第11章

类别:其他 作者:Charles Brockden Brown字数:13666更新时间:18/12/14 15:58:59
Whenmydiseaseabated,Pleyelhadforbornehisvisits,andhadlatelysetoutuponthisjourney。Thisamountedtoaproofthatmyguiltwasstillbelievedbyhim。Iwasgrievedforhiserrors,buttrustedthatmyvindicationwould,soonerorlater,bemade。 Meanwhile,tumultuousthoughtswereagainsetafloatbyaproposalmadetomebymyuncle。Heimaginedthatnewairswouldrestoremylanguishingconstitution,andavariedsuccessionofobjectstendtorepairtheshockwhichmymindhadreceived。Forthisend,heproposedtometotakeupmyabodewithhiminFranceorItaly。 Atamoreprosperousperiod,thisschemewouldhavepleasedforitsownsake。Nowmyheartsickenedattheprospectofnature。Theworldofmanwasshrowdedinmiseryandblood,andconstitutedaloathsomespectacle。Iwillinglyclosedmyeyesinsleep,andregrettedthattherespiteitaffordedmewassoshort。Imarkedwithsatisfactiontheprogressofdecayinmyframe,andconsentedtolive,merelyinthehopethatthecourseofnaturewouldspeedilyrelievemefromtheburthen。 Nevertheless,ashepersistedinhisscheme,Iconcurredinitmerelybecausehewasentitledtomygratitude,andbecausemyrefusalgavehimpain。 Nosoonerwasheinformedofmyconsent,thanhetoldmeI mustmakeimmediatepreparationtoembark,astheshipinwhichhehadengagedapassagewouldbereadytodepartinthreedays。 Thisexpeditionwasunexpected。Therewasanimpatienceinhismannerwhenheurgedthenecessityofdispatchthatexcitedmysurprize。WhenIquestionedhimastothecauseofthishaste,hegenerallystatedreasonswhich,atthattime,Icouldnotdenytobeplausible;butwhich,onthereview,appearedinsufficient。Isuspectedthatthetruemotiveswereconcealed,andbelievedthatthesemotiveshadsomeconnectionwithmybrother\'sdestiny。 InowrecollectedthattheinformationrespectingWielandwhichhad,fromtimetotime,beenimpartedtome,wasalwaysaccompaniedwithairsofreserveandmysteriousness。Whathadappearedsufficientlyexplicitatthetimeitwasuttered,Inowrememberedtohavebeenfalteringandambiguous。Iwasresolvedtoremovemydoubts,byvisitingtheunfortunatemaninhisdungeon。 Heretoforetheideaofthisvisithadoccurredtome;butthehorrorsofhisdwelling-place,hiswildyetplacidphysiognomy,hisneglectedlocks,thefetterswhichconstrainedhislimbs,terribleastheywereindescription,howcouldIenduretobehold! Now,however,thatIwaspreparingtotakeaneverlastingfarewellofmycountry,nowthatanoceanwashenceforthtoseparatemefromhim,howcouldIpartwithoutaninterview?I wouldexaminehissituationwithmyowneyes。Iwouldknowwhethertherepresentationswhichhadbeenmadetomeweretrue。 Perhapsthesightofthesisterwhomhewaswonttolovewithapassionmorethanfraternal,mighthaveanauspiciousinfluenceonhismalady。 Havingformedthisresolution,IwaitedtocommunicateittoMr。Cambridge。Iwasawarethat,withouthisconcurrence,I couldnothopetocarryitintoexecution,andcoulddiscovernoobjectiontowhichitwasliable。IfIhadnotbeendeceivedastohiscondition,noinconveniencecouldarisefromthisproceeding。Hisconsent,therefore,wouldbethetestofhissincerity。 Iseizedthisopportunitytostatemywishesonthishead。 Mysuspicionswereconfirmedbythemannerinwhichmyrequestaffectedhim。Aftersomepause,inwhichhiscountenancebetrayedeverymarkofperplexity,hesaidtome,\"Whywouldyoupaythisvisit?Whatusefulpurposecanitserve?\" \"Wearepreparing,\"saidI,\"toleavethecountryforever: WhatkindofbeingshouldIbetoleavebehindmeabrotherincalamitywithoutevenapartinginterview?Indulgemeforthreeminutesinthesightofhim。MyheartwillbemucheasierafterIhavelookedathim,andshedafewtearsinhispresence。\" \"Ibelieveotherwise。Thesightofhimwouldonlyaugmentyourdistress,withoutcontributing,inanydegree,tohisbenefit。\" \"Iknownotthat,\"returnedI。\"Surelythesympathyofhissister,proofsthathertendernessisaslivelyasever,mustbeasourceofsatisfactiontohim。Atpresenthemustregardallmankindashisenemiesandcalumniators。Hissisterhe,probably,conceivestopartakeinthegeneralinfatuation,andtojoininthecryofabhorrencethatisraisedagainsthim。Tobeundeceivedinthisrespect,tobeassuredthat,howeverImayimputehisconducttodelusion,Istillretainallmyformeraffectionforhisperson,andvenerationforthepurityofhismotives,cannotbutaffordhimpleasure。WhenhehearsthatI haveleftthecountry,withouteventheceremoniousattentionofavisit,whatwillhethinkofme?Hismagnanimitymayhinderhimfromrepining,buthewillsurelyconsidermybehaviourassavageandunfeeling。Indeed,dearSir,Imustpaythisvisit。 Toembarkwithyouwithoutpayingit,willbeimpossible。Itmaybeofnoservicetohim,butwillenablemetoacquitmyselfofwhatIcannotbutesteemaduty。Besides,\"continuedI,\"ifitbeamerefitofinsanitythathasseizedhim,maynotmypresencechancetohaveasalutaryinfluence?Themeresightofme,itisnotimpossible,mayrectifyhisperceptions。\" \"Ay,\"saidmyuncle,withsomeeagerness;\"itisbynomeansimpossiblethatyourinterviewmayhavethateffect;andforthatreason,beyondallothers,wouldIdissuadeyoufromit。\" Iexpressedmysurprizeatthisdeclaration。\"Isitnottobedesiredthatanerrorsofatalasthisshouldberectified?\" \"Iwonderatyourquestion。Reflectontheconsequencesofthiserror。Hashenotdestroyedthewifewhomheloved,thechildrenwhomheidolized?Whatisitthatenableshimtobeartheremembrance,butthebeliefthatheactedashisdutyenjoined?Wouldyourashlybereavehimofthisbelief?Wouldyourestorehimtohimself,andconvincehimthathewasinstigatedtothisdreadfuloutragebyaperversionofhisorgans,oradelusionfromhell? \"Nowhisvisionsarejoyousandelate。Heconceiveshimselftohavereachedaloftierdegreeofvirtue,thananyotherhumanbeing。Themeritofhissacrificeisonlyenhancedintheeyesofsuperiorbeings,bythedetestationthatpursueshimhere,andthesufferingstowhichheiscondemned。Thebeliefthatevenhissisterhasdesertedhim,andgoneovertohisenemies,addstohissublimityoffeelings,andhisconfidenceindivineapprobationandfuturerecompense。 \"Lethimbeundeceivedinthisrespect,andwhatfloodsofdespairandofhorrorwilloverwhelmhim!Insteadofglowingapprobationandserenehope,willhenothateandtorturehimself?Self-violence,oraphrenzyfarmoresavageanddestructivethanthis,maybeexpectedtosucceed。Ibeseechyou,therefore,torelinquishthisscheme。Ifyoucalmlyreflectuponit,youwilldiscoverthatyourdutyliesincarefullyshunninghim。\" Mr。Cambridge\'sreasoningssuggestedviewstomyunderstanding,thathadnothithertooccurred。Icouldnotbutadmittheirvalidity,buttheyshewed,inanewlight,thedepthofthatmisfortuneinwhichmybrotherwasplunged。Iwassilentandirresolute。 Presently,Iconsidered,thatwhetherWielandwasamaniac,afaithfulservantofhisGod,thevictimofhellishillusions,orthedupeofhumanimposture,wasbynomeanscertain。InthisstateofmyminditbecamemetobesilentduringthevisitthatIprojected。Thisvisitshouldbebrief:Ishouldbesatisfiedmerelytosnatchalookathim。Admittingthatachangeinhisopinionswerenottobedesired,therewasnodangerfromtheconductwhichIshouldpursue,thatthischangeshouldbewrought。 ButIcouldnotconquermyuncle\'saversiontothisscheme。 YetIpersisted,andhefoundthattomakemevoluntarilyrelinquishit,itwasnecessarytobemoreexplicitthanhehadhithertobeen。Hetookbothmyhands,andanxiouslyexaminingmycountenanceashespoke,\"Clara,\"saidhe,\"thisvisitmustnotbepaid。Wemusthastenwiththeutmostexpeditionfromthisshore。Itisfollytoconcealthetruthfromyou,and,sinceitisonlybydisclosingthetruththatyoucanbeprevailedupontolayasidethisproject,thetruthshallbetold。 \"Omydeargirl!\"continuedhewithincreasingenergyinhisaccent,\"yourbrother\'sphrenzyis,indeed,stupendousandfrightful。Thesoulthatformerlyactuatedhisframehasdisappeared。Thesameformremains;butthewiseandbenevolentWielandisnomore。Afurythatisrapaciousofblood,thatliftshisstrengthalmostabovethatofmortals,thatbendsallhisenergiestothedestructionofwhateverwasoncedeartohim,possesseshimwholly。 \"Youmustnotenterhisdungeon;hiseyeswillnosoonerbefixeduponyou,thananexertionofhisforcewillbemade。Hewillshakeoffhisfettersinamoment,andrushuponyou。Nointerpositionwillthenbestrongorquickenoughtosaveyou。 \"ThephantomthathasurgedhimtothemurderofCatharineandherchildrenisnotyetappeased。Yourlife,andthatofPleyel,areexactedfromhimbythisimaginarybeing。Heiseagertocomplywiththisdemand。Twicehehasescapedfromhisprison。Thefirsttime,henosoonerfoundhimselfatliberty,thanhehastedtoPleyel\'shouse。Itbeingmidnight,thelatterwasinbed。Wielandpenetratedunobservedtohischamber,andopenedhiscurtain。Happily,Pleyelawokeatthecriticalmoment,andescapedthefuryofhiskinsman,byleapingfromhischamber-windowintothecourt。Happily,hereachedthegroundwithoutinjury。Alarmsweregiven,andafterdiligentsearch,yourbrotherwasfoundinachamberofyourhouse,whither,nodoubt,hehadsoughtyou。 \"Hischains,andthewatchfulnessofhisguards,wereredoubled;butagain,bysomemiracle,herestoredhimselftoliberty。Hewasnowincautiouslyapprizedoftheplaceofyourabode:andhadnotinformationofhisescapebeeninstantlygiven,yourdeathwouldhavebeenaddedtothenumberofhisatrociousacts。 \"Younowseethedangerofyourproject。Youmustnotonlyforbeartovisithim,butifyouwouldsavehimfromthecrimeofembruinghishandsinyourblood,youmustleavethecountry。 Thereisnohopethathismaladywillendbutwithhislife,andnoprecautionwillensureyoursafety,butthatofplacingtheoceanbetweenyou。 \"IconfessIcameoverwithanintentiontoresideamongyou,butthesedisastershavechangedmyviews。Yourownsafetyandmyhappinessrequirethatyoushouldaccompanymeinmyreturn,andIentreatyoutogiveyourcheerfulconcurrencetothismeasure。\" Aftertheserepresentationsfrommyuncle,itwasimpossibletoretainmypurpose。IreadilyconsentedtosecludemyselffromWieland\'spresence。IlikewiseacquiescedintheproposaltogotoEurope;notthatIeverexpectedtoarrivethere,butbecause,sincemyprinciplesforbadmetoassailmyownlife,changehadsometendencytomakesupportablethefewdayswhichdiseaseshouldsparetome。 Whatatalehadthusbeenunfolded!Iwashuntedtodeath,notbyonewhommymisconducthadexasperated,whowasconsciousofillicitmotives,andwhosoughthisendbycircumventionandsurprize;butbyonewhodeemedhimselfcommissionedforthisactbyheaven;whoregardedthiscareerofhorrorasthelastrefinementofvirtue;whoseimplacabilitywasproportionedtothereverenceandlovewhichhefeltforme,andwhowasinaccessibletothefearofpunishmentandignominy! InvainshouldIendeavourtostayhishandbyurgingtheclaimsofasisterorfriend:thesewerehisonlyreasonsforpursuingmydestruction。HadIbeenastrangertohisblood; hadIbeenthemostworthlessofhumankind;mysafetyhadnotbeenendangered。 Surely,saidI,myfateiswithoutexample。Thephrenzywhichischargeduponmybrother,mustbelongtomyself。Myfoeismanacledandguarded;butIderivenosecurityfromtheserestraints。Ilivenotinacommunityofsavages;yet,whetherIsitorwalk,gointocrouds,orhidemyselfinsolitude,mylifeismarkedforapreytoinhumanviolence;Iaminperpetualdangerofperishing;ofperishingunderthegraspofabrother! Irecollectedtheomensofthisdestiny;Irememberedthegulftowhichmybrother\'sinvitationhadconductedme;I rememberedthat,whenonthebrinkofdanger,theauthorofmyperilwasdepictedbymyfearsinhisform:Thusrealized,werethecreaturesofpropheticsleep,andofwakefulterror! TheseimageswereunavoidablyconnectedwiththatofCarwin。 Inthisparoxysmofdistress,myattentionfastenedonhimasthegranddeceiver;theauthorofthisblackconspiracy;theintelligencethatgovernedinthisstorm。 Somereliefisaffordedinthemidstofsuffering,whenitsauthorisdiscoveredorimagined;andanobjectfoundonwhichwemaypouroutourindignationandourvengeance。Iranovertheeventsthathadtakenplacesincetheoriginofourintercoursewithhim,andreflectedonthetenorofthatdescriptionwhichwasreceivedfromLudloe。Mixedupwithnotionsofsupernaturalagency,werethevehementsuspicionswhichIentertained,thatCarwinwastheenemywhosemachinationshaddestroyedus。 Ithirstedforknowledgeandforvengeance。Iregardedmyhastydeparturewithreluctance,sinceitwouldremovemefromthemeansbywhichthisknowledgemightbeobtained,andthisvengeancegratified。Thisdeparturewastotakeplaceintwodays。AttheendoftwodaysIwastobidaneternaladieutomynativecountry。ShouldInotpayapartingvisittothesceneofthesedisasters?ShouldInotbedewwithmytearsthegravesofmysisterandherchildren?ShouldInotexploretheirdesolatehabitation,andgatherfromthesightofitswallsandfurniturefoodformyeternalmelancholy? Thissuggestionwassucceededbyasecretshuddering。Somedisastrousinfluenceappearedtooverhangthescene。HowmanymemorialsshouldImeetwithservingtorecalltheimagesofthoseIhadlost! Iwastemptedtorelinquishmydesign,whenitoccurredtomethatIhadleftamongmypapersajournaloftransactionsinshorthand。IwasemployedinthismanuscriptonthatnightwhenPleyel\'sincautiouscuriositytemptedhimtolookovermyshoulder。IwasthenrecordingmyadventureinTHERECESS,animperfectsightofwhichledhimintosuchfatalerrors。 Ihadregulatedthedispositionofallmyproperty。Thismanuscript,however,whichcontainedthemostsecrettransactionsofmylife,Iwasdesirousofdestroying。ForthisendImustreturntomyhouse,andthisIimmediatelydeterminedtodo。 Iwasnotwillingtoexposemyselftooppositionfrommyfriends,bymentioningmydesign;IthereforebespoketheuseofMr。Hallet\'schaise,underpretenceofenjoyinganairing,asthedaywasremarkablybright。 Thisrequestwasgladlycompliedwith,andIdirectedtheservanttoconductmetoMettingen。Idismissedhimatthegate,intendingtouse,inreturning,acarriagebelongingtomybrother。 ChapterXXII TheinhabitantsoftheHUTreceivedmewithamixtureofjoyandsurprize。Theirhomelywelcome,andtheirartlesssympathy,weregratefultomyfeelings。Inthemidstoftheirinquiries,astomyhealth,theyavoidedallallusionstothesourceofmymalady。Theywerehonestcreatures,andIlovedthemwell。I participatedinthetearswhichtheyshedwhenImentionedtothemmyspeedydepartureforEurope,andpromisedtoacquaintthemwithmywelfareduringmylongabsence。 TheyexpressedgreatsurprizewhenIinformedthemofmyintentiontovisitmycottage。Alarmandforebodingoverspreadtheirfeatures,andtheyattemptedtodissuademefromvisitinganhousewhichtheyfirmlybelievedtobehauntedbyathousandghastlyapparitions。 Theseapprehensions,however,hadnopowerovermyconduct。 Itookanirregularpathwhichledmetomyownhouse。Allwasvacantandforlorn。Asmallenclosure,nearwhichthepathled,wastheburying-groundbelongingtothefamily。ThisIwasobligedtopass。OnceIhadintendedtoenterit,andponderontheemblemsandinscriptionswhichmyunclehadcausedtobemadeonthetombsofCatharineandherchildren;butnowmyheartfalteredasIapproached,andIhastenedforward,thatdistancemightconcealitfrommyview。 WhenIapproachedtherecess,myheartagainsunk。Iavertedmyeyes,andleftitbehindmeasquicklyaspossible。Silencereignedthroughmyhabitation,andadarknesswhichcloseddoorsandshuttersproduced。Everyobjectwasconnectedwithmineormybrother\'shistory。Ipassedtheentry,mountedthestair,andunlockedthedoorofmychamber。ItwaswithdifficultythatIcurbedmyfancyandsmotheredmyfears。Slightmovementsandcasualsoundsweretransformedintobeckoningshadowsandcallingshapes。 Iproceededtothecloset。Iopenedandlookedrounditwithfearfulness。Allthingswereintheiraccustomedorder。I soughtandfoundthemanuscriptwhereIwasusedtodepositit。 Thisbeingsecured,therewasnothingtodetainme;yetIstoodandcontemplatedawhilethefurnitureandwallsofmychamber。 Irememberedhowlongthisapartmenthadbeenasweetandtranquilasylum;Icompareditsformerstatewithitspresentdreariness,andreflectedthatInowbehelditforthelasttime。 HereitwasthattheincomprehensiblebehaviourofCarwinwaswitnessed:thisthestageonwhichthatenemyofmanshewedhimselfforamomentunmasked。Herethemenacesofmurderwerewaftedtomyear;andherethesemenaceswereexecuted。 Thesethoughtshadatendencytotakefrommemyself-command。Myfeeblelimbsrefusedtosupportme,andIsunkuponachair。Incoherentandhalf-articulateexclamationsescapedmylips。ThenameofCarwinwasuttered,andeternalwoes,woeslikethatwhichhismalicehadentaileduponus,wereheapeduponhim。Iinvokedall-seeingheaventodragtolightandtopunishthisbetrayer,andaccuseditsprovidenceforhavingthuslongdelayedtheretributionthatwasduetosoenormousaguilt。 Ihavesaidthatthewindowshutterswereclosed。Afeeblelight,however,foundentrancethroughthecrevices。Asmallwindowilluminatedthecloset,andthedoorbeingclosed,adimraystreamedthroughthekey-hole。Akindoftwilightwasthuscreated,sufficientforthepurposesofvision;but,atthesametime,involvingallminuterobjectsinobscurity。 Thisdarknesssuitedthecolourofmythoughts。Isickenedattheremembranceofthepast。Theprospectofthefutureexcitedmyloathing。Imutteredinalowvoice,WhyshouldI livelonger?WhyshouldIdragamiserablebeing?All,forwhomIoughttolive,haveperished。AmInotmyselfhuntedtodeath? Atthatmoment,mydespairsuddenlybecamevigorous。Mynerveswerenolongerunstrung。Mypowers,thathadlongbeendeadened,wererevived。Mybosomswelledwithasuddenenergy,andtheconvictiondartedthroughmymind,thattoendmytormentswas,atonce,practicableandwise。 Iknewhowtofindwaytotherecessesoflife。Icouldusealancetwithsomeskill,andcoulddistinguishbetweenveinandartery。Bypiercingdeepintothelatter,Ishouldshuntheevilswhichthefuturehadinstoreforme,andtakerefugefrommywoesinquietdeath。 Istartedonmyfeet,formyfeeblenesswasgone,andhastedtothecloset。AlancetandothersmallinstrumentswerepreservedinacasewhichIhaddepositedhere。InattentiveasIwastoforeignconsiderations,myearswerestillopentoanysoundofmysteriousimportthatshouldoccur。IthoughtIheardastepintheentry。Mypurposewassuspended,andIcastaneagerglanceatmychamberdoor,whichwasopen。Nooneappeared,unlesstheshadowwhichIdiscerneduponthefloor,wastheoutlineofaman。Ifitwere,Iwasauthorizedtosuspectthatsomeonewaspostedclosetotheentrance,whopossiblyhadoverheardmyexclamations。 Myteethchattered,andawildconfusiontookplaceofmymomentarycalm。Thusitwaswhenaterrificvisagehaddiscloseditselfonaformernight。ThusitwaswhentheevildestinyofWielandassumedthelineamentsofsomethinghuman。 Whathorridapparitionwaspreparingtoblastmysight? StillIlistenedandgazed。Notlong,fortheshadowmoved; afoot,unshapelyandhuge,wasthrustforward;aformadvancedfromitsconcealment,andstalkedintotheroom。ItwasCarwin! WhileIhadbreathIshrieked。WhileIhadpowerovermymuscles,Imotionedwithmyhandthatheshouldvanish。Myexertionscouldnotlastlong;Isunkintoafit。 Othatthisgratefuloblivionhadlastedforever!TooquicklyIrecoveredmysenses。Thepowerofdistinctvisionwasnosoonerrestoredtome,thanthishatefulformagainpresenteditself,andIoncemorerelapsed。 Asecondtime,untowardnaturerecalledmefromthesleepofdeath。Ifoundmyselfstretcheduponthebed。WhenIhadpowertolookup,IrememberedonlythatIhadcausetofear。Mydistemperedfancyfashionedtoitselfnodistinguishableimage。 Ithrewalanguidglanceroundme;oncemoremyeyeslighteduponCarwin。 Hewasseatedonthefloor,hisbackrestedagainstthewall,hiskneesweredrawnup,andhisfacewasburiedinhishands。 Thathisstationwasatsomedistance,thathisattitudewasnotmenacing,thathisominousvisagewasconcealed,mayaccountformynowescapingashock,violentasthosewhichwerepast。I withdrewmyeyes,butwasnotagaindesertedbymysenses。 OnperceivingthatIhadrecoveredmysensibility,heliftedhishead。Thismotionattractedmyattention。Hiscountenancewasmild,butsorrowandastonishmentsatuponhisfeatures。I avertedmyeyesandfeeblyexclaimed——\"O!fly——flyfarandforever!——Icannotbeholdyouandlive!\" Hedidnotriseuponhisfeet,butclaspedhishands,andsaidinatoneofdeprecation——\"Iwillfly。Iambecomeafiend,thesightofwhomdestroys。Yettellmemyoffence!Youhavelinkedcurseswithmyname;youascribetomeamalicemonstrousandinfernal。Ilookaround;allislonelinessanddesert!Thishouseandyourbrother\'saresolitaryanddismantled!Youdieawayatthesightofme!Myfearwhispersthatsomedeedofhorrorhasbeenperpetrated;thatIamtheundesigningcause。\" Whatlanguagewasthis?Hadhenotavowedhimselfaravisher?Hadnotthischamberwitnessedhisatrociouspurposes?Ibesoughthimwithnewvehemencetogo。 Heliftedhiseyes——\"Greatheaven!whathaveIdone?IthinkIknowtheextentofmyoffences。Ihaveacted,butmyactionshavepossiblyeffectedmorethanIdesigned。Thisfearhasbroughtmebackfrommyretreat。Icometorepairtheevilofwhichmyrashnesswasthecause,andtopreventmoreevil。I cometoconfessmyerrors。\" \"Wretch!\"Icriedwhenmysuffocatingemotionswouldpermitmetospeak,\"theghostsofmysisterandherchildren,dotheynotrisetoaccusethee?WhowasitthatblastedtheintellectsofWieland?Whowasitthaturgedhimtofury,andguidedhimtomurder?Who,butthouandthedevil,withwhomthouartconfederated?\" Atthesewordsanewspiritpervadedhiscountenance。Hiseyesoncemoreappealedtoheaven。\"IfIhavememory,ifIhavebeing,Iaminnocent。Iintendednoill;butmyfolly,indirectlyandremotely,mayhavecausedit;butwhatwordsarethese!Yourbrotherlunatic!Hischildrendead!\" WhatshouldIinferfromthisdeportment?Wastheignorancewhichthesewordsimpliedrealorpretended?——YethowcouldI imagineamerehumanagencyintheseevents?Butiftheinfluencewaspreternaturalormaniacalinmybrother\'scase,theymustbeequallysoinmyown。ThenIrememberedthatthevoiceexerted,wastosavemefromCarwin\'sattempts。Theseideastendedtoabatemyabhorrenceofthisman,andtodetecttheabsurdityofmyaccusations。 \"Alas!\"saidI,\"Ihavenoonetoaccuse。Leavemetomyfate。Flyfromascenestainedwithcruelty;devotedtodespair。\" Carwinstoodforatimemusingandmournful。Atlengthhesaid,\"Whathashappened?Icametoexpiatemycrimes:letmeknowthemintheirfullextent。Ihavehorribleforebodings! Whathashappened?\" Iwassilent;butrecollectingtheintimationgivenbythismanwhenhewasdetectedinmycloset,whichimpliedsomeknowledgeofthatpowerwhichinterferedinmyfavor,Ieagerlyinquired,\"WhatwasthatvoicewhichcalleduponmetoholdwhenIattemptedtoopenthecloset?WhatfacewasthatwhichIsawatthebottomofthestairs?Answermetruly。\" \"Icametoconfessthetruth。Yourallusionsarehorribleandstrange。PerhapsIhavebutfaintconceptionsoftheevilswhichmyinfatuationhasproduced;butwhatremainsIwillperform。ItwasmyVOICEthatyouheard!ItwasmyFACEthatyousaw!\" ForamomentIdoubtedwhethermyremembranceofeventswerenotconfused。Howcouldhebeatoncestationedatmyshoulderandshutupinmycloset?Howcouldhestandnearmeandyetbeinvisible?ButifCarwin\'swerethethrillingvoiceandthefieryvisagewhichIhadheardandseen,thenwashetheprompterofmybrother,andtheauthorofthesedismaloutrages。 OncemoreIavertedmyeyesandstruggledforspeech。 \"Begone!thoumanofmischief!Remorselessandimplacablemiscreant!begone!\" \"Iwillobey,\"saidheinadisconsolatevoice;\"yet,wretchasIam,amIunworthytorepairtheevilsthatIhavecommitted?Icameasarepentantcriminal。ItisyouwhomI haveinjured,andatyourbaramIwillingtoappear,andconfessandexpiatemycrimes。Ihavedeceivedyou:Ihavesportedwithyourterrors:Ihaveplottedtodestroyyourreputation。Icomenowtoremoveyourerrors;tosetyoubeyondthereachofsimilarfears;torebuildyourfameasfarasIamable。 \"Thisistheamountofmyguilt,andthisthefruitofmyremorse。Willyounothearme?Listentomyconfession,andthendenouncepunishment。AllIaskisapatientaudience。\" \"What!\"Ireplied,\"wasnotthinethevoicethatcommandedmybrothertoimbruehishandsinthebloodofhischildren——tostranglethatangelofsweetnesshiswife?Hashenotvowedmydeath,andthedeathofPleyel,atthybidding?Hastthounotmadehimthebutcherofhisfamily;changedhimwhowasthegloryofhisspeciesintoworsethanbrute;robbedhimofreason,andconsignedtherestofhisdaystofettersandstripes?\" Carwin\'seyesglared,andhislimbswerepetrifiedatthisintelligence。Nowordswererequisitetoprovehimguiltlessoftheseenormities:atthetime,however,Iwasnearlyinsensibletotheseexculpatorytokens。Hewalkedtothefartherendoftheroom,andhavingrecoveredsomedegreeofcomposure,hespoke—— \"Iamnotthisvillain;Ihaveslainnoone;Ihavepromptednonetoslay;Ihavehandledatoolofwonderfulefficacywithoutmalignantintentions,butwithoutcaution;amplewillbethepunishmentofmytemerity,ifmyconducthascontributedtothisevil。\"Hepaused—— Ilikewisewassilent。Istruggledtocommandmyselfsofarastolistentothetalewhichheshouldtell。Observingthis,hecontinued—— \"YouarenotapprizedoftheexistenceofapowerwhichI possess。Iknownotbywhatnametocallit。*Itenablesmetomimicexactlythevoiceofanother,andtomodifythesoundsothatitshallappeartocomefromwhatquarter,andbeutteredatwhatdistanceIplease。 \"Iknownotthateveryonepossessesthispower。Perhaps,thoughacasualpositionofmyorgansinmyyouthshewedmethatIpossessedit,itisanartwhichmaybetaughttoall。WouldtoGodIhaddiedunknowingofthesecret!Ithasproducednothingbutdegradationandcalamity。 \"Foratimethepossessionofsopotentandstupendousanendowmentelatedmewithpride。Unfortifiedbyprinciple,subjectedtopoverty,stimulatedbyheadlongpassions,Imadethispowerfulenginesubservienttothesupplyofmywants,andthegratificationofmyvanity。IshallnotmentionhowdiligentlyIcultivatedthisgift,whichseemedcapableofunlimitedimprovement;nordetailthevariousoccasionsonwhichitwassuccessfullyexertedtoleadsuperstition,conqueravarice,orexciteawe。 \"IleftAmerica,whichismynativesoil,inmyyouth。I havebeenengagedinvariousscenesoflife,inwhichmypeculiartalenthasbeenexercisedwithmoreorlesssuccess。 Iwasfinallybetrayedbyonewhocalledhimselfmyfriend,intoactswhichcannotbejustified,thoughtheyaresusceptibleofapology。 \"TheperfidyofthismancompelledmetowithdrawfromEurope。Ireturnedtomynativecountry,uncertainwhethersilenceandobscuritywouldsavemefromhismalice。Iresidedinthepurlieusofthecity。Iputonthegarbandassumedthemannersofaclown。 \"Mychiefrecreationwaswalking。MyprincipalhauntswerethelawnsandgardensofMettingen。Inthisdelightfulregiontheluxuriancesofnaturehadbeenchastenedbyjudiciousart,andeachsuccessivecontemplationunfoldednewenchantments。 \"Iwasstudiousofseclusion:Iwassatiatedwiththeintercourseofmankind,anddiscretionrequiredmetoshuntheirintercourse。ForthesereasonsIlongavoidedtheobservationofyourfamily,andchieflyvisitedtheseprecinctsatnight。 \"IwasneverwearyofadmiringthepositionandornamentsofTHETEMPLE。ManyanighthaveIpassedunderitsroof,revolvingnopleasingmeditations。When,inmyfrequentrambles,Iperceivedthisapartmentwasoccupied,Igaveadifferentdirectiontomysteps。Oneevening,whenashowerhadjustpassed,judgingbythesilencethatnoonewaswithin,I ascendedtothisbuilding。Glancingcarelesslyround,I perceivedanopenletteronthepedestal。Toreaditwasdoubtlessanoffenceagainstpoliteness。Ofthisoffence,however,Iwasguilty。 \"ScarcelyhadIgonehalfthroughwhenIwasalarmedbytheapproachofyourbrother。Toscrambledownthecliffontheoppositesidewasimpracticable。Iwasunpreparedtomeetastranger。Besidestheaukwardnessattendingsuchaninterviewinthesecircumstances,concealmentwasnecessarytomysafety。 AthousandtimeshadIvowedneveragaintoemploythedangeroustalentwhichIpossessed;butsuchwastheforceofhabitandtheinfluenceofpresentconvenience,thatIusedthismethodofarrestinghisprogressandleadinghimbacktothehouse,withhiserrand,whateveritwas,unperformed。Ihadoftencaughtparts,frommystationbelow,ofyourconversationinthisplace,andwaswellacquaintedwiththevoiceofyoursister。 \"SomeweeksafterthisIwasagainquietlyseatedinthisrecess。Thelatenessofthehoursecuredme,asIthought,fromallinterruption。Inthis,however,Iwasmistaken,forWielandandPleyel,asIjudgedbytheirvoices,earnestindispute,ascendedthehill。 \"Iwasnotsensiblethatanyinconveniencecouldpossiblyhaveflowedfrommyformerexertion;yetitwasfollowedwithcompunction,becauseitwasadeviationfromapathwhichIhadassignedtomyself。Nowmyaversiontothismeansofescapewasenforcedbyanunauthorizedcuriosity,andbytheknowledgeofabushyhollowontheedgeofthehill,whereIshouldbesafefromdiscovery。IntothishollowIthrustmyself。 \"TheproprietyofremovaltoEuropewasthequestioneagerlydiscussed。PleyelintimatedthathisanxietytogowasaugmentedbythesilenceofTheresadeStolberg。Thetemptationtointerfereinthisdisputewasirresistible。InvainI contendedwithinveteratehabits。Idisguisedtomyselftheimproprietyofmyconduct,byrecollectingthebenefitswhichitmightproduce。Pleyel\'sproposalwasunwise,yetitwasenforcedwithplausibleargumentsandindefatigablezeal。Yourbrothermightbepuzzledandwearied,butcouldnotbeconvinced。Iconceivedthattoterminatethecontroversyinfavorofthelatterwasconferringabenefitonallparties。 ForthisendIprofitedbyanopeningintheconversation,andassuredthemofCatharine\'sirreconcilableaversiontothescheme,andofthedeathoftheSaxonbaroness。Thelattereventwasmerelyaconjecture,butrenderedextremelyprobablebyPleyel\'srepresentations。Mypurpose,youneednotbetold,waseffected。 \"Mypassionformystery,andaspeciesofimposture,whichI deemedharmless,wasthusawakenedafresh。Thissecondlapseintoerrormademyrecoverymoredifficult。IcannotconveytoyouanadequateideaofthekindofgratificationwhichI