"Arise," said he, in a hard, steelly voice. "The Church, by my mouth, commands you to serve her as you have vowed to do; that is to say, with glad heart and a sense of your reliance on God; that is to say, with smiling lips and a serene, beaming eye, as becomes a disciple inspired by faith, and as you have sworn to do in the hands of our lord and master, Ignatius Loyola.""I cannot! I cannot!" moaned she, in a low tone. I cannot be glad at heart when despair, like a wild boar, is rending my heart; I cannot command my eye to shine when my eyes are dimmed with tears of anguish. Oh, have pity, have compassion! Remember that you are my father; that I am your daughter--the daughter of a wife whom you loved, and who would find in the grave no rest if she knew how you are racking and torturing me. My mother, my mother, if thy spirit is near me, come and protect me. Let thy mild looks overshadow my head, and breathe a breath of thy love into the heart of this cruel father, who is ready to sacrifice his child on the altar of his God.""God has called me," said the earl, "and, like Abraham, I too will learn to obey. But I will not adorn my victim with flowers, but with a royal crown. I will not plunge a knife into her breast, but will put a golden sceptre into her hand and say: Thou art a queen before men, but before God be thou a faithful and obedient servant. Thou hast all to command. But the holy Church, to whose service thou hast consecrated thyself, and who will bless thee if thou art faithful, who will dash thee in pieces with her curse if thou darest deal treacherously, she commands thee. No, you are not my daughter, but the priestess of the Church, consecrated to her holy service. No, Ihave no sympathy with your tear's and this anguish, for I see the end of these sorrows, and I know that these tears will be as a diadem of pearls about your temples. Lady Jane Douglas, it is the saintly Loyola who sends you his commands by my mouth. Obey them, not because I am your father, but because I am the general to whom you have sworn obedience and fidelity unto your life's end.""Then kill me, my father!" said she, feebly. "Let this life end, which is but a torture, a protracted martyrdom. Punish me for my disobedience by plunging your dagger deep into my breast. Punish me, and grudge me not the repose of the grave.""Poor enthusiast!" said the father; "suppose you, we would be foolish enough to subject you to so light a punishment! No, no, if you dare, in insolent disobedience, rebel against my commands, your penance shall be a terrible one, and your punishment without end. Iwill not kill you, but him whom you love; it will be his head that falls; and you will be his murderess. He shall die on the scaffold and you--you shall live in disgrace.""Oh, horrible!" groaned Jane, as she buried her face in her hands.
同类推荐
热门推荐
极品公主之银发亦妖娆
她是天朝第一公主,容貌与智慧并存。他是北真国的二皇子,年轻气盛还很霸气,一次边疆之行,他却成了她的噩梦之源,为了脱离他的掌控,在欢情之际,她将匕首狠狠插进他的身体,他发誓,天涯海角,也要拨了她的“皮”--情节虚构,请勿模仿总裁的契约情人
本文原名:《秋天的童话》很郁闷!与初恋男友已经分手那么久了,他的现任女友居然大着肚子来投奔她!这个世界还有没有公道可言?!好心帮她将孩子生下了,却不曾想到,孩子会得病,而且要救孩子必须得找到孩子的亲生父亲!哪有这样的道理?要她飞跃千山万水,去到美国给一个小屁孩找爸爸!这也算了,可是万万没又想到的是!——居然,要找的人找不到,钱包被窃,还…还在街心广场遭遇轮奸事件!——她庄曼,还要不要活了?!!!不过醒来之后,居然怪事连连:首先,居然有一个简直比雕像还帅的男人,居然要她做他的女人!然后是,她做梦也没有想到,这个男人居然早已买好了回G市的机票,G市有她的家啊,她原以为会客死异乡,没想到这么容易就回来了!还有就是,他带着她到处炫耀,好像她是他的稀世珍宝,可是,只有她知道,她不过是为了一张契约书而跟在他身边!…长寿的钥匙上(破解人类文明与科学之谜)
亘古永恒的宇宙时空,时时在演绎着如歌如梦的天地玄妙,处处伏掩着似真似幻的远古谜团,是谁创造了如此绚丽多彩的大自然?是谁赐予了人类宝贵的生命?人类又怎样才能找到长寿的钥匙?本书将为您提示长寿的奥秘。