-
Articles/Ads
Article STORY OF URBAIN GRANDIER. ← Page 3 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Story Of Urbain Grandier.
the child to be her own , and bestowing upon it the care of a tender mother . The enemies of Grandier , attracted by a sympathy of hate , drew closer and closer together ; till at length a desperate combination was formed for his utter destruction . Accusation upon accusation was preferred against him , on the score of his imputed profligacies and "
impieties ; but not a single woman could be found to appear against him , and the evidence altogether involved so many palpable contradictions , that , although the part taken against him by the Bishop of Poitiers procured his frequent imprisonment , the strength of his cause triumphed over all the malice of his prosecutors . He continued , howeverto wind up to the highest possible pitch the virulence of
, their hate , by the insulting and imperious deportment he adopted towards them . It was about this time that the Archbishop of Bourdeaux , in whose court he had been acquitted , and who appeared to be well disposed towards him , on account of his superior attainments , advised him with much earnestness to abandon his present situationand seek
re-, pose from the vindictive persecutions of his enemies in some distant benefice . But , unhappily , Urbain Grandier was not of a character to follow this counsel : he loved too well the gratification of his vengeance , not to pursue the conquests he had already made . It was suspected , besides , that there lived a young person at . Loudun from whom he could not resolve to be separated . Alas ! what
transcendancy of virtue is necessary to oppose this sort of temptation in a man whose profession forbids him to many , while the sensibilities of an ardent complexion are urging him with all their fury , and the opportunities which 3 fine person affords are tempting him with all their persuasion ! It was iuvain that the friends of Grandier remonstrated with him . against the manifest imprudence of drawing upon himself the
vengeance of an implacable and powerful cabal , and of challenging the full effects of their utmost malignancy , by an opposition that could end in neither honour nor advantage . He was not to be moved by these representations , and continued to gall and irritate the festering wounds he had inflicted on the credit and feelings of his enemies , till at length they were prepared for a conspiracy so dark , so durable ,
so complicated , that it may be said to stand alone in the history of the human heart . The following was the plan of revenge adopted by this savage combination : — -It appears that Mignon , with the assistance of certain others disposed like himself , exercised the Nuns of his Convent every day in playing the part of persons possessed with devils . They were accordingly taught to imitate the contorsions
and convulsions which are supposed to belong to this afflicted state . It would not be unreasonable , in this place , for our readers to de , mand , how it was possible for a whole Convent to be engaged in such an inhuman plot ? how it was possible for the hearts of young and inexperienced females to be thus hardened against those feelings so H h 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Story Of Urbain Grandier.
the child to be her own , and bestowing upon it the care of a tender mother . The enemies of Grandier , attracted by a sympathy of hate , drew closer and closer together ; till at length a desperate combination was formed for his utter destruction . Accusation upon accusation was preferred against him , on the score of his imputed profligacies and "
impieties ; but not a single woman could be found to appear against him , and the evidence altogether involved so many palpable contradictions , that , although the part taken against him by the Bishop of Poitiers procured his frequent imprisonment , the strength of his cause triumphed over all the malice of his prosecutors . He continued , howeverto wind up to the highest possible pitch the virulence of
, their hate , by the insulting and imperious deportment he adopted towards them . It was about this time that the Archbishop of Bourdeaux , in whose court he had been acquitted , and who appeared to be well disposed towards him , on account of his superior attainments , advised him with much earnestness to abandon his present situationand seek
re-, pose from the vindictive persecutions of his enemies in some distant benefice . But , unhappily , Urbain Grandier was not of a character to follow this counsel : he loved too well the gratification of his vengeance , not to pursue the conquests he had already made . It was suspected , besides , that there lived a young person at . Loudun from whom he could not resolve to be separated . Alas ! what
transcendancy of virtue is necessary to oppose this sort of temptation in a man whose profession forbids him to many , while the sensibilities of an ardent complexion are urging him with all their fury , and the opportunities which 3 fine person affords are tempting him with all their persuasion ! It was iuvain that the friends of Grandier remonstrated with him . against the manifest imprudence of drawing upon himself the
vengeance of an implacable and powerful cabal , and of challenging the full effects of their utmost malignancy , by an opposition that could end in neither honour nor advantage . He was not to be moved by these representations , and continued to gall and irritate the festering wounds he had inflicted on the credit and feelings of his enemies , till at length they were prepared for a conspiracy so dark , so durable ,
so complicated , that it may be said to stand alone in the history of the human heart . The following was the plan of revenge adopted by this savage combination : — -It appears that Mignon , with the assistance of certain others disposed like himself , exercised the Nuns of his Convent every day in playing the part of persons possessed with devils . They were accordingly taught to imitate the contorsions
and convulsions which are supposed to belong to this afflicted state . It would not be unreasonable , in this place , for our readers to de , mand , how it was possible for a whole Convent to be engaged in such an inhuman plot ? how it was possible for the hearts of young and inexperienced females to be thus hardened against those feelings so H h 2