f Eternity, the unhappy Girl
strove to excite the Domina's pity by the most affecting prayers.

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.

'It was now that I ventured from my concealment. I dared not to assist
my unhappy Friend, aware that without preserving her, I should only
have brought on myself the same destruction. Shocked