yself has passed the ordeal of Youth, yet
sees no single stain upon his conscience? Who else has subdued the
violence of strong passions and an impetuous temperament, and submitted
even from the dawn of life to voluntary retirement? I seek for such a
Man in vain. I see no one but myself possessed of such resolution.
Religion cannot boast Ambrosio's equal! How powerful an effect did my
discourse produce upon its Auditors! How they crowded round me! How
they loaded me with benedictions, and pronounced me the sole
uncorrupted Pillar of the Church! What then now is left for me to do?
Nothing, but to watch as carefully over the conduct of my Brothers as I
have hitherto watched over my own. Yet hold! May I not be tempted
from those paths which till now I have pursued without one moment's
wandering? Am I not a Man, whose nature is frail, and prone to error?
I must now abandon the solitude of my retreat; The fairest and noblest
Dames of Madrid continually present themselves at the Abbey, and will
use no other Confessor.

I must accustom my eyes to Objects of temptation, and expose myself to
the seduction of luxury and desire. Should I meet in that world which
I am constrained to enter some lovely Female, lovely ... as you,
Madona....!'

As He said this, He fixed his eyes upon a picture of the Virgin, which
was suspended opposite to him: This for two years had been the Object
of his increasing wonder and adoration. He paused, and gazed upon it
with delight.

'What Beauty in that countenance!' He continued after a silence of
some minutes; 'How graceful is the turn of that head! What sweetness,
yet what majesty in her divine eyes! How softly her cheek reclines
upon her hand! Can the Rose vie with the blush of that cheek? Can the
Lily rival the whiteness of that hand? Oh! if such a Creature existed,
and existed but for me! Were I permitted to twine round my fingers
those golden ringlets, and press with my lips the treasures of that
snowy bosom! Gracious God, should I then resist the temptation?
Should I not barter for a single embrace the reward of my sufferings
for thirty years? Should I not abandon.... Fool that I am!
Whither do I suffer my admiration of this picture to hurry me? Away,
impure ideas! Let me remember that Woman is for ever lost to me. Never
was Mortal formed so perfect as this picture. But even did such exist,
the trial might be too mighty for a common virtue, but Ambrosio's is
proof aga