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The Masque of the Red Death
by Edgar Allan Poe
The 〃Red Death〃 had long devastated the country。 No
pestilence had ever been so fatal； or so hideous。 Blood was its
Avatar and its sealthe redness and the horror of blood。 There were
sharp pains； and sudden dizziness； and then profuse bleeding at the
pores； with dissolution。 The scarlet stains upon the body and
especially upon the face of the victim； were the pest ban which
shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow…men。
And the whole seizure； progress and termination of the disease；
were the incidents of half an hour。
But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious。
When his dominions were half depopulated； he summoned to his
presence a thousand hale and light…hearted friends from among the
knights and dames of his court； and with these retired to the deep
seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys。 This was an extensive
and magnificent structure； the creation of the prince's own
eccentric yet august taste。 A strong and lofty wall girdled it in。
This wall had gates of iron。 The courtiers； having entered；
brought furnaces and massy hammers and welded the bolts。 They
resolved to leave means neither of ingress nor egress to the sudden
impulses of despair or of frenzy from within。 The abbey was amply
provisioned。 With such precautions the courtiers might bid
defiance to contagion。 The external world could take care of
itself。 In the meantime it was folly to grieve； or to think。 The
prince had provided all the appliances of pleasure。 There were
buffoons； there were improvisatori； there were ballet…dancers；
there were musicians； there was Beauty； there was wine。 All these
and security were within。 Without was the 〃Red Death〃。
It was towards the close of the fifth or sixth month of his
seclusion； and while the pestilence raged most furiously
abroad； that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends
at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence。
It was a voluptuous scene； that masquerade。 But first let me
tell of the rooms in which it was held。 These were sevenan
imperial suite。 In many palaces； however； such suites form a long
and straight vista； while the folding doors slide back nearly to
the walls on either hand； so that the view of the whole extent is
scarcely impeded。 Here the case was very different； as might have
been expected from the duke's love of the bizarre。 The
apartments were so irregularly disposed that the vision embraced
but little more than one at a time。 There was a sharp turn at
every twenty or thirty yards； and at each turn a novel effect。 To
the right and left； in the middle of each wall； a tall and narrow
Gothic window looked out upon a closed corridor which pursued the
windings of the suite。 These windows were of stained glass whose
colour varied in accordance with the prevailing hue of the
decorations of the chamber into which it opened。 That at the
eastern extremity was hung； for example in blueand vividly blue
were its windows。 The second chamber was purple in its ornaments
and tapestries； and here the panes were purple。 The third was
green throughout； and so were the casements。 The fourth was
furnished and lighted with orangethe fifth with whitethe sixth
with violet。 The seventh apartment was closely shrouded in black
velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the
walls； falling in heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material
and hue。 But in this chamber only； the colour of the windows
failed to correspond with the decorations。 The panes here were
scarleta deep blood colour。 Now in no one of the seven
apartments was there any lamp or candelabrum； amid the profusion of
golden ornaments that lay scattered to and fro or depended from the
roof。 There was no light of any kind emanating from lamp or candle
within the suite of chambers。 But in the corridors that followed
the suite； there stood； opposite to each window； a heavy tripod；
bearing a brazier of fire； that projected its rays through the
tinted glass and so glaringly illumined the room。 And thus were
produced a multitude of gaudy and fantastic appearances。 But in
the western or black chamber the effect of the fire…light that
streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood…tinted panes；
was ghastly in the extreme； and produced so wild a look upon the
countenances of those who entered； that there were few of the
company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all。
It was in this apartment； also； that there stood against the
western wall； a gigantic clock of ebony。 Its pendulum swung to and
fro with a dull； heavy； monotonous clang； and when the minute…hand
made the circuit of the face； and the hour was to be stricken；
there came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was
clear and loud and deep and exceedingly musical； but of so peculiar
a note and emphasis that； at each lapse of an hour； the musicians
of the orchestra were constrained to pause； momentarily； in their
performance； to harken to the sound； and thus the waltzers perforce
ceased their evolutions； and there was a brief disconcert of the
whole gay company； and； while the chimes of the clock yet rang； it
was observed that the giddiest grew pale； and the more aged and
sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused
revery or meditation。 But when the echoes had fully ceased； a
light laughter at once pervaded the assembly； the musicians looked
at each other and smiled as if at their own nervousness and folly；
and made whispering vows； each to the other； that the next chiming
of the clock should produce in them no similar emotion； and then；
after the lapse of sixty minutes； （which embrace three thousand and
six hundred seconds of the Time that flies；） there came yet another
chiming of the clock； and then were the same disconcert and
tremulousness and meditation as before。
But； in spite of these things； it was a gay and magnificent
revel。 The tastes of the duke were peculiar。 He had a fine eye
for colours and effects。 He disregarded the decora of mere
fashion。 His plans were bold and fiery； and his conceptions glowed
with barbaric lustre。 There are some who would have thought him
mad。 His followers felt that he was not。 It was necessary to hear
and see and touch him to be sure that he was not。
He had directed； in great part； the movable embellishments of
the seven chambers； upon occasion of this great fete； and it
was his own guiding taste which had given character to the
masqueraders。 Be sure they were grotesque。 There were much glare
and glitter and piquancy and phantasmmuch of what has been since
seen in 〃Hernani〃。 There were arabesque figures with
unsuited limbs and appointments。 There were delirious fancies such
as the madman fashions。 There were much of the beautiful； much of
the wanton； much of the bizarre； something of the terrible； and
not a little of that which might have excited disgust。 To and fro
in the seven chambers there stalked； in fact； a multitude of
dreams。 And thesethe dreamswrithed in and about taking hue
from the rooms； and causing the wild music of the orchestra to seem
as the echo of their steps。 And； anon； there strikes the ebony
clock which stands in the hall of the velvet。 And then； for a
moment； all is still； and all is silent save the voice of the
clock。 The dreams are stiff…frozen as they stand。 But the echoes
of the chime die awaythey have endured but an instantand a
light； half…subdued laughter floats after them as they depart。 And
now again the music swells； and the dreams live； and writhe to and
fro more merrily than ever； taking hue from the many tinted windows
through which stream the rays from the tripods。 But to the chamber
which lies most westwardly of the seven； there are now none of the
maskers who venture； for the night is waning away； and there flows
a ruddier light through the blood…coloured panes； and the blackness
of the sable drapery appals； and to him whose foot falls upon the
sable carpet； there comes from the near clock of ebony a muffled
peal more solemnly emphatic than any which reaches their ears
who indulged in the more remote gaieties of the other apartments。
But these other apartments were densely crowded； and in them
beat feverishly the heart of life。 And the revel went whirlingly
on； until at length there commenced the sounding of midnight upon
the clock。 And then the music ceased； as I have told； and the
evolutions of the waltzers were quieted； and there was an uneasy
cessation of all things as before。 But now there were twelve
strokes to be sounded by the bell of the clock； and thus it
happened； perhaps； that more of thought crept； with more of time；
into the meditations of the thoughtful among those who revelled。
And thus too； it happened； perhaps； that before the last echoes of