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all things heavenly the magnificent turn of the short upper lip
the soft； voluptuous slumber of the under the dimples which
sported； and the color which spoke the teeth glancing back； with a
brilliancy almost startling； every ray of the holy light which fell
upon them in her serene and placid； yet most exultingly radiant of
all smiles。 I scrutinized the formation of the chin and here； too；
I found the gentleness of breadth； the softness and the majesty； the
fullness and the spirituality； of the Greek the contour which the
god Apollo revealed but in a dream； to Cleomenes； the son of the
Athenian。 And then I peered into the large eves of Ligeia。
For eyes we have no models in the remotely antique。 It might have
been； too； that in these eves of my beloved lay the secret to which
Lord Verulam alludes。 They were； I must believe； far larger than the
ordinary eyes of our own race。 They were even fuller than the fullest
of the gazelle eyes of the tribe of the valley of Nourjahad。 Yet it
was only at intervals in moments of intense excitement that
this peculiarity became more than slightly noticeable in Ligeia。 And
at such moments was her beauty in my heated fancy thus it appeared
perhaps the beauty of beings either above or apart from the earth
the beauty of the fabulous Houri of the Turk。 The hue of the orbs
was the most brilliant of black； and； far over them； hung jetty
lashes of great length。 The brows； slightly irregular in outline； had
the same tint。 The 〃strangeness；〃 however； which I found in the eyes；
was of a nature distinct from the formation； or the color； or the
brilliancy of the features； and must； after all； be referred to the
expression。 Ah； word of no meaning！ behind whose vast latitude of
mere sound we intrench our ignorance of so much of the spiritual。 The
expression of the eyes of Ligeia！ How for long hours have I pondered
upon it！ How have I； through the whole of a midsummer night；
struggled to fathom it！ What was it that something more profound
than the well of Democritus which lay far within the pupils of my
beloved？ What was it？ I was possessed with a passion to discover。
Those eyes！ those large； those shining； those divine orbs！ they
became to me twin stars of Leda； and I to them devoutest of
astrologers。
There is no point； among the many incomprehensible anomalies of the
science of mind； more thrillingly exciting than the fact never； I
believe； noticed in the schools that； in our endeavors to recall
to memory something long forgotten； we often find ourselves upon the
very verge of remembrance； without being able； in the end； to
remember。 And thus how frequently； in my intense scrutiny of Ligeia's
eyes； have I felt approaching the full knowledge of their expression
felt it approaching yet not quite be mine and so at length
entirely depart！ And （strange； oh strangest mystery of all！） I found；
in the commonest objects of the universe； a circle of analogies to
theat expression。 I mean to say that； subsequently to the period when
Ligeia's beauty passed into my spirit； there dwelling as in a shrine；
I derived； from many existences in the material world； a sentiment
such as I felt always aroused within me by her large and luminous
orbs。 Yet not the more could I define that sentiment； or analyze； or
even steadily view it。 I recognized it； let me repeat； sometimes in
the survey of a rapidly…growing vine in the contemplation of a
moth； a butterfly； a chrysalis； a stream of running water。 I have
felt it in the ocean； in the falling of a meteor。 I have felt it in
the glances of unusually aged people。 And there are one or two stars
in heaven （one especially； a star of the sixth magnitude； double
and changeable； to be found near the large star in Lyra） in a
telescopic scrutiny of which I have been made aware of the feeling。 I
have been filled with it by certain sounds from stringed instruments；
and not unfrequently by passages from books。 Among innumerable other
instances； I well remember something in a volume of Joseph Glanvill；
which （perhaps merely from its quaintness who shall say？） never
failed to inspire me with the sentiment； 〃And the will therein
lieth； which dieth not。 Who knoweth the mysteries of the will； with
its vigor？ For God is but a great will pervading all things by nature
of its intentness。 Man doth not yield him to the angels； nor unto
death utterly； save only through the weakness of his feeble will。〃
Length of years； and subsequent reflection； have enabled me to trace；
indeed； some remote connection between this passage in the English
moralist and a portion of the character of Ligeia。 An intensity in
thought； action； or speech； was possibly； in her； a result； or at
least an index； of that gigantic volition which； during our long
intercourse； failed to give other and more immediate evidence of its
existence。 Of all the women whom I have ever known； she； the
outwardly calm； the ever…placid Ligeia； was the most violently a prey
to the tumultuous vultures of stern passion。 And of such passion I
could form no estimate； save by the miraculous expansion of those
eyes which at once so delighted and appalled me by the almost
magical melody； modulation； distinctness and placidity of her very
low voice and by the fierce energy （rendered doubly effective by
contrast with her manner of utterance） of the wild words which she
habitually uttered。
I have spoken of the learning of Ligeia： it was immense such as I
have never known in woman。 In the classical tongues was she deeply
proficient； and as far as my own acquaintance extended in regard to
the modern dialects of Europe； I have never known her at fault。
Indeed upon any theme of the most admired； because simply the most
abstruse of the boasted erudition of the academy； have I ever found
Ligeia at fault？ How singularly how thrillingly； this one point in
the nature of my wife has forced itself； at this late period only；
upon my attention！ I said her knowledge was such as I have never
known in woman but where breathes the man who has traversed； and
successfully； all the wide areas of moral； physical； and mathematical
science？ I saw not then what I now clearly perceive； that the
acquisitions of Ligeia were gigantic； were astounding； yet I was
sufficiently aware of her infinite supremacy to resign myself； with a
child…like confidence； to her guidance through the chaotic world of
metaphysical investigation at which I was most busily occupied during
the earlier years of our marriage。 With how vast a triumph with
how vivid a delight with how much of all that is ethereal in hope
did I feel； as she bent over me in studies but little sought
but less known that delicious vista by slow degrees expanding
before me； down whose long； gorgeous； and all untrodden path； I might
at length pass onward to the goal of a wisdom too divinely precious
not to be forbidden！
How poignant； then； must have been the grief with which； after some
years； I beheld my well…grounded expectations take wings to
themselves and fly away！ Without Ligeia I was but as a child groping
benighted。 Her presence； her readings alone； rendered vividly
luminous the many mysteries of the transcendentalism in which we were
immersed。 Wanting the radiant lustre of her eyes； letters； lambent
and golden； grew duller than Saturnian lead。 And now those eyes shone
less and less frequently upon the pages over which I pored。 Ligeia
grew ill。 The wild eyes blazed with a too too glorious effulgence；
the pale fingers became of the transparent waxen hue of the grave；
and the blue veins upon the lofty forehead swelled and sank
impetuously with the tides of the gentle emotion。 I saw that she must
die and I struggled desperately in spirit with the grim Azrael。
And the struggles of the passionate wife were； to my astonishment；
even more energetic than my own。 There had been much in her stern
nature to impress me with the belief that； to her； death would have
come without its terrors； but not so。 Words are impotent to convey
any just idea of the fierceness of resistance with which she wrestled
with the Shadow。 I groaned in anguish at the pitiable spectacle。
would have soothed I would have reasoned； but； in the intensity of
her wild desire for life； for life but for life solace and
reason were the uttermost folly。 Yet not until the last instance；
amid the most convulsive writhings of her fierce spirit； was shaken
the external placidity of her demeanor。 Her voice grew more gentle
grew more low yet I would not wish to dwell upon the wild meaning
of the quietly uttered words。 My brain reeled as I hearkened
entranced； to a melody more than mortal to assumptions and
aspirations which mortality had never before known。
That she loved me I should not have doubted； and I might have been
easily aware that； in a bosom such as hers； love would have reigned
no ordinary passion。 But in death only； was I fully impressed with
the strength of her affection。 For long hours； detaining my hand；
would she pour out before me the overflowing of a heart whose more
than passionate devotion amounted to idolatry。 How had I deserved to
be so blessed by such confessions？ how had I deserved to