第49章
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  WhenUrfriedhadwithclamoursandmenacesdrivenRebeccabacktotheapartmentfromwhichshehadsallied,sheproceededtoconducttheunwillingCedricintoasmallapartment,thedoorofwhichsheheedfullysecured。Thenfetchingfromacupboardastoupofwineandtwoflagons,sheplacedthemonthetable,andsaidinatoneratherassertingafactthanaskingaquestion,``ThouartSaxon,father——Denyitnot,’’shecontinued,observingthatCedrichastenednottoreply;``thesoundsofmynativelanguagearesweettomineears,thoughseldomheardsavefromthetonguesofthewretchedanddegradedserfsonwhomtheproudNormansimposethemeanestdrudgeryofthisdwelling。ThouartaSaxon,father——aSaxon,and,saveasthouartaservantofGod,afreeman——

  Thineaccentsaresweetinmineear。’’

  ``DonotSaxonpriestsvisitthiscastle,then?’’

  repliedCedric;``itwere,methinks,theirdutytocomforttheoutcastandoppressedchildrenofthesoil。’’

  ``Theycomenot——oriftheycome,theybetterlovetorevelattheboardsoftheirconquerors,’’

  answeredUrfried,``thantohearthegroansoftheircountrymen——so,atleast,reportspeaksofthem——

  ofmyselfIcansaylittle。Thiscastle,fortenyears,hasopenedtonopriestsavethedebauchedNormanchaplainwhopartookthenightlyrevelsofFront-de-Buf,andhehasbeenlonggonetorenderanaccountofhisstewardship——ButthouartaSaxon——aSaxonpriest,andIhaveonequestiontoaskofthee。’’

  ``IamaSaxon,’’answeredCedric,``butunworthy,surely,ofthenameofpriest。Letmebegoneonmyway——IswearIwillreturn,orsendoneofourfathersmoreworthytohearyourconfession。’’

  ``Stayyetawhile,’’saidUrfried;``theaccentsofthevoicewhichthouhearestnowwillsoonbechokedwiththecoldearth,andIwouldnotdescendtoitlikethebeastIhavelived。Butwinemustgivemestrengthtotellthehorrorsofmytale。’’Shepouredoutacup,anddrankitwithafrightfulavidity,whichseemeddesirousofdrainingthelastdropinthegoblet。``Itstupifies,’’shesaid,lookingupwardsasshefinishedherdrought,``butitcannotcheer——Partakeit,father,ifyouwouldhearmytalewithoutsinkingdownuponthepavement。’’Cedricwouldhaveavoidedpledgingherinthisominousconviviality,butthesignwhichshemadetohimexpressedimpatienceanddespair。

  Hecompliedwithherrequest,andansweredherchallengeinalargewine-cup;shethenproceededwithherstory,asifappeasedbyhiscomplaisance。

  ``Iwasnotborn,’’shesaid,``father,thewretchthatthounowseestme。Iwasfree,washappy,washonoured,loved,andwasbeloved。Iamnowaslave,miserableanddegraded——thesportofmymasters’passionswhileIhadyetbeauty——theobjectoftheircontempt,scorn,andhatred,sinceithaspassedaway。Dostthouwonder,father,thatIshouldhatemankind,and,aboveall,theracethathaswroughtthischangeinme?Canthewrinkleddecrepithagbeforethee,whosewrathmustventitselfinimpotentcurses,forgetshewasoncethedaughterofthenobleThaneofTorquilstone,beforewhosefrownathousandvassalstrembled?’’

  ``ThouthedaughterofTorquilWolfganger!’’

  saidCedric,recedingashespoke;``thou——thou——

  thedaughterofthatnobleSaxon,myfather’sfriendandcompanioninarms!’’

  ``Thyfather’sfriend!’’echoedUrfried;``thenCedriccalledtheSaxonstandsbeforeme,forthenobleHerewardofRotherwoodhadbutoneson,whosenameiswellknownamonghiscountrymen。

  ButifthouartCedricofRotherwood,whythisreligiousdress?——hastthoutoodespairedofsavingthycountry,andsoughtrefugefromoppressionintheshadeoftheconvent?’’

  ``ItmattersnotwhoIam,’’saidCedric;``proceed,unhappywoman,withthytaleofhorrorandguilt!——Guilttheremustbe——thereisguilteveninthylivingtotellit。’’

  ``Thereis——thereis,’’answeredthewretchedwoman,``deep,black,damningguilt,——guilt,thatlieslikealoadatmybreast——guilt,thatallthepenitentialfiresofhereaftercannotcleanse——Yes,inthesehalls,stainedwiththenobleandpurebloodofmyfatherandmybrethren——intheseveryhalls,tohavelivedtheparamouroftheirmurderer,theslaveatonceandthepartakerofhispleasures,wastorendereverybreathwhichIdrewofvitalair,acrimeandacurse。’’

  ``Wretchedwoman!’’exclaimedCedric。``Andwhilethefriendsofthyfather——whileeachtrueSaxonheart,asitbreathedarequiemforhissoul,andthoseofhisvaliantsons,forgotnotintheirprayersthemurderedUlrica——whileallmournedandhonouredthedead,thouhastlivedtomeritourhateandexecration——livedtounitethyselfwiththeviletyrantwhomurderedthynearestanddearest——whoshedthebloodofinfancy,ratherthanamaleofthenoblehouseofTorquilWolfgangershouldsurvive——withhimhastthoulivedtounitethyself,andinthehandsoflawlesslove!’’

  ``Inlawlesshands,indeed,butnotinthoseoflove!’’answeredthehag;``lovewillsoonervisittheregionsofeternaldoom,thanthoseunhallowedvaults——No,withthatatleastIcannotreproachmyself——hatredtoFront-de-Bufandhisracegovernedmysoulmostdeeply,eveninthehourofhisguiltyendearments。’’

  ``Youhatedhim,andyetyoulived,’’repliedCedric;``wretch!wastherenoponiard——noknife——nobodkin!——Wellwasitforthee,sincethoudidstprizesuchanexistence,thatthesecretsofaNormancastlearelikethoseofthegrave。ForhadIbutdreamedofthedaughterofTorquillivinginfoulcommunionwiththemurdererofherfather,theswordofatrueSaxonhadfoundtheeouteveninthearmsofthyparamour!’’

  ``WouldstthouindeedhavedonethisjusticetothenameofTorquil?’’saidUlrica,forwemaynowlayasideherassumednameofUrfried;``thouartthenthetrueSaxonreportspeaksthee!forevenwithintheseaccursedwalls,where,asthouwellsayest,guiltshroudsitselfininscrutablemystery,eventherehasthenameofCedricbeensounded——

  andI,wretchedanddegraded,haverejoicedtothinkthatthereyetbreathedanavengerofourunhappynation——Ialsohavehadmyhoursofvengeance——

  Ihavefomentedthequarrelsofourfoes,andheateddrunkenrevelryintomurderousbroil——Ihaveseentheirbloodflow——Ihaveheardtheirdyinggroans!——Lookonme,Cedric——aretherenotstillleftonthisfoulandfadedfacesometracesofthefeaturesofTorquil?’’

  ``Askmenotofthem,Ulrica,’’repliedCedric,inatoneofgriefmixedwithabhorrence;``thesetracesformsucharesemblanceasarisesfromthegravesofthedead,whenafiendhasanimatedthelifelesscorpse。’’

  ``Beitso,’’answeredUlrica;``yetworethesefiendishfeaturesthemaskofaspiritoflightwhentheywereabletosetatvariancetheelderFront-de-BufandhissonReginald!Thedarknessofhellshouldhidewhatfollowed,butrevengemustlifttheveil,anddarklyintimatewhatitwouldraisethedeadtospeakaloud。Longhadthesmoulderingfireofdiscordglowedbetweenthetyrantfatherandhissavageson——longhadInursed,insecret,theunnaturalhatred——itblazedforthinanhourofdrunkenwassail,andathisownboardfellmyoppressorbythehandofhisownson——sucharethesecretsthesevaultsconceal!——Rendasunder,yeaccursedarches,’’sheadded,lookinguptowardstheroof,``andburyinyourfallallwhoareconsciousofthehideousmystery!’’

  ``Andthou,creatureofguiltandmisery,’’saidCedric,``whatbecamethylotonthedeathofthyravisher?’’

  ``Guessit,butaskitnot——Here——hereIdwelt,tillage,prematureage,hasstampeditsghastlyfeaturesonmycountenance——scornedandinsultedwhereIwasonceobeyed,andcompelledtoboundtherevengewhichhadoncesuchamplescope,totheeffortsofpettymaliceofadiscontentedmenial,orthevainorunheededcursesofanimpotenthag——condemnedtohearfrommylonelyturretthesoundsofrevelryinwhichIoncepartook,ortheshrieksandgroansofnewvictimsofoppression。’’

  ``Ulrica,’’saidCedric,``withaheartwhichstill,Ifear,regretsthelostrewardofthycrimes,asmuchasthedeedsbywhichthoudidstacquirethatmeed,howdidstthoudaretoaddresstheetoonewhowearsthisrobe?Consider,unhappywoman,whatcouldthesaintedEdwardhimselfdoforthee,werehehereinbodilypresence?TheroyalConfessorwasendowedbyheavenwithpowertocleansetheulcersofthebody,butonlyGodhimselfcancuretheleprosyofthesoul。’’

  ``Yet,turnnotfromme,sternprophetofwrath,’’

  sheexclaimed,``buttellme,ifthoucanst,inwhatshallterminatethesenewandawfulfeelingsthatburstonmysolitude——Whydodeeds,longsincedone,risebeforemeinnewandirresistiblehorrors?

  Whatfateispreparedbeyondthegraveforher,towhomGodhasassignedonearthalotofsuchunspeakablewretchedness?BetterhadIturntoWoden,Hertha,andZernebock——toMista,andtoSkogula,thegodsofouryetunbaptizedancestors,thanendurethedreadfulanticipationswhichhaveoflatehauntedmywakingandmysleepinghours!’’

  ``Iamnopriest,’’saidCedric,turningwithdisgustfromthismiserablepictureofguilt,wretchedness,anddespair;``Iamnopriest,thoughIwearapriest’sgarment。’’

  ``Priestorlayman,’’answeredUlrica,``thouartthefirstIhaveseenfortwentyyears,bywhomGodwasfearedormanregarded;anddostthoubidmedespair?’’

  ``Ibidtheerepent,’’saidCedric。``Seektoprayerandpenance,andmayestthoufindacceptance!

  ButIcannot,Iwillnot,longerabidewiththee。’’

  ``Stayyetamoment!’’saidUlrica;``leavemenotnow,sonofmyfather’sfriend,lestthedemonwhohasgovernedmylifeshouldtemptmetoavengemyselfofthyhard-heartedscorn——Thinkestthou,ifFront-de-BuffoundCedrictheSaxoninhiscastle,insuchadisguise,thatthylifewouldbealongone?——Alreadyhiseyehasbeenupontheelikeafalcononhisprey。’’

  ``Andbeitso,’’saidCedric;``andlethimtearmewithbeakandtalons,eremytonguesayonewordwhichmyheartdothnotwarrant。IwilldieaSaxon——trueinword,openindeed——Ibidtheeavaunt!——touchmenot,staymenot!——ThesightofFront-de-Bufhimselfislessodioustomethanthou,degradedanddegenerateasthouart。’’

  ``Beitso,’’saidUlrica,nolongerinterruptinghim;``gothyway,andforget,intheinsolenceofthysuperority,thatthewretchbeforetheeisthedaughterofthyfather’sfriend——Gothyway——ifIamseparatedfrommankindbymysufferings——

  separatedfromthosewhoseaidImightmostjustlyexpect——notlesswillIbeseparatedfromtheminmyrevenge!——Nomanshallaidme,buttheearsofallmenshalltingletohearofthedeedwhichI

  shalldaretodo!——Farewell!——thyscornhasburstthelasttiewhichseemedyettounitemetomykind——athoughtthatmywoesmightclaimthecompassionofmypeople。’’

  ``Ulrica,’’saidCedric,softenedbythisappeal,``hastthouborneupandenduredtolivethroughsomuchguiltandsomuchmisery,andwiltthounowyieldtodespairwhenthineeyesareopenedtothycrimes,andwhenrepentancewerethyfitteroccupation?’’

  ``Cedric,’’answeredUlrica,``thoulittleknowestthehumanheart。ToactasIhaveacted,tothinkasIhavethought,requiresthemaddeningloveofpleasure,mingledwiththekeenappetiteofrevenge,theproudconsciousnessofpower;droughtstoointoxicatingforthehumanhearttobear,andyetretainthepowertoprevent。Theirforcehaslongpassedaway——Agehasnopleasures,wrinkleshavenoinfluence,revengeitselfdiesawayinimpotentcurses。Thencomesremorse,withallitsvipers,mixedwithvainregretsforthepast,anddespairforthefuture!——Then,whenallotherstrongimpulseshaveceased,webecomelikethefiendsinhell,whomayfeelremorse,butneverrepentance——

  Butthywordshaveawakenedanewsoulwithinme——Wellhastthousaid,allispossibleforthosewhodaretodie!——Thouhastshownmethemeansofrevenge,andbeassuredIwillembracethem。Ithashithertosharedthiswastedbosomwithotherandwithrivalpassions——henceforwarditshallpossessmewholly,andthouthyselfshaltsay,that,whateverwasthelifeofUlrica,herdeathwellbecamethedaughterofthenobleTorquil。Thereisaforcewithoutbeleagueringthisaccursedcastle——hastentoleadthemtotheattack,andwhenthoushaltseearedflagwavefromtheturretontheeasternangleofthedonjon,presstheNormanshard——theywillthenhaveenoughtodowithin,andyoumaywinthewallinspitebothofbowandmangonel——Begone,Ipraythee——followthineownfate,andleavemetomine。’’

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