登陆注册
15688100000141

第141章 CHAPTER V(5)

Still He persisted in his design; and with a voice unassured and frequent interruptions, He contrived to finish the four first lines of the page.

They were in a language, whose import was totally unknown to him.

Scarce had He pronounced the last word when the effects of the charm were evident. A loud burst of Thunder was heard; The prison shook to its very foundations; A blaze of lightning flashed through the Cell; and in the next moment, borne upon sulphurous whirl-winds, Lucifer stood before him a second time.

But He came not as when at Matilda's summons He borrowed the Seraph's form to deceive Ambrosio. He appeared in all that ugliness which since his fall from heaven had been his portion:

His blasted limbs still bore marks of the Almighty's thunder: Aswarthy darkness spread itself over his gigantic form: His hands and feet were armed with long Talons: Fury glared in his eyes, which might have struck the bravest heart with terror: Over his huge shoulders waved two enormous sable wings; and his hair was supplied by living snakes, which twined themselves round his brows with frightful hissings. In one hand He held a roll of parchment, and in the other an iron pen. Still the lightning flashed around him, and the Thunder with repeated bursts, seemed to announce the dissolution of Nature.

Terrified at an Apparition so different from what He had expected, Ambrosio remained gazing upon the Fiend, deprived of the power of utterance. The Thunder had ceased to roll:

Universal silence reigned through the dungeon.

'For what am I summoned hither?' said the Daemon, in a voice which sulphurous fogs had damped to hoarseness--At the sound Nature seemed to tremble: A violent earthquake rocked the ground, accompanied by a fresh burst of Thunder, louder and more appalling than the first.

Ambrosio was long unable to answer the Daemon's demand.

'I am condemned to die;' He said with a faint voice, his blood running cold, while He gazed upon his dreadful Visitor. 'Save me! Bear me from hence!'

'Shall the reward of my services be paid me? Dare you embrace my cause? Will you be mine, body and soul? Are you prepared to renounce him who made you, and him who died for you? Answer but ''Yes'' and Lucifer is your Slave.'

'Will no less price content you? Can nothing satisfy you but my eternal ruin? Spirit, you ask too much. Yet convey me from this dungeon: Be my Servant for one hour, and I will be yours for a thousand years. Will not this offer suffice?'

'It will not. I must have your soul; must have it mine, and mine for ever.'

'Insatiate Daemon, I will not doom myself to endless torments. Iwill not give up my hopes of being one day pardoned.'

'You will not? On what Chimaera rest then your hopes?

Short-sighted Mortal! Miserable Wretch! Are you not guilty?

Are you not infamous in the eyes of Men and Angels. Can such enormous sins be forgiven? Hope you to escape my power? Your fate is already pronounced. The Eternal has abandoned you; Mine you are marked in the book of destiny, and mine you must and shall be!'

'Fiend, 'tis false! Infinite is the Almighty's mercy, and the Penitent shall meet his forgiveness. My crimes are monstrous, but I will not despair of pardon: Haply, when they have received due chastisement . . . .'

'Chastisement? Was Purgatory meant for guilt like yours? Hope you that your offences shall be bought off by prayers of superstitious dotards and droning Monks? Ambrosio, be wise!

Mine you must be: You are doomed to flames, but may shun them for the present. Sign this parchment: I will bear you from hence, and you may pass your remaining years in bliss and liberty. Enjoy your existence: Indulge in every pleasure to which appetite may lead you: But from the moment that it quits your body, remember that your soul belongs to me, and that I will not be defrauded of my right.'

The Monk was silent; But his looks declared that the Tempter's words were not thrown away. He reflected on the conditions proposed with horror: On the other hand, He believed himself doomed to perdition and that, by refusing the Daemon's succour, He only hastened tortures which He never could escape. The Fiend saw that his resolution was shaken: He renewed his instances, and endeavoured to fix the Abbot's indecision. He described the agonies of death in the most terrific colours; and He worked so powerfully upon Ambrosio's despair and fears that He prevailed upon him to receive the Parchment. He then struck the iron Pen which He held into a vein of the Monk's left hand. It pierced deep, and was instantly filled with blood; Yet Ambrosio felt no pain from the wound. The Pen was put into his hand: It trembled. The Wretch placed the Parchment on the Table before him, and prepared to sign it. Suddenly He held his hand: He started away hastily, and threw the Pen upon the table.

'What am I doing?' He cried--Then turning to the Fiend with a desperate air, 'Leave me! Begone! I will not sign the Parchment.'

'Fool!' exclaimed the disappointed Daemon, darting looks so furious as penetrated the Friar's soul with horror; 'Thus am Itrifled with? Go then! Rave in agony, expire in tortures, and then learn the extent of the Eternal's mercy! But beware how you make me again your mock! Call me no more till resolved to accept my offers! Summon me a second time to dismiss me thus idly, and these Talons shall rend you into a thousand pieces! Speak yet again; Will you sign the Parchment?'

'I will not! Leave me! Away!'

Instantly the Thunder was heard to roll horribly: Once more the earth trembled with violence: The Dungeon resounded with loud shrieks, and the Daemon fled with blasphemy and curses.

同类推荐
  • 春闺辞二首

    春闺辞二首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Smoke Bellew

    Smoke Bellew

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 如意轮菩萨观门义注秘诀

    如意轮菩萨观门义注秘诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 猫苑

    猫苑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 春秋诗话

    春秋诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 惊天悍妃

    惊天悍妃

    什么叫喝口凉水都塞牙,风嫣然是最好的例子。先是猪一样的队友,在她没有退出爆炸区域引爆炸弹,害她魂穿她人身。好吧!至少活下来了,还混个将军嫡女的名头。两天好日子没过,他那个老爹的女人和孩子们有计划把她嫁出去,嫁就嫁吧!结果还是个病秧子,这下一下子就点燃了风嫣然的火爆脾气。“老娘不发威,你们不知道老娘是谁是不是?”罗刹一脸扭曲的看着自家王妃,他已经无力吐槽了……情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 九天神女传

    九天神女传

    前世,她是任人鱼肉的小白鼠,学习各种技能知识;为了自由她反抗、争斗,最终葬了卿卿性命。这一世,她重生混乱异世,她要活出自我。无论是谁,阻挡了我的路,我就让你尝尝我的狠。于是,她将现代火器带入异世,征战四方;为此,她赔上了亲情、爱情。。。当她以为一切尘埃落定时,才发现,不过是刚刚开始,于是她爆发了,这个世界震颤了,所有人都要为她的怒火买单。。。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 凰焚九天

    凰焚九天

    重生让狂拽酷的某佣兵王从封印之中醒来,一不小心怀了人家娃。为旧爱他把自己丢给渣世子?前有虎狼后有蛇蝎美人,某女指天誓约:今世不闹它个天翻地覆决不罢休!浴火焚凰,她以魔灵双修的体质站到了这个大陆的顶端,踩渣男扁蛇蝎女,带着宝宝翱翔九天。某男凤眼斜挑:听说你在抛绣球选夫,我接了,洞房去?……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 塔罗社

    塔罗社

    我手中握着的,不仅仅是一副塔罗牌,是你的过去、现在、未来......如何,你要占卜吗?
  • 美女教师巧遇痴情男

    美女教师巧遇痴情男

    她—孟嫣然,一袭白裙,长发及腰,脱俗出尘的仙女模样,却偏偏做了教师。他—李雨曈,一个阳光帅气的大男孩,S市最大的广告公司老总的独子,只为能够默默地守护在她的身边,不顾家人的强烈反对,执意与她做了同事。他说:”嫣然姐,我愿意永远跟随着你,永远只做你的保镖。“他—贾浩,一个循规蹈矩的忧郁已婚男人他酒后狂妄的说:”孟嫣然,你只能是我老婆,永远都只能是我老婆。“
  • 本草纲目中的女人养颜经全集,黄帝内经中的女人养颜经全集

    本草纲目中的女人养颜经全集,黄帝内经中的女人养颜经全集

    本书共分为两大篇。分别讲述了美白肌肤、祛斑护肤、各种问题肌肤的草本护理方案,利用本草来进行抵抗衰老、排毒塑体、内外全方位护理女性的具体措施;讲述了针对女性不同时期、不同部位、不同季节的本草保养方,以及《本草纲目》中各部食物的养颜秘方等,还设有美丽全攻略一章,将女性常见的美颜护肤、美体塑身、美发护发、养生保健、“三期”问题、美容化妆等常见问题,用一问一答的形式进行了解答。
  • 杀手的幸福面馆

    杀手的幸福面馆

    他不当杀手,开了个面馆,却过得很幸福而风流。性感的都市女厨娘,浪漫的女大学生服务员,潇洒冷酷的送餐美女,可爱的萝莉表妹会计……和他上演着搞笑而有趣的故事。闲来维护维护社会正义,收拾收拾装b分子,小日子过得轻松又刺激。一部绝对幽默,爽快,好看的小说
  • 用罪恶铸就王座

    用罪恶铸就王座

    心灵掌控洞悉一切,心之壁拒绝一切。铭刻着王的印记的双手汇聚世界的罪恶,将其铸就罪恶的桂冠与王座,加冕为王。我是罪恶之王,我是完美之王,我的名字,岚。
  • 浪漫满屋

    浪漫满屋

    有的时候,懦弱和勇敢就只在一念之间,选择懦弱,只会让人更懦弱,弱者最缺的就是成为人上人的野心!从这一刻起,我不在懦弱……每个男人心中都有野心,释放自己的熊熊的野心,成就无上荣耀!