The Monk | Page 8

their establishment
from respect to him, have not hesitated to publish that He is a present to
them from the Virgin. In truth the singular austerity of his life gives
some countenance to the report. He is now thirty years old, every hour
of which period has been passed in study, total seclusion from the
world, and mortification of the flesh. Till these last three weeks, when
He was chosen superior of the Society to which He belongs, He had
never been on the outside of the Abbey walls: Even now He never quits
them except on Thursdays, when He delivers a discourse in this
Cathedral which all Madrid assembles to hear. His knowledge is said to
be the most profound, his eloquence the most persuasive. In the whole
course of his life He has never been known to transgress a single rule of
his order; The smallest stain is not to be discovered upon his character;
and He is reported to be so strict an observer of Chastity, that He
knows not in what consists the difference of Man and Woman. The
common People therefore esteem him to be a Saint.'
'Does that make a Saint?' enquired Antonia; 'Bless me! Then am I one?'
'Holy St. Barbara!' exclaimed Leonella; 'What a question! Fye, Child,

Fye! These are not fit subjects for young Women to handle. You should
not seem to remember that there is such a thing as a Man in the world,
and you ought to imagine every body to be of the same sex with
yourself. I should like to see you give people to understand, that you
know that a Man has no breasts, and no hips, and no . . .'.
Luckily for Antonia's ignorance which her Aunt's lecture would soon
have dispelled, an universal murmur through the Church announced the
Preacher's arrival. Donna Leonella rose from her seat to take a better
view of him, and Antonia followed her example.
He was a Man of noble port and commanding presence. His stature was
lofty, and his features uncommonly handsome. His Nose was aquiline,
his eyes large black and sparkling, and his dark brows almost joined
together. His complexion was of a deep but clear Brown; Study and
watching had entirely deprived his cheek of colour. Tranquillity
reigned upon his smooth unwrinkled forehead; and Content, expressed
upon every feature, seemed to announce the Man equally unacquainted
with cares and crimes. He bowed himself with humility to the audience:
Still there was a certain severity in his look and manner that inspired
universal awe, and few could sustain the glance of his eye at once fiery
and penetrating. Such was Ambrosio, Abbot of the Capuchins, and
surnamed, 'The Man of Holiness'.
Antonia, while She gazed upon him eagerly, felt a pleasure fluttering in
her bosom which till then had been unknown to her, and for which She
in vain endeavoured to account. She waited with impatience till the
Sermon should begin; and when at length the Friar spoke, the sound of
his voice seemed to penetrate into her very soul. Though no other of the
Spectators felt such violent sensations as did the young Antonia, yet
every one listened with interest and emotion. They who were insensible
to Religion's merits, were still enchanted with Ambrosio's oratory. All
found their attention irresistibly attracted while He spoke, and the most
profound silence reigned through the crowded Aisles.
Even Lorenzo could not resist the charm: He forgot that Antonia was
seated near him, and listened to the Preacher with undivided attention.

In language nervous, clear, and simple, the Monk expatiated on the
beauties of Religion. He explained some abstruse parts of the sacred
writings in a style that carried with it universal conviction. His voice at
once distinct and deep was fraught with all the terrors of the Tempest,
while He inveighed against the vices of humanity, and described the
punishments reserved for them in a future state. Every Hearer looked
back upon his past offences, and trembled: The Thunder seemed to roll,
whose bolt was destined to crush him, and the abyss of eternal
destruction to open before his feet. But when Ambrosio, changing his
theme, spoke of the excellence of an unsullied conscience, of the
glorious prospect which Eternity presented to the Soul untainted with
reproach, and of the recompense which awaited it in the regions of
everlasting glory, His Auditors felt their scattered spirits insensibly
return. They threw themselves with confidence upon the mercy of their
Judge; They hung with delight upon the consoling words of the
Preacher; and while his full voice swelled into melody, They were
transported to those happy regions which He painted to their
imaginations in colours so brilliant and glowing.
The discourse was of considerable length; Yet when it concluded, the
Audience grieved