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He replied as before； that having no crimes； He could acknowledge
none： But when the Executioners prepared to put him to the
question； when He saw the engines of torture； and remembered the
pangs which they had already inflicted； his resolution failed him
entirely。 Forgetting the consequences； and only anxious to
escape the terrors of the present moment； He made an ample
confession。 He disclosed every circumstance of his guilt； and
owned not merely the crimes with which He was charged； but those
of which He had never been suspected。 Being interrogated as to
Matilda's flight which had created much confusion； He confessed
that She had sold herself to Satan； and that She was indebted to
Sorcery for her escape。 He still assured his Judges that for
his own part He had never entered into any compact with the
infernal Spirits； But the threat of being tortured made him
declare himself to be a Sorcerer； and Heretic； and whatever other
title the Inquisitors chose to fix upon him。 In consequence of
this avowal； his sentence was immediately pronounced。 He was
ordered to prepare himself to perish in the Auto da Fe； which was
to be solemnized at twelve o'clock that night。 This hour was
chosen from the idea that the horror of the flames being
heightened by the gloom of midnight； the execution would have a
greater effect upon the mind of the People。
Ambrosio rather dead than alive was left alone in his dungeon。
The moment in which this terrible decree was pronounced had
nearly proved that of his dissolution。 He looked forward to the
morrow with despair； and his terrors increased with the approach
of midnight。 Sometimes He was buried in gloomy silence： At
others He raved with delirious passion； wrung his hands； and
cursed the hour when He first beheld the light。 In one of these
moments his eye rested upon Matilda's mysterious gift。 His
transports of rage were instantly suspended。 He looked earnestly
at the Book； He took it up； but immediately threw it from him
with horror。 He walked rapidly up and down his dungeon： Then
stopped； and again fixed his eyes on the spot where the Book had
fallen。 He reflected that here at least was a resource from the
fate which He dreaded。 He stooped； and took it up a second time。
He remained for some time trembling and irresolute： He longed to
try the charm； yet feared its consequences。 The recollection of
his sentence at length fixed his indecision。 He opened the
Volume； but his agitation was so great that He at first sought
in vain for the page mentioned by Matilda。 Ashamed of himself；
He called all his courage to his aid。 He turned to the seventh
leaf。 He began to read it aloud； But his eyes frequently
wandered from the Book； while He anxiously cast them round in
search of the Spirit； whom He wished； yet dreaded to behold。
Still He persisted in his design； and with a voice unassured and
frequent interruptions； He contrived to finish the four first
lines of the page。
They were in a language； whose import was totally unknown to him。
Scarce had He pronounced the last word when the effects of the
charm were evident。 A loud burst of Thunder was heard； The
prison shook to its very foundations； A blaze of lightning
flashed through the Cell； and in the next moment； borne upon
sulphurous whirl…winds； Lucifer stood before him a second time。
But He came not as when at Matilda's summons He borrowed the
Seraph's form to deceive Ambrosio。 He appeared in all that
ugliness which since his fall from heaven had been his portion：
His blasted limbs still bore marks of the Almighty's thunder： A
swarthy darkness spread itself over his gigantic form： His hands
and feet were armed with long Talons： Fury glared in his eyes；
which might have struck the bravest heart with terror： Over his
huge shoulders waved two enormous sable wings； and his hair was
supplied by living snakes； which twined themselves round his
brows with frightful hissings。 In one hand He held a roll of
parchment； and in the other an iron pen。 Still the lightning
flashed around him； and the Thunder with repeated bursts； seemed
to announce the dissolution of Nature。
Terrified at an Apparition so different from what He had
expected； Ambrosio remained gazing upon the Fiend； deprived of
the power of utterance。 The Thunder had ceased to roll：
Universal silence reigned through the dungeon。
'For what am I summoned hither？' said the Daemon； in a voice
which sulphurous fogs had damped to hoarseness
At the sound Nature seemed to tremble： A violent earthquake
rocked the ground； accompanied by a fresh burst of Thunder；
louder and more appalling than the first。
Ambrosio was long unable to answer the Daemon's demand。
'I am condemned to die；' He said with a faint voice； his blood
running cold； while He gazed upon his dreadful Visitor。 'Save
me！ Bear me from hence！'
'Shall the reward of my services be paid me？ Dare you embrace my
cause？ Will you be mine； body and soul？ Are you prepared to
renounce him who made you； and him who died for you？ Answer but
''Yes'' and Lucifer is your Slave。'
'Will no less price content you？ Can nothing satisfy you but my
eternal ruin？ Spirit； you ask too much。 Yet convey me from this
dungeon： Be my Servant for one hour； and I will be yours for a
thousand years。 Will not this offer suffice？'
'It will not。 I must have your soul； must have it mine； and mine
for ever。'
'Insatiate Daemon； I will not doom myself to endless torments。 I
will not give up my hopes of being one day pardoned。'
'You will not？ On what Chimaera rest then your hopes？
Short…sighted Mortal！ Miserable Wretch！ Are you not guilty？
Are you not infamous in the eyes of Men and Angels。 Can such
enormous sins be forgiven？ Hope you to escape my power？ Your
fate is already pronounced。 The Eternal has abandoned you； Mine
you are marked in the book of destiny； and mine you must and
shall be！'
'Fiend； 'tis false！ Infinite is the Almighty's mercy； and the
Penitent shall meet his forgiveness。 My crimes are monstrous；
but I will not despair of pardon： Haply； when they have received
due chastisement 。 。 。 。'
'Chastisement？ Was Purgatory meant for guilt like yours？ Hope
you that your offences shall be bought off by prayers of
superstitious dotards and droning Monks？ Ambrosio； be wise！
Mine
you must be： You are doomed to flames； but may shun them for the
present。 Sign this parchment： I will bear you from hence； and
you may pass your remaining years in bliss and liberty。 Enjoy
your existence： Indulge in every pleasure to which appetite may
lead you： But from the moment that it quits your body； remember
that your soul belongs to me； and that I will not be defrauded of
my right。'
The Monk was silent； But his looks declared that the Tempter's
words were not thrown away。 He reflected on the conditions
proposed with horror： On the other hand； He believed himself
doomed to perdition and that； by refusing the Daemon's succour；
He only hastened tortures which He never could escape。 The Fiend
saw that his resolution was shaken： He renewed his instances；
and endeavoured to fix the Abbot's indecision。