n
stole over her senses; and for several hours She enjoyed that calm
repose which innocence alone can know, and for which many a Monarch
with pleasure would exchange his Crown.

CHAPTER IV

----Ah! how dark
These long-extended realms and rueful wastes;
Where nought but silence reigns, and night, dark night,
Dark as was Chaos ere the Infant Sun
Was rolled together, or had tried its beams
Athwart the gloom profound!
The sickly Taper
By glimmering through thy low-browed misty vaults,
Furred round with mouldy damps, and ropy slime,
Lets fall a supernumerary horror,
And only serves to make
Thy night more irksome!
Blair.

Returned undiscovered to the Abbey, Ambrosio's mind was filled with the
most pleasing images. He was wilfully blind to the danger of exposing
himself to Antonia's charms: He only remembered the pleasure which her
society had afforded him, and rejoiced in the prospect of that pleasure
being repeated. He failed not to profit by Elvira's indisposition to
obtain a sight of her Daughter every day. At first He bounded his
wishes to inspire Antonia with friendship: But no sooner was He
convinced that She felt that sentiment in its fullest extent, than his
aim became more decided, and his attentions assumed a warmer colour.
The innocent familiarity with which She treated him, encouraged his
desires: Grown used to her modesty, it no longer commanded the same
respect and awe: He still admired it, but it only made him more
anxious to deprive her of that quality which formed her principal
charm. Warmth of passion, and natural penetration, of which latter
unfortunately both for himself and Antonia He possessed an ample share,
supplied a knowledge of the arts of seduction. He easily distinguished
the emotions which were favourable to his designs, and seized every
means with avidity of infusing corruption into Antonia's bosom. This
He found no easy matter. Extreme simplicity prevented her from
perceiving the aim to which the Monk's insinuations tended; But the
excellent morals which She owed to Elvira's care, the solidity and
correctness of her understanding, and a strong sense of what was right
implanted in her heart by Nature, made her feel that his precepts must
be faulty. By a few simple words She frequently overthrew the whole
bulk of his sophistical arguments, and made him conscious how weak they
were when opposed to Virtue and Truth. On su