The Monk

by Matthew Gregory Lewis

And thinking in the present æra That Friendship is a pure chimæra:

hmm

Artless yourself, you suspect not others of deceit; and viewing the world through the medium of your own truth and innocence, you fancy all who surround you to deserve your confidence and esteem. What pity, that these gay visions must soon be dissipated! What pity, that you must soon discover the baseness of mankind, and guard against your fellow-creatures as against your Foes!'

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'Sensible? Why, She said nothing but ''Yes,'' and ''No''.' 'She did not say much more, I must confess—But then She always said ''Yes,'' or ''No,'' in the right place.'

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Hadst Thou but tasted once the thousandth part Of joys, which bless the loved and loving heart, Your words repentant and your sighs would prove, Lost is the time which is not past in love.

wow

Man was born for society. However little He may be attached to the World, He never can wholly forget it, or bear to be wholly forgotten by it.

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No, Ambrosio, learn to know me better. I love you for your virtues: Lose them, and with them you lose my affections.

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'Either your hand guides me to Paradise, or my own dooms me to perdition!

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'Agnes! Agnes!' He exclaimed, while reflecting on his embarrassments, 'I already feel thy curse!'

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Preserve me from becoming the Victim of Remorse! Your heart has already felt the anguish of hopeless love; Oh! then if you really value me, spare mine that anguish!

hmmm

Vice is ever most dangerous when lurking behind the Mask of Virtue.

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Away with friendship! 'tis a cold unfeeling word. My bosom burns with love, with unutterable love, and love must be its return.

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feel with every heart-throb, that I must enjoy you, or die.'

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'Folded in your arms, I shall sink to sleep; Your hand shall close my eyes for ever, and your lips receive my dying breath.

wah

You have charms, Segnora, which might captivate the most insensible; No heart unoccupied could resist them. Happy is it for me that mine is no longer in my possession; or I should have to reproach myself for ever with having violated the Laws of Hospitality.

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You too shall know, what it is to love without hope!

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Oh! When my heart first loved you, how little did it suspect you of making it feel such pangs!

haa

O You! whom Vanity's light bark conveys On Fame's mad voyage by the wind of praise, With what a shifting gale your course you ply, For ever sunk too low, or borne too high! Who pants for glory finds but short repose, A breath revives him, and a breath o'er-throws.

yaba

And swear, not wine itself would please, Had not the lip of Love first touched the flowing bowl!

wah

An Author, whether good or bad, or between both, is an Animal whom everybody is privileged to attack; For though All are not able to write books, all conceive themselves able to judge them.

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By sad experience I know what sorrows She must endure, who marries into a family unwilling to receive her.

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While in each other's arms entranced They lay, They blessed the night, and curst the coming day.

waa

And were Love a crime, God never would have made it so sweet, so irresistible!

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She is unworthy to enjoy Love's pleasures, who has not wit enough to conceal them.

yaba

Pity is a sentiment so natural, so appropriate to the female character, that it is scarcely a merit for a Woman to possess it, but to be without it is a grievous crime.

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'Though I forgive your breaking your vows to heaven, I expect you to keep your vows to me.'

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Possession, which cloys Man, only increases the affection of Woman.

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But He was honest, friendly, and well-meaning.' 'Ah! my dear Mother, those qualities are so common!'

aha

'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!

yaba

In every heart to find a Slave, In every Soul to fix his reign, In bonds to lead the wise and brave, And make the Captives kiss his chain, Such is the power of Love,

wah

since He had lost the reality of virtue, it appeared as if its semblance was become more valuable.

hmm

Great Heaven! How frail thy creature Man is made! How by himself insensibly betrayed!

wah

Weep, Daughter, weep, and moisten your bread with your tears: God knows that you have ample cause for sorrow!

wah

Before He committed his crimes, He had computed every scruple of their weight; and yet he had committed them.

hmm