The demon of Sicily Author:Edward Montague Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: caused my mind to stray, my passions too—But why were such feelings given us, if they are not to be indulged ? I repent me of my vows. At this moment a low no... more »ise was heard in the cell. The monk looked around, the taper dimly illumined the nearer objects with its uncertain rays, beyond them all was enveloped in murky obscurity, and in the dismal gloom uncertain shapes and appearances seemed to flit along. A strange sensation shook the soul of the monk; he stretched out his tremulous hand to aid the lamp's expiring beams, when, as he fearfully glared around around him, he saw close by his side an unusually tall figure in a monastic habit, the close drawn cowl of which completely enveloped the features from view; the arms were folded, and the head bent toward the ground. Scarcely could Bernardo collect sufficient fortitude to demand the cause of such an unusual visit, when the mystic form thus addressed him. Hollow, deep, and harsh was his voice; it was such as awed the monk into a strict silence. " I know, Bernardo, what thouwotjld- est now say to me; thy other thoughts are also in the page of my remembrance. Thou art right, Padre, man was not B 3 formedformed to live alone, to whine out his solitary hours in useless meditations and regrets. Padre, thou hast not seen the world; these walls and a few musty volumes contain the extent of thy knowledge, yet hast thy thoughts soared beyond them, thou hast dared to meditate on the most seducing objects in nature. Knowest thou, Bernardo, to what I allude ? It now dawns in thy breast— 'tis woman! Padre, you think that woman cannot be so beautiful as that painting. Know that it is a faint attempt at the true representation of their charms Wouldst thou see one, monk ?" . Bernardo had in some degree recover...« less