heard　them　pronounce　the　fatal　sentence　　with　a　transport　equal　to　frenzy。
  〃Since　she　cannot　live　mine；〃　cried　he；　〃at　least　she　shall　be　mine　in　　death！　　Father！　　Jerome！　will　you　not　join　our　hands？〃　cried　he　to　the　　Friar；　who；　with　the　Marquis；　had　accompanied　the　surgeons。
  〃What　means　thy　distracted　rashness？〃　said　Jerome。　　〃Is　this　an　hour　　for　marriage？〃
  〃It　is；　it　is；〃　cried　Theodore。　　〃Alas！　there　is　no　other！〃
  〃Young　man；　thou　art　too　unadvised；〃　said　Frederic。　　〃Dost　thou　think　　we　are　to　listen　to　thy　fond　transports　in　this　hour　of　fate？　　What　　pretensions　hast　thou　to　the　Princess？〃
  〃Those　of　a　Prince；〃　said　Theodore；　〃of　the　sovereign　of　Otranto。　　　This　reverend　man；　my　father；　has　informed　me　who　I　am。〃
  〃Thou　ravest；〃　said　the　Marquis。　　〃There　is　no　Prince　of　Otranto　but　　myself；　now　Manfred；　by　murder；　by　sacrilegious　murder；　has　forfeited　　all　pretensions。〃
  〃My　Lord；〃　said　Jerome；　assuming　an　air　of　command；　〃he　tells　you　　true。　　It　was　not　my　purpose　the　secret　should　have　been　divulged　so　　soon；　but　fate　presses　onward　to　its　work。　　What　his　hot…headed　　passion　has　revealed；　my　tongue　confirms。　　Know；　Prince；　that　when　　Alfonso　set　sail　for　the　Holy　Land　…　〃
  〃Is　this　a　season　for　explanations？〃　cried　Theodore。　　〃Father；　come　　and　unite　me　to　the　Princess；　she　shall　be　mine！　　In　every　other　thing　　I　will　dutifully　obey　you。　　My　life！　my　adored　Matilda！〃　continued　　Theodore；　rushing　back　into　the　inner　chamber；　〃will　you　not　be　mine？　　　Will　you　not　bless　your　…　〃
  Isabella　made　signs　to　him　to　be　silent；　apprehending　the　Princess　was　　near　her　end。
  〃What；　is　she　dead？〃　cried　Theodore；　〃is　it　possible！〃
  The　violence　of　his　exclamations　brought　Matilda　to　herself。　　Lifting　　up　her　eyes；　she　looked　round　for　her　mother。
  〃Life　of　my　soul；　I　am　here！〃　cried　Hippolita；　〃think　not　I　will　quit　　thee！〃
  〃Oh！　you　are　too　good；〃　said　Matilda。　　〃But　weep　not　for　me；　my　　mother！　　I　am　going　where　sorrow　never　dwells　…　Isabella；　thou　hast　　loved　me；　wouldst　thou　not　supply　my　fondness　to　this　dear；　dear　　woman？　　Indeed　I　am　faint！〃
  〃Oh！　my　child！　my　child！〃　said　Hippolita　in　a　flood　of　tears；　〃can　I　　not　withhold　thee　a　moment？〃
  〃It　will　not　be；〃　said　Matilda；　〃commend　me　to　heaven　…　Where　is　my　　father？　forgive　him；　dearest　mother　…　forgive　him　my　death；　it　was　an　　error。　　Oh！　　I　had　forgotten　…　dearest　mother；　I　vowed　never　to　see　　Theodore　more　…　perhaps　that　has　drawn　down　this　calamity　…　but　it　was　　not　intentional　…　can　you　pardon　me？〃
  〃Oh！　wound　not　my　agonising　soul！〃　said　Hippolita；　〃thou　never　couldst　　offend　me　…　Alas！　she　faints！　help！　help！〃
  〃I　would　say　something　more；〃　said　Matilda；　struggling；　〃but　it　cannot　　be　…　Isabella　…　Theodore　…　for　my　sake　…　Oh！　…　〃　she　expired。
  Isabella　and　her　women　tore　Hippolita　from　the　corse；　but　Theodore　　threatened　destruction　to　all　who　attempted　to　remove　him　from　it。　　He　　printed　a　thousand　kisses　on　her　clay…cold　hands；　and　uttered　every　　expression　that　despairing　love　could　dictate。
  Isabella；　in　the　meantime；　was　accompanying　the　afflicted　Hippolita　to　　her　apartment；　but；　in　the　middle　of　the　court；　they　were　met　by　　Manfred；　who；　distracted　with　his　own　thoughts；　and　anxious　once　more　　to　behold　his　daughter；　was　advancing　to　the　chamber　where　she　lay。　　　As　the　moon　was　now　at　its　height；　he　read　in　the　countenances　of　this　　unhappy　company　the　event　he　dreaded。
  〃What！　is　she　dead？〃　cried　he　in　wild　confusion。　　A　clap　of　thunder　at　　that　instant　shook　the　castle　to　its　foundations；　the　earth　rocked；　　and　the　clank　of　more　than　mortal　armour　was　heard　behind。　　Frederic　　and　Jerome　thought　the　last　day　was　at　hand。　　The　latter；　forcing　　Theodore　along　with　them；　rushed　into　the　court。　　The　moment　Theodore　　appeared；　the　walls　of　the　castle　behind　Manfred　were　thrown　down　with　　a　mighty　force；　and　the　form　of　Alfonso；　dilated　to　an　immense　　magnitude；　appeared　in　the　centre　of　the　ruins。
  〃Behold　in　Theodore　the　true　heir　of　Alfonso！〃　said　the　vision：　　And　　having　pronounced　those　words；　accompanied　by　a　clap　of　thunder；　it　　ascended　solemnly　towards　heaven；　where　the　clouds　parting　asunder；　　the　form　of　St。　Nicholas　was　seen；　and　receiving　Alfonso's　shade；　they　　were　soon　wrapt　from　mortal　eyes　in　a　blaze　of　glory。
  The　beholders　fell　prostrate　on　their　faces；　acknowledging　the　divine　　will。　　The　first　that　broke　silence　was　Hippolita。
  〃My　Lord；〃　said　she　to　the　desponding　Manfred；　〃behold　the　vanity　of　　human　greatness！　　Conrad　is　gone！　　Matilda　is　no　more！　　In　Theodore　we　　view　the　true　Prince　of　Otranto。　　By　what　miracle　he　is　so　I　know　not　　…　suffice　it　to　us；　our　doom　is　pronounced！　shall　we　not；　can　we　but　　dedicate　the　few　deplorable　hours　we　have　to　live；　in　deprecating　the　　further　wrath　of　heaven？　heaven　ejects　us　…　whither　can　we　fly；　but　to　　yon　holy　cells　that　yet　offer　us　a　retreat。〃
  〃Thou　guiltless　but　unhappy　woman！　unhappy　by　my　crimes！〃　replied　　Manfred；　〃my　heart　at　last　is　open　to　thy　devout　admonitions。　　Oh！　　could　…　but　it　cannot　be　…　ye　are　lost　in　wonder　…　let　me　at　last　do　　justice　on　myself！　　To　heap　shame　on　my　own　head　is　all　the　　satisfaction　I　have　left　to　offer　to　offended　heaven。　　My　story　has　　drawn　down　these　judgments：　　Let　my　confession　atone　…　but；　ah！　what　　can　atone　for　usurpation　and　a　murdered　child？　a　child　murdered　in　a　　consecrated　place？　　List；　sirs；　and　may　this　bloody　record　be　a　　warning　to　future　tyrants！〃
  〃Alfonso；　ye　all　know；　died　in　the　Holy　Land　…　ye　would　interrupt　me；　　ye　would　say　he　came　not　fairly　to　his　end　…　it　is　most　true　…　why　　else　this　bitter　cup　which　Manfred　must　drink　to　the　dregs。　　Ricardo；　　my　grandfather；　was　his　chamberlain　…　I　would　draw　a　veil　over　my　　ancestor's　crimes　…　but　it　is　in　vain！　　Alfonso　died　by　poison。　　A　　fictitious　will　declared　Ricardo　his　heir。　　His　crimes　pursued　him　…　　yet　he　lost　no　Conrad；　no　Matilda！　　I　pay　the　price　of　usurpation　for　　all！　　A　storm　overtook　him。　　Haunted　by　his　guilt　he　vowed　to　St。　　Nicholas　to　found　a　church　and　two　convents；　if　he　lived　to　reach　　Otranto。　　The　sacrifice　was　accepted：　　the　saint　appeared　to　him　in　a　　dream；　and　promised　that　Ricardo's　posterity　should　reign　in　Otranto　　until　the　rightful　owner　should　be　grown　too　large　to　inhabit　the　　castle；　and　as　long　as　issue　male　from　Ricardo's　loins　should　remain　　to　enjoy　it　…　alas！　alas！　nor　male　nor　female；　except　myself；　remains　　of　all　his　wretched　race！　　I　have　done　…　the　woes　of　these　three　days　　speak　the　rest。　　How　this　young　man　can　be　Alfonso's　heir　I　know　not　…　　yet　I　do　not　doubt　it。　　His　are　these　dominions；　I　resign　them　…　yet　I　　knew　not　Alfonso　had　an　heir　…　I　question　not　the　will　of　heaven　…　　poverty　and　prayer　must　fill　up　the　woeful　space；　until　Manfred　shall　　be　summoned　to　Ricardo。〃
  〃What　remains　is　my　part　to　declare；〃　said　Jerome。　　〃When　Alfonso　set　　sail　for　the　Holy　Land　he　was　driven　by　a　storm　to　the　coast　of　　Sicily。　　The　other　vessel；　which　bore　Ricardo　and　his　train；　as　your　　Lordship　must　have　heard；　was　separated　from　him。〃
  〃It　is　most　true；〃　said　Manfred；　〃and　the　title　you　give　me　is　more　　than　an　outcast　can　claim　…　well！　be　it　so　…　proceed。〃
  Jerome　blushed；　and　continued。　　〃For　three　months　Lord　Alfonso　was　　wind…bound　in　Sicily。　　There　he　became　enamoured　of　a　fair　virgin　　named　Victoria。　　He　was　too　pious　to　tempt　her　to　forbidden　pleasures。　　　They　were　married。　　Yet　deeming　this　amour　incongruous　with　the　holy　　vow　of　arms　by　which　he　was　bound；　he　determined　to　conceal　their　　nuptials　until　his　return　from　the　Crusade；　when　he　purposed　to　seek　　and　acknowledge　her　for　his　lawful　wife。　　He　left　her　pregnant。　　　During　his　absence　she　was　delivered　of　a　daughter。　　But　scarce　had　　she　felt　a　mother's　pangs　ere　she　heard　the　fatal　rumour　of　her　Lord's　　death；　and　the　succession　of　Ricardo。　　What　could　a　friendless；　　helpless　woman　do？　　Would　her　testimony　avail？　…　yet；　my　lord；　I　have　　an　authentic　writing　…　〃
  〃It　needs　not；〃　said　Manfred；　〃the　horrors　of　these　days；　the　vision　　we　have　but　now　seen；　all　corroborate　thy　evidence　beyond　a　thousand　　parchments。　　Matilda's　death　and　my　expulsion　…　〃
  〃Be　composed；　my　Lord；〃　said　Hippolita；　〃this　holy　man　did　not　mean　to　　recall　your　griefs。〃　　Jerome　proceeded。
  〃I　shall　not　dwell　on　what　is　needless。　　The　daughter　of　which　　Victoria　was　delivered；　was　at　her　maturity　bestowed　in　marriage　on　　me。　　Victoria　died；　and　the　secret　remained　locked　in　my　breast。　　　Theodore's　narrative　has　told　the　rest。〃
  The　Friar　ceased。　　The　disconsolate　company　retired　to　the　remaining　　part　of　the　castle。　　In　the　morning　Manfred　signed　his　abdication　of　　the　principality；　with　the　approbation　of　Hippolita；　and　each　took　on　　them　the　habit　of　religion　in　the　neighbouring　convents。　　Frederic　　offered　his　daughter　to　the　new　Prince；　which　Hippolita's　tenderness　　for　Isabella　concurred　to　promote。　　But　Theodore's　grief　was　too　fresh　　to　admit　the　thought　of　another　love；　and　it　was　not　until　after　　frequent　discourses　with　Isabella　of　his　dear　Matilda；　that　he　was　　persuaded　he　could　know　no　happiness　but　in　the　society　of　one　with　　whom　he　could　for　ever　indulge　the　melancholy　that　had　taken　　possession　of　his　soul。
  End