She sued for life in terms which might have melted the heart of a
Fiend: She promised to submit patiently to any punishment, to shame,
imprisonment, and torture, might She but be permitted to live! Oh!
might She but live another month, or week, or day! Her merciless Enemy
listened to her complaints unmoved: She told her that at first She
meant to have spared her life, and that if She had altered her
intention, She had to thank the opposition of her Friends. She
continued to insist upon her swallowing the poison: She bad her
recommend herself to the Almighty’s mercy, not to hers, and assured her
that in an hour She would be numbered with the Dead. Perceiving that it
was vain to implore this unfeeling Woman, She attempted to spring from
her bed, and call for assistance: She hoped, if She could not escape
the fate announced to her, at least to have witnesses of the violence
committed. The Prioress guessed her design. She seized her forcibly by
the arm, and pushed her back upon her pillow. At the same time drawing
a dagger, and placing it at the breast of the unfortunate Agnes, She
protested that if She uttered a single cry, or hesitated a single
moment to drink the poison, She would pierce her heart that instant.
Already half-dead with fear, She could make no further resistance. The
Nun approached with the fatal Goblet. The Domina obliged her to take
it, and swallow the contents. She drank, and the horrid deed was
accomplished. The Nuns then seated themselves round the Bed. They
answered her groans with reproaches; They interrupted with sarcasms the
prayers in which She recommended her parting soul to mercy: They
threatened her with heaven’s vengeance and eternal perdition: They bad
her despair of pardon, and strowed with yet sharper thorns Death’s
painful pillow. Such were the sufferings of this young Unfortunate,
till released by fate from the malice of her Tormentors. She expired in
horror of the past, in fears for the future; and her agonies were such
as must have amply gratified the hate and vengeance of her Enemies. As
soon as her Victim ceased to breathe, the Domina retired, and was
followed by her Accomplices.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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