f000001,5.160,27.920,"The company had no sooner quitted the castle than Matilda, who felt herself deeply interested for the young peasant, since she had seen him condemned to death in the hall, and whose thoughts had been taken up with concerting measures to save him, was informed by some of the female attendants that Manfred had despatched all his men various ways in pursuit of Isabella."
f000002,27.920,37.800,"He had in his hurry given this order in general terms, not meaning to extend it to the guard he had set upon Theodore, but forgetting it."
f000003,37.800,51.760,"The domestics, officious to obey so peremptory a Prince, and urged by their own curiosity and love of novelty to join in any precipitate chase, had to a man left the castle."
f000004,51.760,61.080,"Matilda disengaged herself from her women, stole up to the black tower, and unbolting the door, presented herself to the astonished Theodore."
f000005,61.080,72.680,"Young man, said she, though filial duty and womanly modesty condemn the step I am taking, yet holy charity, surmounting all other ties, justifies this act."
f000006,72.680,80.280,"Fly; the doors of thy prison are open: my father and his domestics are absent; but they may soon return."
f000007,80.280,84.720,"Be gone in safety; and may the angels of heaven direct thy course!"
f000008,84.720,93.280,"Thou art surely one of those angels! said the enraptured Theodore: none but a blessed saint could speak, could actcould looklike thee."
f000009,93.280,96.560,"May I not know the name of my divine protectress?"
f000010,96.560,98.680,"Methought thou namedst thy father."
f000011,98.680,99.800,"Is it possible?"
f000012,99.800,103.240,"Can Manfred's blood feel holy pity!"
f000013,103.240,105.400,"Lovely Lady, thou answerest not."
f000014,105.400,107.520,"But how art thou here thyself?"
f000015,107.520,112.640,"Why dost thou neglect thy own safety, and waste a thought on a wretch like Theodore?"
f000016,112.640,118.240,"Let us fly together: the life thou bestowest shall be dedicated to thy defence."
f000017,118.240,125.680,"Alas! thou mistakest, said Matilda, signing: I am Manfred's daughter, but no dangers await me."
f000018,125.680,135.160,"Amazement! said Theodore; but last night I blessed myself for yielding thee the service thy gracious compassion so charitably returns me now."
f000019,135.160,141.240,"Still thou art in an error, said the Princess; but this is no time for explanation."
f000020,141.240,150.360,"Fly, virtuous youth, while it is in my power to save thee: should my father return, thou and I both should indeed have cause to tremble."
f000021,150.360,158.280,"How! said Theodore; thinkest thou, charming maid, that I will accept of life at the hazard of aught calamitous to thee?"
f000022,158.280,161.120,"Better I endured a thousand deaths."
f000023,161.120,165.160,"I run no risk, said Matilda, but by thy delay."
f000024,165.160,169.280,"Depart; it cannot be known that I have assisted thy flight."
f000025,169.280,178.440,"Swear by the saints above, said Theodore, that thou canst not be suspected; else here I vow to await whatever can befall me."
f000026,178.440,184.560,"Oh! thou art too generous, said Matilda; but rest assured that no suspicion can alight on me."
f000027,184.560,192.480,"Give me thy beauteous hand in token that thou dost not deceive me, said Theodore; and let me bathe it with the warm tears of gratitude."
f000028,192.480,196.440,"Forbear! said the Princess; this must not be."
f000029,196.440,210.920,"Alas! said Theodore, I have never known but calamity until this hourperhaps shall never know other fortune again: suffer the chaste raptures of holy gratitude: 'tis my soul would print its effusions on thy hand."
f000030,210.920,213.360,"Forbear, and be gone, said Matilda."
f000031,213.360,217.000,"How would Isabella approve of seeing thee at my feet?"
f000032,217.000,220.880,"Who is Isabella? said the young man with surprise."
f000033,220.880,221.680,"Ah, me!"
f000034,221.680,226.160,"I fear, said the Princess, I am serving a deceitful one."
f000035,226.160,229.400,"Hast thou forgot thy curiosity this morning?"
f000036,229.400,239.680,"Thy looks, thy actions, all thy beauteous self seem an emanation of divinity, said Theodore; but thy words are dark and mysterious."
f000037,239.680,243.240,"Speak, Lady; speak to thy servant's comprehension."
f000038,243.240,254.800,"Thou understandest but too well! said Matilda; but once more I command thee to be gone: thy blood, which I may preserve, will be on my head, if I waste the time in vain discourse."
f000039,254.800,263.560,"I go, Lady, said Theodore, because it is thy will, and because I would not bring the grey hairs of my father with sorrow to the grave."
f000040,263.560,267.280,"Say but, adored Lady, that I have thy gentle pity."
f000041,267.280,279.200,"Stay, said Matilda; I will conduct thee to the subterraneous vault by which Isabella escaped; it will lead thee to the church of St. Nicholas, where thou mayst take sanctuary."
f000042,279.200,287.200,"What! said Theodore, was it another, and not thy lovely self that I assisted to find the subterraneous passage?"
f000043,287.200,295.440,"It was, said Matilda; but ask no more; I tremble to see thee still abide here; fly to the sanctuary."
f000044,295.440,302.840,"To sanctuary, said Theodore; no, Princess; sanctuaries are for helpless damsels, or for criminals."
f000045,302.840,307.480,"Theodore's soul is free from guilt, nor will wear the appearance of it."
f000046,307.480,313.080,"Give me a sword, Lady, and thy father shall learn that Theodore scorns an ignominious flight."
f000047,313.080,320.200,"Rash youth! said Matilda; thou wouldst not dare to lift thy presumptuous arm against the Prince of Otranto?"
f000048,320.200,323.960,"Not against thy father; indeed, I dare not, said Theodore."
f000049,323.960,326.040,"Excuse me, Lady; I had forgotten."
f000050,326.040,331.600,"But could I gaze on thee, and remember thou art sprung from the tyrant Manfred!"
f000051,331.600,337.000,"But he is thy father, and from this moment my injuries are buried in oblivion."
f000052,337.000,343.800,"A deep and hollow groan, which seemed to come from above, startled the Princess and Theodore."
f000053,343.800,346.880,"we are overheard! said the Princess."
f000054,346.880,353.520,"They listened; but perceiving no further noise, they both concluded it the effect of pentup vapours."
f000055,353.520,365.120,"And the Princess, preceding Theodore softly, carried him to her father's armoury, where, equipping him with a complete suit, he was conducted by Matilda to the posterngate."
f000056,365.120,369.280,"Avoid the town, said the Princess, and all the western side of the castle."
f000057,369.280,376.120,"Tis there the search must be making by Manfred and the strangers; but hie thee to the opposite quarter."
f000058,376.120,382.880,"Yonder behind that forest to the east is a chain of rocks, hollowed into a labyrinth of caverns that reach to the sea coast."
f000059,382.880,389.400,"There thou mayst lie concealed, till thou canst make signs to some vessel to put on shore, and take thee off."
f000060,389.400,394.280,"Go! heaven be thy guide!and sometimes in thy prayers rememberMatilda!"
f000061,394.280,412.920,"Theodore flung himself at her feet, and seizing her lily hand, which with struggles she suffered him to kiss, he vowed on the earliest opportunity to get himself knighted, and fervently entreated her permission to swear himself eternally her knight."
f000062,412.920,418.720,"Ere the Princess could reply, a clap of thunder was suddenly heard that shook the battlements."
f000063,418.720,431.120,"Theodore, regardless of the tempest, would have urged his suit: but the Princess, dismayed, retreated hastily into the castle, and commanded the youth to be gone with an air that would not be disobeyed."
f000064,431.120,454.920,"He sighed, and retired, but with eyes fixed on the gate, until Matilda, closing it, put an end to an interview, in which the hearts of both had drunk so deeply of a passion, which both now tasted for the first time."
f000065,454.920,460.400,"Theodore went pensively to the convent, to acquaint his father with his deliverance."
f000066,460.400,470.280,"There he learned the absence of Jerome, and the pursuit that was making after the Lady Isabella, with some particulars of whose story he now first became acquainted."
f000067,470.280,480.520,"The generous gallantry of his nature prompted him to wish to assist her; but the Monks could lend him no lights to guess at the route she had taken."
f000068,480.520,492.280,"He was not tempted to wander far in search of her, for the idea of Matilda had imprinted itself so strongly on his heart, that he could not bear to absent himself at much distance from her abode."
f000069,492.280,506.760,"The tenderness Jerome had expressed for him concurred to confirm this reluctance; and he even persuaded himself that filial affection was the chief cause of his hovering between the castle and monastery."
f000070,506.760,514.720,"Until Jerome should return at night, Theodore at length determined to repair to the forest that Matilda had pointed out to him."
f000071,514.720,522.560,"Arriving there, he sought the gloomiest shades, as best suited to the pleasing melancholy that reigned in his mind."
f000072,522.560,533.040,"In this mood he roved insensibly to the caves which had formerly served as a retreat to hermits, and were now reported round the country to be haunted by evil spirits."
f000073,533.040,545.200,"He recollected to have heard this tradition; and being of a brave and adventurous disposition, he willingly indulged his curiosity in exploring the secret recesses of this labyrinth."
f000074,545.200,552.920,"He had not penetrated far before he thought he heard the steps of some person who seemed to retreat before him."
f000075,552.920,565.120,"Theodore, though firmly grounded in all our holy faith enjoins to be believed, had no apprehension that good men were abandoned without cause to the malice of the powers of darkness."
f000076,565.120,574.080,"He thought the place more likely to be infested by robbers than by those infernal agents who are reported to molest and bewilder travellers."
f000077,574.080,578.320,"He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour."
f000078,578.320,587.680,"Drawing his sabre, he marched sedately onwards, still directing his steps as the imperfect rustling sound before him led the way."
f000079,587.680,592.320,"The armour he wore was a like indication to the person who avoided him."
f000080,592.320,604.880,"Theodore, now convinced that he was not mistaken, redoubled his pace, and evidently gained on the person that fled, whose haste increasing, Theodore came up just as a woman fell breathless before him."
f000081,604.880,611.800,"He hasted to raise her, but her terror was so great that he apprehended she would faint in his arms."
f000082,611.800,619.760,"He used every gentle word to dispel her alarms, and assured her that far from injuring, he would defend her at the peril of his life."
f000083,619.760,629.040,"The Lady recovering her spirits from his courteous demeanour, and gazing on her protector, said  Sure, I have heard that voice before!"
f000084,629.040,635.320,"Not to my knowledge, replied Theodore; unless, as I conjecture, thou art the Lady Isabella."
f000085,635.320,637.200,"Merciful heaven! cried she."
f000086,637.200,640.360,"Thou art not sent in quest of me, art thou?"
f000087,640.360,646.480,"And saying those words, she threw herself at his feet, and besought him not to deliver her up to Manfred."
f000088,646.480,658.760,"To Manfred! cried Theodoreno, Lady; I have once already delivered thee from his tyranny, and it shall fare hard with me now, but I will place thee out of the reach of his daring."
f000089,658.760,665.000,"Is it possible, said she, that thou shouldst be the generous unknown whom I met last night in the vault of the castle?"
f000090,665.000,668.560,"Sure thou art not a mortal, but my guardian angel."
f000091,668.560,676.720,"On my knees, let me thank Hold! gentle Princess, said Theodore, nor demean thyself before a poor and friendless young man."
f000092,676.720,683.720,"If heaven has selected me for thy deliverer, it will accomplish its work, and strengthen my arm in thy cause."
f000093,683.720,690.080,"But come, Lady, we are too near the mouth of the cavern; let us seek its inmost recesses."
f000094,690.080,695.080,"I can have no tranquillity till I have placed thee beyond the reach of danger."
f000095,695.080,698.240,"what mean you, sir? said she."
f000096,698.240,710.160,"Though all your actions are noble, though your sentiments speak the purity of your soul, is it fitting that I should accompany you alone into these perplexed retreats?"
f000097,710.160,715.120,"Should we be found together, what would a censorious world think of my conduct?"
f000098,715.120,721.240,"I respect your virtuous delicacy, said Theodore; nor do you harbour a suspicion that wounds my honour."
f000099,721.240,729.760,"I meant to conduct you into the most private cavity of these rocks, and then at the hazard of my life to guard their entrance against every living thing."
f000100,729.760,747.440,"Besides, Lady, continued he, drawing a deep sigh, beauteous and all perfect as your form is, and though my wishes are not guiltless of aspiring, know, my soul is dedicated to another; and although A sudden noise prevented Theodore from proceeding."
f000101,747.440,752.560,"They soon distinguished these sounds  Isabella! what, ho!"
f000102,752.560,753.320,"Isabella!"
f000103,753.320,757.960,"The trembling Princess relapsed into her former agony of fear."
f000104,757.960,760.840,"Theodore endeavoured to encourage her, but in vain."
f000105,760.840,772.760,"He assured her he would die rather than suffer her to return under Manfred's power; and begging her to remain concealed, he went forth to prevent the person in search of her from approaching."
f000106,772.760,781.120,"At the mouth of the cavern he found an armed Knight, discoursing with a peasant, who assured him he had seen a lady enter the passes of the rock."
f000107,781.120,791.880,"The Knight was preparing to seek her, when Theodore, placing himself in his way, with his sword drawn, sternly forbad him at his peril to advance."
f000108,791.880,796.400,"And who art thou, who darest to cross my way? said the Knight, haughtily."
f000109,796.400,800.880,"One who does not dare more than he will perform, said Theodore."
f000110,800.880,807.320,"I seek the Lady Isabella, said the Knight, and understand she has taken refuge among these rocks."
f000111,807.320,811.720,"Impede me not, or thou wilt repent having provoked my resentment."
f000112,811.720,816.960,"Thy purpose is as odious as thy resentment is contemptible, said Theodore."
f000113,816.960,822.440,"Return whence thou camest, or we shall soon know whose resentment is most terrible."
f000114,822.440,836.960,"The stranger, who was the principal Knight that had arrived from the Marquis of Vicenza, had galloped from Manfred as he was busied in getting information of the Princess, and giving various orders to prevent her falling into the power of the three Knights."
f000115,836.960,867.320,"Their chief had suspected Manfred of being privy to the Princess's absconding, and this insult from a man, who he concluded was stationed by that Prince to secrete her, confirming his suspicions, he made no reply, but discharging a blow with his sabre at Theodore, would soon have removed all obstruction, if Theodore, who took him for one of Manfred's captains, and who had no sooner given the provocation than prepared to support it, had not received the stroke on his shield."
f000116,867.320,877.920,"The valour that had so long been smothered in his breast broke forth at once; he rushed impetuously on the Knight, whose pride and wrath were not less powerful incentives to hardy deeds."
f000117,877.920,881.920,"The combat was furious, but not long."
f000118,881.920,889.600,"Theodore wounded the Knight in three several places, and at last disarmed him as he fainted by the loss of blood."
f000119,889.600,902.480,"The peasant, who had fled on the first onset, had given the alarm to some of Manfred's domestics, who, by his orders, were dispersed through the forest in pursuit of Isabella."
f000120,902.480,907.520,"They came up as the Knight fell, whom they soon discovered to be the noble stranger."
f000121,907.520,916.360,"Theodore, notwithstanding his hatred to Manfred, could not behold the victory he had gained without emotions of pity and generosity."
f000122,916.360,926.360,"But he was more touched when he learned the quality of his adversary, and was informed that he was no retainer, but an enemy, of Manfred."
f000123,926.360,934.200,"He assisted the servants of the latter in disarming the Knight, and in endeavouring to stanch the blood that flowed from his wounds."
f000124,934.200,944.240,"The Knight recovering his speech, said, in a faint and faltering voice  Generous foe, we have both been in an error."
f000125,944.240,950.080,"I took thee for an instrument of the tyrant; I perceive thou hast made the like mistake."
f000126,950.080,953.920,"It is too late for excuses."
f000127,953.920,954.560,"I faint."
f000128,954.560,968.200,"If Isabella is at handcall herI have important secrets to He is dying! said one of the attendants; has nobody a crucifix about them?"
f000129,968.200,970.360,"Andrea, do thou pray over him."
f000130,970.360,976.320,"Fetch some water, said Theodore, and pour it down his throat, while I hasten to the Princess."
f000131,976.320,992.160,"Saying this, he flew to Isabella, and in few words told her modestly that he had been so unfortunate by mistake as to wound a gentleman from her father's court, who wished, ere he died, to impart something of consequence to her."
f000132,992.160,1001.160,"The Princess, who had been transported at hearing the voice of Theodore, as he called to her to come forth, was astonished at what she heard."
f000133,1001.160,1012.840,"Suffering herself to be conducted by Theodore, the new proof of whose valour recalled her dispersed spirits, she came where the bleeding Knight lay speechless on the ground."
f000134,1012.840,1018.080,"But her fears returned when she beheld the domestics of Manfred."
f000135,1018.080,1029.560,"She would again have fled if Theodore had not made her observe that they were unarmed, and had not threatened them with instant death if they should dare to seize the Princess."
f000136,1029.560,1041.000,"The stranger, opening his eyes, and beholding a woman, said, Art thoupray tell me trulyart thou Isabella of Vicenza?"
f000137,1041.000,1044.720,"I am, said she: good heaven restore thee!"
f000138,1044.720,1053.480,"Then thouthen thousaid the Knight, struggling for utterance seestthy father."
f000139,1053.480,1061.040,"what do I see! cried Isabella."
f000140,1061.040,1062.640,"My father!"
f000141,1062.640,1064.160,"You my father!"
f000142,1064.160,1065.640,"How came you here, Sir?"
f000143,1065.640,1067.800,"For heaven's sake, speak!"
f000144,1067.800,1070.240,"Oh! run for help, or he will expire!"
f000145,1070.240,1077.000,"Tis most true, said the wounded Knight, exerting all his force; I am Frederic thy father."
f000146,1077.000,1080.280,"Yes, I came to deliver thee."
f000147,1080.280,1081.920,"It will not be."
f000148,1081.920,1091.520,"Give me a parting kiss, and take Sir, said Theodore, do not exhaust yourself; suffer us to convey you to the castle."
f000149,1091.520,1093.840,"To the castle! said Isabella."
f000150,1093.840,1095.840,"Is there no help nearer than the castle?"
f000151,1095.840,1098.440,"Would you expose my father to the tyrant?"
f000152,1098.440,1102.960,"If he goes thither, I dare not accompany him; and yet, can I leave him!"
f000153,1102.960,1108.600,"My child, said Frederic, it matters not for me whither I am carried."
f000154,1108.600,1118.080,"A few minutes will place me beyond danger; but while I have eyes to dote on thee, forsake me not, dear Isabella!"
f000155,1118.080,1123.960,"This brave KnightI know not who he iswill protect thy innocence."
f000156,1123.960,1129.120,"Sir, you will not abandon my child, will you?"
f000157,1129.120,1141.520,"Theodore, shedding tears over his victim, and vowing to guard the Princess at the expense of his life, persuaded Frederic to suffer himself to be conducted to the castle."
f000158,1141.520,1150.320,"They placed him on a horse belonging to one of the domestics, after binding up his wounds as well as they were able."
f000159,1150.320,1161.320,"Theodore marched by his side; and the afflicted Isabella, who could not bear to quit him, followed mournfully behind."
f000160,1161.320,1176.120,"end of chapter three."