insensible and gave no signs of life； except by occasional
groans。 She was borne upon a sort of litter； Virginia； who was
constantly by the side of it； was apprehensive that exhausted by
long abstinence； and shaken by the sudden change from bonds and
darkness to liberty and light； her frame would never get the
better of the shock。 Lorenzo and Don Ramirez still remained in
the Sepulchre。 After deliberating upon their proceedings； it was
resolved that to prevent losing time； the Archers should be
divided into two Bodies： That with one Don Ramirez should
examine the cavern； while Lorenzo with the other might penetrate
into the further Vaults。 This being arranged； and his Followers
being provided with Torches； Don Ramirez advanced to the Cavern。
He had already descended some steps when He heard People
approaching hastily from the interior part of the Sepulchre。
This surprized him； and He quitted the Cave precipitately。
'Do you hear footsteps？' said Lorenzo； 'Let us bend our course
towards them。 'Tis from this side that they seem to proceed。'
At that moment a loud and piercing shriek induced him to quicken
his steps。
'Help！ Help； for God's sake！ cried a voice； whose melodious
tone penetrated Lorenzo's heart with terror。
He flew towards the cry with the rapidity of lightning； and was
followed by Don Ramirez with equal swiftness。
CHAPTER IV
Great Heaven！ How frail thy creature Man is made！
How by himself insensibly betrayed！
In our own strength unhappily secure；
Too little cautious of the adverse power；
On pleasure's flowery brink we idly stray；
Masters as yet of our returning way：
Till the strong gusts of raging passion rise；
Till the dire Tempest mingles earth and skies；
And swift into the boundless Ocean borne；
Our foolish confidence too late we mourn：
Round our devoted heads the billows beat；
And from our troubled view the lessening lands retreat。
Prior。
All this while； Ambrosio was unconscious of the dreadful scenes
which were passing so near。 The execution of his designs upon
Antonia employed his every thought。 Hitherto； He was satisfied
with the success of his plans。 Antonia had drank the opiate； was
buried in the vaults of St。 Clare； and absolutely in his
disposal。 Matilda； who was well acquainted with the nature and
effects of the soporific medicine； had computed that it would not
cease to operate till one in the Morning。 For that hour He
waited with impatience。 The Festival of St。 Clare presented him
with a favourable opportunity of consummating his crime。 He was
certain that the Friars and Nuns would be engaged in the
Procession； and that He had no cause to dread an interruption：
From appearing himself at the head of his Monks； He had desired
to be excused。 He doubted not； that being beyond the reach of
help； cut off from all the world； and totally in his power；
Antonia would comply with his desires。 The affection which She
had ever exprest for him； warranted this persuasion： But He
resolved that should She prove obstinate； no consideration
whatever should prevent him from enjoying her。 Secure from a
discovery； He shuddered not at the idea of employing force： If
He felt any repugnance； it arose not from a principle of shame
or compassion； but from his feeling for Antonia the most sincere
and ardent affection； and wishing to owe her favours to no one
but herself。
The Monks quitted the Abbey at midnight。 Matilda was among the
Choristers； and led the chaunt。 Ambrosio was left by himself；
and at liberty to pursue his own inclinations。 Convinced that no
one remained behind to watch his motions； or disturb his
pleasures； He now hastened to the Western Aisles。 His heart
beating with hope not unmingled with anxiety； He crossed the
Garden； unlocked the door which admitted him into the Cemetery；
and in a few minutes He stood before the Vaults。 Here He paused。
He looked round him with suspicion； conscious that his business
was unfit for any other eye。 As He stood in hesitation； He heard
the melancholy shriek of the screech…Owl： The wind rattled
loudly against the windows of the adjacent Convent； and as the
current swept by him； bore with it the faint notes of the chaunt
of Choristers。 He opened the door cautiously； as if fearing to
be overheard： He entered； and closed it again after him。
Guided by his Lamp； He threaded the long passages； in whose
windings Matilda had instructed him； and reached the private
Vault which contained his sleeping Mistress。
Its entrance was by no means easy to discover： But this was no
obstacle to Ambrosio； who at the time of Antonia's Funeral had
observed it too carefully to be deceived。 He found the door；
which was unfastened； pushed it open； and descended into the
dungeon。 He approached the humble Tomb in which Antonia
reposed。 He had provided himself with an iron crow and a
pick…axe； But this precaution was unnecessary。 The Grate was
slightly fastened on the outside： He raised it； and placing the
Lamp upon its ridge； bent silently over the Tomb。 By the side of
three putrid half…corrupted Bodies lay the sleeping Beauty。 A
lively red； the forerunner of returning animation； had already
spread itself over her cheek； and as wrapped in her shroud She
reclined upon her funeral Bier； She seemed to smile at the Images
of Death around her。 While He gazed upon their rotting bones and
disgusting figures； who perhaps were once as sweet and lovely；
Ambrosio thought upon Elvira； by him reduced to the same state。
As the memory of that horrid act glanced upon his mind； it was
clouded with a gloomy horror。 Yet it served but to strengthen
his resolution to destroy Antonia's honour。
'For your sake； Fatal Beauty！' murmured the Monk； while gazing on
his devoted prey； 'For your sake； have I committed this murder；
and sold myself to eternal tortures。 Now you are in my power：
The produce of my guilt will at least be mine。 Hope not that
your prayers breathed in tones of unequalled melody； your bright
eyes filled with tears； and your hands lifted in supplication； as
when seeking in penitence the Virgin's pardon； Hope not that
your moving innocence； your beauteous grief； or all your
suppliant arts shall ransom you from my embraces。 Before the
break of day； mine you must； and mine you shall be！'
He lifted her still motionless from the Tomb： He seated himself
upon a bank of Stone； and supporting her in his arms； watched
impatiently for the symptoms of returning animation。 Scarcely
could He command his passions sufficiently； to restrain himself
from enjoying her while yet insensible。 His natural lust was
increased in ardour by the difficulties which had opposed his
satisfying it： As also by his long abstinence from Woman； since
from the moment of resigning her claim to his love； Matilda had
exiled him from her arms for ever。
'I am no Prostitute； Ambrosio；' Had She told him； when in the
fullness of his lust He demanded her favours with more than usual
earnestness； 'I am now no more than your Friend； and will not be
your Mistress。 Cease then to solicit my complying with desires；
which insult me。 While your heart was mine； I gloried in your
embraces： Those happy times are past： My person is become
indifferent to you； and 'tis necessity； not love； which makes you
seek my enjoyment。 I cannot yield to a request so humiliating
to my pride。'
Suddenly deprived of pleasures； the use of which had made them an
absolute want； the Monk felt this restraint severely。 Naturally
addicted to the gratification of the senses； in the full vigour
of manhood； and heat of blood； He had suffered his temperament to
acquire such ascendency that his lust was become madness。 Of
his fondness for Antonia； none but the grosser particles
remained： He longed for the possession of her person； and even
the gloom of the vault； the surrounding silence； and the
resistance which He expected from her； seemed to give a fresh
edge to his fierce and unbridled desires。
Gradually He felt the bosom which rested against his； glow with
returning warmth。 Her heart throbbed again； Her blood flowed
swifter； and her lips moved。 At length She opened her eyes； but
still opprest and bewildered by the effects of the strong opiate；
She closed them again immediately。 Ambrosio watched her
narrowly； nor permitted a movement to escape him。 Perceiving
that She was fully restored to existence； He caught her in
rapture to his bosom； and closely pressed his lips to hers。 The
suddenness of his action sufficed to dissipate the fumes which
obscured Antonia's reason。 She hastily raised herself； and cast
a wild look round her。 The strange Images which presented
themselves on every side contributed to confuse her。 She put her
hand to her head； as if to settle her disordered imagination。 At
length She took it away； and threw her eyes through the dungeon a
second time。 They fixed upon the Abbot's face。
'Where am I？' She said abruptly。 'How came I here？ Where is my
Mother？ Methought； I saw her！ Oh！ a dream； a dreadful dreadful
dream told me 。 。 。 。 。 。 But where am I？ Let me go！ I cannot
stay here！'
She attempted to rise