the mortifications of shame and infamy！ Who can reflect without
horror on such a doom？ Let me then exult in my exchange。 I have
sold distant and uncertain happiness for present and secure： I
have preserved a life which otherwise I had lost in torture； and
I have obtained the power of procuring every bliss which can
make that life delicious！ The Infernal Spirits obey me as their
Sovereign： By their aid shall my days be past in every
refinement of luxury and voluptuousness。 I will enjoy
unrestrained the gratification of my senses： Every passion shall
be indulged； even to satiety； Then will I bid my Servants invent
new pleasures； to revive and stimulate my glutted appetites！ I
go impatient to exercise my newly…gained dominion。 I pant to be
at liberty。 Nothing should hold me one moment longer in this
abhorred abode； but the hope of persuading you to follow my
example。 Ambrosio； I still love you： Our mutual guilt and
danger have rendered you dearer to me than ever； and I would fain
save you from impending destruction。 Summon then your resolution
to your aid； and renounce for immediate and certain benefits the
hopes of a salvation； difficult to obtain； and perhaps altogether
erroneous。 Shake off the prejudice of vulgar souls； Abandon a
God who has abandoned you； and raise yourself to the level of
superior Beings！'
She paused for the Monk's reply： He shuddered； while He gave it。
'Matilda！' He said after a long silence in a low and unsteady
voice； 'What price gave you for liberty？'
She answered him firm and dauntless。
'Ambrosio； it was my Soul！'
'Wretched Woman； what have you done？ Pass but a few years； and
how dreadful will be your sufferings！'
'Weak Man； pass but this night； and how dreadful will be your
own！ Do you remember what you have already endured？ Tomorrow
you must bear torments doubly exquisite。 Do you remember the
horrors of a fiery punishment？ In two days you must be led a
Victim to the Stake！ What then will become of you？ Still dare
you hope for pardon？ Still are you beguiled with visions of
salvation？ Think upon your crimes！ Think upon your lust； your
perjury； inhumanity； and hypocrisy！ Think upon the innocent
blood which cries to the Throne of God for vengeance； and then
hope for mercy！ Then dream of heaven； and sigh for worlds of
light； and realms of peace and pleasure！ Absurd！ Open your
eyes； Ambrosio； and be prudent。 Hell is your lot； You are doomed
to eternal perdition； Nought lies beyond your grave but a gulph
of devouring flames。 And will you then speed towards that Hell？
Will you clasp that perdition in your arms； ere 'tis needful？
Will you plunge into those flames while you still have the power
to shun them？ 'Tis a Madman's action。 No； no； Ambrosio： Let us
for awhile fly from divine vengeance。 Be advised by me； Purchase
by one moment's courage the bliss of years； Enjoy the present；
and forget that a future lags behind。'
'Matilda； your counsels are dangerous： I dare not； I will not
follow them。 I must not give up my claim to salvation。
Monstrous are my crimes； But God is merciful； and I will not
despair of pardon。'
'Is such your resolution？ I have no more to say。 I speed to joy
and liberty； and abandon you to death and eternal torments。'
'Yet stay one moment； Matilda！ You command the infernal Daemons：
You can force open these prison doors； You can release me from
these chains which weigh me down。 Save me； I conjure you； and
bear me from these fearful abodes！'
'You ask the only boon beyond my power to bestow。 I am forbidden
to assist a Churchman and a Partizan of God： Renounce those
titles； and command me。'
'I will not sell my soul to perdition。'
'Persist in your obstinacy； till you find yourself at the Stake：
Then will you repent your error； and sigh for escape when the
moment is gone by。 I quit you。 Yet ere the hour of death
arrives should wisdom enlighten you； listen to the means of
repairing your present fault。 I leave with you this Book。 Read
the four first lines of the seventh page backwards： The Spirit
whom you have already once beheld will immediately appear to
you。 If you are wise； we shall meet again： If not； farewell for
ever！'
She let the Book fall upon the ground。 A cloud of blue fire
wrapped itself round her： She waved her hand to Ambrosio； and
disappeared。 The momentary glare which the flames poured through
the dungeon； on dissipating suddenly； seemed to have increased
its natural gloom。 The solitary Lamp scarcely gave light
sufficient to guide the Monk to a Chair。 He threw himself into
his seat； folded his arms； and leaning his head upon the table；
sank into reflections perplexing and unconnected。
He was still in this attitude when the opening of the prison door
rouzed him from his stupor。 He was summoned to appear before the
Grand Inquisitor。 He rose； and followed his Gaoler with painful
steps。 He was led into the same Hall； placed before the same
Examiners； and was again interrogated whether Hewould confess。
He replied as before； that having no crimes； He could acknowledge
none： But when the Executioners prepared to put him to the
question； when He saw the engines of torture； and remembered the
pangs which they had already inflicted； his resolution failed him
entirely。 Forgetting the consequences； and only anxious to
escape the terrors of the present moment； He made an ample
confession。 He disclosed every circumstance of his guilt； and
owned not merely the crimes with which He was charged； but those
of which He had never been suspected。 Being interrogated as to
Matilda's flight which had created much confusion； He confessed
that She had sold herself to Satan； and that She was indebted to
Sorcery for her escape。 He still assured his Judges that for
his own part He had never entered into any compact with the
infernal Spirits； But the threat of being tortured made him
declare himself to be a Sorcerer； and Heretic； and whatever other
title the Inquisitors chose to fix upon him。 In consequence of
this avowal； his sentence was immediately pronounced。 He was
ordered to prepare himself to perish in the Auto da Fe； which was
to be solemnized at twelve o'clock that night。 This hour was
chosen from the idea that the horror of the flames being
heightened by the gloom of midnight； the execution would have a
greater effect upon the mind of the People。
Ambrosio rather dead than alive was left alone in his dungeon。
The moment in which this terrible decree was pronounced had
nearly proved that of his dissolution。 He looked forward to the
morrow with despair； and his terrors increased with the approach
of midnight。 Sometimes He was buried in gloomy silence： At
others He raved with delirious passion； wrung his hands； and
cursed the hour when He first beheld the light。 In one of these
moments his eye rested upon Matilda's mysterious gift。 His
transports of rage were instantly suspended。 He looked earnestly
at the Book； He took it up； but immediately threw it from him
with horror。 He walked rapidly up and down his dungeon： Then
stopped； and again fixed his eyes on the spot where the Book had
fallen。 He reflected that here at least was a resource from the
fate which He dreaded。 He stooped； and took it up a second time。
He remained for some time trembling and irresolute： He longed to
try the charm； yet feared its consequences。 The recollection of
his sentence at length fixed his indecision。 He opened the
Volume； but his agitation was so great that He at first sought
in vain for the page mentioned by Matilda。 Ashamed of himself；
He called all his courage to his aid。 He turned to the seventh
leaf。 He began to read it aloud； But his eyes frequently
wandered from the Book； while He anxiously cast them round in
search of the Spirit； whom He wished； yet dreaded to behold。
Still He persisted in his design； and with a voice unassured and
frequent interruptions； He contrived to finish the four first
lines of the page。
They were in a language； whose import was totally unknown to him。
Scarce had He pronounced the last word when the effects of the
charm were evident。 A loud burst of Thunder was heard； The
prison shook to its very foundations； A blaze of lightning
flashed through the Cell； and in the next moment； borne upon
sulphurous whirl…winds； Lucifer stood before him a second time。
But He came not as when at Matilda's summons He borrowed the
Seraph's form to deceive Ambrosio。 He appeared in all that
ugliness which since his fall from heaven had been his portion：
His blasted limbs still bore marks of the Almighty's thunder： A
swarthy darkness spread itself over his gigantic form： His hands
and feet were armed with long Talons： Fury glared in his eyes；
which might have struck the bravest heart with terror： Over his
huge shoulders waved two enormous sable wings； and his hair was
supplied by living snakes； which twined themselves round his
brows with frightful hissings。 In one hand He held a roll of
parchment； and in the other an iron pen。 Still the lightning
flashed around him； and the Thunder with repeated bursts； seemed
to announce the dissolution of Nature。