It was in a lordly chamber1 of the Chateau2 de Montemar, about three months after the event narrated3 in our last chapter, that the only remaining scions4 of that noble house were seated in earnest and evidently sorrowful converse5. The beams of the sun, rendered gorgeous by the richly-stained glass of the antique windows through which they passed, fantastically tinged6 the oaken floor and walls. The furniture was of ebony, inlaid with silver, interspersed7 with couches and cushions of tapestry8, ancient as the days of Matilda of Flanders, which, though somewhat heavy in themselves, accorded well with the aspect of solemn grandeur9 pervading10 the whole apartment.
“Do not refuse me, Louis,” pleaded Idalie, after a long and painful discussion relative to her papers and parchments, which strewed11 the table, had passed between them; “do not thus entreat12 me to retain my heritage. Is a broken heart, a sinking frame fit chief for Montemar? I have borne much, suffered much, sought even the court of Charles, which my whole soul loathes13, to obtain the transferment to thee of all my earthly possessions, and now do not refuse to relieve me of their heavy charge.”
“But only wait awhile, sweet cousin,” he replied; “sorrow has had as yet no time to expend14 its force. Do not act so soon on the resolution of a moment’s agony; wait but one brief year, and think well on all you would resign. Has earth no spell to fright away thy purpose?”
“None; it is but the casket, whence the jewel has departed. Nay15 more, it is filled with hopes I dare not hope, and thoughts I dare not think. I would fly from these.”
“And will a convent aid thee so to do?”
“I know not; yet there at least temptation, which I have no strength to meet, will not assail16 me more.”
“No strength to meet! Dearest Idalie, the martyr17 at the stake might envy thee thy strength.”
“Not now, Louis, it has all gone from me,” and for the first time her voice quivered, and she buried her face in her clasped hands. A fierce malediction18 on Montgomeri was bursting from the lips of Louis, as he looked on the faded form, and seemed to feel for the first time the full extent of his cousin’s agony. Young, buoyant, and ever joyous19 himself, Idalie’s perfect calmness since her return had deceived him; but the tone in which those few words were said strangely and suddenly revealed the whole, and the young man’s whole heart spoke20 in his half-uttered curse.
“No, no; curse him not, Louis!” passionately21 implored22 Idalie. “Promise me, by the sweet memories of our childhood, still to be his friend. In these awful times, when the poisoned draught23 and midnight dagger24 are ever near these persecuted25 men, be near him to warn, shield, save.”
“I will, I will, for thy sweet sake,” he replied, earnestly. “Yet why fear such danger for him? he never will be rash enough to return to France.”
“Louis, he is even now in France, and therefore is it I so conjure26 you to be his friend. He is here, may be near me still, even as he hovered27 close beside me in my passage home. He thought to be unknown, even to me; me, whom he was there to guard, protect to the last, speaking not one word to betray himself, or give me again the torture of farewell. I knew him close beside me; I heard the disguised accents of his voice, and yet we were as if the grave had parted us. Oh, Louis, Louis! the strength which then upheld me has departed from me; I dare not look upon his face and listen to his voice again. Only the convent walls can shield me from a broken vow28, a dead father’s curse; and wilt29 thou keep me from their refuge? No, no; relieve me from this fearful heritage, and let me be at peace.”
One week after Louis de Montemar had been acknowledged by all the vassals30 of his cousin as their suzerain or feudal31 lord, to whom and to his heirs they had sworn undying allegiance, Idalie stood within the convent church of our Lady of Montemar, preparing to take those awful vows32 which severed33 her from earth, and all its cares and joys, and hopes and woes34, for ever. It was midnight, but the large waxen tapers35 burning on the high altar and many shrines36 completely illuminated37 the main body of the church, while the deep shadows of the aisles38 and more distant arches of the nave39 heightened the effect of light, and rendered the building larger in appearance than in reality. Clouds of incense40 floated on the air, from the rich silver censers held by six beautiful boys, clothed in white, standing41 on either side the altar. Behind, and exquisitely42 illuminated by a peculiarly softened43 light falling full upon it, hung a picture of the Saviour44 kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane, his countenance45 powerfully expressive46 of the words, “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”
The church was crowded in the nave and aisles, the choir47 and chancel being left for the relations of the novice48 and those of higher rank. As Idalie had but few of the former, and had particularly wished the ceremony to be as private as possible, these parts of the building were comparatively unoccupied, except by monks49 and priests.
Clothed with unwonted gorgeousness, Idalie stood beside the altar. A rich robe of grey Genoa velvet50 descended51 to her feet, sweeping52 the marble ground in heavy folds, girded round the waist with a broad belt of large rubies53 and opals; glittering stars of the same clasped down the stomacher, and looped the wide sleeve of richest lace, and braids of diamonds glistened54 in the dark tresses of her hair, and sparkled on the high, pure brow, which, marble pale, seemed all unfitted for their weight. Her eyes were raised, her lips slightly parted, her thin white hands crossed upon her bosom55, as in the heartfelt utterance56 of voiceless prayer. Silence, deep as the grave, had succeeded the priest’s prayer, lasting57 but a moment, for Idalie sinking noiselessly on the ground, the black pall58 was thrown over her, and the distant discharge of cannon59, mingled60 with the muffled61 toll62 of the convent bell, proclaimed far and near that Idalie de Montemar was now an inmate63 of the tomb. A groan64 so deep and hollow at that instant reverberated65 through the building, that all present started, and shudderingly66 drew nearer each other, unable to trace whence or from whom it came, until a tall shrouded67 figure was discovered leaning against one of the pillars supporting the arched roof of the choir; his face was buried in his cloak, but he was seen to shiver, as by some rudely-passing wind. The organ swelled69 forth70 in thrilling tones the requiem71 for the dead, sweet childish voices prolonged the solemn strain, till it faded softer and softer in the distance, swelling72, falling, then dying all away. Removing the pall, the priests waited for Idalie to rise and kneel before the altar, that the ceremony might continue. They waited, but there was no movement. She lay even as she had fallen. A cry of terror burst from the aged73 priest, and at the same instant, heedless of the personal danger inseparable from discovery, bareheaded and unshrouded—heedless of all save one agonizing74 fear—Gabriel de Lorges rushed forward, and knelt beside her.
“Idalie! loveliest! dearest! speak to me, answer me; say that I have not murdered thee! Answer me, in mercy, but one word!”
He spoke in vain. Louis de Montemar, priests, and many others crowded round him. They sought to withdraw her from Montgomeri’s convulsive hold, to wake her from the seeming trance. But all was useless; she had passed to heaven in that music swell68. The broken-hearted was at rest.[4]
4. The after-fate of the unfortunate but guiltless regicide belongs to history.
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scions
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| n.接穗，幼枝( scion的名词复数 )；（尤指富家）子孙 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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8
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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pervading
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 ) | |
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strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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12
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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loathes
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的第三人称单数 )；极不喜欢 | |
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14
expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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21
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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22
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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24
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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25
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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26
conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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30
vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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31
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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32
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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33
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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34
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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35
tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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36
shrines
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| 圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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37
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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38
aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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39
nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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40
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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41
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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42
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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43
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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44
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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45
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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46
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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47
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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48
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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49
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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50
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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51
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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52
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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53
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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54
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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56
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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57
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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58
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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59
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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60
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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61
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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62
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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63
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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64
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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65
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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66
shudderingly
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67
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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68
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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69
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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70
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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71
requiem
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| n.安魂曲，安灵曲 | |
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72
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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73
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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