The Monk: Chapters 1–2

With the design of supplicating his Son to renew it, She is now come to Madrid; But I doubt, that She might have saved herself the trouble! You young Noblemen have always enough to do with your money, and are not very often disposed to throw it away upon old Women.

“Ah! Segnora,” interrupted Don Christoval, counterfeiting a passionate air; “If a pretty face will do the business, why has not your Sister recourse to you?”

Leonella’s satisfaction was much more loud and audible: Indeed, as her Niece was generally silent in her company, She thought it incumbent upon her to talk enough for both: This She managed without difficulty, for She very seldom found herself deficient in words.

In truth the singular austerity of his life gives some countenance to the report.

In language nervous, clear, and simple, the Monk expatiated on the beauties of Religion.

He explained some abstruse parts of the sacred writings in a style that carried with it universal conviction.

His voice at once distinct and deep was fraught with all the terrors of the Tempest, while He inveighed against the vices of humanity, and described the punishments reserved for them in a future state.

He ascended the Steps, and then turning towards his Followers, addressed to them a few words of gratitude, and exhortation.

“Alas! Segnor,” replied Antonia; “The misfortunes of my Parents have already placed before me but too many sad examples of the perfidy of the world! Yet surely in the present instance the warmth of sympathy cannot have deceived me.”

“Segnor, you delight me by this assurance! It encourages me to indulge my prepossession in his favour; and you know not with what pain I should have repressed the sentiment! Ah! dearest Aunt, entreat my Mother to choose him for our Confessor.”

Were He my Confessor, I should never have the courage to avow one half of my peccadilloes, and then I should be in a rare condition!

“Oh! Segnor, I believe that your assurances of impatience are all very true; But really I must desire a little respite. It would not be quite so delicate in me to accept your hand at first sight.”

“Your Sister in a Convent, say you? Oh! very true, I had forgotten. And how does Donna Agnes? I am amazed, Don Lorenzo, how you could possibly think of immuring so charming a Girl within the walls of a Cloister!”

When He remembered the Enthusiasm which his discourse had excited, his heart swelled with rapture, and his imagination presented him with splendid visions of aggrandizement.

Who else has subdued the violence of strong passions and an impetuous temperament, and submitted even from the dawn of life to voluntary retirement?

Here his Reverie was interrupted by three soft knocks at the door of his Cell. With difficulty did the Abbot awake from his delirium.

I come to you a Suppliant. Hearing that a dear Friend is dangerously ill, I entreat your prayers for his recovery.

If supplications can prevail upon heaven to spare him, surely yours must be efficacious.

I will not forget him in my prayers, and may our thrice-blessed St. Francis deign to listen to my intercession!

You would drive me from your presence with scorn and ignominy!

Ambrosio listened to the confessions with attention, made many exhortations, enjoined penance proportioned to each offence, and for some time every thing went on as usual: till at last one of the Nuns, conspicuous from the nobleness of her air and elegance of her figure, carelessly permitted a letter to fall from her bosom.

Look with indulgence on a Woman’s weakness, and deign to conceal my frailty!

The remainder of my life shall be employed in expiating this single fault, and your lenity will bring back a soul to heaven!

Long before I took the veil, Raymond was Master of my heart: He inspired me with the purest, the most irreproachable passion, and was on the point of becoming my lawful husband.

I will rescue you from perdition in spite of yourself; Penance and mortification shall expiate your offence, and Severity force you back to the paths of holiness.

She was silent, and darted upon the prostrate Nun looks of menace and malignity.

Insolent in your yet-unshaken virtue, you disdained the prayers of a Penitent; But God will show mercy, though you show none.

No longer sustained by the violence of his passions, He feels all the monotony of his way of living, and his heart becomes the prey of Ennui and weariness.

After consuming the day in study, if you knew my pleasure at meeting my Brethren in the Evening! After passing many a long hour in solitude, if I could express to you the joy which I feel at once more beholding a fellow-Creature!

You are secluded from the world which you profess to hate; yet you remain in possession of the benefits of society, and that a society composed of the most estimable of Mankind.

She was now continually in his presence: She strove to ingratiate herself into his favour: She succeeded.

What I feel for you is love, not licentiousness; I sigh to be possessor of your heart, not lust for the enjoyment of your person.

I had been brought up under the care of an Uncle possessed of the most solid judgment and extensive erudition. He took pleasure in communicating to me some portion of his knowledge.

The ability of my Preceptor being aided by natural curiosity, I not only made a considerable progress in sciences universally studied, but in others, revealed but to few, and lying under censure from the blindness of superstition.

But while my Guardian laboured to enlarge the sphere of my knowledge, He carefully inculcated every moral precept: He relieved me from the shackles of vulgar prejudice; He pointed out the beauty of Religion; He taught me to look with adoration upon the pure and virtuous, and, woe is me!

But while my Guardian laboured to enlarge the sphere of my knowledge, He carefully inculcated every moral precept: He relieved me from the shackles of vulgar prejudice; He pointed out the beauty of Religion; He taught me to look with adoration upon the pure and virtuous, and, woe is me!

The Night was more propitious to me, for then you stood before me in my dreams; You vowed to me eternal friendship; You led me through the paths of virtue, and assisted me to support the vexations of life.

I feel that Duty obliges my treating you with harshness: I must reject your prayer, and remove every shadow of hope which may aid to nourish sentiments so pernicious to your repose.

He was conscious that prudence, religion, and propriety necessitated his obliging her to quit the Abbey: But on the other hand such powerful reasons authorized her stay that He was but too much inclined to consent to her remaining.

Oh! where shall I now seek for probity? Disgusted with a perfidious world, in what happy region does Truth conceal herself?