Abbot of Montserrat or The Pool of Blood

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ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT ;
OR,
THE POOL OF BLOOD.
a Romance .
IN TWO VOLUMES .
BY
K
WILLIAM CHILD GREEN,
AUTHOR OF THE
FAYS OF LOCH LOMOND , SICILIAN BOY, THE PROPHECY OF DUNCANNON,

& c . & c.
A monk , I tell you - a resolved villain . SHAKESPEARE.
VOL. I.
roast
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR
A. K. NEWMAN AND CO . LEADENHALL- STREET .
1826.
MVSEVM
BRITAN
NICVM
PREFACE .
To demonstrate forcibly, to the conviction

of those who might perhaps even turn
aside with aversion from the perusal of
any more serious matter, the vanity and
impiety of some men's wishes and prayers,
is the principal object of the present pro
duction ; the first idea of which was sug
gested to me by a purely accidental peru
sal of Mr. Maturin's elegant and powerful
work, entitled “ Melmoth the Wanderer,"
wherein he so admirably depicts the im
measurable value of an immortal soul. Un
like that able author, I have chosen to
rescue my hero from the snare of darkness
which had wellnigh ingulfed him, there
by designing merely to imply the exist
VOL.'1. B ence
. ii PREFACE .
ence of an abundance of clemency in the

Supreme Judge, with respect to the portal
of whose mercy it is written— " Knock,
and it shall be opened ,” and to inculcate
the universal efficacy of a sincere repent
ance.
May this, and the lighter efforts made

to amuse the reader * throughout the
course of the following volumes, prove
equally successful; and serve, while they
entertain, to exemplify the important mo
ral precept, that provided a transgressor's
penitence (however flagrant may have
been his crimes or repulsive his cruelties)
be only undissembled, it can never be too
late.
* Of the incidents here alluded to, by far the greater

portion are remarkable facts, historically recorded : see
:
various works, tours, essays, &c. that have been written

respecting the Monastery of Montserrat.
ABBOT
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT .
CHAPTER I.
wwwwwwwww
The waves were rough, the hour was late ;

But soon across the Tinto borne,
Thrice he blew the signal horn
He blew, and would not wait.
Home by his dangerous path he went,
Leaving, in rich habiliment,
Two strangers at the convent gate.
Spanish Ballad.
In the romantic “ olden time,” when

ehivalry was flourishing at its height, and
ambition to emblazon upon its stately
stem their undaunted zeal or prowess,
prompted that adventurous daring, and
those oftentimes bloody achievements of
its illustrious proselytes, exemplified in
B 2 the
4 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT .
the savage enormities practised by them

during the sanguinary campaigns of many
a cruel and inglorious crusade - when mo
nastic superstition and intolerable bigotry,
aided by the credulity of the surrounding
vassalage, and rendered still more preva
lent by the dread of inquisitorial interfe
rence , were gradually enthralling the
66
cloud -girt minds of men ,” and weaken
ing their intellects in proportion as the de
lusion was repelled with scorn , or suffered
to overpower them, that dreadful delu
sion, whose reign was demonstrated by
the profound respect and universal reve
rence with which the several orders of that
faith, then miscalled Christianity , were
treated — when the golden days of rustic
independence and uncorrupted felicity
were only on the wane (i. e. not yet whol
ly superseded by the ecclesiastical ordi
nances, martial innovations, and volup
tuous extravagances that speedily poi
soned their purity )-at such a critical pe
riod, when the peasant stretched him on
his
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT. 5
his pallet, not to repose, but to waste the

hours of darkness in useless repinings over
the gathering aspect of his servile lot, and
his gradually diminishing privileges ; or
if perchance he slept, to dream of the un
molested recreations of his grandsire's
childhood ( from following whose example
he had long since been prohibited ), and
awake to a period of discord and of bon
dage - a period of wo and turmoil - of
secret apprehension for all, and tribulation
especially for those of his humble state
is fixed the era of the ensuing narrative.
It was an era of torment and of massacre ,
of real fanaticism and hypocrisy. Few
families of distinction, resident in certain
parts of the holy and other lands, were
fortunate enough to escape the endurance
of some heavy calamity, amid those pe
rilous times, inflicted , it is probable, as a
suitable penance for their shameful ac
quiescence in the absurd and barbarous
misconception of a faith whose precepts,
such as are unperverted by over-zealous
в 3 churchmen ,
churchmen , breathe only mildness and

humanity : nor were the inferior orders a
whit less persecuted ; the motto of the
magnanimous ancient, aquila non captat
muscos, not being deemed consistent with
the creed of these infatuated assailants,
who, under the guise of leaders and in
quisitors, made no scruple of depopulating
provinces (some of whose inhabitants, it
must be acknowledged, well merited such
severity, for their hypocritical assumption
of sanctity), in the profane furtherance of
their own pretended holy, but diabolical
purpose.
About this period, and even at a much
later epoch, the tongues of the brother
hood of almost every holy order in exist
ence were remarkably active in propaga
ting various absurd traditions respecting
their monasteries, the miracles performed
by their saints, or the unhallowed myste
ries of their polluted cloisters ; and to a
little better than grotesque fabrication of
the latter kind, we shall have occasion fre
quently
quently to allude during the progress of

the succeeding “ tragycal hystorye.”
The thunder now rolled heavily over
the awful crags and towering precipices of
the romantically situated and renowned
Montserrat, whose every giddy chasm and
pine-clad promontory sullenly reverberated
the discordant sound, adding thereto a
thousand different and gradually deepen
ing echoes, which served still further to
heighten the apprehensions of the listener,,
and aggravate the solemnity of the scene.
On every side the prospect was rugged
and appalling in the extreme; the vivid
lightning, bursting at intervals from the
lowering firmament, flashed hastily across
the uneven path, revealing little to the
startled and disordered eye of the be
nighted pilgrim , save huge dusky masses
of earth or stone, and rendering the awful
aspect of the surrounding atmosphere yet
more terrifically visible. In another mo
ment all was silence and obscurity - anon
fresh sheets of pale electric fire issued from
B 4 the
8 ABBOT OP MONTSERRAT.
the scowling horizon, illumining with a

sickly sort of radiance the affrighted waste,
or gleaming horribly upon the rocky pro
montories, which alone diversified the
dreary and comfortless view ; and now,
perchance, faintly exhibiting a variety of
distant cones, or acclivities of a pyramidal
form , each of which is a separate moun
tain : again the awakened thunder growled
defiance from the gloomy and gathering
cloud which overhung the whole ; and
again was its solemn roar reechoed and
redoubled by the multiplying voices of
many a surrounding solitary dingle. The
rain had not commenced ; but the intense
and still increasing murkiness of the angry
sky, accompanied by a low, fitful breeze,
which swept occasionally over the roman
tic surface of the adjacent country, toge
ther with the signs already mentioned ,
gave unerring presages of an approaching
and violent storm .
Amid this appalling conflict of the ele
ments, in dread of being assailed at every
instant
instant by the accumulated deluge which

seemed ready to descend, was at intervals
observed intrepidly ascending the dark
mountain, a handsome, well -proportioned
youth, indifferently habited in a plain
Spanish garb, supporting on his arm the
form of a fair female, who seemed almost
fainting from excess of terror and fatigue.
They were preceded by a stout muleteer,
who evidently officiated as guide, although
the timidity expressed in his countenance
did not announce him to be aa conductor
likely to impart any considerable degree
of encouragement to the youthful pair
who followed him ; neither did the reluc
tance and irresolution he displayed be
speak him a guide on whom much depen
dence might be placed. His attire con
sisted of a dirty brown habit, made in the
fashion of the country , surmounted by a
red woollen cap, which fell forwards over
the countenance, after the custom of the
poorest natives of Catalonia. To corre
spond with this drooping tiara (the un
B 5 graceful
graceful headdress of the humblest class,

who struggle to obtain a precarious sub
sistence by driving mules over the adja
cent country ), he wore on his legs a
wretched imitation of buskins, formed
with pieces of leather wrapped carelessly
round the feet, and fastened with cords
above the ancles. In this low garb, and
with evident trepidation, he preceded the
two travellers towards the summit of the
mountain , where, built midway up the
steep and dangerous ascent, stood that ve
nerable sanctuary to belated wanderers,
the far-famed monastery of Montserrat";
while often as the muleteer laboured on
wards, in the direction of the sacred edi
fice, his eyes were cast in wild affright
upon the calmer visage of the youth, and
the languid, but equally beautiful features
of the maiden who followed his wary and
irresolute footsteps, as if to gather thence
some portion of that courage by which he
perceived them to be animated.
In addition , moreover, to the group al
ready
ready described, must be mentioned a pale

and shivering female, who apparently act
ed in the capacity of an attendant, and
was, at the present juncture, closely pur
suing the form of her almost sinking mis
tress ; since (whatever might have been
her deficiency in point of courage, or for
titude displayed in the vicissitudes she had
yet to endure) the steady attachment and
unshaken integrity of the faithful Inez de
serve better at the hands of her biographer
than to be overlooked , or even slightly
commended . An unbroken silence had
heretofore reigned over the whole party
for several minutes, which not even an
exclamation of weariness from the affright
ed females was suffered to interrupt or
dissipate: at length the youth , slowly rais
ing his fine dark eyes to the prospect be
fore him , and perceiving that he was yet
unable to penetrate the gloom which en
veloped it, turned them in disappointment
upon his trembling guide, and began to
interrogate him respecting the distance -
B 6 they
they had still to traverse.— “ May our lady

shield us !” exclaimed the young cavalier,
1
in an intrepid although not ungentle tone
-" may our good lady of Montserrat
shield us ! for this is a perilous night.-- Art
thou sure, gentle knave, that thou hast
not wandered from the track ? Methinks
we appear to have journeyed over a space
of many leagues.”
“ The elevation, senor,” returned the
guide, with greater discernment than they
had hitherto given him credit for possess
ing, “ the elevation of the monastery ren
ders the path more toilsome, and length
ens out the distance, as many a weary
pilgrim who has bathed its pebbles with
his bleeding feet can testify. We have
not yet reached the crucifix of skulls, nor
the eminence from whence it can be dis
eerned ; but feel you not, as you trail your
steps over this fearful mound, the sward
sink under you ? beneath us is the grave
of the suicide; and yonder is the bloody
pool, created by Heaven's own agency,
upon
upon the spot where once a holy abbot,

yielded his innocent breath beneath the
furious daggers of leagued ruffians.”.
A flash of lightning at that moment
chanced to illumine the surrounding ob
jects, and the speaker shuddered visibly,
as his eye glanced over a small pond of
liquid, which the transitory glare of the
sulphureous element distinctly revealed to
be of the colour of blood ! The mind of
the stranger was far too noble to be even
for an instant affected by superstitious
fears; but the females, who also witnessed
the appalling spectacle, now evidently par
took of their conductor's consternation .
After an involuntary pause of silent
horror and amazement; during which they
continued to ascend the precipice, which
soon became so steep, as to seem almost
inaccessible, the youthful interrogator,
whom we shall call Fernandez, and to
whom the incredible relation which per
tained to the unsolid earth and bloody
mantled pool seemed a narrative by no
means
3 means unfamiliar, resumed, with an aspect

66
of mingled doubt and curiosity— “ Dost
thou not fear ,” said he, lowering his voice
as he proceeded , “ to speak thus aloud of
the bold plunderer whom thou wottest of,
and his adventurous horde, within the
very precincts of their uncontrolled au
thority ? what shall absolve theema poor
3
wretched peasant - or how wilt thou avert
his fatal animosity, shouldst thou have
been overheard by even the meanest emis
sary of the mighty Roldan, who butchered
the father of the church in his resentment,
and against whom the wrath of Heaven
seems kindled but in vain ? Beside, to
augment the marvel, I know there are
not wanting many who ascribe to this fe
rocious bandit even preternatural means
of effecting his designs, and discovering
his enemies.”
“ Senor,” responded the guide, now
crossing himself devoutly , " you have spo
ken aright. Well knows fierce Roldan
what none dare seek to know beside. It
becomes
becomes not me to speak - I meddle not

with matters that concern our holy reli
gion ; but good father Geronimo Sain
and save us, Blessed Virgin !” he conti
nued, as the lightning flashed in his alarm
ed visage— " he, senor - he could tell it
all.”9
" And who is father Geronimo ?” de
manded Fernandez, carelessly .
It appeared by the reply, which how
ever was scarcely intelligible, owing to the
apparent reluctance of the speaker to in
'terfere with what he termed spiritual af
fairs, that father Geronimo was a subor
dinate member of the adjacent monastery ,
whose office in particular was to attend to
the reception of strangers, regulate their
apartments, and provide for their enter
tainment; and as the hospitality of the
institution was justly renowned all over
the vicinity, whence numerous parties of
mendicants and others were accustomed
to visit the edifice, this situation was no
sinecure. The inferiority of his station
among
among the monks, and the correspondent

humility of their guide's condition in so
ciety , had brought them acquainted ; and
to this worthy confidant, it was plain , father
Geronimo had whispered his conjectures
of a spiritual compact having been entered
into by the leader of aa bloody and coura
geous band of outlaws, which infested the
neighbouring mountain.
Such was the garbled communication
of the guide, intermingled occasionally
with many a significant repetition of the
words “ yellow horde," and "yellow de
mon,” rendered sufficiently conspicuous
by the tone of horror and dread in which
they were uttered. Of this savage ban
ditti, and its enterprising chief, it will be
hereafter needful to say much ; but the
period of their interference with the theme
of our narrative is not yet come; suffice
it, therefore, at present to observe, respect
ing the terrible Roldan and his atrocious
confederates, that they comprised a formi
dable force, inhabiting the loftiest acces
sible
sible pinnacle of the neighbouring sum

mit, whence issuing their commands with
unparalleled audacity, they kept the sur
rounding peasantry in awe, and not un
frequently, it is said, compelled even the
monks themselves to pay them tribute ;
threatening, if they refused, to demolish
their sanctuary, by hurling from their ele
vated abode, which overhung the convent,
huge fragments of rock , that were kept
piled together for that purpose. On these
occasions, moreover, it is averred, the pu-.
sillanimous brotherhood were in the habit
of passively restoring unanimity, by grant
ing their desires, even at the expence of
impoverishing their order.
Having thus far premised, we must now
return to the terrified muleteer, who trem
bled palpably as he approached their fast
ness, and heartily wished himself in his
own solitary cabin , near the environs of
Barcelona, on the seashore, where his
coarse pallet, over which skipped innu
merable kinds of vermin , invited him to
slumber ;
slumber ; while the monotonous murmur
of the waves soothed and lengthened his
repose.
From a confused reverie of this unplea
sing kind, he was presently awakened by
a sudden start, and exclamation of terror,
from the females of the party, whose coral
lips the imposing aspect and influence of
the scene had hitherto closed in silence.
He raised his eyes, and beheld at a short
distance before them, now glittering be
neąth a succession of bright flashes, which
seemed appropriately to illuminate its
hollow eyeless sockets; the crucifix of
skulls , which he knew to be erected over
the site of the monastery. This strange
and truly appalling sight, revealed at such
an instant amid the dismal raging of the
tempest, their conductor now discovered
had filled the fair Isabel, and her timid
attendant Inez, with apprehension and
dismay ; immediately, therefore, he pro
ceeded
* A cross of this kind actually exists at Montserrat,

erected on a projecting and frightful eminence.
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT . 19
ceeded to 'allay their fears, by assuring

them that they had now reached their
destination, and that his own terrors for
their safety had entirely subsided ; adding,
that the cross before them had been raised
by the brotherhood, for the double pur
pose of hallowing the consecrated spot,
and at the same time reminding irreli
gious beholders of their kindred with the
dust.
This well -timed explanation somewhat
reassured the trembling Isabel, who now
récollected having formerly heard of the
circumstance ; and failed not also to arouse
Fernandez, who after calming the emo
tion of his agitated companion, and gently
reprobating that of her attendant, had
suffered himself unwittingly to sink into
a contemplation of the singular although
reverential object which had arrested their
attention. He found, on gazing around
.
the level plain which now gradually open

ed upon his wondering sight, that their
reluctant guide, whose apprehensions in
deed
20 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT.
deed seemed somewhat abated , had spo

ken the truth, and that they had now in
view the end of their journey ; for as the
ruddy lightning burst forth again with
increased brilliancy, he could plainly dis
tinguish the sable walls of the convent
peeping above the few small intervening
crags, or promontories, they had yet to
scramble over, which he perceived to his
gratification were wholly insignificant,
when compared with those they had al
ready surmounted. And now, as he
turned his visage upwards, in thank
fulness to that divine Protector, who,
more essentially than the half -clad beg
gar who conducted them, had contri
buted to their safe and speedy arrival,
he felt upon his features the early drops
of an approaching shower ; which circum
stance tended still further to heighten his
satisfaction at having gained the hospi
table entrance, ere the storm had poured
its fury on the unsheltered heads of his
companions.
They
They now , amid tremendous sheets of

vivid lightning, and furious peals of long
continued thunder, arrived at the monas
tic edifice, which was a large square build
ing, walled round on every side, and over
hung by many gigantic precipices, on one
of which was affixed the emblem of divi
nity and death already mentioned. An
other, which peered far above the pre
ceding, and whose lofty brow seemed
lost in the shadowy thunder-cloud which
enveloped it, was known to be the haunt
of the banditti, whom many attempts had
been made by the surrounding grandees,
but in vain , to annihilate, or dislodge
from their secure abiding -place. On each
side of the gigantic portal stood a pair of
somewhat dilapidated but colossal statues,
before one of which the guide now pro
strated himself, with real humility and
unaffected gratitude ; while Fernandez,
secure of a kind reception from the hos
pitable fraternity, having given the accus
tomed signal, endeavoured to animate the
declining
declining spirits of his almost fainting

charge.
In aa few moments they observed lights
flitting past the painted casements of the
venerable structure, and distinguished a
confused noise within , as of approaching
footsteps, which sound was presently aug
mented by the murmur of several voices,
to the great joy of Fernandez, who (chiefly
on account of his drooping fellow -travel
lers) waited for admittance with impati
ence and anxiety.
CHAP
CHAPTER II.
WWW
“ Not here unwelcome, though unknown

Enter and rest,” the friar said .
The moon that through the portal shone,
Shone on his reverend head . Spanish Ballud .
AFTER a brief interval, the door was

opened by a meagre-looking personage, in
a monk's habit, who presently ushered
them , with a low reverence , into the outer
hall of the convent ; and here, after wel
coming them in a whining tone, was pro
ceeding to congratulate them upon having
escaped the storm, when he was interrupt
ed by the guide, who having by this time
muttered his thanks for the protection al
ready experienced, and recommended him .
self, on his return , to the especial care of
the saint, came running, in order to re
ceive his recompence. Perceiving, how
ever ,
ever, on his entrance, the holy man , with

whom they appeared engaged , he forbore
to press his claim on their liberality, until
he had prostrated himself a second time
before the friar, and in due form received
his blessing ; for so superstitious are the
lower orders of Catalonia - among which
priest-ridden, but not otherwise ignorant,
community, might truly be reckoned our
worthy muleteer—that they regard even
the hem of a monk's garment, or any
other relic of his sacred attire, as worthy
of being idolized and worshipped in their
unenlightened enthusiasm. This duty
therefore being first accomplished , which
the reverend father very willingly per
formed, guessing most probably, as he
spoke the benediction , at the amount of
the largess which must follow , the newly
sanctified guide arose with renovated ala
crity, and doffing his cap, extended it to-.
wards Fernandez , with a supplicatory ex
pression of countenance which it was im
possible to mistake. The grateful youth,
with
with a significant smile, drew forth his

purse , which the monk contented himself
with surveying askance, over the shoulder
of the sinking Isabel, who was reclining
in the arms of her attendant, but at sight
of which the eyes of the needy, starved
muleteer glistened in an unwonted man
ner with joy and expectation.
While this was passing, unobserved by
Fernandez, the latter spoke with delibe
ration and dignity.- " Thou hast indeed,
honest fellow ," said he, addressing the
overjoyed muleteer, “ well merited thy
recompence, which has been right valiant
ly earned, considering thou art neither sol
dier nor exorcist, and which shall now be
doubled, in token of my gratitude for thy
services and fidelity ; for much as I have
heard of these renowned walls, I knew
not the road hither ; and but for thy hu
mane assistance - I speak it to thy praise,
in presence of this holy father here — we
might have perished on the outside of
yonder miserable posada, whose inhos
VOL. I. с
pitable
pitable owner refused not only to relieve
our hunger, but even to admit us within
his walls. ”
The latter portion of this speech failed
not to attract the attention , and raise the
violent indignation, of the monk, who
chanced to overhear it ( for by such pious
frauds do these accomplished hypocrites
retain their ascendancy over vulgar and
credulous minds), and whose uplifted eyes
and hands spoke to the uninitiated be
holder his horror and aversion of such in
human conduct. Meanwhile Fernandez
flung into the cap of his overjoyed con
ductor some small Spanish coins, which,
as the muleteer eagerly counted and ad
mired, the monk viewed with an evident
mixture of astonishment and envy.
Fernandez remarked it not, but coolly
replaced his purse, and then resumed
“ So highly do I approve,” he continued,
“ of the huinane motives which I am will.
ing to believe induced thee, in spite of
peril, to become our guide, that I would
fain
som fain know where thou dwellest, youth ;

US to the end, peradventure, that I may here
se
after render thee some benefit more ade
-chfi quate to the kindness which, aided by the
aise Omnipotent Preserver, thou hast this
ky i night rendered me. ”
chpi “ Blessed be our holy lady !” exclaim
pora
poc ed the transported muleteer, capering
qari wildly as he spoke- " blessed be our holy
edo lady of Montserrat'; this was the very
ted substance of the prayer I breathed to her
much but yesterday ! I dwell near Barcelona,
pane senor ; my name is Carlossa, and my ho
9
da vel is on the farm of_ "
whi “ Alfieri de Gracy !” interrupted his in
adi terrogator, Fernandez, placing his hand
-ide upon his altered brow , now suddenly
clouded and embarrassed— “ I thought so.
odidi Enough is said : but surely, Carlossa, you
rede cannot intend to return thither to-night?”
706 Carlossa hère protested, with many sig..
wi nificant looks and gestures, the true mean
cel ing of which, notwithstanding, was wholly
20 lost upon our travellers, his fixed deter
fai C 2 mination
mination to return immediately, at least

as far as the village of Montrosol, situated
at the foot of the mountain .
Fernandez tried some powerful argu
ments to dissuade him from putting this
design into execution , and strove to in
duce him to rest there for the night, but
all to no purpose. At length the monk,
who foresaw little prospect of gain from
his remaining there in security, and much
from his departure through danger and
tempest, interposed his authority, and
speedily settled the contest, by commend
ing the poor guide's resolution .— “ Sir ca
valier ,” said he, advancing towards Fer
nandez, “ dissuade him not ; since it may
be Heaven hath some high design (and he
unwittingly uttered the truth) in this
man's stubbornness. Go forth, my son
go forth , and fearlessly ; you are under
the guidance of Divine Providence, whose
instrument you have this night been , and
harm will not befall you.”
The portal was already opened wide
a flash
a flash of lightning rendered visible for a

moment the beaten track which led to the
steep descent; Carlossa was already on the
threshold, when that event took place
which the artful priest had foreseen would
be the consequence of his decision . Fer
nandez saw with regret, which masked it
self however beneath an approving smile,
the credulous muleteer part with the great
er portion of his newly -acquired treasure
(reserving to himself only a few of the
least valuable pieces), as an offering to the
patron saint of the monastery, and for
prayers that he might be enabled , through
her puissant interference, to descend the
mountain in safety. The friar promised
him everything, and encouraged him
with the assurance of fervent supplications
being made in his behalf; which kind of
intercession, even had such been intended,
himself knew by long experience would
.- be wholly ineffectual in shielding himfrom
the depredations nightly committed by
resolute marauders on the sides of the
c 3 mountain .
mountain. The thunder howled dread

fully as the deluded guide crossed the
threshold, to regain his humble home;
he paused for an instant, as his eye en
countered the gloom it strove vainly to
penetrate another flash of lightning
CO
streamed across the yet-extended portal,

and Carlossa had departed.
The monk gazed for an instant after
him, and with a grin of self-approval upon
his withered countenance, deposited the
pieces in a coarse scrip attached to his
habit, and closed the door ; then motion
ing for Fenandez to follow him, he led
the way through a gloomy cloister, illu
mined only by a single lamp, to a smaller
but more comfortable apartment, where,
departing in silence, he left them for a short
time to their meditations.
The chamber into which they had been
thus ceremoniously ushered , was entirely
unadorned by the aid of art, circumscribed
in its extent, and extremely simple in its
furniture ; yet over the whole there was
an
an air of neatness and monastic regularity

that awakened an involuntary awe in the
mind of the beholder. On the table stood
an hourglass, the sand of which seemed
almost exhausted ; and above the hearth ,
where blazed a cheerful fire, for the sole
benefit, as they conjectured , of travellers
who might chance to arrive during the
tempest, was placed a marble image of the
Virgin, before which were suspended a
couple of small brazen lamps. While yet
they gazed on these plain symbols of de
votion , which their wily conductor allow
ed them sufficient time to admire, the
mingled rain and hail began to clatter vio
lently against the lofty casement, and they
distinctly heard the deep bell of the mo
nastery announce the eleventh hour of the
night.
But it now becomes necessary to digress
for a short period, in order to render some
more particular account of the characters
newly arrived at the convent, as well as
the origin and object of their hasty and
C4 unseason
unseasonable journey, which, with the

reader's permission, we shall here narrate
as summarily as possible, leaving the gay
Fernandez , during the interval, to sooth
and congratulate his interesting and beau
tiful companions, as they listened to the
solemn pauses of the tempest, while await
ing the slow process of conventual hospi
tality.
11
CHAP
33
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT.
CHAPTER III.
My only love sprung from my only hate !

Too early seen , unknown, yet known too late ;
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.
SHAKESPEARE,
ALFIERI de Gracy was an opulent farmer

residing in the neighbourhood of Barcelo
na, around which famous city his domains
extended to a considerable distance. He
had an only daughter, of whose innocent
endearments and enlivening society he was
so excessively fond, as seldom to suffer her,
for any lengthened period, from his sight,
Her mother had died of the plague a few
years antecedent to the commencement of
our narrative, which had cruelly ravaged
Spain and the adjacent territories, some
times sweeping off whole families in its
C 5 destructive
destructive course ; and most of the rela

tives of Alfieri de Gracy having expired
of the same disorder, it is not to be mar
velled at if he felt himself, when deprived
of the society of his lovely and accom
plished daughter, most miserably desolate
and alone. As might have been expected
under such circumstances, he spared no
expence to educate her in a style becoming
the offspring of a wealthy grandee, rather
than the child of a humble agriculturist ;
and Isabel - his adored, his worshipped
Isabel - grew every hour more fascinating.
Her chief occupation was to sing to him
daily beneath the alcove of jessamine, or
ramble with him around the delightful
precincts of their extensive garden, on the
coast of the Mediterranean , at eve, where
often ,
Shedding sweet tears, to see the great sun pass
Away, like a dream of boyhood,"
would Isabel and her father wander, and

converse of departed friends, and scenes of
happiness
happiness to be enjoyed no more. But

this state of tranquillity, at least, and
therefore of comparative felicity , was not
long to endure ; the time approached when
Isabel would seek some other, and in the
eyes of a Spanish virgin possessed of beauty
and accomplishments) far tenderer ties
than those of paternal affection, however
ardent and gratifying such might be; and
this was the period fixed upon by fortuné
for the temporary subversion of their hap
piness.
Velasquez de Leon was another weal
thy husbandman , whose lands were scarce
ly inferior to the spacious possessions of
Alfieri in extent, and whose residence was
in the immediate vicinity of that person's,
each being situated at the respective boun
daries of their separate demesnes, which
were divided only by the beaten road that
conducted from Barcelona to the monas
tery. Now it chanced that Velasquez and
Alfieri had a quarrel about a small portion
of barren ground, of little service to either,
c 6 but
but to which each of the agriculturists

advanced a claim , and the dispute was
speedily contested at law : the decision of
the judges proved to be in favour of Al
fieri, which disappointment so enraged
the other, that he resolved to abandon
agriculture altogether; and bestowing the
whole of his effects upon his favourite and
only son, Velasquez de Leon, quitted
Barcelona in the night;, and desiring that
he might hereafter only be regarded as
one deceased or forgotten , had never since
been heard of. In vain had his afflicted
successor, the youthful Fernandez, insti
tuted the strictest search that was prac
ticable, especially amongst the convents,
whither he was suspected to have retired
no tidings of the heart -stricken fugitive
could be obtained, and he was obliged to
abandon his efforts in despair ; the pre
vailing opinion being now , that Velasquez,
in aa fit of desperation, had destroyed him
self.
Fernandez de Leon, who was a bold and
fearless
7
fearless youth, but kind -hearted and affec
tionate notwithstanding, mourned long and
deeply in seclusion for the loss of his only
remaining parent, his mother having been
forcibly carried off some years before, in a
predatory excursion of the banditti, by
their ferocious leader, and her fate enve
loped in mystery. Accordingly, in those
days of unavailing sorrow and lamentation
he was wont to ramble disconsolately over
the adjacent wilds and forests, wrapped in
melancholy rumination, or engaged in the
formation of many a painful surmise : of
ten, during these solitary excursions, had
he narrowly escaped becoming the prey of
some ferocious beast, whom hunger and
pursuit had rendered doubly furious and
terrible
“ Oft had the wild heath been his bed,

On some lone hill or craggy steep ;
While lightnings flash'd around bis head,
And eagles scream'd his woes asleep ;"
and as often had he triumphed over every

kind
kind of peril, and returned unharmed

to his uncomfortable residence. Thus did
the stripling Fernandez pass several te
dious and unprofitable moons in continued
lamentation and suspense ; a thousand
times did he curse and deprecate the ob
stinate malice of Alfieri de Gracy, whose
success, he doubted not, had driven his
father to such a singular mode of avoiding
all remembrance of their intimacy , or per
haps to self -destruction : but the passion
of grief was soon to be supplanted in his
bosom , by a softer, it is true, but no less
uncontrollable inhabitantthat of love.
It was while engaged in the pursuance
of his accustomed melancholy amusements
(his rustic occupations having been wholly
neglected by him since the strange disap
pearance of his only surviving relative ), that
Fernandez de Leon obtained an acciden
tal glimpse of the divine Isabel, the very
first sight of whose unrivalled perfections,
notwithstanding he knew her to be the
cherished daughter of his father's invete
rate
rate enemy, failed not to illumine a flame

in his heart. In аa short time he found
means to render the attachment mutual ;
but despairing altogether of being able to
obtain the consent of Alfieri de Gracy to
their union, and dreading every hour an
interruption to their intercourse, owing
to his almost unremitting vigilance, he
unhesitatingly proposed an elopement; to
which, after listening to much persuasion ,
as is usual in such cases when the mind of
the fair dame is predisposed to acquiesce,
the enamoured Isabel consented ; in reali.
ty , little doubting that Alfieri,when fully
assured of the step they had taken, would
repent of his malevolence , already carried
too far, pardon the precipitance of his
son - in -law , and add his benediction , to
complete their felicity . Accordingly, on
the concerted evening, Alfieri de Gracy
being absent from his home, a circum
stance which very rarely happened, had
intrusted the charge of his domestic af
fairs for aa few hours to his daughter, and
a principal
a principal servant of his establishment,

on whom he thought he could depend for
fidelity and watchfulness ; the latter slept
upon his post, and the former (though
not without the full compliment of du
teous bewailings and insincere reluctance)
having appointed to meet Fernandez at
the approach of night-fall, seized the op
portunity to abandon parental shackles,
caprices, and protection , for ever .
The youthful pair now proceeded with
all possible speed to Montrosol, having
first procured an awkward kind of con
veyance, drawn by mules, the drivers of
which used no reins, but urged the ani
mals onward by means of incessant shouts
and cries, one constantly running before
them and hallooing, while the other lash
ed them furiously with a long whip, to
induce them to quicken their pace. In
this manner they reached at last the vil
lage of Montrosol, their design being to
put up at the wretched posada built for
the accommodation of travellers at the
foot
foot of the mountain , and by sending for

one of the holy fathers of the monastery,
to have the bands knit speedily, which
not even the wrath of Alfieri de Gracy
could unloose. They were however dis
appointed in this scheme; for the inn
keeper of Montrosol happening unfortu
nately to be in a surly humour, (and who
so morose occasionally as a Spanish inn
keeper ?) refused to admit them into his
scurvy habitation, a far from uncommon
occurrence in the country where they
were travelling Thus situated, their
only alternative to battering his old mis
shapen hovel about his ears, was to pro
ceed on foot to the monastery, to which
they knew not the road, and in defiance
of the threatened storm which afterwards
overtook them : and in this dilemma it
was that Carlossa, one of the drivers of a
posse of mules that chanced to be passing
in their way to Barcelona, offered his
services to conduct them thither, in spite
of the darkness, and many other equally
discouraging
discouraging circumstances - an offer that

was gratefully accepted. Hence partially
aróse, as may probably have been conjec
tured, the unwillingness of Fernandez to
permit the departure of his timorous guide,
who, notwithstanding his blind credulity
and superstitious ignorance, appeared at
least to possess a perfect knowledge of the
place, and to know more secrets pertain
ing to that. venerable pile than he chose
to acknowledge himself acquainted with,
some of which might have been highly
>
serviceable to the travellers in their pre

sent situation. He heard, moreover, from
his own lips, that he dwelt upon the ter
ritory of Alfieri de Gracy, who would ,
no doubt, set forth immediately in quest
of his daughter; and he feared the simple
1
muleteer might betray the course they
had taken , and the sanctuary which had
received them.
Having thus far trespassed on the pa
tience of the reader, it is time to continue
our relation of what happened at the mo
nastery
nastery on that eventful night, by no

means the least important or terrific of
those whose dark transactions will be fully
recorded in our narrative.
CHAP
CHAPTER IV.
Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.

Pope .
A SOMEWHAT lengthened interval had

elapsed before the meagre monk who es
corted the weary couple to their present
apartment (accompanied as aforesaid by
their attendant Inez, who had chosen to
elope with her young mistress) again made
his appearance ; at length he returned
with one who, by his garb, was a holy
brother of their order, but whose station
was evidently much inferior to his own.
To him he briefly committed the care of
the guests, and desired that he would look
to their instant accommodation in every
respect, adding, that himself would be re
sponsible for the strangers' liberal conduct
and
and devotion to their saint; this said, he

slowly, and with aa low reverence, retired .
Fernandez failed not to remark the sig.
nificant termination of this speech , and his
disgust was excited accordingly against
the hypocritical speaker : he looked on it
as an appeal to his generosity, where none
such ought to have been made ; for was
he not entitled to the three days' largess,
in common with the poorest pilgrim who
sought admittance to their shrine * ? These
thoughts, concurring with his recollection
of the muleteer's inhospitable treatment,
determined Fernandez to despise at least
one member of the holy sanctuary in which
he found himself for the present immured .
These and similar reflections he could
hardly conceal from the penetration and
sagacity of the monk now left behind,
who, to do him justice, appeared a per
sonage from whom a very different sort of
conduct
* The monks of Montserrat were accustomed to enter

tain all comers for three days gratis, whom curiosity or de
votion might induce to visit their monastery .
conduct might be expected. He was

much inclined to corpulence, which gave
him, habited as he was, the aspect of
clumsiness; but his countenance was good
natured, and his manners in reality re
markably easy : his corpulence, moreover ,
proceeded evidently not so much from an
excessive indulgence in the delights of
good eating, as from the want of health
ful exercise, and the unvaried inactivity
of an indolent and monotonous life. No
sooner was he left alone with his guests,
than he began to inquire into their im
mediate necessities ; and finding that they
had not tasted refreshment for many
hours, owing to the inhospitality of the
landlord at Montrosol, he cheerfully led
the way to the refectory of the convent,
desiring them to follow ; and producing
the remains of a plain repast, composed
chiefly of dried fish and garlick, to which
was added a small kid pasty, by way of
dessert, entreated them to regale them
selves. This request they speedily com
plied
plied with ; the monk at the same time

producing, to satisfy the cravings of his
own stomach , some “ bread of the coarsest
sort, with meagre wine,” which solely
comprised his temperate fare, and partak
ing thereof in a familiar manner, which
Fernandez observing, pressed him to share
with them the small kid pasty, alleging,
in excuse , that at his reverend host's ad
vanced period of life, such nourishment
was absolutely necessary to support exist
erice. At first he refused , but presently
east à longing eye ,upon the proffered
dainty ; and on the solicitation of Fernan
dez being repeated, muttered a short
speech in praise of abstinence, and acqui
esced with seeming reluctance.
From this outward humility Fernan
dez presently perceived, that although a
sworn monk of the order, he was only a
brother of the meanest class; and he could
not help contrasting his demeanour with
the haughty superiority of the withered
monk who admitted him, and whose ava
ricious
ricious conduct had already created in his

bosom aa dislike for the fraternity. Their
mutual forbearance, however, from all in
quiry into the cause of his being so late a
traveller, pleased and suited him extreme
ly, as neither of these were men with
whom he chose to intrust his secret.
As soon as they had finished their re
past, the monk conducted them again to
their former apartment, for to think of
rest, amid such an elementary confusion,
would have been, in the opinion of the
holy father, both impious and impossible.
In their passage, however, through the
adjacent cloister, they perceived the aged
porter fast asleep in his chair, whom even
the loud knocking of Fernandez, it ap
peared, had failed to awaken from his
lethargy. This circumstance again did
not escape unnoticed by the observant
youth, who could not avoid thinking that
a strange degree of irregularity (attribu
table perhaps to the partial thraldom in
which the holy brotherhood were held by
the
the banditti) seemed to pervade even this

renowned establishment. And now, as
they entered the aforesaid chamber, which
appeared set apart for the convenience of
travellers, their hooded conductor, again
rightly surmising the cogitations of his
guest, shook his head mildly, and closing
the door with caution , exclaimed in a low
tone, expressive of severe disappointment
and contritition— " Ah, son, son, all is
not as it should be, even in the convent
of Montserrat. The blessed sanctuary of
our lady has been polluted with discord,
and disgraced by butchery . Oh, woful
was the day and sad the hour when Ge
ronimo entered this abode of sanctity,
where - alas! that I should live to tell it
- the malevolent have triumphed, and
the righteous have been laid low !"
Fernandez now perceived that the de
sponding monk before him was the iden
tical Geronimo, of whom their guide had
spoken as one perfectly acquainted with
all the mysteries pertaining to the monas
VOL . I. D tery ;
50 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT ,
tery ; not excepting the secret practices of

the notorious Roldan, alluding to the al
leged means whereby he effected his
diabolical purposes. This was a glorious
opportunity for Fernandez to initiate him
self in the miracles pealed into every ga
ping ear by monastic ingenuity ; but hav
ing neither seen nor heard any thing in
the convent, or its inmates, which had
hitherto effectually aroused his attention,
awakened his curiosity, he forbore to
press the subject, asking, in lieu thereof
I
(doubtless much to the disappointment of
the droning narrator), some merely trivial
questions, pertaining chiefly to the regu
lations of the brotherhood , their austerities,
and their recreations. He learned, in re
ply, that the monk's name who admitted
them was father Jacopo, much reñowned
for the performance of heavy penances,
but hated for his perpetual vigilance ; that
the porter was addicted to bodily indul.
gence, exemplified in his often takingnaps
of an unusual length : in short, that him ,
self
!
ing self (a sort of sacristan) was the only per

thi sonage belonging to the convent whose
el conduct was unexceptionable. Fernandez
ini yet had seen but three of its religious in
e habitants, and was also obliged inwardly
to confess that the loquacious, but kind
th hearted Geronimo, afforded the most fa
ng vourable sample of monkhood he had hi
1 therto met within its walls.
ni In this manner they were engaged, the
ore females scarcely uttering a syllable, through
he fatigue and apprehension , when the loud
ent tolling of the convent bell, which struck
cm the hour of twelve, announced the ap

me proach of midnight vespers. Geronimo
started hastily from his seat, and prepared
in to depart, when Fernandez requested per
ilt mission for himself and his fair friends to
hear and witness their celebration : to this
nct the monk, with his accustomed mildness
of manner, replied by informing him that
zdis
e the attendance of strangers was unusual,
especially as there was a sick monk, who
hit had been long declining, and who was
D 2 that
that night to receive the final sacrament :

the awful and imposing ceremony , be
said , was generally performed in presence
only of the assembled brotherhood ; but
added, that on the present occasion , it
might surely be presumed the awe-in
spiring conflict of nature would palliate
their intrusion on the solemn and affecting
scene .
The concluding remark determined the

youth and his trembling companions to
attend and witness the appalling prepara
tions for eternity. Fernandez inquired
the sick monk's name ; it was father Au
gustine, was the answer ; and they instant
ly arose to accompany the good -humoured
Geronimo to the chapel of the monastery.
The solemn pealings of the majestic
organ reverberated along the torch -illumi.
ned aisles, as they proceeded, and con
tended with the hoarsely -echoing thunder
for predominance. One minute the faint
sound of a distant choir informed them
the chanting had already commenced
another
another minute succeeded, and all was un

interrupted silence ; the next aa dismal and
discordant sound, which much resembled
.
the roaring of baited bulls *, reminded

them again of the storm which beat with
out, and filled their wondering bosoms
with mingled emotions of gratitude, devo
tion, and dismay. Fernandez and Isabel
looked anxiously at each other, without
uttering a syllable ; Geronimo, as he pro
ceeded onwards, numbered his beads in
apparent consternation ; and Inez, not
having a rosary , counted her fingers.
As they drew nearer to the illuminated
chapel, the lengthened train of monks
the glare of innumerable lamps and tapers
—the rising chorus borne by a hundred
voices — the full swell of the harmony, and >
the fragrance of the waving censers, all

powerfully combined to wrap the soul in
delicious ecstacies, and render the mind
D 3 insensible
* There is now a hermitage at Montserrat, where, on

a stórmy night, the howling of the wind is said exactly to
counterfeit the bellowing of baited bulls.
1
insensible to every earthly consideration.
Lost in astonishment, they entered the
spacious sanctuary , amid the united
chanting of the brotherhood, the burst
ing of the thunder, and the solemn tones
of the lofty-sounding organ , which pealed
the slow notes of a funereal anthem around
the arched roof of the chapel; and echoed,
in conjunction with the boisterous ele
ments, sweetly, and yet mournfully , a
mong the adjacent cloisters; bere Gero
nimo left them to join the brotherhood ,
who now appeared ranged in sable rows
on each side of the chapel, with the abbot
at their head. This was formerly a monk
named Ambrose, who had been but lately
( subsequent to the death, by violence, of
his predecessor) elected their superior ;
but who bore his elevation with a grace
that well befitted the dignity of the of
fice.
Fernandez, finding that Geronimo had
joined the monks, conducted Isabel, with
slow and faltering steps, to a remote and
hidden
hidden corner of the sanctuary , from which

however they could observe the ceremony ;
and sinking silently upon their knees,
with faces turned towards the illuminated
shrine, in which example they were fol
lowed by Inez, each awaited the result
with an air of devotion and reverence.
Before the splendid altar of our lady,
stretched on what appeared a kind of sable
litter, or rather bier, around which glit
tered innumerable lights, and several
smoking censers, lay the monk, who was
now writhing in his expiring agonies. His
hands and feet were bare, and distinctly
visible to Fernandez from the situation he
had chosen ; but his form was enveloped
in tbe sable garb he had vowed at that
very altar never to cast aside; and his fea
tures were buried beneath the dusky cowl,
as if he shrunk from the unwonted glare
which surrounded him. During the aw
ful pause that succeeded, the monks ad
vanced, and implored, with at least the
semblance of fervency, the intercession of
D 4 their
their saint in behalf of the dying man ;

after which they retired in groups to their
respective stations, or separately betook
themselves to devotion in different parts
of the chapel ; such as were most attached
to their departing fellow - victim , remained
still prostrate before the shining image,
while the abbot paraded in front of the
chancel, and father Geronimo glided again
unperceived towards Fernandez.
But here the attention of our wondering
travellers was diverted by the haggard as
pect and terrific appearance of a monk ,
whose proximity to their kneeling place
had hitherto escaped their observation , but
who, on retiring from the holy chancel,
had retreated behind the lofty colonnade
of an adjacent aisle, where he now stood
sternly and deliberately regarding them.
CHAP
CHAPTER V.
See, by the half -illumined wall,

His hood Ay back ---his dark hair fall
Lo ! mark yemas the harmony

Peals louder praises to the sky,
That livid cheek, that stony air,
Of mix'd defiance and despair !
Saint Francis ! keep him from the shrine !
BYRON .
This singular-looking personage, whose

remarkable figure, once beheld, was not
easily to be forgotten, seemed pale in his
complexion, even to sickliness, but gigantic
in his stature, and in his deportment haugh
ty and unbending ; at least the attitude in
which he first caught their vision, one of
fiery impatience and fiercely conflicting
passions, might well have bespoke a
mind of such description ; but when they
D 5 saw
59 ÁBBOT OF MONTSERRAT .
saw him turn his languid visage towards

the shrine he had just quitted, and marked
his restless eye pause for a solitary instant
upon the bier before it, with an expres
sion of inward melancholy , which seemed
to say— “ I would it were mine own !”
they were fain to abandon their suddenly
conceived aversion , and pity him for the
misfortunes he seemed to have endured .
Again, however , his slow wandering
glance would fix itself wildly upon the
kneeling pair, and his looks again would
gather a degree of sternness , almost a
mounting to ferocity , until they a second
time dreaded one whom it seemed impos
sible to compassionate, and shrunk with
new and terrible aversion from his scru
tiny. They would have found it, perhaps,
extremely difficult to have analyzed the
true nature or origin of the shuddering
sensations they experienced, while gazing
upon his now livid countenance and mo
tionless figure, for his form , though tall,
was exceedingly well proportioned ; and his
features
features (when divested of the moroseness

and despondency which occasionally over
shadowed them) were more than com
monly handsome. He appeared about the
age of thirty -five - it might be rather
more ; but aa life of the strictest discipline
and abstinence, added to an almost inces
sant state of mental inquietude, had done
that for him which his years could not pos
sibly have accomplished - stamped his
cheek with furrows, and his brow with
gloom .
It has been said already, that hitherto
Fernandez had encountered nothing in
the monasteryT, .since his arrival, of suffi
cient interest to excite his curiosity but
the case was now widely different; affect
ed in a peculiar manner by the unpre
possessing appearance of the monk before
him , he panted for an opportunity of eli
citing from the communicative Geronimo,
who he rightly guessed was acquainted
with every circumstance, the cause of his
D6 extremely
60 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT ,
extremely haggard looks and disconsolate

demeanour.
The good old monk, who was already
at his elbow , failed not to remark the at
tention bestowed by Fernandez upon the
melancholy object who had chanced to at
tract his gaze, and crossing himself signi
ficantly, intimated thereby to the youth,
on whom this expressive gesture was not
lost, that he was no stranger to his cogi
tations, nor lacked the power to gratify
his curiosity .
Fernandez perceiving this to be the
case , and that Geronimo was able to af
ford him some information , could not re
frain (acting under the impulse of the mo
ment) from turning rather suddenly to
wards him , on which the loquacious fa
ther, eager to snatch at any opportunity
of exercising his peculiar talent, softly ad
dressed him-- " It is the malecontent ! "
66
said he, in a low but significant whisper,

again making the sign of the cross ex
pressively as he concluded.
Fernandez
Fernandez finding himself very little

disposed to rest content with this ambi
guous piece of intelligence, which rather
served to heighten than abate his curiosity,
still looked inquiringly towards the speak
er, which the latter observing, and with
his usual acuteness in such matters at once
anticipating his question, deliberately re
sumed, occasionally casting a somewhat
timid glance as he proceeded towards the
pallid monk who was the subject of their
66
conversation.- " It is brother Obando," he
now whispered, applying his lips close to
the ear of his auditor— " it is our grave
brother Obando, of whom the least spoken
here, by either of us, will probably be the
soonest amended * . He is an eccentric
character - some say moreover a misan
thropic one ; I fear he is both . Amongst
our holy brotherhood , he was formerly de
nominated the Malecontent, forasmuch as
he was never seen to smile, nor known to
express
• An ancient Spanish proverb (now made English),
wbich suits well with their habitual taciturnity .
express his approval even of any thing

done for his accommodation . But Oban
do has lately grown more composed and
tractable ; and it is long since I have seen
his dilated eyeballs roll so fiercely as at
this hour. Heaven shield him from re
,
lapsing into his former state of gloom and
sullenness Heaven and our blessed lady
forbid it, I pray !
« Whence comes he ? ” asked Fernan .
dez , in the same low tone.
“ From the Holy Land ,” replied Gero
nimo, casting another half -affrighted glance
towards the scowlingObando, who seemed
conscious that himself was the subject of
their conference ; “ from the holy sepul
chre, at Jerusalem . He had performed a
toilsome pilgrimage, and endured some
heavy, though not , it is averred , unmerit
ed penance, ere his admittance within
these hallowed walls ; our kind abbot (God
rest his soul! for which a hundred masses
have been duly said) thinking, as well in
deed he might, that the sanctity and uni
formity
formity of a monastic life would tame his

rebellious spirit, and restore his mind to
its wonted tranquillity. At first he was
accustomed to roam nightly through our
cloisters, raving of demons, and things of
evil origin, with whom he was suspected
formerly to have held communion ; but,
as time wore away , he became more calm ,
took the vows without reluctance, and has
conformed hitherto unrepiningly with the
regulations of our order. Indeed, on the
late demise of our dear abbot, who was
cruelly slain by the accursed minions of a
blasphemous freebooter, few grieved more
sincerely than Obando ; but grieving is his
sole occupation, and, for some undivulged
transgression, or blighted project of his
early days, all his life is spent in sorrow .”
“ Poor wretch !” articulated Isabel, by
whom the relation of Geronimo had been
partially heard ; " perhaps to him too yon
expiring member of your fraternity may
have been a beloved brother, a tender and
confiding friend. "
« His
“ His love was shared by few ,” return

ed the aged monk, shaking his head, and
still continuing to regard the wan visage
of Obando— " his scorn gave cause of ha
tred unto many—his affection was shared
by few — his confidence by none. Nor
was brother Augustine exactly qualified,
on the other hand, for administering con
solation to his haughty spirit ; since,
though less commanding and austere in
his deportment, he was equally reserved
in his conversation . Some time has now
elapsed since Augustine became an in
mate of our monastery , and aa member of
our holy order, yet not one of the many
who have bent before yon shrine in his
behalf, is acquainted with his lineage, or
the motives that induced him to abandon
the world . Some say, that owing to a fa
tal controversy, which terminated against
him , he was ruined and disgraced ; while
others affirm , that he has been unwarily
led to the perpetration of some dreadful
crime, for often , during his moments of
delirium ,
delirium , he exclaims, in aa voice of sorrow

ful tenderness— My son, my son !-But
see ,” he continued, in a lower tone, “ Oban
do appears incensed - holy saints defend
us ! what a frown he wears ! He fancies
himself observed ; it is ever thus with him
on such occasions."
Just at this moment the pale monk
Obando, who was indeed regarding them
with an aspect of horrible malignancy, was
joined by a brother of the order, whom, in
spite , of the cowl which shrouded his
wrinkled features, they presently discover
ed to be Jacopo.' The latter now seemed
desirous of entering converse with the
sullen Obando, who scarcely deigned to
accord him any answer, still keeping his
terrific eyes, flashing with indescribable
emotion , fixed steadily upon the faces of
the group ; until the shrinking Isabel,
whose incautious exclamation (almost the
first words she had uttered since she quit
ted Montrosol-- but woman's tongue will
ever prove an incendiary to mischief ) had
in
in reality been overheard by him to

要
whom it was applied, recoiled, stricken

with terror, from his demoniac gaze ; and
Inez, the fair, trembling Inez, was fain
to veil her lonely countenance behind
the copious robe of father Geronimo, and
silently to implore the protection of the
Blessed Virgin against him, who she now
conceived could be no other than the evil
one himself.
The harmony had by this time recom
menced , and the choral voices of the
monks again reverberating from the lofty
ceiling, expired in the neighbouring gal
leries ; the tempest was still raging, nor
did its fury seem in any degree abated .
The abbot Ambrose was now seated ma
jestically near the chancel, or eastern ter
mination of the lines formed by such of
the brotherhood as retained their ranks,
and the whole aspect of the scene was pe
culiarly magnificent and imposing.
Every eye, save that of the stern Oban
do, was now fixed upon the litter of the
supposed
supposed expiring Augustine, who seem

ed , despite the confusion of objects that
surrounded him, to have sunk into a sort
of uneasy slumber (as appeared by the fre
quent, although irregular heavings of the
mantle which covered him), from which
it was now time he should be awaked ;
accordingly the abbot slowly arose, and
passing round the bier, prepared, with his
own hand, as a singular mark of respect
to the wretched being whose dying mo
ments he disturbed, to withdraw the cowl
from his distorted features.
“ Holy Mary !" here muttered Geroni
mo, whose eyes at that instant had invo
luntarily sought again the countenance of
Obando, “ how horrible is his aspect ! but
observe - Ambrose will lift the cowl - the
unction is about to be administered ; " and
fumbling for his crucifix and rosary , he .
knelt down, without further ado, beside
Fernandez.
An awful, and never to be forgotten
pause ensued ; the chant of the brother
hood
hood died gradually away in cadences , if

not the most melodious, at least the most
impressive that Isabel and Fernandez had
ever heard ; the very tempest seemed, at
that solemn instant, to abate something
of its violence, and became suddenly al
layed, as if withheld by some invisible
power from interrupting the progress of
the scene. Ambrose the abbot now gent
ly drew aside the cowl of Augustine, and
discovered a set of features that perfectly
astounded Isabel, and rooted Fernandez
to the spot where he was kneeling ; for
beneath that dusky covering was conceal
ed a well-remembered, although much -al
tered visage, which the frequency of bit
ter disappointment had long since taught
him to despair of ever again beholding
it was Velasquez de Leon , his long -la
mented father !
The eyes of Velasquez were closed , as
if in death , but the frequent quivering of
his parched lips, and the convulsive dis
tortions of his lank and varying counte
nance ,
nance, indicated that his turbulent spirit

still inhabited its clay tenement, but that
he was then labouring under the frightful
influence of some terrific dream . Another
instant elapsed, and his body writhed upon
its uneasy resting - place - his arms became
suddenly uplifted - distraction aided him,
.
in spite of his debility, to burst the tram

mels of Morpheus, and starting from his
slumber, he exclaimed— “ Ha !-see, it is
no delusion ! the yellow glistering scales
stream horrid light around me ! It is not
a mockery no, it is real, substantial hor
ror. Spare me !-I have kept my oath !
Oh, spare me, spare me !" Half rising
now , he opened wildly his disordered
eyes, and seemed suddenly to have recol
lected his situation ; whereupon he faintly
groaned, and fell backwards upon his pallet.
The monks were all amazed, and the
abbot seemed no less astonished than the
rest, inasmuch as he dashed away the cup
of holy wine, which he was about to put
to the lips of the dying Augustine, and
retired
retired in confusion to a distance of some

paces.
But the change that quickly spread it
self over the surrounding brotherhood
was slight, compared to that which now
took place in the countenance and demea
nour of Obando ; his blood rushed to his
heart - his breath became suspended with
emotion - the little colour that still tinc
-
tured his pale lips with the hue of life re

ceded from his visage, until his towering
figure might justly be said to resemble
nothing so faithfully as a shape of stone,
carved in an attitude of eager expectation,
or most excruciating agony .
It is almost needless to add, that the af
fectionate Fernandez, on discovering his
beloved parent in so deplorable a situation
of body and mind, was grieved and agita
ted in the extreme; he lost no time, how
ever, in unavailing reflection , or conjec
ture, but instantly quitting the side, even
of his adored Isabel, flew forward with ra
pidity towards the chancel. Had any one
attempted
RAT. ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT. 71
ance di attempted to intercept his progress, he

meant to have forced a passage ; but all
ly spel were much too busily occupied in whisper
brothek ing their surmises to each other, or vent
whicho ing in silent glances their astonishment, to
and de regard or to obstruct him, and he present
ushed to ly found himself before the illuminated
endedi altar, and beside the fatal bier. The lan
still6 guid Velasquez de Leon had fainted ; the
of life. brotherhood and their superior seemed not
store yet perfectly to have recovered their facul
resem ties ; and the glowing, wondering youth,
of sta stooping over the wan form of his enfee
at
Pect bled parent, gently raised him in his arms,
and supported him on his bosom .
at the
ering
situati
ಎd agi
Te , hor
соли
e, er
with
nya CHAP
mpte
CHAPTER VI.
If this be an illusion, one dear son

Shall I twice lose. SHAKESPEARE.
HASTILY did Fernandez tear away the

cowl from the pale forehead of Velasquez
( now brother Augustine), and pluck open
his coarse sable vestment, for the purpose
of admitting the air : no one prevented
him, and he continued gently to fan the
reviving features of his yet unconscious
parent, with a portion of the tattered mo
nastic raiment, until he slowly opened his
disordered eyes ; while the quickening
throb of respiration, where all had been
cold and motionless, indicated the unwil
ling return of life - a striking example of
filial devotion and piety .
“ Mother of God !” murmured the af.
fectionate
T
. ABBOT OF MONTSERRA . 73
fectionate youth, as by degrees Augustine

recovered his senses, “ how ghastly are
his looks ! Will no kind hand procureme
a few drops of water from yonder shining
vase, just to bathe his burning temples,
and my prayers for that Samaritan shall
0 be stored in heaven against the day of
ELET doom !”
No sooner had he spoken, than an aged
w monk hobbled hastily to the shrine, and
pelas presently returned , bringing a silver cup
ucké filled with the refreshing element ; this
eput was father Geronimo : meanwhile the ab
rete bot crossed his arms meekly upon his bo
fine som, and stood at a little distance, watch
coni ing the event.
pred After having been plentifully sprinkled
ene with water, which, in addition to the re
sken viving qualities usually attributed to that
edo element, possessed also the extra recom
un
mendation of having been made holy, the
faculties of Augustine were gradually re
mp stored . His astonishment, as may be
4
the imagined, was equalled only by his tran

VOL . I. E sport
ctio
sport at finding himself supported in the

arms of his affectionate, forsaken son ; it
was long ere he could assure himself of
the reality of the scene to which he had
awakened, rather supposing the whole to
be aa. delusion of his weak and wandering
senses, than an actual encounter, directed
and ordained by Providence.
During this period, the ceremony was
unanimously suspended, and every sound,
save the hollow raging of the tempest, had
ceased to vibrate on the ears of the dying
Augustine. While this awful pause con
tinued, Fernandez cast for a moment an
inquiring glance around him , and per
ceived the lean monk Jacopo , explaining
to the abbot the means by which himself
and his companions had gained admit
tance to the monastery only a few hours
before ;; which recital having been duly
attended to, and father Jacopo having re
tired to his former station , Ambrose slow
ly advanced towards the dying monk and
his newly -discovered kinsman , as if hesi
.
tating
RAZ. ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT . 75
orted i täting in what manner he should proceed .

wakenit The awful rites had been interrupted, not
e him so much by the intrusion and hasty zeal
hich l of the juvenile stranger, as by the invo
the will luntary exclamation of brother Augustine
o wrand himself, so little expected at such a mo
ter, dis ment, and on such a solemn occasion as
the present; and which, moreover (al
emof though Fernandez understood it not),
"Геrу і seemed to the assembled brotherhood of a
empest most unholy and irreverent kind : to deal
thed harshly with the youth , therefore, albeit
palethe monks of Montserrat were strict in
momen the observance and preservation of their
and privileges, would have savoured much too
explistrongly of severity, or even perhaps of
ich hisinjustice ; and fortunately enough for Fer
med anandez, the present abbot happened not
t ed ce
few i t o d
be ad ni c to the pyracti either loyf
sio nit ing
heen oppres or inhuma . Accord
havingAmbrose approached them, with a benig
roses nant expression of pity on his countenance,
monand (for he had already divined their re
i lationship) ordered the litter, on which lay
as
E 2 stretched
stretched father Augustine, to be carried

back to his cell, whither he also desired
Fernandez to accompany him.
This command was instantly obeyed by
several of the suddenly.officious brother
hood, who, following the example of their
abbot, now crowded around the bier, won
dering at the pitiful use he made of his
authority, while they pretended to ap
plaud his condescension .
Meantime father Geronimo, having pre
sented Fernandez with the serviceable
liquid, glided again towards the impatient
Isabel and her attendant, requesting per
mission to reconduct them to their apart
ment, apparently with some apprehension
of the probable consequences of his own
imprudence, in suffering them to infringe
upon the usage of the monastery ; or it
might be—for Geronimo was as fond of
archly acquiring strange intelligence as of
communicating it to others with the de.
sign of eliciting some explanation of the
singular and affecting'scene 'he had just
witnessed .
ABBOT . OF MONTSERRAT. 77
ERAZ
bet witnessed . They instantly followed the

also é good old monk in silence, who presently
led them to the little chamber they had
voben
formerly occupied ; while Fernandez, who
ushi at the same instant quitted the chapel by
another avenue, wholly absorbed in sooth
piled
e bien ing the inexplicable terrors of his agitated
hapati
de parent, saw them depart under his guid
Alt
ance with perfect confidence and satisfac
tion.
Now it chanced that the litter of Au
aving
OPTIKEgustine, in its way to the dormitory of the
convent, followed by a numerous train of
impo monks, must necessarily approach the spot
where stood the disconsolate Obando,
her!
whose terrific appearance had so alarmed
Inez, and excited the misplaced compas
This
sion of the tender-hearted Isabel; and as
oint
the mournful procession drew nearer to
eri
fon
this extraordinary being, who seemed pur
posely to have placed himself in the aisle
na 1
along which he knew it would proceed,
h the
Fernandez could not again avoid remark
ing the horrible and peculiar expression of
had E 3 his
itenes
his countenance, at which even the lan

guid Augustine seemed inwardly to shud.
der, as the bier approached the recess to
which Obando now retreated , in order to
make room for the sable cavalcade that
followed it. Fernandez continued walk
ing slowly and in silence beside the litter.
Presently they reached the aperture, or
cavity, into which Obando had retired,
when—was it an illusion, or did a human
voice in reality salute his startled ears
the deepest and most impressive he ever
remembered to have heard ?_such a voice
as he instantly conjectured could alone be
long to that colossal figure whose presence
had affected him so strangely.- " Thine
oath - thine oath !” were the words it ut
tered, in an evidently smothered , but dis
tinet tone.
" I have kept it !" murmured the faint
lips of Augustine, while his aspect became
paler, and every feature grew more deeply
agonized.
Fernandez now turned hastily towards
the
the terrific remembrancer; but he had

quitted the cavity which sheltered him,
and was nowhere to be seen . A faint
suffusion of crimson passed for an instant
over the features of the astonished youth ,
which was again succeeded by a livid hue,
almost as ghastly as that which characte
rized the affrighted and death -stricken
visage of his sire.
Augustine now fell backward, uttering
à desponding, heartfelt groan, in a state
of insensibility, from which it seemed
likely he would never more be aroused.
Half frantic at the sight, but unable to
render any assistance until the litter reach
ed his cell, Fernandez followed in speech
less agony ; and he who had left Barcelona
on that evening with the happiest pros
pect, was now the most wretched inmate
of an abode where wretchedness had grown
so familiar, that its aspect was either scoff
ed at or wholly disregarded .
At length the sable procession reached
the dormitory, and the senseless form of
E 4 Augustine
Augustine was borneinto his cell, of which

the only furniture now appeared to be a
crucifix, a mattress, a chair, and a table.
Into this wretched habitation they were
presently followed by the stately abbot
Ambrose, whose curiosity, it is probable,
more than any other consideration , had
induced him to depart from the general
usage of the convent, under the pretext
of a peculiar prepossession in favour of
Fernandez ; and even to wave the admi
nistration of the holy sacrament, until
some more convenient period. With an
expressive gesture of his hand, he com
manded the monks to withdraw on his en
trance, granting to Fernandez alone per
mission to remain - a permission of which,
as may be imagined, the youth readily
availed himself; and bowing respectfully
for the privilege accorded him, prepared
to witness, with becoming fortitude, the
latter moments of the being from whom
he had derived existence.
Augustine had been already removed to
his
his mattress by two aged monks of the

order, with the assistance of Fernandez ;
and the reverend men had succeeded , more
over, by the application of various power
ful restoratives,in once more eliciting symp
toms of returning life ; there remained
therefore no excuse to any, not even to
those who bore the repute of being skilled
in medicine, for disobeying the orders of
their superior ; and they were obliged un
willingly to retire, in spite of that lurking
curiosity (by no means excluded from the
precincts of a monastery ) which would
otherwise have certainly induced them to
have remained wondering spectators of the
scene which followed .
39 Pis basea
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E 5 CHAP
CHAPTER VII.
Still spoke the monk, when the bell tolled one !

Scott .
،، ܼ‫ ܃ ܐ‬، ،
As soon as they were left alone, and the

receding steps of the disappointed monks
were distinctly heard retracing the echo
ing galleries to their several cells, the ab
bot addressed Fernandez (now leaning
anxiously over the miserable pallet of his
sire, whom it grieved him extremely to
see thus poorly accommodated ) briefly to
the following effect.—— “ Young stranger !"
said he, casting aside at once his accus
tomed dignity and frigid manner of ad
dressing the brotherhood , “ since to what
ever rank or station in society you may
chance to belong, it boots not now to in t
quire ; nor, if inquired into, could benefit f
your
your cause; hear me with temperance and

resignation. The crime of which -start
not, nor look amazed, for so our holy

code denominates offences of inferior mag
nitude — the crime of which you have this
night been guilty, that of interrupting
our holy ceremony, might well have sub
jected you to the severest penance which
the mild spirit of our offended lady could
desire, or the superior of Montserrat could
inflict. But I design to order otherwise,
The case of our brother Augustine is, I
believe, too desperate to admit of cure ;
but if, as I conjecture, yours is the mild
tone of a kinsman's voice, the unforgotten
glance of a tender friend, or the remem
bered touch of some dear relative, I ob .
ject not to his perturbed spirit receiving
the consolation often communicated by
>
such- gentle and unexceptionable means.”

Fernández de Leon cast a glance of
mingled gratitude and reverence towards
the superior, and bending his knee grace
fully, replied with much humility.
E 6 Holy
* Holy father,” he responded, still direct

ing his averted gaze to the wretched pal
let of his suffering sire, “ I am much in
debted to your clemency. To incur the
resentment of the blessed saint, beneath
the roof of whose hospitable sanctuary I
have been this night sheltered, or to vio
late the ordinances of those who have de
voted their existence to her service, was
far from my intention, as my grateful lar
gess ere I depart these walls shall testify :
since what I blindly and foolishly ac
counted a misfortune (having been driven
by necessity, amid this pitiless hurricane,
to ascend the mountain ) has been produc
tive of the happiest and most miraculous
result; for know, holy father, the neces
sity of seeking refuge in this public sanc
tuary, accessible also to those by whom,
thus prostrate at your feet, I now acknow
ledge myself pursued , and from whom I
your powerful protection , I appre
solicit
hended would deprive me of a mistress,
and behold it has restored to me a parent ! " 6
The
The youth ceased, and his auditor seem

ed fully occupied in considering how he
could best cause the aforesaid providential
occurrence to be recorded to the honour
of his saint, and of the monastery ; at
.
length— " Most righteous son ,” replied

the abbot, after musing for several minutes
in silence ,“ moderate thy amazement ;
and learn from this to estimate truly the
beneficence and power of our lady, with
whom nothing is impossible. It is not
the only miracle she has performed with
in these hallowed walls; nor are, indeed,
等
of late, such demonstrations of her au .

thority unfrequent. But I have heard
from our kind brother, Jacopo (whose ef
forts to second the benevolence of this
institution Heaven will duly appreciate
and reward ), that you arrived not alone,
but accompanied by two of that sex with
whom I am forbidden , by the austerity of
my vows, to hold any verbal communi.
cation .. Speak then , my son --who are
these, and from what dreaded danger is
it
it that you have so confidently demanded

my protection ?"
Here Fernandez, with a modest reve
rence , began to inform the abbot of the
nature of his connexion with the fair dam
sels alluded to, together with the rank and
parentage of his adored Isabel de Gracy ;
at the first mention of whose name a deep
groan burst from the bosom of his afflict
ed parent.
The recital, thus briefly delivered, was
afterwards several times interrupted by
uneasy gestures, and expressive ejaculă
tions, from brother Augustine, who, in des
fiance of his increasing debility, listened
throughout with signs of deep attention ,
not unmingled with surprise and ap
probation. He often clasped his hands
fervently together, as the narrator repeat
ed the name of his former enemy, against
whom , it was easy to perceive, his enmity
had long since subsided ; and seemed , by
his demeanour, as fervently to wish for,
and
and implore a blessing on the union of

their offspring .
Thus, reverend father,” said Fernan
dez, in conclusion , “ you see the only
peril which I have to apprehend, is one
against which the protection and inter
ference of our holy church can alone avail
me any thing. I stand before you, there
fore, to solicit the speedy performance of
that sacred rite which cannot be dissolved .
But first, I have here a duty to accom .
plish ; a father's consent must now be ob
tained , and a father's spirit soothed into
forgetfulness of the fancied wrongs which,
I fear, still trouble and afflict it ; that task
being soon performed , as I trust it will be
Fernandez de Leon will again become
your suitor.”
As he finished , he again bowed himself
submissively before the abbot; and Am
brose could not help again admiring in
wardly the grace of his deportment, as well
as the becoming adroitness with which he
had acquitted himself. In return , there
fore
fore, for his unlimited confidence (while

Fernandez was smoothing the rugged pal
let of his still uneasy parent, in which tru
ly filial office even the superior of Mont
serrat need not have scorned to have ren
dered him assistance ), the latter addressed
him as follows:- " Well hast thou spoken ,
my right worthy son ! would that many
who now wear our holy garb, and make
hourly professions of sanctity before yon
der gaudy shrine, possessed but thy sense
of rectitude, and the feelings of thy bosom !
My protection is already granted thee ;
nor needst thou dread pursuit on a night
so horrible. Farewell, brave youth ; I
leave thee, for the present, to thy pious
purpose. The storm will banish sleep
but should we meet no more until to
morrow's sunshine cheers the face of na
ture, be sure that in my prayers thou and
thy suffering sire shall alike be well re
membered ."
So saying, Ambrose withdrew , leaving
Fernandez to the unmolested enjoyment
( if
(if so it might be called ) of a private con

ference with his strangely -agitated parent,
desiring him, as he closed the door of the
cell, if brother Augustine should again
grow worse, to ring a small bell, which
he would find at one end of the dormitory,
and which would summon some of the
elder members of the fraternity, who acted
as physicians, to his assistance.
On the departure of the abbot, Fernan
dez knelt once more beside the lowly
mattress, whereon was stretched the wast
ed and altered form of the once sprightly
Velasquez de Leon, and wept audibly.
The tempest still continued to howl with
dreadful fury, and the retiring steps of the
abbot were soon drowned amid the pelting
of the rain, the rushing of the hurricane,
and the noise of the thunder' ; there was,
however, an expression on the countenance
of Augustine, which boded his having
something to communicate a sort of in
decisive gaze, which seemed to import a
meaning to the effect of— “ I will spe
presently ;"
presently ;" and as Fernandez in silence

awaited the event, the clock of the monas
tery struck the hour of one.
СНАР .
CHAPTER VIII.
'Tis she !-- my child too - she seems weak and sinking :
Oh, my poor child ! my stubborn, wayward child !
COLMAN .
WHILE this was passing in one part of

the monastery, the tender Isabel, thus se
parated from her beloved Fernandez, was
undergoing, in another, her allotted share
of the adventures of that prolific night.
The manner of their leaving the chapel,
under the guidance of the good father Ge.
ronimo, has been already described ; the
old monk led them through several gloo.
my aisles in safety, when no sooner had
they arrived within view of the apartment
to which they were hastening, than each
was startled by the sudden appearance of
the
the disordered monk, whose aspect had be

fore so terrified them ; the pensive Isabel
(although she knew not wherefore, having
yet no real cause to dread his presence)
looked paler than before, and Inez found
it impossible to quite suppress a shriek,
that rose involuntarily to her lips, as she
rushed precipitately into the chamber.
Obando hurried past them, apparently
in greater disturbance of mind than he
had hitherto exhibited ; he omitted not,
however, to cast a fierce look on Isabel, as
he receded from her sight, and the wild
glare of his eyes followed her until she dis
appeared with her companions.
On finding themselves safe within the
small commodious chamber, which their
aged conductor entered with them, Inez
angrily exclaimed— “ Santa Maria defend
us ! if these be holy men , there is never a
ruffian betwixt here and Barcelona, better
qualified than a monk to scare a timid
maiden out of her senses. And then the
tempest
tempest sounds so horrible—the lightning

streams so awfully through every long
painted casement - grace defend us ! I say
again. I would not pass another night in
the convent, for the blessing of all the
saints in the holy calendar.”
They now approached the hearth , and
Geronimo motioned in silence for them to
be seated. The fire was not extinguished ,
but instead of the cheerful blaze which il
lumined the apartment when they left it,
the scattered and dying embers alone emit
ted a red and dismal glare ; these the
monk now quickly scraped together, right
ly judging the effect the rekindling of the
flame would produce upon the drooping
spirits of his companions.
Meanwhile the females sat pensive, and
inclined to sadness, as if oppressed by a
sensation of melancholy they neither could
nor wished to conceal or disperse ; and
long and irksome was the unbroken si
lence that succeeded ; during which Ge
ronimo
ronimo busied himself in trimming the

BRED
lamps, and finally endeavouring, in every
possible mode, to enhance their comfort, 14+
by bettering their accommodation.

“ Where is Fernandez ?" at length de *
manded Isabel, wholly regardless of the
former prattle of her attendant, of which
she scarcely knew the subject ; " tell me,
good father, whither is he gone?-will he
soon return to us ? ”
"
“ He is gone to the dormitory ,” replied
Geronimo, " and will probably not return
again to-night. Your chamber is prepared
-but, might I advise,” added he, shaking
his head significantly, “ you should betake
yourselves to devotion here, until this tu
multuous conflict shall subside, which has
already shaken this hallowed edifice to the
foundation stone."
“ It is a terrible night indeed ,” rejoined
Isabel, in aa still pensive tone, for her heart
was with Fernandez, in the cell of father
Augustine; imagination, moreover, pre
sented
sented at that moment the picture of her

forsaken home, and she cared not what
she uttered ; " who that witnesses those
vivid flashes, still visible in spite of the
lamps that deaden their hue in vain , can
vouch to have seen its equal ? ”
“ That can I, lady ,” responded Geroni
mo, after some little hesitation, as doubt
ing whether the story would be agreeable
at such a time, " and little need doth it
require of a retentive memory to do so .
It was the very night on which father Au
gustine took the vows, while yet Obando
(whom God preserve, I say, from the like
again !) was in his fits of raving,shivering,
and rambling about the cloisters. The
firmament resembled a sea of sulphur
the rock of Montserrat aa devoted Gomor
rah, to be ingulfed therein -- the aisles
shook palpably — the walls seemed every
instant to be rent asunder; while Roldan's
lofty haunt-- but he must not be men
tioned ; and for my unwary utterance of
his
his name, a double penance shall be done

to -morrow . But apropos of brother Au
gustine
Here Geronimo was evidently about to
commence his purposed inquiries, respect
ing the scene he had just witnessed in the
chapel ; but here the sound of travellers
or pilgrims at the outer gate of the mo
nastery , who took care their din should be
heard above the storm, obliged him to
break off abruptly. It was seldom
strangers arrived so late, and Geroni
mo, doubting not that the porter was still
asleep, ran as fast as his corpulence would
permit him, to receive and welcome his
unexpected guests.
This was a pause of anxiety to the lis
tening Isabel, and of alarm to Inez ; the
former dreaded the pursuit of her father,
and the latter the intrusion of more strange
faces, as ugly and forbidding as those she
bad heretofore encountered ; among which
Carlossa's was the only one she could deem
even
even tolerable.— “ Oh !" she now sighed,

clasping her small white hands, “ that we
were once again at Barcelona, with the
good old senor reading Boscan , or-- "
Peace, Inez, peace !" exclaimed the
sobbing Isabel, whose tears now flowed in
spite of her endeavours to restrain them,
“ it is a picture I ought not to contem
plate ; besides, I thought I heard— ”
“ It is her voice - my child ! my Isa .
bel !" resounded in an instant through the
adjacent cloister : the door of the apart
ment was burst open - a tall figure, wear
ing a dark Spanish dress, and followed by
several domestics, rushed wildly forward ,
and caught her in his arms: Isabel re
treated not, but, trembling and agitated ,
sunk into his arms and fainted .
In this situation we must, for the pre
sent, abandon Isabel and her transported
sire ( for it was indeed Alfieri de Gracy
in whose arms she now reposed ), and ad
vert to occurrences yet unmentioned ; but
VOL . I. F which
which will be found hereafter no less par

ticularly to concern the subject of our
narrative.
СНАР .
CHAPTER IX.
I see a dusk and awful figure rise,

Like an infernal god from out the earth ;
His face wrapped in a mantle, and his form
Robed as with angry clouds. BYRON .
The tempest was now raging at its

height; the vivid lightning, assuming a
redder hue, and a yet fiercer aspect than
it had heretofore exhibited, darted in va
rious directions around the blackened ho
rizon, or descending in vast sheets of
flame, seemed to sleep for аa few moments
on the shrubless and desolate tract of
ground that surrounded the monastery, de
prived of its verdure by the frequent tread
ofbarefooted pilgrims,and levelled to a con
siderable distance by the hand of art. At
F 2 intervals
100 ABBOT OP MONTSERRAT .
intervals the huge dusky walls of the con

vent were plainly perceptible by the lurid
and dangerous flashes, which revealed
them in all their pride of ancient architec
ture - in all their sombre state and tower
ing majesty ; until sinking again into one
extended and impenetrable chaos, they
became totally undiscernible.
Amid this heart-appalling scene, un
moved by its solemnity, and regardless of
the torrents which descended on his unco
vered head, now glided a dark figure in a
monastic habit, with a thoughtful and
melancholy pace, from a side door of the
monastery ; and wrapping his mantle
sullenly around him, entered a gloomy
pathway which conducted to the graves
of the departed—it was the monk Oban
do !
On his sudden disappearance from the
aisle, it will be remembered his low -whis
pered admonition had been overheard by
the astonished Fernandez, the conviction
of
of which circumstance had caused Obando
so extraordinarily to quicken 'his pace. In
his passage through the cloisters he en
countered Isabel, and reached at length
an obscure portal of the convent, which
opened to the burying-ground, where the
monks had permission to walk at any
hour, as a relief from their devotional ex
ercises; and where, environed by half
dilapidated tombstones, and mouldering
relics of mortality , he now stalked, regard
less of the storm that beat around him ,
for the purpose ofindulging in his gloomy
ruminations.
Wretch , did she term me ? ” he
thoughtfully exclaimed, as the words of
Isabel recurred to his recollection ; " daugh
ter of innocence ! thou divinest not-thou
___
canst not have divined half the extent of

the internal anguish which consumes
the misery which oppresses me. Wretch,
did she term me ?-I am a wretch indeed !
and yet how little knew the delicate lips
that deemed me so, crimsoned and glow
F 3 ing
ing with all the promise of perfection, the

true nature of that wretchedness they
scorned not to compassionate of that
horrible inquietude which distracts me
those appalling sensations that haunt me 16
into solitude, and even before the altar

divide my thoughts with Heaven and
with eternity ! I am a wretch indeed !
amid the very pomp of sanctity -— the blaze 10
of hallowed tapers -- the full-raised chorus

of celestial voices — the waste of incense,
and the glittering of a thousand trophies of
salvation , I have not been at rest : fear
has appalled remorse has tortured
beauty has maddened me ; conscience , the
gnawing worm that never dies, has work
ed upon me, environed as I was by the 臺
signs of holiness ; and while my form was

bowed unto its kindred dust before the
flaming shrine, I could have spurned and
shivered the far-brought symbol I smote
but with my forehead *. That hallowed
emblem
* In the convent of Montserrat, near the foot of the

altar,
ABBÓT OP MONTSERRAT. 103
emblem — the glory and the worship of

our brotherhood, borne hither from the
blessed Calvary -- why can it not impart
to me a portion of that enviable tranquil.
lity it seems to diffuse over them ? Alas !
alas ! Obando- ask it not ; thine is the
bosom no balm shall ever tranquillize
thine are the hours no toy like this can
lighten. I must trail on a heavy life of
bondage - bondage which I abhor, and
would renouncehellish , accursed bon
dage! but then the meansmay, and the
after ordeal that must too be borne ; pub
hic exposure - excommunication - prison .
and death ! Oh,, thou dread nameless be

ing who hast undone me ! thine would I
rather live -- yet living thine, still hate thee
-than suffer all the shame and agony to
which such a course of penitence would
bring me !"
F 4 His
altar, is fastened a small relic of rotten wood, which the
monks of that order (impudently enough) assert to be a
portion of the very cross whereon Christ the Saviour was
crucified !
1 His steps here grew uneven - his form

became convulsed ; he wrung : his hands
with wildness, and looking distractedly
:
upwards, seemed breathing a defiance to

the angry elements, which continued their
boisterous conflict around him. Anon he
becamemore calm , and assuming a deep
ly -pensive attitude, appeared again to re
sume the subject of his meditations.
“ Yet yet did I fondly hope," he
66
muttered, in a voice scarcely audible not
many moons have, waned since I fondly,
hoped that this rebellious spirit would
subside — this hankering after dignities. I
was not born to enjoy — this thirst for for
bidden pleasure which perpetually haunts
me, and that peace was about to resume
its long -forgotten sway over my tortured
bosom ; but, alas! these hopes were vain.
Well do they call me malecontent - well
do they deem me miserable ! for twice
three years I have scarcely enjoyed aa slum
ber that has not been rendered halcyon by
dreams
dreams of what I would be, and broken

by some evil chance, which bitterly re
minded me of what I was, and am — a self.
devoted sacrifice to piety — a victim who
-
has forsworn what alone can render life

desirable - love, friendship, social inter
course with his kind. Marco, my brother,
thou too hast abandoned me : couldst thou
behold thy brother in his wretchedness,
then would thy heart's worst spleen be
gratified ; and surely better were it for
Obando still to endure thy persecuting
hate, than sink beneath the weight of a
detested, because guilty and monotonous
existence. Accursed be the hour I took
the fatal vows! perhaps too, even at this
very moment, Augustine with his dying
breath betrays my guarded secret ! Oh !
let him not, ye powers invisible — of dark
ness or of glory, I care not where ye
dwell — or good or evil, so ye but aid me
now - oh ! let him not confess, ye who
have heard me oftener than I wished , if
F 5 ever
ever ye expect Obando to worship at your

foul, polluted shrines !"
As he finished this sentence, a stream
of yellow light burst gradually around
him, and shining on the adjacent shattered
tombstones, chequered them with gro
tesque shades, and appearances equally
hideous and indescribable ; within the pale
of that infernal radiance, the elements
seemed to have no power ; for the rain ,
which had hitherto pelted his drenched
form , now dripped on him no longer, and
had either entirely ceased, or was rendered
imperceptible. Obando shuddered , and
grew motionless. Meanwhile the bril
liance which surrounded him grew stronger,
until seeming presently to compress itself
into what began now to resemble a corpo
real form , its rays by degrees became con
centrated to a pitch of denseness so impe
netrable, as to present the perfect aspect
of a material substance, scaled magnifi 3
cently over, and composed of fiery parti

cles,
cles, which emitted a brilliant yellow glare
through the beautifully bossed and speck
led covering, which, without concealing,
rendered their radiance endurable
“ Like an ethereal night, where long white clouds

Streak the deep purple, and unnumber'd stars
Spangle the wonderful and mysterious vault,
With things that look as if they would be suns."
Such was the object which now met the

sight of the conscience -stricken and ap
palled Obando, who stood fixed to the spot
with involuntary trepidation ; while his
eyes wandered alternately over the fiery
form and terrific aspect of the inexplicable
being before him. His shape was that of
a monster - half brute, half serpent ; his
strangely -proportioned body - his shaggy,
sparkling crest — his worse than the worst
of human visages--bespoke him neither
God , nor devil, nor angel, nor man ; and
yet with this horrible phantom did the
monk Obando appear not wholly unac
F 6 quainted ;
108 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT..
quainted ; for although his very soulseem

ed pierced with agony, and every limb
now quivered as if struck with a sudden .
palsy, on his countenance was depicted,
more of terror than astonishment at its
unrequired appearance.
„CHAP
ABBOT - OF MONTSERRAT. 109
CHAPTER X.
Lucifer. Ay, upon one condition.

Cain. Name it.
Lucifer . - That
Thou dost fall down and worsbip me—thy lord.
Byron .
No sooner did the horror which, as before

described, pervaded his whole frame to
shuddering, in some degree subside, than
the now doubly -furious Obando prepared
to address, in a becoming and peremptory
manner, his awfully -collected visitant, and
request to be made acquainted with the
cause of his presence. It was not, how
ever, until after a protracted struggle with
the choking emotion of mingled rage and
apprehension , which effectually deprived
him
him of the power of utterance, that he

succeeded in demanding his purpose ;
which finding himself at length able to
effect, the following verbal altercation
took place between them.
“ Ha ! thing of darkness !" exclaimed
the monk, in a voice of fury, “ say 'what
hath brought thee here ?”
“ Thy own wish ,” readily returned the
demon , in a shrill clear tone ; " unless thou
hadst required my presence , I could not
have stood before thee .”
Fiend, it is false !" retorted the now
agonized Obando, indignantly ; " it is
false — thou comest unrequired . I sum U
moned thee not-I wished not for thee :

urge me not to perdition -- provoke me
not to desperation . I have already said I
loathe thy presence ; begone, then , accur
sed tempter , and trouble me no more !
« Obando," said the demon, in the same
unruffled tone, as if wholly unmoved by
the monk's irritation and vehemence
“ Obando ,
• Obando, if thou persistest in urging my

departure, I know how brief will be our
intercourse - I must obey and leave you :
but first I repeat, that only at thy bidding
-the bidding of thy internal spirit- could
I have appeared before you again . Hast
thou forgotten the danger that surrounds
thee ? hast thou forgotten the need thou
art in of succour ? hast thou forgotten
the discovery of Augustine, and his know
ledge of that fatal secret, which if once
divulged would crush thee in an instant ?
True, he has sworn never to disclose it,
but thy abbot can absolve him from his
oath : thou art in peril, Obando, and thou
knowest it ; and it is my aid alone can
rescue thee ; my potency can accomplish
much, and thou mayest task it to the high
est --that, too , hast thou forgotten ? "
“ And if I have not forgotten it, thou
incomprehensible being,” here exclaimed
Obando, in á tone of irresolution and re
proach, “ if I have not forgotten how aw
ful
ful is thy potency (and, I confess, thy ter

rible proposals still dwell upon my me
mory ), ought I therefore to rejoice ?
事
wherein hath thy power benefited me ?

alas ! in nothing Thou hast done me
nought but evil. Since first - while as an
humble pilgrim I plodded my barefoot
way to the shrine at Jerusalem - my im
pious thoughts and secret backslidings
brought thee to my side in thy own pro
per likeness, I have never known tran
quillity ; thy image, thy accursed image,
haunted me incessantly ; and if I was be
fore a murmurer at destiny - if I was be
fore discontented with my fortunes, I be
came doubly so Thy second dreadful
visit in the cloister, from which not even
the sacred garb I had assumed protected
me- albeit I still refused thy hateful and
unholy proffers - was productive, as thou
knowest, of the event which now sits
heaviest on my mind, and fills me, at this
hour, with consternation and dismay. We
were
weré, surprised together - Augustine be

held our unhallowed intercourse, and
holds my life--my very soul in jeopardy!
Fiend ! 'twas, the height of thy inherent
baseness -- the acme of thy spleen , to suf
fer aa mortal eye to intrude on our forbid ,
den and horrible communion ! he heard
he saw , and in spite of the holy promise
I with difficulty extorted from him, is
perhaps at this very instant disclosing
what he witnessed . These are the dread .
ful fruits of the guilty commerce I have
held with thee - these are its tormenting,
horrible consequences ; and now thou
comest to taunt me amid my agonies — to
remind me of thy power, which could
avert disclosure - could have averted, and
will not !"
Obando here ceased speaking, and wrung
his hands in a paroxysm of the bitterest
dread and agony .
“ Thou art deceived , Obando," now re
turned the arch seducer, already half tri.
umphant
umphant in having extended the limits

of their intercourse, 66" thou art deceived
in the purpose of my mission to thee. I
come to tell thee, monk, not only that
my power can aid thee now, but that it
shall, upon no hard conditions, release
thee from thy fears, and ensure thy future
felicity. Icocome again to proffer thee,
Obando, what thou hast already twice re
fused — my alliance, and aid in the procu
ration of every earthly enjoyment; tö
gether with protection from the accumu .
lated ills which now beset thee in thick
and gathering array on every side. With
the terms of our dread cómpact, which
(as the only means of obtaining the grati
fication of thy desires) must be unshrink
ingly subscribed to, thou art already ac
quainted : thou shalt abjure thy faith
renounce thy hope of eternal salvation
violate boldly the conventual oath - curse
thy Redeemer, and render homage unto
him whose faithful servant thou wilt then
be
be reckoned. In return for these proba

tionary concessions, each wish thy heart
can form -- each latent desire now lurking
in thy bosom , shall be accorded thee ;
wealth -- magnificence — even love itself,
the joy of the voluptuary, and recreation
of the sage, shall no longer be a stranger
to thy breast, and an exile from thy
pallet ; nought that thou canst demand,
and mine own might or prowess can a
chieve, shall be denied thee, so thou be
comest my true worshipper - mine so
lemnly in this world, that thou mayest be
mine irrevocably in the world which is to
come!”
Obando stood aghast at this third repe
tition of the proposed infernal league he
had indeed with difficulty twice before
rejected : the time too was awfully apt
for acceding to such a proposition ; the
tempest raging violently - Augustine on
his deathbed — the monks in consternation ,
whispering strange, conjectures of the
cause ,
cause, in which he knew the malecontent ile

was too often implicated : he shuddered , ath
and exclaimed “ Fiend, or whatever this

thou art - I know not what thou art, yet
ber
deem thee, oh, most evil to a proposi
tion , however artfully urged, of which
the conditions are so horrible, Obando can
have no other answer than such as he has 31
already given thee. I say again , there

fore, thou insidious monitor-avaunt!
C
5
avoid my sight—thou art answered.”
“ Beware,” rejoined the demon , and as
he spoke the convent clock struck two
66
beware, Obando, how you reject my
services a third time. Even at this in
stant, although thou knowest it not, the
pallet of Augustine is surrounded by his
kindred and his friends; the abbot stands
amongst them I see the holy cross up
lifted — they adjure. him to confess — he
speaks not yet ; give me some token that
-
M
thou wilt be mine, and receive the pledge

of one whom holier powers permit not to
use
use falsehood , that ere thou dost return

unto thy cell, the deathbell shall inform
thee his lips are sealed for ever.”
At this information Obando hesitated,
and became again irresolute : was the
couch of Augustine indeed surrounded
by such potent intercessors; and were
they indeed entreating him to disclose the
horrid secret which, it was suspected, had
long preyed upon his mind, and some
times driven him almost to frenzy ? then
what would shortly be the wretched
Obando ? a prisoner to the Inquisition at
Barcelona - doomed to endure its torments
- subjected to its merciless authority.
C
He could not bear to think of it ; but his

thoughts recurred anon to the after state
of torture which must follow his acquies
cence with the yellow spirit's proposal; he
started , and again exclaimed— “ Eternal
perdition ! never must it be - hence, ac
cursed seducer ! let the officials of that
dread tribunal convey me to their dun
geons
geons let them tear me into pieces

.
Obando still shall triumph in his agonies,

for he never will be thine !”
At this plausible determination the
fiery-scaled visage of the demon was for a
moment overcast with mingled rage and
disappointment: the inducement of terror
alone he found was unavailing ; but there
was yet another theme whereon to sound
his wavering auditor.
“ So, then ,” he at length resumed ,
“ Obando, I find, dares bid defiance to
every mortal engine of torture and destruc
tion which awaits him in the cells of that
terrific tribunal, at whose severity even
demons chuckle, and rejoice to see their
practices emulated. . But doth he with
.
equal daring scorn and defy the power of

softer chains ? doth he despise the soul
awakening pleasures of enjoyment — the
maddening fire of beauty, as it beams
forth in yonder female, who fixed thy un
hallowed regard to-night at vespers ? me
thinks
thinks her arms might yield a softer pil

low for repose than the lacerating spikes
and crackling fagots, exhibited at each
succeeding act of faith : doth Obando
think otherwise ? doth he prefer their tor
ments to the possession of fair Isabel in
secret ; while the robe that Ambrose
wears — if he but ask it of me in the form
prescribed - shall speedily adorn him in
public, to cover and conceal his apos
tacy ? ”
This promissory harangue, as the mys
terious being who spoke it had conjec
tured, weighed heavily with the waver
ing Obando, and failed not eventually to
have the desired effect. For Obando had
striven in vain so far to forget the world
and its temptations, as to become insen
sible to the charms of female beauty , or
the almost equally powerful allurements
of outward grandeur and parade: and to
these unextinguished passions perhaps
may justly be attributed that perpetual
gloom
gloom and discontent, which had long

characterized his demeanour, and distin
guished him from the rest of the brother
hood. He had also long aspired in se
cret to the office of superior, to which
the fraternity had lately , exalted Am
brose; but although their abbots had of
late been frequently deposed , or sacri
ficed to the rage of the banditti, who
held sway over them , there were still so
many monks better beloved in the fra-=
ternity, that small chance remained to
the despairing malecontent of accession
to that honourable station . The volun
tary offer, therefore, of a boon so de
sirable, affected Obando extremely ; and,
perhaps more than any other considera
tion, staggered his resolves, and induced
him to accept the yellow spirit's proposal :
albeit the charms of the devoted Isabel,
it must be confessed, had their share in
his sudden conversion ; as well as the
dread he entertained of a discovery being
made
made by the expiring Augustine, of the

communion he had held with a monster
so unholy.
clegi
- lomme
Totes
Bb
VOL. I. СНАР .
80
CHAPTER XI.
I but half wished

To see the devil, and he's here already.
Otwar .
THESE reflections passed hastily through

the troubled mind of Obando, while the
different expressions of feature created
thereby flitted by turns over his varying
countenance ; at length, after an irreso
lute pause of horrid meditation, with his
eyes distended, and his upper lip curled
into a smile of agony, he falteringly re
plied - Ha, subtle tempter !” stam
mering,, “ thou hast touched the only
chords that-But forbear ; there is dan--..
ger in this weakness : I was wrong to
listen to thee. Thou knowest the bro
therhood
therhood all hate the malecontent, and

will never make me their superior. — To
possess the beauteous maiden whom I saw
at vespers, would be a happiness which it
is not my destiny to enjoy.”
“ Think not so lightly of my power,”
replied the spirit, rather haughtily ; " thou
shalt reign abbot over them, as surely as
thou livest. Augustine shall be silenced,
>
and Isabel be thine.”
66
Quick then , lest I repent,” rejoined
Obando, with an air of distracted resolu
tion in his manner- " quick then , lest I
repent. It is but one desperate effort,
and the worst is over ! Obando shall
reign abbot-- Isabel be Obando's-- and the
C
dreaded, loathed Augustine, be consigned

to the abode of worms. Spirit of ill, for
such I know thou art, yet mean no longer
to resist thy ordinances, direct me I am
thine ; what shall I do ? "
“ Meet me again at midnight in the
chancel,” returned the yellow demon, after
G 2 a brief
a brief but solemn pause of deliberation

-“meet me again at midnight in the
chancel, before thy holy shrine, which I
neither can nor dare approach, nor even
gaze upon, unless summoned thither by a
member of thy blessed fraternity. There
shall our covenant be completed ; and
yourself, Obando, learn more fully to ap
preciate and confide in my capability to
increase your happiness. Before thy sa
cred altar, and at midnight, shall our com
pact be concluded.”
“ And why not here, and now ? ” de
manded Obando, sulkily.
“ Because I have already overstaid my
hour,” returned the spirit, coolly , " and
because thy unexampled waywardness
hath merited a more protracted ordeal..
When the monks have retired from the
chapel, vespers being concluded , remain
thou near the chancel; and when thou art
assured they have sought their cells, then
-then, Obando, then. ”
« Then
“ Then will I surely meet thee !" here

hastily interrupted his troubled but deter
mined auditor.
Swear thou wilt meet me!" cried the
fiend, triumphantly ; " swear it; and receive
thou, in return, my promise to silence the
accusing voice of one whose parting word
might crush thee at once into aa wretch - a
tortured, guilty wretch-Augustine !"
“ I swear!" . vociferated Obando, with
violent emotion , it is true, but in a reso
lute tone- " I swear to be punctual! But
by what token shall I be assured that thou ,
terrific being, wilt be equally observant
of thy 'promise?"
- To this the yellow spirit now solemnly
replied : " I have already informed thee,
dauntless Obando, that without an espe
cial summons from one of the brother
hood, I dare not (even invisibly) approach
a place so sacred as thy blessed shrine, be
fore which the holy tapers are never suf
fered to expire, and the sanctified incense
G 3 burns
burns for ever unextinguished. I cannot

therefore invite thee to the interview ;
but call thou thrice upon the dreaded
name of Zatanai *, at which the very pil
lars of thy convent yet may tremble, and
he shall stand before thee, to receive thy
allegiance, and grant thee thy desires.
Remember, monk, thou hast sworn - be
it accomplished !"
As the spirit concluded, the extreme
brilliancy of the fiery scales became per
ceptibly diminished, and his body again
began to assume the appearance of a
spreading flame, whose extremities were
presently indistinct ; and which being, as
it grew paler, gradually overpowered by
the lightning, faded eventually until it
disappeared.
Obando watched its latest rays dissolve
-heard the bell toll for the demise of
Augustine - and then retiring, with an
agitated pace, slowly and silently entered
Ger the
* Satan ,
the monastery. Leaving him , therefore,

to grope his way in the best mánner he
could, along many a dusky corridor, to
his solitary cell in the dormitory, we
hasten to proceed with another portion of
our narrative.
Fernandez had not long remained
alone with Augustine, ere a faint trem
bling of his lips, in addition to the other
symptoms already mentioned, indicated
that he was about to speak ; and that the
kind of dread which had heretofore re
strained him, grew weaker as he became
more perfectly assured that they were
without witnesses. Accordingly, after
once or twice rolling his languid eyes
wildly round the apartment, and then
fixing them again upon the visage of his
afflicted son , he suddenly broke the si
lence which hitherto the growling of the
tempest had alone interrupted, and ad
dressed him as follows:-- " My son !” he
exclaimed, in a voice broken by exces
G4 sive
sive weakness and emotion “ my dear

Fernandez , this meeting is perhaps or
dained by Heaven , to effect my soul's
salvation - or by the powers of darkness,
to lure it onwards to the gulf of eternal
perdition. Let us hasten to improve this
blessed opportunity ; talk no further of
temporal affairs — things at the best un
worthy of our serious consideration, but
lend me thy assistance and advice in the
disposal of a spiritual matter, if thou vá !
luest the everlasting repose of thy affec

tionate father ; for Heaven is my witness
that I dearly loved, although I left thee
left thee, in a moment of irritation , to
seek for happiness and tranquillity, but
find despair and wretchedness -m -to ' seek
for piety and resignation, but meet alone
with blasphemy and torment. Oh, would
to God that I had never left thee !"
His accents now were again drowned
in sobs, which, for a short time, effec .
tually prevented his utterance.
The
- The youthful Fernandez, with almost

equal grief, perceived the agonies he
endured, although totally unable yet to
guess the source whence they arose, or
decipher the meaning of the internal
pangs he witnessed. He, however, be.
sought his sire, with much humility, to
compose himself, and then to explain
more fully the particular circumstance
to which he alluded ; and conjecturing
now (as well indeed he might) that the
conscience of Velasquez was troubled with
the recollection of some heinous crime,
failed not to remind him of the promised
salvation , through the grace of the Re
deemer, as well as of the undisputed in
fluence of the saint to whose service he
had voluntarily devoted the latter portion
of his existence. These consoling sugges
tions, however, appeared to have but little
weight with the despairing object before
him, but rather seemed to increase his
agonies, which Fenandez observing, de
G 5 termined
termined once more patiently to await the

subsiding of this furious fit of his inex
plicable malady.
CHAP
CHAPTER XII.
An oath, an oath ! - I have an oath in heaven !

Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ?
SHAKESPEARE.
At length Augustine, having again re

covered himself sufficiently to resume,
feebly grasped the hand of his attentive
auditor, and thus continued his singular
disclosure.- “ Alas! Fernandez," he now
added, in return for his religious consola
tions, “ it is that very knowledge of our
saint's commanding influence (strange as
it must appear to you) that most depres
ses me- drives me to desperation, and
stretches me thus early on a deathbed .
Brief as has been my sojourn in her holy
G6 sanctuary ,
sanctuary, I have seen its walls polluted

-witnessed its cloisters defiled with hel
lish intercourse-and , worse than all, have
sworn to bury in eternal secrecy what I
ought to have instantly divulged to our
superior. Talk not of voluntary service :
my devotion is but mockery - my wor
C
ship is mere hypocrisy, and will not be

accepted. I am an outcast- hopeless
lost - abandoned : but what is he who
made me so ? He, the foul worshipper
-he, the malecontent - I shudder when
I think upon his destiny ! But my oath ,
my oath ! It was a solemn one. I must
revere my oath !"
The listening Fernandez was now again
struck with amazement at this involun
tary mention of the malecontent, and he
hastily exclaimed— “ Oh Heaven ! if thou
hast aught to do with that terrific being,
whose muttered caution reached my asto
nished ear as we passed through yonder
gallery-- if thou art in aught connected
with
with that man of mystery and terror, fly

to absolve, retrieve - _ ”
" Ah, thou didst hear it then !" inter .
rupted Augustine, suddenly— “ thou didst
hear that awful admonition , breathed so
often in my sickening ears, by him whose
interest it may well be deemed to guard
me against perjury ! thou knowest, then,
that there exists between us a deadly se
cret - a fatal promise too - wrung from me
unawares, and in an evil hour !-but I am in
nocent of the horrid transgression to which
I became an involuntary witness — that
guilt is all his own-so let him answer it !
I sought not what I saw-I partook not
of their horrible communion -- but fled
from what I loathed, yet fled too late.
See - he appears again ! that worse than
monster -- that yellow , pestilent adviser
that breathing compound of all hideous
ness ! Oh, save me from his glance !-it
curdles-- chills me ! save me, Fernandez !
99
save
Here
194 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT
Here his exclamations grew so out

rageous, that Fernandez was fain to sooth
and pacify him again in the best manner
he was able. He spoke to him, therefore,
ofabsolutions granted by the abbot to de
linquents -- of requiems, to be sung or said
for the souls of the departed — and, above
all, of erecting a holy edifice to his memo
ry , and thus sacrificing a by no means in
considerable portion of the remaining es
tate to the washing away of his sins. All
this, however, was insufficient to assure
the wretched and despairing monk of his
final exemption from the destiny of the
damned , whether he kept or violated his
injudicious oath.
In this state he continued , until wearied
out with his own incoherent ravings of
perdition, and of purgatory, his voice
grew weak, his aspect became more ghast
ly, and his frame sunk strengthless and
exhausted on his pillow , as if unable any
longer to contend with the overpowering
violence
violence of his feelings. Animation was

now evidently drawing towards a close
his soul seemed trembling on the verge of
eternity.
Fernandez, in his alarm , forgot the bell,
of which the father abbot had spoken , but
called out, however, lustily for assistance ;
which summons, notwithstanding its vehe
mence , the elders of the convent either
could not, or did not choose to hear. His
voice, nevertheless - his well- remembered
voice, albeit it awakened not the brother
hood, failed not once more to arouse the
fleeting faculties ofVelasquez, and induced
him again to open his dim desponding eyes ;
he gazed dejectedly, for an instant, upon
the graceful figure of his kneeling son ,
and then mournfully articulated, in broken
words, the following scraps of intelligence
_" Fernandez ! oh, Fernandez ! thy fa
ther falls the victim of - yon haggard
monk , Obando ! he, he it was whose mut
tered warning met thine astonished ear, as
we
we passed through the corridor !-He falls

the dupe of a designing fiendand Ithe
victim of a fatal curiosity ! -- Bless thee,
boy !—may Heaven accord thee length of
days with Isabel !-Say to De Gracy that
I freely pardon him, and trust he will sanc
tion your happiness, when I am in the
"
grave. It was a dreadful night,” he add
ed, faintly, in a half-delirious and uncon.
nected strain ; “ it was a dreadful night
much like the present ; the thunder echo
ed awfully through the cloister - a yellow
shape of horror - I saw it clearly, and the
hideous recollection has preyed upon my
memory ever since ! that scaled and fiery
aspect - the malecontent Obando - I ob
served him - mark ,myson - observe Oban
do-- observe- A cold, damp shiver
ing now seized and shook his debilitated
frame in an alarming manner - his accents
became unintelligible — a ghastly change
succeeded and his soul took its flight to
the regions of eternity.
At
. At this fatal moment the distracted

youth, recollecting suddenly the neglected
admonition of Ambrose, burst open the
door of the cell, and flew to the little bell
at the extremity of the dormitory, which
he now rang violently.
In an instant the pallet of the departed
Augustine was surrounded by an anxious
group, among whom the astonished Fer
nandez, to his utter consternation , disco
vered the faces of Alfieri de Gracy and
several of his principal domestics, who
guessing, by means of the information al
ready obtained from Isabel, the cause of
the present alarm , had hastened to witness
the expiring moments of Velasquez de
Leon ; and it might be, to exchange for
giveness with the father of him whom
now ( should such an unexpected issue of
their animosity take place ) Alfieri secretly
determined to accept as a husband for his
dearly -cherished daughter, an union of his
own domain with that of De Leon hay .
ing
ing been what he had formerly desired,

and previous to their unfortunate quarrel
would have given much to have seen ac
complished.. The good abbot also, forget
ful a second time of his dignity in the en
deavour to be of service, pressed forward
among the crowd towards the lifeless mass
of clay which once was Augustine ; and
finding that his spirit had already taken
his final departure, lamented over him
with the rest of the fraternity, of whom
some of the most devout had already be
gun to count their rosaries for his happy
journey
During this period, Fernandez, whose
attention to the sudden appearance of De
Gracy and his train was only momentary ,
appeared indeed deeply affected ; he even
wept aloud, as he thought upon the un
finished confession and ambiguous injunc
tion of his father. Alfieri drew nearer to
the body of his deceased enemy. Am
brose and the rest were still gathered
around
around the corpse, when the clock of the

convent pealed the hour of two.
By this account, it will be seen that the
yellow spirit spoke more of truth than
falsehood to Obando, when he informed
him how the couch of Augustine was sur
rounded at that moment ; yet was Oban
do ( inasmuch as he omitted to mention
the fatal change which had taken place in
Augustine himself) grievously deceived by
what he uttered.
Meanwhile, the scene which followed in
the cell of the departed monk may be
summarily described in a few words.
While the abbot was engaged in giving
orders that the great bell of the monastery
might be duly tolled for the decease of
one of the holy brotherhood, Alfieri de
Gracy was occupied in attracting the re
gard of Fernandez, for the purpose of ad
dressing him on the subject of his own pa
ternal feelings respecting the rash step he
had taken , and Isabel's elopement. As
soon ,
soon , therefore, as the youth's affectionate

anguish had somewhat subsided , he drew
him gently aside, and reproached him sig
nificantly with having endeavoured to ruin
his happiness, by depriving him of his
child .
- To this Fernandez modestly replied, by
requesting Alfieri to spare him the vindi
cation of his conduct until the morning,
assuring him it could be easily justified ;
and, in the course of his answer, desiring,
in the presence of her father at least, to .
speak with Isabel; as a further recom
mendation , moreover, to the favour of
the justly -incensed sire, he related faith
fully the friendly and conciliatory man
ner in which he had just before been
spoken of by the penitent and humbled
Augustine.
Alfieri de Gracy seemed considerably
moved by the recital ; agreed coldly, at
the youth's solicitation , to defer the eclair
cissementuntil the morning ; informed him
that
that Isabel had retired to her apartment

for the night, but hinted that a conference
on the morrow would not be objected to ;
and, finally, gave him leave to hope, that
after the solemn interment of Augustine,
which they knew would take place on the
succeeding day, matters would be adjust
ed to his perfect satisfaction .
The storm had now considerably aba
ted, and the swarm of monks, who had
arisen hastily from their pallets, for the
purpose of witnessing the final departure
of a fellow -creature for eternity, began
speedily to think of retiring again to re
pose. Fernandez, however, requested
permission to watch during the night by
the corpse of his deceased father, and this
privilege was readily granted him by the
superior, who deemed his request of such
a mournful indulgence, an additional proof
of his devotional habits and filial piety.
Shortly after Ambrose dismissed the bro
therhood to their several cells, and fervent
ly commending the afflicted youth to the

favour and protection of Heaven, with
drew to his own apartment, taking with
him his newly -arrived guest, Alfieri de
Gracy ; and leaving behind him a lively
impression of his amiable qualities, which
Fernandez felt neither change nor circum
stance could ever obliterate or extinguish
in his bosom .
No sooner had the receding steps of the
superior and his companion died away in
the distance, than the sorrowing Fernan
dez again betook himself to his humble
posture, and poured forth his full soul
in mingled prayers and lamentations,
breathed for and over the body of him ,
to whose converse and society he had
now bidden adieu for ever . Nor did he
arise from his pious attitude, until the
grey light of morning, streaming through
the narrow , grated lattice, dimmed his
pale lamp, and intimated the approach
of sunrise ; while the bell rung out for
matins,
matins, and the monks were heard , in

every direction, hurrying through the
cloisters.
to : Brother
trengervir his
CHAP
$
CHAPTER XIII.
When the floor of the chancel was stained red .

Scott.
And a God whom his fathers knew not shall he honour

with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and plea
sant things.
Daniel, chap. xi. verse 38.
FERNANDEZ de Leon lingered in the cell

of death, until the soft warm sunbeam
fully disclosed the wretchedness of the
apartment, and played, as if in mockery,
over the distorted features of him to whom
its radiance could impart life and vivacity
no more . That sun saw many important
and interesting affairs transacted ( as will
hereafter be recounted to the reader) du
ring his course that day, within the pre
cincts of the monastery of Montserrat ;
among
i among which, however, must here be

mentioned the committal to its kindred
earth of the form of one of its deceased
supporters - brother Augustine. His
body was interred thus early, chiefly on
account of his singular conduct— inas
much as he died not in the full odour of
sanctity ; and although not actually cul
pable of any acknowledged offence, had
long persisted in denying the efficacy of
the holy unction to preserve his immor
tal spirit from everlasting perdition-an
enigmatical kind of behaviour which the
fraternity had very little relished. This,
and several other transactions of a much
more agreeable kind, had the bright orb
of day witnessed in his unclouded course
over our lady's sanctuary at Montserrat
(as the peasantry usually denominated it),
through regions of unblemished azure,
from which every trace of the dreadful
convulsion of nature that agitated them
on the preceding night had totally dis
VOL . I. H appeared ;
appeared ; but now had the sultry Phee

bus long since adorned the golden west
with his departing radiance, and left
that portion of the world to the mild
· lustre of a tender sphere, which although
not equally magnificent, was far from ap
pearing less adorable than his own.
It was past midnight; vespers were
concluded, and the monks had slowly re
tired in order to their cells. The moon
was shining brightly through the case
ment, and so powerful was Cynthia's lus
tre on that eventful night, that even the
innumerable lamps scattered over the
eastern extremity of the chapel, strove
vainly to eclipse her mellow radiance;
and as it penetrated into the dusky re
cesses of many an obscure and shadowy
cloister,
“ The silver light, so pale and faint,

Shewed many a prophet and many a saint,
Whose image on the glass was dy'd ;
Full
----

Full in the midst, his cross of red
Triumphant Michael brandished,
And trampled the apostate's pride ; "
while the tapers that burned incessantly

before the holy shrine, shed a light so
dim and insufficient , that the remoter
parts of the edifice were, but for the en
livening moonshine which , occasionally
chequered the lofty pillars, involved in
almost total obscurity ; as wrapped in me.
ditation, with gloom and anger depicted
on his countenance, Obando paraded the
western side of the chapel, half concealed
amid the shadows of gigantic columns,
and grey colossal shapes of stone, that
seemed ready to awaken into life by the
dull streaming of the distant lights that
revealed them ; although, on closer in
spection, and by a stronger light, the
workmanship of these unwieldy statues
was not so inimitable as to warrant such
11
*
an apprehension. Of these, however,
Obando thought not - his thoughts were
H 2 bent
BROT OF
bent upon the coming interview , and he
listened eagerly to the closing of doors de remain
still indistinctly heard in the distant dor- kain att
mitory, that as soon as the monks had ste anxi
entered their cells, he might venture ihoweve
forth, and, secure from interruption, bold- & the y
ly prosecute his unhallowed purpose.
At length he advanced towards the holy sh
chancel; he listened again anxiously -- all sted in
was silent as the grave in which he had moul
that day seen deposited the corpse of his
greatest enemy—the man upon whose illum
breath his very life had heretofore de- l the c!
pended. Then softly approaching the dibut
steps of the altar, with an aspect of rage crester
and impatience, yet softened in some de- bready
discoun
gree by an air of evident timidity which taunit
he strove vainly to disguise, the fallen apg
Obando exclaimed, in a somewhat stern, so
2
but smothered tone- “ Zatanai !-- Zata

nai !" the s
After the deluded monk had thus, for w
the first time, pronounced the concerted an
signal, la
signal, he remained motionless for some

seconds in an attitude of fixed attention
and intense anxiety.
Brief, however, was the pause which
followed ; the yellow flame seemed pre
sently self-kindled as before, betwixt him
and the holy shrine at which he ought to
have bowed in supplication, and from
which he would then have departed with
hope. It gradually waxed brighter, and
notonly the chancel, or eastern
part of the chapel, where the altar was
situated, but even extended its brilliance
to the western extremities thereof, hither
to, as already observed, shrouded in par
tial obscurity. To be brief, its beams
presently appeared to concentrate into a
solid mass of fire, clothed in transparent
scales, and the demon again stood before
him : the same hideous , yet beautifully
luminous appearance, characterized his
aspect, and he spoke in the same shrill
tone as follows : - ". Valiant Obando,
H 3 thanks,”
thanks,” he began by exclaiming, with a

truly demoniac smile of triumph on his
countenance " thanks for this proof of
thy devotion to Zatanai, and courage in
his service! for which , if persevered in,
thou shalt assuredly be ranked among the
highest of his followers — the proudest and
the wealthiest of the worshippers of Za
tanai, each of whom is usually proud or
wealthy in proportion to the length they
have ventured in obeying his precepts, or
adopting his advice. Thus far in courte
sy unto thee, as the proselyte of my
choice ; now I address thee as the cloister
ed wretch - the complaining malecontent,
who seeks, and long hath sought (in thine
own heart thou knowest it), an opportu
nity of amending his condition, by such
means as I alone have the power or the
wish to render prosperous. Having been
hither summoned by thy voice, for which
again I thank thee, thou thrice-daring
mortal, I am constrained to ask thee, bem
** ,
fore
fore we parley further, what thou de

mandest of me ? and wherefore thou hast,
at this lone, dismal hour, required my
presence in this holy place ? Speak - an
swer me, Obando ! on thy promised alle
giance answer me !"
“ Oh, spirit of guile - monster of per
fidy!” returned Obando, with real or af
fected shuddering-“ thou horrible crea
tion of my own vile thoughts, which have
conjured thee from darkness, to be in
vested with a power to beguile me thus !
Zatanai, thou hast deceived me. But
wherefore should I acquaint thee with thy
perfidy ? thou knowest thou hast already
bitterly deceived me. Thou knowest that
even at the moment I bade thee deliver
me from the power of Augustine, that
his dying confessions might not hurt my
fame, the danger I dreaded had long ceas
ed to exist -- Augustine had expired!”
A solemn pause ensued ; the aspect of
the demon betrayed neither surprise nor
H 4 concern ,
concern , and Obando resumed_ “ It was

a damned artifice - a subtle fraud, worthy
alone of such a hell -sprung being, to tre
pan me into the utterance of an oath I
had else abhorred , and scorned, as hereto
fore, to take. Enough - I have reviled
thee for thy treachery—my heart panted
for the opportunity, and has enjoyed it.
Now, if thou art indeed the creature of
my thoughts— my wishes, since these
alone, thou sayest, have hitherto em
powered thee to appear before me, depart
thou instantly, and let our separation be
eternal. I think not of thee - wish not
for thee : quit me, and never see me
more !"
Another pause succeeded , and the de
mon spoke.— “ Obando,” he exclaimed,
“ thou hast not answered me ! the place
is holy—the night far gone ; we have no
time to trifle with each other. If thou
art disposed to become mine, and well I
know thy yet uncurbed desires are eager
for
for the minute which shall make thee so,

say, wherefore hast thou summoned me ?
and for what purpose dost thou require
my presence here ? Are all thy hopes of
splendour and supremacy buried in the
grave of Augustine ? Have the charms
of Isabel faded in thy sight ?-or have
they not rather increased tenfold in thine
estimation ?"
Obando appeared for an instant thun
derstruck at the unexpected termination
of this speech : how the spirit should have
thus divined his feelings with regard to
the beauteous Isabel, appeared to him a
mystery perfectly unfathomable; and an
additional proof,, if any such were want
ing, of the speaker's extraordinary ubi
quity and power. At length, after aa few
minutes, apparently spent in musing, he
seemed to recover the use of his astonish
ed faculties, and sullenly responded, in a
voice of agony " Oh, what a thought
hast thou awakened !” said he, casting a
H 5 reproachful
reproachful glance upon his fiery interro 10 ,

collec onfleshas
gator; " what a recollecti hl lthat
tio ess psi .
name, even uttered by the fleshless "lips

of a thing like thee, awakened in my bo
som — a recollection I had fondly hopedOK
mm again thou
would sleep for ever! There
hast deceived me. If her charms have
acquired tenfold brilliancy in mine ima
gination, art thou not the accursed cause
of the misery I endure ? Didst thou not
promise that Isabel should be mine ?
**Op
and did I not this morn behold her-ay,
.
even in the presence of our abbot 'Am
brose, whom, for his ill- timed interces
as !
sion in favour of Augustine’s stripling
son , 'I shall ever hate, awarded and be
trothed to another ? Alas ! it was too
real. I saw the stern brow of her offend
ed sire relent, and abandon its austerity,
at the mild pleadings of a beardless "ur
chin, seconded as he was, and perhaps -
instructed , by Ambrose, who is an adept ਹੈ।
in the arts ofpleasing and hypocrisy - wit

ness
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT.. 155
ness the mode in which he won our holy

mitre, by praising our late slaughtered
abbot, whom I alone in reality lamented.
With what transport did she rush into
the arms of her betrothed , and weep upon
his bosom ! How my soul sickened at
the sight of their felicity !-a sensation
which speedily became heightened by the
conviction of my own immutable wretch
edness. Fiend ! this happiness thou hadst
promised should be mine ; but thou art
hellish in thy origin, and how should
heavenly bliss like theirs proceed from
any compact or award of thine ? ”
“ If the possession of Isabel,” now re
plied the yellow spirit, coolly— “ if the
possession of the only yet affianced Isa
bel — if to hold her in thy power
in thy
keeping, is bliss supreme and celestial in
+
thine estimation, I have already said thou

shalt enjoy it, provided only thou, without
delay, wilt kneel and worship me- thy
master, thy director, and thy prince !"
н 6 It
It would be needless, and unentertain

ing prolixity, to relate verbally all that
passed upon that fatal night, between the
monk Obando and the mysterious yellow
phantom of the cloister. Suffice it there
fore to say briefly, that Zatanai persuaded, 1
and Obando was overcome. At first he

shewed considerable reluctance to ac
quiesce in the slightest degree with the
proposals made to him ; but when the
fiend began glowingly to expatiate on
the pleasures of supremacy and the beau
ties of Isabel, the resolution of his audi
tor vanished gradually, like snow be
neath the dissolving sunbeam . He start
ed shuddered : the demon proffered
every thing : he confessed himself un
happy, and resolved finally to risk the
horrible experiment of an infernal league,
made too with one who had already de
ceived him . Once, on observing him
thus waver, Zatanai rejoined— “ Thou
shalt command my services, Obando, du
ring
ring thy existence—thy desires shall all be

gratified : to render their gratification pro
ductive of thy perfect felicity, is, however,
what I cannot undertake to perform ; my
power is great, but not unlimited. Ac
knowledged as my superior in this world
>
“ And 'thy victim in the next !" mut

tered Obando ; “ but be it so -- it is my
wretched fate ! I can no longer struggle
with my untoward destiny ."
“ There is yet another circumstance af
fecting thee, Obando,” again rejoined the
tempter, somewhat sullenly, “ which I
may not conceal entirely from thy know
ledge ; nor am, on the other hand, permit
ted wholly to divulge. It is this : how
ever solemnly cemented may have been
our covenant-however willingly it may
have been made, or steadily adhered to ,
there will ever be one possible occurrence ,
one only which can at any period release
thee from my power, and dissolve our ter
rible
rible compact into nought. I tell thee

this-I am constrained to tell it thee, and
may not hide it from thee ; but thou wilt
profit little by the knowledge—thy in
herent disposition is my surety for the
possession of thine immortal soul ; for as
thou art felled, so shalt thou surely lie,
and that will be as now-a seeker after
things which are forbidden . But to the
point at once : tell me, Obando, hast thou,
during thy whole earthly pilgrimage, or
the long period of thy devotion to that
religion which I dare not even name, once
tasted of felicity ?"
“ No- never ” replied Obando, with
vehemence ; never has my soul been
calm -not even at Jerusalem ,during my
sacred worship, before thy first appalling
visit to me ; nor afterwards in holy lạnd
-nor here, has my mind known tranquil
lity, or ceased to sigh for indulgences I
could not hope to obtain, and ought to
have despised ! therefore did 1 (to avoid
the
the wrath of my fierce brother Marco,

whose fate I would I knew) cross the wide
main, and take the fatal vow which re
duced me to a mendicant; therefore did I
travel, a wretched pilgrim , to the holy
city ; and lastly, therefore, did return hi 1
ther, assume this humble garb, this dro

ning life, and seal ( too late I have disco
vered it) my wretchedness for ever. But
let me think no more of it; give me grief's
antidote - forgetfulness teach me the
"
means
66
Kneel, then, and worship me !” here
interrupted the smiling Zatanai, taking
advantage of his momentary impetuosity ;
“ fall down, Obando - fall, and do me ho .
mage !”
Obando now prostrated himself before
the shining fiend, whose terrible aspect
brightened palpably as the ceremony pro- .
ceeded. He had not knelt long, ere the
demon desired him to loosen the small
crucifix which depended from his girdle,
and
and destroy that blessed emblem of his

faith, by dashing it boldly against the
pavement, at the foot of the shrine.
This mandate Obando shudderingly
obeyed, and flinging it with desperate
force upon the ground, broke it in an in- :
stant into a thousand pieces, which flew
clattering as if reproachfully around him.
The fragments, however, vanished pre
sently, and the smallest atom of the shi
vered symbol of Christianity was no
where to be seen ; but what surprised him
yet more than even this unaccountable
circumstance, was his appalling discovery,
that, where the crucifix had smitten the
marble pavement of the chancel, there re
mained distinctly the figure of a cross,
which seemed, by some invisible agency,
to have been newly traced in blood !-the
horror of Obando was indescribable, at
this terrible conviction, yet he resolved
not to retract, and he accordingly finished
his adoration , by bowing his forehead to
the
the dust, in outward humility, and form

of reverence.
Not a word was spoken during this ap
palling ceremony ; the demon, at its con
clusion, laughed triumphantly — the lights
upon the altar, thus daringly profaned ,
burned for a moment of a sickly blue
the wide, sulphureously -illumined aisles
resounded with strange noises
" While through the cloister-galleries small,
Which at mid-height thread the chancel wall,
Loud sobs, and louder laughter, ran ,
And voices, unlike the voice of man ,
As if the fiends kept holiday ;"
the roof of the chapel reflected , for a tran

sitory period, the hues of mingling gore
and brimstone - around him were dis
tinctly heard portentous shrieks of agony..
The malecontent started from his posture,
and now would have receded , but it was
too late.
All this passed during the course of a
few seconds ; in less than a minute the
holy
holy tapers resumed their accustomed hue,

the horrible concourse of sounds became
no longer audible, and the soft moon
shine (which, as before observed, the hal
lowed lights were insufficient totally to
overpower) again streamed faintly, and
deliciously through the painted casements;
the mysterious uproar had entirely subsi
ded — yet still, upon the livid marble,
there remained the perfect semblance of a
cross of blood , as heretofore, which appear
ed indelible.
CHAP
CHAPTER XIV.
“ The request is thine,

And the bond is mine !
Ask and have - name thy will - I obey."
Thus Satan spoke,
As the bond he took,
And instantly vanished away.
English Ballad.
OBANDO, who had arisen wildly from his

humble posture, during the continuance
of that horrible commotion, shivered as
he surveyed this dreadful symbol of his
apostacy , but felt himself by far too much
agitated to demand an explanation of
what he witnessed .
After gazing vacantly for some time
first upon the awful memento of his infa
my,, and then upon the laughing fiend be
side
side him, the latter spoke, in a loud and

hurried voice of exultation, to the follow
ing purport :- “ Enough - thou art mine !”
he exclaimed, triumphantly ; “ thou art
mine-thou art mine, Obando, and for
ever ! Behold yon indelible memento of
our union !” he added, now pointing to the
empurpled cross ; “ pale and invisible shall
it grow before the sunrise ; but ever at
this hour shall it appear as now, nor will
it fade again until thou hast knelt down
to worship me. And now the time is
waxing brief which I may be permitted
to spend with thee : mark me, Obando,
therefore — do my bidding, and be si
-
lent !"
“ I hear thee, thou dread being !" cried
Obando, as if impatient for the event, and
apprehensive of the consequences of their
protracted interview ; say onI hear
thee !"
“ Retire then to thy cell,” returned the
demon ; to -morrow night, at this hour,
having
... 165
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT
having worshipped as I bade thee, on

which yon symbol of the faith thou hast
abjured shall fade to the resemblance of
untainted marble, repair thou speedily to
the pool of blood, as it is falsely termed
pretended by thy brethren to have arisen
* spontaneously upon that fatal spot, albeit
their fears have long informed them other
wise, and assured them it is only a scheme
of the banditti, to deter succeeding abbots
from treading in the steps of their precur
sor -- to-morrow night, Obando, while
those who might prevent thee are sleep
ing, steal thou fearlessly thither-it is Za
tanai commands thee ! "
“ And for what purpose ? now hastily
demanded Obando, with some show of
displeasure at the prolixity of the demon.
66
Zatanai, thou hast promised that my
wildest desires shall be gratified ; I will
not believe thou wilt violate thy covenant,
dearly as I have purchased thy assistance ;
learn , therefore, now to comprehend them.
-I would
I would rule abbot here — which prefer

ment thou unasked didst proffer to my
acceptance : I would behold again my bro-.
ther Marco, and endeavour to conciliate
his regard ; this, if he be still living, is not
impossible unto thee : I would enjoy the
blooming Isabel, in spite of plighted vows
and vigilant defenders ; this too thou hast
avouched shall be accorded me. Then
wherefore dost thou defer the consumma
tion of my hopes, and avert the hour of
my felicity ?”
“ And wherefore, monk ,” said the de
mon, calmly, “ this needless explanation
of thy wishes ?-thinkest thou thine in
nermost desires can be now concealed
from Zatanai, to whom thy heart was vi
sible, even ere thy lips were opened ? for
the rest, Obando -- I seek not to avert the
consummation of thy happiness, as thou
shalt surely find, provided thou dost nei.
ther scorn nor fear to follow my directions.
Thou knowest to -morrow is the festival
of
of an enshrined saint, whose blessed appel
lation (if uttered inadvertently by unholy
lips like mine) would, like a sudden earth
quake, arouse each drowsy inmate of thy
peaceful dormitory- Speak —is it not,
Obando ? ”
" I think it is the feast of St. Sebas
tian ,” said Obando, sullenly, whose de
meanour still exhibited some symptoms
of apprehension and impatience.
“ It is,” returned the demon ; “ now
mark what I advise. To-morrow eve, as
I commanded thee, having first repeated
thy nocturnal homage, repair thou daunt
lessly to the bloody pool; there shaltthou
encounter the much -dreaded Roldan
Start not, nor gaze upon me thus appalled
- he will not harm thee ; there shalt thou
meet him . Hark ! the clock strikes
again, and warns us now to separate
-the cross too has almost vanished , and
its appearance must limit the duration
of our intercourse. Obando, thou hast
never
: 168 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT .
never tasted happiness-exert thy facul

ties, and obtain it now-thy wishes shall
be gratified .”
“ How ? -_ by what means ? ” now hasti
ly demanded the petulant Obando.
66
By an interview with Roldan ,” repli
ed the yellow spirit, in an impressive tone ;
“ fear not to follow the course prescribed
for thee by Zatanai ; remember the bloody
pool - remember, and be punctual!"
The massy bell of the monastery, now
dismally echoing through the deserted
aisles and cloisters, had indeed announced
the hour at which Obando knew the day
would break , and the time appointed for
morning vespers was not far distant.
The crucifix, moreover, had faded until
it was almost imperceptible ; and now,
while yet the earnest gaze of Obando was
fixed thereon, it totally disappeared. The
monk lifted his wondering eyes towards
the spot, where just before had stood the
deceiving spirit-but Zatanai had disap
peared
peared also ; the latest beam of his dis
solving radiance yet shone upon the car.
ved pillars of the chancel — it Aickered, and
he was gone .
Obando stood for several minutes mo
tionless, still gazing on the vacant space
his fell adviser had so lately quitted : pre
sently he felt his exhausted strength re
cedemhis sight grew suddenly darkened
-his brain swam giddily - he knew that
he was sinking to the pavement-an over
powering faintness succeeded, and he
knew no more .
I
VOL . I. СНАР .
CHAPTER XV .
The convent bells are ringing,

But mournfully and slow ;
In the grey square turret swinging,
With a deep sound, to and fro.
Heavily to the heart they go.
BYRON .
'Tis she, that robber's lovely bride.

De WILDE .
" Ho, Pedro !" roared a huge-whiskered

ruffian, who seemed to have just awa
kened from his sleep, “ thou drowsy ,
lop -eared knave ! thou hast been slumber
ing on thy post again ; a pestilence con
sume thee for thy negligence !-Sirrah !
hast seen our captain ? ”
Pedro, who was in reality pacing to
and
and fro very orderly upon his station,

took no notice of that portion of this ad
dress which charged him with having
slumbered on his watch, inasmuch as he
knew it to be the custom of his worthy
lieutenant to charge boldly upon his com
rades whatever had been done amiss by
himself. Aroused, however, from his re
verie, by the hasty interrogatory which
followed, he, as snappishly as he dared,
replied— “ A murrain light on him !” he
hoarsely articulated, in a voice almost as
terrifying as that of his interrogator;
“ were he aught save our captain, I should
be apt to-But he is our captain, so
let us say no more about his faults. I
have not seen him."
True ; and a noble captain we have
found him !" rejoined the former speaker
carelessly, whose habitual surliness seem
ed somewhat abated, on finding that his
nap had passed unnoticed, as he now con
jectured must have been the case.
I 2 This
ABE
This abrupt dialogue passed hastily be

fore the rugged entrance of a romantic 4. Vbo
cavern , surmounted by an ancient build
ing, in the form of a castle, considerably
decayed, and situated on one of the rocky nast of
eminences which overhung the convent Pedro
of Montserrat. The scene was wild and
picturesque in the extreme; the full MORE
moon was shining in the clear blue fir R
mament, which alone canopied the heads
of those belonging to the horde of ban નારો:
ditti whose turn it was to be on guard
that night, the succeeding eve to that on RW
which Obando had undergone his last de
grow
scribed interview with the yellow demon,
Among the other sentinels stationed al
nightly by the banditti of Montserrat,
were two whose office was to watch the
private retreat, or residence, of their >
leader, whenever he chose (which hap

pened not unfrequently) to seclude him
self from the society and observation of
his companions. These sentinels, on the hil
night
night alluded to, happened to be Sebas

tian, who had long been dignified with
the title of lieutenant, although scarcely
superior in valour or intellect to the
meanest of those whom he commanded ;
and Pedro, one of the most sturdy and
ferocious of his inhuman cenfederates.
The worthy lieutenant, however, pro
moted (Roldan alone knew why ) to this
unmerited distinction, seldom conde
scended to watch at all, save on particu
lar occasions like the present; and even
now , while indolently stretched along
the ground, had been overtaken by an
ill-timed slumber, which, had justice
been administered, ought sans doute to
have deprived him of his office : not so
his companion Pedro ; bis wonted thirst
for enterprise had kept him awake, while
the expectation of a jovial supper (of
1
which the robbers were accustomed to

partake about the hour of sunrise) had
induced him to parade before the cave
13 almost
174 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT,
almost incessantly, for the purpose of

creating an appetite.
By this time, however, he began to
grow weary of such insipid exercise ; and
T
approaching the scowling partner of his
watch, who still retained his indolent po
sition, and resting upon the iron hilt of
his heavy broadsword, which had been
tried in many a desperate conflict, seem
ed willing to resume the conversation.
“ It is strange, Sebastian,” he began by
observing, surveying his dirty leathern
buskins as he spoke, o and not more
strange than hard for us to endure, that
this renowned chief this famous Rol.
dan , our invariably successful leader,
should so often shut himself up in soli
tude, and give way to mourning, in the
middle of his career of plunder and of
glory. And all for what ? Forsooth , for
the loss of a crabbed elder brother in
early life, who, if found, it is probable
would now despise him heartily for the
1
mode
mode in which he is at present living ;

while we, his faithful friends and com .
rades, must suffer our good weapons to
rust in their cold sheaths "
66
By saint Sebastian , my thrice blessed
namesake!” exclaimed the incensed lieu.
tenant, furiously, “ thy worthless body
shall be the sheath of mine, Pedro , if
thou persistest in vilifying our comman
der ! What knowest thou about our
captain's secrets ? That brother whom
thou speakest of would be as heartily re
joiced to discover Roldan as Roldan to
find him. But, peace, thou driveller
peace ! I hear his footstep approach
ing.”
In this supposition , however, the sa
gacious lieutenant was deceived ; for after
some moments passed in anxious listen
ing, the footstep which his ear had first
distinguished proved to be only that of a
female, who now, with a slow and pen
sive gait, emerged from the dusky cave,
I 4 illumined
illumined only by a single lamp, at the

entrance of which they were conversing .
The figure of this female was tall, and
rather masculine, her step majestic, and
her whole demeanour bespoke superior
breeding ; but age had done its work E
upon her countenance, which, neverthe de

less, it was evident had formerly been
handsome. In her hand she carried a
few withered branches, the remains of a
fagot she had that night consumed in
cooking their victuals, which menial of.
fice it was Corvetta's principal duty to TE
perform : yet this dejected, wretched
looking female, was still called by the
members of the banditti their captain's "C
bride, because Roldan had formerly shewn
her some slight degree of favour, after
ravishing her person, and forcing her from
her kindred, to become the unwilling ob bile
ject of his lawless love. hoi
No sooner did Sebastian and his eager
companion discover their mistake, than id
guessing
guessing the purport of her errand to the

cave, each instantly inquired whether it
was likely their leader would choose to
appear that night; for Roldan, in his re
morseful mood, would sometimes seclude
himself for many days from the society,
and even from the sight of his compa
nions.
“ Corvetta ! " both eagerly exclaimed,
intercepting her descent to the culinary
apartment of the horde, “ will our captain
share the feast to-night? ”
The majestic female looked contemptu
ously on each of the querists, but made
no answer .
Charming Corvetta !" presently re

sumed the foremost of her interrogators,
Pedro, “ tell us if it be only probable ?
Thou wilt not ? Well ,” he continued,
while his aspect resumed its former ex.
pression of moroseness, “all men have
their antipathies : I hate a poltroon and
an idler."
I 5 Take
“ Take heed ,” now exclaimed the dig

nified Corvetta“ take heed , lest your tah
captain should chance to overhear you.

Roldan is not a poltroon nor an idler : !
but I like not either of ye ; so fairer

speech, good senors, and merrier looks be ER
yours, than aye Corvetta will bestow
upon ye.”
So saying, and waving them aside VE
haughtily with her hand, she was pre

paring to proceed, when Sebastian , in
censed at being denied the information he
required, again detained her.— “ How ann
got you in, foul witch ?” he now de
manded ; then lowering his voice, mut
tered to Pedro—" She must have passed
our place of watch, that is certain .”
“ How got I in !" returned Corvetta,
with aa loud laugh at his perplexity ; " by
that which will one day get thee out - I "B
mean of Roldan's favour - thy want of
vigilance and caution. Thou trusty war NY
der, thou, who art ever preaching cou
rage
rage to the undaunted swordsman, and
watchfulness to the wary sentinel ; by
thine immortal namesake, whose festival
they are celebrating yonder, and she
pointed downward to the monastery as
she spoke, “ I could have struck my dag
ger into thee, Sebastian , when I heard
thee snore so loudly .”
Sebastian hung his head, abashed at
this well -merited reproof from one whom
he so much despised : the saint invoked
too, whose name he was himself proud
of invoking in proof of his own prudence,
heroism , and consequent fitness for the
post assigned him ! it was not to be
borne ; but he wisely determined to re
sent it, by requiting Corvetta for her
boldness on some more convenient occa
sion .
“ But silence - no reply !” the latter

added, surveying him askance, and pro
bably guessing his determination ; es here
comes one, who, if aware of thy negli
I 6 gence
gence and hypocrisy, would punish thee

in a mode better suited to thy crimes.”
And as Corvetta ceased, she slowly walk
ed aside aa few paces, as if now provoking
ly determined not to leave them till her the
revenge was gratified .
At this moment the sound of an ap
proaching footstep again was heard pro
ceeding from the cave (which was in rea
lity no other than a subterranean passage
to the fortress above), whereupon Pedro,
suddenly strove to appear indifferently
occupied in examining his weapons; and ay
Sebastian, the indolent lieutenant, al
though smarting successively with rage
and fear, hastily assumed a respectful at he
titude, in expectation of the arrival of ak
their chief.
Presently a stately figure, with a pre
possessing countenance, whose whole de
meanour evidently bespoke authority, is aint
sued from the cavern; clad in a dark ha
bit, which much resembled that of a Spa
nish
nish soldier, although much worn and de

faced. He wore pistols at his girdle, and
a hanger by his side ; but that which at
once denoted this commanding personage
to be no other than the terrific Roldan,
was a single long yellow feather, which
alone adorned his hat, of the same colour,
and partially shaded his handsome coun
tenance. This hat, with its ornamental
appendages, it was said by the surround
ing peasantry, and even by several of the
monks themselves, whose credulity was
easily worked upon , Roldan had particu
lar private reasons for never laying aside ;
inasmuch as they knew that aa familiar of
the evil one, said to be of the same re
markable colour, had long been reported
to infest the cloisters of the monastery, for
the purpose of seducing its peaceful in
habitants from their fealty to the holy
saint they worshipped ; and hence, as
may be imagined, arose Geronimo's be
lief of Roldan's mysterious connexion
with
1
1
with some evil power, communicated to
the generous muleteer ere the com
mencement of our narrative. In addition NE
to the accoutrements already described, he ha

wore a pair of yellow buskins, and aa kind
of military (or, according to the vulgar
superstition, of demoniacal) distinction at
his breast ; beneath the dark green man
tle, moreover, which depended gracefully
from his left shoulder, the hilt of a small
stiletto was also visible. His gait was
firm , and his deportment haughty, al
though his countenance was agitated ;
after a transient pause of silence, he turn
ed abruptly to Sebastian, and addressed
him in a pensive, although firm voice. 1
“ What is the hour ? ” he haughtily de 010
mandedt ;; to which the deep sound of the 0
convent bell, striking twelve, far beneath

them, and to which Sebastian now signi
ficantly pointed, was a sufficient answer.
Roldan paused again, until he had de
liberately counted the strokes, and then
continued
continued his inquiries.- " Has no intel

ligence arrived from Seville ? Have any
prisoners been taken ?”
In answer to the first of these interro
gatories, uttered in a tone of earnest im.
patience, Sebastian shook his head in si
lence ; to the second, spoken in a voice
of comparative indifference, he coolly re
plied— “ A single captive," said the lieu
tenant, entering upon his tale with an
air of official confidence , “ a single cap
tive has alone fallen into our power, du
ring the period of your melancholy, se
nor, on the speedy termination of which
allow me to congratulate you .”
Here Roldan's frown imperatively com
manded silence, on a theme the recollec
tion of which evidently gave him pain ;
the surly -toned narrator accordingly
/
changed his manner, and continued

“ He was defenceless, and offered no re
sistance ; but we found him lurking near
the pool of blood, when last
Here
Here he was again induced to pause,
by the terrific looks of Roldan, which he
seemed perfectly to comprehend , and
then again resumed—“ Your pardon , se
nor_ I forgot. We seized him during
) 2
the tempest, two nights since . He seems

perfectly resigned to his condition, and
willing to make any terms with us,
which may offer him aa chance of preserv..
ing his life ; a somewhat cowardly reso 1
lution, it is true-yet, in the main, he

A
seems a hearty fellow , for he disposes of

his daily allowance cheerfully, and swal
lows the contents of a flagon with as
little difficulty or hesitation as Sebastian
himself."
“ Let him be brought before me !" said
the still-frowning Roldan, haughtily.
“ Ho, Gomez !" again hoarsely bawled 1
the lieutenant, advancing a few steps to

wards the jutting edge of the promon 1
tory, in order to be heard more distinct i
ly, “ conduct thy prisoner hither instant

ly !”
Meanwhile
Meanwhile the stern majestic Roldan,

while Gomez and his prisoner were as
cending the steep mountain, to his ele
vated station, turned sullenly aside, for
the purpose of indulging another mo
ment in his gloomy ruminations, and
stood upon the brink of the tremendous
precipice, listening apparently to the
loud tinkling of the convent bell beneath,
which announced the hour of vespers.
Sebastian ( who was in reality the only
confidant of his chief's secret affliction,
and hence the preferences he usually ob
tained ) would fain have expostulated with
him on the folly of giving way to feelings
of regret, which time ought to have era
dicated, had not the presence of Pedro
and Corvetta (who remained still stand
ing at a little distance), together with the
consciousness of having already twice of
fended, prevented him. And now the
heavy clank of approaching chains was
heard, which sound proclaimed the ap
proach
proach of Gomez with his captive. Pre

sently they reached the summit ; and the
국
gaoler (Gomez) placing his prisoner rudely TO
before the captain , doffed his slouched hat men
with an air of awkward reverence , and si 30
lently awaited the result. Bec
“ What is your name ? " demanded too
Roldan , addressing the chained and timid It1
looking object who stood in dismay before
him .
“ Carlossa !" was the unhesitating re ia
ply.
« What art thou ? and whither wert
thou bound, when my companions seized :d!
thee?” again demanded the imperious Rol HO
dan .
R
" A starved muleteer,” replied the
shrinking Carlossa, whom the reader must H
have already recognised to be an old ac
quaintance, " and on my way to the vil A
lage of Montrosol — from the monastery
of Montserrat, whither I had conducted me
two females and aa cavalier -- who, I thank at
Heaven, are safe.”
“ Why
66
Why dost thou thank Heaven ? ” here
inquired the frowning interrogator, in a
sneering tone" why dost thou thank
Heaven for a deliverance in which thyself
had no share ?”
“ Because he was too noble to merit,
and too high spirited to endure with re
signation so base a doom as mine !" re
turned Carlossa , shewing his chains as he
spoke, and pointing significantly to his
forehead (where indeed there were some
ugly marks), as alluding to the violence
with which , on being captured , they had
forced him to their elevated abode.
“ How knowest thou he was noble ?"
said Roldan, with evident signs of emo
tion .
“ He paid me nobly for my services,”
replied the dejected muleteer.
“ And what didst thou with the mo
ney ? ” hastily demanded his fierce gaoler,
Gomez, advancing towards him with a
threatening aspect, and laying rude hold
of
of his garments, which he nearly rent, in

endeavouring to search for the pieces he
now supposed him to have cunningly con
cealed.
Ay, what hast thou done with the
IE
money ? ” reiterated Pedro, seizing him
also by the shoulders, and shaking him
so violently as to deprive the poor mule
teer of his breath ; “ I took from thee
only a few pieces -- not enough to pay bot
for the trouble of dragging thy vile car
11 :
case hither ; we must have the remain
der - so surrender it on the instant, and OT
7
be wise.”
The poor Carlossa, whose strength was TELE
altogether insufficient to cope with his

two powerful adversaries, now loudly en in
treated for assistance ; but from whom,
among the present ferocious-looking as
semblage, who witnessed his appeal to
their humanity, was he likely to obtain 20
it ? In his distress, however, he cast a SET
piteous and imploring look towards that CE

part
part of the eminence occupied by Corvet

ta, as if by nature directed to any thing
which resembled the softer sex, in his
search for the virtues of compassion and
sympathy.
This silent, but expressive appeal of the
terrified captive to Corvetta, was neither
unobserved nor unheeded ; but immedi
ately approaching the spot, she command
ed both ruffians to desist, in a voice of au
thority which failed not to enforce their
unwilling obedience to this unexpected
and unwelcome order ; since either of
these trustworthy guardians knew that
Corvetta had it in her power to report
their negligence, only a few minutes'be
fore, in suffering her to pass into the cave
unquestioned and unseen. Pedro, accord
ingly, shrunk back submissively towards
Sebastian ; while Gomez stared at her for
a moment, and then somewhat relaxed
the severity of his hold.
“ Curse on thee !" he muttered, loud
enough
enough to be heard by the dignified Cor

vetta, whom each thought himself en
titled to abuse, though none dared to dis
obey— " curse on thee, foul raven ! who
art ever croaking evil on our band. What
shouldst thou know of this knave's stub
bornness ? stand aside, and let me deal
with him — my poniard shall search his
heart, if it be only in requital forma
“ Peace, brute !" again exclaimed the
stern Corvetta— “ what mercy canst thou
expect hereafter, who never hast been
merciful ? ” Then turning mildly to Car
lossa, she continued, in a tone of gentle
néss “ Stranger, what hast thou done
with the trash for which these fellows
would deprive thee of thy life ? "
I gaveit to a holy father,” exclaimed
the terrified Carlossa— “ I gave it to a
holy father, for prayers for my safe return
to Montrosol.”
This answer seemed somewhat to pacify
the discontented horde, while Corvetta
quietly drew back to her station.
s And
“ And thou art properly recompensed

for thy credulity !" said Roldan, contemp
tuously, arranging his accoutrements as
he spoke, in order to depart on some ex
cursion ; " but cease to alarm him , Gomez .
Pedro , in future be not so violent - his
ignorance is no plea for thy brutality.
Conduct him to his dungeon .-- And mark
me, peasant- if after three days' conside
ration, which shall be allotted thee, thou
dost refuse to become a willing associate
of the mighty Roldan , and take the oaths
prescribed unto his followers, a dreadful
and a lingering death awaits thee. - Go
mez, release him from his chains, observe
his demeanour, and see that he escapes
not.- Pedro, be vigilant on thy post to
-
night, and anon thou shalt have nobler

occupation . - Prepare our meal, Corvetta,
and look that it be ready two hours from
hence . - Come, Sebastian ," he now whis
pered to the lieutenant in an under tone,
gird on thy blade with speed, and follow
me .”
So
So saying, the robber chief drew his

mantle closely around him, and began
with hasty strides to descend the tower
ing eminence, on the summit of which
his impregnable abode was situated, fol
lowed only by Sebastian, who was evi
dently his favourite, while Pedro was left
to patrole his solitary station ; and Car
lossa was remanded to the innermost re
cesses of their secluded haunt, there to
drag on his weary hours, excluded even
from the light of day, until the term of
his probation was expired. For Corvetta,
the abused, despised Corvetta, she stood
watching for a while the nimble descent
of the chief and his lieutenant, and then
sullenly retired to resume her occupa
tion .
Meantime this was the night on which
the monk Obando had been so strictly
enjoined by the demon to visit the pool
of blood at a short distance from the mo
nastery. Accordingly, having first pro
strated
strated himself before the holy cross,

which , as the fiend had predicted, faded
thereupon to the colour of marble, he se
cretly quitted the convent, and proceeded
to the appointed place, little aware of the
affecting discovery, or subsequent appal
ling and iniquitous transactions, which
were to compose the issue of his misdi.
rected search for happiness.
VOL. I. CHAP.
CHAPTER XVI .
For he was doomed, by a father's will, to wear

The sullen cowl and was forbid to share
The splendour of an elder brother's fate ;
And therefore came distrust, and bitter hate
And envy, like the serpent's twining coil,
Ran round his heart, and fixed its station there.
CORNWALL.
The silver moon shone brightly over the

cowled head of Obando, as he pursued
his solitary way down the declivity, wrapt
in ruminations, half pleasing, half ter
rific, as the good or evil he had to ex
pect from his unhallowed intercourse with
the yellow phantom of the monastery
arose to his remembrance. The tender
light of Dian failed not, however, as he
proceeded, to shed even over the tortured
mind
mind of the malecontent a softer calm
than he had long experienced, and awa
kened in his bosom many melting recol
lections of times which were gone by.
Among the principal of those objects
which now (almost for the first time du
ring a period of several years) fitted in
retrospection before him, were the forms
of his deceased and pious parents ; the
image of his brother, too, as it now again
recurred to his memory, caused the warm
tear to trickle down his furrowed cheek
a tender, loving brother, until the unequal
division of their patrimony had sown the
seeds of rancour and malignity betwixt
them ; for the partiality of their sire had
left Marco rich - while Obando, on the
other hand, was, but scantily provided
for. They had parted in early youth,
owing to a hasty quarrel concerning the
wide disparity of their respective fortunes,
and there seemed not the least probabi
lity of their ever meeting again ; for Oban
K 2 do
do knew not whether Marco was alive or

dead, nor had long been able to obtain
the least intelligence of him ; and it ap
peared not probable that Marco , the
wealthiest, should trouble himself with
1
inquiries about Obando. Yet did the

recollection of their former tenderness be
dew, at this soft hour, the callous cheek
of him whom, perhaps, if shed but yes
terday, such tears would have relieved
from the burning discontent which op
pressed his mind, and prevented the dread
ful consequences that must necessarily
follow the awful and precipitate course
he had adopted.
As Obando arrived within sight of the
bloody pool, he could not help thinking
it was strange that such recollections, at a
moment so inopportune, should intrude
themselves thus forcibly upon his mind :
but finding no human being of any descrip
tion whatever awaiting his arrival, on reach
ing the brink of the empurpled stream ,
and
and perceiving not the least visible sign

of any one approaching, he gave way to
the singularly -pensive mood, which had
thus by degrees usurped its dominion over
him ; and wrapping himself yet closer in
his coarse sable garment, he voluntarily
continued to indulge in the train of gloo
my and yet pleasing reflections into which
he had fallen .
While yet Obando was stànding de
jectedly beside the bloody pool, whose
clotted surface, of a deep purple hue, lay
stagnant at his feet, musing on the de
parted scenes of his childhood, a sound
resembling the approaching footsteps of
more than one person struck faintly on
his ear ; and he shrunk suddenly behind
the first projecting mound of black earth
which presented itself, in order to avoid
observation, which he judged it prudent
to do, at least for the present.
It was not long ere he beheld two fi
gures, in stature apparently more elevated
K 3 than
than even the tallest of his monastic bre

thren (which latter circumstance calmed
at least one of his apprehensions, inasmuch
as it convinced him they were not of the
brotherhood ), descend an adjacent emi ht
nence, and direct their course towards the
spot he had just quitted. Obando stood
trembling with terror and anxiety for the
event.
Having descended the promontory, and

arrived within a few paces of the monk's
secret lurking - place, Obando observed him
who appeared to be the principal empty
a sort of bucket (made for the purpose of
carrying water to the topmost ridges of
the mountain , where there are no springs,
and such as he knew were used by the
banditti of Roldan ), containing a crimson
liquid, in substance and appearance much
resembling coagulated blood, into the
aforesaid streamlet, of the same dire aspect
and appearance. The awful splash re
sounded for a moment in the startled ears
of de
of the monk ; the thick waves rolled hea

vily for the same short space towards
him, and then again subsided into their
former apathetic smoothness *.
Obando, as he gazed in silent horror,
felt his veins curdle at the bare supposi
tion that this might in reality be bļood,
perhaps but yesternight as warm and
precious as his own-the blood of their
unhappy victims, with which the banditti
had taken this means of appalling the
timid monks, in order to obtain supplies
of food or money from the convent, as
事
often as they chose to demand them.

And yet it was with these very blood
drainers that he had been induced to ven
ture thither, for the purpose of holding
some unhallowed consultation, the drift,
or termination of which could only yet
K 4 be
* This is well known to be the instantaneous effect of

any oily substance upon water, however the wind, or other
accidental causes, may erst have rippled its speedily
deadened surface.
be surmised ; his brain reeled strangely, as

before the altar on the preceding night,
after the departure of the demon, his
heart sickened, and he leant for support
against the mound which sheltered him,
at this new and horrible suggestion of his
conscience.
And now, having finished their busi
ness at the thus recruited pool, which the
heat of the sun's rays on the preceding
day they conjectured might have par
tially dried up, the two figures aforesaid
(now no longer doubted by Obando to
belong to the banditti) seemed about to
depart in silence ; when, just as they
turned to retire, the clear moonbeam fell
for a moment upon the swarthy features
of one of them , which had hitherto been
screened from observation , and Obando
recognised at once the aspect of his early
abandoned , but (as his reflections on that
very night, as well as his request to the
demon, had sufficiently demonstrated )
not
not yet forgotten brother ! Marco.it
was Marco ; and- “ Marco !” was the ex
clamation which now fell faintly from the
lips of the astonished monk, but so im
perfectly articulated , that it resembled a
mere expression of surprise, more than
the name of him whose altered and un
expected appearance had excited it.
The robbers turned hastily round, on
discovering a human voice so near them,
and presently espied the sable cowl and
habit of Obando, who, in his mingled
horror and astonishment at the scene be
fore him, had staggered several paces
from the place of his concealment, and
now stood fully revealed to the vision of
those who instantly resolved to sacrifice
him for his temerity, in daring to become
a hidden witness of their practices.
“ Death and fury !" exclaimed the most
savage-looking of the pair, a monk
here !-Hell and my stiletto ! what is to
be done ?”
K 5 6 Down
- Down with him, Sebastian !” said the

other, in a well-remembered tone, which 1
thrilled to the very heart of him who ]]
heard it ; " I hate those droning mendi

cants-- those whining reptiles, who gain
more by their hypocrisy than we by our
hacked blades and mutilated carcases can
win. He must not bear tales to the
brotherhood --so down with him , I say !"
Obando still strode forward.t: Sebas
tian drew his broadsword furiously, and
was prepared to strike, when the inter
position of his comrade prevented him ;
his arm dropped instantly, but his blade
remained unsheathed, while “ Hewhim mes.
not yet in pieces,” said the mediator, NE

calmly ; " let us first question him . The
brother comes towards us, and seems in
clined for a controversy-I love a fierce
discussion of our privileges, and will in bor
dulge him." bi
« Too well knows he who hears thee, "
now cried the monk Obando, in a voice
which
which rooted in its turn the least bruta

of his assailants to the spot with wonder -
" too well knows he who hears thee the

fatal truth of that discreditable declara
tion , else hadst thou not thus nearly in
curred , in thy blind haste, the guilt of
fratricide ; though little deemed I once
that thou wouldst ever contend for pri
vileges so base, so dishonourable, as those
thou art, it seems, prepared to vindi
cate . Marco, behold - and know me !"
The monk threw back his cowl as he
concluded ; the rays of Cynthia revealed
at once his glaring eyes and livid fea
tures.
Marco was thunderstruck . He totter
ed, gasped for breath, and then exclaimed
triumphantly— “ It is -- it is Obando !”
he reiterated , rushing to embrace him ;
“ no phantom - no delusion — it is himself !
I hold — I clasp - I embrace him ha ! ha !
ha ! ”
While these frantic expressions of joy
K 6 were
were vociferated by the transported ban

dit, Obando endured his caresses, with a
calmness that exhibited a perfect contrast
to the wild gestures and extravagant de
meanour of his new - found brother. The
latter was all hilarity and transport at
this unexpected meeting, as might have
been anticipated, from the long, anxious,
and diligent search, he had caused to be
made for his formerly ill -treated and per C
secuted brother. Obando had been the

subject of his dreams-- the only remorse
that ever touched his bosom was for his
unfeeling conduct to the less fortunate
Obando ; his nights of watchfulness, his
days of melancholy, his hours of seclu
sion, regret for his early treatment of his
portionless brother, and grief for his in
ability to make atonement, might veri
tably be termed the origin of them all.
Marco had sufficient reason , therefore, to
rejoice at this encounter ; for his wakeful
nights had of late been frequent, his
mornings
mornings of sorrow many, and his hours

of solitude insupportably wretched.
But Obando acted, on the present oc
casion , otherwise ; his visage of thought
ful composure spoke him but little inter
ested in the present scene, save inasmuch
as he deemed it a portion of the yellow
spirit's scheme, in order to facilitate the
procuration of the promised decisive in
terview with Roldan, the chief of the
ferocious horde, to which he now doubt
ed not his brother belonged. For the
feelings of Obando, however singular it
may appear, had been more effectually
chilled and blunted by the dull monotony
of a monastic life, than Marco's by the
lawless course in which he appeared to
have been revelling ; in addition to which,
he had perhaps not quite forgotten the
indignities he had received, when young,
from his then haughty and better portion
ed brother.
Yet Obando (I think I hear the reader
now
now exclaim ) had required the demon to

procure him an interview with his brother,
as an event which he imagined would be
conducive to his happiness; true, reader
but however this might be, he seemed not
much affected by the present meeting,
which he inwardly resolved should only
serve (as it seemed the yellow spirit had
designed it) to forward and facilitate the
obtainment of his more important wishes.
СНАР.
CHAPTER XVII.
ned
The needy man , who has known better days,

One whom distress has spited at the world,
Is be whom tempting fiends would pitch upon
To do such deeds ás make the prosperous men
Lift up their hands, and wonder who could do them.
And such a man was I ; a man declin'd,
Who saw no end of black adversity.
Home.
DURING the period of his associate's ex

ultation, and Obando's pensiveness, Se
bastian , the lieutenant, stood aloof, sur
veying them with a mixture of derision
and disappointment, as he sullenly sheath
ed his unpolluted , weapon . After the
first ebullitions of his joy were over, the
disapproving Marco surveyed, with cha
grin
grin he strove not to conceal or qualify,

the shorn head and monastic costume of
the altered Obando, each succeeding
glance at whose holy appendages seemed
to throw an additional shade of gloom
over his countenance, until— " What have
we here ?" he suddenly exclaimed , while
his features waxed gradually sterner as he
spoke-" what have we here ? that hood
-an arm half bare - a wretched sandal!
what may all this mean ? thou hast not
been so rash, so desperate, as to swear
yet can I doubt these evidences ? thou
art a monk, Obando - a sworn supporter
of yonder hateful fane, which I have
sworn to demolish that is, as soon as its
existence ceases to advantage me. Speak !
art thou not a sleek, deluded, and delu.
ding hypocrite ? a canting, self-devoted
sacrifice ? art thou not of the order of
Montserrat ? "
“ I am -I am !" returned Obando, with
emotion, sighing inwardly at the perfect
resemblance
resemblance of the picture his brother had

drawn_ “ I am indeed of the loathed order
of Montserrat."
“ And miserable also ? ” inquired his
interrogator, with a semblance of solici.
tude.
66
Oh, most unhappy!" replied the weep
ing Obando, losing all his self-command
and caution / " most wretched has been
my career from its commencement, and
yet more horrible will be its termination .
Would that I had ne'er been born , or born
in a less evil hour, and to better for
tune !"
“ Blame not thy fortune, Obando,” ex
claimed the now again exhilarated bandit
with vivacity, " it yet shall be amended.
I have suffered much compunction since
we párted — but away with such dull
.
thoughts! tell me, my pious brother, for

so I suppose thou wouldst at least be
called, why art thou absent at this unsea
sonable hour, when only such as are evil
should
should be abroad, and what is it thou

seekest here ? ”
“ I seek an interview with the famous
"
Roldan ,” said Obando, glad of an oppor
tunity to introduce the subject which oc
cupied his thoughts— “ I seek an inter
view with the famous Roldan -- the infa
mous, if thou art determined to have it
so , as by that haughty frown I half con
jecture; and, brother, I am deceived if it
be not in thy power to procure me a sight
of him whose dreaded name strikes terror
into the boldest of our fraternity, and
thereby merit my eternal gratitude."
“ Thou seekest an interview with Rol
dan , dost thou ? ” demanded the other in
á haughty tone, gathering his dark mantle
proudly around him, and adjusting his
plumed hat with an air of lofty indiffe
rence .
in! "“Ay, and will render him service, if
he disapproves not the conditions,” said
Obando, with firmness.
• Behold
“ Behold him then !” replied the bandit

fiercely, resting his hand upon the massy
bilt of his huge hanger, with an air of
dignity that might not have disgraced a
monarch ; “ thou art in his presence,
monk - speak boldly , Obando, and fear
"
nothing."
Obando was for a minute thunder
struck , and unable to make any answer :
$
on perceiving him pause astonished , the

bandit thus continued—“ I am that Rol
dan whom thou seekest ,” said he, folding
his armsmajestically on his bosom , 66" and
not only will deign willingly to hold a
parley with thee, but am ready to accom
plish for thee aught that thou canst desire.
Say , can my influence over the minds of
thy hare-hearted brethren in any way ad
vantage thee ? can these, my faithful and
courageous comrades, do thee service ?
art thou a fugitive ? my haunt shall be
thy refuge: art thou aggrieved ? my sword
shall do thee right: in danger art thou ?
and
and my band shall rescue thee. Tell me,

Obando, what is it Roldan shall perform
for thee ? "
The astonished monk, who by this time
had somewhat recovered the use of his
internal faculties at least, stood gazing on
the form of his altered brother, to which
the habit he wore, and the usual appen
dages of a robber - chief - a small horn,
partly concealed beneath the folds of his
mantle, aa stiletto, pistols, and the yellow
plume (which had hitherto escaped Oban
do's observation ), gave an air of fierceness
and depravity he never recollected having
observed him exhibit before. Yet still it
was the figure of his brother - tall, mus
cular, and in its general outline bearing a
strong resemblance to his own. At length
he spoke, after endeavouring to subdue
his agitation, which had grown insup
pressive, as the reflection crossed his mind,
1
that ere he could ask any direct boon of

the impatient chieftain, he must now un
avoidably
avoidably disclose to his brother's ear the

deplorable degree of wretchedness to
which his own rebellious passions had re
duced him.
“ And thou art Roldan !” he exclaimed ,
as if scarcely able to credit his senses
“ thou, my once gentle brother, thou art
he at whose appalling name the benighted
traveller trembles as he crawls ! this dread
ful horde, which has so long infested us
those unsparing wretches, who lately,
upon this very spot, sacrificed the life of
our superior, thou art their confederate,
they are thine, and this damning witness
of their depth in iniquity ,” pointing to
the crimson pool at his feet, “ this is their
work - oh ! must I think it thine ? alas ! I
cannot judge otherwise, since but now I
saw
“ Name not what thou hast seen ,” here

interrupted Roldan ; “ it is but aa harmless
device to affright the refractory brother
hood into subordination, and render them
subservient
subservient to my purposes.; although I

**
hear they have partially thwarted my de

sign, by proclaiming it a miracle of Hea
ven , and vouching its contents to be the
unsinking blood of their martyred: supe
rior, which the earth will not imbibe un
til his death is avenged . But listen to
me, Obando--yon sanguine-tinted pool is
in reality bloodless :--you seem to discre
dit me,” he continued, perceiving that O
bando shook his head incredulously — “ 'tis
true, by Heaven ! albeit yon gallant fellow
alone, of all my band, is aware of the de
ception . The liquid which thou sawest
me but now infuse, is a chemical prepa
ration, well calculated to delude the eyes
of vulgar superstition and conventual ig
norance. On each succeeding night, save
those on which I have been accustomed
to seclude myself from all, in sorrow for
thy mysterious destiny, since still I vainly
strove: to penetrate the cloud which en
veloped it, at this lone hour, unseen by
mortal
mortal eyes, save his whom thou be

heldst to -night accompany me, have I
replenished it with what the peasantry
believe to be the blood of the late abbot,
still crying to the regardless spheres for
vengeance ; while the monks, in their
own pusillanimous bosoms, have defined
it the gore of my unramsoned victims,
which may one day be augmented with
their own . But let us abandon such dis
course, at least for the present, and select
some livelier theme to talk upon : the
world will ever be scourged by despe
rate men, while it practises the enormi
ties which drive them to desperation :
my deeds have a tincture of olive, but
they paint them sable -- my career has
not been untarnished , but report has
stamped my character with a far deeper
and a deadlier dye than mine actions
have deserved . Complain I alone of
this ? far otherwise : myriads have suf
fered — a few too have repelled them
many
many have mourned, while some have

endured patiently ; but I despise the
aspersions of calumny, and build my
very successes upon the blackness and de
formity of the hues in which its voice de
picts me !"
The concluding sentences were uttered
!
by Roldan in a hurried tone, and are re
corded here at length, as they may suf-.
fice to throw a light upon his character,
and the means whereby he obtained his
elevation - viz. converting the fears of
others to his own advantage, rather than
by the commission of actual cruelties, and
imposing largely on the credulity ofman
kind.
Finding, however, when he ceased
speaking, that Obando still continued si
lent, the desperado resumed gaily, as
follows:
“ But at once to the purpose, my
thrice holy brother : since Heaven has
thus directed us to each other," and here
Obando's
Obando's cheek changed suddenly to a

yet more ghastly hue, at the conviction
of how little had Heaven to do with their
encounter, “ let us not shew our disre
gard of its bounty, by parting ere neces
sity compels us. It yet wants long to
the hour of morning vespers, and till it
is arrived, you shall not leave me : let
us therefore, in the interim, retire unto
my cave, near the summit of yonder
beetling eminence, where unmolested we
may hold our conference. — Sebastian,
speed thou before, and forward our re
past : myself and this good father, whom
reverence, I enjoin thee, as the brother
of thy chief, will follow at our leisure.
You shall share my nocturnal entertain
ment, witness our mode of life, and, as
the guest of Roldan, receive a hearty
welcome, though a priest. Look , my
brave bucket -bearer," alluding to Sebas
tian , “ has already gained the crag above
our heads - we must pursue his foot
VOL . I. L
steps;
218 ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT:
steps ; to me the task is a light one, but

- the path is steep and difficult, so be
wary ."
‫است‬ ‫مسلمةا بات کیاور ان‬

‫از روز از تا‬ ‫کالیرا پر‬
‫میر کار ما با ارایه کرد و او را‬
‫ لا تزال اندر ایک باد‬: ‫بدايةا‬
CHAP .
CHAPTER XVIII .
Place your foot here ; here take this staff, and cling
A moment to that shrub ; now give me your hand,
And hold fast by my girdle ; softly ~ well
The chalet will be gain’d within an hour.
Come on ; we'll quickly find a surer footing,
And something like a pathway, which the torrent
Hath wash'd since winter. Come, 'tis bravely done ;
You should have been a hunter - follow me !
BYRON .
STEEP and difficult did Obando find it ;

the innumerable crags which rose one
above another, in awful and magnificent
succession, until they reached the out
posts ofthe banditti, presented themselves
as obstacles so formidable to his progress ,
that at first he was almost induced to
deem them insurmountable. These im-.
L 2 pediments,
pediments, however, by the assistance of

Roldan, who mounted the ' overhanging
precipices with a facility scarcely credible,
were gradually surmounted ; and Obando
at length looked down upon his convent,
which glimmered in the moonshine far
beneath him. But now as they ascended,
the path became yet more toilsome and
dangerous; the ascent of several project
ing points of the rocky mountain, over
which the shuddering Obando was in
formed by his fearless conductor they had
yet to pass, appearing at a distance al
most perpendicular. Here, therefore, as
they proceeded,
The foot was fain
Assistance from the hand to gain ;"
and some sprigs of fir and hazel, which

sprouted occasionally from many a gaping
fissure, afforded by no means an unsalu
tary aid to the affrighted Obando ,' whose
brain reeled giddily, as he scrambled over
those
those appalling promontories, from which

he expected every instant to be precipi
tated into the abyss below - dark, dreary,
and unfathomable.
Such was the effect of the seemingly
awful perils he encountered on first at
tempting, with his unaccustomed feet, to
scale the robbers' territory ; but far other
wise fared it with his intrepid companion.
Like one whom neither peril could daunt,
nor difficulties overcome, did the brave
Roldan bound from each succeeding petty
eminence, and clamber with equal agi
lity over every opposing mound or sharp
rocky promontory that chanced to inter
cept them in their wearying course, paus
ing often, as he proceeded, to ridicule the
fears of the monk, or to lend him his as
sistance in scrambling through the thorns
and underwood which now almost inces
santly obstructed their progress, and
which to penetrate without severely lace :
rating his body, the flowing garb of
L 3 Obando
Obando rendered a task extremely diffi.

cult to accomplish. Unlike the stout
leather buskins of his companion Rol
dan, the beggarly sandals which covered
his tender feet were insufficient to screen
them from the prickly substances by
which they were now constantly assailed ;
his half uncovered limbs too suffered in
no slight degree, owing to the rugged
nature of the ascent he had so injudi
ciously attempted. These, however, were
but secondary considerations to an in
terview with Roldan the evil spirit had
directed him , for the purpose of calming
the tumult newly raised in his bosom
by the charms of the beauteous Isabel,
and an interview with Roldan he was ac
cordingly determined to obtain .
At length they passed this region of
wild briar - this desolate tract of min
gled earth and stone, intersected only
with coarse weeds and brushwood, which
grew where nought beside would have
thriven
thriven to maturity, and arrived within

view of the lofty pinnacle of that tower
ing summit where the impregnable re
treat of the renowned Roldan was si
tuated . And now Obando, with a kind
of terror, which be found it extremely
difficult to conceal, perceived close by his
side the ferocious- looking sentinel who
held his watch that night upon the fur
thermost outpost of the marauders' hold ,
standing half sheltered beneath a sort of
hovel, composed entirely of the roots of
• trees, and erected on the utmost pre
cincts of the guarded territory.
At this moment Roldan , who pre
eeded Obando, appeared sunk into a sort
of reverie, probably respecting the nature
of the business which a brother of the
monastery (as he had ascertained Obando
to be) could possibly have to transact
with him ; but not many seconds elapsed
ere he was aroused therefrom by the loud
voice of the sentinel, exerted in the per
L 4 formance
formance of his duty— “ Who goes there ? ”

he demanded fiercely , levelling his car
bine on their approach ; “ give the word,
or Paolo fires !"
66
Never - upon his comrade !” said Rol-.
dan jocundly, flinging open his mantle,
and tossing his plume' backwards as he
spoke, which gave his interrogator a mo
mentary view of his stern features.
Oh, I ask pardon, captain ,” said the
ruffian , immediately lowering his piece
“ I ask pardon for not having recognised 中
you . But seeing a monk so near our

rendezvous, I became enraged, and
thought-- "
“ You have done, your ' duty, brave
Paolo!” said the captain, carelessly ;
" those drones are our worst enemies;
but for this member of their soon to be
pillaged hive, he is my friend and kins
man ;" and so saying, he passed on, fol
lowed closely by Obando.
And now , as they advanced towards
the
the highest pinnacle of the mountain,

Obando ' observed, to his infinite gratifi
cation, that the path gradually assumed
a different aspect, and that, instead of
being, as heretofore, frequently obstruct.
ed , and almost choked up with weeds
and brambles, through which it required
some skill to force a passage, the track
now wound over aa level space, diversi
fied only by a few occasional heaps of
scattered pebbles. Across this smooth
tract, therefore, they now proceeded with
ease and alacrity ; and as they swiftly
traversed what seemed to be the only in
tervening glade betwixt them and the
caverned summit, whereon was now dis
cerned a ruined edifice, resembling in
shape an ancient castle, they resumed
their conversation .
* No doubt thou hast marvelled much
already,” said Obando, guessing such to
have been the bent of his companion's
reflections, “ what kind of boon a poor,
L 5 secluded
secluded wretch , lost to the world, and a

foe to its enjoyments, as thou believest
thy deluded brother (who has indeed for
sworn , but not forgotten , his former re
lish for its forbidden pleasures), can have
to request of the lawless leader of such a
horde as thine. But, Marco , I was
wretched ; a dream -- a terrible, and yet
a welcome dream , bade me to think that
Roldan could aid me (although, even at
this hour, I scarce know by what means),
and ameliorate my misery ; fired with this
thought, I issued forth to seek him, and,
Marco ”
« Thou shalt find his willingness to
serve thee," answered the bandit, inter
rupting him hastily- “ thou shalt find
his willingness to serve thee answer thy
expectations. But in the mean time,
Obando ,” he added, as a cause for the
interruption , “ do not, I pray thee, call
me Marco here. I am Roldan ; accus
tom thyself to use that appellation, and
it
it will soon become familiar to thee; for

get that such a being as Marco was ever in
existence. I am no longer that effemi
nate , foolish brother of thine, who be
haved so harshly to thee ; my very heart
is changed. I have acquired, moreover, a
nobler appellation ; deprive me of it here,
amongst my enthusiastic followers, and
you dissolve the spell whereby the better
half of my achievements are accomplish
ed . Vulgar minds, Obando, however
mechanically brave in action , are swayed
by superstition and circumstance ; the arm
of Roldan may have achieved much -- but
his name is a talisman which does much
more. "
As the chieftain concluded , they arri
ved at the entrance of the cave before de
seribed, .overhung by the dilapidated for
tress, where Pedro was still found loiter
ing near his former station , now gazing
on the wide expanse of country beneath
him - now again examining his weapons,
and,
3
and, as appeared by his sullen demeanour,

inwardly deprecating the inactivity of his
chief. He raised his head in astonishment,
however, on beholding him return ac
companied by one in a monastic garb, and SIE
Roldan hastily addressed him . “ Pedro,”

said the chief, go, aid in the preparation
of our banquet-chamber : that done, re
pair to thy comrades’airy dormitory. You
see,” he added, smiling at Obando, “ we
make use sometimes of conventual phrases,
although we hate conventual discipline,
which, II guess, is canopied by the lofty
awning nature spreads for them . - Awake
the sleepers—I would have all present.
And forget not, Pedro, as you pass the
refectory, to bid Corvetta hasten our re
past - begone!"
Roldan , still closely followed by Oban
do, now gaily entered the cave which
conducted to his private apartment, while
Pedro sullenly slunk away, to obey the
orders he had received from his comman
der
ABBOT OF MONTSERRAT. .
229
der, and silently to wonder at the sight
he had just witnessed , viz . a pale monas
tic (the first he had ever seen on friendly
terms with his leader) apparently taking
refuge in their unholy sanctuary.
END OF VOL. I.
MVSEVM
BRITAN
NICVM
Printed by J. Darling, Leadenhall-street, London .

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Abbot of Montserrat or The Pool of Blood

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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized

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THE POOL OF BLOOD.

FAYS OF LOCH LOMOND , SICILIAN BOY, THE PROPHECY OF DUNCANNON,

A monk , I tell you - a resolved villain . SHAKESPEARE.

A. K. NEWMAN AND CO . LEADENHALL- STREET .

To demonstrate forcibly, to the conviction

ence of an abundance of clemency in the

May this, and the lighter efforts made

* Of the incidents here alluded to, by far the greater

various works, tours, essays, &c. that have been written

The waves were rough, the hour was late ;

In the romantic “ olden time,” when

the savage enormities practised by them

his pallet, not to repose, but to waste the

churchmen , breathe only mildness and

quently to allude during the progress of

the scowling horizon, illumining with a

instant by the accumulated deluge which

graceful headdress of the humblest class,

ready described, must be mentioned a pale

they had still to traverse.— “ May our lady

upon the spot where once a holy abbot,

3 means unfamiliar, resumed, with an aspect

becomes not me to speak - I meddle not

among the monks, and the correspondent

sible pinnacle of the neighbouring sum

* A cross of this kind actually exists at Montserrat,

ceeded to 'allay their fears, by assuring

the level plain which now gradually open

deed seemed somewhat abated , had spo

They now , amid tremendous sheets of

declining spirits of his almost fainting

“ Not here unwelcome, though unknown

AFTER a brief interval, the door was

ever, on his entrance, the holy man , with

with a significant smile, drew forth his

som fain know where thou dwellest, youth ;

mination to return immediately, at least

a flash of lightning rendered visible for a

mountain. The thunder howled dread

streamed across the yet-extended portal,

an air of neatness and monastic regularity

unseasonable journey, which, with the

My only love sprung from my only hate !

ALFIERI de Gracy was an opulent farmer

destructive course ; and most of the rela

would Isabel and her father wander, and

happiness to be enjoyed no more. But

but to which each of the agriculturists

“ Oft had the wild heath been his bed,

and as often had he triumphed over every

kind of peril, and returned unharmed

rate enemy, failed not to illumine a flame

a principal servant of his establishment,

foot of the mountain , and by sending for

discouraging circumstances - an offer that

serviceable to the travellers in their pre

nastery on that eventful night, by no

Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.

A SOMEWHAT lengthened interval had

and devotion to their saint; this said, he

* The monks of Montserrat were accustomed to enter