The Castle of Otranto | Page 6

away, that I might not trust
the honours of my house on so frail a foundation. The line of Manfred
calls for numerous supports. My foolish fondness for that boy blinded
the eyes of my prudence--but it is better as it is. I hope, in a few years,
to have reason to rejoice at the death of Conrad."
Words cannot paint the astonishment of Isabella. At first she
apprehended that grief had disordered Manfred's understanding. Her
next thought suggested that this strange discourse was designed to
ensnare her: she feared that Manfred had perceived her indifference for
his son: and in consequence of that idea she replied -
"Good my Lord, do not doubt my tenderness: my heart would have
accompanied my hand. Conrad would have engrossed all my care; and
wherever fate shall dispose of me, I shall always cherish his memory,
and regard your Highness and the virtuous Hippolita as my parents."
"Curse on Hippolita!" cried Manfred. "Forget her from this moment, as
I do. In short, Lady, you have missed a husband undeserving of your
charms: they shall now be better disposed of. Instead of a sickly boy,
you shall have a husband in the prime of his age, who will know how to
value your beauties, and who may expect a numerous offspring."
"Alas, my Lord!" said Isabella, "my mind is too sadly engrossed by the
recent catastrophe in your family to think of another marriage. If ever
my father returns, and it shall be his pleasure, I shall obey, as I did
when I consented to give my hand to your son: but until his return,
permit me to remain under your hospitable roof, and employ the
melancholy hours in assuaging yours, Hippolita's, and the fair Matilda's
affliction."

"I desired you once before," said Manfred angrily, "not to name that
woman: from this hour she must be a stranger to you, as she must be to
me. In short, Isabella, since I cannot give you my son, I offer you
myself."
"Heavens!" cried Isabella, waking from her delusion, "what do I hear?
You! my Lord! You! My father-in-law! the father of Conrad! the
husband of the virtuous and tender Hippolita!"
"I tell you," said Manfred imperiously, "Hippolita is no longer my wife;
I divorce her from this hour. Too long has she cursed me by her
unfruitfulness. My fate depends on having sons, and this night I trust
will give a new date to my hopes."
At those words he seized the cold hand of Isabella, who was half dead
with fright and horror. She shrieked, and started from him, Manfred
rose to pursue her, when the moon, which was now up, and gleamed in
at the opposite casement, presented to his sight the plumes of the fatal
helmet, which rose to the height of the windows, waving backwards
and forwards in a tempestuous manner, and accompanied with a hollow
and rustling sound. Isabella, who gathered courage from her situation,
and who dreaded nothing so much as Manfred's pursuit of his
declaration, cried -
"Look, my Lord! see, Heaven itself declares against your impious
intentions!"
"Heaven nor Hell shall impede my designs," said Manfred, advancing
again to seize the Princess.
At that instant the portrait of his grandfather, which hung over the
bench where they had been sitting, uttered a deep sigh, and heaved its
breast.
Isabella, whose back was turned to the picture, saw not the motion, nor
knew whence the sound came, but started, and said -
"Hark, my Lord! What sound was that?" and at the same time made

towards the door.
Manfred, distracted between the flight of Isabella, who had now
reached the stairs, and yet unable to keep his eyes from the picture,
which began to move, had, however, advanced some steps after her,
still looking backwards on the portrait, when he saw it quit its panel,
and descend on the floor with a grave and melancholy air.
"Do I dream?" cried Manfred, returning; "or are the devils themselves
in league against me? Speak, internal spectre! Or, if thou art my
grandsire, why dost thou too conspire against thy wretched descendant,
who too dearly pays for--" Ere he could finish the sentence, the vision
sighed again, and made a sign to Manfred to follow him.
"Lead on!" cried Manfred; "I will follow thee to the gulf of perdition."
The spectre marched sedately, but dejected, to the end of the gallery,
and turned into a chamber on the right hand. Manfred accompanied him
at a little distance, full of anxiety and horror, but resolved. As he would
have entered the chamber, the door was clapped to with violence by an
invisible hand. The Prince, collecting courage from this delay, would
have forcibly burst open the door with his foot, but found that it