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me； by slow yet certain degrees； the wild influences of his own fantastic
yet impressive superstitions。
It was； especially； upon retiring to bed late in the night of the seventh
or eighth day after the placing of the lady Madeline within the donjon； that
I experienced the full power of such feelings。 Sleep came not near my
couchwhile the hours waned and waned away。 I struggled to reason off
the nervousness which had dominion over me。 I endeavoured to believe
that much； if not all of what I felt； was due to the bewildering influence of
the gloomy furniture of the roomof the dark and tattered draperies； which；
tortured into motion by the breath of a rising tempest； swayed fitfully to
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The Fall of the House of Usher
and fro upon the walls； and rustled uneasily about the decorations of the
bed。 But my efforts were fruitless。 An irrepressible tremor gradually
pervaded my frame； and； at length； there sat upon my very heart an
incubus of utterly causeless alarm。 Shaking this off with a gasp and a
struggle； I uplifted myself upon the pillows； and； peering earnestly within
the intense darkness of the chamber； hearkened I know not why； except
that an instinctive spirit prompted meto certain low and indefinite sounds
which came； through the pauses of the storm； at long intervals； I knew not
whence。 Overpowered by an intense sentiment of horror； unaccountable
yet unendurable； I threw on my clothes with haste （for I felt that I should
sleep no more during the night；） and endeavoured to arouse myself from
the pitiable condition into which I had fallen； by pacing rapidly to and fro
through the apartment。
I had taken but few turns in this manner； when a light step on an
adjoining staircase arrested my attention。 I presently recognized it as that
of Usher。 In an instant afterwards he rapped； with a gentle touch； at my
door； and entered； bearing a lamp。 His countenance was； as usual；
cadaverously wanbut； moreover； there was a species of mad hilarity in
his eyesan evidently restrained hysteria in his whole demeanour。 His air
appalled mebut anything was preferable to the solitude which I had so
long endured； and I even welcomed his presence as a relief。
〃And you have not seen it？〃 he said abruptly； after having stared about
him for some moments in silence〃you have not then seen it？but； stay！
you shall。〃 Thus speaking； and having carefully shaded his lamp； he
hurried to one of the casements； and threw it freely open to the storm。
The impetuous fury of the entering gust nearly lifted us from our feet。
It was； indeed； a tempestuous yet sternly beautiful night； and one wildly
singular in its terror and its beauty。 A whirlwind had apparently collected
its force in our vicinity； for there were frequent and violent alterations in
the direction of the wind； and the exceeding density of the clouds （which
hung so low as to press upon the turrets of the house） did not prevent our
perceiving the lifelike velocity with which they flew careering from all
points against each other； without passing away into the distance。 I say
that even their exceeding density did not prevent our perceiving thisyet
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The Fall of the House of Usher
we had no glimpse of the moon or starsnor was there any flashing forth
of the lightning。 But the under surfaces of the huge masses of agitated
vapor； as well as all terrestrial objects immediately around us； were
glowing in the unnatural light of a faintly luminous and distinctly visible
gaseous exhalation which hung about and enshrouded the mansion。
〃You must notyou shall not behold this！〃 said I； shudderingly； to
Usher； as I led him； with a gentle violence； from the window to a seat。
〃These appearances； which bewilder you； are merely electrical phenomena
not uncommonor it may be that they have their ghastly origin in the rank
miasma of the tarn。 Let us close this casement；the air is chilling and
dangerous to your frame。 Here is one of your favourite romances。 I will
read； and you shall listen；and so we will pass away this terrible night
together。〃
The antique volume which I had taken up was the 〃Mad Trist〃 of Sir
Launcelot Canning； but I had called it a favourite of Usher's more in sad
jest than in earnest； for； in truth； there is little in its uncouth and
unimaginative prolixity which could have had interest for the lofty and
spiritual ideality of my friend。 It was； however； the only book immediately
at hand； and I indulged a vague hope that the excitement which now
agitated the hypochondriac； might find relief （for the history of mental
disorder is full of similar anomalies） even in the extremeness of the folly
which I should read。 Could I have judged； indeed； by the wild overstrained
air of vivacity with which he hearkened； or apparently hearkened； to the
words of the tale； I might well have congratulated myself upon the success
of my design。
I had arrived at that well…known portion of the story where Ethelred；
the hero of the Trist； having sought in vain for peaceable admission into
the dwelling of the hermit； proceeds to make good an entrance by force。
Here； it will be remembered； the words of the narrative run thus：
〃And Ethelred； who was by nature of a doughty heart； and who was
now mighty withal； on account of the powerfulness of the wine which he
had drunken； waited no longer to hold parley with the hermit； who； in
sooth； was of an obstinate and maliceful turn； but； feeling the rain upon his
shoulders； and fearing the rising of the tempest； uplifted his mace outright；
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The Fall of the House of Usher
and； with blows； made quickly room in the plankings of the door for his
gauntleted hand； and now pulling therewith sturdily； he so cracked； and
ripped； and tore all asunder； that the noise of the dry and hollow…sounding
wood alarmed and reverberated throughout the forest。〃
At the termination of this sentence I started； and for a moment； paused；
for it appeared to me （although I at once concluded that my excited fancy
had deceived me）it appeared to me that； from some very remote portion
of the mansion； there came； indistinctly； to my ears； what might have been；
in its exact similarity of character； the echo （but a stifled and dull one
certainly） of the very cracking and ripping sound which Sir Launcelot had
so particularly described。 It was； beyond doubt； the coincidence alone
which had arrested my attention； for； amid the rattling of the sashes of the
casements； and the ordinary commingled noises of the still increasing
storm； the sound； in itself； had nothing； surely； which should have
interested or disturbed me。 I continued the story：
〃But the good champion Ethelred； now entering within the door； was
sore enraged and amazed to perceive no signal of the maliceful hermit； but；
in the stead thereof； a dragon of a scaly and prodigious demeanour； and of
a fiery tongue； which sate in guard before a palace of gold； with a floor of
silver； and upon the wall there hung a shield of shining brass with this
legend enwritten
Who entereth herein； a conquerer hath bin；
Who slayeth the dragon； the shield he shall win；
and Ethelred uplifted his mace； and struck upon the head of the dragon；
which fell before him； and gave up his pesty breath； with a shriek so horrid
and harsh； and withal so piercing； that Ethelred had fain to close his ears
with his hands against the dreadful noise of it； the like whereof was never
before heard。〃
Here again I paused abruptly； and now with a feeling of wild
amazementfor there could be no doubt whatever that； in this instance； I
did actually hear （although from what direction it proceeded I found it
impossible to say） a low and apparently distant； but harsh； protracted； and
most unusual screaming or grating soundthe exact counterpart of what
my fancy had alrea