rest, I +had such strong and dreadful proofs of the general assertion, that +even at this moment I cannot recollect them without horror. Let me, if +possible, forget them. From that moment I forsook those buildings; +they have ever since been shut up, and the circumstance I have +mentioned, is the true reason why I have resided so little at the +castle.' +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand listened to this narrative in silent horror. He remembered +the temerity with which he had dared to penetrate those +apartments—the light, and figure he had seen—and, above all, his +situation in the stair-case of the tower. Every nerve thrilled at the +recollection; and the terrors of remembrance almost equalled those of +reality. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis permitted his daughters to change their apartments, but he +commanded Ferdinand to tell them, that, in granting their request, he +consulted their ease only, and was himself by no means convinced of +its propriety. They were accordingly reinstated in their former +chambers, and the great room only of madame's apartments was reserved +for the marchioness, who expressed her discontent to the marquis in +terms of mingled censure and lamentation. The marquis privately +reproved his daughters, for what he termed the idle fancies of a weak +mind; and desired them no more to disturb the peace of the castle with +the subject of their late fears. They received this reproof with +silent submission—too much pleased with the success of their suit to +be susceptible of any emotion but joy. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand, reflecting on the late discovery, was shocked to learn, +what was now forced upon his belief, that he was the descendant of a +murderer. He now knew that innocent blood had been shed in the castle, +and that the walls were still the haunt of an unquiet spirit, which +seemed to call aloud for retribution on the posterity of him who had +disturbed its eternal rest. Hippolitus perceived his dejection, and +entreated that he might participate his uneasiness; but Ferdinand, who +had hitherto been frank and ingenuous, was now inflexibly reserved. +'Forbear,' said he, 'to urge a discovery of what I am not permitted to +reveal; this is the only point upon which I conjure you to be silent, +and this even to you, I cannot explain.' Hippolitus was surprized, but +pressed the subject no farther. +</p> + +<p> +Julia, though she had been extremely mortified by the circumstances +attendant on the discovery of her sentiments to Hippolitus, +experienced, after the first shock had subsided, an emotion more +pleasing than painful. The late conversation had painted in strong +colours the attachment of her lover. His diffidence—his slowness to +perceive the effect of his merit—his succeeding rapture, when +conviction was at length forced upon his mind; and his conduct upon +discovering Julia, proved to her at once the delicacy and the strength +of his passion, and she yielded her heart to sensations of pure and +unmixed delight. She was roused from this state of visionary +happiness, by a summons from the marquis to attend him in the library. +A circumstance so unusual surprized her, and she obeyed with trembling +curiosity. She found him pacing the room in deep thought, and she had +shut the door before he perceived her. The authoritative severity in +his countenance alarmed her, and prepared her for a subject of +importance. He seated himself by her, and continued a moment silent. +At length, steadily observing her, 'I sent for you, my child,' said +he, 'to declare the honor which awaits you. The Duke de Luovo has +solicited your hand. An alliance so splendid was beyond my +expectation. You will receive the distinction with the gratitude it +claims, and prepare for the celebration of the nuptials.' +</p> + +<p> +This speech fell like the dart of death upon the heart of Julia. She +sat motionless—stupified and deprived of the power of utterance. The +marquis observed her consternation; and mistaking its cause, 'I +acknowledge,' said he, 'that there is somewhat abrupt in this affair; +but the joy occasioned by a distinction so unmerited on your part, +ought to overcome the little feminine weakness you might otherwise +indulge. Retire and compose yourself; and observe,' continued he, in a +stern voice, 'this is no time for finesse.' These words roused Julia +from her state of horrid stupefaction. 'O! sir,' said she, throwing +herself at his feet, 'forbear to enforce authority upon a point where +to obey you would be worse than death; if, indeed, to obey you were +possible.'—'Cease,' said the marquis, 'this affectation, and practice +what becomes you.'—'Pardon me, my lord,' she replied, 'my distress +is, alas! unfeigned. I cannot love the duke.'—'Away!' interrupted the +marquis, 'nor tempt my rage with objections thus childish and +absurd.'—'Yet hear me, my lord,' said Julia, tears swelling in her +eyes, 'and pity the sufferings of a child, who never till this moment +has dared to dispute your commands.' +</p> + +<p> +'Nor shall she now,' said the marquis. 'What—when wealth, honor, and +distinction, are laid at my feet, shall they be refused, because a +foolish girl—a very baby, who knows not good from evil, cries, and +says she cannot love! Let me not think of it—My just anger may, +perhaps, out-run discretion, and tempt me to chastise your +folly.—Attend to what I say—accept the duke, or quit this castle for +ever, and wander where you will.' Saying this, he burst away, and +Julia, who had hung weeping upon his knees, fell prostrate upon the +floor. The violence of the fall completed the effect of her distress, +and she fainted. In this state she remained a considerable time. When +she recovered her senses, the recollection of her calamity burst upon +her mind with a force that almost again overwhelmed her. She at length +raised herself from the ground, and moved towards her own apartment, +but had scarcely reached the great gallery, when Hippolitus entered +it. Her trembling limbs would no longer support her; she caught at a +bannister to save herself; and Hippolitus, with all his speed, was +scarcely in time to prevent her falling. The pale distress exhibited +in her countenance terrified him, and he anxiously enquired concerning +it. She could answer him only with her tears, which she found it +impossible to suppress; and gently disengaging herself, tottered to +her closet. Hippolitus followed her to the door, but desisted from +further importunity. He pressed her hand to his lips in tender +silence, and withdrew, surprized and alarmed. +</p> + +<p> +Julia, resigning herself to despair, indulged in solitude the excess +of her grief. A calamity, so dreadful as the present, had never before +presented itself to her imagination. The union proposed would have +been hateful to her, even if she had no prior attachment; what then +must have been her distress, when she had given her heart to him who +deserved all her admiration, and returned all her affection. +</p> + +<p> +The Duke de Luovo was of a character very similar to that of the +marquis. The love of power was his ruling passion;—with him no gentle +or generous sentiment meliorated the harshness of authority, or +directed it to acts of beneficence. He delighted in simple undisguised +tyranny. He had been twice married, and the unfortunate women +subjected to his power, had fallen victims to the slow but corroding +hand of sorrow. He had one son, who some years before had escaped the +tyranny of his father, and had not been since heard of. At the late +festival the duke had seen Julia; and her beauty made so strong an +impression upon him, that he had been induced now to solicit her hand. +The marquis, delighted with the prospect of a connection so flattering +to his favorite passion, readily granted his consent, and immediately +sealed it with a promise. +</p> + +<p> +Julia remained for the rest of the day shut up in her closet, where +the tender efforts of Madame and Emilia were exerted to soften her +distress. Towards the close of evening Ferdinand entered. Hippolitus, +shocked at her absence, had requested him to visit her, to alleviate +her affliction, and, if possible, to discover its cause. Ferdinand, +who tenderly loved his sister, was alarmed by the words of Hippolitus, +and immediately sought her. Her eyes were swelled with weeping, and +her countenance was but too expressive of the state of her mind. +Ferdinand's distress, when told of his father's conduct, was scarcely +less than her own. He had pleased himself with the hope of uniting the +sister of his heart with the friend whom he loved. An act of cruel +authority now dissolved the fairy dream of happiness which his fancy +had formed, and destroyed the peace of those most dear to him. He sat +for a long time silent and dejected; at length, starting from his +melancholy reverie, he bad Julia good-night, and returned to +Hippolitus, who was waiting for him with anxious impatience in the +north hall. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand dreaded the effect of that despair, which the intelligence +he had to communicate would produce in the mind of Hippolitus. He +revolved some means of softening the dreadful truth; but Hippolitus, +quick to apprehend the evil which love taught him to fear, seized at +once upon the reality. 'Tell me all,' said he, in a tone of assumed +firmness. 'I am prepared for the worst.' Ferdinand related the decree +of the marquis, and Hippolitus soon sunk into an excess of grief which +defied, as much as it required, the powers of alleviation. +</p> + +<p> +Julia, at length, retired to her chamber, but the sorrow which +occupied her mind withheld the blessings of sleep. Distracted and +restless she arose, and gently opened the window of her apartment. The +night was still, and not a breath disturbed the surface of the waters. +The moon shed a mild radiance over the waves, which in gentle +undulations flowed upon the sands. The scene insensibly tranquilized +her spirits. A tender and pleasing melancholy diffused itself over her +mind; and as she mused, she heard the dashing of distant oars. +Presently she perceived upon the light surface of the sea a small +boat. The sound of the oars ceased, and a solemn strain of harmony +(such as fancy wafts from the abodes of the blessed) stole upon the +silence of night. A chorus of voices now swelled upon the air, and +died away at a distance. In the strain Julia recollected the midnight +hymn to the virgin, and holy enthusiasm filled her heart. The chorus +was repeated, accompanied by a solemn striking of oars. A sigh of +exstacy stole from her bosom. Silence returned. The divine melody she +had heard calmed the tumult of her mind, and she sunk in sweet repose. +</p> + +<p> +She arose in the morning refreshed by light slumbers; but the +recollection of her sorrows soon returned with new force, and +sickening faintness overcame her. In this situation she received a +message from the marquis to attend him instantly. She obeyed, and he +bade her prepare to receive the duke, who that morning purposed to +visit the castle. He commanded her to attire herself richly, and to +welcome him with smiles. Julia submitted in silence. She saw the +marquis was inflexibly resolved, and she withdrew to indulge the +anguish of her heart, and prepare for this detested interview. +</p> + +<p> +The clock had struck twelve, when a flourish of trumpets announced the +approach of the duke. The heart of Julia sunk at the sound, and she +threw herself on a sopha, overwhelmed with bitter sensations. Here she +was soon disturbed by a message from the marquis. She arose, and +tenderly embracing Emilia, their tears for some moments flowed +together. At length, summoning all her fortitude, she descended to the +hall, where she was met by the marquis. He led her to the saloon in +which the duke sat, with whom having conversed a short time, he +withdrew. The emotion of Julia at this instant was beyond any thing +she had before suffered; but by a sudden and strange exertion of +fortitude, which the force of desperate calamity sometimes affords us, +but which inferior sorrow toils after in vain, she recovered her +composure, and resumed her natural dignity. For a moment she wondered +at herself, and she formed the dangerous resolution of throwing +herself upon the generosity of the duke, by acknowledging her +reluctance to the engagement, and soliciting him to withdraw his suit. +</p> + +<p> +The duke approached her with an air of proud condescension; and taking +her hand, placed himself beside her. Having paid some formal and +general compliments to her beauty, he proceeded to profess himself her +admirer. She listened for some time to his professions, and when he +appeared willing to hear her, she addressed him—'I am justly +sensible, my lord, of the distinction you offer me, and must lament +that respectful gratitude is the only sentiment I can return. Nothing +can more strongly prove my confidence in your generosity, than when I +confess to you, that parental authority urges me to give my hand +whither my heart cannot accompany it.' +</p> + +<p> +She paused—the duke continued silent.—''Tis you only, my lord, who +can release me from a situation so distressing; and to your goodness +and justice I appeal, certain that necessity will excuse the +singularity of my conduct, and that I shall not appeal in vain.' +</p> + +<p> +The duke was embarrassed—a flush of pride overspread his countenance, +and he seemed endeavouring to stifle the feelings that swelled his +heart. 'I had been prepared, madam,' said he, 'to expect a very +different reception, and had certainly no reason to believe that the +Duke de Luovo was likely to sue in vain. Since, however, madam, you +acknowledge that you have already disposed of your affections, I shall +certainly be very willing, if the marquis will release me from our +mutual engagements, to resign you to a more favored lover.' +</p> + +<p> +'Pardon me, my lord,' said Julia, blushing, 'suffer me to'—'I am not +easily deceived, madam,' interrupted the duke,—'your conduct can be +attributed only to the influence of a prior attachment; and though for +so young a lady, such a circumstance is somewhat extraordinary, I have +certainly no right to arraign your choice. Permit me to wish you a +good morning.' He bowed low, and quitted the room. Julia now +experienced a new distress; she dreaded the resentment of the marquis, +when he should be informed of her conversation with the duke, of whose +character she now judged too justly not to repent the confidence she +had reposed in him. +</p> + +<p> +The duke, on quitting Julia, went to the marquis, with whom he +remained in conversation some hours. When he had left the castle, the +marquis sent for his daughter, and poured forth his resentment with +all the violence of threats, and all the acrimony of contempt. So +severely did he ridicule the idea of her disposing of her heart, and +so dreadfully did he denounce vengeance on her disobedience, that she +scarcely thought herself safe in his presence. She stood trembling +and confused, and heard his reproaches without the power to reply. At +length the marquis informed her, that the nuptials would be solemnized +on the third day from the present; and as he quitted the room, a flood +of tears came to her relief, and saved her from fainting. +</p> + +<p> +Julia passed the remainder of the day in her closet with Emilia. Night +returned, but brought her no peace. She sat long after the departure +of Emilia; and to beguile recollection, she selected a favorite +author, endeavouring to revive those sensations his page had once +excited. She opened to a passage, the tender sorrow of which was +applicable to her own situation, and her tears flowed wean. Her grief +was soon suspended by apprehension. Hitherto a deadly silence had +reigned through the castle, interrupted only by the wind, whose low +sound crept at intervals through the galleries. She now thought she +heard a footstep near her door, but presently all was still, for she +believed she had been deceived by the wind. The succeeding moment, +however, convinced her of her error, for she distinguished the low +whisperings of some persons in the gallery. Her spirits, already +weakened by sorrow, deserted her: she was seized with an universal +terror, and presently afterwards a low voice called her from without, +and the door was opened by Ferdinand. +</p> + +<p> +She shrieked, and fainted. On recovering, she found herself supported +by Ferdinand and Hippolitus, who had stolen this moment of silence and +security to gain admittance to her presence. Hippolitus came to urge a +proposal which despair only could have suggested. 'Fly,' said he, +'from the authority of a father who abuses his power, and assert the +liberty of choice, which nature assigned you. Let the desperate +situation of my hopes plead excuse for the apparent boldness of this +address, and let the man who exists but for you be the means of saving +you from destruction. Alas! madam, you are silent, and perhaps I have +forfeited, by this proposal, the confidence I so lately flattered +myself I possessed. If so, I will submit to my fate in silence, and +will to-morrow quit a scene which presents only images of distress to +my mind.' +</p> + +<p> +Julia could speak but with her tears. A variety of strong and +contending emotions struggled at her breast, and suppressed the power +of utterance. Ferdinand seconded the proposal of the count. 'It is +unnecessary,' my sister, said he, 'to point out the misery which +awaits you here. I love you too well tamely to suffer you to be +sacrificed to ambition, and to a passion still more hateful. I now +glory in calling Hippolitus my friend—let me ere long receive him as +a brother. I can give no stronger testimony of my esteem for his +character, than in the wish I now express. Believe me he has a heart +worthy of your acceptance—a heart noble and expansive as your +own.'—'Ah, cease,' said Julia, 'to dwell upon a character of whose +worth I am fully sensible. Your kindness and his merit can never be +forgotten by her whose misfortunes you have so generously suffered to +interest you.' She paused in silent hesitation. A sense of delicacy +made her hesitate upon the decision which her heart so warmly +prompted. If she fled with Hippolitus, she would avoid one evil, and +encounter another. She would escape the dreadful destiny awaiting her, +but must, perhaps, sully the purity of that reputation, which was +dearer to her than existence. In a mind like hers, exquisitely +susceptible of the pride of honor, this fear was able to counteract +every other consideration, and to keep her intentions in a state of +painful suspense. She sighed deeply, and continued silent. Hippolitus +was alarmed by the calm distress which her countenance exhibited. 'O! +Julia,' said he, 'relieve me from this dreadful suspense!—speak to +me—explain this silence.' She looked mournfully upon him—her lips +moved, but no sounds were uttered. As he repeated his question, she +waved her hand, and sunk back in her chair. She had not fainted, but +continued some time in a state of stupor not less alarming. The +importance of the present question, operating upon her mind, already +harassed by distress, had produced a temporary suspension of reason. +Hippolitus hung over her in an agony not to be described, and +Ferdinand vainly repeated her name. At length uttering a deep sigh, +she raised herself, and, like one awakened from a dream, gazed around +her. Hippolitus thanked God fervently in his heart. 'Tell me but that +you are well,' said he, 'and that I may dare to hope, and we will +leave you to repose.'—'My sister,' said Ferdinand, 'consult only your +own wishes, and leave the rest to me. Suffer a confidence in me to +dissipate the doubts with which you are agitated.'—'Ferdinand,' said +Julia, emphatically, 'how shall I express the gratitude your kindness +has excited?'—'Your gratitude,' said he, 'will be best shown in +consulting your own wishes; for be assured, that whatever procures +your happiness, will most effectually establish mine. Do not suffer +the prejudices of education to render you miserable. Believe me, that +a choice which involves the happiness or misery of your whole life, +ought to be decided only by yourself.' +</p> + +<p> +'Let us forbear for the present,' said Hippolitus, 'to urge the +subject. Repose is necessary for you,' addressing Julia, 'and I will +not suffer a selfish consideration any longer to with-hold you from +it.—Grant me but this request—that at this hour to-morrow night, I +may return hither to receive my doom.' Julia having consented to +receive Hippolitus and Ferdinand, they quitted the closet. In turning +into the grand gallery, they were surprised by the appearance of a +light, which gleamed upon the wall that terminated their view. It +seemed to proceed from a door which opened upon a back stair-case. +They pushed on, but it almost instantly disappeared, and upon the +stair-case all was still. They then separated, and retired to their +apartments, somewhat alarmed by this circumstance, which induced them +to suspect that their visit to Julia had been observed. +</p> + +<p> +Julia passed the night in broken slumbers, and anxious consideration. +On her present decision hung the crisis of her fate. Her consciousness +of the influence of Hippolitus over her heart, made her fear to +indulge its predilection, by trusting to her own opinion of its +fidelity. She shrunk from the disgraceful idea of an elopement; yet +she saw no means of avoiding this, but by rushing upon the fate so +dreadful to her imagination. +</p> + +<p> +On the following night, when the inhabitants of the castle were +retired to rest, Hippolitus, whose expectation had lengthened the +hours into ages, accompanied by Ferdinand, revisited the closet. +Julia, who had known no interval of rest since they last left her, +received them with much agitation. The vivid glow of health had fled +her cheek, and was succeeded by a languid delicacy, less beautiful, +but more interesting. To the eager enquiries of Hippolitus, she +returned no answer, but faintly smiling through her tears, presented +him her hand, and covered her face with her robe. 'I receive it,' +cried he, 'as the pledge of my happiness;—yet—yet let your voice +ratify the gift.' 'If the present concession does not sink me in your +esteem,' said Julia, in a low tone, 'this hand is yours.'—'The +concession, my love, (for by that tender name I may now call you) +would, if possible, raise you in my esteem; but since that has been +long incapable of addition, it can only heighten my opinion of myself, +and increase my gratitude to you: gratitude which I will endeavour to +shew by an anxious care of your happiness, and by the tender +attentions of a whole life. From this blessed moment,' continued he, +in a voice of rapture, 'permit me, in thought, to hail you as my wife. +From this moment let me banish every vestige of sorrow;—let me dry +those tears,' gently pressing her cheek with his lips, 'never to +spring again.'—The gratitude and joy which Ferdinand expressed upon +this occasion, united with the tenderness of Hippolitus to soothe the +agitated spirits of Julia, and she gradually recovered her +complacency. +</p> + +<p> +They now arranged their plan of escape; in the execution of which, no +time was to be lost, since the nuptials with the duke were to be +solemnized on the day after the morrow. Their scheme, whatever it was +that should be adopted, they, therefore, resolved to execute on the +following night. But when they descended from the first warmth of +enterprize, to minuter examination, they soon found the difficulties +of the undertaking. The keys of the castle were kept by Robert, the +confidential servant of the marquis, who every night deposited them in +an iron chest in his chamber. To obtain them by stratagem seemed +impossible, and Ferdinand feared to tamper with the honesty of this +man, who had been many years in the service of the marquis. Dangerous +as was the attempt, no other alternative appeared, and they were +therefore compelled to rest all their hopes upon the experiment. It +was settled, that if the keys could be procured, Ferdinand and +Hippolitus should meet Julia in the closet; that they should convey +her to the seashore, from whence a boat, which was to be kept in +waiting, would carry them to the opposite coast of Calabria, where the +marriage might be solemnized without danger of interruption. But, as +it was necessary that Ferdinand should not appear in the affair, it +was agreed that he should return to the castle immediately upon the +embarkation of his sister. Having thus arranged their plan of +operation, they separated till the following night, which was to +decide the fate of Hippolitus and Julia. +</p> + +<p> +Julia, whose mind was soothed by the fraternal kindness of Ferdinand, +and the tender assurances of Hippolitus, now experienced an interval +of repose. At the return of day she awoke refreshed, and tolerably +composed. She selected a few clothes which were necessary, and +prepared them for her journey. A sentiment of generosity justified her +in the reserve she preserved to Emilia and Madame de Menon, whose +faithfulness and attachment she could not doubt, but whom she +disdained to involve in the disgrace that must fall upon them, should +their knowledge of her flight be discovered. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time the castle was a scene of confusion. The magnificent +preparations which were making for the nuptials, engaged all eyes, and +busied all hands. The marchioness had the direction of the whole; and +the alacrity with which she acquitted herself, testified how much she +was pleased with the alliance, and created a suspicion, that it had +not been concerted without some exertion of her influence. Thus was +Julia designed the joint victim of ambition and illicit love. +</p> + +<p> +The composure of Julia declined with the day, whose hours had crept +heavily along. As the night drew on, her anxiety for the success of +Ferdinand's negociation with Robert increased to a painful degree. A +variety of new emotions pressed at her heart, and subdued her spirits. +When she bade Emilia good night, she thought she beheld her for the +last time. The ideas of the distance which would separate them, of the +dangers she was going to encounter, with a train of wild and fearful +anticipations, crouded upon her mind, tears sprang in her eyes, and it +was with difficulty she avoided betraying her emotions. Of madame, +too, her heart took a tender farewell. At length she heard the marquis +retire to his apartment, and the doors belonging to the several +chambers of the guests successively close. She marked with trembling +attention the gradual change from bustle to quiet, till all was still. +</p> + +<p> +She now held herself in readiness to depart at the moment in which +Ferdinand and Hippolitus, for whose steps in the gallery she eagerly +listened, should appear. The castle clock struck twelve. The sound +seemed to shake the pile. Julia felt it thrill upon her heart. 'I hear +you,' sighed she, 'for the last time.' The stillness of death +succeeded. She continued to listen; but no sound met her ear. For a +considerable time she sat in a state of anxious expectation not to be +described. The clock chimed the successive quarters; and her fear rose +to each additional sound. At length she heard it strike one. Hollow +was that sound, and dreadful to her hopes; for neither Hippolitus nor +Ferdinand appeared. She grew faint with fear and disappointment. Her +mind, which for two hours had been kept upon the stretch of +expectation, now resigned itself to despair. She gently opened the +door of her closet, and looked upon the gallery; but all was lonely +and silent. It appeared that Robert had refused to be accessary to +their scheme; and it was probable that he had betrayed it to the +marquis. Overwhelmed with bitter reflections, she threw herself upon +the sopha in the first distraction of despair. Suddenly she thought +she heard a noise in the gallery; and as she started from her posture +to listen to the sound, the door of her closet was gently opened by +Ferdinand. 'Come, my love,' said he, 'the keys are ours, and we have +not a moment to lose; our delay has been unavoidable; but this is no +time for explanation.' Julia, almost fainting, gave her hand to +Ferdinand, and Hippolitus, after some short expression of his +thankfulness, followed. They passed the door of madame's chamber; and +treading the gallery with slow and silent steps, descended to the +hall. This they crossed towards a door, after opening which, they +were to find their way, through various passages, to a remote part of +the castle, where a private door opened upon the walls. Ferdinand +carried the several keys. They fastened the hall door after them, and +proceeded through a narrow passage terminating in a stair-case. +</p> + +<p> +They descended, and had hardly reached the bottom, when they heard a +loud noise at the door above, and presently the voices of several +people. Julia scarcely felt the ground she trod on, and Ferdinand flew +to unlock a door that obstructed their way. He applied the different +keys, and at length found the proper one; but the lock was rusted, and +refused to yield. Their distress was not now to be conceived. The +noise above increased; and it seemed as if the people were forcing the +door. Hippolitus and Ferdinand vainly tried to turn the key. A sudden +crash from above convinced them that the door had yielded, when making +another desperate effort, the key broke in the lock. Trembling and +exhausted, Julia gave herself up for lost. As she hung upon Ferdinand, +Hippolitus vainly endeavoured to sooth her—the noise suddenly ceased. +They listened, dreading to hear the sounds renewed; but, to their +utter astonishment, the silence of the place remained undisturbed. +They had now time to breathe, and to consider the possibility of +effecting their escape; for from the marquis they had no mercy to +hope. Hippolitus, in order to ascertain whether the people had quitted +the door above, began to ascend the passage, in which he had not gone +many steps when the noise was renewed with increased violence. He +instantly retreated; and making a desperate push at the door below, +which obstructed their passage, it seemed to yield, and by another +effort of Ferdinand, burst open. They had not an instant to lose; for +they now heard the steps of persons descending the stairs. The avenue +they were in opened into a kind of chamber, whence three passages +branched, of which they immediately chose the first. Another door now +obstructed their passage; and they were compelled to wait while +Ferdinand applied the keys. 'Be quick,' said Julia, 'or we are lost. +O! if this lock too is rusted!'—'Hark!' said Ferdinand. They now +discovered what apprehension had before prevented them from +perceiving, that the sounds of pursuit were ceased, and all again was +silent. As this could happen only by the mistake of their pursuers, in +taking the wrong <i>route</i>, they resolved to preserve their advantage, +by concealing the light, which Ferdinand now covered with his cloak. +The door was opened, and they passed on; but they were perplexed in +the intricacies of the place, and wandered about in vain endeavour to +find their way. Often did they pause to listen, and often did fancy +give them sounds of fearful import. At length they entered on the +passage which Ferdinand knew led directly to a door that opened on the +woods. Rejoiced at this certainty, they soon reached the spot which +was to give them liberty. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand turned the key; the door unclosed, and, to their infinite +joy, discovered to them the grey dawn. 'Now, my love,' said +Hippolitus, 'you are safe, and I am happy.'—Immediately a loud voice +from without exclaimed, 'Take, villain, the reward of your perfidy!' +At the same instant Hippolitus received a sword in his body, and +uttering a deep sigh, fell to the ground. Julia shrieked and fainted; +Ferdinand drawing his sword, advanced towards the assassin, upon whose +countenance the light of his lamp then shone, and discovered to him +his father! The sword fell from his grasp, and he started back in an +agony of horror. He was instantly surrounded, and seized by the +servants of the marquis, while the marquis himself denounced vengeance +upon his head, and ordered him to be thrown into the dungeon of the +castle. At this instant the servants of the count, who were awaiting +his arrival on the seashore, hearing the tumult, hastened to the +scene, and there beheld their beloved master lifeless and weltering in +his blood. They conveyed the bleeding body, with loud lamentations, +on board the vessel which had been prepared for him, and immediately +set sail for Italy. +</p> + +<p> +Julia, on recovering her senses, found herself in a small room, of +which she had no remembrance, with her maid weeping over her. +Recollection, when it returned, brought to her mind an energy of +grief, which exceeded even all former conceptions of sufferings. Yet +her misery was heightened by the intelligence which she now received. +She learned that Hippolitus had been borne away lifeless by his +people, that Ferdinand was confined in a dungeon by order of the +marquis, and that herself was a prisoner in a remote room, from which, +on the day after the morrow, she was to be removed to the chapel of +the castle, and there sacrificed to the ambition of her father, and +the absurd love of the Duke de Luovo. +</p> + +<p> +This accumulation of evil subdued each power of resistance, and +reduced Julia to a state little short of distraction. No person was +allowed to approach her but her maid, and the servant who brought her +food. Emilia, who, though shocked by Julia's apparent want of +confidence, severely sympathized in her distress, solicited to see +her; but the pain of denial was so sharply aggravated by rebuke, that +she dared not again to urge the request. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time Ferdinand, involved in the gloom of a dungeon, was +resigned to the painful recollection of the past, and a horrid +anticipation of the future. From the resentment of the marquis, whose +passions were wild and terrible, and whose rank gave him an unlimited +power of life and death in his own territories, Ferdinand had much to +fear. Yet selfish apprehension soon yielded to a more noble sorrow. +He mourned the fate of Hippolitus, and the sufferings of Julia. He +could attribute the failure of their scheme only to the treachery of +Robert, who had, however, met the wishes of Ferdinand with strong +apparent sincerity, and generous interest in the cause of Julia. On +the night of the intended elopement, he had consigned the keys to +Ferdinand, who, immediately on receiving them, went to the apartment +of Hippolitus. There they were detained till after the clock had +struck one by a low noise, which returned at intervals, and convinced +them that some part of the family was not yet retired to rest. This +noise was undoubtedly occasioned by the people whom the marquis had +employed to watch, and whose vigilance was too faithful to suffer the +fugitives to escape. The very caution of Ferdinand defeated its +purpose; for it is probable, that had he attempted to quit the castle +by the common entrance, he might have escaped. The keys of the grand +door, and those of the courts, remaining in the possession of Robert, +the marquis was certain of the intended place of their departure; and +was thus enabled to defeat their hopes at the very moment when they +exulted in their success. +</p> + +<p> +When the marchioness learned the fate of Hippolitus, the resentment of +jealous passion yielded to emotions of pity. Revenge was satisfied, +and she could now lament the sufferings of a youth whose personal +charms had touched her heart as much as his virtues had disappointed +her hopes. Still true to passion, and inaccessible to reason, she +poured upon the defenceless Julia her anger for that calamity of which +she herself was the unwilling cause. By a dextrous adaptation of her +powers, she had worked upon the passions of the marquis so as to +render him relentless in the pursuit of ambitious purposes, and +insatiable in revenging his disappointment. But the effects of her +artifices exceeded her intention in exerting them; and when she meant +only to sacrifice a rival to her love, she found she had given up its +object to revenge. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER IV +</h3> + +<p> +The nuptial morn, so justly dreaded by Julia, and so impatiently +awaited by the marquis, now arrived. The marriage was to be celebrated +with a magnificence which demonstrated the joy it occasioned to the +marquis. The castle was fitted up in a style of grandeur superior to +any thing that had been before seen in it. The neighbouring nobility +were invited to an entertainment which was to conclude with a splendid +ball and supper, and the gates were to be thrown open to all who chose +to partake of the bounty of the marquis. At an early hour the duke, +attended by a numerous retinue, entered the castle. Ferdinand heard +from his dungeon, where the rigour and the policy of the marquis still +confined him, the loud clattering of hoofs in the courtyard above, the +rolling of the carriage wheels, and all the tumultuous bustle which +the entrance of the duke occasioned. He too well understood the cause +of this uproar, and it awakened in him sensations resembling those +which the condemned criminal feels, when his ears are assailed by the +dreadful sounds that precede his execution. When he was able to think +of himself, he wondered by what means the marquis would reconcile his +absence to the guests. He, however, knew too well the dissipated +character of the Sicilian nobility, to doubt that whatever story +should be invented would be very readily believed by them; who, even +if they knew the truth, would not suffer a discovery of their +knowledge to interrupt the festivity which was offered them. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis and marchioness received the duke in the outer hall, and +conducted him to the saloon, where he partook of the refreshments +prepared for him, and from thence retired to the chapel. The marquis +now withdrew to lead Julia to the altar, and Emilia was ordered to +attend at the door of the chapel, in which the priest and a numerous +company were already assembled. The marchioness, a prey to the +turbulence of succeeding passions, exulted in the near completion of +her favorite scheme.—A disappointment, however, was prepared for her, +which would at once crush the triumph of her malice and her pride. The +marquis, on entering the prison of Julia, found it empty! His +astonishment and indignation upon the discovery almost overpowered his +reason. Of the servants of the castle, who were immediately summoned, +he enquired concerning her escape, with a mixture of fury and sorrow +which left them no opportunity to reply. They had, however, no +information to give, but that her woman had not appeared during the +whole morning. In the prison were found the bridal habiliments which +the marchioness herself had sent on the preceding night, together with +a letter addressed to Emilia, which contained the following words: +</p> + +<p> +'Adieu, dear Emilia; never more will you see your wretched sister, who +flies from the cruel fate now prepared for her, certain that she can +never meet one more dreadful.—In happiness or misery—in hope or +despair—whatever may be your situation—still remember me with pity +and affection. Dear Emilia, adieu!—You will always be the sister of +my heart—may you never be the partner of my misfortunes!' +</p> + +<p> +While the marquis was reading this letter, the marchioness, who +supposed the delay occasioned by some opposition from Julia, flew to +the apartment. By her orders all the habitable parts of the castle +were explored, and she herself assisted in the search. At length the +intelligence was communicated to the chapel, and the confusion became +universal. The priest quitted the altar, and the company returned to +the saloon. +</p> + +<p> +The letter, when it was given to Emilia, excited emotions which she +found it impossible to disguise, but which did not, however, protect +her from a suspicion that she was concerned in the transaction, her +knowledge of which this letter appeared intended to conceal. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis immediately dispatched servants upon the fleetest horses +of his stables, with directions to take different routs, and to scour +every corner of the island in pursuit of the fugitives. When these +exertions had somewhat quieted his mind, he began to consider by what +means Julia could have effected her escape. She had been confined in a +small room in a remote part of the castle, to which no person had been +admitted but her own woman and Robert, the confidential servant of the +marquis. Even Lisette had not been suffered to enter, unless +accompanied by Robert, in whose room, since the night of the fatal +discovery, the keys had been regularly deposited. Without them it was +impossible she could have escaped: the windows of the apartment being +barred and grated, and opening into an inner court, at a prodigious +height from the ground. Besides, who could she depend upon for +protection—or whither could she intend to fly for concealment?—The +associates of her former elopement were utterly unable to assist her +even with advice. Ferdinand himself a prisoner, had been deprived of +any means of intercourse with her, and Hippolitus had been carried +lifeless on board a vessel, which had immediately sailed for Italy. +</p> + +<p> +Robert, to whom the keys had been entrusted, was severely interrogated +by the marquis. He persisted in a simple and uniform declaration of +his innocence; but as the marquis believed it impossible that Julia +could have escaped without his knowledge, he was ordered into +imprisonment till he should confess the fact. +</p> + +<p> +The pride of the duke was severely wounded by this elopement, which +proved the excess of Julia's aversion, and compleated the disgraceful +circumstances of his rejection. The marquis had carefully concealed +from him her prior attempt at elopement, and her consequent +confinement; but the truth now burst from disguise, and stood revealed +with bitter aggravation. The duke, fired with indignation at the +duplicity of the marquis, poured forth his resentment in terms of +proud and bitter invective; and the marquis, galled by recent +disappointment, was in no mood to restrain the impetuosity of his +nature. He retorted with acrimony; and the consequence would have been +serious, had not the friends of each party interposed for their +preservation. The disputants were at length reconciled; it was agreed +to pursue Julia with united, and indefatigable search; and that +whenever she should be found, the nuptials should be solemnized +without further delay. With the character of the duke, this conduct +was consistent. His passions, inflamed by disappointment, and +strengthened by repulse, now defied the power of obstacle; and those +considerations which would have operated with a more delicate mind to +overcome its original inclination, served only to encrease the +violence of his. +</p> + +<p> +Madame de Menon, who loved Julia with maternal affection, was an +interested observer of all that passed at the castle. The cruel fate +to which the marquis destined his daughter she had severely lamented, +yet she could hardly rejoice to find that this had been avoided by +elopement. She trembled for the future safety of her pupil; and her +tranquillity, which was thus first disturbed for the welfare of +others, she was not soon suffered to recover. +</p> + +<p> +The marchioness had long nourished a secret dislike to Madame de +Menon, whose virtues were a silent reproof to her vices. The +contrariety of their disposition created in the marchioness an +aversion which would have amounted to contempt, had not that dignity +of virtue which strongly characterized the manners of madame, +compelled the former to fear what she wished to despise. Her +conscience whispered her that the dislike was mutual; and she now +rejoiced in the opportunity which seemed to offer itself of lowering +the proud integrity of madame's character. Pretending, therefore, to +believe that she had encouraged Ferdinand to disobey his father's +commands, and had been accessary to the elopement, she accused her of +these offences, and stimulated the marquis to reprehend her conduct. +But the integrity of Madame de Menon was not to be questioned with +impunity. Without deigning to answer the imputation, she desired to +resign an office of which she was no longer considered worthy, and to +quit the castle immediately. This the policy of the marquis would not +suffer; and he was compelled to make such ample concessions to madame, +as induced her for the present to continue at the castle. +</p> + +<p> +The news of Julia's elopement at length reached the ears of Ferdinand, +whose joy at this event was equalled only by his surprize. He lost, +for a moment, the sense of his own situation, and thought only of the +escape of Julia. But his sorrow soon returned with accumulated force +when he recollected that Julia might then perhaps want that assistance +which his confinement alone could prevent his affording her. +</p> + +<p> +The servants, who had been sent in pursuit, returned to the castle +without any satisfactory information. Week after week elapsed in +fruitless search, yet the duke was strenuous in continuing the +pursuit. Emissaries were dispatched to Naples, and to the several +estates of the Count Vereza, but they returned without any +satisfactory information. The count had not been heard of since he +quitted Naples for Sicily. +</p> + +<p> +During these enquiries a new subject of disturbance broke out in the +castle of Mazzini. On the night so fatal to the hopes of Hippolitus +and Julia, when the tumult was subsided, and all was still, a light +was observed by a servant as he passed by the window of the great +stair-case in the way to his chamber, to glimmer through the casement +before noticed in the southern buildings. While he stood observing it, +it vanished, and presently reappeared. The former mysterious +circumstances relative to these buildings rushed upon his mind; and +fired with wonder, he roused some of his fellow servants to come and +behold this phenomenon. +</p> + +<p> +As they gazed in silent terror, the light disappeared, and soon after, +they saw a small door belonging to the south tower open, and a figure +bearing a light issue forth, which gliding along the castle walls, was +quickly lost to their view. Overcome with fear they hurried back to +their chambers, and revolved all the late wonderful occurrences. They +doubted not, that this was the figure formerly seen by the lady Julia. +The sudden change of Madame de Menon's apartments had not passed +unobserved by the servants, but they now no longer hesitated to what +to attribute the removal. They collected each various and uncommon +circumstance attendant on this part of the fabric; and, comparing them +with the present, their superstitious fears were confirmed, and their +terror heightened to such a degree, that many of them resolved to quit +the service of the marquis. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis surprized at this sudden desertion, enquired into its +cause, and learned the truth. Shocked by this discovery, he yet +resolved to prevent, if possible, the ill effects which might be +expected from a circulation of the report. To this end it was +necessary to quiet the minds of his people, and to prevent their +quitting his service. Having severely reprehended them for the idle +apprehension they encouraged, he told them that, to prove the fallacy +of their surmises, he would lead them over that part of the castle +which was the subject of their fears, and ordered them to attend him +at the return of night in the north hall. Emilia and Madame de Menon, +surprised at this procedure, awaited the issue in silent expectation. +</p> + +<p> +The servants, in obedience to the commands of the marquis, assembled +at night in the north hall. The air of desolation which reigned +through the south buildings, and the circumstance of their having been +for so many years shut up, would naturally tend to inspire awe; but to +these people, who firmly believed them to be the haunt of an unquiet +spirit, terror was the predominant sentiment. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis now appeared with the keys of these buildings in his +hands, and every heart thrilled with wild expectation. He ordered +Robert to precede him with a torch, and the rest of the servants +following, he passed on. A pair of iron gates were unlocked, and they +proceeded through a court, whose pavement was wildly overgrown with +long grass, to the great door of the south fabric. Here they met with +some difficulty, for the lock, which had not been turned for many +years, was rusted. +</p> + +<p> +During this interval, the silence of expectation sealed the lips of +all present. At length the lock yielded. That door which had not been +passed for so many years, creaked heavily upon its hinges, and +disclosed the hall of black marble which Ferdinand had formerly +crossed. 'Now,' cried the marquis, in a tone of irony as he entered, +'expect to encounter the ghosts of which you tell me; but if you fail +to conquer them, prepare to quit my service. The people who live with +me shall at least have courage and ability sufficient to defend me +from these spiritual attacks. All I apprehend is, that the enemy will +not appear, and in this case your valour will go untried.' +</p> + +<p> +No one dared to answer, but all followed, in silent fear, the marquis, +who ascended the great stair-case, and entered the gallery. 'Unlock +that door,' said he, pointing to one on the left, 'and we will soon +unhouse these ghosts.' Robert applied the key, but his hand shook so +violently that he could not turn it. 'Here is a fellow,' cried the +marquis, 'fit to encounter a whole legion of spirits. Do you, Anthony, +take the key, and try your valour.' +</p> + +<p> +'Please you, my lord,' replied Anthony, 'I never was a good one at +unlocking a door in my life, but here is Gregory will do it.'—'No, my +lord, an' please you,' said Gregory, 'here is Richard.'—'Stand off,' +said the marquis, 'I will shame your cowardice, and do it myself.' +</p> + +<p> +Saying this he turned the key, and was rushing on, but the door +refused to yield; it shook under his hands, and seemed as if partially +held by some person on the other side. The marquis was surprized, and +made several efforts to move it, without effect. He then ordered his +servants to burst it open, but, shrinking back with one accord, they +cried, 'For God's sake, my lord, go no farther; we are satisfied here +are no ghosts, only let us get back.' +</p> + +<p> +'It is now then my turn to be satisfied,' replied the marquis, 'and +till I am, not one of you shall stir. Open me that door.'—'My +lord!'—'Nay,' said the marquis, assuming a look of stern +authority—'dispute not my commands. I am not to be trifled with.' +</p> + +<p> +They now stepped forward, and applied their strength to the door, when +a loud and sudden noise burst from within, and resounded through the +hollow chambers! The men started back in affright, and were rushing +headlong down the stair-case, when the voice of the marquis arrested +their flight. They returned, with hearts palpitating with terror. +'Observe what I say,' said the marquis, 'and behave like men. Yonder +door,' pointing to one at some distance, 'will lead us through other +rooms to this chamber—unlock it therefore, for I will know the cause +of these sounds.' Shocked at this determination, the servants again +supplicated the marquis to go no farther; and to be obeyed, he was +obliged to exert all his authority. The door was opened, and +discovered a long narrow passage, into which they descended by a few +steps. It led to a gallery that terminated in a back stair-case, where +several doors appeared, one of which the marquis unclosed. A spacious +chamber appeared beyond, whose walls, decayed and discoloured by the +damps, exhibited a melancholy proof of desertion. +</p> + +<p> +They passed on through a long suite of lofty and noble apartments, +which were in the same ruinous condition. At length they came to the +chamber whence the noise had issued. 'Go first, Robert, with the +light,' said the marquis, as they approached the door; 'this is the +key.' Robert trembled—but obeyed, and the other servants followed in +silence. They stopped a moment at the door to listen, but all was +still within. The door was opened, and disclosed a large vaulted +chamber, nearly resembling those they had passed, and on looking +round, they discovered at once the cause of the alarm.—A part of the +decayed roof was fallen in, and the stones and rubbish of the ruin +falling against the gallery door, obstructed the passage. It was +evident, too, whence the noise which occasioned their terror had +arisen; the loose stones which were piled against the door being shook +by the effort made to open it, had given way, and rolled to the floor. +</p> + +<p> +After surveying the place, they returned to the back stairs, which +they descended, and having pursued the several windings of a long +passage, found themselves again in the marble hall. 'Now,' said the +marquis, 'what think ye? What evil spirits infest these walls? +Henceforth be cautious how ye credit the phantasms of idleness, for ye +may not always meet with a master who will condescend to undeceive +ye.'—They acknowledged the goodness of the marquis, and professing +themselves perfectly conscious of the error of their former +suspicions, desired they might search no farther. 'I chuse to leave +nothing to your imagination,' replied the marquis, 'lest hereafter it +should betray you into a similar error. Follow me, therefore; you +shall see the whole of these buildings.' Saying this, he led them to +the south tower. They remembered, that from a door of this tower the +figure which caused their alarm had issued; and notwithstanding the +late assertion of their suspicions being removed, fear still operated +powerfully upon their minds, and they would willingly have been +excused from farther research. 'Would any of you chuse to explore this +tower?' said the marquis, pointing to the broken stair-case; 'for +myself, I am mortal, and therefore fear to venture; but you, who hold +communion with disembodied spirits, may partake something of their +nature; if so, you may pass without apprehension where the ghost has +probably passed before.' They shrunk at this reproof, and were silent. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis turning to a door on his right hand, ordered it to be +unlocked. It opened upon the country, and the servants knew it to be +the same whence the figure had appeared. Having relocked it, 'Lift +that trapdoor; we will desend into the vaults,' said the marquis. +'What trapdoor, my Lord?' said Robert, with encreased agitation; 'I +see none.' The marquis pointed, and Robert, perceived a door, which +lay almost concealed beneath the stones that had fallen from the +stair-case above. He began to remove them, when the marquis suddenly +turning—'I have already sufficiently indulged your folly,' said he, +'and am weary of this business. If you are capable of receiving +conviction from truth, you must now be convinced that these buildings +are not the haunt of a supernatural being; and if you are incapable, +it would be entirely useless to proceed. You, Robert, may therefore +spare yourself the trouble of removing the rubbish; we will quit this +part of the fabric.' +</p> + +<p> +The servants joyfully obeyed, and the marquis locking the several +doors, returned with the keys to the habitable part of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +Every enquiry after Julia had hitherto proved fruitless; and the +imperious nature of the marquis, heightened by the present vexation, +became intolerably oppressive to all around him. As the hope of +recovering Julia declined, his opinion that Emilia had assisted her to +escape strengthened, and he inflicted upon her the severity of his +unjust suspicions. She was ordered to confine herself to her apartment +till her innocence should be cleared, or her sister discovered. From +Madame de Menon she received a faithful sympathy, which was the sole +relief of her oppressed heart. Her anxiety concerning Julia daily +encreased, and was heightened into the most terrifying apprehensions +for her safety. She knew of no person in whom her sister could +confide, or of any place where she could find protection; the most +deplorable evils were therefore to be expected. +</p> + +<p> +One day, as she was sitting at the window of her apartment, engaged in +melancholy reflection, she saw a man riding towards the castle on full +speed. Her heart beat with fear and expectation; for his haste made +her suspect he brought intelligence of Julia; and she could scarcely +refrain from breaking through the command of the marquis, and rushing +into the hall to learn something of his errand. She was right in her +conjecture; the person she had seen was a spy of the marquis's, and +came to inform him that the lady Julia was at that time concealed in a +cottage of the forest of Marentino. The marquis, rejoiced at this +intelligence, gave the man a liberal reward. He learned also, that she +was accompanied by a young cavalier; which circumstance surprized him +exceedingly; for he knew of no person except the Count de Vereza with +whom she could have entrusted herself, and the count had fallen by his +sword! He immediately ordered a party of his people to accompany the +messenger to the forest of Marentino, and to suffer neither Julia nor +the cavalier to escape them, on pain of death. +</p> + +<p> +When the Duke de Luovo was informed of this discovery, he entreated +and obtained permission of the marquis to join in the pursuit. He +immediately set out on the expedition, armed, and followed by a number +of his servants. He resolved to encounter all hazards, and to practice +the most desperate extremes, rather than fail in the object of his +enterprize. In a short time he overtook the marquis's people, and they +proceeded together with all possible speed. The forest lay several +leagues distant from the castle of Mazzini, and the day was closing +when they entered upon the borders. The thick foliage of the trees +spread a deeper shade around; and they were obliged to proceed with +caution. Darkness had long fallen upon the earth when they reached +the cottage, to which they were directed by a light that glimmered +from afar among the trees. The duke left his people at some distance; +and dismounted, and accompanied only by one servant, approached the +cottage. When he reached it he stopped, and looking through the +window, observed a man and woman in the habit of peasants seated at +their supper. They were conversing with earnestness, and the duke, +hoping to obtain farther intelligence of Julia, endeavoured to listen +to their discourse. They were praising the beauty of a lady, whom the +duke did not doubt to be Julia, and the woman spoke much in praise of +the cavalier. 'He has a noble heart,' said she; 'and I am sure, by +his look, belongs to some great family.'—'Nay,' replied her +companion, 'the lady is as good as he. I have been at Palermo, and +ought to know what great folks are, and if she is not one of them, +never take my word again. Poor thing, how she does take on! It made my +heart ache to see her.' +</p> + +<p> +They were some time silent. The duke knocked at the door, and enquired +of the man who opened it concerning the lady and cavalier then in his +cottage. He was assured there were no other persons in the cottage +than those he then saw. The duke persisted in affirming that the +persons he enquired for were there concealed; which the man being as +resolute in denying, he gave the signal, and his people approached, +and surrounded the cottage. The peasants, terrified by this +circumstance, confessed that a lady and cavalier, such as the duke +described, had been for some time concealed in the cottage; but that +they were now departed. +</p> + +<p> +Suspicious of the truth of the latter assertion, the duke ordered his +people to search the cottage, and that part of the forest contiguous +to it. The search ended in disappointment. The duke, however, +resolved to obtain all possible information concerning the fugitives; +and assuming, therefore, a stern air, bade the peasant, on pain of +instant death, discover all he knew of them. +</p> + +<p> +The man replied, that on a very dark and stormy night, about a week +before, two persons had come to the cottage, and desired shelter. That +they were unattended; but seemed to be persons of consequence in +disguise. That they paid very liberally for what they had; and that +they departed from the cottage a few hours before the arrival of the +duke. +</p> + +<p> +The duke enquired concerning the course they had taken, and having +received information, remounted his horse, and set forward in pursuit. +The road lay for several leagues through the forest, and the darkness, +and the probability of encountering banditti, made the journey +dangerous. About the break of day they quitted the forest, and entered +upon a wild and mountainous country, in which they travelled some +miles without perceiving a hut, or a human being. No vestige of +cultivation appeared, and no sounds reached them but those of their +horses feet, and the roaring of the winds through the deep forests +that overhung the mountains. The pursuit was uncertain, but the duke +resolved to persevere. +</p> + +<p> +They came at length to a cottage, where he repeated his enquiries, and +learned to his satisfaction that two persons, such as he described, +had stopped there for refreshment about two hours before. He found it +now necessary to stop for the same purpose. Bread and milk, the only +provisions of the place, were set before him, and his attendants would +have been well contented, had there been sufficient of this homely +fare to have satisfied their hunger. +</p> + +<p> +Having dispatched an hasty meal, they again set forward in the way +pointed out to them as the route of the fugitives. The country +assumed a more civilized aspect. Corn, vineyards, olives, and groves +of mulberry-trees adorned the hills. The vallies, luxuriant in shade, +were frequently embellished by the windings of a lucid stream, and +diversified by clusters of half-seen cottages. Here the rising turrets +of a monastery appeared above the thick trees with which they were +surrounded; and there the savage wilds the travellers had passed, +formed a bold and picturesque background to the scene. +</p> + +<p> +To the questions put by the duke to the several persons he met, he +received answers that encouraged him to proceed. At noon he halted at +a village to refresh himself and his people. He could gain no +intelligence of Julia, and was perplexed which way to chuse; but +determined at length to pursue the road he was then in, and +accordingly again set forward. He travelled several miles without +meeting any person who could give the necessary information, and began +to despair of success. The lengthened shadows of the mountains, and +the fading light gave signals of declining day; when having gained the +summit of a high hill, he observed two persons travelling on horseback +in the plains below. On one of them he distinguished the habiliments +of a woman; and in her air he thought he discovered that of Julia. +While he stood attentively surveying them, they looked towards the +hill, when, as if urged by a sudden impulse of terror, they set off on +full speed over the plains. The duke had no doubt that these were the +persons he sought; and he, therefore, ordered some of his people to +pursue them, and pushed his horse into a full gallop. Before he +reached the plains, the fugitives, winding round an abrupt hill, were +lost to his view. The duke continued his course, and his people, who +were a considerable way before him, at length reached the hill, behind +which the two persons had disappeared. No traces of them were to be +seen, and they entered a narrow defile between two ranges of high and +savage mountains; on the right of which a rapid stream rolled along, +and broke with its deep resounding murmurs the solemn silence of the +place. The shades of evening now fell thick, and the scene was soon +enveloped in darkness; but to the duke, who was animated by a strong +and impetuous passion, these were unimportant circumstances. Although +he knew that the wilds of Sicily were frequently infested with +banditti, his numbers made him fearless of attack. Not so his +attendants, many of whom, as the darkness increased, testified +emotions not very honourable to their courage: starting at every bush, +and believing it concealed a murderer. They endeavoured to dissuade +the duke from proceeding, expressing uncertainty of their being in the +right route, and recommending the open plains. But the duke, whose eye +had been vigilant to mark the flight of the fugitives, and who was not +to be dissuaded from his purpose, quickly repressed their arguments. +They continued their course without meeting a single person. +</p> + +<p> +The moon now rose, and afforded them a shadowy imperfect view of the +surrounding objects. The prospect was gloomy and vast, and not a human +habitation met their eyes. They had now lost every trace of the +fugitives, and found themselves bewildered in a wild and savage +country. Their only remaining care was to extricate themselves from so +forlorn a situation, and they listened at every step with anxious +attention for some sound that might discover to them the haunts of +men. They listened in vain; the stillness of night was undisturbed but +by the wind, which broke at intervals in low and hollow murmurs from +among the mountains. +</p> + +<p> +As they proceeded with silent caution, they perceived a light break +from among the rocks at some distance. The duke hesitated whether to +approach, since it might probably proceed from a party of the banditti +with which these mountains were said to be infested. While he +hesitated, it disappeared; but he had not advanced many steps when it +returned. He now perceived it to issue from the mouth of a cavern, and +cast a bright reflection upon the overhanging rocks and shrubs. +</p> + +<p> +He dismounted, and followed by two of his people, leaving the rest at +some distance, moved with slow and silent steps towards the cave. As +he drew near, he heard the sound of many voices in high carousal. +Suddenly the uproar ceased, and the following words were sung by a +clear and manly voice: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + SONG<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Pour the rich libation high;<br /> + The sparkling cup to Bacchus fill;<br /> + His joys shall dance in ev'ry eye,<br /> + And chace the forms of future ill!<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Quick the magic raptures steal<br /> + O'er the fancy-kindling brain.<br /> + Warm the heart with social zeal,<br /> + And song and laughter reign.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Then visions of pleasure shall float on our sight,<br /> + While light bounding our spirits shall flow;<br /> + And the god shall impart a fine sense of delight<br /> + Which in vain <i>sober</i> mortals would know.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The last verse was repeated in loud chorus. The duke listened with +astonishment! Such social merriment amid a scene of such savage +wildness, appeared more like enchantment than reality. He would not +have hesitated to pronounce this a party of banditti, had not the +delicacy of expression preserved in the song appeared unattainable by +men of their class. +</p> + +<p> +He had now a full view of the cave; and the moment which convinced him +of his error served only to encrease his surprize. He beheld, by the +light of a fire, a party of banditti seated within the deepest recess +of the cave round a rude kind of table formed in the rock. The table +was spread with provisions, and they were regaling themselves with +great eagerness and joy. The countenances of the men exhibited a +strange mixture of fierceness and sociality; and the duke could almost +have imagined he beheld in these robbers a band of the early Romans +before knowledge had civilized, or luxury had softened them. But he +had not much time for meditation; a sense of his danger bade him fly +while to fly was yet in his power. As he turned to depart, he observed +two saddle-horses grazing upon the herbage near the mouth of the cave. +It instantly occurred to him that they belonged to Julia and her +companion. He hesitated, and at length determined to linger awhile, +and listen to the conversation of the robbers, hoping from thence to +have his doubts resolved. They talked for some time in a strain of +high conviviality, and recounted in exultation many of their exploits. +They described also the behaviour of several people whom they had +robbed, with highly ludicrous allusions, and with much rude humour, +while the cave re-echoed with loud bursts of laughter and applause. +They were thus engaged in tumultuous merriment, till one of them +cursing the scanty plunder of their late adventure, but praising the +beauty of a lady, they all lowered their voices together, and seemed +as if debating upon a point uncommonly interesting to them. The +passions of the duke were roused, and he became certain that it was +Julia of whom they had spoken. In the first impulse of feeling he drew +his sword; but recollecting the number of his adversaries, restrained +his fury. He was turning from the cave with a design of summoning his +people, when the light of the fire glittering upon the bright blade of +his weapon, caught the eye of one of the banditti. He started from +his seat, and his comrades instantly rising in consternation, +discovered the duke. They rushed with loud vociferation towards the +mouth of the cave. He endeavoured to escape to his people; but two of +the banditti mounting the horses which were grazing near, quickly +overtook and seized him. His dress and air proclaimed him to be a +person of distinction; and, rejoicing in their prospect of plunder, +they forced him towards the cave. Here their comrades awaited them; +but what were the emotions of the duke, when he discovered in the +person of the principal robber his own son! who, to escape the galling +severity of his father, had fled from his castle some years before, +and had not been heard of since. +</p> + +<p> +He had placed himself at the head of a party of banditti, and, pleased +with the liberty which till then he had never tasted, and with the +power which his new situation afforded him, he became so much attached +to this wild and lawless mode of life, that he determined never to +quit it till death should dissolve those ties which now made his rank +only oppressive. This event seemed at so great a distance, that he +seldom allowed himself to think of it. Whenever it should happen, he +had no doubt that he might either resume his rank without danger of +discovery, or might justify his present conduct as a frolic which a +few acts of generosity would easily excuse. He knew his power would +then place him beyond the reach of censure, in a country where the +people are accustomed to implicit subordination, and seldom dare to +scrutinize the actions of the nobility. +</p> + +<p> +His sensations, however, on discovering his father, were not very +pleasing; but proclaiming the duke, he protected him from farther +outrage. +</p> + +<p> +With the duke, whose heart was a stranger to the softer affections, +indignation usurped the place of parental feeling. His pride was the +only passion affected by the discovery; and he had the rashness to +express the indignation, which the conduct of his son had excited, in +terms of unrestrained invective. The banditti, inflamed by the +opprobium with which he loaded their order, threatened instant +punishment to his temerity; and the authority of Riccardo could hardly +restrain them within the limits of forbearance. +</p> + +<p> +The menaces, and at length entreaties of the duke, to prevail with his +son to abandon his present way of life, were equally ineffectual. +Secure in his own power, Riccardo laughed at the first, and was +insensible to the latter; and his father was compelled to relinquish +the attempt. The duke, however, boldly and passionately accused him of +having plundered and secreted a lady and cavalier, his friends, at the +same time describing Julia, for whose liberation he offered large +rewards. Riccardo denied the fact, which so much exasperated the duke, +that he drew his sword with an intention of plunging it in the breast +of his son. His arm was arrested by the surrounding banditti, who +half unsheathed their swords, and stood suspended in an attitude of +menace. The fate of the father now hung upon the voice of the son. +Riccardo raised his arm, but instantly dropped it, and turned away. +The banditti sheathed their weapons, and stepped back. +</p> + +<p> +Riccardo solemnly swearing that he knew nothing of the persons +described, the duke at length became convinced of the truth of the +assertion, and departing from the cave, rejoined his people. All the +impetuous passions of his nature were roused and inflamed by the +discovery of his son in a situation so wretchedly disgraceful. Yet it +was his pride rather than his virtue that was hurt; and when he wished +him dead, it was rather to save himself from disgrace, than his son +from the real indignity of vice. He had no means of reclaiming him; to +have attempted it by force, would have been at this time the excess of +temerity, for his attendants, though numerous, were undisciplined, and +would have fallen certain victims to the power of a savage and +dexterous banditti. +</p> + +<p> +With thoughts agitated in fierce and agonizing conflict, he pursued +his journey; and having lost all trace of Julia, sought only for an +habitation which might shelter him from the night, and afford +necessary refreshment for himself and his people. With this, however, +there appeared little hope of meeting. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER V +</h3> + +<p> +The night grew stormy. The hollow winds swept over the mountains, and +blew bleak and cold around; the clouds were driven swiftly over the +face of the moon, and the duke and his people were frequently involved +in total darkness. They had travelled on silently and dejectedly for +some hours, and were bewildered in the wilds, when they suddenly heard +the bell of a monastery chiming for midnight-prayer. Their hearts +revived at the sound, which they endeavoured to follow, but they had +not gone far, when the gale wafted it away, and they were abandoned to +the uncertain guide of their own conjectures. +</p> + +<p> +They had pursued for some time the way which they judged led to the +monastery, when the note of the bell returned upon the wind, and +discovered to them that they had mistaken their route. After much +wandering and difficulty they arrived, overcome with weariness, at the +gates of a large and gloomy fabric. The bell had ceased, and all was +still. By the moonlight, which through broken clouds now streamed upon +the building, they became convinced it was the monastery they had +sought, and the duke himself struck loudly upon the gate. +</p> + +<p> +Several minutes elapsed, no person appeared, and he repeated the +stroke. A step was presently heard within, the gate was unbarred, and +a thin shivering figure presented itself. The duke solicited +admission, but was refused, and reprimanded for disturbing the convent +at the hour sacred to prayer. He then made known his rank, and bade +the friar inform the Superior that he requested shelter from the +night. The friar, suspicious of deceit, and apprehensive of robbers, +refused with much firmness, and repeated that the convent was engaged +in prayer; he had almost closed the gate, when the duke, whom hunger +and fatigue made desperate, rushed by him, and passed into the court. +It was his intention to present himself to the Superior, and he had +not proceeded far when the sound of laughter, and of many voices in +loud and mirthful jollity, attracted his steps. It led him through +several passages to a door, through the crevices of which light +appeared. He paused a moment, and heard within a wild uproar of +merriment and song. He was struck with astonishment, and could +scarcely credit his senses! +</p> + +<p> +He unclosed the door, and beheld in a large room, well lighted, a +company of friars, dressed in the habit of their order, placed round a +table, which was profusely spread with wines and fruits. The Superior, +whose habit distinguished him from his associates, appeared at the +head of the table. He was lifting a large goblet of wine to his lips, +and was roaring out, 'Profusion and confusion,' at the moment when the +duke entered. His appearance caused a general alarm; that part of the +company who were not too much intoxicated, arose from their seats; and +the Superior, dropping the goblet from his hands, endeavoured to +assume a look of austerity, which his rosy countenance belied. The +duke received a reprimand, delivered in the lisping accents of +intoxication, and embellished with frequent interjections of hiccup. +He made known his quality, his distress, and solicited a night's +lodging for himself and his people. When the Superior understood the +distinction of his guest, his features relaxed into a smile of joyous +welcome; and taking him by the hand, he placed him by his side. +</p> + +<p> +The table was quickly covered with luxurious provisions, and orders +were given that the duke's people should be admitted, and taken care +of. He was regaled with a variety of the finest wines, and at length, +highly elevated by monastic hospitality, he retired to the apartment +allotted him, leaving the Superior in a condition which precluded all +ceremony. +</p> + +<p> +He departed in the morning, very well pleased with the accommodating +principles of monastic religion. He had been told that the enjoyment +of the good things of this life was the surest sign of our gratitude +to Heaven; and it appeared, that within the walls of a Sicilian +monastery, the precept and the practice were equally enforced. +</p> + +<p> +He was now at a loss what course to chuse, for he had no clue to +direct him towards the object of his pursuit; but hope still +invigorated, and urged him to perseverance. He was not many leagues +from the coast; and it occurred to him that the fugitives might make +towards it with a design of escaping into Italy. He therefore +determined to travel towards the sea and proceed along the shore. +</p> + +<p> +At the house where he stopped to dine, he learned that two persons, +such as he described, had halted there about an hour before his +arrival, and had set off again in much seeming haste. They had taken +the road towards the coast, whence it was obvious to the duke they +designed to embark. He stayed not to finish the repast set before +him, but instantly remounted to continue the pursuit. +</p> + +<p> +To the enquiries he made of the persons he chanced to meet, favorable +answers were returned for a time, but he was at length bewildered in +uncertainity, and travelled for some hours in a direction which +chance, rather than judgment, prompted him to take. +</p> + +<p> +The falling evening again confused his prospects, and unsettled his +hopes. The shades were deepened by thick and heavy clouds that +enveloped the horizon, and the deep sounding air foretold a tempest. +The thunder now rolled at a distance, and the accumulated clouds grew +darker. The duke and his people were on a wild and dreary heath, round +which they looked in vain for shelter, the view being terminated on +all sides by the same desolate scene. They rode, however, as hard as +their horses would carry them; and at length one of the attendants +spied on the skirts of the waste a large mansion, towards which they +immediately directed their course. +</p> + +<p> +They were overtaken by the storm, and at the moment when they reached +the building, a peal of thunder, which seemed to shake the pile, burst +over their heads. They now found themselves in a large and ancient +mansion, which seemed totally deserted, and was falling to decay. The +edifice was distinguished by an air of magnificence, which ill +accorded with the surrounding scenery, and which excited some degree +of surprize in the mind of the duke, who, however, fully justified the +owner in forsaking a spot which presented to the eye only views of +rude and desolated nature. +</p> + +<p> +The storm increased with much violence, and threatened to detain the +duke a prisoner in his present habitation for the night. The hall, of +which he and his people had taken possession, exhibited in every +feature marks of ruin and desolation. The marble pavement was in many +places broken, the walls were mouldering in decay, and round the high +and shattered windows the long grass waved to the lonely gale. +Curiosity led him to explore the recesses of the mansion. He quitted +the hall, and entered upon a passage which conducted him to a remote +part of the edifice. He wandered through the wild and spacious +apartments in gloomy meditation, and often paused in wonder at the +remains of magnificence which he beheld. +</p> + +<p> +The mansion was irregular and vast, and he was bewildered in its +intricacies. In endeavouring to find his way back, he only perplexed +himself more, till at length he arrived at a door, which he believed +led into the hall he first quitted. On opening it he discovered, by +the faint light of the moon, a large place which he scarcely knew +whether to think a cloister, a chapel, or a hall. It retired in long +perspective, in arches, and terminated in a large iron gate, through +which appeared the open country. +</p> + +<p> +The lighting flashed thick and blue around, which, together with the +thunder that seemed to rend the wide arch of heaven, and the +melancholy aspect of the place, so awed the duke, that he +involuntarily called to his people. His voice was answered only by the +deep echoes which ran in murmurs through the place, and died away at a +distance; and the moon now sinking behind a cloud, left him in total +darkness. +</p> + +<p> +He repeated the call more loudly, and at length heard the approach of +footsteps. A few moments relieved him from his anxiety, for his people +appeared. The storm was yet loud, and the heavy and sulphureous +appearance of the atmosphere promised no speedy abatement of it. The +duke endeavoured to reconcile himself to pass the night in his present +situation, and ordered a fire to be lighted in the place he was in. +This with much difficulty was accomplished. He then threw himself on +the pavement before it, and tried to endure the abstinence which he +had so ill observed in the monastery on the preceding night. But to +his great joy his attendants, more provident than himself, had not +scrupled to accept a comfortable quantity of provisions which had been +offered them at the monastery; and which they now drew forth from a +wallet. They were spread upon the pavement; and the duke, after +refreshing himself, delivered up the remains to his people. Having +ordered them to watch by turns at the gate, he wrapt his cloak round +him, and resigned himself to repose. +</p> + +<p> +The night passed without any disturbance. The morning arose fresh and +bright; the Heavens exhibited a clear and unclouded concave; even the +wild heath, refreshed by the late rains, smiled around, and sent up +with the morning gale a stream of fragrance. +</p> + +<p> +The duke quitted the mansion, re-animated by the cheerfulness of morn, +and pursued his journey. He could gain no intelligence of the +fugitives. About noon he found himself in a beautiful romantic +country; and having reached the summit of some wild cliffs, he rested, +to view the picturesque imagery of the scene below. A shadowy +sequestered dell appeared buried deep among the rocks, and in the +bottom was seen a lake, whose clear bosom reflected the impending +cliffs, and the beautiful luxuriance of the overhanging shades. +</p> + +<p> +But his attention was quickly called from the beauties of inanimate +nature, to objects more interesting; for he observed two persons, whom +he instantly recollected to be the same that he had formerly pursued +over the plains. They were seated on the margin of the lake, under the +shade of some high trees at the foot of the rocks, and seemed +partaking of a repast which was spread upon the grass. Two horses were +grazing near. In the lady the duke saw the very air and shape of +Julia, and his heart bounded at the sight. They were seated with +their backs to the cliffs upon which the duke stood, and he therefore +surveyed them unobserved. They were now almost within his power, but +the difficulty was how to descend the rocks, whose stupendous heights +and craggy steeps seemed to render them impassable. He examined them +with a scrutinizing eye, and at length espied, where the rock receded, +a narrow winding sort of path. He dismounted, and some of his +attendants doing the same, followed their lord down the cliffs, +treading lightly, lest their steps should betray them. Immediately +upon their reaching the bottom, they were perceived by the lady, who +fled among the rocks, and was presently pursued by the duke's people. +The cavalier had no time to escape, but drew his sword, and defended +himself against the furious assault of the duke. +</p> + +<p> +The combat was sustained with much vigour and dexterity on both sides +for some minutes, when the duke received the point of his adversary's +sword, and fell. The cavalier, endeavouring to escape, was seized by +the duke's people, who now appeared with the fair fugitive; but what +was the disappointment—the rage of the duke, when in the person of +the lady he discovered a stranger! The astonishment was mutual, but +the accompanying feelings were, in the different persons, of a very +opposite nature. In the duke, astonishment was heightened by vexation, +and embittered by disappointment:—in the lady, it was softened by the +joy of unexpected deliverance. +</p> + +<p> +This lady was the younger daughter of a Sicilian nobleman, whose +avarice, or necessities, had devoted her to a convent. To avoid the +threatened fate, she fled with the lover to whom her affections had +long been engaged, and whose only fault, even in the eye of her +father, was inferiority of birth. They were now on their way to the +coast, whence they designed to pass over to Italy, where the church +would confirm the bonds which their hearts had already formed. There +the friends of the cavalier resided, and with them they expected to +find a secure retreat. +</p> + +<p> +The duke, who was not materially wounded, after the first transport of +his rage had subsided, suffered them to depart. Relieved from their +fears, they joyfully set forward, leaving their late pursuer to the +anguish of defeat, and fruitless endeavour. He was remounted on his +horse; and having dispatched two of his people in search of a house +where he might obtain some relief, he proceeded slowly on his return +to the castle of Mazzini. +</p> + +<p> +It was not long ere he recollected a circumstance which, in the first +tumult of his disappointment, had escaped him, but which so +essentially affected the whole tenour of his hopes, as to make him +again irresolute how to proceed. He considered that, although these +were the fugitives he had pursued over the plains, they might not be +the same who had been secreted in the cottage, and it was therefore +possible that Julia might have been the person whom they had for some +time followed from thence. This suggestion awakened his hopes, which +were however quickly destroyed; for he remembered that the only +persons who could have satisfied his doubts, were now gone beyond the +power of recall. To pursue Julia, when no traces of her flight +remained, was absurd; and he was, therefore, compelled to return to +the marquis, as ignorant and more hopeless than he had left him. With +much pain he reached the village which his emissaries had discovered, +when fortunately he obtained some medical assistance. Here he was +obliged by indisposition to rest. The anguish of his mind equalled +that of his body. Those impetuous passions which so strongly marked +his nature, were roused and exasperated to a degree that operated +powerfully upon his constitution, and threatened him with the most +alarming consequences. The effect of his wound was heightened by the +agitation of his mind; and a fever, which quickly assumed a very +serious aspect, co-operated to endanger his life. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER VI +</h3> + +<p> +The castle of Mazzini was still the scene of dissension and misery. +The impatience and astonishment of the marquis being daily increased +by the lengthened absence of the duke, he dispatched servants to the +forest of Marentino, to enquire the occasion of this circumstance. +They returned with intelligence that neither Julia, the duke, nor any +of his people were there. He therefore concluded that his daughter had +fled the cottage upon information of the approach of the duke, who, he +believed, was still engaged in the pursuit. With respect to +Ferdinand, who yet pined in sorrow and anxiety in his dungeon, the +rigour of the marquis's conduct was unabated. He apprehended that his +son, if liberated, would quickly discover the retreat of Julia, and by +his advice and assistance confirm her in disobedience. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand, in the stillness and solitude of his dungeon, brooded over +the late calamity in gloomy ineffectual lamentation. The idea of +Hippolitus—of Hippolitus murdered—arose to his imagination in busy +intrusion, and subdued the strongest efforts of his fortitude. Julia +too, his beloved sister—unprotected—unfriended—might, even at the +moment he lamented her, be sinking under sufferings dreadful to +humanity. The airy schemes he once formed of future felicity, +resulting from the union of two persons so justly dear to him—with +the gay visions of past happiness—floated upon his fancy, and the +lustre they reflected served only to heighten, by contrast, the +obscurity and gloom of his present views. He had, however, a new +subject of astonishment, which often withdrew his thoughts from their +accustomed object, and substituted a sensation less painful, though +scarcely less powerful. One night as he lay ruminating on the past, in +melancholy dejection, the stillness of the place was suddenly +interrupted by a low and dismal sound. It returned at intervals in +hollow sighings, and seemed to come from some person in deep distress. +So much did fear operate upon his mind, that he was uncertain whether +it arose from within or from without. He looked around his dungeon, +but could distinguish no object through the impenetrable darkness. As +he listened in deep amazement, the sound was repeated in moans more +hollow. Terror now occupied his mind, and disturbed his reason; he +started from his posture, and, determined to be satisfied whether any +person beside himself was in the dungeon, groped, with arms extended, +along the walls. The place was empty; but coming to a particular spot, +the sound suddenly arose more distinctly to his ear. He called aloud, +and asked who was there; but received no answer. Soon after all was +still; and after listening for some time without hearing the sounds +renewed, he laid himself down to sleep. On the following day he +mentioned to the man who brought him food what he had heard, and +enquired concerning the noise. The servant appeared very much +terrified, but could give no information that might in the least +account for the circumstance, till he mentioned the vicinity of the +dungeon to the southern buildings. The dreadful relation formerly +given by the marquis instantly recurred to the mind of Ferdinand, who +did not hesitate to believe that the moans he heard came from the +restless spirit of the murdered Della Campo. At this conviction, +horror thrilled his nerves; but he remembered his oath, and was +silent. His courage, however, yielded to the idea of passing another +night alone in his prison, where, if the vengeful spirit of the +murdered should appear, he might even die of the horror which its +appearance would inspire. +</p> + +<p> +The mind of Ferdinand was highly superior to the general influence of +superstition; but, in the present instance, such strong correlative +circumstances appeared, as compelled even incredulity to yield. He had +himself heard strange and awful sounds in the forsaken southern +buildings; he received from his father a dreadful secret relative to +them—a secret in which his honor, nay even his life, was bound up. +His father had also confessed, that he had himself there seen +appearances which he could never after remember without horror, and +which had occasioned him to quit that part of the castle. All these +recollections presented to Ferdinand a chain of evidence too powerful +to be resisted; and he could not doubt that the spirit of the dead had +for once been permitted to revisit the earth, and to call down +vengeance on the descendants of the murderer. +</p> + +<p> +This conviction occasioned him a degree of horror, such as no +apprehension of mortal powers could have excited; and he determined, +if possible, to prevail on Peter to pass the hours of midnight with +him in his dungeon. The strictness of Peter's fidelity yielded to the +persuasions of Ferdinand, though no bribe could tempt him to incur the +resentment of the marquis, by permitting an escape. Ferdinand passed +the day in lingering anxious expectation, and the return of night +brought Peter to the dungeon. His kindness exposed him to a danger +which he had not foreseen; for when seated in the dungeon alone with +his prisoner, how easily might that prisoner have conquered him and +left him to pay his life to the fury of the marquis. He was preserved +by the humanity of Ferdinand, who instantly perceived his advantage, +but disdained to involve an innocent man in destruction, and spurned +the suggestion from his mind. +</p> + +<p> +Peter, whose friendship was stronger than his courage, trembled with +apprehension as the hour drew nigh in which the groans had been heard +on the preceding night. He recounted to Ferdinand a variety of +terrific circumstances, which existed only in the heated imaginations +of his fellow-servants, but which were still admitted by them as +facts. Among the rest, he did not omit to mention the light and the +figure which had been seen to issue from the south tower on the night +of Julia's intended elopement; a circumstance which he embellished +with innumerable aggravations of fear and wonder. He concluded with +describing the general consternation it had caused, and the consequent +behaviour of the marquis, who laughed at the fears of his people, yet +condescended to quiet them by a formal review of the buildings whence +their terror had originated. He related the adventure of the door +which refused to yield, the sounds which arose from within, and the +discovery of the fallen roof; but declared that neither he, nor any of +his fellow servants, believed the noise or the obstruction proceeded +from that, 'because, my lord,' continued he, 'the door seemed to be +held only in one place; and as for the noise—O! Lord! I never shall +forget what a noise it was!—it was a thousand times louder than what +any stones could make.' +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand listened to this narrative in silent wonder! wonder not +occasioned by the adventure described, but by the hardihood and +rashness of the marquis, who had thus exposed to the inspection of his +people, that dreadful spot which he knew from experience to be the +haunt of an injured spirit; a spot which he had hitherto scrupulously +concealed from human eye, and human curiosity; and which, for so many +years, he had not dared even himself to enter. Peter went on, but was +presently interrupted by a hollow moan, which seemed to come from +beneath the ground. 'Blessed virgin!' exclaimed he: Ferdinand listened +in awful expectation. A groan longer and more dreadful was repeated, +when Peter started from his seat, and snatching up the lamp, rushed +out of the dungeon. Ferdinand, who was left in total darkness, +followed to the door, which the affrighted Peter had not stopped to +fasten, but which had closed, and seemed held by a lock that could be +opened only on the outside. The sensations of Ferdinand, thus +compelled to remain in the dungeon, are not to be imagined. The +horrors of the night, whatever they were to be, he was to endure +alone. By degrees, however, he seemed to acquire the valour of +despair. The sounds were repeated, at intervals, for near an hour, +when silence returned, and remained undisturbed during the rest of the +night. Ferdinand was alarmed by no appearance, and at length, overcome +with anxiety and watching, he sunk to repose. +</p> + +<p> +On the following morning Peter returned to the dungeon, scarcely +knowing what to expect, yet expecting something very strange, perhaps +the murder, perhaps the supernatural disappearance of his young lord. +Full of these wild apprehensions, he dared not venture thither alone, +but persuaded some of the servants, to whom he had communicated his +terrors, to accompany him to the door. As they passed along he +recollected, that in the terror of the preceding night he had forgot +to fasten the door, and he now feared that his prisoner had made his +escape without a miracle. He hurried to the door; and his surprize was +extreme to find it fastened. It instantly struck him that this was the +work of a supernatural power, when on calling aloud, he was answered +by a voice from within. His absurd fear did not suffer him to +recognize the voice of Ferdinand, neither did he suppose that +Ferdinand had failed to escape, he, therefore, attributed the voice to +the being he had heard on the preceding night; and starting back from +the door, fled with his companions to the great hall. There the uproar +occasioned by their entrance called together a number of persons, +amongst whom was the marquis, who was soon informed of the cause of +alarm, with a long history of the circumstances of the foregoing +night. At this information, the marquis assumed a very stern look, and +severely reprimanded Peter for his imprudence, at the same time +reproaching the other servants with their undutifulness in thus +disturbing his peace. He reminded them of the condescension he had +practised to dissipate their former terrors, and of the result of +their examination. He then assured them, that since indulgence had +only encouraged intrusion, he would for the future be severe; and +concluded with declaring, that the first man who should disturb him +with a repetition of such ridiculous apprehensions, or should attempt +to disturb the peace of the castle by circulating these idle notions, +should be rigorously punished, and banished his dominions. They shrunk +back at his reproof, and were silent. 'Bring a torch,' said the +marquis, 'and shew me to the dungeon. I will once more condescend to +confute you.' +</p> + +<p> +They obeyed, and descended with the marquis, who, arriving at the +dungeon, instantly threw open the door, and discovered to the +astonished eyes of his attendants—Ferdinand!—He started with +surprize at the entrance of his father thus attended. The +marquis darted upon him a severe look, which he perfectly +comprehended.—'Now,' cried he, turning to his people, 'what do you +see? My son, whom I myself placed here, and whose voice, which +answered to your calls, you have transformed into unknown sounds. +Speak, Ferdinand, and confirm what I say.' Ferdinand did so. 'What +dreadful spectre appeared to you last night?' resumed the marquis, +looking stedfastly upon him: 'gratify these fellows with a description +of it, for they cannot exist without something of the marvellous.' +'None, my lord,' replied Ferdinand, who too well understood the manner +of the marquis. ''Tis well,' cried the marquis, 'and this is the last +time,' turning to his attendants, 'that your folly shall be treated +with so much lenity.' He ceased to urge the subject, and forbore to +ask Ferdinand even one question before his servants, concerning the +nocturnal sounds described by Peter. He quitted the dungeon with eyes +steadily bent in anger and suspicion upon Ferdinand. The marquis +suspected that the fears of his son had inadvertently betrayed to +Peter a part of the secret entrusted to him, and he artfully +interrogated Peter with seeming carelessness, concerning the +circumstances of the preceding night. From him he drew such answers as +honorably acquitted Ferdinand of indiscretion, and relieved himself +from tormenting apprehensions. +</p> + +<p> +The following night passed quietly away; neither sound nor appearance +disturbed the peace of Ferdinand. The marquis, on the next day, +thought proper to soften the severity of his sufferings, and he was +removed from his dungeon to a room strongly grated, but exposed to the +light of day. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile a circumstance occurred which increased the general discord, +and threatened Emilia with the loss of her last remaining comfort—the +advice and consolation of Madame de Menon. The marchioness, whose +passion for the Count de Vereza had at length yielded to absence, and +the pressure of present circumstances, now bestowed her smiles upon a +young Italian cavalier, a visitor at the castle, who possessed too +much of the spirit of gallantry to permit a lady to languish in vain. +The marquis, whose mind was occupied with other passions, was +insensible to the misconduct of his wife, who at all times had the +address to disguise her vices beneath the gloss of virtue and innocent +freedom. The intrigue was discovered by madame, who, having one day +left a book in the oak parlour, returned thither in search of it. As +she opened the door of the apartment, she heard the voice of the +cavalier in passionate exclamation; and on entering, discovered him +rising in some confusion from the feet of the marchioness, who, +darting at madame a look of severity, arose from her seat. Madame, +shocked at what she had seen, instantly retired, and buried in her own +bosom that secret, the discovery of which would most essentially have +poisoned the peace of the marquis. The marchioness, who was a stranger +to the generosity of sentiment which actuated Madame de Menon, doubted +not that she would seize the moment of retaliation, and expose her +conduct where most she dreaded it should be known. The consciousness +of guilt tortured her with incessant fear of discovery, and from this +period her whole attention was employed to dislodge from the castle +the person to whom her character was committed. In this it was not +difficult to succeed; for the delicacy of madame's feelings made her +quick to perceive, and to withdraw from a treatment unsuitable to the +natural dignity of her character. She therefore resolved to depart +from the castle; but disdaining to take an advantage even over a +successful enemy, she determined to be silent on that subject which +would instantly have transferred the triumph from her adversary to +herself. When the marquis, on hearing her determination to retire, +earnestly enquired for the motive of her conduct, she forbore to +acquaint him with the real one, and left him to incertitude and +disappointment. +</p> + +<p> +To Emilia this design occasioned a distress which almost subdued the +resolution of madame. Her tears and intreaties spoke the artless +energy of sorrow. In madame she lost her only friend; and she too well +understood the value of that friend, to see her depart without feeling +and expressing the deepest distress. From a strong attachment to the +memory of the mother, madame had been induced to undertake the +education of her daughters, whose engaging dispositions had +perpetuated a kind of hereditary affection. Regard for Emilia and +Julia had alone for some time detained her at the castle; but this was +now succeeded by the influence of considerations too powerful to be +resisted. As her income was small, it was her plan to retire to her +native place, which was situated in a distant part of the island, and +there take up her residence in a convent. +</p> + +<p> +Emilia saw the time of madame's departure approach with increased +distress. They left each other with a mutual sorrow, which did honour +to their hearts. When her last friend was gone, Emilia wandered +through the forsaken apartments, where she had been accustomed to +converse with Julia, and to receive consolation and sympathy from her +dear instructress, with a kind of anguish known only to those who have +experienced a similar situation. Madame pursued her journey with a +heavy heart. Separated from the objects of her fondest affections, and +from the scenes and occupations for which long habit had formed claims +upon her heart, she seemed without interest and without motive for +exertion. The world appeared a wide and gloomy desert, where no heart +welcomed her with kindness—no countenance brightened into smiles at +her approach. It was many years since she quitted Calini—and in the +interval, death had swept away the few friends she left there. The +future presented a melancholy scene; but she had the retrospect of +years spent in honorable endeavour and strict integrity, to cheer her +heart and encouraged her hopes. +</p> + +<p> +But her utmost endeavours were unable to express the anxiety with +which the uncertain fate of Julia overwhelmed her. Wild and terrific +images arose to her imagination. Fancy drew the scene;—she deepened +the shades; and the terrific aspect of the objects she presented was +heightened by the obscurity which involved them. +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +[End of Vol. I] +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER VII +</h3> + +<p> +Towards the close of day Madame de Menon arrived at a small village +situated among the mountains, where she purposed to pass the night. +The evening was remarkably fine, and the romantic beauty of the +surrounding scenery invited her to walk. She followed the windings of +a stream, which was lost at some distance amongst luxuriant groves of +chesnut. The rich colouring of evening glowed through the dark +foliage, which spreading a pensive gloom around, offered a scene +congenial to the present temper of her mind, and she entered the +shades. Her thoughts, affected by the surrounding objects, gradually +sunk into a pleasing and complacent melancholy, and she was insensibly +led on. She still followed the course of the stream to where the deep +shades retired, and the scene again opening to day, yielded to her a +view so various and sublime, that she paused in thrilling and +delightful wonder. A group of wild and grotesque rocks rose in a +semicircular form, and their fantastic shapes exhibited Nature in her +most sublime and striking attitudes. Here her vast magnificence +elevated the mind of the beholder to enthusiasm. Fancy caught the +thrilling sensation, and at her touch the towering steeps became +shaded with unreal glooms; the caves more darkly frowned—the +projecting cliffs assumed a more terrific aspect, and the wild +overhanging shrubs waved to the gale in deeper murmurs. The scene +inspired madame with reverential awe, and her thoughts involuntarily +rose, 'from Nature up to Nature's God.' The last dying gleams of day +tinted the rocks and shone upon the waters, which retired through a +rugged channel and were lost afar among the receding cliffs. While she +listened to their distant murmur, a voice of liquid and melodious +sweetness arose from among the rocks; it sung an air, whose melancholy +expression awakened all her attention, and captivated her heart. The +tones swelled and died faintly away among the clear, yet languishing +echoes which the rocks repeated with an effect like that of +enchantment. Madame looked around in search of the sweet warbler, and +observed at some distance a peasant girl seated on a small projection +of the rock, overshadowed by drooping sycamores. She moved slowly +towards the spot, which she had almost reached, when the sound of her +steps startled and silenced the syren, who, on perceiving a stranger, +arose in an attitude to depart. The voice of madame arrested her, and +she approached. Language cannot paint the sensation of madame, when in +the disguise of a peasant girl, she distinguished the features of +Julia, whose eyes lighted up with sudden recollection, and who sunk +into her arms overcome with joy. When their first emotions were +subsided, and Julia had received answers to her enquiries concerning +Ferdinand and Emilia, she led madame to the place of her concealment. +This was a solitary cottage, in a close valley surrounded by +mountains, whose cliffs appeared wholly inaccessible to mortal foot. +The deep solitude of the scene dissipated at once madame's wonder that +Julia had so long remained undiscovered, and excited surprize how she +had been able to explore a spot thus deeply sequestered; but madame +observed with extreme concern, that the countenance of Julia no longer +wore the smile of health and gaiety. Her fine features had received +the impressions not only of melancholy, but of grief. Madame sighed as +she gazed, and read too plainly the cause of the change. Julia +understood that sigh, and answered it with her tears. She pressed the +hand of madame in mournful silence to her lips, and her cheeks were +suffused with a crimson glow. At length, recovering herself, 'I have +much, my dear madam, to tell,' said she, 'and much to explain, 'ere +you will admit me again to that esteem of which I was once so justly +proud. I had no resource from misery, but in flight; and of that I +could not make you a confidant, without meanly involving you in its +disgrace.'—'Say no more, my love, on the subject,' replied madame; +'with respect to myself, I admired your conduct, and felt severely for +your situation. Rather let me hear by what means you effected your +escape, and what has since be fallen you.'—Julia paused a moment, as +if to stifle her rising emotion, and then commenced her narrative. +</p> + +<p> +'You are already acquainted with the secret of that night, so fatal to +my peace. I recall the remembrance of it with an anguish which I +cannot conceal; and why should I wish its concealment, since I mourn +for one, whose noble qualities justified all my admiration, and +deserved more than my feeble praise can bestow; the idea of whom will +be the last to linger in my mind till death shuts up this painful +scene.' Her voice trembled, and she paused. After a few moments she +resumed her tale. 'I will spare myself the pain of recurring to scenes +with which you are not unacquainted, and proceed to those which more +immediately attract your interest. Caterina, my faithful servant, you +know, attended me in my confinement; to her kindness I owe my escape. +She obtained from her lover, a servant in the castle, that assistance +which gave me liberty. One night when Carlo, who had been appointed my +guard, was asleep, Nicolo crept into his chamber, and stole from him +the keys of my prison. He had previously procured a ladder of ropes. +O! I can never forget my emotions, when in the dead hour of that +night, which was meant to precede the day of my sacrifice, I heard the +door of my prison unlock, and found myself half at liberty! My +trembling limbs with difficulty supported me as I followed Caterina to +the saloon, the windows of which being low and near to the terrace, +suited our purpose. To the terrace we easily got, where Nicolo +awaited us with the rope-ladder. He fastened it to the ground; and +having climbed to the top of the parapet, quickly slided down on the +other side. There he held it, while we ascended and descended; and I +soon breathed the air of freedom again. But the apprehension of being +retaken was still too powerful to permit a full enjoyment of my +escape. It was my plan to proceed to the place of my faithful +Caterina's nativity, where she had assured me I might find a safe +asylum in the cottage of her parents, from whom, as they had never +seen me, I might conceal my birth. This place, she said, was entirely +unknown to the marquis, who had hired her at Naples only a few months +before, without any enquiries concerning her family. She had informed +me that the village was many leagues distant from the castle, but that +she was very well acquainted with the road. At the foot of the walls +we left Nicolo, who returned to the castle to prevent suspicion, but +with an intention to leave it at a less dangerous time, and repair to +Farrini to his good Caterina. I parted from him with many thanks, and +gave him a small diamond cross, which, for that purpose, I had taken +from the jewels sent to me for wedding ornaments.' +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER VIII +</h3> + +<p> +'About a quarter of a league from the walls we stopped, and I assumed +the habit in which you now see me. My own dress was fastened to some +heavy stones, and Caterina threw it into the stream, near the almond +grove, whose murmurings you have so often admired. The fatigue and +hardship I endured in this journey, performed almost wholly on foot, +at any other time would have overcome me; but my mind was so occupied +by the danger I was avoiding that these lesser evils were disregarded. +We arrived in safety at the cottage, which stood at a little distance +from the village of Ferrini, and were received by Caterina's parents +with some surprise and more kindness. I soon perceived it would be +useless, and even dangerous, to attempt to preserve the character I +personated. In the eyes of Caterina's mother I read a degree of +surprise and admiration which declared she believed me to be of +superior rank; I, therefore, thought it more prudent to win her +fidelity by entrusting her with my secret than, by endeavouring to +conceal it, leave it to be discovered by her curiosity or discernment. +Accordingly, I made known my quality and my distress, and received +strong assurances of assistance and attachment. For further security, +I removed to this sequestered spot. The cottage we are now in belongs +to a sister of Caterina, upon whose faithfulness I have been hitherto +fully justified in relying. But I am not even here secure from +apprehension, since for several days past horsemen of a suspicious +appearance have been observed near Marcy, which is only half a league +from hence.' +</p> + +<p> +Here Julia closed her narration, to which madame had listened with a +mixture of surprise and pity, which her eyes sufficiently discovered. +The last circumstance of the narrative seriously alarmed her. She +acquainted Julia with the pursuit which the duke had undertaken; and +she did not hesitate to believe it a party of his people whom Julia +had described. Madame, therefore, earnestly advised her to quit her +present situation, and to accompany her in disguise to the monastery +of St Augustin, where she would find a secure retreat; because, even +if her place of refuge should be discovered, the superior authority of +the church would protect her. Julia accepted the proposal with much +joy. As it was necessary that madame should sleep at the village where +she had left her servants and horses, it was agreed that at break of +day she should return to the cottage, where Julia would await her. +Madame took all affectionate leave of Julia, whose heart, in spite of +reason, sunk when she saw her depart, though but for the necessary +interval of repose. +</p> + +<p> +At the dawn of day madame arose. Her servants, who were hired for the +journey, were strangers to Julia: from them, therefore, she had +nothing to apprehend. She reached the cottage before sunrise, having +left her people at some little distance. Her heart foreboded evil, +when, on knocking at the door, no answer was returned. She knocked +again, and still all was silent. Through the casement she could +discover no object, amidst the grey obscurity of the dawn. She now +opened the door, and, to her inexpressible surprise and distress, +found the cottage empty. She proceeded to a small inner room, where +lay a part of Julia's apparel. The bed had no appearance of having +being slept in, and every moment served to heighten and confirm her +apprehensions. While she pursued the search, she suddenly heard the +trampling of feet at the cottage door, and presently after some people +entered. Her fears for Julia now yielded to those for her own safety, +and she was undetermined whether to discover herself, or remain in her +present situation, when she was relieved from her irresolution by the +appearance of Julia. +</p> + +<p> +On the return of the good woman, who had accompanied madame to the +village on the preceding night, Julia went to the cottage at Farrini. +Her grateful heart would not suffer her to depart without taking leave +of her faithful friends, thanking them for their kindness, and +informing them of her future prospects. They had prevailed upon her to +spend the few intervening hours at this cot, whence she had just risen +to meet madame. +</p> + +<p> +They now hastened to the spot where the horses were stationed, and +commenced their journey. For some leagues they travelled in silence +and thought, over a wild and picturesque country. The landscape was +tinted with rich and variegated hues; and the autumnal lights, which +streamed upon the hills, produced a spirited and beautiful effect upon +the scenery. All the glories of the vintage rose to their view: the +purple grapes flushed through the dark green of the surrounding +foliage, and the prospect glowed with luxuriance. +</p> + +<p> +They now descended into a deep valley, which appeared more like a +scene of airy enchantment than reality. Along the bottom flowed a +clear majestic stream, whose banks were adorned with thick groves of +orange and citron trees. Julia surveyed the scene in silent +complacency, but her eye quickly caught an object which changed with +instantaneous shock the tone of her feelings. She observed a party of +horsemen winding down the side of a hill behind her. Their uncommon +speed alarmed her, and she pushed her horse into a gallop. On looking +back Madame de Menon clearly perceived they were in pursuit. Soon +after the men suddenly appeared from behind a dark grove within a +small distance of them; and, upon their nearer approach, Julia, +overcome with fatigue and fear, sunk breathless from her horse. She +was saved from the ground by one of the pursuers, who caught her in +his arms. Madame, with the rest of the party, were quickly overtaken; +and as soon as Julia revived, they were bound, and reconducted to the +hill from whence they had descended. Imagination only can paint the +anguish of Julia's mind, when she saw herself thus delivered up to the +power of her enemy. Madame, in the surrounding troop, discovered none +of the marquis's people, and they were therefore evidently in the +hands of the duke. After travelling for some hours, they quitted the +main road, and turned into a narrow winding dell, overshadowed by high +trees, which almost excluded the light. The gloom of the place +inspired terrific images. Julia trembled as she entered; and her +emotion was heightened, when she perceived at some distance, through +the long perspective of the trees, a large ruinous mansion. The gloom +of the surrounding shades partly concealed it from her view; but, as +she drew near, each forlorn and decaying feature of the fabric was +gradually disclosed, and struck upon her heart a horror such as she +had never before experienced. The broken battlements, enwreathed with +ivy, proclaimed the fallen grandeur of the place, while the shattered +vacant window-frames exhibited its desolation, and the high grass that +overgrew the threshold seemed to say how long it was since mortal foot +had entered. The place appeared fit only for the purposes of violence +and destruction: and the unfortunate captives, when they stopped at +its gates, felt the full force of its horrors. +</p> + +<p> +They were taken from their horses, and conveyed to an interior part of +the building, which, if it had once been a chamber, no longer deserved +the name. Here the guard said they were directed to detain them till +the arrival of their lord, who had appointed this the place of +rendezvous. He was expected to meet them in a few hours, and these +were hours of indescribable torture to Julia and madame. From the +furious passions of the duke, exasperated by frequent disappointment, +Julia had every evil to apprehend; and the loneliness of the spot he +had chosen, enabled him to perpetrate any designs, however violent. +For the first time, she repented that she had left her father's house. +Madame wept over her, but comfort she had none to give. The day +closed—the duke did not appear, and the fate of Julia yet hung in +perilous uncertainty. At length, from a window of the apartment she +was in, she distinguished a glimmering of torches among the trees, and +presently after the clattering of hoofs convinced her the duke was +approaching. Her heart sunk at the sound; and throwing her arms round +madame's neck, she resigned herself to despair. She was soon roused by +some men, who came to announce the arrival of their lord. In a few +moments the place, which had lately been so silent, echoed with +tumult; and a sudden blaze of light illumining the fabric, served to +exhibit more forcibly its striking horrors. Julia ran to the window; +and, in a sort of court below, perceived a group of men dismounting +from their horses. The torches shed a partial light; and while she +anxiously looked round for the person of the duke, the whole party +entered the mansion. She listened to a confused uproar of voices, +which sounded from the room beneath, and soon after it sunk into a low +murmur, as if some matter of importance was in agitation. For some +moments she sat in lingering terror, when she heard footsteps +advancing towards the chamber, and a sudden gleam of torchlight +flashed upon the walls. 'Wretched girl! I have at least secured you!' +said a cavalier, who now entered the room. He stopped as he perceived +Julia; and turning to the men who stood without, 'Are these,' said he, +'the fugitives you have taken?'—'Yes, my lord.'—'Then you have +deceived yourselves, and misled me; this is not my daughter.' These +words struck the sudden light of truth and joy upon the heart of +Julia, whom terror had before rendered almost lifeless; and who had +not perceived that the person entering was a stranger. Madame now +stepped forward, and an explanation ensued, when it appeared that the +stranger was the Marquis Murani, the father of the fair fugitive whom +the duke had before mistaken for Julia. +</p> + +<p> +The appearance and the evident flight of Julia had deceived the +banditti employed by this nobleman, into a belief that she was the +object of their search, and had occasioned her this unnecessary +distress. But the joy she now felt, on finding herself thus +unexpectedly at liberty, surpassed, if possible, her preceding +terrors. The marquis made madame and Julia all the reparation in his +power, by offering immediately to reconduct them to the main road, and +to guard them to some place of safety for the night. This offer was +eagerly and thankfully accepted; and though faint from distress, +fatigue, and want of sustenance, they joyfully remounted their horses, +and by torchlight quitted the mansion. After some hours travelling +they arrived at a small town, where they procured the accommodation so +necessary to their support and repose. Here their guides quitted them +to continue their search. +</p> + +<p> +They arose with the dawn, and continued their journey, continually +terrified with the apprehension of encountering the duke's people. At +noon they arrived at Azulia, from whence the monastery, or abbey of St +Augustin, was distant only a few miles. Madame wrote to the <i>Padre +Abate</i>, to whom she was somewhat related, and soon after received an +answer very favourable to her wishes. The same evening they repaired +to the abbey; where Julia, once more relieved from the fear of +pursuit, offered up a prayer of gratitude to heaven, and endeavoured +to calm her sorrows by devotion. She was received by the abbot with a +sort of paternal affection, and by the nuns with officious kindness. +Comforted by these circumstances, and by the tranquil appearance of +every thing around her, she retired to rest, and passed the night in +peaceful slumbers. +</p> + +<p> +In her present situation she found much novelty to amuse, and much +serious matter to interest her mind. Entendered by distress, she +easily yielded to the pensive manners of her companions and to the +serene uniformity of a monastic life. She loved to wander through the +lonely cloisters, and high-arched aisles, whose long perspectives +retired in simple grandeur, diffusing a holy calm around. She found +much pleasure in the conversation of the nuns, many of whom were +uncommonly amiable, and the dignified sweetness of whose manners +formed a charm irresistibly attractive. The soft melancholy impressed +upon their countenances, pourtrayed the situation of their minds, and +excited in Julia a very interesting mixture of pity and esteem. The +affectionate appellation of sister, and all that endearing tenderness +which they so well know how to display, and of which they so well +understand the effect, they bestowed on Julia, in the hope of winning +her to become one of their order. +</p> + +<p> +Soothed by the presence of madame, the assiduity of the nuns, and by +the stillness and sanctity of the place, her mind gradually recovered +a degree of complacency to which it had long been a stranger. But +notwithstanding all her efforts, the idea of Hippolitus would at +intervals return upon her memory with a force that at once subdued her +fortitude, and sunk her in a temporary despair. +</p> + +<p> +Among the holy sisters, Julia distinguished one, the singular fervor +of whose devotion, and the pensive air of whose countenance, softened +by the languor of illness, attracted her curiosity, and excited a +strong degree of pity. The nun, by a sort of sympathy, seemed +particularly inclined towards Julia, which she discovered by +innumerable acts of kindness, such as the heart can quickly understand +and acknowledge, although description can never reach them. In +conversation with her, Julia endeavoured, as far as delicacy would +permit, to prompt an explanation of that more than common dejection +which shaded those features, where beauty, touched by resignation and +sublimed by religion, shone forth with mild and lambent lustre. +</p> + +<p> +The Duke de Luovo, after having been detained for some weeks by the +fever which his wounds had produced, and his irritated passions had +much prolonged, arrived at the castle of Mazzini. +</p> + +<p> +When the marquis saw him return, and recollected the futility of those +exertions, by which he had boastingly promised to recover Julia, the +violence of his nature spurned the disguise of art, and burst forth in +contemptuous impeachment of the valour and discernment of the duke, +who soon retorted with equal fury. The consequence might have been +fatal, had not the ambition of the marquis subdued the sudden +irritation of his inferior passions, and induced him to soften the +severity of his accusations, by subsequent concessions. The duke, +whose passion for Julia was heightened by the difficulty which opposed +it, admitted such concessions as in other circumstances he would have +rejected; and thus each, conquered by the predominant passion of the +moment, submitted to be the slave of his adversary. +</p> + +<p> +Emilia was at length released from the confinement she had so unjustly +suffered. She had now the use of her old apartments, where, solitary +and dejected, her hours moved heavily along, embittered by incessant +anxiety for Julia, by regret for the lost society of madame. The +marchioness, whose pleasures suffered a temporary suspense during the +present confusion at the castle, exercised the ill-humoured caprice, +which disappointment and lassitude inspired, upon her remaining +subject. Emilia was condemned to suffer, and to endure without the +privilege of complaining. In reviewing the events of the last few +weeks, she saw those most dear to her banished, or imprisoned by the +secret influence of a woman, every feature of whose character was +exactly opposite to that of the amiable mother she had been appointed +to succeed. +</p> + +<p> +The search after Julia still continued, and was still unsuccessful. +The astonishment of the marquis increased with his disappointments; +for where could Julia, ignorant of the country, and destitute of +friends, have possibly found an asylum? He swore with a terrible oath +to revenge on her head, whenever she should be found, the trouble and +vexation she now caused him. But he agreed with the duke to relinquish +for a while the search; till Julia, gaining confidence from the +observation of this circumstance, might gradually suppose herself +secure from molestation, and thus be induced to emerge from +concealment. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER IX +</h3> + +<p> +Meanwhile Julia, sheltered in the obscure recesses of St Augustin, +endeavoured to attain a degree of that tranquillity which so +strikingly characterized the scenes around her. The abbey of St +Augustin was a large magnificent mass of Gothic architecture, whose +gloomy battlements, and majestic towers arose in proud sublimity from +amid the darkness of the surrounding shades. It was founded in the +twelfth century, and stood a proud monument of monkish superstition +and princely magnificence. In the times when Italy was agitated by +internal commotions, and persecuted by foreign invaders, this edifice +afforded an asylum to many noble Italian emigrants, who here +consecrated the rest of their days to religion. At their death they +enriched the monastery with the treasures which it had enabled them to +secure. +</p> + +<p> +The view of this building revived in the mind of the beholder the +memory of past ages. The manners and characters which distinguished +them arose to his fancy, and through the long lapse of years he +discriminated those customs and manners which formed so striking a +contrast to the modes of his own times. The rude manners, the +boisterous passions, the daring ambition, and the gross indulgences +which formerly characterized the priest, the nobleman, and the +sovereign, had now begun to yield to learning—the charms of refined +conversation—political intrigue and private artifices. Thus do the +scenes of life vary with the predominant passions of mankind, and with +the progress of civilization. The dark clouds of prejudice break away +before the sun of science, and gradually dissolving, leave the +brightening hemisphere to the influence of his beams. But through the +present scene appeared only a few scattered rays, which served to shew +more forcibly the vast and heavy masses that concealed the form of +truth. Here prejudice, not reason, suspended the influence of the +passions; and scholastic learning, mysterious philosophy, and crafty +sanctity supplied the place of wisdom, simplicity, and pure devotion. +</p> + +<p> +At the abbey, solitude and stillness conspired with the solemn aspect +of the pile to impress the mind with religious awe. The dim glass of +the high-arched windows, stained with the colouring of monkish +fictions, and shaded by the thick trees that environed the edifice, +spread around a sacred gloom, which inspired the beholder with +congenial feelings. +</p> + +<p> +As Julia mused through the walks, and surveyed this vast monument of +barbarous superstition, it brought to her recollection an ode which +she often repeated with melancholy pleasure, as the composition of +Hippolitus. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + SUPERSTITION<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + AN ODE<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + High mid Alverna's awful steeps,<br /> + Eternal shades, and silence dwell.<br /> + Save, when the gale resounding sweeps,<br /> + Sad strains are faintly heard to swell:<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Enthron'd amid the wild impending rocks,<br /> + Involved in clouds, and brooding future woe,<br /> + The demon Superstition Nature shocks,<br /> + And waves her sceptre o'er the world below.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Around her throne, amid the mingling glooms,<br /> + Wild—hideous forms are slowly seen to glide,<br /> + She bids them fly to shade earth's brightest blooms,<br /> + And spread the blast of Desolation wide.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + See! in the darkened air their fiery course!<br /> + The sweeping ruin settles o'er the land,<br /> + Terror leads on their steps with madd'ning force,<br /> + And Death and Vengeance close the ghastly band!<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Mark the purple streams that flow!<br /> + Mark the deep empassioned woe!<br /> + Frantic Fury's dying groan!<br /> + Virtue's sigh, and Sorrow's moan!<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Wide—wide the phantoms swell the loaded air<br /> + With shrieks of anguish—madness and despair!<br /> +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Cease your ruin! spectres dire!<br /> + Cease your wild terrific sway!<br /> + Turn your steps—and check your ire,<br /> + Yield to peace the mourning day!<br /> +</p> + +<p> +She wept to the memory of times past, and there was a romantic sadness +in her feelings, luxurious and indefinable. Madame behaved to Julia +with the tenderest attention, and endeavoured to withdraw her thoughts +from their mournful subject by promoting that taste for literature and +music, which was so suitable to the powers of her mind. +</p> + +<p> +But an object seriously interesting now obtained that regard, which +those of mere amusement failed to attract. Her favorite nun, for whom +her love and esteem daily increased, seemed declining under the +pressure of a secret grief. Julia was deeply affected with her +situation, and though she was not empowered to administer consolation +to her sorrows, she endeavoured to mitigate the sufferings of illness. +She nursed her with unremitting care, and seemed to seize with avidity +the temporary opportunity of escaping from herself. The nun appeared +perfectly reconciled to her fate, and exhibited during her illness so +much sweetness, patience, and resignation as affected all around her +with pity and love. Her angelic mildness, and steady fortitude +characterized the beatification of a saint, rather than the death of a +mortal. Julia watched every turn of her disorder with the utmost +solicitude, and her care was at length rewarded by the amendment of +Cornelia. Her health gradually improved, and she attributed this +circumstance to the assiduity and tenderness of her young friend, to +whom her heart now expanded in warm and unreserved affection. At +length Julia ventured to solicit what she had so long and so earnestly +wished for, and Cornelia unfolded the history of her sorrows. +</p> + +<p> +'Of the life which your care has prolonged,' said she, 'it is but just +that you should know the events; though those events are neither new, +or striking, and possess little power of interesting persons +unconnected with them. To me they have, however, been unexpectedly +dreadful in effect, and my heart assures me, that to you they will not +be indifferent. +</p> + +<p> +'I am the unfortunate descendant of an ancient and illustrious Italian +family. In early childhood I was deprived of a mother's care, but the +tenderness of my surviving parent made her loss, as to my welfare, +almost unfelt. Suffer me here to do justice to the character of my +noble father. He united in an eminent degree the mild virtues of +social life, with the firm unbending qualities of the noble Romans, +his ancestors, from whom he was proud to trace his descent. Their +merit, indeed, continually dwelt on his tongue, and their actions he +was always endeavouring to imitate, as far as was consistent with the +character of his times, and with the limited sphere in which he moved. +The recollection of his virtue elevates my mind, and fills my heart +with a noble pride, which even the cold walls of a monastery have not +been able to subdue. +</p> + +<p> +'My father's fortune was unsuitable to his rank. That his son might +hereafter be enabled to support the dignity of his family, it was +necessary for me to assume the veil. Alas! that heart was unfit to be +offered at an heavenly shrine, which was already devoted to an earthly +object. My affections had long been engaged by the younger son of a +neighbouring nobleman, whose character and accomplishments attracted +my early love, and confirmed my latest esteem. Our families were +intimate, and our youthful intercourse occasioned an attachment which +strengthened and expanded with our years. He solicited me of my +father, but there appeared an insuperable barrier to our union. The +family of my lover laboured under a circumstance of similar distress +with that of my own—it was noble—but poor! My father, who was +ignorant of the strength of my affection, and who considered a +marriage formed in poverty as destructive to happiness, prohibited his +suit. +</p> + +<p> +'Touched with chagrin and disappointment, he immediately entered into +the service of his Neapolitan majesty, and sought in the tumultuous +scenes of glory, a refuge from the pangs of disappointed passion. +</p> + +<p> +'To me, whose hours moved in one round of full uniformity—who had no +pursuit to interest—no variety to animate my drooping spirits—to me +the effort of forgetfulness was ineffectual. The loved idea of Angelo +still rose upon my fancy, and its powers of captivation, heightened by +absence, and, perhaps even by despair, pursued me with incessant +grief. I concealed in silence the anguish that preyed upon my heart, +and resigned myself a willing victim to monastic austerity. But I was +now threatened with a new evil, terrible and unexpected. I was so +unfortunate as to attract the admiration of the Marquis Marinelli, and +he applied to my father. He was illustrious at once in birth and +fortune, and his visits could only be unwelcome to me. Dreadful was +the moment in which my father disclosed to me the proposal. My +distress, which I vainly endeavoured to command, discovered the exact +situation of my heart, and my father was affected. +</p> + +<p> +'After along and awful pause, he generously released me from my +sufferings by leaving it to my choice to accept the marquis, or to +assume the veil. I fell at his feet, overcome by the noble +disinterestedness of his conduct, and instantly accepted the latter. +</p> + +<p> +'This affair removed entirely the disguise with which I had hitherto +guarded my heart;—my brother—my generous brother! learned the true +state of its affections. He saw the grief which prayed upon my health; +he observed it to my father, and he nobly—oh how nobly! to restore my +happiness, desired to resign apart of the estate which had already +descended to him in right of his mother. Alas! Hippolitus,' continued +Cornelia, deeply sighing, 'thy virtues deserved a better fate.' +</p> + +<p> +'Hippolitus!' said Julia, in a tremulous accent, 'Hippolitus, Count de +Vereza!'—'The same,' replied the nun, in a tone of surprize. Julia +was speechless; tears, however, came to her relief. The astonishment +of Cornelia for some moment surpassed expression; at length a gleam of +recollection crossed her mind, and she too well understood the scene +before her. Julia, after some time revived, when Cornelia tenderly +approaching her, 'Do I then embrace my sister!' said she. 'United in +sentiment, are we also united in misfortune?' Julia answered with her +sighs, and their tears flowed in mournful sympathy together. At length +Cornelia resumed her narrative. +</p> + +<p> +'My father, struck with the conduct of Hippolitus, paused upon the +offer. The alteration in my health was too obvious to escape his +notice; the conflict between pride and parental tenderness, held him +for some time in indecision, but the latter finally subdued every +opposing feeling, and he yielded his consent to my marriage with +Angelo. The sudden transition from grief to joy was almost too much +for my feeble frame; judge then what must have been the effect of the +dreadful reverse, when the news arrived that Angelo had fallen in a +foreign engagement! Let me obliterate, if possible, the impression of +sensations so dreadful. The sufferings of my brother, whose generous +heart could so finely feel for another's woe, were on this occasion +inferior only to my own. +</p> + +<p> +'After the first excess of my grief was subsided, I desired to retire +from a world which had tempted me only with illusive visions of +happiness, and to remove from those scenes which prompted +recollection, and perpetuated my distress. My father applauded my +resolution, and I immediately was admited a noviciate into this +monastery, with the Superior of which my father had in his youth been +acquainted. +</p> + +<p> +'At the expiration of the year I received the veil. Oh! I well +remember with what perfect resignation, with what comfortable +complacency I took those vows which bound me to a life of retirement, +and religious rest. +</p> + +<p> +'The high importance of the moment, the solemnity of the ceremony, the +sacred glooms which surrounded me, and the chilling silence that +prevailed when I uttered the irrevocable vow—all conspired to impress +my imagination, and to raise my views to heaven. When I knelt at the +altar, the sacred flame of pure devotion glowed in my heart, and +elevated my soul to sublimity. The world and all its recollections +faded from my mind, and left it to the influence of a serene and, holy +enthusiasm which no words can describe. +</p> + +<p> +'Soon after my noviciation, I had the misfortune to lose my dear +father. In the tranquillity of this monastery, however, in the +soothing kindness of my companions, and in devotional exercises, my +sorrows found relief, and the sting of grief was blunted. My repose +was of short continuance. A circumstance occurred that renewed the +misery, which, can now never quit me but in the grave, to which I look +with no fearful apprehension, but as a refuge from calamity, trusting +that the power who has seen good to afflict me, will pardon the +imperfectness of my devotion, and the too frequent wandering of my +thoughts to the object once so dear to me.' +</p> + +<p> +As she spoke she raised her eyes, which beamed with truth and meek +assurance to heaven; and the fine devotional suffusion of her +countenance seemed to characterize the beauty of an inspired saint. +</p> + +<p> +'One day, Oh! never shall I forget it, I went as usual to the +confessional to acknowledge my sins. I knelt before the father with +eyes bent towards the earth, and in a low voice proceeded to confess. +I had but one crime to deplore, and that was the too tender +remembrance of him for whom I mourned, and whose idea, impressed upon +my heart, made it a blemished offering to God. +</p> + +<p> +'I was interrupted in my confession by a sound of deep sobs, and +rising my eyes, Oh God, what were my sensations, when in the features +of the holy father I discovered Angelo! His image faded like a vision +from my sight, and I sunk at his feet. On recovering I found myself on +my matrass, attended by a sister, who I discovered by her conversation +had no suspicion of the occasion of my disorder. Indisposition +confined me to my bed for several days; when I recovered, I saw Angelo +no more, and could almost have doubted my senses, and believed that an +illusion had crossed my sight, till one day I found in my cell a +written paper. I distinguished at the first glance the handwriting of +Angelo, that well-known hand which had so often awakened me to other +emotions. I trembled at the sight; my beating heart acknowledged the +beloved characters; a cold tremor shook my frame, and half breathless +I seized the paper. But recollecting myself, I paused—I hesitated: +duty at length yielded to the strong temptation, and I read the lines! +Oh! those lines prompted by despair, and bathed in my tears! every +word they offered gave a new pang to my heart, and swelled its anguish +almost beyond endurance. I learned that Angelo, severely wounded in a +foreign engagement, had been left for dead upon the field; that his +life was saved by the humanity of a common soldier of the enemy, who +perceiving signs of existence, conveyed him to a house. Assistance was +soon procured, but his wounds exhibited the most alarming symptoms. +During several months he languished between life and death, till at +length his youth and constitution surmounted the conflict, and he +returned to Naples. Here he saw my brother, whose distress and +astonishment at beholding him occasioned a relation of past +circumstances, and of the vows I had taken in consequence of the +report of his death. It is unnecessary to mention the immediate effect +of this narration; the final one exhibited a very singular proof of +his attachment and despair;—he devoted himself to a monastic life, +and chose this abbey for the place of his residence, because it +contained the object most dear to his affections. His letter informed +me that he had purposely avoided discovering himself, endeavouring to +be contented with the opportunities which occurred of silently +observing me, till chance had occasioned the foregoing interview.—But +that since its effects had been so mutually painful, he would relieve +me from the apprehension of a similar distress, by assuring me, that I +should see him no more. He was faithful to his promise; from that day +I have never seen him, and am even ignorant whether he yet inhabits +this asylum; the efforts of religious fortitude, and the just fear of +exciting curiosity, having withheld me from enquiry. But the moment of +our last interview has been equally fatal to my peace and to my +health, and I trust I shall, ere very long, be released from the +agonizing ineffectual struggles occasioned by the consciousness of +sacred vows imperfectly performed, and by earthly affections not +wholly subdued.' +</p> + +<p> +Cornelia ceased, and Julia, who had listened to the narrative in deep +attention, at once admired, loved, and pitied her. As the sister of +Hippolitus, her heart expanded towards her, and it was now inviolably +attached by the fine ties of sympathetic sorrow. Similarity of +sentiment and suffering united them in the firmest bonds of +friendship; and thus, from reciprocation of thought and feeling, +flowed a pure and sweet consolation. +</p> + +<p> +Julia loved to indulge in the mournful pleasure of conversing of +Hippolitus, and when thus engaged, the hours crept unheeded by. A +thousand questions she repeated concerning him, but to those most +interesting to her, she received no consolatory answer. Cornelia, who +had heard of the fatal transaction at the castle of Mazzini, deplored +with her its too certain consequence. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER X +</h3> + +<p> +Julia accustomed herself to walk in the fine evenings under the shade +of the high trees that environed the abbey. The dewy coolness of the +air refreshed her. The innumerable roseate tints which the parting +sun-beams reflected on the rocks above, and the fine vermil glow +diffused over the romantic scene beneath, softly fading from the eye, +as the nightshades fell, excited sensations of a sweet and tranquil +nature, and soothed her into a temporary forgetfulness of her sorrows. +</p> + +<p> +The deep solitude of the place subdued her apprehension, and one +evening she ventured with Madame de Menon to lengthen her walk. They +returned to the abbey without having seen a human being, except a +friar of the monastery, who had been to a neighbouring town to order +provision. On the following evening they repeated their walk; and, +engaged in conversation, rambled to a considerable distance from the +abbey. The distant bell of the monastery sounding for vespers, +reminded them of the hour, and looking round, they perceived the +extremity of the wood. They were returning towards the abbey, when +struck by the appearance of some majestic columns which were +distinguishable between the trees, they paused. Curiosity tempted them +to examine to what edifice pillars of such magnificent architecture +could belong, in a scene so rude, and they went on. +</p> + +<p> +There appeared on a point of rock impending over the valley the +reliques of a palace, whose beauty time had impaired only to heighten +its sublimity. An arch of singular magnificence remained almost +entire, beyond which appeared wild cliffs retiring in grand +perspective. The sun, which was now setting, threw a trembling lustre +upon the ruins, and gave a finishing effect to the scene. They gazed +in mute wonder upon the view; but the fast fading light, and the dewy +chillness of the air, warned them to return. As Julia gave a last +look to the scene, she perceived two men leaning upon a part of the +ruin at some distance, in earnest conversation. As they spoke, their +looks were so attentively bent on her, that she could have no doubt +she was the subject of their discourse. Alarmed at this circumstance, +madame and Julia immediately retreated towards the abbey. They walked +swiftly through the woods, whose shades, deepened by the gloom of +evening, prevented their distinguishing whether they were pursued. +They were surprized to observe the distance to which they had strayed +from the monastery, whose dark towers were now obscurely seen rising +among the trees that closed the perspective. They had almost reached +the gates, when on looking back, they perceived the same men slowly +advancing, without any appearance of pursuit, but clearly as if +observing the place of their retreat. +</p> + +<p> +This incident occasioned Julia much alarm. She could not but believe +that the men whom she had seen were spies of the marquis;—if so, her +asylum was discovered, and she had every thing to apprehend. Madame +now judged it necessary to the safety of Julia, that the <i>Abate</i> +should be informed of her story, and of the sanctuary she had sought +in his monastery, and also that he should be solicited to protect her +from parental tyranny. This was a hazardous, but a necessary step, to +provide against the certain danger which must ensue, should the +marquis, if he demanded his daughter of the <i>Abate</i>, be the first to +acquaint him with her story. If she acted otherwise, she feared that +the <i>Abate</i>, in whose generosity she had not confided, and whose pity +she had not solicited, would, in the pride of his resentment, deliver +her up, and thus would she become a certain victim to the Duke de +Luovo. +</p> + +<p> +Julia approved of this communication, though she trembled for the +event; and requested madame to plead her cause with the <i>Abate</i>. On +the following morning, therefore, madame solicited a private audience +of the <i>Abate</i>; she obtained permission to see him, and Julia, in +trembling anxiety, watched her to the door of his apartment. This +conference was long, and every moment seemed an hour to Julia, who, in +fearful expectation, awaited with Cornelia the sentence which would +decide her destiny. She was now the constant companion of Cornelia, +whose declining health interested her pity, and strengthened her +attachment. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile madame developed to the <i>Abate</i> the distressful story of +Julia. She praised her virtues, commended her accomplishments, and +deplored her situation. She described the characters of the marquis +and the duke, and concluded with pathetically representing, that Julia +had sought in this monastery, a last asylum from injustice and misery, +and with entreating that the <i>Abate</i> would grant her his pity and +protection. +</p> + +<p> +The <i>Abate</i> during this discourse preserved a sullen silence; his eyes +were bent to the ground, and his aspect was thoughful and solemn. When +madame ceased to speak, a pause of profound silence ensued, and she +sat in anxious expectation. She endeavoured to anticipate in his +countenance the answer preparing, but she derived no comfort from +thence. At length raising his head, and awakening from his deep +reverie, he told her that her request required deliberation, and that +the protection she solicited for Julia, might involve him in serious +consequences, since, from a character so determined as the marquis's, +much violence might reasonably be expected. 'Should his daughter be +refused him,' concluded the <i>Abate</i>, 'he may even dare to violate the +sanctuary.' +</p> + +<p> +Madame, shocked by the stern indifference of this reply, was a moment +silent. The <i>Abate</i> went on. 'Whatever I shall determine upon, the +young lady has reason to rejoice that she is admitted into this holy +house; for I will even now venture to assure her, that if the marquis +fails to demand her, she shall be permitted to remain in this +sanctuary unmolested. You, Madam, will be sensible of this indulgence, +and of the value of the sacrifice I make in granting it; for, in thus +concealing a child from her parent, I encourage her in disobedience, +and consequently sacrifice my sense of duty, to what may be justly +called a weak humanity.' +</p> + +<p> +Madame listened to pompous declamation in silent sorrow and +indignation. She made another effort to interest the <i>Abate</i> in favor +of Julia, but he preserved his stern inflexibility, and repeating that +he would deliberate upon the matter, and acquaint her with the result, +he arose with great solemnity, and quitted the room. +</p> + +<p> +She now half repented of the confidence she had reposed in him, and of +the pity she had solicited, since he discovered a mind incapable of +understanding the first, and a temper inaccessible to the influence of +the latter. With an heavy heart she returned to Julia, who read in her +countenance, at the moment she entered the room, news of no happy +import. When madame related the particulars of the conference, Julia +presaged from it only misery, and giving herself up for lost—she +burst into tears. She severely deplored the confidence she had been +induced to yield; for she now saw herself in the power of a man, stern +and unfeeling in his nature: and from whom, if he thought it fit to +betray her, she had no means of escaping. But she concealed the +anguish of her heart; and to console madame, affected to hope where +she could only despair. +</p> + +<p> +Several days elapsed, and no answer was returned from the <i>Abate</i>. +Julia too well understood this silence. +</p> + +<p> +One morning Cornelia entering her room with a disturbed and impatient +air, informed her that some emissaries from the marquis were then in +the monastery, having enquired at the gate for the <i>Abate</i>, with whom, +they said, they had business of importance to transact. The <i>Abate</i> +had granted them immediate audience, and they were now in close +conference. +</p> + +<p> +At this intelligence the spirits of Julia forsook her; she trembled, +grew pale, and stood fixed in mute despair. Madame, though scarcely +less distressed, retained a presence of mind. She understood too +justly the character of the Superior to doubt that he would hesitate +in delivering Julia to the hands of the marquis. On this moment, +therefore, turned the crisis of her fate!—this moment she might +escape—the next she was a prisoner. She therefore advised Julia to +seize the instant, and fly from the monastery before the conference +was concluded, when the gates would most probably be closed upon her, +assuring her, at the same time, she would accompany her in flight. +</p> + +<p> +The generous conduct of madame called tears of gratitude into the eyes +of Julia, who now awoke from the state of stupefaction which distress +had caused. But before she could thank her faithful friend, a nun +entered the room with a summons for madame to attend the <i>Abate</i> +immediately. The distress which this message occasioned can not easily +be conceived. Madame advised Julia to escape while she detained the +<i>Abate</i> in conversation, as it was not probable that he had yet issued +orders for her detention. Leaving her to this attempt, with an +assurance of following her from the abbey as soon as possible, madame +obeyed the summons. The coolness of her fortitude forsook her as she +approached the <i>Abate</i>'s apartment, and she became less certain as to +the occasion of this summons. +</p> + +<p> +The <i>Abate</i> was alone. His countenance was pale with anger, and he was +pacing the room with slow but agitated steps. The stern authority of +his look startled her. 'Read this letter,' said he, stretching forth +his hand which held a letter, 'and tell me what that mortal deserves, +who dares insult our holy order, and set our sacred prerogative at +defiance.' Madame distinguished the handwriting of the marquis, and +the words of the Superior threw her into the utmost astonishment. She +took the letter. It was dictated by that spirit of proud vindictive +rage, which so strongly marked the character of the marquis. Having +discovered the retreat of Julia, and believing the monastery afforded +her a willing sanctuary from his pursuit, he accused the <i>Abate</i> of +encouraging his child in open rebellion to his will. He loaded him and +his sacred order with opprobrium, and threatened, if she was not +immediately resigned to the emissaries in waiting, he would in person +lead on a force which should compel the church to yield to the +superior authority of the father. +</p> + +<p> +The spirit of the <i>Abate</i> was roused by this menace; and Julia +obtained from his pride, that protection which neither his principle +or his humanity would have granted. 'The man shall tremble,' cried he, +'who dares defy our power, or question our sacred authority. The lady +Julia is safe. I will protect her from this proud invader of our +rights, and teach him at least to venerate the power he cannot +conquer. I have dispatched his emissaries with my answer.' +</p> + +<p> +These words struck sudden joy upon the heart of Madame de Menon, but +she instantly recollected, that ere this time Julia had quitted the +abbey, and thus the very precaution which was meant to ensure her +safety, had probably precipitated her into the hand of her enemy. This +thought changed her joy to anguish; and she was hurrying from the +apartment in a sort of wild hope, that Julia might not yet be gone, +when the stern voice of the <i>Abate</i> arrested her. 'Is it thus,' cried +he, 'that you receive the knowledge of our generous resolution to +protect your friend? Does such condescending kindness merit no +thanks—demand no gratitude?' Madame returned in an agony of fear, +lest one moment of delay might prove fatal to Julia, if haply she had +not yet quitted the monastery. She was conscious of her deficiency in +apparent gratitude, and of the strange appearance of her abrupt +departure from the <i>Abate</i>, for which it was impossible to apologize, +without betraying the secret, which would kindle all his resentment. +Yet some atonement his present anger demanded, and these circumstances +caused her a very painful embarrassment. She formed a hasty excuse; +and expressing her sense of his goodness, again attempted to retire, +when the <i>Abate</i> frowning in deep resentment, his features inflamed +with pride, arose from his seat. 'Stay,' said he; 'whence this +impatience to fly from the presence of a benefactor?—If my generosity +fails to excite gratitude, my resentment shall not fail to inspire +awe.—Since the lady Julia is insensible of my condescension, she is +unworthy of my protection, and I will resign her to the tyrant who +demands her.' +</p> + +<p> +To this speech, in which the offended pride of the <i>Abate</i> overcoming +all sense of justice, accused and threatened to punish Julia for the +fault of her friend, madame listened in dreadful impatience. Every +word that detained her struck torture to her heart, but the concluding +sentence occasioned new terror, and she started at its purpose. She +fell at the feet of the <i>Abate</i> in an agony of grief. 'Holy father,' +said she, 'punish not Julia for the offence which I only have +committed; her heart will bless her generous protector, and for +myself, suffer me to assure you that I am fully sensible of your +goodness.' +</p> + +<p> +'If this is true,' said the <i>Abate</i>, 'arise, and bid the lady Julia +attend me.' This command increased the confusion of madame, who had no +doubt that her detention had proved fatal to Julia. At length she was +suffered to depart, and to her infinite joy found Julia in her own +room. Her intention of escaping had yielded, immediately after the +departure of madame, to the fear of being discovered by the marquis's +people. This fear had been confirmed by the report of Cornelia, who +informed her, that at that time several horsemen were waiting at the +gates for the return of their companions. This was a dreadful +circumstance to Julia, who perceived it was utterly impossible to quit +the monastery, without rushing upon certain destruction. She was +lamenting her destiny, when madame recited the particulars of the late +interview, and delivered the summons of the <i>Abate</i>. +</p> + +<p> +They had now to dread the effect of that tender anxiety, which had +excited his resentment; and Julia, suddenly elated to joy by his first +determination, was as suddenly sunk to despair by his last. She +trembled with apprehension of the coming interview, though each moment +of delay which her fear solicited, would, by heightening the +resentment of the <i>Abate</i>, only increase the danger she dreaded. +</p> + +<p> +At length, by a strong effort, she reanimated her spirits, and went to +the Abate's closet to receive her sentence. He was seated in his +chair, and his frowning aspect chilled her heart. 'Daughter,' said he, +'you have been guilty of heinous crimes. You have dared to +dispute—nay openly to rebel, against the lawful authority of your +father. You have disobeyed the will of him whose prerogative yields +only to ours. You have questioned his right upon a point of all others +the most decided—the right of a father to dispose of his child in +marriage. You have even fled from his protection—and you have +dared—insidiously, and meanly have dared, to screen your disobedience +beneath this sacred roof. You have prophaned our sanctuary with your +crime. You have brought insult upon our sacred order, and have caused +bold and impious defiance of our high prerogative. What punishment is +adequate to guilt like this?' +</p> + +<p> +The father paused—his eyes sternly fixed on Julia, who, pale and +trembling, could scarcely support herself, and who had no power to +reply. 'I will be merciful, and not just,' resumed he,—'I will soften +the punishment you deserve, and will only deliver you to your father.' +At these dreadful words, Julia bursting into tears, sunk at the feet +of the <i>Abate</i>, to whom she raised her eyes in supplicating +expression, but was unable to speak. He suffered her to remain in this +posture. 'Your duplicity,' he resumed, 'is not the least of your +offences.—Had you relied upon our generosity for forgiveness and +protection, an indulgence might have been granted;—but under the +disguise of virtue you concealed your crimes, and your necessities +were hid beneath the mask of devotion.' +</p> + +<p> +These false aspersions roused in Julia the spirit of indignant virtue; +she arose from her knees with an air of dignity, that struck even the +<i>Abate</i>. 'Holy father,' said she, 'my heart abhors the crime you +mention, and disclaims all union with it. Whatever are my offences, +from the sin of hypocrisy I am at least free; and you will pardon me +if I remind you, that my confidence has already been such, as fully +justifies my claim to the protection I solicit. When I sheltered +myself within these walls, it was to be presumed that they would +protect me from injustice; and with what other term than injustice +would you, Sir, distinguish the conduct of the marquis, if the fear of +his power did not overcome the dictates of truth?' +</p> + +<p> +The <i>Abate</i> felt the full force of this reproof; but disdaining to +appear sensible to it, restrained his resentment. His wounded pride +thus exasperated, and all the malignant passions of his nature thus +called into action, he was prompted to that cruel surrender which he +had never before seriously intended. The offence which Madame de +Menon had unintentionally given his haughty spirit urged him to +retaliate in punishment. He had, therefore, pleased himself with +exciting a terror which he never meant to confirm, and he resolved to +be further solicited for that protection which he had already +determined to grant. But this reproof of Julia touched him where he +was most conscious of defect; and the temporary triumph which he +imagined it afforded her, kindled his resentment into flame. He mused +in his chair, in a fixed attitude.—She saw in his countenance the +deep workings of his mind—she revolved the fate preparing for her, +and stood in trembling anxiety to receive her sentence. The <i>Abate</i> +considered each aggravating circumstance of the marquis's menace, and +each sentence of Julia's speech; and his mind experienced that vice is +not only inconsistent with virtue, but with itself—for to gratify his +malignity, he now discovered that it would be necessary to sacrifice +his pride—since it would be impossible to punish the object of the +first without denying himself the gratification of the latter. This +reflection suspended his mind in a state of torture, and he sat wrapt +in gloomy silence. +</p> + +<p> +The spirit which lately animated Julia had vanished with her +words—each moment of silence increased her apprehension; the deep +brooding of his thoughts confirmed her in the apprehension of evil, +and with all the artless eloquence of sorrow she endeavoured to soften +him to pity. He listened to her pleadings in sullen stillness. But +each instant now cooled the fervour of his resentment to her, and +increased his desire of opposing the marquis. At length the +predominant feature of his character resumed its original influence, +and overcame the workings of subordinate passion. Proud of his +religious authority, he determined never to yield the prerogative of +the church to that of the father, and resolved to oppose the violence +of the marquis with equal force. +</p> + +<p> +He therefore condescended to relieve Julia from her terrors, by +assuring her of his protection; but he did this in a manner so +ungracious, as almost to destroy the gratitude which the promise +demanded. She hastened with the joyful intelligence to Madame de +Menon, who wept over her tears of thankfulness. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XI +</h3> + +<p> +Near a fortnight had elapsed without producing any appearance of +hostility from the marquis, when one night, long after the hour of +repose, Julia was awakened by the bell of the monastery. She knew it +was not the hour customary for prayer, and she listened to the sounds, +which rolled through the deep silence of the fabric, with strong +surprise and terror. Presently she heard the doors of several cells +creak on their hinges, and the sound of quick footsteps in the +passages—and through the crevices of her door she distinguished +passing lights. The whispering noise of steps increased, and every +person of the monastery seemed to have awakened. Her terror +heightened; it occurred to her that the marquis had surrounded the +abbey with his people, in the design of forcing her from her retreat; +and she arose in haste, with an intention of going to the chamber of +Madame de Menon, when she heard a gentle tap at the door. Her enquiry +of who was there, was answered in the voice of madame, and her fears +were quickly dissipated, for she learned the bell was a summons to +attend a dying nun, who was going to the high altar, there to receive +extreme unction. +</p> + +<p> +She quitted the chamber with madame. In her way to the church, the +gleam of tapers on the walls, and the glimpse which her eye often +caught of the friars in their long black habits, descending silently +through the narrow winding passages, with the solemn toll of the bell, +conspired to kindle imagination, and to impress her heart with sacred +awe. But the church exhibited a scene of solemnity, such as she had +never before witnessed. Its gloomy aisles were imperfectly seen by the +rays of tapers from the high altar, which shed a solitary gleam over +the remote parts of the fabric, and produced large masses of light and +shade, striking and sublime in their effect. +</p> + +<p> +While she gazed, she heard a distant chanting rise through the aisles; +the sounds swelled in low murmurs on the ear, and drew nearer and +nearer, till a sudden blaze of light issued from one of the portals, +and the procession entered. The organ instantly sounded a high and +solemn peal, and the voices rising altogether swelled the sacred +strain. In front appeared the <i>Padre Abate</i>, with slow and measured +steps, bearing the holy cross. Immediately followed a litter, on which +lay the dying person covered with a white veil, borne along and +surrounded by nuns veiled in white, each carrying in her hand a +lighted taper. Last came the friars, two and two, cloathed in black, +and each bearing a light. +</p> + +<p> +When they reached the high altar, the bier was rested, and in a few +moments the anthem ceased. 'The <i>Abate</i> now approached to perform the +unction; the veil of the dying nun was lifted—and Julia discovered +her beloved Cornelia! Her countenance was already impressed with the +image of death, but her eyes brightened with a faint gleam of +recollection, when they fixed upon Julia, who felt a cold thrill run +through her frame, and leaned for support on madame. Julia now for +the first time distinguished the unhappy lover of Cornelia, on whose +features was depictured the anguish of his heart, and who hung pale +and silent over the bier. The ceremony being finished, the anthem +struck up; the bier was lifted, when Cornelia faintly moved her hand, +and it was again rested upon the steps of the altar. In a few minutes +the music ceased, when lifting her heavy eyes to her lover, with an +expression of ineffable tenderness and grief, she attempted to speak, +but the sounds died on her closing lips. A faint smile passed over her +countenance, and was succeeded by a fine devotional glow; she folded +her hands upon her bosom, and with a look of meek resignation, raising +towards heaven her eyes, in which now sunk the last sparkles of +expiring life—her soul departed in a short deep sigh. +</p> + +<p> +Her lover sinking back, endeavoured to conceal his emotions, but the +deep sobs which agitated his breast betrayed his anguish, and the +tears of every spectator bedewed the sacred spot where beauty, sense, +and innocence expired. +</p> + +<p> +The organ now swelled in mournful harmony; and the voices of the +assembly chanted in choral strain, a low and solemn requiem to the +spirit of the departed. +</p> + +<p> +Madame hurried Julia, who was almost as lifeless as her departed +friend, from the church. A death so sudden heightened the grief which +separation would otherwise have occasioned. It was the nature of +Cornelia's disorder to wear a changeful but flattering aspect. Though +she had long been declining, her decay was so gradual and +imperceptible as to lull the apprehensions of her friends into +security. It was otherwise with herself; she was conscious of the +change, but forbore to afflict them with the knowledge of the truth. +The hour of her dissolution was sudden, even to herself; but it was +composed, and even happy. In the death of Cornelia, Julia seemed to +mourn again that of Hippolitus. Her decease appeared to dissolve the +last tie which connected her with his memory. +</p> + +<p> +In one of the friars of the convent, madame was surprized to find the +father who had confessed the dying Vincent. His appearance revived the +remembrance of the scene she had witnessed at the castle of Mazzini; +and the last words of Vincent, combined with the circumstances which +had since occurred, renewed all her curiosity and astonishment. But +his appearance excited more sensations than those of wonder. She +dreaded lest he should be corrupted by the marquis, to whom he was +known, and thus be induced to use his interest with the <i>Abate</i> for +the restoration of Julia. +</p> + +<p> +From the walls of the monastery, Julia now never ventured to stray. In +the gloom of evening she sometimes stole into the cloisters, and often +lingered at the grave of Cornelia, where she wept for Hippolitus, as +well as for her friend. One evening, during vespers, the bell of the +convent was suddenly rang out; the <i>Abate</i>, whose countenance +expressed at once astonishment and displeasure, suspended the service, +and quitted the altar. The whole congregation repaired to the hall, +where they learned that a friar, retiring to the convent, had seen a +troop of armed men advancing through the wood; and not doubting they +were the people of the marquis, and were approaching with hostile +intention, had thought it necessary to give the alarm. The <i>Abate</i> +ascended a turret, and thence discovered through the trees a +glittering of arms, and in the succeeding moment a band of men issued +from a dark part of the wood, into a long avenue which immediately +fronted the spot where he stood. The clattering of hoofs was now +distinctly heard; and Julia, sinking with terror, distinguished the +marquis heading the troops, which, soon after separating in two +divisions, surrounded the monastery. The gates were immediately +secured; and the <i>Abate</i>, descending from the turret, assembled the +friars in the hall, where his voice was soon heard above every other +part of the tumult. The terror of Julia made her utterly forgetful of +the <i>Padre</i>'s promise, and she wished to fly for concealment to the +deep caverns belonging to the monastery, which wound under the woods. +Madame, whose penetration furnished her with a just knowledge of the +<i>Abate</i>'s character, founded her security on his pride. She therefore +dissuaded Julia from attempting to tamper with the honesty of a +servant who had the keys of the vaults, and advised her to rely +entirely on the effect of the <i>Abate</i>'s resentment towards the +marquis. While madame endeavoured to soothe her to composure, a +message from the <i>Abate</i> required her immediate attendance. She +obeyed, and he bade her follow him to a room which was directly over +the gates of the monastery. From thence she saw her father, +accompanied by the Duke de Luovo; and as her spirits died away at the +sight, the marquis called furiously to the <i>Abate</i> to deliver her +instantly into his hands, threatening, if she was detained, to force +the gates of the monastery. At this threat the countenance of the +<i>Abate</i> grew dark: and leading Julia forcibly to the window, from +which she had shrunk back, 'Impious menacer!' said he, 'eternal +vengeance be upon thee! From this moment we expel thee from all the +rights and communities of our church. Arrogant and daring as you are, +your threats I defy—Look here,' said he, pointing to Julia, 'and +learn that you are in my power; for if you dare to violate these +sacred walls, I will proclaim aloud, in the face of day, a secret +which shall make your heart's blood run cold; a secret which involves +your honour, nay, your very existence. Now triumph and exult in +impious menace!' The marquis started involuntarily at this speech, and +his features underwent a sudden change, but he endeavoured to recover +himself, and to conceal his confusion. He hesitated for a few moments, +uncertain how to act—to desist from violence was to confess himself +conscious of the threatened secret; yet he dreaded to inflame the +resentment of the <i>Abate</i>, whose menaces his own heart too surely +seconded. At length—'All that you have uttered,' said he, 'I despise +as the dastardly subterfuge of monkish cunning. Your new insults add +to the desire of recovering my daughter, that of punishing you. I +would proceed to instant violence, but that would now be an imperfect +revenge. I shall, therefore, withdraw my forces, and appeal to a +higher power. Thus shall you be compelled at once to restore my +daughter and retract your scandalous impeachment of my honor.' Saying +this, the turned his horse from the gates, and his people following +him, quickly withdrew, leaving the <i>Abate</i> exulting in conquest, and +Julia lost in astonishment and doubtful joy. When she recounted to +madame the particulars of the conference, she dwelt with emphasis on +the threats of the <i>Abate</i>; but madame, though her amazement was +heightened at every word, very well understood how the secret, +whatever it was, had been obtained. The confessor of Vincent she had +already observed in the monastery, and there was no doubt that he had +disclosed whatever could be collected from the dying words of Vincent. +She knew, also, that the secret would never be published, unless as a +punishment for immediate violence, it being one of the first +principles of monastic duty, to observe a religious secrecy upon all +matters entrusted to them in confession. +</p> + +<p> +When the first tumult of Julia's emotions subsided, the joy which the +sudden departure of the marquis occasioned yielded to apprehension. He +had threatened to appeal to a higher power, who would compel the +<i>Abate</i> to surrender her. This menace excited a just terror, and there +remained no means of avoiding the tyranny of the marquis but by +quitting the monastery. She therefore requested an audience of the +<i>Abate</i>; and having represented the danger of her present situation, +she intreated his permission to depart in quest of a safer retreat. +The <i>Abate</i>, who well knew the marquis was wholly in his power, smiled +at the repetition of his menaces, and denied her request, under +pretence of his having now become responsible for her to the church. +He bade her be comforted, and promised her his protection; but his +assurances were given in so distant and haughty a manner, that Julia +left him with fears rather increased than subdued. In crossing the +hall, she observed a man hastily enter it, from an opposite door. He +was not in the habit of the order, but was muffled up in a cloak, and +seemed to wish concealment. As she passed he raised his head, and +Julia discovered—her father! He darted at her a look of vengeance; +but before she had time even to think, as if suddenly recollecting +himself, he covered his face, and rushed by her. Her trembling frame +could scarcely support her to the apartment of madame, where she sunk +speechless upon a chair, and the terror of her look alone spoke the +agony of her mind. When she was somewhat recovered, she related what +she had seen, and her conversation with the <i>Abate</i>. But madame was +lost in equal perplexity with herself, when she attempted to account +for the marquis's appearance. Why, after his late daring menace, +should he come secretly to visit the <i>Abate</i>, by whose connivance +alone he could have gained admission to the monastery? And what could +have influenced the <i>Abate</i> to such a conduct? These circumstances, +though equally inexplicable, united to confirm a fear of treachery and +surrender. To escape from the abbey was now inpracticable, for the +gates were constantly guarded; and even was it possible to pass them, +certain detection awaited Julia without from the marquis's people, who +were stationed in the woods. Thus encompassed with danger, she could +only await in the monastery the issue of her destiny. +</p> + +<p> +While she was lamenting with madame her unhappy fate, she was summoned +once more to attend the <i>Abate</i>. At this moment her spirits entirely +forsook her; the crisis of her fate seemed arrived; for she did not +doubt that the <i>Abate</i> intended to surrender her to the marquis, with +whom she supposed he had negotiated the terms of accommodation. It was +some time before she could recover composure sufficient to obey the +summons; and when she did, every step that bore her towards the +<i>Abate</i>'s room increased her dread. She paused a moment at the door, +'ere she had courage to open it; the idea of her father's immediate +resentment arose to her mind, and she was upon the point of retreating +to her chamber, when a sudden step within, near the door, destroyed +her hesitation, and she entered the closet. The marquis was not there, +and her spirits revived. The flush of triumph was diffused over the +features of the <i>Abate</i>, though a shade of unappeased resentment yet +remained visible. 'Daughter,' said he, 'the intelligence we have to +communicate may rejoice you. Your safety now depends solely on +yourself. I give your fate into your own hands, and its issue be upon +your head.' He paused, and she was suspended in wondering expectation +of the coming sentence. 'I here solemnly assure you of my protection, +but it is upon one condition only—that you renounce the world, and +dedicate your days to God.' Julia listened with a mixture of grief and +astonishment. 'Without this concession on your part, I possess not the +power, had I even the inclination, to protect you. If you assume the +veil, you are safe within the pale of the church from temporal +violence. If you neglect or refuse to do this, the marquis may apply +to a power from whom I have no appeal, and I shall be compelled at +last to resign you. +</p> + +<p> +'But to ensure your safety, should the veil be your choice, we will +procure a dispensation from the usual forms of noviciation, and a few +days shall confirm your vows.' He ceased to speak; but Julia, agitated +with the most cruel distress, knew not what to reply. 'We grant you +three days to decide upon this matter,' continued he, 'at the +expiration of which, the veil, or the Duke de Luovo, awaits you.' +Julia quitted the closet in mute despair, and repaired to madame, who +could now scarcely offer her the humble benefit of consolation. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the <i>Abate</i> exulted in successful vengeance, and the marquis +smarted beneath the stings of disappointment. The menace of the +former was too seriously alarming to suffer the marquis to prosecute +violent measures; and he had therefore resolved, by opposing avarice +to pride, to soothe the power which he could not subdue. But he was +unwilling to entrust the <i>Abate</i> with a proof of his compliance and +his fears by offering a bribe in a letter, and preferred the more +humiliating, but safer method, of a private interview. His +magnificent offers created a temporary hesitation in the mind of the +<i>Abate</i>, who, secure of his advantage, shewed at first no disposition +to be reconciled, and suffered the marquis to depart in anxious +uncertainty. After maturely deliberating upon the proposals, the pride +of the <i>Abate</i> surmounted his avarice, and he determined to prevail +upon Julia effectually to destroy the hopes of the marquis, by +consecrating her life to religion. Julia passed the night and the next +day in a state of mental torture exceeding all description. The gates +of the monastery beset with guards, and the woods surrounded by the +marquis's people, made escape impossible. From a marriage with the +duke, whose late conduct had confirmed the odious idea which his +character had formerly impressed, her heart recoiled in horror, and to +be immured for life within the walls of a convent, was a fate little +less dreadful. Yet such was the effect of that sacred love she bore +the memory of Hippolitus, and such her aversion to the duke, that she +soon resolved to adopt the veil. On the following evening she informed +the <i>Abate</i> of her determination. His heart swelled with secret joy; +and even the natural severity of his manner relaxed at the +intelligence. He assured her of his approbation and protection, with a +degree of kindness which he had never before manifested, and told her +the ceremony should be performed on the second day from the present. +Her emotion scarcely suffered her to hear his last words. Now that her +fate was fixed beyond recall, she almost repented of her choice. Her +fancy attached to it a horror not its own; and that evil, which, when +offered to her decision, she had accepted with little hesitation, she +now paused upon in dubious regret; so apt we are to imagine that the +calamity most certain, is also the most intolerable! +</p> + +<p> +When the marquis read the answer of the <i>Abate</i>, all the baleful +passions of his nature were roused and inflamed to a degree which +bordered upon distraction. In the first impulse of his rage, he would +have forced the gates of the monastery, and defied the utmost malice +of his enemy. But a moment's reflection revived his fear of the +threatened secret, and he saw that he was still in the power of the +Superior. +</p> + +<p> +The <i>Abate</i> procured the necessary dispensation, and preparations were +immediately began for the approaching ceremony. Julia watched the +departure of those moments which led to her fate with the calm +fortitude of despair. She had no means of escaping from the coming +evil, without exposing herself to a worse; she surveyed it therefore +with a steady eye, and no longer shrunk from its approach. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning preceding the day of her consecration, she was informed +that a stranger enquired for her at the grate. Her mind had been so +long accustomed to the vicissitudes of apprehension, that fear was the +emotion which now occurred; she suspected, yet scarcely knew why, that +the marquis was below, and hesitated whether to descend. A little +reflection determined her, and she went to the parlour—where, to her +equal joy and surprise, she beheld—Ferdinand! +</p> + +<p> +During the absence of the marquis from his castle, Ferdinand, who had +been informed of the discovery of Julia, effected his escape from +imprisonment, and had hastened to the monastery in the design of +rescuing her. He had passed the woods in disguise, with much +difficulty eluding the observation of the marquis's people, who were +yet dispersed round the abbey. To the monastery, as he came alone, he +had been admitted without difficulty. +</p> + +<p> +When he learned the conditions of the <i>Abate</i>'s protection, and that +the following day was appointed for the consecration of Julia, he was +shocked, and paused in deliberation. A period so short as was this +interval, afforded little opportunity for contrivance, and less for +hesitation. The night of the present day was the only time that +remained for the attempt and execution of a plan of escape, which if +it then failed of success, Julia would not only be condemned for life +to the walls of a monastery, but would be subjected to whatever +punishment the severity of the <i>Abate</i>, exasperated by the detection, +should think fit to inflict. The danger was desperate, but the +occasion was desperate also. +</p> + +<p> +The nobly disinterested conduct of her brother, struck Julia with +gratitude and admiration; but despair of success made her now hesitate +whether she should accept his offer. She considered that his +generosity would most probably involve him in destruction with +herself; and she paused in deep deliberation, when Ferdinand informed +her of a circumstance which, till now, he had purposely concealed, and +which at once dissolved every doubt and every fear. 'Hippolitus,' said +Ferdinand, 'yet lives.'—'Lives!' repeated Julia faintly,—'lives, Oh! +tell me where—how.'—Her breath refused to aid her, and she sunk in +her chair overcome with the strong and various sensations that pressed +upon her heart. Ferdinand, whom the grate withheld from assisting her, +observed her situation with extreme distress. When she recovered, he +informed her that a servant of Hippolitus, sent no doubt by his lord +to enquire concerning Julia, had been lately seen by one of the +marquis's people in the neighbourhood of the castle. From him it was +known that the Count de Vereza was living, but that his life had been +despaired of; and he was still confined, by dangerous wounds, in an +obscure town on the coast of Italy. The man had steadily refused to +mention the place of his lord's abode. Learning that the marquis was +then at the abbey of St Augustin, whither he pursued his daughter, the +man disappeared from Mazzini, and had not since been heard of. +</p> + +<p> +It was enough for Julia to know that Hippolitus lived; her fears of +detection, and her scruples concerning Ferdinand, instantly vanished; +she thought only of escape—and the means which had lately appeared so +formidable—so difficult in contrivance, and so dangerous in +execution, now seemed easy, certain, and almost accomplished. +</p> + +<p> +They consulted on the plan to be adopted, and agreed, that in +attempting to bribe a servant of the monastery to their interest, they +should incur a danger too imminent, yet it appeared scarcely +practicable to succeed in their scheme without risquing this. After +much consideration, they determined to entrust their secret to no +person but to madame. Ferdinand was to contrive to conceal himself +till the dead of night in the church, between which and the monastery +were several doors of communication. When the inhabitants of the abbey +were sunk in repose, Julia might without difficulty pass to the +church, where Ferdinand awaiting her, they might perhaps escape either +through an outer door of the fabric, or through a window, for which +latter attempt Ferdinand was to provide ropes. +</p> + +<p> +A couple of horses were to be stationed among the rocks beyond the +woods, to convey the fugitives to a sea-port, whence they could easily +pass over to Italy. Having arranged this plan, they separated in the +anxious hope of meeting on the ensuing night. +</p> + +<p> +Madame warmly sympathized with Julia in her present expectations, and +was now somewhat relieved from the pressure of that self-reproach, +with which the consideration of having withdrawn her young friend from +a secure asylum, had long tormented her. In learning that Hippolitus +lived, Julia experienced a sudden renovation of life and spirits. +From the languid stupefaction which despair had occasioned she revived +as from a dream, and her sensations resembled those of a person +suddenly awakened from a frightful vision, whose thoughts are yet +obscured in the fear and uncertainty which the passing images have +impressed on his fancy. She emerged from despair; joy illumined her +countenance; yet she doubted the reality of the scene which now opened +to her view. The hours rolled heavily along till the evening, when +expectation gave way to fear, for she was once more summoned by the +<i>Abate</i>. He sent for her to administer the usual necessary exhortation +on the approaching solemnity; and having detained her a considerable +time in tedious and severe discourse, dismissed her with a formal +benediction. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XII +</h3> + +<p> +The evening now sunk in darkness, and the hour was fast approaching +which would decide the fate of Julia. Trembling anxiety subdued every +other sensation; and as the minutes passed, her fears increased. At +length she heard the gates of the monastery fastened for the night; +the bell rang the signal for repose; and the passing footsteps of the +nuns told her they were hastening to obey it. After some time, all was +silent. Julia did not yet dare to venture forth; she employed the +present interval in interesting and affectionate conversation with +Madame de Menon, to whom, notwithstanding her situation, her heart +bade a sorrowful adieu. +</p> + +<p> +The clock struck twelve, when she arose to depart. Having embraced her +faithful friend with tears of mingled grief and anxiety, she took a +lamp in her hand, and with cautious, fearful steps, descended through +the long winding passages to a private door, which opened into the +church of the monastery. The church was gloomy and desolate; and the +feeble rays of the lamp she bore, gave only light enough to discover +its chilling grandeur. As she passed silently along the aisles, she +cast a look of anxious examination around—but Ferdinand was no where +to be seen. She paused in timid hesitation, fearful to penetrate the +gloomy obscurity which lay before her, yet dreading to return. +</p> + +<p> +As she stood examining the place, vainly looking for Ferdinand, yet +fearing to call, lest her voice should betray her, a hollow groan +arose from apart of the church very near her. It chilled her heart, +and she remained fixed to the spot. She turned her eyes a little to +the left, and saw light appear through the chinks of a sepulchre at +some distance. The groan was repeated—a low murmuring succeeded, and +while she yet gazed, an old man issued from the vault with a lighted +taper in his hand. Terror now subdued her, and she utterred an +involuntary shriek. In the succeeding moment, a noise was heard in a +remote part of the fabric; and Ferdinand rushing forth from his +concealment, ran to her assistance. The old man, who appeared to be a +friar, and who had been doing penance at the monument of a saint, now +approached. His countenance expressed a degree of surprise and terror +almost equal to that of Julia's, who knew him to be the confessor of +Vincent. Ferdinand seized the father; and laying his hand upon his +sword, threatened him with death if he did not instantly swear to +conceal for ever his knowledge of what he then saw, and also assist +them to escape from the abbey. +</p> + +<p> +'Ungracious boy!' replied the father, in a calm voice, 'desist from +this language, nor add to the follies of youth the crime of murdering, +or terrifying a defenceless old man. Your violence would urge me to +become your enemy, did not previous inclination tempt me to be your +friend. I pity the distresses of the lady Julia, to whom I am no +stranger, and will cheerfully give her all the assistance in my +power.' +</p> + +<p> +At these words Julia revived, and Ferdinand, reproved by the +generosity of the father, and conscious of his own inferiority, shrunk +back. 'I have no words to thank you,' said he, 'or to entreat your +pardon for the impetuosity of my conduct; your knowledge of my +situation must plead my excuse.'—'It does,' replied the father, 'but +we have no time to lose;—follow me.' +</p> + +<p> +They followed him through the church to the cloisters, at the +extremity of which was a small door, which the friar unlocked. It +opened upon the woods. +</p> + +<p> +'This path,' said he, 'leads thro' an intricate part of the woods, to +the rocks that rise on the right of the abbey; in their recesses you +may secrete yourselves till you are prepared for a longer journey. But +extinguish your light; it may betray you to the marquis's people, who +are dispersed about this spot. Farewell! my children, and God's +blessing be upon ye.' +</p> + +<p> +Julia's tears declared her gratitude; she had no time for words. They +stepped into the path, and the father closed the door. They were now +liberated from the monastery, but danger awaited them without, which +it required all their caution to avoid. Ferdinand knew the path which +the friar had pointed out to be the same that led to the rocks where +his horses were stationed, and he pursued it with quick and silent +steps. Julia, whose fears conspired with the gloom of night to magnify +and transform every object around her, imagined at each step that she +took, she perceived the figures of men, and fancied every whisper of +the breeze the sound of pursuit. +</p> + +<p> +They proceeded swiftly, till Julia, breathless and exhausted, could go +no farther. They had not rested many minutes, when they heard a +rustling among the bushes at some distance, and soon after +distinguished a low sound of voices. Ferdinand and Julia instantly +renewed their flight, and thought they still heard voices advance upon +the wind. This thought was soon confirmed, for the sounds now gained +fast upon them, and they distinguished words which served only to +heighten their apprehensions, when they reached the extremity of the +woods. The moon, which was now up, suddenly emerging from a dark +cloud, discovered to them several man in pursuit; and also shewed to +the pursuers the course of the fugitives. They endeavoured to gain the +rocks where the horses were concealed, and which now appeared in view. +These they reached when the pursuers had almost overtaken them—but +their horses were gone! Their only remaining chance of escape was to +fly into the deep recesses of the rock. They, therefore, entered a +winding cave, from whence branched several subterraneous avenues, at +the extremity of one of which they stopped. The voices of men now +vibrated in tremendous echoes through the various and secret caverns +of the place, and the sound of footsteps seemed fast approaching. +Julia trembled with terror, and Ferdinand drew his sword, determined +to protect her to the last. A confused volley of voices now sounded up +that part of the cave were Ferdinand and Julia lay concealed. In a +few moments the steps of the pursuers suddenly took a different +direction, and the sounds sunk gradually away, and were heard no more. +Ferdinand listened attentively for a considerable time, but the +stillness of the place remained undisturbed. It was now evident that +the men had quitted the rock, and he ventured forth to the mouth of +the cave. He surveyed the wilds around, as far as his eye could +penetrate, and distinguished no human being; but in the pauses of the +wind he still thought he heard a sound of distant voices. As he +listened in anxious silence, his eye caught the appearance of a +shadow, which moved upon the ground near where he stood. He started +back within the cave, but in a few minutes again ventured forth. The +shadow remained stationary, but having watched it for some time, +Ferdinand saw it glide along till it disappeared behind a point of +rock. He had now no doubt that the cave was watched, and that it was +one of his late pursuers whose shade he had seen. He returned, +therefore, to Julia, and remained near an hour hid in the deepest +recess of the rock; when, no sound having interrupted the profound +silence of the place, he at length once more ventured to the mouth of +the cave. Again he threw a fearful look around, but discerned no human +form. The soft moon-beam slept upon the dewy landscape, and the solemn +stillness of midnight wrapt the world. Fear heightened to the +fugitives the sublimity of the hour. Ferdinand now led Julia forth, +and they passed silently along the shelving foot of the rocks. +</p> + +<p> +They continued their way without farther interruption; and among the +cliffs, at some distance from the cave, discovered, to their +inexpressible joy, their horses, who having broken their fastenings, +had strayed thither, and had now laid themselves down to rest. +Ferdinand and Julia immediately mounted; and descending to the plains, +took the road that led to a small sea-port at some leagues distant, +whence they could embark for Italy. +</p> + +<p> +They travelled for some hours through gloomy forests of beech and +chesnut; and their way was only faintly illuminated by the moon, which +shed a trembling lustre through the dark foliage, and which was seen +but at intervals, as the passing clouds yielded to the power of her +rays. They reached at length the skirts of the forest. The grey dawn +now appeared, and the chill morning air bit shrewdly. It was with +inexpressible joy that Julia observed the kindling atmosphere; and +soon after the rays of the rising sun touching the tops of the +mountains, whose sides were yet involved in dark vapours. +</p> + +<p> +Her fears dissipated with the darkness.—The sun now appeared amid +clouds of inconceivable splendour; and unveiled a scene which in other +circumstances Julia would have contemplated with rapture. From the +side of the hill, down which they were winding, a vale appeared, from +whence arose wild and lofty mountains, whose steeps were cloathed with +hanging woods, except where here and there a precipice projected its +bold and rugged front. Here, a few half-withered trees hung from the +crevices of the rock, and gave a picturesque wildness to the object; +there, clusters of half-seen cottages, rising from among tufted +groves, embellished the green margin of a stream which meandered in +the bottom, and bore its waves to the blue and distant main. +</p> + +<p> +The freshness of morning breathed over the scene, and vivified each +colour of the landscape. The bright dewdrops hung trembling from the +branches of the trees, which at intervals overshadowed the road; and +the sprightly music of the birds saluted the rising day. +Notwithstanding her anxiety the scene diffused a soft complacency over +the mind of Julia. +</p> + +<p> +About noon they reached the port, where Ferdinand was fortunate enough +to obtain a small vessel; but the wind was unfavourable, and it was +past midnight before it was possible for them to embark. +</p> + +<p> +When the dawn appeared, Julia returned to the deck; and viewed with a +sigh of unaccountable regret, the receding coast of Sicily. But she +observed, with high admiration, the light gradually spreading through +the atmosphere, darting a feeble ray over the surface of the waters, +which rolled in solemn soundings upon the distant shores. Fiery beams +now marked the clouds, and the east glowed with increasing radiance, +till the sun rose at once above the waves, and illuminating them with +a flood of splendour, diffused gaiety and gladness around. The bold +concave of the heavens, uniting with the vast expanse of the ocean, +formed, a <i>coup d'oeil</i>, striking and sublime magnificence of the +scenery inspired Julia with delight; and her heart dilating with high +enthusiasm, she forgot the sorrows which had oppressed her. +</p> + +<p> +The breeze wafted the ship gently along for some hours, when it +gradually sunk into a calm. The glassy surface of the waters was not +curled by the lightest air, and the vessel floated heavily on the +bosom of the deep. Sicily was yet in view, and the present delay +agitated Julia with wild apprehension. Towards the close of day a +light breeze sprang up, but it blew from Italy, and a train of dark +vapours emerged from the verge of the horizon, which gradually +accumulating, the heavens became entirely overcast. The evening shut +in suddenly; the rising wind, the heavy clouds that loaded the +atmosphere, and the thunder which murmured afar off terrified Julia, +and threatened a violent storm. +</p> + +<p> +The tempest came on, and the captain vainly sounded for anchorage: it +was deep sea, and the vessel drove furiously before the wind. The +darkness was interrupted only at intervals, by the broad expanse of +vivid lightnings, which quivered upon the waters, and disclosing the +horrible gaspings of the waves, served to render the succeeding +darkness more awful. The thunder, which burst in tremendous crashes +above, the loud roar of the waves below, the noise of the sailors, and +the sudden cracks and groanings of the vessel conspired to heighten +the tremendous sublimity of the scene. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Far on the rocky shores the surges sound,<br /> + The lashing whirlwinds cleave the vast profound;<br /> + While high in air, amid the rising storm,<br /> + Driving the blast, sits Danger's black'ning form.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Julia lay fainting with terror and sickness in the cabin, and +Ferdinand, though almost hopeless himself, was endeavouring to support +her, when aloud and dreadful crash was heard from above. It seemed as +if the whole vessel had parted. The voices of the sailors now rose +together, and all was confusion and uproar. Ferdinand ran up to the +deck, and learned that part of the main mast, borne away by the wind, +had fallen upon the deck, whence it had rolled overboard. +</p> + +<p> +It was now past midnight, and the storm continued with unabated fury. +For four hours the vessel had been driven before the blast; and the +captain now declared it was impossible she could weather the tempest +much longer, ordered the long boat to be in readiness. His orders were +scarcely executed, when the ship bulged upon a reef of rocks, and the +impetuous waves rushed into the vessel:—a general groan ensued. +Ferdinand flew to save his sister, whom he carried to the boat, which +was nearly filled by the captain and most of the crew. The sea ran so +high that it appeared impracticable to reach the shore: but the boat +had not moved many yards, when the ship went to pieces. The captain +now perceived, by the flashes of lightning, a high rocky coast at +about the distance of half a mile. The men struggled hard at the oars; +but almost as often as they gained the summit of a wave, it dashed +them back again, and made their labour of little avail. +</p> + +<p> +After much difficulty and fatigue they reached the coast, where a new +danger presented itself. They beheld a wild rocky shore, whose cliffs +appeared inaccessible, and which seemed to afford little possibility +of landing. A landing, however, was at last affected; and the sailors, +after much search, discovered a kind of pathway cut in the rock, which +they all ascended in safety. +</p> + +<p> +The dawn now faintly glimmered, and they surveyed the coast, but could +discover no human habitation. They imagined they were on the shores of +Sicily, but possessed no means of confirming this conjecture. Terror, +sickness, and fatigue had subdued the strength and spirits of Julia, +and she was obliged to rest upon the rocks. +</p> + +<p> +The storm now suddenly subsided, and the total calm which succeeded to +the wild tumult of the winds and waves, produced a striking and +sublime effect. The air was hushed in a deathlike stillness, but the +waves were yet violently agitated; and by the increasing light, parts +of the wreck were seen floating wide upon the face of the deep. Some +sailors, who had missed the boat, were also discovered clinging to +pieces of the vessel, and making towards the shore. On observing this, +their shipmates immediately descended to the boat; and, putting off to +sea, rescued them from their perilous situation. When Julia was +somewhat reanimated, they proceeded up the country in search of a +dwelling. +</p> + +<p> +They had travelled near half a league, when the savage features of the +country began to soften, and gradually changed to the picturesque +beauty of Sicilian scenery. They now discovered at some distance a +villa, seated on a gentle eminence, crowned with woods. It was the +first human habitation they had seen since they embarked for Italy; +and Julia, who was almost sinking with fatigue, beheld it with +delight. The captain and his men hastened towards it to make known +their distress, while Ferdinand and Julia slowly followed. They +observed the men enter the villa, one of whom quickly returned to +acquaint them with the hospitable reception his comrades had received. +</p> + +<p> +Julia with difficulty reached the edifice, at the door of which she +was met by a young cavalier, whose pleasing and intelligent +countenance immediately interested her in his favor. He welcomed the +strangers with a benevolent politeness that dissolved at once every +uncomfortable feeling which their situation had excited, and produced +an instantaneous easy confidence. Through a light and elegant hall, +rising into a dome, supported by pillars of white marble, and adorned +with busts, he led them to a magnificent vestibule, which opened upon +a lawn. Having seated them at a table spread with refreshments he left +them, and they surveyed, with surprise, the beauty of the adjacent +scene. +</p> + +<p> +The lawn, which was on each side bounded by hanging woods, descended +in gentle declivity to a fine lake, whose smooth surface reflected the +surrounding shades. Beyond appeared the distant country, arising on +the left into bold romantic mountains, and on the right exhibiting a +soft and glowing landscape, whose tranquil beauty formed a striking +contrast to the wild sublimity of the opposite craggy heights. The +blue and distant ocean terminated the view. +</p> + +<p> +In a short time the cavalier returned, conducting two ladies of a very +engaging appearance, whom he presented as his wife and sister. They +welcomed Julia with graceful kindness; but fatigue soon obliged her to +retire to rest, and a consequent indisposition increased so rapidly, +as to render it impracticable for her to quit her present abode on +that day. The captain and his men proceeded on their way, leaving +Ferdinand and Julia at the villa, where she experienced every kind and +tender affection. +</p> + +<p> +The day which was to have devoted Julia to a cloister, was ushered in +at the abbey with the usual ceremonies. The church was ornamented, and +all the inhabitants of the monastery prepared to attend. The <i>Padre +Abate</i> now exulted in the success of his scheme, and anticipated, in +imagination, the rage and vexation of the marquis, when he should +discover that his daughter was lost to him for ever. +</p> + +<p> +The hour of celebration arrived, and he entered the church with a +proud firm step, and with a countenance which depictured his inward +triumph; he was proceeding to the high altar, when he was told that +Julia was no where to be found. Astonishment for awhile suspended +other emotions—he yet believed it impossible that she could have +effected an escape, and ordered every part of the abbey to be +searched—not forgetting the secret caverns belonging to the +monastery, which wound beneath the woods. When the search was over, +and he became convinced she was fled, the deep workings of his +disappointed passions fermented into rage which exceeded all bounds. +He denounced the most terrible judgments upon Julia; and calling for +Madame de Menon, charged her with having insulted her holy religion, +in being accessary to the flight of Julia. Madame endured these +reproaches with calm dignity, and preserved a steady silence, but she +secretly determined to leave the monastery, and seek in another the +repose which she could never hope to find in this. +</p> + +<p> +The report of Julia's disappearance spread rapidly beyond the walls, +and soon reached the ears of the marquis, who rejoiced in the +circumstance, believing that she must now inevitably fall into his +hands. +</p> + +<p> +After his people, in obedience to his orders, had carefully searched +the surrounding woods and rocks, he withdrew them from the abbey; and +having dispersed them various ways in search of Julia, he returned to +the castle of Mazzini. Here new vexation awaited him, for he now +first learned that Ferdinand had escaped from confinement. +</p> + +<p> +The mystery of Julia's flight was now dissolved; for it was evident by +whose means she had effected it, and the marquis issued orders to his +people to secure Ferdinand wherever he should be found. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XIII +</h3> + +<p> +Hippolitus, who had languished under a long and dangerous illness +occasioned by his wounds, but heightened and prolonged by the distress +of his mind, was detained in a small town in the coast of Calabria, +and was yet ignorant of the death of Cornelia. He scarcely doubted +that Julia was now devoted to the duke, and this thought was at times +poison to his heart. After his arrival in Calabria, immediately on the +recovery of his senses, he dispatched a servant back to the castle of +Mazzini, to gain secret intelligence of what had passed after his +departure. The eagerness with which we endeavour to escape from +misery, taught him to encourage a remote and romantic hope that Julia +yet lived for him. Yet even this hope at length languished into +despair, as the time elapsed which should have brought his servant +from Sicily. Days and weeks passed away in the utmost anxiety to +Hippolitus, for still his emissary did not appear; and at last, +concluding that he had been either seized by robbers, or discovered +and detained by the marquis, the Count sent off a second emissary to +the castle of Mazzini. By him he learned the news of Julia's flight, +and his heart dilated with joy; but it was suddenly checked when he +heard the marquis had discovered her retreat in the abbey of St +Augustin. The wounds which still detained him in confinement, now +became intolerable. Julia might yet be lost to him for ever. But even +his present state of fear and uncertainty was bliss compared with the +anguish of despair, which his mind had long endured. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he quitted Italy for Sicily, +in the design of visiting the monastery of St Augustin, where it was +possible Julia might yet remain. That he might pass with the secrecy +necessary to his plan, and escape the attacks of the marquis, he left +his servants in Calabria, and embarked alone. +</p> + +<p> +It was morning when he landed at a small port of Sicily, and proceeded +towards the abbey of St Augustin. As he travelled, his imagination +revolved the scenes of his early love, the distress of Julia, and the +sufferings of Ferdinand, and his heart melted at the retrospect. He +considered the probabilities of Julia having found protection from her +father in the pity of the <i>Padre Abate</i>; and even ventured to indulge +himself in a flattering, fond anticipation of the moment when Julia +should again be restored to his sight. +</p> + +<p> +He arrived at the monastery, and his grief may easily be imagined, +when he was informed of the death of his beloved sister, and of the +flight of Julia. He quitted St Augustin's immediately, without even +knowing that Madame de Menon was there, and set out for a town at some +leagues distance, where he designed to pass the night. +</p> + +<p> +Absorbed in the melancholy reflections which the late intelligence +excited, he gave the reins to his horse, and journeyed on unmindful of +his way. The evening was far advanced when he discovered that he had +taken a wrong direction, and that he was bewildered in a wild and +solitary scene. He had wandered too far from the road to hope to +regain it, and he had beside no recollection of the objects left +behind him. A choice of errors, only, lay before him. The view on his +right hand exhibited high and savage mountains, covered with heath and +black fir; and the wild desolation of their aspect, together with the +dangerous appearance of the path that wound up their sides, and which +was the only apparent track they afforded, determined Hippolitus not +to attempt their ascent. On his left lay a forest, to which the path +he was then in led; its appearance was gloomy, but he preferred it to +the mountains; and, since he was uncertain of its extent, there was a +possibility that he might pass it, and reach a village before the +night was set in. At the worst, the forest would afford him a shelter +from the winds; and, however he might be bewildered in its labyrinths, +he could ascend a tree, and rest in security till the return of light +should afford him an opportunity of extricating himself. Among the +mountains there was no possibility of meeting with other shelter than +what the habitation of man afforded, and such a shelter there was +little probability of finding. Innumerable dangers also threatened him +here, from which he would be secure on level ground. +</p> + +<p> +Having determined which way to pursue, he pushed his horse into a +gallop, and entered the forest as the last rays of the sun trembled on +the mountains. The thick foliage of the trees threw a gloom around, +which was every moment deepened by the shades of evening. The path was +uninterrupted, and the count continued to follow it till all +distinction was confounded in the veil of night. Total darkness now +made it impossible for him to pursue his way. He dismounted, and +fastening his horse to a tree, climbed among the branches, purposing +to remain there till morning. +</p> + +<p> +He had not been long in this situation, when a confused sound of +voices from a distance roused his attention. The sound returned at +intervals for some time, but without seeming to approach. He descended +from the tree, that he might the better judge of the direction whence +it came; but before he reached the ground, the noise was ceased, and +all was profoundly silent. He continued to listen, but the silence +remaining undisturbed, he began to think he had been deceived by the +singing of the wind among the leaves; and was preparing to reascend, +when he perceived a faint light glimmer through the foliage from afar. +The sight revived a hope that he was near some place of human +habitation; he therefore unfastened his horse, and led him towards the +spot whence the ray issued. The moon was now risen, and threw a +checkered gleam over his path sufficient to direct him. +</p> + +<p> +Before he had proceeded far the light disappeared. He continued, +however, his way as nearly as he could guess, towards the place whence +it had issued; and after much toil, found himself in a spot where the +trees formed a circle round a kind of rude lawn. The moonlight +discovered to him an edifice which appeared to have been formerly a +monastery, but which now exhibited a pile of ruins, whose grandeur, +heightened by decay, touched the beholder with reverential awe. +Hippolitus paused to gaze upon the scene; the sacred stillness of +night increased its effect, and a secret dread, he knew not wherefore, +stole upon his heart. +</p> + +<p> +The silence and the character of the place made him doubt whether this +was the spot he had been seeking; and as he stood hesitating whether +to proceed or to return, he observed a figure standing under an +arch-way of the ruin; it carried a light in its hand, and passing +silently along, disappeared in a remote part of the building. The +courage of Hippolitus for a moment deserted him. An invincible +curiosity, however, subdued his terror, and he determined to pursue, +if possible, the way the figure had taken. +</p> + +<p> +He passed over loose stones through a sort of court till he came to +the archway; here he stopped, for fear returned upon him. Resuming his +courage, however, he went on, still endeavouring to follow the way the +figure had passed, and suddenly found himself in an enclosed part of +the ruin, whose appearance was more wild and desolate than any he had +yet seen. Seized with unconquerable apprehension, he was retiring, +when the low voice of a distressed person struck his ear. His heart +sunk at the sound, his limbs trembled, and he was utterly unable to +move. +</p> + +<p> +The sound which appeared to be the last groan of a dying person, was +repeated. Hippolitus made a strong effort, and sprang forward, when a +light burst upon him from a shattered casement of the building, and at +the same instant he heard the voices of men! +</p> + +<p> +He advanced softly to the window, and beheld in a small room, which +was less decayed than the rest of the edifice, a group of men, who, +from the savageness of their looks, and from their dress, appeared to +be banditti. They surrounded a man who lay on the ground wounded, and +bathed in blood, and who it was very evident had uttered the groans +heard by the count. +</p> + +<p> +The obscurity of the place prevented Hippolitus from distinguishing +the features of the dying man. From the blood which covered him, and +from the surrounding circumstances, he appeared to be murdered; and +the count had no doubt that the men he beheld were the murderers. The +horror of the scene entirely overcame him; he stood rooted to the +spot, and saw the assassins rifle the pockets of the dying person, +who, in a voice scarcely articulate, but which despair seemed to aid, +supplicated for mercy. The ruffians answered him only with +execrations, and continued their plunder. His groans and his +sufferings served only to aggravate their cruelty. They were +proceeding to take from him a miniature picture, which was fastened +round his neck, and had been hitherto concealed in his bosom; when by +a sudden effort he half raised himself from the ground, and attempted +to save it from their hands. The effort availed him nothing; a blow +from one of the villains laid the unfortunate man on the floor without +motion. The horrid barbarity of the act seized the mind of Hippolitus +so entirely, that, forgetful of his own situation, he groaned aloud, +and started with an instantaneous design of avenging the deed. The +noise he made alarmed the banditti, who looking whence it came, +discovered the count through the casement. They instantly quitted +their prize, and rushed towards the door of the room. He was now +returned to a sense of his danger, and endeavoured to escape to the +exterior part of the ruin; but terror bewildered his senses, and he +mistook his way. Instead of regaining the arch-way, he perplexed +himself with fruitless wanderings, and at length found himself only +more deeply involved in the secret recesses of the pile. +</p> + +<p> +The steps of his pursuers gained fast upon him, and he continued to +perplex himself with vain efforts at escape, till at length, quite +exhausted, he sunk on the ground, and endeavoured to resign himself to +his fate. He listened with a kind of stern despair, and was surprised +to find all silent. On looking round, he perceived by a ray of +moonlight, which streamed through a part of the ruin from above, that +he was in a sort of vault, which, from the small means he had of +judging, he thought was extensive. +</p> + +<p> +In this situation he remained for a considerable time, ruminating on +the means of escape, yet scarcely believing escape was possible. If he +continued in the vault, he might continue there only to be butchered; +but by attempting to rescue himself from the place he was now in, he +must rush into the hands of the banditti. Judging it, therefore, the +safer way of the two to remain where he was, he endeavoured to await +his fate with fortitude, when suddenly the loud voices of the +murderers burst upon his ear, and he heard steps advancing quickly +towards the spot where he lay. +</p> + +<p> +Despair instantly renewed his vigour; he started from the ground, and +throwing round him a look of eager desperation, his eye caught the +glimpse of a small door, upon which the moon-beam now fell. He made +towards it, and passed it just as the light of a torch gleamed upon +the walls of the vault. +</p> + +<p> +He groped his way along a winding passage, and at length came to a +flight of steps. Notwithstanding the darkness, he reached the bottom +in safety. +</p> + +<p> +He now for the first time stopped to listen—the sounds of pursuit +were ceased, and all was silent! Continuing to wander on in effectual +endeavours to escape, his hands at length touched cold iron, and he +quickly perceived it belonged to a door. The door, however, was +fastened, and resisted all his efforts to open it. He was giving up +the attempt in despair, when a loud scream from within, followed by a +dead and heavy noise, roused all his attention. Silence ensued. He +listened for a considerable time at the door, his imagination filled +with images of horror, and expecting to hear the sound repeated. He +then sought for a decayed part of the door, through which he might +discover what was beyond; but he could find none; and after waiting +some time without hearing any farther noise, he was quitting the spot, +when in passing his arm over the door, it struck against something +hard. On examination he perceived, to his extreme surprize, that the +key was in the lock. For a moment he hesitated what to do; but +curiosity overcame other considerations, and with a trembling hand he +turned the key. The door opened into a large and desolate apartment, +dimly lighted by a lamp that stood on a table, which was almost the +only furniture of the place. The Count had advanced several steps +before he perceived an object, which fixed all his attention. This was +the figure of a young woman lying on the floor apparently dead. Her +face was concealed in her robe; and the long auburn tresses which fell +in beautiful luxuriance over her bosom, served to veil a part of the +glowing beauty which the disorder of her dress would have revealed. +</p> + +<p> +Pity, surprize, and admiration struggled in the breast of Hippolitus; +and while he stood surveying the object which excited these different +emotions, he heard a step advancing towards the room. He flew to the +door by which he had entered, and was fortunate enough to reach it +before the entrance of the persons whose steps he heard. Having turned +the key, he stopped at the door to listen to their proceedings. He +distinguished the voices of two men, and knew them to be those of the +assassins. Presently he heard a piercing skriek, and at the same +instant the voices of the ruffians grew loud and violent. One of them +exclaimed that the lady was dying, and accused the other of having +frightened her to death, swearing, with horrid imprecations, that she +was his, and he would defend her to the last drop of his blood. The +dispute grew higher; and neither of the ruffians would give up his +claim to the unfortunate object of their altercation. +</p> + +<p> +The clashing of swords was soon after heard, together with a violent +noise. The screams were repeated, and the oaths and execrations of the +disputants redoubled. They seemed to move towards the door, behind +which Hippolitus was concealed; suddenly the door was shook with great +force, a deep groan followed, and was instantly succeeded by a noise +like that of a person whose whole weight falls at once to the ground. +For a moment all was silent. Hippolitus had no doubt that one of the +ruffians had destroyed the other, and was soon confirmed in the +belief—for the survivor triumphed with brutal exultation over his +fallen antagonist. The ruffian hastily quitted the room, and +Hippolitus soon after heard the distant voices of several persons in +loud dispute. The sounds seemed to come from a chamber over the place +where he stood; he also heard a trampling of feet from above, and +could even distinguish, at intervals, the words of the disputants. +From these he gathered enough to learn that the affray which had just +happened, and the lady who had been the occasion of it, were the +subjects of discourse. The voices frequently rose together, and +confounded all distinction. +</p> + +<p> +At length the tumult began to subside, and Hippolitus could +distinguish what was said. The ruffians agreed to give up the lady in +question to him who had fought for her; and leaving him to his prize, +they all went out in quest of farther prey. The situation of the +unfortunate lady excited a mixture of pity and indignation in +Hippolitus, which for some time entirely occupied him; he revolved the +means of extricating her from so deplorable a situation, and in these +thoughts almost forgot his own danger. He now heard her sighs; and +while his heart melted to the sounds, the farther door of the +apartment was thrown open, and the wretch to whom she had been +allotted, rushed in. Her screams now redoubled, but they were of no +avail with the ruffian who had seized her in his arms; when the count, +who was unarmed, insensible to every pulse but that of a generous +pity, burst into the room, but became fixed like a statue when he +beheld his Julia struggling in the grasp of the ruffian. On +discovering Hippolitus, she made a sudden spring, and liberated +herself; when, running to him, she sunk lifeless in his arms. +</p> + +<p> +Surprise and fury sparkled in the eyes of the ruffian, and he turned +with a savage desperation upon the count; who, relinquishing Julia, +snatched up the sword of the dead ruffian, which lay upon the floor, +and defended himself. The combat was furious, but Hippolitus laid his +antagonist senseless at his feet. He flew to Julia, who now revived, +but who for some time could speak only by her tears. The transitions +of various and rapid sensations, which her heart experienced, and the +strangely mingled emotions of joy and terror that agitated Hippolitus, +can only be understood by experience. He raised her from the floor, +and endeavoured to soothe her to composure, when she called wildly +upon Ferdinand. At his name the count started, and he instantly +remembered the dying cavalier, whose countenance the glooms had +concealed from his view. His heart thrilled with secret agony, yet he +resolved to withhold his terrible conjectures from Julia, of whom he +learned that Ferdinand, with herself, had been taken by banditti in +the way from the villa which had offered them so hospitable a +reception after the shipwreck. They were on the road to a port whence +they designed again to embark for Italy, when this misfortune overtook +them. Julia added, that Ferdinand had been immediately separated from +her; and that, for some hours, she had been confined in the apartment +where Hippolitus found her. +</p> + +<p> +The Count with difficulty concealed his terrible apprehensions for +Ferdinand, and vainly strove to soften Julia's distress. But there was +no time to be lost—they had yet to find a way out of the edifice, and +before they could accomplish this, the banditti might return. It was +also possible that some of the party were left to watch this their +abode during the absence of the rest, and this was another +circumstance of reasonable alarm. +</p> + +<p> +After some little consideration, Hippolitus judged it most prudent to +seek an outlet through the passage by which he entered; he therefore +took the lamp, and led Julia to the door. They entered the avenue, and +locking the door after them, sought the flight of steps down which the +count had before passed; but having pursued the windings of the avenue +a considerable time without finding them, he became certain he had +mistaken the way. They, however, found another flight, which they +descended and entered upon a passage so very narrow and low, as not to +admit of a person walking upright. This passage was closed by a door, +which on examination was found to be chiefly of iron. Hippolitus was +startled at the sight, but on applying his strength found it gradually +yield, when the imprisoned air rushed out, and had nearly extinguished +the light. They now entered upon a dark abyss; and the door which +moved upon a spring, suddenly closed upon them. On looking round they +beheld a large vault; and it is not easy to imagine their horror on +discovering they were in a receptacle for the murdered bodies of the +unfortunate people who had fallen into the hands of the banditti. +</p> + +<p> +The count could scarcely support the fainting spirits of Julia; he ran +to the door, which he endeavoured to open, but the lock was so +constructed that it could be moved only on the other side, and all his +efforts were useless. He was constrained, therefore, to seek for +another door, but could find none. Their situation was the most +deplorable that can be imagined; for they were now inclosed in a vault +strewn with the dead bodies of the murdered, and must there become the +victims of famine, or of the sword. The earth was in several places +thrown up, and marked the boundaries of new-made graves. The bodies +which remained unburied were probably left either from hurry or +negligence, and exhibited a spectacle too shocking for humanity. The +sufferings of Hippolitus were increased by those of Julia, who was +sinking with horror, and who he endeavoured to support to apart of the +vault which fell into a recess—where stood a bench. +</p> + +<p> +They had not been long in this situation, when they heard a noise +which approached gradually, and which did not appear to come from the +avenue they had passed. +</p> + +<p> +The noise increased, and they could distinguish voices. Hippolitus +believed the murderers were returned; that they had traced his +retreat, and were coming towards the vault by some way unknown to him. +He prepared for the worst—and drawing his sword, resolved to defend +Julia to the last. Their apprehension, however, was soon dissipated +by a trampling of horses, which sound had occasioned his alarm, and +which now seemed to come from a courtyard above, extremely near the +vault. He distinctly heard the voices of the banditti, together with +the moans and supplications of some person, whom it was evident they +were about to plunder. The sound appeared so very near, that +Hippolitus was both shocked and surprised; and looking round the +vault, he perceived a small grated window placed very high in the +wall, which he concluded overlooked the place where the robbers were +assembled. He recollected that his light might betray him; and +horrible as was the alternative, he was compelled to extinguish it. He +now attempted to climb to the grate, through which he might obtain a +view of what was passing without. This at length he effected, for the +ruggedness of the wall afforded him a footing. He beheld in a ruinous +court, which was partially illuminated by the glare of torches, a +group of banditti surrounding two persons who were bound on horseback, +and who were supplicating for mercy. +</p> + +<p> +One of the robbers exclaiming with an oath that this was a golden +night, bade his comrades dispatch, adding he would go to find Paulo +and the lady. +</p> + +<p> +The effect which the latter part of this sentence had upon the +prisoners in the vault, may be more easily imagined than described. +They were now in total darkness in this mansion of the murdered, +without means of escape, and in momentary expectation of sharing a +fate similar to that of the wretched objects around them. Julia, +overcome with distress and terror, sunk on the ground; and Hippolitus, +descending from the grate, became insensible of his own danger in his +apprehension for her. +</p> + +<p> +In a short time all without was confusion and uproar; the ruffian who +had left the court returned with the alarm that the lady was fled, and +that Paulo was murdered, The robbers quitting their booty to go in +search of the fugitive, and to discover the murderer, dreadful +vociferations resounded through every recess of the pile. +</p> + +<p> +The tumult had continued a considerable time, which the prisoners had +passed in a state of horrible suspence, when they heard the uproar +advancing towards the vault, and soon after a number of voices shouted +down the avenue. The sound of steps quickened. Hippolitus again drew +his sword, and placed himself opposite the entrance, where he had not +stood long, when a violent push was made against the door; it flew +open, and a party of men rushed into the vault. +</p> + +<p> +Hippolitus kept his position, protesting he would destroy the first +who approached. At the sound of his voice they stopped; but presently +advancing, commanded him in the king's name to surrender. He now +discovered what his agitation had prevented him from observing sooner, +that the men before him were not banditti, but the officers of +justice. They had received information of this haunt of villainy from +the son of a Sicilian nobleman, who had fallen into the hands of the +banditti, and had afterwards escaped from their power. +</p> + +<p> +The officers came attended by a guard, and were every way prepared to +prosecute a strenuous search through these horrible recesses. +</p> + +<p> +Hippolitus inquired for Ferdinand, and they all quitted the vault in +search of him. In the court, to which they now ascended, the greater +part of the banditti were secured by a number of the guard. The count +accused the robbers of having secreted his friend, whom he described, +and demanded to have liberated. +</p> + +<p> +With one voice they denied the fact, and were resolute in persisting +that they knew nothing of the person described. This denial confirmed +Hippolitus in his former terrible surmise; that the dying cavalier, +whom he had seen, was no other than Ferdinand, and he became furious. +He bade the officers prosecute their search, who, leaving a guard over +the banditti they had secured, followed him to the room where the late +dreadful scene had been acted. +</p> + +<p> +The room was dark and empty; but the traces of blood were visible on +the floor; and Julia, though ignorant of the particular apprehension +of Hippolitus, almost swooned at the sight. On quitting the room, they +wandered for some time among the ruins, without discovering any thing +extraordinary, till, in passing under the arch-way by which Hippolitus +had first entered the building, their footsteps returned a deep sound, +which convinced them that the ground beneath was hollow. On close +examination, they perceived by the light of their torch, a trapdoor, +which with some difficulty they lifted, and discovered beneath a +narrow flight of steps. They all descended into a low winding passage, +where they had not been long, when they heard a trampling of horses +above, and a loud and sudden uproar. +</p> + +<p> +The officers apprehending that the banditti had overcome the guard, +rushed back to the trapdoor, which they had scarcely lifted, when they +heard a clashing of swords, and a confusion of unknown voices. Looking +onward, they beheld through the arch, in an inner sort of court, a +large party of banditti who were just arrived, rescuing their +comrades, and contending furiously with the guard. +</p> + +<p> +On observing this, several of the officers sprang forward to the +assistance of their friends; and the rest, subdued by cowardice, +hurried down the steps, letting the trapdoor fall after them with a +thundering noise. They gave notice to Hippolitus of what was passing +above, who hurried Julia along the passage in search of some outlet or +place of concealment. They could find neither, and had not long +pursued the windings of the way, when they heard the trapdoor lifted, +and the steps of persons descending. Despair gave strength to Julia, +and winged her flight. But they were now stopped by a door which +closed the passage, and the sound of distant voices murmured along the +walls. +</p> + +<p> +The door was fastened by strong iron bolts, which Hippolitus vainly +endeavoured to draw. The voices drew near. After much labour and +difficulty the bolts yielded—the door unclosed—and light dawned upon +them through the mouth of a cave, into which they now entered. On +quitting the cave they found themselves in the forest, and in a short +time reached the borders. They now ventured to stop, and looking back +perceived no person in pursuit. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XIV +</h3> + +<p> +When Julia had rested, they followed the track before them, and in a +short time arrived at a village, where they obtained security and +refreshment. +</p> + +<p> +But Julia, whose mind was occupied with dreadful anxiety for +Ferdinand, became indifferent to all around her. Even the presence of +Hippolitus, which but lately would have raised her from misery to joy, +failed to soothe her distress. The steady and noble attachment of her +brother had sunk deep in her heart, and reflection only aggravated her +affliction. Yet the banditti had steadily persisted in affirming that +he was not concealed in their recesses; and this circumstance, which +threw a deeper shade over the fears of Hippolitus, imparted a +glimmering of hope to the mind of Julia. +</p> + +<p> +A more immediate interest at length forced her mind from this +sorrowful subject. It was necessary to determine upon some line of +conduct, for she was now in an unknown spot, and ignorant of any place +of refuge. The count, who trembled at the dangers which environed her, +and at the probabilities he saw of her being torn from him for ever, +suffered a consideration of them to overcome the dangerous delicacy +which at this mournful period required his silence. He entreated her +to destroy the possibility of separation, by consenting to become his +immediately. He urged that a priest could be easily procured from a +neighboring convent, who would confirm the bonds which had so long +united their hearts, and who would thus at once arrest the destiny +that so long had threatened his hopes. +</p> + +<p> +This proposal, though similar to the one she had before accepted; and +though the certain means of rescuing her from the fate she dreaded, +she now turned from in sorrow and dejection. She loved Hippolitus with +a steady and tender affection, which was still heightened by the +gratitude he claimed as her deliverer; but she considered it a +prophanation of the memory of that brother who had suffered so much +for her sake, to mingle joy with the grief which her uncertainty +concerning him occasioned. She softened her refusal with a tender +grace, that quickly dissipated the jealous doubt arising in the mind +of Hippolitus, and increased his fond admiration of her character. +</p> + +<p> +She desired to retire for a time to some obscure convent, there to +await the issue of the event, which at present involved her in +perplexity and sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +Hippolitus struggled with his feelings and forbore to press farther +the suit on which his happiness, and almost his existence, now +depended. He inquired at the village for a neighbouring convent, and +was told, that there was none within twelve leagues, but that near the +town of Palini, at about that distance, were two. He procured horses; +and leaving the officers to return to Palermo for a stronger guard, +he, accompanied by Julia, entered on the road to Palini. +</p> + +<p> +Julia was silent and thoughtful; Hippolitus gradually sunk into the +same mood, and he often cast a cautious look around as they travelled +for some hours along the feet of the mountains. They stopped to dine +under the shade of some beach-trees; for, fearful of discovery, +Hippolitus had provided against the necessity of entering many inns. +Having finished their repast, they pursued their journey; but +Hippolitus now began to doubt whether he was in the right direction. +Being destitute, however, of the means of certainty upon this point, +he followed the road before him, which now wound up the side of a +steep hill, whence they descended into a rich valley, where the +shepherd's pipe sounded sweetly from afar among the hills. The evening +sun shed a mild and mellow lustre over the landscape, and softened +each feature with a vermil glow that would have inspired a mind less +occupied than Julia's with sensations of congenial tranquillity. +</p> + +<p> +The evening now closed in; and as they were doubtful of the road, and +found it would be impossible to reach Palini that night, they took the +way to a village, which they perceived at the extremity of the valley. +</p> + +<p> +They had proceeded about half a mile, when they heard a sudden shout +of voices echoed from among the hills behind them; and looking back +perceived faintly through the dusk a party of men on horseback making +towards them. As they drew nearer, the words they spoke were +distinguishable, and Julia heard her own name sounded. Shocked at this +circumstance, she had now no doubt that she was discovered by a party +of her father's people, and she fled with Hippolitus along the valley. +The pursuers, however, were almost come up with them, when they +reached the mouth of a cavern, into which she ran for concealment. +Hippolitus drew his sword; and awaiting his enemies, stood to defend +the entrance. +</p> + +<p> +In a few moments Julia heard the clashing of swords. Her heart +trembled for Hippolitus; and she was upon the point of returning to +resign herself at once to the power of her enemies, and thus avert the +danger that threatened him, when she distinguished the loud voice of +the duke. +</p> + +<p> +She shrunk involuntarily at the sound, and pursuing the windings of +the cavern, fled into its inmost recesses. Here she had not been long +when the voices sounded through the cave, and drew near. It was now +evident that Hippolitus was conquered, and that her enemies were in +search of her. She threw round a look of unutterable anguish, and +perceived very near, by a sudden gleam of torchlight, a low and deep +recess in the rock. The light which belonged to her pursuers, grew +stronger; and she entered the rock on her knees, for the overhanging +craggs would not suffer her to pass otherwise; and having gone a few +yards, perceived that it was terminated by a door. The door yielded to +her touch, and she suddenly found herself in a highly vaulted cavern, +which received a feeble light from the moon-beams that streamed +through an opening in the rock above. +</p> + +<p> +She closed the door, and paused to listen. The voices grew louder, and +more distinct, and at last approached so near, that she distinguished +what was said. Above the rest she heard the voice of the duke. 'It is +impossible she can have quitted the cavern,' said he, 'and I will not +leave it till I have found her. Seek to the left of that rock, while I +examine beyond this point.' +</p> + +<p> +These words were sufficient for Julia; she fled from the door across +the cavern before her, and having ran a considerable way, without +coming to a termination, stopped to breathe. All was now still, and as +she looked around, the gloomy obscurity of the place struck upon her +fancy all its horrors. She imperfectly surveyed the vastness of the +cavern in wild amazement, and feared that she had precipitated herself +again into the power of banditti, for whom along this place appeared a +fit receptacle. Having listened a long time without hearing a return +of voices, she thought to find the door by which she had entered, but +the gloom, and vast extent of the cavern, made the endeavour hopeless, +and the attempt unsuccessful. Having wandered a considerable time +through the void, she gave up the effort, endeavoured to resign +herself to her fate, and to compose her distracted thoughts. The +remembrance of her former wonderful escape inspired her with +confidence in the mercy of God. But Hippolitus and Ferdinand were now +both lost to her—lost, perhaps, for ever—and the uncertainty of +their fate gave force to fancy, and poignancy to sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +Towards morning grief yielded to nature, and Julia sunk to repose. She +was awakened by the sun, whose rays darting obliquely through the +opening in the rock, threw a partial light across the cavern. Her +senses were yet bewildered by sleep, and she started in affright on +beholding her situation; as recollection gradually stole upon her +mind, her sorrows returned, and she sickened at the fatal retrospect. +</p> + +<p> +She arose, and renewed her search for an outlet. The light, imperfect +as it was, now assisted her, and she found a door, which she perceived +was not the one by which she had entered. It was firmly fastened; she +discovered, however, the bolts and the lock that held it, and at +length unclosed the door. It opened upon a dark passage, which she +entered. +</p> + +<p> +She groped along the winding walls for some time, when she perceived +the way was obstructed. She now discovered that another door +interrupted her progress, and sought for the bolts which might fasten +it. These she found; and strengthened by desparation forced them back. +The door opened, and she beheld in a small room, which received its +feeble light from a window above, the pale and emaciated figure of a +woman, seated, with half-closed eyes, in a kind of elbow-chair. On +perceiving Julia, she started from her seat, and her countenance +expressed a wild surprise. Her features, which were worn by sorrow, +still retained the traces of beauty, and in her air was a mild dignity +that excited in Julia an involuntary veneration. +</p> + +<p> +She seemed as if about to speak, when fixing her eyes earnestly and +steadily upon Julia, she stood for a moment in eager gaze, and +suddenly exclaiming, 'My daughter!' fainted away. +</p> + +<p> +The astonishment of Julia would scarcely suffer her to assist the lady +who lay senseless on the floor. A multitude of strange imperfect ideas +rushed upon her mind, and she was lost in perplexity; but as she +examined the features of the stranger; which were now rekindling into +life, she thought she discovered the resemblance of Emilia! +</p> + +<p> +The lady breathing a deep sigh, unclosed her eyes; she raised them to +Julia, who hung over her in speechless astonishment, and fixing them +upon her with a tender earnest expression—they filled with tears. She +pressed Julia to her heart, and a few moments of exquisite, +unutterable emotion followed. When the lady became more composed, +'Thank heaven!' said she, 'my prayer is granted. I am permitted to +embrace one of my children before I die. Tell me what brought you +hither. Has the marquis at last relented, and allowed me once more to +behold you, or has his death dissolved my wretched bondage?' +</p> + +<p> +Truth now glimmered upon the mind of Julia, but so faintly, that +instead of enlightening, it served only to increase her perplexity. +</p> + +<p> +'Is the marquis Mazzini living?' continued the lady. These words were +not to be doubted; Julia threw herself at the feet of her mother, and +embracing her knees in an energy of joy, answered only in sobs. +</p> + +<p> +The marchioness eagerly inquired after her children, 'Emilia is +living,' answered Julia, 'but my dear brother—' 'Tell me,' cried the +marchioness, with quickness. An explanation ensued; When she was +informed concerning Ferdinand, she sighed deeply, and raising her eyes +to heaven, endeavoured to assume a look of pious resignation; but the +struggle of maternal feelings was visible in her countenance, and +almost overcame her powers of resistance. +</p> + +<p> +Julia gave a short account of the preceding adventures, and of her +entrance into the cavern; and found, to her inexpressible surprize, +that she was now in a subterranean abode belonging to the southern +buildings of the castle of Mazzini! The marchioness was beginning her +narrative, when a door was heard to unlock above, and the sound of a +footstep followed. +</p> + +<p> +'Fly!' cried the marchioness, 'secret yourself, if possible, for the +marquis is coming.' Julia's heart sunk at these words; she paused not +a moment, but retired through the door by which she had entered. This +she had scarcely done, when another door of the cell was unlocked, and +she heard the voice of her father. Its sounds thrilled her with a +universal tremour; the dread of discovery so strongly operated upon +her mind, that she stood in momentary expectation of seeing the door +of the passage unclosed by the marquis; and she was deprived of all +power of seeking refuge in the cavern. +</p> + +<p> +At length the marquis, who came with food, quitted the cell, and +relocked the door, when Julia stole forth from her hiding-place. The +marchioness again embraced, and wept over her daughter. The narrative +of her sufferings, upon which she now entered, entirely dissipated the +mystery which had so long enveloped the southern buildings of the +castle. +</p> + +<p> +'Oh! why,' said the marchioness, 'is it my task to discover to my +daughter the vices of her father? In relating my sufferings, I reveal +his crimes! It is now about fifteen years, as near as I can guess from +the small means I have of judging, since I entered this horrible +abode. My sorrows, alas! began not here; they commenced at an earlier +period. But it is sufficient to observe, that the passion whence +originated all my misfortunes, was discovered by me long before I +experienced its most baleful effects. +</p> + +<p> +'Seven years had elapsed since my marriage, when the charms of Maria +de Vellorno, a young lady singularly beautiful, inspired the marquis +with a passion as violent as it was irregular. I observed, with deep +and silent anguish, the cruel indifference of my lord towards me, and +the rapid progress of his passion for another. I severely examined my +past conduct, which I am thankful to say presented a retrospect of +only blameless actions; and I endeavoured, by meek submission, and +tender assiduities, to recall that affection which was, alas! gone for +ever. My meek submission was considered as a mark of a servile and +insensible mind; and my tender assiduities, to which his heart no +longer responded, created only disgust, and exalted the proud spirit +it was meant to conciliate. +</p> + +<p> +'The secret grief which this change occasioned, consumed my spirits, +and preyed upon my constitution, till at length a severe illness +threatened my life. I beheld the approach of death with a steady eye, +and even welcomed it as the passport to tranquillity; but it was +destined that I should linger through new scenes of misery. +</p> + +<p> +'One day, which it appears was the paroxysm of my disorder, I sunk in +to a state of total torpidity, in which I lay for several hours. It is +impossible to describe my feelings, when, on recovering, I found +myself in this hideous abode. For some time I doubted my senses, and +afterwards believed that I had quitted this world for another; but I +was not long suffered to continue in my error, the appearance of the +marquis bringing me to a perfect sense of my situation. +</p> + +<p> +'I now understood that I had been conveyed by his direction to this +recess of horror, where it was his will I should remain. My prayers, +my supplications, were ineffectual; the hardness of his heart repelled +my sorrows back upon myself; and as no entreaties could prevail upon +him to inform me where I was, or of his reason for placing me here, I +remained for many years ignorant of my vicinity to the castle, and of +the motive of my confinement. +</p> + +<p> +'From that fatal day, until very lately, I saw the marquis no +more—but was attended by a person who had been for some years +dependant upon his bounty, and whom necessity, united to an insensible +heart, had doubtless induced to accept this office. He generally +brought me a week's provision, at stated intervals, and I remarked +that his visits were always in the night. +</p> + +<p> +'Contrary to my expectation, or my wish, nature did that for me which +medicine had refused, and I recovered as if to punish with +disappointment and anxiety my cruel tyrant. I afterwards learned, +that in obedience to the marquis's order, I had been carried to this +spot by Vincent during the night, and that I had been buried in effigy +at a neighbouring church, with all the pomp of funeral honor due to my +rank.' +</p> + +<p> +At the name of Vincent Julia started; the doubtful words he had +uttered on his deathbed were now explained—the cloud of mystery which +had so long involved the southern buildings broke at once away: and +each particular circumstance that had excited her former terror, arose +to her view entirely unveiled by the words of the marchioness.—The +long and total desertion of this part of the fabric—the light that +had appeared through the casement—the figure she had seen issue from +the tower—the midnight noises she had heard—were circumstances +evidently dependant on the imprisonment of the marchioness; the latter +of which incidents were produced either by Vincent, or the marquis, in +their attendance upon her. +</p> + +<p> +When she considered the long and dreadful sufferings of her mother, +and that she had for many years lived so near her, ignorant of her +misery, and even of her existence—she was lost in astonishment and +pity. +</p> + +<p> +'My days,' continued the marchioness, 'passed in a dead uniformity, +more dreadful than the most acute vicissitudes of misfortune, and +which would certainly have subdued my reason, had not those firm +principles of religious faith, which I imbibed in early youth, enabled +me to withstand the still, but forceful pressure of my calamity. +</p> + +<p> +'The insensible heart of Vincent at length began to soften to my +misfortunes. He brought me several articles of comfort, of which I had +hitherto been destitute, and answered some questions I put to him +concerning my family. To release me from my present situation, however +his inclination might befriend me, was not to be expected, since his +life would have paid the forfeiture of what would be termed his duty. +</p> + +<p> +'I now first discovered my vicinity to the castle. I learned also, +that the marquis had married Maria de Vellorno, with whom he had +resided at Naples, but that my daughters were left at Mazzini. This +last intelligence awakened in my heart the throbs of warm maternal +tenderness, and on my knees I supplicated to see them. So earnestly I +entreated, and so solemnly I promised to return quietly to my prison, +that, at length, prudence yielded to pity, and Vincent consented to my +request. +</p> + +<p> +'On the following day he came to the cell, and informed me my children +were going into the woods, and that I might see them from a window +near which they would pass. My nerves thrilled at these words, and I +could scarcely support myself to the spot I so eagerly sought. He led +me through long and intricate passages, as I guessed by the frequent +turnings, for my eyes were bound, till I reached a hall of the south +buildings. I followed to a room above, where the full light of day +once more burst upon my sight, and almost overpowered me. Vincent +placed me by a window, which looked towards the woods. Oh! what +moments of painful impatience were those in which I awaited your +arrival! +</p> + +<p> +'At length you appeared. I saw you—I saw my children—and was neither +permitted to clasp them to my heart, or to speak to them! You was +leaning on the arm of your sister, and your countenances spoke the +sprightly happy innocence of youth.—Alas! you knew not the wretched +fate of your mother, who then gazed upon you! Although you were at too +great a distance for my weak voice to reach you, with the utmost +difficulty I avoided throwing open the window, and endeavouring to +discover myself. The remembrance of my solemn promise, and that the +life of Vincent would be sacrificed by the act, alone restrained me. I +struggled for some time with emotions too powerful for my nature, and +fainted away. +</p> + +<p> +'On recovering I called wildly for my children, and went to the +window—but you were gone! Not all the entreaties of Vincent could for +some time remove me from this station, where I waited in the fond +expectation of seeing you again—but you appeared no more! At last I +returned to my cell in an ecstasy of grief which I tremble even to +remember. +</p> + +<p> +'This interview, so eagerly sought, and so reluctantly granted, proved +a source of new misery—instead of calming, it agitated my mind with a +restless, wild despair, which bore away my strongest powers of +resistance. I raved incessantly of my children, and incessantly +solicited to see them again—Vincent, however, had found but too much +cause to repent of his first indulgence, to grant me a second. +</p> + +<p> +'About this time a circumstance occurred which promised me a speedy +release from calamity. About a week elapsed, and Vincent did not +appear. My little stock of provision was exhausted, and I had been two +days without food, when I again heard the doors that led to my prison +creek on their hinges. An unknown step approached, and in a few +minutes the marquis entered my cell! My blood was chilled at the +sight, and I closed my eyes as I hoped for the last time. The sound of +his voice recalled me. His countenance was dark and sullen, and I +perceived that he trembled. He informed me that Vincent was no more, +and that henceforward his office he should take upon himself. I +forbore to reproach—where reproach would only have produced new +sufferings, and withheld supplication where it would have exasperated +conscience and inflamed revenge. My knowledge of the marquis's second +marriage I concealed. +</p> + +<p> +'He usually attended me when night might best conceal his visits; +though these were irregular in their return. Lately, from what motive +I cannot guess, he has ceased his nocturnal visits, and comes only in +the day. +</p> + +<p> +'Once when midnight increased the darkness of my prison, and seemed to +render silence even more awful, touched by the sacred horrors of the +hour, I poured forth my distress in loud lamentation. Oh! never can I +forget what I felt, when I heard a distant voice answered to my moan! +A wild surprize, which was strangely mingled with hope, seized me, and +in my first emotion I should have answered the call, had not a +recollection crossed me, which destroyed at once every half-raised +sensation of joy. I remembered the dreadful vengeance which the +marquis had sworn to execute upon me, if I ever, by any means, +endeavoured to make known the place of my concealment; and though life +had long been a burden to me, I dared not to incur the certainty of +being murdered. I also well knew that no person who might discover my +situation could effect my enlargement, for I had no relations to +deliver me by force; and the marquis, you know, has not only power to +imprison, but also the right of life and death in his own domains; I, +therefore, forbore to answer the call, though I could not entirely +repress my lamentation. I long perplexed myself with endeavouring to +account for this strange circumstance, and am to this moment ignorant +of its cause.' +</p> + +<p> +Julia remembering that Ferdinand had been confined in a dungeon of the +castle, it instantly occurred to her that his prison, and that of the +marchioness, were not far distant; and she scrupled not to believe +that it was his voice which her mother had heard. She was right in +this belief, and it was indeed the marchioness whose groans had +formerly caused Ferdinand so much alarm, both in the marble hall of +the south buildings, and in his dungeon. +</p> + +<p> +When Julia communicated her opinion, and the marchioness believed that +she had heard the voice of her son—her emotion was extreme, and it +was some time before she could resume her narration. +</p> + +<p> +'A short time since,' continued the marchioness, 'the marquis brought +me a fortnight's provision, and told me that I should probably see him +no more till the expiration of that term. His absence at this period +you have explained in your account of the transactions at the abbey of +St Augustin. How can I ever sufficiently acknowledge the obligations I +owe to my dear and invaluable friend Madame de Menon! Oh! that it +might be permitted me to testify my gratitude.' +</p> + +<p> +Julia attended to the narrative of her mother in silent astonishment, +and gave all the sympathy which sorrow could demand. 'Surely,' cried +she, 'the providence on whom you have so firmly relied, and whose +inflictions you have supported with a fortitude so noble, has +conducted me through a labyrinth of misfortunes to this spot, for the +purpose of delivering you! Oh! let us hasten to fly this horrid +abode—let us seek to escape through the cavern by which I entered.' +</p> + +<p> +She paused in earnest expectation awaiting a reply. 'Whither can I +fly?' said the marchioness, deeply sighing. This question, spoken +with the emphasis of despair, affected Julia to tears, and she was for +a while silent. +</p> + +<p> +'The marquis,' resumed Julia, 'would not know where to seek you, or if +he found you beyond his own domains, would fear to claim you. A +convent may afford for the present a safe asylum; and whatever shall +happen, surely no fate you may hereafter encounter can be more +dreadful than the one you now experience.' +</p> + +<p> +The marchioness assented to the truth of this, yet her broken spirits, +the effect of long sorrow and confinement, made her hesitate how to +act; and there was a kind of placid despair in her look, which too +faithfully depicted her feelings. It was obvious to Julia that the +cavern she had passed wound beneath the range of mountains on whose +opposite side stood the castle of Mazzini. The hills thus rising +formed a screen which must entirely conceal their emergence from the +mouth of the cave, and their flight, from those in the castle. She +represented these circumstances to her mother, and urged them so +forcibly that the lethargy of despair yielded to hope, and the +marchioness committed herself to the conduct of her daughter. +</p> + +<p> +'Oh! let me lead you to light and life!' cried Julia with warm +enthusiasm. 'Surely heaven can bless me with no greater good than by +making me the deliverer of my mother.' They both knelt down; and the +marchioness, with that affecting eloquence which true piety inspires, +and with that confidence which had supported her through so many +miseries, committed herself to the protection of God, and implored his +favor on their attempt. +</p> + +<p> +They arose, but as they conversed farther on their plan, Julia +recollected that she was destitute of money—the banditti having +robbed her of all! The sudden shock produced by this remembrance +almost subdued her spirits; never till this moment had she understood +the value of money. But she commanded her feelings, and resolved to +conceal this circumstance from the marchioness, preferring the chance +of any evil they might encounter from without, to the certain misery +of this terrible imprisonment. +</p> + +<p> +Having taken what provision the marquis had brought, they quitted the +cell, and entered upon the dark passage, along which they passed with +cautious steps. Julia came first to the door of the cavern, but who +can paint her distress when she found it was fastened! All her efforts +to open it were ineffectual.—The door which had closed after her, was +held by a spring lock, and could be opened on this side only with a +key. When she understood this circumstance, the marchioness, with a +placid resignation which seemed to exalt her above humanity, addressed +herself again to heaven, and turned back to her cell. Here Julia +indulged without reserve, and without scruple, the excess of her +grief. The marchioness wept over her. 'Not for myself,' said she, 'do +I grieve. I have too long been inured to misfortune to sink under its +pressure. This disappointment is intrinsically, perhaps, little—for I +had no certain refuge from calamity—and had it even been otherwise, a +few years only of suffering would have been spared me. It is for you, +Julia, who so much lament my fate; and who in being thus delivered to +the power of your father, are sacrificed to the Duke de Luovo—that my +heart swells.' +</p> + +<p> +Julia could make no reply, but by pressing to her lips the hand which +was held forth to her, she saw all the wretchedness of her situation; +and her fearful uncertainty concerning Hippolitus and Ferdinand, +formed no inferior part of her affliction. +</p> + +<p> +'If,' resumed the marchioness, 'you prefer imprisonment with your +mother, to a marriage with the duke, you may still secret yourself in +the passage we have just quitted, and partake of the provision which +is brought me.' +</p> + +<p> +'O! talk not, madam, of a marriage with the duke,' said Julia; 'surely +any fate is preferable to that. But when I consider that in remaining +here, I am condemned only to the sufferings which my mother has so +long endured, and that this confinement will enable me to soften, by +tender sympathy, the asperity of her misfortunes, I ought to submit to +my present situation with complacency, even did a marriage with the +duke appear less hateful to me.' +</p> + +<p> +'Excellent girl!' exclaimed the marchioness, clasping Julia to her +bosom; 'the sufferings you lament are almost repaid by this proof of +your goodness and affection! Alas! that I should have been so long +deprived of such a daughter!' +</p> + +<p> +Julia now endeavoured to imitate the fortitude of her mother, and +tenderly concealed her anxiety for Ferdinand and Hippolitus, the idea +of whom incessantly haunted her imagination. When the marquis brought +food to the cell, she retired to the avenue leading to the cavern, and +escaped discovery. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap15"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XV +</h3> + +<p> +The marquis, meanwhile, whose indefatigable search after Julia failed +of success, was successively the slave of alternate passions, and he +poured forth the spleen of disappointment on his unhappy domestics. +</p> + +<p> +The marchioness, who may now more properly be called Maria de +Vellorno, inflamed, by artful insinuations, the passions already +irritated, and heightened with cruel triumph his resentment towards +Julia and Madame de Menon. She represented, what his feelings too +acutely acknowledged,—that by the obstinate disobedience of the +first, and the machinations of the last, a priest had been enabled to +arrest his authority as a father—to insult the sacred honor of his +nobility—and to overturn at once his proudest schemes of power and +ambition. She declared it her opinion, that the <i>Abate</i> was acquainted +with the place of Julia's present retreat, and upbraided the marquis +with want of spirit in thus submitting to be outwitted by a priest, +and forbearing an appeal to the pope, whose authority would compel the +<i>Abate</i> to restore Julia. +</p> + +<p> +This reproach stung the very soul of the marquis; he felt all its +force, and was at the same time conscious of his inability to obviate +it. The effect of his crimes now fell in severe punishment upon his +own head. The threatened secret, which was no other than the +imprisonment of the marchioness, arrested his arm of vengeance, and +compelled him to submit to insult and disappointment. But the reproach +of Maria sunk deep in his mind; it fomented his pride into redoubled +fury, and he now repelled with disdain the idea of submission. +</p> + +<p> +He revolved the means which might effect his purpose—he saw but +one—this was the death of the marchioness. +</p> + +<p> +The commission of one crime often requires the perpetration of +another. When once we enter on the ladyrinth of vice, we can seldom +return, but are led on, through correspondent mazes, to destruction. +To obviate the effect of his first crime, it was now necessary the +marquis should commit a second, and conceal the <i>imprisonment</i> of the +marchioness by her <i>murder</i>. Himself the only living witness of her +existence, when she was removed, the allegations of the <i>Padre Abate</i> +would by this means be unsupported by any proof, and he might then +boldly appeal to the pope for the restoration of his child. +</p> + +<p> +He mused upon this scheme, and the more he accustomed his mind to +contemplate it, the less scrupulous he became. The crime from which he +would formerly have shrunk, he now surveyed with a steady eye. The +fury of his passions, unaccustomed to resistance, uniting with the +force of what ambition termed necessity—urged him to the deed, and he +determined upon the murder of his wife. The means of effecting his +purpose were easy and various; but as he was not yet so entirely +hardened as to be able to view her dying pangs, and embrue his own +hands in her blood, he chose to dispatch her by means of poison, which +he resolved to mingle in her food. +</p> + +<p> +But a new affliction was preparing for the marquis, which attacked him +where he was most vulnerable; and the veil, which had so long +overshadowed his reason, was now to be removed. He was informed by +Baptista of the infidelity of Maria de Vellorno. In the first emotion +of passion, he spurned the informer from his presence, and disdained +to believe the circumstance. A little reflection changed the object of +his resentment; he recalled the servant, whose faithfulness he had no +reason to distrust, and condescended to interrogate him on the subject +of his misfortune. +</p> + +<p> +He learned that an intimacy had for some time subsisted between Maria +and the Cavalier de Vincini; and that the assignation was usually held +at the pavilion on the sea-shore, in an evening. Baptista farther +declared, that if the marquis desired a confirmation of his words, he +might obtain it by visiting this spot at the hour mentioned. +</p> + +<p> +This information lighted up the wildest passions of his nature; his +former sufferings faded away before the stronger influence of the +present misfortune, and it seemed as if he had never tasted misery +till now. To suspect the wife upon whom he doated with romantic +fondness, on whom he had centered all his firmest hopes of happiness, +and for whose sake he had committed the crime which embittered even +his present moment, and which would involve him in still deeper +guilt—to find <i>her</i> ungrateful to his love, and a traitoress to his +honor—produced a misery more poignant than any his imagination had +conceived. He was torn by contending passions, and opposite +resolutions:—now he resolved to expiate her guilt with her blood—and +now he melted in all the softness of love. Vengeance and honor bade +him strike to the heart which had betrayed him, and urged him +instantly to the deed—when the idea of her beauty—her winning +smiles—her fond endearments stole upon his fancy, and subdued his +heart; he almost wept to the idea of injuring her, and in spight of +appearances, pronounced her faithful. The succeeding moment plunged +him again into uncertainty; his tortures acquired new vigour from +cessation, and again he experienced all the phrenzy of despair. He was +now resolved to end his doubts by repairing to the pavilion; but again +his heart wavered in irresolution how to proceed should his fears be +confirmed. In the mean time he determined to watch the behaviour of +Maria with severe vigilance. +</p> + +<p> +They met at dinner, and he observed her closely, but discovered not +the smallest impropriety in her conduct. Her smiles and her beauty +again wound their fascinations round his heart, and in the excess of +their influence he was almost tempted to repair the injury which his +late suspicions had done her, by confessing them at her feet. The +appearance of the Cavalier de Vincini, however, renewed his +suspicions; his heart throbbed wildly, and with restless impatience he +watched the return of evening, which would remove his suspence. +</p> + +<p> +Night at length came. He repaired to the pavilion, and secreted +himself among the trees that embowered it. Many minutes had not +passed, when he heard a sound of low whispering voices steal from +among the trees, and footsteps approaching down the alley. He stood +almost petrified with terrible sensations, and presently heard some +persons enter the pavilion. The marquis now emerged from his +hiding-place; a faint light issued from the building. He stole to the +window, and beheld within, Maria and the Cavalier de Vincini. Fired +at the sight, he drew his sword, and sprang forward. The sound of his +step alarmed the cavalier, who, on perceiving the marquis, rushed by +him from the pavilion, and disappeared among the woods. The marquis +pursued, but could not overtake him; and he returned to the pavilion +with an intention of plunging his sword in the heart of Maria, when he +discovered her senseless on the ground. Pity now suspended his +vengeance; he paused in agonizing gaze upon her, and returned his +sword into the scabbard. +</p> + +<p> +She revived, but on observing the marquis, screamed and relapsed. He +hastened to the castle for assistance, inventing, to conceal his +disgrace, some pretence for her sudden illness, and she was conveyed +to her chamber. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis was now not suffered to doubt her infidelity, but the +passion which her conduct abused, her faithlessness could not subdue; +he still doated with absurd fondness, and even regretted that +uncertainty could no longer flatter him with hope. It seemed as if his +desire of her affection increased with his knowledge of the loss of +it; and the very circumstance which should have roused his aversion, +by a strange perversity of disposition, appeared to heighten his +passion, and to make him think it impossible he could exist without +her. +</p> + +<p> +When the first energy of his indignation was subsided, he determined, +therefore, to reprove and to punish, but hereafter to restore her to +favor. +</p> + +<p> +In this resolution he went to her apartment, and reprehended her +falsehood in terms of just indignation. +</p> + +<p> +Maria de Vellorno, in whom the late discovery had roused resentment, +instead of awakening penitence; and exasperated pride without exciting +shame—heard the upbraidings of the marquis with impatience, and +replied to them with acrimonious violence. +</p> + +<p> +She boldly asserted her innocence, and instantly invented a story, the +plausibility of which might have deceived a man who had evidence less +certain than his senses to contradict it. She behaved with a +haughtiness the most insolent; and when she perceived that the marquis +was no longer to be misled, and that her violence failed to accomplish +its purpose, she had recourse to tears and supplications. But the +artifice was too glaring to succeed; and the marquis quitted her +apartment in an agony of resentment. +</p> + +<p> +His former fascinations, however, quickly returned, and again held him +in suspension between love and vengeance. That the vehemence of his +passion, however, might not want an object, he ordered Baptista to +discover the retreat of the Cavalier de Vincini on whom he meant to +revenge his lost honor. Shame forbade him to employ others in the +search. +</p> + +<p> +This discovery suspended for a while the operations of the fatal +scheme, which had before employed the thoughts of the marquis; but it +had only suspended—not destroyed them. The late occurrence had +annihilated his domestic happiness; but his pride now rose to rescue +him from despair, and he centered all his future hopes upon ambition. +In a moment of cool reflection, he considered that he had derived +neither happiness or content from the pursuit of dissipated pleasures, +to which he had hitherto sacrificed every opposing consideration. He +resolved, therefore, to abandon the gay schemes of dissipation which +had formerly allured him, and dedicate himself entirely to ambition, +in the pursuits and delights of which he hoped to bury all his cares. +He therefore became more earnest than ever for the marriage of Julia +with the Duke de Luovo, through whose means he designed to involve +himself in the interests of the state, and determined to recover her +at whatever consequence. He resolved, without further delay, to appeal +to the pope; but to do this with safety it was necessary that the +marchioness should die; and he returned therefore to the consideration +and execution of his diabolical purpose. +</p> + +<p> +He mingled a poisonous drug with the food he designed for her; and +when night arrived, carried it to the cell. As he unlocked the door, +his hand trembled; and when he presented the food, and looked +consciously for the last time upon the marchioness, who received it +with humble thankfulness, his heart almost relented. His countenance, +over which was diffused the paleness of death, expressed the secret +movements of his soul, and he gazed upon her with eyes of stiffened +horror. Alarmed by his looks, she fell upon her knees to supplicate +his pity. +</p> + +<p> +Her attitude recalled his bewildered senses; and endeavouring to +assume a tranquil aspect, he bade her rise, and instantly quitted the +cell, fearful of the instability of his purpose. His mind was not yet +sufficiently hardened by guilt to repel the arrows of conscience, and +his imagination responded to her power. As he passed through the long +dreary passages from the prison, solemn and mysterious sounds seemed +to speak in every murmur of the blast which crept along their +windings, and he often started and looked back. +</p> + +<p> +He reached his chamber, and having shut the door, surveyed the room in +fearful examination. Ideal forms flitted before his fancy, and for the +first time in his life he feared to be alone. Shame only withheld him +from calling Baptista. The gloom of the hour, and the death-like +silence that prevailed, assisted the horrors of his imagination. He +half repented of the deed, yet deemed it now too late to obviate it; +and he threw himself on his bed in terrible emotion. His head grew +dizzy, and a sudden faintness overcame him; he hesitated, and at +length arose to ring for assistance, but found himself unable to +stand. +</p> + +<p> +In a few moments he was somewhat revived, and rang his bell; but +before any person appeared, he was seized with terrible pains, and +staggering to his bed, sunk senseless upon it. Here Baptista, who was +the first person that entered his room, found him struggling seemingly +in the agonies of death. The whole castle was immediately roused, and +the confusion may be more easily imagined than described. Emilia, +amid the general alarm, came to her father's room, but the sight of +him overcame her, and she was carried from his presence. By the help +of proper applications the marquis recovered his senses and his pains +had a short cessation. +</p> + +<p> +'I am dying,' said he, in a faultering accent; 'send instantly for the +marchioness and my son.' +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand, in escaping from the hands of the banditti, it was now +seen, had fallen into the power of his father. He had been since +confined in an apartment of the castle, and was now liberated to obey +the summons. The countenance of the marquis exhibited a ghastly image; +Ferdinand, when he drew near the bed, suddenly shrunk back, overcome +with horror. The marquis now beckoned his attendants to quit the room, +and they were preparing to obey, when a violent noise was heard from +without; almost in the same instant the door of the apartment was +thrown open, and the servant, who had been sent for the marchioness, +rushed in. His look alone declared the horror of his mind, for words +he had none to utter. He stared wildly, and pointed to the gallery he +had quitted. Ferdinand, seized with new terror, rushed the way he +pointed to the apartment of the marchioness. A spectacle of horror +presented itself. Maria lay on a couch lifeless, and bathed in blood. +A poignard, the instrument of her destruction, was on the floor; and +it appeared from a letter which was found on the couch beside her, +that she had died by her own hand. The paper contained these words: +</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p class="noindent"> + TO THE MARQUIS DE MAZZINI<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Your words have stabbed my heart. No power on earth could +restore the peace you have destroyed. I will escape from my +torture. When you read this, I shall be no more. But the +triumph shall no longer be yours—the draught you have drank +was given by the hand of the injured +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + MARIA DE MAZZINI.<br /> +</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p> +It now appeared that the marquis was poisoned by the vengeance of the +woman to whom he had resigned his conscience. The consternation and +distress of Ferdinand cannot easily be conceived: he hastened back to +his father's chamber, but determined to conceal the dreadful +catastrophe of Maria de Vellorno. This precaution, however, was +useless; for the servants, in the consternation of terror, had +revealed it, and the marquis had fainted. +</p> + +<p> +Returning pains recalled his senses, and the agonies he suffered were +too shocking for the beholders. Medical endeavours were applied, but +the poison was too powerful for antidote. The marquis's pains at +length subsided; the poison had exhausted most of its rage, and he +became tolerably easy. He waved his hand for the attendants to leave +the room; and beckoning to Ferdinand, whose senses were almost stunned +by this accumulation of horror, bade him sit down beside him. 'The +hand of death is now upon me,' said he; 'I would employ these last +moments in revealing a deed, which is more dreadful to me than all the +bodily agonies I suffer. It will be some relief to me to discover it.' +Ferdinand grasped the hand of the marquis in speechless terror. 'The +retribution of heaven is upon me,' resumed the marquis. 'My punishment +is the immediate consequence of my guilt. Heaven has made that woman +the instrument of its justice, whom I made the instrument of my +crimes;——that woman, for whose sake I forgot conscience, and braved +vice—for whom I imprisoned an innocent wife, and afterwards murdered +her.' +</p> + +<p> +At these words every nerve of Ferdinand thrilled; he let go the +marquis's hand and started back. 'Look not so fiercely on me,' said +the marquis, in a hollow voice; 'your eyes strike death to my soul; my +conscience needs not this additional pang.'—'My mother!' exclaimed +Ferdinand—'my mother! Speak, tell me.'—'I have no breath,' said the +marquis. 'Oh!—Take these keys—the south tower—the trapdoor.—'Tis +possible—Oh!—' +</p> + +<p> +The marquis made a sudden spring upwards, and fell lifeless on the +bed; the attendants were called in, but he was gone for ever. His last +words struck with the force of lightning upon the mind of Ferdinand; +they seemed to say that his mother might yet exist. He took the keys, +and ordering some of the servants to follow, hastened to the southern +building; he proceeded to the tower, and the trapdoor beneath the +stair-case was lifted. They all descended into a dark passage, which +conducted them through several intricacies to the door of the cell. +Ferdinand, in trembling horrible expectation, applied the key; the +door opened, and he entered; but what was his surprize when he found +no person in the cell! He concluded that he had mistaken the place, +and quitted it for further search; but having followed the windings of +the passage, by which he entered, without discovering any other door, +he returned to a more exact examination of the cell. He now observed +the door, which led to the cavern, and he entered upon the avenue, but +no person was found there and no voice answered to his call. Having +reached the door of the cavern, which was fastened, he returned lost +in grief, and meditating upon the last words of the marquis. He now +thought that he had mistaken their import, and that the words ''tis +possible,' were not meant to apply to the life of the marchioness, he +concluded, that the murder had been committed at a distant period; and +he resolved, therefore, to have the ground of the cell dug up, and the +remains of his mother sought for. +</p> + +<p> +When the first violence of the emotions excited by the late scenes was +subsided, he enquired concerning Maria de Vellorno. +</p> + +<p> +It appeared that on the day preceding this horrid transaction, the +marquis had passed some hours in her apartment; that they were heard +in loud dispute;—that the passion of the marquis grew high;—that he +upbraided her with her past conduct, and threatened her with a formal +separation. When the marquis quitted her, she was heard walking quick +through the room, in a passion of tears; she often suddenly stopped in +vehement but incoherent exclamation; and at last threw herself on the +floor, and was for some time entirely still. Here her woman found her, +upon whose entrance she arose hastily, and reproved her for appearing +uncalled. After this she remained silent and sullen. +</p> + +<p> +She descended to supper, where the marquis met her alone at table. +Little was said during the repast, at the conclusion of which the +servants were dismissed; and it was believed that during the interval +between supper, and the hour of repose, Maria de Vellorno contrived to +mingle poison with the wine of the marquis. How she had procured this +poison was never discovered. +</p> + +<p> +She retired early to her chamber; and her woman observing that she +appeared much agitated, inquired if she was ill? To this she returned +a short answer in the negative, and her woman was soon afterwards +dismissed. But she had hardly shut the door of the room when she heard +her lady's voice recalling her. She returned, and received some +trifling order, and observed that Maria looked uncommonly pale; there +was besides a wildness in her eyes which frightened her, but she did +not dare to ask any questions. She again quitted the room, and had +only reached the extremity of the gallery when her mistress's bell +rang. She hastened back, Maria enquired if the marquis was gone to +bed, and if all was quiet? Being answered in the affirmative, she +replied, 'This is a still hour and a dark one!—Good night!' +</p> + +<p> +Her woman having once more left the room, stopped at the door to +listen, but all within remaining silent, she retired to rest. +</p> + +<p> +It is probable that Maria perpetrated the fatal act soon after the +dismission of her woman; for when she was found, two hours afterwards, +she appeared to have been dead for some time. On examination a wound +was discovered on her left side, which had doubtless penetrated to the +heart, from the suddenness of her death, and from the effusion of +blood which had followed. +</p> + +<p> +These terrible events so deeply affected Emilia that she was confined +to her bed by a dangerous illness. Ferdinand struggled against the +shock with manly fortitude. But amid all the tumult of the present +scenes, his uncertainty concerning Julia, whom he had left in the +hands of banditti, and whom he had been withheld from seeking or +rescuing, formed, perhaps, the most affecting part of his distress. +</p> + +<p> +The late Marquis de Mazzini, and Maria de Vellorno, were interred with +the honor due to their rank in the church of the convent of St Nicolo. +Their lives exhibited a boundless indulgence of violent and luxurious +passions, and their deaths marked the consequences of such indulgence, +and held forth to mankind a singular instance of divine vengeance. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap16"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XVI +</h3> + +<p> +In turning up the ground of the cell, it was discovered that it +communicated with the dungeon in which Ferdinand had been confined, +and where he had heard those groans which had occasioned him so much +terror. +</p> + +<p> +The story which the marquis formerly related to his son, concerning +the southern buildings, it was now evident was fabricated for the +purpose of concealing the imprisonment of the marchioness. In the +choice of his subject, he certainly discovered some art; for the +circumstance related was calculated, by impressing terror, to prevent +farther enquiry into the recesses of these buildings. It served, also, +to explain, by supernatural evidence, the cause of those sounds, and +of that appearance which had been there observed, but which were, in +reality, occasioned only by the marquis. +</p> + +<p> +The event of the examination in the cell threw Ferdinand into new +perplexity. The marquis had confessed that he poisoned his wife—yet +her remains were not to be found; and the place which he signified to +be that of her confinement, bore no vestige of her having been there. +There appeared no way by which she could have escaped from her prison; +for both the door which opened upon the cell, and that which +terminated the avenue beyond, were fastened when tried by Ferdinand. +</p> + +<p> +But the young marquis had no time for useless speculation—serious +duties called upon him. He believed that Julia was still in the power +of banditti; and, on the conclusion of his father's funeral, he set +forward himself to Palermo, to give information of the abode of the +robbers, and to repair with the officers of justice, accompanied by a +party of his own people, to the rescue of his sister. On his arrival +at Palermo he was informed, that a banditti, whose retreat had been +among the ruins of a monastery, situated in the forest of Marentino, +was already discovered; that their abode had been searched, and +themselves secured for examples of public justice—but that no captive +lady had been found amongst them. This latter intelligence excited in +Ferdinand a very serious distress, and he was wholly unable to +conjecture her fate. He obtained leave, however, to interrogate those +of the robbers, who were imprisoned at Palermo, but could draw from +them no satisfactory or certain information. +</p> + +<p> +At length he quitted Palermo for the forest of Marentino, thinking it +possible that Julia might be heard of in its neighbourhood. He +travelled on in melancholy and dejection, and evening overtook him +long before he reached the place of his destination. The night came on +heavily in clouds, and a violent storm of wind and rain arose. The +road lay through a wild and rocky country, and Ferdinand could obtain +no shelter. His attendants offered him their cloaks, but he refused to +expose a servant to the hardship he would not himself endure. He +travelled for some miles in a heavy rain; and the wind, which howled +mournfully among the rocks, and whose solemn pauses were filled by the +distant roarings of the sea, heightened the desolation of the scene. +At length he discerned, amid the darkness from afar, a red light +waving in the wind: it varied with the blast, but never totally +disappeared. He pushed his horse into a gallop, and made towards it. +</p> + +<p> +The flame continued to direct his course; and on a nearer approach, he +perceived, by the red reflection of its fires, streaming a long +radiance upon the waters beneath—a lighthouse situated upon a point +of rock which overhung the sea. He knocked for admittance, and the +door was opened by an old man, who bade him welcome. +</p> + +<p> +Within appeared a cheerful blazing fire, round which were seated +several persons, who seemed like himself to have sought shelter from +the tempest of the night. The sight of the fire cheered him, and he +advanced towards it, when a sudden scream seized his attention; the +company rose up in confusion, and in the same instant he discovered +Julia and Hippolitus. The joy of that moment is not to be described, +but his attention was quickly called off from his own situation to +that of a lady, who during the general transport had fainted. His +sensations on learning she was his mother cannot be described. +</p> + +<p> +She revived. 'My son!' said she, in a languid voice, as she pressed +him to her heart. 'Great God, I am recompensed! Surely this moment may +repay a life of misery!' He could only receive her caresses in +silence; but the sudden tears which started in his eyes spoke a +language too expressive to be misunderstood. +</p> + +<p> +When the first emotion of the scene was passed, Julia enquired by what +means Ferdinand had come to this spot. He answered her generally, and +avoided for the present entering upon the affecting subject of the +late events at the castle of Mazzini. Julia related the history of her +adventures since she parted with her brother. In her narration, it +appeared that Hippolitus, who was taken by the Duke de Luovo at the +mouth of the cave, had afterwards escaped, and returned to the cavern +in search of Julia. The low recess in the rock, through which Julia +had passed, he perceived by the light of his flambeau. He penetrated +to the cavern beyond, and from thence to the prison of the +marchioness. No colour of language can paint the scene which followed; +it is sufficient to say that the whole party agreed to quit the cell +at the return of night. But this being a night on which it was known +the marquis would visit the prison, they agreed to defer their +departure till after his appearance, and thus elude the danger to be +expected from an early discovery of the escape of the marchioness. +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of footsteps above, Hippolitus and Julia had secreted +themselves in the avenue; and immediately on the marquis's departure +they all repaired to the cavern, leaving, in the hurry of their +flight, untouched the poisonous food he had brought. Having escaped +from thence they proceeded to a neighbouring village, where horses +were procured to carry them towards Palermo. Here, after a tedious +journey, they arrived, in the design of embarking for Italy. Contrary +winds had detained them till the day on which Ferdinand left that +city, when, apprehensive and weary of delay, they hired a small +vessel, and determined to brave the winds. They had soon reason to +repent their temerity; for the vessel had not been long at sea when +the storm arose, which threw them back upon the shores of Sicily, and +brought them to the lighthouse, where they were discovered by +Ferdinand. +</p> + +<p> +On the following morning Ferdinand returned with his friends to +Palermo, where he first disclosed the late fatal events of the castle. +They now settled their future plans; and Ferdinand hastened to the +castle of Mazzini to fetch Emilia, and to give orders for the removal +of his household to his palace at Naples, where he designed to fix his +future residence. The distress of Emilia, whom he found recovered from +her indisposition, yielded to joy and wonder, when she heard of the +existence of her mother, and the safety of her sister. She departed +with Ferdinand for Palermo, where her friends awaited her, and where +the joy of the meeting was considerably heightened by the appearance +of Madame de Menon, for whom the marchioness had dispatched a +messenger to St Augustin's. Madame had quitted the abbey for another +convent, to which, however, the messenger was directed. This happy +party now embarked for Naples. +</p> + +<p> +From this period the castle of Mazzini, which had been the theatre of +a dreadful catastrophe; and whose scenes would have revived in the +minds of the chief personages connected with it, painful and shocking +reflections—was abandoned. +</p> + +<p> +On their arrival at Naples, Ferdinand presented to the king a clear +and satisfactory account of the late events at the castle, in +consequence of which the marchioness was confirmed in her rank, and +Ferdinand was received as the sixth Marquis de Mazzini. +</p> + +<p> +The marchioness, thus restored to the world, and to happiness, resided +with her children in the palace at Naples, where, after time had +somewhat mellowed the remembrance of the late calamity, the nuptials +of Hippolitus and Julia were celebrated. The recollection of the +difficulties they had encountered, and of the distress they had +endured for each other, now served only to heighten by contrast the +happiness of the present period. +</p> + +<p> +Ferdinand soon after accepted a command in the Neapolitan army; and +amidst the many heroes of that warlike and turbulent age, +distinguished himself for his valour and ability. The occupations of +war engaged his mind, while his heart was solicitous in promoting the +happiness of his family. +</p> + +<p> +Madame de Menon, whose generous attachment to the marchioness had been +fully proved, found in the restoration of her friend a living witness +of her marriage, and thus recovered those estates which had been +unjustly withheld from her. But the marchioness and her family, +grateful to her friendship, and attached to her virtues, prevailed +upon her to spend the remainder of her life at the palace of Mazzini. +</p> + +<p> +Emilia, wholly attached to her family, continued to reside with the +marchioness, who saw her race renewed in the children of Hippolitus +and Julia. Thus surrounded by her children and friends, and engaged in +forming the minds of the infant generation, she seemed to forget that +she had ever been otherwise than happy. +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + * * * * *<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Here the manuscript annals conclude. In reviewing this story, we +perceive a singular and striking instance of moral retribution. We +learn, also, that those who do only THAT WHICH IS RIGHT, endure +nothing in misfortune but a trial of their virtue, and from trials +well endured derive the surest claim to the protection of heaven. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="finis"> +FINIS +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="transnote"> +[Transcriber's Note: Some words which appear to be typos are printed +thus in the original book. A list of these possible words follows: +cioset, skriek, ladyrinth, and bad (presumably for bade, "he bad +Julia good-night"). In addition, the book contains (and I have +retained) inconsistant spelling of both common words (e.g. extacy, +exstacy) and proper nouns (Farrini, Ferrini). I have used the +<i>underscore</i> notation to indicate italics. (The text in CAPITALS is +printed as it appears in the original book). Finally, the line of +spaced asterisks, was used to indicate an additional blank line +seperating sections of the text.] +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sicilian Romance, by Ann Radcliffe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SICILIAN ROMANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 7371-h.htm or 7371-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/3/7/7371/ + +Produced by Jean Lefever. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Sicilian Romance + +Author: Ann Radcliffe + +Posting Date: April 12, 2014 [EBook #7371] +Release Date: January, 2005 +First Posted: April 22, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SICILIAN ROMANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Jean Lefever. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +A Sicilian Romance + +by Ann Radcliffe + + + +On the northern shore of Sicily are still to be seen the magnificent +remains of a castle, which formerly belonged to the noble house of +Mazzini. It stands in the centre of a small bay, and upon a gentle +acclivity, which, on one side, slopes towards the sea, and on the +other rises into an eminence crowned by dark woods. The situation is +admirably beautiful and picturesque, and the ruins have an air of +ancient grandeur, which, contrasted with the present solitude of the +scene, impresses the traveller with awe and curiosity. During my +travels abroad I visited this spot. As I walked over the loose +fragments of stone, which lay scattered through the immense area of +the fabrick, and surveyed the sublimity and grandeur of the ruins, I +recurred, by a natural association of ideas, to the times when these +walls stood proudly in their original splendour, when the halls were +the scenes of hospitality and festive magnificence, and when they +resounded with the voices of those whom death had long since swept +from the earth. 'Thus,' said I, 'shall the present generation--he who +now sinks in misery--and he who now swims in pleasure, alike pass +away and be forgotten.' My heart swelled with the reflection; and, as +I turned from the scene with a sigh, I fixed my eyes upon a friar, +whose venerable figure, gently bending towards the earth, formed no +uninteresting object in the picture. He observed my emotion; and, as +my eye met his, shook his head and pointed to the ruin. 'These walls,' +said he, 'were once the seat of luxury and vice. They exhibited a +singular instance of the retribution of Heaven, and were from that +period forsaken, and abandoned to decay.' His words excited my +curiosity, and I enquired further concerning their meaning. + +'A solemn history belongs to this castle, said he, 'which is too long +and intricate for me to relate. It is, however, contained in a +manuscript in our library, of which I could, perhaps, procure you a +sight. A brother of our order, a descendant of the noble house of +Mazzini, collected and recorded the most striking incidents relating +to his family, and the history thus formed, he left as a legacy to our +convent. If you please, we will walk thither.' + +I accompanied him to the convent, and the friar introduced me to his +superior, a man of an intelligent mind and benevolent heart, with whom +I passed some hours in interesting conversation. I believe my +sentiments pleased him; for, by his indulgence, I was permitted to +take abstracts of the history before me, which, with some further +particulars obtained in conversation with the abate, I have arranged +in the following pages. + + + +CHAPTER I + +Towards the close of the sixteenth century, this castle was in the +possession of Ferdinand, fifth marquis of Mazzini, and was for some +years the principal residence of his family. He was a man of a +voluptuous and imperious character. To his first wife, he married +Louisa Bernini, second daughter of the Count della Salario, a lady yet +more distinguished for the sweetness of her manners and the gentleness +of her disposition, than for her beauty. She brought the marquis one +son and two daughters, who lost their amiable mother in early +childhood. The arrogant and impetuous character of the marquis +operated powerfully upon the mild and susceptible nature of his lady: +and it was by many persons believed, that his unkindness and neglect +put a period to her life. However this might be, he soon afterwards +married Maria de Vellorno, a young lady eminently beautiful, but of a +character very opposite to that of her predecessor. She was a woman of +infinite art, devoted to pleasure, and of an unconquerable spirit. The +marquis, whose heart was dead to paternal tenderness, and whose +present lady was too volatile to attend to domestic concerns, +committed the education of his daughters to the care of a lady, +completely qualified for the undertaking, and who was distantly +related to the late marchioness. + +He quitted Mazzini soon after his second marriage, for the gaieties +and splendour of Naples, whither his son accompanied him. Though +naturally of a haughty and overbearing disposition, he was governed by +his wife. His passions were vehement, and she had the address to bend +them to her own purpose; and so well to conceal her influence, that he +thought himself most independent when he was most enslaved. He paid an +annual visit to the castle of Mazzini; but the marchioness seldom +attended him, and he staid only to give such general directions +concerning the education of his daughters, as his pride, rather than +his affection, seemed to dictate. + +Emilia, the elder, inherited much of her mother's disposition. She had +a mild and sweet temper, united with a clear and comprehensive mind. +Her younger sister, Julia, was of a more lively cast. An extreme +sensibility subjected her to frequent uneasiness; her temper was warm, +but generous; she was quickly irritated, and quickly appeased; and to +a reproof, however gentle, she would often weep, but was never sullen. +Her imagination was ardent, and her mind early exhibited symptoms of +genius. It was the particular care of Madame de Menon to counteract +those traits in the disposition of her young pupils, which appeared +inimical to their future happiness; and for this task she had +abilities which entitled her to hope for success. A series of early +misfortunes had entendered her heart, without weakening the powers of +her understanding. In retirement she had acquired tranquillity, and +had almost lost the consciousness of those sorrows which yet threw a +soft and not unpleasing shade over her character. She loved her young +charge with maternal fondness, and their gradual improvement and +respectful tenderness repaid all her anxiety. Madame excelled in music +and drawing. She had often forgot her sorrows in these amusements, +when her mind was too much occupied to derive consolation from books, +and she was assiduous to impart to Emilia and Julia a power so +valuable as that of beguiling the sense of affliction. Emilia's taste +led her to drawing, and she soon made rapid advances in that art. +Julia was uncommonly susceptible of the charms of harmony. She had +feelings which trembled in unison to all its various and enchanting +powers. + +The instructions of madame she caught with astonishing quickness, and +in a short time attained to a degree of excellence in her favorite +study, which few persons have ever exceeded. Her manner was entirely +her own. It was not in the rapid intricacies of execution, that she +excelled so much in as in that delicacy of taste, and in those +enchanting powers of expression, which seem to breathe a soul through +the sound, and which take captive the heart of the hearer. The lute +was her favorite instrument, and its tender notes accorded well with +the sweet and melting tones of her voice. + +The castle of Mazzini was a large irregular fabrick, and seemed suited +to receive a numerous train of followers, such as, in those days, +served the nobility, either in the splendour of peace, or the +turbulence of war. Its present family inhabited only a small part of +it; and even this part appeared forlorn and almost desolate from the +spaciousness of the apartments, and the length of the galleries which +led to them. A melancholy stillness reigned through the halls, and the +silence of the courts, which were shaded by high turrets, was for many +hours together undisturbed by the sound of any foot-step. Julia, who +discovered an early taste for books, loved to retire in an evening to +a small closet in which she had collected her favorite authors. This +room formed the western angle of the castle: one of its windows looked +upon the sea, beyond which was faintly seen, skirting the horizon, the +dark rocky coast of Calabria; the other opened towards a part of the +castle, and afforded a prospect of the neighbouring woods. Her musical +instruments were here deposited, with whatever assisted her favorite +amusements. This spot, which was at once elegant, pleasant, and +retired, was embellished with many little ornaments of her own +invention, and with some drawings executed by her sister. The cioset +was adjoining her chamber, and was separated from the apartments of +madame only by a short gallery. This gallery opened into another, long +and winding, which led to the grand staircase, terminating in the +north hall, with which the chief apartments of the north side of the +edifice communicated. + +Madame de Menon's apartment opened into both galleries. It was in one +of these rooms that she usually spent the mornings, occupied in the +improvement of her young charge. The windows looked towards the sea, +and the room was light and pleasant. It was their custom to dine in +one of the lower apartments, and at table they were always joined by a +dependant of the marquis's, who had resided many years in the castle, +and who instructed the young ladies in the Latin tongue, and in +geography. During the fine evenings of summer, this little party +frequently supped in a pavilion, which was built on an eminence in the +woods belonging to the castle. From this spot the eye had an almost +boundless range of sea and land. It commanded the straits of Messina, +with the opposite shores of Calabria, and a great extent of the wild +and picturesque scenery of Sicily. Mount Etna, crowned with eternal +snows, and shooting from among the clouds, formed a grand and sublime +picture in the background of the scene. The city of Palermo was also +distinguishable; and Julia, as she gazed on its glittering spires; +would endeavour in imagination to depicture its beauties, while she +secretly sighed for a view of that world, from which she had hitherto +been secluded by the mean jealousy of the marchioness, upon whose mind +the dread of rival beauty operated strongly to the prejudice of Emilia +and Julia. She employed all her influence over the marquis to detain +them in retirement; and, though Emilia was now twenty, and her sister +eighteen, they had never passed the boundaries of their father's +domains. + +Vanity often produces unreasonable alarm; but the marchioness had in +this instance just grounds for apprehension; the beauty of her lord's +daughters has seldom been exceeded. The person of Emilia was finely +proportioned. Her complexion was fair, her hair flaxen, and her dark +blue eyes were full of sweet expression. Her manners were dignified +and elegant, and in her air was a feminine softness, a tender timidity +which irresistibly attracted the heart of the beholder. The figure of +Julia was light and graceful--her step was airy--her mien animated, +and her smile enchanting. Her eyes were dark, and full of fire, but +tempered with modest sweetness. Her features were finely turned--every +laughing grace played round her mouth, and her countenance quickly +discovered all the various emotions of her soul. The dark auburn hair, +which curled in beautiful profusion in her neck, gave a finishing +charm to her appearance. + +Thus lovely, and thus veiled in obscurity, were the daughters of the +noble Mazzini. But they were happy, for they knew not enough of the +world seriously to regret the want of its enjoyments, though Julia +would sometimes sigh for the airy image which her fancies painted, and +a painful curiosity would arise concerning the busy scenes from which +she was excluded. A return to her customary amusements, however, would +chase the ideal image from her mind, and restore her usual happy +complacency. Books, music, and painting, divided the hours of her +leisure, and many beautiful summer-evenings were spent in the +pavilion, where the refined conversation of madame, the poetry of +Tasso, the lute of Julia, and the friendship of Emilia, combined to +form a species of happiness, such as elevated and highly susceptible +minds are alone capable of receiving or communicating. Madame +understood and practised all the graces of conversation, and her young +pupils perceived its value, and caught the spirit of its character. + +Conversation may be divided into two classes--the familiar and the +sentimental. It is the province of the familiar, to diffuse +cheerfulness and ease--to open the heart of man to man, and to beam a +temperate sunshine upon the mind.--Nature and art must conspire to +render us susceptible of the charms, and to qualify us for the +practice of the second class of conversation, here termed sentimental, +and in which Madame de Menon particularly excelled. To good sense, +lively feeling, and natural delicacy of taste, must be united an +expansion of mind, and a refinement of thought, which is the result of +high cultivation. To render this sort of conversation irresistibly +attractive, a knowledge of the world is requisite, and that enchanting +case, that elegance of manner, which is to be acquired only by +frequenting the higher circles of polished life. In sentimental +conversation, subjects interesting to the heart, and to the +imagination, are brought forward; they are discussed in a kind of +sportive way, with animation and refinement, and are never continued +longer than politeness allows. Here fancy flourishes,--the +sensibilities expand--and wit, guided by delicacy and embellished by +taste--points to the heart. + +Such was the conversation of Madame de Menon; and the pleasant gaiety +of the pavilion seemed peculiarly to adapt it for the scene of social +delights. On the evening of a very sultry day, having supped in their +favorite spot, the coolness of the hour, and the beauty of the night, +tempted this happy party to remain there later than usual. Returning +home, they were surprised by the appearance of a light through the +broken window-shutters of an apartment, belonging to a division of the +castle which had for many years been shut up. They stopped to observe +it, when it suddenly disappeared, and was seen no more. Madame de +Menon, disturbed at this phaenomenon, hastened into the castle, with a +view of enquiring into the cause of it, when she was met in the north +hall by Vincent. She related to him what she had seen, and ordered an +immediate search to be made for the keys of those apartments. She +apprehended that some person had penetrated that part of the edifice +with an intention of plunder; and, disdaining a paltry fear where her +duty was concerned, she summoned the servants of the castle, with an +intention of accompanying them thither. Vincent smiled at her +apprehensions, and imputed what she had seen to an illusion, which the +solemnity of the hour had impressed upon her fancy. Madame, however, +persevered in her purpose; and, after along and repeated search, a +massey key, covered with rust, was produced. She then proceeded to the +southern side of the edifice, accompanied by Vincent, and followed by +the servants, who were agitated with impatient wonder. The key was +applied to an iron gate, which opened into a court that separated this +division from the other parts of the castle. They entered this court, +which was overgrown with grass and weeds, and ascended some steps that +led to a large door, which they vainly endeavoured to open. All the +different keys of the castle were applied to the lock, without effect, +and they were at length compelled to quit the place, without having +either satisfied their curiosity, or quieted their fears. Everything, +however, was still, and the light did not reappear. Madame concealed +her apprehensions, and the family retired to rest. + +This circumstance dwelt on the mind of Madame de Menon, and it was +some time before she ventured again to spend an evening in the +pavilion. After several months passed, without further disturbance or +discovery, another occurrence renewed the alarm. Julia had one night +remained in her closet later than usual. A favorite book had engaged +her attention beyond the hour of customary repose, and every +inhabitant of the castle, except herself, had long been lost in sleep. +She was roused from her forgetfulness, by the sound of the castle +clock, which struck one. Surprised at the lateness of the hour, she +rose in haste, and was moving to her chamber, when the beauty of the +night attracted her to the window. She opened it; and observing a fine +effect of moonlight upon the dark woods, leaned forwards. In that +situation she had not long remained, when she perceived a light +faintly flash through a casement in the uninhabited part of the +castle. A sudden tremor seized her, and she with difficulty supported +herself. In a few moments it disappeared, and soon after a figure, +bearing a lamp, proceeded from an obscure door belonging to the south +tower; and stealing along the outside of the castle walls, turned +round the southern angle, by which it was afterwards hid from the +view. Astonished and terrified at what she had seen, she hurried to +the apartment of Madame de Menon, and related the circumstance. The +servants were immediately roused, and the alarm became general. Madame +arose and descended into the north hall, where the domestics were +already assembled. No one could be found of courage sufficient to +enter into the courts; and the orders of madame were disregarded, when +opposed to the effects of superstitious terror. She perceived that +Vincent was absent, but as she was ordering him to be called, he +entered the hall. Surprised to find the family thus assembled, he was +told the occasion. He immediately ordered a party of the servants to +attend him round the castle walls; and with some reluctance, and more +fear, they obeyed him. They all returned to the hall, without having +witnessed any extraordinary appearance; but though their fears were +not confirmed, they were by no means dissipated. The appearance of a +light in a part of the castle which had for several years been shut +up, and to which time and circumstance had given an air of singular +desolation, might reasonably be supposed to excite a strong degree of +surprise and terror. In the minds of the vulgar, any species of the +wonderful is received with avidity; and the servants did not hesitate +in believing the southern division of the castle to be inhabited by a +supernatural power. Too much agitated to sleep, they agreed to watch +for the remainder of the night. For this purpose they arranged +themselves in the east gallery, where they had a view of the south +tower from which the light had issued. The night, however, passed +without any further disturbance; and the morning dawn, which they +beheld with inexpressible pleasure, dissipated for a while the glooms +of apprehension. But the return of evening renewed the general fear, +and for several successive nights the domestics watched the southern +tower. Although nothing remarkable was seen, a report was soon raised, +and believed, that the southern side of the castle was haunted. Madame +de Menon, whose mind was superior to the effects of superstition, was +yet disturbed and perplexed, and she determined, if the light +reappeared, to inform the marquis of the circumstance, and request the +keys of those apartments. + +The marquis, immersed in the dissipations of Naples, seldom remembered +the castle, or its inhabitants. His son, who had been educated under +his immediate care, was the sole object of his pride, as the +marchioness was that of his affection. He loved her with romantic +fondness, which she repaid with seeming tenderness, and secret +perfidy. She allowed herself a free indulgence in the most licentious +pleasures, yet conducted herself with an art so exquisite as to elude +discovery, and even suspicion. In her amours she was equally +inconstant as ardent, till the young Count Hippolitus de Vereza +attracted her attention. The natural fickleness of her disposition +seemed then to cease, and upon him she centered all her desires. + +The count Vereza lost his father in early childhood. He was now of +age, and had just entered upon the possession of his estates. His +person was graceful, yet manly; his mind accomplished, and his manners +elegant; his countenance expressed a happy union of spirit, dignity, +and benevolence, which formed the principal traits of his character. +He had a sublimity of thought, which taught him to despise the +voluptuous vices of the Neapolitans, and led him to higher pursuits. +He was the chosen and early friend of young Ferdinand, the son of the +marquis, and was a frequent visitor in the family. When the +marchioness first saw him, she treated him with great distinction, and +at length made such advances, as neither the honor nor the +inclinations of the count permitted him to notice. He conducted +himself toward her with frigid indifference, which served only to +inflame the passion it was meant to chill. The favors of the +marchioness had hitherto been sought with avidity, and accepted with +rapture; and the repulsive insensibility which she now experienced, +roused all her pride, and called into action every refinement of +coquetry. + +It was about this period that Vincent was seized with a disorder which +increased so rapidly, as in a short time to assume the most alarming +appearance. Despairing of life, he desired that a messenger might be +dispatched to inform the marquis of his situation, and to signify his +earnest wish to see him before he died. The progress of his disorder +defied every art of medicine, and his visible distress of mind seemed +to accelerate his fate. Perceiving his last hour approaching, he +requested to have a confessor. The confessor was shut up with him a +considerable time, and he had already received extreme unction, when +Madame de Menon was summoned to his bedside. The hand of death was now +upon him, cold damps hung upon his brows, and he, with difficulty, +raised his heavy eyes to madame as she entered the apartment. He +beckoned her towards him, and desiring that no person might be +permitted to enter the room, was for a few moments silent. His mind +appeared to labour under oppressive remembrances; he made several +attempts to speak, but either resolution or strength failed him. At +length, giving madame a look of unutterable anguish, 'Alas, madam,' +said he, 'Heaven grants not the prayer of such a wretch as I am. I +must expire long before the marquis can arrive. Since I shall see him +no more, I would impart to you a secret which lies heavy at my heart, +and which makes my last moments dreadful, as they are without hope.' +'Be comforted,' said madame, who was affected by the energy of his +manner, 'we are taught to believe that forgiveness is never denied to +sincere repentance.' 'You, madam, are ignorant of the enormity of my +crime, and of the secret--the horrid secret which labours at my +breast. My guilt is beyond remedy in this world, and I fear will be +without pardon in the next; I therefore hope little from confession +even to a priest. Yet some good it is still in my power to do; let me +disclose to you that secret which is so mysteriously connected with +the southern apartments of this castle.'--'What of them!' exclaimed +madame, with impatience. Vincent returned no answer; exhausted by the +effort of speaking, he had fainted. Madame rung for assistance, and by +proper applications, his senses were recalled. He was, however, +entirely speechless, and in this state he remained till he expired, +which was about an hour after he had conversed with madame. + +The perplexity and astonishment of madame, were by the late scene +heightened to a very painful degree. She recollected the various +particulars relative to the southern division of the castle, the many +years it had stood uninhabited--the silence which had been observed +concerning it--the appearance of the light and the figure--the +fruitless search for the keys, and the reports so generally believed; +and thus remembrance presented her with a combination of +circumstances, which served only to increase her wonder, and heighten +her curiosity. A veil of mystery enveloped that part of the castle, +which it now seemed impossible should ever be penetrated, since the +only person who could have removed it, was no more. + +The marquis arrived on the day after that on which Vincent had +expired. He came attended by servants only, and alighted at the gates +of the castle with an air of impatience, and a countenance expressive +of strong emotion. Madame, with the young ladies, received him in the +hall. He hastily saluted his daughters, and passed on to the oak +parlour, desiring madame to follow him. She obeyed, and the marquis +enquired with great agitation after Vincent. When told of his death, +he paced the room with hurried steps, and was for some time silent. At +length seating himself, and surveying madame with a scrutinizing eye, +he asked some questions concerning the particulars of Vincent's death. +She mentioned his earnest desire to see the marquis, and repeated his +last words. The marquis remained silent, and madame proceeded to +mention those circumstances relative to the southern division of the +castle, which she thought it of so much importance to discover. He +treated the affair very lightly, laughed at her conjectures, +represented the appearances she described as the illusions of a weak +and timid mind, and broke up the conversation, by going to visit the +chamber of Vincent, in which he remained a considerable time. + +On the following day Emilia and Julia dined with the marquis. He was +gloomy and silent; their efforts to amuse him seemed to excite +displeasure rather than kindness; and when the repast was concluded, +he withdrew to his own apartment, leaving his daughters in a state of +sorrow and surprise. + +Vincent was to be interred, according to his own desire, in the church +belonging to the convent of St Nicholas. One of the servants, after +receiving some necessary orders concerning the funeral, ventured to +inform the marquis of the appearance of the lights in the south tower. +He mentioned the superstitious reports that prevailed amongst the +household, and complained that the servants would not cross the courts +after it was dark. 'And who is he that has commissioned you with this +story?' said the marquis, in a tone of displeasure; 'are the weak and +ridiculous fancies of women and servants to be obtruded upon my +notice? Away--appear no more before me, till you have learned to +speak what it is proper for me to hear.' Robert withdrew abashed, and +it was some time before any person ventured to renew the subject with +the marquis. + +The majority of young Ferdinand now drew near, and the marquis +determined to celebrate the occasion with festive magnificence at the +castle of Mazzini. He, therefore, summoned the marchioness and his son +from Naples, and very splendid preparations were ordered to be made. +Emilia and Julia dreaded the arrival of the marchioness, whose +influence they had long been sensible of, and from whose presence they +anticipated a painful restraint. Beneath the gentle guidance of Madame +de Menon, their hours had passed in happy tranquillity, for they were +ignorant alike of the sorrows and the pleasures of the world. Those +did not oppress, and these did not inflame them. Engaged in the +pursuits of knowledge, and in the attainment of elegant +accomplishments, their moments flew lightly away, and the flight of +time was marked only by improvement. In madame was united the +tenderness of the mother, with the sympathy of a friend; and they +loved her with a warm and inviolable affection. + +The purposed visit of their brother, whom they had not seen for +several years, gave them great pleasure. Although their minds retained +no very distinct remembrance of him, they looked forward with eager +and delightful expectation to his virtues and his talents; and hoped +to find in his company, a consolation for the uneasiness which the +presence of the marchioness would excite. Neither did Julia +contemplate with indifference the approaching festival. A new scene +was now opening to her, which her young imagination painted in the +warm and glowing colours of delight. The near approach of pleasure +frequently awakens the heart to emotions, which would fail to be +excited by a more remote and abstracted observance. Julia, who, in the +distance, had considered the splendid gaieties of life with +tranquillity, now lingered with impatient hope through the moments +which withheld her from their enjoyments. Emilia, whose feelings were +less lively, and whose imagination was less powerful, beheld the +approaching festival with calm consideration, and almost regretted the +interruption of those tranquil pleasures, which she knew to be more +congenial with her powers and disposition. + +In a few days the marchioness arrived at the castle. She was followed +by a numerous retinue, and accompanied by Ferdinand, and several of +the Italian noblesse, whom pleasure attracted to her train. Her +entrance was proclaimed by the sound of music, and those gates which +had long rusted on their hinges, were thrown open to receive her. The +courts and halls, whose aspect so lately expressed only gloom and +desolation, now shone with sudden splendour, and echoed the sounds of +gaiety and gladness. Julia surveyed the scene from an obscure window; +and as the triumphal strains filled the air, her breast throbbed; her +heart beat quick with joy, and she lost her apprehensions from the +marchioness in a sort of wild delight hitherto unknown to her. The +arrival of the marchioness seemed indeed the signal of universal and +unlimited pleasure. When the marquis came out to receive her, the +gloom that lately clouded his countenance, broke away in smiles of +welcome, which the whole company appeared to consider as invitations +to joy. + +The tranquil heart of Emilia was not proof against a scene so +alluring, and she sighed at the prospect, yet scarcely knew why. Julia +pointed out to her sister, the graceful figure of a young man who +followed the marchioness, and she expressed her wishes that he might +be her brother. From the contemplation of the scene before them, they +were summoned to meet the marchioness. Julia trembled with +apprehension, and for a few moments wished the castle was in its +former state. As they advanced through the saloon, in which they were +presented, Julia was covered with blushes; but Emilia, tho' equally +timid, preserved her graceful dignity. The marchioness received them +with a mingled smile of condescension and politeness, and immediately +the whole attention of the company was attracted by their elegance and +beauty. The eager eyes of Julia sought in vain to discover her +brother, of whose features she had no recollection in those of any of +the persons then present. At length her father presented him, and she +perceived, with a sigh of regret, that he was not the youth she had +observed from the window. He advanced with a very engaging air, and +she met him with an unfeigned welcome. His figure was tall and +majestic; he had a very noble and spirited carriage; and his +countenance expressed at once sweetness and dignity. Supper was served +in the east hall, and the tables were spread with a profusion of +delicacies. A band of music played during the repast, and the evening +concluded with a concert in the saloon. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The day of the festival, so long and so impatiently looked for by +Julia, was now arrived. All the neighbouring nobility were invited, +and the gates of the castle were thrown open for a general rejoicing. +A magnificent entertainment, consisting of the most luxurious and +expensive dishes, was served in the halls. Soft music floated along +the vaulted roofs, the walls were hung with decorations, and it seemed +as if the hand of a magician had suddenly metamorphosed this once +gloomy fabric into the palace of a fairy. The marquis, notwithstanding +the gaiety of the scene, frequently appeared abstracted from its +enjoyments, and in spite of all his efforts at cheerfulness, the +melancholy of his heart was visible in his countenance. + +In the evening there was a grand ball: the marchioness, who was still +distinguished for her beauty, and for the winning elegance of her +manners, appeared in the most splendid attire. Her hair was ornamented +with a profusion of jewels, but was so disposed as to give an air +rather of voluptuousness than of grace, to her figure. Although +conscious of her charms, she beheld the beauty of Emilia and Julia +with a jealous eye, and was compelled secretly to acknowledge, that +the simple elegance with which they were adorned, was more enchanting +than all the studied artifice of splendid decoration. They were +dressed alike in light Sicilian habits, and the beautiful luxuriance +of their flowing hair was restrained only by bandellets of pearl. The +ball was opened by Ferdinand and the lady Matilda Constanza. Emilia +danced with the young Marquis della Fazelli, and acquitted herself +with the ease and dignity so natural to her. Julia experienced a +various emotion of pleasure and fear when the Count de Vereza, in whom +she recollected the cavalier she had observed from the window, led her +forth. The grace of her step, and the elegant symmetry of her figure, +raised in the assembly a gentle murmur of applause, and the soft blush +which now stole over her cheek, gave an additional charm to her +appearance. But when the music changed, and she danced to the soft +Sicilian measure, the airy grace of her movement, and the unaffected +tenderness of her air, sunk attention into silence, which continued +for some time after the dance had ceased. The marchioness observed the +general admiration with seeming pleasure, and secret uneasiness. She +had suffered a very painful solicitude, when the Count de Vereza +selected her for his partner in the dance, and she pursued him through +the evening with an eye of jealous scrutiny. Her bosom, which before +glowed only with love, was now torn by the agitation of other passions +more violent and destructive. Her thoughts were restless, her mind +wandered from the scene before her, and it required all her address to +preserve an apparent ease. She saw, or fancied she saw, an impassioned +air in the count, when he addressed himself to Julia, that corroded +her heart with jealous fury. + +At twelve the gates of the castle were thrown open, and the company +quitted it for the woods, which were splendidly illuminated. Arcades +of light lined the long vistas, which were terminated by pyramids of +lamps that presented to the eye one bright column of flame. At +irregular distances buildings were erected, hung with variegated +lamps, disposed in the gayest and most fantastic forms. Collations +were spread under the trees; and music, touched by unseen hands, +breathed around. The musicians were placed in the most obscure and +embowered spots, so as to elude the eye and strike the imagination. +The scene appeared enchanting. Nothing met the eye but beauty and +romantic splendour; the ear received no sounds but those of mirth and +melody. The younger part of the company formed themselves into +groups, which at intervals glanced through the woods, and were again +unseen. Julia seemed the magic queen of the place. Her heart dilated +with pleasure, and diffused over her features an expression of pure +and complacent delight. A generous, frank, and exalted sentiment +sparkled in her eyes, and animated her manner. Her bosom glowed with +benevolent affections; and she seemed anxious to impart to all around +her, a happiness as unmixed as that she experienced. Wherever she +moved, admiration followed her steps. Ferdinand was as gay as the +scene around him. Emilia was pleased; and the marquis seemed to have +left his melancholy in the castle. The marchioness alone was wretched. +She supped with a select party, in a pavilion on the sea-shore, which +was fitted up with peculiar elegance. It was hung with white silk, +drawn up in festoons, and richly fringed with gold. The sofas were of +the same materials, and alternate wreaths of lamps and of roses +entwined the columns. A row of small lamps placed about the cornice, +formed an edge of light round the roof which, with the other numerous +lights, was reflected in a blaze of splendour from the large mirrors +that adorned the room. The Count Muriani was of the party;--he +complimented the marchioness on the beauty of her daughters; and after +lamenting with gaiety the captives which their charms would enthral, +he mentioned the Count de Vereza. 'He is certainly of all others the +man most deserving the lady Julia. As they danced, I thought they +exhibited a perfect model of the beauty of either sex; and if I +mistake not, they are inspired with a mutual admiration.' The +marchioness, endeavouring to conceal her uneasiness, said, 'Yes, my +lord, I allow the count all the merit you adjudge him, but from the +little I have seen of his disposition, he is too volatile for a +serious attachment.' At that instant the count entered the pavilion: +'Ah,' said Muriani, laughingly, 'you was the subject of our +conversation, and seem to be come in good time to receive the honors +allotted you. I was interceding with the marchioness for her interest +in your favor, with the lady Julia; but she absolutely refuses it; and +though she allows you merit, alleges, that you are by nature fickle +and inconstant. What say you--would not the beauty of lady Julia bind +your unsteady heart?'. + +'I know not how I have deserved that character of the marchioness,' +said the count with a smile, 'but that heart must be either fickle or +insensible in an uncommon degree, which can boast of freedom in the +presence of lady Julia.' The marchioness, mortified by the whole +conversation, now felt the full force of Vereza's reply, which she +imagined he pointed with particular emphasis. + +The entertainment concluded with a grand firework, which was exhibited +on the margin of the sea, and the company did not part till the dawn +of morning. Julia retired from the scene with regret. She was +enchanted with the new world that was now exhibited to her, and she +was not cool enough to distinguish the vivid glow of imagination from +the colours of real bliss. The pleasure she now felt she believed +would always be renewed, and in an equal degree, by the objects which +first excited it. The weakness of humanity is never willingly +perceived by young minds. It is painful to know, that we are operated +upon by objects whose impressions are variable as they are +indefinable--and that what yesterday affected us strongly, is to-day +but imperfectly felt, and to-morrow perhaps shall be disregarded. When +at length this unwelcome truth is received into the mind, we at first +reject, with disgust, every appearance of good, we disdain to partake +of a happiness which we cannot always command, and we not unfrequently +sink into a temporary despair. Wisdom or accident, at length, recal us +from our error, and offers to us some object capable of producing a +pleasing, yet lasting effect, which effect, therefore, we call +happiness. Happiness has this essential difference from what is +commonly called pleasure, that virtue forms its basis, and virtue +being the offspring of reason, may be expected to produce uniformity of +effect. + +The passions which had hitherto lain concealed in Julia's heart, +touched by circumstance, dilated to its power, and afforded her a +slight experience of the pain and delight which flow from their +influence. The beauty and accomplishments of Vereza raised in her a +new and various emotion, which reflection made her fear to encourage, +but which was too pleasing to be wholly resisted. Tremblingly alive to +a sense of delight, and unchilled by disappointment, the young heart +welcomes every feeling, not simply painful, with a romantic +expectation that it will expand into bliss. + +Julia sought with eager anxiety to discover the sentiments of Vereza +towards her; she revolved each circumstance of the day, but they +afforded her little satisfaction; they reflected only a glimmering and +uncertain light, which instead of guiding, served only to perplex her. +Now she remembered some instance of particular attention, and then +some mark of apparent indifference. She compared his conduct with that +of the other young noblesse; and thought each appeared equally +desirous of the favor of every lady present. All the ladies, however, +appeared to her to court the admiration of Vereza, and she trembled +lest he should be too sensible of the distinction. She drew from these +reflections no positive inference; and though distrust rendered pain +the predominate sensation, it was so exquisitely interwoven with +delight, that she could not wish it exchanged for her former ease. +Thoughtful and restless, sleep fled from her eyes, and she longed with +impatience for the morning, which should again present Vereza, and +enable her to pursue the enquiry. She rose early, and adorned herself +with unusual care. In her favorite closet she awaited the hour of +breakfast, and endeavoured to read, but her thoughts wandered from the +subject. Her lute and favorite airs lost half their power to please; +the day seemed to stand still--she became melancholy, and thought the +breakfast-hour would never arrive. At length the clock struck the +signal, the sound vibrated on every nerve, and trembling she quitted +the closet for her sister's apartment. Love taught her disguise. Till +then Emilia had shared all her thoughts; they now descended to the +breakfast-room in silence, and Julia almost feared to meet her eye. In +the breakfast-room they were alone. Julia found it impossible to +support a conversation with Emilia, whose observations interrupting +the course of her thoughts, became uninteresting and tiresome. She was +therefore about to retire to her closet, when the marquis entered. His +air was haughty, and his look severe. He coldly saluted his daughters, +and they had scarcely time to reply to his general enquiries, when the +marchioness entered, and the company soon after assembled. Julia, who +had awaited with so painful an impatience for the moment which should +present Vereza to her sight, now sighed that it was arrived. She +scarcely dared to lift her timid eyes from the ground, and when by +accident they met his, a soft tremour seized her; and apprehension +lest he should discover her sentiments, served only to render her +confusion conspicuous. At length, a glance from the marchioness +recalled her bewildered thoughts; and other fears superseding those of +love, her mind, by degrees, recovered its dignity. She could +distinguish in the behaviour of Vereza no symptoms of particular +admiration, and she resolved to conduct herself towards him with the +most scrupulous care. + +This day, like the preceding one, was devoted to joy. In the evening +there was a concert, which was chiefly performed by the nobility. +Ferdinand played the violoncello, Vereza the German flute, and Julia +the piana-forte, which she touched with a delicacy and execution that +engaged every auditor. The confusion of Julia may be easily imagined, +when Ferdinand, selecting a beautiful duet, desired Vereza would +accompany his sister. The pride of conscious excellence, however, +quickly overcame her timidity, and enabled her to exert all her +powers. The air was simple and pathetic, and she gave it those charms +of expression so peculiarly her own. She struck the chords of her +piana-forte in beautiful accompaniment, and towards the close of the +second stanza, her voice resting on one note, swelled into a tone so +exquisite, and from thence descended to a few simple notes, which she +touched with such impassioned tenderness that every eye wept to the +sounds. The breath of the flute trembled, and Hippolitus entranced, +forgot to play. A pause of silence ensued at the conclusion of the +piece, and continued till a general sigh seemed to awaken the audience +from their enchantment. Amid the general applause, Hippolitus was +silent. Julia observed his behaviour, and gently raising her eyes to +his, there read the sentiments which she had inspired. An exquisite +emotion thrilled her heart, and she experienced one of those rare +moments which illuminate life with a ray of bliss, by which the +darkness of its general shade is contrasted. Care, doubt, every +disagreeable sensation vanished, and for the remainder of the evening +she was conscious only of delight. A timid respect marked the manner +of Hippolitus, more flattering to Julia than the most ardent +professions. The evening concluded with a ball, and Julia was again +the partner of the count. + +When the ball broke up, she retired to her apartment, but not to +sleep. Joy is as restless as anxiety or sorrow. She seemed to have +entered upon a new state of existence;--those fine springs of +affection which had hitherto lain concealed, were now touched, and +yielded to her a happiness more exalted than any her imagination had +ever painted. She reflected on the tranquillity of her past life, and +comparing it with the emotions of the present hour, exulted in the +difference. All her former pleasures now appeared insipid; she +wondered that they ever had power to affect her, and that she had +endured with content the dull uniformity to which she had been +condemned. It was now only that she appeared to live. Absorbed in the +single idea of being beloved, her imagination soared into the regions +of romantic bliss, and bore her high above the possibility of evil. +Since she was beloved by Hippolitus, she could only be happy. + +From this state of entranced delight, she was awakened by the sound of +music immediately under her window. It was a lute touched by a +masterly hand. After a wild and melancholy symphony, a voice of more +than magic expression swelled into an air so pathetic and tender, that +it seemed to breathe the very soul of love. The chords of the lute +were struck in low and sweet accompaniment. Julia listened, and +distinguished the following words; + + SONNET + + Still is the night-breeze!--not a lonely sound + Steals through the silence of this dreary hour; + O'er these high battlements Sleep reigns profound, + And sheds on all, his sweet oblivious power. + On all but me--I vainly ask his dews + To steep in short forgetfulness my cares. + Th' affrighted god still flies when Love pursues, + Still--still denies the wretched lover's prayers. + +An interval of silence followed, and the air was repeated; after which +the music was heard no more. If before Julia believed that she was +loved by Hippolitus, she was now confirmed in the sweet reality. But +sleep at length fell upon her senses, and the airy forms of ideal +bliss no longer fleeted before her imagination. Morning came, and she +arose light and refreshed. How different were her present sensations +from those of the preceding day. Her anxiety had now evaporated in +joy, and she experienced that airy dance of spirits which accumulates +delight from every object; and with a power like the touch of +enchantment, can transform a gloomy desert into a smiling Eden. She +flew to the breakfast-room, scarcely conscious of motion; but, as she +entered it, a soft confusion overcame her; she blushed, and almost +feared to meet the eyes of Vereza. She was presently relieved, +however, for the Count was not there. The company assembled--Julia +watched the entrance of every person with painful anxiety, but he for +whom she looked did not appear. Surprised and uneasy, she fixed her +eyes on the door, and whenever it opened, her heart beat with an +expectation which was as often checked by disappointment. In spite of +all her efforts, her vivacity sunk into languor, and she then +perceived that love may produce other sensations than those of +delight. She found it possible to be unhappy, though loved by +Hippolitus; and acknowledged with a sigh of regret, which was yet new +to her, how tremblingly her peace depended upon him. He neither +appeared nor was mentioned at breakfast; but though delicacy prevented +her enquiring after him, conversation soon became irksome to her, and +she retired to the apartment of Madame de Menon. There she employed +herself in painting, and endeavoured to beguile the time till the hour +of dinner, when she hoped to see Hippolitus. Madame was, as usual, +friendly and cheerful, but she perceived a reserve in the conduct of +Julia, and penetrated without difficulty into its cause. She was, +however, ignorant of the object of her pupil's admiration. The hour so +eagerly desired by Julia at length arrived, and with a palpitating +heart she entered the hall. The Count was not there, and in the course +of conversation, she learned that he had that morning sailed for +Naples. The scene which so lately appeared enchanting to her eyes, now +changed its hue; and in the midst of society, and surrounded by +gaiety, she was solitary and dejected. She accused herself of having +suffered her wishes to mislead her judgment; and the present conduct +of Hippolitus convinced her, that she had mistaken admiration for a +sentiment more tender. She believed, too, that the musician who had +addressed her in his sonnet, was not the Count; and thus at once was +dissolved all the ideal fabric of her happiness. How short a period +often reverses the character of our sentiments, rendering that which +yesterday we despised, to-day desirable. The tranquil state which she +had so lately delighted to quit, she now reflected upon with regret. +She had, however, the consolation of believing that her sentiments +towards the Count were unknown, and the sweet consciousness that her +conduct had been governed by a nice sense of propriety. + +The public rejoicings at the castle closed with the week; but the gay +spirit of the marchioness forbade a return to tranquillity; and she +substituted diversions more private, but in splendour scarcely +inferior to the preceding ones. She had observed the behaviour of +Hippolitus on the night of the concert with chagrin, and his +departure with sorrow; yet, disdaining to perpetuate misfortune by +reflection, she sought to lose the sense of disappointment in the +hurry of dissipation. But her efforts to erase him from her +remembrance were ineffectual. Unaccustomed to oppose the bent of her +inclinations, they now maintained unbounded sway; and she found too +late, that in order to have a due command of our passions, it is +necessary to subject them to early obedience. Passion, in its undue +influence, produces weakness as well as injustice. The pain which now +recoiled upon her heart from disappointment, she had not strength of +mind to endure, and she sought relief from its pressure in afflicting +the innocent. Julia, whose beauty she imagined had captivated the +count, and confirmed him in indifference towards herself, she +incessantly tormented by the exercise of those various and splenetic +little arts which elude the eye of the common observer, and are only +to be known by those who have felt them. Arts, which individually are +inconsiderable, but in the aggregate amount to a cruel and decisive +effect. + +From Julia's mind the idea of happiness was now faded. Pleasure had +withdrawn her beam from the prospect, and the objects no longer +illumined by her ray, became dark and colourless. As often as her +situation would permit, she withdrew from society, and sought the +freedom of solitude, where she could indulge in melancholy thoughts, +and give a loose to that despair which is so apt to follow the +disappointment of our first hopes. + +Week after week elapsed, yet no mention was made of returning to +Naples. The marquis at length declared it his intention to spend the +remainder of the summer in the castle. To this determination the +marchioness submitted with decent resignation, for she was here +surrounded by a croud of flatterers, and her invention supplied her +with continual diversions: that gaiety which rendered Naples so dear +to her, glittered in the woods of Mazzini, and resounded through the +castle. + +The apartments of Madame de Menon were spacious and noble. The windows +opened upon the sea, and commanded a view of the straits of Messina, +bounded on one side by the beautiful shores of the isle of Sicily, and +on the other by the high mountains of Calabria. The straits, filled +with vessels whose gay streamers glittered to the sun-beam, presented +to the eye an ever-moving scene. The principal room opened upon a +gallery that overhung the grand terrace of the castle, and it +commanded a prospect which for beauty and extent has seldom been +equalled. These were formerly considered the chief apartments of the +castle; and when the Marquis quitted them for Naples, were allotted +for the residence of Madame de Menon, and her young charge. The +marchioness, struck with the prospect which the windows afforded, and +with the pleasantness of the gallery, determined to restore the rooms +to their former splendour. She signified this intention to madame, for +whom other apartments were provided. The chambers of Emilia and Julia +forming part of the suite, they were also claimed by the marchioness, +who left Julia only her favorite closet. The rooms to which they +removed were spacious, but gloomy; they had been for some years +uninhabited; and though preparations had been made for the reception +of their new inhabitants, an air of desolation reigned within them +that inspired melancholy sensations. Julia observed that her chamber, +which opened beyond madame's, formed a part of the southern building, +with which, however, there appeared no means of communication. The +late mysterious circumstances relating to this part of the fabric, now +arose to her imagination, and conjured up a terror which reason could +not subdue. She told her emotions to madame, who, with more prudence +than sincerity, laughed at her fears. The behaviour of the marquis, +the dying words of Vincent, together with the preceding circumstances +of alarm, had sunk deep in the mind of madame, but she saw the +necessity of confining to her own breast doubts which time only could +resolve. + +Julia endeavoured to reconcile herself to the change, and a +circumstance soon occurred which obliterated her present sensations, +and excited others far more interesting. One day that she was +arranging some papers in the small drawers of a cabinet that stood in +her apartment, she found a picture which fixed all her attention. It +was a miniature of a lady, whose countenance was touched with sorrow, +and expressed an air of dignified resignation. The mournful sweetness +of her eyes, raised towards Heaven with a look of supplication, and +the melancholy languor that shaded her features, so deeply affected +Julia, that her eyes were filled with involuntary tears. She sighed +and wept, still gazing on the picture, which seemed to engage her by a +kind of fascination. She almost fancied that the portrait breathed, +and that the eyes were fixed on hers with a look of penetrating +softness. Full of the emotions which the miniature had excited, she +presented it to madame, whose mingled sorrow and surprise increased +her curiosity. But what were the various sensations which pressed upon +her heart, on learning that she had wept over the resemblance of her +mother! Deprived of a mother's tenderness before she was sensible of +its value, it was now only that she mourned the event which +lamentation could not recall. Emilia, with an emotion as exquisite, +mingled her tears with those of her sister. With eager impatience they +pressed madame to disclose the cause of that sorrow which so +emphatically marked the features of their mother. + +'Alas! my dear children,' said madame, deeply sighing, 'you engage me +in a task too severe, not only for your peace, but for mine; since in +giving you the information you require, I must retrace scenes of my +own life, which I wish for ever obliterated. It would, however, be +both cruel and unjust to withhold an explanation so nearly interesting +to you, and I will sacrifice my own ease to your wishes. + +'Louisa de Bernini, your mother, was, as you well know, the only +daughter of the Count de Bernini. Of the misfortunes of your family, I +believe you are yet ignorant. The chief estates of the count were +situated in the _Val di Demona_, a valley deriving its name from its +vicinity to Mount AEtna, which vulgar tradition has peopled with +devils. In one of those dreadful eruptions of AEtna, which deluged +this valley with a flood of fire, a great part of your grandfather's +domains in that quarter were laid waste. The count was at that time +with a part of his family at Messina, but the countess and her son, +who were in the country, were destroyed. The remaining property of the +count was proportionably inconsiderable, and the loss of his wife and +son deeply affected him. He retired with Louisa, his only surviving +child, who was then near fifteen, to a small estate near Cattania. +There was some degree of relationship between your grandfather and +myself; and your mother was attached to me by the ties of sentiment, +which, as we grew up, united us still more strongly than those of +blood. Our pleasures and our tastes were the same; and a similarity of +misfortunes might, perhaps, contribute to cement our early friendship. +I, like herself, had lost a parent in the eruption of AEtna. My mother +had died before I understood her value; but my father, whom I revered +and tenderly loved, was destroyed by one of those terrible events; his +lands were buried beneath the lava, and he left an only son and myself +to mourn his fate, and encounter the evils of poverty. The count, who +was our nearest surviving relation, generously took us home to his +house, and declared that he considered us as his children. To amuse +his leisure hours, he undertook to finish the education of my brother, +who was then about seventeen, and whose rising genius promised to +reward the labours of the count. Louisa and myself often shared the +instruction of her father, and at those hours Orlando was generally of +the party. The tranquil retirement of the count's situation, the +rational employment of his time between his own studies, the education +of those whom he called his children, and the conversation of a few +select friends, anticipated the effect of time, and softened the +asperities of his distress into a tender complacent melancholy. As for +Louisa and myself, who were yet new in life, and whose spirits +possessed the happy elasticity of youth, our minds gradually shifted +from suffering to tranquillity, and from tranquillity to happiness. I +have sometimes thought that when my brother has been reading to her a +delightful passage, the countenance of Louisa discovered a tender +interest, which seemed to be excited rather by the reader than by the +author. These days, which were surely the most enviable of our lives, +now passed in serene enjoyments, and in continual gradations of +improvement. + +'The count designed my brother for the army, and the time now drew +nigh when he was to join the Sicilian regiment, in which he had a +commission. The absent thoughts, and dejected spirits of my cousin, +now discovered to me the secret which had long been concealed even +from herself; for it was not till Orlando was about to depart, that +she perceived how dear he was to her peace. On the eve of his +departure, the count lamented, with fatherly yet manly tenderness, the +distance which was soon to separate us. "But we shall meet again," +said he, "when the honors of war shall have rewarded the bravery of my +son." Louisa grew pale, a half suppressed sigh escaped her, and, to +conceal her emotion, she turned to her harpsichord. + +'My brother had a favorite dog, which, before he set off, he presented +to Louisa, and committing it to her care, begged she would be kind to +it, and sometimes remember its master. He checked his rising emotion, +but as he turned from her, I perceived the tear that wetted his cheek. +He departed, and with him the spirit of our happiness seemed to +evaporate. The scenes which his presence had formerly enlivened, were +now forlorn and melancholy, yet we loved to wander in what were once +his favorite haunts. Louisa forbore to mention my brother even to me, +but frequently, when she thought herself unobserved, she would steal +to her harpsichord, and repeat the strain which she had played on the +evening before his departure. + +'We had the pleasure to hear from time to time that he was well: and +though his own modesty threw a veil over his conduct, we could collect +from other accounts that he had behaved with great bravery. At length +the time of his return approached, and the enlivened spirits of Louisa +declared the influence he retained in her heart. He returned, bearing +public testimony of his valour in the honors which had been conferred +upon him. He was received with universal joy; the count welcomed him +with the pride and fondness of a father, and the villa became again +the seat of happiness. His person and manners were much improved; the +elegant beauty of the youth was now exchanged for the graceful dignity +of manhood, and some knowledge of the world was added to that of the +sciences. The joy which illumined his countenance when he met Louisa, +spoke at once his admiration and his love; and the blush which her +observation of it brought upon her cheek, would have discovered, even +to an uninterested spectator, that this joy was mutual. + +'Orlando brought with him a young Frenchman, a brother officer, who +had rescued him from imminent danger in battle, and whom he introduced +to the count as his preserver. The count received him with gratitude +and distinction, and he was for a considerable time an inmate at the +villa. His manners were singularly pleasing, and his understanding was +cultivated and refined. He soon discovered a partiality for me, and he +was indeed too pleasing to be seen with indifference. Gratitude for +the valuable life he had preserved, was perhaps the groundwork of an +esteem which soon increased into the most affectionate love. Our +attachment grew stronger as our acquaintance increased; and at length +the chevalier de Menon asked me of the count, who consulted my heart, +and finding it favorable to the connection, proceeded to make the +necessary enquiries concerning the family of the stranger. He obtained +a satisfactory and pleasing account of it. The chevalier was the +second son of a French gentleman of large estates in France, who had +been some years deceased. He had left several sons; the family-estate, +of course, devolved to the eldest, but to the two younger he +had bequeathed considerable property. Our marriage was solemnized in a +private manner at the villa, in the presence of the count, Louisa, and +my brother. Soon after the nuptials, my husband and Orlando were +remanded to their regiments. My brother's affections were now +unalterably fixed upon Louisa, but a sentiment of delicacy and +generosity still kept him silent. He thought, poor as he was, to +solicit the hand of Louisa, would be to repay the kindness of the +count with ingratitude. I have seen the inward struggles of his heart, +and mine has bled for him. The count and Louisa so earnestly solicited +me to remain at the villa during the campaign, that at length my +husband consented. We parted--O! let me forget that period!--Had I +accompanied him, all might have been well; and the long, long years of +affliction which followed had been spared me.' + +The horn now sounded the signal for dinner, and interrupted the +narrative of Madame. Her beauteous auditors wiped the tears from their +eyes, and with extreme reluctance descended to the hall. The day was +occupied with company and diversions, and it was not till late in the +evening that they were suffered to retire. They hastened to madame +immediately upon their being released; and too much interested for +sleep, and too importunate to be repulsed, solicited the sequel of her +story. She objected the lateness of the hour, but at length yielded to +their entreaties. They drew their chairs close to hers; and every +sense being absorbed in the single one of hearing, followed her +through the course of her narrative. + +'My brother again departed without disclosing his sentiments; the +effort it cost him was evident, but his sense of honor surmounted +every opposing consideration. Louisa again drooped, and pined in +silent sorrow. I lamented equally for my friend and my brother; and +have a thousand times accused that delicacy as false, which withheld +them from the happiness they might so easily and so innocently have +obtained. The behaviour of the count, at least to my eye, seemed to +indicate the satisfaction which this union would have given him. It +was about this period that the marquis Mazzini first saw and became +enamoured of Louisa. His proposals were very flattering, but the +count forbore to exert the undue authority of a father; and he ceased +to press the connection, when he perceived that Louisa was really +averse to it. Louisa was sensible of the generosity of his conduct, +and she could scarcely reject the alliance without a sigh, which her +gratitude paid to the kindness of her father. + +'But an event now happened which dissolved at once our happiness, and +all our air-drawn schemes for futurity. A dispute, which it seems +originated in a trifle, but soon increased to a serious degree, arose +between the _Chevalier de Menon_ and my brother. It was decided by the +sword, and my dear brother fell by the hand of my husband. I shall +pass over this period of my life. It is too painful for recollection. +The effect of this event upon Louisa was such as may be imagined. The +world was now become indifferent to her, and as she had no prospect of +happiness for herself, she was unwilling to withhold it from the +father who had deserved so much of her. After some time, when the +marquis renewed his addresses, she gave him her hand. The characters +of the marquis and his lady were in their nature too opposite to form +a happy union. Of this Louisa was very soon sensible; and though the +mildness of her disposition made her tamely submit to the unfeeling +authority of her husband, his behaviour sunk deep in her heart, and +she pined in secret. It was impossible for her to avoid opposing the +character of the marquis to that of him upon whom her affections had +been so fondly and so justly fixed. The comparison increased her +sufferings, which soon preyed upon her constitution, and very visibly +affected her health. Her situation deeply afflicted the count, and +united with the infirmities of age to shorten his life. + +'Upon his death, I bade adieu to my cousin, and quitted Sicily for +Italy, where the Chevalier de Menon had for some time expected me. Our +meeting was very affecting. My resentment towards him was done away, +when I observed his pale and altered countenance, and perceived the +melancholy which preyed upon his heart. All the airy vivacity of his +former manner was fled, and he was devoured by unavailing grief and +remorse. He deplored with unceasing sorrow the friend he had murdered, +and my presence seemed to open afresh the wounds which time had begun +to close. His affliction, united with my own, was almost more than I +could support, but I was doomed to suffer, and endure yet more. In a +subsequent engagement my husband, weary of existence, rushed into the +heat of battle, and there obtained an honorable death. In a paper +which he left behind him, he said it was his intention to die in that +battle; that he had long wished for death, and waited for an +opportunity of obtaining it without staining his own character by the +cowardice of suicide, or distressing me by an act of butchery. This +event gave the finishing stroke to my afflictions;--yet let me +retract;--another misfortune awaited me when I least expected one. The +_Chevalier de Menon_ died without a will, and his brothers refused to +give up his estate, unless I could produce a witness of my marriage. I +returned to Sicily, and, to my inexpressible sorrow, found that your +mother had died during my stay abroad, a prey, I fear, to grief. The +priest who performed the ceremony of my marriage, having been +threatened with punishment for some ecclesiastical offences, had +secretly left the country; and thus was I deprived of those proofs +which were necessary to authenticate my claims to the estates of my +husband. His brothers, to whom I was an utter stranger, were either +too prejudiced to believe, or believing, were too dishonorable to +acknowledge the justice of my claims. I was therefore at once +abandoned to sorrow and to poverty; a small legacy from the count de +Bernini being all that now remained to me. + +'When the marquis married Maria de Vellorno, which was about this +period, he designed to quit Mazzini for Naples. His son was to +accompany him, but it was his intention to leave you, who were both +very young, to the care of some person qualified to superintend your +education. My circumstances rendered the office acceptable, and my +former friendship for your mother made the duty pleasing to me. The +marquis was, I believe, glad to be spared the trouble of searching +further for what he had hitherto found it difficult to obtain--a +person whom inclination as well as duty would bind to his interest.' + +Madame ceased to speak, and Emilia and Julia wept to the memory of the +mother, whose misfortunes this story recorded. The sufferings of +madame, together with her former friendship for the late marchioness, +endeared her to her pupils, who from this period endeavoured by every +kind and delicate attention to obliterate the traces of her sorrows. +Madame was sensible of this tenderness, and it was productive in some +degree of the effect desired. But a subject soon after occurred, which +drew off their minds from the consideration of their mother's fate to +a subject more wonderful and equally interesting. + +One night that Emilia and Julia had been detained by company, in +ceremonial restraint, later than usual, they were induced, by the easy +conversation of madame, and by the pleasure which a return to liberty +naturally produces, to defer the hour of repose till the night was far +advanced. They were engaged in interesting discourse, when madame, +who was then speaking, was interrupted by a low hollow sound, which +arose from beneath the apartment, and seemed like the closing of a +door. Chilled into a silence, they listened and distinctly heard it +repeated. Deadly ideas crowded upon their imaginations, and inspired a +terror which scarcely allowed them to breathe. The noise lasted only +for a moment, and a profound silence soon ensued. Their feelings at +length relaxed, and suffered them to move to Emilia's apartment, when +again they heard the same sounds. Almost distracted with fear, they +rushed into madame's apartment, where Emilia sunk upon the bed and +fainted. It was a considerable time ere the efforts of madame recalled +her to sensation. When they were again tranquil, she employed all her +endeavours to compose the spirits of the young ladies, and dissuade +them from alarming the castle. Involved in dark and fearful doubts, +she yet commanded her feelings, and endeavoured to assume an +appearance of composure. The late behaviour of the marquis had +convinced her that he was nearly connected with the mystery which hung +over this part of the edifice; and she dreaded to excite his +resentment by a further mention of alarms, which were perhaps only +ideal, and whose reality she had certainly no means of proving. + +Influenced by these considerations, she endeavoured to prevail on +Emilia and Julia to await in silence some confirmation of their +surmises; but their terror made this a very difficult task. They +acquiesced, however, so far with her wishes, as to agree to conceal +the preceding circumstances from every person but their brother, +without whose protecting presence they declared it utterly impossible +to pass another night in the apartments. For the remainder of this +night they resolved to watch. To beguile the tediousness of the time +they endeavoured to converse, but the minds of Emilia and Julia were +too much affected by the late occurrence to wander from the subject. +They compared this with the foregoing circumstance of the figure and +the light which had appeared; their imaginations kindled wild +conjectures, and they submitted their opinions to madame, entreating +her to inform them sincerely, whether she believed that disembodied +spirits were ever permitted to visit this earth. + +'My children,' said she, 'I will not attempt to persuade you that the +existence of such spirits is impossible. Who shall say that any thing +is impossible to God? We know that he has made us, who are embodied +spirits; he, therefore, can make unembodied spirits. If we cannot +understand how such spirits exist, we should consider the limited +powers of our minds, and that we cannot understand many things which +are indisputably true. No one yet knows why the magnetic needle points +to the north; yet you, who have never seen a magnet, do not hesitate +to believe that it has this tendency, because you have been well +assured of it, both from books and in conversation. Since, therefore, +we are sure that nothing is impossible to God, and that such beings +_may_ exist, though we cannot tell how, we ought to consider by what +evidence their existence is supported. I do not say that spirits +_have_ appeared; but if several discreet unprejudiced persons were to +assure me that they had seen one, I should not be proud or bold enough +to reply--'it is impossible.' Let not, however, such considerations +disturb your minds. I have said thus much, because I was unwilling to +impose upon your understandings; it is now your part to exercise your +reason, and preserve the unmoved confidence of virtue. Such spirits, +if indeed they have ever been seen, can have appeared only by the +express permission of God, and for some very singular purposes; be +assured that there are no beings who act unseen by him; and that, +therefore, there are none from whom innocence can ever suffer harm.' + +No further sounds disturbed them for that time; and before the morning +dawned, weariness insensibly overcame apprehension, and sunk them in +repose. + +When Ferdinand learned the circumstances relative to the southern side +of the castle, his imagination seized with avidity each appearance of +mystery, and inspired him with an irresistible desire to penetrate the +secrets of his desolate part of the fabric. He very readily consented +to watch with his sisters in Julia's apartment; but as his chamber was +in a remote part of the castle, there would be some difficulty in +passing unobserved to her's. It was agreed, however, that when all was +hushed, he should make the attempt. Having thus resolved, Emilia and +Julia waited the return of night with restless and fearful impatience. + +At length the family retired to rest. The castle clock had struck one, +and Julia began to fear that Ferdinand had been discovered, when a +knocking was heard at the door of the outer chamber. + +Her heart beat with apprehensions, which reason could not justify. +Madame rose, and enquiring who was there, was answered by the voice of +Ferdinand. The door was cheerfully opened. They drew their chairs +round him, and endeavoured to pass the time in conversation; but fear +and expectation attracted all their thoughts to one subject, and +madame alone preserved her composure. The hour was now come when the +sounds had been heard the preceding night, and every ear was given to +attention. All, however, remained quiet, and the night passed without +any new alarm. + +The greater part of several succeeding nights were spent in watching, +but no sounds disturbed their silence. Ferdinand, in whose mind the +late circumstances had excited a degree of astonishment and curiosity +superior to common obstacles, determined, if possible, to gain +admittance to those recesses of the castle, which had for so many +years been hid from human eye. This, however, was a design which he +saw little probability of accomplishing, for the keys of that part of +the edifice were in the possession of the marquis, of whose late +conduct he judged too well to believe he would suffer the apartments +to be explored. He racked his invention for the means of getting +access to them, and at length recollected that Julia's chamber formed +a part of these buildings, it occurred to him, that according to the +mode of building in old times, there might formerly have been a +communication between them. This consideration suggested to him the +possibility of a concealed door in her apartment, and he determined to +survey it on the following night with great care. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The castle was buried in sleep when Ferdinand again joined his sisters +in madame's apartment. With anxious curiosity they followed him to the +chamber. The room was hung with tapestry. Ferdinand carefully sounded +the wall which communicated with the southern buildings. From one part +of it a sound was returned, which convinced him there was something +less solid than stone. He removed the tapestry, and behind it +appeared, to his inexpressible satisfaction, a small door. With a hand +trembling through eagerness, he undrew the bolts, and was rushing +forward, when he perceived that a lock withheld his passage. The keys +of madame and his sisters were applied in vain, and he was compelled +to submit to disappointment at the very moment when he congratulated +himself on success, for he had with him no means of forcing the door. + +He stood gazing on the door, and inwardly lamenting, when a low hollow +sound was heard from beneath. Emilia and Julia seized his arm; and +almost sinking with apprehension, listened in profound silence. A +footstep was distinctly heard, as if passing through the apartment +below, after which all was still. Ferdinand, fired by this +confirmation of the late report, rushed on to the door, and again +tried to burst his way, but it resisted all the efforts of his +strength. The ladies now rejoiced in that circumstance which they so +lately lamented; for the sounds had renewed their terror, and though +the night passed without further disturbance, their fears were very +little abated. + +Ferdinand, whose mind was wholly occupied with wonder, could with +difficulty await the return of night. Emilia and Julia were scarcely +less impatient. They counted the minutes as they passed; and when the +family retired to rest, hastened with palpitating hearts to the +apartment of madame. They were soon after joined by Ferdinand, who +brought with him tools for cutting away the lock of the door. They +paused a few moments in the chamber in fearful silence, but no sound +disturbed the stillness of night. Ferdinand applied a knife to the +door, and in a short time separated the lock. The door yielded, and +disclosed a large and gloomy gallery. He took a light. Emilia and +Julia, fearful of remaining in the chamber, resolved to accompany him, +and each seizing an arm of madame, they followed in silence. The +gallery was in many parts falling to decay, the ceiling was broke, and +the window-shutters shattered, which, together with the dampness of +the walls, gave the place an air of wild desolation. + +They passed lightly on, for their steps ran in whispering echoes +through the gallery, and often did Julia cast a fearful glance around. + +The gallery terminated in a large old stair-case, which led to a hall +below; on the left appeared several doors which seemed to lead to +separate apartments. While they hesitated which course to pursue, a +light flashed faintly up the stair-case, and in a moment after passed +away; at the same time was heard the sound of a distant footstep. +Ferdinand drew his sword and sprang forward; his companions, screaming +with terror, ran back to madame's apartment. + +Ferdinand descended a large vaulted hall; he crossed it towards a low +arched door, which was left half open, and through which streamed a +ray of light. The door opened upon a narrow winding passage; he +entered, and the light retiring, was quickly lost in the windings of +the place. Still he went on. The passage grew narrower, and the +frequent fragments of loose stone made it now difficult to proceed. A +low door closed the avenue, resembling that by which he had entered. +He opened it, and discovered a square room, from whence rose a winding +stair-case, which led up the south tower of the castle. Ferdinand +paused to listen; the sound of steps was ceased, and all was +profoundly silent. A door on the right attracted his notice; he tried +to open it, but it was fastened. He concluded, therefore, that the +person, if indeed a human being it was that bore the light he had +seen, had passed up the tower. After a momentary hesitation, he +determined to ascend the stair-case, but its ruinous condition made +this an adventure of some difficulty. The steps were decayed and +broken, and the looseness of the stones rendered a footing very +insecure. Impelled by an irresistible curiosity, he was undismayed, +and began the ascent. He had not proceeded very far, when the stones +of a step which his foot had just quitted, loosened by his weight, +gave way; and dragging with them those adjoining, formed a chasm in +the stair-case that terrified even Ferdinand, who was left tottering +on the suspended half of the steps, in momentary expectation of +falling to the bottom with the stone on which he rested. In the terror +which this occasioned, he attempted to save himself by catching at a +kind of beam which projected over the stairs, when the lamp dropped +from his hand, and he was left in total darkness. Terror now usurped +the place of every other interest, and he was utterly perplexed how to +proceed. He feared to go on, lest the steps above, as infirm as those +below, should yield to his weight;--to return was impracticable, for +the darkness precluded the possibility of discovering a means. He +determined, therefore, to remain in this situation till light should +dawn through the narrow grates in the walls, and enable him to +contrive some method of letting himself down to the ground. + +He had remained here above an hour, when he suddenly heard a voice +from below. It seemed to come from the passage leading to the tower, +and perceptibly drew nearer. His agitation was now extreme, for he +had no power of defending himself, and while he remained in this state +of torturing expectation, a blaze of light burst upon the stair-case +beneath him. In the succeeding moment he heard his own name sounded +from below. His apprehensions instantly vanished, for he distinguished +the voices of madame and his sisters. + +They had awaited his return in all the horrors of apprehension, till +at length all fear for themselves was lost in their concern for him; +and they, who so lately had not dared to enter this part of the +edifice, now undauntedly searched it in quest of Ferdinand. What were +their emotions when they discovered his perilous situation! + +The light now enabled him to take a more accurate survey of the place. +He perceived that some few stones of the steps which had fallen still +remained attached to the wall, but he feared to trust to their support +only. He observed, however, that the wall itself was partly decayed, +and consequently rugged with the corners of half-worn stones. On these +small projections he contrived, with the assistance of the steps +already mentioned, to suspend himself, and at length gained the +unbroken part of the stairs in safety. It is difficult to determine +which individual of the party rejoiced most at this escape. The +morning now dawned, and Ferdinand desisted for the present from +farther enquiry. + +The interest which these mysterious circumstances excited in the mind +of Julia, had withdrawn her attention from a subject more dangerous to +its peace. The image of Vereza, notwithstanding, would frequently +intrude upon her fancy; and, awakening the recollection of happy +emotions, would call forth a sigh which all her efforts could not +suppress. She loved to indulge the melancholy of her heart in the +solitude of the woods. One evening she took her lute to a favorite +spot on the seashore, and resigning herself to a pleasing sadness, +touched some sweet and plaintive airs. The purple flush of evening was +diffused over the heavens. The sun, involved in clouds of splendid and +innumerable hues, was setting o'er the distant waters, whose clear +bosom glowed with rich reflection. The beauty of the scene, the +soothing murmur of the high trees, waved by the light air which +overshadowed her, and the soft shelling of the waves that flowed +gently in upon the shores, insensibly sunk her mind into a state of +repose. She touched the chords of her lute in sweet and wild melody, +and sung the following ode: + + EVENING + + Evening veil'd in dewy shades, + Slowly sinks upon the main; + See th'empurpled glory fades, + Beneath her sober, chasten'd reign. + + Around her car the pensive Hours, + In sweet illapses meet the sight, + Crown'd their brows with closing flow'rs + Rich with chrystal dews of night. + + Her hands, the dusky hues arrange + O'er the fine tints of parting day; + Insensibly the colours change, + And languish into soft decay. + + Wide o'er the waves her shadowy veil she draws. + As faint they die along the distant shores; + Through the still air I mark each solemn pause, + Each rising murmur which the wild wave pours. + + A browner shadow spreads upon the air, + And o'er the scene a pensive grandeur throws; + The rocks--the woods a wilder beauty wear, + And the deep wave in softer music flows; + + And now the distant view where vision fails, + Twilight and grey obscurity pervade; + Tint following tint each dark'ning object veils, + Till all the landscape sinks into the shade. + + Oft from the airy steep of some lone hill, + While sleeps the scene beneath the purple glow: + And evening lives o'er all serene and still, + Wrapt let me view the magic world below! + + And catch the dying gale that swells remote, + That steals the sweetness from the shepherd's flute: + The distant torrent's melancholy note + And the soft warblings of the lover's lute. + + Still through the deep'ning gloom of bow'ry shades + To Fancy's eye fantastic forms appear; + Low whisp'ring echoes steal along the glades + And thrill the ear with wildly-pleasing fear. + + Parent of shades!--of silence!--dewy airs! + Of solemn musing, and of vision wild! + To thee my soul her pensive tribute bears, + And hails thy gradual step, thy influence mild. + +Having ceased to sing, her fingers wandered over the lute in +melancholy symphony, and for some moments she remained lost in the +sweet sensations which the music and the scenery had inspired. She was +awakened from her reverie, by a sigh that stole from among the trees, +and directing her eyes whence it came, beheld--Hippolitus! A thousand +sweet and mingled emotions pressed upon her heart, yet she scarcely +dared to trust the evidence of sight. He advanced, and throwing +himself at her feet: 'Suffer me,' said he, in a tremulous voice, 'to +disclose to you the sentiments which you have inspired, and to offer +you the effusions of a heart filled only with love and admiration.' +'Rise, my lord,' said Julia, moving from her seat with an air of +dignity, 'that attitude is neither becoming you to use, or me to +suffer. The evening is closing, and Ferdinand will be impatient to see +you.' + +'Never will I rise, madam,' replied the count, with an impassioned +air, 'till'--He was interrupted by the marchioness, who at this moment +entered the grove. On observing the position of the count she was +retiring. 'Stay, madam,' said Julia, almost sinking under her +confusion. 'By no means,' replied the marchioness, in a tone of irony, +'my presence would only interrupt a very agreeable scene. The count, I +see, is willing to pay you his earliest respects.' Saying this she +disappeared, leaving Julia distressed and offended, and the count +provoked at the intrusion. He attempted to renew the subject, but +Julia hastily followed the steps of the marchioness, and entered the +castle. + +The scene she had witnessed, raised in the marchioness a tumult of +dreadful emotions. Love, hatred, and jealousy, raged by turns in her +heart, and defied all power of controul. Subjected to their alternate +violence, she experienced a misery more acute than any she had yet +known. Her imagination, invigorated by opposition, heightened to her +the graces of Hippolitus; her bosom glowed with more intense passion, +and her brain was at length exasperated almost to madness. + +In Julia this sudden and unexpected interview excited a mingled +emotion of love and vexation, which did not soon subside. At length, +however, the delightful consciousness of Vereza's love bore her high +above every other sensation; again the scene more brightly glowed, and +again her fancy overcame the possibility of evil. + +During the evening a tender and timid respect distinguished the +behaviour of the count towards Julia, who, contented with the +certainty of being loved, resolved to conceal her sentiments till an +explanation of his abrupt departure from Mazzini, and subsequent +absence, should have dissipated the shadow of mystery which hung over +this part of his conduct. She observed that the marchioness pursued +her with steady and constant observation, and she carefully avoided +affording the count an opportunity of renewing the subject of the +preceding interview, which, whenever he approached her, seemed to +tremble on his lips. + +Night returned, and Ferdinand repaired to the chamber of Julia to +pursue his enquiry. Here he had not long remained, when the strange +and alarming sounds which had been heard on the preceding night were +repeated. The circumstance that now sunk in terror the minds of Emilia +and Julia, fired with new wonder that of Ferdinand, who seizing a +light, darted through the discovered door, and almost instantly +disappeared. + +He descended into the same wild hall he had passed on the preceding +night. He had scarcely reached the bottom of the stair-case, when a +feeble light gleamed across the hall, and his eye caught the glimpse +of a figure retiring through the low arched door which led to the +south tower. He drew his sword and rushed on. A faint sound died away +along the passage, the windings of which prevented his seeing the +figure he pursued. Of this, indeed, he had obtained so slight a view, +that he scarcely knew whether it bore the impression of a human form. +The light quickly disappeared, and he heard the door that opened upon +the tower suddenly close. He reached it, and forcing it open, sprang +forward; but the place was dark and solitary, and there was no +appearance of any person having passed along it. He looked up the +tower, and the chasm which the stair-case exhibited, convinced him +that no human being could have passed up. He stood silent and amazed; +examining the place with an eye of strict enquiry, he perceived a +door, which was partly concealed by hanging stairs, and which till now +had escaped his notice. Hope invigorated curiosity, but his +expectation was quickly disappointed, for this door also was fastened. +He tried in vain to force it. He knocked, and a hollow sullen sound +ran in echoes through the place, and died away at a distance. It was +evident that beyond this door were chambers of considerable extent, +but after long and various attempts to reach them, he was obliged to +desist, and he quitted the tower as ignorant and more dissatisfied +than he had entered it. He returned to the hall, which he now for the +first time deliberately surveyed. It was a spacious and desolate +apartment, whose lofty roof rose into arches supported by pillars of +black marble. The same substance inlaid the floor, and formed the +stair-case. The windows were high and gothic. An air of proud +sublimity, united with singular wildness, characterized the place, at +the extremity of which arose several gothic arches, whose dark shade +veiled in obscurity the extent beyond. On the left hand appeared two +doors, each of which was fastened, and on the right the grand entrance +from the courts. Ferdinand determined to explore the dark recess which +terminated his view, and as he traversed the hall, his imagination, +affected by the surrounding scene, often multiplied the echoes of his +footsteps into uncertain sounds of strange and fearful import. + +He reached the arches, and discovered beyond a kind of inner hall, of +considerable extent, which was closed at the farther end by a pair of +massy folding-doors, heavily ornamented with carving. They were +fastened by a lock, and defied his utmost strength. + +As he surveyed the place in silent wonder, a sullen groan arose from +beneath the spot where he stood. His blood ran cold at the sound, but +silence returning, and continuing unbroken, he attributed his alarm to +the illusion of a fancy, which terror had impregnated. He made another +effort to force the door, when a groan was repeated more hollow, and +more dreadful than the first. At this moment all his courage forsook +him; he quitted the door, and hastened to the stair-case, which he +ascended almost breathless with terror. + +He found Madame de Menon and his sisters awaiting his return in the +most painful anxiety; and, thus disappointed in all his endeavours to +penetrate the secret of these buildings, and fatigued with fruitless +search, he resolved to suspend farther enquiry. + +When he related the circumstances of his late adventure, the terror of +Emilia and Julia was heightened to a degree that overcame every +prudent consideration. Their apprehension of the marquis's displeasure +was lost in a stronger feeling, and they resolved no longer to remain +in apartments which offered only terrific images to their fancy. +Madame de Menon almost equally alarmed, and more perplexed, by this +combination of strange and unaccountable circumstances, ceased to +oppose their design. It was resolved, therefore, that on the following +day madame should acquaint the marchioness with such particulars of +the late occurrence as their purpose made it necessary she should +know, concealing their knowledge of the hidden door, and the incidents +immediately dependant on it; and that madame should entreat a change +of apartments. + +Madame accordingly waited on the marchioness. The marchioness having +listened to the account at first with surprise, and afterwards with +indifference, condescended to reprove madame for encouraging +superstitious belief in the minds of her young charge. She concluded +with ridiculing as fanciful the circumstances related, and with +refusing, on account of the numerous visitants at the castle, the +request preferred to her. + +It is true the castle was crowded with visitors; the former apartments +of Madame de Menon were the only ones unoccupied, and these were in +magnificent preparation for the pleasure of the marchioness, who was +unaccustomed to sacrifice her own wishes to the comfort of those +around her. She therefore treated lightly the subject, which, +seriously attended to, would have endangered her new plan of delight. + +But Emilia and Julia were too seriously terrified to obey the scruples +of delicacy, or to be easily repulsed. They prevailed on Ferdinand to +represent their situation to the marquis. + +Meanwhile Hippolitus, who had passed the night in a state of sleepless +anxiety, watched, with busy impatience, an opportunity of more fully +disclosing to Julia the passion which glowed in his heart. The first +moment in which he beheld her, had awakened in him an admiration which +had since ripened into a sentiment more tender. He had been prevented +formally declaring his passion by the circumstance which so suddenly +called him to Naples. This was the dangerous illness of the Marquis de +Lomelli, his near and much-valued relation. But it was a task too +painful to depart in silence, and he contrived to inform Julia of his +sentiments in the air which she heard so sweetly sung beneath her +window. + +When Hippolitus reached Naples, the marquis was yet living, but +expired a few days after his arrival, leaving the count heir to the +small possessions which remained from the extravagance of their +ancestors. + +The business of adjusting his rights had till now detained him from +Sicily, whither he came for the sole purpose of declaring his love. +Here unexpected obstacles awaited him. The jealous vigilance of the +marchioness conspired with the delicacy of Julia, to withhold from him +the opportunity he so anxiously sought. + +When Ferdinand entered upon the subject of the southern buildings to +the marquis, he carefully avoided mentioning the hidden door. The +marquis listened for some time to the relation in gloomy silence, but +at length assuming an air of displeasure, reprehended Ferdinand for +yielding his confidence to those idle alarms, which he said were the +suggestions of a timid imagination. 'Alarms,' continued he, 'which +will readily find admittance to the weak mind of a woman, but which +the firmer nature of man should disdain.--Degenerate boy! Is it thus +you reward my care? Do I live to see my son the sport of every idle +tale a woman may repeat? Learn to trust reason and your senses, and +you will then be worthy of my attention.' + +The marquis was retiring, and Ferdinand now perceived it necessary to +declare, that he had himself witnessed the sounds he mentioned. +'Pardon me, my lord,' said he, 'in the late instance I have been just +to your command--my senses have been the only evidences I have +trusted. I have heard those sounds which I cannot doubt.' The marquis +appeared shocked. Ferdinand perceived the change, and urged the +subject so vigorously, that the marquis, suddenly assuming a look of +grave importance, commanded him to attend him in the evening in his +closet. + +Ferdinand in passing from the marquis met Hippolitus. He was pacing +the gallery in much seeming agitation, but observing Ferdinand, he +advanced to him. 'I am ill at heart,' said he, in a melancholy tone, +'assist me with your advice. We will step into this apartment, where +we can converse without interruption.' + +'You are not ignorant,' said he, throwing himself into a chair, 'of +the tender sentiments which your sister Julia has inspired. I entreat +you by that sacred friendship which has so long united us, to afford +me an opportunity of pleading my passion. Her heart, which is so +susceptible of other impressions, is, I fear, insensible to love. +Procure me, however, the satisfaction of certainty upon a point where +the tortures of suspence are surely the most intolerable.' + +'Your penetration,' replied Ferdinand, 'has for once forsaken you, +else you would now be spared the tortures of which you complain, for +you would have discovered what I have long observed, that Julia +regards you with a partial eye.' + +'Do not,' said Hippolitus, 'make disappointment more terrible by +flattery; neither suffer the partiality of friendship to mislead your +judgment. Your perceptions are affected by the warmth of your +feelings, and because you think I deserve her distinction, you believe +I possess it. Alas! you deceive yourself, but not me!' + +'The very reverse,' replied Ferdinand; 'tis you who deceive yourself, +or rather it is the delicacy of the passion which animates you, and +which will ever operate against your clear perception of a truth in +which your happiness is so deeply involved. Believe me, I speak not +without reason:--she loves you.' + +At these words Hippolitus started from his seat, and clasping his +hands in fervent joy, 'Enchanting sounds!' cried he, in a voice +tenderly impassioned; '_could_ I but believe ye!--could I _but_ +believe ye-this world were paradise!' + +During this exclamation, the emotions of Julia, who sat in her closet +adjoining, can with difficulty be imagined. A door which opened into +it from the apartment where this conversation was held, was only half +closed. Agitated with the pleasure this declaration excited, she yet +trembled with apprehension lest she should be discovered. She hardly +dared to breathe, much less to move across the closet to the door, +which opened upon the gallery, whence she might probably have escaped +unnoticed, lest the sound of her step should betray her. Compelled, +therefore, to remain where she was, she sat in a state of fearful +distress, which no colour of language can paint. + +'Alas!' resumed Hippolitus, 'I too eagerly admit the possibility of +what I wish. If you mean that I should really believe you, confirm +your assertion by some proof.'--'Readily,' rejoined Ferdinand. + +The heart of Julia beat quick. + +'When you was so suddenly called to Naples upon the illness of the +Marquis Lomelli, I marked her conduct well, and in that read the +sentiments of her heart. On the following morning, I observed in her +countenance a restless anxiety which I had never seen before. She +watched the entrance of every person with an eager expectation, which +was as often succeeded by evident disappointment. At dinner your +departure was mentioned:--she spilt the wine she was carrying to her +lips, and for the remainder of the day was spiritless and melancholy. +I saw her ineffectual struggles to conceal the oppression at her +heart. Since that time she has seized every opportunity of +withdrawing from company. The gaiety with which she was so lately +charmed--charmed her no longer; she became pensive, retired, and I +have often heard her singing in some lonely spot, the most moving and +tender airs. Your return produced a visible and instantaneous +alteration; she has now resumed her gaiety; and the soft confusion of +her countenance, whenever you approach, might alone suffice to +convince you of the truth of my assertion.' + +'O! talk for ever thus!' sighed Hippolitus. 'These words are so sweet, +so soothing to my soul, that I could listen till I forgot I had a wish +beyond them. Yes!--Ferdinand, these circumstances are not to be +doubted, and conviction opens upon my mind a flow of extacy I never +knew till now. O! lead me to her, that I may speak the sentiments +which swell my heart.' + +They arose, when Julia, who with difficulty had supported herself, now +impelled by an irresistible fear of instant discovery, rose also, and +moved softly towards the gallery. The sound of her step alarmed the +count, who, apprehensive lest his conversation had been overheard, was +anxious to be satisfied whether any person was in the closet. He +rushed in, and discovered Julia! She caught at a chair to support her +trembling frame; and overwhelmed with mortifying sensations, sunk into +it, and hid her face in her robe. Hippolitus threw himself at her +feet, and seizing her hand, pressed it to his lips in expressive +silence. Some moments passed before the confusion of either would +suffer them to speak. At length recovering his voice, 'Can you, +madam,' said he, 'forgive this intrusion, so unintentional? or will it +deprive me of that esteem which I have but lately ventured to believe +I possessed, and which I value more than existence itself. O! speak my +pardon! Let me not believe that a single accident has destroyed my +peace for ever.'--'If your peace, sir, depends upon a knowledge of my +esteem,' said Julia, in a tremulous voice, 'that peace is already +secure. If I wished even to deny the partiality I feel, it would now +be useless; and since I no longer wish this, it would also be +painful.' Hippolitus could only weep his thanks over the hand he still +held. 'Be sensible, however, of the delicacy of my situation,' +continued she, rising, 'and suffer me to withdraw.' Saying this she +quitted the closet, leaving Hippolitus overcome with this sweet +confirmation of his wishes, and Ferdinand not yet recovered from the +painful surprize which the discovery of Julia had excited. He was +deeply sensible of the confusion he had occasioned her, and knew that +apologies would not restore the composure he had so cruelly yet +unwarily disturbed. + +Ferdinand awaited the hour appointed by the marquis in impatient +curiosity. The solemn air which the marquis assumed when he commanded +him to attend, had deeply impressed his mind. As the time drew nigh, +expectation increased, and every moment seemed to linger into hours. +At length he repaired to the closet, where he did not remain long +before the marquis entered. The same chilling solemnity marked his +manner. He locked the door of the closet, and seating himself, +addressed Ferdinand as follows:-- + +'I am now going to repose in you a confidence which will severely +prove the strength of your honour. But before I disclose a secret, +hitherto so carefully concealed, and now reluctantly told, you must +swear to preserve on this subject an eternal silence. If you doubt the +steadiness of your discretion--now declare it, and save yourself from +the infamy, and the fatal consequences, which may attend a breach of +your oath;--if, on the contrary, you believe yourself capable of a +strict integrity--now accept the terms, and receive the secret I +offer.' Ferdinand was awed by this exordium--the impatience of +curiosity was for a while suspended, and he hesitated whether he +should receive the secret upon such terms. At length he signified his +consent, and the marquis arising, drew his sword from the +scabbard.--'Here,' said he, offering it to Ferdinand, 'seal your +vows--swear by this sacred pledge of honor never to repeat what I +shall now reveal.' Ferdinand vowed upon the sword, and raising his +eyes to heaven, solemnly swore. The marquis then resumed his seat, and +proceeded. + +'You are now to learn that, about a century ago, this castle was in +the possession of Vincent, third marquis of Mazzini, my grandfather. +At that time there existed an inveterate hatred between our family and +that of della Campo. I shall not now revert to the origin of the +animosity, or relate the particulars of the consequent feuds--suffice +it to observe, that by the power of our family, the della Campos were +unable to preserve their former consequence in Sicily, and they have +therefore quitted it for a foreign land to live in unmolested +security. To return to my subject.--My grandfather, believing his life +endangered by his enemy, planted spies upon him. He employed some of +the numerous banditti who sought protection in his service, and after +some weeks past in waiting for an opportunity, they seized Henry della +Campo, and brought him secretly to this castle. He was for some time +confined in a close chamber of the southern buildings, where he +expired; by what means I shall forbear to mention. The plan had been +so well conducted, and the secrecy so strictly preserved, that every +endeavour of his family to trace the means of his disappearance proved +ineffectual. Their conjectures, if they fell upon our family, were +supported by no proof; and the della Campos are to this day ignorant +of the mode of his death. A rumour had prevailed long before the death +of my father, that the southern buildings of the castle were haunted. +I disbelieved the fact, and treated it accordingly. One night, when +every human being of the castle, except myself, was retired to rest, I +had such strong and dreadful proofs of the general assertion, that +even at this moment I cannot recollect them without horror. Let me, if +possible, forget them. From that moment I forsook those buildings; +they have ever since been shut up, and the circumstance I have +mentioned, is the true reason why I have resided so little at the +castle.' + +Ferdinand listened to this narrative in silent horror. He remembered +the temerity with which he had dared to penetrate those +apartments--the light, and figure he had seen--and, above all, his +situation in the stair-case of the tower. Every nerve thrilled at the +recollection; and the terrors of remembrance almost equalled those of +reality. + +The marquis permitted his daughters to change their apartments, but he +commanded Ferdinand to tell them, that, in granting their request, he +consulted their ease only, and was himself by no means convinced of +its propriety. They were accordingly reinstated in their former +chambers, and the great room only of madame's apartments was reserved +for the marchioness, who expressed her discontent to the marquis in +terms of mingled censure and lamentation. The marquis privately +reproved his daughters, for what he termed the idle fancies of a weak +mind; and desired them no more to disturb the peace of the castle with +the subject of their late fears. They received this reproof with +silent submission--too much pleased with the success of their suit to +be susceptible of any emotion but joy. + +Ferdinand, reflecting on the late discovery, was shocked to learn, +what was now forced upon his belief, that he was the descendant of a +murderer. He now knew that innocent blood had been shed in the castle, +and that the walls were still the haunt of an unquiet spirit, which +seemed to call aloud for retribution on the posterity of him who had +disturbed its eternal rest. Hippolitus perceived his dejection, and +entreated that he might participate his uneasiness; but Ferdinand, who +had hitherto been frank and ingenuous, was now inflexibly reserved. +'Forbear,' said he, 'to urge a discovery of what I am not permitted to +reveal; this is the only point upon which I conjure you to be silent, +and this even to you, I cannot explain.' Hippolitus was surprized, but +pressed the subject no farther. + +Julia, though she had been extremely mortified by the circumstances +attendant on the discovery of her sentiments to Hippolitus, +experienced, after the first shock had subsided, an emotion more +pleasing than painful. The late conversation had painted in strong +colours the attachment of her lover. His diffidence--his slowness to +perceive the effect of his merit--his succeeding rapture, when +conviction was at length forced upon his mind; and his conduct upon +discovering Julia, proved to her at once the delicacy and the strength +of his passion, and she yielded her heart to sensations of pure and +unmixed delight. She was roused from this state of visionary +happiness, by a summons from the marquis to attend him in the library. +A circumstance so unusual surprized her, and she obeyed with trembling +curiosity. She found him pacing the room in deep thought, and she had +shut the door before he perceived her. The authoritative severity in +his countenance alarmed her, and prepared her for a subject of +importance. He seated himself by her, and continued a moment silent. +At length, steadily observing her, 'I sent for you, my child,' said +he, 'to declare the honor which awaits you. The Duke de Luovo has +solicited your hand. An alliance so splendid was beyond my +expectation. You will receive the distinction with the gratitude it +claims, and prepare for the celebration of the nuptials.' + +This speech fell like the dart of death upon the heart of Julia. She +sat motionless--stupified and deprived of the power of utterance. The +marquis observed her consternation; and mistaking its cause, 'I +acknowledge,' said he, 'that there is somewhat abrupt in this affair; +but the joy occasioned by a distinction so unmerited on your part, +ought to overcome the little feminine weakness you might otherwise +indulge. Retire and compose yourself; and observe,' continued he, in a +stern voice, 'this is no time for finesse.' These words roused Julia +from her state of horrid stupefaction. 'O! sir,' said she, throwing +herself at his feet, 'forbear to enforce authority upon a point where +to obey you would be worse than death; if, indeed, to obey you were +possible.'--'Cease,' said the marquis, 'this affectation, and practice +what becomes you.'--'Pardon me, my lord,' she replied, 'my distress +is, alas! unfeigned. I cannot love the duke.'--'Away!' interrupted the +marquis, 'nor tempt my rage with objections thus childish and +absurd.'--'Yet hear me, my lord,' said Julia, tears swelling in her +eyes, 'and pity the sufferings of a child, who never till this moment +has dared to dispute your commands.' + +'Nor shall she now,' said the marquis. 'What--when wealth, honor, and +distinction, are laid at my feet, shall they be refused, because a +foolish girl--a very baby, who knows not good from evil, cries, and +says she cannot love! Let me not think of it--My just anger may, +perhaps, out-run discretion, and tempt me to chastise your +folly.--Attend to what I say--accept the duke, or quit this castle for +ever, and wander where you will.' Saying this, he burst away, and +Julia, who had hung weeping upon his knees, fell prostrate upon the +floor. The violence of the fall completed the effect of her distress, +and she fainted. In this state she remained a considerable time. When +she recovered her senses, the recollection of her calamity burst upon +her mind with a force that almost again overwhelmed her. She at length +raised herself from the ground, and moved towards her own apartment, +but had scarcely reached the great gallery, when Hippolitus entered +it. Her trembling limbs would no longer support her; she caught at a +bannister to save herself; and Hippolitus, with all his speed, was +scarcely in time to prevent her falling. The pale distress exhibited +in her countenance terrified him, and he anxiously enquired concerning +it. She could answer him only with her tears, which she found it +impossible to suppress; and gently disengaging herself, tottered to +her closet. Hippolitus followed her to the door, but desisted from +further importunity. He pressed her hand to his lips in tender +silence, and withdrew, surprized and alarmed. + +Julia, resigning herself to despair, indulged in solitude the excess +of her grief. A calamity, so dreadful as the present, had never before +presented itself to her imagination. The union proposed would have +been hateful to her, even if she had no prior attachment; what then +must have been her distress, when she had given her heart to him who +deserved all her admiration, and returned all her affection. + +The Duke de Luovo was of a character very similar to that of the +marquis. The love of power was his ruling passion;--with him no gentle +or generous sentiment meliorated the harshness of authority, or +directed it to acts of beneficence. He delighted in simple undisguised +tyranny. He had been twice married, and the unfortunate women +subjected to his power, had fallen victims to the slow but corroding +hand of sorrow. He had one son, who some years before had escaped the +tyranny of his father, and had not been since heard of. At the late +festival the duke had seen Julia; and her beauty made so strong an +impression upon him, that he had been induced now to solicit her hand. +The marquis, delighted with the prospect of a connection so flattering +to his favorite passion, readily granted his consent, and immediately +sealed it with a promise. + +Julia remained for the rest of the day shut up in her closet, where +the tender efforts of Madame and Emilia were exerted to soften her +distress. Towards the close of evening Ferdinand entered. Hippolitus, +shocked at her absence, had requested him to visit her, to alleviate +her affliction, and, if possible, to discover its cause. Ferdinand, +who tenderly loved his sister, was alarmed by the words of Hippolitus, +and immediately sought her. Her eyes were swelled with weeping, and +her countenance was but too expressive of the state of her mind. +Ferdinand's distress, when told of his father's conduct, was scarcely +less than her own. He had pleased himself with the hope of uniting the +sister of his heart with the friend whom he loved. An act of cruel +authority now dissolved the fairy dream of happiness which his fancy +had formed, and destroyed the peace of those most dear to him. He sat +for a long time silent and dejected; at length, starting from his +melancholy reverie, he bad Julia good-night, and returned to +Hippolitus, who was waiting for him with anxious impatience in the +north hall. + +Ferdinand dreaded the effect of that despair, which the intelligence +he had to communicate would produce in the mind of Hippolitus. He +revolved some means of softening the dreadful truth; but Hippolitus, +quick to apprehend the evil which love taught him to fear, seized at +once upon the reality. 'Tell me all,' said he, in a tone of assumed +firmness. 'I am prepared for the worst.' Ferdinand related the decree +of the marquis, and Hippolitus soon sunk into an excess of grief which +defied, as much as it required, the powers of alleviation. + +Julia, at length, retired to her chamber, but the sorrow which +occupied her mind withheld the blessings of sleep. Distracted and +restless she arose, and gently opened the window of her apartment. The +night was still, and not a breath disturbed the surface of the waters. +The moon shed a mild radiance over the waves, which in gentle +undulations flowed upon the sands. The scene insensibly tranquilized +her spirits. A tender and pleasing melancholy diffused itself over her +mind; and as she mused, she heard the dashing of distant oars. +Presently she perceived upon the light surface of the sea a small +boat. The sound of the oars ceased, and a solemn strain of harmony +(such as fancy wafts from the abodes of the blessed) stole upon the +silence of night. A chorus of voices now swelled upon the air, and +died away at a distance. In the strain Julia recollected the midnight +hymn to the virgin, and holy enthusiasm filled her heart. The chorus +was repeated, accompanied by a solemn striking of oars. A sigh of +exstacy stole from her bosom. Silence returned. The divine melody she +had heard calmed the tumult of her mind, and she sunk in sweet repose. + +She arose in the morning refreshed by light slumbers; but the +recollection of her sorrows soon returned with new force, and +sickening faintness overcame her. In this situation she received a +message from the marquis to attend him instantly. She obeyed, and he +bade her prepare to receive the duke, who that morning purposed to +visit the castle. He commanded her to attire herself richly, and to +welcome him with smiles. Julia submitted in silence. She saw the +marquis was inflexibly resolved, and she withdrew to indulge the +anguish of her heart, and prepare for this detested interview. + +The clock had struck twelve, when a flourish of trumpets announced the +approach of the duke. The heart of Julia sunk at the sound, and she +threw herself on a sopha, overwhelmed with bitter sensations. Here she +was soon disturbed by a message from the marquis. She arose, and +tenderly embracing Emilia, their tears for some moments flowed +together. At length, summoning all her fortitude, she descended to the +hall, where she was met by the marquis. He led her to the saloon in +which the duke sat, with whom having conversed a short time, he +withdrew. The emotion of Julia at this instant was beyond any thing +she had before suffered; but by a sudden and strange exertion of +fortitude, which the force of desperate calamity sometimes affords us, +but which inferior sorrow toils after in vain, she recovered her +composure, and resumed her natural dignity. For a moment she wondered +at herself, and she formed the dangerous resolution of throwing +herself upon the generosity of the duke, by acknowledging her +reluctance to the engagement, and soliciting him to withdraw his suit. + +The duke approached her with an air of proud condescension; and taking +her hand, placed himself beside her. Having paid some formal and +general compliments to her beauty, he proceeded to profess himself her +admirer. She listened for some time to his professions, and when he +appeared willing to hear her, she addressed him--'I am justly +sensible, my lord, of the distinction you offer me, and must lament +that respectful gratitude is the only sentiment I can return. Nothing +can more strongly prove my confidence in your generosity, than when I +confess to you, that parental authority urges me to give my hand +whither my heart cannot accompany it.' + +She paused--the duke continued silent.--''Tis you only, my lord, who +can release me from a situation so distressing; and to your goodness +and justice I appeal, certain that necessity will excuse the +singularity of my conduct, and that I shall not appeal in vain.' + +The duke was embarrassed--a flush of pride overspread his countenance, +and he seemed endeavouring to stifle the feelings that swelled his +heart. 'I had been prepared, madam,' said he, 'to expect a very +different reception, and had certainly no reason to believe that the +Duke de Luovo was likely to sue in vain. Since, however, madam, you +acknowledge that you have already disposed of your affections, I shall +certainly be very willing, if the marquis will release me from our +mutual engagements, to resign you to a more favored lover.' + +'Pardon me, my lord,' said Julia, blushing, 'suffer me to'--'I am not +easily deceived, madam,' interrupted the duke,--'your conduct can be +attributed only to the influence of a prior attachment; and though for +so young a lady, such a circumstance is somewhat extraordinary, I have +certainly no right to arraign your choice. Permit me to wish you a +good morning.' He bowed low, and quitted the room. Julia now +experienced a new distress; she dreaded the resentment of the marquis, +when he should be informed of her conversation with the duke, of whose +character she now judged too justly not to repent the confidence she +had reposed in him. + +The duke, on quitting Julia, went to the marquis, with whom he +remained in conversation some hours. When he had left the castle, the +marquis sent for his daughter, and poured forth his resentment with +all the violence of threats, and all the acrimony of contempt. So +severely did he ridicule the idea of her disposing of her heart, and +so dreadfully did he denounce vengeance on her disobedience, that she +scarcely thought herself safe in his presence. She stood trembling +and confused, and heard his reproaches without the power to reply. At +length the marquis informed her, that the nuptials would be solemnized +on the third day from the present; and as he quitted the room, a flood +of tears came to her relief, and saved her from fainting. + +Julia passed the remainder of the day in her closet with Emilia. Night +returned, but brought her no peace. She sat long after the departure +of Emilia; and to beguile recollection, she selected a favorite +author, endeavouring to revive those sensations his page had once +excited. She opened to a passage, the tender sorrow of which was +applicable to her own situation, and her tears flowed wean. Her grief +was soon suspended by apprehension. Hitherto a deadly silence had +reigned through the castle, interrupted only by the wind, whose low +sound crept at intervals through the galleries. She now thought she +heard a footstep near her door, but presently all was still, for she +believed she had been deceived by the wind. The succeeding moment, +however, convinced her of her error, for she distinguished the low +whisperings of some persons in the gallery. Her spirits, already +weakened by sorrow, deserted her: she was seized with an universal +terror, and presently afterwards a low voice called her from without, +and the door was opened by Ferdinand. + +She shrieked, and fainted. On recovering, she found herself supported +by Ferdinand and Hippolitus, who had stolen this moment of silence and +security to gain admittance to her presence. Hippolitus came to urge a +proposal which despair only could have suggested. 'Fly,' said he, +'from the authority of a father who abuses his power, and assert the +liberty of choice, which nature assigned you. Let the desperate +situation of my hopes plead excuse for the apparent boldness of this +address, and let the man who exists but for you be the means of saving +you from destruction. Alas! madam, you are silent, and perhaps I have +forfeited, by this proposal, the confidence I so lately flattered +myself I possessed. If so, I will submit to my fate in silence, and +will to-morrow quit a scene which presents only images of distress to +my mind.' + +Julia could speak but with her tears. A variety of strong and +contending emotions struggled at her breast, and suppressed the power +of utterance. Ferdinand seconded the proposal of the count. 'It is +unnecessary,' my sister, said he, 'to point out the misery which +awaits you here. I love you too well tamely to suffer you to be +sacrificed to ambition, and to a passion still more hateful. I now +glory in calling Hippolitus my friend--let me ere long receive him as +a brother. I can give no stronger testimony of my esteem for his +character, than in the wish I now express. Believe me he has a heart +worthy of your acceptance--a heart noble and expansive as your +own.'--'Ah, cease,' said Julia, 'to dwell upon a character of whose +worth I am fully sensible. Your kindness and his merit can never be +forgotten by her whose misfortunes you have so generously suffered to +interest you.' She paused in silent hesitation. A sense of delicacy +made her hesitate upon the decision which her heart so warmly +prompted. If she fled with Hippolitus, she would avoid one evil, and +encounter another. She would escape the dreadful destiny awaiting her, +but must, perhaps, sully the purity of that reputation, which was +dearer to her than existence. In a mind like hers, exquisitely +susceptible of the pride of honor, this fear was able to counteract +every other consideration, and to keep her intentions in a state of +painful suspense. She sighed deeply, and continued silent. Hippolitus +was alarmed by the calm distress which her countenance exhibited. 'O! +Julia,' said he, 'relieve me from this dreadful suspense!--speak to +me--explain this silence.' She looked mournfully upon him--her lips +moved, but no sounds were uttered. As he repeated his question, she +waved her hand, and sunk back in her chair. She had not fainted, but +continued some time in a state of stupor not less alarming. The +importance of the present question, operating upon her mind, already +harassed by distress, had produced a temporary suspension of reason. +Hippolitus hung over her in an agony not to be described, and +Ferdinand vainly repeated her name. At length uttering a deep sigh, +she raised herself, and, like one awakened from a dream, gazed around +her. Hippolitus thanked God fervently in his heart. 'Tell me but that +you are well,' said he, 'and that I may dare to hope, and we will +leave you to repose.'--'My sister,' said Ferdinand, 'consult only your +own wishes, and leave the rest to me. Suffer a confidence in me to +dissipate the doubts with which you are agitated.'--'Ferdinand,' said +Julia, emphatically, 'how shall I express the gratitude your kindness +has excited?'--'Your gratitude,' said he, 'will be best shown in +consulting your own wishes; for be assured, that whatever procures +your happiness, will most effectually establish mine. Do not suffer +the prejudices of education to render you miserable. Believe me, that +a choice which involves the happiness or misery of your whole life, +ought to be decided only by yourself.' + +'Let us forbear for the present,' said Hippolitus, 'to urge the +subject. Repose is necessary for you,' addressing Julia, 'and I will +not suffer a selfish consideration any longer to with-hold you from +it.--Grant me but this request--that at this hour to-morrow night, I +may return hither to receive my doom.' Julia having consented to +receive Hippolitus and Ferdinand, they quitted the closet. In turning +into the grand gallery, they were surprised by the appearance of a +light, which gleamed upon the wall that terminated their view. It +seemed to proceed from a door which opened upon a back stair-case. +They pushed on, but it almost instantly disappeared, and upon the +stair-case all was still. They then separated, and retired to their +apartments, somewhat alarmed by this circumstance, which induced them +to suspect that their visit to Julia had been observed. + +Julia passed the night in broken slumbers, and anxious consideration. +On her present decision hung the crisis of her fate. Her consciousness +of the influence of Hippolitus over her heart, made her fear to +indulge its predilection, by trusting to her own opinion of its +fidelity. She shrunk from the disgraceful idea of an elopement; yet +she saw no means of avoiding this, but by rushing upon the fate so +dreadful to her imagination. + +On the following night, when the inhabitants of the castle were +retired to rest, Hippolitus, whose expectation had lengthened the +hours into ages, accompanied by Ferdinand, revisited the closet. +Julia, who had known no interval of rest since they last left her, +received them with much agitation. The vivid glow of health had fled +her cheek, and was succeeded by a languid delicacy, less beautiful, +but more interesting. To the eager enquiries of Hippolitus, she +returned no answer, but faintly smiling through her tears, presented +him her hand, and covered her face with her robe. 'I receive it,' +cried he, 'as the pledge of my happiness;--yet--yet let your voice +ratify the gift.' 'If the present concession does not sink me in your +esteem,' said Julia, in a low tone, 'this hand is yours.'--'The +concession, my love, (for by that tender name I may now call you) +would, if possible, raise you in my esteem; but since that has been +long incapable of addition, it can only heighten my opinion of myself, +and increase my gratitude to you: gratitude which I will endeavour to +shew by an anxious care of your happiness, and by the tender +attentions of a whole life. From this blessed moment,' continued he, +in a voice of rapture, 'permit me, in thought, to hail you as my wife. +From this moment let me banish every vestige of sorrow;--let me dry +those tears,' gently pressing her cheek with his lips, 'never to +spring again.'--The gratitude and joy which Ferdinand expressed upon +this occasion, united with the tenderness of Hippolitus to soothe the +agitated spirits of Julia, and she gradually recovered her +complacency. + +They now arranged their plan of escape; in the execution of which, no +time was to be lost, since the nuptials with the duke were to be +solemnized on the day after the morrow. Their scheme, whatever it was +that should be adopted, they, therefore, resolved to execute on the +following night. But when they descended from the first warmth of +enterprize, to minuter examination, they soon found the difficulties +of the undertaking. The keys of the castle were kept by Robert, the +confidential servant of the marquis, who every night deposited them in +an iron chest in his chamber. To obtain them by stratagem seemed +impossible, and Ferdinand feared to tamper with the honesty of this +man, who had been many years in the service of the marquis. Dangerous +as was the attempt, no other alternative appeared, and they were +therefore compelled to rest all their hopes upon the experiment. It +was settled, that if the keys could be procured, Ferdinand and +Hippolitus should meet Julia in the closet; that they should convey +her to the seashore, from whence a boat, which was to be kept in +waiting, would carry them to the opposite coast of Calabria, where the +marriage might be solemnized without danger of interruption. But, as +it was necessary that Ferdinand should not appear in the affair, it +was agreed that he should return to the castle immediately upon the +embarkation of his sister. Having thus arranged their plan of +operation, they separated till the following night, which was to +decide the fate of Hippolitus and Julia. + +Julia, whose mind was soothed by the fraternal kindness of Ferdinand, +and the tender assurances of Hippolitus, now experienced an interval +of repose. At the return of day she awoke refreshed, and tolerably +composed. She selected a few clothes which were necessary, and +prepared them for her journey. A sentiment of generosity justified her +in the reserve she preserved to Emilia and Madame de Menon, whose +faithfulness and attachment she could not doubt, but whom she +disdained to involve in the disgrace that must fall upon them, should +their knowledge of her flight be discovered. + +In the mean time the castle was a scene of confusion. The magnificent +preparations which were making for the nuptials, engaged all eyes, and +busied all hands. The marchioness had the direction of the whole; and +the alacrity with which she acquitted herself, testified how much she +was pleased with the alliance, and created a suspicion, that it had +not been concerted without some exertion of her influence. Thus was +Julia designed the joint victim of ambition and illicit love. + +The composure of Julia declined with the day, whose hours had crept +heavily along. As the night drew on, her anxiety for the success of +Ferdinand's negociation with Robert increased to a painful degree. A +variety of new emotions pressed at her heart, and subdued her spirits. +When she bade Emilia good night, she thought she beheld her for the +last time. The ideas of the distance which would separate them, of the +dangers she was going to encounter, with a train of wild and fearful +anticipations, crouded upon her mind, tears sprang in her eyes, and it +was with difficulty she avoided betraying her emotions. Of madame, +too, her heart took a tender farewell. At length she heard the marquis +retire to his apartment, and the doors belonging to the several +chambers of the guests successively close. She marked with trembling +attention the gradual change from bustle to quiet, till all was still. + +She now held herself in readiness to depart at the moment in which +Ferdinand and Hippolitus, for whose steps in the gallery she eagerly +listened, should appear. The castle clock struck twelve. The sound +seemed to shake the pile. Julia felt it thrill upon her heart. 'I hear +you,' sighed she, 'for the last time.' The stillness of death +succeeded. She continued to listen; but no sound met her ear. For a +considerable time she sat in a state of anxious expectation not to be +described. The clock chimed the successive quarters; and her fear rose +to each additional sound. At length she heard it strike one. Hollow +was that sound, and dreadful to her hopes; for neither Hippolitus nor +Ferdinand appeared. She grew faint with fear and disappointment. Her +mind, which for two hours had been kept upon the stretch of +expectation, now resigned itself to despair. She gently opened the +door of her closet, and looked upon the gallery; but all was lonely +and silent. It appeared that Robert had refused to be accessary to +their scheme; and it was probable that he had betrayed it to the +marquis. Overwhelmed with bitter reflections, she threw herself upon +the sopha in the first distraction of despair. Suddenly she thought +she heard a noise in the gallery; and as she started from her posture +to listen to the sound, the door of her closet was gently opened by +Ferdinand. 'Come, my love,' said he, 'the keys are ours, and we have +not a moment to lose; our delay has been unavoidable; but this is no +time for explanation.' Julia, almost fainting, gave her hand to +Ferdinand, and Hippolitus, after some short expression of his +thankfulness, followed. They passed the door of madame's chamber; and +treading the gallery with slow and silent steps, descended to the +hall. This they crossed towards a door, after opening which, they +were to find their way, through various passages, to a remote part of +the castle, where a private door opened upon the walls. Ferdinand +carried the several keys. They fastened the hall door after them, and +proceeded through a narrow passage terminating in a stair-case. + +They descended, and had hardly reached the bottom, when they heard a +loud noise at the door above, and presently the voices of several +people. Julia scarcely felt the ground she trod on, and Ferdinand flew +to unlock a door that obstructed their way. He applied the different +keys, and at length found the proper one; but the lock was rusted, and +refused to yield. Their distress was not now to be conceived. The +noise above increased; and it seemed as if the people were forcing the +door. Hippolitus and Ferdinand vainly tried to turn the key. A sudden +crash from above convinced them that the door had yielded, when making +another desperate effort, the key broke in the lock. Trembling and +exhausted, Julia gave herself up for lost. As she hung upon Ferdinand, +Hippolitus vainly endeavoured to sooth her--the noise suddenly ceased. +They listened, dreading to hear the sounds renewed; but, to their +utter astonishment, the silence of the place remained undisturbed. +They had now time to breathe, and to consider the possibility of +effecting their escape; for from the marquis they had no mercy to +hope. Hippolitus, in order to ascertain whether the people had quitted +the door above, began to ascend the passage, in which he had not gone +many steps when the noise was renewed with increased violence. He +instantly retreated; and making a desperate push at the door below, +which obstructed their passage, it seemed to yield, and by another +effort of Ferdinand, burst open. They had not an instant to lose; for +they now heard the steps of persons descending the stairs. The avenue +they were in opened into a kind of chamber, whence three passages +branched, of which they immediately chose the first. Another door now +obstructed their passage; and they were compelled to wait while +Ferdinand applied the keys. 'Be quick,' said Julia, 'or we are lost. +O! if this lock too is rusted!'--'Hark!' said Ferdinand. They now +discovered what apprehension had before prevented them from +perceiving, that the sounds of pursuit were ceased, and all again was +silent. As this could happen only by the mistake of their pursuers, in +taking the wrong _route_, they resolved to preserve their advantage, +by concealing the light, which Ferdinand now covered with his cloak. +The door was opened, and they passed on; but they were perplexed in +the intricacies of the place, and wandered about in vain endeavour to +find their way. Often did they pause to listen, and often did fancy +give them sounds of fearful import. At length they entered on the +passage which Ferdinand knew led directly to a door that opened on the +woods. Rejoiced at this certainty, they soon reached the spot which +was to give them liberty. + +Ferdinand turned the key; the door unclosed, and, to their infinite +joy, discovered to them the grey dawn. 'Now, my love,' said +Hippolitus, 'you are safe, and I am happy.'--Immediately a loud voice +from without exclaimed, 'Take, villain, the reward of your perfidy!' +At the same instant Hippolitus received a sword in his body, and +uttering a deep sigh, fell to the ground. Julia shrieked and fainted; +Ferdinand drawing his sword, advanced towards the assassin, upon whose +countenance the light of his lamp then shone, and discovered to him +his father! The sword fell from his grasp, and he started back in an +agony of horror. He was instantly surrounded, and seized by the +servants of the marquis, while the marquis himself denounced vengeance +upon his head, and ordered him to be thrown into the dungeon of the +castle. At this instant the servants of the count, who were awaiting +his arrival on the seashore, hearing the tumult, hastened to the +scene, and there beheld their beloved master lifeless and weltering in +his blood. They conveyed the bleeding body, with loud lamentations, +on board the vessel which had been prepared for him, and immediately +set sail for Italy. + +Julia, on recovering her senses, found herself in a small room, of +which she had no remembrance, with her maid weeping over her. +Recollection, when it returned, brought to her mind an energy of +grief, which exceeded even all former conceptions of sufferings. Yet +her misery was heightened by the intelligence which she now received. +She learned that Hippolitus had been borne away lifeless by his +people, that Ferdinand was confined in a dungeon by order of the +marquis, and that herself was a prisoner in a remote room, from which, +on the day after the morrow, she was to be removed to the chapel of +the castle, and there sacrificed to the ambition of her father, and +the absurd love of the Duke de Luovo. + +This accumulation of evil subdued each power of resistance, and +reduced Julia to a state little short of distraction. No person was +allowed to approach her but her maid, and the servant who brought her +food. Emilia, who, though shocked by Julia's apparent want of +confidence, severely sympathized in her distress, solicited to see +her; but the pain of denial was so sharply aggravated by rebuke, that +she dared not again to urge the request. + +In the mean time Ferdinand, involved in the gloom of a dungeon, was +resigned to the painful recollection of the past, and a horrid +anticipation of the future. From the resentment of the marquis, whose +passions were wild and terrible, and whose rank gave him an unlimited +power of life and death in his own territories, Ferdinand had much to +fear. Yet selfish apprehension soon yielded to a more noble sorrow. +He mourned the fate of Hippolitus, and the sufferings of Julia. He +could attribute the failure of their scheme only to the treachery of +Robert, who had, however, met the wishes of Ferdinand with strong +apparent sincerity, and generous interest in the cause of Julia. On +the night of the intended elopement, he had consigned the keys to +Ferdinand, who, immediately on receiving them, went to the apartment +of Hippolitus. There they were detained till after the clock had +struck one by a low noise, which returned at intervals, and convinced +them that some part of the family was not yet retired to rest. This +noise was undoubtedly occasioned by the people whom the marquis had +employed to watch, and whose vigilance was too faithful to suffer the +fugitives to escape. The very caution of Ferdinand defeated its +purpose; for it is probable, that had he attempted to quit the castle +by the common entrance, he might have escaped. The keys of the grand +door, and those of the courts, remaining in the possession of Robert, +the marquis was certain of the intended place of their departure; and +was thus enabled to defeat their hopes at the very moment when they +exulted in their success. + +When the marchioness learned the fate of Hippolitus, the resentment of +jealous passion yielded to emotions of pity. Revenge was satisfied, +and she could now lament the sufferings of a youth whose personal +charms had touched her heart as much as his virtues had disappointed +her hopes. Still true to passion, and inaccessible to reason, she +poured upon the defenceless Julia her anger for that calamity of which +she herself was the unwilling cause. By a dextrous adaptation of her +powers, she had worked upon the passions of the marquis so as to +render him relentless in the pursuit of ambitious purposes, and +insatiable in revenging his disappointment. But the effects of her +artifices exceeded her intention in exerting them; and when she meant +only to sacrifice a rival to her love, she found she had given up its +object to revenge. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The nuptial morn, so justly dreaded by Julia, and so impatiently +awaited by the marquis, now arrived. The marriage was to be celebrated +with a magnificence which demonstrated the joy it occasioned to the +marquis. The castle was fitted up in a style of grandeur superior to +any thing that had been before seen in it. The neighbouring nobility +were invited to an entertainment which was to conclude with a splendid +ball and supper, and the gates were to be thrown open to all who chose +to partake of the bounty of the marquis. At an early hour the duke, +attended by a numerous retinue, entered the castle. Ferdinand heard +from his dungeon, where the rigour and the policy of the marquis still +confined him, the loud clattering of hoofs in the courtyard above, the +rolling of the carriage wheels, and all the tumultuous bustle which +the entrance of the duke occasioned. He too well understood the cause +of this uproar, and it awakened in him sensations resembling those +which the condemned criminal feels, when his ears are assailed by the +dreadful sounds that precede his execution. When he was able to think +of himself, he wondered by what means the marquis would reconcile his +absence to the guests. He, however, knew too well the dissipated +character of the Sicilian nobility, to doubt that whatever story +should be invented would be very readily believed by them; who, even +if they knew the truth, would not suffer a discovery of their +knowledge to interrupt the festivity which was offered them. + +The marquis and marchioness received the duke in the outer hall, and +conducted him to the saloon, where he partook of the refreshments +prepared for him, and from thence retired to the chapel. The marquis +now withdrew to lead Julia to the altar, and Emilia was ordered to +attend at the door of the chapel, in which the priest and a numerous +company were already assembled. The marchioness, a prey to the +turbulence of succeeding passions, exulted in the near completion of +her favorite scheme.--A disappointment, however, was prepared for her, +which would at once crush the triumph of her malice and her pride. The +marquis, on entering the prison of Julia, found it empty! His +astonishment and indignation upon the discovery almost overpowered his +reason. Of the servants of the castle, who were immediately summoned, +he enquired concerning her escape, with a mixture of fury and sorrow +which left them no opportunity to reply. They had, however, no +information to give, but that her woman had not appeared during the +whole morning. In the prison were found the bridal habiliments which +the marchioness herself had sent on the preceding night, together with +a letter addressed to Emilia, which contained the following words: + +'Adieu, dear Emilia; never more will you see your wretched sister, who +flies from the cruel fate now prepared for her, certain that she can +never meet one more dreadful.--In happiness or misery--in hope or +despair--whatever may be your situation--still remember me with pity +and affection. Dear Emilia, adieu!--You will always be the sister of +my heart--may you never be the partner of my misfortunes!' + +While the marquis was reading this letter, the marchioness, who +supposed the delay occasioned by some opposition from Julia, flew to +the apartment. By her orders all the habitable parts of the castle +were explored, and she herself assisted in the search. At length the +intelligence was communicated to the chapel, and the confusion became +universal. The priest quitted the altar, and the company returned to +the saloon. + +The letter, when it was given to Emilia, excited emotions which she +found it impossible to disguise, but which did not, however, protect +her from a suspicion that she was concerned in the transaction, her +knowledge of which this letter appeared intended to conceal. + +The marquis immediately dispatched servants upon the fleetest horses +of his stables, with directions to take different routs, and to scour +every corner of the island in pursuit of the fugitives. When these +exertions had somewhat quieted his mind, he began to consider by what +means Julia could have effected her escape. She had been confined in a +small room in a remote part of the castle, to which no person had been +admitted but her own woman and Robert, the confidential servant of the +marquis. Even Lisette had not been suffered to enter, unless +accompanied by Robert, in whose room, since the night of the fatal +discovery, the keys had been regularly deposited. Without them it was +impossible she could have escaped: the windows of the apartment being +barred and grated, and opening into an inner court, at a prodigious +height from the ground. Besides, who could she depend upon for +protection--or whither could she intend to fly for concealment?--The +associates of her former elopement were utterly unable to assist her +even with advice. Ferdinand himself a prisoner, had been deprived of +any means of intercourse with her, and Hippolitus had been carried +lifeless on board a vessel, which had immediately sailed for Italy. + +Robert, to whom the keys had been entrusted, was severely interrogated +by the marquis. He persisted in a simple and uniform declaration of +his innocence; but as the marquis believed it impossible that Julia +could have escaped without his knowledge, he was ordered into +imprisonment till he should confess the fact. + +The pride of the duke was severely wounded by this elopement, which +proved the excess of Julia's aversion, and compleated the disgraceful +circumstances of his rejection. The marquis had carefully concealed +from him her prior attempt at elopement, and her consequent +confinement; but the truth now burst from disguise, and stood revealed +with bitter aggravation. The duke, fired with indignation at the +duplicity of the marquis, poured forth his resentment in terms of +proud and bitter invective; and the marquis, galled by recent +disappointment, was in no mood to restrain the impetuosity of his +nature. He retorted with acrimony; and the consequence would have been +serious, had not the friends of each party interposed for their +preservation. The disputants were at length reconciled; it was agreed +to pursue Julia with united, and indefatigable search; and that +whenever she should be found, the nuptials should be solemnized +without further delay. With the character of the duke, this conduct +was consistent. His passions, inflamed by disappointment, and +strengthened by repulse, now defied the power of obstacle; and those +considerations which would have operated with a more delicate mind to +overcome its original inclination, served only to encrease the +violence of his. + +Madame de Menon, who loved Julia with maternal affection, was an +interested observer of all that passed at the castle. The cruel fate +to which the marquis destined his daughter she had severely lamented, +yet she could hardly rejoice to find that this had been avoided by +elopement. She trembled for the future safety of her pupil; and her +tranquillity, which was thus first disturbed for the welfare of +others, she was not soon suffered to recover. + +The marchioness had long nourished a secret dislike to Madame de +Menon, whose virtues were a silent reproof to her vices. The +contrariety of their disposition created in the marchioness an +aversion which would have amounted to contempt, had not that dignity +of virtue which strongly characterized the manners of madame, +compelled the former to fear what she wished to despise. Her +conscience whispered her that the dislike was mutual; and she now +rejoiced in the opportunity which seemed to offer itself of lowering +the proud integrity of madame's character. Pretending, therefore, to +believe that she had encouraged Ferdinand to disobey his father's +commands, and had been accessary to the elopement, she accused her of +these offences, and stimulated the marquis to reprehend her conduct. +But the integrity of Madame de Menon was not to be questioned with +impunity. Without deigning to answer the imputation, she desired to +resign an office of which she was no longer considered worthy, and to +quit the castle immediately. This the policy of the marquis would not +suffer; and he was compelled to make such ample concessions to madame, +as induced her for the present to continue at the castle. + +The news of Julia's elopement at length reached the ears of Ferdinand, +whose joy at this event was equalled only by his surprize. He lost, +for a moment, the sense of his own situation, and thought only of the +escape of Julia. But his sorrow soon returned with accumulated force +when he recollected that Julia might then perhaps want that assistance +which his confinement alone could prevent his affording her. + +The servants, who had been sent in pursuit, returned to the castle +without any satisfactory information. Week after week elapsed in +fruitless search, yet the duke was strenuous in continuing the +pursuit. Emissaries were dispatched to Naples, and to the several +estates of the Count Vereza, but they returned without any +satisfactory information. The count had not been heard of since he +quitted Naples for Sicily. + +During these enquiries a new subject of disturbance broke out in the +castle of Mazzini. On the night so fatal to the hopes of Hippolitus +and Julia, when the tumult was subsided, and all was still, a light +was observed by a servant as he passed by the window of the great +stair-case in the way to his chamber, to glimmer through the casement +before noticed in the southern buildings. While he stood observing it, +it vanished, and presently reappeared. The former mysterious +circumstances relative to these buildings rushed upon his mind; and +fired with wonder, he roused some of his fellow servants to come and +behold this phenomenon. + +As they gazed in silent terror, the light disappeared, and soon after, +they saw a small door belonging to the south tower open, and a figure +bearing a light issue forth, which gliding along the castle walls, was +quickly lost to their view. Overcome with fear they hurried back to +their chambers, and revolved all the late wonderful occurrences. They +doubted not, that this was the figure formerly seen by the lady Julia. +The sudden change of Madame de Menon's apartments had not passed +unobserved by the servants, but they now no longer hesitated to what +to attribute the removal. They collected each various and uncommon +circumstance attendant on this part of the fabric; and, comparing them +with the present, their superstitious fears were confirmed, and their +terror heightened to such a degree, that many of them resolved to quit +the service of the marquis. + +The marquis surprized at this sudden desertion, enquired into its +cause, and learned the truth. Shocked by this discovery, he yet +resolved to prevent, if possible, the ill effects which might be +expected from a circulation of the report. To this end it was +necessary to quiet the minds of his people, and to prevent their +quitting his service. Having severely reprehended them for the idle +apprehension they encouraged, he told them that, to prove the fallacy +of their surmises, he would lead them over that part of the castle +which was the subject of their fears, and ordered them to attend him +at the return of night in the north hall. Emilia and Madame de Menon, +surprised at this procedure, awaited the issue in silent expectation. + +The servants, in obedience to the commands of the marquis, assembled +at night in the north hall. The air of desolation which reigned +through the south buildings, and the circumstance of their having been +for so many years shut up, would naturally tend to inspire awe; but to +these people, who firmly believed them to be the haunt of an unquiet +spirit, terror was the predominant sentiment. + +The marquis now appeared with the keys of these buildings in his +hands, and every heart thrilled with wild expectation. He ordered +Robert to precede him with a torch, and the rest of the servants +following, he passed on. A pair of iron gates were unlocked, and they +proceeded through a court, whose pavement was wildly overgrown with +long grass, to the great door of the south fabric. Here they met with +some difficulty, for the lock, which had not been turned for many +years, was rusted. + +During this interval, the silence of expectation sealed the lips of +all present. At length the lock yielded. That door which had not been +passed for so many years, creaked heavily upon its hinges, and +disclosed the hall of black marble which Ferdinand had formerly +crossed. 'Now,' cried the marquis, in a tone of irony as he entered, +'expect to encounter the ghosts of which you tell me; but if you fail +to conquer them, prepare to quit my service. The people who live with +me shall at least have courage and ability sufficient to defend me +from these spiritual attacks. All I apprehend is, that the enemy will +not appear, and in this case your valour will go untried.' + +No one dared to answer, but all followed, in silent fear, the marquis, +who ascended the great stair-case, and entered the gallery. 'Unlock +that door,' said he, pointing to one on the left, 'and we will soon +unhouse these ghosts.' Robert applied the key, but his hand shook so +violently that he could not turn it. 'Here is a fellow,' cried the +marquis, 'fit to encounter a whole legion of spirits. Do you, Anthony, +take the key, and try your valour.' + +'Please you, my lord,' replied Anthony, 'I never was a good one at +unlocking a door in my life, but here is Gregory will do it.'--'No, my +lord, an' please you,' said Gregory, 'here is Richard.'--'Stand off,' +said the marquis, 'I will shame your cowardice, and do it myself.' + +Saying this he turned the key, and was rushing on, but the door +refused to yield; it shook under his hands, and seemed as if partially +held by some person on the other side. The marquis was surprized, and +made several efforts to move it, without effect. He then ordered his +servants to burst it open, but, shrinking back with one accord, they +cried, 'For God's sake, my lord, go no farther; we are satisfied here +are no ghosts, only let us get back.' + +'It is now then my turn to be satisfied,' replied the marquis, 'and +till I am, not one of you shall stir. Open me that door.'--'My +lord!'--'Nay,' said the marquis, assuming a look of stern +authority--'dispute not my commands. I am not to be trifled with.' + +They now stepped forward, and applied their strength to the door, when +a loud and sudden noise burst from within, and resounded through the +hollow chambers! The men started back in affright, and were rushing +headlong down the stair-case, when the voice of the marquis arrested +their flight. They returned, with hearts palpitating with terror. +'Observe what I say,' said the marquis, 'and behave like men. Yonder +door,' pointing to one at some distance, 'will lead us through other +rooms to this chamber--unlock it therefore, for I will know the cause +of these sounds.' Shocked at this determination, the servants again +supplicated the marquis to go no farther; and to be obeyed, he was +obliged to exert all his authority. The door was opened, and +discovered a long narrow passage, into which they descended by a few +steps. It led to a gallery that terminated in a back stair-case, where +several doors appeared, one of which the marquis unclosed. A spacious +chamber appeared beyond, whose walls, decayed and discoloured by the +damps, exhibited a melancholy proof of desertion. + +They passed on through a long suite of lofty and noble apartments, +which were in the same ruinous condition. At length they came to the +chamber whence the noise had issued. 'Go first, Robert, with the +light,' said the marquis, as they approached the door; 'this is the +key.' Robert trembled--but obeyed, and the other servants followed in +silence. They stopped a moment at the door to listen, but all was +still within. The door was opened, and disclosed a large vaulted +chamber, nearly resembling those they had passed, and on looking +round, they discovered at once the cause of the alarm.--A part of the +decayed roof was fallen in, and the stones and rubbish of the ruin +falling against the gallery door, obstructed the passage. It was +evident, too, whence the noise which occasioned their terror had +arisen; the loose stones which were piled against the door being shook +by the effort made to open it, had given way, and rolled to the floor. + +After surveying the place, they returned to the back stairs, which +they descended, and having pursued the several windings of a long +passage, found themselves again in the marble hall. 'Now,' said the +marquis, 'what think ye? What evil spirits infest these walls? +Henceforth be cautious how ye credit the phantasms of idleness, for ye +may not always meet with a master who will condescend to undeceive +ye.'--They acknowledged the goodness of the marquis, and professing +themselves perfectly conscious of the error of their former +suspicions, desired they might search no farther. 'I chuse to leave +nothing to your imagination,' replied the marquis, 'lest hereafter it +should betray you into a similar error. Follow me, therefore; you +shall see the whole of these buildings.' Saying this, he led them to +the south tower. They remembered, that from a door of this tower the +figure which caused their alarm had issued; and notwithstanding the +late assertion of their suspicions being removed, fear still operated +powerfully upon their minds, and they would willingly have been +excused from farther research. 'Would any of you chuse to explore this +tower?' said the marquis, pointing to the broken stair-case; 'for +myself, I am mortal, and therefore fear to venture; but you, who hold +communion with disembodied spirits, may partake something of their +nature; if so, you may pass without apprehension where the ghost has +probably passed before.' They shrunk at this reproof, and were silent. + +The marquis turning to a door on his right hand, ordered it to be +unlocked. It opened upon the country, and the servants knew it to be +the same whence the figure had appeared. Having relocked it, 'Lift +that trapdoor; we will desend into the vaults,' said the marquis. +'What trapdoor, my Lord?' said Robert, with encreased agitation; 'I +see none.' The marquis pointed, and Robert, perceived a door, which +lay almost concealed beneath the stones that had fallen from the +stair-case above. He began to remove them, when the marquis suddenly +turning--'I have already sufficiently indulged your folly,' said he, +'and am weary of this business. If you are capable of receiving +conviction from truth, you must now be convinced that these buildings +are not the haunt of a supernatural being; and if you are incapable, +it would be entirely useless to proceed. You, Robert, may therefore +spare yourself the trouble of removing the rubbish; we will quit this +part of the fabric.' + +The servants joyfully obeyed, and the marquis locking the several +doors, returned with the keys to the habitable part of the castle. + +Every enquiry after Julia had hitherto proved fruitless; and the +imperious nature of the marquis, heightened by the present vexation, +became intolerably oppressive to all around him. As the hope of +recovering Julia declined, his opinion that Emilia had assisted her to +escape strengthened, and he inflicted upon her the severity of his +unjust suspicions. She was ordered to confine herself to her apartment +till her innocence should be cleared, or her sister discovered. From +Madame de Menon she received a faithful sympathy, which was the sole +relief of her oppressed heart. Her anxiety concerning Julia daily +encreased, and was heightened into the most terrifying apprehensions +for her safety. She knew of no person in whom her sister could +confide, or of any place where she could find protection; the most +deplorable evils were therefore to be expected. + +One day, as she was sitting at the window of her apartment, engaged in +melancholy reflection, she saw a man riding towards the castle on full +speed. Her heart beat with fear and expectation; for his haste made +her suspect he brought intelligence of Julia; and she could scarcely +refrain from breaking through the command of the marquis, and rushing +into the hall to learn something of his errand. She was right in her +conjecture; the person she had seen was a spy of the marquis's, and +came to inform him that the lady Julia was at that time concealed in a +cottage of the forest of Marentino. The marquis, rejoiced at this +intelligence, gave the man a liberal reward. He learned also, that she +was accompanied by a young cavalier; which circumstance surprized him +exceedingly; for he knew of no person except the Count de Vereza with +whom she could have entrusted herself, and the count had fallen by his +sword! He immediately ordered a party of his people to accompany the +messenger to the forest of Marentino, and to suffer neither Julia nor +the cavalier to escape them, on pain of death. + +When the Duke de Luovo was informed of this discovery, he entreated +and obtained permission of the marquis to join in the pursuit. He +immediately set out on the expedition, armed, and followed by a number +of his servants. He resolved to encounter all hazards, and to practice +the most desperate extremes, rather than fail in the object of his +enterprize. In a short time he overtook the marquis's people, and they +proceeded together with all possible speed. The forest lay several +leagues distant from the castle of Mazzini, and the day was closing +when they entered upon the borders. The thick foliage of the trees +spread a deeper shade around; and they were obliged to proceed with +caution. Darkness had long fallen upon the earth when they reached +the cottage, to which they were directed by a light that glimmered +from afar among the trees. The duke left his people at some distance; +and dismounted, and accompanied only by one servant, approached the +cottage. When he reached it he stopped, and looking through the +window, observed a man and woman in the habit of peasants seated at +their supper. They were conversing with earnestness, and the duke, +hoping to obtain farther intelligence of Julia, endeavoured to listen +to their discourse. They were praising the beauty of a lady, whom the +duke did not doubt to be Julia, and the woman spoke much in praise of +the cavalier. 'He has a noble heart,' said she; 'and I am sure, by +his look, belongs to some great family.'--'Nay,' replied her +companion, 'the lady is as good as he. I have been at Palermo, and +ought to know what great folks are, and if she is not one of them, +never take my word again. Poor thing, how she does take on! It made my +heart ache to see her.' + +They were some time silent. The duke knocked at the door, and enquired +of the man who opened it concerning the lady and cavalier then in his +cottage. He was assured there were no other persons in the cottage +than those he then saw. The duke persisted in affirming that the +persons he enquired for were there concealed; which the man being as +resolute in denying, he gave the signal, and his people approached, +and surrounded the cottage. The peasants, terrified by this +circumstance, confessed that a lady and cavalier, such as the duke +described, had been for some time concealed in the cottage; but that +they were now departed. + +Suspicious of the truth of the latter assertion, the duke ordered his +people to search the cottage, and that part of the forest contiguous +to it. The search ended in disappointment. The duke, however, +resolved to obtain all possible information concerning the fugitives; +and assuming, therefore, a stern air, bade the peasant, on pain of +instant death, discover all he knew of them. + +The man replied, that on a very dark and stormy night, about a week +before, two persons had come to the cottage, and desired shelter. That +they were unattended; but seemed to be persons of consequence in +disguise. That they paid very liberally for what they had; and that +they departed from the cottage a few hours before the arrival of the +duke. + +The duke enquired concerning the course they had taken, and having +received information, remounted his horse, and set forward in pursuit. +The road lay for several leagues through the forest, and the darkness, +and the probability of encountering banditti, made the journey +dangerous. About the break of day they quitted the forest, and entered +upon a wild and mountainous country, in which they travelled some +miles without perceiving a hut, or a human being. No vestige of +cultivation appeared, and no sounds reached them but those of their +horses feet, and the roaring of the winds through the deep forests +that overhung the mountains. The pursuit was uncertain, but the duke +resolved to persevere. + +They came at length to a cottage, where he repeated his enquiries, and +learned to his satisfaction that two persons, such as he described, +had stopped there for refreshment about two hours before. He found it +now necessary to stop for the same purpose. Bread and milk, the only +provisions of the place, were set before him, and his attendants would +have been well contented, had there been sufficient of this homely +fare to have satisfied their hunger. + +Having dispatched an hasty meal, they again set forward in the way +pointed out to them as the route of the fugitives. The country +assumed a more civilized aspect. Corn, vineyards, olives, and groves +of mulberry-trees adorned the hills. The vallies, luxuriant in shade, +were frequently embellished by the windings of a lucid stream, and +diversified by clusters of half-seen cottages. Here the rising turrets +of a monastery appeared above the thick trees with which they were +surrounded; and there the savage wilds the travellers had passed, +formed a bold and picturesque background to the scene. + +To the questions put by the duke to the several persons he met, he +received answers that encouraged him to proceed. At noon he halted at +a village to refresh himself and his people. He could gain no +intelligence of Julia, and was perplexed which way to chuse; but +determined at length to pursue the road he was then in, and +accordingly again set forward. He travelled several miles without +meeting any person who could give the necessary information, and began +to despair of success. The lengthened shadows of the mountains, and +the fading light gave signals of declining day; when having gained the +summit of a high hill, he observed two persons travelling on horseback +in the plains below. On one of them he distinguished the habiliments +of a woman; and in her air he thought he discovered that of Julia. +While he stood attentively surveying them, they looked towards the +hill, when, as if urged by a sudden impulse of terror, they set off on +full speed over the plains. The duke had no doubt that these were the +persons he sought; and he, therefore, ordered some of his people to +pursue them, and pushed his horse into a full gallop. Before he +reached the plains, the fugitives, winding round an abrupt hill, were +lost to his view. The duke continued his course, and his people, who +were a considerable way before him, at length reached the hill, behind +which the two persons had disappeared. No traces of them were to be +seen, and they entered a narrow defile between two ranges of high and +savage mountains; on the right of which a rapid stream rolled along, +and broke with its deep resounding murmurs the solemn silence of the +place. The shades of evening now fell thick, and the scene was soon +enveloped in darkness; but to the duke, who was animated by a strong +and impetuous passion, these were unimportant circumstances. Although +he knew that the wilds of Sicily were frequently infested with +banditti, his numbers made him fearless of attack. Not so his +attendants, many of whom, as the darkness increased, testified +emotions not very honourable to their courage: starting at every bush, +and believing it concealed a murderer. They endeavoured to dissuade +the duke from proceeding, expressing uncertainty of their being in the +right route, and recommending the open plains. But the duke, whose eye +had been vigilant to mark the flight of the fugitives, and who was not +to be dissuaded from his purpose, quickly repressed their arguments. +They continued their course without meeting a single person. + +The moon now rose, and afforded them a shadowy imperfect view of the +surrounding objects. The prospect was gloomy and vast, and not a human +habitation met their eyes. They had now lost every trace of the +fugitives, and found themselves bewildered in a wild and savage +country. Their only remaining care was to extricate themselves from so +forlorn a situation, and they listened at every step with anxious +attention for some sound that might discover to them the haunts of +men. They listened in vain; the stillness of night was undisturbed but +by the wind, which broke at intervals in low and hollow murmurs from +among the mountains. + +As they proceeded with silent caution, they perceived a light break +from among the rocks at some distance. The duke hesitated whether to +approach, since it might probably proceed from a party of the banditti +with which these mountains were said to be infested. While he +hesitated, it disappeared; but he had not advanced many steps when it +returned. He now perceived it to issue from the mouth of a cavern, and +cast a bright reflection upon the overhanging rocks and shrubs. + +He dismounted, and followed by two of his people, leaving the rest at +some distance, moved with slow and silent steps towards the cave. As +he drew near, he heard the sound of many voices in high carousal. +Suddenly the uproar ceased, and the following words were sung by a +clear and manly voice: + + SONG + + Pour the rich libation high; + The sparkling cup to Bacchus fill; + His joys shall dance in ev'ry eye, + And chace the forms of future ill! + + Quick the magic raptures steal + O'er the fancy-kindling brain. + Warm the heart with social zeal, + And song and laughter reign. + + Then visions of pleasure shall float on our sight, + While light bounding our spirits shall flow; + And the god shall impart a fine sense of delight + Which in vain _sober_ mortals would know. + +The last verse was repeated in loud chorus. The duke listened with +astonishment! Such social merriment amid a scene of such savage +wildness, appeared more like enchantment than reality. He would not +have hesitated to pronounce this a party of banditti, had not the +delicacy of expression preserved in the song appeared unattainable by +men of their class. + +He had now a full view of the cave; and the moment which convinced him +of his error served only to encrease his surprize. He beheld, by the +light of a fire, a party of banditti seated within the deepest recess +of the cave round a rude kind of table formed in the rock. The table +was spread with provisions, and they were regaling themselves with +great eagerness and joy. The countenances of the men exhibited a +strange mixture of fierceness and sociality; and the duke could almost +have imagined he beheld in these robbers a band of the early Romans +before knowledge had civilized, or luxury had softened them. But he +had not much time for meditation; a sense of his danger bade him fly +while to fly was yet in his power. As he turned to depart, he observed +two saddle-horses grazing upon the herbage near the mouth of the cave. +It instantly occurred to him that they belonged to Julia and her +companion. He hesitated, and at length determined to linger awhile, +and listen to the conversation of the robbers, hoping from thence to +have his doubts resolved. They talked for some time in a strain of +high conviviality, and recounted in exultation many of their exploits. +They described also the behaviour of several people whom they had +robbed, with highly ludicrous allusions, and with much rude humour, +while the cave re-echoed with loud bursts of laughter and applause. +They were thus engaged in tumultuous merriment, till one of them +cursing the scanty plunder of their late adventure, but praising the +beauty of a lady, they all lowered their voices together, and seemed +as if debating upon a point uncommonly interesting to them. The +passions of the duke were roused, and he became certain that it was +Julia of whom they had spoken. In the first impulse of feeling he drew +his sword; but recollecting the number of his adversaries, restrained +his fury. He was turning from the cave with a design of summoning his +people, when the light of the fire glittering upon the bright blade of +his weapon, caught the eye of one of the banditti. He started from +his seat, and his comrades instantly rising in consternation, +discovered the duke. They rushed with loud vociferation towards the +mouth of the cave. He endeavoured to escape to his people; but two of +the banditti mounting the horses which were grazing near, quickly +overtook and seized him. His dress and air proclaimed him to be a +person of distinction; and, rejoicing in their prospect of plunder, +they forced him towards the cave. Here their comrades awaited them; +but what were the emotions of the duke, when he discovered in the +person of the principal robber his own son! who, to escape the galling +severity of his father, had fled from his castle some years before, +and had not been heard of since. + +He had placed himself at the head of a party of banditti, and, pleased +with the liberty which till then he had never tasted, and with the +power which his new situation afforded him, he became so much attached +to this wild and lawless mode of life, that he determined never to +quit it till death should dissolve those ties which now made his rank +only oppressive. This event seemed at so great a distance, that he +seldom allowed himself to think of it. Whenever it should happen, he +had no doubt that he might either resume his rank without danger of +discovery, or might justify his present conduct as a frolic which a +few acts of generosity would easily excuse. He knew his power would +then place him beyond the reach of censure, in a country where the +people are accustomed to implicit subordination, and seldom dare to +scrutinize the actions of the nobility. + +His sensations, however, on discovering his father, were not very +pleasing; but proclaiming the duke, he protected him from farther +outrage. + +With the duke, whose heart was a stranger to the softer affections, +indignation usurped the place of parental feeling. His pride was the +only passion affected by the discovery; and he had the rashness to +express the indignation, which the conduct of his son had excited, in +terms of unrestrained invective. The banditti, inflamed by the +opprobium with which he loaded their order, threatened instant +punishment to his temerity; and the authority of Riccardo could hardly +restrain them within the limits of forbearance. + +The menaces, and at length entreaties of the duke, to prevail with his +son to abandon his present way of life, were equally ineffectual. +Secure in his own power, Riccardo laughed at the first, and was +insensible to the latter; and his father was compelled to relinquish +the attempt. The duke, however, boldly and passionately accused him of +having plundered and secreted a lady and cavalier, his friends, at the +same time describing Julia, for whose liberation he offered large +rewards. Riccardo denied the fact, which so much exasperated the duke, +that he drew his sword with an intention of plunging it in the breast +of his son. His arm was arrested by the surrounding banditti, who +half unsheathed their swords, and stood suspended in an attitude of +menace. The fate of the father now hung upon the voice of the son. +Riccardo raised his arm, but instantly dropped it, and turned away. +The banditti sheathed their weapons, and stepped back. + +Riccardo solemnly swearing that he knew nothing of the persons +described, the duke at length became convinced of the truth of the +assertion, and departing from the cave, rejoined his people. All the +impetuous passions of his nature were roused and inflamed by the +discovery of his son in a situation so wretchedly disgraceful. Yet it +was his pride rather than his virtue that was hurt; and when he wished +him dead, it was rather to save himself from disgrace, than his son +from the real indignity of vice. He had no means of reclaiming him; to +have attempted it by force, would have been at this time the excess of +temerity, for his attendants, though numerous, were undisciplined, and +would have fallen certain victims to the power of a savage and +dexterous banditti. + +With thoughts agitated in fierce and agonizing conflict, he pursued +his journey; and having lost all trace of Julia, sought only for an +habitation which might shelter him from the night, and afford +necessary refreshment for himself and his people. With this, however, +there appeared little hope of meeting. + + + +CHAPTER V + +The night grew stormy. The hollow winds swept over the mountains, and +blew bleak and cold around; the clouds were driven swiftly over the +face of the moon, and the duke and his people were frequently involved +in total darkness. They had travelled on silently and dejectedly for +some hours, and were bewildered in the wilds, when they suddenly heard +the bell of a monastery chiming for midnight-prayer. Their hearts +revived at the sound, which they endeavoured to follow, but they had +not gone far, when the gale wafted it away, and they were abandoned to +the uncertain guide of their own conjectures. + +They had pursued for some time the way which they judged led to the +monastery, when the note of the bell returned upon the wind, and +discovered to them that they had mistaken their route. After much +wandering and difficulty they arrived, overcome with weariness, at the +gates of a large and gloomy fabric. The bell had ceased, and all was +still. By the moonlight, which through broken clouds now streamed upon +the building, they became convinced it was the monastery they had +sought, and the duke himself struck loudly upon the gate. + +Several minutes elapsed, no person appeared, and he repeated the +stroke. A step was presently heard within, the gate was unbarred, and +a thin shivering figure presented itself. The duke solicited +admission, but was refused, and reprimanded for disturbing the convent +at the hour sacred to prayer. He then made known his rank, and bade +the friar inform the Superior that he requested shelter from the +night. The friar, suspicious of deceit, and apprehensive of robbers, +refused with much firmness, and repeated that the convent was engaged +in prayer; he had almost closed the gate, when the duke, whom hunger +and fatigue made desperate, rushed by him, and passed into the court. +It was his intention to present himself to the Superior, and he had +not proceeded far when the sound of laughter, and of many voices in +loud and mirthful jollity, attracted his steps. It led him through +several passages to a door, through the crevices of which light +appeared. He paused a moment, and heard within a wild uproar of +merriment and song. He was struck with astonishment, and could +scarcely credit his senses! + +He unclosed the door, and beheld in a large room, well lighted, a +company of friars, dressed in the habit of their order, placed round a +table, which was profusely spread with wines and fruits. The Superior, +whose habit distinguished him from his associates, appeared at the +head of the table. He was lifting a large goblet of wine to his lips, +and was roaring out, 'Profusion and confusion,' at the moment when the +duke entered. His appearance caused a general alarm; that part of the +company who were not too much intoxicated, arose from their seats; and +the Superior, dropping the goblet from his hands, endeavoured to +assume a look of austerity, which his rosy countenance belied. The +duke received a reprimand, delivered in the lisping accents of +intoxication, and embellished with frequent interjections of hiccup. +He made known his quality, his distress, and solicited a night's +lodging for himself and his people. When the Superior understood the +distinction of his guest, his features relaxed into a smile of joyous +welcome; and taking him by the hand, he placed him by his side. + +The table was quickly covered with luxurious provisions, and orders +were given that the duke's people should be admitted, and taken care +of. He was regaled with a variety of the finest wines, and at length, +highly elevated by monastic hospitality, he retired to the apartment +allotted him, leaving the Superior in a condition which precluded all +ceremony. + +He departed in the morning, very well pleased with the accommodating +principles of monastic religion. He had been told that the enjoyment +of the good things of this life was the surest sign of our gratitude +to Heaven; and it appeared, that within the walls of a Sicilian +monastery, the precept and the practice were equally enforced. + +He was now at a loss what course to chuse, for he had no clue to +direct him towards the object of his pursuit; but hope still +invigorated, and urged him to perseverance. He was not many leagues +from the coast; and it occurred to him that the fugitives might make +towards it with a design of escaping into Italy. He therefore +determined to travel towards the sea and proceed along the shore. + +At the house where he stopped to dine, he learned that two persons, +such as he described, had halted there about an hour before his +arrival, and had set off again in much seeming haste. They had taken +the road towards the coast, whence it was obvious to the duke they +designed to embark. He stayed not to finish the repast set before +him, but instantly remounted to continue the pursuit. + +To the enquiries he made of the persons he chanced to meet, favorable +answers were returned for a time, but he was at length bewildered in +uncertainity, and travelled for some hours in a direction which +chance, rather than judgment, prompted him to take. + +The falling evening again confused his prospects, and unsettled his +hopes. The shades were deepened by thick and heavy clouds that +enveloped the horizon, and the deep sounding air foretold a tempest. +The thunder now rolled at a distance, and the accumulated clouds grew +darker. The duke and his people were on a wild and dreary heath, round +which they looked in vain for shelter, the view being terminated on +all sides by the same desolate scene. They rode, however, as hard as +their horses would carry them; and at length one of the attendants +spied on the skirts of the waste a large mansion, towards which they +immediately directed their course. + +They were overtaken by the storm, and at the moment when they reached +the building, a peal of thunder, which seemed to shake the pile, burst +over their heads. They now found themselves in a large and ancient +mansion, which seemed totally deserted, and was falling to decay. The +edifice was distinguished by an air of magnificence, which ill +accorded with the surrounding scenery, and which excited some degree +of surprize in the mind of the duke, who, however, fully justified the +owner in forsaking a spot which presented to the eye only views of +rude and desolated nature. + +The storm increased with much violence, and threatened to detain the +duke a prisoner in his present habitation for the night. The hall, of +which he and his people had taken possession, exhibited in every +feature marks of ruin and desolation. The marble pavement was in many +places broken, the walls were mouldering in decay, and round the high +and shattered windows the long grass waved to the lonely gale. +Curiosity led him to explore the recesses of the mansion. He quitted +the hall, and entered upon a passage which conducted him to a remote +part of the edifice. He wandered through the wild and spacious +apartments in gloomy meditation, and often paused in wonder at the +remains of magnificence which he beheld. + +The mansion was irregular and vast, and he was bewildered in its +intricacies. In endeavouring to find his way back, he only perplexed +himself more, till at length he arrived at a door, which he believed +led into the hall he first quitted. On opening it he discovered, by +the faint light of the moon, a large place which he scarcely knew +whether to think a cloister, a chapel, or a hall. It retired in long +perspective, in arches, and terminated in a large iron gate, through +which appeared the open country. + +The lighting flashed thick and blue around, which, together with the +thunder that seemed to rend the wide arch of heaven, and the +melancholy aspect of the place, so awed the duke, that he +involuntarily called to his people. His voice was answered only by the +deep echoes which ran in murmurs through the place, and died away at a +distance; and the moon now sinking behind a cloud, left him in total +darkness. + +He repeated the call more loudly, and at length heard the approach of +footsteps. A few moments relieved him from his anxiety, for his people +appeared. The storm was yet loud, and the heavy and sulphureous +appearance of the atmosphere promised no speedy abatement of it. The +duke endeavoured to reconcile himself to pass the night in his present +situation, and ordered a fire to be lighted in the place he was in. +This with much difficulty was accomplished. He then threw himself on +the pavement before it, and tried to endure the abstinence which he +had so ill observed in the monastery on the preceding night. But to +his great joy his attendants, more provident than himself, had not +scrupled to accept a comfortable quantity of provisions which had been +offered them at the monastery; and which they now drew forth from a +wallet. They were spread upon the pavement; and the duke, after +refreshing himself, delivered up the remains to his people. Having +ordered them to watch by turns at the gate, he wrapt his cloak round +him, and resigned himself to repose. + +The night passed without any disturbance. The morning arose fresh and +bright; the Heavens exhibited a clear and unclouded concave; even the +wild heath, refreshed by the late rains, smiled around, and sent up +with the morning gale a stream of fragrance. + +The duke quitted the mansion, re-animated by the cheerfulness of morn, +and pursued his journey. He could gain no intelligence of the +fugitives. About noon he found himself in a beautiful romantic +country; and having reached the summit of some wild cliffs, he rested, +to view the picturesque imagery of the scene below. A shadowy +sequestered dell appeared buried deep among the rocks, and in the +bottom was seen a lake, whose clear bosom reflected the impending +cliffs, and the beautiful luxuriance of the overhanging shades. + +But his attention was quickly called from the beauties of inanimate +nature, to objects more interesting; for he observed two persons, whom +he instantly recollected to be the same that he had formerly pursued +over the plains. They were seated on the margin of the lake, under the +shade of some high trees at the foot of the rocks, and seemed +partaking of a repast which was spread upon the grass. Two horses were +grazing near. In the lady the duke saw the very air and shape of +Julia, and his heart bounded at the sight. They were seated with +their backs to the cliffs upon which the duke stood, and he therefore +surveyed them unobserved. They were now almost within his power, but +the difficulty was how to descend the rocks, whose stupendous heights +and craggy steeps seemed to render them impassable. He examined them +with a scrutinizing eye, and at length espied, where the rock receded, +a narrow winding sort of path. He dismounted, and some of his +attendants doing the same, followed their lord down the cliffs, +treading lightly, lest their steps should betray them. Immediately +upon their reaching the bottom, they were perceived by the lady, who +fled among the rocks, and was presently pursued by the duke's people. +The cavalier had no time to escape, but drew his sword, and defended +himself against the furious assault of the duke. + +The combat was sustained with much vigour and dexterity on both sides +for some minutes, when the duke received the point of his adversary's +sword, and fell. The cavalier, endeavouring to escape, was seized by +the duke's people, who now appeared with the fair fugitive; but what +was the disappointment--the rage of the duke, when in the person of +the lady he discovered a stranger! The astonishment was mutual, but +the accompanying feelings were, in the different persons, of a very +opposite nature. In the duke, astonishment was heightened by vexation, +and embittered by disappointment:--in the lady, it was softened by the +joy of unexpected deliverance. + +This lady was the younger daughter of a Sicilian nobleman, whose +avarice, or necessities, had devoted her to a convent. To avoid the +threatened fate, she fled with the lover to whom her affections had +long been engaged, and whose only fault, even in the eye of her +father, was inferiority of birth. They were now on their way to the +coast, whence they designed to pass over to Italy, where the church +would confirm the bonds which their hearts had already formed. There +the friends of the cavalier resided, and with them they expected to +find a secure retreat. + +The duke, who was not materially wounded, after the first transport of +his rage had subsided, suffered them to depart. Relieved from their +fears, they joyfully set forward, leaving their late pursuer to the +anguish of defeat, and fruitless endeavour. He was remounted on his +horse; and having dispatched two of his people in search of a house +where he might obtain some relief, he proceeded slowly on his return +to the castle of Mazzini. + +It was not long ere he recollected a circumstance which, in the first +tumult of his disappointment, had escaped him, but which so +essentially affected the whole tenour of his hopes, as to make him +again irresolute how to proceed. He considered that, although these +were the fugitives he had pursued over the plains, they might not be +the same who had been secreted in the cottage, and it was therefore +possible that Julia might have been the person whom they had for some +time followed from thence. This suggestion awakened his hopes, which +were however quickly destroyed; for he remembered that the only +persons who could have satisfied his doubts, were now gone beyond the +power of recall. To pursue Julia, when no traces of her flight +remained, was absurd; and he was, therefore, compelled to return to +the marquis, as ignorant and more hopeless than he had left him. With +much pain he reached the village which his emissaries had discovered, +when fortunately he obtained some medical assistance. Here he was +obliged by indisposition to rest. The anguish of his mind equalled +that of his body. Those impetuous passions which so strongly marked +his nature, were roused and exasperated to a degree that operated +powerfully upon his constitution, and threatened him with the most +alarming consequences. The effect of his wound was heightened by the +agitation of his mind; and a fever, which quickly assumed a very +serious aspect, co-operated to endanger his life. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The castle of Mazzini was still the scene of dissension and misery. +The impatience and astonishment of the marquis being daily increased +by the lengthened absence of the duke, he dispatched servants to the +forest of Marentino, to enquire the occasion of this circumstance. +They returned with intelligence that neither Julia, the duke, nor any +of his people were there. He therefore concluded that his daughter had +fled the cottage upon information of the approach of the duke, who, he +believed, was still engaged in the pursuit. With respect to +Ferdinand, who yet pined in sorrow and anxiety in his dungeon, the +rigour of the marquis's conduct was unabated. He apprehended that his +son, if liberated, would quickly discover the retreat of Julia, and by +his advice and assistance confirm her in disobedience. + +Ferdinand, in the stillness and solitude of his dungeon, brooded over +the late calamity in gloomy ineffectual lamentation. The idea of +Hippolitus--of Hippolitus murdered--arose to his imagination in busy +intrusion, and subdued the strongest efforts of his fortitude. Julia +too, his beloved sister--unprotected--unfriended--might, even at the +moment he lamented her, be sinking under sufferings dreadful to +humanity. The airy schemes he once formed of future felicity, +resulting from the union of two persons so justly dear to him--with +the gay visions of past happiness--floated upon his fancy, and the +lustre they reflected served only to heighten, by contrast, the +obscurity and gloom of his present views. He had, however, a new +subject of astonishment, which often withdrew his thoughts from their +accustomed object, and substituted a sensation less painful, though +scarcely less powerful. One night as he lay ruminating on the past, in +melancholy dejection, the stillness of the place was suddenly +interrupted by a low and dismal sound. It returned at intervals in +hollow sighings, and seemed to come from some person in deep distress. +So much did fear operate upon his mind, that he was uncertain whether +it arose from within or from without. He looked around his dungeon, +but could distinguish no object through the impenetrable darkness. As +he listened in deep amazement, the sound was repeated in moans more +hollow. Terror now occupied his mind, and disturbed his reason; he +started from his posture, and, determined to be satisfied whether any +person beside himself was in the dungeon, groped, with arms extended, +along the walls. The place was empty; but coming to a particular spot, +the sound suddenly arose more distinctly to his ear. He called aloud, +and asked who was there; but received no answer. Soon after all was +still; and after listening for some time without hearing the sounds +renewed, he laid himself down to sleep. On the following day he +mentioned to the man who brought him food what he had heard, and +enquired concerning the noise. The servant appeared very much +terrified, but could give no information that might in the least +account for the circumstance, till he mentioned the vicinity of the +dungeon to the southern buildings. The dreadful relation formerly +given by the marquis instantly recurred to the mind of Ferdinand, who +did not hesitate to believe that the moans he heard came from the +restless spirit of the murdered Della Campo. At this conviction, +horror thrilled his nerves; but he remembered his oath, and was +silent. His courage, however, yielded to the idea of passing another +night alone in his prison, where, if the vengeful spirit of the +murdered should appear, he might even die of the horror which its +appearance would inspire. + +The mind of Ferdinand was highly superior to the general influence of +superstition; but, in the present instance, such strong correlative +circumstances appeared, as compelled even incredulity to yield. He had +himself heard strange and awful sounds in the forsaken southern +buildings; he received from his father a dreadful secret relative to +them--a secret in which his honor, nay even his life, was bound up. +His father had also confessed, that he had himself there seen +appearances which he could never after remember without horror, and +which had occasioned him to quit that part of the castle. All these +recollections presented to Ferdinand a chain of evidence too powerful +to be resisted; and he could not doubt that the spirit of the dead had +for once been permitted to revisit the earth, and to call down +vengeance on the descendants of the murderer. + +This conviction occasioned him a degree of horror, such as no +apprehension of mortal powers could have excited; and he determined, +if possible, to prevail on Peter to pass the hours of midnight with +him in his dungeon. The strictness of Peter's fidelity yielded to the +persuasions of Ferdinand, though no bribe could tempt him to incur the +resentment of the marquis, by permitting an escape. Ferdinand passed +the day in lingering anxious expectation, and the return of night +brought Peter to the dungeon. His kindness exposed him to a danger +which he had not foreseen; for when seated in the dungeon alone with +his prisoner, how easily might that prisoner have conquered him and +left him to pay his life to the fury of the marquis. He was preserved +by the humanity of Ferdinand, who instantly perceived his advantage, +but disdained to involve an innocent man in destruction, and spurned +the suggestion from his mind. + +Peter, whose friendship was stronger than his courage, trembled with +apprehension as the hour drew nigh in which the groans had been heard +on the preceding night. He recounted to Ferdinand a variety of +terrific circumstances, which existed only in the heated imaginations +of his fellow-servants, but which were still admitted by them as +facts. Among the rest, he did not omit to mention the light and the +figure which had been seen to issue from the south tower on the night +of Julia's intended elopement; a circumstance which he embellished +with innumerable aggravations of fear and wonder. He concluded with +describing the general consternation it had caused, and the consequent +behaviour of the marquis, who laughed at the fears of his people, yet +condescended to quiet them by a formal review of the buildings whence +their terror had originated. He related the adventure of the door +which refused to yield, the sounds which arose from within, and the +discovery of the fallen roof; but declared that neither he, nor any of +his fellow servants, believed the noise or the obstruction proceeded +from that, 'because, my lord,' continued he, 'the door seemed to be +held only in one place; and as for the noise--O! Lord! I never shall +forget what a noise it was!--it was a thousand times louder than what +any stones could make.' + +Ferdinand listened to this narrative in silent wonder! wonder not +occasioned by the adventure described, but by the hardihood and +rashness of the marquis, who had thus exposed to the inspection of his +people, that dreadful spot which he knew from experience to be the +haunt of an injured spirit; a spot which he had hitherto scrupulously +concealed from human eye, and human curiosity; and which, for so many +years, he had not dared even himself to enter. Peter went on, but was +presently interrupted by a hollow moan, which seemed to come from +beneath the ground. 'Blessed virgin!' exclaimed he: Ferdinand listened +in awful expectation. A groan longer and more dreadful was repeated, +when Peter started from his seat, and snatching up the lamp, rushed +out of the dungeon. Ferdinand, who was left in total darkness, +followed to the door, which the affrighted Peter had not stopped to +fasten, but which had closed, and seemed held by a lock that could be +opened only on the outside. The sensations of Ferdinand, thus +compelled to remain in the dungeon, are not to be imagined. The +horrors of the night, whatever they were to be, he was to endure +alone. By degrees, however, he seemed to acquire the valour of +despair. The sounds were repeated, at intervals, for near an hour, +when silence returned, and remained undisturbed during the rest of the +night. Ferdinand was alarmed by no appearance, and at length, overcome +with anxiety and watching, he sunk to repose. + +On the following morning Peter returned to the dungeon, scarcely +knowing what to expect, yet expecting something very strange, perhaps +the murder, perhaps the supernatural disappearance of his young lord. +Full of these wild apprehensions, he dared not venture thither alone, +but persuaded some of the servants, to whom he had communicated his +terrors, to accompany him to the door. As they passed along he +recollected, that in the terror of the preceding night he had forgot +to fasten the door, and he now feared that his prisoner had made his +escape without a miracle. He hurried to the door; and his surprize was +extreme to find it fastened. It instantly struck him that this was the +work of a supernatural power, when on calling aloud, he was answered +by a voice from within. His absurd fear did not suffer him to +recognize the voice of Ferdinand, neither did he suppose that +Ferdinand had failed to escape, he, therefore, attributed the voice to +the being he had heard on the preceding night; and starting back from +the door, fled with his companions to the great hall. There the uproar +occasioned by their entrance called together a number of persons, +amongst whom was the marquis, who was soon informed of the cause of +alarm, with a long history of the circumstances of the foregoing +night. At this information, the marquis assumed a very stern look, and +severely reprimanded Peter for his imprudence, at the same time +reproaching the other servants with their undutifulness in thus +disturbing his peace. He reminded them of the condescension he had +practised to dissipate their former terrors, and of the result of +their examination. He then assured them, that since indulgence had +only encouraged intrusion, he would for the future be severe; and +concluded with declaring, that the first man who should disturb him +with a repetition of such ridiculous apprehensions, or should attempt +to disturb the peace of the castle by circulating these idle notions, +should be rigorously punished, and banished his dominions. They shrunk +back at his reproof, and were silent. 'Bring a torch,' said the +marquis, 'and shew me to the dungeon. I will once more condescend to +confute you.' + +They obeyed, and descended with the marquis, who, arriving at the +dungeon, instantly threw open the door, and discovered to the +astonished eyes of his attendants--Ferdinand!--He started with +surprize at the entrance of his father thus attended. The +marquis darted upon him a severe look, which he perfectly +comprehended.--'Now,' cried he, turning to his people, 'what do you +see? My son, whom I myself placed here, and whose voice, which +answered to your calls, you have transformed into unknown sounds. +Speak, Ferdinand, and confirm what I say.' Ferdinand did so. 'What +dreadful spectre appeared to you last night?' resumed the marquis, +looking stedfastly upon him: 'gratify these fellows with a description +of it, for they cannot exist without something of the marvellous.' +'None, my lord,' replied Ferdinand, who too well understood the manner +of the marquis. ''Tis well,' cried the marquis, 'and this is the last +time,' turning to his attendants, 'that your folly shall be treated +with so much lenity.' He ceased to urge the subject, and forbore to +ask Ferdinand even one question before his servants, concerning the +nocturnal sounds described by Peter. He quitted the dungeon with eyes +steadily bent in anger and suspicion upon Ferdinand. The marquis +suspected that the fears of his son had inadvertently betrayed to +Peter a part of the secret entrusted to him, and he artfully +interrogated Peter with seeming carelessness, concerning the +circumstances of the preceding night. From him he drew such answers as +honorably acquitted Ferdinand of indiscretion, and relieved himself +from tormenting apprehensions. + +The following night passed quietly away; neither sound nor appearance +disturbed the peace of Ferdinand. The marquis, on the next day, +thought proper to soften the severity of his sufferings, and he was +removed from his dungeon to a room strongly grated, but exposed to the +light of day. + +Meanwhile a circumstance occurred which increased the general discord, +and threatened Emilia with the loss of her last remaining comfort--the +advice and consolation of Madame de Menon. The marchioness, whose +passion for the Count de Vereza had at length yielded to absence, and +the pressure of present circumstances, now bestowed her smiles upon a +young Italian cavalier, a visitor at the castle, who possessed too +much of the spirit of gallantry to permit a lady to languish in vain. +The marquis, whose mind was occupied with other passions, was +insensible to the misconduct of his wife, who at all times had the +address to disguise her vices beneath the gloss of virtue and innocent +freedom. The intrigue was discovered by madame, who, having one day +left a book in the oak parlour, returned thither in search of it. As +she opened the door of the apartment, she heard the voice of the +cavalier in passionate exclamation; and on entering, discovered him +rising in some confusion from the feet of the marchioness, who, +darting at madame a look of severity, arose from her seat. Madame, +shocked at what she had seen, instantly retired, and buried in her own +bosom that secret, the discovery of which would most essentially have +poisoned the peace of the marquis. The marchioness, who was a stranger +to the generosity of sentiment which actuated Madame de Menon, doubted +not that she would seize the moment of retaliation, and expose her +conduct where most she dreaded it should be known. The consciousness +of guilt tortured her with incessant fear of discovery, and from this +period her whole attention was employed to dislodge from the castle +the person to whom her character was committed. In this it was not +difficult to succeed; for the delicacy of madame's feelings made her +quick to perceive, and to withdraw from a treatment unsuitable to the +natural dignity of her character. She therefore resolved to depart +from the castle; but disdaining to take an advantage even over a +successful enemy, she determined to be silent on that subject which +would instantly have transferred the triumph from her adversary to +herself. When the marquis, on hearing her determination to retire, +earnestly enquired for the motive of her conduct, she forbore to +acquaint him with the real one, and left him to incertitude and +disappointment. + +To Emilia this design occasioned a distress which almost subdued the +resolution of madame. Her tears and intreaties spoke the artless +energy of sorrow. In madame she lost her only friend; and she too well +understood the value of that friend, to see her depart without feeling +and expressing the deepest distress. From a strong attachment to the +memory of the mother, madame had been induced to undertake the +education of her daughters, whose engaging dispositions had +perpetuated a kind of hereditary affection. Regard for Emilia and +Julia had alone for some time detained her at the castle; but this was +now succeeded by the influence of considerations too powerful to be +resisted. As her income was small, it was her plan to retire to her +native place, which was situated in a distant part of the island, and +there take up her residence in a convent. + +Emilia saw the time of madame's departure approach with increased +distress. They left each other with a mutual sorrow, which did honour +to their hearts. When her last friend was gone, Emilia wandered +through the forsaken apartments, where she had been accustomed to +converse with Julia, and to receive consolation and sympathy from her +dear instructress, with a kind of anguish known only to those who have +experienced a similar situation. Madame pursued her journey with a +heavy heart. Separated from the objects of her fondest affections, and +from the scenes and occupations for which long habit had formed claims +upon her heart, she seemed without interest and without motive for +exertion. The world appeared a wide and gloomy desert, where no heart +welcomed her with kindness--no countenance brightened into smiles at +her approach. It was many years since she quitted Calini--and in the +interval, death had swept away the few friends she left there. The +future presented a melancholy scene; but she had the retrospect of +years spent in honorable endeavour and strict integrity, to cheer her +heart and encouraged her hopes. + +But her utmost endeavours were unable to express the anxiety with +which the uncertain fate of Julia overwhelmed her. Wild and terrific +images arose to her imagination. Fancy drew the scene;--she deepened +the shades; and the terrific aspect of the objects she presented was +heightened by the obscurity which involved them. + +[End of Vol. I] + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Towards the close of day Madame de Menon arrived at a small village +situated among the mountains, where she purposed to pass the night. +The evening was remarkably fine, and the romantic beauty of the +surrounding scenery invited her to walk. She followed the windings of +a stream, which was lost at some distance amongst luxuriant groves of +chesnut. The rich colouring of evening glowed through the dark +foliage, which spreading a pensive gloom around, offered a scene +congenial to the present temper of her mind, and she entered the +shades. Her thoughts, affected by the surrounding objects, gradually +sunk into a pleasing and complacent melancholy, and she was insensibly +led on. She still followed the course of the stream to where the deep +shades retired, and the scene again opening to day, yielded to her a +view so various and sublime, that she paused in thrilling and +delightful wonder. A group of wild and grotesque rocks rose in a +semicircular form, and their fantastic shapes exhibited Nature in her +most sublime and striking attitudes. Here her vast magnificence +elevated the mind of the beholder to enthusiasm. Fancy caught the +thrilling sensation, and at her touch the towering steeps became +shaded with unreal glooms; the caves more darkly frowned--the +projecting cliffs assumed a more terrific aspect, and the wild +overhanging shrubs waved to the gale in deeper murmurs. The scene +inspired madame with reverential awe, and her thoughts involuntarily +rose, 'from Nature up to Nature's God.' The last dying gleams of day +tinted the rocks and shone upon the waters, which retired through a +rugged channel and were lost afar among the receding cliffs. While she +listened to their distant murmur, a voice of liquid and melodious +sweetness arose from among the rocks; it sung an air, whose melancholy +expression awakened all her attention, and captivated her heart. The +tones swelled and died faintly away among the clear, yet languishing +echoes which the rocks repeated with an effect like that of +enchantment. Madame looked around in search of the sweet warbler, and +observed at some distance a peasant girl seated on a small projection +of the rock, overshadowed by drooping sycamores. She moved slowly +towards the spot, which she had almost reached, when the sound of her +steps startled and silenced the syren, who, on perceiving a stranger, +arose in an attitude to depart. The voice of madame arrested her, and +she approached. Language cannot paint the sensation of madame, when in +the disguise of a peasant girl, she distinguished the features of +Julia, whose eyes lighted up with sudden recollection, and who sunk +into her arms overcome with joy. When their first emotions were +subsided, and Julia had received answers to her enquiries concerning +Ferdinand and Emilia, she led madame to the place of her concealment. +This was a solitary cottage, in a close valley surrounded by +mountains, whose cliffs appeared wholly inaccessible to mortal foot. +The deep solitude of the scene dissipated at once madame's wonder that +Julia had so long remained undiscovered, and excited surprize how she +had been able to explore a spot thus deeply sequestered; but madame +observed with extreme concern, that the countenance of Julia no longer +wore the smile of health and gaiety. Her fine features had received +the impressions not only of melancholy, but of grief. Madame sighed as +she gazed, and read too plainly the cause of the change. Julia +understood that sigh, and answered it with her tears. She pressed the +hand of madame in mournful silence to her lips, and her cheeks were +suffused with a crimson glow. At length, recovering herself, 'I have +much, my dear madam, to tell,' said she, 'and much to explain, 'ere +you will admit me again to that esteem of which I was once so justly +proud. I had no resource from misery, but in flight; and of that I +could not make you a confidant, without meanly involving you in its +disgrace.'--'Say no more, my love, on the subject,' replied madame; +'with respect to myself, I admired your conduct, and felt severely for +your situation. Rather let me hear by what means you effected your +escape, and what has since be fallen you.'--Julia paused a moment, as +if to stifle her rising emotion, and then commenced her narrative. + +'You are already acquainted with the secret of that night, so fatal to +my peace. I recall the remembrance of it with an anguish which I +cannot conceal; and why should I wish its concealment, since I mourn +for one, whose noble qualities justified all my admiration, and +deserved more than my feeble praise can bestow; the idea of whom will +be the last to linger in my mind till death shuts up this painful +scene.' Her voice trembled, and she paused. After a few moments she +resumed her tale. 'I will spare myself the pain of recurring to scenes +with which you are not unacquainted, and proceed to those which more +immediately attract your interest. Caterina, my faithful servant, you +know, attended me in my confinement; to her kindness I owe my escape. +She obtained from her lover, a servant in the castle, that assistance +which gave me liberty. One night when Carlo, who had been appointed my +guard, was asleep, Nicolo crept into his chamber, and stole from him +the keys of my prison. He had previously procured a ladder of ropes. +O! I can never forget my emotions, when in the dead hour of that +night, which was meant to precede the day of my sacrifice, I heard the +door of my prison unlock, and found myself half at liberty! My +trembling limbs with difficulty supported me as I followed Caterina to +the saloon, the windows of which being low and near to the terrace, +suited our purpose. To the terrace we easily got, where Nicolo +awaited us with the rope-ladder. He fastened it to the ground; and +having climbed to the top of the parapet, quickly slided down on the +other side. There he held it, while we ascended and descended; and I +soon breathed the air of freedom again. But the apprehension of being +retaken was still too powerful to permit a full enjoyment of my +escape. It was my plan to proceed to the place of my faithful +Caterina's nativity, where she had assured me I might find a safe +asylum in the cottage of her parents, from whom, as they had never +seen me, I might conceal my birth. This place, she said, was entirely +unknown to the marquis, who had hired her at Naples only a few months +before, without any enquiries concerning her family. She had informed +me that the village was many leagues distant from the castle, but that +she was very well acquainted with the road. At the foot of the walls +we left Nicolo, who returned to the castle to prevent suspicion, but +with an intention to leave it at a less dangerous time, and repair to +Farrini to his good Caterina. I parted from him with many thanks, and +gave him a small diamond cross, which, for that purpose, I had taken +from the jewels sent to me for wedding ornaments.' + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +'About a quarter of a league from the walls we stopped, and I assumed +the habit in which you now see me. My own dress was fastened to some +heavy stones, and Caterina threw it into the stream, near the almond +grove, whose murmurings you have so often admired. The fatigue and +hardship I endured in this journey, performed almost wholly on foot, +at any other time would have overcome me; but my mind was so occupied +by the danger I was avoiding that these lesser evils were disregarded. +We arrived in safety at the cottage, which stood at a little distance +from the village of Ferrini, and were received by Caterina's parents +with some surprise and more kindness. I soon perceived it would be +useless, and even dangerous, to attempt to preserve the character I +personated. In the eyes of Caterina's mother I read a degree of +surprise and admiration which declared she believed me to be of +superior rank; I, therefore, thought it more prudent to win her +fidelity by entrusting her with my secret than, by endeavouring to +conceal it, leave it to be discovered by her curiosity or discernment. +Accordingly, I made known my quality and my distress, and received +strong assurances of assistance and attachment. For further security, +I removed to this sequestered spot. The cottage we are now in belongs +to a sister of Caterina, upon whose faithfulness I have been hitherto +fully justified in relying. But I am not even here secure from +apprehension, since for several days past horsemen of a suspicious +appearance have been observed near Marcy, which is only half a league +from hence.' + +Here Julia closed her narration, to which madame had listened with a +mixture of surprise and pity, which her eyes sufficiently discovered. +The last circumstance of the narrative seriously alarmed her. She +acquainted Julia with the pursuit which the duke had undertaken; and +she did not hesitate to believe it a party of his people whom Julia +had described. Madame, therefore, earnestly advised her to quit her +present situation, and to accompany her in disguise to the monastery +of St Augustin, where she would find a secure retreat; because, even +if her place of refuge should be discovered, the superior authority of +the church would protect her. Julia accepted the proposal with much +joy. As it was necessary that madame should sleep at the village where +she had left her servants and horses, it was agreed that at break of +day she should return to the cottage, where Julia would await her. +Madame took all affectionate leave of Julia, whose heart, in spite of +reason, sunk when she saw her depart, though but for the necessary +interval of repose. + +At the dawn of day madame arose. Her servants, who were hired for the +journey, were strangers to Julia: from them, therefore, she had +nothing to apprehend. She reached the cottage before sunrise, having +left her people at some little distance. Her heart foreboded evil, +when, on knocking at the door, no answer was returned. She knocked +again, and still all was silent. Through the casement she could +discover no object, amidst the grey obscurity of the dawn. She now +opened the door, and, to her inexpressible surprise and distress, +found the cottage empty. She proceeded to a small inner room, where +lay a part of Julia's apparel. The bed had no appearance of having +being slept in, and every moment served to heighten and confirm her +apprehensions. While she pursued the search, she suddenly heard the +trampling of feet at the cottage door, and presently after some people +entered. Her fears for Julia now yielded to those for her own safety, +and she was undetermined whether to discover herself, or remain in her +present situation, when she was relieved from her irresolution by the +appearance of Julia. + +On the return of the good woman, who had accompanied madame to the +village on the preceding night, Julia went to the cottage at Farrini. +Her grateful heart would not suffer her to depart without taking leave +of her faithful friends, thanking them for their kindness, and +informing them of her future prospects. They had prevailed upon her to +spend the few intervening hours at this cot, whence she had just risen +to meet madame. + +They now hastened to the spot where the horses were stationed, and +commenced their journey. For some leagues they travelled in silence +and thought, over a wild and picturesque country. The landscape was +tinted with rich and variegated hues; and the autumnal lights, which +streamed upon the hills, produced a spirited and beautiful effect upon +the scenery. All the glories of the vintage rose to their view: the +purple grapes flushed through the dark green of the surrounding +foliage, and the prospect glowed with luxuriance. + +They now descended into a deep valley, which appeared more like a +scene of airy enchantment than reality. Along the bottom flowed a +clear majestic stream, whose banks were adorned with thick groves of +orange and citron trees. Julia surveyed the scene in silent +complacency, but her eye quickly caught an object which changed with +instantaneous shock the tone of her feelings. She observed a party of +horsemen winding down the side of a hill behind her. Their uncommon +speed alarmed her, and she pushed her horse into a gallop. On looking +back Madame de Menon clearly perceived they were in pursuit. Soon +after the men suddenly appeared from behind a dark grove within a +small distance of them; and, upon their nearer approach, Julia, +overcome with fatigue and fear, sunk breathless from her horse. She +was saved from the ground by one of the pursuers, who caught her in +his arms. Madame, with the rest of the party, were quickly overtaken; +and as soon as Julia revived, they were bound, and reconducted to the +hill from whence they had descended. Imagination only can paint the +anguish of Julia's mind, when she saw herself thus delivered up to the +power of her enemy. Madame, in the surrounding troop, discovered none +of the marquis's people, and they were therefore evidently in the +hands of the duke. After travelling for some hours, they quitted the +main road, and turned into a narrow winding dell, overshadowed by high +trees, which almost excluded the light. The gloom of the place +inspired terrific images. Julia trembled as she entered; and her +emotion was heightened, when she perceived at some distance, through +the long perspective of the trees, a large ruinous mansion. The gloom +of the surrounding shades partly concealed it from her view; but, as +she drew near, each forlorn and decaying feature of the fabric was +gradually disclosed, and struck upon her heart a horror such as she +had never before experienced. The broken battlements, enwreathed with +ivy, proclaimed the fallen grandeur of the place, while the shattered +vacant window-frames exhibited its desolation, and the high grass that +overgrew the threshold seemed to say how long it was since mortal foot +had entered. The place appeared fit only for the purposes of violence +and destruction: and the unfortunate captives, when they stopped at +its gates, felt the full force of its horrors. + +They were taken from their horses, and conveyed to an interior part of +the building, which, if it had once been a chamber, no longer deserved +the name. Here the guard said they were directed to detain them till +the arrival of their lord, who had appointed this the place of +rendezvous. He was expected to meet them in a few hours, and these +were hours of indescribable torture to Julia and madame. From the +furious passions of the duke, exasperated by frequent disappointment, +Julia had every evil to apprehend; and the loneliness of the spot he +had chosen, enabled him to perpetrate any designs, however violent. +For the first time, she repented that she had left her father's house. +Madame wept over her, but comfort she had none to give. The day +closed--the duke did not appear, and the fate of Julia yet hung in +perilous uncertainty. At length, from a window of the apartment she +was in, she distinguished a glimmering of torches among the trees, and +presently after the clattering of hoofs convinced her the duke was +approaching. Her heart sunk at the sound; and throwing her arms round +madame's neck, she resigned herself to despair. She was soon roused by +some men, who came to announce the arrival of their lord. In a few +moments the place, which had lately been so silent, echoed with +tumult; and a sudden blaze of light illumining the fabric, served to +exhibit more forcibly its striking horrors. Julia ran to the window; +and, in a sort of court below, perceived a group of men dismounting +from their horses. The torches shed a partial light; and while she +anxiously looked round for the person of the duke, the whole party +entered the mansion. She listened to a confused uproar of voices, +which sounded from the room beneath, and soon after it sunk into a low +murmur, as if some matter of importance was in agitation. For some +moments she sat in lingering terror, when she heard footsteps +advancing towards the chamber, and a sudden gleam of torchlight +flashed upon the walls. 'Wretched girl! I have at least secured you!' +said a cavalier, who now entered the room. He stopped as he perceived +Julia; and turning to the men who stood without, 'Are these,' said he, +'the fugitives you have taken?'--'Yes, my lord.'--'Then you have +deceived yourselves, and misled me; this is not my daughter.' These +words struck the sudden light of truth and joy upon the heart of +Julia, whom terror had before rendered almost lifeless; and who had +not perceived that the person entering was a stranger. Madame now +stepped forward, and an explanation ensued, when it appeared that the +stranger was the Marquis Murani, the father of the fair fugitive whom +the duke had before mistaken for Julia. + +The appearance and the evident flight of Julia had deceived the +banditti employed by this nobleman, into a belief that she was the +object of their search, and had occasioned her this unnecessary +distress. But the joy she now felt, on finding herself thus +unexpectedly at liberty, surpassed, if possible, her preceding +terrors. The marquis made madame and Julia all the reparation in his +power, by offering immediately to reconduct them to the main road, and +to guard them to some place of safety for the night. This offer was +eagerly and thankfully accepted; and though faint from distress, +fatigue, and want of sustenance, they joyfully remounted their horses, +and by torchlight quitted the mansion. After some hours travelling +they arrived at a small town, where they procured the accommodation so +necessary to their support and repose. Here their guides quitted them +to continue their search. + +They arose with the dawn, and continued their journey, continually +terrified with the apprehension of encountering the duke's people. At +noon they arrived at Azulia, from whence the monastery, or abbey of St +Augustin, was distant only a few miles. Madame wrote to the _Padre +Abate_, to whom she was somewhat related, and soon after received an +answer very favourable to her wishes. The same evening they repaired +to the abbey; where Julia, once more relieved from the fear of +pursuit, offered up a prayer of gratitude to heaven, and endeavoured +to calm her sorrows by devotion. She was received by the abbot with a +sort of paternal affection, and by the nuns with officious kindness. +Comforted by these circumstances, and by the tranquil appearance of +every thing around her, she retired to rest, and passed the night in +peaceful slumbers. + +In her present situation she found much novelty to amuse, and much +serious matter to interest her mind. Entendered by distress, she +easily yielded to the pensive manners of her companions and to the +serene uniformity of a monastic life. She loved to wander through the +lonely cloisters, and high-arched aisles, whose long perspectives +retired in simple grandeur, diffusing a holy calm around. She found +much pleasure in the conversation of the nuns, many of whom were +uncommonly amiable, and the dignified sweetness of whose manners +formed a charm irresistibly attractive. The soft melancholy impressed +upon their countenances, pourtrayed the situation of their minds, and +excited in Julia a very interesting mixture of pity and esteem. The +affectionate appellation of sister, and all that endearing tenderness +which they so well know how to display, and of which they so well +understand the effect, they bestowed on Julia, in the hope of winning +her to become one of their order. + +Soothed by the presence of madame, the assiduity of the nuns, and by +the stillness and sanctity of the place, her mind gradually recovered +a degree of complacency to which it had long been a stranger. But +notwithstanding all her efforts, the idea of Hippolitus would at +intervals return upon her memory with a force that at once subdued her +fortitude, and sunk her in a temporary despair. + +Among the holy sisters, Julia distinguished one, the singular fervor +of whose devotion, and the pensive air of whose countenance, softened +by the languor of illness, attracted her curiosity, and excited a +strong degree of pity. The nun, by a sort of sympathy, seemed +particularly inclined towards Julia, which she discovered by +innumerable acts of kindness, such as the heart can quickly understand +and acknowledge, although description can never reach them. In +conversation with her, Julia endeavoured, as far as delicacy would +permit, to prompt an explanation of that more than common dejection +which shaded those features, where beauty, touched by resignation and +sublimed by religion, shone forth with mild and lambent lustre. + +The Duke de Luovo, after having been detained for some weeks by the +fever which his wounds had produced, and his irritated passions had +much prolonged, arrived at the castle of Mazzini. + +When the marquis saw him return, and recollected the futility of those +exertions, by which he had boastingly promised to recover Julia, the +violence of his nature spurned the disguise of art, and burst forth in +contemptuous impeachment of the valour and discernment of the duke, +who soon retorted with equal fury. The consequence might have been +fatal, had not the ambition of the marquis subdued the sudden +irritation of his inferior passions, and induced him to soften the +severity of his accusations, by subsequent concessions. The duke, +whose passion for Julia was heightened by the difficulty which opposed +it, admitted such concessions as in other circumstances he would have +rejected; and thus each, conquered by the predominant passion of the +moment, submitted to be the slave of his adversary. + +Emilia was at length released from the confinement she had so unjustly +suffered. She had now the use of her old apartments, where, solitary +and dejected, her hours moved heavily along, embittered by incessant +anxiety for Julia, by regret for the lost society of madame. The +marchioness, whose pleasures suffered a temporary suspense during the +present confusion at the castle, exercised the ill-humoured caprice, +which disappointment and lassitude inspired, upon her remaining +subject. Emilia was condemned to suffer, and to endure without the +privilege of complaining. In reviewing the events of the last few +weeks, she saw those most dear to her banished, or imprisoned by the +secret influence of a woman, every feature of whose character was +exactly opposite to that of the amiable mother she had been appointed +to succeed. + +The search after Julia still continued, and was still unsuccessful. +The astonishment of the marquis increased with his disappointments; +for where could Julia, ignorant of the country, and destitute of +friends, have possibly found an asylum? He swore with a terrible oath +to revenge on her head, whenever she should be found, the trouble and +vexation she now caused him. But he agreed with the duke to relinquish +for a while the search; till Julia, gaining confidence from the +observation of this circumstance, might gradually suppose herself +secure from molestation, and thus be induced to emerge from +concealment. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Meanwhile Julia, sheltered in the obscure recesses of St Augustin, +endeavoured to attain a degree of that tranquillity which so +strikingly characterized the scenes around her. The abbey of St +Augustin was a large magnificent mass of Gothic architecture, whose +gloomy battlements, and majestic towers arose in proud sublimity from +amid the darkness of the surrounding shades. It was founded in the +twelfth century, and stood a proud monument of monkish superstition +and princely magnificence. In the times when Italy was agitated by +internal commotions, and persecuted by foreign invaders, this edifice +afforded an asylum to many noble Italian emigrants, who here +consecrated the rest of their days to religion. At their death they +enriched the monastery with the treasures which it had enabled them to +secure. + +The view of this building revived in the mind of the beholder the +memory of past ages. The manners and characters which distinguished +them arose to his fancy, and through the long lapse of years he +discriminated those customs and manners which formed so striking a +contrast to the modes of his own times. The rude manners, the +boisterous passions, the daring ambition, and the gross indulgences +which formerly characterized the priest, the nobleman, and the +sovereign, had now begun to yield to learning--the charms of refined +conversation--political intrigue and private artifices. Thus do the +scenes of life vary with the predominant passions of mankind, and with +the progress of civilization. The dark clouds of prejudice break away +before the sun of science, and gradually dissolving, leave the +brightening hemisphere to the influence of his beams. But through the +present scene appeared only a few scattered rays, which served to shew +more forcibly the vast and heavy masses that concealed the form of +truth. Here prejudice, not reason, suspended the influence of the +passions; and scholastic learning, mysterious philosophy, and crafty +sanctity supplied the place of wisdom, simplicity, and pure devotion. + +At the abbey, solitude and stillness conspired with the solemn aspect +of the pile to impress the mind with religious awe. The dim glass of +the high-arched windows, stained with the colouring of monkish +fictions, and shaded by the thick trees that environed the edifice, +spread around a sacred gloom, which inspired the beholder with +congenial feelings. + +As Julia mused through the walks, and surveyed this vast monument of +barbarous superstition, it brought to her recollection an ode which +she often repeated with melancholy pleasure, as the composition of +Hippolitus. + + SUPERSTITION + + AN ODE + + High mid Alverna's awful steeps, + Eternal shades, and silence dwell. + Save, when the gale resounding sweeps, + Sad strains are faintly heard to swell: + + Enthron'd amid the wild impending rocks, + Involved in clouds, and brooding future woe, + The demon Superstition Nature shocks, + And waves her sceptre o'er the world below. + + Around her throne, amid the mingling glooms, + Wild--hideous forms are slowly seen to glide, + She bids them fly to shade earth's brightest blooms, + And spread the blast of Desolation wide. + + See! in the darkened air their fiery course! + The sweeping ruin settles o'er the land, + Terror leads on their steps with madd'ning force, + And Death and Vengeance close the ghastly band! + + Mark the purple streams that flow! + Mark the deep empassioned woe! + Frantic Fury's dying groan! + Virtue's sigh, and Sorrow's moan! + + Wide--wide the phantoms swell the loaded air + With shrieks of anguish--madness and despair! + + Cease your ruin! spectres dire! + Cease your wild terrific sway! + Turn your steps--and check your ire, + Yield to peace the mourning day! + +She wept to the memory of times past, and there was a romantic sadness +in her feelings, luxurious and indefinable. Madame behaved to Julia +with the tenderest attention, and endeavoured to withdraw her thoughts +from their mournful subject by promoting that taste for literature and +music, which was so suitable to the powers of her mind. + +But an object seriously interesting now obtained that regard, which +those of mere amusement failed to attract. Her favorite nun, for whom +her love and esteem daily increased, seemed declining under the +pressure of a secret grief. Julia was deeply affected with her +situation, and though she was not empowered to administer consolation +to her sorrows, she endeavoured to mitigate the sufferings of illness. +She nursed her with unremitting care, and seemed to seize with avidity +the temporary opportunity of escaping from herself. The nun appeared +perfectly reconciled to her fate, and exhibited during her illness so +much sweetness, patience, and resignation as affected all around her +with pity and love. Her angelic mildness, and steady fortitude +characterized the beatification of a saint, rather than the death of a +mortal. Julia watched every turn of her disorder with the utmost +solicitude, and her care was at length rewarded by the amendment of +Cornelia. Her health gradually improved, and she attributed this +circumstance to the assiduity and tenderness of her young friend, to +whom her heart now expanded in warm and unreserved affection. At +length Julia ventured to solicit what she had so long and so earnestly +wished for, and Cornelia unfolded the history of her sorrows. + +'Of the life which your care has prolonged,' said she, 'it is but just +that you should know the events; though those events are neither new, +or striking, and possess little power of interesting persons +unconnected with them. To me they have, however, been unexpectedly +dreadful in effect, and my heart assures me, that to you they will not +be indifferent. + +'I am the unfortunate descendant of an ancient and illustrious Italian +family. In early childhood I was deprived of a mother's care, but the +tenderness of my surviving parent made her loss, as to my welfare, +almost unfelt. Suffer me here to do justice to the character of my +noble father. He united in an eminent degree the mild virtues of +social life, with the firm unbending qualities of the noble Romans, +his ancestors, from whom he was proud to trace his descent. Their +merit, indeed, continually dwelt on his tongue, and their actions he +was always endeavouring to imitate, as far as was consistent with the +character of his times, and with the limited sphere in which he moved. +The recollection of his virtue elevates my mind, and fills my heart +with a noble pride, which even the cold walls of a monastery have not +been able to subdue. + +'My father's fortune was unsuitable to his rank. That his son might +hereafter be enabled to support the dignity of his family, it was +necessary for me to assume the veil. Alas! that heart was unfit to be +offered at an heavenly shrine, which was already devoted to an earthly +object. My affections had long been engaged by the younger son of a +neighbouring nobleman, whose character and accomplishments attracted +my early love, and confirmed my latest esteem. Our families were +intimate, and our youthful intercourse occasioned an attachment which +strengthened and expanded with our years. He solicited me of my +father, but there appeared an insuperable barrier to our union. The +family of my lover laboured under a circumstance of similar distress +with that of my own--it was noble--but poor! My father, who was +ignorant of the strength of my affection, and who considered a +marriage formed in poverty as destructive to happiness, prohibited his +suit. + +'Touched with chagrin and disappointment, he immediately entered into +the service of his Neapolitan majesty, and sought in the tumultuous +scenes of glory, a refuge from the pangs of disappointed passion. + +'To me, whose hours moved in one round of full uniformity--who had no +pursuit to interest--no variety to animate my drooping spirits--to me +the effort of forgetfulness was ineffectual. The loved idea of Angelo +still rose upon my fancy, and its powers of captivation, heightened by +absence, and, perhaps even by despair, pursued me with incessant +grief. I concealed in silence the anguish that preyed upon my heart, +and resigned myself a willing victim to monastic austerity. But I was +now threatened with a new evil, terrible and unexpected. I was so +unfortunate as to attract the admiration of the Marquis Marinelli, and +he applied to my father. He was illustrious at once in birth and +fortune, and his visits could only be unwelcome to me. Dreadful was +the moment in which my father disclosed to me the proposal. My +distress, which I vainly endeavoured to command, discovered the exact +situation of my heart, and my father was affected. + +'After along and awful pause, he generously released me from my +sufferings by leaving it to my choice to accept the marquis, or to +assume the veil. I fell at his feet, overcome by the noble +disinterestedness of his conduct, and instantly accepted the latter. + +'This affair removed entirely the disguise with which I had hitherto +guarded my heart;--my brother--my generous brother! learned the true +state of its affections. He saw the grief which prayed upon my health; +he observed it to my father, and he nobly--oh how nobly! to restore my +happiness, desired to resign apart of the estate which had already +descended to him in right of his mother. Alas! Hippolitus,' continued +Cornelia, deeply sighing, 'thy virtues deserved a better fate.' + +'Hippolitus!' said Julia, in a tremulous accent, 'Hippolitus, Count de +Vereza!'--'The same,' replied the nun, in a tone of surprize. Julia +was speechless; tears, however, came to her relief. The astonishment +of Cornelia for some moment surpassed expression; at length a gleam of +recollection crossed her mind, and she too well understood the scene +before her. Julia, after some time revived, when Cornelia tenderly +approaching her, 'Do I then embrace my sister!' said she. 'United in +sentiment, are we also united in misfortune?' Julia answered with her +sighs, and their tears flowed in mournful sympathy together. At length +Cornelia resumed her narrative. + +'My father, struck with the conduct of Hippolitus, paused upon the +offer. The alteration in my health was too obvious to escape his +notice; the conflict between pride and parental tenderness, held him +for some time in indecision, but the latter finally subdued every +opposing feeling, and he yielded his consent to my marriage with +Angelo. The sudden transition from grief to joy was almost too much +for my feeble frame; judge then what must have been the effect of the +dreadful reverse, when the news arrived that Angelo had fallen in a +foreign engagement! Let me obliterate, if possible, the impression of +sensations so dreadful. The sufferings of my brother, whose generous +heart could so finely feel for another's woe, were on this occasion +inferior only to my own. + +'After the first excess of my grief was subsided, I desired to retire +from a world which had tempted me only with illusive visions of +happiness, and to remove from those scenes which prompted +recollection, and perpetuated my distress. My father applauded my +resolution, and I immediately was admited a noviciate into this +monastery, with the Superior of which my father had in his youth been +acquainted. + +'At the expiration of the year I received the veil. Oh! I well +remember with what perfect resignation, with what comfortable +complacency I took those vows which bound me to a life of retirement, +and religious rest. + +'The high importance of the moment, the solemnity of the ceremony, the +sacred glooms which surrounded me, and the chilling silence that +prevailed when I uttered the irrevocable vow--all conspired to impress +my imagination, and to raise my views to heaven. When I knelt at the +altar, the sacred flame of pure devotion glowed in my heart, and +elevated my soul to sublimity. The world and all its recollections +faded from my mind, and left it to the influence of a serene and, holy +enthusiasm which no words can describe. + +'Soon after my noviciation, I had the misfortune to lose my dear +father. In the tranquillity of this monastery, however, in the +soothing kindness of my companions, and in devotional exercises, my +sorrows found relief, and the sting of grief was blunted. My repose +was of short continuance. A circumstance occurred that renewed the +misery, which, can now never quit me but in the grave, to which I look +with no fearful apprehension, but as a refuge from calamity, trusting +that the power who has seen good to afflict me, will pardon the +imperfectness of my devotion, and the too frequent wandering of my +thoughts to the object once so dear to me.' + +As she spoke she raised her eyes, which beamed with truth and meek +assurance to heaven; and the fine devotional suffusion of her +countenance seemed to characterize the beauty of an inspired saint. + +'One day, Oh! never shall I forget it, I went as usual to the +confessional to acknowledge my sins. I knelt before the father with +eyes bent towards the earth, and in a low voice proceeded to confess. +I had but one crime to deplore, and that was the too tender +remembrance of him for whom I mourned, and whose idea, impressed upon +my heart, made it a blemished offering to God. + +'I was interrupted in my confession by a sound of deep sobs, and +rising my eyes, Oh God, what were my sensations, when in the features +of the holy father I discovered Angelo! His image faded like a vision +from my sight, and I sunk at his feet. On recovering I found myself on +my matrass, attended by a sister, who I discovered by her conversation +had no suspicion of the occasion of my disorder. Indisposition +confined me to my bed for several days; when I recovered, I saw Angelo +no more, and could almost have doubted my senses, and believed that an +illusion had crossed my sight, till one day I found in my cell a +written paper. I distinguished at the first glance the handwriting of +Angelo, that well-known hand which had so often awakened me to other +emotions. I trembled at the sight; my beating heart acknowledged the +beloved characters; a cold tremor shook my frame, and half breathless +I seized the paper. But recollecting myself, I paused--I hesitated: +duty at length yielded to the strong temptation, and I read the lines! +Oh! those lines prompted by despair, and bathed in my tears! every +word they offered gave a new pang to my heart, and swelled its anguish +almost beyond endurance. I learned that Angelo, severely wounded in a +foreign engagement, had been left for dead upon the field; that his +life was saved by the humanity of a common soldier of the enemy, who +perceiving signs of existence, conveyed him to a house. Assistance was +soon procured, but his wounds exhibited the most alarming symptoms. +During several months he languished between life and death, till at +length his youth and constitution surmounted the conflict, and he +returned to Naples. Here he saw my brother, whose distress and +astonishment at beholding him occasioned a relation of past +circumstances, and of the vows I had taken in consequence of the +report of his death. It is unnecessary to mention the immediate effect +of this narration; the final one exhibited a very singular proof of +his attachment and despair;--he devoted himself to a monastic life, +and chose this abbey for the place of his residence, because it +contained the object most dear to his affections. His letter informed +me that he had purposely avoided discovering himself, endeavouring to +be contented with the opportunities which occurred of silently +observing me, till chance had occasioned the foregoing interview.--But +that since its effects had been so mutually painful, he would relieve +me from the apprehension of a similar distress, by assuring me, that I +should see him no more. He was faithful to his promise; from that day +I have never seen him, and am even ignorant whether he yet inhabits +this asylum; the efforts of religious fortitude, and the just fear of +exciting curiosity, having withheld me from enquiry. But the moment of +our last interview has been equally fatal to my peace and to my +health, and I trust I shall, ere very long, be released from the +agonizing ineffectual struggles occasioned by the consciousness of +sacred vows imperfectly performed, and by earthly affections not +wholly subdued.' + +Cornelia ceased, and Julia, who had listened to the narrative in deep +attention, at once admired, loved, and pitied her. As the sister of +Hippolitus, her heart expanded towards her, and it was now inviolably +attached by the fine ties of sympathetic sorrow. Similarity of +sentiment and suffering united them in the firmest bonds of +friendship; and thus, from reciprocation of thought and feeling, +flowed a pure and sweet consolation. + +Julia loved to indulge in the mournful pleasure of conversing of +Hippolitus, and when thus engaged, the hours crept unheeded by. A +thousand questions she repeated concerning him, but to those most +interesting to her, she received no consolatory answer. Cornelia, who +had heard of the fatal transaction at the castle of Mazzini, deplored +with her its too certain consequence. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Julia accustomed herself to walk in the fine evenings under the shade +of the high trees that environed the abbey. The dewy coolness of the +air refreshed her. The innumerable roseate tints which the parting +sun-beams reflected on the rocks above, and the fine vermil glow +diffused over the romantic scene beneath, softly fading from the eye, +as the nightshades fell, excited sensations of a sweet and tranquil +nature, and soothed her into a temporary forgetfulness of her sorrows. + +The deep solitude of the place subdued her apprehension, and one +evening she ventured with Madame de Menon to lengthen her walk. They +returned to the abbey without having seen a human being, except a +friar of the monastery, who had been to a neighbouring town to order +provision. On the following evening they repeated their walk; and, +engaged in conversation, rambled to a considerable distance from the +abbey. The distant bell of the monastery sounding for vespers, +reminded them of the hour, and looking round, they perceived the +extremity of the wood. They were returning towards the abbey, when +struck by the appearance of some majestic columns which were +distinguishable between the trees, they paused. Curiosity tempted them +to examine to what edifice pillars of such magnificent architecture +could belong, in a scene so rude, and they went on. + +There appeared on a point of rock impending over the valley the +reliques of a palace, whose beauty time had impaired only to heighten +its sublimity. An arch of singular magnificence remained almost +entire, beyond which appeared wild cliffs retiring in grand +perspective. The sun, which was now setting, threw a trembling lustre +upon the ruins, and gave a finishing effect to the scene. They gazed +in mute wonder upon the view; but the fast fading light, and the dewy +chillness of the air, warned them to return. As Julia gave a last +look to the scene, she perceived two men leaning upon a part of the +ruin at some distance, in earnest conversation. As they spoke, their +looks were so attentively bent on her, that she could have no doubt +she was the subject of their discourse. Alarmed at this circumstance, +madame and Julia immediately retreated towards the abbey. They walked +swiftly through the woods, whose shades, deepened by the gloom of +evening, prevented their distinguishing whether they were pursued. +They were surprized to observe the distance to which they had strayed +from the monastery, whose dark towers were now obscurely seen rising +among the trees that closed the perspective. They had almost reached +the gates, when on looking back, they perceived the same men slowly +advancing, without any appearance of pursuit, but clearly as if +observing the place of their retreat. + +This incident occasioned Julia much alarm. She could not but believe +that the men whom she had seen were spies of the marquis;--if so, her +asylum was discovered, and she had every thing to apprehend. Madame +now judged it necessary to the safety of Julia, that the _Abate_ +should be informed of her story, and of the sanctuary she had sought +in his monastery, and also that he should be solicited to protect her +from parental tyranny. This was a hazardous, but a necessary step, to +provide against the certain danger which must ensue, should the +marquis, if he demanded his daughter of the _Abate_, be the first to +acquaint him with her story. If she acted otherwise, she feared that +the _Abate_, in whose generosity she had not confided, and whose pity +she had not solicited, would, in the pride of his resentment, deliver +her up, and thus would she become a certain victim to the Duke de +Luovo. + +Julia approved of this communication, though she trembled for the +event; and requested madame to plead her cause with the _Abate_. On +the following morning, therefore, madame solicited a private audience +of the _Abate_; she obtained permission to see him, and Julia, in +trembling anxiety, watched her to the door of his apartment. This +conference was long, and every moment seemed an hour to Julia, who, in +fearful expectation, awaited with Cornelia the sentence which would +decide her destiny. She was now the constant companion of Cornelia, +whose declining health interested her pity, and strengthened her +attachment. + +Meanwhile madame developed to the _Abate_ the distressful story of +Julia. She praised her virtues, commended her accomplishments, and +deplored her situation. She described the characters of the marquis +and the duke, and concluded with pathetically representing, that Julia +had sought in this monastery, a last asylum from injustice and misery, +and with entreating that the _Abate_ would grant her his pity and +protection. + +The _Abate_ during this discourse preserved a sullen silence; his eyes +were bent to the ground, and his aspect was thoughful and solemn. When +madame ceased to speak, a pause of profound silence ensued, and she +sat in anxious expectation. She endeavoured to anticipate in his +countenance the answer preparing, but she derived no comfort from +thence. At length raising his head, and awakening from his deep +reverie, he told her that her request required deliberation, and that +the protection she solicited for Julia, might involve him in serious +consequences, since, from a character so determined as the marquis's, +much violence might reasonably be expected. 'Should his daughter be +refused him,' concluded the _Abate_, 'he may even dare to violate the +sanctuary.' + +Madame, shocked by the stern indifference of this reply, was a moment +silent. The _Abate_ went on. 'Whatever I shall determine upon, the +young lady has reason to rejoice that she is admitted into this holy +house; for I will even now venture to assure her, that if the marquis +fails to demand her, she shall be permitted to remain in this +sanctuary unmolested. You, Madam, will be sensible of this indulgence, +and of the value of the sacrifice I make in granting it; for, in thus +concealing a child from her parent, I encourage her in disobedience, +and consequently sacrifice my sense of duty, to what may be justly +called a weak humanity.' + +Madame listened to pompous declamation in silent sorrow and +indignation. She made another effort to interest the _Abate_ in favor +of Julia, but he preserved his stern inflexibility, and repeating that +he would deliberate upon the matter, and acquaint her with the result, +he arose with great solemnity, and quitted the room. + +She now half repented of the confidence she had reposed in him, and of +the pity she had solicited, since he discovered a mind incapable of +understanding the first, and a temper inaccessible to the influence of +the latter. With an heavy heart she returned to Julia, who read in her +countenance, at the moment she entered the room, news of no happy +import. When madame related the particulars of the conference, Julia +presaged from it only misery, and giving herself up for lost--she +burst into tears. She severely deplored the confidence she had been +induced to yield; for she now saw herself in the power of a man, stern +and unfeeling in his nature: and from whom, if he thought it fit to +betray her, she had no means of escaping. But she concealed the +anguish of her heart; and to console madame, affected to hope where +she could only despair. + +Several days elapsed, and no answer was returned from the _Abate_. +Julia too well understood this silence. + +One morning Cornelia entering her room with a disturbed and impatient +air, informed her that some emissaries from the marquis were then in +the monastery, having enquired at the gate for the _Abate_, with whom, +they said, they had business of importance to transact. The _Abate_ +had granted them immediate audience, and they were now in close +conference. + +At this intelligence the spirits of Julia forsook her; she trembled, +grew pale, and stood fixed in mute despair. Madame, though scarcely +less distressed, retained a presence of mind. She understood too +justly the character of the Superior to doubt that he would hesitate +in delivering Julia to the hands of the marquis. On this moment, +therefore, turned the crisis of her fate!--this moment she might +escape--the next she was a prisoner. She therefore advised Julia to +seize the instant, and fly from the monastery before the conference +was concluded, when the gates would most probably be closed upon her, +assuring her, at the same time, she would accompany her in flight. + +The generous conduct of madame called tears of gratitude into the eyes +of Julia, who now awoke from the state of stupefaction which distress +had caused. But before she could thank her faithful friend, a nun +entered the room with a summons for madame to attend the _Abate_ +immediately. The distress which this message occasioned can not easily +be conceived. Madame advised Julia to escape while she detained the +_Abate_ in conversation, as it was not probable that he had yet issued +orders for her detention. Leaving her to this attempt, with an +assurance of following her from the abbey as soon as possible, madame +obeyed the summons. The coolness of her fortitude forsook her as she +approached the _Abate_'s apartment, and she became less certain as to +the occasion of this summons. + +The _Abate_ was alone. His countenance was pale with anger, and he was +pacing the room with slow but agitated steps. The stern authority of +his look startled her. 'Read this letter,' said he, stretching forth +his hand which held a letter, 'and tell me what that mortal deserves, +who dares insult our holy order, and set our sacred prerogative at +defiance.' Madame distinguished the handwriting of the marquis, and +the words of the Superior threw her into the utmost astonishment. She +took the letter. It was dictated by that spirit of proud vindictive +rage, which so strongly marked the character of the marquis. Having +discovered the retreat of Julia, and believing the monastery afforded +her a willing sanctuary from his pursuit, he accused the _Abate_ of +encouraging his child in open rebellion to his will. He loaded him and +his sacred order with opprobrium, and threatened, if she was not +immediately resigned to the emissaries in waiting, he would in person +lead on a force which should compel the church to yield to the +superior authority of the father. + +The spirit of the _Abate_ was roused by this menace; and Julia +obtained from his pride, that protection which neither his principle +or his humanity would have granted. 'The man shall tremble,' cried he, +'who dares defy our power, or question our sacred authority. The lady +Julia is safe. I will protect her from this proud invader of our +rights, and teach him at least to venerate the power he cannot +conquer. I have dispatched his emissaries with my answer.' + +These words struck sudden joy upon the heart of Madame de Menon, but +she instantly recollected, that ere this time Julia had quitted the +abbey, and thus the very precaution which was meant to ensure her +safety, had probably precipitated her into the hand of her enemy. This +thought changed her joy to anguish; and she was hurrying from the +apartment in a sort of wild hope, that Julia might not yet be gone, +when the stern voice of the _Abate_ arrested her. 'Is it thus,' cried +he, 'that you receive the knowledge of our generous resolution to +protect your friend? Does such condescending kindness merit no +thanks--demand no gratitude?' Madame returned in an agony of fear, +lest one moment of delay might prove fatal to Julia, if haply she had +not yet quitted the monastery. She was conscious of her deficiency in +apparent gratitude, and of the strange appearance of her abrupt +departure from the _Abate_, for which it was impossible to apologize, +without betraying the secret, which would kindle all his resentment. +Yet some atonement his present anger demanded, and these circumstances +caused her a very painful embarrassment. She formed a hasty excuse; +and expressing her sense of his goodness, again attempted to retire, +when the _Abate_ frowning in deep resentment, his features inflamed +with pride, arose from his seat. 'Stay,' said he; 'whence this +impatience to fly from the presence of a benefactor?--If my generosity +fails to excite gratitude, my resentment shall not fail to inspire +awe.--Since the lady Julia is insensible of my condescension, she is +unworthy of my protection, and I will resign her to the tyrant who +demands her.' + +To this speech, in which the offended pride of the _Abate_ overcoming +all sense of justice, accused and threatened to punish Julia for the +fault of her friend, madame listened in dreadful impatience. Every +word that detained her struck torture to her heart, but the concluding +sentence occasioned new terror, and she started at its purpose. She +fell at the feet of the _Abate_ in an agony of grief. 'Holy father,' +said she, 'punish not Julia for the offence which I only have +committed; her heart will bless her generous protector, and for +myself, suffer me to assure you that I am fully sensible of your +goodness.' + +'If this is true,' said the _Abate_, 'arise, and bid the lady Julia +attend me.' This command increased the confusion of madame, who had no +doubt that her detention had proved fatal to Julia. At length she was +suffered to depart, and to her infinite joy found Julia in her own +room. Her intention of escaping had yielded, immediately after the +departure of madame, to the fear of being discovered by the marquis's +people. This fear had been confirmed by the report of Cornelia, who +informed her, that at that time several horsemen were waiting at the +gates for the return of their companions. This was a dreadful +circumstance to Julia, who perceived it was utterly impossible to quit +the monastery, without rushing upon certain destruction. She was +lamenting her destiny, when madame recited the particulars of the late +interview, and delivered the summons of the _Abate_. + +They had now to dread the effect of that tender anxiety, which had +excited his resentment; and Julia, suddenly elated to joy by his first +determination, was as suddenly sunk to despair by his last. She +trembled with apprehension of the coming interview, though each moment +of delay which her fear solicited, would, by heightening the +resentment of the _Abate_, only increase the danger she dreaded. + +At length, by a strong effort, she reanimated her spirits, and went to +the Abate's closet to receive her sentence. He was seated in his +chair, and his frowning aspect chilled her heart. 'Daughter,' said he, +'you have been guilty of heinous crimes. You have dared to +dispute--nay openly to rebel, against the lawful authority of your +father. You have disobeyed the will of him whose prerogative yields +only to ours. You have questioned his right upon a point of all others +the most decided--the right of a father to dispose of his child in +marriage. You have even fled from his protection--and you have +dared--insidiously, and meanly have dared, to screen your disobedience +beneath this sacred roof. You have prophaned our sanctuary with your +crime. You have brought insult upon our sacred order, and have caused +bold and impious defiance of our high prerogative. What punishment is +adequate to guilt like this?' + +The father paused--his eyes sternly fixed on Julia, who, pale and +trembling, could scarcely support herself, and who had no power to +reply. 'I will be merciful, and not just,' resumed he,--'I will soften +the punishment you deserve, and will only deliver you to your father.' +At these dreadful words, Julia bursting into tears, sunk at the feet +of the _Abate_, to whom she raised her eyes in supplicating +expression, but was unable to speak. He suffered her to remain in this +posture. 'Your duplicity,' he resumed, 'is not the least of your +offences.--Had you relied upon our generosity for forgiveness and +protection, an indulgence might have been granted;--but under the +disguise of virtue you concealed your crimes, and your necessities +were hid beneath the mask of devotion.' + +These false aspersions roused in Julia the spirit of indignant virtue; +she arose from her knees with an air of dignity, that struck even the +_Abate_. 'Holy father,' said she, 'my heart abhors the crime you +mention, and disclaims all union with it. Whatever are my offences, +from the sin of hypocrisy I am at least free; and you will pardon me +if I remind you, that my confidence has already been such, as fully +justifies my claim to the protection I solicit. When I sheltered +myself within these walls, it was to be presumed that they would +protect me from injustice; and with what other term than injustice +would you, Sir, distinguish the conduct of the marquis, if the fear of +his power did not overcome the dictates of truth?' + +The _Abate_ felt the full force of this reproof; but disdaining to +appear sensible to it, restrained his resentment. His wounded pride +thus exasperated, and all the malignant passions of his nature thus +called into action, he was prompted to that cruel surrender which he +had never before seriously intended. The offence which Madame de +Menon had unintentionally given his haughty spirit urged him to +retaliate in punishment. He had, therefore, pleased himself with +exciting a terror which he never meant to confirm, and he resolved to +be further solicited for that protection which he had already +determined to grant. But this reproof of Julia touched him where he +was most conscious of defect; and the temporary triumph which he +imagined it afforded her, kindled his resentment into flame. He mused +in his chair, in a fixed attitude.--She saw in his countenance the +deep workings of his mind--she revolved the fate preparing for her, +and stood in trembling anxiety to receive her sentence. The _Abate_ +considered each aggravating circumstance of the marquis's menace, and +each sentence of Julia's speech; and his mind experienced that vice is +not only inconsistent with virtue, but with itself--for to gratify his +malignity, he now discovered that it would be necessary to sacrifice +his pride--since it would be impossible to punish the object of the +first without denying himself the gratification of the latter. This +reflection suspended his mind in a state of torture, and he sat wrapt +in gloomy silence. + +The spirit which lately animated Julia had vanished with her +words--each moment of silence increased her apprehension; the deep +brooding of his thoughts confirmed her in the apprehension of evil, +and with all the artless eloquence of sorrow she endeavoured to soften +him to pity. He listened to her pleadings in sullen stillness. But +each instant now cooled the fervour of his resentment to her, and +increased his desire of opposing the marquis. At length the +predominant feature of his character resumed its original influence, +and overcame the workings of subordinate passion. Proud of his +religious authority, he determined never to yield the prerogative of +the church to that of the father, and resolved to oppose the violence +of the marquis with equal force. + +He therefore condescended to relieve Julia from her terrors, by +assuring her of his protection; but he did this in a manner so +ungracious, as almost to destroy the gratitude which the promise +demanded. She hastened with the joyful intelligence to Madame de +Menon, who wept over her tears of thankfulness. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Near a fortnight had elapsed without producing any appearance of +hostility from the marquis, when one night, long after the hour of +repose, Julia was awakened by the bell of the monastery. She knew it +was not the hour customary for prayer, and she listened to the sounds, +which rolled through the deep silence of the fabric, with strong +surprise and terror. Presently she heard the doors of several cells +creak on their hinges, and the sound of quick footsteps in the +passages--and through the crevices of her door she distinguished +passing lights. The whispering noise of steps increased, and every +person of the monastery seemed to have awakened. Her terror +heightened; it occurred to her that the marquis had surrounded the +abbey with his people, in the design of forcing her from her retreat; +and she arose in haste, with an intention of going to the chamber of +Madame de Menon, when she heard a gentle tap at the door. Her enquiry +of who was there, was answered in the voice of madame, and her fears +were quickly dissipated, for she learned the bell was a summons to +attend a dying nun, who was going to the high altar, there to receive +extreme unction. + +She quitted the chamber with madame. In her way to the church, the +gleam of tapers on the walls, and the glimpse which her eye often +caught of the friars in their long black habits, descending silently +through the narrow winding passages, with the solemn toll of the bell, +conspired to kindle imagination, and to impress her heart with sacred +awe. But the church exhibited a scene of solemnity, such as she had +never before witnessed. Its gloomy aisles were imperfectly seen by the +rays of tapers from the high altar, which shed a solitary gleam over +the remote parts of the fabric, and produced large masses of light and +shade, striking and sublime in their effect. + +While she gazed, she heard a distant chanting rise through the aisles; +the sounds swelled in low murmurs on the ear, and drew nearer and +nearer, till a sudden blaze of light issued from one of the portals, +and the procession entered. The organ instantly sounded a high and +solemn peal, and the voices rising altogether swelled the sacred +strain. In front appeared the _Padre Abate_, with slow and measured +steps, bearing the holy cross. Immediately followed a litter, on which +lay the dying person covered with a white veil, borne along and +surrounded by nuns veiled in white, each carrying in her hand a +lighted taper. Last came the friars, two and two, cloathed in black, +and each bearing a light. + +When they reached the high altar, the bier was rested, and in a few +moments the anthem ceased. 'The _Abate_ now approached to perform the +unction; the veil of the dying nun was lifted--and Julia discovered +her beloved Cornelia! Her countenance was already impressed with the +image of death, but her eyes brightened with a faint gleam of +recollection, when they fixed upon Julia, who felt a cold thrill run +through her frame, and leaned for support on madame. Julia now for +the first time distinguished the unhappy lover of Cornelia, on whose +features was depictured the anguish of his heart, and who hung pale +and silent over the bier. The ceremony being finished, the anthem +struck up; the bier was lifted, when Cornelia faintly moved her hand, +and it was again rested upon the steps of the altar. In a few minutes +the music ceased, when lifting her heavy eyes to her lover, with an +expression of ineffable tenderness and grief, she attempted to speak, +but the sounds died on her closing lips. A faint smile passed over her +countenance, and was succeeded by a fine devotional glow; she folded +her hands upon her bosom, and with a look of meek resignation, raising +towards heaven her eyes, in which now sunk the last sparkles of +expiring life--her soul departed in a short deep sigh. + +Her lover sinking back, endeavoured to conceal his emotions, but the +deep sobs which agitated his breast betrayed his anguish, and the +tears of every spectator bedewed the sacred spot where beauty, sense, +and innocence expired. + +The organ now swelled in mournful harmony; and the voices of the +assembly chanted in choral strain, a low and solemn requiem to the +spirit of the departed. + +Madame hurried Julia, who was almost as lifeless as her departed +friend, from the church. A death so sudden heightened the grief which +separation would otherwise have occasioned. It was the nature of +Cornelia's disorder to wear a changeful but flattering aspect. Though +she had long been declining, her decay was so gradual and +imperceptible as to lull the apprehensions of her friends into +security. It was otherwise with herself; she was conscious of the +change, but forbore to afflict them with the knowledge of the truth. +The hour of her dissolution was sudden, even to herself; but it was +composed, and even happy. In the death of Cornelia, Julia seemed to +mourn again that of Hippolitus. Her decease appeared to dissolve the +last tie which connected her with his memory. + +In one of the friars of the convent, madame was surprized to find the +father who had confessed the dying Vincent. His appearance revived the +remembrance of the scene she had witnessed at the castle of Mazzini; +and the last words of Vincent, combined with the circumstances which +had since occurred, renewed all her curiosity and astonishment. But +his appearance excited more sensations than those of wonder. She +dreaded lest he should be corrupted by the marquis, to whom he was +known, and thus be induced to use his interest with the _Abate_ for +the restoration of Julia. + +From the walls of the monastery, Julia now never ventured to stray. In +the gloom of evening she sometimes stole into the cloisters, and often +lingered at the grave of Cornelia, where she wept for Hippolitus, as +well as for her friend. One evening, during vespers, the bell of the +convent was suddenly rang out; the _Abate_, whose countenance +expressed at once astonishment and displeasure, suspended the service, +and quitted the altar. The whole congregation repaired to the hall, +where they learned that a friar, retiring to the convent, had seen a +troop of armed men advancing through the wood; and not doubting they +were the people of the marquis, and were approaching with hostile +intention, had thought it necessary to give the alarm. The _Abate_ +ascended a turret, and thence discovered through the trees a +glittering of arms, and in the succeeding moment a band of men issued +from a dark part of the wood, into a long avenue which immediately +fronted the spot where he stood. The clattering of hoofs was now +distinctly heard; and Julia, sinking with terror, distinguished the +marquis heading the troops, which, soon after separating in two +divisions, surrounded the monastery. The gates were immediately +secured; and the _Abate_, descending from the turret, assembled the +friars in the hall, where his voice was soon heard above every other +part of the tumult. The terror of Julia made her utterly forgetful of +the _Padre_'s promise, and she wished to fly for concealment to the +deep caverns belonging to the monastery, which wound under the woods. +Madame, whose penetration furnished her with a just knowledge of the +_Abate_'s character, founded her security on his pride. She therefore +dissuaded Julia from attempting to tamper with the honesty of a +servant who had the keys of the vaults, and advised her to rely +entirely on the effect of the _Abate_'s resentment towards the +marquis. While madame endeavoured to soothe her to composure, a +message from the _Abate_ required her immediate attendance. She +obeyed, and he bade her follow him to a room which was directly over +the gates of the monastery. From thence she saw her father, +accompanied by the Duke de Luovo; and as her spirits died away at the +sight, the marquis called furiously to the _Abate_ to deliver her +instantly into his hands, threatening, if she was detained, to force +the gates of the monastery. At this threat the countenance of the +_Abate_ grew dark: and leading Julia forcibly to the window, from +which she had shrunk back, 'Impious menacer!' said he, 'eternal +vengeance be upon thee! From this moment we expel thee from all the +rights and communities of our church. Arrogant and daring as you are, +your threats I defy--Look here,' said he, pointing to Julia, 'and +learn that you are in my power; for if you dare to violate these +sacred walls, I will proclaim aloud, in the face of day, a secret +which shall make your heart's blood run cold; a secret which involves +your honour, nay, your very existence. Now triumph and exult in +impious menace!' The marquis started involuntarily at this speech, and +his features underwent a sudden change, but he endeavoured to recover +himself, and to conceal his confusion. He hesitated for a few moments, +uncertain how to act--to desist from violence was to confess himself +conscious of the threatened secret; yet he dreaded to inflame the +resentment of the _Abate_, whose menaces his own heart too surely +seconded. At length--'All that you have uttered,' said he, 'I despise +as the dastardly subterfuge of monkish cunning. Your new insults add +to the desire of recovering my daughter, that of punishing you. I +would proceed to instant violence, but that would now be an imperfect +revenge. I shall, therefore, withdraw my forces, and appeal to a +higher power. Thus shall you be compelled at once to restore my +daughter and retract your scandalous impeachment of my honor.' Saying +this, the turned his horse from the gates, and his people following +him, quickly withdrew, leaving the _Abate_ exulting in conquest, and +Julia lost in astonishment and doubtful joy. When she recounted to +madame the particulars of the conference, she dwelt with emphasis on +the threats of the _Abate_; but madame, though her amazement was +heightened at every word, very well understood how the secret, +whatever it was, had been obtained. The confessor of Vincent she had +already observed in the monastery, and there was no doubt that he had +disclosed whatever could be collected from the dying words of Vincent. +She knew, also, that the secret would never be published, unless as a +punishment for immediate violence, it being one of the first +principles of monastic duty, to observe a religious secrecy upon all +matters entrusted to them in confession. + +When the first tumult of Julia's emotions subsided, the joy which the +sudden departure of the marquis occasioned yielded to apprehension. He +had threatened to appeal to a higher power, who would compel the +_Abate_ to surrender her. This menace excited a just terror, and there +remained no means of avoiding the tyranny of the marquis but by +quitting the monastery. She therefore requested an audience of the +_Abate_; and having represented the danger of her present situation, +she intreated his permission to depart in quest of a safer retreat. +The _Abate_, who well knew the marquis was wholly in his power, smiled +at the repetition of his menaces, and denied her request, under +pretence of his having now become responsible for her to the church. +He bade her be comforted, and promised her his protection; but his +assurances were given in so distant and haughty a manner, that Julia +left him with fears rather increased than subdued. In crossing the +hall, she observed a man hastily enter it, from an opposite door. He +was not in the habit of the order, but was muffled up in a cloak, and +seemed to wish concealment. As she passed he raised his head, and +Julia discovered--her father! He darted at her a look of vengeance; +but before she had time even to think, as if suddenly recollecting +himself, he covered his face, and rushed by her. Her trembling frame +could scarcely support her to the apartment of madame, where she sunk +speechless upon a chair, and the terror of her look alone spoke the +agony of her mind. When she was somewhat recovered, she related what +she had seen, and her conversation with the _Abate_. But madame was +lost in equal perplexity with herself, when she attempted to account +for the marquis's appearance. Why, after his late daring menace, +should he come secretly to visit the _Abate_, by whose connivance +alone he could have gained admission to the monastery? And what could +have influenced the _Abate_ to such a conduct? These circumstances, +though equally inexplicable, united to confirm a fear of treachery and +surrender. To escape from the abbey was now inpracticable, for the +gates were constantly guarded; and even was it possible to pass them, +certain detection awaited Julia without from the marquis's people, who +were stationed in the woods. Thus encompassed with danger, she could +only await in the monastery the issue of her destiny. + +While she was lamenting with madame her unhappy fate, she was summoned +once more to attend the _Abate_. At this moment her spirits entirely +forsook her; the crisis of her fate seemed arrived; for she did not +doubt that the _Abate_ intended to surrender her to the marquis, with +whom she supposed he had negotiated the terms of accommodation. It was +some time before she could recover composure sufficient to obey the +summons; and when she did, every step that bore her towards the +_Abate_'s room increased her dread. She paused a moment at the door, +'ere she had courage to open it; the idea of her father's immediate +resentment arose to her mind, and she was upon the point of retreating +to her chamber, when a sudden step within, near the door, destroyed +her hesitation, and she entered the closet. The marquis was not there, +and her spirits revived. The flush of triumph was diffused over the +features of the _Abate_, though a shade of unappeased resentment yet +remained visible. 'Daughter,' said he, 'the intelligence we have to +communicate may rejoice you. Your safety now depends solely on +yourself. I give your fate into your own hands, and its issue be upon +your head.' He paused, and she was suspended in wondering expectation +of the coming sentence. 'I here solemnly assure you of my protection, +but it is upon one condition only--that you renounce the world, and +dedicate your days to God.' Julia listened with a mixture of grief and +astonishment. 'Without this concession on your part, I possess not the +power, had I even the inclination, to protect you. If you assume the +veil, you are safe within the pale of the church from temporal +violence. If you neglect or refuse to do this, the marquis may apply +to a power from whom I have no appeal, and I shall be compelled at +last to resign you. + +'But to ensure your safety, should the veil be your choice, we will +procure a dispensation from the usual forms of noviciation, and a few +days shall confirm your vows.' He ceased to speak; but Julia, agitated +with the most cruel distress, knew not what to reply. 'We grant you +three days to decide upon this matter,' continued he, 'at the +expiration of which, the veil, or the Duke de Luovo, awaits you.' +Julia quitted the closet in mute despair, and repaired to madame, who +could now scarcely offer her the humble benefit of consolation. + +Meanwhile the _Abate_ exulted in successful vengeance, and the marquis +smarted beneath the stings of disappointment. The menace of the +former was too seriously alarming to suffer the marquis to prosecute +violent measures; and he had therefore resolved, by opposing avarice +to pride, to soothe the power which he could not subdue. But he was +unwilling to entrust the _Abate_ with a proof of his compliance and +his fears by offering a bribe in a letter, and preferred the more +humiliating, but safer method, of a private interview. His +magnificent offers created a temporary hesitation in the mind of the +_Abate_, who, secure of his advantage, shewed at first no disposition +to be reconciled, and suffered the marquis to depart in anxious +uncertainty. After maturely deliberating upon the proposals, the pride +of the _Abate_ surmounted his avarice, and he determined to prevail +upon Julia effectually to destroy the hopes of the marquis, by +consecrating her life to religion. Julia passed the night and the next +day in a state of mental torture exceeding all description. The gates +of the monastery beset with guards, and the woods surrounded by the +marquis's people, made escape impossible. From a marriage with the +duke, whose late conduct had confirmed the odious idea which his +character had formerly impressed, her heart recoiled in horror, and to +be immured for life within the walls of a convent, was a fate little +less dreadful. Yet such was the effect of that sacred love she bore +the memory of Hippolitus, and such her aversion to the duke, that she +soon resolved to adopt the veil. On the following evening she informed +the _Abate_ of her determination. His heart swelled with secret joy; +and even the natural severity of his manner relaxed at the +intelligence. He assured her of his approbation and protection, with a +degree of kindness which he had never before manifested, and told her +the ceremony should be performed on the second day from the present. +Her emotion scarcely suffered her to hear his last words. Now that her +fate was fixed beyond recall, she almost repented of her choice. Her +fancy attached to it a horror not its own; and that evil, which, when +offered to her decision, she had accepted with little hesitation, she +now paused upon in dubious regret; so apt we are to imagine that the +calamity most certain, is also the most intolerable! + +When the marquis read the answer of the _Abate_, all the baleful +passions of his nature were roused and inflamed to a degree which +bordered upon distraction. In the first impulse of his rage, he would +have forced the gates of the monastery, and defied the utmost malice +of his enemy. But a moment's reflection revived his fear of the +threatened secret, and he saw that he was still in the power of the +Superior. + +The _Abate_ procured the necessary dispensation, and preparations were +immediately began for the approaching ceremony. Julia watched the +departure of those moments which led to her fate with the calm +fortitude of despair. She had no means of escaping from the coming +evil, without exposing herself to a worse; she surveyed it therefore +with a steady eye, and no longer shrunk from its approach. + +On the morning preceding the day of her consecration, she was informed +that a stranger enquired for her at the grate. Her mind had been so +long accustomed to the vicissitudes of apprehension, that fear was the +emotion which now occurred; she suspected, yet scarcely knew why, that +the marquis was below, and hesitated whether to descend. A little +reflection determined her, and she went to the parlour--where, to her +equal joy and surprise, she beheld--Ferdinand! + +During the absence of the marquis from his castle, Ferdinand, who had +been informed of the discovery of Julia, effected his escape from +imprisonment, and had hastened to the monastery in the design of +rescuing her. He had passed the woods in disguise, with much +difficulty eluding the observation of the marquis's people, who were +yet dispersed round the abbey. To the monastery, as he came alone, he +had been admitted without difficulty. + +When he learned the conditions of the _Abate_'s protection, and that +the following day was appointed for the consecration of Julia, he was +shocked, and paused in deliberation. A period so short as was this +interval, afforded little opportunity for contrivance, and less for +hesitation. The night of the present day was the only time that +remained for the attempt and execution of a plan of escape, which if +it then failed of success, Julia would not only be condemned for life +to the walls of a monastery, but would be subjected to whatever +punishment the severity of the _Abate_, exasperated by the detection, +should think fit to inflict. The danger was desperate, but the +occasion was desperate also. + +The nobly disinterested conduct of her brother, struck Julia with +gratitude and admiration; but despair of success made her now hesitate +whether she should accept his offer. She considered that his +generosity would most probably involve him in destruction with +herself; and she paused in deep deliberation, when Ferdinand informed +her of a circumstance which, till now, he had purposely concealed, and +which at once dissolved every doubt and every fear. 'Hippolitus,' said +Ferdinand, 'yet lives.'--'Lives!' repeated Julia faintly,--'lives, Oh! +tell me where--how.'--Her breath refused to aid her, and she sunk in +her chair overcome with the strong and various sensations that pressed +upon her heart. Ferdinand, whom the grate withheld from assisting her, +observed her situation with extreme distress. When she recovered, he +informed her that a servant of Hippolitus, sent no doubt by his lord +to enquire concerning Julia, had been lately seen by one of the +marquis's people in the neighbourhood of the castle. From him it was +known that the Count de Vereza was living, but that his life had been +despaired of; and he was still confined, by dangerous wounds, in an +obscure town on the coast of Italy. The man had steadily refused to +mention the place of his lord's abode. Learning that the marquis was +then at the abbey of St Augustin, whither he pursued his daughter, the +man disappeared from Mazzini, and had not since been heard of. + +It was enough for Julia to know that Hippolitus lived; her fears of +detection, and her scruples concerning Ferdinand, instantly vanished; +she thought only of escape--and the means which had lately appeared so +formidable--so difficult in contrivance, and so dangerous in +execution, now seemed easy, certain, and almost accomplished. + +They consulted on the plan to be adopted, and agreed, that in +attempting to bribe a servant of the monastery to their interest, they +should incur a danger too imminent, yet it appeared scarcely +practicable to succeed in their scheme without risquing this. After +much consideration, they determined to entrust their secret to no +person but to madame. Ferdinand was to contrive to conceal himself +till the dead of night in the church, between which and the monastery +were several doors of communication. When the inhabitants of the abbey +were sunk in repose, Julia might without difficulty pass to the +church, where Ferdinand awaiting her, they might perhaps escape either +through an outer door of the fabric, or through a window, for which +latter attempt Ferdinand was to provide ropes. + +A couple of horses were to be stationed among the rocks beyond the +woods, to convey the fugitives to a sea-port, whence they could easily +pass over to Italy. Having arranged this plan, they separated in the +anxious hope of meeting on the ensuing night. + +Madame warmly sympathized with Julia in her present expectations, and +was now somewhat relieved from the pressure of that self-reproach, +with which the consideration of having withdrawn her young friend from +a secure asylum, had long tormented her. In learning that Hippolitus +lived, Julia experienced a sudden renovation of life and spirits. +From the languid stupefaction which despair had occasioned she revived +as from a dream, and her sensations resembled those of a person +suddenly awakened from a frightful vision, whose thoughts are yet +obscured in the fear and uncertainty which the passing images have +impressed on his fancy. She emerged from despair; joy illumined her +countenance; yet she doubted the reality of the scene which now opened +to her view. The hours rolled heavily along till the evening, when +expectation gave way to fear, for she was once more summoned by the +_Abate_. He sent for her to administer the usual necessary exhortation +on the approaching solemnity; and having detained her a considerable +time in tedious and severe discourse, dismissed her with a formal +benediction. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The evening now sunk in darkness, and the hour was fast approaching +which would decide the fate of Julia. Trembling anxiety subdued every +other sensation; and as the minutes passed, her fears increased. At +length she heard the gates of the monastery fastened for the night; +the bell rang the signal for repose; and the passing footsteps of the +nuns told her they were hastening to obey it. After some time, all was +silent. Julia did not yet dare to venture forth; she employed the +present interval in interesting and affectionate conversation with +Madame de Menon, to whom, notwithstanding her situation, her heart +bade a sorrowful adieu. + +The clock struck twelve, when she arose to depart. Having embraced her +faithful friend with tears of mingled grief and anxiety, she took a +lamp in her hand, and with cautious, fearful steps, descended through +the long winding passages to a private door, which opened into the +church of the monastery. The church was gloomy and desolate; and the +feeble rays of the lamp she bore, gave only light enough to discover +its chilling grandeur. As she passed silently along the aisles, she +cast a look of anxious examination around--but Ferdinand was no where +to be seen. She paused in timid hesitation, fearful to penetrate the +gloomy obscurity which lay before her, yet dreading to return. + +As she stood examining the place, vainly looking for Ferdinand, yet +fearing to call, lest her voice should betray her, a hollow groan +arose from apart of the church very near her. It chilled her heart, +and she remained fixed to the spot. She turned her eyes a little to +the left, and saw light appear through the chinks of a sepulchre at +some distance. The groan was repeated--a low murmuring succeeded, and +while she yet gazed, an old man issued from the vault with a lighted +taper in his hand. Terror now subdued her, and she utterred an +involuntary shriek. In the succeeding moment, a noise was heard in a +remote part of the fabric; and Ferdinand rushing forth from his +concealment, ran to her assistance. The old man, who appeared to be a +friar, and who had been doing penance at the monument of a saint, now +approached. His countenance expressed a degree of surprise and terror +almost equal to that of Julia's, who knew him to be the confessor of +Vincent. Ferdinand seized the father; and laying his hand upon his +sword, threatened him with death if he did not instantly swear to +conceal for ever his knowledge of what he then saw, and also assist +them to escape from the abbey. + +'Ungracious boy!' replied the father, in a calm voice, 'desist from +this language, nor add to the follies of youth the crime of murdering, +or terrifying a defenceless old man. Your violence would urge me to +become your enemy, did not previous inclination tempt me to be your +friend. I pity the distresses of the lady Julia, to whom I am no +stranger, and will cheerfully give her all the assistance in my +power.' + +At these words Julia revived, and Ferdinand, reproved by the +generosity of the father, and conscious of his own inferiority, shrunk +back. 'I have no words to thank you,' said he, 'or to entreat your +pardon for the impetuosity of my conduct; your knowledge of my +situation must plead my excuse.'--'It does,' replied the father, 'but +we have no time to lose;--follow me.' + +They followed him through the church to the cloisters, at the +extremity of which was a small door, which the friar unlocked. It +opened upon the woods. + +'This path,' said he, 'leads thro' an intricate part of the woods, to +the rocks that rise on the right of the abbey; in their recesses you +may secrete yourselves till you are prepared for a longer journey. But +extinguish your light; it may betray you to the marquis's people, who +are dispersed about this spot. Farewell! my children, and God's +blessing be upon ye.' + +Julia's tears declared her gratitude; she had no time for words. They +stepped into the path, and the father closed the door. They were now +liberated from the monastery, but danger awaited them without, which +it required all their caution to avoid. Ferdinand knew the path which +the friar had pointed out to be the same that led to the rocks where +his horses were stationed, and he pursued it with quick and silent +steps. Julia, whose fears conspired with the gloom of night to magnify +and transform every object around her, imagined at each step that she +took, she perceived the figures of men, and fancied every whisper of +the breeze the sound of pursuit. + +They proceeded swiftly, till Julia, breathless and exhausted, could go +no farther. They had not rested many minutes, when they heard a +rustling among the bushes at some distance, and soon after +distinguished a low sound of voices. Ferdinand and Julia instantly +renewed their flight, and thought they still heard voices advance upon +the wind. This thought was soon confirmed, for the sounds now gained +fast upon them, and they distinguished words which served only to +heighten their apprehensions, when they reached the extremity of the +woods. The moon, which was now up, suddenly emerging from a dark +cloud, discovered to them several man in pursuit; and also shewed to +the pursuers the course of the fugitives. They endeavoured to gain the +rocks where the horses were concealed, and which now appeared in view. +These they reached when the pursuers had almost overtaken them--but +their horses were gone! Their only remaining chance of escape was to +fly into the deep recesses of the rock. They, therefore, entered a +winding cave, from whence branched several subterraneous avenues, at +the extremity of one of which they stopped. The voices of men now +vibrated in tremendous echoes through the various and secret caverns +of the place, and the sound of footsteps seemed fast approaching. +Julia trembled with terror, and Ferdinand drew his sword, determined +to protect her to the last. A confused volley of voices now sounded up +that part of the cave were Ferdinand and Julia lay concealed. In a +few moments the steps of the pursuers suddenly took a different +direction, and the sounds sunk gradually away, and were heard no more. +Ferdinand listened attentively for a considerable time, but the +stillness of the place remained undisturbed. It was now evident that +the men had quitted the rock, and he ventured forth to the mouth of +the cave. He surveyed the wilds around, as far as his eye could +penetrate, and distinguished no human being; but in the pauses of the +wind he still thought he heard a sound of distant voices. As he +listened in anxious silence, his eye caught the appearance of a +shadow, which moved upon the ground near where he stood. He started +back within the cave, but in a few minutes again ventured forth. The +shadow remained stationary, but having watched it for some time, +Ferdinand saw it glide along till it disappeared behind a point of +rock. He had now no doubt that the cave was watched, and that it was +one of his late pursuers whose shade he had seen. He returned, +therefore, to Julia, and remained near an hour hid in the deepest +recess of the rock; when, no sound having interrupted the profound +silence of the place, he at length once more ventured to the mouth of +the cave. Again he threw a fearful look around, but discerned no human +form. The soft moon-beam slept upon the dewy landscape, and the solemn +stillness of midnight wrapt the world. Fear heightened to the +fugitives the sublimity of the hour. Ferdinand now led Julia forth, +and they passed silently along the shelving foot of the rocks. + +They continued their way without farther interruption; and among the +cliffs, at some distance from the cave, discovered, to their +inexpressible joy, their horses, who having broken their fastenings, +had strayed thither, and had now laid themselves down to rest. +Ferdinand and Julia immediately mounted; and descending to the plains, +took the road that led to a small sea-port at some leagues distant, +whence they could embark for Italy. + +They travelled for some hours through gloomy forests of beech and +chesnut; and their way was only faintly illuminated by the moon, which +shed a trembling lustre through the dark foliage, and which was seen +but at intervals, as the passing clouds yielded to the power of her +rays. They reached at length the skirts of the forest. The grey dawn +now appeared, and the chill morning air bit shrewdly. It was with +inexpressible joy that Julia observed the kindling atmosphere; and +soon after the rays of the rising sun touching the tops of the +mountains, whose sides were yet involved in dark vapours. + +Her fears dissipated with the darkness.--The sun now appeared amid +clouds of inconceivable splendour; and unveiled a scene which in other +circumstances Julia would have contemplated with rapture. From the +side of the hill, down which they were winding, a vale appeared, from +whence arose wild and lofty mountains, whose steeps were cloathed with +hanging woods, except where here and there a precipice projected its +bold and rugged front. Here, a few half-withered trees hung from the +crevices of the rock, and gave a picturesque wildness to the object; +there, clusters of half-seen cottages, rising from among tufted +groves, embellished the green margin of a stream which meandered in +the bottom, and bore its waves to the blue and distant main. + +The freshness of morning breathed over the scene, and vivified each +colour of the landscape. The bright dewdrops hung trembling from the +branches of the trees, which at intervals overshadowed the road; and +the sprightly music of the birds saluted the rising day. +Notwithstanding her anxiety the scene diffused a soft complacency over +the mind of Julia. + +About noon they reached the port, where Ferdinand was fortunate enough +to obtain a small vessel; but the wind was unfavourable, and it was +past midnight before it was possible for them to embark. + +When the dawn appeared, Julia returned to the deck; and viewed with a +sigh of unaccountable regret, the receding coast of Sicily. But she +observed, with high admiration, the light gradually spreading through +the atmosphere, darting a feeble ray over the surface of the waters, +which rolled in solemn soundings upon the distant shores. Fiery beams +now marked the clouds, and the east glowed with increasing radiance, +till the sun rose at once above the waves, and illuminating them with +a flood of splendour, diffused gaiety and gladness around. The bold +concave of the heavens, uniting with the vast expanse of the ocean, +formed, a _coup d'oeil_, striking and sublime magnificence of the +scenery inspired Julia with delight; and her heart dilating with high +enthusiasm, she forgot the sorrows which had oppressed her. + +The breeze wafted the ship gently along for some hours, when it +gradually sunk into a calm. The glassy surface of the waters was not +curled by the lightest air, and the vessel floated heavily on the +bosom of the deep. Sicily was yet in view, and the present delay +agitated Julia with wild apprehension. Towards the close of day a +light breeze sprang up, but it blew from Italy, and a train of dark +vapours emerged from the verge of the horizon, which gradually +accumulating, the heavens became entirely overcast. The evening shut +in suddenly; the rising wind, the heavy clouds that loaded the +atmosphere, and the thunder which murmured afar off terrified Julia, +and threatened a violent storm. + +The tempest came on, and the captain vainly sounded for anchorage: it +was deep sea, and the vessel drove furiously before the wind. The +darkness was interrupted only at intervals, by the broad expanse of +vivid lightnings, which quivered upon the waters, and disclosing the +horrible gaspings of the waves, served to render the succeeding +darkness more awful. The thunder, which burst in tremendous crashes +above, the loud roar of the waves below, the noise of the sailors, and +the sudden cracks and groanings of the vessel conspired to heighten +the tremendous sublimity of the scene. + + Far on the rocky shores the surges sound, + The lashing whirlwinds cleave the vast profound; + While high in air, amid the rising storm, + Driving the blast, sits Danger's black'ning form. + +Julia lay fainting with terror and sickness in the cabin, and +Ferdinand, though almost hopeless himself, was endeavouring to support +her, when aloud and dreadful crash was heard from above. It seemed as +if the whole vessel had parted. The voices of the sailors now rose +together, and all was confusion and uproar. Ferdinand ran up to the +deck, and learned that part of the main mast, borne away by the wind, +had fallen upon the deck, whence it had rolled overboard. + +It was now past midnight, and the storm continued with unabated fury. +For four hours the vessel had been driven before the blast; and the +captain now declared it was impossible she could weather the tempest +much longer, ordered the long boat to be in readiness. His orders were +scarcely executed, when the ship bulged upon a reef of rocks, and the +impetuous waves rushed into the vessel:--a general groan ensued. +Ferdinand flew to save his sister, whom he carried to the boat, which +was nearly filled by the captain and most of the crew. The sea ran so +high that it appeared impracticable to reach the shore: but the boat +had not moved many yards, when the ship went to pieces. The captain +now perceived, by the flashes of lightning, a high rocky coast at +about the distance of half a mile. The men struggled hard at the oars; +but almost as often as they gained the summit of a wave, it dashed +them back again, and made their labour of little avail. + +After much difficulty and fatigue they reached the coast, where a new +danger presented itself. They beheld a wild rocky shore, whose cliffs +appeared inaccessible, and which seemed to afford little possibility +of landing. A landing, however, was at last affected; and the sailors, +after much search, discovered a kind of pathway cut in the rock, which +they all ascended in safety. + +The dawn now faintly glimmered, and they surveyed the coast, but could +discover no human habitation. They imagined they were on the shores of +Sicily, but possessed no means of confirming this conjecture. Terror, +sickness, and fatigue had subdued the strength and spirits of Julia, +and she was obliged to rest upon the rocks. + +The storm now suddenly subsided, and the total calm which succeeded to +the wild tumult of the winds and waves, produced a striking and +sublime effect. The air was hushed in a deathlike stillness, but the +waves were yet violently agitated; and by the increasing light, parts +of the wreck were seen floating wide upon the face of the deep. Some +sailors, who had missed the boat, were also discovered clinging to +pieces of the vessel, and making towards the shore. On observing this, +their shipmates immediately descended to the boat; and, putting off to +sea, rescued them from their perilous situation. When Julia was +somewhat reanimated, they proceeded up the country in search of a +dwelling. + +They had travelled near half a league, when the savage features of the +country began to soften, and gradually changed to the picturesque +beauty of Sicilian scenery. They now discovered at some distance a +villa, seated on a gentle eminence, crowned with woods. It was the +first human habitation they had seen since they embarked for Italy; +and Julia, who was almost sinking with fatigue, beheld it with +delight. The captain and his men hastened towards it to make known +their distress, while Ferdinand and Julia slowly followed. They +observed the men enter the villa, one of whom quickly returned to +acquaint them with the hospitable reception his comrades had received. + +Julia with difficulty reached the edifice, at the door of which she +was met by a young cavalier, whose pleasing and intelligent +countenance immediately interested her in his favor. He welcomed the +strangers with a benevolent politeness that dissolved at once every +uncomfortable feeling which their situation had excited, and produced +an instantaneous easy confidence. Through a light and elegant hall, +rising into a dome, supported by pillars of white marble, and adorned +with busts, he led them to a magnificent vestibule, which opened upon +a lawn. Having seated them at a table spread with refreshments he left +them, and they surveyed, with surprise, the beauty of the adjacent +scene. + +The lawn, which was on each side bounded by hanging woods, descended +in gentle declivity to a fine lake, whose smooth surface reflected the +surrounding shades. Beyond appeared the distant country, arising on +the left into bold romantic mountains, and on the right exhibiting a +soft and glowing landscape, whose tranquil beauty formed a striking +contrast to the wild sublimity of the opposite craggy heights. The +blue and distant ocean terminated the view. + +In a short time the cavalier returned, conducting two ladies of a very +engaging appearance, whom he presented as his wife and sister. They +welcomed Julia with graceful kindness; but fatigue soon obliged her to +retire to rest, and a consequent indisposition increased so rapidly, +as to render it impracticable for her to quit her present abode on +that day. The captain and his men proceeded on their way, leaving +Ferdinand and Julia at the villa, where she experienced every kind and +tender affection. + +The day which was to have devoted Julia to a cloister, was ushered in +at the abbey with the usual ceremonies. The church was ornamented, and +all the inhabitants of the monastery prepared to attend. The _Padre +Abate_ now exulted in the success of his scheme, and anticipated, in +imagination, the rage and vexation of the marquis, when he should +discover that his daughter was lost to him for ever. + +The hour of celebration arrived, and he entered the church with a +proud firm step, and with a countenance which depictured his inward +triumph; he was proceeding to the high altar, when he was told that +Julia was no where to be found. Astonishment for awhile suspended +other emotions--he yet believed it impossible that she could have +effected an escape, and ordered every part of the abbey to be +searched--not forgetting the secret caverns belonging to the +monastery, which wound beneath the woods. When the search was over, +and he became convinced she was fled, the deep workings of his +disappointed passions fermented into rage which exceeded all bounds. +He denounced the most terrible judgments upon Julia; and calling for +Madame de Menon, charged her with having insulted her holy religion, +in being accessary to the flight of Julia. Madame endured these +reproaches with calm dignity, and preserved a steady silence, but she +secretly determined to leave the monastery, and seek in another the +repose which she could never hope to find in this. + +The report of Julia's disappearance spread rapidly beyond the walls, +and soon reached the ears of the marquis, who rejoiced in the +circumstance, believing that she must now inevitably fall into his +hands. + +After his people, in obedience to his orders, had carefully searched +the surrounding woods and rocks, he withdrew them from the abbey; and +having dispersed them various ways in search of Julia, he returned to +the castle of Mazzini. Here new vexation awaited him, for he now +first learned that Ferdinand had escaped from confinement. + +The mystery of Julia's flight was now dissolved; for it was evident by +whose means she had effected it, and the marquis issued orders to his +people to secure Ferdinand wherever he should be found. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Hippolitus, who had languished under a long and dangerous illness +occasioned by his wounds, but heightened and prolonged by the distress +of his mind, was detained in a small town in the coast of Calabria, +and was yet ignorant of the death of Cornelia. He scarcely doubted +that Julia was now devoted to the duke, and this thought was at times +poison to his heart. After his arrival in Calabria, immediately on the +recovery of his senses, he dispatched a servant back to the castle of +Mazzini, to gain secret intelligence of what had passed after his +departure. The eagerness with which we endeavour to escape from +misery, taught him to encourage a remote and romantic hope that Julia +yet lived for him. Yet even this hope at length languished into +despair, as the time elapsed which should have brought his servant +from Sicily. Days and weeks passed away in the utmost anxiety to +Hippolitus, for still his emissary did not appear; and at last, +concluding that he had been either seized by robbers, or discovered +and detained by the marquis, the Count sent off a second emissary to +the castle of Mazzini. By him he learned the news of Julia's flight, +and his heart dilated with joy; but it was suddenly checked when he +heard the marquis had discovered her retreat in the abbey of St +Augustin. The wounds which still detained him in confinement, now +became intolerable. Julia might yet be lost to him for ever. But even +his present state of fear and uncertainty was bliss compared with the +anguish of despair, which his mind had long endured. + +As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he quitted Italy for Sicily, +in the design of visiting the monastery of St Augustin, where it was +possible Julia might yet remain. That he might pass with the secrecy +necessary to his plan, and escape the attacks of the marquis, he left +his servants in Calabria, and embarked alone. + +It was morning when he landed at a small port of Sicily, and proceeded +towards the abbey of St Augustin. As he travelled, his imagination +revolved the scenes of his early love, the distress of Julia, and the +sufferings of Ferdinand, and his heart melted at the retrospect. He +considered the probabilities of Julia having found protection from her +father in the pity of the _Padre Abate_; and even ventured to indulge +himself in a flattering, fond anticipation of the moment when Julia +should again be restored to his sight. + +He arrived at the monastery, and his grief may easily be imagined, +when he was informed of the death of his beloved sister, and of the +flight of Julia. He quitted St Augustin's immediately, without even +knowing that Madame de Menon was there, and set out for a town at some +leagues distance, where he designed to pass the night. + +Absorbed in the melancholy reflections which the late intelligence +excited, he gave the reins to his horse, and journeyed on unmindful of +his way. The evening was far advanced when he discovered that he had +taken a wrong direction, and that he was bewildered in a wild and +solitary scene. He had wandered too far from the road to hope to +regain it, and he had beside no recollection of the objects left +behind him. A choice of errors, only, lay before him. The view on his +right hand exhibited high and savage mountains, covered with heath and +black fir; and the wild desolation of their aspect, together with the +dangerous appearance of the path that wound up their sides, and which +was the only apparent track they afforded, determined Hippolitus not +to attempt their ascent. On his left lay a forest, to which the path +he was then in led; its appearance was gloomy, but he preferred it to +the mountains; and, since he was uncertain of its extent, there was a +possibility that he might pass it, and reach a village before the +night was set in. At the worst, the forest would afford him a shelter +from the winds; and, however he might be bewildered in its labyrinths, +he could ascend a tree, and rest in security till the return of light +should afford him an opportunity of extricating himself. Among the +mountains there was no possibility of meeting with other shelter than +what the habitation of man afforded, and such a shelter there was +little probability of finding. Innumerable dangers also threatened him +here, from which he would be secure on level ground. + +Having determined which way to pursue, he pushed his horse into a +gallop, and entered the forest as the last rays of the sun trembled on +the mountains. The thick foliage of the trees threw a gloom around, +which was every moment deepened by the shades of evening. The path was +uninterrupted, and the count continued to follow it till all +distinction was confounded in the veil of night. Total darkness now +made it impossible for him to pursue his way. He dismounted, and +fastening his horse to a tree, climbed among the branches, purposing +to remain there till morning. + +He had not been long in this situation, when a confused sound of +voices from a distance roused his attention. The sound returned at +intervals for some time, but without seeming to approach. He descended +from the tree, that he might the better judge of the direction whence +it came; but before he reached the ground, the noise was ceased, and +all was profoundly silent. He continued to listen, but the silence +remaining undisturbed, he began to think he had been deceived by the +singing of the wind among the leaves; and was preparing to reascend, +when he perceived a faint light glimmer through the foliage from afar. +The sight revived a hope that he was near some place of human +habitation; he therefore unfastened his horse, and led him towards the +spot whence the ray issued. The moon was now risen, and threw a +checkered gleam over his path sufficient to direct him. + +Before he had proceeded far the light disappeared. He continued, +however, his way as nearly as he could guess, towards the place whence +it had issued; and after much toil, found himself in a spot where the +trees formed a circle round a kind of rude lawn. The moonlight +discovered to him an edifice which appeared to have been formerly a +monastery, but which now exhibited a pile of ruins, whose grandeur, +heightened by decay, touched the beholder with reverential awe. +Hippolitus paused to gaze upon the scene; the sacred stillness of +night increased its effect, and a secret dread, he knew not wherefore, +stole upon his heart. + +The silence and the character of the place made him doubt whether this +was the spot he had been seeking; and as he stood hesitating whether +to proceed or to return, he observed a figure standing under an +arch-way of the ruin; it carried a light in its hand, and passing +silently along, disappeared in a remote part of the building. The +courage of Hippolitus for a moment deserted him. An invincible +curiosity, however, subdued his terror, and he determined to pursue, +if possible, the way the figure had taken. + +He passed over loose stones through a sort of court till he came to +the archway; here he stopped, for fear returned upon him. Resuming his +courage, however, he went on, still endeavouring to follow the way the +figure had passed, and suddenly found himself in an enclosed part of +the ruin, whose appearance was more wild and desolate than any he had +yet seen. Seized with unconquerable apprehension, he was retiring, +when the low voice of a distressed person struck his ear. His heart +sunk at the sound, his limbs trembled, and he was utterly unable to +move. + +The sound which appeared to be the last groan of a dying person, was +repeated. Hippolitus made a strong effort, and sprang forward, when a +light burst upon him from a shattered casement of the building, and at +the same instant he heard the voices of men! + +He advanced softly to the window, and beheld in a small room, which +was less decayed than the rest of the edifice, a group of men, who, +from the savageness of their looks, and from their dress, appeared to +be banditti. They surrounded a man who lay on the ground wounded, and +bathed in blood, and who it was very evident had uttered the groans +heard by the count. + +The obscurity of the place prevented Hippolitus from distinguishing +the features of the dying man. From the blood which covered him, and +from the surrounding circumstances, he appeared to be murdered; and +the count had no doubt that the men he beheld were the murderers. The +horror of the scene entirely overcame him; he stood rooted to the +spot, and saw the assassins rifle the pockets of the dying person, +who, in a voice scarcely articulate, but which despair seemed to aid, +supplicated for mercy. The ruffians answered him only with +execrations, and continued their plunder. His groans and his +sufferings served only to aggravate their cruelty. They were +proceeding to take from him a miniature picture, which was fastened +round his neck, and had been hitherto concealed in his bosom; when by +a sudden effort he half raised himself from the ground, and attempted +to save it from their hands. The effort availed him nothing; a blow +from one of the villains laid the unfortunate man on the floor without +motion. The horrid barbarity of the act seized the mind of Hippolitus +so entirely, that, forgetful of his own situation, he groaned aloud, +and started with an instantaneous design of avenging the deed. The +noise he made alarmed the banditti, who looking whence it came, +discovered the count through the casement. They instantly quitted +their prize, and rushed towards the door of the room. He was now +returned to a sense of his danger, and endeavoured to escape to the +exterior part of the ruin; but terror bewildered his senses, and he +mistook his way. Instead of regaining the arch-way, he perplexed +himself with fruitless wanderings, and at length found himself only +more deeply involved in the secret recesses of the pile. + +The steps of his pursuers gained fast upon him, and he continued to +perplex himself with vain efforts at escape, till at length, quite +exhausted, he sunk on the ground, and endeavoured to resign himself to +his fate. He listened with a kind of stern despair, and was surprised +to find all silent. On looking round, he perceived by a ray of +moonlight, which streamed through a part of the ruin from above, that +he was in a sort of vault, which, from the small means he had of +judging, he thought was extensive. + +In this situation he remained for a considerable time, ruminating on +the means of escape, yet scarcely believing escape was possible. If he +continued in the vault, he might continue there only to be butchered; +but by attempting to rescue himself from the place he was now in, he +must rush into the hands of the banditti. Judging it, therefore, the +safer way of the two to remain where he was, he endeavoured to await +his fate with fortitude, when suddenly the loud voices of the +murderers burst upon his ear, and he heard steps advancing quickly +towards the spot where he lay. + +Despair instantly renewed his vigour; he started from the ground, and +throwing round him a look of eager desperation, his eye caught the +glimpse of a small door, upon which the moon-beam now fell. He made +towards it, and passed it just as the light of a torch gleamed upon +the walls of the vault. + +He groped his way along a winding passage, and at length came to a +flight of steps. Notwithstanding the darkness, he reached the bottom +in safety. + +He now for the first time stopped to listen--the sounds of pursuit +were ceased, and all was silent! Continuing to wander on in effectual +endeavours to escape, his hands at length touched cold iron, and he +quickly perceived it belonged to a door. The door, however, was +fastened, and resisted all his efforts to open it. He was giving up +the attempt in despair, when a loud scream from within, followed by a +dead and heavy noise, roused all his attention. Silence ensued. He +listened for a considerable time at the door, his imagination filled +with images of horror, and expecting to hear the sound repeated. He +then sought for a decayed part of the door, through which he might +discover what was beyond; but he could find none; and after waiting +some time without hearing any farther noise, he was quitting the spot, +when in passing his arm over the door, it struck against something +hard. On examination he perceived, to his extreme surprize, that the +key was in the lock. For a moment he hesitated what to do; but +curiosity overcame other considerations, and with a trembling hand he +turned the key. The door opened into a large and desolate apartment, +dimly lighted by a lamp that stood on a table, which was almost the +only furniture of the place. The Count had advanced several steps +before he perceived an object, which fixed all his attention. This was +the figure of a young woman lying on the floor apparently dead. Her +face was concealed in her robe; and the long auburn tresses which fell +in beautiful luxuriance over her bosom, served to veil a part of the +glowing beauty which the disorder of her dress would have revealed. + +Pity, surprize, and admiration struggled in the breast of Hippolitus; +and while he stood surveying the object which excited these different +emotions, he heard a step advancing towards the room. He flew to the +door by which he had entered, and was fortunate enough to reach it +before the entrance of the persons whose steps he heard. Having turned +the key, he stopped at the door to listen to their proceedings. He +distinguished the voices of two men, and knew them to be those of the +assassins. Presently he heard a piercing skriek, and at the same +instant the voices of the ruffians grew loud and violent. One of them +exclaimed that the lady was dying, and accused the other of having +frightened her to death, swearing, with horrid imprecations, that she +was his, and he would defend her to the last drop of his blood. The +dispute grew higher; and neither of the ruffians would give up his +claim to the unfortunate object of their altercation. + +The clashing of swords was soon after heard, together with a violent +noise. The screams were repeated, and the oaths and execrations of the +disputants redoubled. They seemed to move towards the door, behind +which Hippolitus was concealed; suddenly the door was shook with great +force, a deep groan followed, and was instantly succeeded by a noise +like that of a person whose whole weight falls at once to the ground. +For a moment all was silent. Hippolitus had no doubt that one of the +ruffians had destroyed the other, and was soon confirmed in the +belief--for the survivor triumphed with brutal exultation over his +fallen antagonist. The ruffian hastily quitted the room, and +Hippolitus soon after heard the distant voices of several persons in +loud dispute. The sounds seemed to come from a chamber over the place +where he stood; he also heard a trampling of feet from above, and +could even distinguish, at intervals, the words of the disputants. +From these he gathered enough to learn that the affray which had just +happened, and the lady who had been the occasion of it, were the +subjects of discourse. The voices frequently rose together, and +confounded all distinction. + +At length the tumult began to subside, and Hippolitus could +distinguish what was said. The ruffians agreed to give up the lady in +question to him who had fought for her; and leaving him to his prize, +they all went out in quest of farther prey. The situation of the +unfortunate lady excited a mixture of pity and indignation in +Hippolitus, which for some time entirely occupied him; he revolved the +means of extricating her from so deplorable a situation, and in these +thoughts almost forgot his own danger. He now heard her sighs; and +while his heart melted to the sounds, the farther door of the +apartment was thrown open, and the wretch to whom she had been +allotted, rushed in. Her screams now redoubled, but they were of no +avail with the ruffian who had seized her in his arms; when the count, +who was unarmed, insensible to every pulse but that of a generous +pity, burst into the room, but became fixed like a statue when he +beheld his Julia struggling in the grasp of the ruffian. On +discovering Hippolitus, she made a sudden spring, and liberated +herself; when, running to him, she sunk lifeless in his arms. + +Surprise and fury sparkled in the eyes of the ruffian, and he turned +with a savage desperation upon the count; who, relinquishing Julia, +snatched up the sword of the dead ruffian, which lay upon the floor, +and defended himself. The combat was furious, but Hippolitus laid his +antagonist senseless at his feet. He flew to Julia, who now revived, +but who for some time could speak only by her tears. The transitions +of various and rapid sensations, which her heart experienced, and the +strangely mingled emotions of joy and terror that agitated Hippolitus, +can only be understood by experience. He raised her from the floor, +and endeavoured to soothe her to composure, when she called wildly +upon Ferdinand. At his name the count started, and he instantly +remembered the dying cavalier, whose countenance the glooms had +concealed from his view. His heart thrilled with secret agony, yet he +resolved to withhold his terrible conjectures from Julia, of whom he +learned that Ferdinand, with herself, had been taken by banditti in +the way from the villa which had offered them so hospitable a +reception after the shipwreck. They were on the road to a port whence +they designed again to embark for Italy, when this misfortune overtook +them. Julia added, that Ferdinand had been immediately separated from +her; and that, for some hours, she had been confined in the apartment +where Hippolitus found her. + +The Count with difficulty concealed his terrible apprehensions for +Ferdinand, and vainly strove to soften Julia's distress. But there was +no time to be lost--they had yet to find a way out of the edifice, and +before they could accomplish this, the banditti might return. It was +also possible that some of the party were left to watch this their +abode during the absence of the rest, and this was another +circumstance of reasonable alarm. + +After some little consideration, Hippolitus judged it most prudent to +seek an outlet through the passage by which he entered; he therefore +took the lamp, and led Julia to the door. They entered the avenue, and +locking the door after them, sought the flight of steps down which the +count had before passed; but having pursued the windings of the avenue +a considerable time without finding them, he became certain he had +mistaken the way. They, however, found another flight, which they +descended and entered upon a passage so very narrow and low, as not to +admit of a person walking upright. This passage was closed by a door, +which on examination was found to be chiefly of iron. Hippolitus was +startled at the sight, but on applying his strength found it gradually +yield, when the imprisoned air rushed out, and had nearly extinguished +the light. They now entered upon a dark abyss; and the door which +moved upon a spring, suddenly closed upon them. On looking round they +beheld a large vault; and it is not easy to imagine their horror on +discovering they were in a receptacle for the murdered bodies of the +unfortunate people who had fallen into the hands of the banditti. + +The count could scarcely support the fainting spirits of Julia; he ran +to the door, which he endeavoured to open, but the lock was so +constructed that it could be moved only on the other side, and all his +efforts were useless. He was constrained, therefore, to seek for +another door, but could find none. Their situation was the most +deplorable that can be imagined; for they were now inclosed in a vault +strewn with the dead bodies of the murdered, and must there become the +victims of famine, or of the sword. The earth was in several places +thrown up, and marked the boundaries of new-made graves. The bodies +which remained unburied were probably left either from hurry or +negligence, and exhibited a spectacle too shocking for humanity. The +sufferings of Hippolitus were increased by those of Julia, who was +sinking with horror, and who he endeavoured to support to apart of the +vault which fell into a recess--where stood a bench. + +They had not been long in this situation, when they heard a noise +which approached gradually, and which did not appear to come from the +avenue they had passed. + +The noise increased, and they could distinguish voices. Hippolitus +believed the murderers were returned; that they had traced his +retreat, and were coming towards the vault by some way unknown to him. +He prepared for the worst--and drawing his sword, resolved to defend +Julia to the last. Their apprehension, however, was soon dissipated +by a trampling of horses, which sound had occasioned his alarm, and +which now seemed to come from a courtyard above, extremely near the +vault. He distinctly heard the voices of the banditti, together with +the moans and supplications of some person, whom it was evident they +were about to plunder. The sound appeared so very near, that +Hippolitus was both shocked and surprised; and looking round the +vault, he perceived a small grated window placed very high in the +wall, which he concluded overlooked the place where the robbers were +assembled. He recollected that his light might betray him; and +horrible as was the alternative, he was compelled to extinguish it. He +now attempted to climb to the grate, through which he might obtain a +view of what was passing without. This at length he effected, for the +ruggedness of the wall afforded him a footing. He beheld in a ruinous +court, which was partially illuminated by the glare of torches, a +group of banditti surrounding two persons who were bound on horseback, +and who were supplicating for mercy. + +One of the robbers exclaiming with an oath that this was a golden +night, bade his comrades dispatch, adding he would go to find Paulo +and the lady. + +The effect which the latter part of this sentence had upon the +prisoners in the vault, may be more easily imagined than described. +They were now in total darkness in this mansion of the murdered, +without means of escape, and in momentary expectation of sharing a +fate similar to that of the wretched objects around them. Julia, +overcome with distress and terror, sunk on the ground; and Hippolitus, +descending from the grate, became insensible of his own danger in his +apprehension for her. + +In a short time all without was confusion and uproar; the ruffian who +had left the court returned with the alarm that the lady was fled, and +that Paulo was murdered, The robbers quitting their booty to go in +search of the fugitive, and to discover the murderer, dreadful +vociferations resounded through every recess of the pile. + +The tumult had continued a considerable time, which the prisoners had +passed in a state of horrible suspence, when they heard the uproar +advancing towards the vault, and soon after a number of voices shouted +down the avenue. The sound of steps quickened. Hippolitus again drew +his sword, and placed himself opposite the entrance, where he had not +stood long, when a violent push was made against the door; it flew +open, and a party of men rushed into the vault. + +Hippolitus kept his position, protesting he would destroy the first +who approached. At the sound of his voice they stopped; but presently +advancing, commanded him in the king's name to surrender. He now +discovered what his agitation had prevented him from observing sooner, +that the men before him were not banditti, but the officers of +justice. They had received information of this haunt of villainy from +the son of a Sicilian nobleman, who had fallen into the hands of the +banditti, and had afterwards escaped from their power. + +The officers came attended by a guard, and were every way prepared to +prosecute a strenuous search through these horrible recesses. + +Hippolitus inquired for Ferdinand, and they all quitted the vault in +search of him. In the court, to which they now ascended, the greater +part of the banditti were secured by a number of the guard. The count +accused the robbers of having secreted his friend, whom he described, +and demanded to have liberated. + +With one voice they denied the fact, and were resolute in persisting +that they knew nothing of the person described. This denial confirmed +Hippolitus in his former terrible surmise; that the dying cavalier, +whom he had seen, was no other than Ferdinand, and he became furious. +He bade the officers prosecute their search, who, leaving a guard over +the banditti they had secured, followed him to the room where the late +dreadful scene had been acted. + +The room was dark and empty; but the traces of blood were visible on +the floor; and Julia, though ignorant of the particular apprehension +of Hippolitus, almost swooned at the sight. On quitting the room, they +wandered for some time among the ruins, without discovering any thing +extraordinary, till, in passing under the arch-way by which Hippolitus +had first entered the building, their footsteps returned a deep sound, +which convinced them that the ground beneath was hollow. On close +examination, they perceived by the light of their torch, a trapdoor, +which with some difficulty they lifted, and discovered beneath a +narrow flight of steps. They all descended into a low winding passage, +where they had not been long, when they heard a trampling of horses +above, and a loud and sudden uproar. + +The officers apprehending that the banditti had overcome the guard, +rushed back to the trapdoor, which they had scarcely lifted, when they +heard a clashing of swords, and a confusion of unknown voices. Looking +onward, they beheld through the arch, in an inner sort of court, a +large party of banditti who were just arrived, rescuing their +comrades, and contending furiously with the guard. + +On observing this, several of the officers sprang forward to the +assistance of their friends; and the rest, subdued by cowardice, +hurried down the steps, letting the trapdoor fall after them with a +thundering noise. They gave notice to Hippolitus of what was passing +above, who hurried Julia along the passage in search of some outlet or +place of concealment. They could find neither, and had not long +pursued the windings of the way, when they heard the trapdoor lifted, +and the steps of persons descending. Despair gave strength to Julia, +and winged her flight. But they were now stopped by a door which +closed the passage, and the sound of distant voices murmured along the +walls. + +The door was fastened by strong iron bolts, which Hippolitus vainly +endeavoured to draw. The voices drew near. After much labour and +difficulty the bolts yielded--the door unclosed--and light dawned upon +them through the mouth of a cave, into which they now entered. On +quitting the cave they found themselves in the forest, and in a short +time reached the borders. They now ventured to stop, and looking back +perceived no person in pursuit. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +When Julia had rested, they followed the track before them, and in a +short time arrived at a village, where they obtained security and +refreshment. + +But Julia, whose mind was occupied with dreadful anxiety for +Ferdinand, became indifferent to all around her. Even the presence of +Hippolitus, which but lately would have raised her from misery to joy, +failed to soothe her distress. The steady and noble attachment of her +brother had sunk deep in her heart, and reflection only aggravated her +affliction. Yet the banditti had steadily persisted in affirming that +he was not concealed in their recesses; and this circumstance, which +threw a deeper shade over the fears of Hippolitus, imparted a +glimmering of hope to the mind of Julia. + +A more immediate interest at length forced her mind from this +sorrowful subject. It was necessary to determine upon some line of +conduct, for she was now in an unknown spot, and ignorant of any place +of refuge. The count, who trembled at the dangers which environed her, +and at the probabilities he saw of her being torn from him for ever, +suffered a consideration of them to overcome the dangerous delicacy +which at this mournful period required his silence. He entreated her +to destroy the possibility of separation, by consenting to become his +immediately. He urged that a priest could be easily procured from a +neighboring convent, who would confirm the bonds which had so long +united their hearts, and who would thus at once arrest the destiny +that so long had threatened his hopes. + +This proposal, though similar to the one she had before accepted; and +though the certain means of rescuing her from the fate she dreaded, +she now turned from in sorrow and dejection. She loved Hippolitus with +a steady and tender affection, which was still heightened by the +gratitude he claimed as her deliverer; but she considered it a +prophanation of the memory of that brother who had suffered so much +for her sake, to mingle joy with the grief which her uncertainty +concerning him occasioned. She softened her refusal with a tender +grace, that quickly dissipated the jealous doubt arising in the mind +of Hippolitus, and increased his fond admiration of her character. + +She desired to retire for a time to some obscure convent, there to +await the issue of the event, which at present involved her in +perplexity and sorrow. + +Hippolitus struggled with his feelings and forbore to press farther +the suit on which his happiness, and almost his existence, now +depended. He inquired at the village for a neighbouring convent, and +was told, that there was none within twelve leagues, but that near the +town of Palini, at about that distance, were two. He procured horses; +and leaving the officers to return to Palermo for a stronger guard, +he, accompanied by Julia, entered on the road to Palini. + +Julia was silent and thoughtful; Hippolitus gradually sunk into the +same mood, and he often cast a cautious look around as they travelled +for some hours along the feet of the mountains. They stopped to dine +under the shade of some beach-trees; for, fearful of discovery, +Hippolitus had provided against the necessity of entering many inns. +Having finished their repast, they pursued their journey; but +Hippolitus now began to doubt whether he was in the right direction. +Being destitute, however, of the means of certainty upon this point, +he followed the road before him, which now wound up the side of a +steep hill, whence they descended into a rich valley, where the +shepherd's pipe sounded sweetly from afar among the hills. The evening +sun shed a mild and mellow lustre over the landscape, and softened +each feature with a vermil glow that would have inspired a mind less +occupied than Julia's with sensations of congenial tranquillity. + +The evening now closed in; and as they were doubtful of the road, and +found it would be impossible to reach Palini that night, they took the +way to a village, which they perceived at the extremity of the valley. + +They had proceeded about half a mile, when they heard a sudden shout +of voices echoed from among the hills behind them; and looking back +perceived faintly through the dusk a party of men on horseback making +towards them. As they drew nearer, the words they spoke were +distinguishable, and Julia heard her own name sounded. Shocked at this +circumstance, she had now no doubt that she was discovered by a party +of her father's people, and she fled with Hippolitus along the valley. +The pursuers, however, were almost come up with them, when they +reached the mouth of a cavern, into which she ran for concealment. +Hippolitus drew his sword; and awaiting his enemies, stood to defend +the entrance. + +In a few moments Julia heard the clashing of swords. Her heart +trembled for Hippolitus; and she was upon the point of returning to +resign herself at once to the power of her enemies, and thus avert the +danger that threatened him, when she distinguished the loud voice of +the duke. + +She shrunk involuntarily at the sound, and pursuing the windings of +the cavern, fled into its inmost recesses. Here she had not been long +when the voices sounded through the cave, and drew near. It was now +evident that Hippolitus was conquered, and that her enemies were in +search of her. She threw round a look of unutterable anguish, and +perceived very near, by a sudden gleam of torchlight, a low and deep +recess in the rock. The light which belonged to her pursuers, grew +stronger; and she entered the rock on her knees, for the overhanging +craggs would not suffer her to pass otherwise; and having gone a few +yards, perceived that it was terminated by a door. The door yielded to +her touch, and she suddenly found herself in a highly vaulted cavern, +which received a feeble light from the moon-beams that streamed +through an opening in the rock above. + +She closed the door, and paused to listen. The voices grew louder, and +more distinct, and at last approached so near, that she distinguished +what was said. Above the rest she heard the voice of the duke. 'It is +impossible she can have quitted the cavern,' said he, 'and I will not +leave it till I have found her. Seek to the left of that rock, while I +examine beyond this point.' + +These words were sufficient for Julia; she fled from the door across +the cavern before her, and having ran a considerable way, without +coming to a termination, stopped to breathe. All was now still, and as +she looked around, the gloomy obscurity of the place struck upon her +fancy all its horrors. She imperfectly surveyed the vastness of the +cavern in wild amazement, and feared that she had precipitated herself +again into the power of banditti, for whom along this place appeared a +fit receptacle. Having listened a long time without hearing a return +of voices, she thought to find the door by which she had entered, but +the gloom, and vast extent of the cavern, made the endeavour hopeless, +and the attempt unsuccessful. Having wandered a considerable time +through the void, she gave up the effort, endeavoured to resign +herself to her fate, and to compose her distracted thoughts. The +remembrance of her former wonderful escape inspired her with +confidence in the mercy of God. But Hippolitus and Ferdinand were now +both lost to her--lost, perhaps, for ever--and the uncertainty of +their fate gave force to fancy, and poignancy to sorrow. + +Towards morning grief yielded to nature, and Julia sunk to repose. She +was awakened by the sun, whose rays darting obliquely through the +opening in the rock, threw a partial light across the cavern. Her +senses were yet bewildered by sleep, and she started in affright on +beholding her situation; as recollection gradually stole upon her +mind, her sorrows returned, and she sickened at the fatal retrospect. + +She arose, and renewed her search for an outlet. The light, imperfect +as it was, now assisted her, and she found a door, which she perceived +was not the one by which she had entered. It was firmly fastened; she +discovered, however, the bolts and the lock that held it, and at +length unclosed the door. It opened upon a dark passage, which she +entered. + +She groped along the winding walls for some time, when she perceived +the way was obstructed. She now discovered that another door +interrupted her progress, and sought for the bolts which might fasten +it. These she found; and strengthened by desparation forced them back. +The door opened, and she beheld in a small room, which received its +feeble light from a window above, the pale and emaciated figure of a +woman, seated, with half-closed eyes, in a kind of elbow-chair. On +perceiving Julia, she started from her seat, and her countenance +expressed a wild surprise. Her features, which were worn by sorrow, +still retained the traces of beauty, and in her air was a mild dignity +that excited in Julia an involuntary veneration. + +She seemed as if about to speak, when fixing her eyes earnestly and +steadily upon Julia, she stood for a moment in eager gaze, and +suddenly exclaiming, 'My daughter!' fainted away. + +The astonishment of Julia would scarcely suffer her to assist the lady +who lay senseless on the floor. A multitude of strange imperfect ideas +rushed upon her mind, and she was lost in perplexity; but as she +examined the features of the stranger; which were now rekindling into +life, she thought she discovered the resemblance of Emilia! + +The lady breathing a deep sigh, unclosed her eyes; she raised them to +Julia, who hung over her in speechless astonishment, and fixing them +upon her with a tender earnest expression--they filled with tears. She +pressed Julia to her heart, and a few moments of exquisite, +unutterable emotion followed. When the lady became more composed, +'Thank heaven!' said she, 'my prayer is granted. I am permitted to +embrace one of my children before I die. Tell me what brought you +hither. Has the marquis at last relented, and allowed me once more to +behold you, or has his death dissolved my wretched bondage?' + +Truth now glimmered upon the mind of Julia, but so faintly, that +instead of enlightening, it served only to increase her perplexity. + +'Is the marquis Mazzini living?' continued the lady. These words were +not to be doubted; Julia threw herself at the feet of her mother, and +embracing her knees in an energy of joy, answered only in sobs. + +The marchioness eagerly inquired after her children, 'Emilia is +living,' answered Julia, 'but my dear brother--' 'Tell me,' cried the +marchioness, with quickness. An explanation ensued; When she was +informed concerning Ferdinand, she sighed deeply, and raising her eyes +to heaven, endeavoured to assume a look of pious resignation; but the +struggle of maternal feelings was visible in her countenance, and +almost overcame her powers of resistance. + +Julia gave a short account of the preceding adventures, and of her +entrance into the cavern; and found, to her inexpressible surprize, +that she was now in a subterranean abode belonging to the southern +buildings of the castle of Mazzini! The marchioness was beginning her +narrative, when a door was heard to unlock above, and the sound of a +footstep followed. + +'Fly!' cried the marchioness, 'secret yourself, if possible, for the +marquis is coming.' Julia's heart sunk at these words; she paused not +a moment, but retired through the door by which she had entered. This +she had scarcely done, when another door of the cell was unlocked, and +she heard the voice of her father. Its sounds thrilled her with a +universal tremour; the dread of discovery so strongly operated upon +her mind, that she stood in momentary expectation of seeing the door +of the passage unclosed by the marquis; and she was deprived of all +power of seeking refuge in the cavern. + +At length the marquis, who came with food, quitted the cell, and +relocked the door, when Julia stole forth from her hiding-place. The +marchioness again embraced, and wept over her daughter. The narrative +of her sufferings, upon which she now entered, entirely dissipated the +mystery which had so long enveloped the southern buildings of the +castle. + +'Oh! why,' said the marchioness, 'is it my task to discover to my +daughter the vices of her father? In relating my sufferings, I reveal +his crimes! It is now about fifteen years, as near as I can guess from +the small means I have of judging, since I entered this horrible +abode. My sorrows, alas! began not here; they commenced at an earlier +period. But it is sufficient to observe, that the passion whence +originated all my misfortunes, was discovered by me long before I +experienced its most baleful effects. + +'Seven years had elapsed since my marriage, when the charms of Maria +de Vellorno, a young lady singularly beautiful, inspired the marquis +with a passion as violent as it was irregular. I observed, with deep +and silent anguish, the cruel indifference of my lord towards me, and +the rapid progress of his passion for another. I severely examined my +past conduct, which I am thankful to say presented a retrospect of +only blameless actions; and I endeavoured, by meek submission, and +tender assiduities, to recall that affection which was, alas! gone for +ever. My meek submission was considered as a mark of a servile and +insensible mind; and my tender assiduities, to which his heart no +longer responded, created only disgust, and exalted the proud spirit +it was meant to conciliate. + +'The secret grief which this change occasioned, consumed my spirits, +and preyed upon my constitution, till at length a severe illness +threatened my life. I beheld the approach of death with a steady eye, +and even welcomed it as the passport to tranquillity; but it was +destined that I should linger through new scenes of misery. + +'One day, which it appears was the paroxysm of my disorder, I sunk in +to a state of total torpidity, in which I lay for several hours. It is +impossible to describe my feelings, when, on recovering, I found +myself in this hideous abode. For some time I doubted my senses, and +afterwards believed that I had quitted this world for another; but I +was not long suffered to continue in my error, the appearance of the +marquis bringing me to a perfect sense of my situation. + +'I now understood that I had been conveyed by his direction to this +recess of horror, where it was his will I should remain. My prayers, +my supplications, were ineffectual; the hardness of his heart repelled +my sorrows back upon myself; and as no entreaties could prevail upon +him to inform me where I was, or of his reason for placing me here, I +remained for many years ignorant of my vicinity to the castle, and of +the motive of my confinement. + +'From that fatal day, until very lately, I saw the marquis no +more--but was attended by a person who had been for some years +dependant upon his bounty, and whom necessity, united to an insensible +heart, had doubtless induced to accept this office. He generally +brought me a week's provision, at stated intervals, and I remarked +that his visits were always in the night. + +'Contrary to my expectation, or my wish, nature did that for me which +medicine had refused, and I recovered as if to punish with +disappointment and anxiety my cruel tyrant. I afterwards learned, +that in obedience to the marquis's order, I had been carried to this +spot by Vincent during the night, and that I had been buried in effigy +at a neighbouring church, with all the pomp of funeral honor due to my +rank.' + +At the name of Vincent Julia started; the doubtful words he had +uttered on his deathbed were now explained--the cloud of mystery which +had so long involved the southern buildings broke at once away: and +each particular circumstance that had excited her former terror, arose +to her view entirely unveiled by the words of the marchioness.--The +long and total desertion of this part of the fabric--the light that +had appeared through the casement--the figure she had seen issue from +the tower--the midnight noises she had heard--were circumstances +evidently dependant on the imprisonment of the marchioness; the latter +of which incidents were produced either by Vincent, or the marquis, in +their attendance upon her. + +When she considered the long and dreadful sufferings of her mother, +and that she had for many years lived so near her, ignorant of her +misery, and even of her existence--she was lost in astonishment and +pity. + +'My days,' continued the marchioness, 'passed in a dead uniformity, +more dreadful than the most acute vicissitudes of misfortune, and +which would certainly have subdued my reason, had not those firm +principles of religious faith, which I imbibed in early youth, enabled +me to withstand the still, but forceful pressure of my calamity. + +'The insensible heart of Vincent at length began to soften to my +misfortunes. He brought me several articles of comfort, of which I had +hitherto been destitute, and answered some questions I put to him +concerning my family. To release me from my present situation, however +his inclination might befriend me, was not to be expected, since his +life would have paid the forfeiture of what would be termed his duty. + +'I now first discovered my vicinity to the castle. I learned also, +that the marquis had married Maria de Vellorno, with whom he had +resided at Naples, but that my daughters were left at Mazzini. This +last intelligence awakened in my heart the throbs of warm maternal +tenderness, and on my knees I supplicated to see them. So earnestly I +entreated, and so solemnly I promised to return quietly to my prison, +that, at length, prudence yielded to pity, and Vincent consented to my +request. + +'On the following day he came to the cell, and informed me my children +were going into the woods, and that I might see them from a window +near which they would pass. My nerves thrilled at these words, and I +could scarcely support myself to the spot I so eagerly sought. He led +me through long and intricate passages, as I guessed by the frequent +turnings, for my eyes were bound, till I reached a hall of the south +buildings. I followed to a room above, where the full light of day +once more burst upon my sight, and almost overpowered me. Vincent +placed me by a window, which looked towards the woods. Oh! what +moments of painful impatience were those in which I awaited your +arrival! + +'At length you appeared. I saw you--I saw my children--and was neither +permitted to clasp them to my heart, or to speak to them! You was +leaning on the arm of your sister, and your countenances spoke the +sprightly happy innocence of youth.--Alas! you knew not the wretched +fate of your mother, who then gazed upon you! Although you were at too +great a distance for my weak voice to reach you, with the utmost +difficulty I avoided throwing open the window, and endeavouring to +discover myself. The remembrance of my solemn promise, and that the +life of Vincent would be sacrificed by the act, alone restrained me. I +struggled for some time with emotions too powerful for my nature, and +fainted away. + +'On recovering I called wildly for my children, and went to the +window--but you were gone! Not all the entreaties of Vincent could for +some time remove me from this station, where I waited in the fond +expectation of seeing you again--but you appeared no more! At last I +returned to my cell in an ecstasy of grief which I tremble even to +remember. + +'This interview, so eagerly sought, and so reluctantly granted, proved +a source of new misery--instead of calming, it agitated my mind with a +restless, wild despair, which bore away my strongest powers of +resistance. I raved incessantly of my children, and incessantly +solicited to see them again--Vincent, however, had found but too much +cause to repent of his first indulgence, to grant me a second. + +'About this time a circumstance occurred which promised me a speedy +release from calamity. About a week elapsed, and Vincent did not +appear. My little stock of provision was exhausted, and I had been two +days without food, when I again heard the doors that led to my prison +creek on their hinges. An unknown step approached, and in a few +minutes the marquis entered my cell! My blood was chilled at the +sight, and I closed my eyes as I hoped for the last time. The sound of +his voice recalled me. His countenance was dark and sullen, and I +perceived that he trembled. He informed me that Vincent was no more, +and that henceforward his office he should take upon himself. I +forbore to reproach--where reproach would only have produced new +sufferings, and withheld supplication where it would have exasperated +conscience and inflamed revenge. My knowledge of the marquis's second +marriage I concealed. + +'He usually attended me when night might best conceal his visits; +though these were irregular in their return. Lately, from what motive +I cannot guess, he has ceased his nocturnal visits, and comes only in +the day. + +'Once when midnight increased the darkness of my prison, and seemed to +render silence even more awful, touched by the sacred horrors of the +hour, I poured forth my distress in loud lamentation. Oh! never can I +forget what I felt, when I heard a distant voice answered to my moan! +A wild surprize, which was strangely mingled with hope, seized me, and +in my first emotion I should have answered the call, had not a +recollection crossed me, which destroyed at once every half-raised +sensation of joy. I remembered the dreadful vengeance which the +marquis had sworn to execute upon me, if I ever, by any means, +endeavoured to make known the place of my concealment; and though life +had long been a burden to me, I dared not to incur the certainty of +being murdered. I also well knew that no person who might discover my +situation could effect my enlargement, for I had no relations to +deliver me by force; and the marquis, you know, has not only power to +imprison, but also the right of life and death in his own domains; I, +therefore, forbore to answer the call, though I could not entirely +repress my lamentation. I long perplexed myself with endeavouring to +account for this strange circumstance, and am to this moment ignorant +of its cause.' + +Julia remembering that Ferdinand had been confined in a dungeon of the +castle, it instantly occurred to her that his prison, and that of the +marchioness, were not far distant; and she scrupled not to believe +that it was his voice which her mother had heard. She was right in +this belief, and it was indeed the marchioness whose groans had +formerly caused Ferdinand so much alarm, both in the marble hall of +the south buildings, and in his dungeon. + +When Julia communicated her opinion, and the marchioness believed that +she had heard the voice of her son--her emotion was extreme, and it +was some time before she could resume her narration. + +'A short time since,' continued the marchioness, 'the marquis brought +me a fortnight's provision, and told me that I should probably see him +no more till the expiration of that term. His absence at this period +you have explained in your account of the transactions at the abbey of +St Augustin. How can I ever sufficiently acknowledge the obligations I +owe to my dear and invaluable friend Madame de Menon! Oh! that it +might be permitted me to testify my gratitude.' + +Julia attended to the narrative of her mother in silent astonishment, +and gave all the sympathy which sorrow could demand. 'Surely,' cried +she, 'the providence on whom you have so firmly relied, and whose +inflictions you have supported with a fortitude so noble, has +conducted me through a labyrinth of misfortunes to this spot, for the +purpose of delivering you! Oh! let us hasten to fly this horrid +abode--let us seek to escape through the cavern by which I entered.' + +She paused in earnest expectation awaiting a reply. 'Whither can I +fly?' said the marchioness, deeply sighing. This question, spoken +with the emphasis of despair, affected Julia to tears, and she was for +a while silent. + +'The marquis,' resumed Julia, 'would not know where to seek you, or if +he found you beyond his own domains, would fear to claim you. A +convent may afford for the present a safe asylum; and whatever shall +happen, surely no fate you may hereafter encounter can be more +dreadful than the one you now experience.' + +The marchioness assented to the truth of this, yet her broken spirits, +the effect of long sorrow and confinement, made her hesitate how to +act; and there was a kind of placid despair in her look, which too +faithfully depicted her feelings. It was obvious to Julia that the +cavern she had passed wound beneath the range of mountains on whose +opposite side stood the castle of Mazzini. The hills thus rising +formed a screen which must entirely conceal their emergence from the +mouth of the cave, and their flight, from those in the castle. She +represented these circumstances to her mother, and urged them so +forcibly that the lethargy of despair yielded to hope, and the +marchioness committed herself to the conduct of her daughter. + +'Oh! let me lead you to light and life!' cried Julia with warm +enthusiasm. 'Surely heaven can bless me with no greater good than by +making me the deliverer of my mother.' They both knelt down; and the +marchioness, with that affecting eloquence which true piety inspires, +and with that confidence which had supported her through so many +miseries, committed herself to the protection of God, and implored his +favor on their attempt. + +They arose, but as they conversed farther on their plan, Julia +recollected that she was destitute of money--the banditti having +robbed her of all! The sudden shock produced by this remembrance +almost subdued her spirits; never till this moment had she understood +the value of money. But she commanded her feelings, and resolved to +conceal this circumstance from the marchioness, preferring the chance +of any evil they might encounter from without, to the certain misery +of this terrible imprisonment. + +Having taken what provision the marquis had brought, they quitted the +cell, and entered upon the dark passage, along which they passed with +cautious steps. Julia came first to the door of the cavern, but who +can paint her distress when she found it was fastened! All her efforts +to open it were ineffectual.--The door which had closed after her, was +held by a spring lock, and could be opened on this side only with a +key. When she understood this circumstance, the marchioness, with a +placid resignation which seemed to exalt her above humanity, addressed +herself again to heaven, and turned back to her cell. Here Julia +indulged without reserve, and without scruple, the excess of her +grief. The marchioness wept over her. 'Not for myself,' said she, 'do +I grieve. I have too long been inured to misfortune to sink under its +pressure. This disappointment is intrinsically, perhaps, little--for I +had no certain refuge from calamity--and had it even been otherwise, a +few years only of suffering would have been spared me. It is for you, +Julia, who so much lament my fate; and who in being thus delivered to +the power of your father, are sacrificed to the Duke de Luovo--that my +heart swells.' + +Julia could make no reply, but by pressing to her lips the hand which +was held forth to her, she saw all the wretchedness of her situation; +and her fearful uncertainty concerning Hippolitus and Ferdinand, +formed no inferior part of her affliction. + +'If,' resumed the marchioness, 'you prefer imprisonment with your +mother, to a marriage with the duke, you may still secret yourself in +the passage we have just quitted, and partake of the provision which +is brought me.' + +'O! talk not, madam, of a marriage with the duke,' said Julia; 'surely +any fate is preferable to that. But when I consider that in remaining +here, I am condemned only to the sufferings which my mother has so +long endured, and that this confinement will enable me to soften, by +tender sympathy, the asperity of her misfortunes, I ought to submit to +my present situation with complacency, even did a marriage with the +duke appear less hateful to me.' + +'Excellent girl!' exclaimed the marchioness, clasping Julia to her +bosom; 'the sufferings you lament are almost repaid by this proof of +your goodness and affection! Alas! that I should have been so long +deprived of such a daughter!' + +Julia now endeavoured to imitate the fortitude of her mother, and +tenderly concealed her anxiety for Ferdinand and Hippolitus, the idea +of whom incessantly haunted her imagination. When the marquis brought +food to the cell, she retired to the avenue leading to the cavern, and +escaped discovery. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +The marquis, meanwhile, whose indefatigable search after Julia failed +of success, was successively the slave of alternate passions, and he +poured forth the spleen of disappointment on his unhappy domestics. + +The marchioness, who may now more properly be called Maria de +Vellorno, inflamed, by artful insinuations, the passions already +irritated, and heightened with cruel triumph his resentment towards +Julia and Madame de Menon. She represented, what his feelings too +acutely acknowledged,--that by the obstinate disobedience of the +first, and the machinations of the last, a priest had been enabled to +arrest his authority as a father--to insult the sacred honor of his +nobility--and to overturn at once his proudest schemes of power and +ambition. She declared it her opinion, that the _Abate_ was acquainted +with the place of Julia's present retreat, and upbraided the marquis +with want of spirit in thus submitting to be outwitted by a priest, +and forbearing an appeal to the pope, whose authority would compel the +_Abate_ to restore Julia. + +This reproach stung the very soul of the marquis; he felt all its +force, and was at the same time conscious of his inability to obviate +it. The effect of his crimes now fell in severe punishment upon his +own head. The threatened secret, which was no other than the +imprisonment of the marchioness, arrested his arm of vengeance, and +compelled him to submit to insult and disappointment. But the reproach +of Maria sunk deep in his mind; it fomented his pride into redoubled +fury, and he now repelled with disdain the idea of submission. + +He revolved the means which might effect his purpose--he saw but +one--this was the death of the marchioness. + +The commission of one crime often requires the perpetration of +another. When once we enter on the ladyrinth of vice, we can seldom +return, but are led on, through correspondent mazes, to destruction. +To obviate the effect of his first crime, it was now necessary the +marquis should commit a second, and conceal the _imprisonment_ of the +marchioness by her _murder_. Himself the only living witness of her +existence, when she was removed, the allegations of the _Padre Abate_ +would by this means be unsupported by any proof, and he might then +boldly appeal to the pope for the restoration of his child. + +He mused upon this scheme, and the more he accustomed his mind to +contemplate it, the less scrupulous he became. The crime from which he +would formerly have shrunk, he now surveyed with a steady eye. The +fury of his passions, unaccustomed to resistance, uniting with the +force of what ambition termed necessity--urged him to the deed, and he +determined upon the murder of his wife. The means of effecting his +purpose were easy and various; but as he was not yet so entirely +hardened as to be able to view her dying pangs, and embrue his own +hands in her blood, he chose to dispatch her by means of poison, which +he resolved to mingle in her food. + +But a new affliction was preparing for the marquis, which attacked him +where he was most vulnerable; and the veil, which had so long +overshadowed his reason, was now to be removed. He was informed by +Baptista of the infidelity of Maria de Vellorno. In the first emotion +of passion, he spurned the informer from his presence, and disdained +to believe the circumstance. A little reflection changed the object of +his resentment; he recalled the servant, whose faithfulness he had no +reason to distrust, and condescended to interrogate him on the subject +of his misfortune. + +He learned that an intimacy had for some time subsisted between Maria +and the Cavalier de Vincini; and that the assignation was usually held +at the pavilion on the sea-shore, in an evening. Baptista farther +declared, that if the marquis desired a confirmation of his words, he +might obtain it by visiting this spot at the hour mentioned. + +This information lighted up the wildest passions of his nature; his +former sufferings faded away before the stronger influence of the +present misfortune, and it seemed as if he had never tasted misery +till now. To suspect the wife upon whom he doated with romantic +fondness, on whom he had centered all his firmest hopes of happiness, +and for whose sake he had committed the crime which embittered even +his present moment, and which would involve him in still deeper +guilt--to find _her_ ungrateful to his love, and a traitoress to his +honor--produced a misery more poignant than any his imagination had +conceived. He was torn by contending passions, and opposite +resolutions:--now he resolved to expiate her guilt with her blood--and +now he melted in all the softness of love. Vengeance and honor bade +him strike to the heart which had betrayed him, and urged him +instantly to the deed--when the idea of her beauty--her winning +smiles--her fond endearments stole upon his fancy, and subdued his +heart; he almost wept to the idea of injuring her, and in spight of +appearances, pronounced her faithful. The succeeding moment plunged +him again into uncertainty; his tortures acquired new vigour from +cessation, and again he experienced all the phrenzy of despair. He was +now resolved to end his doubts by repairing to the pavilion; but again +his heart wavered in irresolution how to proceed should his fears be +confirmed. In the mean time he determined to watch the behaviour of +Maria with severe vigilance. + +They met at dinner, and he observed her closely, but discovered not +the smallest impropriety in her conduct. Her smiles and her beauty +again wound their fascinations round his heart, and in the excess of +their influence he was almost tempted to repair the injury which his +late suspicions had done her, by confessing them at her feet. The +appearance of the Cavalier de Vincini, however, renewed his +suspicions; his heart throbbed wildly, and with restless impatience he +watched the return of evening, which would remove his suspence. + +Night at length came. He repaired to the pavilion, and secreted +himself among the trees that embowered it. Many minutes had not +passed, when he heard a sound of low whispering voices steal from +among the trees, and footsteps approaching down the alley. He stood +almost petrified with terrible sensations, and presently heard some +persons enter the pavilion. The marquis now emerged from his +hiding-place; a faint light issued from the building. He stole to the +window, and beheld within, Maria and the Cavalier de Vincini. Fired +at the sight, he drew his sword, and sprang forward. The sound of his +step alarmed the cavalier, who, on perceiving the marquis, rushed by +him from the pavilion, and disappeared among the woods. The marquis +pursued, but could not overtake him; and he returned to the pavilion +with an intention of plunging his sword in the heart of Maria, when he +discovered her senseless on the ground. Pity now suspended his +vengeance; he paused in agonizing gaze upon her, and returned his +sword into the scabbard. + +She revived, but on observing the marquis, screamed and relapsed. He +hastened to the castle for assistance, inventing, to conceal his +disgrace, some pretence for her sudden illness, and she was conveyed +to her chamber. + +The marquis was now not suffered to doubt her infidelity, but the +passion which her conduct abused, her faithlessness could not subdue; +he still doated with absurd fondness, and even regretted that +uncertainty could no longer flatter him with hope. It seemed as if his +desire of her affection increased with his knowledge of the loss of +it; and the very circumstance which should have roused his aversion, +by a strange perversity of disposition, appeared to heighten his +passion, and to make him think it impossible he could exist without +her. + +When the first energy of his indignation was subsided, he determined, +therefore, to reprove and to punish, but hereafter to restore her to +favor. + +In this resolution he went to her apartment, and reprehended her +falsehood in terms of just indignation. + +Maria de Vellorno, in whom the late discovery had roused resentment, +instead of awakening penitence; and exasperated pride without exciting +shame--heard the upbraidings of the marquis with impatience, and +replied to them with acrimonious violence. + +She boldly asserted her innocence, and instantly invented a story, the +plausibility of which might have deceived a man who had evidence less +certain than his senses to contradict it. She behaved with a +haughtiness the most insolent; and when she perceived that the marquis +was no longer to be misled, and that her violence failed to accomplish +its purpose, she had recourse to tears and supplications. But the +artifice was too glaring to succeed; and the marquis quitted her +apartment in an agony of resentment. + +His former fascinations, however, quickly returned, and again held him +in suspension between love and vengeance. That the vehemence of his +passion, however, might not want an object, he ordered Baptista to +discover the retreat of the Cavalier de Vincini on whom he meant to +revenge his lost honor. Shame forbade him to employ others in the +search. + +This discovery suspended for a while the operations of the fatal +scheme, which had before employed the thoughts of the marquis; but it +had only suspended--not destroyed them. The late occurrence had +annihilated his domestic happiness; but his pride now rose to rescue +him from despair, and he centered all his future hopes upon ambition. +In a moment of cool reflection, he considered that he had derived +neither happiness or content from the pursuit of dissipated pleasures, +to which he had hitherto sacrificed every opposing consideration. He +resolved, therefore, to abandon the gay schemes of dissipation which +had formerly allured him, and dedicate himself entirely to ambition, +in the pursuits and delights of which he hoped to bury all his cares. +He therefore became more earnest than ever for the marriage of Julia +with the Duke de Luovo, through whose means he designed to involve +himself in the interests of the state, and determined to recover her +at whatever consequence. He resolved, without further delay, to appeal +to the pope; but to do this with safety it was necessary that the +marchioness should die; and he returned therefore to the consideration +and execution of his diabolical purpose. + +He mingled a poisonous drug with the food he designed for her; and +when night arrived, carried it to the cell. As he unlocked the door, +his hand trembled; and when he presented the food, and looked +consciously for the last time upon the marchioness, who received it +with humble thankfulness, his heart almost relented. His countenance, +over which was diffused the paleness of death, expressed the secret +movements of his soul, and he gazed upon her with eyes of stiffened +horror. Alarmed by his looks, she fell upon her knees to supplicate +his pity. + +Her attitude recalled his bewildered senses; and endeavouring to +assume a tranquil aspect, he bade her rise, and instantly quitted the +cell, fearful of the instability of his purpose. His mind was not yet +sufficiently hardened by guilt to repel the arrows of conscience, and +his imagination responded to her power. As he passed through the long +dreary passages from the prison, solemn and mysterious sounds seemed +to speak in every murmur of the blast which crept along their +windings, and he often started and looked back. + +He reached his chamber, and having shut the door, surveyed the room in +fearful examination. Ideal forms flitted before his fancy, and for the +first time in his life he feared to be alone. Shame only withheld him +from calling Baptista. The gloom of the hour, and the death-like +silence that prevailed, assisted the horrors of his imagination. He +half repented of the deed, yet deemed it now too late to obviate it; +and he threw himself on his bed in terrible emotion. His head grew +dizzy, and a sudden faintness overcame him; he hesitated, and at +length arose to ring for assistance, but found himself unable to +stand. + +In a few moments he was somewhat revived, and rang his bell; but +before any person appeared, he was seized with terrible pains, and +staggering to his bed, sunk senseless upon it. Here Baptista, who was +the first person that entered his room, found him struggling seemingly +in the agonies of death. The whole castle was immediately roused, and +the confusion may be more easily imagined than described. Emilia, +amid the general alarm, came to her father's room, but the sight of +him overcame her, and she was carried from his presence. By the help +of proper applications the marquis recovered his senses and his pains +had a short cessation. + +'I am dying,' said he, in a faultering accent; 'send instantly for the +marchioness and my son.' + +Ferdinand, in escaping from the hands of the banditti, it was now +seen, had fallen into the power of his father. He had been since +confined in an apartment of the castle, and was now liberated to obey +the summons. The countenance of the marquis exhibited a ghastly image; +Ferdinand, when he drew near the bed, suddenly shrunk back, overcome +with horror. The marquis now beckoned his attendants to quit the room, +and they were preparing to obey, when a violent noise was heard from +without; almost in the same instant the door of the apartment was +thrown open, and the servant, who had been sent for the marchioness, +rushed in. His look alone declared the horror of his mind, for words +he had none to utter. He stared wildly, and pointed to the gallery he +had quitted. Ferdinand, seized with new terror, rushed the way he +pointed to the apartment of the marchioness. A spectacle of horror +presented itself. Maria lay on a couch lifeless, and bathed in blood. +A poignard, the instrument of her destruction, was on the floor; and +it appeared from a letter which was found on the couch beside her, +that she had died by her own hand. The paper contained these words: + + + TO THE MARQUIS DE MAZZINI + +Your words have stabbed my heart. No power on earth could +restore the peace you have destroyed. I will escape from my +torture. When you read this, I shall be no more. But the +triumph shall no longer be yours--the draught you have drank +was given by the hand of the injured + + MARIA DE MAZZINI. + + +It now appeared that the marquis was poisoned by the vengeance of the +woman to whom he had resigned his conscience. The consternation and +distress of Ferdinand cannot easily be conceived: he hastened back to +his father's chamber, but determined to conceal the dreadful +catastrophe of Maria de Vellorno. This precaution, however, was +useless; for the servants, in the consternation of terror, had +revealed it, and the marquis had fainted. + +Returning pains recalled his senses, and the agonies he suffered were +too shocking for the beholders. Medical endeavours were applied, but +the poison was too powerful for antidote. The marquis's pains at +length subsided; the poison had exhausted most of its rage, and he +became tolerably easy. He waved his hand for the attendants to leave +the room; and beckoning to Ferdinand, whose senses were almost stunned +by this accumulation of horror, bade him sit down beside him. 'The +hand of death is now upon me,' said he; 'I would employ these last +moments in revealing a deed, which is more dreadful to me than all the +bodily agonies I suffer. It will be some relief to me to discover it.' +Ferdinand grasped the hand of the marquis in speechless terror. 'The +retribution of heaven is upon me,' resumed the marquis. 'My punishment +is the immediate consequence of my guilt. Heaven has made that woman +the instrument of its justice, whom I made the instrument of my +crimes;----that woman, for whose sake I forgot conscience, and braved +vice--for whom I imprisoned an innocent wife, and afterwards murdered +her.' + +At these words every nerve of Ferdinand thrilled; he let go the +marquis's hand and started back. 'Look not so fiercely on me,' said +the marquis, in a hollow voice; 'your eyes strike death to my soul; my +conscience needs not this additional pang.'--'My mother!' exclaimed +Ferdinand--'my mother! Speak, tell me.'--'I have no breath,' said the +marquis. 'Oh!--Take these keys--the south tower--the trapdoor.--'Tis +possible--Oh!--' + +The marquis made a sudden spring upwards, and fell lifeless on the +bed; the attendants were called in, but he was gone for ever. His last +words struck with the force of lightning upon the mind of Ferdinand; +they seemed to say that his mother might yet exist. He took the keys, +and ordering some of the servants to follow, hastened to the southern +building; he proceeded to the tower, and the trapdoor beneath the +stair-case was lifted. They all descended into a dark passage, which +conducted them through several intricacies to the door of the cell. +Ferdinand, in trembling horrible expectation, applied the key; the +door opened, and he entered; but what was his surprize when he found +no person in the cell! He concluded that he had mistaken the place, +and quitted it for further search; but having followed the windings of +the passage, by which he entered, without discovering any other door, +he returned to a more exact examination of the cell. He now observed +the door, which led to the cavern, and he entered upon the avenue, but +no person was found there and no voice answered to his call. Having +reached the door of the cavern, which was fastened, he returned lost +in grief, and meditating upon the last words of the marquis. He now +thought that he had mistaken their import, and that the words ''tis +possible,' were not meant to apply to the life of the marchioness, he +concluded, that the murder had been committed at a distant period; and +he resolved, therefore, to have the ground of the cell dug up, and the +remains of his mother sought for. + +When the first violence of the emotions excited by the late scenes was +subsided, he enquired concerning Maria de Vellorno. + +It appeared that on the day preceding this horrid transaction, the +marquis had passed some hours in her apartment; that they were heard +in loud dispute;--that the passion of the marquis grew high;--that he +upbraided her with her past conduct, and threatened her with a formal +separation. When the marquis quitted her, she was heard walking quick +through the room, in a passion of tears; she often suddenly stopped in +vehement but incoherent exclamation; and at last threw herself on the +floor, and was for some time entirely still. Here her woman found her, +upon whose entrance she arose hastily, and reproved her for appearing +uncalled. After this she remained silent and sullen. + +She descended to supper, where the marquis met her alone at table. +Little was said during the repast, at the conclusion of which the +servants were dismissed; and it was believed that during the interval +between supper, and the hour of repose, Maria de Vellorno contrived to +mingle poison with the wine of the marquis. How she had procured this +poison was never discovered. + +She retired early to her chamber; and her woman observing that she +appeared much agitated, inquired if she was ill? To this she returned +a short answer in the negative, and her woman was soon afterwards +dismissed. But she had hardly shut the door of the room when she heard +her lady's voice recalling her. She returned, and received some +trifling order, and observed that Maria looked uncommonly pale; there +was besides a wildness in her eyes which frightened her, but she did +not dare to ask any questions. She again quitted the room, and had +only reached the extremity of the gallery when her mistress's bell +rang. She hastened back, Maria enquired if the marquis was gone to +bed, and if all was quiet? Being answered in the affirmative, she +replied, 'This is a still hour and a dark one!--Good night!' + +Her woman having once more left the room, stopped at the door to +listen, but all within remaining silent, she retired to rest. + +It is probable that Maria perpetrated the fatal act soon after the +dismission of her woman; for when she was found, two hours afterwards, +she appeared to have been dead for some time. On examination a wound +was discovered on her left side, which had doubtless penetrated to the +heart, from the suddenness of her death, and from the effusion of +blood which had followed. + +These terrible events so deeply affected Emilia that she was confined +to her bed by a dangerous illness. Ferdinand struggled against the +shock with manly fortitude. But amid all the tumult of the present +scenes, his uncertainty concerning Julia, whom he had left in the +hands of banditti, and whom he had been withheld from seeking or +rescuing, formed, perhaps, the most affecting part of his distress. + +The late Marquis de Mazzini, and Maria de Vellorno, were interred with +the honor due to their rank in the church of the convent of St Nicolo. +Their lives exhibited a boundless indulgence of violent and luxurious +passions, and their deaths marked the consequences of such indulgence, +and held forth to mankind a singular instance of divine vengeance. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +In turning up the ground of the cell, it was discovered that it +communicated with the dungeon in which Ferdinand had been confined, +and where he had heard those groans which had occasioned him so much +terror. + +The story which the marquis formerly related to his son, concerning +the southern buildings, it was now evident was fabricated for the +purpose of concealing the imprisonment of the marchioness. In the +choice of his subject, he certainly discovered some art; for the +circumstance related was calculated, by impressing terror, to prevent +farther enquiry into the recesses of these buildings. It served, also, +to explain, by supernatural evidence, the cause of those sounds, and +of that appearance which had been there observed, but which were, in +reality, occasioned only by the marquis. + +The event of the examination in the cell threw Ferdinand into new +perplexity. The marquis had confessed that he poisoned his wife--yet +her remains were not to be found; and the place which he signified to +be that of her confinement, bore no vestige of her having been there. +There appeared no way by which she could have escaped from her prison; +for both the door which opened upon the cell, and that which +terminated the avenue beyond, were fastened when tried by Ferdinand. + +But the young marquis had no time for useless speculation--serious +duties called upon him. He believed that Julia was still in the power +of banditti; and, on the conclusion of his father's funeral, he set +forward himself to Palermo, to give information of the abode of the +robbers, and to repair with the officers of justice, accompanied by a +party of his own people, to the rescue of his sister. On his arrival +at Palermo he was informed, that a banditti, whose retreat had been +among the ruins of a monastery, situated in the forest of Marentino, +was already discovered; that their abode had been searched, and +themselves secured for examples of public justice--but that no captive +lady had been found amongst them. This latter intelligence excited in +Ferdinand a very serious distress, and he was wholly unable to +conjecture her fate. He obtained leave, however, to interrogate those +of the robbers, who were imprisoned at Palermo, but could draw from +them no satisfactory or certain information. + +At length he quitted Palermo for the forest of Marentino, thinking it +possible that Julia might be heard of in its neighbourhood. He +travelled on in melancholy and dejection, and evening overtook him +long before he reached the place of his destination. The night came on +heavily in clouds, and a violent storm of wind and rain arose. The +road lay through a wild and rocky country, and Ferdinand could obtain +no shelter. His attendants offered him their cloaks, but he refused to +expose a servant to the hardship he would not himself endure. He +travelled for some miles in a heavy rain; and the wind, which howled +mournfully among the rocks, and whose solemn pauses were filled by the +distant roarings of the sea, heightened the desolation of the scene. +At length he discerned, amid the darkness from afar, a red light +waving in the wind: it varied with the blast, but never totally +disappeared. He pushed his horse into a gallop, and made towards it. + +The flame continued to direct his course; and on a nearer approach, he +perceived, by the red reflection of its fires, streaming a long +radiance upon the waters beneath--a lighthouse situated upon a point +of rock which overhung the sea. He knocked for admittance, and the +door was opened by an old man, who bade him welcome. + +Within appeared a cheerful blazing fire, round which were seated +several persons, who seemed like himself to have sought shelter from +the tempest of the night. The sight of the fire cheered him, and he +advanced towards it, when a sudden scream seized his attention; the +company rose up in confusion, and in the same instant he discovered +Julia and Hippolitus. The joy of that moment is not to be described, +but his attention was quickly called off from his own situation to +that of a lady, who during the general transport had fainted. His +sensations on learning she was his mother cannot be described. + +She revived. 'My son!' said she, in a languid voice, as she pressed +him to her heart. 'Great God, I am recompensed! Surely this moment may +repay a life of misery!' He could only receive her caresses in +silence; but the sudden tears which started in his eyes spoke a +language too expressive to be misunderstood. + +When the first emotion of the scene was passed, Julia enquired by what +means Ferdinand had come to this spot. He answered her generally, and +avoided for the present entering upon the affecting subject of the +late events at the castle of Mazzini. Julia related the history of her +adventures since she parted with her brother. In her narration, it +appeared that Hippolitus, who was taken by the Duke de Luovo at the +mouth of the cave, had afterwards escaped, and returned to the cavern +in search of Julia. The low recess in the rock, through which Julia +had passed, he perceived by the light of his flambeau. He penetrated +to the cavern beyond, and from thence to the prison of the +marchioness. No colour of language can paint the scene which followed; +it is sufficient to say that the whole party agreed to quit the cell +at the return of night. But this being a night on which it was known +the marquis would visit the prison, they agreed to defer their +departure till after his appearance, and thus elude the danger to be +expected from an early discovery of the escape of the marchioness. + +At the sound of footsteps above, Hippolitus and Julia had secreted +themselves in the avenue; and immediately on the marquis's departure +they all repaired to the cavern, leaving, in the hurry of their +flight, untouched the poisonous food he had brought. Having escaped +from thence they proceeded to a neighbouring village, where horses +were procured to carry them towards Palermo. Here, after a tedious +journey, they arrived, in the design of embarking for Italy. Contrary +winds had detained them till the day on which Ferdinand left that +city, when, apprehensive and weary of delay, they hired a small +vessel, and determined to brave the winds. They had soon reason to +repent their temerity; for the vessel had not been long at sea when +the storm arose, which threw them back upon the shores of Sicily, and +brought them to the lighthouse, where they were discovered by +Ferdinand. + +On the following morning Ferdinand returned with his friends to +Palermo, where he first disclosed the late fatal events of the castle. +They now settled their future plans; and Ferdinand hastened to the +castle of Mazzini to fetch Emilia, and to give orders for the removal +of his household to his palace at Naples, where he designed to fix his +future residence. The distress of Emilia, whom he found recovered from +her indisposition, yielded to joy and wonder, when she heard of the +existence of her mother, and the safety of her sister. She departed +with Ferdinand for Palermo, where her friends awaited her, and where +the joy of the meeting was considerably heightened by the appearance +of Madame de Menon, for whom the marchioness had dispatched a +messenger to St Augustin's. Madame had quitted the abbey for another +convent, to which, however, the messenger was directed. This happy +party now embarked for Naples. + +From this period the castle of Mazzini, which had been the theatre of +a dreadful catastrophe; and whose scenes would have revived in the +minds of the chief personages connected with it, painful and shocking +reflections--was abandoned. + +On their arrival at Naples, Ferdinand presented to the king a clear +and satisfactory account of the late events at the castle, in +consequence of which the marchioness was confirmed in her rank, and +Ferdinand was received as the sixth Marquis de Mazzini. + +The marchioness, thus restored to the world, and to happiness, resided +with her children in the palace at Naples, where, after time had +somewhat mellowed the remembrance of the late calamity, the nuptials +of Hippolitus and Julia were celebrated. The recollection of the +difficulties they had encountered, and of the distress they had +endured for each other, now served only to heighten by contrast the +happiness of the present period. + +Ferdinand soon after accepted a command in the Neapolitan army; and +amidst the many heroes of that warlike and turbulent age, +distinguished himself for his valour and ability. The occupations of +war engaged his mind, while his heart was solicitous in promoting the +happiness of his family. + +Madame de Menon, whose generous attachment to the marchioness had been +fully proved, found in the restoration of her friend a living witness +of her marriage, and thus recovered those estates which had been +unjustly withheld from her. But the marchioness and her family, +grateful to her friendship, and attached to her virtues, prevailed +upon her to spend the remainder of her life at the palace of Mazzini. + +Emilia, wholly attached to her family, continued to reside with the +marchioness, who saw her race renewed in the children of Hippolitus +and Julia. Thus surrounded by her children and friends, and engaged in +forming the minds of the infant generation, she seemed to forget that +she had ever been otherwise than happy. + + * * * * * + +Here the manuscript annals conclude. In reviewing this story, we +perceive a singular and striking instance of moral retribution. We +learn, also, that those who do only THAT WHICH IS RIGHT, endure +nothing in misfortune but a trial of their virtue, and from trials +well endured derive the surest claim to the protection of heaven. + + + +FINIS + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: Some words which appear to be typos are printed +thus in the original book. A list of these possible words follows: +cioset, skriek, ladyrinth, and bad (presumably for bade, "he bad +Julia good-night"). In addition, the book contains (and I have +retained) inconsistant spelling of both common words (e.g. extacy, +exstacy) and proper nouns (Farrini, Ferrini). I have used the +_underscore_ notation to indicate italics. (The text in CAPITALS is +printed as it appears in the original book). Finally, the line of +spaced asterisks, was used to indicate an additional blank line +seperating sections of the text.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sicilian Romance, by Ann Radcliffe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SICILIAN ROMANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 7371.txt or 7371.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/3/7/7371/ + +Produced by Jean Lefever. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Sicilian Romance + +Author: Ann Radcliffe + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7371] +[This file was first posted on April 22, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A SICILIAN ROMANCE *** + + + + +A Sicilian Romance, by Ann Radcliffe + +This eBook was produced by Jean Lefever <fevegut@netscape.net> + + +On the northern shore of Sicily are still to be seen the magnificent +remains of a castle, which formerly belonged to the noble house of +Mazzini. It stands in the centre of a small bay, and upon a gentle +acclivity, which, on one side, slopes towards the sea, and on the +other rises into an eminence crowned by dark woods. The situation is +admirably beautiful and picturesque, and the ruins have an air of +ancient grandeur, which, contrasted with the present solitude of the +scene, impresses the traveller with awe and curiosity. During my +travels abroad I visited this spot. As I walked over the loose +fragments of stone, which lay scattered through the immense area of +the fabrick, and surveyed the sublimity and grandeur of the ruins, I +recurred, by a natural association of ideas, to the times when these +walls stood proudly in their original splendour, when the halls were +the scenes of hospitality and festive magnificence, and when they +resounded with the voices of those whom death had long since swept +from the earth. 'Thus,' said I, 'shall the present generation--he who +now sinks in misery--and he who now swims in pleasure, alike pass +away and be forgotten.' My heart swelled with the reflection; and, as +I turned from the scene with a sigh, I fixed my eyes upon a friar, +whose venerable figure, gently bending towards the earth, formed no +uninteresting object in the picture. He observed my emotion; and, as +my eye met his, shook his head and pointed to the ruin. 'These walls,' +said he, 'were once the seat of luxury and vice. They exhibited a +singular instance of the retribution of Heaven, and were from that +period forsaken, and abandoned to decay.' His words excited my +curiosity, and I enquired further concerning their meaning. + +'A solemn history belongs to this castle, said he, 'which is too long +and intricate for me to relate. It is, however, contained in a +manuscript in our library, of which I could, perhaps, procure you a +sight. A brother of our order, a descendant of the noble house of +Mazzini, collected and recorded the most striking incidents relating +to his family, and the history thus formed, he left as a legacy to our +convent. If you please, we will walk thither.' + +I accompanied him to the convent, and the friar introduced me to his +superior, a man of an intelligent mind and benevolent heart, with whom +I passed some hours in interesting conversation. I believe my +sentiments pleased him; for, by his indulgence, I was permitted to +take abstracts of the history before me, which, with some further +particulars obtained in conversation with the abate, I have arranged +in the following pages. + + + +CHAPTER I + +Towards the close of the sixteenth century, this castle was in the +possession of Ferdinand, fifth marquis of Mazzini, and was for some +years the principal residence of his family. He was a man of a +voluptuous and imperious character. To his first wife, he married +Louisa Bernini, second daughter of the Count della Salario, a lady yet +more distinguished for the sweetness of her manners and the gentleness +of her disposition, than for her beauty. She brought the marquis one +son and two daughters, who lost their amiable mother in early +childhood. The arrogant and impetuous character of the marquis +operated powerfully upon the mild and susceptible nature of his lady: +and it was by many persons believed, that his unkindness and neglect +put a period to her life. However this might be, he soon afterwards +married Maria de Vellorno, a young lady eminently beautiful, but of a +character very opposite to that of her predecessor. She was a woman of +infinite art, devoted to pleasure, and of an unconquerable spirit. The +marquis, whose heart was dead to paternal tenderness, and whose +present lady was too volatile to attend to domestic concerns, +committed the education of his daughters to the care of a lady, +completely qualified for the undertaking, and who was distantly +related to the late marchioness. + +He quitted Mazzini soon after his second marriage, for the gaieties +and splendour of Naples, whither his son accompanied him. Though +naturally of a haughty and overbearing disposition, he was governed by +his wife. His passions were vehement, and she had the address to bend +them to her own purpose; and so well to conceal her influence, that he +thought himself most independent when he was most enslaved. He paid an +annual visit to the castle of Mazzini; but the marchioness seldom +attended him, and he staid only to give such general directions +concerning the education of his daughters, as his pride, rather than +his affection, seemed to dictate. + +Emilia, the elder, inherited much of her mother's disposition. She had +a mild and sweet temper, united with a clear and comprehensive mind. +Her younger sister, Julia, was of a more lively cast. An extreme +sensibility subjected her to frequent uneasiness; her temper was warm, +but generous; she was quickly irritated, and quickly appeased; and to +a reproof, however gentle, she would often weep, but was never sullen. +Her imagination was ardent, and her mind early exhibited symptoms of +genius. It was the particular care of Madame de Menon to counteract +those traits in the disposition of her young pupils, which appeared +inimical to their future happiness; and for this task she had +abilities which entitled her to hope for success. A series of early +misfortunes had entendered her heart, without weakening the powers of +her understanding. In retirement she had acquired tranquillity, and +had almost lost the consciousness of those sorrows which yet threw a +soft and not unpleasing shade over her character. She loved her young +charge with maternal fondness, and their gradual improvement and +respectful tenderness repaid all her anxiety. Madame excelled in music +and drawing. She had often forgot her sorrows in these amusements, +when her mind was too much occupied to derive consolation from books, +and she was assiduous to impart to Emilia and Julia a power so +valuable as that of beguiling the sense of affliction. Emilia's taste +led her to drawing, and she soon made rapid advances in that art. +Julia was uncommonly susceptible of the charms of harmony. She had +feelings which trembled in unison to all its various and enchanting +powers. + +The instructions of madame she caught with astonishing quickness, and +in a short time attained to a degree of excellence in her favorite +study, which few persons have ever exceeded. Her manner was entirely +her own. It was not in the rapid intricacies of execution, that she +excelled so much in as in that delicacy of taste, and in those +enchanting powers of expression, which seem to breathe a soul through +the sound, and which take captive the heart of the hearer. The lute +was her favorite instrument, and its tender notes accorded well with +the sweet and melting tones of her voice. + +The castle of Mazzini was a large irregular fabrick, and seemed suited +to receive a numerous train of followers, such as, in those days, +served the nobility, either in the splendour of peace, or the +turbulence of war. Its present family inhabited only a small part of +it; and even this part appeared forlorn and almost desolate from the +spaciousness of the apartments, and the length of the galleries which +led to them. A melancholy stillness reigned through the halls, and the +silence of the courts, which were shaded by high turrets, was for many +hours together undisturbed by the sound of any foot-step. Julia, who +discovered an early taste for books, loved to retire in an evening to +a small closet in which she had collected her favorite authors. This +room formed the western angle of the castle: one of its windows looked +upon the sea, beyond which was faintly seen, skirting the horizon, the +dark rocky coast of Calabria; the other opened towards a part of the +castle, and afforded a prospect of the neighbouring woods. Her musical +instruments were here deposited, with whatever assisted her favorite +amusements. This spot, which was at once elegant, pleasant, and +retired, was embellished with many little ornaments of her own +invention, and with some drawings executed by her sister. The cioset +was adjoining her chamber, and was separated from the apartments of +madame only by a short gallery. This gallery opened into another, long +and winding, which led to the grand staircase, terminating in the +north hall, with which the chief apartments of the north side of the +edifice communicated. + +Madame de Menon's apartment opened into both galleries. It was in one +of these rooms that she usually spent the mornings, occupied in the +improvement of her young charge. The windows looked towards the sea, +and the room was light and pleasant. It was their custom to dine in +one of the lower apartments, and at table they were always joined by a +dependant of the marquis's, who had resided many years in the castle, +and who instructed the young ladies in the Latin tongue, and in +geography. During the fine evenings of summer, this little party +frequently supped in a pavilion, which was built on an eminence in the +woods belonging to the castle. From this spot the eye had an almost +boundless range of sea and land. It commanded the straits of Messina, +with the opposite shores of Calabria, and a great extent of the wild +and picturesque scenery of Sicily. Mount Etna, crowned with eternal +snows, and shooting from among the clouds, formed a grand and sublime +picture in the background of the scene. The city of Palermo was also +distinguishable; and Julia, as she gazed on its glittering spires; +would endeavour in imagination to depicture its beauties, while she +secretly sighed for a view of that world, from which she had hitherto +been secluded by the mean jealousy of the marchioness, upon whose mind +the dread of rival beauty operated strongly to the prejudice of Emilia +and Julia. She employed all her influence over the marquis to detain +them in retirement; and, though Emilia was now twenty, and her sister +eighteen, they had never passed the boundaries of their father's +domains. + +Vanity often produces unreasonable alarm; but the marchioness had in +this instance just grounds for apprehension; the beauty of her lord's +daughters has seldom been exceeded. The person of Emilia was finely +proportioned. Her complexion was fair, her hair flaxen, and her dark +blue eyes were full of sweet expression. Her manners were dignified +and elegant, and in her air was a feminine softness, a tender timidity +which irresistibly attracted the heart of the beholder. The figure of +Julia was light and graceful--her step was airy--her mien animated, +and her smile enchanting. Her eyes were dark, and full of fire, but +tempered with modest sweetness. Her features were finely turned--every +laughing grace played round her mouth, and her countenance quickly +discovered all the various emotions of her soul. The dark auburn hair, +which curled in beautiful profusion in her neck, gave a finishing +charm to her appearance. + +Thus lovely, and thus veiled in obscurity, were the daughters of the +noble Mazzini. But they were happy, for they knew not enough of the +world seriously to regret the want of its enjoyments, though Julia +would sometimes sigh for the airy image which her fancies painted, and +a painful curiosity would arise concerning the busy scenes from which +she was excluded. A return to her customary amusements, however, would +chase the ideal image from her mind, and restore her usual happy +complacency. Books, music, and painting, divided the hours of her +leisure, and many beautiful summer-evenings were spent in the +pavilion, where the refined conversation of madame, the poetry of +Tasso, the lute of Julia, and the friendship of Emilia, combined to +form a species of happiness, such as elevated and highly susceptible +minds are alone capable of receiving or communicating. Madame +understood and practised all the graces of conversation, and her young +pupils perceived its value, and caught the spirit of its character. + +Conversation may be divided into two classes--the familiar and the +sentimental. It is the province of the familiar, to diffuse +cheerfulness and ease--to open the heart of man to man, and to beam a +temperate sunshine upon the mind.--Nature and art must conspire to +render us susceptible of the charms, and to qualify us for the +practice of the second class of conversation, here termed sentimental, +and in which Madame de Menon particularly excelled. To good sense, +lively feeling, and natural delicacy of taste, must be united an +expansion of mind, and a refinement of thought, which is the result of +high cultivation. To render this sort of conversation irresistibly +attractive, a knowledge of the world is requisite, and that enchanting +case, that elegance of manner, which is to be acquired only by +frequenting the higher circles of polished life. In sentimental +conversation, subjects interesting to the heart, and to the +imagination, are brought forward; they are discussed in a kind of +sportive way, with animation and refinement, and are never continued +longer than politeness allows. Here fancy flourishes,--the +sensibilities expand--and wit, guided by delicacy and embellished by +taste--points to the heart. + +Such was the conversation of Madame de Menon; and the pleasant gaiety +of the pavilion seemed peculiarly to adapt it for the scene of social +delights. On the evening of a very sultry day, having supped in their +favorite spot, the coolness of the hour, and the beauty of the night, +tempted this happy party to remain there later than usual. Returning +home, they were surprised by the appearance of a light through the +broken window-shutters of an apartment, belonging to a division of the +castle which had for many years been shut up. They stopped to observe +it, when it suddenly disappeared, and was seen no more. Madame de +Menon, disturbed at this phaenomenon, hastened into the castle, with a +view of enquiring into the cause of it, when she was met in the north +hall by Vincent. She related to him what she had seen, and ordered an +immediate search to be made for the keys of those apartments. She +apprehended that some person had penetrated that part of the edifice +with an intention of plunder; and, disdaining a paltry fear where her +duty was concerned, she summoned the servants of the castle, with an +intention of accompanying them thither. Vincent smiled at her +apprehensions, and imputed what she had seen to an illusion, which the +solemnity of the hour had impressed upon her fancy. Madame, however, +persevered in her purpose; and, after along and repeated search, a +massey key, covered with rust, was produced. She then proceeded to the +southern side of the edifice, accompanied by Vincent, and followed by +the servants, who were agitated with impatient wonder. The key was +applied to an iron gate, which opened into a court that separated this +division from the other parts of the castle. They entered this court, +which was overgrown with grass and weeds, and ascended some steps that +led to a large door, which they vainly endeavoured to open. All the +different keys of the castle were applied to the lock, without effect, +and they were at length compelled to quit the place, without having +either satisfied their curiosity, or quieted their fears. Everything, +however, was still, and the light did not reappear. Madame concealed +her apprehensions, and the family retired to rest. + +This circumstance dwelt on the mind of Madame de Menon, and it was +some time before she ventured again to spend an evening in the +pavilion. After several months passed, without further disturbance or +discovery, another occurrence renewed the alarm. Julia had one night +remained in her closet later than usual. A favorite book had engaged +her attention beyond the hour of customary repose, and every +inhabitant of the castle, except herself, had long been lost in sleep. +She was roused from her forgetfulness, by the sound of the castle +clock, which struck one. Surprised at the lateness of the hour, she +rose in haste, and was moving to her chamber, when the beauty of the +night attracted her to the window. She opened it; and observing a fine +effect of moonlight upon the dark woods, leaned forwards. In that +situation she had not long remained, when she perceived a light +faintly flash through a casement in the uninhabited part of the +castle. A sudden tremor seized her, and she with difficulty supported +herself. In a few moments it disappeared, and soon after a figure, +bearing a lamp, proceeded from an obscure door belonging to the south +tower; and stealing along the outside of the castle walls, turned +round the southern angle, by which it was afterwards hid from the +view. Astonished and terrified at what she had seen, she hurried to +the apartment of Madame de Menon, and related the circumstance. The +servants were immediately roused, and the alarm became general. Madame +arose and descended into the north hall, where the domestics were +already assembled. No one could be found of courage sufficient to +enter into the courts; and the orders of madame were disregarded, when +opposed to the effects of superstitious terror. She perceived that +Vincent was absent, but as she was ordering him to be called, he +entered the hall. Surprised to find the family thus assembled, he was +told the occasion. He immediately ordered a party of the servants to +attend him round the castle walls; and with some reluctance, and more +fear, they obeyed him. They all returned to the hall, without having +witnessed any extraordinary appearance; but though their fears were +not confirmed, they were by no means dissipated. The appearance of a +light in a part of the castle which had for several years been shut +up, and to which time and circumstance had given an air of singular +desolation, might reasonably be supposed to excite a strong degree of +surprise and terror. In the minds of the vulgar, any species of the +wonderful is received with avidity; and the servants did not hesitate +in believing the southern division of the castle to be inhabited by a +supernatural power. Too much agitated to sleep, they agreed to watch +for the remainder of the night. For this purpose they arranged +themselves in the east gallery, where they had a view of the south +tower from which the light had issued. The night, however, passed +without any further disturbance; and the morning dawn, which they +beheld with inexpressible pleasure, dissipated for a while the glooms +of apprehension. But the return of evening renewed the general fear, +and for several successive nights the domestics watched the southern +tower. Although nothing remarkable was seen, a report was soon raised, +and believed, that the southern side of the castle was haunted. Madame +de Menon, whose mind was superior to the effects of superstition, was +yet disturbed and perplexed, and she determined, if the light +reappeared, to inform the marquis of the circumstance, and request the +keys of those apartments. + +The marquis, immersed in the dissipations of Naples, seldom remembered +the castle, or its inhabitants. His son, who had been educated under +his immediate care, was the sole object of his pride, as the +marchioness was that of his affection. He loved her with romantic +fondness, which she repaid with seeming tenderness, and secret +perfidy. She allowed herself a free indulgence in the most licentious +pleasures, yet conducted herself with an art so exquisite as to elude +discovery, and even suspicion. In her amours she was equally +inconstant as ardent, till the young Count Hippolitus de Vereza +attracted her attention. The natural fickleness of her disposition +seemed then to cease, and upon him she centered all her desires. + +The count Vereza lost his father in early childhood. He was now of +age, and had just entered upon the possession of his estates. His +person was graceful, yet manly; his mind accomplished, and his manners +elegant; his countenance expressed a happy union of spirit, dignity, +and benevolence, which formed the principal traits of his character. +He had a sublimity of thought, which taught him to despise the +voluptuous vices of the Neapolitans, and led him to higher pursuits. +He was the chosen and early friend of young Ferdinand, the son of the +marquis, and was a frequent visitor in the family. When the +marchioness first saw him, she treated him with great distinction, and +at length made such advances, as neither the honor nor the +inclinations of the count permitted him to notice. He conducted +himself toward her with frigid indifference, which served only to +inflame the passion it was meant to chill. The favors of the +marchioness had hitherto been sought with avidity, and accepted with +rapture; and the repulsive insensibility which she now experienced, +roused all her pride, and called into action every refinement of +coquetry. + +It was about this period that Vincent was seized with a disorder which +increased so rapidly, as in a short time to assume the most alarming +appearance. Despairing of life, he desired that a messenger might be +dispatched to inform the marquis of his situation, and to signify his +earnest wish to see him before he died. The progress of his disorder +defied every art of medicine, and his visible distress of mind seemed +to accelerate his fate. Perceiving his last hour approaching, he +requested to have a confessor. The confessor was shut up with him a +considerable time, and he had already received extreme unction, when +Madame de Menon was summoned to his bedside. The hand of death was now +upon him, cold damps hung upon his brows, and he, with difficulty, +raised his heavy eyes to madame as she entered the apartment. He +beckoned her towards him, and desiring that no person might be +permitted to enter the room, was for a few moments silent. His mind +appeared to labour under oppressive remembrances; he made several +attempts to speak, but either resolution or strength failed him. At +length, giving madame a look of unutterable anguish, 'Alas, madam,' +said he, 'Heaven grants not the prayer of such a wretch as I am. I +must expire long before the marquis can arrive. Since I shall see him +no more, I would impart to you a secret which lies heavy at my heart, +and which makes my last moments dreadful, as they are without hope.' +'Be comforted,' said madame, who was affected by the energy of his +manner, 'we are taught to believe that forgiveness is never denied to +sincere repentance.' 'You, madam, are ignorant of the enormity of my +crime, and of the secret--the horrid secret which labours at my +breast. My guilt is beyond remedy in this world, and I fear will be +without pardon in the next; I therefore hope little from confession +even to a priest. Yet some good it is still in my power to do; let me +disclose to you that secret which is so mysteriously connected with +the southern apartments of this castle.'--'What of them!' exclaimed +madame, with impatience. Vincent returned no answer; exhausted by the +effort of speaking, he had fainted. Madame rung for assistance, and by +proper applications, his senses were recalled. He was, however, +entirely speechless, and in this state he remained till he expired, +which was about an hour after he had conversed with madame. + +The perplexity and astonishment of madame, were by the late scene +heightened to a very painful degree. She recollected the various +particulars relative to the southern division of the castle, the many +years it had stood uninhabited--the silence which had been observed +concerning it--the appearance of the light and the figure--the +fruitless search for the keys, and the reports so generally believed; +and thus remembrance presented her with a combination of +circumstances, which served only to increase her wonder, and heighten +her curiosity. A veil of mystery enveloped that part of the castle, +which it now seemed impossible should ever be penetrated, since the +only person who could have removed it, was no more. + +The marquis arrived on the day after that on which Vincent had +expired. He came attended by servants only, and alighted at the gates +of the castle with an air of impatience, and a countenance expressive +of strong emotion. Madame, with the young ladies, received him in the +hall. He hastily saluted his daughters, and passed on to the oak +parlour, desiring madame to follow him. She obeyed, and the marquis +enquired with great agitation after Vincent. When told of his death, +he paced the room with hurried steps, and was for some time silent. At +length seating himself, and surveying madame with a scrutinizing eye, +he asked some questions concerning the particulars of Vincent's death. +She mentioned his earnest desire to see the marquis, and repeated his +last words. The marquis remained silent, and madame proceeded to +mention those circumstances relative to the southern division of the +castle, which she thought it of so much importance to discover. He +treated the affair very lightly, laughed at her conjectures, +represented the appearances she described as the illusions of a weak +and timid mind, and broke up the conversation, by going to visit the +chamber of Vincent, in which he remained a considerable time. + +On the following day Emilia and Julia dined with the marquis. He was +gloomy and silent; their efforts to amuse him seemed to excite +displeasure rather than kindness; and when the repast was concluded, +he withdrew to his own apartment, leaving his daughters in a state of +sorrow and surprise. + +Vincent was to be interred, according to his own desire, in the church +belonging to the convent of St Nicholas. One of the servants, after +receiving some necessary orders concerning the funeral, ventured to +inform the marquis of the appearance of the lights in the south tower. +He mentioned the superstitious reports that prevailed amongst the +household, and complained that the servants would not cross the courts +after it was dark. 'And who is he that has commissioned you with this +story?' said the marquis, in a tone of displeasure; 'are the weak and +ridiculous fancies of women and servants to be obtruded upon my +notice? Away--appear no more before me, till you have learned to +speak what it is proper for me to hear.' Robert withdrew abashed, and +it was some time before any person ventured to renew the subject with +the marquis. + +The majority of young Ferdinand now drew near, and the marquis +determined to celebrate the occasion with festive magnificence at the +castle of Mazzini. He, therefore, summoned the marchioness and his son +from Naples, and very splendid preparations were ordered to be made. +Emilia and Julia dreaded the arrival of the marchioness, whose +influence they had long been sensible of, and from whose presence they +anticipated a painful restraint. Beneath the gentle guidance of Madame +de Menon, their hours had passed in happy tranquillity, for they were +ignorant alike of the sorrows and the pleasures of the world. Those +did not oppress, and these did not inflame them. Engaged in the +pursuits of knowledge, and in the attainment of elegant +accomplishments, their moments flew lightly away, and the flight of +time was marked only by improvement. In madame was united the +tenderness of the mother, with the sympathy of a friend; and they +loved her with a warm and inviolable affection. + +The purposed visit of their brother, whom they had not seen for +several years, gave them great pleasure. Although their minds retained +no very distinct remembrance of him, they looked forward with eager +and delightful expectation to his virtues and his talents; and hoped +to find in his company, a consolation for the uneasiness which the +presence of the marchioness would excite. Neither did Julia +contemplate with indifference the approaching festival. A new scene +was now opening to her, which her young imagination painted in the +warm and glowing colours of delight. The near approach of pleasure +frequently awakens the heart to emotions, which would fail to be +excited by a more remote and abstracted observance. Julia, who, in the +distance, had considered the splendid gaieties of life with +tranquillity, now lingered with impatient hope through the moments +which withheld her from their enjoyments. Emilia, whose feelings were +less lively, and whose imagination was less powerful, beheld the +approaching festival with calm consideration, and almost regretted the +interruption of those tranquil pleasures, which she knew to be more +congenial with her powers and disposition. + +In a few days the marchioness arrived at the castle. She was followed +by a numerous retinue, and accompanied by Ferdinand, and several of +the Italian noblesse, whom pleasure attracted to her train. Her +entrance was proclaimed by the sound of music, and those gates which +had long rusted on their hinges, were thrown open to receive her. The +courts and halls, whose aspect so lately expressed only gloom and +desolation, now shone with sudden splendour, and echoed the sounds of +gaiety and gladness. Julia surveyed the scene from an obscure window; +and as the triumphal strains filled the air, her breast throbbed; her +heart beat quick with joy, and she lost her apprehensions from the +marchioness in a sort of wild delight hitherto unknown to her. The +arrival of the marchioness seemed indeed the signal of universal and +unlimited pleasure. When the marquis came out to receive her, the +gloom that lately clouded his countenance, broke away in smiles of +welcome, which the whole company appeared to consider as invitations +to joy. + +The tranquil heart of Emilia was not proof against a scene so +alluring, and she sighed at the prospect, yet scarcely knew why. Julia +pointed out to her sister, the graceful figure of a young man who +followed the marchioness, and she expressed her wishes that he might +be her brother. From the contemplation of the scene before them, they +were summoned to meet the marchioness. Julia trembled with +apprehension, and for a few moments wished the castle was in its +former state. As they advanced through the saloon, in which they were +presented, Julia was covered with blushes; but Emilia, tho' equally +timid, preserved her graceful dignity. The marchioness received them +with a mingled smile of condescension and politeness, and immediately +the whole attention of the company was attracted by their elegance and +beauty. The eager eyes of Julia sought in vain to discover her +brother, of whose features she had no recollection in those of any of +the persons then present. At length her father presented him, and she +perceived, with a sigh of regret, that he was not the youth she had +observed from the window. He advanced with a very engaging air, and +she met him with an unfeigned welcome. His figure was tall and +majestic; he had a very noble and spirited carriage; and his +countenance expressed at once sweetness and dignity. Supper was served +in the east hall, and the tables were spread with a profusion of +delicacies. A band of music played during the repast, and the evening +concluded with a concert in the saloon. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The day of the festival, so long and so impatiently looked for by +Julia, was now arrived. All the neighbouring nobility were invited, +and the gates of the castle were thrown open for a general rejoicing. +A magnificent entertainment, consisting of the most luxurious and +expensive dishes, was served in the halls. Soft music floated along +the vaulted roofs, the walls were hung with decorations, and it seemed +as if the hand of a magician had suddenly metamorphosed this once +gloomy fabric into the palace of a fairy. The marquis, notwithstanding +the gaiety of the scene, frequently appeared abstracted from its +enjoyments, and in spite of all his efforts at cheerfulness, the +melancholy of his heart was visible in his countenance. + +In the evening there was a grand ball: the marchioness, who was still +distinguished for her beauty, and for the winning elegance of her +manners, appeared in the most splendid attire. Her hair was ornamented +with a profusion of jewels, but was so disposed as to give an air +rather of voluptuousness than of grace, to her figure. Although +conscious of her charms, she beheld the beauty of Emilia and Julia +with a jealous eye, and was compelled secretly to acknowledge, that +the simple elegance with which they were adorned, was more enchanting +than all the studied artifice of splendid decoration. They were +dressed alike in light Sicilian habits, and the beautiful luxuriance +of their flowing hair was restrained only by bandellets of pearl. The +ball was opened by Ferdinand and the lady Matilda Constanza. Emilia +danced with the young Marquis della Fazelli, and acquitted herself +with the ease and dignity so natural to her. Julia experienced a +various emotion of pleasure and fear when the Count de Vereza, in whom +she recollected the cavalier she had observed from the window, led her +forth. The grace of her step, and the elegant symmetry of her figure, +raised in the assembly a gentle murmur of applause, and the soft blush +which now stole over her cheek, gave an additional charm to her +appearance. But when the music changed, and she danced to the soft +Sicilian measure, the airy grace of her movement, and the unaffected +tenderness of her air, sunk attention into silence, which continued +for some time after the dance had ceased. The marchioness observed the +general admiration with seeming pleasure, and secret uneasiness. She +had suffered a very painful solicitude, when the Count de Vereza +selected her for his partner in the dance, and she pursued him through +the evening with an eye of jealous scrutiny. Her bosom, which before +glowed only with love, was now torn by the agitation of other passions +more violent and destructive. Her thoughts were restless, her mind +wandered from the scene before her, and it required all her address to +preserve an apparent ease. She saw, or fancied she saw, an impassioned +air in the count, when he addressed himself to Julia, that corroded +her heart with jealous fury. + +At twelve the gates of the castle were thrown open, and the company +quitted it for the woods, which were splendidly illuminated. Arcades +of light lined the long vistas, which were terminated by pyramids of +lamps that presented to the eye one bright column of flame. At +irregular distances buildings were erected, hung with variegated +lamps, disposed in the gayest and most fantastic forms. Collations +were spread under the trees; and music, touched by unseen hands, +breathed around. The musicians were placed in the most obscure and +embowered spots, so as to elude the eye and strike the imagination. +The scene appeared enchanting. Nothing met the eye but beauty and +romantic splendour; the ear received no sounds but those of mirth and +melody. The younger part of the company formed themselves into +groups, which at intervals glanced through the woods, and were again +unseen. Julia seemed the magic queen of the place. Her heart dilated +with pleasure, and diffused over her features an expression of pure +and complacent delight. A generous, frank, and exalted sentiment +sparkled in her eyes, and animated her manner. Her bosom glowed with +benevolent affections; and she seemed anxious to impart to all around +her, a happiness as unmixed as that she experienced. Wherever she +moved, admiration followed her steps. Ferdinand was as gay as the +scene around him. Emilia was pleased; and the marquis seemed to have +left his melancholy in the castle. The marchioness alone was wretched. +She supped with a select party, in a pavilion on the sea-shore, which +was fitted up with peculiar elegance. It was hung with white silk, +drawn up in festoons, and richly fringed with gold. The sofas were of +the same materials, and alternate wreaths of lamps and of roses +entwined the columns. A row of small lamps placed about the cornice, +formed an edge of light round the roof which, with the other numerous +lights, was reflected in a blaze of splendour from the large mirrors +that adorned the room. The Count Muriani was of the party;--he +complimented the marchioness on the beauty of her daughters; and after +lamenting with gaiety the captives which their charms would enthral, +he mentioned the Count de Vereza. 'He is certainly of all others the +man most deserving the lady Julia. As they danced, I thought they +exhibited a perfect model of the beauty of either sex; and if I +mistake not, they are inspired with a mutual admiration.' The +marchioness, endeavouring to conceal her uneasiness, said, 'Yes, my +lord, I allow the count all the merit you adjudge him, but from the +little I have seen of his disposition, he is too volatile for a +serious attachment.' At that instant the count entered the pavilion: +'Ah,' said Muriani, laughingly, 'you was the subject of our +conversation, and seem to be come in good time to receive the honors +allotted you. I was interceding with the marchioness for her interest +in your favor, with the lady Julia; but she absolutely refuses it; and +though she allows you merit, alleges, that you are by nature fickle +and inconstant. What say you--would not the beauty of lady Julia bind +your unsteady heart?'. + +'I know not how I have deserved that character of the marchioness,' +said the count with a smile, 'but that heart must be either fickle or +insensible in an uncommon degree, which can boast of freedom in the +presence of lady Julia.' The marchioness, mortified by the whole +conversation, now felt the full force of Vereza's reply, which she +imagined he pointed with particular emphasis. + +The entertainment concluded with a grand firework, which was exhibited +on the margin of the sea, and the company did not part till the dawn +of morning. Julia retired from the scene with regret. She was +enchanted with the new world that was now exhibited to her, and she +was not cool enough to distinguish the vivid glow of imagination from +the colours of real bliss. The pleasure she now felt she believed +would always be renewed, and in an equal degree, by the objects which +first excited it. The weakness of humanity is never willingly +perceived by young minds. It is painful to know, that we are operated +upon by objects whose impressions are variable as they are +indefinable--and that what yesterday affected us strongly, is to-day +but imperfectly felt, and to-morrow perhaps shall be disregarded. When +at length this unwelcome truth is received into the mind, we at first +reject, with disgust, every appearance of good, we disdain to partake +of a happiness which we cannot always command, and we not unfrequently +sink into a temporary despair. Wisdom or accident, at length, recal us +from our error, and offers to us some object capable of producing a +pleasing, yet lasting effect, which effect, therefore, we call +happiness. Happiness has this essential difference from what is +commonly called pleasure, that virtue forms its basis, and virtue +being the offspring of reason, may be expected to produce uniformity of +effect. + +The passions which had hitherto lain concealed in Julia's heart, +touched by circumstance, dilated to its power, and afforded her a +slight experience of the pain and delight which flow from their +influence. The beauty and accomplishments of Vereza raised in her a +new and various emotion, which reflection made her fear to encourage, +but which was too pleasing to be wholly resisted. Tremblingly alive to +a sense of delight, and unchilled by disappointment, the young heart +welcomes every feeling, not simply painful, with a romantic +expectation that it will expand into bliss. + +Julia sought with eager anxiety to discover the sentiments of Vereza +towards her; she revolved each circumstance of the day, but they +afforded her little satisfaction; they reflected only a glimmering and +uncertain light, which instead of guiding, served only to perplex her. +Now she remembered some instance of particular attention, and then +some mark of apparent indifference. She compared his conduct with that +of the other young noblesse; and thought each appeared equally +desirous of the favor of every lady present. All the ladies, however, +appeared to her to court the admiration of Vereza, and she trembled +lest he should be too sensible of the distinction. She drew from these +reflections no positive inference; and though distrust rendered pain +the predominate sensation, it was so exquisitely interwoven with +delight, that she could not wish it exchanged for her former ease. +Thoughtful and restless, sleep fled from her eyes, and she longed with +impatience for the morning, which should again present Vereza, and +enable her to pursue the enquiry. She rose early, and adorned herself +with unusual care. In her favorite closet she awaited the hour of +breakfast, and endeavoured to read, but her thoughts wandered from the +subject. Her lute and favorite airs lost half their power to please; +the day seemed to stand still--she became melancholy, and thought the +breakfast-hour would never arrive. At length the clock struck the +signal, the sound vibrated on every nerve, and trembling she quitted +the closet for her sister's apartment. Love taught her disguise. Till +then Emilia had shared all her thoughts; they now descended to the +breakfast-room in silence, and Julia almost feared to meet her eye. In +the breakfast-room they were alone. Julia found it impossible to +support a conversation with Emilia, whose observations interrupting +the course of her thoughts, became uninteresting and tiresome. She was +therefore about to retire to her closet, when the marquis entered. His +air was haughty, and his look severe. He coldly saluted his daughters, +and they had scarcely time to reply to his general enquiries, when the +marchioness entered, and the company soon after assembled. Julia, who +had awaited with so painful an impatience for the moment which should +present Vereza to her sight, now sighed that it was arrived. She +scarcely dared to lift her timid eyes from the ground, and when by +accident they met his, a soft tremour seized her; and apprehension +lest he should discover her sentiments, served only to render her +confusion conspicuous. At length, a glance from the marchioness +recalled her bewildered thoughts; and other fears superseding those of +love, her mind, by degrees, recovered its dignity. She could +distinguish in the behaviour of Vereza no symptoms of particular +admiration, and she resolved to conduct herself towards him with the +most scrupulous care. + +This day, like the preceding one, was devoted to joy. In the evening +there was a concert, which was chiefly performed by the nobility. +Ferdinand played the violoncello, Vereza the German flute, and Julia +the piana-forte, which she touched with a delicacy and execution that +engaged every auditor. The confusion of Julia may be easily imagined, +when Ferdinand, selecting a beautiful duet, desired Vereza would +accompany his sister. The pride of conscious excellence, however, +quickly overcame her timidity, and enabled her to exert all her +powers. The air was simple and pathetic, and she gave it those charms +of expression so peculiarly her own. She struck the chords of her +piana-forte in beautiful accompaniment, and towards the close of the +second stanza, her voice resting on one note, swelled into a tone so +exquisite, and from thence descended to a few simple notes, which she +touched with such impassioned tenderness that every eye wept to the +sounds. The breath of the flute trembled, and Hippolitus entranced, +forgot to play. A pause of silence ensued at the conclusion of the +piece, and continued till a general sigh seemed to awaken the audience +from their enchantment. Amid the general applause, Hippolitus was +silent. Julia observed his behaviour, and gently raising her eyes to +his, there read the sentiments which she had inspired. An exquisite +emotion thrilled her heart, and she experienced one of those rare +moments which illuminate life with a ray of bliss, by which the +darkness of its general shade is contrasted. Care, doubt, every +disagreeable sensation vanished, and for the remainder of the evening +she was conscious only of delight. A timid respect marked the manner +of Hippolitus, more flattering to Julia than the most ardent +professions. The evening concluded with a ball, and Julia was again +the partner of the count. + +When the ball broke up, she retired to her apartment, but not to +sleep. Joy is as restless as anxiety or sorrow. She seemed to have +entered upon a new state of existence;--those fine springs of +affection which had hitherto lain concealed, were now touched, and +yielded to her a happiness more exalted than any her imagination had +ever painted. She reflected on the tranquillity of her past life, and +comparing it with the emotions of the present hour, exulted in the +difference. All her former pleasures now appeared insipid; she +wondered that they ever had power to affect her, and that she had +endured with content the dull uniformity to which she had been +condemned. It was now only that she appeared to live. Absorbed in the +single idea of being beloved, her imagination soared into the regions +of romantic bliss, and bore her high above the possibility of evil. +Since she was beloved by Hippolitus, she could only be happy. + +From this state of entranced delight, she was awakened by the sound of +music immediately under her window. It was a lute touched by a +masterly hand. After a wild and melancholy symphony, a voice of more +than magic expression swelled into an air so pathetic and tender, that +it seemed to breathe the very soul of love. The chords of the lute +were struck in low and sweet accompaniment. Julia listened, and +distinguished the following words; + +SONNET + + Still is the night-breeze!--not a lonely sound + Steals through the silence of this dreary hour; + O'er these high battlements Sleep reigns profound, + And sheds on all, his sweet oblivious power. + On all but me--I vainly ask his dews + To steep in short forgetfulness my cares. + Th' affrighted god still flies when Love pursues, + Still--still denies the wretched lover's prayers. + +An interval of silence followed, and the air was repeated; after which +the music was heard no more. If before Julia believed that she was +loved by Hippolitus, she was now confirmed in the sweet reality. But +sleep at length fell upon her senses, and the airy forms of ideal +bliss no longer fleeted before her imagination. Morning came, and she +arose light and refreshed. How different were her present sensations +from those of the preceding day. Her anxiety had now evaporated in +joy, and she experienced that airy dance of spirits which accumulates +delight from every object; and with a power like the touch of +enchantment, can transform a gloomy desert into a smiling Eden. She +flew to the breakfast-room, scarcely conscious of motion; but, as she +entered it, a soft confusion overcame her; she blushed, and almost +feared to meet the eyes of Vereza. She was presently relieved, +however, for the Count was not there. The company assembled--Julia +watched the entrance of every person with painful anxiety, but he for +whom she looked did not appear. Surprised and uneasy, she fixed her +eyes on the door, and whenever it opened, her heart beat with an +expectation which was as often checked by disappointment. In spite of +all her efforts, her vivacity sunk into languor, and she then +perceived that love may produce other sensations than those of +delight. She found it possible to be unhappy, though loved by +Hippolitus; and acknowledged with a sigh of regret, which was yet new +to her, how tremblingly her peace depended upon him. He neither +appeared nor was mentioned at breakfast; but though delicacy prevented +her enquiring after him, conversation soon became irksome to her, and +she retired to the apartment of Madame de Menon. There she employed +herself in painting, and endeavoured to beguile the time till the hour +of dinner, when she hoped to see Hippolitus. Madame was, as usual, +friendly and cheerful, but she perceived a reserve in the conduct of +Julia, and penetrated without difficulty into its cause. She was, +however, ignorant of the object of her pupil's admiration. The hour so +eagerly desired by Julia at length arrived, and with a palpitating +heart she entered the hall. The Count was not there, and in the course +of conversation, she learned that he had that morning sailed for +Naples. The scene which so lately appeared enchanting to her eyes, now +changed its hue; and in the midst of society, and surrounded by +gaiety, she was solitary and dejected. She accused herself of having +suffered her wishes to mislead her judgment; and the present conduct +of Hippolitus convinced her, that she had mistaken admiration for a +sentiment more tender. She believed, too, that the musician who had +addressed her in his sonnet, was not the Count; and thus at once was +dissolved all the ideal fabric of her happiness. How short a period +often reverses the character of our sentiments, rendering that which +yesterday we despised, to-day desirable. The tranquil state which she +had so lately delighted to quit, she now reflected upon with regret. +She had, however, the consolation of believing that her sentiments +towards the Count were unknown, and the sweet consciousness that her +conduct had been governed by a nice sense of propriety. + +The public rejoicings at the castle closed with the week; but the gay +spirit of the marchioness forbade a return to tranquillity; and she +substituted diversions more private, but in splendour scarcely +inferior to the preceding ones. She had observed the behaviour of +Hippolitus on the night of the concert with chagrin, and his +departure with sorrow; yet, disdaining to perpetuate misfortune by +reflection, she sought to lose the sense of disappointment in the +hurry of dissipation. But her efforts to erase him from her +remembrance were ineffectual. Unaccustomed to oppose the bent of her +inclinations, they now maintained unbounded sway; and she found too +late, that in order to have a due command of our passions, it is +necessary to subject them to early obedience. Passion, in its undue +influence, produces weakness as well as injustice. The pain which now +recoiled upon her heart from disappointment, she had not strength of +mind to endure, and she sought relief from its pressure in afflicting +the innocent. Julia, whose beauty she imagined had captivated the +count, and confirmed him in indifference towards herself, she +incessantly tormented by the exercise of those various and splenetic +little arts which elude the eye of the common observer, and are only +to be known by those who have felt them. Arts, which individually are +inconsiderable, but in the aggregate amount to a cruel and decisive +effect. + +From Julia's mind the idea of happiness was now faded. Pleasure had +withdrawn her beam from the prospect, and the objects no longer +illumined by her ray, became dark and colourless. As often as her +situation would permit, she withdrew from society, and sought the +freedom of solitude, where she could indulge in melancholy thoughts, +and give a loose to that despair which is so apt to follow the +disappointment of our first hopes. + +Week after week elapsed, yet no mention was made of returning to +Naples. The marquis at length declared it his intention to spend the +remainder of the summer in the castle. To this determination the +marchioness submitted with decent resignation, for she was here +surrounded by a croud of flatterers, and her invention supplied her +with continual diversions: that gaiety which rendered Naples so dear +to her, glittered in the woods of Mazzini, and resounded through the +castle. + +The apartments of Madame de Menon were spacious and noble. The windows +opened upon the sea, and commanded a view of the straits of Messina, +bounded on one side by the beautiful shores of the isle of Sicily, and +on the other by the high mountains of Calabria. The straits, filled +with vessels whose gay streamers glittered to the sun-beam, presented +to the eye an ever-moving scene. The principal room opened upon a +gallery that overhung the grand terrace of the castle, and it +commanded a prospect which for beauty and extent has seldom been +equalled. These were formerly considered the chief apartments of the +castle; and when the Marquis quitted them for Naples, were allotted +for the residence of Madame de Menon, and her young charge. The +marchioness, struck with the prospect which the windows afforded, and +with the pleasantness of the gallery, determined to restore the rooms +to their former splendour. She signified this intention to madame, for +whom other apartments were provided. The chambers of Emilia and Julia +forming part of the suite, they were also claimed by the marchioness, +who left Julia only her favorite closet. The rooms to which they +removed were spacious, but gloomy; they had been for some years +uninhabited; and though preparations had been made for the reception +of their new inhabitants, an air of desolation reigned within them +that inspired melancholy sensations. Julia observed that her chamber, +which opened beyond madame's, formed a part of the southern building, +with which, however, there appeared no means of communication. The +late mysterious circumstances relating to this part of the fabric, now +arose to her imagination, and conjured up a terror which reason could +not subdue. She told her emotions to madame, who, with more prudence +than sincerity, laughed at her fears. The behaviour of the marquis, +the dying words of Vincent, together with the preceding circumstances +of alarm, had sunk deep in the mind of madame, but she saw the +necessity of confining to her own breast doubts which time only could +resolve. + +Julia endeavoured to reconcile herself to the change, and a +circumstance soon occurred which obliterated her present sensations, +and excited others far more interesting. One day that she was +arranging some papers in the small drawers of a cabinet that stood in +her apartment, she found a picture which fixed all her attention. It +was a miniature of a lady, whose countenance was touched with sorrow, +and expressed an air of dignified resignation. The mournful sweetness +of her eyes, raised towards Heaven with a look of supplication, and +the melancholy languor that shaded her features, so deeply affected +Julia, that her eyes were filled with involuntary tears. She sighed +and wept, still gazing on the picture, which seemed to engage her by a +kind of fascination. She almost fancied that the portrait breathed, +and that the eyes were fixed on hers with a look of penetrating +softness. Full of the emotions which the miniature had excited, she +presented it to madame, whose mingled sorrow and surprise increased +her curiosity. But what were the various sensations which pressed upon +her heart, on learning that she had wept over the resemblance of her +mother! Deprived of a mother's tenderness before she was sensible of +its value, it was now only that she mourned the event which +lamentation could not recall. Emilia, with an emotion as exquisite, +mingled her tears with those of her sister. With eager impatience they +pressed madame to disclose the cause of that sorrow which so +emphatically marked the features of their mother. + +'Alas! my dear children,' said madame, deeply sighing, 'you engage me +in a task too severe, not only for your peace, but for mine; since in +giving you the information you require, I must retrace scenes of my +own life, which I wish for ever obliterated. It would, however, be +both cruel and unjust to withhold an explanation so nearly interesting +to you, and I will sacrifice my own ease to your wishes. + +'Louisa de Bernini, your mother, was, as you well know, the only +daughter of the Count de Bernini. Of the misfortunes of your family, I +believe you are yet ignorant. The chief estates of the count were +situated in the _Val di Demona_, a valley deriving its name from its +vicinity to Mount AEtna, which vulgar tradition has peopled with +devils. In one of those dreadful eruptions of AEtna, which deluged +this valley with a flood of fire, a great part of your grandfather's +domains in that quarter were laid waste. The count was at that time +with a part of his family at Messina, but the countess and her son, +who were in the country, were destroyed. The remaining property of the +count was proportionably inconsiderable, and the loss of his wife and +son deeply affected him. He retired with Louisa, his only surviving +child, who was then near fifteen, to a small estate near Cattania. +There was some degree of relationship between your grandfather and +myself; and your mother was attached to me by the ties of sentiment, +which, as we grew up, united us still more strongly than those of +blood. Our pleasures and our tastes were the same; and a similarity of +misfortunes might, perhaps, contribute to cement our early friendship. +I, like herself, had lost a parent in the eruption of AEtna. My mother +had died before I understood her value; but my father, whom I revered +and tenderly loved, was destroyed by one of those terrible events; his +lands were buried beneath the lava, and he left an only son and myself +to mourn his fate, and encounter the evils of poverty. The count, who +was our nearest surviving relation, generously took us home to his +house, and declared that he considered us as his children. To amuse +his leisure hours, he undertook to finish the education of my brother, +who was then about seventeen, and whose rising genius promised to +reward the labours of the count. Louisa and myself often shared the +instruction of her father, and at those hours Orlando was generally of +the party. The tranquil retirement of the count's situation, the +rational employment of his time between his own studies, the education +of those whom he called his children, and the conversation of a few +select friends, anticipated the effect of time, and softened the +asperities of his distress into a tender complacent melancholy. As for +Louisa and myself, who were yet new in life, and whose spirits +possessed the happy elasticity of youth, our minds gradually shifted +from suffering to tranquillity, and from tranquillity to happiness. I +have sometimes thought that when my brother has been reading to her a +delightful passage, the countenance of Louisa discovered a tender +interest, which seemed to be excited rather by the reader than by the +author. These days, which were surely the most enviable of our lives, +now passed in serene enjoyments, and in continual gradations of +improvement. + +'The count designed my brother for the army, and the time now drew +nigh when he was to join the Sicilian regiment, in which he had a +commission. The absent thoughts, and dejected spirits of my cousin, +now discovered to me the secret which had long been concealed even +from herself; for it was not till Orlando was about to depart, that +she perceived how dear he was to her peace. On the eve of his +departure, the count lamented, with fatherly yet manly tenderness, the +distance which was soon to separate us. "But we shall meet again," +said he, "when the honors of war shall have rewarded the bravery of my +son." Louisa grew pale, a half suppressed sigh escaped her, and, to +conceal her emotion, she turned to her harpsichord. + +'My brother had a favorite dog, which, before he set off, he presented +to Louisa, and committing it to her care, begged she would be kind to +it, and sometimes remember its master. He checked his rising emotion, +but as he turned from her, I perceived the tear that wetted his cheek. +He departed, and with him the spirit of our happiness seemed to +evaporate. The scenes which his presence had formerly enlivened, were +now forlorn and melancholy, yet we loved to wander in what were once +his favorite haunts. Louisa forbore to mention my brother even to me, +but frequently, when she thought herself unobserved, she would steal +to her harpsichord, and repeat the strain which she had played on the +evening before his departure. + +'We had the pleasure to hear from time to time that he was well: and +though his own modesty threw a veil over his conduct, we could collect +from other accounts that he had behaved with great bravery. At length +the time of his return approached, and the enlivened spirits of Louisa +declared the influence he retained in her heart. He returned, bearing +public testimony of his valour in the honors which had been conferred +upon him. He was received with universal joy; the count welcomed him +with the pride and fondness of a father, and the villa became again +the seat of happiness. His person and manners were much improved; the +elegant beauty of the youth was now exchanged for the graceful dignity +of manhood, and some knowledge of the world was added to that of the +sciences. The joy which illumined his countenance when he met Louisa, +spoke at once his admiration and his love; and the blush which her +observation of it brought upon her cheek, would have discovered, even +to an uninterested spectator, that this joy was mutual. + +'Orlando brought with him a young Frenchman, a brother officer, who +had rescued him from imminent danger in battle, and whom he introduced +to the count as his preserver. The count received him with gratitude +and distinction, and he was for a considerable time an inmate at the +villa. His manners were singularly pleasing, and his understanding was +cultivated and refined. He soon discovered a partiality for me, and he +was indeed too pleasing to be seen with indifference. Gratitude for +the valuable life he had preserved, was perhaps the groundwork of an +esteem which soon increased into the most affectionate love. Our +attachment grew stronger as our acquaintance increased; and at length +the chevalier de Menon asked me of the count, who consulted my heart, +and finding it favorable to the connection, proceeded to make the +necessary enquiries concerning the family of the stranger. He obtained +a satisfactory and pleasing account of it. The chevalier was the +second son of a French gentleman of large estates in France, who had +been some years deceased. He had left several sons; the family-estate, +of course, devolved to the eldest, but to the two younger he +had bequeathed considerable property. Our marriage was solemnized in a +private manner at the villa, in the presence of the count, Louisa, and +my brother. Soon after the nuptials, my husband and Orlando were +remanded to their regiments. My brother's affections were now +unalterably fixed upon Louisa, but a sentiment of delicacy and +generosity still kept him silent. He thought, poor as he was, to +solicit the hand of Louisa, would be to repay the kindness of the +count with ingratitude. I have seen the inward struggles of his heart, +and mine has bled for him. The count and Louisa so earnestly solicited +me to remain at the villa during the campaign, that at length my +husband consented. We parted--O! let me forget that period!--Had I +accompanied him, all might have been well; and the long, long years of +affliction which followed had been spared me.' + +The horn now sounded the signal for dinner, and interrupted the +narrative of Madame. Her beauteous auditors wiped the tears from their +eyes, and with extreme reluctance descended to the hall. The day was +occupied with company and diversions, and it was not till late in the +evening that they were suffered to retire. They hastened to madame +immediately upon their being released; and too much interested for +sleep, and too importunate to be repulsed, solicited the sequel of her +story. She objected the lateness of the hour, but at length yielded to +their entreaties. They drew their chairs close to hers; and every +sense being absorbed in the single one of hearing, followed her +through the course of her narrative. + +'My brother again departed without disclosing his sentiments; the +effort it cost him was evident, but his sense of honor surmounted +every opposing consideration. Louisa again drooped, and pined in +silent sorrow. I lamented equally for my friend and my brother; and +have a thousand times accused that delicacy as false, which withheld +them from the happiness they might so easily and so innocently have +obtained. The behaviour of the count, at least to my eye, seemed to +indicate the satisfaction which this union would have given him. It +was about this period that the marquis Mazzini first saw and became +enamoured of Louisa. His proposals were very flattering, but the +count forbore to exert the undue authority of a father; and he ceased +to press the connection, when he perceived that Louisa was really +averse to it. Louisa was sensible of the generosity of his conduct, +and she could scarcely reject the alliance without a sigh, which her +gratitude paid to the kindness of her father. + +'But an event now happened which dissolved at once our happiness, and +all our air-drawn schemes for futurity. A dispute, which it seems +originated in a trifle, but soon increased to a serious degree, arose +between the _Chevalier de Menon_ and my brother. It was decided by the +sword, and my dear brother fell by the hand of my husband. I shall +pass over this period of my life. It is too painful for recollection. +The effect of this event upon Louisa was such as may be imagined. The +world was now become indifferent to her, and as she had no prospect of +happiness for herself, she was unwilling to withhold it from the +father who had deserved so much of her. After some time, when the +marquis renewed his addresses, she gave him her hand. The characters +of the marquis and his lady were in their nature too opposite to form +a happy union. Of this Louisa was very soon sensible; and though the +mildness of her disposition made her tamely submit to the unfeeling +authority of her husband, his behaviour sunk deep in her heart, and +she pined in secret. It was impossible for her to avoid opposing the +character of the marquis to that of him upon whom her affections had +been so fondly and so justly fixed. The comparison increased her +sufferings, which soon preyed upon her constitution, and very visibly +affected her health. Her situation deeply afflicted the count, and +united with the infirmities of age to shorten his life. + +'Upon his death, I bade adieu to my cousin, and quitted Sicily for +Italy, where the Chevalier de Menon had for some time expected me. Our +meeting was very affecting. My resentment towards him was done away, +when I observed his pale and altered countenance, and perceived the +melancholy which preyed upon his heart. All the airy vivacity of his +former manner was fled, and he was devoured by unavailing grief and +remorse. He deplored with unceasing sorrow the friend he had murdered, +and my presence seemed to open afresh the wounds which time had begun +to close. His affliction, united with my own, was almost more than I +could support, but I was doomed to suffer, and endure yet more. In a +subsequent engagement my husband, weary of existence, rushed into the +heat of battle, and there obtained an honorable death. In a paper +which he left behind him, he said it was his intention to die in that +battle; that he had long wished for death, and waited for an +opportunity of obtaining it without staining his own character by the +cowardice of suicide, or distressing me by an act of butchery. This +event gave the finishing stroke to my afflictions;--yet let me +retract;--another misfortune awaited me when I least expected one. The +_Chevalier de Menon_ died without a will, and his brothers refused to +give up his estate, unless I could produce a witness of my marriage. I +returned to Sicily, and, to my inexpressible sorrow, found that your +mother had died during my stay abroad, a prey, I fear, to grief. The +priest who performed the ceremony of my marriage, having been +threatened with punishment for some ecclesiastical offences, had +secretly left the country; and thus was I deprived of those proofs +which were necessary to authenticate my claims to the estates of my +husband. His brothers, to whom I was an utter stranger, were either +too prejudiced to believe, or believing, were too dishonorable to +acknowledge the justice of my claims. I was therefore at once +abandoned to sorrow and to poverty; a small legacy from the count de +Bernini being all that now remained to me. + +'When the marquis married Maria de Vellorno, which was about this +period, he designed to quit Mazzini for Naples. His son was to +accompany him, but it was his intention to leave you, who were both +very young, to the care of some person qualified to superintend your +education. My circumstances rendered the office acceptable, and my +former friendship for your mother made the duty pleasing to me. The +marquis was, I believe, glad to be spared the trouble of searching +further for what he had hitherto found it difficult to obtain--a +person whom inclination as well as duty would bind to his interest.' + +Madame ceased to speak, and Emilia and Julia wept to the memory of the +mother, whose misfortunes this story recorded. The sufferings of +madame, together with her former friendship for the late marchioness, +endeared her to her pupils, who from this period endeavoured by every +kind and delicate attention to obliterate the traces of her sorrows. +Madame was sensible of this tenderness, and it was productive in some +degree of the effect desired. But a subject soon after occurred, which +drew off their minds from the consideration of their mother's fate to +a subject more wonderful and equally interesting. + +One night that Emilia and Julia had been detained by company, in +ceremonial restraint, later than usual, they were induced, by the easy +conversation of madame, and by the pleasure which a return to liberty +naturally produces, to defer the hour of repose till the night was far +advanced. They were engaged in interesting discourse, when madame, +who was then speaking, was interrupted by a low hollow sound, which +arose from beneath the apartment, and seemed like the closing of a +door. Chilled into a silence, they listened and distinctly heard it +repeated. Deadly ideas crowded upon their imaginations, and inspired a +terror which scarcely allowed them to breathe. The noise lasted only +for a moment, and a profound silence soon ensued. Their feelings at +length relaxed, and suffered them to move to Emilia's apartment, when +again they heard the same sounds. Almost distracted with fear, they +rushed into madame's apartment, where Emilia sunk upon the bed and +fainted. It was a considerable time ere the efforts of madame recalled +her to sensation. When they were again tranquil, she employed all her +endeavours to compose the spirits of the young ladies, and dissuade +them from alarming the castle. Involved in dark and fearful doubts, +she yet commanded her feelings, and endeavoured to assume an +appearance of composure. The late behaviour of the marquis had +convinced her that he was nearly connected with the mystery which hung +over this part of the edifice; and she dreaded to excite his +resentment by a further mention of alarms, which were perhaps only +ideal, and whose reality she had certainly no means of proving. + +Influenced by these considerations, she endeavoured to prevail on +Emilia and Julia to await in silence some confirmation of their +surmises; but their terror made this a very difficult task. They +acquiesced, however, so far with her wishes, as to agree to conceal +the preceding circumstances from every person but their brother, +without whose protecting presence they declared it utterly impossible +to pass another night in the apartments. For the remainder of this +night they resolved to watch. To beguile the tediousness of the time +they endeavoured to converse, but the minds of Emilia and Julia were +too much affected by the late occurrence to wander from the subject. +They compared this with the foregoing circumstance of the figure and +the light which had appeared; their imaginations kindled wild +conjectures, and they submitted their opinions to madame, entreating +her to inform them sincerely, whether she believed that disembodied +spirits were ever permitted to visit this earth. + +'My children,' said she, 'I will not attempt to persuade you that the +existence of such spirits is impossible. Who shall say that any thing +is impossible to God? We know that he has made us, who are embodied +spirits; he, therefore, can make unembodied spirits. If we cannot +understand how such spirits exist, we should consider the limited +powers of our minds, and that we cannot understand many things which +are indisputably true. No one yet knows why the magnetic needle points +to the north; yet you, who have never seen a magnet, do not hesitate +to believe that it has this tendency, because you have been well +assured of it, both from books and in conversation. Since, therefore, +we are sure that nothing is impossible to God, and that such beings +_may_ exist, though we cannot tell how, we ought to consider by what +evidence their existence is supported. I do not say that spirits +_have_ appeared; but if several discreet unprejudiced persons were to +assure me that they had seen one, I should not be proud or bold enough +to reply--'it is impossible.' Let not, however, such considerations +disturb your minds. I have said thus much, because I was unwilling to +impose upon your understandings; it is now your part to exercise your +reason, and preserve the unmoved confidence of virtue. Such spirits, +if indeed they have ever been seen, can have appeared only by the +express permission of God, and for some very singular purposes; be +assured that there are no beings who act unseen by him; and that, +therefore, there are none from whom innocence can ever suffer harm.' + +No further sounds disturbed them for that time; and before the morning +dawned, weariness insensibly overcame apprehension, and sunk them in +repose. + +When Ferdinand learned the circumstances relative to the southern side +of the castle, his imagination seized with avidity each appearance of +mystery, and inspired him with an irresistible desire to penetrate the +secrets of his desolate part of the fabric. He very readily consented +to watch with his sisters in Julia's apartment; but as his chamber was +in a remote part of the castle, there would be some difficulty in +passing unobserved to her's. It was agreed, however, that when all was +hushed, he should make the attempt. Having thus resolved, Emilia and +Julia waited the return of night with restless and fearful impatience. + +At length the family retired to rest. The castle clock had struck one, +and Julia began to fear that Ferdinand had been discovered, when a +knocking was heard at the door of the outer chamber. + +Her heart beat with apprehensions, which reason could not justify. +Madame rose, and enquiring who was there, was answered by the voice of +Ferdinand. The door was cheerfully opened. They drew their chairs +round him, and endeavoured to pass the time in conversation; but fear +and expectation attracted all their thoughts to one subject, and +madame alone preserved her composure. The hour was now come when the +sounds had been heard the preceding night, and every ear was given to +attention. All, however, remained quiet, and the night passed without +any new alarm. + +The greater part of several succeeding nights were spent in watching, +but no sounds disturbed their silence. Ferdinand, in whose mind the +late circumstances had excited a degree of astonishment and curiosity +superior to common obstacles, determined, if possible, to gain +admittance to those recesses of the castle, which had for so many +years been hid from human eye. This, however, was a design which he +saw little probability of accomplishing, for the keys of that part of +the edifice were in the possession of the marquis, of whose late +conduct he judged too well to believe he would suffer the apartments +to be explored. He racked his invention for the means of getting +access to them, and at length recollected that Julia's chamber formed +a part of these buildings, it occurred to him, that according to the +mode of building in old times, there might formerly have been a +communication between them. This consideration suggested to him the +possibility of a concealed door in her apartment, and he determined to +survey it on the following night with great care. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The castle was buried in sleep when Ferdinand again joined his sisters +in madame's apartment. With anxious curiosity they followed him to the +chamber. The room was hung with tapestry. Ferdinand carefully sounded +the wall which communicated with the southern buildings. From one part +of it a sound was returned, which convinced him there was something +less solid than stone. He removed the tapestry, and behind it +appeared, to his inexpressible satisfaction, a small door. With a hand +trembling through eagerness, he undrew the bolts, and was rushing +forward, when he perceived that a lock withheld his passage. The keys +of madame and his sisters were applied in vain, and he was compelled +to submit to disappointment at the very moment when he congratulated +himself on success, for he had with him no means of forcing the door. + +He stood gazing on the door, and inwardly lamenting, when a low hollow +sound was heard from beneath. Emilia and Julia seized his arm; and +almost sinking with apprehension, listened in profound silence. A +footstep was distinctly heard, as if passing through the apartment +below, after which all was still. Ferdinand, fired by this +confirmation of the late report, rushed on to the door, and again +tried to burst his way, but it resisted all the efforts of his +strength. The ladies now rejoiced in that circumstance which they so +lately lamented; for the sounds had renewed their terror, and though +the night passed without further disturbance, their fears were very +little abated. + +Ferdinand, whose mind was wholly occupied with wonder, could with +difficulty await the return of night. Emilia and Julia were scarcely +less impatient. They counted the minutes as they passed; and when the +family retired to rest, hastened with palpitating hearts to the +apartment of madame. They were soon after joined by Ferdinand, who +brought with him tools for cutting away the lock of the door. They +paused a few moments in the chamber in fearful silence, but no sound +disturbed the stillness of night. Ferdinand applied a knife to the +door, and in a short time separated the lock. The door yielded, and +disclosed a large and gloomy gallery. He took a light. Emilia and +Julia, fearful of remaining in the chamber, resolved to accompany him, +and each seizing an arm of madame, they followed in silence. The +gallery was in many parts falling to decay, the ceiling was broke, and +the window-shutters shattered, which, together with the dampness of +the walls, gave the place an air of wild desolation. + +They passed lightly on, for their steps ran in whispering echoes +through the gallery, and often did Julia cast a fearful glance around. + +The gallery terminated in a large old stair-case, which led to a hall +below; on the left appeared several doors which seemed to lead to +separate apartments. While they hesitated which course to pursue, a +light flashed faintly up the stair-case, and in a moment after passed +away; at the same time was heard the sound of a distant footstep. +Ferdinand drew his sword and sprang forward; his companions, screaming +with terror, ran back to madame's apartment. + +Ferdinand descended a large vaulted hall; he crossed it towards a low +arched door, which was left half open, and through which streamed a +ray of light. The door opened upon a narrow winding passage; he +entered, and the light retiring, was quickly lost in the windings of +the place. Still he went on. The passage grew narrower, and the +frequent fragments of loose stone made it now difficult to proceed. A +low door closed the avenue, resembling that by which he had entered. +He opened it, and discovered a square room, from whence rose a winding +stair-case, which led up the south tower of the castle. Ferdinand +paused to listen; the sound of steps was ceased, and all was +profoundly silent. A door on the right attracted his notice; he tried +to open it, but it was fastened. He concluded, therefore, that the +person, if indeed a human being it was that bore the light he had +seen, had passed up the tower. After a momentary hesitation, he +determined to ascend the stair-case, but its ruinous condition made +this an adventure of some difficulty. The steps were decayed and +broken, and the looseness of the stones rendered a footing very +insecure. Impelled by an irresistible curiosity, he was undismayed, +and began the ascent. He had not proceeded very far, when the stones +of a step which his foot had just quitted, loosened by his weight, +gave way; and dragging with them those adjoining, formed a chasm in +the stair-case that terrified even Ferdinand, who was left tottering +on the suspended half of the steps, in momentary expectation of +falling to the bottom with the stone on which he rested. In the terror +which this occasioned, he attempted to save himself by catching at a +kind of beam which projected over the stairs, when the lamp dropped +from his hand, and he was left in total darkness. Terror now usurped +the place of every other interest, and he was utterly perplexed how to +proceed. He feared to go on, lest the steps above, as infirm as those +below, should yield to his weight;--to return was impracticable, for +the darkness precluded the possibility of discovering a means. He +determined, therefore, to remain in this situation till light should +dawn through the narrow grates in the walls, and enable him to +contrive some method of letting himself down to the ground. + +He had remained here above an hour, when he suddenly heard a voice +from below. It seemed to come from the passage leading to the tower, +and perceptibly drew nearer. His agitation was now extreme, for he +had no power of defending himself, and while he remained in this state +of torturing expectation, a blaze of light burst upon the stair-case +beneath him. In the succeeding moment he heard his own name sounded +from below. His apprehensions instantly vanished, for he distinguished +the voices of madame and his sisters. + +They had awaited his return in all the horrors of apprehension, till +at length all fear for themselves was lost in their concern for him; +and they, who so lately had not dared to enter this part of the +edifice, now undauntedly searched it in quest of Ferdinand. What were +their emotions when they discovered his perilous situation! + +The light now enabled him to take a more accurate survey of the place. +He perceived that some few stones of the steps which had fallen still +remained attached to the wall, but he feared to trust to their support +only. He observed, however, that the wall itself was partly decayed, +and consequently rugged with the corners of half-worn stones. On these +small projections he contrived, with the assistance of the steps +already mentioned, to suspend himself, and at length gained the +unbroken part of the stairs in safety. It is difficult to determine +which individual of the party rejoiced most at this escape. The +morning now dawned, and Ferdinand desisted for the present from +farther enquiry. + +The interest which these mysterious circumstances excited in the mind +of Julia, had withdrawn her attention from a subject more dangerous to +its peace. The image of Vereza, notwithstanding, would frequently +intrude upon her fancy; and, awakening the recollection of happy +emotions, would call forth a sigh which all her efforts could not +suppress. She loved to indulge the melancholy of her heart in the +solitude of the woods. One evening she took her lute to a favorite +spot on the seashore, and resigning herself to a pleasing sadness, +touched some sweet and plaintive airs. The purple flush of evening was +diffused over the heavens. The sun, involved in clouds of splendid and +innumerable hues, was setting o'er the distant waters, whose clear +bosom glowed with rich reflection. The beauty of the scene, the +soothing murmur of the high trees, waved by the light air which +overshadowed her, and the soft shelling of the waves that flowed +gently in upon the shores, insensibly sunk her mind into a state of +repose. She touched the chords of her lute in sweet and wild melody, +and sung the following ode: + +EVENING + + Evening veil'd in dewy shades, + Slowly sinks upon the main; + See th'empurpled glory fades, + Beneath her sober, chasten'd reign. + + Around her car the pensive Hours, + In sweet illapses meet the sight, + Crown'd their brows with closing flow'rs + Rich with chrystal dews of night. + + Her hands, the dusky hues arrange + O'er the fine tints of parting day; + Insensibly the colours change, + And languish into soft decay. + + Wide o'er the waves her shadowy veil she draws. + As faint they die along the distant shores; + Through the still air I mark each solemn pause, + Each rising murmur which the wild wave pours. + + A browner shadow spreads upon the air, + And o'er the scene a pensive grandeur throws; + The rocks--the woods a wilder beauty wear, + And the deep wave in softer music flows; + + And now the distant view where vision fails, + Twilight and grey obscurity pervade; + Tint following tint each dark'ning object veils, + Till all the landscape sinks into the shade. + + Oft from the airy steep of some lone hill, + While sleeps the scene beneath the purple glow: + And evening lives o'er all serene and still, + Wrapt let me view the magic world below! + + And catch the dying gale that swells remote, + That steals the sweetness from the shepherd's flute: + The distant torrent's melancholy note + And the soft warblings of the lover's lute. + + Still through the deep'ning gloom of bow'ry shades + To Fancy's eye fantastic forms appear; + Low whisp'ring echoes steal along the glades + And thrill the ear with wildly-pleasing fear. + + Parent of shades!--of silence!--dewy airs! + Of solemn musing, and of vision wild! + To thee my soul her pensive tribute bears, + And hails thy gradual step, thy influence mild. + +Having ceased to sing, her fingers wandered over the lute in +melancholy symphony, and for some moments she remained lost in the +sweet sensations which the music and the scenery had inspired. She was +awakened from her reverie, by a sigh that stole from among the trees, +and directing her eyes whence it came, beheld--Hippolitus! A thousand +sweet and mingled emotions pressed upon her heart, yet she scarcely +dared to trust the evidence of sight. He advanced, and throwing +himself at her feet: 'Suffer me,' said he, in a tremulous voice, 'to +disclose to you the sentiments which you have inspired, and to offer +you the effusions of a heart filled only with love and admiration.' +'Rise, my lord,' said Julia, moving from her seat with an air of +dignity, 'that attitude is neither becoming you to use, or me to +suffer. The evening is closing, and Ferdinand will be impatient to see +you.' + +'Never will I rise, madam,' replied the count, with an impassioned +air, 'till'--He was interrupted by the marchioness, who at this moment +entered the grove. On observing the position of the count she was +retiring. 'Stay, madam,' said Julia, almost sinking under her +confusion. 'By no means,' replied the marchioness, in a tone of irony, +'my presence would only interrupt a very agreeable scene. The count, I +see, is willing to pay you his earliest respects.' Saying this she +disappeared, leaving Julia distressed and offended, and the count +provoked at the intrusion. He attempted to renew the subject, but +Julia hastily followed the steps of the marchioness, and entered the +castle. + +The scene she had witnessed, raised in the marchioness a tumult of +dreadful emotions. Love, hatred, and jealousy, raged by turns in her +heart, and defied all power of controul. Subjected to their alternate +violence, she experienced a misery more acute than any she had yet +known. Her imagination, invigorated by opposition, heightened to her +the graces of Hippolitus; her bosom glowed with more intense passion, +and her brain was at length exasperated almost to madness. + +In Julia this sudden and unexpected interview excited a mingled +emotion of love and vexation, which did not soon subside. At length, +however, the delightful consciousness of Vereza's love bore her high +above every other sensation; again the scene more brightly glowed, and +again her fancy overcame the possibility of evil. + +During the evening a tender and timid respect distinguished the +behaviour of the count towards Julia, who, contented with the +certainty of being loved, resolved to conceal her sentiments till an +explanation of his abrupt departure from Mazzini, and subsequent +absence, should have dissipated the shadow of mystery which hung over +this part of his conduct. She observed that the marchioness pursued +her with steady and constant observation, and she carefully avoided +affording the count an opportunity of renewing the subject of the +preceding interview, which, whenever he approached her, seemed to +tremble on his lips. + +Night returned, and Ferdinand repaired to the chamber of Julia to +pursue his enquiry. Here he had not long remained, when the strange +and alarming sounds which had been heard on the preceding night were +repeated. The circumstance that now sunk in terror the minds of Emilia +and Julia, fired with new wonder that of Ferdinand, who seizing a +light, darted through the discovered door, and almost instantly +disappeared. + +He descended into the same wild hall he had passed on the preceding +night. He had scarcely reached the bottom of the stair-case, when a +feeble light gleamed across the hall, and his eye caught the glimpse +of a figure retiring through the low arched door which led to the +south tower. He drew his sword and rushed on. A faint sound died away +along the passage, the windings of which prevented his seeing the +figure he pursued. Of this, indeed, he had obtained so slight a view, +that he scarcely knew whether it bore the impression of a human form. +The light quickly disappeared, and he heard the door that opened upon +the tower suddenly close. He reached it, and forcing it open, sprang +forward; but the place was dark and solitary, and there was no +appearance of any person having passed along it. He looked up the +tower, and the chasm which the stair-case exhibited, convinced him +that no human being could have passed up. He stood silent and amazed; +examining the place with an eye of strict enquiry, he perceived a +door, which was partly concealed by hanging stairs, and which till now +had escaped his notice. Hope invigorated curiosity, but his +expectation was quickly disappointed, for this door also was fastened. +He tried in vain to force it. He knocked, and a hollow sullen sound +ran in echoes through the place, and died away at a distance. It was +evident that beyond this door were chambers of considerable extent, +but after long and various attempts to reach them, he was obliged to +desist, and he quitted the tower as ignorant and more dissatisfied +than he had entered it. He returned to the hall, which he now for the +first time deliberately surveyed. It was a spacious and desolate +apartment, whose lofty roof rose into arches supported by pillars of +black marble. The same substance inlaid the floor, and formed the +stair-case. The windows were high and gothic. An air of proud +sublimity, united with singular wildness, characterized the place, at +the extremity of which arose several gothic arches, whose dark shade +veiled in obscurity the extent beyond. On the left hand appeared two +doors, each of which was fastened, and on the right the grand entrance +from the courts. Ferdinand determined to explore the dark recess which +terminated his view, and as he traversed the hall, his imagination, +affected by the surrounding scene, often multiplied the echoes of his +footsteps into uncertain sounds of strange and fearful import. + +He reached the arches, and discovered beyond a kind of inner hall, of +considerable extent, which was closed at the farther end by a pair of +massy folding-doors, heavily ornamented with carving. They were +fastened by a lock, and defied his utmost strength. + +As he surveyed the place in silent wonder, a sullen groan arose from +beneath the spot where he stood. His blood ran cold at the sound, but +silence returning, and continuing unbroken, he attributed his alarm to +the illusion of a fancy, which terror had impregnated. He made another +effort to force the door, when a groan was repeated more hollow, and +more dreadful than the first. At this moment all his courage forsook +him; he quitted the door, and hastened to the stair-case, which he +ascended almost breathless with terror. + +He found Madame de Menon and his sisters awaiting his return in the +most painful anxiety; and, thus disappointed in all his endeavours to +penetrate the secret of these buildings, and fatigued with fruitless +search, he resolved to suspend farther enquiry. + +When he related the circumstances of his late adventure, the terror of +Emilia and Julia was heightened to a degree that overcame every +prudent consideration. Their apprehension of the marquis's displeasure +was lost in a stronger feeling, and they resolved no longer to remain +in apartments which offered only terrific images to their fancy. +Madame de Menon almost equally alarmed, and more perplexed, by this +combination of strange and unaccountable circumstances, ceased to +oppose their design. It was resolved, therefore, that on the following +day madame should acquaint the marchioness with such particulars of +the late occurrence as their purpose made it necessary she should +know, concealing their knowledge of the hidden door, and the incidents +immediately dependant on it; and that madame should entreat a change +of apartments. + +Madame accordingly waited on the marchioness. The marchioness having +listened to the account at first with surprise, and afterwards with +indifference, condescended to reprove madame for encouraging +superstitious belief in the minds of her young charge. She concluded +with ridiculing as fanciful the circumstances related, and with +refusing, on account of the numerous visitants at the castle, the +request preferred to her. + +It is true the castle was crowded with visitors; the former apartments +of Madame de Menon were the only ones unoccupied, and these were in +magnificent preparation for the pleasure of the marchioness, who was +unaccustomed to sacrifice her own wishes to the comfort of those +around her. She therefore treated lightly the subject, which, +seriously attended to, would have endangered her new plan of delight. + +But Emilia and Julia were too seriously terrified to obey the scruples +of delicacy, or to be easily repulsed. They prevailed on Ferdinand to +represent their situation to the marquis. + +Meanwhile Hippolitus, who had passed the night in a state of sleepless +anxiety, watched, with busy impatience, an opportunity of more fully +disclosing to Julia the passion which glowed in his heart. The first +moment in which he beheld her, had awakened in him an admiration which +had since ripened into a sentiment more tender. He had been prevented +formally declaring his passion by the circumstance which so suddenly +called him to Naples. This was the dangerous illness of the Marquis de +Lomelli, his near and much-valued relation. But it was a task too +painful to depart in silence, and he contrived to inform Julia of his +sentiments in the air which she heard so sweetly sung beneath her +window. + +When Hippolitus reached Naples, the marquis was yet living, but +expired a few days after his arrival, leaving the count heir to the +small possessions which remained from the extravagance of their +ancestors. + +The business of adjusting his rights had till now detained him from +Sicily, whither he came for the sole purpose of declaring his love. +Here unexpected obstacles awaited him. The jealous vigilance of the +marchioness conspired with the delicacy of Julia, to withhold from him +the opportunity he so anxiously sought. + +When Ferdinand entered upon the subject of the southern buildings to +the marquis, he carefully avoided mentioning the hidden door. The +marquis listened for some time to the relation in gloomy silence, but +at length assuming an air of displeasure, reprehended Ferdinand for +yielding his confidence to those idle alarms, which he said were the +suggestions of a timid imagination. 'Alarms,' continued he, 'which +will readily find admittance to the weak mind of a woman, but which +the firmer nature of man should disdain.--Degenerate boy! Is it thus +you reward my care? Do I live to see my son the sport of every idle +tale a woman may repeat? Learn to trust reason and your senses, and +you will then be worthy of my attention.' + +The marquis was retiring, and Ferdinand now perceived it necessary to +declare, that he had himself witnessed the sounds he mentioned. +'Pardon me, my lord,' said he, 'in the late instance I have been just +to your command--my senses have been the only evidences I have +trusted. I have heard those sounds which I cannot doubt.' The marquis +appeared shocked. Ferdinand perceived the change, and urged the +subject so vigorously, that the marquis, suddenly assuming a look of +grave importance, commanded him to attend him in the evening in his +closet. + +Ferdinand in passing from the marquis met Hippolitus. He was pacing +the gallery in much seeming agitation, but observing Ferdinand, he +advanced to him. 'I am ill at heart,' said he, in a melancholy tone, +'assist me with your advice. We will step into this apartment, where +we can converse without interruption.' + +'You are not ignorant,' said he, throwing himself into a chair, 'of +the tender sentiments which your sister Julia has inspired. I entreat +you by that sacred friendship which has so long united us, to afford +me an opportunity of pleading my passion. Her heart, which is so +susceptible of other impressions, is, I fear, insensible to love. +Procure me, however, the satisfaction of certainty upon a point where +the tortures of suspence are surely the most intolerable.' + +'Your penetration,' replied Ferdinand, 'has for once forsaken you, +else you would now be spared the tortures of which you complain, for +you would have discovered what I have long observed, that Julia +regards you with a partial eye.' + +'Do not,' said Hippolitus, 'make disappointment more terrible by +flattery; neither suffer the partiality of friendship to mislead your +judgment. Your perceptions are affected by the warmth of your +feelings, and because you think I deserve her distinction, you believe +I possess it. Alas! you deceive yourself, but not me!' + +'The very reverse,' replied Ferdinand; 'tis you who deceive yourself, +or rather it is the delicacy of the passion which animates you, and +which will ever operate against your clear perception of a truth in +which your happiness is so deeply involved. Believe me, I speak not +without reason:--she loves you.' + +At these words Hippolitus started from his seat, and clasping his +hands in fervent joy, 'Enchanting sounds!' cried he, in a voice +tenderly impassioned; '_could_ I but believe ye!--could I _but_ +believe ye-this world were paradise!' + +During this exclamation, the emotions of Julia, who sat in her closet +adjoining, can with difficulty be imagined. A door which opened into +it from the apartment where this conversation was held, was only half +closed. Agitated with the pleasure this declaration excited, she yet +trembled with apprehension lest she should be discovered. She hardly +dared to breathe, much less to move across the closet to the door, +which opened upon the gallery, whence she might probably have escaped +unnoticed, lest the sound of her step should betray her. Compelled, +therefore, to remain where she was, she sat in a state of fearful +distress, which no colour of language can paint. + +'Alas!' resumed Hippolitus, 'I too eagerly admit the possibility of +what I wish. If you mean that I should really believe you, confirm +your assertion by some proof.'--'Readily,' rejoined Ferdinand. + +The heart of Julia beat quick. + +'When you was so suddenly called to Naples upon the illness of the +Marquis Lomelli, I marked her conduct well, and in that read the +sentiments of her heart. On the following morning, I observed in her +countenance a restless anxiety which I had never seen before. She +watched the entrance of every person with an eager expectation, which +was as often succeeded by evident disappointment. At dinner your +departure was mentioned:--she spilt the wine she was carrying to her +lips, and for the remainder of the day was spiritless and melancholy. +I saw her ineffectual struggles to conceal the oppression at her +heart. Since that time she has seized every opportunity of +withdrawing from company. The gaiety with which she was so lately +charmed--charmed her no longer; she became pensive, retired, and I +have often heard her singing in some lonely spot, the most moving and +tender airs. Your return produced a visible and instantaneous +alteration; she has now resumed her gaiety; and the soft confusion of +her countenance, whenever you approach, might alone suffice to +convince you of the truth of my assertion.' + +'O! talk for ever thus!' sighed Hippolitus. 'These words are so sweet, +so soothing to my soul, that I could listen till I forgot I had a wish +beyond them. Yes!--Ferdinand, these circumstances are not to be +doubted, and conviction opens upon my mind a flow of extacy I never +knew till now. O! lead me to her, that I may speak the sentiments +which swell my heart.' + +They arose, when Julia, who with difficulty had supported herself, now +impelled by an irresistible fear of instant discovery, rose also, and +moved softly towards the gallery. The sound of her step alarmed the +count, who, apprehensive lest his conversation had been overheard, was +anxious to be satisfied whether any person was in the closet. He +rushed in, and discovered Julia! She caught at a chair to support her +trembling frame; and overwhelmed with mortifying sensations, sunk into +it, and hid her face in her robe. Hippolitus threw himself at her +feet, and seizing her hand, pressed it to his lips in expressive +silence. Some moments passed before the confusion of either would +suffer them to speak. At length recovering his voice, 'Can you, +madam,' said he, 'forgive this intrusion, so unintentional? or will it +deprive me of that esteem which I have but lately ventured to believe +I possessed, and which I value more than existence itself. O! speak my +pardon! Let me not believe that a single accident has destroyed my +peace for ever.'--'If your peace, sir, depends upon a knowledge of my +esteem,' said Julia, in a tremulous voice, 'that peace is already +secure. If I wished even to deny the partiality I feel, it would now +be useless; and since I no longer wish this, it would also be +painful.' Hippolitus could only weep his thanks over the hand he still +held. 'Be sensible, however, of the delicacy of my situation,' +continued she, rising, 'and suffer me to withdraw.' Saying this she +quitted the closet, leaving Hippolitus overcome with this sweet +confirmation of his wishes, and Ferdinand not yet recovered from the +painful surprize which the discovery of Julia had excited. He was +deeply sensible of the confusion he had occasioned her, and knew that +apologies would not restore the composure he had so cruelly yet +unwarily disturbed. + +Ferdinand awaited the hour appointed by the marquis in impatient +curiosity. The solemn air which the marquis assumed when he commanded +him to attend, had deeply impressed his mind. As the time drew nigh, +expectation increased, and every moment seemed to linger into hours. +At length he repaired to the closet, where he did not remain long +before the marquis entered. The same chilling solemnity marked his +manner. He locked the door of the closet, and seating himself, +addressed Ferdinand as follows:-- + +'I am now going to repose in you a confidence which will severely +prove the strength of your honour. But before I disclose a secret, +hitherto so carefully concealed, and now reluctantly told, you must +swear to preserve on this subject an eternal silence. If you doubt the +steadiness of your discretion--now declare it, and save yourself from +the infamy, and the fatal consequences, which may attend a breach of +your oath;--if, on the contrary, you believe yourself capable of a +strict integrity--now accept the terms, and receive the secret I +offer.' Ferdinand was awed by this exordium--the impatience of +curiosity was for a while suspended, and he hesitated whether he +should receive the secret upon such terms. At length he signified his +consent, and the marquis arising, drew his sword from the +scabbard.--'Here,' said he, offering it to Ferdinand, 'seal your +vows--swear by this sacred pledge of honor never to repeat what I +shall now reveal.' Ferdinand vowed upon the sword, and raising his +eyes to heaven, solemnly swore. The marquis then resumed his seat, and +proceeded. + +'You are now to learn that, about a century ago, this castle was in +the possession of Vincent, third marquis of Mazzini, my grandfather. +At that time there existed an inveterate hatred between our family and +that of della Campo. I shall not now revert to the origin of the +animosity, or relate the particulars of the consequent feuds--suffice +it to observe, that by the power of our family, the della Campos were +unable to preserve their former consequence in Sicily, and they have +therefore quitted it for a foreign land to live in unmolested +security. To return to my subject.--My grandfather, believing his life +endangered by his enemy, planted spies upon him. He employed some of +the numerous banditti who sought protection in his service, and after +some weeks past in waiting for an opportunity, they seized Henry della +Campo, and brought him secretly to this castle. He was for some time +confined in a close chamber of the southern buildings, where he +expired; by what means I shall forbear to mention. The plan had been +so well conducted, and the secrecy so strictly preserved, that every +endeavour of his family to trace the means of his disappearance proved +ineffectual. Their conjectures, if they fell upon our family, were +supported by no proof; and the della Campos are to this day ignorant +of the mode of his death. A rumour had prevailed long before the death +of my father, that the southern buildings of the castle were haunted. +I disbelieved the fact, and treated it accordingly. One night, when +every human being of the castle, except myself, was retired to rest, I +had such strong and dreadful proofs of the general assertion, that +even at this moment I cannot recollect them without horror. Let me, if +possible, forget them. From that moment I forsook those buildings; +they have ever since been shut up, and the circumstance I have +mentioned, is the true reason why I have resided so little at the +castle.' + +Ferdinand listened to this narrative in silent horror. He remembered +the temerity with which he had dared to penetrate those +apartments--the light, and figure he had seen--and, above all, his +situation in the stair-case of the tower. Every nerve thrilled at the +recollection; and the terrors of remembrance almost equalled those of +reality. + +The marquis permitted his daughters to change their apartments, but he +commanded Ferdinand to tell them, that, in granting their request, he +consulted their ease only, and was himself by no means convinced of +its propriety. They were accordingly reinstated in their former +chambers, and the great room only of madame's apartments was reserved +for the marchioness, who expressed her discontent to the marquis in +terms of mingled censure and lamentation. The marquis privately +reproved his daughters, for what he termed the idle fancies of a weak +mind; and desired them no more to disturb the peace of the castle with +the subject of their late fears. They received this reproof with +silent submission--too much pleased with the success of their suit to +be susceptible of any emotion but joy. + +Ferdinand, reflecting on the late discovery, was shocked to learn, +what was now forced upon his belief, that he was the descendant of a +murderer. He now knew that innocent blood had been shed in the castle, +and that the walls were still the haunt of an unquiet spirit, which +seemed to call aloud for retribution on the posterity of him who had +disturbed its eternal rest. Hippolitus perceived his dejection, and +entreated that he might participate his uneasiness; but Ferdinand, who +had hitherto been frank and ingenuous, was now inflexibly reserved. +'Forbear,' said he, 'to urge a discovery of what I am not permitted to +reveal; this is the only point upon which I conjure you to be silent, +and this even to you, I cannot explain.' Hippolitus was surprized, but +pressed the subject no farther. + +Julia, though she had been extremely mortified by the circumstances +attendant on the discovery of her sentiments to Hippolitus, +experienced, after the first shock had subsided, an emotion more +pleasing than painful. The late conversation had painted in strong +colours the attachment of her lover. His diffidence--his slowness to +perceive the effect of his merit--his succeeding rapture, when +conviction was at length forced upon his mind; and his conduct upon +discovering Julia, proved to her at once the delicacy and the strength +of his passion, and she yielded her heart to sensations of pure and +unmixed delight. She was roused from this state of visionary +happiness, by a summons from the marquis to attend him in the library. +A circumstance so unusual surprized her, and she obeyed with trembling +curiosity. She found him pacing the room in deep thought, and she had +shut the door before he perceived her. The authoritative severity in +his countenance alarmed her, and prepared her for a subject of +importance. He seated himself by her, and continued a moment silent. +At length, steadily observing her, 'I sent for you, my child,' said +he, 'to declare the honor which awaits you. The Duke de Luovo has +solicited your hand. An alliance so splendid was beyond my +expectation. You will receive the distinction with the gratitude it +claims, and prepare for the celebration of the nuptials.' + +This speech fell like the dart of death upon the heart of Julia. She +sat motionless--stupified and deprived of the power of utterance. The +marquis observed her consternation; and mistaking its cause, 'I +acknowledge,' said he, 'that there is somewhat abrupt in this affair; +but the joy occasioned by a distinction so unmerited on your part, +ought to overcome the little feminine weakness you might otherwise +indulge. Retire and compose yourself; and observe,' continued he, in a +stern voice, 'this is no time for finesse.' These words roused Julia +from her state of horrid stupefaction. 'O! sir,' said she, throwing +herself at his feet, 'forbear to enforce authority upon a point where +to obey you would be worse than death; if, indeed, to obey you were +possible.'--'Cease,' said the marquis, 'this affectation, and practice +what becomes you.'--'Pardon me, my lord,' she replied, 'my distress +is, alas! unfeigned. I cannot love the duke.'--'Away!' interrupted the +marquis, 'nor tempt my rage with objections thus childish and +absurd.'--'Yet hear me, my lord,' said Julia, tears swelling in her +eyes, 'and pity the sufferings of a child, who never till this moment +has dared to dispute your commands.' + +'Nor shall she now,' said the marquis. 'What--when wealth, honor, and +distinction, are laid at my feet, shall they be refused, because a +foolish girl--a very baby, who knows not good from evil, cries, and +says she cannot love! Let me not think of it--My just anger may, +perhaps, out-run discretion, and tempt me to chastise your +folly.--Attend to what I say--accept the duke, or quit this castle for +ever, and wander where you will.' Saying this, he burst away, and +Julia, who had hung weeping upon his knees, fell prostrate upon the +floor. The violence of the fall completed the effect of her distress, +and she fainted. In this state she remained a considerable time. When +she recovered her senses, the recollection of her calamity burst upon +her mind with a force that almost again overwhelmed her. She at length +raised herself from the ground, and moved towards her own apartment, +but had scarcely reached the great gallery, when Hippolitus entered +it. Her trembling limbs would no longer support her; she caught at a +bannister to save herself; and Hippolitus, with all his speed, was +scarcely in time to prevent her falling. The pale distress exhibited +in her countenance terrified him, and he anxiously enquired concerning +it. She could answer him only with her tears, which she found it +impossible to suppress; and gently disengaging herself, tottered to +her closet. Hippolitus followed her to the door, but desisted from +further importunity. He pressed her hand to his lips in tender +silence, and withdrew, surprized and alarmed. + +Julia, resigning herself to despair, indulged in solitude the excess +of her grief. A calamity, so dreadful as the present, had never before +presented itself to her imagination. The union proposed would have +been hateful to her, even if she had no prior attachment; what then +must have been her distress, when she had given her heart to him who +deserved all her admiration, and returned all her affection. + +The Duke de Luovo was of a character very similar to that of the +marquis. The love of power was his ruling passion;--with him no gentle +or generous sentiment meliorated the harshness of authority, or +directed it to acts of beneficence. He delighted in simple undisguised +tyranny. He had been twice married, and the unfortunate women +subjected to his power, had fallen victims to the slow but corroding +hand of sorrow. He had one son, who some years before had escaped the +tyranny of his father, and had not been since heard of. At the late +festival the duke had seen Julia; and her beauty made so strong an +impression upon him, that he had been induced now to solicit her hand. +The marquis, delighted with the prospect of a connection so flattering +to his favorite passion, readily granted his consent, and immediately +sealed it with a promise. + +Julia remained for the rest of the day shut up in her closet, where +the tender efforts of Madame and Emilia were exerted to soften her +distress. Towards the close of evening Ferdinand entered. Hippolitus, +shocked at her absence, had requested him to visit her, to alleviate +her affliction, and, if possible, to discover its cause. Ferdinand, +who tenderly loved his sister, was alarmed by the words of Hippolitus, +and immediately sought her. Her eyes were swelled with weeping, and +her countenance was but too expressive of the state of her mind. +Ferdinand's distress, when told of his father's conduct, was scarcely +less than her own. He had pleased himself with the hope of uniting the +sister of his heart with the friend whom he loved. An act of cruel +authority now dissolved the fairy dream of happiness which his fancy +had formed, and destroyed the peace of those most dear to him. He sat +for a long time silent and dejected; at length, starting from his +melancholy reverie, he bad Julia good-night, and returned to +Hippolitus, who was waiting for him with anxious impatience in the +north hall. + +Ferdinand dreaded the effect of that despair, which the intelligence +he had to communicate would produce in the mind of Hippolitus. He +revolved some means of softening the dreadful truth; but Hippolitus, +quick to apprehend the evil which love taught him to fear, seized at +once upon the reality. 'Tell me all,' said he, in a tone of assumed +firmness. 'I am prepared for the worst.' Ferdinand related the decree +of the marquis, and Hippolitus soon sunk into an excess of grief which +defied, as much as it required, the powers of alleviation. + +Julia, at length, retired to her chamber, but the sorrow which +occupied her mind withheld the blessings of sleep. Distracted and +restless she arose, and gently opened the window of her apartment. The +night was still, and not a breath disturbed the surface of the waters. +The moon shed a mild radiance over the waves, which in gentle +undulations flowed upon the sands. The scene insensibly tranquilized +her spirits. A tender and pleasing melancholy diffused itself over her +mind; and as she mused, she heard the dashing of distant oars. +Presently she perceived upon the light surface of the sea a small +boat. The sound of the oars ceased, and a solemn strain of harmony +(such as fancy wafts from the abodes of the blessed) stole upon the +silence of night. A chorus of voices now swelled upon the air, and +died away at a distance. In the strain Julia recollected the midnight +hymn to the virgin, and holy enthusiasm filled her heart. The chorus +was repeated, accompanied by a solemn striking of oars. A sigh of +exstacy stole from her bosom. Silence returned. The divine melody she +had heard calmed the tumult of her mind, and she sunk in sweet repose. + +She arose in the morning refreshed by light slumbers; but the +recollection of her sorrows soon returned with new force, and +sickening faintness overcame her. In this situation she received a +message from the marquis to attend him instantly. She obeyed, and he +bade her prepare to receive the duke, who that morning purposed to +visit the castle. He commanded her to attire herself richly, and to +welcome him with smiles. Julia submitted in silence. She saw the +marquis was inflexibly resolved, and she withdrew to indulge the +anguish of her heart, and prepare for this detested interview. + +The clock had struck twelve, when a flourish of trumpets announced the +approach of the duke. The heart of Julia sunk at the sound, and she +threw herself on a sopha, overwhelmed with bitter sensations. Here she +was soon disturbed by a message from the marquis. She arose, and +tenderly embracing Emilia, their tears for some moments flowed +together. At length, summoning all her fortitude, she descended to the +hall, where she was met by the marquis. He led her to the saloon in +which the duke sat, with whom having conversed a short time, he +withdrew. The emotion of Julia at this instant was beyond any thing +she had before suffered; but by a sudden and strange exertion of +fortitude, which the force of desperate calamity sometimes affords us, +but which inferior sorrow toils after in vain, she recovered her +composure, and resumed her natural dignity. For a moment she wondered +at herself, and she formed the dangerous resolution of throwing +herself upon the generosity of the duke, by acknowledging her +reluctance to the engagement, and soliciting him to withdraw his suit. + +The duke approached her with an air of proud condescension; and taking +her hand, placed himself beside her. Having paid some formal and +general compliments to her beauty, he proceeded to profess himself her +admirer. She listened for some time to his professions, and when he +appeared willing to hear her, she addressed him--'I am justly +sensible, my lord, of the distinction you offer me, and must lament +that respectful gratitude is the only sentiment I can return. Nothing +can more strongly prove my confidence in your generosity, than when I +confess to you, that parental authority urges me to give my hand +whither my heart cannot accompany it.' + +She paused--the duke continued silent.--''Tis you only, my lord, who +can release me from a situation so distressing; and to your goodness +and justice I appeal, certain that necessity will excuse the +singularity of my conduct, and that I shall not appeal in vain.' + +The duke was embarrassed--a flush of pride overspread his countenance, +and he seemed endeavouring to stifle the feelings that swelled his +heart. 'I had been prepared, madam,' said he, 'to expect a very +different reception, and had certainly no reason to believe that the +Duke de Luovo was likely to sue in vain. Since, however, madam, you +acknowledge that you have already disposed of your affections, I shall +certainly be very willing, if the marquis will release me from our +mutual engagements, to resign you to a more favored lover.' + +'Pardon me, my lord,' said Julia, blushing, 'suffer me to'--'I am not +easily deceived, madam,' interrupted the duke,--'your conduct can be +attributed only to the influence of a prior attachment; and though for +so young a lady, such a circumstance is somewhat extraordinary, I have +certainly no right to arraign your choice. Permit me to wish you a +good morning.' He bowed low, and quitted the room. Julia now +experienced a new distress; she dreaded the resentment of the marquis, +when he should be informed of her conversation with the duke, of whose +character she now judged too justly not to repent the confidence she +had reposed in him. + +The duke, on quitting Julia, went to the marquis, with whom he +remained in conversation some hours. When he had left the castle, the +marquis sent for his daughter, and poured forth his resentment with +all the violence of threats, and all the acrimony of contempt. So +severely did he ridicule the idea of her disposing of her heart, and +so dreadfully did he denounce vengeance on her disobedience, that she +scarcely thought herself safe in his presence. She stood trembling +and confused, and heard his reproaches without the power to reply. At +length the marquis informed her, that the nuptials would be solemnized +on the third day from the present; and as he quitted the room, a flood +of tears came to her relief, and saved her from fainting. + +Julia passed the remainder of the day in her closet with Emilia. Night +returned, but brought her no peace. She sat long after the departure +of Emilia; and to beguile recollection, she selected a favorite +author, endeavouring to revive those sensations his page had once +excited. She opened to a passage, the tender sorrow of which was +applicable to her own situation, and her tears flowed wean. Her grief +was soon suspended by apprehension. Hitherto a deadly silence had +reigned through the castle, interrupted only by the wind, whose low +sound crept at intervals through the galleries. She now thought she +heard a footstep near her door, but presently all was still, for she +believed she had been deceived by the wind. The succeeding moment, +however, convinced her of her error, for she distinguished the low +whisperings of some persons in the gallery. Her spirits, already +weakened by sorrow, deserted her: she was seized with an universal +terror, and presently afterwards a low voice called her from without, +and the door was opened by Ferdinand. + +She shrieked, and fainted. On recovering, she found herself supported +by Ferdinand and Hippolitus, who had stolen this moment of silence and +security to gain admittance to her presence. Hippolitus came to urge a +proposal which despair only could have suggested. 'Fly,' said he, +'from the authority of a father who abuses his power, and assert the +liberty of choice, which nature assigned you. Let the desperate +situation of my hopes plead excuse for the apparent boldness of this +address, and let the man who exists but for you be the means of saving +you from destruction. Alas! madam, you are silent, and perhaps I have +forfeited, by this proposal, the confidence I so lately flattered +myself I possessed. If so, I will submit to my fate in silence, and +will to-morrow quit a scene which presents only images of distress to +my mind.' + +Julia could speak but with her tears. A variety of strong and +contending emotions struggled at her breast, and suppressed the power +of utterance. Ferdinand seconded the proposal of the count. 'It is +unnecessary,' my sister, said he, 'to point out the misery which +awaits you here. I love you too well tamely to suffer you to be +sacrificed to ambition, and to a passion still more hateful. I now +glory in calling Hippolitus my friend--let me ere long receive him as +a brother. I can give no stronger testimony of my esteem for his +character, than in the wish I now express. Believe me he has a heart +worthy of your acceptance--a heart noble and expansive as your +own.'--'Ah, cease,' said Julia, 'to dwell upon a character of whose +worth I am fully sensible. Your kindness and his merit can never be +forgotten by her whose misfortunes you have so generously suffered to +interest you.' She paused in silent hesitation. A sense of delicacy +made her hesitate upon the decision which her heart so warmly +prompted. If she fled with Hippolitus, she would avoid one evil, and +encounter another. She would escape the dreadful destiny awaiting her, +but must, perhaps, sully the purity of that reputation, which was +dearer to her than existence. In a mind like hers, exquisitely +susceptible of the pride of honor, this fear was able to counteract +every other consideration, and to keep her intentions in a state of +painful suspense. She sighed deeply, and continued silent. Hippolitus +was alarmed by the calm distress which her countenance exhibited. 'O! +Julia,' said he, 'relieve me from this dreadful suspense!--speak to +me--explain this silence.' She looked mournfully upon him---her lips +moved, but no sounds were uttered. As he repeated his question, she +waved her hand, and sunk back in her chair. She had not fainted, but +continued some time in a state of stupor not less alarming. The +importance of the present question, operating upon her mind, already +harassed by distress, had produced a temporary suspension of reason. +Hippolitus hung over her in an agony not to be described, and +Ferdinand vainly repeated her name. At length uttering a deep sigh, +she raised herself, and, like one awakened from a dream, gazed around +her. Hippolitus thanked God fervently in his heart. 'Tell me but that +you are well,' said he, 'and that I may dare to hope, and we will +leave you to repose.'--'My sister,' said Ferdinand, 'consult only your +own wishes, and leave the rest to me. Suffer a confidence in me to +dissipate the doubts with which you are agitated.'--'Ferdinand,' said +Julia, emphatically, 'how shall I express the gratitude your kindness +has excited?'--'Your gratitude,' said he, 'will be best shown in +consulting your own wishes; for be assured, that whatever procures +your happiness, will most effectually establish mine. Do not suffer +the prejudices of education to render you miserable. Believe me, that +a choice which involves the happiness or misery of your whole life, +ought to be decided only by yourself.' + +'Let us forbear for the present,' said Hippolitus, 'to urge the +subject. Repose is necessary for you,' addressing Julia, 'and I will +not suffer a selfish consideration any longer to with-hold you from +it.--Grant me but this request--that at this hour to-morrow night, I +may return hither to receive my doom.' Julia having consented to +receive Hippolitus and Ferdinand, they quitted the closet. In turning +into the grand gallery, they were surprised by the appearance of a +light, which gleamed upon the wall that terminated their view. It +seemed to proceed from a door which opened upon a back stair-case. +They pushed on, but it almost instantly disappeared, and upon the +stair-case all was still. They then separated, and retired to their +apartments, somewhat alarmed by this circumstance, which induced them +to suspect that their visit to Julia had been observed. + +Julia passed the night in broken slumbers, and anxious consideration. +On her present decision hung the crisis of her fate. Her consciousness +of the influence of Hippolitus over her heart, made her fear to +indulge its predilection, by trusting to her own opinion of its +fidelity. She shrunk from the disgraceful idea of an elopement; yet +she saw no means of avoiding this, but by rushing upon the fate so +dreadful to her imagination. + +On the following night, when the inhabitants of the castle were +retired to rest, Hippolitus, whose expectation had lengthened the +hours into ages, accompanied by Ferdinand, revisited the closet. +Julia, who had known no interval of rest since they last left her, +received them with much agitation. The vivid glow of health had fled +her cheek, and was succeeded by a languid delicacy, less beautiful, +but more interesting. To the eager enquiries of Hippolitus, she +returned no answer, but faintly smiling through her tears, presented +him her hand, and covered her face with her robe. 'I receive it,' +cried he, 'as the pledge of my happiness;--yet--yet let your voice +ratify the gift.' 'If the present concession does not sink me in your +esteem,' said Julia, in a low tone, 'this hand is yours.'--'The +concession, my love, (for by that tender name I may now call you) +would, if possible, raise you in my esteem; but since that has been +long incapable of addition, it can only heighten my opinion of myself, +and increase my gratitude to you: gratitude which I will endeavour to +shew by an anxious care of your happiness, and by the tender +attentions of a whole life. From this blessed moment,' continued he, +in a voice of rapture, 'permit me, in thought, to hail you as my wife. +From this moment let me banish every vestige of sorrow;--let me dry +those tears,' gently pressing her cheek with his lips, 'never to +spring again.'--The gratitude and joy which Ferdinand expressed upon +this occasion, united with the tenderness of Hippolitus to soothe the +agitated spirits of Julia, and she gradually recovered her +complacency. + +They now arranged their plan of escape; in the execution of which, no +time was to be lost, since the nuptials with the duke were to be +solemnized on the day after the morrow. Their scheme, whatever it was +that should be adopted, they, therefore, resolved to execute on the +following night. But when they descended from the first warmth of +enterprize, to minuter examination, they soon found the difficulties +of the undertaking. The keys of the castle were kept by Robert, the +confidential servant of the marquis, who every night deposited them in +an iron chest in his chamber. To obtain them by stratagem seemed +impossible, and Ferdinand feared to tamper with the honesty of this +man, who had been many years in the service of the marquis. Dangerous +as was the attempt, no other alternative appeared, and they were +therefore compelled to rest all their hopes upon the experiment. It +was settled, that if the keys could be procured, Ferdinand and +Hippolitus should meet Julia in the closet; that they should convey +her to the seashore, from whence a boat, which was to be kept in +waiting, would carry them to the opposite coast of Calabria, where the +marriage might be solemnized without danger of interruption. But, as +it was necessary that Ferdinand should not appear in the affair, it +was agreed that he should return to the castle immediately upon the +embarkation of his sister. Having thus arranged their plan of +operation, they separated till the following night, which was to +decide the fate of Hippolitus and Julia. + +Julia, whose mind was soothed by the fraternal kindness of Ferdinand, +and the tender assurances of Hippolitus, now experienced an interval +of repose. At the return of day she awoke refreshed, and tolerably +composed. She selected a few clothes which were necessary, and +prepared them for her journey. A sentiment of generosity justified her +in the reserve she preserved to Emilia and Madame de Menon, whose +faithfulness and attachment she could not doubt, but whom she +disdained to involve in the disgrace that must fall upon them, should +their knowledge of her flight be discovered. + +In the mean time the castle was a scene of confusion. The magnificent +preparations which were making for the nuptials, engaged all eyes, and +busied all hands. The marchioness had the direction of the whole; and +the alacrity with which she acquitted herself, testified how much she +was pleased with the alliance, and created a suspicion, that it had +not been concerted without some exertion of her influence. Thus was +Julia designed the joint victim of ambition and illicit love. + +The composure of Julia declined with the day, whose hours had crept +heavily along. As the night drew on, her anxiety for the success of +Ferdinand's negociation with Robert increased to a painful degree. A +variety of new emotions pressed at her heart, and subdued her spirits. +When she bade Emilia good night, she thought she beheld her for the +last time. The ideas of the distance which would separate them, of the +dangers she was going to encounter, with a train of wild and fearful +anticipations, crouded upon her mind, tears sprang in her eyes, and it +was with difficulty she avoided betraying her emotions. Of madame, +too, her heart took a tender farewell. At length she heard the marquis +retire to his apartment, and the doors belonging to the several +chambers of the guests successively close. She marked with trembling +attention the gradual change from bustle to quiet, till all was still. + +She now held herself in readiness to depart at the moment in which +Ferdinand and Hippolitus, for whose steps in the gallery she eagerly +listened, should appear. The castle clock struck twelve. The sound +seemed to shake the pile. Julia felt it thrill upon her heart. 'I hear +you,' sighed she, 'for the last time.' The stillness of death +succeeded. She continued to listen; but no sound met her ear. For a +considerable time she sat in a state of anxious expectation not to be +described. The clock chimed the successive quarters; and her fear rose +to each additional sound. At length she heard it strike one. Hollow +was that sound, and dreadful to her hopes; for neither Hippolitus nor +Ferdinand appeared. She grew faint with fear and disappointment. Her +mind, which for two hours had been kept upon the stretch of +expectation, now resigned itself to despair. She gently opened the +door of her closet, and looked upon the gallery; but all was lonely +and silent. It appeared that Robert had refused to be accessary to +their scheme; and it was probable that he had betrayed it to the +marquis. Overwhelmed with bitter reflections, she threw herself upon +the sopha in the first distraction of despair. Suddenly she thought +she heard a noise in the gallery; and as she started from her posture +to listen to the sound, the door of her closet was gently opened by +Ferdinand. 'Come, my love,' said he, 'the keys are ours, and we have +not a moment to lose; our delay has been unavoidable; but this is no +time for explanation.' Julia, almost fainting, gave her hand to +Ferdinand, and Hippolitus, after some short expression of his +thankfulness, followed. They passed the door of madame's chamber; and +treading the gallery with slow and silent steps, descended to the +hall. This they crossed towards a door, after opening which, they +were to find their way, through various passages, to a remote part of +the castle, where a private door opened upon the walls. Ferdinand +carried the several keys. They fastened the hall door after them, and +proceeded through a narrow passage terminating in a stair-case. + +They descended, and had hardly reached the bottom, when they heard a +loud noise at the door above, and presently the voices of several +people. Julia scarcely felt the ground she trod on, and Ferdinand flew +to unlock a door that obstructed their way. He applied the different +keys, and at length found the proper one; but the lock was rusted, and +refused to yield. Their distress was not now to be conceived. The +noise above increased; and it seemed as if the people were forcing the +door. Hippolitus and Ferdinand vainly tried to turn the key. A sudden +crash from above convinced them that the door had yielded, when making +another desperate effort, the key broke in the lock. Trembling and +exhausted, Julia gave herself up for lost. As she hung upon Ferdinand, +Hippolitus vainly endeavoured to sooth her--the noise suddenly ceased. +They listened, dreading to hear the sounds renewed; but, to their +utter astonishment, the silence of the place remained undisturbed. +They had now time to breathe, and to consider the possibility of +effecting their escape; for from the marquis they had no mercy to +hope. Hippolitus, in order to ascertain whether the people had quitted +the door above, began to ascend the passage, in which he had not gone +many steps when the noise was renewed with increased violence. He +instantly retreated; and making a desperate push at the door below, +which obstructed their passage, it seemed to yield, and by another +effort of Ferdinand, burst open. They had not an instant to lose; for +they now heard the steps of persons descending the stairs. The avenue +they were in opened into a kind of chamber, whence three passages +branched, of which they immediately chose the first. Another door now +obstructed their passage; and they were compelled to wait while +Ferdinand applied the keys. 'Be quick,' said Julia, 'or we are lost. +O! if this lock too is rusted!'--'Hark!' said Ferdinand. They now +discovered what apprehension had before prevented them from +perceiving, that the sounds of pursuit were ceased, and all again was +silent. As this could happen only by the mistake of their pursuers, in +taking the wrong _route_, they resolved to preserve their advantage, +by concealing the light, which Ferdinand now covered with his cloak. +The door was opened, and they passed on; but they were perplexed in +the intricacies of the place, and wandered about in vain endeavour to +find their way. Often did they pause to listen, and often did fancy +give them sounds of fearful import. At length they entered on the +passage which Ferdinand knew led directly to a door that opened on the +woods. Rejoiced at this certainty, they soon reached the spot which +was to give them liberty. + +Ferdinand turned the key; the door unclosed, and, to their infinite +joy, discovered to them the grey dawn. 'Now, my love,' said +Hippolitus, 'you are safe, and I am happy.'--Immediately a loud voice +from without exclaimed, 'Take, villain, the reward of your perfidy!' +At the same instant Hippolitus received a sword in his body, and +uttering a deep sigh, fell to the ground. Julia shrieked and fainted; +Ferdinand drawing his sword, advanced towards the assassin, upon whose +countenance the light of his lamp then shone, and discovered to him +his father! The sword fell from his grasp, and he started back in an +agony of horror. He was instantly surrounded, and seized by the +servants of the marquis, while the marquis himself denounced vengeance +upon his head, and ordered him to be thrown into the dungeon of the +castle. At this instant the servants of the count, who were awaiting +his arrival on the seashore, hearing the tumult, hastened to the +scene, and there beheld their beloved master lifeless and weltering in +his blood. They conveyed the bleeding body, with loud lamentations, +on board the vessel which had been prepared for him, and immediately +set sail for Italy. + +Julia, on recovering her senses, found herself in a small room, of +which she had no remembrance, with her maid weeping over her. +Recollection, when it returned, brought to her mind an energy of +grief, which exceeded even all former conceptions of sufferings. Yet +her misery was heightened by the intelligence which she now received. +She learned that Hippolitus had been borne away lifeless by his +people, that Ferdinand was confined in a dungeon by order of the +marquis, and that herself was a prisoner in a remote room, from which, +on the day after the morrow, she was to be removed to the chapel of +the castle, and there sacrificed to the ambition of her father, and +the absurd love of the Duke de Luovo. + +This accumulation of evil subdued each power of resistance, and +reduced Julia to a state little short of distraction. No person was +allowed to approach her but her maid, and the servant who brought her +food. Emilia, who, though shocked by Julia's apparent want of +confidence, severely sympathized in her distress, solicited to see +her; but the pain of denial was so sharply aggravated by rebuke, that +she dared not again to urge the request. + +In the mean time Ferdinand, involved in the gloom of a dungeon, was +resigned to the painful recollection of the past, and a horrid +anticipation of the future. From the resentment of the marquis, whose +passions were wild and terrible, and whose rank gave him an unlimited +power of life and death in his own territories, Ferdinand had much to +fear. Yet selfish apprehension soon yielded to a more noble sorrow. +He mourned the fate of Hippolitus, and the sufferings of Julia. He +could attribute the failure of their scheme only to the treachery of +Robert, who had, however, met the wishes of Ferdinand with strong +apparent sincerity, and generous interest in the cause of Julia. On +the night of the intended elopement, he had consigned the keys to +Ferdinand, who, immediately on receiving them, went to the apartment +of Hippolitus. There they were detained till after the clock had +struck one by a low noise, which returned at intervals, and convinced +them that some part of the family was not yet retired to rest. This +noise was undoubtedly occasioned by the people whom the marquis had +employed to watch, and whose vigilance was too faithful to suffer the +fugitives to escape. The very caution of Ferdinand defeated its +purpose; for it is probable, that had he attempted to quit the castle +by the common entrance, he might have escaped. The keys of the grand +door, and those of the courts, remaining in the possession of Robert, +the marquis was certain of the intended place of their departure; and +was thus enabled to defeat their hopes at the very moment when they +exulted in their success. + +When the marchioness learned the fate of Hippolitus, the resentment of +jealous passion yielded to emotions of pity. Revenge was satisfied, +and she could now lament the sufferings of a youth whose personal +charms had touched her heart as much as his virtues had disappointed +her hopes. Still true to passion, and inaccessible to reason, she +poured upon the defenceless Julia her anger for that calamity of which +she herself was the unwilling cause. By a dextrous adaptation of her +powers, she had worked upon the passions of the marquis so as to +render him relentless in the pursuit of ambitious purposes, and +insatiable in revenging his disappointment. But the effects of her +artifices exceeded her intention in exerting them; and when she meant +only to sacrifice a rival to her love, she found she had given up its +object to revenge. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The nuptial morn, so justly dreaded by Julia, and so impatiently +awaited by the marquis, now arrived. The marriage was to be celebrated +with a magnificence which demonstrated the joy it occasioned to the +marquis. The castle was fitted up in a style of grandeur superior to +any thing that had been before seen in it. The neighbouring nobility +were invited to an entertainment which was to conclude with a splendid +ball and supper, and the gates were to be thrown open to all who chose +to partake of the bounty of the marquis. At an early hour the duke, +attended by a numerous retinue, entered the castle. Ferdinand heard +from his dungeon, where the rigour and the policy of the marquis still +confined him, the loud clattering of hoofs in the courtyard above, the +rolling of the carriage wheels, and all the tumultuous bustle which +the entrance of the duke occasioned. He too well understood the cause +of this uproar, and it awakened in him sensations resembling those +which the condemned criminal feels, when his ears are assailed by the +dreadful sounds that precede his execution. When he was able to think +of himself, he wondered by what means the marquis would reconcile his +absence to the guests. He, however, knew too well the dissipated +character of the Sicilian nobility, to doubt that whatever story +should be invented would be very readily believed by them; who, even +if they knew the truth, would not suffer a discovery of their +knowledge to interrupt the festivity which was offered them. + +The marquis and marchioness received the duke in the outer hall, and +conducted him to the saloon, where he partook of the refreshments +prepared for him, and from thence retired to the chapel. The marquis +now withdrew to lead Julia to the altar, and Emilia was ordered to +attend at the door of the chapel, in which the priest and a numerous +company were already assembled. The marchioness, a prey to the +turbulence of succeeding passions, exulted in the near completion of +her favorite scheme.--A disappointment, however, was prepared for her, +which would at once crush the triumph of her malice and her pride. The +marquis, on entering the prison of Julia, found it empty! His +astonishment and indignation upon the discovery almost overpowered his +reason. Of the servants of the castle, who were immediately summoned, +he enquired concerning her escape, with a mixture of fury and sorrow +which left them no opportunity to reply. They had, however, no +information to give, but that her woman had not appeared during the +whole morning. In the prison were found the bridal habiliments which +the marchioness herself had sent on the preceding night, together with +a letter addressed to Emilia, which contained the following words: + +'Adieu, dear Emilia; never more will you see your wretched sister, who +flies from the cruel fate now prepared for her, certain that she can +never meet one more dreadful.--In happiness or misery--in hope or +despair--whatever may be your situation--still remember me with pity +and affection. Dear Emilia, adieu!--You will always be the sister of +my heart--may you never be the partner of my misfortunes!' + +While the marquis was reading this letter, the marchioness, who +supposed the delay occasioned by some opposition from Julia, flew to +the apartment. By her orders all the habitable parts of the castle +were explored, and she herself assisted in the search. At length the +intelligence was communicated to the chapel, and the confusion became +universal. The priest quitted the altar, and the company returned to +the saloon. + +The letter, when it was given to Emilia, excited emotions which she +found it impossible to disguise, but which did not, however, protect +her from a suspicion that she was concerned in the transaction, her +knowledge of which this letter appeared intended to conceal. + +The marquis immediately dispatched servants upon the fleetest horses +of his stables, with directions to take different routs, and to scour +every corner of the island in pursuit of the fugitives. When these +exertions had somewhat quieted his mind, he began to consider by what +means Julia could have effected her escape. She had been confined in a +small room in a remote part of the castle, to which no person had been +admitted but her own woman and Robert, the confidential servant of the +marquis. Even Lisette had not been suffered to enter, unless +accompanied by Robert, in whose room, since the night of the fatal +discovery, the keys had been regularly deposited. Without them it was +impossible she could have escaped: the windows of the apartment being +barred and grated, and opening into an inner court, at a prodigious +height from the ground. Besides, who could she depend upon for +protection--or whither could she intend to fly for concealment?--The +associates of her former elopement were utterly unable to assist her +even with advice. Ferdinand himself a prisoner, had been deprived of +any means of intercourse with her, and Hippolitus had been carried +lifeless on board a vessel, which had immediately sailed for Italy. + +Robert, to whom the keys had been entrusted, was severely interrogated +by the marquis. He persisted in a simple and uniform declaration of +his innocence; but as the marquis believed it impossible that Julia +could have escaped without his knowledge, he was ordered into +imprisonment till he should confess the fact. + +The pride of the duke was severely wounded by this elopement, which +proved the excess of Julia's aversion, and compleated the disgraceful +circumstances of his rejection. The marquis had carefully concealed +from him her prior attempt at elopement, and her consequent +confinement; but the truth now burst from disguise, and stood revealed +with bitter aggravation. The duke, fired with indignation at the +duplicity of the marquis, poured forth his resentment in terms of +proud and bitter invective; and the marquis, galled by recent +disappointment, was in no mood to restrain the impetuosity of his +nature. He retorted with acrimony; and the consequence would have been +serious, had not the friends of each party interposed for their +preservation. The disputants were at length reconciled; it was agreed +to pursue Julia with united, and indefatigable search; and that +whenever she should be found, the nuptials should be solemnized +without further delay. With the character of the duke, this conduct +was consistent. His passions, inflamed by disappointment, and +strengthened by repulse, now defied the power of obstacle; and those +considerations which would have operated with a more delicate mind to +overcome its original inclination, served only to encrease the +violence of his. + +Madame de Menon, who loved Julia with maternal affection, was an +interested observer of all that passed at the castle. The cruel fate +to which the marquis destined his daughter she had severely lamented, +yet she could hardly rejoice to find that this had been avoided by +elopement. She trembled for the future safety of her pupil; and her +tranquillity, which was thus first disturbed for the welfare of +others, she was not soon suffered to recover. + +The marchioness had long nourished a secret dislike to Madame de +Menon, whose virtues were a silent reproof to her vices. The +contrariety of their disposition created in the marchioness an +aversion which would have amounted to contempt, had not that dignity +of virtue which strongly characterized the manners of madame, +compelled the former to fear what she wished to despise. Her +conscience whispered her that the dislike was mutual; and she now +rejoiced in the opportunity which seemed to offer itself of lowering +the proud integrity of madame's character. Pretending, therefore, to +believe that she had encouraged Ferdinand to disobey his father's +commands, and had been accessary to the elopement, she accused her of +these offences, and stimulated the marquis to reprehend her conduct. +But the integrity of Madame de Menon was not to be questioned with +impunity. Without deigning to answer the imputation, she desired to +resign an office of which she was no longer considered worthy, and to +quit the castle immediately. This the policy of the marquis would not +suffer; and he was compelled to make such ample concessions to madame, +as induced her for the present to continue at the castle. + +The news of Julia's elopement at length reached the ears of Ferdinand, +whose joy at this event was equalled only by his surprize. He lost, +for a moment, the sense of his own situation, and thought only of the +escape of Julia. But his sorrow soon returned with accumulated force +when he recollected that Julia might then perhaps want that assistance +which his confinement alone could prevent his affording her. + +The servants, who had been sent in pursuit, returned to the castle +without any satisfactory information. Week after week elapsed in +fruitless search, yet the duke was strenuous in continuing the +pursuit. Emissaries were dispatched to Naples, and to the several +estates of the Count Vereza, but they returned without any +satisfactory information. The count had not been heard of since he +quitted Naples for Sicily. + +During these enquiries a new subject of disturbance broke out in the +castle of Mazzini. On the night so fatal to the hopes of Hippolitus +and Julia, when the tumult was subsided, and all was still, a light +was observed by a servant as he passed by the window of the great +stair-case in the way to his chamber, to glimmer through the casement +before noticed in the southern buildings. While he stood observing it, +it vanished, and presently reappeared. The former mysterious +circumstances relative to these buildings rushed upon his mind; and +fired with wonder, he roused some of his fellow servants to come and +behold this phenomenon. + +As they gazed in silent terror, the light disappeared, and soon after, +they saw a small door belonging to the south tower open, and a figure +bearing a light issue forth, which gliding along the castle walls, was +quickly lost to their view. Overcome with fear they hurried back to +their chambers, and revolved all the late wonderful occurrences. They +doubted not, that this was the figure formerly seen by the lady Julia. +The sudden change of Madame de Menon's apartments had not passed +unobserved by the servants, but they now no longer hesitated to what +to attribute the removal. They collected each various and uncommon +circumstance attendant on this part of the fabric; and, comparing them +with the present, their superstitious fears were confirmed, and their +terror heightened to such a degree, that many of them resolved to quit +the service of the marquis. + +The marquis surprized at this sudden desertion, enquired into its +cause, and learned the truth. Shocked by this discovery, he yet +resolved to prevent, if possible, the ill effects which might be +expected from a circulation of the report. To this end it was +necessary to quiet the minds of his people, and to prevent their +quitting his service. Having severely reprehended them for the idle +apprehension they encouraged, he told them that, to prove the fallacy +of their surmises, he would lead them over that part of the castle +which was the subject of their fears, and ordered them to attend him +at the return of night in the north hall. Emilia and Madame de Menon, +surprised at this procedure, awaited the issue in silent expectation. + +The servants, in obedience to the commands of the marquis, assembled +at night in the north hall. The air of desolation which reigned +through the south buildings, and the circumstance of their having been +for so many years shut up, would naturally tend to inspire awe; but to +these people, who firmly believed them to be the haunt of an unquiet +spirit, terror was the predominant sentiment. + +The marquis now appeared with the keys of these buildings in his +hands, and every heart thrilled with wild expectation. He ordered +Robert to precede him with a torch, and the rest of the servants +following, he passed on. A pair of iron gates were unlocked, and they +proceeded through a court, whose pavement was wildly overgrown with +long grass, to the great door of the south fabric. Here they met with +some difficulty, for the lock, which had not been turned for many +years, was rusted. + +During this interval, the silence of expectation sealed the lips of +all present. At length the lock yielded. That door which had not been +passed for so many years, creaked heavily upon its hinges, and +disclosed the hall of black marble which Ferdinand had formerly +crossed. 'Now,' cried the marquis, in a tone of irony as he entered, +'expect to encounter the ghosts of which you tell me; but if you fail +to conquer them, prepare to quit my service. The people who live with +me shall at least have courage and ability sufficient to defend me +from these spiritual attacks. All I apprehend is, that the enemy will +not appear, and in this case your valour will go untried.' + +No one dared to answer, but all followed, in silent fear, the marquis, +who ascended the great stair-case, and entered the gallery. 'Unlock +that door,' said he, pointing to one on the left, 'and we will soon +unhouse these ghosts.' Robert applied the key, but his hand shook so +violently that he could not turn it. 'Here is a fellow,' cried the +marquis, 'fit to encounter a whole legion of spirits. Do you, Anthony, +take the key, and try your valour.' + +'Please you, my lord,' replied Anthony, 'I never was a good one at +unlocking a door in my life, but here is Gregory will do it.'--'No, my +lord, an' please you,' said Gregory, 'here is Richard.'--'Stand off,' +said the marquis, 'I will shame your cowardice, and do it myself.' + +Saying this he turned the key, and was rushing on, but the door +refused to yield; it shook under his hands, and seemed as if partially +held by some person on the other side. The marquis was surprized, and +made several efforts to move it, without effect. He then ordered his +servants to burst it open, but, shrinking back with one accord, they +cried, 'For God's sake, my lord, go no farther; we are satisfied here +are no ghosts, only let us get back.' + +'It is now then my turn to be satisfied,' replied the marquis, 'and +till I am, not one of you shall stir. Open me that door.'--'My +lord!'--'Nay,' said the marquis, assuming a look of stern +authority--'dispute not my commands. I am not to be trifled with.' + +They now stepped forward, and applied their strength to the door, when +a loud and sudden noise burst from within, and resounded through the +hollow chambers! The men started back in affright, and were rushing +headlong down the stair-case, when the voice of the marquis arrested +their flight. They returned, with hearts palpitating with terror. +'Observe what I say,' said the marquis, 'and behave like men. Yonder +door,' pointing to one at some distance, 'will lead us through other +rooms to this chamber--unlock it therefore, for I will know the cause +of these sounds.' Shocked at this determination, the servants again +supplicated the marquis to go no farther; and to be obeyed, he was +obliged to exert all his authority. The door was opened, and +discovered a long narrow passage, into which they descended by a few +steps. It led to a gallery that terminated in a back stair-case, where +several doors appeared, one of which the marquis unclosed. A spacious +chamber appeared beyond, whose walls, decayed and discoloured by the +damps, exhibited a melancholy proof of desertion. + +They passed on through a long suite of lofty and noble apartments, +which were in the same ruinous condition. At length they came to the +chamber whence the noise had issued. 'Go first, Robert, with the +light,' said the marquis, as they approached the door; 'this is the +key.' Robert trembled--but obeyed, and the other servants followed in +silence. They stopped a moment at the door to listen, but all was +still within. The door was opened, and disclosed a large vaulted +chamber, nearly resembling those they had passed, and on looking +round, they discovered at once the cause of the alarm.--A part of the +decayed roof was fallen in, and the stones and rubbish of the ruin +falling against the gallery door, obstructed the passage. It was +evident, too, whence the noise which occasioned their terror had +arisen; the loose stones which were piled against the door being shook +by the effort made to open it, had given way, and rolled to the floor. + +After surveying the place, they returned to the back stairs, which +they descended, and having pursued the several windings of a long +passage, found themselves again in the marble hall. 'Now,' said the +marquis, 'what think ye? What evil spirits infest these walls? +Henceforth be cautious how ye credit the phantasms of idleness, for ye +may not always meet with a master who will condescend to undeceive +ye.'--They acknowledged the goodness of the marquis, and professing +themselves perfectly conscious of the error of their former +suspicions, desired they might search no farther. 'I chuse to leave +nothing to your imagination,' replied the marquis, 'lest hereafter it +should betray you into a similar error. Follow me, therefore; you +shall see the whole of these buildings.' Saying this, he led them to +the south tower. They remembered, that from a door of this tower the +figure which caused their alarm had issued; and notwithstanding the +late assertion of their suspicions being removed, fear still operated +powerfully upon their minds, and they would willingly have been +excused from farther research. 'Would any of you chuse to explore this +tower?' said the marquis, pointing to the broken stair-case; 'for +myself, I am mortal, and therefore fear to venture; but you, who hold +communion with disembodied spirits, may partake something of their +nature; if so, you may pass without apprehension where the ghost has +probably passed before.' They shrunk at this reproof, and were silent. + +The marquis turning to a door on his right hand, ordered it to be +unlocked. It opened upon the country, and the servants knew it to be +the same whence the figure had appeared. Having relocked it, 'Lift +that trapdoor; we will desend into the vaults,' said the marquis. +'What trapdoor, my Lord?' said Robert, with encreased agitation; 'I +see none.' The marquis pointed, and Robert, perceived a door, which +lay almost concealed beneath the stones that had fallen from the +stair-case above. He began to remove them, when the marquis suddenly +turning--'I have already sufficiently indulged your folly,' said he, +'and am weary of this business. If you are capable of receiving +conviction from truth, you must now be convinced that these buildings +are not the haunt of a supernatural being; and if you are incapable, +it would be entirely useless to proceed. You, Robert, may therefore +spare yourself the trouble of removing the rubbish; we will quit this +part of the fabric.' + +The servants joyfully obeyed, and the marquis locking the several +doors, returned with the keys to the habitable part of the castle. + +Every enquiry after Julia had hitherto proved fruitless; and the +imperious nature of the marquis, heightened by the present vexation, +became intolerably oppressive to all around him. As the hope of +recovering Julia declined, his opinion that Emilia had assisted her to +escape strengthened, and he inflicted upon her the severity of his +unjust suspicions. She was ordered to confine herself to her apartment +till her innocence should be cleared, or her sister discovered. From +Madame de Menon she received a faithful sympathy, which was the sole +relief of her oppressed heart. Her anxiety concerning Julia daily +encreased, and was heightened into the most terrifying apprehensions +for her safety. She knew of no person in whom her sister could +confide, or of any place where she could find protection; the most +deplorable evils were therefore to be expected. + +One day, as she was sitting at the window of her apartment, engaged in +melancholy reflection, she saw a man riding towards the castle on full +speed. Her heart beat with fear and expectation; for his haste made +her suspect he brought intelligence of Julia; and she could scarcely +refrain from breaking through the command of the marquis, and rushing +into the hall to learn something of his errand. She was right in her +conjecture; the person she had seen was a spy of the marquis's, and +came to inform him that the lady Julia was at that time concealed in a +cottage of the forest of Marentino. The marquis, rejoiced at this +intelligence, gave the man a liberal reward. He learned also, that she +was accompanied by a young cavalier; which circumstance surprized him +exceedingly; for he knew of no person except the Count de Vereza with +whom she could have entrusted herself, and the count had fallen by his +sword! He immediately ordered a party of his people to accompany the +messenger to the forest of Marentino, and to suffer neither Julia nor +the cavalier to escape them, on pain of death. + +When the Duke de Luovo was informed of this discovery, he entreated +and obtained permission of the marquis to join in the pursuit. He +immediately set out on the expedition, armed, and followed by a number +of his servants. He resolved to encounter all hazards, and to practice +the most desperate extremes, rather than fail in the object of his +enterprize. In a short time he overtook the marquis's people, and they +proceeded together with all possible speed. The forest lay several +leagues distant from the castle of Mazzini, and the day was closing +when they entered upon the borders. The thick foliage of the trees +spread a deeper shade around; and they were obliged to proceed with +caution. Darkness had long fallen upon the earth when they reached +the cottage, to which they were directed by a light that glimmered +from afar among the trees. The duke left his people at some distance; +and dismounted, and accompanied only by one servant, approached the +cottage. When he reached it he stopped, and looking through the +window, observed a man and woman in the habit of peasants seated at +their supper. They were conversing with earnestness, and the duke, +hoping to obtain farther intelligence of Julia, endeavoured to listen +to their discourse. They were praising the beauty of a lady, whom the +duke did not doubt to be Julia, and the woman spoke much in praise of +the cavalier. 'He has a noble heart,' said she; 'and I am sure, by +his look, belongs to some great family.'--'Nay,' replied her +companion, 'the lady is as good as he. I have been at Palermo, and +ought to know what great folks are, and if she is not one of them, +never take my word again. Poor thing, how she does take on! It made my +heart ache to see her.' + +They were some time silent. The duke knocked at the door, and enquired +of the man who opened it concerning the lady and cavalier then in his +cottage. He was assured there were no other persons in the cottage +than those he then saw. The duke persisted in affirming that the +persons he enquired for were there concealed; which the man being as +resolute in denying, he gave the signal, and his people approached, +and surrounded the cottage. The peasants, terrified by this +circumstance, confessed that a lady and cavalier, such as the duke +described, had been for some time concealed in the cottage; but that +they were now departed. + +Suspicious of the truth of the latter assertion, the duke ordered his +people to search the cottage, and that part of the forest contiguous +to it. The search ended in disappointment. The duke, however, +resolved to obtain all possible information concerning the fugitives; +and assuming, therefore, a stern air, bade the peasant, on pain of +instant death, discover all he knew of them. + +The man replied, that on a very dark and stormy night, about a week +before, two persons had come to the cottage, and desired shelter. That +they were unattended; but seemed to be persons of consequence in +disguise. That they paid very liberally for what they had; and that +they departed from the cottage a few hours before the arrival of the +duke. + +The duke enquired concerning the course they had taken, and having +received information, remounted his horse, and set forward in pursuit. +The road lay for several leagues through the forest, and the darkness, +and the probability of encountering banditti, made the journey +dangerous. About the break of day they quitted the forest, and entered +upon a wild and mountainous country, in which they travelled some +miles without perceiving a hut, or a human being. No vestige of +cultivation appeared, and no sounds reached them but those of their +horses feet, and the roaring of the winds through the deep forests +that overhung the mountains. The pursuit was uncertain, but the duke +resolved to persevere. + +They came at length to a cottage, where he repeated his enquiries, and +learned to his satisfaction that two persons, such as he described, +had stopped there for refreshment about two hours before. He found it +now necessary to stop for the same purpose. Bread and milk, the only +provisions of the place, were set before him, and his attendants would +have been well contented, had there been sufficient of this homely +fare to have satisfied their hunger. + +Having dispatched an hasty meal, they again set forward in the way +pointed out to them as the route of the fugitives. The country +assumed a more civilized aspect. Corn, vineyards, olives, and groves +of mulberry-trees adorned the hills. The vallies, luxuriant in shade, +were frequently embellished by the windings of a lucid stream, and +diversified by clusters of half-seen cottages. Here the rising turrets +of a monastery appeared above the thick trees with which they were +surrounded; and there the savage wilds the travellers had passed, +formed a bold and picturesque background to the scene. + +To the questions put by the duke to the several persons he met, he +received answers that encouraged him to proceed. At noon he halted at +a village to refresh himself and his people. He could gain no +intelligence of Julia, and was perplexed which way to chuse; but +determined at length to pursue the road he was then in, and +accordingly again set forward. He travelled several miles without +meeting any person who could give the necessary information, and began +to despair of success. The lengthened shadows of the mountains, and +the fading light gave signals of declining day; when having gained the +summit of a high hill, he observed two persons travelling on horseback +in the plains below. On one of them he distinguished the habiliments +of a woman; and in her air he thought he discovered that of Julia. +While he stood attentively surveying them, they looked towards the +hill, when, as if urged by a sudden impulse of terror, they set off on +full speed over the plains. The duke had no doubt that these were the +persons he sought; and he, therefore, ordered some of his people to +pursue them, and pushed his horse into a full gallop. Before he +reached the plains, the fugitives, winding round an abrupt hill, were +lost to his view. The duke continued his course, and his people, who +were a considerable way before him, at length reached the hill, behind +which the two persons had disappeared. No traces of them were to be +seen, and they entered a narrow defile between two ranges of high and +savage mountains; on the right of which a rapid stream rolled along, +and broke with its deep resounding murmurs the solemn silence of the +place. The shades of evening now fell thick, and the scene was soon +enveloped in darkness; but to the duke, who was animated by a strong +and impetuous passion, these were unimportant circumstances. Although +he knew that the wilds of Sicily were frequently infested with +banditti, his numbers made him fearless of attack. Not so his +attendants, many of whom, as the darkness increased, testified +emotions not very honourable to their courage: starting at every bush, +and believing it concealed a murderer. They endeavoured to dissuade +the duke from proceeding, expressing uncertainty of their being in the +right route, and recommending the open plains. But the duke, whose eye +had been vigilant to mark the flight of the fugitives, and who was not +to be dissuaded from his purpose, quickly repressed their arguments. +They continued their course without meeting a single person. + +The moon now rose, and afforded them a shadowy imperfect view of the +surrounding objects. The prospect was gloomy and vast, and not a human +habitation met their eyes. They had now lost every trace of the +fugitives, and found themselves bewildered in a wild and savage +country. Their only remaining care was to extricate themselves from so +forlorn a situation, and they listened at every step with anxious +attention for some sound that might discover to them the haunts of +men. They listened in vain; the stillness of night was undisturbed but +by the wind, which broke at intervals in low and hollow murmurs from +among the mountains. + +As they proceeded with silent caution, they perceived a light break +from among the rocks at some distance. The duke hesitated whether to +approach, since it might probably proceed from a party of the banditti +with which these mountains were said to be infested. While he +hesitated, it disappeared; but he had not advanced many steps when it +returned. He now perceived it to issue from the mouth of a cavern, and +cast a bright reflection upon the overhanging rocks and shrubs. + +He dismounted, and followed by two of his people, leaving the rest at +some distance, moved with slow and silent steps towards the cave. As +he drew near, he heard the sound of many voices in high carousal. +Suddenly the uproar ceased, and the following words were sung by a +clear and manly voice: + +SONG + + Pour the rich libation high; + The sparkling cup to Bacchus fill; + His joys shall dance in ev'ry eye, + And chace the forms of future ill! + + Quick the magic raptures steal + O'er the fancy-kindling brain. + Warm the heart with social zeal, + And song and laughter reign. + + Then visions of pleasure shall float on our sight, + While light bounding our spirits shall flow; + And the god shall impart a fine sense of delight + Which in vain _sober_ mortals would know. + +The last verse was repeated in loud chorus. The duke listened with +astonishment! Such social merriment amid a scene of such savage +wildness, appeared more like enchantment than reality. He would not +have hesitated to pronounce this a party of banditti, had not the +delicacy of expression preserved in the song appeared unattainable by +men of their class. + +He had now a full view of the cave; and the moment which convinced him +of his error served only to encrease his surprize. He beheld, by the +light of a fire, a party of banditti seated within the deepest recess +of the cave round a rude kind of table formed in the rock. The table +was spread with provisions, and they were regaling themselves with +great eagerness and joy. The countenances of the men exhibited a +strange mixture of fierceness and sociality; and the duke could almost +have imagined he beheld in these robbers a band of the early Romans +before knowledge had civilized, or luxury had softened them. But he +had not much time for meditation; a sense of his danger bade him fly +while to fly was yet in his power. As he turned to depart, he observed +two saddle-horses grazing upon the herbage near the mouth of the cave. +It instantly occurred to him that they belonged to Julia and her +companion. He hesitated, and at length determined to linger awhile, +and listen to the conversation of the robbers, hoping from thence to +have his doubts resolved. They talked for some time in a strain of +high conviviality, and recounted in exultation many of their exploits. +They described also the behaviour of several people whom they had +robbed, with highly ludicrous allusions, and with much rude humour, +while the cave re-echoed with loud bursts of laughter and applause. +They were thus engaged in tumultuous merriment, till one of them +cursing the scanty plunder of their late adventure, but praising the +beauty of a lady, they all lowered their voices together, and seemed +as if debating upon a point uncommonly interesting to them. The +passions of the duke were roused, and he became certain that it was +Julia of whom they had spoken. In the first impulse of feeling he drew +his sword; but recollecting the number of his adversaries, restrained +his fury. He was turning from the cave with a design of summoning his +people, when the light of the fire glittering upon the bright blade of +his weapon, caught the eye of one of the banditti. He started from +his seat, and his comrades instantly rising in consternation, +discovered the duke. They rushed with loud vociferation towards the +mouth of the cave. He endeavoured to escape to his people; but two of +the banditti mounting the horses which were grazing near, quickly +overtook and seized him. His dress and air proclaimed him to be a +person of distinction; and, rejoicing in their prospect of plunder, +they forced him towards the cave. Here their comrades awaited them; +but what were the emotions of the duke, when he discovered in the +person of the principal robber his own son! who, to escape the galling +severity of his father, had fled from his castle some years before, +and had not been heard of since. + +He had placed himself at the head of a party of banditti, and, pleased +with the liberty which till then he had never tasted, and with the +power which his new situation afforded him, he became so much attached +to this wild and lawless mode of life, that he determined never to +quit it till death should dissolve those ties which now made his rank +only oppressive. This event seemed at so great a distance, that he +seldom allowed himself to think of it. Whenever it should happen, he +had no doubt that he might either resume his rank without danger of +discovery, or might justify his present conduct as a frolic which a +few acts of generosity would easily excuse. He knew his power would +then place him beyond the reach of censure, in a country where the +people are accustomed to implicit subordination, and seldom dare to +scrutinize the actions of the nobility. + +His sensations, however, on discovering his father, were not very +pleasing; but proclaiming the duke, he protected him from farther +outrage. + +With the duke, whose heart was a stranger to the softer affections, +indignation usurped the place of parental feeling. His pride was the +only passion affected by the discovery; and he had the rashness to +express the indignation, which the conduct of his son had excited, in +terms of unrestrained invective. The banditti, inflamed by the +opprobium with which he loaded their order, threatened instant +punishment to his temerity; and the authority of Riccardo could hardly +restrain them within the limits of forbearance. + +The menaces, and at length entreaties of the duke, to prevail with his +son to abandon his present way of life, were equally ineffectual. +Secure in his own power, Riccardo laughed at the first, and was +insensible to the latter; and his father was compelled to relinquish +the attempt. The duke, however, boldly and passionately accused him of +having plundered and secreted a lady and cavalier, his friends, at the +same time describing Julia, for whose liberation he offered large +rewards. Riccardo denied the fact, which so much exasperated the duke, +that he drew his sword with an intention of plunging it in the breast +of his son. His arm was arrested by the surrounding banditti, who +half unsheathed their swords, and stood suspended in an attitude of +menace. The fate of the father now hung upon the voice of the son. +Riccardo raised his arm, but instantly dropped it, and turned away. +The banditti sheathed their weapons, and stepped back. + +Riccardo solemnly swearing that he knew nothing of the persons +described, the duke at length became convinced of the truth of the +assertion, and departing from the cave, rejoined his people. All the +impetuous passions of his nature were roused and inflamed by the +discovery of his son in a situation so wretchedly disgraceful. Yet it +was his pride rather than his virtue that was hurt; and when he wished +him dead, it was rather to save himself from disgrace, than his son +from the real indignity of vice. He had no means of reclaiming him; to +have attempted it by force, would have been at this time the excess of +temerity, for his attendants, though numerous, were undisciplined, and +would have fallen certain victims to the power of a savage and +dexterous banditti. + +With thoughts agitated in fierce and agonizing conflict, he pursued +his journey; and having lost all trace of Julia, sought only for an +habitation which might shelter him from the night, and afford +necessary refreshment for himself and his people. With this, however, +there appeared little hope of meeting. + + + +CHAPTER V + +The night grew stormy. The hollow winds swept over the mountains, and +blew bleak and cold around; the clouds were driven swiftly over the +face of the moon, and the duke and his people were frequently involved +in total darkness. They had travelled on silently and dejectedly for +some hours, and were bewildered in the wilds, when they suddenly heard +the bell of a monastery chiming for midnight-prayer. Their hearts +revived at the sound, which they endeavoured to follow, but they had +not gone far, when the gale wafted it away, and they were abandoned to +the uncertain guide of their own conjectures. + +They had pursued for some time the way which they judged led to the +monastery, when the note of the bell returned upon the wind, and +discovered to them that they had mistaken their route. After much +wandering and difficulty they arrived, overcome with weariness, at the +gates of a large and gloomy fabric. The bell had ceased, and all was +still. By the moonlight, which through broken clouds now streamed upon +the building, they became convinced it was the monastery they had +sought, and the duke himself struck loudly upon the gate. + +Several minutes elapsed, no person appeared, and he repeated the +stroke. A step was presently heard within, the gate was unbarred, and +a thin shivering figure presented itself. The duke solicited +admission, but was refused, and reprimanded for disturbing the convent +at the hour sacred to prayer. He then made known his rank, and bade +the friar inform the Superior that he requested shelter from the +night. The friar, suspicious of deceit, and apprehensive of robbers, +refused with much firmness, and repeated that the convent was engaged +in prayer; he had almost closed the gate, when the duke, whom hunger +and fatigue made desperate, rushed by him, and passed into the court. +It was his intention to present himself to the Superior, and he had +not proceeded far when the sound of laughter, and of many voices in +loud and mirthful jollity, attracted his steps. It led him through +several passages to a door, through the crevices of which light +appeared. He paused a moment, and heard within a wild uproar of +merriment and song. He was struck with astonishment, and could +scarcely credit his senses! + +He unclosed the door, and beheld in a large room, well lighted, a +company of friars, dressed in the habit of their order, placed round a +table, which was profusely spread with wines and fruits. The Superior, +whose habit distinguished him from his associates, appeared at the +head of the table. He was lifting a large goblet of wine to his lips, +and was roaring out, 'Profusion and confusion,' at the moment when the +duke entered. His appearance caused a general alarm; that part of the +company who were not too much intoxicated, arose from their seats; and +the Superior, dropping the goblet from his hands, endeavoured to +assume a look of austerity, which his rosy countenance belied. The +duke received a reprimand, delivered in the lisping accents of +intoxication, and embellished with frequent interjections of hiccup. +He made known his quality, his distress, and solicited a night's +lodging for himself and his people. When the Superior understood the +distinction of his guest, his features relaxed into a smile of joyous +welcome; and taking him by the hand, he placed him by his side. + +The table was quickly covered with luxurious provisions, and orders +were given that the duke's people should be admitted, and taken care +of. He was regaled with a variety of the finest wines, and at length, +highly elevated by monastic hospitality, he retired to the apartment +allotted him, leaving the Superior in a condition which precluded all +ceremony. + +He departed in the morning, very well pleased with the accommodating +principles of monastic religion. He had been told that the enjoyment +of the good things of this life was the surest sign of our gratitude +to Heaven; and it appeared, that within the walls of a Sicilian +monastery, the precept and the practice were equally enforced. + +He was now at a loss what course to chuse, for he had no clue to +direct him towards the object of his pursuit; but hope still +invigorated, and urged him to perseverance. He was not many leagues +from the coast; and it occurred to him that the fugitives might make +towards it with a design of escaping into Italy. He therefore +determined to travel towards the sea and proceed along the shore. + +At the house where he stopped to dine, he learned that two persons, +such as he described, had halted there about an hour before his +arrival, and had set off again in much seeming haste. They had taken +the road towards the coast, whence it was obvious to the duke they +designed to embark. He stayed not to finish the repast set before +him, but instantly remounted to continue the pursuit. + +To the enquiries he made of the persons he chanced to meet, favorable +answers were returned for a time, but he was at length bewildered in +uncertainity, and travelled for some hours in a direction which +chance, rather than judgment, prompted him to take. + +The falling evening again confused his prospects, and unsettled his +hopes. The shades were deepened by thick and heavy clouds that +enveloped the horizon, and the deep sounding air foretold a tempest. +The thunder now rolled at a distance, and the accumulated clouds grew +darker. The duke and his people were on a wild and dreary heath, round +which they looked in vain for shelter, the view being terminated on +all sides by the same desolate scene. They rode, however, as hard as +their horses would carry them; and at length one of the attendants +spied on the skirts of the waste a large mansion, towards which they +immediately directed their course. + +They were overtaken by the storm, and at the moment when they reached +the building, a peal of thunder, which seemed to shake the pile, burst +over their heads. They now found themselves in a large and ancient +mansion, which seemed totally deserted, and was falling to decay. The +edifice was distinguished by an air of magnificence, which ill +accorded with the surrounding scenery, and which excited some degree +of surprize in the mind of the duke, who, however, fully justified the +owner in forsaking a spot which presented to the eye only views of +rude and desolated nature. + +The storm increased with much violence, and threatened to detain the +duke a prisoner in his present habitation for the night. The hall, of +which he and his people had taken possession, exhibited in every +feature marks of ruin and desolation. The marble pavement was in many +places broken, the walls were mouldering in decay, and round the high +and shattered windows the long grass waved to the lonely gale. +Curiosity led him to explore the recesses of the mansion. He quitted +the hall, and entered upon a passage which conducted him to a remote +part of the edifice. He wandered through the wild and spacious +apartments in gloomy meditation, and often paused in wonder at the +remains of magnificence which he beheld. + +The mansion was irregular and vast, and he was bewildered in its +intricacies. In endeavouring to find his way back, he only perplexed +himself more, till at length he arrived at a door, which he believed +led into the hall he first quitted. On opening it he discovered, by +the faint light of the moon, a large place which he scarcely knew +whether to think a cloister, a chapel, or a hall. It retired in long +perspective, in arches, and terminated in a large iron gate, through +which appeared the open country. + +The lighting flashed thick and blue around, which, together with the +thunder that seemed to rend the wide arch of heaven, and the +melancholy aspect of the place, so awed the duke, that he +involuntarily called to his people. His voice was answered only by the +deep echoes which ran in murmurs through the place, and died away at a +distance; and the moon now sinking behind a cloud, left him in total +darkness. + +He repeated the call more loudly, and at length heard the approach of +footsteps. A few moments relieved him from his anxiety, for his people +appeared. The storm was yet loud, and the heavy and sulphureous +appearance of the atmosphere promised no speedy abatement of it. The +duke endeavoured to reconcile himself to pass the night in his present +situation, and ordered a fire to be lighted in the place he was in. +This with much difficulty was accomplished. He then threw himself on +the pavement before it, and tried to endure the abstinence which he +had so ill observed in the monastery on the preceding night. But to +his great joy his attendants, more provident than himself, had not +scrupled to accept a comfortable quantity of provisions which had been +offered them at the monastery; and which they now drew forth from a +wallet. They were spread upon the pavement; and the duke, after +refreshing himself, delivered up the remains to his people. Having +ordered them to watch by turns at the gate, he wrapt his cloak round +him, and resigned himself to repose. + +The night passed without any disturbance. The morning arose fresh and +bright; the Heavens exhibited a clear and unclouded concave; even the +wild heath, refreshed by the late rains, smiled around, and sent up +with the morning gale a stream of fragrance. + +The duke quitted the mansion, re-animated by the cheerfulness of morn, +and pursued his journey. He could gain no intelligence of the +fugitives. About noon he found himself in a beautiful romantic +country; and having reached the summit of some wild cliffs, he rested, +to view the picturesque imagery of the scene below. A shadowy +sequestered dell appeared buried deep among the rocks, and in the +bottom was seen a lake, whose clear bosom reflected the impending +cliffs, and the beautiful luxuriance of the overhanging shades. + +But his attention was quickly called from the beauties of inanimate +nature, to objects more interesting; for he observed two persons, whom +he instantly recollected to be the same that he had formerly pursued +over the plains. They were seated on the margin of the lake, under the +shade of some high trees at the foot of the rocks, and seemed +partaking of a repast which was spread upon the grass. Two horses were +grazing near. In the lady the duke saw the very air and shape of +Julia, and his heart bounded at the sight. They were seated with +their backs to the cliffs upon which the duke stood, and he therefore +surveyed them unobserved. They were now almost within his power, but +the difficulty was how to descend the rocks, whose stupendous heights +and craggy steeps seemed to render them impassable. He examined them +with a scrutinizing eye, and at length espied, where the rock receded, +a narrow winding sort of path. He dismounted, and some of his +attendants doing the same, followed their lord down the cliffs, +treading lightly, lest their steps should betray them. Immediately +upon their reaching the bottom, they were perceived by the lady, who +fled among the rocks, and was presently pursued by the duke's people. +The cavalier had no time to escape, but drew his sword, and defended +himself against the furious assault of the duke. + +The combat was sustained with much vigour and dexterity on both sides +for some minutes, when the duke received the point of his adversary's +sword, and fell. The cavalier, endeavouring to escape, was seized by +the duke's people, who now appeared with the fair fugitive; but what +was the disappointment--the rage of the duke, when in the person of +the lady he discovered a stranger! The astonishment was mutual, but +the accompanying feelings were, in the different persons, of a very +opposite nature. In the duke, astonishment was heightened by vexation, +and embittered by disappointment:--in the lady, it was softened by the +joy of unexpected deliverance. + +This lady was the younger daughter of a Sicilian nobleman, whose +avarice, or necessities, had devoted her to a convent. To avoid the +threatened fate, she fled with the lover to whom her affections had +long been engaged, and whose only fault, even in the eye of her +father, was inferiority of birth. They were now on their way to the +coast, whence they designed to pass over to Italy, where the church +would confirm the bonds which their hearts had already formed. There +the friends of the cavalier resided, and with them they expected to +find a secure retreat. + +The duke, who was not materially wounded, after the first transport of +his rage had subsided, suffered them to depart. Relieved from their +fears, they joyfully set forward, leaving their late pursuer to the +anguish of defeat, and fruitless endeavour. He was remounted on his +horse; and having dispatched two of his people in search of a house +where he might obtain some relief, he proceeded slowly on his return +to the castle of Mazzini. + +It was not long ere he recollected a circumstance which, in the first +tumult of his disappointment, had escaped him, but which so +essentially affected the whole tenour of his hopes, as to make him +again irresolute how to proceed. He considered that, although these +were the fugitives he had pursued over the plains, they might not be +the same who had been secreted in the cottage, and it was therefore +possible that Julia might have been the person whom they had for some +time followed from thence. This suggestion awakened his hopes, which +were however quickly destroyed; for he remembered that the only +persons who could have satisfied his doubts, were now gone beyond the +power of recall. To pursue Julia, when no traces of her flight +remained, was absurd; and he was, therefore, compelled to return to +the marquis, as ignorant and more hopeless than he had left him. With +much pain he reached the village which his emissaries had discovered, +when fortunately he obtained some medical assistance. Here he was +obliged by indisposition to rest. The anguish of his mind equalled +that of his body. Those impetuous passions which so strongly marked +his nature, were roused and exasperated to a degree that operated +powerfully upon his constitution, and threatened him with the most +alarming consequences. The effect of his wound was heightened by the +agitation of his mind; and a fever, which quickly assumed a very +serious aspect, co-operated to endanger his life. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The castle of Mazzini was still the scene of dissension and misery. +The impatience and astonishment of the marquis being daily increased +by the lengthened absence of the duke, he dispatched servants to the +forest of Marentino, to enquire the occasion of this circumstance. +They returned with intelligence that neither Julia, the duke, nor any +of his people were there. He therefore concluded that his daughter had +fled the cottage upon information of the approach of the duke, who, he +believed, was still engaged in the pursuit. With respect to +Ferdinand, who yet pined in sorrow and anxiety in his dungeon, the +rigour of the marquis's conduct was unabated. He apprehended that his +son, if liberated, would quickly discover the retreat of Julia, and by +his advice and assistance confirm her in disobedience. + +Ferdinand, in the stillness and solitude of his dungeon, brooded over +the late calamity in gloomy ineffectual lamentation. The idea of +Hippolitus--of Hippolitus murdered--arose to his imagination in busy +intrusion, and subdued the strongest efforts of his fortitude. Julia +too, his beloved sister--unprotected--unfriended--might, even at the +moment he lamented her, be sinking under sufferings dreadful to +humanity. The airy schemes he once formed of future felicity, +resulting from the union of two persons so justly dear to him--with +the gay visions of past happiness--floated upon his fancy, and the +lustre they reflected served only to heighten, by contrast, the +obscurity and gloom of his present views. He had, however, a new +subject of astonishment, which often withdrew his thoughts from their +accustomed object, and substituted a sensation less painful, though +scarcely less powerful. One night as he lay ruminating on the past, in +melancholy dejection, the stillness of the place was suddenly +interrupted by a low and dismal sound. It returned at intervals in +hollow sighings, and seemed to come from some person in deep distress. +So much did fear operate upon his mind, that he was uncertain whether +it arose from within or from without. He looked around his dungeon, +but could distinguish no object through the impenetrable darkness. As +he listened in deep amazement, the sound was repeated in moans more +hollow. Terror now occupied his mind, and disturbed his reason; he +started from his posture, and, determined to be satisfied whether any +person beside himself was in the dungeon, groped, with arms extended, +along the walls. The place was empty; but coming to a particular spot, +the sound suddenly arose more distinctly to his ear. He called aloud, +and asked who was there; but received no answer. Soon after all was +still; and after listening for some time without hearing the sounds +renewed, he laid himself down to sleep. On the following day he +mentioned to the man who brought him food what he had heard, and +enquired concerning the noise. The servant appeared very much +terrified, but could give no information that might in the least +account for the circumstance, till he mentioned the vicinity of the +dungeon to the southern buildings. The dreadful relation formerly +given by the marquis instantly recurred to the mind of Ferdinand, who +did not hesitate to believe that the moans he heard came from the +restless spirit of the murdered Della Campo. At this conviction, +horror thrilled his nerves; but he remembered his oath, and was +silent. His courage, however, yielded to the idea of passing another +night alone in his prison, where, if the vengeful spirit of the +murdered should appear, he might even die of the horror which its +appearance would inspire. + +The mind of Ferdinand was highly superior to the general influence of +superstition; but, in the present instance, such strong correlative +circumstances appeared, as compelled even incredulity to yield. He had +himself heard strange and awful sounds in the forsaken southern +buildings; he received from his father a dreadful secret relative to +them--a secret in which his honor, nay even his life, was bound up. +His father had also confessed, that he had himself there seen +appearances which he could never after remember without horror, and +which had occasioned him to quit that part of the castle. All these +recollections presented to Ferdinand a chain of evidence too powerful +to be resisted; and he could not doubt that the spirit of the dead had +for once been permitted to revisit the earth, and to call down +vengeance on the descendants of the murderer. + +This conviction occasioned him a degree of horror, such as no +apprehension of mortal powers could have excited; and he determined, +if possible, to prevail on Peter to pass the hours of midnight with +him in his dungeon. The strictness of Peter's fidelity yielded to the +persuasions of Ferdinand, though no bribe could tempt him to incur the +resentment of the marquis, by permitting an escape. Ferdinand passed +the day in lingering anxious expectation, and the return of night +brought Peter to the dungeon. His kindness exposed him to a danger +which he had not foreseen; for when seated in the dungeon alone with +his prisoner, how easily might that prisoner have conquered him and +left him to pay his life to the fury of the marquis. He was preserved +by the humanity of Ferdinand, who instantly perceived his advantage, +but disdained to involve an innocent man in destruction, and spurned +the suggestion from his mind. + +Peter, whose friendship was stronger than his courage, trembled with +apprehension as the hour drew nigh in which the groans had been heard +on the preceding night. He recounted to Ferdinand a variety of +terrific circumstances, which existed only in the heated imaginations +of his fellow-servants, but which were still admitted by them as +facts. Among the rest, he did not omit to mention the light and the +figure which had been seen to issue from the south tower on the night +of Julia's intended elopement; a circumstance which he embellished +with innumerable aggravations of fear and wonder. He concluded with +describing the general consternation it had caused, and the consequent +behaviour of the marquis, who laughed at the fears of his people, yet +condescended to quiet them by a formal review of the buildings whence +their terror had originated. He related the adventure of the door +which refused to yield, the sounds which arose from within, and the +discovery of the fallen roof; but declared that neither he, nor any of +his fellow servants, believed the noise or the obstruction proceeded +from that, 'because, my lord,' continued he, 'the door seemed to be +held only in one place; and as for the noise--O! Lord! I never shall +forget what a noise it was!--it was a thousand times louder than what +any stones could make.' + +Ferdinand listened to this narrative in silent wonder! wonder not +occasioned by the adventure described, but by the hardihood and +rashness of the marquis, who had thus exposed to the inspection of his +people, that dreadful spot which he knew from experience to be the +haunt of an injured spirit; a spot which he had hitherto scrupulously +concealed from human eye, and human curiosity; and which, for so many +years, he had not dared even himself to enter. Peter went on, but was +presently interrupted by a hollow moan, which seemed to come from +beneath the ground. 'Blessed virgin!' exclaimed he: Ferdinand listened +in awful expectation. A groan longer and more dreadful was repeated, +when Peter started from his seat, and snatching up the lamp, rushed +out of the dungeon. Ferdinand, who was left in total darkness, +followed to the door, which the affrighted Peter had not stopped to +fasten, but which had closed, and seemed held by a lock that could be +opened only on the outside. The sensations of Ferdinand, thus +compelled to remain in the dungeon, are not to be imagined. The +horrors of the night, whatever they were to be, he was to endure +alone. By degrees, however, he seemed to acquire the valour of +despair. The sounds were repeated, at intervals, for near an hour, +when silence returned, and remained undisturbed during the rest of the +night. Ferdinand was alarmed by no appearance, and at length, overcome +with anxiety and watching, he sunk to repose. + +On the following morning Peter returned to the dungeon, scarcely +knowing what to expect, yet expecting something very strange, perhaps +the murder, perhaps the supernatural disappearance of his young lord. +Full of these wild apprehensions, he dared not venture thither alone, +but persuaded some of the servants, to whom he had communicated his +terrors, to accompany him to the door. As they passed along he +recollected, that in the terror of the preceding night he had forgot +to fasten the door, and he now feared that his prisoner had made his +escape without a miracle. He hurried to the door; and his surprize was +extreme to find it fastened. It instantly struck him that this was the +work of a supernatural power, when on calling aloud, he was answered +by a voice from within. His absurd fear did not suffer him to +recognize the voice of Ferdinand, neither did he suppose that +Ferdinand had failed to escape, he, therefore, attributed the voice to +the being he had heard on the preceding night; and starting back from +the door, fled with his companions to the great hall. There the uproar +occasioned by their entrance called together a number of persons, +amongst whom was the marquis, who was soon informed of the cause of +alarm, with a long history of the circumstances of the foregoing +night. At this information, the marquis assumed a very stern look, and +severely reprimanded Peter for his imprudence, at the same time +reproaching the other servants with their undutifulness in thus +disturbing his peace. He reminded them of the condescension he had +practised to dissipate their former terrors, and of the result of +their examination. He then assured them, that since indulgence had +only encouraged intrusion, he would for the future be severe; and +concluded with declaring, that the first man who should disturb him +with a repetition of such ridiculous apprehensions, or should attempt +to disturb the peace of the castle by circulating these idle notions, +should be rigorously punished, and banished his dominions. They shrunk +back at his reproof, and were silent. 'Bring a torch,' said the +marquis, 'and shew me to the dungeon. I will once more condescend to +confute you.' + +They obeyed, and descended with the marquis, who, arriving at the +dungeon, instantly threw open the door, and discovered to the +astonished eyes of his attendants--Ferdinand!--He started with +surprize at the entrance of his father thus attended. The +marquis darted upon him a severe look, which he perfectly +comprehended.--'Now,' cried he, turning to his people, 'what do you +see? My son, whom I myself placed here, and whose voice, which +answered to your calls, you have transformed into unknown sounds. +Speak, Ferdinand, and confirm what I say.' Ferdinand did so. 'What +dreadful spectre appeared to you last night?' resumed the marquis, +looking stedfastly upon him: 'gratify these fellows with a description +of it, for they cannot exist without something of the marvellous.' +'None, my lord,' replied Ferdinand, who too well understood the manner +of the marquis. ''Tis well,' cried the marquis, 'and this is the last +time,' turning to his attendants, 'that your folly shall be treated +with so much lenity.' He ceased to urge the subject, and forbore to +ask Ferdinand even one question before his servants, concerning the +nocturnal sounds described by Peter. He quitted the dungeon with eyes +steadily bent in anger and suspicion upon Ferdinand. The marquis +suspected that the fears of his son had inadvertently betrayed to +Peter a part of the secret entrusted to him, and he artfully +interrogated Peter with seeming carelessness, concerning the +circumstances of the preceding night. From him he drew such answers as +honorably acquitted Ferdinand of indiscretion, and relieved himself +from tormenting apprehensions. + +The following night passed quietly away; neither sound nor appearance +disturbed the peace of Ferdinand. The marquis, on the next day, +thought proper to soften the severity of his sufferings, and he was +removed from his dungeon to a room strongly grated, but exposed to the +light of day. + +Meanwhile a circumstance occurred which increased the general discord, +and threatened Emilia with the loss of her last remaining comfort--the +advice and consolation of Madame de Menon. The marchioness, whose +passion for the Count de Vereza had at length yielded to absence, and +the pressure of present circumstances, now bestowed her smiles upon a +young Italian cavalier, a visitor at the castle, who possessed too +much of the spirit of gallantry to permit a lady to languish in vain. +The marquis, whose mind was occupied with other passions, was +insensible to the misconduct of his wife, who at all times had the +address to disguise her vices beneath the gloss of virtue and innocent +freedom. The intrigue was discovered by madame, who, having one day +left a book in the oak parlour, returned thither in search of it. As +she opened the door of the apartment, she heard the voice of the +cavalier in passionate exclamation; and on entering, discovered him +rising in some confusion from the feet of the marchioness, who, +darting at madame a look of severity, arose from her seat. Madame, +shocked at what she had seen, instantly retired, and buried in her own +bosom that secret, the discovery of which would most essentially have +poisoned the peace of the marquis. The marchioness, who was a stranger +to the generosity of sentiment which actuated Madame de Menon, doubted +not that she would seize the moment of retaliation, and expose her +conduct where most she dreaded it should be known. The consciousness +of guilt tortured her with incessant fear of discovery, and from this +period her whole attention was employed to dislodge from the castle +the person to whom her character was committed. In this it was not +difficult to succeed; for the delicacy of madame's feelings made her +quick to perceive, and to withdraw from a treatment unsuitable to the +natural dignity of her character. She therefore resolved to depart +from the castle; but disdaining to take an advantage even over a +successful enemy, she determined to be silent on that subject which +would instantly have transferred the triumph from her adversary to +herself. When the marquis, on hearing her determination to retire, +earnestly enquired for the motive of her conduct, she forbore to +acquaint him with the real one, and left him to incertitude and +disappointment. + +To Emilia this design occasioned a distress which almost subdued the +resolution of madame. Her tears and intreaties spoke the artless +energy of sorrow. In madame she lost her only friend; and she too well +understood the value of that friend, to see her depart without feeling +and expressing the deepest distress. From a strong attachment to the +memory of the mother, madame had been induced to undertake the +education of her daughters, whose engaging dispositions had +perpetuated a kind of hereditary affection. Regard for Emilia and +Julia had alone for some time detained her at the castle; but this was +now succeeded by the influence of considerations too powerful to be +resisted. As her income was small, it was her plan to retire to her +native place, which was situated in a distant part of the island, and +there take up her residence in a convent. + +Emilia saw the time of madame's departure approach with increased +distress. They left each other with a mutual sorrow, which did honour +to their hearts. When her last friend was gone, Emilia wandered +through the forsaken apartments, where she had been accustomed to +converse with Julia, and to receive consolation and sympathy from her +dear instructress, with a kind of anguish known only to those who have +experienced a similar situation. Madame pursued her journey with a +heavy heart. Separated from the objects of her fondest affections, and +from the scenes and occupations for which long habit had formed claims +upon her heart, she seemed without interest and without motive for +exertion. The world appeared a wide and gloomy desert, where no heart +welcomed her with kindness--no countenance brightened into smiles at +her approach. It was many years since she quitted Calini--and in the +interval, death had swept away the few friends she left there. The +future presented a melancholy scene; but she had the retrospect of +years spent in honorable endeavour and strict integrity, to cheer her +heart and encouraged her hopes. + +But her utmost endeavours were unable to express the anxiety with +which the uncertain fate of Julia overwhelmed her. Wild and terrific +images arose to her imagination. Fancy drew the scene;--she deepened +the shades; and the terrific aspect of the objects she presented was +heightened by the obscurity which involved them. + +[End of Vol. I] + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Towards the close of day Madame de Menon arrived at a small village +situated among the mountains, where she purposed to pass the night. +The evening was remarkably fine, and the romantic beauty of the +surrounding scenery invited her to walk. She followed the windings of +a stream, which was lost at some distance amongst luxuriant groves of +chesnut. The rich colouring of evening glowed through the dark +foliage, which spreading a pensive gloom around, offered a scene +congenial to the present temper of her mind, and she entered the +shades. Her thoughts, affected by the surrounding objects, gradually +sunk into a pleasing and complacent melancholy, and she was insensibly +led on. She still followed the course of the stream to where the deep +shades retired, and the scene again opening to day, yielded to her a +view so various and sublime, that she paused in thrilling and +delightful wonder. A group of wild and grotesque rocks rose in a +semicircular form, and their fantastic shapes exhibited Nature in her +most sublime and striking attitudes. Here her vast magnificence +elevated the mind of the beholder to enthusiasm. Fancy caught the +thrilling sensation, and at her touch the towering steeps became +shaded with unreal glooms; the caves more darkly frowned--the +projecting cliffs assumed a more terrific aspect, and the wild +overhanging shrubs waved to the gale in deeper murmurs. The scene +inspired madame with reverential awe, and her thoughts involuntarily +rose, 'from Nature up to Nature's God.' The last dying gleams of day +tinted the rocks and shone upon the waters, which retired through a +rugged channel and were lost afar among the receding cliffs. While she +listened to their distant murmur, a voice of liquid and melodious +sweetness arose from among the rocks; it sung an air, whose melancholy +expression awakened all her attention, and captivated her heart. The +tones swelled and died faintly away among the clear, yet languishing +echoes which the rocks repeated with an effect like that of +enchantment. Madame looked around in search of the sweet warbler, and +observed at some distance a peasant girl seated on a small projection +of the rock, overshadowed by drooping sycamores. She moved slowly +towards the spot, which she had almost reached, when the sound of her +steps startled and silenced the syren, who, on perceiving a stranger, +arose in an attitude to depart. The voice of madame arrested her, and +she approached. Language cannot paint the sensation of madame, when in +the disguise of a peasant girl, she distinguished the features of +Julia, whose eyes lighted up with sudden recollection, and who sunk +into her arms overcome with joy. When their first emotions were +subsided, and Julia had received answers to her enquiries concerning +Ferdinand and Emilia, she led madame to the place of her concealment. +This was a solitary cottage, in a close valley surrounded by +mountains, whose cliffs appeared wholly inaccessible to mortal foot. +The deep solitude of the scene dissipated at once madame's wonder that +Julia had so long remained undiscovered, and excited surprize how she +had been able to explore a spot thus deeply sequestered; but madame +observed with extreme concern, that the countenance of Julia no longer +wore the smile of health and gaiety. Her fine features had received +the impressions not only of melancholy, but of grief. Madame sighed as +she gazed, and read too plainly the cause of the change. Julia +understood that sigh, and answered it with her tears. She pressed the +hand of madame in mournful silence to her lips, and her cheeks were +suffused with a crimson glow. At length, recovering herself, 'I have +much, my dear madam, to tell,' said she, 'and much to explain, 'ere +you will admit me again to that esteem of which I was once so justly +proud. I had no resource from misery, but in flight; and of that I +could not make you a confidant, without meanly involving you in its +disgrace.'--'Say no more, my love, on the subject,' replied madame; +'with respect to myself, I admired your conduct, and felt severely for +your situation. Rather let me hear by what means you effected your +escape, and what has since be fallen you.'--Julia paused a moment, as +if to stifle her rising emotion, and then commenced her narrative. + +'You are already acquainted with the secret of that night, so fatal to +my peace. I recall the remembrance of it with an anguish which I +cannot conceal; and why should I wish its concealment, since I mourn +for one, whose noble qualities justified all my admiration, and +deserved more than my feeble praise can bestow; the idea of whom will +be the last to linger in my mind till death shuts up this painful +scene.' Her voice trembled, and she paused. After a few moments she +resumed her tale. 'I will spare myself the pain of recurring to scenes +with which you are not unacquainted, and proceed to those which more +immediately attract your interest. Caterina, my faithful servant, you +know, attended me in my confinement; to her kindness I owe my escape. +She obtained from her lover, a servant in the castle, that assistance +which gave me liberty. One night when Carlo, who had been appointed my +guard, was asleep, Nicolo crept into his chamber, and stole from him +the keys of my prison. He had previously procured a ladder of ropes. +O! I can never forget my emotions, when in the dead hour of that +night, which was meant to precede the day of my sacrifice, I heard the +door of my prison unlock, and found myself half at liberty! My +trembling limbs with difficulty supported me as I followed Caterina to +the saloon, the windows of which being low and near to the terrace, +suited our purpose. To the terrace we easily got, where Nicolo +awaited us with the rope-ladder. He fastened it to the ground; and +having climbed to the top of the parapet, quickly slided down on the +other side. There he held it, while we ascended and descended; and I +soon breathed the air of freedom again. But the apprehension of being +retaken was still too powerful to permit a full enjoyment of my +escape. It was my plan to proceed to the place of my faithful +Caterina's nativity, where she had assured me I might find a safe +asylum in the cottage of her parents, from whom, as they had never +seen me, I might conceal my birth. This place, she said, was entirely +unknown to the marquis, who had hired her at Naples only a few months +before, without any enquiries concerning her family. She had informed +me that the village was many leagues distant from the castle, but that +she was very well acquainted with the road. At the foot of the walls +we left Nicolo, who returned to the castle to prevent suspicion, but +with an intention to leave it at a less dangerous time, and repair to +Farrini to his good Caterina. I parted from him with many thanks, and +gave him a small diamond cross, which, for that purpose, I had taken +from the jewels sent to me for wedding ornaments.' + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +'About a quarter of a league from the walls we stopped, and I assumed +the habit in which you now see me. My own dress was fastened to some +heavy stones, and Caterina threw it into the stream, near the almond +grove, whose murmurings you have so often admired. The fatigue and +hardship I endured in this journey, performed almost wholly on foot, +at any other time would have overcome me; but my mind was so occupied +by the danger I was avoiding that these lesser evils were disregarded. +We arrived in safety at the cottage, which stood at a little distance +from the village of Ferrini, and were received by Caterina's parents +with some surprise and more kindness. I soon perceived it would be +useless, and even dangerous, to attempt to preserve the character I +personated. In the eyes of Caterina's mother I read a degree of +surprise and admiration which declared she believed me to be of +superior rank; I, therefore, thought it more prudent to win her +fidelity by entrusting her with my secret than, by endeavouring to +conceal it, leave it to be discovered by her curiosity or discernment. +Accordingly, I made known my quality and my distress, and received +strong assurances of assistance and attachment. For further security, +I removed to this sequestered spot. The cottage we are now in belongs +to a sister of Caterina, upon whose faithfulness I have been hitherto +fully justified in relying. But I am not even here secure from +apprehension, since for several days past horsemen of a suspicious +appearance have been observed near Marcy, which is only half a league +from hence.' + +Here Julia closed her narration, to which madame had listened with a +mixture of surprise and pity, which her eyes sufficiently discovered. +The last circumstance of the narrative seriously alarmed her. She +acquainted Julia with the pursuit which the duke had undertaken; and +she did not hesitate to believe it a party of his people whom Julia +had described. Madame, therefore, earnestly advised her to quit her +present situation, and to accompany her in disguise to the monastery +of St Augustin, where she would find a secure retreat; because, even +if her place of refuge should be discovered, the superior authority of +the church would protect her. Julia accepted the proposal with much +joy. As it was necessary that madame should sleep at the village where +she had left her servants and horses, it was agreed that at break of +day she should return to the cottage, where Julia would await her. +Madame took all affectionate leave of Julia, whose heart, in spite of +reason, sunk when she saw her depart, though but for the necessary +interval of repose. + +At the dawn of day madame arose. Her servants, who were hired for the +journey, were strangers to Julia: from them, therefore, she had +nothing to apprehend. She reached the cottage before sunrise, having +left her people at some little distance. Her heart foreboded evil, +when, on knocking at the door, no answer was returned. She knocked +again, and still all was silent. Through the casement she could +discover no object, amidst the grey obscurity of the dawn. She now +opened the door, and, to her inexpressible surprise and distress, +found the cottage empty. She proceeded to a small inner room, where +lay a part of Julia's apparel. The bed had no appearance of having +being slept in, and every moment served to heighten and confirm her +apprehensions. While she pursued the search, she suddenly heard the +trampling of feet at the cottage door, and presently after some people +entered. Her fears for Julia now yielded to those for her own safety, +and she was undetermined whether to discover herself, or remain in her +present situation, when she was relieved from her irresolution by the +appearance of Julia. + +On the return of the good woman, who had accompanied madame to the +village on the preceding night, Julia went to the cottage at Farrini. +Her grateful heart would not suffer her to depart without taking leave +of her faithful friends, thanking them for their kindness, and +informing them of her future prospects. They had prevailed upon her to +spend the few intervening hours at this cot, whence she had just risen +to meet madame. + +They now hastened to the spot where the horses were stationed, and +commenced their journey. For some leagues they travelled in silence +and thought, over a wild and picturesque country. The landscape was +tinted with rich and variegated hues; and the autumnal lights, which +streamed upon the hills, produced a spirited and beautiful effect upon +the scenery. All the glories of the vintage rose to their view: the +purple grapes flushed through the dark green of the surrounding +foliage, and the prospect glowed with luxuriance. + +They now descended into a deep valley, which appeared more like a +scene of airy enchantment than reality. Along the bottom flowed a +clear majestic stream, whose banks were adorned with thick groves of +orange and citron trees. Julia surveyed the scene in silent +complacency, but her eye quickly caught an object which changed with +instantaneous shock the tone of her feelings. She observed a party of +horsemen winding down the side of a hill behind her. Their uncommon +speed alarmed her, and she pushed her horse into a gallop. On looking +back Madame de Menon clearly perceived they were in pursuit. Soon +after the men suddenly appeared from behind a dark grove within a +small distance of them; and, upon their nearer approach, Julia, +overcome with fatigue and fear, sunk breathless from her horse. She +was saved from the ground by one of the pursuers, who caught her in +his arms. Madame, with the rest of the party, were quickly overtaken; +and as soon as Julia revived, they were bound, and reconducted to the +hill from whence they had descended. Imagination only can paint the +anguish of Julia's mind, when she saw herself thus delivered up to the +power of her enemy. Madame, in the surrounding troop, discovered none +of the marquis's people, and they were therefore evidently in the +hands of the duke. After travelling for some hours, they quitted the +main road, and turned into a narrow winding dell, overshadowed by high +trees, which almost excluded the light. The gloom of the place +inspired terrific images. Julia trembled as she entered; and her +emotion was heightened, when she perceived at some distance, through +the long perspective of the trees, a large ruinous mansion. The gloom +of the surrounding shades partly concealed it from her view; but, as +she drew near, each forlorn and decaying feature of the fabric was +gradually disclosed, and struck upon her heart a horror such as she +had never before experienced. The broken battlements, enwreathed with +ivy, proclaimed the fallen grandeur of the place, while the shattered +vacant window-frames exhibited its desolation, and the high grass that +overgrew the threshold seemed to say how long it was since mortal foot +had entered. The place appeared fit only for the purposes of violence +and destruction: and the unfortunate captives, when they stopped at +its gates, felt the full force of its horrors. + +They were taken from their horses, and conveyed to an interior part of +the building, which, if it had once been a chamber, no longer deserved +the name. Here the guard said they were directed to detain them till +the arrival of their lord, who had appointed this the place of +rendezvous. He was expected to meet them in a few hours, and these +were hours of indescribable torture to Julia and madame. From the +furious passions of the duke, exasperated by frequent disappointment, +Julia had every evil to apprehend; and the loneliness of the spot he +had chosen, enabled him to perpetrate any designs, however violent. +For the first time, she repented that she had left her father's house. +Madame wept over her, but comfort she had none to give. The day +closed--the duke did not appear, and the fate of Julia yet hung in +perilous uncertainty. At length, from a window of the apartment she +was in, she distinguished a glimmering of torches among the trees, and +presently after the clattering of hoofs convinced her the duke was +approaching. Her heart sunk at the sound; and throwing her arms round +madame's neck, she resigned herself to despair. She was soon roused by +some men, who came to announce the arrival of their lord. In a few +moments the place, which had lately been so silent, echoed with +tumult; and a sudden blaze of light illumining the fabric, served to +exhibit more forcibly its striking horrors. Julia ran to the window; +and, in a sort of court below, perceived a group of men dismounting +from their horses. The torches shed a partial light; and while she +anxiously looked round for the person of the duke, the whole party +entered the mansion. She listened to a confused uproar of voices, +which sounded from the room beneath, and soon after it sunk into a low +murmur, as if some matter of importance was in agitation. For some +moments she sat in lingering terror, when she heard footsteps +advancing towards the chamber, and a sudden gleam of torchlight +flashed upon the walls. 'Wretched girl! I have at least secured you!' +said a cavalier, who now entered the room. He stopped as he perceived +Julia; and turning to the men who stood without, 'Are these,' said he, +'the fugitives you have taken?'--'Yes, my lord.'--'Then you have +deceived yourselves, and misled me; this is not my daughter.' These +words struck the sudden light of truth and joy upon the heart of +Julia, whom terror had before rendered almost lifeless; and who had +not perceived that the person entering was a stranger. Madame now +stepped forward, and an explanation ensued, when it appeared that the +stranger was the Marquis Murani, the father of the fair fugitive whom +the duke had before mistaken for Julia. + +The appearance and the evident flight of Julia had deceived the +banditti employed by this nobleman, into a belief that she was the +object of their search, and had occasioned her this unnecessary +distress. But the joy she now felt, on finding herself thus +unexpectedly at liberty, surpassed, if possible, her preceding +terrors. The marquis made madame and Julia all the reparation in his +power, by offering immediately to reconduct them to the main road, and +to guard them to some place of safety for the night. This offer was +eagerly and thankfully accepted; and though faint from distress, +fatigue, and want of sustenance, they joyfully remounted their horses, +and by torchlight quitted the mansion. After some hours travelling +they arrived at a small town, where they procured the accommodation so +necessary to their support and repose. Here their guides quitted them +to continue their search. + +They arose with the dawn, and continued their journey, continually +terrified with the apprehension of encountering the duke's people. At +noon they arrived at Azulia, from whence the monastery, or abbey of St +Augustin, was distant only a few miles. Madame wrote to the _Padre +Abate_, to whom she was somewhat related, and soon after received an +answer very favourable to her wishes. The same evening they repaired +to the abbey; where Julia, once more relieved from the fear of +pursuit, offered up a prayer of gratitude to heaven, and endeavoured +to calm her sorrows by devotion. She was received by the abbot with a +sort of paternal affection, and by the nuns with officious kindness. +Comforted by these circumstances, and by the tranquil appearance of +every thing around her, she retired to rest, and passed the night in +peaceful slumbers. + +In her present situation she found much novelty to amuse, and much +serious matter to interest her mind. Entendered by distress, she +easily yielded to the pensive manners of her companions and to the +serene uniformity of a monastic life. She loved to wander through the +lonely cloisters, and high-arched aisles, whose long perspectives +retired in simple grandeur, diffusing a holy calm around. She found +much pleasure in the conversation of the nuns, many of whom were +uncommonly amiable, and the dignified sweetness of whose manners +formed a charm irresistibly attractive. The soft melancholy impressed +upon their countenances, pourtrayed the situation of their minds, and +excited in Julia a very interesting mixture of pity and esteem. The +affectionate appellation of sister, and all that endearing tenderness +which they so well know how to display, and of which they so well +understand the effect, they bestowed on Julia, in the hope of winning +her to become one of their order. + +Soothed by the presence of madame, the assiduity of the nuns, and by +the stillness and sanctity of the place, her mind gradually recovered +a degree of complacency to which it had long been a stranger. But +notwithstanding all her efforts, the idea of Hippolitus would at +intervals return upon her memory with a force that at once subdued her +fortitude, and sunk her in a temporary despair. + +Among the holy sisters, Julia distinguished one, the singular fervor +of whose devotion, and the pensive air of whose countenance, softened +by the languor of illness, attracted her curiosity, and excited a +strong degree of pity. The nun, by a sort of sympathy, seemed +particularly inclined towards Julia, which she discovered by +innumerable acts of kindness, such as the heart can quickly understand +and acknowledge, although description can never reach them. In +conversation with her, Julia endeavoured, as far as delicacy would +permit, to prompt an explanation of that more than common dejection +which shaded those features, where beauty, touched by resignation and +sublimed by religion, shone forth with mild and lambent lustre. + +The Duke de Luovo, after having been detained for some weeks by the +fever which his wounds had produced, and his irritated passions had +much prolonged, arrived at the castle of Mazzini. + +When the marquis saw him return, and recollected the futility of those +exertions, by which he had boastingly promised to recover Julia, the +violence of his nature spurned the disguise of art, and burst forth in +contemptuous impeachment of the valour and discernment of the duke, +who soon retorted with equal fury. The consequence might have been +fatal, had not the ambition of the marquis subdued the sudden +irritation of his inferior passions, and induced him to soften the +severity of his accusations, by subsequent concessions. The duke, +whose passion for Julia was heightened by the difficulty which opposed +it, admitted such concessions as in other circumstances he would have +rejected; and thus each, conquered by the predominant passion of the +moment, submitted to be the slave of his adversary. + +Emilia was at length released from the confinement she had so unjustly +suffered. She had now the use of her old apartments, where, solitary +and dejected, her hours moved heavily along, embittered by incessant +anxiety for Julia, by regret for the lost society of madame. The +marchioness, whose pleasures suffered a temporary suspense during the +present confusion at the castle, exercised the ill-humoured caprice, +which disappointment and lassitude inspired, upon her remaining +subject. Emilia was condemned to suffer, and to endure without the +privilege of complaining. In reviewing the events of the last few +weeks, she saw those most dear to her banished, or imprisoned by the +secret influence of a woman, every feature of whose character was +exactly opposite to that of the amiable mother she had been appointed +to succeed. + +The search after Julia still continued, and was still unsuccessful. +The astonishment of the marquis increased with his disappointments; +for where could Julia, ignorant of the country, and destitute of +friends, have possibly found an asylum? He swore with a terrible oath +to revenge on her head, whenever she should be found, the trouble and +vexation she now caused him. But he agreed with the duke to relinquish +for a while the search; till Julia, gaining confidence from the +observation of this circumstance, might gradually suppose herself +secure from molestation, and thus be induced to emerge from +concealment. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Meanwhile Julia, sheltered in the obscure recesses of St Augustin, +endeavoured to attain a degree of that tranquillity which so +strikingly characterized the scenes around her. The abbey of St +Augustin was a large magnificent mass of Gothic architecture, whose +gloomy battlements, and majestic towers arose in proud sublimity from +amid the darkness of the surrounding shades. It was founded in the +twelfth century, and stood a proud monument of monkish superstition +and princely magnificence. In the times when Italy was agitated by +internal commotions, and persecuted by foreign invaders, this edifice +afforded an asylum to many noble Italian emigrants, who here +consecrated the rest of their days to religion. At their death they +enriched the monastery with the treasures which it had enabled them to +secure. + +The view of this building revived in the mind of the beholder the +memory of past ages. The manners and characters which distinguished +them arose to his fancy, and through the long lapse of years he +discriminated those customs and manners which formed so striking a +contrast to the modes of his own times. The rude manners, the +boisterous passions, the daring ambition, and the gross indulgences +which formerly characterized the priest, the nobleman, and the +sovereign, had now begun to yield to learning--the charms of refined +conversation--political intrigue and private artifices. Thus do the +scenes of life vary with the predominant passions of mankind, and with +the progress of civilization. The dark clouds of prejudice break away +before the sun of science, and gradually dissolving, leave the +brightening hemisphere to the influence of his beams. But through the +present scene appeared only a few scattered rays, which served to shew +more forcibly the vast and heavy masses that concealed the form of +truth. Here prejudice, not reason, suspended the influence of the +passions; and scholastic learning, mysterious philosophy, and crafty +sanctity supplied the place of wisdom, simplicity, and pure devotion. + +At the abbey, solitude and stillness conspired with the solemn aspect +of the pile to impress the mind with religious awe. The dim glass of +the high-arched windows, stained with the colouring of monkish +fictions, and shaded by the thick trees that environed the edifice, +spread around a sacred gloom, which inspired the beholder with +congenial feelings. + +As Julia mused through the walks, and surveyed this vast monument of +barbarous superstition, it brought to her recollection an ode which +she often repeated with melancholy pleasure, as the composition of +Hippolitus. + +SUPERSTITION +AN ODE + + High mid Alverna's awful steeps, + Eternal shades, and silence dwell. + Save, when the gale resounding sweeps, + Sad strains are faintly heard to swell: + + Enthron'd amid the wild impending rocks, + Involved in clouds, and brooding future woe, + The demon Superstition Nature shocks, + And waves her sceptre o'er the world below. + + Around her throne, amid the mingling glooms, + Wild--hideous forms are slowly seen to glide, + She bids them fly to shade earth's brightest blooms, + And spread the blast of Desolation wide. + + See! in the darkened air their fiery course! + The sweeping ruin settles o'er the land, + Terror leads on their steps with madd'ning force, + And Death and Vengeance close the ghastly band! + + Mark the purple streams that flow! + Mark the deep empassioned woe! + Frantic Fury's dying groan! + Virtue's sigh, and Sorrow's moan! + + Wide--wide the phantoms swell the loaded air + With shrieks of anguish--madness and despair! + + Cease your ruin! spectres dire! + Cease your wild terrific sway! + Turn your steps--and check your ire, + Yield to peace the mourning day! + +She wept to the memory of times past, and there was a romantic sadness +in her feelings, luxurious and indefinable. Madame behaved to Julia +with the tenderest attention, and endeavoured to withdraw her thoughts +from their mournful subject by promoting that taste for literature and +music, which was so suitable to the powers of her mind. + +But an object seriously interesting now obtained that regard, which +those of mere amusement failed to attract. Her favorite nun, for whom +her love and esteem daily increased, seemed declining under the +pressure of a secret grief. Julia was deeply affected with her +situation, and though she was not empowered to administer consolation +to her sorrows, she endeavoured to mitigate the sufferings of illness. +She nursed her with unremitting care, and seemed to seize with avidity +the temporary opportunity of escaping from herself. The nun appeared +perfectly reconciled to her fate, and exhibited during her illness so +much sweetness, patience, and resignation as affected all around her +with pity and love. Her angelic mildness, and steady fortitude +characterized the beatification of a saint, rather than the death of a +mortal. Julia watched every turn of her disorder with the utmost +solicitude, and her care was at length rewarded by the amendment of +Cornelia. Her health gradually improved, and she attributed this +circumstance to the assiduity and tenderness of her young friend, to +whom her heart now expanded in warm and unreserved affection. At +length Julia ventured to solicit what she had so long and so earnestly +wished for, and Cornelia unfolded the history of her sorrows. + +'Of the life which your care has prolonged,' said she, 'it is but just +that you should know the events; though those events are neither new, +or striking, and possess little power of interesting persons +unconnected with them. To me they have, however, been unexpectedly +dreadful in effect, and my heart assures me, that to you they will not +be indifferent. + +'I am the unfortunate descendant of an ancient and illustrious Italian +family. In early childhood I was deprived of a mother's care, but the +tenderness of my surviving parent made her loss, as to my welfare, +almost unfelt. Suffer me here to do justice to the character of my +noble father. He united in an eminent degree the mild virtues of +social life, with the firm unbending qualities of the noble Romans, +his ancestors, from whom he was proud to trace his descent. Their +merit, indeed, continually dwelt on his tongue, and their actions he +was always endeavouring to imitate, as far as was consistent with the +character of his times, and with the limited sphere in which he moved. +The recollection of his virtue elevates my mind, and fills my heart +with a noble pride, which even the cold walls of a monastery have not +been able to subdue. + +'My father's fortune was unsuitable to his rank. That his son might +hereafter be enabled to support the dignity of his family, it was +necessary for me to assume the veil. Alas! that heart was unfit to be +offered at an heavenly shrine, which was already devoted to an earthly +object. My affections had long been engaged by the younger son of a +neighbouring nobleman, whose character and accomplishments attracted +my early love, and confirmed my latest esteem. Our families were +intimate, and our youthful intercourse occasioned an attachment which +strengthened and expanded with our years. He solicited me of my +father, but there appeared an insuperable barrier to our union. The +family of my lover laboured under a circumstance of similar distress +with that of my own--it was noble--but poor! My father, who was +ignorant of the strength of my affection, and who considered a +marriage formed in poverty as destructive to happiness, prohibited his +suit. + +'Touched with chagrin and disappointment, he immediately entered into +the service of his Neapolitan majesty, and sought in the tumultuous +scenes of glory, a refuge from the pangs of disappointed passion. + +'To me, whose hours moved in one round of full uniformity--who had no +pursuit to interest--no variety to animate my drooping spirits--to me +the effort of forgetfulness was ineffectual. The loved idea of Angelo +still rose upon my fancy, and its powers of captivation, heightened by +absence, and, perhaps even by despair, pursued me with incessant +grief. I concealed in silence the anguish that preyed upon my heart, +and resigned myself a willing victim to monastic austerity. But I was +now threatened with a new evil, terrible and unexpected. I was so +unfortunate as to attract the admiration of the Marquis Marinelli, and +he applied to my father. He was illustrious at once in birth and +fortune, and his visits could only be unwelcome to me. Dreadful was +the moment in which my father disclosed to me the proposal. My +distress, which I vainly endeavoured to command, discovered the exact +situation of my heart, and my father was affected. + +'After along and awful pause, he generously released me from my +sufferings by leaving it to my choice to accept the marquis, or to +assume the veil. I fell at his feet, overcome by the noble +disinterestedness of his conduct, and instantly accepted the latter. + +'This affair removed entirely the disguise with which I had hitherto +guarded my heart;--my brother--my generous brother! learned the true +state of its affections. He saw the grief which prayed upon my health; +he observed it to my father, and he nobly--oh how nobly! to restore my +happiness, desired to resign apart of the estate which had already +descended to him in right of his mother. Alas! Hippolitus,' continued +Cornelia, deeply sighing, 'thy virtues deserved a better fate.' + +'Hippolitus!' said Julia, in a tremulous accent, 'Hippolitus, Count de +Vereza!'--'The same,' replied the nun, in a tone of surprize. Julia +was speechless; tears, however, came to her relief. The astonishment +of Cornelia for some moment surpassed expression; at length a gleam of +recollection crossed her mind, and she too well understood the scene +before her. Julia, after some time revived, when Cornelia tenderly +approaching her, 'Do I then embrace my sister!' said she. 'United in +sentiment, are we also united in misfortune?' Julia answered with her +sighs, and their tears flowed in mournful sympathy together. At length +Cornelia resumed her narrative. + +'My father, struck with the conduct of Hippolitus, paused upon the +offer. The alteration in my health was too obvious to escape his +notice; the conflict between pride and parental tenderness, held him +for some time in indecision, but the latter finally subdued every +opposing feeling, and he yielded his consent to my marriage with +Angelo. The sudden transition from grief to joy was almost too much +for my feeble frame; judge then what must have been the effect of the +dreadful reverse, when the news arrived that Angelo had fallen in a +foreign engagement! Let me obliterate, if possible, the impression of +sensations so dreadful. The sufferings of my brother, whose generous +heart could so finely feel for another's woe, were on this occasion +inferior only to my own. + +'After the first excess of my grief was subsided, I desired to retire +from a world which had tempted me only with illusive visions of +happiness, and to remove from those scenes which prompted +recollection, and perpetuated my distress. My father applauded my +resolution, and I immediately was admited a noviciate into this +monastery, with the Superior of which my father had in his youth been +acquainted. + +'At the expiration of the year I received the veil. Oh! I well +remember with what perfect resignation, with what comfortable +complacency I took those vows which bound me to a life of retirement, +and religious rest. + +'The high importance of the moment, the solemnity of the ceremony, the +sacred glooms which surrounded me, and the chilling silence that +prevailed when I uttered the irrevocable vow--all conspired to impress +my imagination, and to raise my views to heaven. When I knelt at the +altar, the sacred flame of pure devotion glowed in my heart, and +elevated my soul to sublimity. The world and all its recollections +faded from my mind, and left it to the influence of a serene and, holy +enthusiasm which no words can describe. + +'Soon after my noviciation, I had the misfortune to lose my dear +father. In the tranquillity of this monastery, however, in the +soothing kindness of my companions, and in devotional exercises, my +sorrows found relief, and the sting of grief was blunted. My repose +was of short continuance. A circumstance occurred that renewed the +misery, which, can now never quit me but in the grave, to which I look +with no fearful apprehension, but as a refuge from calamity, trusting +that the power who has seen good to afflict me, will pardon the +imperfectness of my devotion, and the too frequent wandering of my +thoughts to the object once so dear to me.' + +As she spoke she raised her eyes, which beamed with truth and meek +assurance to heaven; and the fine devotional suffusion of her +countenance seemed to characterize the beauty of an inspired saint. + +'One day, Oh! never shall I forget it, I went as usual to the +confessional to acknowledge my sins. I knelt before the father with +eyes bent towards the earth, and in a low voice proceeded to confess. +I had but one crime to deplore, and that was the too tender +remembrance of him for whom I mourned, and whose idea, impressed upon +my heart, made it a blemished offering to God. + +'I was interrupted in my confession by a sound of deep sobs, and +rising my eyes, Oh God, what were my sensations, when in the features +of the holy father I discovered Angelo! His image faded like a vision +from my sight, and I sunk at his feet. On recovering I found myself on +my matrass, attended by a sister, who I discovered by her conversation +had no suspicion of the occasion of my disorder. Indisposition +confined me to my bed for several days; when I recovered, I saw Angelo +no more, and could almost have doubted my senses, and believed that an +illusion had crossed my sight, till one day I found in my cell a +written paper. I distinguished at the first glance the handwriting of +Angelo, that well-known hand which had so often awakened me to other +emotions. I trembled at the sight; my beating heart acknowledged the +beloved characters; a cold tremor shook my frame, and half breathless +I seized the paper. But recollecting myself, I paused--I hesitated: +duty at length yielded to the strong temptation, and I read the lines! +Oh! those lines prompted by despair, and bathed in my tears! every +word they offered gave a new pang to my heart, and swelled its anguish +almost beyond endurance. I learned that Angelo, severely wounded in a +foreign engagement, had been left for dead upon the field; that his +life was saved by the humanity of a common soldier of the enemy, who +perceiving signs of existence, conveyed him to a house. Assistance was +soon procured, but his wounds exhibited the most alarming symptoms. +During several months he languished between life and death, till at +length his youth and constitution surmounted the conflict, and he +returned to Naples. Here he saw my brother, whose distress and +astonishment at beholding him occasioned a relation of past +circumstances, and of the vows I had taken in consequence of the +report of his death. It is unnecessary to mention the immediate effect +of this narration; the final one exhibited a very singular proof of +his attachment and despair;--he devoted himself to a monastic life, +and chose this abbey for the place of his residence, because it +contained the object most dear to his affections. His letter informed +me that he had purposely avoided discovering himself, endeavouring to +be contented with the opportunities which occurred of silently +observing me, till chance had occasioned the foregoing interview.--But +that since its effects had been so mutually painful, he would relieve +me from the apprehension of a similar distress, by assuring me, that I +should see him no more. He was faithful to his promise; from that day +I have never seen him, and am even ignorant whether he yet inhabits +this asylum; the efforts of religious fortitude, and the just fear of +exciting curiosity, having withheld me from enquiry. But the moment of +our last interview has been equally fatal to my peace and to my +health, and I trust I shall, ere very long, be released from the +agonizing ineffectual struggles occasioned by the consciousness of +sacred vows imperfectly performed, and by earthly affections not +wholly subdued.' + +Cornelia ceased, and Julia, who had listened to the narrative in deep +attention, at once admired, loved, and pitied her. As the sister of +Hippolitus, her heart expanded towards her, and it was now inviolably +attached by the fine ties of sympathetic sorrow. Similarity of +sentiment and suffering united them in the firmest bonds of +friendship; and thus, from reciprocation of thought and feeling, +flowed a pure and sweet consolation. + +Julia loved to indulge in the mournful pleasure of conversing of +Hippolitus, and when thus engaged, the hours crept unheeded by. A +thousand questions she repeated concerning him, but to those most +interesting to her, she received no consolatory answer. Cornelia, who +had heard of the fatal transaction at the castle of Mazzini, deplored +with her its too certain consequence. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Julia accustomed herself to walk in the fine evenings under the shade +of the high trees that environed the abbey. The dewy coolness of the +air refreshed her. The innumerable roseate tints which the parting +sun-beams reflected on the rocks above, and the fine vermil glow +diffused over the romantic scene beneath, softly fading from the eye, +as the nightshades fell, excited sensations of a sweet and tranquil +nature, and soothed her into a temporary forgetfulness of her sorrows. + +The deep solitude of the place subdued her apprehension, and one +evening she ventured with Madame de Menon to lengthen her walk. They +returned to the abbey without having seen a human being, except a +friar of the monastery, who had been to a neighbouring town to order +provision. On the following evening they repeated their walk; and, +engaged in conversation, rambled to a considerable distance from the +abbey. The distant bell of the monastery sounding for vespers, +reminded them of the hour, and looking round, they perceived the +extremity of the wood. They were returning towards the abbey, when +struck by the appearance of some majestic columns which were +distinguishable between the trees, they paused. Curiosity tempted them +to examine to what edifice pillars of such magnificent architecture +could belong, in a scene so rude, and they went on. + +There appeared on a point of rock impending over the valley the +reliques of a palace, whose beauty time had impaired only to heighten +its sublimity. An arch of singular magnificence remained almost +entire, beyond which appeared wild cliffs retiring in grand +perspective. The sun, which was now setting, threw a trembling lustre +upon the ruins, and gave a finishing effect to the scene. They gazed +in mute wonder upon the view; but the fast fading light, and the dewy +chillness of the air, warned them to return. As Julia gave a last +look to the scene, she perceived two men leaning upon a part of the +ruin at some distance, in earnest conversation. As they spoke, their +looks were so attentively bent on her, that she could have no doubt +she was the subject of their discourse. Alarmed at this circumstance, +madame and Julia immediately retreated towards the abbey. They walked +swiftly through the woods, whose shades, deepened by the gloom of +evening, prevented their distinguishing whether they were pursued. +They were surprized to observe the distance to which they had strayed +from the monastery, whose dark towers were now obscurely seen rising +among the trees that closed the perspective. They had almost reached +the gates, when on looking back, they perceived the same men slowly +advancing, without any appearance of pursuit, but clearly as if +observing the place of their retreat. + +This incident occasioned Julia much alarm. She could not but believe +that the men whom she had seen were spies of the marquis;--if so, her +asylum was discovered, and she had every thing to apprehend. Madame +now judged it necessary to the safety of Julia, that the _Abate_ +should be informed of her story, and of the sanctuary she had sought +in his monastery, and also that he should be solicited to protect her +from parental tyranny. This was a hazardous, but a necessary step, to +provide against the certain danger which must ensue, should the +marquis, if he demanded his daughter of the _Abate_, be the first to +acquaint him with her story. If she acted otherwise, she feared that +the _Abate_, in whose generosity she had not confided, and whose pity +she had not solicited, would, in the pride of his resentment, deliver +her up, and thus would she become a certain victim to the Duke de +Luovo. + +Julia approved of this communication, though she trembled for the +event; and requested madame to plead her cause with the _Abate_. On +the following morning, therefore, madame solicited a private audience +of the _Abate_; she obtained permission to see him, and Julia, in +trembling anxiety, watched her to the door of his apartment. This +conference was long, and every moment seemed an hour to Julia, who, in +fearful expectation, awaited with Cornelia the sentence which would +decide her destiny. She was now the constant companion of Cornelia, +whose declining health interested her pity, and strengthened her +attachment. + +Meanwhile madame developed to the _Abate_ the distressful story of +Julia. She praised her virtues, commended her accomplishments, and +deplored her situation. She described the characters of the marquis +and the duke, and concluded with pathetically representing, that Julia +had sought in this monastery, a last asylum from injustice and misery, +and with entreating that the _Abate_ would grant her his pity and +protection. + +The _Abate_ during this discourse preserved a sullen silence; his eyes +were bent to the ground, and his aspect was thoughful and solemn. When +madame ceased to speak, a pause of profound silence ensued, and she +sat in anxious expectation. She endeavoured to anticipate in his +countenance the answer preparing, but she derived no comfort from +thence. At length raising his head, and awakening from his deep +reverie, he told her that her request required deliberation, and that +the protection she solicited for Julia, might involve him in serious +consequences, since, from a character so determined as the marquis's, +much violence might reasonably be expected. 'Should his daughter be +refused him,' concluded the _Abate_, 'he may even dare to violate the +sanctuary.' + +Madame, shocked by the stern indifference of this reply, was a moment +silent. The _Abate_ went on. 'Whatever I shall determine upon, the +young lady has reason to rejoice that she is admitted into this holy +house; for I will even now venture to assure her, that if the marquis +fails to demand her, she shall be permitted to remain in this +sanctuary unmolested. You, Madam, will be sensible of this indulgence, +and of the value of the sacrifice I make in granting it; for, in thus +concealing a child from her parent, I encourage her in disobedience, +and consequently sacrifice my sense of duty, to what may be justly +called a weak humanity.' + +Madame listened to pompous declamation in silent sorrow and +indignation. She made another effort to interest the _Abate_ in favor +of Julia, but he preserved his stern inflexibility, and repeating that +he would deliberate upon the matter, and acquaint her with the result, +he arose with great solemnity, and quitted the room. + +She now half repented of the confidence she had reposed in him, and of +the pity she had solicited, since he discovered a mind incapable of +understanding the first, and a temper inaccessible to the influence of +the latter. With an heavy heart she returned to Julia, who read in her +countenance, at the moment she entered the room, news of no happy +import. When madame related the particulars of the conference, Julia +presaged from it only misery, and giving herself up for lost--she +burst into tears. She severely deplored the confidence she had been +induced to yield; for she now saw herself in the power of a man, stern +and unfeeling in his nature: and from whom, if he thought it fit to +betray her, she had no means of escaping. But she concealed the +anguish of her heart; and to console madame, affected to hope where +she could only despair. + +Several days elapsed, and no answer was returned from the _Abate_. +Julia too well understood this silence. + +One morning Cornelia entering her room with a disturbed and impatient +air, informed her that some emissaries from the marquis were then in +the monastery, having enquired at the gate for the _Abate_, with whom, +they said, they had business of importance to transact. The _Abate_ +had granted them immediate audience, and they were now in close +conference. + +At this intelligence the spirits of Julia forsook her; she trembled, +grew pale, and stood fixed in mute despair. Madame, though scarcely +less distressed, retained a presence of mind. She understood too +justly the character of the Superior to doubt that he would hesitate +in delivering Julia to the hands of the marquis. On this moment, +therefore, turned the crisis of her fate!--this moment she might +escape--the next she was a prisoner. She therefore advised Julia to +seize the instant, and fly from the monastery before the conference +was concluded, when the gates would most probably be closed upon her, +assuring her, at the same time, she would accompany her in flight. + +The generous conduct of madame called tears of gratitude into the eyes +of Julia, who now awoke from the state of stupefaction which distress +had caused. But before she could thank her faithful friend, a nun +entered the room with a summons for madame to attend the _Abate_ +immediately. The distress which this message occasioned can not easily +be conceived. Madame advised Julia to escape while she detained the +_Abate_ in conversation, as it was not probable that he had yet issued +orders for her detention. Leaving her to this attempt, with an +assurance of following her from the abbey as soon as possible, madame +obeyed the summons. The coolness of her fortitude forsook her as she +approached the _Abate_'s apartment, and she became less certain as to +the occasion of this summons. + +The _Abate_ was alone. His countenance was pale with anger, and he was +pacing the room with slow but agitated steps. The stern authority of +his look startled her. 'Read this letter,' said he, stretching forth +his hand which held a letter, 'and tell me what that mortal deserves, +who dares insult our holy order, and set our sacred prerogative at +defiance.' Madame distinguished the handwriting of the marquis, and +the words of the Superior threw her into the utmost astonishment. She +took the letter. It was dictated by that spirit of proud vindictive +rage, which so strongly marked the character of the marquis. Having +discovered the retreat of Julia, and believing the monastery afforded +her a willing sanctuary from his pursuit, he accused the _Abate_ of +encouraging his child in open rebellion to his will. He loaded him and +his sacred order with opprobrium, and threatened, if she was not +immediately resigned to the emissaries in waiting, he would in person +lead on a force which should compel the church to yield to the +superior authority of the father. + +The spirit of the _Abate_ was roused by this menace; and Julia +obtained from his pride, that protection which neither his principle +or his humanity would have granted. 'The man shall tremble,' cried he, +'who dares defy our power, or question our sacred authority. The lady +Julia is safe. I will protect her from this proud invader of our +rights, and teach him at least to venerate the power he cannot +conquer. I have dispatched his emissaries with my answer.' + +These words struck sudden joy upon the heart of Madame de Menon, but +she instantly recollected, that ere this time Julia had quitted the +abbey, and thus the very precaution which was meant to ensure her +safety, had probably precipitated her into the hand of her enemy. This +thought changed her joy to anguish; and she was hurrying from the +apartment in a sort of wild hope, that Julia might not yet be gone, +when the stern voice of the _Abate_ arrested her. 'Is it thus,' cried +he, 'that you receive the knowledge of our generous resolution to +protect your friend? Does such condescending kindness merit no +thanks--demand no gratitude?' Madame returned in an agony of fear, +lest one moment of delay might prove fatal to Julia, if haply she had +not yet quitted the monastery. She was conscious of her deficiency in +apparent gratitude, and of the strange appearance of her abrupt +departure from the _Abate_, for which it was impossible to apologize, +without betraying the secret, which would kindle all his resentment. +Yet some atonement his present anger demanded, and these circumstances +caused her a very painful embarrassment. She formed a hasty excuse; +and expressing her sense of his goodness, again attempted to retire, +when the _Abate_ frowning in deep resentment, his features inflamed +with pride, arose from his seat. 'Stay,' said he; 'whence this +impatience to fly from the presence of a benefactor?--If my generosity +fails to excite gratitude, my resentment shall not fail to inspire +awe.--Since the lady Julia is insensible of my condescension, she is +unworthy of my protection, and I will resign her to the tyrant who +demands her.' + +To this speech, in which the offended pride of the _Abate_ overcoming +all sense of justice, accused and threatened to punish Julia for the +fault of her friend, madame listened in dreadful impatience. Every +word that detained her struck torture to her heart, but the concluding +sentence occasioned new terror, and she started at its purpose. She +fell at the feet of the _Abate_ in an agony of grief. 'Holy father,' +said she, 'punish not Julia for the offence which I only have +committed; her heart will bless her generous protector, and for +myself, suffer me to assure you that I am fully sensible of your +goodness.' + +'If this is true,' said the _Abate_, 'arise, and bid the lady Julia +attend me.' This command increased the confusion of madame, who had no +doubt that her detention had proved fatal to Julia. At length she was +suffered to depart, and to her infinite joy found Julia in her own +room. Her intention of escaping had yielded, immediately after the +departure of madame, to the fear of being discovered by the marquis's +people. This fear had been confirmed by the report of Cornelia, who +informed her, that at that time several horsemen were waiting at the +gates for the return of their companions. This was a dreadful +circumstance to Julia, who perceived it was utterly impossible to quit +the monastery, without rushing upon certain destruction. She was +lamenting her destiny, when madame recited the particulars of the late +interview, and delivered the summons of the _Abate_. + +They had now to dread the effect of that tender anxiety, which had +excited his resentment; and Julia, suddenly elated to joy by his first +determination, was as suddenly sunk to despair by his last. She +trembled with apprehension of the coming interview, though each moment +of delay which her fear solicited, would, by heightening the +resentment of the _Abate_, only increase the danger she dreaded. + +At length, by a strong effort, she reanimated her spirits, and went to +the Abate's closet to receive her sentence. He was seated in his +chair, and his frowning aspect chilled her heart. 'Daughter,' said he, +'you have been guilty of heinous crimes. You have dared to +dispute--nay openly to rebel, against the lawful authority of your +father. You have disobeyed the will of him whose prerogative yields +only to ours. You have questioned his right upon a point of all others +the most decided--the right of a father to dispose of his child in +marriage. You have even fled from his protection--and you have +dared--insidiously, and meanly have dared, to screen your disobedience +beneath this sacred roof. You have prophaned our sanctuary with your +crime. You have brought insult upon our sacred order, and have caused +bold and impious defiance of our high prerogative. What punishment is +adequate to guilt like this?' + +The father paused--his eyes sternly fixed on Julia, who, pale and +trembling, could scarcely support herself, and who had no power to +reply. 'I will be merciful, and not just,' resumed he,--'I will soften +the punishment you deserve, and will only deliver you to your father.' +At these dreadful words, Julia bursting into tears, sunk at the feet +of the _Abate_, to whom she raised her eyes in supplicating +expression, but was unable to speak. He suffered her to remain in this +posture. 'Your duplicity,' he resumed, 'is not the least of your +offences.--Had you relied upon our generosity for forgiveness and +protection, an indulgence might have been granted;--but under the +disguise of virtue you concealed your crimes, and your necessities +were hid beneath the mask of devotion.' + +These false aspersions roused in Julia the spirit of indignant virtue; +she arose from her knees with an air of dignity, that struck even the +_Abate_. 'Holy father,' said she, 'my heart abhors the crime you +mention, and disclaims all union with it. Whatever are my offences, +from the sin of hypocrisy I am at least free; and you will pardon me +if I remind you, that my confidence has already been such, as fully +justifies my claim to the protection I solicit. When I sheltered +myself within these walls, it was to be presumed that they would +protect me from injustice; and with what other term than injustice +would you, Sir, distinguish the conduct of the marquis, if the fear of +his power did not overcome the dictates of truth?' + +The _Abate_ felt the full force of this reproof; but disdaining to +appear sensible to it, restrained his resentment. His wounded pride +thus exasperated, and all the malignant passions of his nature thus +called into action, he was prompted to that cruel surrender which he +had never before seriously intended. The offence which Madame de +Menon had unintentionally given his haughty spirit urged him to +retaliate in punishment. He had, therefore, pleased himself with +exciting a terror which he never meant to confirm, and he resolved to +be further solicited for that protection which he had already +determined to grant. But this reproof of Julia touched him where he +was most conscious of defect; and the temporary triumph which he +imagined it afforded her, kindled his resentment into flame. He mused +in his chair, in a fixed attitude.--She saw in his countenance the +deep workings of his mind--she revolved the fate preparing for her, +and stood in trembling anxiety to receive her sentence. The _Abate_ +considered each aggravating circumstance of the marquis's menace, and +each sentence of Julia's speech; and his mind experienced that vice is +not only inconsistent with virtue, but with itself--for to gratify his +malignity, he now discovered that it would be necessary to sacrifice +his pride--since it would be impossible to punish the object of the +first without denying himself the gratification of the latter. This +reflection suspended his mind in a state of torture, and he sat wrapt +in gloomy silence. + +The spirit which lately animated Julia had vanished with her +words--each moment of silence increased her apprehension; the deep +brooding of his thoughts confirmed her in the apprehension of evil, +and with all the artless eloquence of sorrow she endeavoured to soften +him to pity. He listened to her pleadings in sullen stillness. But +each instant now cooled the fervour of his resentment to her, and +increased his desire of opposing the marquis. At length the +predominant feature of his character resumed its original influence, +and overcame the workings of subordinate passion. Proud of his +religious authority, he determined never to yield the prerogative of +the church to that of the father, and resolved to oppose the violence +of the marquis with equal force. + +He therefore condescended to relieve Julia from her terrors, by +assuring her of his protection; but he did this in a manner so +ungracious, as almost to destroy the gratitude which the promise +demanded. She hastened with the joyful intelligence to Madame de +Menon, who wept over her tears of thankfulness. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Near a fortnight had elapsed without producing any appearance of +hostility from the marquis, when one night, long after the hour of +repose, Julia was awakened by the bell of the monastery. She knew it +was not the hour customary for prayer, and she listened to the sounds, +which rolled through the deep silence of the fabric, with strong +surprise and terror. Presently she heard the doors of several cells +creak on their hinges, and the sound of quick footsteps in the +passages--and through the crevices of her door she distinguished +passing lights. The whispering noise of steps increased, and every +person of the monastery seemed to have awakened. Her terror +heightened; it occurred to her that the marquis had surrounded the +abbey with his people, in the design of forcing her from her retreat; +and she arose in haste, with an intention of going to the chamber of +Madame de Menon, when she heard a gentle tap at the door. Her enquiry +of who was there, was answered in the voice of madame, and her fears +were quickly dissipated, for she learned the bell was a summons to +attend a dying nun, who was going to the high altar, there to receive +extreme unction. + +She quitted the chamber with madame. In her way to the church, the +gleam of tapers on the walls, and the glimpse which her eye often +caught of the friars in their long black habits, descending silently +through the narrow winding passages, with the solemn toll of the bell, +conspired to kindle imagination, and to impress her heart with sacred +awe. But the church exhibited a scene of solemnity, such as she had +never before witnessed. Its gloomy aisles were imperfectly seen by the +rays of tapers from the high altar, which shed a solitary gleam over +the remote parts of the fabric, and produced large masses of light and +shade, striking and sublime in their effect. + +While she gazed, she heard a distant chanting rise through the aisles; +the sounds swelled in low murmurs on the ear, and drew nearer and +nearer, till a sudden blaze of light issued from one of the portals, +and the procession entered. The organ instantly sounded a high and +solemn peal, and the voices rising altogether swelled the sacred +strain. In front appeared the _Padre Abate_, with slow and measured +steps, bearing the holy cross. Immediately followed a litter, on which +lay the dying person covered with a white veil, borne along and +surrounded by nuns veiled in white, each carrying in her hand a +lighted taper. Last came the friars, two and two, cloathed in black, +and each bearing a light. + +When they reached the high altar, the bier was rested, and in a few +moments the anthem ceased. 'The _Abate_ now approached to perform the +unction; the veil of the dying nun was lifted--and Julia discovered +her beloved Cornelia! Her countenance was already impressed with the +image of death, but her eyes brightened with a faint gleam of +recollection, when they fixed upon Julia, who felt a cold thrill run +through her frame, and leaned for support on madame. Julia now for +the first time distinguished the unhappy lover of Cornelia, on whose +features was depictured the anguish of his heart, and who hung pale +and silent over the bier. The ceremony being finished, the anthem +struck up; the bier was lifted, when Cornelia faintly moved her hand, +and it was again rested upon the steps of the altar. In a few minutes +the music ceased, when lifting her heavy eyes to her lover, with an +expression of ineffable tenderness and grief, she attempted to speak, +but the sounds died on her closing lips. A faint smile passed over her +countenance, and was succeeded by a fine devotional glow; she folded +her hands upon her bosom, and with a look of meek resignation, raising +towards heaven her eyes, in which now sunk the last sparkles of +expiring life--her soul departed in a short deep sigh. + +Her lover sinking back, endeavoured to conceal his emotions, but the +deep sobs which agitated his breast betrayed his anguish, and the +tears of every spectator bedewed the sacred spot where beauty, sense, +and innocence expired. + +The organ now swelled in mournful harmony; and the voices of the +assembly chanted in choral strain, a low and solemn requiem to the +spirit of the departed. + +Madame hurried Julia, who was almost as lifeless as her departed +friend, from the church. A death so sudden heightened the grief which +separation would otherwise have occasioned. It was the nature of +Cornelia's disorder to wear a changeful but flattering aspect. Though +she had long been declining, her decay was so gradual and +imperceptible as to lull the apprehensions of her friends into +security. It was otherwise with herself; she was conscious of the +change, but forbore to afflict them with the knowledge of the truth. +The hour of her dissolution was sudden, even to herself; but it was +composed, and even happy. In the death of Cornelia, Julia seemed to +mourn again that of Hippolitus. Her decease appeared to dissolve the +last tie which connected her with his memory. + +In one of the friars of the convent, madame was surprized to find the +father who had confessed the dying Vincent. His appearance revived the +remembrance of the scene she had witnessed at the castle of Mazzini; +and the last words of Vincent, combined with the circumstances which +had since occurred, renewed all her curiosity and astonishment. But +his appearance excited more sensations than those of wonder. She +dreaded lest he should be corrupted by the marquis, to whom he was +known, and thus be induced to use his interest with the _Abate_ for +the restoration of Julia. + +From the walls of the monastery, Julia now never ventured to stray. In +the gloom of evening she sometimes stole into the cloisters, and often +lingered at the grave of Cornelia, where she wept for Hippolitus, as +well as for her friend. One evening, during vespers, the bell of the +convent was suddenly rang out; the _Abate_, whose countenance +expressed at once astonishment and displeasure, suspended the service, +and quitted the altar. The whole congregation repaired to the hall, +where they learned that a friar, retiring to the convent, had seen a +troop of armed men advancing through the wood; and not doubting they +were the people of the marquis, and were approaching with hostile +intention, had thought it necessary to give the alarm. The _Abate_ +ascended a turret, and thence discovered through the trees a +glittering of arms, and in the succeeding moment a band of men issued +from a dark part of the wood, into a long avenue which immediately +fronted the spot where he stood. The clattering of hoofs was now +distinctly heard; and Julia, sinking with terror, distinguished the +marquis heading the troops, which, soon after separating in two +divisions, surrounded the monastery. The gates were immediately +secured; and the _Abate_, descending from the turret, assembled the +friars in the hall, where his voice was soon heard above every other +part of the tumult. The terror of Julia made her utterly forgetful of +the _Padre_'s promise, and she wished to fly for concealment to the +deep caverns belonging to the monastery, which wound under the woods. +Madame, whose penetration furnished her with a just knowledge of the +_Abate_'s character, founded her security on his pride. She therefore +dissuaded Julia from attempting to tamper with the honesty of a +servant who had the keys of the vaults, and advised her to rely +entirely on the effect of the _Abate_'s resentment towards the +marquis. While madame endeavoured to soothe her to composure, a +message from the _Abate_ required her immediate attendance. She +obeyed, and he bade her follow him to a room which was directly over +the gates of the monastery. From thence she saw her father, +accompanied by the Duke de Luovo; and as her spirits died away at the +sight, the marquis called furiously to the _Abate_ to deliver her +instantly into his hands, threatening, if she was detained, to force +the gates of the monastery. At this threat the countenance of the +_Abate_ grew dark: and leading Julia forcibly to the window, from +which she had shrunk back, 'Impious menacer!' said he, 'eternal +vengeance be upon thee! From this moment we expel thee from all the +rights and communities of our church. Arrogant and daring as you are, +your threats I defy--Look here,' said he, pointing to Julia, 'and +learn that you are in my power; for if you dare to violate these +sacred walls, I will proclaim aloud, in the face of day, a secret +which shall make your heart's blood run cold; a secret which involves +your honour, nay, your very existence. Now triumph and exult in +impious menace!' The marquis started involuntarily at this speech, and +his features underwent a sudden change, but he endeavoured to recover +himself, and to conceal his confusion. He hesitated for a few moments, +uncertain how to act--to desist from violence was to confess himself +conscious of the threatened secret; yet he dreaded to inflame the +resentment of the _Abate_, whose menaces his own heart too surely +seconded. At length--'All that you have uttered,' said he, 'I despise +as the dastardly subterfuge of monkish cunning. Your new insults add +to the desire of recovering my daughter, that of punishing you. I +would proceed to instant violence, but that would now be an imperfect +revenge. I shall, therefore, withdraw my forces, and appeal to a +higher power. Thus shall you be compelled at once to restore my +daughter and retract your scandalous impeachment of my honor.' Saying +this, the turned his horse from the gates, and his people following +him, quickly withdrew, leaving the _Abate_ exulting in conquest, and +Julia lost in astonishment and doubtful joy. When she recounted to +madame the particulars of the conference, she dwelt with emphasis on +the threats of the _Abate_; but madame, though her amazement was +heightened at every word, very well understood how the secret, +whatever it was, had been obtained. The confessor of Vincent she had +already observed in the monastery, and there was no doubt that he had +disclosed whatever could be collected from the dying words of Vincent. +She knew, also, that the secret would never be published, unless as a +punishment for immediate violence, it being one of the first +principles of monastic duty, to observe a religious secrecy upon all +matters entrusted to them in confession. + +When the first tumult of Julia's emotions subsided, the joy which the +sudden departure of the marquis occasioned yielded to apprehension. He +had threatened to appeal to a higher power, who would compel the +_Abate_ to surrender her. This menace excited a just terror, and there +remained no means of avoiding the tyranny of the marquis but by +quitting the monastery. She therefore requested an audience of the +_Abate_; and having represented the danger of her present situation, +she intreated his permission to depart in quest of a safer retreat. +The _Abate_, who well knew the marquis was wholly in his power, smiled +at the repetition of his menaces, and denied her request, under +pretence of his having now become responsible for her to the church. +He bade her be comforted, and promised her his protection; but his +assurances were given in so distant and haughty a manner, that Julia +left him with fears rather increased than subdued. In crossing the +hall, she observed a man hastily enter it, from an opposite door. He +was not in the habit of the order, but was muffled up in a cloak, and +seemed to wish concealment. As she passed he raised his head, and +Julia discovered--her father! He darted at her a look of vengeance; +but before she had time even to think, as if suddenly recollecting +himself, he covered his face, and rushed by her. Her trembling frame +could scarcely support her to the apartment of madame, where she sunk +speechless upon a chair, and the terror of her look alone spoke the +agony of her mind. When she was somewhat recovered, she related what +she had seen, and her conversation with the _Abate_. But madame was +lost in equal perplexity with herself, when she attempted to account +for the marquis's appearance. Why, after his late daring menace, +should he come secretly to visit the _Abate_, by whose connivance +alone he could have gained admission to the monastery? And what could +have influenced the _Abate_ to such a conduct? These circumstances, +though equally inexplicable, united to confirm a fear of treachery and +surrender. To escape from the abbey was now inpracticable, for the +gates were constantly guarded; and even was it possible to pass them, +certain detection awaited Julia without from the marquis's people, who +were stationed in the woods. Thus encompassed with danger, she could +only await in the monastery the issue of her destiny. + +While she was lamenting with madame her unhappy fate, she was summoned +once more to attend the _Abate_. At this moment her spirits entirely +forsook her; the crisis of her fate seemed arrived; for she did not +doubt that the _Abate_ intended to surrender her to the marquis, with +whom she supposed he had negotiated the terms of accommodation. It was +some time before she could recover composure sufficient to obey the +summons; and when she did, every step that bore her towards the +_Abate_'s room increased her dread. She paused a moment at the door, +'ere she had courage to open it; the idea of her father's immediate +resentment arose to her mind, and she was upon the point of retreating +to her chamber, when a sudden step within, near the door, destroyed +her hesitation, and she entered the closet. The marquis was not there, +and her spirits revived. The flush of triumph was diffused over the +features of the _Abate_, though a shade of unappeased resentment yet +remained visible. 'Daughter,' said he, 'the intelligence we have to +communicate may rejoice you. Your safety now depends solely on +yourself. I give your fate into your own hands, and its issue be upon +your head.' He paused, and she was suspended in wondering expectation +of the coming sentence. 'I here solemnly assure you of my protection, +but it is upon one condition only--that you renounce the world, and +dedicate your days to God.' Julia listened with a mixture of grief and +astonishment. 'Without this concession on your part, I possess not the +power, had I even the inclination, to protect you. If you assume the +veil, you are safe within the pale of the church from temporal +violence. If you neglect or refuse to do this, the marquis may apply +to a power from whom I have no appeal, and I shall be compelled at +last to resign you. + +'But to ensure your safety, should the veil be your choice, we will +procure a dispensation from the usual forms of noviciation, and a few +days shall confirm your vows.' He ceased to speak; but Julia, agitated +with the most cruel distress, knew not what to reply. 'We grant you +three days to decide upon this matter,' continued he, 'at the +expiration of which, the veil, or the Duke de Luovo, awaits you.' +Julia quitted the closet in mute despair, and repaired to madame, who +could now scarcely offer her the humble benefit of consolation. + +Meanwhile the _Abate_ exulted in successful vengeance, and the marquis +smarted beneath the stings of disappointment. The menace of the +former was too seriously alarming to suffer the marquis to prosecute +violent measures; and he had therefore resolved, by opposing avarice +to pride, to soothe the power which he could not subdue. But he was +unwilling to entrust the _Abate_ with a proof of his compliance and +his fears by offering a bribe in a letter, and preferred the more +humiliating, but safer method, of a private interview. His +magnificent offers created a temporary hesitation in the mind of the +_Abate_, who, secure of his advantage, shewed at first no disposition +to be reconciled, and suffered the marquis to depart in anxious +uncertainty. After maturely deliberating upon the proposals, the pride +of the _Abate_ surmounted his avarice, and he determined to prevail +upon Julia effectually to destroy the hopes of the marquis, by +consecrating her life to religion. Julia passed the night and the next +day in a state of mental torture exceeding all description. The gates +of the monastery beset with guards, and the woods surrounded by the +marquis's people, made escape impossible. From a marriage with the +duke, whose late conduct had confirmed the odious idea which his +character had formerly impressed, her heart recoiled in horror, and to +be immured for life within the walls of a convent, was a fate little +less dreadful. Yet such was the effect of that sacred love she bore +the memory of Hippolitus, and such her aversion to the duke, that she +soon resolved to adopt the veil. On the following evening she informed +the _Abate_ of her determination. His heart swelled with secret joy; +and even the natural severity of his manner relaxed at the +intelligence. He assured her of his approbation and protection, with a +degree of kindness which he had never before manifested, and told her +the ceremony should be performed on the second day from the present. +Her emotion scarcely suffered her to hear his last words. Now that her +fate was fixed beyond recall, she almost repented of her choice. Her +fancy attached to it a horror not its own; and that evil, which, when +offered to her decision, she had accepted with little hesitation, she +now paused upon in dubious regret; so apt we are to imagine that the +calamity most certain, is also the most intolerable! + +When the marquis read the answer of the _Abate_, all the baleful +passions of his nature were roused and inflamed to a degree which +bordered upon distraction. In the first impulse of his rage, he would +have forced the gates of the monastery, and defied the utmost malice +of his enemy. But a moment's reflection revived his fear of the +threatened secret, and he saw that he was still in the power of the +Superior. + +The _Abate_ procured the necessary dispensation, and preparations were +immediately began for the approaching ceremony. Julia watched the +departure of those moments which led to her fate with the calm +fortitude of despair. She had no means of escaping from the coming +evil, without exposing herself to a worse; she surveyed it therefore +with a steady eye, and no longer shrunk from its approach. + +On the morning preceding the day of her consecration, she was informed +that a stranger enquired for her at the grate. Her mind had been so +long accustomed to the vicissitudes of apprehension, that fear was the +emotion which now occurred; she suspected, yet scarcely knew why, that +the marquis was below, and hesitated whether to descend. A little +reflection determined her, and she went to the parlour--where, to her +equal joy and surprise, she beheld--Ferdinand! + +During the absence of the marquis from his castle, Ferdinand, who had +been informed of the discovery of Julia, effected his escape from +imprisonment, and had hastened to the monastery in the design of +rescuing her. He had passed the woods in disguise, with much +difficulty eluding the observation of the marquis's people, who were +yet dispersed round the abbey. To the monastery, as he came alone, he +had been admitted without difficulty. + +When he learned the conditions of the _Abate_'s protection, and that +the following day was appointed for the consecration of Julia, he was +shocked, and paused in deliberation. A period so short as was this +interval, afforded little opportunity for contrivance, and less for +hesitation. The night of the present day was the only time that +remained for the attempt and execution of a plan of escape, which if +it then failed of success, Julia would not only be condemned for life +to the walls of a monastery, but would be subjected to whatever +punishment the severity of the _Abate_, exasperated by the detection, +should think fit to inflict. The danger was desperate, but the +occasion was desperate also. + +The nobly disinterested conduct of her brother, struck Julia with +gratitude and admiration; but despair of success made her now hesitate +whether she should accept his offer. She considered that his +generosity would most probably involve him in destruction with +herself; and she paused in deep deliberation, when Ferdinand informed +her of a circumstance which, till now, he had purposely concealed, and +which at once dissolved every doubt and every fear. 'Hippolitus,' said +Ferdinand, 'yet lives.'--'Lives!' repeated Julia faintly,--'lives, Oh! +tell me where--how.'--Her breath refused to aid her, and she sunk in +her chair overcome with the strong and various sensations that pressed +upon her heart. Ferdinand, whom the grate withheld from assisting her, +observed her situation with extreme distress. When she recovered, he +informed her that a servant of Hippolitus, sent no doubt by his lord +to enquire concerning Julia, had been lately seen by one of the +marquis's people in the neighbourhood of the castle. From him it was +known that the Count de Vereza was living, but that his life had been +despaired of; and he was still confined, by dangerous wounds, in an +obscure town on the coast of Italy. The man had steadily refused to +mention the place of his lord's abode. Learning that the marquis was +then at the abbey of St Augustin, whither he pursued his daughter, the +man disappeared from Mazzini, and had not since been heard of. + +It was enough for Julia to know that Hippolitus lived; her fears of +detection, and her scruples concerning Ferdinand, instantly vanished; +she thought only of escape--and the means which had lately appeared so +formidable--so difficult in contrivance, and so dangerous in +execution, now seemed easy, certain, and almost accomplished. + +They consulted on the plan to be adopted, and agreed, that in +attempting to bribe a servant of the monastery to their interest, they +should incur a danger too imminent, yet it appeared scarcely +practicable to succeed in their scheme without risquing this. After +much consideration, they determined to entrust their secret to no +person but to madame. Ferdinand was to contrive to conceal himself +till the dead of night in the church, between which and the monastery +were several doors of communication. When the inhabitants of the abbey +were sunk in repose, Julia might without difficulty pass to the +church, where Ferdinand awaiting her, they might perhaps escape either +through an outer door of the fabric, or through a window, for which +latter attempt Ferdinand was to provide ropes. + +A couple of horses were to be stationed among the rocks beyond the +woods, to convey the fugitives to a sea-port, whence they could easily +pass over to Italy. Having arranged this plan, they separated in the +anxious hope of meeting on the ensuing night. + +Madame warmly sympathized with Julia in her present expectations, and +was now somewhat relieved from the pressure of that self-reproach, +with which the consideration of having withdrawn her young friend from +a secure asylum, had long tormented her. In learning that Hippolitus +lived, Julia experienced a sudden renovation of life and spirits. +From the languid stupefaction which despair had occasioned she revived +as from a dream, and her sensations resembled those of a person +suddenly awakened from a frightful vision, whose thoughts are yet +obscured in the fear and uncertainty which the passing images have +impressed on his fancy. She emerged from despair; joy illumined her +countenance; yet she doubted the reality of the scene which now opened +to her view. The hours rolled heavily along till the evening, when +expectation gave way to fear, for she was once more summoned by the +_Abate_. He sent for her to administer the usual necessary exhortation +on the approaching solemnity; and having detained her a considerable +time in tedious and severe discourse, dismissed her with a formal +benediction. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The evening now sunk in darkness, and the hour was fast approaching +which would decide the fate of Julia. Trembling anxiety subdued every +other sensation; and as the minutes passed, her fears increased. At +length she heard the gates of the monastery fastened for the night; +the bell rang the signal for repose; and the passing footsteps of the +nuns told her they were hastening to obey it. After some time, all was +silent. Julia did not yet dare to venture forth; she employed the +present interval in interesting and affectionate conversation with +Madame de Menon, to whom, notwithstanding her situation, her heart +bade a sorrowful adieu. + +The clock struck twelve, when she arose to depart. Having embraced her +faithful friend with tears of mingled grief and anxiety, she took a +lamp in her hand, and with cautious, fearful steps, descended through +the long winding passages to a private door, which opened into the +church of the monastery. The church was gloomy and desolate; and the +feeble rays of the lamp she bore, gave only light enough to discover +its chilling grandeur. As she passed silently along the aisles, she +cast a look of anxious examination around--but Ferdinand was no where +to be seen. She paused in timid hesitation, fearful to penetrate the +gloomy obscurity which lay before her, yet dreading to return. + +As she stood examining the place, vainly looking for Ferdinand, yet +fearing to call, lest her voice should betray her, a hollow groan +arose from apart of the church very near her. It chilled her heart, +and she remained fixed to the spot. She turned her eyes a little to +the left, and saw light appear through the chinks of a sepulchre at +some distance. The groan was repeated--a low murmuring succeeded, and +while she yet gazed, an old man issued from the vault with a lighted +taper in his hand. Terror now subdued her, and she utterred an +involuntary shriek. In the succeeding moment, a noise was heard in a +remote part of the fabric; and Ferdinand rushing forth from his +concealment, ran to her assistance. The old man, who appeared to be a +friar, and who had been doing penance at the monument of a saint, now +approached. His countenance expressed a degree of surprise and terror +almost equal to that of Julia's, who knew him to be the confessor of +Vincent. Ferdinand seized the father; and laying his hand upon his +sword, threatened him with death if he did not instantly swear to +conceal for ever his knowledge of what he then saw, and also assist +them to escape from the abbey. + +'Ungracious boy!' replied the father, in a calm voice, 'desist from +this language, nor add to the follies of youth the crime of murdering, +or terrifying a defenceless old man. Your violence would urge me to +become your enemy, did not previous inclination tempt me to be your +friend. I pity the distresses of the lady Julia, to whom I am no +stranger, and will cheerfully give her all the assistance in my +power.' + +At these words Julia revived, and Ferdinand, reproved by the +generosity of the father, and conscious of his own inferiority, shrunk +back. 'I have no words to thank you,' said he, 'or to entreat your +pardon for the impetuosity of my conduct; your knowledge of my +situation must plead my excuse.'--'It does,' replied the father, 'but +we have no time to lose;--follow me.' + +They followed him through the church to the cloisters, at the +extremity of which was a small door, which the friar unlocked. It +opened upon the woods. + +'This path,' said he, 'leads thro' an intricate part of the woods, to +the rocks that rise on the right of the abbey; in their recesses you +may secrete yourselves till you are prepared for a longer journey. But +extinguish your light; it may betray you to the marquis's people, who +are dispersed about this spot. Farewell! my children, and God's +blessing be upon ye.' + +Julia's tears declared her gratitude; she had no time for words. They +stepped into the path, and the father closed the door. They were now +liberated from the monastery, but danger awaited them without, which +it required all their caution to avoid. Ferdinand knew the path which +the friar had pointed out to be the same that led to the rocks where +his horses were stationed, and he pursued it with quick and silent +steps. Julia, whose fears conspired with the gloom of night to magnify +and transform every object around her, imagined at each step that she +took, she perceived the figures of men, and fancied every whisper of +the breeze the sound of pursuit. + +They proceeded swiftly, till Julia, breathless and exhausted, could go +no farther. They had not rested many minutes, when they heard a +rustling among the bushes at some distance, and soon after +distinguished a low sound of voices. Ferdinand and Julia instantly +renewed their flight, and thought they still heard voices advance upon +the wind. This thought was soon confirmed, for the sounds now gained +fast upon them, and they distinguished words which served only to +heighten their apprehensions, when they reached the extremity of the +woods. The moon, which was now up, suddenly emerging from a dark +cloud, discovered to them several man in pursuit; and also shewed to +the pursuers the course of the fugitives. They endeavoured to gain the +rocks where the horses were concealed, and which now appeared in view. +These they reached when the pursuers had almost overtaken them--but +their horses were gone! Their only remaining chance of escape was to +fly into the deep recesses of the rock. They, therefore, entered a +winding cave, from whence branched several subterraneous avenues, at +the extremity of one of which they stopped. The voices of men now +vibrated in tremendous echoes through the various and secret caverns +of the place, and the sound of footsteps seemed fast approaching. +Julia trembled with terror, and Ferdinand drew his sword, determined +to protect her to the last. A confused volley of voices now sounded up +that part of the cave were Ferdinand and Julia lay concealed. In a +few moments the steps of the pursuers suddenly took a different +direction, and the sounds sunk gradually away, and were heard no more. +Ferdinand listened attentively for a considerable time, but the +stillness of the place remained undisturbed. It was now evident that +the men had quitted the rock, and he ventured forth to the mouth of +the cave. He surveyed the wilds around, as far as his eye could +penetrate, and distinguished no human being; but in the pauses of the +wind he still thought he heard a sound of distant voices. As he +listened in anxious silence, his eye caught the appearance of a +shadow, which moved upon the ground near where he stood. He started +back within the cave, but in a few minutes again ventured forth. The +shadow remained stationary, but having watched it for some time, +Ferdinand saw it glide along till it disappeared behind a point of +rock. He had now no doubt that the cave was watched, and that it was +one of his late pursuers whose shade he had seen. He returned, +therefore, to Julia, and remained near an hour hid in the deepest +recess of the rock; when, no sound having interrupted the profound +silence of the place, he at length once more ventured to the mouth of +the cave. Again he threw a fearful look around, but discerned no human +form. The soft moon-beam slept upon the dewy landscape, and the solemn +stillness of midnight wrapt the world. Fear heightened to the +fugitives the sublimity of the hour. Ferdinand now led Julia forth, +and they passed silently along the shelving foot of the rocks. + +They continued their way without farther interruption; and among the +cliffs, at some distance from the cave, discovered, to their +inexpressible joy, their horses, who having broken their fastenings, +had strayed thither, and had now laid themselves down to rest. +Ferdinand and Julia immediately mounted; and descending to the plains, +took the road that led to a small sea-port at some leagues distant, +whence they could embark for Italy. + +They travelled for some hours through gloomy forests of beech and +chesnut; and their way was only faintly illuminated by the moon, which +shed a trembling lustre through the dark foliage, and which was seen +but at intervals, as the passing clouds yielded to the power of her +rays. They reached at length the skirts of the forest. The grey dawn +now appeared, and the chill morning air bit shrewdly. It was with +inexpressible joy that Julia observed the kindling atmosphere; and +soon after the rays of the rising sun touching the tops of the +mountains, whose sides were yet involved in dark vapours. + +Her fears dissipated with the darkness.--The sun now appeared amid +clouds of inconceivable splendour; and unveiled a scene which in other +circumstances Julia would have contemplated with rapture. From the +side of the hill, down which they were winding, a vale appeared, from +whence arose wild and lofty mountains, whose steeps were cloathed with +hanging woods, except where here and there a precipice projected its +bold and rugged front. Here, a few half-withered trees hung from the +crevices of the rock, and gave a picturesque wildness to the object; +there, clusters of half-seen cottages, rising from among tufted +groves, embellished the green margin of a stream which meandered in +the bottom, and bore its waves to the blue and distant main. + +The freshness of morning breathed over the scene, and vivified each +colour of the landscape. The bright dewdrops hung trembling from the +branches of the trees, which at intervals overshadowed the road; and +the sprightly music of the birds saluted the rising day. +Notwithstanding her anxiety the scene diffused a soft complacency over +the mind of Julia. + +About noon they reached the port, where Ferdinand was fortunate enough +to obtain a small vessel; but the wind was unfavourable, and it was +past midnight before it was possible for them to embark. + +When the dawn appeared, Julia returned to the deck; and viewed with a +sigh of unaccountable regret, the receding coast of Sicily. But she +observed, with high admiration, the light gradually spreading through +the atmosphere, darting a feeble ray over the surface of the waters, +which rolled in solemn soundings upon the distant shores. Fiery beams +now marked the clouds, and the east glowed with increasing radiance, +till the sun rose at once above the waves, and illuminating them with +a flood of splendour, diffused gaiety and gladness around. The bold +concave of the heavens, uniting with the vast expanse of the ocean, +formed, a _coup d'oeil_, striking and sublime magnificence of the +scenery inspired Julia with delight; and her heart dilating with high +enthusiasm, she forgot the sorrows which had oppressed her. + +The breeze wafted the ship gently along for some hours, when it +gradually sunk into a calm. The glassy surface of the waters was not +curled by the lightest air, and the vessel floated heavily on the +bosom of the deep. Sicily was yet in view, and the present delay +agitated Julia with wild apprehension. Towards the close of day a +light breeze sprang up, but it blew from Italy, and a train of dark +vapours emerged from the verge of the horizon, which gradually +accumulating, the heavens became entirely overcast. The evening shut +in suddenly; the rising wind, the heavy clouds that loaded the +atmosphere, and the thunder which murmured afar off terrified Julia, +and threatened a violent storm. + +The tempest came on, and the captain vainly sounded for anchorage: it +was deep sea, and the vessel drove furiously before the wind. The +darkness was interrupted only at intervals, by the broad expanse of +vivid lightnings, which quivered upon the waters, and disclosing the +horrible gaspings of the waves, served to render the succeeding +darkness more awful. The thunder, which burst in tremendous crashes +above, the loud roar of the waves below, the noise of the sailors, and +the sudden cracks and groanings of the vessel conspired to heighten +the tremendous sublimity of the scene. + + Far on the rocky shores the surges sound, + The lashing whirlwinds cleave the vast profound; + While high in air, amid the rising storm, + Driving the blast, sits Danger's black'ning form. + +Julia lay fainting with terror and sickness in the cabin, and +Ferdinand, though almost hopeless himself, was endeavouring to support +her, when aloud and dreadful crash was heard from above. It seemed as +if the whole vessel had parted. The voices of the sailors now rose +together, and all was confusion and uproar. Ferdinand ran up to the +deck, and learned that part of the main mast, borne away by the wind, +had fallen upon the deck, whence it had rolled overboard. + +It was now past midnight, and the storm continued with unabated fury. +For four hours the vessel had been driven before the blast; and the +captain now declared it was impossible she could weather the tempest +much longer, ordered the long boat to be in readiness. His orders were +scarcely executed, when the ship bulged upon a reef of rocks, and the +impetuous waves rushed into the vessel:--a general groan ensued. +Ferdinand flew to save his sister, whom he carried to the boat, which +was nearly filled by the captain and most of the crew. The sea ran so +high that it appeared impracticable to reach the shore: but the boat +had not moved many yards, when the ship went to pieces. The captain +now perceived, by the flashes of lightning, a high rocky coast at +about the distance of half a mile. The men struggled hard at the oars; +but almost as often as they gained the summit of a wave, it dashed +them back again, and made their labour of little avail. + +After much difficulty and fatigue they reached the coast, where a new +danger presented itself. They beheld a wild rocky shore, whose cliffs +appeared inaccessible, and which seemed to afford little possibility +of landing. A landing, however, was at last affected; and the sailors, +after much search, discovered a kind of pathway cut in the rock, which +they all ascended in safety. + +The dawn now faintly glimmered, and they surveyed the coast, but could +discover no human habitation. They imagined they were on the shores of +Sicily, but possessed no means of confirming this conjecture. Terror, +sickness, and fatigue had subdued the strength and spirits of Julia, +and she was obliged to rest upon the rocks. + +The storm now suddenly subsided, and the total calm which succeeded to +the wild tumult of the winds and waves, produced a striking and +sublime effect. The air was hushed in a deathlike stillness, but the +waves were yet violently agitated; and by the increasing light, parts +of the wreck were seen floating wide upon the face of the deep. Some +sailors, who had missed the boat, were also discovered clinging to +pieces of the vessel, and making towards the shore. On observing this, +their shipmates immediately descended to the boat; and, putting off to +sea, rescued them from their perilous situation. When Julia was +somewhat reanimated, they proceeded up the country in search of a +dwelling. + +They had travelled near half a league, when the savage features of the +country began to soften, and gradually changed to the picturesque +beauty of Sicilian scenery. They now discovered at some distance a +villa, seated on a gentle eminence, crowned with woods. It was the +first human habitation they had seen since they embarked for Italy; +and Julia, who was almost sinking with fatigue, beheld it with +delight. The captain and his men hastened towards it to make known +their distress, while Ferdinand and Julia slowly followed. They +observed the men enter the villa, one of whom quickly returned to +acquaint them with the hospitable reception his comrades had received. + +Julia with difficulty reached the edifice, at the door of which she +was met by a young cavalier, whose pleasing and intelligent +countenance immediately interested her in his favor. He welcomed the +strangers with a benevolent politeness that dissolved at once every +uncomfortable feeling which their situation had excited, and produced +an instantaneous easy confidence. Through a light and elegant hall, +rising into a dome, supported by pillars of white marble, and adorned +with busts, he led them to a magnificent vestibule, which opened upon +a lawn. Having seated them at a table spread with refreshments he left +them, and they surveyed, with surprise, the beauty of the adjacent +scene. + +The lawn, which was on each side bounded by hanging woods, descended +in gentle declivity to a fine lake, whose smooth surface reflected the +surrounding shades. Beyond appeared the distant country, arising on +the left into bold romantic mountains, and on the right exhibiting a +soft and glowing landscape, whose tranquil beauty formed a striking +contrast to the wild sublimity of the opposite craggy heights. The +blue and distant ocean terminated the view. + +In a short time the cavalier returned, conducting two ladies of a very +engaging appearance, whom he presented as his wife and sister. They +welcomed Julia with graceful kindness; but fatigue soon obliged her to +retire to rest, and a consequent indisposition increased so rapidly, +as to render it impracticable for her to quit her present abode on +that day. The captain and his men proceeded on their way, leaving +Ferdinand and Julia at the villa, where she experienced every kind and +tender affection. + +The day which was to have devoted Julia to a cloister, was ushered in +at the abbey with the usual ceremonies. The church was ornamented, and +all the inhabitants of the monastery prepared to attend. The _Padre +Abate_ now exulted in the success of his scheme, and anticipated, in +imagination, the rage and vexation of the marquis, when he should +discover that his daughter was lost to him for ever. + +The hour of celebration arrived, and he entered the church with a +proud firm step, and with a countenance which depictured his inward +triumph; he was proceeding to the high altar, when he was told that +Julia was no where to be found. Astonishment for awhile suspended +other emotions--he yet believed it impossible that she could have +effected an escape, and ordered every part of the abbey to be +searched--not forgetting the secret caverns belonging to the +monastery, which wound beneath the woods. When the search was over, +and he became convinced she was fled, the deep workings of his +disappointed passions fermented into rage which exceeded all bounds. +He denounced the most terrible judgments upon Julia; and calling for +Madame de Menon, charged her with having insulted her holy religion, +in being accessary to the flight of Julia. Madame endured these +reproaches with calm dignity, and preserved a steady silence, but she +secretly determined to leave the monastery, and seek in another the +repose which she could never hope to find in this. + +The report of Julia's disappearance spread rapidly beyond the walls, +and soon reached the ears of the marquis, who rejoiced in the +circumstance, believing that she must now inevitably fall into his +hands. + +After his people, in obedience to his orders, had carefully searched +the surrounding woods and rocks, he withdrew them from the abbey; and +having dispersed them various ways in search of Julia, he returned to +the castle of Mazzini. Here new vexation awaited him, for he now +first learned that Ferdinand had escaped from confinement. + +The mystery of Julia's flight was now dissolved; for it was evident by +whose means she had effected it, and the marquis issued orders to his +people to secure Ferdinand wherever he should be found. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Hippolitus, who had languished under a long and dangerous illness +occasioned by his wounds, but heightened and prolonged by the distress +of his mind, was detained in a small town in the coast of Calabria, +and was yet ignorant of the death of Cornelia. He scarcely doubted +that Julia was now devoted to the duke, and this thought was at times +poison to his heart. After his arrival in Calabria, immediately on the +recovery of his senses, he dispatched a servant back to the castle of +Mazzini, to gain secret intelligence of what had passed after his +departure. The eagerness with which we endeavour to escape from +misery, taught him to encourage a remote and romantic hope that Julia +yet lived for him. Yet even this hope at length languished into +despair, as the time elapsed which should have brought his servant +from Sicily. Days and weeks passed away in the utmost anxiety to +Hippolitus, for still his emissary did not appear; and at last, +concluding that he had been either seized by robbers, or discovered +and detained by the marquis, the Count sent off a second emissary to +the castle of Mazzini. By him he learned the news of Julia's flight, +and his heart dilated with joy; but it was suddenly checked when he +heard the marquis had discovered her retreat in the abbey of St +Augustin. The wounds which still detained him in confinement, now +became intolerable. Julia might yet be lost to him for ever. But even +his present state of fear and uncertainty was bliss compared with the +anguish of despair, which his mind had long endured. + +As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he quitted Italy for Sicily, +in the design of visiting the monastery of St Augustin, where it was +possible Julia might yet remain. That he might pass with the secrecy +necessary to his plan, and escape the attacks of the marquis, he left +his servants in Calabria, and embarked alone. + +It was morning when he landed at a small port of Sicily, and proceeded +towards the abbey of St Augustin. As he travelled, his imagination +revolved the scenes of his early love, the distress of Julia, and the +sufferings of Ferdinand, and his heart melted at the retrospect. He +considered the probabilities of Julia having found protection from her +father in the pity of the _Padre Abate_; and even ventured to indulge +himself in a flattering, fond anticipation of the moment when Julia +should again be restored to his sight. + +He arrived at the monastery, and his grief may easily be imagined, +when he was informed of the death of his beloved sister, and of the +flight of Julia. He quitted St Augustin's immediately, without even +knowing that Madame de Menon was there, and set out for a town at some +leagues distance, where he designed to pass the night. + +Absorbed in the melancholy reflections which the late intelligence +excited, he gave the reins to his horse, and journeyed on unmindful of +his way. The evening was far advanced when he discovered that he had +taken a wrong direction, and that he was bewildered in a wild and +solitary scene. He had wandered too far from the road to hope to +regain it, and he had beside no recollection of the objects left +behind him. A choice of errors, only, lay before him. The view on his +right hand exhibited high and savage mountains, covered with heath and +black fir; and the wild desolation of their aspect, together with the +dangerous appearance of the path that wound up their sides, and which +was the only apparent track they afforded, determined Hippolitus not +to attempt their ascent. On his left lay a forest, to which the path +he was then in led; its appearance was gloomy, but he preferred it to +the mountains; and, since he was uncertain of its extent, there was a +possibility that he might pass it, and reach a village before the +night was set in. At the worst, the forest would afford him a shelter +from the winds; and, however he might be bewildered in its labyrinths, +he could ascend a tree, and rest in security till the return of light +should afford him an opportunity of extricating himself. Among the +mountains there was no possibility of meeting with other shelter than +what the habitation of man afforded, and such a shelter there was +little probability of finding. Innumerable dangers also threatened him +here, from which he would be secure on level ground. + +Having determined which way to pursue, he pushed his horse into a +gallop, and entered the forest as the last rays of the sun trembled on +the mountains. The thick foliage of the trees threw a gloom around, +which was every moment deepened by the shades of evening. The path was +uninterrupted, and the count continued to follow it till all +distinction was confounded in the veil of night. Total darkness now +made it impossible for him to pursue his way. He dismounted, and +fastening his horse to a tree, climbed among the branches, purposing +to remain there till morning. + +He had not been long in this situation, when a confused sound of +voices from a distance roused his attention. The sound returned at +intervals for some time, but without seeming to approach. He descended +from the tree, that he might the better judge of the direction whence +it came; but before he reached the ground, the noise was ceased, and +all was profoundly silent. He continued to listen, but the silence +remaining undisturbed, he began to think he had been deceived by the +singing of the wind among the leaves; and was preparing to reascend, +when he perceived a faint light glimmer through the foliage from afar. +The sight revived a hope that he was near some place of human +habitation; he therefore unfastened his horse, and led him towards the +spot whence the ray issued. The moon was now risen, and threw a +checkered gleam over his path sufficient to direct him. + +Before he had proceeded far the light disappeared. He continued, +however, his way as nearly as he could guess, towards the place whence +it had issued; and after much toil, found himself in a spot where the +trees formed a circle round a kind of rude lawn. The moonlight +discovered to him an edifice which appeared to have been formerly a +monastery, but which now exhibited a pile of ruins, whose grandeur, +heightened by decay, touched the beholder with reverential awe. +Hippolitus paused to gaze upon the scene; the sacred stillness of +night increased its effect, and a secret dread, he knew not wherefore, +stole upon his heart. + +The silence and the character of the place made him doubt whether this +was the spot he had been seeking; and as he stood hesitating whether +to proceed or to return, he observed a figure standing under an +arch-way of the ruin; it carried a light in its hand, and passing +silently along, disappeared in a remote part of the building. The +courage of Hippolitus for a moment deserted him. An invincible +curiosity, however, subdued his terror, and he determined to pursue, +if possible, the way the figure had taken. + +He passed over loose stones through a sort of court till he came to +the archway; here he stopped, for fear returned upon him. Resuming his +courage, however, he went on, still endeavouring to follow the way the +figure had passed, and suddenly found himself in an enclosed part of +the ruin, whose appearance was more wild and desolate than any he had +yet seen. Seized with unconquerable apprehension, he was retiring, +when the low voice of a distressed person struck his ear. His heart +sunk at the sound, his limbs trembled, and he was utterly unable to +move. + +The sound which appeared to be the last groan of a dying person, was +repeated. Hippolitus made a strong effort, and sprang forward, when a +light burst upon him from a shattered casement of the building, and at +the same instant he heard the voices of men! + +He advanced softly to the window, and beheld in a small room, which +was less decayed than the rest of the edifice, a group of men, who, +from the savageness of their looks, and from their dress, appeared to +be banditti. They surrounded a man who lay on the ground wounded, and +bathed in blood, and who it was very evident had uttered the groans +heard by the count. + +The obscurity of the place prevented Hippolitus from distinguishing +the features of the dying man. From the blood which covered him, and +from the surrounding circumstances, he appeared to be murdered; and +the count had no doubt that the men he beheld were the murderers. The +horror of the scene entirely overcame him; he stood rooted to the +spot, and saw the assassins rifle the pockets of the dying person, +who, in a voice scarcely articulate, but which despair seemed to aid, +supplicated for mercy. The ruffians answered him only with +execrations, and continued their plunder. His groans and his +sufferings served only to aggravate their cruelty. They were +proceeding to take from him a miniature picture, which was fastened +round his neck, and had been hitherto concealed in his bosom; when by +a sudden effort he half raised himself from the ground, and attempted +to save it from their hands. The effort availed him nothing; a blow +from one of the villains laid the unfortunate man on the floor without +motion. The horrid barbarity of the act seized the mind of Hippolitus +so entirely, that, forgetful of his own situation, he groaned aloud, +and started with an instantaneous design of avenging the deed. The +noise he made alarmed the banditti, who looking whence it came, +discovered the count through the casement. They instantly quitted +their prize, and rushed towards the door of the room. He was now +returned to a sense of his danger, and endeavoured to escape to the +exterior part of the ruin; but terror bewildered his senses, and he +mistook his way. Instead of regaining the arch-way, he perplexed +himself with fruitless wanderings, and at length found himself only +more deeply involved in the secret recesses of the pile. + +The steps of his pursuers gained fast upon him, and he continued to +perplex himself with vain efforts at escape, till at length, quite +exhausted, he sunk on the ground, and endeavoured to resign himself to +his fate. He listened with a kind of stern despair, and was surprised +to find all silent. On looking round, he perceived by a ray of +moonlight, which streamed through a part of the ruin from above, that +he was in a sort of vault, which, from the small means he had of +judging, he thought was extensive. + +In this situation he remained for a considerable time, ruminating on +the means of escape, yet scarcely believing escape was possible. If he +continued in the vault, he might continue there only to be butchered; +but by attempting to rescue himself from the place he was now in, he +must rush into the hands of the banditti. Judging it, therefore, the +safer way of the two to remain where he was, he endeavoured to await +his fate with fortitude, when suddenly the loud voices of the +murderers burst upon his ear, and he heard steps advancing quickly +towards the spot where he lay. + +Despair instantly renewed his vigour; he started from the ground, and +throwing round him a look of eager desperation, his eye caught the +glimpse of a small door, upon which the moon-beam now fell. He made +towards it, and passed it just as the light of a torch gleamed upon +the walls of the vault. + +He groped his way along a winding passage, and at length came to a +flight of steps. Notwithstanding the darkness, he reached the bottom +in safety. + +He now for the first time stopped to listen--the sounds of pursuit +were ceased, and all was silent! Continuing to wander on in effectual +endeavours to escape, his hands at length touched cold iron, and he +quickly perceived it belonged to a door. The door, however, was +fastened, and resisted all his efforts to open it. He was giving up +the attempt in despair, when a loud scream from within, followed by a +dead and heavy noise, roused all his attention. Silence ensued. He +listened for a considerable time at the door, his imagination filled +with images of horror, and expecting to hear the sound repeated. He +then sought for a decayed part of the door, through which he might +discover what was beyond; but he could find none; and after waiting +some time without hearing any farther noise, he was quitting the spot, +when in passing his arm over the door, it struck against something +hard. On examination he perceived, to his extreme surprize, that the +key was in the lock. For a moment he hesitated what to do; but +curiosity overcame other considerations, and with a trembling hand he +turned the key. The door opened into a large and desolate apartment, +dimly lighted by a lamp that stood on a table, which was almost the +only furniture of the place. The Count had advanced several steps +before he perceived an object, which fixed all his attention. This was +the figure of a young woman lying on the floor apparently dead. Her +face was concealed in her robe; and the long auburn tresses which fell +in beautiful luxuriance over her bosom, served to veil a part of the +glowing beauty which the disorder of her dress would have revealed. + +Pity, surprize, and admiration struggled in the breast of Hippolitus; +and while he stood surveying the object which excited these different +emotions, he heard a step advancing towards the room. He flew to the +door by which he had entered, and was fortunate enough to reach it +before the entrance of the persons whose steps he heard. Having turned +the key, he stopped at the door to listen to their proceedings. He +distinguished the voices of two men, and knew them to be those of the +assassins. Presently he heard a piercing skriek, and at the same +instant the voices of the ruffians grew loud and violent. One of them +exclaimed that the lady was dying, and accused the other of having +frightened her to death, swearing, with horrid imprecations, that she +was his, and he would defend her to the last drop of his blood. The +dispute grew higher; and neither of the ruffians would give up his +claim to the unfortunate object of their altercation. + +The clashing of swords was soon after heard, together with a violent +noise. The screams were repeated, and the oaths and execrations of the +disputants redoubled. They seemed to move towards the door, behind +which Hippolitus was concealed; suddenly the door was shook with great +force, a deep groan followed, and was instantly succeeded by a noise +like that of a person whose whole weight falls at once to the ground. +For a moment all was silent. Hippolitus had no doubt that one of the +ruffians had destroyed the other, and was soon confirmed in the +belief--for the survivor triumphed with brutal exultation over his +fallen antagonist. The ruffian hastily quitted the room, and +Hippolitus soon after heard the distant voices of several persons in +loud dispute. The sounds seemed to come from a chamber over the place +where he stood; he also heard a trampling of feet from above, and +could even distinguish, at intervals, the words of the disputants. +From these he gathered enough to learn that the affray which had just +happened, and the lady who had been the occasion of it, were the +subjects of discourse. The voices frequently rose together, and +confounded all distinction. + +At length the tumult began to subside, and Hippolitus could +distinguish what was said. The ruffians agreed to give up the lady in +question to him who had fought for her; and leaving him to his prize, +they all went out in quest of farther prey. The situation of the +unfortunate lady excited a mixture of pity and indignation in +Hippolitus, which for some time entirely occupied him; he revolved the +means of extricating her from so deplorable a situation, and in these +thoughts almost forgot his own danger. He now heard her sighs; and +while his heart melted to the sounds, the farther door of the +apartment was thrown open, and the wretch to whom she had been +allotted, rushed in. Her screams now redoubled, but they were of no +avail with the ruffian who had seized her in his arms; when the count, +who was unarmed, insensible to every pulse but that of a generous +pity, burst into the room, but became fixed like a statue when he +beheld his Julia struggling in the grasp of the ruffian. On +discovering Hippolitus, she made a sudden spring, and liberated +herself; when, running to him, she sunk lifeless in his arms. + +Surprise and fury sparkled in the eyes of the ruffian, and he turned +with a savage desperation upon the count; who, relinquishing Julia, +snatched up the sword of the dead ruffian, which lay upon the floor, +and defended himself. The combat was furious, but Hippolitus laid his +antagonist senseless at his feet. He flew to Julia, who now revived, +but who for some time could speak only by her tears. The transitions +of various and rapid sensations, which her heart experienced, and the +strangely mingled emotions of joy and terror that agitated Hippolitus, +can only be understood by experience. He raised her from the floor, +and endeavoured to soothe her to composure, when she called wildly +upon Ferdinand. At his name the count started, and he instantly +remembered the dying cavalier, whose countenance the glooms had +concealed from his view. His heart thrilled with secret agony, yet he +resolved to withhold his terrible conjectures from Julia, of whom he +learned that Ferdinand, with herself, had been taken by banditti in +the way from the villa which had offered them so hospitable a +reception after the shipwreck. They were on the road to a port whence +they designed again to embark for Italy, when this misfortune overtook +them. Julia added, that Ferdinand had been immediately separated from +her; and that, for some hours, she had been confined in the apartment +where Hippolitus found her. + +The Count with difficulty concealed his terrible apprehensions for +Ferdinand, and vainly strove to soften Julia's distress. But there was +no time to be lost--they had yet to find a way out of the edifice, and +before they could accomplish this, the banditti might return. It was +also possible that some of the party were left to watch this their +abode during the absence of the rest, and this was another +circumstance of reasonable alarm. + +After some little consideration, Hippolitus judged it most prudent to +seek an outlet through the passage by which he entered; he therefore +took the lamp, and led Julia to the door. They entered the avenue, and +locking the door after them, sought the flight of steps down which the +count had before passed; but having pursued the windings of the avenue +a considerable time without finding them, he became certain he had +mistaken the way. They, however, found another flight, which they +descended and entered upon a passage so very narrow and low, as not to +admit of a person walking upright. This passage was closed by a door, +which on examination was found to be chiefly of iron. Hippolitus was +startled at the sight, but on applying his strength found it gradually +yield, when the imprisoned air rushed out, and had nearly extinguished +the light. They now entered upon a dark abyss; and the door which +moved upon a spring, suddenly closed upon them. On looking round they +beheld a large vault; and it is not easy to imagine their horror on +discovering they were in a receptacle for the murdered bodies of the +unfortunate people who had fallen into the hands of the banditti. + +The count could scarcely support the fainting spirits of Julia; he ran +to the door, which he endeavoured to open, but the lock was so +constructed that it could be moved only on the other side, and all his +efforts were useless. He was constrained, therefore, to seek for +another door, but could find none. Their situation was the most +deplorable that can be imagined; for they were now inclosed in a vault +strewn with the dead bodies of the murdered, and must there become the +victims of famine, or of the sword. The earth was in several places +thrown up, and marked the boundaries of new-made graves. The bodies +which remained unburied were probably left either from hurry or +negligence, and exhibited a spectacle too shocking for humanity. The +sufferings of Hippolitus were increased by those of Julia, who was +sinking with horror, and who he endeavoured to support to apart of the +vault which fell into a recess--where stood a bench. + +They had not been long in this situation, when they heard a noise +which approached gradually, and which did not appear to come from the +avenue they had passed. + +The noise increased, and they could distinguish voices. Hippolitus +believed the murderers were returned; that they had traced his +retreat, and were coming towards the vault by some way unknown to him. +He prepared for the worst--and drawing his sword, resolved to defend +Julia to the last. Their apprehension, however, was soon dissipated +by a trampling of horses, which sound had occasioned his alarm, and +which now seemed to come from a courtyard above, extremely near the +vault. He distinctly heard the voices of the banditti, together with +the moans and supplications of some person, whom it was evident they +were about to plunder. The sound appeared so very near, that +Hippolitus was both shocked and surprised; and looking round the +vault, he perceived a small grated window placed very high in the +wall, which he concluded overlooked the place where the robbers were +assembled. He recollected that his light might betray him; and +horrible as was the alternative, he was compelled to extinguish it. He +now attempted to climb to the grate, through which he might obtain a +view of what was passing without. This at length he effected, for the +ruggedness of the wall afforded him a footing. He beheld in a ruinous +court, which was partially illuminated by the glare of torches, a +group of banditti surrounding two persons who were bound on horseback, +and who were supplicating for mercy. + +One of the robbers exclaiming with an oath that this was a golden +night, bade his comrades dispatch, adding he would go to find Paulo +and the lady. + +The effect which the latter part of this sentence had upon the +prisoners in the vault, may be more easily imagined than described. +They were now in total darkness in this mansion of the murdered, +without means of escape, and in momentary expectation of sharing a +fate similar to that of the wretched objects around them. Julia, +overcome with distress and terror, sunk on the ground; and Hippolitus, +descending from the grate, became insensible of his own danger in his +apprehension for her. + +In a short time all without was confusion and uproar; the ruffian who +had left the court returned with the alarm that the lady was fled, and +that Paulo was murdered, The robbers quitting their booty to go in +search of the fugitive, and to discover the murderer, dreadful +vociferations resounded through every recess of the pile. + +The tumult had continued a considerable time, which the prisoners had +passed in a state of horrible suspence, when they heard the uproar +advancing towards the vault, and soon after a number of voices shouted +down the avenue. The sound of steps quickened. Hippolitus again drew +his sword, and placed himself opposite the entrance, where he had not +stood long, when a violent push was made against the door; it flew +open, and a party of men rushed into the vault, + +Hippolitus kept his position, protesting he would destroy the first +who approached. At the sound of his voice they stopped; but presently +advancing, commanded him in the king's name to surrender. He now +discovered what his agitation had prevented him from observing sooner, +that the men before him were not banditti, but the officers of +justice. They had received information of this haunt of villainy from +the son of a Sicilian nobleman, who had fallen into the hands of the +banditti, and had afterwards escaped from their power. + +The officers came attended by a guard, and were every way prepared to +prosecute a strenuous search through these horrible recesses. + +Hippolitus inquired for Ferdinand, and they all quitted the vault in +search of him. In the court, to which they now ascended, the greater +part of the banditti were secured by a number of the guard. The count +accused the robbers of having secreted his friend, whom he described, +and demanded to have liberated. + +With one voice they denied the fact, and were resolute in persisting +that they knew nothing of the person described. This denial confirmed +Hippolitus in his former terrible surmise; that the dying cavalier, +whom he had seen, was no other than Ferdinand, and he became furious. +He bade the officers prosecute their search, who, leaving a guard over +the banditti they had secured, followed him to the room where the late +dreadful scene had been acted. + +The room was dark and empty; but the traces of blood were visible on +the floor; and Julia, though ignorant of the particular apprehension +of Hippolitus, almost swooned at the sight. On quitting the room, they +wandered for some time among the ruins, without discovering any thing +extraordinary, till, in passing under the arch-way by which Hippolitus +had first entered the building, their footsteps returned a deep sound, +which convinced them that the ground beneath was hollow. On close +examination, they perceived by the light of their torch, a trapdoor, +which with some difficulty they lifted, and discovered beneath a +narrow flight of steps. They all descended into a low winding passage, +where they had not been long, when they heard a trampling of horses +above, and a loud and sudden uproar. + +The officers apprehending that the banditti had overcome the guard, +rushed back to the trapdoor, which they had scarcely lifted, when they +heard a clashing of swords, and a confusion of unknown voices. Looking +onward, they beheld through the arch, in an inner sort of court, a +large party of banditti who were just arrived, rescuing their +comrades, and contending furiously with the guard. + +On observing this, several of the officers sprang forward to the +assistance of their friends; and the rest, subdued by cowardice, +hurried down the steps, letting the trapdoor fall after them with a +thundering noise. They gave notice to Hippolitus of what was passing +above, who hurried Julia along the passage in search of some outlet or +place of concealment. They could find neither, and had not long +pursued the windings of the way, when they heard the trapdoor lifted, +and the steps of persons descending. Despair gave strength to Julia, +and winged her flight. But they were now stopped by a door which +closed the passage, and the sound of distant voices murmured along the +walls. + +The door was fastened by strong iron bolts, which Hippolitus vainly +endeavoured to draw. The voices drew near. After much labour and +difficulty the bolts yielded--the door unclosed--and light dawned upon +them through the mouth of a cave, into which they now entered. On +quitting the cave they found themselves in the forest, and in a short +time reached the borders. They now ventured to stop, and looking back +perceived no person in pursuit. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +When Julia had rested, they followed the track before them, and in a +short time arrived at a village, where they obtained security and +refreshment. + +But Julia, whose mind was occupied with dreadful anxiety for +Ferdinand, became indifferent to all around her. Even the presence of +Hippolitus, which but lately would have raised her from misery to joy, +failed to soothe her distress. The steady and noble attachment of her +brother had sunk deep in her heart, and reflection only aggravated her +affliction. Yet the banditti had steadily persisted in affirming that +he was not concealed in their recesses; and this circumstance, which +threw a deeper shade over the fears of Hippolitus, imparted a +glimmering of hope to the mind of Julia. + +A more immediate interest at length forced her mind from this +sorrowful subject. It was necessary to determine upon some line of +conduct, for she was now in an unknown spot, and ignorant of any place +of refuge. The count, who trembled at the dangers which environed her, +and at the probabilities he saw of her being torn from him for ever, +suffered a consideration of them to overcome the dangerous delicacy +which at this mournful period required his silence. He entreated her +to destroy the possibility of separation, by consenting to become his +immediately. He urged that a priest could be easily procured from a +neighboring convent, who would confirm the bonds which had so long +united their hearts, and who would thus at once arrest the destiny +that so long had threatened his hopes. + +This proposal, though similar to the one she had before accepted; and +though the certain means of rescuing her from the fate she dreaded, +she now turned from in sorrow and dejection. She loved Hippolitus with +a steady and tender affection, which was still heightened by the +gratitude he claimed as her deliverer; but she considered it a +prophanation of the memory of that brother who had suffered so much +for her sake, to mingle joy with the grief which her uncertainty +concerning him occasioned. She softened her refusal with a tender +grace, that quickly dissipated the jealous doubt arising in the mind +of Hippolitus, and increased his fond admiration of her character. + +She desired to retire for a time to some obscure convent, there to +await the issue of the event, which at present involved her in +perplexity and sorrow. + +Hippolitus struggled with his feelings and forbore to press farther +the suit on which his happiness, and almost his existence, now +depended. He inquired at the village for a neighbouring convent, and +was told, that there was none within twelve leagues, but that near the +town of Palini, at about that distance, were two. He procured horses; +and leaving the officers to return to Palermo for a stronger guard, +he, accompanied by Julia, entered on the road to Palini. + +Julia was silent and thoughtful; Hippolitus gradually sunk into the +same mood, and he often cast a cautious look around as they travelled +for some hours along the feet of the mountains. They stopped to dine +under the shade of some beach-trees; for, fearful of discovery, +Hippolitus had provided against the necessity of entering many inns. +Having finished their repast, they pursued their journey; but +Hippolitus now began to doubt whether he was in the right direction. +Being destitute, however, of the means of certainty upon this point, +he followed the road before him, which now wound up the side of a +steep hill, whence they descended into a rich valley, where the +shepherd's pipe sounded sweetly from afar among the hills. The evening +sun shed a mild and mellow lustre over the landscape, and softened +each feature with a vermil glow that would have inspired a mind less +occupied than Julia's with sensations of congenial tranquillity. + +The evening now closed in; and as they were doubtful of the road, and +found it would be impossible to reach Palini that night, they took the +way to a village, which they perceived at the extremity of the valley. + +They had proceeded about half a mile, when they heard a sudden shout +of voices echoed from among the hills behind them; and looking back +perceived faintly through the dusk a party of men on horseback making +towards them. As they drew nearer, the words they spoke were +distinguishable, and Julia heard her own name sounded. Shocked at this +circumstance, she had now no doubt that she was discovered by a party +of her father's people, and she fled with Hippolitus along the valley. +The pursuers, however, were almost come up with them, when they +reached the mouth of a cavern, into which she ran for concealment. +Hippolitus drew his sword; and awaiting his enemies, stood to defend +the entrance. + +In a few moments Julia heard the clashing of swords. Her heart +trembled for Hippolitus; and she was upon the point of returning to +resign herself at once to the power of her enemies, and thus avert the +danger that threatened him, when she distinguished the loud voice of +the duke. + +She shrunk involuntarily at the sound, and pursuing the windings of +the cavern, fled into its inmost recesses. Here she had not been long +when the voices sounded through the cave, and drew near. It was now +evident that Hippolitus was conquered, and that her enemies were in +search of her. She threw round a look of unutterable anguish, and +perceived very near, by a sudden gleam of torchlight, a low and deep +recess in the rock. The light which belonged to her pursuers, grew +stronger; and she entered the rock on her knees, for the overhanging +craggs would not suffer her to pass otherwise; and having gone a few +yards, perceived that it was terminated by a door. The door yielded to +her touch, and she suddenly found herself in a highly vaulted cavern, +which received a feeble light from the moon-beams that streamed +through an opening in the rock above. + +She closed the door, and paused to listen. The voices grew louder, and +more distinct, and at last approached so near, that she distinguished +what was said. Above the rest she heard the voice of the duke. 'It is +impossible she can have quitted the cavern,' said he, 'and I will not +leave it till I have found her. Seek to the left of that rock, while I +examine beyond this point.' + +These words were sufficient for Julia; she fled from the door across +the cavern before her, and having ran a considerable way, without +coming to a termination, stopped to breathe. All was now still, and as +she looked around, the gloomy obscurity of the place struck upon her +fancy all its horrors. She imperfectly surveyed the vastness of the +cavern in wild amazement, and feared that she had precipitated herself +again into the power of banditti, for whom along this place appeared a +fit receptacle. Having listened a long time without hearing a return +of voices, she thought to find the door by which she had entered, but +the gloom, and vast extent of the cavern, made the endeavour hopeless, +and the attempt unsuccessful. Having wandered a considerable time +through the void, she gave up the effort, endeavoured to resign +herself to her fate, and to compose her distracted thoughts. The +remembrance of her former wonderful escape inspired her with +confidence in the mercy of God. But Hippolitus and Ferdinand were now +both lost to her--lost, perhaps, for ever--and the uncertainty of +their fate gave force to fancy, and poignancy to sorrow. + +Towards morning grief yielded to nature, and Julia sunk to repose. She +was awakened by the sun, whose rays darting obliquely through the +opening in the rock, threw a partial light across the cavern. Her +senses were yet bewildered by sleep, and she started in affright on +beholding her situation; as recollection gradually stole upon her +mind, her sorrows returned, and she sickened at the fatal retrospect. + +She arose, and renewed her search for an outlet. The light, imperfect +as it was, now assisted her, and she found a door, which she perceived +was not the one by which she had entered. It was firmly fastened; she +discovered, however, the bolts and the lock that held it, and at +length unclosed the door. It opened upon a dark passage, which she +entered. + +She groped along the winding walls for some time, when she perceived +the way was obstructed. She now discovered that another door +interrupted her progress, and sought for the bolts which might fasten +it. These she found; and strengthened by desparation forced them back. +The door opened, and she beheld in a small room, which received its +feeble light from a window above, the pale and emaciated figure of a +woman, seated, with half-closed eyes, in a kind of elbow-chair. On +perceiving Julia, she started from her seat, and her countenance +expressed a wild surprise. Her features, which were worn by sorrow, +still retained the traces of beauty, and in her air was a mild dignity +that excited in Julia an involuntary veneration. + +She seemed as if about to speak, when fixing her eyes earnestly and +steadily upon Julia, she stood for a moment in eager gaze, and +suddenly exclaiming, 'My daughter!' fainted away. + +The astonishment of Julia would scarcely suffer her to assist the lady +who lay senseless on the floor. A multitude of strange imperfect ideas +rushed upon her mind, and she was lost in perplexity; but as she +examined the features of the stranger; which were now rekindling into +life, she thought she discovered the resemblance of Emilia! + +The lady breathing a deep sigh, unclosed her eyes; she raised them to +Julia, who hung over her in speechless astonishment, and fixing them +upon her with a tender earnest expression--they filled with tears. She +pressed Julia to her heart, and a few moments of exquisite, +unutterable emotion followed. When the lady became more composed, +'Thank heaven!' said she, 'my prayer is granted. I am permitted to +embrace one of my children before I die. Tell me what brought you +hither. Has the marquis at last relented, and allowed me once more to +behold you, or has his death dissolved my wretched bondage?' + +Truth now glimmered upon the mind of Julia, but so faintly, that +instead of enlightening, it served only to increase her perplexity. + +'Is the marquis Mazzini living?' continued the lady. These words were +not to be doubted; Julia threw herself at the feet of her mother, and +embracing her knees in an energy of joy, answered only in sobs. + +The marchioness eagerly inquired after her children, 'Emilia is +living,' answered Julia, 'but my dear brother--' 'Tell me,' cried the +marchioness, with quickness. An explanation ensued; When she was +informed concerning Ferdinand, she sighed deeply, and raising her eyes +to heaven, endeavoured to assume a look of pious resignation; but the +struggle of maternal feelings was visible in her countenance, and +almost overcame her powers of resistance. + +Julia gave a short account of the preceding adventures, and of her +entrance into the cavern; and found, to her inexpressible surprize, +that she was now in a subterranean abode belonging to the southern +buildings of the castle of Mazzini! The marchioness was beginning her +narrative, when a door was heard to unlock above, and the sound of a +footstep followed. + +'Fly!' cried the marchioness, 'secret yourself, if possible, for the +marquis is coming.' Julia's heart sunk at these words; she paused not +a moment, but retired through the door by which she had entered. This +she had scarcely done, when another door of the cell was unlocked, and +she heard the voice of her father. Its sounds thrilled her with a +universal tremour; the dread of discovery so strongly operated upon +her mind, that she stood in momentary expectation of seeing the door +of the passage unclosed by the marquis; and she was deprived of all +power of seeking refuge in the cavern. + +At length the marquis, who came with food, quitted the cell, and +relocked the door, when Julia stole forth from her hiding-place. The +marchioness again embraced, and wept over her daughter. The narrative +of her sufferings, upon which she now entered, entirely dissipated the +mystery which had so long enveloped the southern buildings of the +castle. + +'Oh! why,' said the marchioness, 'is it my task to discover to my +daughter the vices of her father? In relating my sufferings, I reveal +his crimes! It is now about fifteen years, as near as I can guess from +the small means I have of judging, since I entered this horrible +abode. My sorrows, alas! began not here; they commenced at an earlier +period. But it is sufficient to observe, that the passion whence +originated all my misfortunes, was discovered by me long before I +experienced its most baleful effects. + +'Seven years had elapsed since my marriage, when the charms of Maria +de Vellorno, a young lady singularly beautiful, inspired the marquis +with a passion as violent as it was irregular. I observed, with deep +and silent anguish, the cruel indifference of my lord towards me, and +the rapid progress of his passion for another. I severely examined my +past conduct, which I am thankful to say presented a retrospect of +only blameless actions; and I endeavoured, by meek submission, and +tender assiduities, to recall that affection which was, alas! gone for +ever. My meek submission was considered as a mark of a servile and +insensible mind; and my tender assiduities, to which his heart no +longer responded, created only disgust, and exalted the proud spirit +it was meant to conciliate. + +'The secret grief which this change occasioned, consumed my spirits, +and preyed upon my constitution, till at length a severe illness +threatened my life. I beheld the approach of death with a steady eye, +and even welcomed it as the passport to tranquillity; but it was +destined that I should linger through new scenes of misery. + +'One day, which it appears was the paroxysm of my disorder, I sunk in +to a state of total torpidity, in which I lay for several hours. It is +impossible to describe my feelings, when, on recovering, I found +myself in this hideous abode. For some time I doubted my senses, and +afterwards believed that I had quitted this world for another; but I +was not long suffered to continue in my error, the appearance of the +marquis bringing me to a perfect sense of my situation. + +'I now understood that I had been conveyed by his direction to this +recess of horror, where it was his will I should remain. My prayers, +my supplications, were ineffectual; the hardness of his heart repelled +my sorrows back upon myself; and as no entreaties could prevail upon +him to inform me where I was, or of his reason for placing me here, I +remained for many years ignorant of my vicinity to the castle, and of +the motive of my confinement. + +'From that fatal day, until very lately, I saw the marquis no +more--but was attended by a person who had been for some years +dependant upon his bounty, and whom necessity, united to an insensible +heart, had doubtless induced to accept this office. He generally +brought me a week's provision, at stated intervals, and I remarked +that his visits were always in the night. + +'Contrary to my expectation, or my wish, nature did that for me which +medicine had refused, and I recovered as if to punish with +disappointment and anxiety my cruel tyrant. I afterwards learned, +that in obedience to the marquis's order, I had been carried to this +spot by Vincent during the night, and that I had been buried in effigy +at a neighbouring church, with all the pomp of funeral honor due to my +rank.' + +At the name of Vincent Julia started; the doubtful words he had +uttered on his deathbed were now explained--the cloud of mystery which +had so long involved the southern buildings broke at once away: and +each particular circumstance that had excited her former terror, arose +to her view entirely unveiled by the words of the marchioness.--The +long and total desertion of this part of the fabric--the light that +had appeared through the casement--the figure she had seen issue from +the tower--the midnight noises she had heard--were circumstances +evidently dependant on the imprisonment of the marchioness; the latter +of which incidents were produced either by Vincent, or the marquis, in +their attendance upon her. + +When she considered the long and dreadful sufferings of her mother, +and that she had for many years lived so near her, ignorant of her +misery, and even of her existence--she was lost in astonishment and +pity. + +'My days,' continued the marchioness, 'passed in a dead uniformity, +more dreadful than the most acute vicissitudes of misfortune, and +which would certainly have subdued my reason, had not those firm +principles of religious faith, which I imbibed in early youth, enabled +me to withstand the still, but forceful pressure of my calamity. + +'The insensible heart of Vincent at length began to soften to my +misfortunes. He brought me several articles of comfort, of which I had +hitherto been destitute, and answered some questions I put to him +concerning my family. To release me from my present situation, however +his inclination might befriend me, was not to be expected, since his +life would have paid the forfeiture of what would be termed his duty. + +'I now first discovered my vicinity to the castle. I learned also, +that the marquis had married Maria de Vellorno, with whom he had +resided at Naples, but that my daughters were left at Mazzini. This +last intelligence awakened in my heart the throbs of warm maternal +tenderness, and on my knees I supplicated to see them. So earnestly I +entreated, and so solemnly I promised to return quietly to my prison, +that, at length, prudence yielded to pity, and Vincent consented to my +request. + +'On the following day he came to the cell, and informed me my children +were going into the woods, and that I might see them from a window +near which they would pass. My nerves thrilled at these words, and I +could scarcely support myself to the spot I so eagerly sought. He led +me through long and intricate passages, as I guessed by the frequent +turnings, for my eyes were bound, till I reached a hall of the south +buildings. I followed to a room above, where the full light of day +once more burst upon my sight, and almost overpowered me. Vincent +placed me by a window, which looked towards the woods. Oh! what +moments of painful impatience were those in which I awaited your +arrival! + +'At length you appeared. I saw you--I saw my children--and was neither +permitted to clasp them to my heart, or to speak to them! You was +leaning on the arm of your sister, and your countenances spoke the +sprightly happy innocence of youth.--Alas! you knew not the wretched +fate of your mother, who then gazed upon you! Although you were at too +great a distance for my weak voice to reach you, with the utmost +difficulty I avoided throwing open the window, and endeavouring to +discover myself. The remembrance of my solemn promise, and that the +life of Vincent would be sacrificed by the act, alone restrained me. I +struggled for some time with emotions too powerful for my nature, and +fainted away. + +'On recovering I called wildly for my children, and went to the +window--but you were gone! Not all the entreaties of Vincent could for +some time remove me from this station, where I waited in the fond +expectation of seeing you again--but you appeared no more! At last I +returned to my cell in an ecstasy of grief which I tremble even to +remember. + +'This interview, so eagerly sought, and so reluctantly granted, proved +a source of new misery--instead of calming, it agitated my mind with a +restless, wild despair, which bore away my strongest powers of +resistance. I raved incessantly of my children, and incessantly +solicited to see them again--Vincent, however, had found but too much +cause to repent of his first indulgence, to grant me a second. + +'About this time a circumstance occurred which promised me a speedy +release from calamity. About a week elapsed, and Vincent did not +appear. My little stock of provision was exhausted, and I had been two +days without food, when I again heard the doors that led to my prison +creek on their hinges. An unknown step approached, and in a few +minutes the marquis entered my cell! My blood was chilled at the +sight, and I closed my eyes as I hoped for the last time. The sound of +his voice recalled me. His countenance was dark and sullen, and I +perceived that he trembled. He informed me that Vincent was no more, +and that henceforward his office he should take upon himself. I +forbore to reproach--where reproach would only have produced new +sufferings, and withheld supplication where it would have exasperated +conscience and inflamed revenge. My knowledge of the marquis's second +marriage I concealed. + +'He usually attended me when night might best conceal his visits; +though these were irregular in their return. Lately, from what motive +I cannot guess, he has ceased his nocturnal visits, and comes only in +the day. + +'Once when midnight increased the darkness of my prison, and seemed to +render silence even more awful, touched by the sacred horrors of the +hour, I poured forth my distress in loud lamentation. Oh! never can I +forget what I felt, when I heard a distant voice answered to my moan! +A wild surprize, which was strangely mingled with hope, seized me, and +in my first emotion I should have answered the call, had not a +recollection crossed me, which destroyed at once every half-raised +sensation of joy. I remembered the dreadful vengeance which the +marquis had sworn to execute upon me, if I ever, by any means, +endeavoured to make known the place of my concealment; and though life +had long been a burden to me, I dared not to incur the certainty of +being murdered. I also well knew that no person who might discover my +situation could effect my enlargement, for I had no relations to +deliver me by force; and the marquis, you know, has not only power to +imprison, but also the right of life and death in his own domains; I, +therefore, forbore to answer the call, though I could not entirely +repress my lamentation. I long perplexed myself with endeavouring to +account for this strange circumstance, and am to this moment ignorant +of its cause.' + +Julia remembering that Ferdinand had been confined in a dungeon of the +castle, it instantly occurred to her that his prison, and that of the +marchioness, were not far distant; and she scrupled not to believe +that it was his voice which her mother had heard. She was right in +this belief, and it was indeed the marchioness whose groans had +formerly caused Ferdinand so much alarm, both in the marble hall of +the south buildings, and in his dungeon. + +When Julia communicated her opinion, and the marchioness believed that +she had heard the voice of her son--her emotion was extreme, and it +was some time before she could resume her narration. + +'A short time since,' continued the marchioness, 'the marquis brought +me a fortnight's provision, and told me that I should probably see him +no more till the expiration of that term. His absence at this period +you have explained in your account of the transactions at the abbey of +St Augustin. How can I ever sufficiently acknowledge the obligations I +owe to my dear and invaluable friend Madame de Menon! Oh! that it +might be permitted me to testify my gratitude.' + +Julia attended to the narrative of her mother in silent astonishment, +and gave all the sympathy which sorrow could demand. 'Surely,' cried +she, 'the providence on whom you have so firmly relied, and whose +inflictions you have supported with a fortitude so noble, has +conducted me through a labyrinth of misfortunes to this spot, for the +purpose of delivering you! Oh! let us hasten to fly this horrid +abode--let us seek to escape through the cavern by which I entered.' + +She paused in earnest expectation awaiting a reply. 'Whither can I +fly?' said the marchioness, deeply sighing. This question, spoken +with the emphasis of despair, affected Julia to tears, and she was for +a while silent. + +'The marquis,' resumed Julia, 'would not know where to seek you, or if +he found you beyond his own domains, would fear to claim you. A +convent may afford for the present a safe asylum; and whatever shall +happen, surely no fate you may hereafter encounter can be more +dreadful than the one you now experience.' + +The marchioness assented to the truth of this, yet her broken spirits, +the effect of long sorrow and confinement, made her hesitate how to +act; and there was a kind of placid despair in her look, which too +faithfully depicted her feelings. It was obvious to Julia that the +cavern she had passed wound beneath the range of mountains on whose +opposite side stood the castle of Mazzini. The hills thus rising +formed a screen which must entirely conceal their emergence from the +mouth of the cave, and their flight, from those in the castle. She +represented these circumstances to her mother, and urged them so +forcibly that the lethargy of despair yielded to hope, and the +marchioness committed herself to the conduct of her daughter. + +'Oh! let me lead you to light and life!' cried Julia with warm +enthusiasm. 'Surely heaven can bless me with no greater good than by +making me the deliverer of my mother.' They both knelt down; and the +marchioness, with that affecting eloquence which true piety inspires, +and with that confidence which had supported her through so many +miseries, committed herself to the protection of God, and implored his +favor on their attempt. + +They arose, but as they conversed farther on their plan, Julia +recollected that she was destitute of money--the banditti having +robbed her of all! The sudden shock produced by this remembrance +almost subdued her spirits; never till this moment had she understood +the value of money. But she commanded her feelings, and resolved to +conceal this circumstance from the marchioness, preferring the chance +of any evil they might encounter from without, to the certain misery +of this terrible imprisonment. + +Having taken what provision the marquis had brought, they quitted the +cell, and entered upon the dark passage, along which they passed with +cautious steps. Julia came first to the door of the cavern, but who +can paint her distress when she found it was fastened! All her efforts +to open it were ineffectual.--The door which had closed after her, was +held by a spring lock, and could be opened on this side only with a +key. When she understood this circumstance, the marchioness, with a +placid resignation which seemed to exalt her above humanity, addressed +herself again to heaven, and turned back to her cell. Here Julia +indulged without reserve, and without scruple, the excess of her +grief. The marchioness wept over her. 'Not for myself,' said she, 'do +I grieve. I have too long been inured to misfortune to sink under its +pressure. This disappointment is intrinsically, perhaps, little--for I +had no certain refuge from calamity--and had it even been otherwise, a +few years only of suffering would have been spared me. It is for you, +Julia, who so much lament my fate; and who in being thus delivered to +the power of your father, are sacrificed to the Duke de Luovo--that my +heart swells.' + +Julia could make no reply, but by pressing to her lips the hand which +was held forth to her, she saw all the wretchedness of her situation; +and her fearful uncertainty concerning Hippolitus and Ferdinand, +formed no inferior part of her affliction. + +'If,' resumed the marchioness, 'you prefer imprisonment with your +mother, to a marriage with the duke, you may still secret yourself in +the passage we have just quitted, and partake of the provision which +is brought me.' + +'O! talk not, madam, of a marriage with the duke,' said Julia; 'surely +any fate is preferable to that. But when I consider that in remaining +here, I am condemned only to the sufferings which my mother has so +long endured, and that this confinement will enable me to soften, by +tender sympathy, the asperity of her misfortunes, I ought to submit to +my present situation with complacency, even did a marriage with the +duke appear less hateful to me.' + +'Excellent girl!' exclaimed the marchioness, clasping Julia to her +bosom; 'the sufferings you lament are almost repaid by this proof of +your goodness and affection! Alas! that I should have been so long +deprived of such a daughter!' + +Julia now endeavoured to imitate the fortitude of her mother, and +tenderly concealed her anxiety for Ferdinand and Hippolitus, the idea +of whom incessantly haunted her imagination. When the marquis brought +food to the cell, she retired to the avenue leading to the cavern, and +escaped discovery. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +The marquis, meanwhile, whose indefatigable search after Julia failed +of success, was successively the slave of alternate passions, and he +poured forth the spleen of disappointment on his unhappy domestics. + +The marchioness, who may now more properly be called Maria de +Vellorno, inflamed, by artful insinuations, the passions already +irritated, and heightened with cruel triumph his resentment towards +Julia and Madame de Menon. She represented, what his feelings too +acutely acknowledged,--that by the obstinate disobedience of the +first, and the machinations of the last, a priest had been enabled to +arrest his authority as a father--to insult the sacred honor of his +nobility--and to overturn at once his proudest schemes of power and +ambition. She declared it her opinion, that the _Abate_ was acquainted +with the place of Julia's present retreat, and upbraided the marquis +with want of spirit in thus submitting to be outwitted by a priest, +and forbearing an appeal to the pope, whose authority would compel the +_Abate_ to restore Julia. + +This reproach stung the very soul of the marquis; he felt all its +force, and was at the same time conscious of his inability to obviate +it. The effect of his crimes now fell in severe punishment upon his +own head. The threatened secret, which was no other than the +imprisonment of the marchioness, arrested his arm of vengeance, and +compelled him to submit to insult and disappointment. But the reproach +of Maria sunk deep in his mind; it fomented his pride into redoubled +fury, and he now repelled with disdain the idea of submission. + +He revolved the means which might effect his purpose--he saw but +one--this was the death of the marchioness. + +The commission of one crime often requires the perpetration of +another. When once we enter on the ladyrinth of vice, we can seldom +return, but are led on, through correspondent mazes, to destruction. +To obviate the effect of his first crime, it was now necessary the +marquis should commit a second, and conceal the _imprisonment_ of the +marchioness by her _murder_. Himself the only living witness of her +existence, when she was removed, the allegations of the _Padre Abate_ +would by this means be unsupported by any proof, and he might then +boldly appeal to the pope for the restoration of his child. + +He mused upon this scheme, and the more he accustomed his mind to +contemplate it, the less scrupulous he became. The crime from which he +would formerly have shrunk, he now surveyed with a steady eye. The +fury of his passions, unaccustomed to resistance, uniting with the +force of what ambition termed necessity--urged him to the deed, and he +determined upon the murder of his wife. The means of effecting his +purpose were easy and various; but as he was not yet so entirely +hardened as to be able to view her dying pangs, and embrue his own +hands in her blood, he chose to dispatch her by means of poison, which +he resolved to mingle in her food. + +But a new affliction was preparing for the marquis, which attacked him +where he was most vulnerable; and the veil, which had so long +overshadowed his reason, was now to be removed. He was informed by +Baptista of the infidelity of Maria de Vellorno. In the first emotion +of passion, he spurned the informer from his presence, and disdained +to believe the circumstance. A little reflection changed the object of +his resentment; he recalled the servant, whose faithfulness he had no +reason to distrust, and condescended to interrogate him on the subject +of his misfortune. + +He learned that an intimacy had for some time subsisted between Maria +and the Cavalier de Vincini; and that the assignation was usually held +at the pavilion on the sea-shore, in an evening. Baptista farther +declared, that if the marquis desired a confirmation of his words, he +might obtain it by visiting this spot at the hour mentioned. + +This information lighted up the wildest passions of his nature; his +former sufferings faded away before the stronger influence of the +present misfortune, and it seemed as if he had never tasted misery +till now. To suspect the wife upon whom he doated with romantic +fondness, on whom he had centered all his firmest hopes of happiness, +and for whose sake he had committed the crime which embittered even +his present moment, and which would involve him in still deeper +guilt--to find _her_ ungrateful to his love, and a traitoress to his +honor--produced a misery more poignant than any his imagination had +conceived. He was torn by contending passions, and opposite +resolutions:--now he resolved to expiate her guilt with her blood--and +now he melted in all the softness of love. Vengeance and honor bade +him strike to the heart which had betrayed him, and urged him +instantly to the deed--when the idea of her beauty--her winning +smiles--her fond endearments stole upon his fancy, and subdued his +heart; he almost wept to the idea of injuring her, and in spight of +appearances, pronounced her faithful. The succeeding moment plunged +him again into uncertainty; his tortures acquired new vigour from +cessation, and again he experienced all the phrenzy of despair. He was +now resolved to end his doubts by repairing to the pavilion; but again +his heart wavered in irresolution how to proceed should his fears be +confirmed. In the mean time he determined to watch the behaviour of +Maria with severe vigilance. + +They met at dinner, and he observed her closely, but discovered not +the smallest impropriety in her conduct. Her smiles and her beauty +again wound their fascinations round his heart, and in the excess of +their influence he was almost tempted to repair the injury which his +late suspicions had done her, by confessing them at her feet. The +appearance of the Cavalier de Vincini, however, renewed his +suspicions; his heart throbbed wildly, and with restless impatience he +watched the return of evening, which would remove his suspence. + +Night at length came. He repaired to the pavilion, and secreted +himself among the trees that embowered it. Many minutes had not +passed, when he heard a sound of low whispering voices steal from +among the trees, and footsteps approaching down the alley. He stood +almost petrified with terrible sensations, and presently heard some +persons enter the pavilion. The marquis now emerged from his +hiding-place; a faint light issued from the building. He stole to the +window, and beheld within, Maria and the Cavalier de Vincini. Fired +at the sight, he drew his sword, and sprang forward. The sound of his +step alarmed the cavalier, who, on perceiving the marquis, rushed by +him from the pavilion, and disappeared among the woods. The marquis +pursued, but could not overtake him; and he returned to the pavilion +with an intention of plunging his sword in the heart of Maria, when he +discovered her senseless on the ground. Pity now suspended his +vengeance; he paused in agonizing gaze upon her, and returned his +sword into the scabbard. + +She revived, but on observing the marquis, screamed and relapsed. He +hastened to the castle for assistance, inventing, to conceal his +disgrace, some pretence for her sudden illness, and she was conveyed +to her chamber. + +The marquis was now not suffered to doubt her infidelity, but the +passion which her conduct abused, her faithlessness could not subdue; +he still doated with absurd fondness, and even regretted that +uncertainty could no longer flatter him with hope. It seemed as if his +desire of her affection increased with his knowledge of the loss of +it; and the very circumstance which should have roused his aversion, +by a strange perversity of disposition, appeared to heighten his +passion, and to make him think it impossible he could exist without +her. + +When the first energy of his indignation was subsided, he determined, +therefore, to reprove and to punish, but hereafter to restore her to +favor. + +In this resolution he went to her apartment, and reprehended her +falsehood in terms of just indignation. + +Maria de Vellorno, in whom the late discovery had roused resentment, +instead of awakening penitence; and exasperated pride without exciting +shame--heard the upbraidings of the marquis with impatience, and +replied to them with acrimonious violence. + +She boldly asserted her innocence, and instantly invented a story, the +plausibility of which might have deceived a man who had evidence less +certain than his senses to contradict it. She behaved with a +haughtiness the most insolent; and when she perceived that the marquis +was no longer to be misled, and that her violence failed to accomplish +its purpose, she had recourse to tears and supplications. But the +artifice was too glaring to succeed; and the marquis quitted her +apartment in an agony of resentment. + +His former fascinations, however, quickly returned, and again held him +in suspension between love and vengeance. That the vehemence of his +passion, however, might not want an object, he ordered Baptista to +discover the retreat of the Cavalier de Vincini on whom he meant to +revenge his lost honor. Shame forbade him to employ others in the +search. + +This discovery suspended for a while the operations of the fatal +scheme, which had before employed the thoughts of the marquis; but it +had only suspended--not destroyed them. The late occurrence had +annihilated his domestic happiness; but his pride now rose to rescue +him from despair, and he centered all his future hopes upon ambition. +In a moment of cool reflection, he considered that he had derived +neither happiness or content from the pursuit of dissipated pleasures, +to which he had hitherto sacrificed every opposing consideration. He +resolved, therefore, to abandon the gay schemes of dissipation which +had formerly allured him, and dedicate himself entirely to ambition, +in the pursuits and delights of which he hoped to bury all his cares. +He therefore became more earnest than ever for the marriage of Julia +with the Duke de Luovo, through whose means he designed to involve +himself in the interests of the state, and determined to recover her +at whatever consequence. He resolved, without further delay, to appeal +to the pope; but to do this with safety it was necessary that the +marchioness should die; and he returned therefore to the consideration +and execution of his diabolical purpose. + +He mingled a poisonous drug with the food he designed for her; and +when night arrived, carried it to the cell. As he unlocked the door, +his hand trembled; and when he presented the food, and looked +consciously for the last time upon the marchioness, who received it +with humble thankfulness, his heart almost relented. His countenance, +over which was diffused the paleness of death, expressed the secret +movements of his soul, and he gazed upon her with eyes of stiffened +horror. Alarmed by his looks, she fell upon her knees to supplicate +his pity. + +Her attitude recalled his bewildered senses; and endeavouring to +assume a tranquil aspect, he bade her rise, and instantly quitted the +cell, fearful of the instability of his purpose. His mind was not yet +sufficiently hardened by guilt to repel the arrows of conscience, and +his imagination responded to her power. As he passed through the long +dreary passages from the prison, solemn and mysterious sounds seemed +to speak in every murmur of the blast which crept along their +windings, and he often started and looked back. + +He reached his chamber, and having shut the door, surveyed the room in +fearful examination. Ideal forms flitted before his fancy, and for the +first time in his life he feared to be alone. Shame only withheld him +from calling Baptista. The gloom of the hour, and the death-like +silence that prevailed, assisted the horrors of his imagination. He +half repented of the deed, yet deemed it now too late to obviate it; +and he threw himself on his bed in terrible emotion. His head grew +dizzy, and a sudden faintness overcame him; he hesitated, and at +length arose to ring for assistance, but found himself unable to +stand. + +In a few moments he was somewhat revived, and rang his bell; but +before any person appeared, he was seized with terrible pains, and +staggering to his bed, sunk senseless upon it. Here Baptista, who was +the first person that entered his room, found him struggling seemingly +in the agonies of death. The whole castle was immediately roused, and +the confusion may be more easily imagined than described. Emilia, +amid the general alarm, came to her father's room, but the sight of +him overcame her, and she was carried from his presence. By the help +of proper applications the marquis recovered his senses and his pains +had a short cessation. + +'I am dying,' said he, in a faultering accent; 'send instantly for the +marchioness and my son.' + +Ferdinand, in escaping from the hands of the banditti, it was now +seen, had fallen into the power of his father. He had been since +confined in an apartment of the castle, and was now liberated to obey +the summons. The countenance of the marquis exhibited a ghastly image; +Ferdinand, when he drew near the bed, suddenly shrunk back, overcome +with horror. The marquis now beckoned his attendants to quit the room, +and they were preparing to obey, when a violent noise was heard from +without; almost in the same instant the door of the apartment was +thrown open, and the servant, who had been sent for the marchioness, +rushed in. His look alone declared the horror of his mind, for words +he had none to utter. He stared wildly, and pointed to the gallery he +had quitted. Ferdinand, seized with new terror, rushed the way he +pointed to the apartment of the marchioness. A spectacle of horror +presented itself. Maria lay on a couch lifeless, and bathed in blood. +A poignard, the instrument of her destruction, was on the floor; and +it appeared from a letter which was found on the couch beside her, +that she had died by her own hand. The paper contained these words: + + TO THE MARQUIS DE MAZZINI +Your words have stabbed my heart. No power on earth could +restore the peace you have destroyed. I will escape from my +torture. When you read this, I shall be no more. But the +triumph shall no longer be yours--the draught you have drank +was given by the hand of the injured + MARIA DE MAZZINI. + +It now appeared that the marquis was poisoned by the vengeance of the +woman to whom he had resigned his conscience. The consternation and +distress of Ferdinand cannot easily be conceived: he hastened back to +his father's chamber, but determined to conceal the dreadful +catastrophe of Maria de Vellorno. This precaution, however, was +useless; for the servants, in the consternation of terror, had +revealed it, and the marquis had fainted. + +Returning pains recalled his senses, and the agonies he suffered were +too shocking for the beholders. Medical endeavours were applied, but +the poison was too powerful for antidote. The marquis's pains at +length subsided; the poison had exhausted most of its rage, and he +became tolerably easy. He waved his hand for the attendants to leave +the room; and beckoning to Ferdinand, whose senses were almost stunned +by this accumulation of horror, bade him sit down beside him. 'The +hand of death is now upon me,' said he; 'I would employ these last +moments in revealing a deed, which is more dreadful to me than all the +bodily agonies I suffer. It will be some relief to me to discover it.' +Ferdinand grasped the hand of the marquis in speechless terror. 'The +retribution of heaven is upon me,' resumed the marquis. 'My punishment +is the immediate consequence of my guilt. Heaven has made that woman +the instrument of its justice, whom I made the instrument of my +crimes;----that woman, for whose sake I forgot conscience, and braved +vice--for whom I imprisoned an innocent wife, and afterwards murdered +her.' + +At these words every nerve of Ferdinand thrilled; he let go the +marquis's hand and started back. 'Look not so fiercely on me,' said +the marquis, in a hollow voice; 'your eyes strike death to my soul; my +conscience needs not this additional pang.'--'My mother!' exclaimed +Ferdinand--'my mother! Speak, tell me.'--'I have no breath,' said the +marquis. 'Oh!--Take these keys--the south tower--the trapdoor.--'Tis +possible--Oh!--' + +The marquis made a sudden spring upwards, and fell lifeless on the +bed; the attendants were called in, but he was gone for ever. His last +words struck with the force of lightning upon the mind of Ferdinand; +they seemed to say that his mother might yet exist. He took the keys, +and ordering some of the servants to follow, hastened to the southern +building; he proceeded to the tower, and the trapdoor beneath the +stair-case was lifted. They all descended into a dark passage, which +conducted them through several intricacies to the door of the cell. +Ferdinand, in trembling horrible expectation, applied the key; the +door opened, and he entered; but what was his surprize when he found +no person in the cell! He concluded that he had mistaken the place, +and quitted it for further search; but having followed the windings of +the passage, by which he entered, without discovering any other door, +he returned to a more exact examination of the cell. He now observed +the door, which led to the cavern, and he entered upon the avenue, but +no person was found there and no voice answered to his call. Having +reached the door of the cavern, which was fastened, he returned lost +in grief, and meditating upon the last words of the marquis. He now +thought that he had mistaken their import, and that the words ''tis +possible,' were not meant to apply to the life of the marchioness, he +concluded, that the murder had been committed at a distant period; and +he resolved, therefore, to have the ground of the cell dug up, and the +remains of his mother sought for. + +When the first violence of the emotions excited by the late scenes was +subsided, he enquired concerning Maria de Vellorno. + +It appeared that on the day preceding this horrid transaction, the +marquis had passed some hours in her apartment; that they were heard +in loud dispute;--that the passion of the marquis grew high;--that he +upbraided her with her past conduct, and threatened her with a formal +separation. When the marquis quitted her, she was heard walking quick +through the room, in a passion of tears; she often suddenly stopped in +vehement but incoherent exclamation; and at last threw herself on the +floor, and was for some time entirely still. Here her woman found her, +upon whose entrance she arose hastily, and reproved her for appearing +uncalled. After this she remained silent and sullen. + +She descended to supper, where the marquis met her alone at table. +Little was said during the repast, at the conclusion of which the +servants were dismissed; and it was believed that during the interval +between supper, and the hour of repose, Maria de Vellorno contrived to +mingle poison with the wine of the marquis. How she had procured this +poison was never discovered. + +She retired early to her chamber; and her woman observing that she +appeared much agitated, inquired if she was ill? To this she returned +a short answer in the negative, and her woman was soon afterwards +dismissed. But she had hardly shut the door of the room when she heard +her lady's voice recalling her. She returned, and received some +trifling order, and observed that Maria looked uncommonly pale; there +was besides a wildness in her eyes which frightened her, but she did +not dare to ask any questions. She again quitted the room, and had +only reached the extremity of the gallery when her mistress's bell +rang. She hastened back, Maria enquired if the marquis was gone to +bed, and if all was quiet? Being answered in the affirmative, she +replied, 'This is a still hour and a dark one!--Good night!' + +Her woman having once more left the room, stopped at the door to +listen, but all within remaining silent, she retired to rest. + +It is probable that Maria perpetrated the fatal act soon after the +dismission of her woman; for when she was found, two hours afterwards, +she appeared to have been dead for some time. On examination a wound +was discovered on her left side, which had doubtless penetrated to the +heart, from the suddenness of her death, and from the effusion of +blood which had followed. + +These terrible events so deeply affected Emilia that she was confined +to her bed by a dangerous illness. Ferdinand struggled against the +shock with manly fortitude. But amid all the tumult of the present +scenes, his uncertainty concerning Julia, whom he had left in the +hands of banditti, and whom he had been withheld from seeking or +rescuing, formed, perhaps, the most affecting part of his distress. + +The late Marquis de Mazzini, and Maria de Vellorno, were interred with +the honor due to their rank in the church of the convent of St Nicolo. +Their lives exhibited a boundless indulgence of violent and luxurious +passions, and their deaths marked the consequences of such indulgence, +and held forth to mankind a singular instance of divine vengeance. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +In turning up the ground of the cell, it was discovered that it +communicated with the dungeon in which Ferdinand had been confined, +and where he had heard those groans which had occasioned him so much +terror. + +The story which the marquis formerly related to his son, concerning +the southern buildings, it was now evident was fabricated for the +purpose of concealing the imprisonment of the marchioness. In the +choice of his subject, he certainly discovered some art; for the +circumstance related was calculated, by impressing terror, to prevent +farther enquiry into the recesses of these buildings. It served, also, +to explain, by supernatural evidence, the cause of those sounds, and +of that appearance which had been there observed, but which were, in +reality, occasioned only by the marquis. + +The event of the examination in the cell threw Ferdinand into new +perplexity. The marquis had confessed that he poisoned his wife--yet +her remains were not to be found; and the place which he signified to +be that of her confinement, bore no vestige of her having been there. +There appeared no way by which she could have escaped from her prison; +for both the door which opened upon the cell, and that which +terminated the avenue beyond, were fastened when tried by Ferdinand. + +But the young marquis had no time for useless speculation--serious +duties called upon him. He believed that Julia was still in the power +of banditti; and, on the conclusion of his father's funeral, he set +forward himself to Palermo, to give information of the abode of the +robbers, and to repair with the officers of justice, accompanied by a +party of his own people, to the rescue of his sister. On his arrival +at Palermo he was informed, that a banditti, whose retreat had been +among the ruins of a monastery, situated in the forest of Marentino, +was already discovered; that their abode had been searched, and +themselves secured for examples of public justice--but that no captive +lady had been found amongst them. This latter intelligence excited in +Ferdinand a very serious distress, and he was wholly unable to +conjecture her fate. He obtained leave, however, to interrogate those +of the robbers, who were imprisoned at Palermo, but could draw from +them no satisfactory or certain information. + +At length he quitted Palermo for the forest of Marentino, thinking it +possible that Julia might be heard of in its neighbourhood. He +travelled on in melancholy and dejection, and evening overtook him +long before he reached the place of his destination. The night came on +heavily in clouds, and a violent storm of wind and rain arose. The +road lay through a wild and rocky country, and Ferdinand could obtain +no shelter. His attendants offered him their cloaks, but he refused to +expose a servant to the hardship he would not himself endure. He +travelled for some miles in a heavy rain; and the wind, which howled +mournfully among the rocks, and whose solemn pauses were filled by the +distant roarings of the sea, heightened the desolation of the scene. +At length he discerned, amid the darkness from afar, a red light +waving in the wind: it varied with the blast, but never totally +disappeared. He pushed his horse into a gallop, and made towards it. + +The flame continued to direct his course; and on a nearer approach, he +perceived, by the red reflection of its fires, streaming a long +radiance upon the waters beneath--a lighthouse situated upon a point +of rock which overhung the sea. He knocked for admittance, and the +door was opened by an old man, who bade him welcome. + +Within appeared a cheerful blazing fire, round which were seated +several persons, who seemed like himself to have sought shelter from +the tempest of the night. The sight of the fire cheered him, and he +advanced towards it, when a sudden scream seized his attention; the +company rose up in confusion, and in the same instant he discovered +Julia and Hippolitus. The joy of that moment is not to be described, +but his attention was quickly called off from his own situation to +that of a lady, who during the general transport had fainted. His +sensations on learning she was his mother cannot be described. + +She revived. 'My son!' said she, in a languid voice, as she pressed +him to her heart. 'Great God, I am recompensed! Surely this moment may +repay a life of misery!' He could only receive her caresses in +silence; but the sudden tears which started in his eyes spoke a +language too expressive to be misunderstood. + +When the first emotion of the scene was passed, Julia enquired by what +means Ferdinand had come to this spot. He answered her generally, and +avoided for the present entering upon the affecting subject of the +late events at the castle of Mazzini. Julia related the history of her +adventures since she parted with her brother. In her narration, it +appeared that Hippolitus, who was taken by the Duke de Luovo at the +mouth of the cave, had afterwards escaped, and returned to the cavern +in search of Julia. The low recess in the rock, through which Julia +had passed, he perceived by the light of his flambeau. He penetrated +to the cavern beyond, and from thence to the prison of the +marchioness. No colour of language can paint the scene which followed; +it is sufficient to say that the whole party agreed to quit the cell +at the return of night. But this being a night on which it was known +the marquis would visit the prison, they agreed to defer their +departure till after his appearance, and thus elude the danger to be +expected from an early discovery of the escape of the marchioness. + +At the sound of footsteps above, Hippolitus and Julia had secreted +themselves in the avenue; and immediately on the marquis's departure +they all repaired to the cavern, leaving, in the hurry of their +flight, untouched the poisonous food he had brought. Having escaped +from thence they proceeded to a neighbouring village, where horses +were procured to carry them towards Palermo. Here, after a tedious +journey, they arrived, in the design of embarking for Italy. Contrary +winds had detained them till the day on which Ferdinand left that +city, when, apprehensive and weary of delay, they hired a small +vessel, and determined to brave the winds. They had soon reason to +repent their temerity; for the vessel had not been long at sea when +the storm arose, which threw them back upon the shores of Sicily, and +brought them to the lighthouse, where they were discovered by +Ferdinand. + +On the following morning Ferdinand returned with his friends to +Palermo, where he first disclosed the late fatal events of the castle. +They now settled their future plans; and Ferdinand hastened to the +castle of Mazzini to fetch Emilia, and to give orders for the removal +of his household to his palace at Naples, where he designed to fix his +future residence. The distress of Emilia, whom he found recovered from +her indisposition, yielded to joy and wonder, when she heard of the +existence of her mother, and the safety of her sister. She departed +with Ferdinand for Palermo, where her friends awaited her, and where +the joy of the meeting was considerably heightened by the appearance +of Madame de Menon, for whom the marchioness had dispatched a +messenger to St Augustin's. Madame had quitted the abbey for another +convent, to which, however, the messenger was directed. This happy +party now embarked for Naples. + +From this period the castle of Mazzini, which had been the theatre of +a dreadful catastrophe; and whose scenes would have revived in the +minds of the chief personages connected with it, painful and shocking +reflections--was abandoned. + +On their arrival at Naples, Ferdinand presented to the king a clear +and satisfactory account of the late events at the castle, in +consequence of which the marchioness was confirmed in her rank, and +Ferdinand was received as the sixth Marquis de Mazzini. + +The marchioness, thus restored to the world, and to happiness, resided +with her children in the palace at Naples, where, after time had +somewhat mellowed the remembrance of the late calamity, the nuptials +of Hippolitus and Julia were celebrated. The recollection of the +difficulties they had encountered, and of the distress they had +endured for each other, now served only to heighten by contrast the +happiness of the present period. + +Ferdinand soon after accepted a command in the Neapolitan army; and +amidst the many heroes of that warlike and turbulent age, +distinguished himself for his valour and ability. The occupations of +war engaged his mind, while his heart was solicitous in promoting the +happiness of his family. + +Madame de Menon, whose generous attachment to the marchioness had been +fully proved, found in the restoration of her friend a living witness +of her marriage, and thus recovered those estates which had been +unjustly withheld from her. But the marchioness and her family, +grateful to her friendship, and attached to her virtues, prevailed +upon her to spend the remainder of her life at the palace of Mazzini. + +Emilia, wholly attached to her family, continued to reside with the +marchioness, who saw her race renewed in the children of Hippolitus +and Julia. Thus surrounded by her children and friends, and engaged in +forming the minds of the infant generation, she seemed to forget that +she had ever been otherwise than happy. + + * * * * * + +Here the manuscript annals conclude. In reviewing this story, we +perceive a singular and striking instance of moral retribution. We +learn, also, that those who do only THAT WHICH IS RIGHT, endure +nothing in misfortune but a trial of their virtue, and from trials +well endured derive the surest claim to the protection of heaven. + +FINIS + +[Transcriber's Note: Some words which appear to be typos are printed +thus in the original book. A list of these possible words follows: +cioset, skriek, ladyrinth, and bad (presumably for bade, "he bad +Julia good-night"). In addition, the book contains (and I have +retained) inconsistant spelling of both common words (e.g. extacy, +exstacy) and proper nouns (Farrini, Ferrini). I have used the +_underscore_ notation to indicate italics. (The text in CAPITALS is +printed as it appears in the original book). Finally, the line of +spaced asterisks, was used to indicate an additional blank line +seperating sections of the text.] + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A SICILIAN ROMANCE *** + +This file should be named sirom10.txt or sirom10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, sirom11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sirom10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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