the works of edgar allan poe-3-第42章

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and　Bedloe　there　had　grown　up；　little　by　little；　a　very　distinct　and
strongly　marked　rapport；　or　magnetic　relation。　I　am　not　prepared　to
assert；　however；　that　this　rapport　extended　beyond　the　limits　of　the
simple　sleep…producing　power；　but　this　power　itself　had　attained
great　intensity。　At　the　first　attempt　to　induce　the　magnetic
somnolency；　the　mesmerist　entirely　failed。　In　the　fifth　or　sixth　he
succeeded　very　partially；　and　after　long　continued　effort。　Only　at
the　twelfth　was　the　triumph　complete。　After　this　the　will　of　the
patient　succumbed　rapidly　to　that　of　the　physician；　so　that；　when　I
first　became　acquainted　with　the　two；　sleep　was　brought　about　almost
instantaneously　by　the　mere　volition　of　the　operator；　even　when　the
invalid　was　unaware　of　his　presence。　It　is　only　now；　in　the　year
1845；　when　similar　miracles　are　witnessed　daily　by　thousands；　that　I
dare　venture　to　record　this　apparent　impossibility　as　a　matter　of
serious　fact。

The　temperature　of　Bedloe　was；　in　the　highest　degree　sensitive；
excitable；　enthusiastic。　His　imagination　was　singularly　vigorous　and
creative；　and　no　doubt　it　derived　additional　force　from　the　habitual
use　of　morphine；　which　he　swallowed　in　great　quantity；　and　without
which　he　would　have　found　it　impossible　to　exist。　It　was　his　practice
to　take　a　very　large　dose　of　it　immediately　after　breakfast　each
morning　　or；　rather；　immediately　after　a　cup　of　strong　coffee；　for
he　ate　nothing　in　the　forenoon　　and　then　set　forth　alone；　or
attended　only　by　a　dog；　upon　a　long　ramble　among　the　chain　of　wild
and　dreary　hills　that　lie　westward　and　southward　of　Charlottesville；
and　are　there　dignified　by　the　title　of　the　Ragged　Mountains。

Upon　a　dim；　warm；　misty　day；　toward　the　close　of　November；　and　during
the　strange　interregnum　of　the　seasons　which　in　America　is　termed　the
Indian　Summer；　Mr。　Bedloe　departed　as　usual　for　the　hills。　The　day
passed；　and　still　he　did　not　return。

About　eight　o'clock　at　night；　having　become　seriously　alarmed　at　his
protracted　absence；　we　were　about　setting　out　in　search　of　him；　when
he　unexpectedly　made　his　appearance；　in　health　no　worse　than　usual；
and　in　rather　more　than　ordinary　spirits。　The　account　which　he　gave
of　his　expedition；　and　of　the　events　which　had　detained　him；　was　a
singular　one　indeed。

〃You　will　remember；〃　said　he；　〃that　it　was　about　nine　in　the　morning
when　I　left　Charlottesville。　I　bent　my　steps　immediately　to　the
mountains；　and；　about　ten；　entered　a　gorge　which　was　entirely　new　to
me。　I　followed　the　windings　of　this　pass　with　much　interest。　The
scenery　which　presented　itself　on　all　sides；　although　scarcely
entitled　to　be　called　grand；　had　about　it　an　indescribable　and　to　me
a　delicious　aspect　of　dreary　desolation。　The　solitude　seemed
absolutely　virgin。　I　could　not　help　believing　that　the　green　sods　and
the　gray　rocks　upon　which　I　trod　had　been　trodden　never　before　by　the
foot　of　a　human　being。　So　entirely　secluded；　and　in　fact
inaccessible；　except　through　a　series　of　accidents；　is　the　entrance
of　the　ravine；　that　it　is　by　no　means　impossible　that　I　was　indeed
the　first　adventurer　　the　very　first　and　sole　adventurer　who　had
ever　penetrated　its　recesses。

〃The　thick　and　peculiar　mist；　or　smoke；　which　distinguishes　the
Indian　Summer；　and　which　now　hung　heavily　over　all　objects；　served；
no　doubt；　to　deepen　the　vague　impressions　which　these　objects
created。　So　dense　was　this　pleasant　fog　that　I　could　at　no　time　see
more　than　a　dozen　yards　of　the　path　before　me。　This　path　was
excessively　sinuous；　and　as　the　sun　could　not　be　seen；　I　soon　lost
all　idea　of　the　direction　in　which　I　journeyed。　In　the　meantime　the
morphine　had　its　customary　effect　　that　of　enduing　all　the　external
world　with　an　intensity　of　interest。　In　the　quivering　of　a　leaf　　in
the　hue　of　a　blade　of　grass　　in　the　shape　of　a　trefoil　　in　the
humming　of　a　bee　　in　the　gleaming　of　a　dew…drop　　in　the　breathing
of　the　wind　　in　the　faint　odors　that　came　from　the　forest　　there
came　a　whole　universe　of　suggestion　　a　gay　and　motley　train　of
rhapsodical　and　immethodical　thought。

〃Busied　in　this；　I　walked　on　for　several　hours；　during　which　the　mist
deepened　around　me　to　so　great　an　extent　that　at　length　I　was　reduced
to　an　absolute　groping　of　the　way。　And　now　an　indescribable
uneasiness　possessed　me　　a　species　of　nervous　hesitation　and
tremor。　I　feared　to　tread；　lest　I　should　be　precipitated　into　some
abyss。　I　remembered；　too；　strange　stories　told　about　these　Ragged
Hills；　and　of　the　uncouth　and　fierce　races　of　men　who　tenanted　their
groves　and　caverns。　A　thousand　vague　fancies　oppressed　and
disconcerted　me…　fancies　the　more　distressing　because　vague。　Very
suddenly　my　attention　was　arrested　by　the　loud　beating　of　a　drum。

〃My　amazement　was；　of　course；　extreme。　A　drum　in　these　hills　was　a
thing　unknown。　I　could　not　have　been　more　surprised　at　the　sound　of
the　trump　of　the　Archangel。　But　a　new　and　still　more　astounding
source　of　interest　and　perplexity　arose。　There　came　a　wild　rattling
or　jingling　sound；　as　if　of　a　bunch　of　large　keys；　and　upon　the
instant　a　dusky…visaged　and　half…naked　man　rushed　past　me　with　a
shriek。　He　came　so　close　to　my　person　that　I　felt　his　hot　breath　upon
my　face。　He　bore　in　one　hand　an　instrument　composed　of　an　assemblage
of　steel　rings；　and　shook　them　vigorously　as　he　ran。　Scarcely　had　he
disappeared　in　the　mist　before；　panting　after　him；　with　open　mouth
and　glaring　eyes；　there　darted　a　huge　beast。　I　could　not　be　mistaken
in　its　character。　It　was　a　hyena。

〃The　sight　of　this　monster　rather　relieved　than　heightened　my　terrors
　for　I　now　made　sure　that　I　dreamed；　and　endeavored　to　arouse
myself　to　waking　consciousness。　I　stepped　boldly　and　briskly　forward。
I　rubbed　my　eyes。　I　called　aloud。　I　pinched　my　limbs。　A　small　spring
of　water　presented　itself　to　my　view；　and　here；　stooping；　I　bathed　my
hands　and　my　head　and　neck。　This　seemed　to　dissipate　the　equivocal
sensations　which　had　hitherto　annoyed　me。　I　arose；　as　I　thought；　a
new　man；　and　proceeded　steadily　and　complacently　on　my　unknown　way。

〃At　length；　quite　overcome　by　exertion；　and　by　a　certain　oppressive
closeness　of　the　atmosphere；　I　seated　myself　beneath　a　tree。
Presently　there　came　a　feeble　gleam　of　sunshine；　and　the　shadow　of
the　leaves　of　the　tree　fell　faintly　but　definitely　upon　the　grass。　At
this　shadow　I　gazed　wonderingly　for　many　minutes。　Its　character
stupefied　me　with　astonishment。　I　looked　upward。　The　tree　was　a　palm。

〃I　now　arose　hurriedly；　and　in　a　state　of　fearful　agitation　　for
the　fancy　that　I　dreamed　would　serve　me　no　longer。　I　saw　　I　felt
that　I　had　perfect　command　of　my　senses　　and　these　senses　now
brought　to　my　soul　a　world　of　novel　and　singular　sensation。　The　heat
became　all　at　once　intolerable。　A　strange　odor　loaded　the　breeze。　A
low；　continuous　murmur；　like　that　arising　from　a　full；　but　gently
flowing　river；　came　to　my　ears；　intermingled　with　the　peculiar　hum　of
multitudinous　human　voices。

〃While　I　listened　in　an　extremity　of　astonishment　which　I　need　not
attempt　to　describe；　a　strong　and　brief　gust　of　wind　bore　off　the
incumbent　fog　as　if　by　the　wand　of　an　enchanter。

〃I　found　myself　at　the　foot　of　a　high　mountain；　and　looking　down　into
a　vast　plain；　through　which　wound　a　majestic　river。　On　the　margin　of
this　river　stood　an　Eastern…looking　city；　such　as　we　read　of　in　the
Arabian　Tales；　but　of　a　character　even　more　singular　than　any　there
described。　From　my　position；　which　was　far　above　the　level　of　the
town；　I　could　perceive　its　every　nook　and　corner；　as　if　delineated　on
a　map。　The　streets　seemed　innumerable；　and　crossed　each　other
irregularly　in　all　directions；　but　were　rather　long　winding　alleys
than　streets；　and　absolutely　swarmed　with　inhabitants。　The　houses
were　wildly　picturesque。　On　every　hand　was　a　wilderness　of　balconies；
of　verandas；　of　minarets；　of　shrines；　and　fantastically　carved
oriels。　Bazaars　abounded；　and　in　these　were　displayed　rich　wares　in
infinite　variety　and　profusion　　silks；　muslins；　the　most　dazzling
cutlery；　the　most　magnificent　jewels　and　gems。　Besides　these　things；
were　seen；　on　all　sides；　banners　and　palanquins；　litters　with　stately
dames　close　veiled；　elephants　gorgeously　caparisoned；　idols
grotesquely　hewn；　drums；　banners；　and　gongs；　spears；　silver　and
gilded　maces。　And　amid　the　crowd；　and　the　clamor；　and　the　general
intricacy　and　confusion…　amid　the　million　of　black　and　yellow　men；
turbaned　and　robed；　and　of　flowing　beard；　there　roamed　a　countless
multitude　of　holy　filleted　bulls；　while　vast　legions　of　the　filthy
but　sacred　ape　clambered；　chattering　and　shrieking；　about　the
cornices　of　the　mosques；　or　clung　to　the　minarets　and　oriels。　From
the　swarming　streets　to　the　banks　of　the　river；　there　descended
innumerable　flights　of　steps　leading　to　bathing　places；　while　the
river　itself　seemed　to　force　a　passage　with　difficulty　through　the
vast　fleets　of　deeply　　burthened　ships　that　far　and　wide
encountered　its　surface。　Beyond　the　limits　of　the　city　arose；　in
frequent　majestic　groups；　the　palm　and　the　cocoa；　with　other　gigantic
and　weird　trees　of　vast　age；　and　here　and　there　might　be　seen　a　field
of　rice；　the　thatched　hut　of　a　peasant；　a　tank；　a　stray　temple；　a
gypsy　camp；　or　a　solitary　graceful　maiden　taking　her　way；　with　a
pitcher　upon　her　head；　to　the　banks　of　the　magnificent　river。

〃You　will　say　now；　of　course；　that　I　dreamed；　but　not　so。　What　I　saw
　what　I　heard　　what　I　felt　　what　I　thought　　had　about　it
nothing　of　the　unmistakable　idiosyncrasy　of　the　dream。　All　was
rigorously　self…consistent。　At　first；　doubting　that　I　was　really
awake；　I　entered　into　a　series　of　tests；　which　soon　convinced　me　that
I　really　was。　Now；　when　one　dreams；　and；　in　the　dream；　suspects　that
he　dreams；　the　suspicion　never　fails　to　confirm　itself；　and　the
sleeper　is　almost　immediately　aroused。　Thus　Novalis　errs　not　in
saying　that　'we　are　near　waking　when　we　dream　that　we　dream。'　Had　the
vision　occurred　to　me　as　I　describe　it；　without　my　suspecting　it　as　a
dream；　then　a　dream　it　might　absolutely　have　been；　but；　occurring　as
it　did；　and　suspected　and　tested　as　it　was；　I　am　forced　to　class　it
among　other　phenomena。〃

〃In　this　I　am　not　sure　that　you　are　wrong；〃　observed　Dr。　Templeton；
〃but　proceed。　You　arose　and　descended　into　the　city。〃

〃I　arose；〃　continued　Bedloe；　regarding　the　Doctor　with　an　air　of
profound　astonishment　〃I　arose；　as　you　say；　and　descended　into　the
city。　On　my　way　I　fell　in　with　an　immense　populace；　crowding　through
every　avenue；　all　in　the　same　direction；　and　exhibiting　in　every
action　the　wildest　excitement。　Very　suddenly；　and　by　some
inconceivable　impulse；　I　became　intensely　imbued　with　personal
interest　in　what　was　going　on。　I　seemed　to　feel　that　I　had　an
important　part　to　play；　without　exactly　understanding　what　it　was。
Against　the　crowd　which　environed　me；　however；　I　experienced　a　deep
sentiment　of　animosity。　I　shrank　from　amid　them；　and；　swiftly；　by　a
circuitous　path；　reached　and　entered　the　city。　Here　all　was　the
wildest　tumult　and　contention。　A　small　party　of　men；　clad　in　garments
half…Indian；　half…European；　and　officered　by　gentlemen　in　a　uniform
partly　British；　were　engaged；　at　great　odds；　with　the　swarming　rabble