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varied rapidly from a tremulous indecision （when the animal spirits
seemed utterly in abeyance） to that species of energetic concisionthat
abrupt； weighty； unhurried； and hollow…sounding enunciationthat leaden；
self… balanced and perfectly modulated guttural utterance； which may be
observed in the lost drunkard； or the irreclaimable eater of opium； during
the periods of his most intense excitement。
It was thus that he spoke of the object of my visit； of his earnest desire
to see me； and of the solace he expected me to afford him。 He entered； at
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The Fall of the House of Usher
some length； into what he conceived to be the nature of his malady。 It was；
he said； a constitutional and a family evil； and one for which he despaired
to find a remedya mere nervous affection； he immediately added； which
would undoubtedly soon pass off。 It displayed itself in a host of unnatural
sensations。 Some of these； as he detailed them； interested and bewildered
me； although； perhaps； the terms； and the general manner of the narration
had their weight。 He suffered much from a morbid acuteness of the senses；
the most insipid food was alone endurable； he could wear only garments
of certain texture； the odours of all flowers were oppressive； his eyes were
tortured by even a faint light； and there were but peculiar sounds； and
these from stringed instruments； which did not inspire him with horror。
To an anomalous species of terror I found him a bounden slave。 〃I
shall perish；〃 said he； 〃I must perish in this deplorable folly。 Thus； thus；
and not otherwise； shall I be lost。 I dread the events of the future； not in
themselves； but in their results。 I shudder at the thought of any； even the
most trivial； incident； which may operate upon this intolerable agitation of
soul。 I have； indeed； no abhorrence of danger； except in its absolute effect…
…in terror。 In this unnervedin this pitiable conditionI feel that the period
will sooner or later arrive when I must abandon life and reason together； in
some struggle with the grim phantasm； FEAR。〃
I learned； moreover； at intervals； and through broken and equivocal
hints； another singular feature of his mental condition。 He was enchained
by certain superstitious impressions in regard to the dwelling which he
tenanted； and whence； for many years； he had never ventured forthin
regard to an influence whose supposititious force was conveyed in terms
too shadowy here to be re…statedan influence which some peculiarities in
the mere form and substance of his family mansion； had； by dint of long
sufferance； he said； obtained over his spiritan effect which the physique
of the grey walls and turrets； and of the dim tarn into which they all looked
down； had； at length； brought about upon the morale of his existence。
He admitted； however； although with hesitation； that much of the
peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural
and far more palpable originto the severe and long…continued illness
indeed to the evidently approaching dis… solutionof a tenderly beloved
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The Fall of the House of Usher
sisterhis sole companion for long yearshis last and only relative on
earth。 〃Her decease；〃 he said； with a bitterness which I can never forget；
〃would leave him （him the hopeless and the frail） the last of the ancient
race of the Ushers。〃 While he spoke； the lady Madeline （for so was she
called） passed slowly through a remote portion of the apartment； and；
without having noticed my presence； disappeared。 I regarded her with an
utter astonishment not unmingled with dreadand yet I found it
impossible to account for such feelings。 A sensation of stupor oppressed
me； as my eyes followed her retreating steps。 When a door； at length；
closed upon her； my glance sought instinctively and eagerly the
countenance of the brotherbut he had buried his face in his hands； and I
could only perceive that a far more than ordinary wanness had overspread
the emaciated fingers through which trickled many passionate tears。
The disease of the lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her
physicians。 A settled apathy； a gradual wasting away of the person； and
frequent although transient affections of a partially cataleptical character；
were the unusual diagnosis。 Hitherto she had steadily borne up against the
pressure of her malady； and had not betaken herself finally to bed； but； on
the closing in of the evening of my arrival at the house； she succumbed （as
her brother told me at night with inexpressible agitation） to the prostrating
power of the destroyer； and I learned that the glimpse I had obtained of her
person would thus probably be the last I should obtainthat the lady； at
least while living； would be seen by me no more。
For several days ensuing； her name was unmentioned by either Usher
or myself： and during this period I was busied in earnest endeavours to
alleviate the melancholy of my friend。 We painted and read together； or I
listened； as if in a dream； to the wild improvisations of his speaking guitar。
And thus； as a closer and still closer intimacy admitted me more
unreservedly into the recesses of his spirit； the more bitterly did I perceive
the futility of all attempt at cheering a mind from which darkness； as if an
inherent positive quality； poured forth upon all objects of the moral and
physical universe； in one unceasing radiation of gloom。
I shall ever bear about me a memory of the many solemn hours I thus
spent alone with the master of the House of Usher。 Yet I should fail in any
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The Fall of the House of Usher
attempt to convey an idea of the exact character of the studies； or of the
occupations； in which he involved me； or led me the way。 An excited and
highly distempered ideality threw a sulphureous lustre over all。 His long
improvised dirges will ring for ever in my ears。 Among other things； I hold
painfully in mind a certain singular perversion and amplification of the
wild air of the last waltz of Von Weber。 From the paintings over which his
elaborate fancy brooded； and which grew； touch by touch； into vagueness
at which I sh