The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor Part 16

_Mi._ I was not suffered to see him: they suspect me, and confined me in my cell a prisoner, till he had left the monastery. I am compelled then to address myself to you; but I must be speedy: one moment only is allowed me, while the prior and his confederates are engaged in their secret councils. Venoni, collect your powers of mind; summon up all your strength; this is a moment which demands courage and resolution-- your Josepha is lost to you--

_Venoni._ For ever!

_Mi._ And know you the man who tore her from your arms? know you the man who-- _murdered_ her?

_Venoni._ Murdered her? almighty powers! what mean you? whom mean you?

_Mi._ Your rival! your friend! the man who today possesses most influence over your mind, and who tomorrow will become despotic master of your destiny: the tiger whose tongue submissively licks your hand today, and whose talons will tear out your heart tomorrow.

_Venoni._ Whom, whom?

_Mi._ The father Clestino.

_Venoni._ (_in the greatest horror_) He? the prior? powers of mercy!-- (_then with decision_) away! it cannot be.

_Mi._ You doubt me? be convinced then. Some months are past since a tremendous fire broke out in this convent at midnight. The prior was absent; his apartment was in flames; I burst the door, and rescued such articles as appeared to be of most importance; a crucifix of value; his casket; his papers--

_Venoni._ Go on, go on!

_Mi._ Among these papers one letter was half open: unintentionally the first words caught my eye, and their import compelled me to read the rest. It was from the abbess of the Ursulines, whose chapel is only separated from ours by a party-wall. It informed me, that a communication exists between the two convents, unknown to all but the prior and his confidants; that the most scandalous abuses--

_Venoni._ (_frantic with impatience_) Josepha, Josepha-- oh! speak to me of Josepha!

_Mi._ Other letters leave no doubt, that the prior's motive for secluding her in the Ursuline convent was a licentious pa.s.sion for your bride. In that convent every art was employed to corrupt her heart, but every art was employed in vain. She endeavoured to escape; she was watched and closely confined. Your return was expected daily-- Josepha threatened her tyrants with disclosure of this atrocious secret-- the prior and his accomplice stood on the brink of an abyss, and, to prevent it, she was precipitated into an untimely grave.

_Venoni._ (_leaning against a tree_) My brain turns around.

_Mi._ Nay, sink not beneath the blow; think upon Josepha's murder, and hasten to avenge it-- think upon the dreadful fate which awaits yourself. I come hither to rescue you, and--

_Venoni._ Stay, stay! my brain-- my ideas-- oh, G.o.d! oh, G.o.d! can there be men so cruel-- can there be hearts so hard! he, he who supported my aching head on his bosom-- who wept with me-- who pitied me-- rage!

distraction!-- but no! (_shuddering_) this crime is too horrible, nature revolts at it, this crime is impossible!

_Mi._ Impossible? then read this. (_taking out a letter_) I have seen the prior show you notes from the abbess, in which she affected to pity your situation, and lament the loss of Josepha-- you recollect her writing?

_Venoni._ Recollect it? oh heaven, too well!-- let me look on the letter! (_father Michael opens the lantern and throws a light upon the paper, at the same time shading it with his habit to prevent its being observed at the convent_) Yes, this is her hand; I should know it among a thousand others.

_Mi._ Read! read, and be convinced.

_Venoni._ (_reading, while emotion frequently chokes his voice_) "We are undone, Clestino; her parents have written to me; and in a few days we must expect Venoni's return. The incensed Josepha threatens to reveal all that has past; prayers and menaces have been tried in vain; she has determined on our destruction, and nothing can preserve us but her removal from the world. You must decide immediately; answer me but one word, and before three days are elapsed, Josepha and this dangerous secret shall be buried together, and for ever!" (_he sinks upon a bank of turf, as if stupified, and sits there in an att.i.tude of motionless despair_)

_Mi._ Josepha's death, which happened within three days after this letter's date, declares but too plainly, what was the villain's answer.

You are now master of the whole plot. Tis evident, that your life also is aimed at: you are a rival, whom the prior abhors; and whom it was first necessary to deceive, before he could gratify his vengeance. Your vows once p.r.o.nounced-- your wealth secured-- separated from your friends-- deprived of all a.s.sistance; then it is that the storm of revenge and malice will burst in all its horrors on your devoted head.

You will be dead to all the rest of nature, but you will still exist for Clestino; will exist to feel the whole extent of his barbarity, to experience every refinement of torture and every species of agony; without being really permitted to expire, daily to suffer a thousand and a thousand deaths. You answer not? you move not?-- rouse, rouse, Venoni; let us hasten from this dangerous abode: my fate is no less certain than your own, and flight alone can save me. It's true, the gates are locked, but I possess the key to a private door of the garden. We are yet un.o.bserved; rise then and let us hence.

_Venoni._ (_recovering from his stupor, and suddenly starting up_) Where is he? where does the monster hide himself? I will revenge her! I will punish her murderers!

_Mi._ (_violently alarmed_) What would you do? whither would you go?

_Venoni._ Whither? whither? to revenge Josepha!

_Mi._ For mercy's sake, recollect yourself! this way; let us fly.

_Venoni._ (_raving_) What? fly? and leave her unavenged? never! I will die, I will die! but I will punish her a.s.sa.s.sins!

_Mi._ Silence, silence! these shrieks-- we shall be betrayed: you destroy yourself, Venoni! yourself and me!

_Venoni._ (_with frantic screams_) Josepha! Josepha!

_Mi._ (_endeavouring to force him away_) I must be gone! follow me, or you are lost! hark! holy saints they are at hand! wretched youth, they bring the death warrant of us both! come, come! for heaven's sake come!

_Venoni._ (_without heeding him_) The miscreant! the monster! oh, Josepha!

_Mi._ (_in despair releasing him_) Remain, then, madman, since thou wilt have it so! remain, and perish!

[Exit hastily.

_Venoni._ (_alone, and wandering about the garden with a distracted air_) Where shall I direct-- where seek-- a cloud obscures my eyes-- despair, rage, powers of vengeance! powers of fury! guide me, desert me not; give me strength to-- my limbs refuse to bear me: I faint, I die! (_he falls upon the ground_)

The _prior_, the fathers _Jeronymo_, _Anastasio_, and _Nicolo_, and other monks enter with torches.

_Pri._ (_speaking without_) What clamours make the garden resound? who thus disturbs the hallowed silence which---- how? Venoni! alone!

stretched on the earth! he is insensible; yet sure there was some one with him! speak, Jeronymo; heard you not?--

_Jer._ Two voices certainly seemed to mingle, and the dispute was earnest.

_Ana._ Whoever was here, cannot have gone far. Let us seek.

_Pri._ Lose not a moment: be Nicolo your companion.

[Exeunt Anastasio and Nicolo.

_Pri._ Meanwhile, be it our care to restore Venoni to himself: his fortune is not yet in our possession. (_he kneels and supports Venoni in his arms_) My son! Venoni! look up, Venoni.

_Venoni._ (_reviving_) Who names me? who speaks to me?

_Pri._ One whom your situation cuts to the very heart. What has produced this new distress? tell me, my son?

_Venoni._ (_whom the prior has a.s.sisted to rise, casts round him a wild unconscious look, and unable to support himself reclines his head on the prior's bosom_) What has happened? where am I?

_Pri._ In the arms of that tender friend whose sympathy--

_Venoni._ (_struck by the voice, and recollecting himself, raises his head, fixes his eyes on the prior, and repulses him with a look of extreme horror_) Thou? thou? oh, eternal justice!

_Pri._ (_astonished_) How is this? you drive me from you; and does then the sight of me inspire you with disgust?

_Venoni._ (_shuddering_) Disgust?

_Pri._ In what have I offended? what is my crime?