h　her　friend；　could　not　determine　to　avoid　him；　and　made　　no　reply。
  〃I　will　go　to　the　convent；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃and　order　new　masses　to　　be　said　for　a　deliverance　from　these　calamities。〃
  〃Oh！　my　mother；〃　said　Matilda；　〃you　mean　to　quit　us：　　you　mean　to　take　　sanctuary；　and　to　give　my　father　an　opportunity　of　pursuing　his　fatal　　intention。　　Alas！　on　my　knees　I　supplicate　you　to　forbear；　will　you　　leave　me　a　prey　to　Frederic？　　I　will　follow　you　to　the　convent。〃
  〃Be　at　peace；　my　child；〃　said　Hippolita：　　〃I　will　return　instantly。　　I　　will　never　abandon　thee；　until　I　know　it　is　the　will　of　heaven；　and　　for　thy　benefit。〃
  〃Do　not　deceive　me；〃　said　Matilda。　　〃I　will　not　marry　Frederic　until　　thou　commandest　it。　　Alas！　what　will　become　of　me？〃
  〃Why　that　exclamation？〃　said　Hippolita。　　〃I　have　promised　thee　to　　return　…　〃
  〃Ah！　my　mother；〃　replied　Matilda；　〃stay　and　save　me　from　myself。　　A　　frown　from　thee　can　do　more　than　all　my　father's　severity。　　I　have　　given　away　my　heart；　and　you　alone　can　make　me　recall　it。〃
  〃No　more；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃thou　must　not　relapse；　Matilda。〃
  〃I　can　quit　Theodore；〃　said　she；　〃but　must　I　wed　another？　let　me　　attend　thee　to　the　altar；　and　shut　myself　from　the　world　for　ever。〃
  〃Thy　fate　depends　on　thy　father；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃I　have　ill…bestowed　　my　tenderness；　if　it　has　taught　thee　to　revere　aught　beyond　him。　　　Adieu！　my　child：　　I　go　to　pray　for　thee。〃
  Hippolita's　real　purpose　was　to　demand　of　Jerome；　whether　in　　conscience　she　might　not　consent　to　the　divorce。　　She　had　oft　urged　　Manfred　to　resign　the　principality；　which　the　delicacy　of　her　　conscience　rendered　an　hourly　burthen　to　her。　　These　scruples　　concurred　to　make　the　separation　from　her　husband　appear　less　dreadful　　to　her　than　it　would　have　seemed　in　any　other　situation。
  Jerome；　at　quitting　the　castle　overnight；　had　questioned　Theodore　　severely　why　he　had　accused　him　to　Manfred　of　being　privy　to　his　　escape。　　Theodore　owned　it　had　been　with　design　to　prevent　Manfred's　　suspicion　from　alighting　on　Matilda；　and　added；　the　holiness　of　　Jerome's　life　and　character　secured　him　from　the　tyrant's　wrath。　　　Jerome　was　heartily　grieved　to　discover　his　son's　inclination　for　that　　princess；　and　leaving　him　to　his　rest；　promised　in　the　morning　to　　acquaint　him　with　important　reasons　for　conquering　his　passion。
  Theodore；　like　Isabella；　was　too　recently　acquainted　with　parental　　authority　to　submit　to　its　decisions　against　the　impulse　of　his　heart。　　　He　had　little　curiosity　to　learn　the　Friar's　reasons；　and　less　　disposition　to　obey　them。　　The　lovely　Matilda　had　made　stronger　　impressions　on　him　than　filial　affection。　　All　night　he　pleased　　himself　with　visions　of　love；　and　it　was　not　till　late　after　the　　morning…office；　that　he　recollected　the　Friar's　commands　to　attend　him　　at　Alfonso's　tomb。
  〃Young　man；〃　said　Jerome；　when　he　saw　him；　〃this　tardiness　does　not　　please　me。　　Have　a　father's　commands　already　so　little　weight？〃
  Theodore　made　awkward　excuses；　and　attributed　his　delay　to　having　　overslept　himself。
  〃And　on　whom　were　thy　dreams　employed？〃　said　the　Friar　sternly。　　His　　son　blushed。　　〃Come；　come；〃　resumed　the　Friar；　〃inconsiderate　youth；　　this　must　not　be；　eradicate　this　guilty　passion　from　thy　breast　…　〃
  〃Guilty　passion！〃　cried　Theodore：　　〃Can　guilt　dwell　with　innocent　　beauty　and　virtuous　modesty？〃
  〃It　is　sinful；〃　replied　the　Friar；　〃to　cherish　those　whom　heaven　has　　doomed　to　destruction。　　A　tyrant's　race　must　be　swept　from　the　earth　　to　the　third　and　fourth　generation。〃
  〃Will　heaven　visit　the　innocent　for　the　crimes　of　the　guilty？〃　said　　Theodore。　　〃The　fair　Matilda　has　virtues　enough　…　〃
  〃To　undo　thee：〃　interrupted　Jerome。　　〃Hast　thou　so　soon　forgotten　that　　twice　the　savage　Manfred　has　pronounced　thy　sentence？〃
  〃Nor　have　I　forgotten；　sir；〃　said　Theodore；　〃that　the　charity　of　his　　daughter　delivered　me　from　his　power。　　I　can　forget　injuries；　but　　never　benefits。〃
  〃The　injuries　thou　hast　received　from　Manfred's　race；〃　said　the　Friar；　　〃are　beyond　what　thou　canst　conceive。　　Reply　not；　but　view　this　holy　　image！　　Beneath　this　marble　monument　rest　the　ashes　of　the　good　　Alfonso；　a　prince　adorned　with　every　virtue：　　the　father　of　his　　people！　the　delight　of　mankind！　　Kneel；　headstrong　boy；　and　list；　　while　a　father　unfolds　a　tale　of　horror　that　will　expel　every　　sentiment　from　thy　soul；　but　sensations　of　sacred　vengeance　…　Alfonso！　　much　injured　prince！　let　thy　unsatisfied　shade　sit　awful　on　the　　troubled　air；　while　these　trembling　lips　…　Ha！　who　comes　there？　…　〃
  〃The　most　wretched　of　women！〃　said　Hippolita；　entering　the　choir。　　　〃Good　Father；　art　thou　at　leisure？　…　but　why　this　kneeling　youth？　what　　means　the　horror　imprinted　on　each　countenance？　why　at　this　venerable　　tomb　…　alas！　hast　thou　seen　aught？〃
  〃We　were　pouring　forth　our　orisons　to　heaven；〃　replied　the　Friar；　with　　some　confusion；　〃to　put　an　end　to　the　woes　of　this　deplorable　　province。　　Join　with　us；　Lady！　thy　spotless　soul　may　obtain　an　　exemption　from　the　judgments　which　the　portents　of　these　days　but　too　　speakingly　denounce　against　thy　house。〃
  〃I　pray　fervently　to　heaven　to　divert　them；〃　said　the　pious　Princess。　　　〃Thou　knowest　it　has　been　the　occupation　of　my　life　to　wrest　a　　blessing　for　my　Lord　and　my　harmless　children。　…　One　alas！　is　taken　　from　me！　would　heaven　but　hear　me　for　my　poor　Matilda！　　Father！　　intercede　for　her！〃
  〃Every　heart　will　bless　her；〃　cried　Theodore　with　rapture。
  〃Be　dumb；　rash　youth！〃　said　Jerome。　　〃And　thou；　fond　Princess；　contend　　not　with　the　Powers　above！　the　Lord　giveth；　and　the　Lord　taketh　away：　　　bless　His　holy　name；　and　submit　to　his　decrees。〃
  〃I　do　most　devoutly；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃but　will　He　not　spare　my　only　　comfort？　must　Matilda　perish　too？　…　ah！　　Father；　I　came　…　but　dismiss　　thy　son。　　No　ear　but　thine　must　hear　what　I　have　to　utter。〃
  〃May　heaven　grant　thy　every　wish；　most　excellent　Princess！〃　said　　Theodore　retiring。　　Jerome　frowned。
  Hippolita　then　acquainted　the　Friar　with　the　proposal　she　had　　suggested　to　Manfred；　his　approbation　of　it；　and　the　tender　of　Matilda　　that　he　was　gone　to　make　to　Frederic。　　Jerome　could　not　conceal　his　　dislike　of　the　notion；　which　he　covered　under　pretence　of　the　　improbability　that　Frederic；　the　nearest　of　blood　to　Alfonso；　and　who　　was　come　to　claim　his　succession；　would　yield　to　an　alliance　with　the　　usurper　of　his　right。　　But　nothing　could　equal　the　perplexity　of　the　　Friar；　when　Hippolita　confessed　her　readiness　not　to　oppose　the　　separation；　and　demanded　his　opinion　on　the　legality　of　her　　acquiescence。　　The　Friar　caught　eagerly　at　her　request　of　his　advice；　　and　without　explaining　his　aversion　to　the　proposed　marriage　of　　Manfred　and　Isabella；　he　painted　to　Hippolita　in　the　most　alarming　　colours　the　sinfulness　of　her　consent；　denounced　judgments　against　her　　if　she　complied；　and　enjoined　her　in　the　severest　terms　to　treat　any　　such　proposition　with　every　mark　of　indignation　and　refusal。
  Manfred；　in　the　meantime；　had　broken　his　purpose　to　Frederic；　and　　proposed　the　double　marriage。　　That　weak　Prince；　who　had　been　struck　　with　the　charms　of　Matilda；　listened　but　too　eagerly　to　the　offer。　　He　　forgot　his　enmity　to　Manfred；　whom　he　saw　but　little　hope　of　　dispossessing　by　force；　and　flattering　himself　that　no　issue　might　　succeed　from　the　union　of　his　daughter　with　the　tyrant；　he　looked　upon　　his　own　succession　to　the　principality　as　facilitated　by　wedding　　Matilda。　　He　made　faint　opposition　to　the　proposal；　affecting；　for　　form　only；　not　to　acquiesce　unless　Hippolita　should　consent　to　the　　divorce。　　Manfred　took　that　upon　himself。
  Transported　with　his　success；　and　impatient　to　see　himself　in　a　　situation　to　expect　sons；　he　hastened　to　his　wife's　apartment；　　determined　to　extort　her　compliance。　　He　learned　with　indignation　that　　she　was　absent　at　the　convent。　　His　guilt　suggested　to　him　that　she　　had　probably　been　informed　by　Isabella　of　his　purpose。　　He　doubted　　whether　her　retirement　to　the　convent　did　not　import　an　intention　of　　remaining　there；　until　she　could　raise　obstacles　to　their　divorce；　and　　the　suspicions　he　had　already　entertained　of　Jerome；　made　him　　apprehend　that　the　Friar　would　not　only　traverse　his　views；　but　might　　have　inspired　Hippolita　with　the　resolution　of　talking　sanctuary。　　　Impatient　to　unravel　this　clue；　and　to　defeat　its　success；　Manfred　　hastened　to　the　convent；　and　arrived　there　as　the　Friar　was　earnestly　　exhorting　the　Princess　never　to　yield　to　the　divorce。
  〃Madam；〃　said　Manfred；　〃what　business　drew　you　hither？　why　did　you　not　　await　my　return　from　the　Marquis？〃
  〃I　came　to　implore　a　blessing　on　your　councils；〃　replied　Hippolita。
  〃My　councils　do　not　need　a　Friar's　intervention；〃　said　Manfred；　〃and　　of　all　men　living　is　that　hoary　traitor　the　only　one　whom　you　delight　　to　confer　with？〃
  〃Profane　Prince！〃　said　Jerome；　〃is　it　at　the　altar　that　thou　choosest　　to　insult　the　servants　of　the　altar？　…　but；　Manfred；　thy　impious　　schemes　are　known。　　Heaven　and　this　virtuous　lady　know　them　…　nay；　　frown　not；　Prince。　　The　Church　despises　thy　menaces。　　Her　thunders　　will　be　heard　above　thy　wrath。　　Dare　to　proceed　in　thy　cursed　purpose　　of　a　divorce；　until　her　sentence　be　known；　and　here　I　lance　her　　ana