[anon.] The Monks and the Robbers: a Tale of the Fifteenth Century. 2 vols.

London: George Robinson, 1808.

 

Synopsis of The Monks and the Robbers

The characters of Manfredi and Rudolpho are introduced in the middle of a thick wood outside of Sicily. The two hear a women scream and ride towards the noise. A fight ensues with a band of robbers known to frequent the forest. Manfredi is thrown from his horse and he is separated from Rudolpho. Stranded in the woods Manfredi searches up the slope of a mountain for his lost friend. After hearing a noise in a section of the mountain, Manfredi investigates and finds a dim light shining. He finds that there is a small opening where upon Manfredi climbs in. He finds a women in distress under the point of the cavern-like fortress surrounding. Manfredi then jumps to the women's aid and finds her identity to be Rosalithe the daughter of Sinor Verucci. We are then brought back to Rudolpho who valiantly saves the damsel in distress, who is conveniently Juliet the love interest of Rudolpho.

Quickly the story moves to a commune for Franciscan Monks and characters Ambrose and Serifino are introduced. They are drinking and discussing likes of religion, when it is decided to play a musical tune. The two are then informed that a band of robbers are at the entrance with a wounded man. The band is allowed to enter and the wounded man reveals that he is the leader of the bandetti, a thieving band. The leader begs for penitence and the monks comfort him spiritually. Before the man passes, he denounces all the gold pieces in possession and the horses outside of the commune.

Rudolpho and Juliet arrive at the estate of Verucci, a wealthy nobleman who has had his daughter kidnapped. Rudolpho and Verucci discuss the disappearance of Manfredi. Rosalithe appears back on the Verucci estate and tells the story of her escape from imprisonment at the hands of Manfredi. While forcing their way out of the robbers layer a fight ensued and she fled. Manfredi is left to ward off the impostors and Rosalithe is left to escape. The story then jumps back to the commune of the monks.

Here the novel introduces Tancred, a nobleman, who is first seen in discussion with Apostolico, the head monk. By means of encouragement Apostolico convinces Tancred to murder Manfredi in order to inherit his estate. Tancred has been explained to have ties and even lead the bandetti, or robbers. He goes to the bandetti and explains his plans, after which is carried out and Manfredi is now dead. Word of Manfredi's death reaches the Verucci estate and everyone seems distraught.

Rudolpho meets with Juliet and readers are given a long dialogue between the two. Here Rudolpho explains his love for Juliet and a promise from the past arises. Explanitivly the characters discuss a promise made by Juliet to Rudolpho, in which Juliet has awarded her hand in marriage to Rudolpho. Before Rudolpho's departure for war he and Juliet had agreed to be married upon his return and Juliet was to wait for him. Juliet then reveals that she has not held her promise and has married Tancred, who has turned out to be Rudolpho's uncle. There is some confusion in the characters' relation because throughout the novel nobles refer to eachother as cousin or uncle. Hear I believe the bloodline true for the stories sake. After hearing this news Rudolpho goes into a long lament on his befallen love and avenges to never love again. Rudolpho and Verucci decide to go after the bandetti for their part in Rosalithe's capture. Here they come along the bandetti and Rudolpho notices Tancred and Juliet. He follows them as a fight takes place and is deemed lost. Thus ends the first volume.

The second volume starts with Tancred taking Juliet and Rodigona, a servant, to a castle outside of Sicily. The castle is given a dark and gloomy appearance, with the travel upon the castle being treacherous. Tancred explains that this castle is part of his ownership and estates. Here Juliet and Rodigona talk and once night has fallen Juliet wanders from her quarters. Juliet stumbles upon some caverns underneath the castle that are aptly described as catacombs. After seeing a light in the distance she runs from fear and finds Rodigona in her room, Juliet faints and everyone is put into a panic. Rodigona sits by Juliet's bed until her conditions improve, and once awake, Rodigona tells Juliet that she is her daughter.

After quitting Juliet's room Rodigona runs into Apostolico who's face she views as his hood is drawn back. Rodigona then promptly faints and falls deathly ill, while her symptoms decrease she is presumed dead late into the night. After some lamenting over the death only Tancred, Apostolico, and Inncoent are left in Rodigona's quarters. The three devise a plan to bury her and when they proceed to pick the body up a breath is heard. They believe Rodigona to be alive and devise a plan to murder her to conceal a unknown secret. Tancred along with the munks' take Rodigona's body to the catacombs beneath the castle and murder her with a dagger of poison. After which they hear a eerie groan that frightens them back to the castle.

Lord Tancred then goes to extreme measures to try and win the hand of Juliet. These actions reveal that Juliet must have lied to Rudolpho about her marriage, but its never explained? She refuses until hearing Tancred learn of her father Manfredi's life is still apparent. Tancred then finds Juliet in her quarters and tricks her by having one of his men act as her father in a prison cell. He demands that she marry him or her father will be killed. Juliet agrees reluctantly to the union. She then wanders upon a grief stricken Tancred and is stolen away by a mysterious figure.

Back to the monastery word comes of Tancred's break down and confession of the actions between Apostolico, Innocent, and Fiedle. The monks then decide to flee to the woods and join the bandetti. Hear many battles ensue with Verucci and his army with the bandetti. After several battles over countless terrain, Rudolpho shows up. He has been absent since his disappearance after the initial battle with the bandetti. He explains that a unknown figure saved his life and resided with a second band of robbers in the catacombs. Rudolpho searches the catacombs at night while the band is gone and runs into what he thinks is the apparition of Manfredi. This apparition tells him to travel back to Verucci and bring him hither. Rudolpho does this and the whole story is explained.

A man named Morena, a follower of Verucci, announces himself and explains that the lost son of Verucci is Rudolpho. He reveals a elaborate plan by the rival Mandetti to ruin the estate of Verucci. This infuriates Verucci and with armed guards traps the bandetti who are consequently convicted of their crimes. Morena also explains that he saved Rudolpho after he fell upon a cliff when persuing Tancred and Juliet. Juliet and Rudolpho are joined in marriage and the strife between the households of Rudolpho's thought to be father and Verucci is extinguished. Here the story ends.

- Prepared by Gavin Healey, University of Nebraska, December 2002