The Monk: Chapters 7–9

She thought herself equally secure of his principles and her own, and having replaced herself upon the Sopha, She began to prattle to him with her usual ease and vivacity.

Of this was Elvira so fully convinced, that She would have preferred putting into her Daughter’s hands “Amadis de Gaul,” or “The Valiant Champion, Tirante the White;” and would sooner have authorised her studying the lewd exploits of “Don Galaor,” or the lascivious jokes of the “Damsel Plazer di mi vida.”

“I admire your filial affection,” said the Abbot; “It proves the excellence and sensibility of your character; It promises a treasure to him whom Heaven has destined to possess your affections."

He strove to answer Elvira without appearing embarrassed: But He was still too great a novice in dissimulation, and He felt that He must look confused and awkward.

Debarred the presence of Antonia, He had no hopes of satisfying that passion which was now become a part of his existence.

Among the various sciences which curiosity had induced him to explore, He neglected not that which by most is esteemed impious, and by many chimerical. I speak of those arts which relate to the world of Spirits.

His curiosity was fully slaked, his ambition amply gratified.

That mind which I esteemed so great and valiant, proves to be feeble, puerile, and grovelling, a slave to vulgar errors, and weaker than a Woman’s.

That mind which I esteemed so great and valiant, proves to be feeble, puerile, and grovelling, a slave to vulgar errors, and weaker than a Woman’s.

If not of Dæmons, whose aid would you invoke to forward this laudable design?

Though my passions have made me deviate from her laws, I still feel in my heart an innate love of virtue.

His cheeks and lips were pale with apprehension. By a glance of mingled scorn and anger She reproved his pusillanimity, but She spoke not.

Her evidence only corroborated the Domina’s assertions.

She even attested having seen her dead body, and assisted with her own hands in adjusting it upon the Bier.

The Nuns were delighted with the sweetness of his voice and masterly manner of touching the Instrument: But however acceptable this applause would have been at any other time, at present it was insipid to Theodore.

The Nun changed colour, and was evidently disconcerted.

She lay with her cheek reclining upon one ivory arm; The Other rested on the side of the Bed with graceful indolence.

He would fain have extenuated his offence, but could find no apology for his conduct: He could produce nothing but broken sentences, and excuses which contradicted each other.

Your iniquity shall be unveiled to the public eye: All Madrid shall shudder at your perfidy, your hypocrisy and incontinence.

Impunity reconciled him to his guilt: He began to resume his spirits; and as his fears of detection died away, He paid less attention to the reproaches of remorse.

Dame Jacintha engaged to defray every expence attending the burial.

Consequently, She entertained very little hope of ever being recompensed; But this consideration prevented her not from taking care that the Interment was performed with decency, and from showing the unfortunate Antonia all possible respect.

She was alone in the midst of a dissipated and expensive City; She was ill provided with money, and worse with Friends.

As She walked with a listless air up and down the chamber, the Door caught her eye conducting to that which had been her Mother’s.

She had naturally a strong inclination to the marvellous; and her Nurse, who believed firmly in Apparitions, had related to her when an Infant so many horrible adventures of this kind, that all Elvira’s attempts had failed to eradicate their impressions from her Daughter’s mind.

Jacintha related her business in as few words as She could manage; But her account was still so prolix that Ambrosio had need of his patience to bear him to the conclusion.

Finding nobody there, I past on to the next; But I must own, I was a little timorous at going in, for this was the very room where Donna Elvira used to sleep.

“Home?” exclaimed Jacintha; “I go home? Not I by my troth! except under your protection, I set no foot of mine within the threshold."

Give Antonia the soporific draught this Evening: Eight and forty hours after She has drank it, Life will revive to her bosom.

Shall I give the reins to my desires, and gratify every wild tumultuous wish?

He found the Closet: The Bottle stood in the place which Matilda had described, and the Monk seized an opportunity to fill his phial unobserved with the soporific liquor.

Then having partaken of a Collation in the Refectory, He retired from the Convent pleased with the success of his visit, and leaving the Nuns delighted by the honour conferred upon them.

Matilda had taught him the means of ascertaining that life was not extinct for ever: Upon this assay depended all his hopes.

Again to see her form distorted by dying agonies, her blood-swollen veins, her livid countenance, her eyes bursting from their sockets with pain!

Again to see her form distorted by dying agonies, her blood-swollen veins, her livid countenance, her eyes bursting from their sockets with pain!

Madness and despair now supplied the Monk with that courage, of which He had till then been destitute.

Whatever may then remain, I bequeath to my Aunt Leonella.

Ambrosio engaged to comply with her desires, and proceeded to give her absolution.

Far different concerns employed Ambrosio: He sought for the pulse whose throbbing, so Matilda had assured him, would prove Antonia’s death but temporal.

He found it; He pressed it; It palpitated beneath his hand, and his heart was filled with ecstacy.