History； with which you are still unacquainted。 Listen； and do
not interrupt me： Should my confession disgust you； remember
that in making it my sole aim is to satisfy your wishes； and
restore that peace to your heart which at present has abandoned
it。 I formerly mentioned that my Guardian was a Man of uncommon
knowledge： He took pains to instil that knowledge into my infant
mind。 Among the various sciences which curiosity had induced him
to explore； He neglected not that which by most is esteemed
impious； and by many chimerical。 I speak of those arts which
relate to the world of Spirits。 His deep researches into causes
and effects； his unwearied application to the study of natural
philosophy； his profound and unlimited knowledge of the
properties and virtues of every gem which enriches the deep； of
every herb which the earth produces； at length procured him the
distinction which He had sought so long； so earnestly。 His
curiosity was fully slaked； his ambition amply gratified。 He
gave laws to the elements； He could reverse the order of nature；
His eye read the mandates of futurity； and the infernal Spirits
were submissive to his commands。 Why shrink you from me？ I
understand that enquiring look。 Your suspicions are right；
though your terrors are unfounded。 My Guardian concealed not
from me his most precious acquisition。 Yet had I never seen YOU；
I should never have exerted my power。 Like you I shuddered at
the thoughts of Magic： Like you I had formed a terrible idea of
the consequences of raising a daemon。 To preserve that life
which your love had taught me to prize； I had recourse to means
which I trembled at employing。 You remember that night which I
past in St。 Clare's Sepulchre？ Then was it that； surrounded by
mouldering bodies； I dared to perform those mystic rites which
summoned to my aid a fallen Angel。 Judge what must have been my
joy at discovering that my terrors were imaginary： I saw the
Daemon obedient to my orders； I saw him trembling at my frown；
and found that； instead of selling my soul to a Master； my
courage had purchased for myself a Slave。'
'Rash Matilda！ What have you done？ You have doomed yourself to
endless perdition； You have bartered for momentary power eternal
happiness！ If on witchcraft depends the fruition of my desires；
I renounce your aid most absolutely。 The consequences are too
horrible： I doat upon Antonia； but am not so blinded by lust as
to sacrifice for her enjoyment my existence both in this world
and the next。'
'Ridiculous prejudices！ Oh！ blush； Ambrosio； blush at being
subjected to their dominion。 Where is the risque of accepting my
offers？ What should induce my persuading you to this step；
except the wish of restoring you to happiness and quiet。 If
there is danger； it must fall upon me： It is I who invoke the
ministry of the Spirits； Mine therefore will be the crime； and
yours the profit。 But danger there is none： The Enemy of
Mankind is my Slave； not my Sovereign。 Is there no difference
between giving and receiving laws； between serving and
commanding？ Awake from your idle dreams； Ambrosio！ Throw from
you these terrors so ill…suited to a soul like yours； Leave them
for common Men； and dare to be happy！ Accompany me this night to
St。 Clare's Sepulchre； witness my incantations； and Antonia is
your own。'
'To obtain her by such means I neither can； or will。 Cease then
to persuade me； for I dare not employ Hell's agency。
'You DARE not？ How have you deceived me！ That mind which I
esteemed so great and valiant； proves to be feeble； puerile； and
grovelling； a slave to vulgar errors； and weaker than a Woman's。'
'What？ Though conscious of the danger； wilfully shall I expose
myself to the Seducer's arts？ Shall I renounce for ever my title
to salvation？ Shall my eyes seek a sight which I know will
blast them？ No； no； Matilda； I will not ally myself with God's
Enemy。'
'Are you then God's Friend at present？ Have you not broken your
engagements with him； renounced his service； and abandoned
yourself to the impulse of your passions？ Are you not planning
the destruction of innocence； the ruin of a Creature whom He
formed in the mould of Angels？ If not of Daemons； whose aid
would you invoke to forward this laudable design？ Will the
Seraphims protect it； conduct Antonia to your arms； and sanction
with their ministry your illicit pleasures？ Absurd！ But I am
not deceived； Ambrosio！ It is not virtue which makes you reject
my offer： You WOULD accept it； but you dare not。 'Tis not the
crime which holds your hand； but the punishment； 'Tis not respect
for God which restrains you； but the terror of his vengeance！
Fain would you offend him in secret； but you tremble to profess
yourself his Foe。 Now shame on the coward soul； which wants the
courage either to be a firm Friend or open Enemy！'
'To look upon guilt with horror； Matilda； is in itself a merit：
In this respect I glory to confess myself a Coward。 Though my
passions have made me deviate from her laws； I still feel in my
heart an innate love of virtue。 But it ill becomes you to tax me
with my perjury： You； who first seduced me to violate my vows；
You； who first rouzed my sleeping vices； made me feel the weight
of Religion's chains； and bad me be convinced that guilt had
pleasures。 Yet though my principles have yielded to the force of
temperament； I still have sufficient grace to shudder at Sorcery；
and avoid a crime so monstrous； so unpardonable！'
'Unpardonable； say you？ Where then is your constant boast of the
Almighty's infinite mercy？ Has He of late set bounds to it？
Receives He no longer a Sinner with joy？ You injure him；
Ambrosio； You will always have time to repent； and He have
goodness to forgive。 Afford him a glorious opportunity to exert
that goodness： The greater your crime； the greater his merit in
pardoning。 Away then with these childish scruples： Be persuaded
to your good； and follow me to the Sepulchre。'
'Oh！ cease； Matilda！ That scoffing tone； that bold and impious
language； is horrible in every mouth； but most so in a Woman's。
Let us drop a conversation which excites no other sentiments
than horror and disgust。 I will not follow you to the Sepulchre；
or accept the services of your infernal Agents。 Antonia shall be
mine； but mine by human means。'
'Then yours She will never be！ You are banished her presence；
Her Mother has opened her eyes to your designs； and She is now
upon her guard against them。 Nay more； She loves another。 A
Youth of distinguished merit possesses her heart； and unless you
interfere； a few days will make her his Bride。 This intelligence
was brought me by my invisible Servants； to whom I had recourse
on first perceiving your indifference。 They watched your every
action； related to me all that past at Elvira's； and inspired me
with the idea of favouring your designs。 Their reports have been
my only comfort。 Though you shunned my presence； all your
proceedings were known to me： Nay； I was constantly with you in
some degree； thanks to this precious gift！'
With these words She drew from beneath her habit a mirror of
polished steel； the borders of which were marked with various
strange and unknown characters。
'Amidst all my sorrows； amidst all my regrets for your coldness；
I was sustained from despair by the virtues of this Talisman。 On
pronouncing certain words； the Person appears in it on whom the
Observer's thoughts are bent： thus though _I_ was exiled from
YOUR sight； you； Ambrosio； were ever present to mine。'
The Friar's curiosity was excited strongly。
'What you relate is incredible！ Matilda； are you not amusing
yourself with my credulity？'
'Be your own eyes the Judge。'
She put the Mirror into his hand。 Curiosity induced him to take
it； and Love； to wish that Antonia might appear。 Matilda
pronounced the magic words。 Immediately； a thick smoke rose from
the characters traced upon the borders； and spread itself over
the surface。 It dispersed again gradually； A confused mixture of
colours and images presented themselves to the Friar's eyes；
which at length arranging themselves in their proper places； He
beheld in miniature Antonia's lovely form。
The scene was a small closet belonging to her apartment。 She was
undressing to bathe herself。 The long tresses of her hair were
already bound up。 The amorous Monk had full opportunity to
observe the voluptuous contours and admirable symmetry of her
person。 She threw off her last garment； and advancing to the
Bath prepared for her； She put her foot into the water。 It
struck cold； and She drew it back again。 Though unconscious of
being observed； an inbred sense of modesty induced her to veil
her charms； and She stood hesitating upon the brink； in the
attitude of the Venus de Medicis。 At this moment a tame Linnet
flew towards her； nestled its head between her breasts； and
nibbled them in wanton play。 The smiling Antonia strove in vain
to shake off the Bird； and at length raised her hands to drive it
from its delightful harbour。 Ambrosio could bear no more： His
desires were worked up to phrenzy。
'I yield！' He cried； dashing the