第2章

IV。 AndallwithpearlandrubyglowingWasthefairpalacedoor，Throughwhichcameflowing，flowing，flowingAndsparklingevermore，AtroopofEchoeswhosesweetdutyWasbuttosing，Invoicesofsurpassingbeauty，Thewitandwisdomoftheirking。 V。 Butevilthings，inrobesofsorrow，Assailedthemonarch’shighestate； （Ah，letusmourn，fornevermorrowShalldawnuponhim，desolate！） And，roundabouthishome，thegloryThatblushedandbloomedIsbutadim—rememberedstory，Oftheoldtimeentombed。 VI。 Andtravellersnowwithinthatvalley，Throughthered—littenwindows，seeVastformsthatmovefantasticallyToadiscordantmelody； While，likearapidghastlyriver，Throughthepaledoor，Ahideousthrongrushoutforever，Andlaugh——butsmilenomore。 Iwellrememberthatsuggestionsarisingfromthisballad，ledusintoatrainofthoughtwhereintherebecamemanifestanopinionofUsher’swhichImentionnotsomuchonaccountofitsnovelty（forothermen*havethoughtthus，）asonaccountofthepertinacitywithwhichhemaintainedit。Thisopinion，initsgeneralform，wasthatofthesentienceofallvegetablethings。 But，inhisdisorderedfancy，theideahadassumedamoredaringcharacter，andtrespassed，undercertainconditions，uponthekingdomofinorganization。Ilackwordstoexpressthefullextent，ortheearnestabandonofhispersuasion。Thebelief，however，wasconnected（asIhavepreviouslyhinted）withthegraystonesofthehomeofhisforefathers。Theconditionsofthesentiencehadbeenhere，heimagined，fulfilledinthemethodofcollocationofthesestones——intheorderoftheirarrangement，aswellasinthatofthemanyfungiwhichoverspreadthem，andofthedecayedtreeswhichstoodaround—— aboveall，inthelongundisturbedenduranceofthisarrangement，andinitsreduplicationinthestillwatersofthetarn。Itsevidence——theevidenceofthesentience——wastobeseen，hesaid，（andIherestartedashespoke，）inthegradualyetcertaincondensationofanatmosphereoftheirownaboutthewatersandthewalls。Theresultwasdiscoverable，headded，inthatsilent，yetimportunateandterribleinfluencewhichforcenturieshadmouldedthedestiniesofhisfamily，andwhichmadehimwhatInowsawhim——whathewas。Suchopinionsneednocomment，andIwillmakenone。 Ourbooks——thebookswhich，foryears，hadformednosmallportionofthementalexistenceoftheinvalid——were，asmightbesupposed，instrictkeepingwiththischaracterofphantasm。WeporedtogetheroversuchworksastheVervertetChartreuseofGresset；theBelphegorofMachiavelli；theHeavenandHellofSwedenborg；theSubterraneanVoyageofNicholasKlimmbyHolberg；theChiromancyofRobertFlud，ofJeanD’Indagine，andofDelaChambre；theJourneyintotheBlueDistanceofTieck；andtheCityoftheSunbyCampanella。OnefavouritevolumewasasmalloctavoeditionoftheDirectoriumInquisitorum，bytheDominicanEymericdeGironne；andtherewerepassagesinPomponiusMela，abouttheoldAfricanSatyrsandOEgipans，overwhichUsherwouldsitdreamingforhours。Hischiefdelight，however，wasfoundintheperusalofanexceedinglyrareandcuriousbookinquartoGothic——themanualofaforgottenchurch——theVigiliaeMortuorumSecundumChorumEcclesiaeMaguntinae。 Icouldnothelpthinkingofthewildritualofthiswork，andofitsprobableinfluenceuponthehypochondriac，when，oneevening，havinginformedmeabruptlythattheladyMadelinewasnomore，hestatedhisintentionofpreservinghercorpseforafortnight，（previouslytoitsfinalinterment），inoneofthenumerousvaultswithinthemainwallsofthebuilding。Theworldlyreason，however，assignedforthissingularproceeding，wasonewhichIdidnotfeelatlibertytodispute。Thebrotherhadbeenledtohisresolution（sohetoldme）byconsiderationoftheunusualcharacterofthemaladyofthedeceased，ofcertainobtrusiveandeagerinquiriesonthepartofhermedicalmen，andoftheremoteandexposedsituationoftheburial—groundofthefamily。IwillnotdenythatwhenIcalledtomindthesinistercountenanceofthepersonwhomImetuponthestaircase，onthedayofmyarrivalatthehouse，IhadnodesiretoopposewhatIregardedasatbestbutaharmless，andbynomeansanunnatural，precaution。 AttherequestofUsher，Ipersonallyaidedhiminthearrangementsforthetemporaryentombment。Thebodyhavingbeenencoffined，wetwoaloneboreittoitsrest。Thevaultinwhichweplacedit（andwhichhadbeensolongunopenedthatourtorches，halfsmotheredinitsoppressiveatmosphere，gaveuslittleopportunityforinvestigation）wassmall，damp，andentirelywithoutmeansofadmissionforlight；lying，atgreatdepth，immediatelybeneaththatportionofthebuildinginwhichwasmyownsleepingapartment。Ithadbeenused，apparently，inremotefeudaltimes，fortheworstpurposesofadonjon—keep，and，inlaterdays，asaplaceofdepositforpowder，orsomeotherhighlycombustiblesubstance，asaportionofitsfloor，andthewholeinteriorofalongarchwaythroughwhichwereachedit，werecarefullysheathedwithcopper。Thedoor，ofmassiveiron，hadbeen，also，similarlyprotected。Itsimmenseweightcausedanunusuallysharpgratingsound，asitmoveduponitshinges。 Havingdepositedourmournfulburdenupontresselswithinthisregionofhorror，wepartiallyturnedasidetheyetunscrewedlidofthecoffin，andlookeduponthefaceofthetenant。Astrikingsimilitudebetweenthebrotherandsisternowfirstarrestedmyattention；andUsher，divining，perhaps，mythoughts，murmuredoutsomefewwordsfromwhichIlearnedthatthedeceasedandhimselfhadbeentwins，andthatsympathiesofascarcelyintelligiblenaturehadalwaysexistedbetweenthem。 Ourglances，however，restednotlonguponthedead——forwecouldnotregardherunawed。Thediseasewhichhadthusentombedtheladyinthematurityofyouth，hadleft，asusualinallmaladiesofastrictlycatalepticalcharacter，themockeryofafaintblushuponthebosomandtheface，andthatsuspiciouslylingeringsmileuponthelipwhichissoterribleindeath。Wereplacedandscreweddownthelid，and，havingsecuredthedoorofiron，madeourway，withtoil，intothescarcelylessgloomyapartmentsoftheupperportionofthehouse。 Andnow，somedaysofbittergriefhavingelapsed，anobservablechangecameoverthefeaturesofthementaldisorderofmyfriend。Hisordinarymannerhadvanished。Hisordinaryoccupationswereneglectedorforgotten。Heroamedfromchambertochamberwithhurried，unequal，andobjectlessstep。Thepallorofhiscountenancehadassumed，ifpossible，amoreghastlyhue——buttheluminousnessofhiseyehadutterlygoneout。Theonceoccasionalhuskinessofhistonewasheardnomore；andatremulousquaver，asifofextremeterror，habituallycharacterizedhisutterance。Thereweretimes，indeed，whenI thoughthisunceasinglyagitatedmindwaslabouringwithsomeoppressivesecret，todivulgewhichhestruggledforthenecessarycourage。Attimes，again，Iwasobligedtoresolveallintothemereinexplicablevagariesofmadness，forIbeheldhimgazinguponvacancyforlonghours，inanattitudeoftheprofoundestattention，asiflisteningtosomeimaginarysound。Itwasnowonderthathisconditionterrified——thatitinfectedme。Ifeltcreepinguponme，byslowyetcertaindegrees，thewildinfluencesofhisownfantasticyetimpressivesuperstitions。 Itwas，especially，uponretiringtobedlateinthenightoftheseventhoreighthdayaftertheplacingoftheladyMadelinewithinthedonjon，thatIexperiencedthefullpowerofsuchfeelings。Sleepcamenotnearmycouch——whilethehourswanedandwanedaway。Istruggledtoreasonoffthenervousnesswhichhaddominionoverme。Iendeavouredtobelievethatmuch，ifnotallofwhatIfelt，wasduetothebewilderinginfluenceofthegloomyfurnitureoftheroom——ofthedarkandtattereddraperies，which，torturedintomotionbythebreathofarisingtempest，swayedfitfullytoandfrouponthewalls，andrustleduneasilyaboutthedecorationsofthebed。Butmyeffortswerefruitless。Anirrepressibletremorgraduallypervadedmyframe； and，atlength，theresatuponmyveryheartanincubusofutterlycauselessalarm。Shakingthisoffwithagaspandastruggle，Iupliftedmyselfuponthepillows，and，peeringearnestlywithintheintensedarknessofthechamber，hearkened—— Iknownotwhy，exceptthataninstinctivespiritpromptedme——tocertainlowandindefinitesoundswhichcame，throughthepausesofthestorm，atlongintervals，Iknewnotwhence。Overpoweredbyanintensesentimentofhorror，unaccountableyetunendurable，Ithrewonmyclotheswithhaste（forIfeltthatIshouldsleepnomoreduringthenight，）andendeavouredtoarousemyselffromthepitiableconditionintowhichIhadfallen，bypacingrapidlytoandfrothroughtheapartment。 Ihadtakenbutfewturnsinthismanner，whenalightsteponanadjoiningstaircasearrestedmyattention。IpresentlyrecognizeditasthatofUsher。Inaninstantafterwardsherapped，withagentletouch，atmydoor，andentered，bearingalamp。Hiscountenancewas，asusual，cadaverouslywan——but，moreover，therewasaspeciesofmadhilarityinhiseyes——anevidentlyrestrainedhysteriainhiswholedemeanour。Hisairappalledme——butanythingwaspreferabletothesolitudewhichIhadsolongendured，andIevenwelcomedhispresenceasarelief。 \"Andyouhavenotseenit？\"hesaidabruptly，afterhavingstaredabouthimforsomemomentsinsilence——\"youhavenotthenseenit？——but，stay！youshall。\"Thusspeaking，andhavingcarefullyshadedhislamp，hehurriedtooneofthecasements，andthrewitfreelyopentothestorm。 Theimpetuousfuryoftheenteringgustnearlyliftedusfromourfeet。Itwas，indeed，atempestuousyetsternlybeautifulnight，andonewildlysingularinitsterroranditsbeauty。Awhirlwindhadapparentlycollecteditsforceinourvicinity；fortherewerefrequentandviolentalterationsinthedirectionofthewind；andtheexceedingdensityoftheclouds（whichhungsolowastopressupontheturretsofthehouse）didnotpreventourperceivingthelifelikevelocitywithwhichtheyflewcareeringfromallpointsagainsteachother，withoutpassingawayintothedistance。Isaythateventheirexceedingdensitydidnotpreventourperceivingthis——yetwehadnoglimpseofthemoonorstars——norwasthereanyflashingforthofthelightning。Buttheundersurfacesofthehugemassesofagitatedvapor，aswellasallterrestrialobjectsimmediatelyaroundus，wereglowingintheunnaturallightofafaintlyluminousanddistinctlyvisiblegaseousexhalationwhichhungaboutandenshroudedthemansion。 \"Youmustnot——youshallnotbeholdthis！\"saidI，shudderingly，toUsher，asIledhim，withagentleviolence，fromthewindowtoaseat。\"Theseappearances，whichbewilderyou，aremerelyelectricalphenomenanotuncommon——oritmaybethattheyhavetheirghastlyoriginintherankmiasmaofthetarn。Letusclosethiscasement；——theairischillinganddangeroustoyourframe。Hereisoneofyourfavouriteromances。 Iwillread，andyoushalllisten；——andsowewillpassawaythisterriblenighttogether。\" TheantiquevolumewhichIhadtakenupwasthe\"MadTrist\"ofSirLauncelotCanning；butIhadcalleditafavouriteofUsher’smoreinsadjestthaninearnest；for，intruth，thereislittleinitsuncouthandunimaginativeprolixitywhichcouldhavehadinterestfortheloftyandspiritualidealityofmyfriend。Itwas，however，theonlybookimmediatelyathand；andIindulgedavaguehopethattheexcitementwhichnowagitatedthehypochondriac，mightfindrelief（forthehistoryofmentaldisorderisfullofsimilaranomalies）evenintheextremenessofthefollywhichIshouldread。CouldIhavejudged，indeed，bythewildoverstrainedairofvivacitywithwhichhehearkened，orapparentlyhearkened，tothewordsofthetale，I mightwellhavecongratulatedmyselfuponthesuccessofmydesign。 Ihadarrivedatthatwell—knownportionofthestorywhereEthelred，theherooftheTrist，havingsoughtinvainforpeaceableadmissionintothedwellingofthehermit，proceedstomakegoodanentrancebyforce。Here，itwillberemembered，thewordsofthenarrativerunthus： \"AndEthelred，whowasbynatureofadoughtyheart，andwhowasnowmightywithal，onaccountofthepowerfulnessofthewinewhichhehaddrunken，waitednolongertoholdparleywiththehermit，who，insooth，wasofanobstinateandmalicefulturn，but，feelingtherainuponhisshoulders，andfearingtherisingofthetempest，upliftedhismaceoutright，and，withblows，madequicklyroomintheplankingsofthedoorforhisgauntletedhand；andnowpullingtherewithsturdily，hesocracked，andripped，andtoreallasunder，thatthenoiseofthedryandhollow—soundingwoodalarmedandreverberatedthroughouttheforest。\" AttheterminationofthissentenceIstarted，andforamoment，paused；foritappearedtome（althoughIatonceconcludedthatmyexcitedfancyhaddeceivedme）——itappearedtomethat，fromsomeveryremoteportionofthemansion，therecame，indistinctly，tomyears，whatmighthavebeen，initsexactsimilarityofcharacter，theecho（butastifledanddullonecertainly）oftheverycrackingandrippingsoundwhichSirLauncelothadsoparticularlydescribed。Itwas，beyonddoubt，thecoincidencealonewhichhadarrestedmyattention；for，amidtherattlingofthesashesofthecasements，andtheordinarycomminglednoisesofthestillincreasingstorm，thesound，initself，hadnothing，surely，whichshouldhaveinterestedordisturbedme。Icontinuedthestory： \"ButthegoodchampionEthelred，nowenteringwithinthedoor，wassoreenragedandamazedtoperceivenosignalofthemalicefulhermit；but，inthesteadthereof，adragonofascalyandprodigiousdemeanour，andofafierytongue，whichsateinguardbeforeapalaceofgold，withafloorofsilver；anduponthewalltherehungashieldofshiningbrasswiththislegendenwritten—— Whoenterethherein，aconquererhathbin； Whoslayeththedragon，theshieldheshallwin； andEthelredupliftedhismace，andstruckupontheheadofthedragon，whichfellbeforehim，andgaveuphispestybreath，withashrieksohorridandharsh，andwithalsopiercing，thatEthelredhadfaintoclosehisearswithhishandsagainstthedreadfulnoiseofit，thelikewhereofwasneverbeforeheard。\" HereagainIpausedabruptly，andnowwithafeelingofwildamazement——fortherecouldbenodoubtwhateverthat，inthisinstance，Ididactuallyhear（althoughfromwhatdirectionitproceededIfounditimpossibletosay）alowandapparentlydistant，butharsh，protracted，andmostunusualscreamingorgratingsound——theexactcounterpartofwhatmyfancyhadalreadyconjuredupforthedragon’sunnaturalshriekasdescribedbytheromancer。 Oppressed，asIcertainlywas，upontheoccurrenceofthesecondandmostextraordinarycoincidence，byathousandconflictingsensations，inwhichwonderandextremeterrorwerepredominant，Istillretainedsufficientpresenceofmindtoavoidexciting，byanyobservation，thesensitivenervousnessofmycompanion。Iwasbynomeanscertainthathehadnoticedthesoundsinquestion；although，assuredly，astrangealterationhad，duringthelastfewminutes，takenplaceinhisdemeanour。 Fromapositionfrontingmyown，hehadgraduallybroughtroundhischair，soastositwithhisfacetothedoorofthechamber； andthusIcouldbutpartiallyperceivehisfeatures，althoughI sawthathislipstrembledasifheweremurmuringinaudibly。 Hisheadhaddroppeduponhisbreast——yetIknewthathewasnotasleep，fromthewideandrigidopeningoftheeyeasIcaughtaglanceofitinprofile。Themotionofhisbody，too，wasatvariancewiththisidea——forherockedfromsidetosidewithagentleyetconstantanduniformsway。Havingrapidlytakennoticeofallthis，IresumedthenarrativeofSirLauncelot，whichthusproceeded： \"Andnow，thechampion，havingescapedfromtheterriblefuryofthedragon，bethinkinghimselfofthebrazenshield，andofthebreakingupoftheenchantmentwhichwasuponit，removedthecarcassfromoutofthewaybeforehim，andapproachedvalorouslyoverthesilverpavementofthecastletowheretheshieldwasuponthewall；whichinsoothtarriednotforhisfullcoming，butfelldownathisfeetuponthesilverfloor，withamightygreatandterribleringingsound。\" Nosoonerhadthesesyllablespassedmylips，than——asifashieldofbrasshadindeed，atthemoment，fallenheavilyuponafloorofsilver——Ibecameawareofadistinct，hollow，metallic，andclangorous，yetapparentlymuffledreverberation。Completelyunnerved，Ileapedtomyfeet；butthemeasuredrockingmovementofUsherwasundisturbed。Irushedtothechairinwhichhesat。 Hiseyeswerebentfixedlybeforehim，andthroughouthiswholecountenancetherereignedastonyrigidity。But，asIplacedmyhanduponhisshoulder，therecameastrongshudderoverhiswholeperson；asicklysmilequiveredabouthislips；andIsawthathespokeinalow，hurried，andgibberingmurmur，asifunconsciousofmypresence。Bendingcloselyoverhim，Iatlengthdrankinthehideousimportofhiswords。 \"Nothearit？——yes，Ihearit，andhaveheardit。Long— —long——long——manyminutes，manyhours，manydays，haveIheardit——yetIdarednot——oh，pityme，miserablewretchthatIam！——I darednot——Idarednotspeak！Wehaveputherlivinginthetomb！SaidInotthatmysenseswereacute？InowtellyouthatIheardherfirstfeeblemovementsinthehollowcoffin。 Iheardthem——many，manydaysago——yetIdarednot——Idarednotspeak！Andnow——to—night——Ethelred——ha！ha！——thebreakingofthehermit’sdoor，andthedeath—cryofthedragon，andtheclangouroftheshield！——say，rather，therendingofhercoffin，andthegratingoftheironhingesofherprison，andherstruggleswithinthecopperedarchwayofthevault！OhwhithershallIfly？Willshenotbehereanon？Isshenothurryingtoupbraidmeformyhaste？HaveInotheardherfootstepsonthestair？DoInotdistinguishthatheavyandhorriblebeatingofherheart？Madman！\"herehesprangfuriouslytohisfeet，andshriekedouthissyllables，asifintheeffortheweregivinguphissoul——\"Madman！Itellyouthatshenowstandswithoutthedoor！\" Asifinthesuperhumanenergyofhisutterancetherehadbeenfoundthepotencyofaspell——thehugeantiquepanelstowhichthespeakerpointed，threwslowlyback，upontheinstant，theirponderousandebonyjaws。Itwastheworkoftherushinggust——butthenwithoutthosedoorsthereDIDstandtheloftyandenshroudedfigureoftheladyMadelineofUsher。Therewasblooduponherwhiterobes，andtheevidenceofsomebitterstruggleuponeveryportionofheremaciatedframe。Foramomentsheremainedtremblingandreelingtoandfrouponthethreshold，—— then，withalowmoaningcry，fellheavilyinwarduponthepersonofherbrother，andinherviolentandnowfinaldeath—agonies，borehimtotheflooracorpse，andavictimtotheterrorshehadanticipated。 Fromthatchamber，andfromthatmansion，Ifledaghast。 ThestormwasstillabroadinallitswrathasIfoundmyselfcrossingtheoldcauseway。Suddenlythereshotalongthepathawildlight，andIturnedtoseewhenceagleamsounusualcouldhaveissued；forthevasthouseanditsshadowswerealonebehindme。Theradiancewasthatofthefull，setting，andblood—redmoonwhichnowshonevividlythroughthatoncebarely—discerniblefissureofwhichIhavebeforespokenasextendingfromtheroofofthebuilding，inazigzagdirection，tothebase。WhileI gazed，thisfissurerapidlywidened——therecameafiercebreathofthewhirlwind——theentireorbofthesatelliteburstatonceuponmysight——mybrainreeledasIsawthemightywallsrushingasunder——therewasalongtumultuousshoutingsoundlikethevoiceofathousandwaters——andthedeepanddanktarnatmyfeetclosedsullenlyandsilentlyoverthefragmentsofthe\"HouseofUsher\"。 *Watson，DrPercival，Spallanzani，andespeciallytheBishopofLandaff。