Horror Story chapter 1

Manfred, Prince of Otranto, had one son and one daughter: the latter, a most beautiful

virgin, aged eighteen, was called Matilda. Conrad, the son, was three years younger, a

homely youth, sickly, and of no promising disposition; yet he was the darling of his

father, who never showed any symptoms of affection to Matilda. Manfred had

contracted a marriage for his son with the Marquis of Vicenza's daughter, Isabella;

and she had already been delivered by her guardians into the hands of Manfred, that

he might celebrate the wedding as soon as Conrad's infirm state of health would

permit.

Manfred's impatience for this ceremonial was remarked by his family and

neighbours. The former, indeed, apprehending the severity of their Prince's

disposition, did not dare to utter their surmises on this precipitation. Hippolita, his

wife, an amiable lady, did sometimes venture to represent the danger of marrying their

only son so early, considering his great youth, and greater infirmities; but she never

received any other answer than reflections on her own sterility, who had given him

but one heir. His tenants and subjects were less cautious in their discourses. They

attributed this hasty wedding to the Prince's dread of seeing accomplished an ancient

prophecy, which was said to have pronounced that the castle and lordship of Otranto

"should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too

large to inhabit it." It was difficult to make any sense of this prophecy; and still less

easy to conceive what it had to do with the marriage in question. Yet these mysteries,

or contradictions, did not make the populace adhere the less to their opinion.

Young Conrad's birthday was fixed for his espousals. The company was assembled

in the chapel of the Castle, and everything ready for beginning the divine office, when

Conrad himself was missing. Manfred, impatient of the least delay, and who had not

observed his son retire, despatched one of his attendants to summon the young

Prince. The servant, who had not stayed long enough to have crossed the court to

Conrad's apartment, came running back breathless, in a frantic manner, his eyes

staring, and foaming at the month. He said nothing, but pointed to the court.

The company were struck with terror and amazement. The Princess Hippolita,

without knowing what was the matter, but anxious for her son, swooned

away. Manfred, less apprehensive than enraged at the procrastination of the nuptials,

and at the folly of his domestic, asked imperiously what was the matter? The fellow

made no answer, but continued pointing towards the courtyard; and at last, after

repeated questions put to him, cried out, "Oh! the helmet! the helmet!"

In the meantime, some of the company had run into the court, from whence was heard

a confused noise of shrieks, horror, and surprise. Manfred, who began to be alarmed

at not seeing his son, went himself to get information of what occasioned this strange