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words of this Strange Story； the same faithful arms close around
me； the same tender lips kiss away my tears。
Thomas De Quincey
The Avenger
〃Why callest thou me murderer； and not rather the wrath of God
burning after the steps of the oppressor； and cleansing the earth
when it is wet with blood？〃
That series of terrific events by which our quiet city and
university in the northeastern quarter of Germany were convulsed
during the year 1816； has in itself； and considered merely as a
blind movement of human tiger…passion ranging unchained among men；
something too memorable to be forgotten or left without its own
separate record； but the moral lesson impressed by these events is
yet more memorable； and deserves the deep attention of coming
generations in their struggle after human improvement； not merely
in its own limited field of interest directly awakened； but in all
analogous fields of interest； as in fact already； and more than
once； in connection with these very events； this lesson has
obtained the effectual attention of Christian kings and princes
assembled in congress。 No tragedy； indeed； among all the sad ones
by which the charities of the human heart or of the fireside have
ever been outraged； can better merit a separate chapter in the
private history of German manners or social life than this
unparalleled case。 And； on the other hand； no one can put in a
better claim to be the historian than myself。
I was at the time； and still am； a professor in that city and
university which had the melancholy distinction of being its
theater。 I knew familiarly all the parties who were concerned in
it； either as sufferers or as agents。 I was present from first to
last； and watched the whole course of the mysterious storm which
fell upon our devoted city in a strength like that of a West Indian
hurricane； and which did seriously threaten at one time to
depopulate our university； through the dark suspicions which
settled upon its members； and the natural reaction of generous
indignation in repelling them； while the city in its more
stationary and native classes would very soon have manifested THEIR
awful sense of things； of the hideous insecurity for life； and of
the unfathomable dangers which had undermined their hearths below
their very feet； by sacrificing； whenever circumstances allowed
them； their houses and beautiful gardens in exchange for days
uncursed by panic； and nights unpolluted by blood。 Nothing； I can
take upon myself to assert； was left undone of all that human
foresight could suggest； or human ingenuity could accomplish。 But
observe the melancholy result： the more certain did these
arrangements strike people as remedies for the evil； so much the
more effectually did they aid the terror； but； above all； the awe；
the sense of mystery； when ten cases of total extermination；
applied to separate households； had occurred； in every one of which
these precautionary aids had failed to yield the slightest
assistance。 The horror； the perfect frenzy of fear； which seized
upon the town after that experience； baffles all attempt at
description。 Had these various contrivances failed merely in some
human and intelligible way； as by bringing the aid too tardily
still； in such cases； though the danger would no less have been
evidently deepened； nobody would have felt any further mystery than
what； from the very first； rested upon the persons and the motives
of the murderers。 But； as it was； when； in ten separate cases of
exterminating carnage； the astounded police； after an examination
the most searching； pursued from day to day； and almost exhausting
the patience by the minuteness of the investigation； had finally
pronounced that no attempt apparently had been made to benefit by
any of the signals preconcerted； that no footstep apparently had
moved in that directionthen； and after that result； a blind
misery of fear fell upon the population； so much the worse than any
anguish of a beleaguered city that is awaiting the storming fury of
a victorious enemy； by how much the shadowy； the uncertain； the
infinite； is at all times more potent in mastering the mind than a
danger that is known； measurable； palpable； and human。 The very
police； instead of offering protection or encouragement； were
seized with terror for themselves。 And the general feeling； as it
was described to me by a grave citizen whom I met in a morning walk
（for the overmastering sense of a public calamity broke down every
barrier of reserve； and all men talked freely to all men in the
streets； as they would have done during the rockings of an
earthquake）； was； even among the boldest； like that which sometimes
takes possession of the mind in dreamswhen one feels oneself
sleeping alone； utterly divided from all call or hearing of
friends； doors open that should be shut； or unlocked that should be
triply secured； the very walls gone； barriers swallowed up by
unknown abysses； nothing around one but frail curtains； and a world
of illimitable night； whisperings at a distance； correspondence
going on between darkness and darkness； like one deep calling to
another； and the dreamer's own heart the center from which the
whole network of this unimaginable chaos radiates； by means of
which the blank PRIVATIONS of silence and darkness become powers
the most POSITIVE and awful。
Agencies of fear； as of any other passion； and； above all； of
passion felt in communion with thousands； and in which the heart
beats in conscious sympathy with an entire city； through all its
regions of high and low； young and old； strong and weak； such
agencies avail to raise and transfigure the natures of men； mean
minds become elevated； dull men become eloquent； and when matters
came to this crisis； the public feeling； as made known by voice；
gesture； manner； or words； was such that no stranger could
represent it to his fancy。 In that respect； therefore； I had an
advantage； being upon the spot through the whole course of the
affair； for giving a faithful narrative； as I had still more
eminently； from the sort of central station which I occupied； with
respect to all the movements of the case。 I may add that I had
another advantage； not possessed； or not in the same degree； by any
other inhabitant of the town。 I was personally acquainted with
every family of the slightest account belonging to the resident
population； whether among the old local gentry； or the new settlers
whom the late wars had driven to take refuge within our walls。
It was in September； 1815； that I received a letter from the chief
secretary to the Prince of M； a nobleman connected with the
diplomacy of Russia； from which I quote an extract： 〃I wish； in
short； to recommend to your attentions； and in terms stronger than
I know how to devise； a young man on whose behalf the czar himself
is privately known to have expressed the very strongest interest。
He was at the b