"Polidori_The Vampyre" - читать интересную книгу автора (Polidori John William)

England, which he opened with eager impatience; the first was from his
sister, breathing nothing but affection; the others were from his guardians,
the latter astonished him; if it had before entered into his imagination
that there was an evil power resident in his companion these seemed to give
him almost sufficient reason for the belief. His guardians insisted upon his
immediately leaving his friend, and urged that his character was dreadfully
vicious, for that the possession of irresistible powers of seduction,
rendered his licentious habits more dangerous to society. It had been
discovered, that his contempt for the adultress had not originated in hatred
of her character; but that he had required, to enhance his gratification,
that his victim, the partner of his guilt, should be hurled from the
pinnacle of unsullied virtue, down to the lowest abyss of infamy and
degradation: in fine, that all those females whom he had sought, apparently
on account of their virtue, had, since his departure, thrown even the mask
aside, and had not scrupled to expose the whole deformity of their vices to
the public gaze.

Aubrey determined upon leaving one, whose character had not shown a single
bright point on which to rest the eye. He resolved to invent some plausible
pretext for abandoning him altogether, purposing, in the mean while, to
watch him more closely, and to let no slight circumstances pass by
unnoticed. He entered into the same circle, and soon perceived, that his
Lordship was endeavouring to work upon the inexperience of the daughter of
the lady whose house he chiefly frequented. In Italy, it is seldom that an
unmarried female is met with in society; he was therefore obliged to carry
on his plans in secret; but Aubrey's eye followed him in all his windings,
and soon discovered that an assignation had been appointed, which would most
likely end in the ruin of an innocent, though thoughtless girl. Losing no
time, he entered the apartment of Lord Ruthven, and abruptly asked him his
intentions with respect to the lady, informing him at the same time that he
was aware of his being about to meet her that very night. Lord Ruthven
answered, that his intentions were such as he supposed all would have upon
such an occasion; and upon being pressed whether he intended to marry her,
merely laughed. Aubrey retired; and, immediately writing a note, to say,
that from that moment he must decline accompanying his Lordship in the
remainder of their proposed tour, he ordered his servant to seek other
apartments, and calling upon the mother of the lady informed her of all he
knew, not only with regard to her daughter, but also concerning the
character of his Lordship. The assignation was prevented. Lord Ruthven next
day merely sent his servant to notify his complete assent to a separation;
but did not hint any suspicion of his plans having been foiled by Aubrey's
interposition.

Having left Rome, Aubrey directed his steps towards Greece, and crossing the
Peninsula, soon found himself at Athens. He then fixed residence in the
house of a Greek; and soon occupied himself in tracing the faded records of
ancient glory upon monuments that apparently, ashamed of chronicling the
deeds of freemen only before slaves, had hidden themselves beneath the
sheltering soil or many coloured lichen. Under the same roof as himself,
existed a being, so beautiful and delicate, that she might have formed the