What worlds, or what vast regions, hold
Th’ immortal1 mind, that hath forsook2
Her mansion3 in this fleshly nook!
IL PENSEROSO
Emily’s mind was refreshed by sleep. On waking in the morning, she looked with surprise on Annette, who sat sleeping in a chair beside the bed, and then endeavoured to recollect4 herself; but the circumstances of the preceding night were swept from her memory, which seemed to retain no trace of what had passed, and she was still gazing with surprise on Annette, when the latter awoke.
‘O dear ma’amselle! do you know me?’ cried she.
‘Know you! Certainly,’ replied Emily, ‘you are Annette; but why are you sitting by me thus?’
‘O you have been very ill, ma’amselle,— very ill indeed! and I am sure I thought —’
‘This is very strange!’ said Emily, still trying to recollect the past.—‘But I think I do remember, that my fancy has been haunted by frightful5 dreams. Good God!’ she added, suddenly starting —‘surely it was nothing more than a dream!’
She fixed6 a terrified look upon Annette, who, intending to quiet her, said ‘Yes, ma’amselle, it was more than a dream, but it is all over now.’
‘She IS murdered, then!’ said Emily in an inward voice, and shuddering7 instantaneously. Annette screamed; for, being ignorant of the circumstance to which Emily referred, she attributed her manner to a disordered fancy; but, when she had explained to what her own speech alluded8, Emily, recollecting9 the attempt that had been made to carry her off, asked if the contriver10 of it had been discovered. Annette replied, that he had not, though he might easily be guessed at; and then told Emily she might thank her for her deliverance, who, endeavouring to command the emotion, which the remembrance of her aunt had occasioned, appeared calmly to listen to Annette, though, in truth, she heard scarcely a word that was said.
‘And so, ma’amselle,’ continued the latter, ‘I was determined11 to be even with Barnardine for refusing to tell me the secret, by finding it out myself; so I watched you, on the terrace, and, as soon as he had opened the door at the end, I stole out from the castle, to try to follow you; for, says I, I am sure no good can be planned, or why all this secrecy12? So, sure enough, he had not bolted the door after him, and, when I opened it, I saw, by the glimmer13 of the torch, at the other end of the passage, which way you were going. I followed the light, at a distance, till you came to the vaults14 of the chapel15, and there I was afraid to go further, for I had heard strange things about these vaults. But then, again, I was afraid to go back, all in darkness, by myself; so by the time Barnardine had trimmed the light, I had resolved to follow you, and I did so, till you came to the great court, and there I was afraid he would see me; so I stopped at the door again, and watched you across to the gates, and, when you was gone up the stairs, I whipt after. There, as I stood under the gate-way, I heard horses’ feet without, and several men talking; and I heard them swearing at Barnardine for not bringing you out, and just then, he had like to have caught me, for he came down the stairs again, and I had hardly time to get out of his way. But I had heard enough of his secret now, and I determined to be even with him, and to save you, too, ma’amselle, for I guessed it to be some new scheme of Count Morano, though he was gone away. I ran into the castle, but I had hard work to find my way through the passage under the chapel, and what is very strange, I quite forgot to look for the ghosts they had told me about, though I would not go into that place again by myself for all the world! Luckily the Signor and Signor Cavigni were up, so we had soon a train at our heels, sufficient to frighten that Barnardine and his rogues16, all together.’
Annette ceased to speak, but Emily still appeared to listen. At length she said, suddenly, ‘I think I will go to him myself;— where is he?’
Annette asked who was meant.
‘Signor Montoni,’ replied Emily. ‘I would speak with him;’ and Annette, now remembering the order he had given, on the preceding night, respecting her young lady, rose, and said she would seek him herself.
This honest girl’s suspicions of Count Morano were perfectly17 just; Emily, too, when she thought on the scheme, had attributed it to him; and Montoni, who had not a doubt on this subject, also, began to believe, that it was by the direction of Morano, that poison had formerly18 been mingled19 with his wine.
The professions of repentance20, which Morano had made to Emily, under the anguish21 of his wound, was sincere at the moment he offered them; but he had mistaken the subject of his sorrow, for, while he thought he was condemning22 the cruelty of his late design, he was lamenting23 only the state of suffering, to which it had reduced him. As these sufferings abated24, his former views revived, till, his health being re-established, he again found himself ready for enterprise and difficulty. The porter of the castle, who had served him, on a former occasion, willingly accepted a second bribe25; and, having concerted the means of drawing Emily to the gates, Morano publicly left the hamlet, whither he had been carried after the affray, and withdrew with his people to another at several miles distance. From thence, on a night agreed upon by Barnardine, who had discovered from the thoughtless prattle26 of Annette, the most probable means of decoying Emily, the Count sent back his servants to the castle, while he awaited her arrival at the hamlet, with an intention of carrying her immediately to Venice. How this, his second scheme, was frustrated27, has already appeared; but the violent, and various passions with which this Italian lover was now agitated28, on his return to that city, can only be imagined.
Annette having made her report to Montoni of Emily’s health and of her request to see him, he replied, that she might attend him in the cedar29 room, in about an hour. It was on the subject, that pressed so heavily on her mind, that Emily wished to speak to him, yet she did not distinctly know what good purpose this could answer, and sometimes she even recoiled30 in horror from the expectation of his presence. She wished, also, to petition, though she scarcely dared to believe the request would be granted, that he would permit her, since her aunt was no more, to return to her native country.
As the moment of interview approached, her agitation31 increased so much, that she almost resolved to excuse herself under what could scarcely be called a pretence32 of illness; and, when she considered what could be said, either concerning herself, or the fate of her aunt, she was equally hopeless as to the event of her entreaty33, and terrified as to its effect upon the vengeful spirit of Montoni. Yet, to pretend ignorance of her death, appeared, in some degree, to be sharing its criminality, and, indeed, this event was the only ground, on which Emily could rest her petition for leaving Udolpho.
While her thoughts thus wavered, a message was brought, importing, that Montoni could not see her, till the next day; and her spirits were then relieved, for a moment, from an almost intolerable weight of apprehension34. Annette said, she fancied the Chevaliers were going out to the wars again, for the court-yard was filled with horses, and she heard, that the rest of the party, who went out before, were expected at the castle. ‘And I heard one of the soldiers, too,’ added she, ‘say to his comrade, that he would warrant they’d bring home a rare deal of booty.— So, thinks I, if the Signor can, with a safe conscience, send his people out a-robbing — why it is no business of mine. I only wish I was once safe out of this castle; and, if it had not been for poor Ludovico’s sake, I would have let Count Morano’s people run away with us both, for it would have been serving you a good turn, ma’amselle, as well as myself.’
Annette might have continued thus talking for hours for any interruption she would have received from Emily, who was silent, inattentive, absorbed in thought, and passed the whole of this day in a kind of solemn tranquillity35, such as is often the result of faculties36 overstrained by suffering.
When night returned, Emily recollected37 the mysterious strains of music, that she had lately heard, in which she still felt some degree of interest, and of which she hoped to hear again the soothing38 sweetness. The influence of superstition39 now gained on the weakness of her long-harassed mind; she looked, with enthusiastic expectation, to the guardian40 spirit of her father, and, having dismissed Annette for the night, determined to watch alone for their return. It was not yet, however, near the time when she had heard the music on a former night, and anxious to call off her thoughts from distressing42 subjects, she sat down with one of the few books, that she had brought from France; but her mind, refusing controul, became restless and agitated, and she went often to the casement43 to listen for a sound. Once, she thought she heard a voice, but then, every thing without the casement remaining still, she concluded, that her fancy had deceived her.
Thus passed the time, till twelve o’clock, soon after which the distant sounds, that murmured through the castle, ceased, and sleep seemed to reign44 over all. Emily then seated herself at the casement, where she was soon recalled from the reverie, into which she sunk, by very unusual sounds, not of music, but like the low mourning of some person in distress41. As she listened, her heart faltered45 in terror, and she became convinced, that the former sound was more than imaginary. Still, at intervals46, she heard a kind of feeble lamentation47, and sought to discover whence it came. There were several rooms underneath48, adjoining the rampart, which had been long shut up, and, as the sound probably rose from one of these, she leaned from the casement to observe, whether any light was visible there. The chambers50, as far as she could perceive, were quite dark, but, at a little distance, on the rampart below, she thought she saw something moving.
The faint twilight51, which the stars shed, did not enable her to distinguish what it was; but she judged it to be a sentinel, on watch, and she removed her light to a remote part of the chamber49, that she might escape notice, during her further observation.
The same object still appeared. Presently, it advanced along the rampart, towards her window, and she then distinguished52 something like a human form, but the silence, with which it moved, convinced her it was no sentinel. As it drew near, she hesitated whether to retire; a thrilling curiosity inclined her to stay, but a dread53 of she scarcely knew what warned her to withdraw.
While she paused, the figure came opposite to her casement, and was stationary54. Every thing remained quiet; she had not heard even a foot-fall; and the solemnity of this silence, with the mysterious form she saw, subdued55 her spirits, so that she was moving from the casement, when, on a sudden, she observed the figure start away, and glide56 down the rampart, after which it was soon lost in the obscurity of night. Emily continued to gaze, for some time, on the way it had passed, and then retired57 within her chamber, musing58 on this strange circumstance, and scarcely doubting, that she had witnessed a supernatural appearance.
When her spirits recovered composure, she looked round for some other explanation. Remembering what she had heard of the daring enterprises of Montoni, it occurred to her, that she had just seen some unhappy person, who, having been plundered59 by his banditti, was brought hither a captive; and that the music she had formerly heard, came from him. Yet, if they had plundered him, it still appeared improbable, that they should have brought him to the castle, and it was also more consistent with the manners of banditti to murder those they rob, than to make them prisoners. But what, more than any other circumstance, contradicted the supposition, that it was a prisoner, was that it wandered on the terrace, without a guard: a consideration, which made her dismiss immediately her first surmise60.
Afterwards, she was inclined to believe, that Count Morano had obtained admittance into the castle; but she soon recollected the difficulties and dangers, that must have opposed such an enterprise, and that, if he had so far succeeded, to come alone and in silence to her casement at midnight was not the conduct he would have adopted, particularly since the private stair-case, communicating with her apartment, was known to him; neither would he have uttered the dismal61 sounds she had heard.
Another suggestion represented, that this might be some person, who had designs upon the castle; but the mournful sounds destroyed, also, that probability. Thus, enquiry only perplexed62 her. Who, or what, it could be that haunted this lonely hour, complaining in such doleful accents and in such sweet music (for she was still inclined to believe, that the former strains and the late appearance were connected,) she had no means of ascertaining63; and imagination again assumed her empire, and roused the mysteries of superstition.
She determined, however, to watch on the following night, when her doubts might, perhaps, be cleared up; and she almost resolved to address the figure, if it should appear again.
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1
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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2
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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3
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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4
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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5
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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6
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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7
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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8
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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10
contriver
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| 发明者，创制者，筹划者 | |
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11
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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12
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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13
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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14
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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15
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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16
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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17
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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18
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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19
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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20
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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21
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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22
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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23
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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24
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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25
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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26
prattle
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| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
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27
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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28
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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29
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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30
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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31
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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32
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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33
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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35
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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37
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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39
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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40
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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41
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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43
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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44
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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45
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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46
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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47
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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48
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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49
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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50
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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51
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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52
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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53
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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54
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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55
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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56
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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57
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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58
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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59
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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61
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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62
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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63
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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