The Mysteries of Udolpho

'There,' said Montoni, speaking for the first time in several hours, 'is

Udolpho.'

Emily gazed with melancholy awe upon the castle, which she understood to

be Montoni's; for, though it was now lighted up by the setting sun, the

gothic greatness of its features, and its mouldering walls of dark grey

stone, rendered it a gloomy and sublime object. As she gazed, the light

died away on its walls, leaving a melancholy purple tint, which spread

deeper and deeper, as the thin vapour crept up the mountain, while the

battlements above were still tipped with splendour. From those, too,

the rays soon faded, and the whole edifice was invested with the solemn

duskiness of evening. Silent, lonely, and sublime, it seemed to stand

the sovereign of the scene, and to frown defiance on all, who dared to

invade its solitary reign. As the twilight deepened, its features

became more awful in obscurity, and Emily continued to gaze, till its

clustering towers were alone seen, rising over the tops of the woods,

beneath whose thick shade the carriages soon after began to ascend.

The extent and darkness of these tall woods awakened terrific images in

her mind, and she almost expected to see banditti start up from under

the trees. At length, the carriages emerged upon a heathy rock, and,

soon after, reached the castle gates, where the deep tone of the portal

bell, which was struck upon to give notice of their arrival, increased

the fearful emotions, that had assailed Emily. While they waited till

the servant within should come to open the gates, she anxiously

surveyed the edifice: but the gloom, that overspread it, allowed her to

distinguish little more than a part of its outline, with the massy walls

of the ramparts, and to know, that it was vast, ancient and dreary. From

the parts she saw, she judged of the heavy strength and extent of the

whole.

The gateway before her, leading into the courts, was of gigantic

size, and was defended by two round towers, crowned by overhanging

turrets, embattled, where, instead of banners, now waved long grass and

wild plants, that had taken root among the mouldering stones, and which

seemed to sigh, as the breeze rolled past, over the desolation around

them. The towers were united by a curtain, pierced and embattled also,

below which appeared the pointed arch of a huge portcullis, surmounting

the gates: from these, the walls of the ramparts extended to other

towers, overlooking the precipice, whose shattered outline, appearing on

a gleam, that lingered in the west, told of the ravages of war.--Beyond

these all was lost in the obscurity of evening.