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there. There is not a sentiment engraven on my heart garments, which told me I was the son of the Count
that does not venerate you and yours. Falconara.
The grace and fervour with which Theodore uttered  It is most true, said Jerome;  I am that wretched
these words interested every person present in his favour. father.
Even Manfred was touched  yet still possessed with  Again I enjoin thee silence, said Manfred:  pro-
his resemblance to Alfonso, his admiration was dashed ceed.
with secret horror.  I remained in slavery, said Theodore,  until within
 Rise, said he;  thy life is not my present purpose. these two years, when attending on my master in his
But tell me thy history, and how thou camest connected cruises, I was delivered by a Christian vessel, which
with this old traitor here. overpowered the pirate; and discovering myself to the
 My Lord, said Jerome eagerly. captain, he generously put me on shore in Sicily; but
 Peace! impostor! said Manfred;  I will not have him alas! instead of finding a father, I learned that his es-
prompted. tate, which was situated on the coast, had, during his
 My Lord, said Theodore,  I want no assistance; my absence, been laid waste by the Rover who had carried
story is very brief. I was carried at five years of age to my mother and me into captivity: that his castle had
Algiers with my mother, who had been taken by cor- been burnt to the ground, and that my father on his
sairs from the coast of Sicily. She died of grief in less return had sold what remained, and was retired into
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religion in the kingdom of Naples, but where no man which becomes thy birth; but now, and thou didst of-
could inform me. Destitute and friendless, hopeless al- fend me: yet the noble blood which flows in thy veins,
most of attaining the transport of a parent s embrace, I may well be allowed to boil out, when it has so recently
took the first opportunity of setting sail for Naples, traced itself to its source. Come, my Lord, (turning to
from whence, within these six days, I wandered into Manfred),  if I can pardon him, surely you may; it is
this province, still supporting myself by the labour of not the youth s fault, if you took him for a spectre.
my hands; nor until yester morn did I believe that This bitter taunt galled the soul of Manfred.
heaven had reserved any lot for me but peace of mind  If beings from another world, replied he haughtily,
and contented poverty. This, my Lord, is Theodore s story.  have power to impress my mind with awe, it is more
I am blessed beyond my hope in finding a father; I am than living man can do; nor could a stripling s arm.
unfortunate beyond my desert in having incurred your  My Lord, interrupted Hippolita,  your guest has oc-
Highness s displeasure. casion for repose: shall we not leave him to his rest?
He ceased. A murmur of approbation gently arose from Saying this, and taking Manfred by the hand, she took
the audience. leave of Frederic, and led the company forth.
 This is not all, said Frederic;  I am bound in honour The Prince, not sorry to quit a conversation which
to add what he suppresses. Though he is modest, I must recalled to mind the discovery he had made of his most
be generous; he is one of the bravest youths on Chris- secret sensations, suffered himself to be conducted to
tian ground. He is warm too; and from the short knowl- his own apartment, after permitting Theodore, though
edge I have of him, I will pledge myself for his veracity: under engagement to return to the castle on the mor-
if what he reports of himself were not true, he would row (a condition the young man gladly accepted), to
not utter it  and for me, youth, I honour a frankness retire with his father to the convent. Matilda and Isabella
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The Castle of Otranto  Walpole
were too much occupied with their own reflections, and Isabella, not less restless, had better foundation for
too little content with each other, to wish for farther her suspicions. Both Theodore s tongue and eyes had
converse that night. They separated each to her cham- told her his heart was engaged; it was true  yet, per-
ber, with more expressions of ceremony and fewer of haps, Matilda might not correspond to his passion; she
affection thou had passed between them since their had ever appeared insensible to love: all her thoughts
childhood. were set on heaven.
If they parted with small cordiality, they did but meet  Why did I dissuade her? said Isabella to herself;  I
with greater impatience, as soon as the sun was risen. am punished for my generosity; but when did they meet?
Their minds were in a situation that excluded sleep, where? It cannot be; I have deceived myself; perhaps
and each recollected a thousand questions which she last night was the first time they ever beheld each other;
wished she had put to the other overnight. Matilda re- it must be some other object that has prepossessed his
flected that Isabella had been twice delivered by affections  if it is, I am not so unhappy as I thought;
Theodore in very critical situations, which she could if it is not my friend Matilda  how! Can I stoop to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]