Nonnenworth - Sophia Lucy Hicks

 

But Gertrude paused at the entrance, and leaning one hand upon the rock, with the other supported her terrified friend, who clung to her as if for life; though sometimes she opened her eyes, and looked around her with wonder and curiosity, then cowered down again into her bosom, like a bird, in the sweet bank where it has made its home. And Gertrude stood with her proud and classic features raised to the darkened heaven, and watched with chastened pleasure the blaze of lightning wrap around the ruined tower of Roland, dress its crumbling walls with a visible as poetry has with an imaginary pall. Then again, while the thunder roared aloud to the mighty hills, and commanded their reply, she fancied in the far echo of their deep voice the menace of the hero's spirit that must ever sanctify the spot. Thicker and heavier grew the cloud around, till it lay upon the island in blackness and in dread, while beneath it the river with its rapid waves gave out a thousand sparkles of unearthly light, gathered from the many-coloured lightning and the living sky; and the girl's soul burned within her as she gazed upon the terrors of the Almighty, and mingled her feelings with the majesty of the elements. Like the exulting river by her side, she felt and mirrored the awful splendour around her, but she trembled not; while Therese shrunk like the weak and fragile vine, that lay torn by the first gale from the supporting elm, and quivering to the storms that overwhelmed it. But in an hour, the mighty convulsion had passed away, the sisters had retired to the cells, and Gertrude was musing alone, in painful doubt, over the letter which Therese had given her. The words which it contained were these, without any superscription whatever: -

            "The emperor approaches, resolved to sacrifice the convent, and lay it, like a thousand others,                 even with the ground. Nothing can prevail with him against the decree, but I say fear not."

Source: The National magazine, and monthly critic. United Kingdom, n.p, 1837.