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〃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 already conjured up for the dragon's unnatural shriek as
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The Fall of the House of Usher
described by the romancer。
Oppressed； as I certainly was； upon the occurrence of the second and
most extraordinary coincidence； by a thousand conflicting sensations； in
which wonder and extreme terror were predominant； I still retained
sufficient presence of mind to avoid exciting； by any observation； the
sensitive nervousness of my companion。 I was by no means certain that he
had noticed the sounds in question； although； assuredly； a strange
alteration had； during the last few minutes； taken place in his demeanour。
From a position fronting my own； he had gradually brought round his
chair； so as to sit with his face to the door of the chamber； and thus I could
but partially perceive his features； although I saw that his lips trembled as
if he were murmuring inaudibly。 His head had dropped upon his breast
yet I knew that he was not asleep； from the wide and rigid opening of the
eye as I caught a glance of it in profile。 The motion of his body； too； was at
variance with this ideafor he rocked from side to side with a gentle yet
constant and uniform sway。 Having rapidly taken notice of all this； I
resumed the narrative of Sir Launcelot； which thus proceeded：
〃And now； the champion； having escaped from the terrible fury of the
dragon； bethinking himself of the brazen shield； and of the breaking up of
the enchantment which was upon it； removed the carcass from out of the
way before him； and approached valorously over the silver pavement of
the castle to where the shield was upon the wall； which in sooth tarried not
for his full coming； but fell down at his feet upon the silver floor； with a
mighty great and terrible ringing sound。〃
No sooner had these syllables passed my lips； thanas if a shield of
brass had indeed； at the moment； fallen heavily upon a floor of silverI
became aware of a distinct； hollow； metallic； and clangorous； yet
apparently muffled reverberation。 Completely unnerved； I leaped to my
feet； but the measured rocking movement of Usher was undisturbed。 I
rushed to the chair in which he sat。 His eyes were bent fixedly before him；
and throughout his whole countenance there reigned a stony rigidity。 But；
as I placed my hand upon his shoulder； there came a strong shudder over
his whole person； a sickly smile quivered about his lips； and I saw that he
spoke in a low； hurried； and gibbering murmur； as if unconscious of my
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The Fall of the House of Usher
presence。 Bending closely over him； I at length drank in the hideous
import of his words。
〃Not hear it？yes； I hear it； and have heard it。 Long… …longlong
many minutes； many hours； many days； have I heard ityet I dared not
oh； pity me； miserable wretch that I am！I dared notI dared not speak！
We have put her living in the tomb！ Said I not that my senses were acute？
I now tell you that I heard her first feeble movements in the hollow coffin。
I heard themmany； many days agoyet I dared notI dared not speak！
And nowto…nightEthelredha！ ha！the breaking of the hermit's door；
and the death…cry of the dragon； and the clangour of the shield！say； rather；
the rending of her coffin； and the grating of the iron hinges of her prison；
and her struggles within the coppered archway of the vault！ Oh whither
shall I fly？ Will she not be here anon？ Is she not hurrying to upbraid me
for my haste？ Hav