The Castle of Otranto [39]
prevents your seeing the depravity of others. Manfred, your lord, that impious man - "
"Hold," said Hippolita; "you must not in my presence, young lady, mention Manfred with disrespect: he is my lord and husband, and - "
"Will not long be so," said Isabella, "if his wicked purposes can be carried into execution."
"This language amazes me," said Hippolita. "Your feeling, Isabella, is warm; but until this hour I never knew it betray you into intemperance. What deed of Manfred authorises you to treat him as a murderer, an assassin?"
"Thou virtuous, and too credulous Princess!" replied Isabella; "it is not thy life he aims at - it is to separate himself from thee! to divorce thee! to - "
"To divorce me!" "To divorce my mother!" cried Hippolita and Matilda at once.
"Yes," said Isabella; "and to complete his crime, he meditates - I cannot speak it!"
"What can surpass what thou hast already uttered?" said Matilda.
Hippolita was silent. Grief choked her speech; and the recollection of Manfred's late ambiguous discourses confirmed what she heard.
"Excellent, dear lady! madam! mother!" cried Isabella, flinging herself at Hippolita's feet in a transport of passion; "trust me, believe me, I will die a thousand deaths sooner than consent to injure you, than yield to so odious - oh! - "
"This is too much!" cried Hippolita: "What crimes does one crime suggest! Rise, dear Isabella; I do not doubt your virtue. Oh! Matilda, this stroke is too heavy for thee! weep not, my child; and not a murmur, I charge thee. Remember, he is thy father still!"
"But you are my mother too," said Matilda fervently; "and you are virtuous, you are guiltless! - Oh! must not I, must not I complain?"
"You must not," said Hippolita - "come, all will yet be well. Manfred, in the agony for the loss of thy brother, knew not what he said; perhaps Isabella misunderstood him; his heart is good - and, my child, thou knowest not all! There is a destiny hangs over us; the hand of Providence is stretched out; oh! could I but save thee from the wreck! Yes," continued she in a firmer tone, "perhaps the sacrifice of myself may atone for all; I will go and offer myself to this divorce - it boots not what becomes of me. I will withdraw into the neighbouring monastery, and waste the remainder of life in prayers and tears for my child and - the Prince!"
"Thou art as much too good for this world," said Isabella, "as Manfred is execrable; but think not, lady, that thy weakness shall determine for me. I swear, hear me all ye angels - "
"Stop, I adjure thee," cried Hippolita: "remember thou dost not depend on thyself; thou hast a father."
"My father is too pious, too noble," interrupted Isabella, "to command an impious deed. But should he command it; can a father enjoin a cursed act? I was contracted to the son, can I wed the father? No, madam, no; force should not drag me to Manfred's hated bed. I loathe him, I abhor him: divine and human laws forbid - and my friend, my dearest Matilda! would I wound her tender soul by injuring her adored mother? my own mother - I never have known another" -
"Oh! she is the mother of both!" cried Matilda: "can we, can we, Isabella, adore her too much?"
"My lovely children," said the touched Hippolita, "your tenderness overpowers me - but I must not give way to it. It is not ours to make election for ourselves: heaven, our fathers, and our husbands must decide for us. Have patience until you hear what Manfred and Frederic have determined. If the Marquis accepts Matilda's hand, I know she will readily obey. Heaven may interpose and prevent the rest. What means my child?" continued she, seeing Matilda fall at her feet with a flood of speechless tears - "But no; answer me not, my daughter: I must not hear a word against the pleasure of thy father."
"Oh! doubt not my obedience, my dreadful obedience to him and to you!" said Matilda. "But can I, most respected of women, can I experience all this tenderness, this world of goodness,
"Hold," said Hippolita; "you must not in my presence, young lady, mention Manfred with disrespect: he is my lord and husband, and - "
"Will not long be so," said Isabella, "if his wicked purposes can be carried into execution."
"This language amazes me," said Hippolita. "Your feeling, Isabella, is warm; but until this hour I never knew it betray you into intemperance. What deed of Manfred authorises you to treat him as a murderer, an assassin?"
"Thou virtuous, and too credulous Princess!" replied Isabella; "it is not thy life he aims at - it is to separate himself from thee! to divorce thee! to - "
"To divorce me!" "To divorce my mother!" cried Hippolita and Matilda at once.
"Yes," said Isabella; "and to complete his crime, he meditates - I cannot speak it!"
"What can surpass what thou hast already uttered?" said Matilda.
Hippolita was silent. Grief choked her speech; and the recollection of Manfred's late ambiguous discourses confirmed what she heard.
"Excellent, dear lady! madam! mother!" cried Isabella, flinging herself at Hippolita's feet in a transport of passion; "trust me, believe me, I will die a thousand deaths sooner than consent to injure you, than yield to so odious - oh! - "
"This is too much!" cried Hippolita: "What crimes does one crime suggest! Rise, dear Isabella; I do not doubt your virtue. Oh! Matilda, this stroke is too heavy for thee! weep not, my child; and not a murmur, I charge thee. Remember, he is thy father still!"
"But you are my mother too," said Matilda fervently; "and you are virtuous, you are guiltless! - Oh! must not I, must not I complain?"
"You must not," said Hippolita - "come, all will yet be well. Manfred, in the agony for the loss of thy brother, knew not what he said; perhaps Isabella misunderstood him; his heart is good - and, my child, thou knowest not all! There is a destiny hangs over us; the hand of Providence is stretched out; oh! could I but save thee from the wreck! Yes," continued she in a firmer tone, "perhaps the sacrifice of myself may atone for all; I will go and offer myself to this divorce - it boots not what becomes of me. I will withdraw into the neighbouring monastery, and waste the remainder of life in prayers and tears for my child and - the Prince!"
"Thou art as much too good for this world," said Isabella, "as Manfred is execrable; but think not, lady, that thy weakness shall determine for me. I swear, hear me all ye angels - "
"Stop, I adjure thee," cried Hippolita: "remember thou dost not depend on thyself; thou hast a father."
"My father is too pious, too noble," interrupted Isabella, "to command an impious deed. But should he command it; can a father enjoin a cursed act? I was contracted to the son, can I wed the father? No, madam, no; force should not drag me to Manfred's hated bed. I loathe him, I abhor him: divine and human laws forbid - and my friend, my dearest Matilda! would I wound her tender soul by injuring her adored mother? my own mother - I never have known another" -
"Oh! she is the mother of both!" cried Matilda: "can we, can we, Isabella, adore her too much?"
"My lovely children," said the touched Hippolita, "your tenderness overpowers me - but I must not give way to it. It is not ours to make election for ourselves: heaven, our fathers, and our husbands must decide for us. Have patience until you hear what Manfred and Frederic have determined. If the Marquis accepts Matilda's hand, I know she will readily obey. Heaven may interpose and prevent the rest. What means my child?" continued she, seeing Matilda fall at her feet with a flood of speechless tears - "But no; answer me not, my daughter: I must not hear a word against the pleasure of thy father."
"Oh! doubt not my obedience, my dreadful obedience to him and to you!" said Matilda. "But can I, most respected of women, can I experience all this tenderness, this world of goodness,