Edgar Allan Poe Tales

8/13/2019 Edgar Allan Poe Tales

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THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

Son coeur est un luth suspendu; Sitt qu'on le touche il rsonne..

_ e !"r#n$er_.

urin$ the %hole o& # dull d#r( #nd soundless d#) in the #utu*n o& the)e#r %hen the clouds hun$ oppressi+el) lo% in the he#+ens , h#d -eenp#ssin$ #lone on horse-#c( throu$h # sin$ul#rl) dre#r) tr#ct o& countr);#nd #t len$th &ound *)sel& #s the sh#des o& the e+enin$ dre% on %ithin+ie% o& the *el#nchol) House o& Usher. , (no% not ho% it %#s-ut %ith the&irst $li*pse o& the -uildin$ # sense o& insu&&er#-le $loo* per+#ded *)spirit. , s#) insu&&er#-le; &or the &eelin$ %#s unrelie+ed -) #n) o& th#th#l&/ple#sur#-le -ec#use poetic senti*ent %ith %hich the *ind usu#ll)recei+es e+en the sternest n#tur#l i*#$es o& the desol#te or terri-le. ,loo(ed upon the scene -e&ore *eupon the *ere house #nd the si*plel#ndsc#pe &e#tures o& the do*#inupon the -le#( %#llsupon the +#c#nt e)e/li(e %indo%supon # &e% r#n( sed$es#nd upon # &e% %hite trun(s o& dec#)edtrees%ith #n utter depression o& soul %hich , c#n co*p#re to no e#rthl)

sens#tion *ore properl) th#n to the #&ter/dre#* o& the re+eller upon opiu*the -itter l#pse into e+er)d#) li&ethe hideous droppin$ o&& o& the +eil.There %#s #n iciness # sin(in$ # sic(enin$ o& the he#rt#n unredee*eddre#riness o& thou$ht %hich no $o#din$ o& the i*#$in#tion could tortureinto #u$ht o& the su-li*e. 0h#t %#s it, p#used to thin(%h#t %#s it th#tso unner+ed *e in the conte*pl#tion o& the House o& Usher1 ,t %#s #*)ster) #ll insolu-le; nor could , $r#pple %ith the sh#do%) ncies th#tcro%ded upon *e #s , pondered. , %#s &orced to ll -#c( upon theuns#tisctor) conclusion th#t %hile -e)ond dou-t there #reco*-in#tions o& +er) si*ple n#tur#l o-2ects %hich h#+e the po%er o& thus#&&ectin$ us still the #n#l)sis o& this po%er lies #*on$ consider#tions-e)ond our depth. ,t %#s possi-le , re&lected th#t # *ere di&&erent#rr#n$e*ent o& the p#rticul#rs o& the scene o& the det#ils o& the

picture %ould -e su&&icient to *odi&) or perh#ps to #nnihil#te itsc#p#cit) &or sorro%&ul i*pression; #nd #ctin$ upon this ide# , reined *)horse to the precipitous -rin( o& # -l#c( #nd lurid t#rn th#t l#) inunru&&led lustre -) the d%ellin$ #nd $#3ed do%n-ut %ith # shudder e+en*ore thrillin$ th#n -e&oreupon the re*odelled #nd in+erted i*#$es o& the$r#) sed$e #nd the $h#stl) tree/ste*s #nd the +#c#nt #nd e)e/li(e%indo%s.

4e+ertheless in this *#nsion o& $loo* , no% proposed to *)sel& # so2ourno& so*e %ee(s. ,ts proprietor Roderic( Usher h#d -een one o& *) -oonco*p#nions in -o)hood; -ut *#n) )e#rs h#d el#psed since our l#st *eetin$.A letter ho%e+er h#d l#tel) re#ched *e in # dist#nt p#rt o& the countr)# letter &ro* hi*%hich in its %ildl) i*portun#te n#ture h#d #d*itted o&no other th#n # person#l repl). The 5S. $#+e e+idence o& ner+ous

#$it#tion. The %riter spo(e o& #cute -odil) illnesso& # *ent#l disorder%hich oppressed hi*#nd o& #n e#rnest desire to see *e #s his -est #ndindeed his onl) person#l &riend %ith # +ie% o& #tte*ptin$ -) thecheer&ulness o& *) societ) so*e #lle+i#tion o& his *#l#d). ,t %#s the*#nner in %hich #ll this #nd *uch *ore %#s s#idit %#s the #pp#renthe#rt th#t %ent %ith his request%hich #llo%ed *e no roo* &or hesit#tion;#nd , #ccordin$l) o-e)ed &orth%ith %h#t , still considered # +er) sin$ul#rsu**ons.

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Althou$h #s -o)s %e h#d -een e+en inti*#te #ssoci#tes )et , re#ll) (ne%little o& *) &riend. His reser+e h#d -een #l%#)s e6cessi+e #nd h#-itu#l. ,%#s #%#re ho%e+er th#t his +er) #ncient *il) h#d -een noted ti*e outo& *ind &or # peculi#r sensi-ilit) o& te*per#*ent displ#)in$ itsel&throu$h lon$ #$es in *#n) %or(s o& e6#lted #rt #nd *#ni&ested o& l#tein repe#ted deeds o& *uni&icent )et uno-trusi+e ch#rit) #s %ell #s in #p#ssion#te de+otion to the intric#cies perh#ps e+en *ore th#n to theorthodo6 #nd e#sil) reco$nis#-le -e#uties o& *usic#l science. , h#dle#rned too the +er) re*#r(#-le ct th#t the ste* o& the Usher r#ce#ll ti*e/honored #s it %#s h#d put &orth #t no period #n) endurin$-r#nch; in other %ords th#t the entire *il) l#) in the direct line o&descent #nd h#d #l%#)s %ith +er) tri&lin$ #nd +er) te*por#r) +#ri#tionso l#in. ,t %#s this de&icienc) , considered %hile runnin$ o+er inthou$ht the per&ect (eepin$ o& the ch#r#cter o& the pre*ises %ith the#ccredited ch#r#cter o& the people #nd %hile specul#tin$ upon thepossi-le in&luence %hich the one in the lon$ l#pse o& centuries *i$hth#+e e6ercised upon the otherit %#s this de&icienc) perh#ps o&coll#ter#l issue #nd the consequent unde+i#tin$ tr#ns*ission &ro* sireto son o& the p#tri*on) %ith the n#*e %hich h#d #t len$th soidenti&ied the t%o #s to *er$e the ori$in#l title o& the est#te in the

qu#int #nd equi+oc#l #ppell#tion o& the 7House o& Usher8#n #ppell#tion%hich see*ed to include in the *inds o& the pe#s#ntr) %ho used it -oththe *il) #nd the *il) *#nsion.

, h#+e s#id th#t the sole e&&ect o& *) so*e%h#t childish e6peri*entth#to& loo(in$ do%n %ithin the t#rnh#d -een to deepen the &irst sin$ul#ri*pression. There c#n -e no dou-t th#t the consciousness o& the r#pidincre#se o& *) superstition&or %h) should , not so ter* it1ser+ed *#inl)to #cceler#te the incre#se itsel&. Such , h#+e lon$ (no%n is thep#r#do6ic#l l#% o& #ll senti*ents h#+in$ terror #s # -#sis. And it *i$hth#+e -een &or this re#son onl) th#t %hen , #$#in upli&ted *) e)es to thehouse itsel& &ro* its i*#$e in the pool there $re% in *) *ind # str#n$enc)# nc) so ridiculous indeed th#t , -ut *ention it to sho% the

+i+id &orce o& the sens#tions %hich oppressed *e. , h#d so %or(ed upon *)i*#$in#tion #s re#ll) to -elie+e th#t #-out the %hole *#nsion #nd do*#inthere hun$ #n #t*osphere peculi#r to the*sel+es #nd their i**edi#te+icinit)#n #t*osphere %hich h#d no #&&init) %ith the #ir o& he#+en -ut%hich h#d ree(ed up &ro* the dec#)ed trees #nd the $r#) %#ll #nd thesilent t#rn# pestilent #nd *)stic +#por dull slu$$ish intl)discerni-le #nd le#den/hued. Sh#(in$ o&& &ro* *) spirit %h#t *ust h#+e-een # dre#* , sc#nned *ore n#rro%l) the re#l #spect o& the -uildin$. ,tsprincip#l &e#ture see*ed to -e th#t o& #n e6cessi+e #ntiquit). Thediscolor#tion o& #$es h#d -een $re#t. 5inute &un$i o+erspre#d the %holee6terior h#n$in$ in # &ine t#n$led %e-/%or( &ro* the e#+es. 9et #ll this%#s #p#rt &ro* #n) e6tr#ordin#r) dil#pid#tion. 4o portion o& the *#sonr)h#d llen; #nd there #ppe#red to -e # %ild inconsistenc) -et%een itsstill per&ect #d#pt#tion o& p#rts #nd the cru*-lin$ condition o& the

indi+idu#l stones. ,n this there %#s *uch th#t re*inded *e o& the specioustot#lit) o& old %ood/%or( %hich h#s rotted &or lon$ )e#rs in so*ene$lected +#ult %ith no distur-#nce &ro* the -re#th o& the e6tern#l #ir.!e)ond this indic#tion o& e6tensi+e dec#) ho%e+er the -ric $#+e littleto(en o& inst#-ilit). :erh#ps the e)e o& # scrutini3in$ o-ser+er *i$hth#+e disco+ered # -#rel) percepti-le &issure %hich e6tendin$ &ro* theroo& o& the -uildin$ in &ront *#de its %#) do%n the %#ll in # 3i$3#$direction until it -ec#*e lost in the sullen %#ters o& the t#rn. 4oticin$these thin$s , rode o+er # short c#use%#) to the house. A ser+#nt in

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%#itin$ too( *) horse #nd , entered the othic #rch%#) o& the h#ll. A+#let o& ste#lth) step thence conducted *e in silence throu$h *#n)d#r( #nd intric#te p#ss#$es in *) pro$ress to the studio o& his *#ster.5uch th#t , encountered on the %#) contri-uted , (no% not ho% tohei$hten the +#$ue senti*ents o& %hich , h#+e #lre#d) spo(en. 0hile theo-2ects #round *e%hile the c#r+in$s o& the ceilin$s the so*-ret#pestries o& the %#lls the e-on -l#c(ness o& the &loors #nd theph#nt#s*#$oric #r*ori#l trophies %hich r#ttled #s , strode %ere -ut*#tters to %hich or to such #s %hich , h#d -een #ccusto*ed &ro* *)innc)%hile , hesit#ted not to #c(no%led$e ho% *ili#r %#s #ll this,still %ondered to &ind ho% un*ili#r %ere the ncies %hich ordin#r)i*#$es %ere stirrin$ up. On one o& the st#irc#ses , *et the ph)sici#n o&the *il). His counten#nce , thou$ht %ore # *in$led e6pression o& lo%cunnin$ #nd perple6it). He #ccosted *e %ith trepid#tion #nd p#ssed on. The+#let no% thre% open # door #nd ushered *e into the presence o& his*#ster. The roo* in %hich , &ound *)sel& %#s +er) l#r$e #nd lo&t). The%indo%s %ere lon$ n#rro% #nd pointed #nd #t so +#st # dist#nce &ro* the-l#c( o#(en &loor #s to -e #lto$ether in#ccessi-le &ro* %ithin. Fee-le$le#*s o& encri*soned li$ht *#de their %#) throu$h the trellissed p#nes#nd ser+ed to render su&&icientl) distinct the *ore pro*inent o-2ects

#round; the e)e ho%e+er stru$$led in +#in to re#ch the re*oter #n$les o&the ch#*-er or the recesses o& the +#ulted #nd &retted ceilin$. #r(dr#peries hun$ upon the %#lls. The $ener#l &urniture %#s pro&useco*&ortless #ntique #nd t#ttered. 5#n) -oo(s #nd *usic#l instru*ents l#)sc#ttered #-out -ut iled to $i+e #n) +it#lit) to the scene. , &elt th#t, -re#thed #n #t*osphere o& sorro%. An #ir o& stern deep #ndirredee*#-le $loo* hun$ o+er #nd per+#ded #ll.

Upon *) entr#nce Usher #rose &ro* # so on %hich he h#d -een l)in$ #t&ull len$th #nd $reeted *e %ith # +i+#cious %#r*th %hich h#d *uch in it, #t &irst thou$ht o& #n o+erdone cordi#lit)o& the constr#ined e&&ort o&the ennu); *#n o& the %orld. A $l#nce ho%e+er #t his counten#ncecon+inced *e o& his per&ect sincerit). 0e s#t do%n; #nd &or so*e *o*ents

%hile he spo(e not , $#3ed upon hi* %ith # &eelin$ h#l& o& pit) h#l& o%e. Surel) *#n h#d ne+er -e&ore so terri-l) #ltered in so -rie& #period #s h#d Roderic( Usher< ,t %#s %ith di&&icult) th#t , could -rin$*)sel& to #d*it the identit) o& the %#n -ein$ -e&ore *e %ith the co*p#niono& *) e#rl) -o)hood. 9et the ch#r#cter o& his ce h#d -een #t #ll ti*esre*#r(#-le. A c#d#+erousness o& co*ple6ion; #n e)e l#r$e liquid #ndlu*inous -e)ond co*p#rison; lips so*e%h#t thin #nd +er) p#llid -ut o& #surp#ssin$l) -e#uti&ul cur+e; # nose o& # delic#te He-re% *odel -ut %ith# -re#dth o& nostril unusu#l in si*il#r &or*#tions; # &inel) *oulded chinspe#(in$ in its %#nt o& pro*inence o& # %#nt o& *or#l ener$); h#ir o& #*ore th#n %e-/li(e so&tness #nd tenuit); these &e#tures %ith #ninordin#te e6p#nsion #-o+e the re$ions o& the te*ple *#de up #lto$ether #counten#nce not e#sil) to -e &or$otten. And no% in the *ere e6#$$er#tiono& the pre+#ilin$ ch#r#cter o& these &e#tures #nd o& the e6pression the)

%ere %ont to con+e) l#) so *uch o& ch#n$e th#t , dou-ted to %ho* , spo(e.The no% $h#stl) p#llor o& the s(in #nd the no% *ir#culous lustre o& thee)e #-o+e #ll thin$s st#rtled #nd e+en #%ed *e. The sil(en h#ir too h#d-een su&&ered to $ro% #ll unheeded #nd #s in its %ild $oss#*er te6tureit &lo#ted r#ther th#n &ell #-out the ce , could not e+en %ith e&&ortconnect its Ar#-esque e6pression %ith #n) ide# o& si*ple hu*#nit).

,n the *#nner o& *) &riend , %#s #t once struc( %ith #n incoherence#ninconsistenc); #nd , soon &ound this to #rise &ro* # series o& &ee-le #nd

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&utile stru$$les to o+erco*e #n h#-itu#l trepid#nc)#n e6cessi+e ner+ous#$it#tion. For so*ethin$ o& this n#ture , h#d indeed -een prep#red noless -) his letter th#n -) re*iniscences o& cert#in -o)ish tr#its #nd -)conclusions deduced &ro* his peculi#r ph)sic#l con&or*#tion #ndte*per#*ent. His #ction %#s #ltern#tel) +i+#cious #nd sullen. His +oice+#ried r#pidl) &ro* # tre*ulous indecision =%hen the #ni*#l spirits see*edutterl) in #-e)#nce> to th#t species o& ener$etic concisionth#t #-rupt%ei$ht) unhurried #nd hollo%/soundin$ enunci#tionth#t le#den sel&/-#l#nced #nd per&ectl) *odul#ted $uttur#l utter#nce %hich *#) -e o-ser+edin the lost drun(#rd or the irrecl#i*#-le e#ter o& opiu* durin$ theperiods o& his *ost intense e6cite*ent. ,t %#s thus th#t he spo(e o& theo-2ect o& *) +isit o& his e#rnest desire to see *e #nd o& the sol#ce hee6pected *e to #&&ord hi*. He entered #t so*e len$th into %h#t heconcei+ed to -e the n#ture o& his *#l#d). ,t %#s he s#id #constitution#l #nd # *il) e+il #nd one &or %hich he desp#ired to &ind #re*ed)# *ere ner+ous #&&ection he i**edi#tel) #dded %hich %ouldundou-tedl) soon p#ss o&&. ,t displ#)ed itsel& in # host o& unn#tur#lsens#tions. So*e o& these #s he det#iled the* interested #nd -e%ildered*e; #lthou$h perh#ps the ter*s #nd the $ener#l *#nner o& the n#rr#tionh#d their %ei$ht. He su&&ered *uch &ro* # *or-id #cuteness o& the senses;

the *ost insipid &ood %#s #lone endur#-le; he could %e#r onl) $#r*ents o&cert#in te6ture; the odors o& #ll &lo%ers %ere oppressi+e; his e)es %eretortured -) e+en # int li$ht; #nd there %ere -ut peculi#r sounds #ndthese &ro* strin$ed instru*ents %hich did not inspire hi* %ith horror.

To #n #no*#lous species o& terror , &ound hi* # -ounden sl#+e. 7, sh#llperish8 s#id he 7, *ust perish in this deplor#-le &oll). Thus thus #ndnot other%ise sh#ll , -e lost. , dre#d the e+ents o& the &uture not inthe*sel+es -ut in their results. , shudder #t the thou$ht o& #n) e+enthe *ost tri+i#l incident %hich *#) oper#te upon this intoler#-le#$it#tion o& soul. , h#+e indeed no #-horrence o& d#n$er e6cept in its#-solute e&&ectin terror. ,n this unner+edin this piti#-le condition,&eel th#t the period %ill sooner or l#ter #rri+e %hen , *ust #-#ndon li&e

#nd re#son to$ether in so*e stru$$le %ith the $ri* ph#nt#s* FEAR.8 ,le#rned *oreo+er #t inter+#ls #nd throu$h -ro(en #nd equi+oc#l hints#nother sin$ul#r &e#ture o& his *ent#l condition. He %#s ench#ined -)cert#in superstitious i*pressions in re$#rd to the d%ellin$ %hich heten#nted #nd %hence &or *#n) )e#rs he h#d ne+er +entured &orthinre$#rd to #n in&luence %hose supposititious &orce %#s con+e)ed in ter*stoo sh#do%) here to -e re/st#ted#n in&luence %hich so*e peculi#rities inthe *ere &or* #nd su-st#nce o& his *il) *#nsion h#d -) dint o& lon$su&&er#nce he s#id o-t#ined o+er his spirit#n e&&ect %hich the ph)siqueo& the $r#) %#lls #nd turrets #nd o& the di* t#rn into %hich the) #llloo(ed do%n h#d #t len$th -rou$ht #-out upon the *or#le o& hise6istence. He #d*itted ho%e+er #lthou$h %ith hesit#tion th#t *uch o&the peculi#r $loo* %hich thus #&&licted hi* could -e tr#ced to # *oren#tur#l #nd r *ore p#lp#-le ori$into the se+ere #nd lon$/continued

illnessindeed to the e+identl) #ppro#chin$ dissolutiono& # tenderl)-elo+ed sisterhis sole co*p#nion &or lon$ )e#rshis l#st #nd onl)rel#ti+e on e#rth. 7Her dece#se8 he s#id %ith # -itterness %hich , c#nne+er &or$et 7%ould le#+e hi* =hi* the hopeless #nd the &r#il> the l#sto& the #ncient r#ce o& the Ushers.8 0hile he spo(e the l#d) 5#deline =&orso %#s she c#lled> p#ssed slo%l) throu$h # re*ote portion o& the#p#rt*ent #nd %ithout h#+in$ noticed *) presence dis#ppe#red. ,re$#rded her %ith #n utter #stonish*ent not un*in$led %ith dre#d#nd )et ,&ound it i*possi-le to #ccount &or such &eelin$s. A sens#tion o& stupor

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oppressed *e #s *) e)es &ollo%ed her retre#tin$ steps. 0hen # door #tlen$th closed upon her *) $l#nce sou$ht instincti+el) #nd e#$erl) thecounten#nce o& the -rother-ut he h#d -uried his ce in his h#nds #nd ,could onl) percei+e th#t # r *ore th#n ordin#r) %#nness h#d o+erspre#dthe e*#ci#ted &in$ers throu$h %hich tric(led *#n) p#ssion#te te#rs.

The dise#se o& the l#d) 5#deline h#d lon$ -#&&led the s(ill o& herph)sici#ns. A settled #p#th) # $r#du#l %#stin$ #%#) o& the person #nd&requent #lthou$h tr#nsient #&&ections o& # p#rti#ll) c#t#leptic#lch#r#cter %ere the unusu#l di#$nosis. Hitherto she h#d ste#dil) -orne up#$#inst the pressure o& her *#l#d) #nd h#d not -et#(en hersel& &in#ll) to-ed; -ut on the closin$ in o& the e+enin$ o& *) #rri+#l #t the house shesuccu*-ed =#s her -rother told *e #t ni$ht %ith ine6pressi-le #$it#tion>to the prostr#tin$ po%er o& the destro)er; #nd , le#rned th#t the $li*pse, h#d o-t#ined o& her person %ould thus pro-#-l) -e the l#st , shouldo-t#inth#t the l#d) #t le#st %hile li+in$ %ould -e seen -) *e no *ore.

For se+er#l d#)s ensuin$ her n#*e %#s un*entioned -) either Usher or*)sel&? #nd durin$ this period , %#s -usied in e#rnest ende#+ors to#lle+i#te the *el#nchol) o& *) &riend. 0e p#inted #nd re#d to$ether; or ,listened #s i& in # dre#* to the %ild i*pro+is#tions o& his spe#(in$$uit#r. And thus #s # closer #nd still closer inti*#c) #d*itted *e *oreunreser+edl) into the recesses o& his spirit the *ore -itterl) did ,percei+e the &utilit) o& #ll #tte*pt #t cheerin$ # *ind &ro* %hichd#r(ness #s i& #n inherent positi+e qu#lit) poured &orth upon #llo-2ects o& the *or#l #nd ph)sic#l uni+erse in one unce#sin$ r#di#tion o&$loo*. , sh#ll e+er -e#r #-out *e # *e*or) o& the *#n) sole*n hours , thusspent #lone %ith the *#ster o& the House o& Usher. 9et , should il in#n) #tte*pt to con+e) #n ide# o& the e6#ct ch#r#cter o& the studies or o&the occup#tions in %hich he in+ol+ed *e or led *e the %#). An e6cited#nd hi$hl) diste*pered ide#lit) thre% # sulphureous lustre o+er #ll. Hislon$ i*pro+ised dir$es %ill rin$ &ore+er in *) e#rs. A*on$ other thin$s ,hold p#in&ull) in *ind # cert#in sin$ul#r per+ersion #nd #*pli&ic#tion o&

the %ild #ir o& the l#st %#lt3 o& @on 0e-er. Fro* the p#intin$s o+er %hichhis el#-or#te nc) -rooded #nd %hich $re% touch -) touch into+#$uenesses #t %hich , shuddered the *ore thrillin$l) -ec#use , shuddered(no%in$ not %h);&ro* these p#intin$s =+i+id #s their i*#$es no% #re-e&ore *e> , %ould in +#in ende#+or to educe *ore th#n # s*#ll portion%hich should lie %ithin the co*p#ss o& *erel) %ritten %ords. !) the uttersi*plicit) -) the n#(edness o& his desi$ns he #rrested #nd o+er#%ed#ttention. ,& e+er *ort#l p#inted #n ide# th#t *ort#l %#s Roderic( Usher.For *e #t le#stin the circu*st#nces then surroundin$ *ethere #rose outo& the pure #-str#ctions %hich the h)pochondri#c contri+ed to thro% uponhis c#n+#ss #n intensit) o& intoler#-le #%e no sh#do% o& %hich &elt ,e+er )et in the conte*pl#tion o& the cert#inl) $lo%in$ )et too concretere+eries o& Fuseli.

One o& the ph#nt#s*#$oric conceptions o& *) &riend p#rt#(in$ not sori$idl) o& the spirit o& #-str#ction *#) -e sh#do%ed &orth #lthou$h&ee-l) in %ords. A s*#ll picture presented the interior o& #n i**ensel)lon$ #nd rect#n$ul#r +#ult or tunnel %ith lo% %#lls s*ooth %hite #nd%ithout interruption or de+ice. ert#in #ccessor) points o& the desi$nser+ed %ell to con+e) the ide# th#t this e6c#+#tion l#) #t #n e6ceedin$depth -elo% the surce o& the e#rth. 4o outlet %#s o-ser+ed in #n)portion o& its +#st e6tent #nd no torch or other #rti&ici#l source o&

5


6/23

li$ht %#s discerni-le; )et # &lood o& intense r#)s rolled throu$hout #nd-#thed the %hole in # $h#stl) #nd in#ppropri#te splendor.

, h#+e 2ust spo(en o& th#t *or-id condition o& the #uditor) ner+e %hichrendered #ll *usic intoler#-le to the su&&erer %ith the e6ception o&cert#in e&&ects o& strin$ed instru*ents. ,t %#s perh#ps the n#rro%

li*its to %hich he thus con&ined hi*sel& upon the $uit#r %hich $#+e-irth in $re#t *e#sure to the nt#stic ch#r#cter o& his per&or*#nces.!ut the &er+id cilit) o& his i*pro*ptus could not -e so #ccounted &or.The) *ust h#+e -een #nd %ere in the notes #s %ell #s in the %ords o&his %ild nt#si#s =&or he not un&requentl) #cco*p#nied hi*sel& %ithrh)*ed +er-#l i*pro+is#tions> the result o& th#t intense *ent#lcollectedness #nd concentr#tion to %hich , h#+e pre+iousl) #lluded #so-ser+#-le onl) in p#rticul#r *o*ents o& the hi$hest #rti&ici#le6cite*ent. The %ords o& one o& these rh#psodies , h#+e e#sil) re*e*-ered., %#s perh#ps the *ore &orci-l) i*pressed %ith it #s he $#+e it-ec#use in the under or *)stic current o& its *e#nin$ , ncied th#t ,percei+ed #nd &or the &irst ti*e # &ull consciousness on the p#rt o&Usher o& the totterin$ o& his lo&t) re#son upon her throne. The +erses%hich %ere entitled 7The H#unted :#l#ce8 r#n +er) ne#rl) i& not

#ccur#tel) thus?

,.

,n the $reenest o& our +#lle)s

!) $ood #n$els ten#nted

Once # ir #nd st#tel) p#l#ce

R#di#nt p#l#cere#red its he#d.

,n the *on#rch Thou$htBs do*inion,t stood there

And e+er) $entle #ir th#t d#llied

,n th#t s%eet d#)

Alon$ the r#*p#rts plu*ed #nd p#llid

6


7/23

A %in$ed odor %ent #%#).

,,,.

0#nderers in th#t h#pp) +#lle)

Throu$h t%o lu*inous %indo%s s#%

Spirits *o+in$ *usic#ll)

To # luteBs %ell/tund l#%

Round #-out # throne %here sittin$

=:orph)ro$ene

,n st#te his $lor) %ell -e&ittin$

The ruler o& the re#l* %#s seen.

,@.

And #ll %ith pe#rl #nd ru-) $lo%in$

0#s the ir p#l#ce door

Throu$h %hich c#*e &lo%in$ &lo%in$ &lo%in$ And sp#r(lin$ e+er*ore

A troop o& Echoes %hose s%eet dut)

0#s -ut to sin$

,n +oices o& surp#ssin$ -e#ut)

The %it #nd %isdo* o& their (in$.

@.

!ut e+il thin$s in ro-es o& sorro%

Ass#iled the *on#rchBs hi$h est#te; =Ah let us *ourn &or ne+er *orro%

Sh#ll d#%n upon hi* desol#te

And round #-out his ho*e the $lor)

Th#t -lushed #nd -loo*ed

,s -ut # di*/re*e*-ered stor)

O& the old ti*e ento*-ed.

7


8/23

@,.

And tr#+ellers no% %ithin th#t +#lle)

Throu$h the red/litten %indo%s see

@#st &or*s th#t *o+e nt#stic#ll)

To # discord#nt *elod);

0hile li(e # r#pid $h#stl) ri+er

Throu$h the p#le door

A hideous thron$ rush out &ore+er

And l#u$h-ut s*ile no *ore.

, %ell re*e*-er th#t su$$estions #risin$ &ro* this -#ll#d led us into #tr#in o& thou$ht %herein there -ec#*e *#ni&est #n opinion o& UsherBs %hich, *ention not so *uch on #ccount o& its no+elt) =&or other *en h#+ethou$ht thus> #s on #ccount o& the pertin#cit) %ith %hich he *#int#inedit. This opinion in its $ener#l &or* %#s th#t o& the sentience o& #ll+e$et#-le thin$s. !ut in his disordered nc) the ide# h#d #ssu*ed #*ore d#rin$ ch#r#cter #nd tresp#ssed under cert#in conditions upon the(in$do* o& inor$#ni3#tion. , l#c( %ords to e6press the &ull e6tent or thee#rnest #-#ndon o& his persu#sion. The -elie& ho%e+er %#s connected =#s, h#+e pre+iousl) hinted> %ith the $r#) stones o& the ho*e o& his&orethers. The conditions o& the sentience h#d -een here he i*#$ined&ul&illed in the *ethod o& colloc#tion o& these stonesin the order o&their #rr#n$e*ent #s %ell #s in th#t o& the *#n) &un$i %hich o+erspre#d

the* #nd o& the dec#)ed trees %hich stood #round#-o+e #ll in the lon$undistur-ed endur#nce o& this #rr#n$e*ent #nd in its reduplic#tion in thestill %#ters o& the t#rn. ,ts e+idencethe e+idence o& the sentience%#sto -e seen he s#id =#nd , here st#rted #s he spo(e> in the $r#du#l )etcert#in condens#tion o& #n #t*osphere o& their o%n #-out the %#ters #ndthe %#lls. The result %#s disco+er#-le he #dded in th#t silent )eti*portun#te #nd terri-le in&luence %hich &or centuries h#d *oulded thedestinies o& his *il) #nd %hich *#de hi* %h#t , no% s#% hi*%h#t he%#s. Such opinions need no co**ent #nd , %ill *#(e none. 0#tson r.:erci+#l Sp#ll#n3#ni #nd especi#ll) the !ishop o& L#nd#&&.See 7he*ic#lEss#)s8 +ol +. Our -oo(sthe -oo(s %hich &or )e#rs h#d &or*ed no s*#llportion o& the *ent#l e6istence o& the in+#lid%ere #s *i$ht -e supposedin strict (eepin$ %ith this ch#r#cter o& ph#nt#s*. 0e pored to$ether o+ersuch %or(s #s the @er+ert et h#rtreuse o& resset; the !elphe$or o&

5#chi#+elli; the He#+en #nd Hell o& S%eden-or$; the Su-terr#ne#n @o)#$e o&4ichol#s Cli** -) Hol-er$; the hiro*#nc) o& Ro-ert Flud o& De#nB,nd#$in #nd o& e l# h#*-re; the Dourne) into the !lue ist#nce o&Tiec(; #nd the it) o& the Sun o& #*p#nell#. One +orite +olu*e %#s #s*#ll oct#+o edition o& the irectoriu* ,nquisitoriu* -) the o*inic#nE)*eric de ironne; #nd there %ere p#ss#$es in :o*ponius 5el# #-out theold A&ric#n S#t)rs #nd $ip#ns o+er %hich Usher %ould sit dre#*in$ &orhours. His chie& deli$ht ho%e+er %#s &ound in the perus#l o& #ne6ceedin$l) r#re #nd curious -oo( in qu#rto othicthe *#nu#l o& #

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9/23

&or$otten churchthe @i$ili#e 5ortuoru* secundu* horu* Ecclesi#e5#$untin#e.

, could not help thin(in$ o& the %ild ritu#l o& this %or( #nd o& itspro-#-le in&luence upon the h)pochondri#c %hen one e+enin$ h#+in$in&or*ed *e #-ruptl) th#t the l#d) 5#deline %#s no *ore he st#ted his

intention o& preser+in$ her corpse &or # &ortni$ht =pre+iousl) to its&in#l inter*ent> in one o& the nu*erous +#ults %ithin the *#in %#lls o&the -uildin$. The %orldl) re#son ho%e+er #ssi$ned &or this sin$ul#rproceedin$ %#s one %hich , did not &eel #t li-ert) to dispute. The-rother h#d -een led to his resolution =so he told *e> -) consider#tion o&the unusu#l ch#r#cter o& the *#l#d) o& the dece#sed o& cert#in o-trusi+e#nd e#$er inquiries on the p#rt o& her *edic#l *en #nd o& the re*ote #nde6posed situ#tion o& the -uri#l/$round o& the *il). , %ill not den) th#t%hen , c#lled to *ind the sinister counten#nce o& the person %ho* , *etupon the st#irc#se on the d#) o& *) #rri+#l #t the house , h#d no desireto oppose %h#t , re$#rded #s #t -est -ut # h#r*less #nd -) no *e#ns #nunn#tur#l prec#ution.

At the request o& Usher , person#ll) #ided hi* in the #rr#n$e*ents &orthe te*por#r) ento*-*ent. The -od) h#+in$ -een enco&&ined %e t%o #lone-ore it to its rest. The +#ult in %hich %e pl#ced it =#nd %hich h#d -eenso lon$ unopened th#t our torches h#l& s*othered in its oppressi+e#t*osphere $#+e us little opportunit) &or in+esti$#tion> %#s s*#ll d#*p#nd entirel) %ithout *e#ns o& #d*ission &or li$ht; l)in$ #t $re#t depthi**edi#tel) -ene#th th#t portion o& the -uildin$ in %hich %#s *) o%nsleepin$ #p#rt*ent. ,t h#d -een used #pp#rentl) in re*ote &eud#l ti*es&or the %orst purposes o& # don2on/(eep #nd in l#ter d#)s #s # pl#ce o&deposit &or po%der or so*e other hi$hl) co*-usti-le su-st#nce #s #portion o& its &loor #nd the %hole interior o& # lon$ #rch%#) throu$h%hich %e re#ched it %ere c#re&ull) she#thed %ith copper. The door o&*#ssi+e iron h#d -een #lso si*il#rl) protected. ,ts i**ense %ei$htc#used #n unusu#ll) sh#rp $r#tin$ sound #s it *o+ed upon its hin$es.

H#+in$ deposited our *ourn&ul -urden upon tressels %ithin this re$ion o&horror %e p#rti#ll) turned #side the )et unscre%ed lid o& the co&&in #ndloo(ed upon the ce o& the ten#nt. A stri(in$ si*ilitude -et%een the-rother #nd sister no% &irst #rrested *) #ttention; #nd Usher di+inin$perh#ps *) thou$hts *ur*ured out so*e &e% %ords &ro* %hich , le#rnedth#t the dece#sed #nd hi*sel& h#d -een t%ins #nd th#t s)*p#thies o& #sc#rcel) intelli$i-le n#ture h#d #l%#)s e6isted -et%een the*. Our $l#ncesho%e+er rested not lon$ upon the de#d&or %e could not re$#rd her un#%ed.The dise#se %hich h#d thus ento*-ed the l#d) in the *#turit) o& )outh h#dle&t #s usu#l in #ll *#l#dies o& # strictl) c#t#leptic#l ch#r#cter the*oc(er) o& # int -lush upon the -oso* #nd the ce #nd th#tsuspiciousl) lin$erin$ s*ile upon the lip %hich is so terri-le in de#th.0e repl#ced #nd scre%ed do%n the lid #nd h#+in$ secured the door o&iron *#de our %#) %ith toil into the sc#rcel) less $loo*) #p#rt*ents o&the upper portion o& the house. And no% so*e d#)s o& -itter $rie& h#+in$el#psed #n o-ser+#-le ch#n$e c#*e o+er the &e#tures o& the *ent#ldisorder o& *) &riend. His ordin#r) *#nner h#d +#nished. His ordin#r)occup#tions %ere ne$lected or &or$otten. He ro#*ed &ro* ch#*-er to ch#*-er%ith hurried unequ#l #nd o-2ectless step. The p#llor o& his counten#nceh#d #ssu*ed i& possi-le # *ore $h#stl) hue-ut the lu*inousness o& hise)e h#d utterl) $one out. The once occ#sion#l hus(iness o& his tone %#she#rd no *ore; #nd # tre*ulous qu#+er #s i& o& e6tre*e terror h#-itu#ll)ch#r#cteri3ed his utter#nce. There %ere ti*es indeed %hen , thou$ht his

9


10/23

unce#sin$l) #$it#ted *ind %#s l#-orin$ %ith so*e oppressi+e secret todi+ul$e %hich he stru$$led &or the necess#r) cour#$e. At ti*es #$#in ,%#s o-li$ed to resol+e #ll into the *ere ine6plic#-le +#$#ries o& *#dness&or , -eheld hi* $#3in$ upon +#c#nc) &or lon$ hours in #n #ttitude o& thepro&oundest #ttention #s i& listenin$ to so*e i*#$in#r) sound. ,t %#s no%onder th#t his condition terri&iedth#t it in&ected *e. , &elt creepin$upon *e -) slo% )et cert#in de$rees the %ild in&luences o& his o%nnt#stic )et i*pressi+e superstitions.

,t %#s especi#ll) upon retirin$ to -ed l#te in the ni$ht o& the se+enthor ei$hth d#) #&ter the pl#cin$ o& the l#d) 5#deline %ithin the don2onth#t , e6perienced the &ull po%er o& such &eelin$s. Sleep c#*e not ne#r *)couch%hile the hours %#ned #nd %#ned #%#). , stru$$led to re#son o&& thener+ousness %hich h#d do*inion o+er *e. , ende#+ored to -elie+e th#t *uchi& not #ll o& %h#t , &elt %#s due to the -e%ilderin$ in&luence o& the$loo*) &urniture o& the roo*o& the d#r( #nd t#ttered dr#peries %hichtortured into *otion -) the -re#th o& # risin$ te*pest s%#)ed &it&ull) to#nd &ro upon the %#lls #nd rustled une#sil) #-out the decor#tions o& the-ed. !ut *) e&&orts %ere &ruitless. An irrepressi-le tre*or $r#du#ll)per+#ded *) &r#*e; #nd #t len$th there s#t upon *) +er) he#rt #n incu-us

o& utterl) c#useless #l#r*. Sh#(in$ this o&& %ith # $#sp #nd # stru$$le ,upli&ted *)sel& upon the pillo%s #nd peerin$ e#rnestl) %ithin theintense d#r(ness o& the ch#*-er h#r(ened, (no% not %h) e6cept th#t #ninstincti+e spirit pro*pted *eto cert#in lo% #nd inde&inite sounds %hichc#*e throu$h the p#uses o& the stor* #t lon$ inter+#ls , (ne% not%hence. O+erpo%ered -) #n intense senti*ent o& horror un#ccount#-le )etunendur#-le , thre% on *) clothes %ith h#ste =&or , &elt th#t , shouldsleep no *ore durin$ the ni$ht> #nd ende#+ored to #rouse *)sel& &ro* thepiti#-le condition into %hich , h#d llen -) p#cin$ r#pidl) to #nd &rothrou$h the #p#rt*ent.

, h#d t#(en -ut &e% turns in this *#nner %hen # li$ht step on #n#d2oinin$ st#irc#se #rrested *) #ttention. , presentl) reco$nised it #s

th#t o& Usher. ,n #n inst#nt #&ter%#rd he r#pped %ith # $entle touch #t*) door #nd entered -e#rin$ # l#*p. His counten#nce %#s #s usu#lc#d#+erousl) %#n-ut *oreo+er there %#s # species o& *#d hil#rit) in hise)es#n e+identl) restr#ined h)steri# in his %hole de*e#nor. His #ir#pp#lled *e-ut #n)thin$ %#s pre&er#-le to the solitude %hich , h#d solon$ endured #nd , e+en %elco*ed his presence #s # relie&.

7And )ou h#+e not seen it18 he s#id #-ruptl) #&ter h#+in$ st#red #-outhi* &or so*e *o*ents in silence7)ou h#+e not then seen it1-ut st#)< )oush#ll.8 Thus spe#(in$ #nd h#+in$ c#re&ull) sh#ded his l#*p he hurried toone o& the c#se*ents #nd thre% it &reel) open to the stor*.

The i*petuous &ur) o& the enterin$ $ust ne#rl) li&ted us &ro* our &eet. ,t

%#s indeed # te*pestuous )et sternl) -e#uti&ul ni$ht #nd one %ildl)sin$ul#r in its terror #nd its -e#ut). A %hirl%ind h#d #pp#rentl)collected its &orce in our +icinit); &or there %ere &requent #nd +iolent#lter#tions in the direction o& the %ind; #nd the e6ceedin$ densit) o& theclouds =%hich hun$ so lo% #s to press upon the turrets o& the house> didnot pre+ent our percei+in$ the li&e/li(e +elocit) %ith %hich the) &le%c#reerin$ &ro* #ll points #$#inst e#ch other %ithout p#ssin$ #%#) intothe dist#nce. , s#) th#t e+en their e6ceedin$ densit) did not pre+ent ourpercei+in$ this)et %e h#d no $li*pse o& the *oon or st#rsnor %#s there#n) &l#shin$ &orth o& the li$htnin$. !ut the under surces o& the hu$e

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*#sses o& #$it#ted +#por #s %ell #s #ll terrestri#l o-2ects i**edi#tel)#round us %ere $lo%in$ in the unn#tur#l li$ht o& # intl) lu*inous #nddistinctl) +isi-le $#seous e6h#l#tion %hich hun$ #-out #nd enshrouded the*#nsion.

79ou *ust not)ou sh#ll not -ehold this e+en in the e6tre*eness o&the &oll) %hich , should re#d. ould , h#+e 2ud$ed indeed -) the %ildo+erstr#ined #ir o& +i+#cit) %ith %hich he h#r(ened or #pp#rentl)h#r(ened to the %ords o& the t#le , *i$ht %ell h#+e con$r#tul#ted *)sel&upon the success o& *) desi$n.

, h#d #rri+ed #t th#t %ell/(no%n portion o& the stor) %here Ethelred thehero o& the Trist h#+in$ sou$ht in +#in &or pe#ce#-le #d*ission into thed%ellin$ o& the her*it proceeds to *#(e $ood #n entr#nce -) &orce. Hereit %ill -e re*e*-ered the %ords o& the n#rr#ti+e run thus?

7And Ethelred %ho %#s -) n#ture o& # dou$ht) he#rt #nd %ho %#s no%*i$ht) %ith#l on #ccount o& the po%er&ulness o& the %ine %hich he h#ddrun(en %#ited no lon$er to hold p#rle) %ith the her*it %ho in sooth%#s o& #n o-stin#te #nd *#lice&ul turn -ut &eelin$ the r#in upon hisshoulders #nd &e#rin$ the risin$ o& the te*pest upli&ted his *#ceoutri$ht #nd %ith -lo%s *#de quic(l) roo* in the pl#n(in$s o& the door&or his $#untleted h#nd; #nd no% pullin$ there%ith sturdil) he socr#c(ed #nd ripped #nd tore #ll #sunder th#t the noise o& the dr) #ndhollo%/soundin$ %ood #l#ru**ed #nd re+er-er#ted throu$hout the &orest.8 Atthe ter*in#tion o& this sentence , st#rted #nd &or # *o*ent p#used; &orit #ppe#red to *e =#lthou$h , #t once concluded th#t *) e6cited nc) h#ddecei+ed *e>it #ppe#red to *e th#t &ro* so*e +er) re*ote portion o& the*#nsion there c#*e indistinctl) to *) e#rs %h#t *i$ht h#+e -een inits e6#ct si*il#rit) o& ch#r#cter the echo =-ut # sti&led #nd dull one

cert#inl)> o& the +er) cr#c(in$ #nd rippin$ sound %hich Sir L#uncelot h#dso p#rticul#rl) descri-ed. ,t %#s -e)ond dou-t the coincidence #lone%hich h#d #rrested *) #ttention; &or #*id the r#ttlin$ o& the s#shes o&the c#se*ents #nd the ordin#r) co**in$led noises o& the still incre#sin$stor* the sound in itsel& h#d nothin$ surel) %hich should h#+einterested or distur-ed *e. , continued the stor)?

7!ut the $ood ch#*pion Ethelred no% enterin$ %ithin the door %#s soreenr#$ed #nd #*#3ed to percei+e no si$n#l o& the *#lice&ul her*it; -ut in

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the ste#d thereo& # dr#$on o& # sc#l) #nd prodi$ious de*e#nor #nd o& #&ier) ton$ue %hich s#te in $u#rd -e&ore # p#l#ce o& $old %ith # &loor o&sil+er; #nd upon the %#ll there hun$ # shield o& shinin$ -r#ss %ith thisle$end en%ritten0ho entereth herein # conqueror h#th -in; 0ho sl#)eththe dr#$on the shield he sh#ll %in; And Ethelred upli&ted his *#ce #ndstruc( upon the he#d o& the dr#$on %hich &ell -e&ore hi* #nd $#+e up hispest) -re#th %ith # shrie( so horrid #nd h#rsh #nd %ith#l so piercin$th#t Ethelred h#d in to close his e#rs %ith his h#nds #$#inst thedre#d&ul noise o& it the li(e %hereo& %#s ne+er -e&ore he#rd.8 Here #$#in, p#used #-ruptl) #nd no% %ith # &eelin$ o& %ild #*#3e*ent&or therecould -e no dou-t %h#te+er th#t in this inst#nce , did #ctu#ll) he#r=#lthou$h &ro* %h#t direction it proceeded , &ound it i*possi-le to s#)> #lo% #nd #pp#rentl) dist#nt -ut h#rsh protr#cted #nd *ost unusu#lscre#*in$ or $r#tin$ soundthe e6#ct counterp#rt o& %h#t *) nc) h#d#lre#d) con2ured up &or the dr#$onBs unn#tur#l shrie( #s descri-ed -) thero*#ncer. Oppressed #s , cert#inl) %#s upon the occurrence o& thissecond #nd *ost e6tr#ordin#r) coincidence -) # thous#nd con&lictin$sens#tions in %hich %onder #nd e6tre*e terror %ere predo*in#nt , stillret#ined su&&icient presence o& *ind to #+oid e6citin$ -) #n)o-ser+#tion the sensiti+e ner+ousness o& *) co*p#nion. , %#s -) no *e#ns

cert#in th#t he h#d noticed the sounds in question; #lthou$h #ssuredl) #str#n$e #lter#tion h#d durin$ the l#st &e% *inutes t#(en pl#ce in hisde*e#nor. Fro* # position &rontin$ *) o%n he h#d $r#du#ll) -rou$ht roundhis ch#ir so #s to sit %ith his ce to the door o& the ch#*-er; #nd thus, could -ut p#rti#ll) percei+e his &e#tures #lthou$h , s#% th#t his lipstre*-led #s i& he %ere *ur*urin$ in#udi-l). His he#d h#d dropped upon his-re#st)et , (ne% th#t he %#s not #sleep &ro* the %ide #nd ri$id openin$o& the e)e #s , c#u$ht # $l#nce o& it in pro&ile. The *otion o& his -od)too %#s #t +#ri#nce %ith this ide#&or he roc(ed &ro* side to side %ith #$entle )et const#nt #nd uni&or* s%#). H#+in$ r#pidl) t#(en notice o& #llthis , resu*ed the n#rr#ti+e o& Sir L#uncelot %hich thus proceeded?

7And no% the ch#*pion h#+in$ esc#ped &ro* the terri-le &ur) o& the

dr#$on -ethin(in$ hi*sel& o& the -r#3en shield #nd o& the -re#(in$ up o&the ench#nt*ent %hich %#s upon it re*o+ed the c#rc#ss &ro* out o& the %#)-e&ore hi* #nd #ppro#ched +#lorousl) o+er the sil+er p#+e*ent o& thec#stle to %here the shield %#s upon the %#ll; %hich in sooth t#rried not&or his &ull co*in$ -ut &ell do%n #t his &eet upon the sil+er &loor %ith# *i$ht) $re#t #nd terri-le rin$in$ sound.8

4o sooner h#d these s)ll#-les p#ssed *) lips th#n#s i& # shield o& -r#ssh#d indeed #t the *o*ent llen he#+il) upon # &loor o& sil+er, -ec#*e#%#re o& # distinct hollo% *et#llic #nd cl#n$orous )et #pp#rentl)*u&&led re+er-er#tion. o*pletel) unner+ed , le#ped to *) &eet; -ut the*e#sured roc(in$ *o+e*ent o& Usher %#s undistur-ed. , rushed to the ch#irin %hich he s#t. His e)es %ere -ent &i6edl) -e&ore hi* #nd throu$hout his%hole counten#nce there rei$ned # ston) ri$idit). !ut #s , pl#ced *) h#ndupon his shoulder there c#*e # stron$ shudder o+er his %hole person; #sic(l) s*ile qui+ered #-out his lips; #nd , s#% th#t he spo(e in # lo%hurried #nd $i--erin$ *ur*ur #s i& unconscious o& *) presence. !endin$closel) o+er hi* , #t len$th dr#n( in the hideous i*port o& his %ords.

74ot he#r it1)es , he#r it #nd h#+e he#rd it. Lon$lon$lon$*#n)*inutes *#n) hours *#n) d#)s h#+e , he#rd it)et , d#red notoh pit)*e *iser#-le %retch th#t , #*


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)ou th#t , he#rd her &irst &ee-le *o+e*ents in the hollo% co&&in. , he#rdthe**#n) *#n) d#)s #$o)et , d#red not, d#red not spe#(< And no%to/ni$htEthelredh#< h#


14/23

THE :,T A4 THE :E4ULU5

,*pi# tortoru* lon$os hic tur-# &uroresS#n$uinis innocui non s#ti#t# #luit.Sospite nunc p#tri# &r#cto nunc &uneris #ntro5ors u-i dir# &uit +it# s#lusque p#tent.

, 0AS sic( sic( unto de#th %ith th#t lon$ #$on) #nd %hen the) #t len$thun-ound *e #nd , %#s per*itted to sit , &elt th#t *) senses %ere le#+in$*e. The sentence the dre#d sentence o& de#th %#s the l#st o& distinct#ccentu#tion %hich re#ched *) e#rs. A&ter th#t the sound o& theinquisitori#l +oices see*ed *er$ed in one dre#*) indeter*in#te hu*. ,tcon+e)ed to *) soul the ide# o& RE@OLUT,O4 perh#ps &ro* its #ssoci#tionin nc) %ith the -urr o& # *ill/%heel. This onl) &or # -rie& period &orpresentl) , he#rd no *ore. 9et &or # %hile , s#% -ut %ith ho% terri-le#n e6#$$er#tion< , s#% the lips o& the -l#c(/ro-ed 2ud$es. The) #ppe#redto *e %hite %hiter th#n the sheet upon %hich , tr#ce these %ords #ndthin e+en to $rotesqueness; thin %ith the intensit) o& their e6pression o&&ir*ness o& i**o+#-le resolution o& stern conte*pt o& hu*#n torture. ,

s#% th#t the decrees o& %h#t to *e %#s te %ere still issuin$ &ro* thoselips. , s#% the* %rithe %ith # de#dl) locution. , s#% the* shion thes)ll#-les o& *) n#*e #nd , shuddered -ec#use no sound succeeded. , s#%too &or # &e% *o*ents o& delirious horror the so&t #nd ne#rl)i*percepti-le %#+in$ o& the s#-le dr#peries %hich en%r#pped the %#lls o&the #p#rt*ent; #nd then *) +ision &ell upon the se+en t#ll c#ndles uponthe t#-le. At &irst the) %ore the #spect o& ch#rit) #nd see*ed %hiteslender #n$els %ho %ould s#+e *e? -ut then #ll #t once there c#*e # *ostde#dl) n#use# o+er *) spirit #nd , &elt e+er) &i-re in *) &r#*e thrill#s i& , h#d touched the %ire o& # $#l+#nic -#tter) %hile the #n$el &or*s-ec#*e *e#nin$less spectres %ith he#ds o& &l#*e #nd , s#% th#t &ro* the*there %ould -e no help. And then there stole into *) nc) li(e # rich*usic#l note the thou$ht o& %h#t s%eet rest there *ust -e in the $r#+e.The thou$ht c#*e $entl) #nd ste#lthil) #nd it see*ed lon$ -e&ore it

#tt#ined &ull #ppreci#tion; -ut 2ust #s *) spirit c#*e #t len$th properl)to &eel #nd entert#in it the &i$ures o& the 2ud$es +#nished #s i&*#$ic#ll) &ro* -e&ore *e; the t#ll c#ndles s#n( into nothin$ness; their&l#*es %ent out utterl); the -l#c(ness o& d#r(ness superened ; #llsens#tions #ppe#red s%#llo%ed up in # *#d rushin$ descent #s o& the soulinto H#des. Then silence #nd stillness #nd ni$ht %ere the uni+erse.

, h#d s%ooned; -ut still %ill not s#) th#t #ll o& consciousness %#s lost.0h#t o& it there re*#ined , %ill not #tte*pt to de&ine or e+en todescri-e; )et #ll %#s not lost. ,n the deepest slu*-er no< ,n deliriu* no< ,n # s%oon no< ,n de#th no< E+en in the $r#+e #ll %#s not lost.Else there is no i**ort#lit) &or *#n. Arousin$ &ro* the *ost pro&ound o&slu*-ers %e -re#( the $oss#*er %e- o& so*e dre#*. 9et in # second

#&ter%#rds =so &r#il *#) th#t %e- h#+e -een> %e re*e*-er not th#t %e h#+edre#*ed. ,n the return to li&e &ro* the s%oon there #re t%o st#$es; &irstth#t o& the sense o& *ent#l or spiritu#l; secondl) th#t o& the sense o&ph)sic#l e6istence. ,t see*s pro-#-le th#t i& upon re#chin$ the secondst#$e %e could rec#ll the i*pressions o& the &irst %e should &ind thesei*pressions eloquent in *e*ories o& the $ul& -e)ond. And th#t $ul& is%h#t1 Ho% #t le#st sh#ll %e distin$uish its sh#do%s &ro* those o& theto*-1 !ut i& the i*pressions o& %h#t , h#+e ter*ed the &irst st#$e #re not#t %ill rec#lled )et #&ter lon$ inter+#l do the) not co*e un-idden%hile %e *#r+el %hence the) co*e1 He %ho h#s ne+er s%ooned is not he %ho

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&inds str#n$e p#l#ces #nd %ildl) *ili#r ces in co#ls th#t $lo%; is nothe %ho -eholds &lo#tin$ in *id/#ir the s#d +isions th#t the *#n) *#) not+ie%; is not he %ho ponders o+er the per&u*e o& so*e no+el &lo%er; is nothe %hose -r#in $ro%s -e%ildered %ith the *e#nin$ o& so*e *usic#l c#dence%hich h#s ne+er -e&ore #rrested his #ttention.

A*id &requent #nd thou$ht&ul ende#+ours to re*e*-er #*id e#rneststru$$les to re$#ther so*e to(en o& the st#te o& see*in$ nothin$ness into%hich *) soul h#d l#psed there h#+e -een *o*ents %hen , h#+e dre#*ed o&success; there h#+e -een -rie& +er) -rie& periods %hen , h#+e con2ured upre*e*-r#nces %hich the lucid re#son o& # l#ter epoch #ssures *e could h#+eh#d re&erence onl) to th#t condition o& see*in$ unconsciousness. Thesesh#do%s o& *e*or) tell indistinctl) o& t#ll &i$ures th#t li&ted #nd -ore*e in silence do%n do%n still do%n till # hideous di33inessoppressed *e #t the *ere ide# o& the inter*in#-leness o& the descent. The)tell #lso o& # +#$ue horror #t *) he#rt on #ccount o& th#t he#rt'sunn#tur#l stillness. Then co*es # sense o& sudden *otionlessnessthrou$hout #ll thin$s; #s i& those %ho -ore *e =# $h#stl) tr#in h#doutrun in their descent the li*its o& the li*itless #nd p#used &ro*the %e#riso*eness o& their toil. A&ter this , c#ll to *ind &l#tness #nd

d#*pness; #nd then #ll is 5A4ESS the *#dness o& # *e*or) %hich -usiesitsel& #*on$ &or-idden thin$s.

@er) suddenl) there c#*e -#c( to *) soul *otion #nd sound the tu*ultuous*otion o& the he#rt #nd in *) e#rs the sound o& its -e#tin$. Then # p#usein %hich #ll is -l#n(. Then #$#in sound #nd *otion #nd touch # tin$lin$sens#tion per+#din$ *) &r#*e. Then the *ere consciousness o& e6istence%ithout thou$ht # condition %hich l#sted lon$. Then +er) suddenl)THOUHT #nd shudderin$ terror #nd e#rnest ende#+our to co*prehend *)true st#te. Then # stron$ desire to l#pse into insensi-ilit). Then #rushin$ re+i+#l o& soul #nd # success&ul e&&ort to *o+e. And no% # &ull*e*or) o& the tri#l o& the 2ud$es o& the s#-le dr#peries o& thesentence o& the sic(ness o& the s%oon. Then entire &or$et&ulness o& #ll

th#t &ollo%ed; o& #ll th#t # l#ter d#) #nd *uch e#rnestness o& ende#+ourh#+e en#-led *e +#$uel) to rec#ll.

So r , h#d not opened *) e)es. , &elt th#t , l#) upon *) -#c( un-ound. ,re#ched out *) h#nd #nd it &ell he#+il) upon so*ethin$ d#*p #nd h#rd.There , su&&ered it to re*#in &or *#n) *inutes %hile , stro+e to i*#$ine%here #nd %h#t , could -e. , lon$ed )et d#red not to e*plo) *) +ision. ,dre#ded the &irst $l#nce #t o-2ects #round *e. ,t %#s not th#t , &e#red toloo( upon thin$s horri-le -ut th#t , $re% #$h#st lest there should -e4OTH,4 to see. At len$th %ith # %ild desper#tion #t he#rt , quic(l)unclosed *) e)es. 5) %orst thou$hts then %ere con&ir*ed. The -l#c(nesso& etern#l ni$ht enco*p#ssed *e. , stru$$led &or -re#th. The intensit) o&the d#r(ness see*ed to oppress #nd sti&le *e. The #t*osphere %#s

intoler#-l) close. , still l#) quietl) #nd *#de e&&ort to e6ercise *)re#son. , -rou$ht to *ind the inquisitori#l proceedin$s #nd #tte*pted&ro* th#t point to deduce *) re#l condition. The sentence h#d p#ssed #ndit #ppe#red to *e th#t # +er) lon$ inter+#l o& ti*e h#d since el#psed. 9etnot &or # *o*ent did , suppose *)sel& #ctu#ll) de#d. Such # suppositionnot%ithst#ndin$ %h#t %e re#d in &iction is #lto$ether inconsistent %ithre#l e6istence; -ut %here #nd in %h#t st#te %#s ,1 The conde*ned tode#th , (ne% perished usu#ll) #t the #uto/d#/&es #nd one o& these h#d-een held on the +er) ni$ht o& the d#) o& *) tri#l. H#d , -een re*#nded to*) dun$eon to #%#it the ne6t s#cri&ice %hich %ould not t#(e pl#ce &or

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*#n) *onths1 This , #t once s#% could not -e. @icti*s h#d -een ini**edi#te de*#nd. 5oreo+er *) dun$eon #s %ell #s #ll the conde*ned cells#t Toledo h#d stone &loors #nd li$ht %#s not #lto$ether e6cluded.

A &e#r&ul ide# no% suddenl) dro+e the -lood in torrents upon *) he#rt #nd&or # -rie& period , once *ore rel#psed into insensi-ilit). Upon

reco+erin$ , #t once st#rted to *) &eet tre*-lin$ con+ulsi+el) in e+er)&i-re. , thrust *) #r*s %ildl) #-o+e #nd #round *e in #ll directions. ,&elt nothin$; )et dre#ded to *o+e # step lest , should -e i*peded -) the%#lls o& # TO5!. :erspir#tion -urst &ro* e+er) pore #nd stood in cold -i$-e#ds upon *) &orehe#d. The #$on) o& suspense $re% #t len$th intoler#-le#nd , c#utiousl) *o+ed &or%#rd %ith *) #r*s e6tended #nd *) e)esstr#inin$ &ro* their soc(ets in the hope o& c#tchin$ so*e int r#) o&li$ht. , proceeded &or *#n) p#ces -ut still #ll %#s -l#c(ness #nd+#c#nc). , -re#thed *ore &reel). ,t see*ed e+ident th#t *ine %#s not #tle#st the *ost hideous o& tes.

And no% #s , still continued to step c#utiousl) on%#rd there c#*ethron$in$ upon *) recollection # thous#nd +#$ue ru*ours o& the horrors o&Toledo. O& the dun$eons there h#d -een str#n$e thin$s n#rr#ted -les ,h#d #l%#)s dee*ed the* -ut )et str#n$e #nd too $h#stl) to repe#t s#+ein # %hisper. 0#s , le&t to perish o& st#r+#tion in this su-terr#ne#n%orld o& d#r(ness; or %h#t te perh#ps e+en *ore &e#r&ul #%#ited *e1 Th#tthe result %ould -e de#th #nd # de#th o& *ore th#n custo*#r) -itterness, (ne% too %ell the ch#r#cter o& *) 2ud$es to dou-t. The *ode #nd the hour%ere #ll th#t occupied or distr#cted *e.

5) outstretched h#nds #t len$th encountered so*e solid o-struction. ,t %#s# %#ll see*in$l) o& stone *#sonr) +er) s*ooth sli*) #nd cold. ,&ollo%ed it up; steppin$ %ith #ll the c#re&ul distrust %ith %hich cert#in#ntique n#rr#ti+es h#d inspired *e. This process ho%e+er #&&orded *e no*e#ns o& #scert#inin$ the di*ensions o& *) dun$eon; #s , *i$ht *#(e itscircuit #nd return to the point %hence , set out %ithout -ein$ #%#re o&

the ct so per&ectl) uni&or* see*ed the %#ll. , there&ore sou$ht the(ni&e %hich h#d -een in *) poc(et %hen led into the inquisitori#l ch#*-er-ut it %#s $one; *) clothes h#d -een e6ch#n$ed &or # %r#pper o& co#rseser$e. , h#d thou$ht o& &orcin$ the -l#de in so*e *inute cre+ice o& the*#sonr) so #s to identi&) *) point o& dep#rture. The di&&icult)ne+ertheless %#s -ut tri+i#l #lthou$h in the disorder o& *) nc) itsee*ed #t &irst insuper#-le. , tore # p#rt o& the he* &ro* the ro-e #ndpl#ced the &r#$*ent #t &ull len$th #nd #t ri$ht #n$les to the %#ll. ,n$ropin$ *) %#) #round the prison , could not il to encounter this r#$upon co*pletin$ the circuit. So #t le#st , thou$ht -ut , h#d notcounted upon the e6tent o& the dun$eon or upon *) o%n %e#(ness. The$round %#s *oist #nd slipper). , st#$$ered on%#rd &or so*e ti*e %hen ,stu*-led #nd &ell. 5) e6cessi+e ti$ue induced *e to re*#in prostr#te

#nd sleep soon o+ertoo( *e #s , l#).

Upon #%#(in$ #nd stretchin$ &orth #n #r* , &ound -eside *e # lo#& #nd #pitcher %ith %#ter. , %#s too *uch e6h#usted to re&lect upon thiscircu*st#nce -ut #te #nd dr#n( %ith #+idit). Shortl) #&ter%#rds ,resu*ed *) tour #round the prison #nd %ith *uch toil c#*e #t l#st uponthe &r#$*ent o& the ser$e. Up to the period %hen , &ell , h#d counted&i&t)/t%o p#ces #nd upon resu*in$ *) %#l( , h#d counted &ort)/ei$ht *ore%hen , #rri+ed #t the r#$. There %ere in #ll then # hundred p#ces; #nd#d*ittin$ t%o p#ces to the )#rd , presu*ed the dun$eon to -e &i&t) )#rds

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in circuit. , h#d *et ho%e+er %ith *#n) #n$les in the %#ll #nd thus ,could &or* no $uess #t the sh#pe o& the +#ult &or +#ult , could not helpsupposin$ it to -e.

, h#d little o-2ect cert#inl) no hope in these rese#rches -ut # +#$uecuriosit) pro*pted *e to continue the*. Guittin$ the %#ll , resol+ed to

cross the #re# o& the enclosure. At &irst , proceeded %ith e6tre*ec#ution &or the &loor #lthou$h see*in$l) o& solid *#teri#l %#stre#cherous %ith sli*e. At len$th ho%e+er , too( cour#$e #nd did nothesit#te to step &ir*l) ende#+ourin$ to cross in #s direct # line #spossi-le. , h#d #d+#nced so*e ten or t%el+e p#ces in this *#nner %hen there*n#nt o& the torn he* o& *) ro-e -ec#*e ent#n$led -et%een *) le$s. ,stepped on it #nd &ell +iolentl) on *) ce.

,n the con&usion #ttendin$ *) ll , did not i**edi#tel) #pprehend #so*e%h#t st#rtlin$ circu*st#nce %hich )et in # &e% seconds #&ter%#rd#nd %hile , still l#) prostr#te #rrested *) #ttention. ,t %#s this? *)chin rested upon the &loor o& the prison -ut *) lips #nd the upperportion o& *) he#d #lthou$h see*in$l) #t # less ele+#tion th#n the chintouched nothin$. At the s#*e ti*e *) &orehe#d see*ed -#thed in # cl#**)+#pour #nd the peculi#r s*ell o& dec#)ed &un$us #rose to *) nostrils. ,put &or%#rd *) #r* #nd shuddered to &ind th#t , h#d llen #t the +er)-rin( o& # circul#r pit %hose e6tent o& course , h#d no *e#ns oscert#inin$ #t the *o*ent. ropin$ #-out the *#sonr) 2ust -elo% the*#r$in , succeeded in dislod$in$ # s*#ll &r#$*ent #nd let it ll intothe #-)ss. For *#n) seconds , he#r(ened to its re+er-er#tions #s it d#shed#$#inst the sides o& the ch#s* in its descent ; #t len$th there %#s #sullen plun$e into %#ter succeeded -) loud echoes. At the s#*e *o*entthere c#*e # sound rese*-lin$ the quic( openin$ #nd #s r#pid closin$ o& #door o+erhe#d %hile # int $le#* o& li$ht &l#shed suddenl) throu$h the$loo* #nd #s suddenl) ded #%#).

, s#% cle#rl) the doo* %hich h#d -een prep#red &or *e #nd con$r#tul#ted

*)sel& upon the ti*el) #ccident -) %hich , h#d esc#ped. Another step-e&ore *) ll #nd the %orld h#d seen *e no *ore #nd the de#th 2ust#+oided %#s o& th#t +er) ch#r#cter %hich , h#d re$#rded #s -ulous #nd&ri+olous in the t#les respectin$ the ,nquisition. To the +icti*s o& itst)r#nn) there %#s the choice o& de#th %ith its direst ph)sic#l #$oniesor de#th %ith its *ost hideous *or#l horrors. , h#d -een reser+ed &or thel#tter. !) lon$ su&&erin$ *) ner+es h#d -een unstrun$ until , tre*-led #tthe sound o& *) o%n +oice #nd h#d -eco*e in e+er) respect # &ittin$su-2ect &or the species o& torture %hich #%#ited *e.

Sh#(in$ in e+er) li*- , $roped *) %#) -#c( to the %#ll resol+in$ thereto perish r#ther th#n ris( the terrors o& the %ells o& %hich *)i*#$in#tion no% pictured *#n) in +#rious positions #-out the dun$eon. ,n

other conditions o& *ind , *i$ht h#+e h#d cour#$e to end *) *iser) #t once-) # plun$e into one o& these #-)sses; -ut no% , %#s the +eriest o&co%#rds. 4either could , &or$et %h#t , h#d re#d o& these pits th#t theSUE4 e6tinction o& li&e &or*ed no p#rt o& their *ost horri-le pl#n.

A$it#tion o& spirit (ept *e #%#(e &or *#n) lon$ hours; -ut #t len$th ,#$#in slu*-ered. Upon #rousin$ , &ound -) *) side #s -e&ore # lo#& #nd# pitcher o& %#ter. A -urnin$ thirst consu*ed *e #nd , e*ptied the +essel#t # dr#u$ht. ,t *ust h#+e -een dru$$ed &or sc#rcel) h#d , drun( -e&ore ,

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-ec#*e irresisti-l) dro%s). A deep sleep &ell upon *e # sleep li(e th#to& de#th. Ho% lon$ it l#sted o& course , (no% not; -ut %hen once #$#in ,unclosed *) e)es the o-2ects #round *e %ere +isi-le. !) # %ild sulphurouslustre the ori$in o& %hich , could not #t &irst deter*ine , %#s en#-ledto see the e6tent #nd #spect o& the prison.

,n its si3e , h#d -een $re#tl) *ist#(en. The %hole circuit o& its %#llsdid not e6ceed t%ent)/&i+e )#rds. For so*e *inutes this ct occ#sioned *e# %orld o& +#in trou-le; +#in indeed &or %h#t could -e o& lessi*port#nce under the terri-le circu*st#nces %hich en+ironed *e th#n the*ere di*ensions o& *) dun$eon1 !ut *) soul too( # %ild interest intri&les #nd , -usied *)sel& in ende#+ours to #ccount &or the error , h#dco**itted in *) *e#sure*ent. The truth #t len$th &l#shed upon *e. ,n *)&irst #tte*pt #t e6plor#tion , h#d counted &i&t)/t%o p#ces up to theperiod %hen , &ell; , *ust then h#+e -een %ithin # p#ce or t%o o& the&r#$*ent o& ser$e; in ct , h#d ne#rl) per&or*ed the circuit o& the+#ult. , then slept #nd upon #%#(in$ , *ust h#+e returned upon *) stepsthus supposin$ the circuit ne#rl) dou-le %h#t it #ctu#ll) %#s. 5)con&usion o& *ind pre+ented *e &ro* o-ser+in$ th#t , -e$#n *) tour %iththe %#ll to the le&t #nd ended it %ith the %#ll to the ri$ht.

, h#d -een decei+ed too in respect to the sh#pe o& the enclosure. ,n&eelin$ *) %#) , h#d &ound *#n) #n$les #nd thus deduced #n ide# o& $re#tirre$ul#rit) so potent is the e&&ect o& tot#l d#r(ness upon one #rousin$&ro* leth#r$) or sleep< The #n$les %ere si*pl) those o& # &e% sli$htdepressions or niches #t odd inter+#ls. The $ener#l sh#pe o& the prison%#s squ#re. 0h#t , h#d t#(en &or *#sonr) see*ed no% to -e iron or so*eother *et#l in hu$e pl#tes %hose sutures or 2oints occ#sioned thedepression. The entire surce o& this *et#llic enclosure %#s rudel)d#u-ed in #ll the hideous #nd repulsi+e de+ices to %hich the ch#rnelsuperstition o& the *on(s h#s $i+en rise. The &i$ures o& &iends in #spectso& *en#ce %ith s(eleton &or*s #nd other *ore re#ll) &e#r&ul i*#$eso+erspre#d #nd dis&i$ured the %#lls. , o-ser+ed th#t the outlines o& these

*onstrosities %ere su&&icientl) distinct -ut th#t the colours see*edded #nd -lurred #s i& &ro* the e&&ects o& # d#*p #t*osphere. , no%noticed the &loor too %hich %#s o& stone. ,n the centre )#%ned thecircul#r pit &ro* %hose 2#%s , h#d esc#ped ; -ut it %#s the onl) one inthe dun$eon.

All this , s#% indistinctl) #nd -) *uch e&&ort &or *) person#l conditionh#d -een $re#tl) ch#n$ed durin$ slu*-er. , no% l#) upon *) -#c( #nd #t&ull len$th on # species o& lo% &r#*e%or( o& %ood. To this , %#s securel)-ound -) # lon$ str#p rese*-lin$ # surcin$le. ,t p#ssed in *#n)con+olutions #-out *) li*-s #nd -od) le#+in$ #t li-ert) onl) *) he#d #nd*) le&t #r* to such e6tent th#t , could -) dint o& *uch e6ertion suppl)*)sel& %ith &ood &ro* #n e#rthen dish %hich l#) -) *) side on the &loor. ,

s#% to *) horror th#t the pitcher h#d -een re*o+ed . , s#) to *) horror&or , %#s consu*ed %ith intoler#-le thirst. This thirst it #ppe#red to -ethe desi$n o& *) persecutors to sti*ul#te &or the &ood in the dish %#s*e#t pun$entl) se#soned.

Loo(in$ up%#rd , sur+e)ed the ceilin$ o& *) prison. ,t %#s so*e thirt) or&ort) &eet o+erhe#d #nd constructed *uch #s the side %#lls. ,n one o& itsp#nels # +er) sin$ul#r &i$ure ri+eted *) %hole #ttention . ,t %#s thep#inted &i$ure o& Ti*e #s he is co**onl) represented s#+e th#t in lieu o sc)the he held %h#t #t # c#su#l $l#nce , supposed to -e the pictured

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i*#$e o& # hu$e pendulu* such #s %e see on #ntique cloc(s. There %#sso*ethin$ ho%e+er in the #ppe#r#nce o& this *#chine %hich c#used *e tore$#rd it *ore #ttenti+el). 0hile , $#3ed directl) up%#rd #t it =&or itsposition %#s i**edi#tel) o+er *) o%n> , ncied th#t , s#% it in *otion.,n #n inst#nt #&ter%#rd the nc) %#s con&ir*ed. ,ts s%eep %#s -rie& #ndo& course slo%. , %#tched it &or so*e *inutes so*e%h#t in &e#r -ut *orein %onder. 0e#ried #t len$th %ith o-ser+in$ its dull *o+e*ent , turned *)e)es upon the other o-2ects in the cell.

A sli$ht noise #ttr#cted *) notice #nd loo(in$ to the &loor , s#%se+er#l enor*ous r#ts tr#+ersin$ it. The) h#d issued &ro* the %ell %hichl#) 2ust %ithin +ie% to *) ri$ht. E+en then %hile , $#3ed the) c#*e up introops hurriedl) %ith r#+enous e)es #llured -) the scent o& the *e#t.Fro* this it required *uch e&&ort #nd #ttention to sc#re the* #%#).

,t *i$ht h#+e -een h#l&/#n/hour perh#ps e+en #n hour =&or , could t#(e-ut i*per&ect note o& ti*e> -e&ore , #$#in c#st *) e)es up%#rd. 0h#t ,then s#% con&ounded #nd #*#3ed *e. The s%eep o& the pendulu* h#d incre#sedin e6tent -) ne#rl) # )#rd. As # n#tur#l consequence its +elocit) %#s#lso *uch $re#ter. !ut %h#t *#inl) distur-ed *e %#s the ide# th#t it h#dpercepti-l) ESE4E. , no% o-ser+ed %ith %h#t horror it is needless tos#) th#t its nether e6tre*it) %#s &or*ed o& # crescent o& $litterin$steel #-out # &oot in len$th &ro* horn to horn; the horns up%#rd #nd theunder ed$e e+identl) #s (een #s th#t o& # r#3or. Li(e # r#3or #lso itsee*ed *#ss) #nd he#+) t#perin$ &ro* the ed$e into # solid #nd -ro#dstructure #-o+e. ,t %#s #ppended to # %ei$ht) rod o& -r#ss #nd the %holeH,SSE #s it s%un$ throu$h the #ir.

, could no lon$er dou-t the doo* prep#red &or *e -) *on(ish in$enuit) intorture. 5) co$nis#nce o& the pit h#d -eco*e (no%n to the inquisitori#l#$ents THE :,T %hose horrors h#d -een destined &or so -old # recus#nt#s *)sel& THE :,T t)pic#l o& hell #nd re$#rded -) ru*our #s the Ulti*#Thule o& #ll their punish*ents. The plun$e into this pit , h#d #+oided -)

the *erest o& #ccidents #nd , (ne% th#t surprise or entr#p*ent intotor*ent &or*ed #n i*port#nt portion o& #ll the $rotesquerie o& thesedun$eon de#ths. H#+in$ iled to ll it %#s no p#rt o& the de*on pl#n tohurl *e into the #-)ss #nd thus =there -ein$ no #ltern#ti+e> # di&&erent#nd # *ilder destruction #%#ited *e. 5ilder< , h#l& s*iled in *) #$on) #s, thou$ht o& such #pplic#tion o& such # ter*.

0h#t -oots it to tell o& the lon$ lon$ hours o& horror *ore th#n *ort#ldurin$ %hich , counted the rushin$ oscill#tions o& the steel< ,nch -) inch line -) line %ith # descent onl) #ppreci#-le #t inter+#ls th#t see*ed#$es do%n #nd still do%n it c#*e< #)s p#ssed it *i$ht h#+e -een th#t*#n) d#)s p#ssed ere it s%ept so closel) o+er *e #s to n *e %ith its#crid -re#th. The odour o& the sh#rp steel &orced itsel& into *) nostrils.

, pr#)ed , %e#ried he#+en %ith *) pr#)er &or its *ore speed) descent. ,$re% &r#ntic#ll) *#d #nd stru$$led to &orce *)sel& up%#rd #$#inst thes%eep o& the &e#r&ul sci*it#r. And then , &ell suddenl) c#l* #nd l#)s*ilin$ #t the $litterin$ de#th #s # child #t so*e r#re -#u-le.

There %#s #nother inter+#l o& utter insensi-ilit); it %#s -rie& &or upon#$#in l#psin$ into li&e there h#d -een no percepti-le descent in thependulu*. !ut it *i$ht h#+e -een lon$ &or , (ne% there %ere de*ons %hotoo( note o& *) s%oon #nd %ho could h#+e #rrested the +i-r#tion #t

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ple#sure. Upon *) reco+er) too , &elt +er) oh< ine6pressi-l) sic(#nd %e#( #s i& throu$h lon$ in#nition. E+en #*id the #$onies o& th#tperiod the hu*#n n#ture cr#+ed &ood. 0ith p#in&ul e&&ort , outstretched *)le&t #r* #s r #s *) -onds per*itted #nd too( possession o& the s*#llre*n#nt %hich h#d -een sp#red *e -) the r#ts. As , put # portion o& it%ithin *) lips there rushed to *) *ind # h#l&/&or*ed thou$ht o& 2o) o&hope. 9et %h#t -usiness h#d , %ith hope1 ,t %#s #s , s#) # h#l&/&or*edthou$ht *#n h#s *#n) such %hich #re ne+er co*pleted. , &elt th#t it %#so& 2o) o& hope; -ut , &elt #lso th#t it h#d perished in its &or*#tion.,n +#in , stru$$led to per&ect to re$#in it. Lon$ su&&erin$ h#d ne#rl)#nnihil#ted #ll *) ordin#r) po%ers o& *ind. , %#s #n i*-ecile #n idiot.

The +i-r#tion o& the pendulu* %#s #t ri$ht #n$les to *) len$th. , s#% th#tthe crescent %#s desi$ned to cross the re$ion o& the he#rt. ,t %ould &r#)the ser$e o& *) ro-e; it %ould return #nd repe#t its oper#tions #$#in #nd #$#in. 4ot%ithst#ndin$ its terri&ic#ll) %ide s%eep =so*e thirt) &eetor *ore> #nd the hissin$ +i$our o& its descent su&&icient to sunder these+er) %#lls o& iron still the &r#)in$ o& *) ro-e %ould -e #ll th#t &orse+er#l *inutes it %ould #cco*plish; #nd #t this thou$ht , p#used. ,d#red not $o rther th#n this re&lection. , d%elt upon it %ith #

pertin#cit) o& #ttention #s i& in so d%ellin$ , could #rrest HERE thedescent o& the steel. , &orced *)sel& to ponder upon the sound o& thecrescent #s it should p#ss #cross the $#r*ent upon the peculi#rthrillin$ sens#tion %hich the &riction o& cloth produces on the ner+es. ,pondered upon #ll this &ri+olit) until *) teeth %ere on ed$e.

o%n ste#dil) do%n it crept. , too( # &ren3ied ple#sure in contr#stin$its do%n%#rd %ith its l#ter#l +elocit). To the ri$ht to the le&t r#nd %ide %ith the shrie( o& # d#*ned spirit< to *) he#rt %ith theste#lth) p#ce o& the ti$er< , #ltern#tel) l#u$hed #nd ho%led #s the oneor the other ide# $re% predo*in#nt.

o%n cert#inl) relentlessl) do%n< ,t +i-r#ted %ithin three inches o& *)

-oso*< , stru$$led +iolentl) &uriousl) to &ree *) le&t #r*. This %#s&ree onl) &ro* the el-o% to the h#nd. , could re#ch the l#tter &ro* thepl#tter -eside *e to *) *outh %ith $re#t e&&ort -ut no rther. ould ,h#+e -ro(en the stenin$s #-o+e the el-o% , %ould h#+e sei3ed #nd#tte*pted to #rrest the pendulu*. , *i$ht #s %ell h#+e #tte*pted to #rrest#n #+#l#nche

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Edgar Allan Poe Tales