the works of edgar allan poe-3-µÚ39ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
than¡¡regal¡¡magnificence¡¡within¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡such¡¡follies£»¡¡even¡¡in
childhood£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡imbibed¡¡a¡¡taste¡¡and¡¡now¡¡they¡¡came¡¡back¡¡to¡¡me¡¡as¡¡if
in¡¡the¡¡dotage¡¡of¡¡grief¡£¡¡Alas£»¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡how¡¡much¡¡even¡¡of¡¡incipient
madness¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡discovered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gorgeous¡¡and¡¡fantastic
draperies£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡carvings¡¡of¡¡Egypt£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡cornices¡¡and
furniture£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Bedlam¡¡patterns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡carpets¡¡of¡¡tufted¡¡gold£¡¡¡I
had¡¡become¡¡a¡¡bounden¡¡slave¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trammels¡¡of¡¡opium£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡labors
and¡¡my¡¡orders¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡coloring¡¡from¡¡my¡¡dreams¡£¡¡But¡¡these
absurdities¡¡must¡¡not¡¡pause¡¡to¡¡detail¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡speak¡¡only¡¡of¡¡that¡¡one
chamber£»¡¡ever¡¡accursed£»¡¡whither¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡mental¡¡alienation£»¡¡I
led¡¡from¡¡the¡¡altar¡¡as¡¡my¡¡bride¡¡¡¡as¡¡the¡¡successor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unforgotten
Ligeia¡¡¡¡the¡¡fair¡haired¡¡and¡¡blue¡eyed¡¡Lady¡¡Rowena¡¡Trevanion£»¡¡of
Tremaine¡£
There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡individual¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡architecture¡¡and¡¡decoration¡¡of
that¡¡bridal¡¡chamber¡¡which¡¡is¡¡not¡¡now¡¡visibly¡¡before¡¡me¡£¡¡Where¡¡were
the¡¡souls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡haughty¡¡family¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bride£»¡¡when£»¡¡through¡¡thirst¡¡of
gold£»¡¡they¡¡permitted¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡of¡¡an¡¡apartment¡¡so
bedecked£»¡¡a¡¡maiden¡¡and¡¡a¡¡daughter¡¡so¡¡beloved£¿¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said¡¡that¡¡I
minutely¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡details¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sadly
forgetful¡¡on¡¡topics¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡moment¡¡¡¡and¡¡here¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡system£»
no¡¡keeping£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fantastic¡¡display£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡hold¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡memory¡£
The¡¡room¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡a¡¡high¡¡turret¡¡of¡¡the¡¡castellated¡¡abbey£»¡¡was
pentagonal¡¡in¡¡shape£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡capacious¡¡size¡£¡¡Occupying¡¡the¡¡whole
southern¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pentagon¡¡was¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡window¡¡¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡sheet
of¡¡unbroken¡¡glass¡¡from¡¡Venice¡¡¡¡a¡¡single¡¡pane£»¡¡and¡¡tinted¡¡of¡¡a
leaden¡¡hue£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡rays¡¡of¡¡either¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡or¡¡moon£»¡¡passing
through¡¡it£»¡¡fell¡¡with¡¡a¡¡ghastly¡¡lustre¡¡on¡¡the¡¡objects¡¡within¡£¡¡Over
the¡¡upper¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡this¡¡huge¡¡window£»¡¡extended¡¡the¡¡trellice¡work¡¡of
an¡¡aged¡¡vine£»¡¡which¡¡clambered¡¡up¡¡the¡¡massy¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡turret¡£¡¡The
ceiling£»¡¡of¡¡gloomy¡looking¡¡oak£»¡¡was¡¡excessively¡¡lofty£»¡¡vaulted£»¡¡and
elaborately¡¡fretted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡wildest¡¡and¡¡most¡¡grotesque¡¡specimens¡¡of
a¡¡semi¡Gothic£»¡¡semi¡Druidical¡¡device¡£¡¡From¡¡out¡¡the¡¡most¡¡central
recess¡¡of¡¡this¡¡melancholy¡¡vaulting£»¡¡depended£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡single¡¡chain¡¡of
gold¡¡with¡¡long¡¡links£»¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡censer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡metal£»¡¡Saracenic¡¡in
pattern£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡many¡¡perforations¡¡so¡¡contrived¡¡that¡¡there¡¡writhed
in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡endued¡¡with¡¡a¡¡serpent¡¡vitality£»¡¡a¡¡continual
succession¡¡of¡¡parti¡colored¡¡fires¡£
Some¡¡few¡¡ottomans¡¡and¡¡golden¡¡candelabra£»¡¡of¡¡Eastern¡¡figure£»¡¡were¡¡in
various¡¡stations¡¡about¡¡¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡couch£»¡¡too¡¡¡¡bridal
couch¡¡¡¡of¡¡an¡¡Indian¡¡model£»¡¡and¡¡low£»¡¡and¡¡sculptured¡¡of¡¡solid¡¡ebony£»
with¡¡a¡¡pall¡like¡¡canopy¡¡above¡£¡¡In¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡angles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber
stood¡¡on¡¡end¡¡a¡¡gigantic¡¡sarcophagus¡¡of¡¡black¡¡granite£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tombs
of¡¡the¡¡kings¡¡over¡¡against¡¡Luxor£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡aged¡¡lids¡¡full¡¡of
immemorial¡¡sculpture¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡the¡¡draping¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apartment¡¡lay£»¡¡alas£¡
the¡¡chief¡¡phantasy¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡lofty¡¡walls£»¡¡gigantic¡¡in¡¡height¡¡
even¡¡unproportionably¡¡so¡¡¡¡were¡¡hung¡¡from¡¡summit¡¡to¡¡foot£»¡¡in¡¡vast
folds£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡and¡¡massive¡looking¡¡tapestry¡¡¡¡tapestry¡¡of¡¡a
material¡¡which¡¡was¡¡found¡¡alike¡¡as¡¡a¡¡carpet¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡as¡¡a
covering¡¡for¡¡the¡¡ottomans¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ebony¡¡bed£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡canopy¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bed£»
and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡gorgeous¡¡volutes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡curtains¡¡which¡¡partially¡¡shaded
the¡¡window¡£¡¡The¡¡material¡¡was¡¡the¡¡richest¡¡cloth¡¡of¡¡gold¡£¡¡It¡¡was
spotted¡¡all¡¡over£»¡¡at¡¡irregular¡¡intervals£»¡¡with¡¡arabesque¡¡figures£»
about¡¡a¡¡foot¡¡in¡¡diameter£»¡¡and¡¡wrought¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cloth¡¡in¡¡patterns¡¡of
the¡¡most¡¡jetty¡¡black¡£¡¡But¡¡these¡¡figures¡¡partook¡¡of¡¡the¡¡true¡¡character
of¡¡the¡¡arabesque¡¡only¡¡when¡¡regarded¡¡from¡¡a¡¡single¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view¡£¡¡By¡¡a
contrivance¡¡now¡¡common£»¡¡and¡¡indeed¡¡traceable¡¡to¡¡a¡¡very¡¡remote¡¡period
of¡¡antiquity£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡made¡¡changeable¡¡in¡¡aspect¡£¡¡To¡¡one¡¡entering
the¡¡room£»¡¡they¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡simple¡¡monstrosities£»¡¡but¡¡upon
a¡¡farther¡¡advance£»¡¡this¡¡appearance¡¡gradually¡¡departed£»¡¡and¡¡step¡¡by
step£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡moved¡¡his¡¡station¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chamber£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡himself
surrounded¡¡by¡¡an¡¡endless¡¡succession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ghastly¡¡forms¡¡which¡¡belong
to¡¡the¡¡superstition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Norman£»¡¡or¡¡arise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡guilty¡¡slumbers¡¡of
the¡¡monk¡£¡¡The¡¡phantasmagoric¡¡effect¡¡was¡¡vastly¡¡heightened¡¡by¡¡the
artificial¡¡introduction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡continual¡¡current¡¡of¡¡wind¡¡behind
the¡¡draperies¡¡¡¡giving¡¡a¡¡hideous¡¡and¡¡uneasy¡¡animation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡whole¡£
In¡¡halls¡¡such¡¡as¡¡these¡¡¡¡in¡¡a¡¡bridal¡¡chamber¡¡such¡¡as¡¡this¡¡¡¡I
passed£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Lady¡¡of¡¡Tremaine£»¡¡the¡¡unhallowed¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first
month¡¡of¡¡our¡¡marriage¡¡¡¡passed¡¡them¡¡with¡¡but¡¡little¡¡disquietude¡£
That¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡dreaded¡¡the¡¡fierce¡¡moodiness¡¡of¡¡my¡¡temper¡¡¡¡that¡¡she
shunned¡¡me¡¡and¡¡loved¡¡me¡¡but¡¡little¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡perceiving£»
but¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡rather¡¡pleasure¡¡than¡¡otherwise¡£¡¡I¡¡loathed¡¡her¡¡with¡¡a
hatred¡¡belonging¡¡more¡¡to¡¡demon¡¡than¡¡to¡¡man¡£¡¡My¡¡memory¡¡flew¡¡back£»¡¡£¨oh£»
with¡¡what¡¡intensity¡¡of¡¡regret£¡£©¡¡to¡¡Ligeia£»¡¡the¡¡beloved£»¡¡the¡¡august£»
the¡¡beautiful£»¡¡the¡¡entombed¡£¡¡I¡¡revelled¡¡in¡¡recollections¡¡of¡¡her
purity£»¡¡of¡¡her¡¡wisdom£»¡¡of¡¡her¡¡lofty£»¡¡her¡¡ethereal¡¡nature£»¡¡of¡¡her
passionate£»¡¡her¡¡idolatrous¡¡love¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡then£»¡¡did¡¡my¡¡spirit¡¡fully¡¡and
freely¡¡burn¡¡with¡¡more¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡£¡¡In¡¡the
excitement¡¡of¡¡my¡¡opium¡¡dreams¡¡£¨for¡¡I¡¡was¡¡habitually¡¡fettered¡¡in¡¡the
shackles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drug£©¡¡I¡¡would¡¡call¡¡aloud¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡name£»¡¡during¡¡the
silence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡or¡¡among¡¡the¡¡sheltered¡¡recesses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glens¡¡by
day£»¡¡as¡¡if£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡eagerness£»¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡passion£»¡¡the
consuming¡¡ardor¡¡of¡¡my¡¡longing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡departed£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡restore¡¡her
to¡¡the¡¡pathway¡¡she¡¡had¡¡abandoned¡¡¡¡ah£»¡¡could¡¡it¡¡be¡¡forever£¿¡¡¡¡upon
the¡¡earth¡£
About¡¡the¡¡commencement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡second¡¡month¡¡of¡¡the¡¡marriage£»¡¡the¡¡Lady
Rowena¡¡was¡¡attacked¡¡with¡¡sudden¡¡illness£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡her¡¡recovery¡¡was
slow¡£¡¡The¡¡fever¡¡which¡¡consumed¡¡her¡¡rendered¡¡her¡¡nights¡¡uneasy£»¡¡and¡¡in
her¡¡perturbed¡¡state¡¡of¡¡half¡slumber£»¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡sounds£»¡¡and¡¡of
motions£»¡¡in¡¡and¡¡about¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡of¡¡the¡¡turret£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡concluded
had¡¡no¡¡origin¡¡save¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distemper¡¡of¡¡her¡¡fancy£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡in¡¡the
phantasmagoric¡¡influences¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡itself¡£¡¡She¡¡became¡¡at¡¡length
convalescent¡¡¡¡finally¡¡well¡£¡¡Yet¡¡but¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡period¡¡elapsed£»¡¡ere¡¡a
second¡¡more¡¡violent¡¡disorder¡¡again¡¡threw¡¡her¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡suffering£»
and¡¡from¡¡this¡¡attack¡¡her¡¡frame£»¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times¡¡feeble£»¡¡never¡¡altogether
recovered¡£¡¡Her¡¡illnesses¡¡were£»¡¡after¡¡this¡¡epoch£»¡¡of¡¡alarming
character£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡more¡¡alarming¡¡recurrence£»¡¡defying¡¡alike¡¡the
knowledge¡¡and¡¡the¡¡great¡¡exertions¡¡of¡¡her¡¡physicians¡£¡¡With¡¡the
increase¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chronic¡¡disease¡¡which¡¡had¡¡thus£»¡¡apparently£»¡¡taken¡¡too
sure¡¡hold¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡constitution¡¡to¡¡be¡¡eradicated¡¡by¡¡human¡¡means£»¡¡I
could¡¡not¡¡fall¡¡to¡¡observe¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nervous
irritation¡¡of¡¡her¡¡temperament£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡her¡¡excitability¡¡by¡¡trivial
causes¡¡of¡¡fear¡£¡¡She¡¡spoke¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡more¡¡frequently¡¡and
pertinaciously£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slight¡¡sounds¡¡¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the
unusual¡¡motions¡¡among¡¡the¡¡tapestries£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡formerly
alluded¡£
One¡¡night£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡closing¡¡in¡¡of¡¡September£»¡¡she¡¡pressed¡¡this
distressing¡¡subject¡¡with¡¡more¡¡than¡¡usual¡¡emphasis¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡attention¡£
She¡¡had¡¡just¡¡awakened¡¡from¡¡an¡¡unquiet¡¡slumber£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been
watching£»¡¡with¡¡feelings¡¡half¡¡of¡¡anxiety£»¡¡half¡¡of¡¡vague¡¡terror£»¡¡the
workings¡¡of¡¡her¡¡emaciated¡¡countenance¡£¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡by¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡her¡¡ebony
bed£»¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ottomans¡¡of¡¡India¡£¡¡She¡¡partly¡¡arose£»¡¡and¡¡spoke£»
in¡¡an¡¡earnest¡¡low¡¡whisper£»¡¡of¡¡sounds¡¡which¡¡she¡¡then¡¡heard£»¡¡but¡¡which
I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡¡¡of¡¡motions¡¡which¡¡she¡¡then¡¡saw£»¡¡but¡¡which¡¡I¡¡could
not¡¡perceive¡£¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡rushing¡¡hurriedly¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡tapestries£»
and¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡show¡¡her¡¡£¨what£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡confess¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡all
believe£©¡¡that¡¡those¡¡almost¡¡inarticulate¡¡breathings£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡very
gentle¡¡variations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡figures¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡were¡¡but¡¡the¡¡natural
effects¡¡of¡¡that¡¡customary¡¡rushing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wind¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡pallor£»
overspreading¡¡her¡¡face£»¡¡had¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡my¡¡exertions¡¡to
reassure¡¡her¡¡would¡¡be¡¡fruitless¡£¡¡She¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡fainting£»¡¡and¡¡no
attendants¡¡were¡¡within¡¡call¡£¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡where¡¡was¡¡deposited¡¡a
decanter¡¡of¡¡light¡¡wine¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ordered¡¡by¡¡her¡¡physicians£»¡¡and
hastened¡¡across¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡to¡¡procure¡¡it¡£¡¡But£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡stepped¡¡beneath
the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡censer£»¡¡two¡¡circumstances¡¡of¡¡a¡¡startling¡¡nature
attracted¡¡my¡¡attention¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡some¡¡palpable¡¡although
invisible¡¡object¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡lightly¡¡by¡¡my¡¡person£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that
there¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡carpet£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡very¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rich
lustre¡¡thrown¡¡from¡¡the¡¡censer£»¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡¡¡a¡¡faint£»¡¡indefinite¡¡shadow
of¡¡angelic¡¡aspect¡¡¡¡such¡¡as¡¡might¡¡be¡¡fancied¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡a
shade¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡was¡¡wild¡¡with¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡of¡¡an¡¡immoderate¡¡dose¡¡of
opium£»¡¡and¡¡heeded¡¡these¡¡things¡¡but¡¡little£»¡¡nor¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡them¡¡to
Rowena¡£¡¡Having¡¡found¡¡the¡¡wine£»¡¡I¡¡recrossed¡¡the¡¡chamber£»¡¡and¡¡poured
out¡¡a¡¡gobletful£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡held¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fainting¡¡lady¡£¡¡She
had¡¡now¡¡partially¡¡recovered£»¡¡however£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡herself£»
while¡¡I¡¡sank¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡ottoman¡¡near¡¡me£»¡¡with¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡fastened¡¡upon¡¡her
person¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡then¡¡that¡¡I¡¡became¡¡distinctly¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gentle
footfall¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡carpet£»¡¡and¡¡near¡¡the¡¡couch£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡second
thereafter£»¡¡as¡¡Rowena¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of¡¡raising¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡to¡¡her¡¡lips£»
I¡¡saw£»¡¡or¡¡may¡¡have¡¡dreamed¡¡that¡¡I¡¡saw£»¡¡fall¡¡within¡¡the¡¡goblet£»¡¡as¡¡if
from¡¡some¡¡invisible¡¡spring¡¡in¡¡the¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡three¡¡or
four¡¡large¡¡drops¡¡of¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡and¡¡ruby¡¡colored¡¡fluid¡£¡¡If¡¡this¡¡I¡¡saw
¡¡not¡¡so¡¡Rowena¡£¡¡She¡¡swallowed¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡unhesitatingly£»¡¡and¡¡I
forbore¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡her¡¡of¡¡a¡¡circumstance¡¡which¡¡must£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡I
considered£»¡¡have¡¡been¡¡but¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡vivid¡¡imagination£»
rendered¡¡morbidly¡¡active¡¡by¡¡the¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡opium£»¡¡and
by¡¡the¡¡hour¡£
Yet¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡conceal¡¡it¡¡from¡¡my¡¡own¡¡perception¡¡that£»¡¡immediately
subsequent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ruby¡drops£»¡¡a¡¡rapid¡¡change¡¡for¡¡the
worse¡¡took¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡disorder¡¡of¡¡my¡¡wife£»¡¡so¡¡that£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third
subsequent¡¡night£»¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡her¡¡menials¡¡prepared¡¡her¡¡for¡¡the¡¡tomb£»
and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fourth£»¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡alone£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡shrouded¡¡body£»¡¡in¡¡that
fantastic¡¡chamber¡¡which¡¡had¡¡received¡¡her¡¡as¡¡my¡¡bride¡£¡¡¡¡Wild
visions£»¡¡opium¡engendered£»¡¡flitted£»¡¡shadow¡like£»¡¡before¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡gazed
with¡¡unquiet¡¡eye¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡sarcophagi¡¡in¡¡the¡¡angles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡upon
the¡¡varying¡¡figures¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drapery£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡writhing¡¡of¡¡the
parti¡colored¡¡fires¡¡in¡¡the¡¡censer¡¡overhead¡£¡¡My¡¡eyes¡¡then¡¡fell£»¡¡as¡¡I
called¡¡to¡¡mind¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡of¡¡a¡¡former¡¡night£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spot
beneath¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡of¡¡the¡¡censer¡¡where¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡traces¡¡of
the¡¡shadow¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡however£»¡¡no¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡breathing¡¡with
greater¡¡freedom£»¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡glances¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pallid¡¡and¡¡rigid¡¡figure
upon¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡Then¡¡rushed¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡Ligeia¡¡
and¡¡then¡¡came¡¡back¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡turbulent¡¡violence¡¡of¡¡a
flood£»¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡that¡¡unutterable¡¡wo¡¡with¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡regarded¡¡her
thus¡¡enshrouded¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡waned£»¡¡and¡¡still£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bosom¡¡full¡¡of
bitter¡¡thoughts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡one¡¡only¡¡and¡¡supremely¡¡beloved£»¡¡I¡¡remained
gazing¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡Rowena¡£
It¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡midnight£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡earlier£»¡¡or¡¡later£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡had
taken¡¡no¡¡note¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡sob£»¡¡low£»¡¡gentle£»¡¡but¡¡very¡¡distinct£»
startled¡¡me¡¡from¡¡my¡¡revery¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡it¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡of
ebony¡¡¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡death¡£¡¡I¡¡listened¡¡in¡¡an¡¡agony¡¡of¡¡superstitious
terror¡¡¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡repetition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sound¡£¡¡I¡¡strained¡¡my
vision¡¡to¡¡detect¡¡any¡¡motion¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corpse¡¡¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the
slightest¡¡perceptible¡£¡¡Yet¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡dec