The Mysteries of Udolpho

Thus on the chill Lapponian's dreary land,

For many a long month lost in snow profound,

When Sol from Cancer sends the seasons bland,

And in their northern cave the storms hath bound;

From silent mountains, straight, with startling sound,

Torrents are hurl'd, green hills emerge, and lo,

The trees with foliage, cliffs with flow'rs are crown'd;

Pure rills through vales of verdure warbling go;

And wonder, love, and joy, the peasant's heart o'erflow.

BEATTIE

of her succeeding days passed in suspense, for Ludovico

could only learn from the soldiers, that there was a prisoner in the

apartment, described to him by Emily, and that he was a Frenchman,

whom they had taken in one of their skirmishes, with a party of his

countrymen. During this interval, Emily escaped the persecutions of

Bertolini, and Verezzi, by confining herself to her apartment; except

that sometimes, in an evening, she ventured to walk in the adjoining

corridor.

Montoni appeared to respect his last promise, though he had

prophaned his first; for to his protection only could she attribute her

present repose; and in this she was now so secure, that she did not wish

to leave the castle, till she could obtain some certainty concerning

Valancourt; for which she waited, indeed, without any sacrifice of

her own comfort, since no circumstance had occurred to make her escape

probable.

On the fourth day, Ludovico informed her, that he had hopes of being

admitted to the presence of the prisoner; it being the turn of a

soldier, with whom he had been for some time familiar, to attend him

on the following night. He was not deceived in his hope; for, under

pretence of carrying in a pitcher of water, he entered the prison,

though, his prudence having prevented him from telling the sentinel the

real motive of his visit, he was obliged to make his conference with the

prisoner a very short one.

Emily awaited the result in her own apartment, Ludovico having promised

to accompany Annette to the corridor, in the evening; where, after

several hours impatiently counted, he arrived. Emily, having then

uttered the name of Valancourt, could articulate no more, but hesitated

in trembling expectation. 'The Chevalier would not entrust me with his

name, Signora,' replied Ludovico; 'but, when I just mentioned yours, he

seemed overwhelmed with joy, though he was not so much surprised as I

expected.' 'Does he then remember me?' she exclaimed.

'O! it is Mons. Valancourt,' said Annette, and looked impatiently at

Ludovico, who understood her look, and replied to Emily: 'Yes, lady, the

Chevalier does, indeed, remember you, and, I am sure, has a very great

regard for you, and I made bold to say you had for him. He then enquired

how you came to know he was in the castle, and whether you ordered me

to speak to him. The first question I could not answer, but the second I

did; and then he went off into his ecstasies again. I was afraid his joy

would have betrayed him to the sentinel at the door.'