The Castle of Otranto

by Horace Walpole

this is no business for monks:

But murder and plotting rape is, right?

daughter of that prince,

principality of Otranto, which thou hast usurped from the said lord Frederic, the nearest of blood to the last rightful lord Alfonso the Good. If thou dost not instantly comply with these just demands, he defies* thee to single combat to the last extremity. And so saying, the herald cast down his warder.*

The report of Hippolita’s death, though it seemed almost incredible, increased his consternation; and though Isabella’s escape bespoke her aversion of Manfred for a husband, Jerome could feel no comfort from it, while it endangered the life of his son.

It required intrepidity like Manfred’s not to sink under a concurrence of circumstances that seemed to announce his fate.

dying childless in the Holy Land,

So manfred benefitted from a non familial exchange of power, but now thats what hes scared of

prince must not

I hate u

Manfred in bitter terms for his dark and ambiguous dealing, and demanded the cause of Isabella’s first absence from the castle. Manfred, casting a stern look at Jerome, implying a command of silence, pretended that on Conrad’s death he had placed her in sanctuary until he could determine how to dispose of her. Jerome, who trembled for his son’s life, did not dare contradict this falsehood; but one of his brethren, not under the same anxiety, declared frankly that she had fled to their church in the preceding night. The prince in vain endeavoured to stop this discovery, which overwhelmed him with shame and confusion. The principal stranger, amazed at the contradictions he heard, and more than half persuaded that Manfred had secreted

pent-up vapours:

thunder

On brand

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.

Trope alert

my soul is dedicated to another; and

Theodore wounded the knight in three several places, and at last disarmed him as he fainted by the loss of blood.

Theodore kills one of francis' Knights b thinking it was one of msnfreds

Tis most true, said the wounded knight, exerting all his force; I am Frederic thy father—

Oop

Frederic, could not resist the impulse of following Matilda.

Frederic, however incensed against Manfred, was not insensible to the courtesy and benevolence of Hippolita: but he was still more struck with the lovely form of Matilda.

So frederic likes matilda who likes throdore

But what was our astonishment, when about the depth of six feet we discovered an enormous

sabre*—the very weapon yonder in the court!

Where’er a casque that suits this sword is found, With perils is thy daughter compass’d round:

PROPHECY trope alert

Is this ghastly phantom sent to me alone—to me, who did not——

Trope alert

not that Alfonso? cried

Theodore has armor on that doesn’t match his rank

six

They separated each to her chamber, with more expressions of ceremony, and fewer of affection, than had passed between them since their childhood.

Matilda reflected that Isabella had been twice delivered by Theodore in very critical situations, which she could not believe accidental.

She had ever appeared insensible to love; all her thoughts were set on heaven—Why did I dissuade her? said Isabella

Are we seriously thinking about a boy despite all this madness???

Bianca has explained that mistake to me: on seeing me faint, she cried out, The princess is dead! and Martelli, who had come for the usual dole* to the castle——And what made you faint? said Isabella, indifferent to the rest. Matilda blushed, and stammered—

Confusion/ miscommunication

Nothing, said Isabella; repenting that she had given Matilda a hint of Theodore’s inclination for her. Then changing the discourse, she

Bless me, said Matilda, did not you observe his extreme resemblance to the portrait of Alfonso in the gallery?

each insisting on yielding her claim to her friend.

Know then, madam, continued Hippolita, and you, my dearest Matilda, that being convinced by all the events of these two last ominous days, that heaven purposes* the sceptre of Otranto should pass from Manfred’s hands into those of the marquis Frederic, I have been perhaps inspired with the thought of averting our total destruction by the union of our rival houses.

Thou virtuous and too credulous princess! replied Isabella; it is not thy life he aims at—it is to separate himself from thee! to divorce thee! To—to divorce me! To divorce my mother!

was contracted to the son; can I wed the father?—No, madam, no; force should not drag me to Manfred’s hated bed. I loathe him, I abhor him: divine and human laws forbid.—And my friend, my dearest Matilda! would I wound her tender soul by injuring her adored mother? my own mother—I never have known another.——Oh! she is the mother of both! cried Matilda. Can we, can we, Isabella, adore her too much? My

heaven, our fathers, and our husbands, must decide for us.

The princesses then revealed to Hippolita their mutual inclination for Theodore, and the purpose of Isabella to resign him to Matilda.

Hippolita’s real purpose was to demand of Jerome, whether in conscience she might not consent to the divorce. She had oft urged Manfred to resign the principality, which the delicacy of her conscience rendered an hourly burthen* to her. These scruples concurred to make the separation from her husband appear less dreadful to her than it would have seemed in any other situation.

Im sorry what, why is she taking this so well

princess;

MATILDA

It is done, replied Manfred: Frederic accepts Matilda’s hand, and is content to wave his claim, unless I have no male issue.

three drops of blood

Whoever weds Isabella, it shall not be father Falconara’s started-up son.

The latter he knew had unquestionably died without issue.

This had better be irony

At that instant Bianca burst into the room, with a wildness in her look and gestures that spoke the utmost terror. Oh! my lord, my lord! cried she, we are all undone! It is come again! it is come again!—What is come again? cried Manfred amazed.—Oh! the hand! the giant! the hand!—Support me! I am terrified out of my senses, cried Bianca: I will not sleep in the castle to-night.

the enormous sabre I was directed to in the wood; yon casque, its fellow

But keep your daughter, and think no more of Isabella: the judgments already fallen on your house forbid me matching into it.

Was the giant hand too much for you

He had gathered enough from Bianca’s discourse to persuade him that heaven declared itself against Manfred.

portents

Reverend father, I sought the lady Hippolita.—Hippolita! replied a hollow voice: camest thou to this castle to seek Hippolita?—And then the figure, turning slowly round, discovered to Frederic the fleshless jaws and empty sockets of a skeleton, wrapt in a hermit’s cowl. Angels of grace, protect me!*

Priceless

that Theodore and some lady from the castle were at that instant in private conference at the tomb of Alfonso in St. Nicholas’s church.

Manfred will never permit our union.—No, this shall prevent it! cried the tyrant, drawing his dagger, and plunging it over her shoulder into the bosom of the person that spoke—Ah me, I am slain! cried

Thinking it was isabella

What pretensions hast thou to the princess? Those of a prince, said Theodore; of the sovereign of Otranto. This reverend man, my father, has informed me who I am.

clap of thunder at that instant shook the castle to its foundations; the earth rocked, and the clank of more than mortal armour was heard behind.