Part 13 (1/2)
”Why that exclamation?” said Hippolita. ”I have promised thee to return-”
”Ah! my mother,” replied Matilda, ”stay and save me from myself. A frown from thee can do more than all my father's severity. I have given away my heart, and you alone can make me recall it.”
”No more,” said Hippolita; ”thou must not relapse, Matilda.”
”I can quit Theodore,” said she, ”but must I wed another? let me attend thee to the altar, and shut myself from the world for ever.”
”Thy fate depends on thy father,” said Hippolita; ”I have ill-bestowed my tenderness, if it has taught thee to revere aught beyond him. Adieu! my child: I go to pray for thee.”
Hippolita's real purpose was to demand of Jerome, whether in conscience she might not consent to the divorce. She had oft urged Manfred to resign the princ.i.p.ality, which the delicacy of her conscience rendered an hourly burthen to her. These scruples concurred to make the separation from her husband appear less dreadful to her than it would have seemed in any other situation.
Jerome, at quitting the castle overnight, had questioned Theodore severely why he had accused him to Manfred of being privy to his escape.
Theodore owned it had been with design to prevent Manfred's suspicion from alighting on Matilda; and added, the holiness of Jerome's life and character secured him from the tyrant's wrath. Jerome was heartily grieved to discover his son's inclination for that princess; and leaving him to his rest, promised in the morning to acquaint him with important reasons for conquering his pa.s.sion.
Theodore, like Isabella, was too recently acquainted with parental authority to submit to its decisions against the impulse of his heart.
He had little curiosity to learn the Friar's reasons, and less disposition to obey them. The lovely Matilda had made stronger impressions on him than filial affection. All night he pleased himself with visions of love; and it was not till late after the morning-office, that he recollected the Friar's commands to attend him at Alfonso's tomb.
”Young man,” said Jerome, when he saw him, ”this tardiness does not please me. Have a father's commands already so little weight?”
Theodore made awkward excuses, and attributed his delay to having overslept himself.
”And on whom were thy dreams employed?” said the Friar sternly. His son blushed. ”Come, come,” resumed the Friar, ”inconsiderate youth, this must not be; eradicate this guilty pa.s.sion from thy breast-”
”Guilty pa.s.sion!” cried Theodore: ”Can guilt dwell with innocent beauty and virtuous modesty?”
”It is sinful,” replied the Friar, ”to cherish those whom heaven has doomed to destruction. A tyrant's race must be swept from the earth to the third and fourth generation.”
”Will heaven visit the innocent for the crimes of the guilty?” said Theodore. ”The fair Matilda has virtues enough-”
”To undo thee:” interrupted Jerome. ”Hast thou so soon forgotten that twice the savage Manfred has p.r.o.nounced thy sentence?”
”Nor have I forgotten, sir,” said Theodore, ”that the charity of his daughter delivered me from his power. I can forget injuries, but never benefits.”
”The injuries thou hast received from Manfred's race,” said the Friar, ”are beyond what thou canst conceive. Reply not, but view this holy image! Beneath this marble monument rest the ashes of the good Alfonso; a prince adorned with every virtue: the father of his people! the delight of mankind! Kneel, headstrong boy, and list, while a father unfolds a tale of horror that will expel every sentiment from thy soul, but sensations of sacred vengeance-Alfonso! much injured prince! let thy unsatisfied shade sit awful on the troubled air, while these trembling lips-Ha! who comes there?-”
”The most wretched of women!” said Hippolita, entering the choir. ”Good Father, art thou at leisure?-but why this kneeling youth? what means the horror imprinted on each countenance? why at this venerable tomb-alas!
hast thou seen aught?”
”We were pouring forth our orisons to heaven,” replied the Friar, with some confusion, ”to put an end to the woes of this deplorable province.
Join with us, Lady! thy spotless soul may obtain an exemption from the judgments which the portents of these days but too speakingly denounce against thy house.”
”I pray fervently to heaven to divert them,” said the pious Princess.
”Thou knowest it has been the occupation of my life to wrest a blessing for my Lord and my harmless children.-One alas! is taken from me! would heaven but hear me for my poor Matilda! Father! intercede for her!”
”Every heart will bless her,” cried Theodore with rapture.
”Be dumb, rash youth!” said Jerome. ”And thou, fond Princess, contend not with the Powers above! the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away: bless His holy name, and submit to his decrees.”