Clare's Sepulchre, witness my incantations, and Antonia is
your own.'
'To obtain her by such means I neither can, or will. Cease then
to persuade me, for I dare not employ Hell's agency.
'You DARE not? How have you deceived me! That mind which I
esteemed so great and valiant, proves to be feeble, puerile, and
grovelling, a slave to vulgar errors, and weaker than a Woman's.'
'What? Though conscious of the danger, wilfully shall I expose
myself to the Seducer's arts? Shall I renounce for ever my title
to salvation? Shall my eyes seek a sight which I know will
blast them? No, no, Matilda; I will not ally myself with God's
Enemy.'
'Are you then God's Friend at present? Have you not broken your
engagements with him, renounced his service, and abandoned
yourself to the impulse of your passions? Are you not planning
the destruction of innocence, the ruin of a Creature whom He
formed in the mould of Angels? If not of Daemons, whose aid
would you invoke to forward this laudable design? Will the
Seraphims protect it, conduct Antonia to your arms, and sanction
with their ministry your illicit pleasures? Absurd! But I am
not deceived, Ambrosio! It is not virtue which makes you reject
my offer: You WOULD accept it, but you dare not. 'Tis not the
crime which holds your hand, but the punishment; 'Tis not respect
for God which restrains you, but the terror of his vengeance!
Fain would you offend him in secret, but you tremble to profess
yourself his Foe.
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