essed the night, and curst the coming day.
Lee.

The burst of transport was past: Ambrosio's lust was satisfied;
Pleasure fled, and Shame usurped her seat in his bosom. Confused and
terrified at his weakness, He drew himself from Matilda's arms. His
perjury presented itself before him: He reflected on the scene which
had just been acted, and trembled at the consequences of a discovery.
He looked forward with horror; His heart was despondent, and became the
abode of satiety and disgust. He avoided the eyes of his Partner in
frailty; A melancholy silence prevailed, during which Both seemed
busied with disagreeable reflections.

Matilda was the first to break it. She took his hand gently, and
pressed it to her burning lips.

'Ambrosio!' She murmured in a soft and trembling voice.

The Abbot started at the sound. He turned his eyes upon Matilda's:
They were filled with tears; Her cheeks were covered with blushes, and
her supplicating looks seemed to solicit his compassion.

'Dangerous Woman!' said He; 'Into what an abyss of misery have you
plunged me! Should your sex be discovered, my honour, nay my life,
must pay for the pleasure of a few moments. Fool that I was, to trust
myself to your seductions! What can now be done? How can my offence be
expiated? What atonement can purchase the pardon of my crime?
Wretched Matilda, you have destroyed my quiet for ever!'

'To me these reproaches, Ambrosio? To me, who have sacrificed for you
the world's pleasures, the luxury of wealth, the delicacy of sex, my
Friends, my fortune, and my fame? What have you lost, which I
preserved? Have _I_ not shared in YOUR guilt? Have YOU not shared in
MY pleasure? Guilt, did I say? In what consists ours, unless in the
opinion of an ill-judging World? Let that World be ignorant of them,
and our joys become divine and blameless! Unnatural were your vows of
Celibacy; Man was not created for such a state; And were Love a crime,
God never would have made it so sweet, so irresistible! Then banish
those clouds from your brow, my Ambrosio! Indulge in those pleasures
freely, without which life is a worthless gift: Cease to reproach me
with having taught you what is bliss, and feel equal transports with
the Woman who adores you!'

As She spoke, her eyes were filled with a delicious languor. Her bosom
panted: She twined her arms voluptuously round him, drew him towards
her, and glewed