fall of the house of usher(厄西亚房子的倒塌)-第3章
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rigidly of the spirit of abstraction； may be shadowed forth； although feebly；
in words。 A small picture presented the interior of an immensely long and
rectangular vault or tunnel； with low walls； smooth； white； and without
interruption or device。 Certain accessory points of the design served well
to convey the idea that this excavation lay at an exceeding depth below the
surface of the earth。 No outlet was observed in any portion of its vast
extent； and no torch； or other artificial source of light was discernible； yet
a flood of intense rays rolled throughout； and bathed the whole in a ghastly
and inappropriate splendour。
I have just spoken of that morbid condition of the auditory nerve
which rendered all music intolerable to the sufferer； with the exception of
certain effects of stringed instruments。 It was； perhaps； the narrow limits to
which he thus confined himself upon the guitar； which gave birth； in great
measure； to the fantastic character of the performances。 But the fervid
facility of his impromptus could not be so accounted for。 They must have
been； and were； in the notes； as well as in the words of his wild fantasias
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（for he not unfrequently accompanied himself with rhymed verbal
improvisations）； the result of that intense mental collectedness and
concentration to which I have previously alluded as observable only in
particular moments of the highest artificial excitement。 The words of one
of these rhapsodies I have easily remembered。 I was； perhaps； the more
forcibly impressed with it； as he gave it； because； in the under or mystic
current of its meaning； I fancied that I perceived； and for the first time； a
full consciousness on the part of Usher； of the tottering of his lofty reason
upon her throne。 The verses； which were entitled 〃The Haunted Palace；〃
ran very nearly； if not accurately； thus：
I。
In the greenest of our valleys；
By good angels tenanted；
Once a fair and stately palace
Radiant palacereared its head。
In the monarch Thought's dominion
It stood there！
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair。
II。
Banners yellow； glorious； golden；
On its roof did float and flow；
（Thisall thiswas in the olden
Time long ago）
And every gentle air that dallied；
In that sweet day；
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid；
A winged odour went away。
III。
Wanderers in that happy valley
Through two luminous windows saw
Spirits moving musically
To a lute's well tuned law；
Round about a throne； where sitting
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The Fall of the House of Usher
（Porphyrogene！）
In state his glory well befitting；
The ruler of the realm was seen。
IV。
And all with pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door；
Through which came flowing； flowing； flowing
And sparkling evermore；
A troop of Echoes whose sweet duty
Was but to sing；
In voices of surpassing beauty；
The wit and wisdom of their king。
V。
But evil things； in robes of sorrow；
Assailed the monarch's high estate；
（Ah； let us mourn； for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him； desolate！）
And； round about his home； the glory
That blushed and bloomed
Is but a dim…remembered story；
Of the old time entombed。
VI。
And travellers now within that valley；
Through the red…litten windows； see
Vast forms that move fantastically
To a discordant melody；
While； like a rapid ghastly river；
Through the pale door；
A hideous throng rush out forever；
And laughbut smile no more。
I well remember that suggestions arising from this ballad； led us into
a train of thought wherein there became manifest an opinion of Usher's
which I mention not so much on account of its novelty （for other men*
have thought thus；） as on account of the pertinacity with which he
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The Fall of the House of Usher
maintained it。 This opinion； in its general form； was that of the sentience
of all vegetable things。 But； in his disordered fancy； the idea had assumed
a more daring character； and trespassed； under certain conditions； upon the
kingdom of inorganization。 I lack words to express the full extent； or the
earnest abandon of his persuasion。 The belief； however； was connected （as
I have previously hinted） with the gray stones of the home of his
forefathers。 The conditions of the sentience had been here； he imagined；
fulfilled in the method of collocation of these stonesin the order of their
arrangement； as well as in that of the many fungi which overspread them；
and of the decayed trees which stood around above all； in the long
undisturbed endurance of this arrangement； and in its reduplication in the
still waters of the tarn。 Its evidencethe evidence of the sentiencewas to
be seen； he said； （and I here started as he spoke；） in the gradual yet certain
condensation of an atmosphere of their own about the waters and the walls。
The result was discoverable； he added； in that silent； yet importunate and
terrible influence which for centuries had moulded the destinies of his
family； and which made him what I now saw himwhat he was。 Such
opinions need no comment； and I will make none。
Our booksthe books which； for years； had formed no small portion of
the mental existence of the invalidwere； as might be supposed； in strict
keeping with this character of phantasm。 We pored together over such
works as the Ververt et Chartreuse of Gresset； the Belphegor of
Machiavelli； the Heaven and Hell of Swedenborg； the Subterranean
Voyage of Nicholas Klimm by Holberg； the Chiromancy of Robert Flud；
of Jean D'Indagine； and of De la Chambre； the Journey into the Blue
Distance of Tieck； and the City of the Sun by Campanella。 One favourite
volume was a small octavo edition of the Directorium Inquisitorum； by the
Dominican Eymeric de Gironne； and there were passages in Pomponius
Mela； about the old African Satyrs and OEgipans； over which Usher
would sit dreaming for hours。 His chief delight； however； was found in the
perusal of an exceedingly rare and curious book in quarto Gothicthe
manual of a forgotten churchthe Vigiliae Mortuorum Secundum Chorum
Ecclesiae Maguntinae。
I could not help thinking of the wild ritual of this work； and of its
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probable influence upon the hypochondriac； when； one evening； having
informed me abruptly that the lady Madeline was no more； he stated his
intention of preserving her corpse for a fortnight； （previously to its final
interment）； in one of the numerous vaults within the main walls of the
building。 The worldly reason； however； assigned for this singular
proceeding； was one which I did not feel at liberty to dispute。 The brother
had been led to his resolution （so he told me） by consideration of the
unusual character of the malady of the deceased； of certain obtrusive and
eager inquiries on the part of her medical men； and of the remote and
exposed situation of the burial…ground of the family。 I will not deny that
when I called to mind the sinister countenance of the person whom I met
upon the staircase； on the day of my arrival at the house； I had no desire to
oppose what I regarded as at best but a harmless； and by no means an
unnatural； precaution。
At the request of Usher； I personally aided him in the arrangements for
the temporary entombment。 The body having been encoffined； we two
alone bore it to its rest。 The vault in which we placed it （and which had
been so long unopened that our torches； half smothered in its oppressive
atmosphere； gave us little opportunity for investigation） was small； damp；
and entirely without means of admission for light； lying； at great depth；
immediately beneath that portion of the building in which was my own
sleeping apartment。 It had been used； apparently； in remote feudal times；
for the worst purposes of a donjon…keep； and； in later days； as a place of
deposit for powder； or some other highly combustible substance； as a
portion of its floor； and the whole interior of a long archway through
which
