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a semi…Gothic； semi…Druidical device。 From out the most central
recess of this melancholy vaulting； depended； by a single chain of
gold with long links； a huge censer of the same metal； Saracenic in
pattern； and with many perforations so contrived that there writhed
in and out of them； as if endued with a serpent vitality； a continual
succession of parti…colored fires。
Some few ottomans and golden candelabra； of Eastern figure； were in
various stations about and there was the couch； too bridal
couch of an Indian model； and low； and sculptured of solid ebony；
with a pall…like canopy above。 In each of the angles of the chamber
stood on end a gigantic sarcophagus of black granite； from the tombs
of the kings over against Luxor； with their aged lids full of
immemorial sculpture。 But in the draping of the apartment lay； alas！
the chief phantasy of all。 The lofty walls； gigantic in height
even unproportionably so were hung from summit to foot； in vast
folds； with a heavy and massive…looking tapestry tapestry of a
material which was found alike as a carpet on the floor； as a
covering for the ottomans and the ebony bed； as a canopy for the bed；
and as the gorgeous volutes of the curtains which partially shaded
the window。 The material was the richest cloth of gold。 It was
spotted all over； at irregular intervals； with arabesque figures；
about a foot in diameter； and wrought upon the cloth in patterns of
the most jetty black。 But these figures partook of the true character
of the arabesque only when regarded from a single point of view。 By a
contrivance now common； and indeed traceable to a very remote period
of antiquity； they were made changeable in aspect。 To one entering
the room； they bore the appearance of simple monstrosities； but upon
a farther advance； this appearance gradually departed； and step by
step； as the visitor moved his station in the chamber； he saw himself
surrounded by an endless succession of the ghastly forms which belong
to the superstition of the Norman； or arise in the guilty slumbers of
the monk。 The phantasmagoric effect was vastly heightened by the
artificial introduction of a strong continual current of wind behind
the draperies giving a hideous and uneasy animation to the whole。
In halls such as these in a bridal chamber such as this I
passed； with the Lady of Tremaine； the unhallowed hours of the first
month of our marriage passed them with but little disquietude。
That my wife dreaded the fierce moodiness of my temper that she
shunned me and loved me but little I could not help perceiving；
but it gave me rather pleasure than otherwise。 I loathed her with a
hatred belonging more to demon than to man。 My memory flew back； （oh；
with what intensity of regret！） to Ligeia； the beloved； the august；
the beautiful； the entombed。 I revelled in recollections of her
purity； of her wisdom； of her lofty； her ethereal nature； of her
passionate； her idolatrous love。 Now； then； did my spirit fully and
freely burn with more than all the fires of her own。 In the
excitement of my opium dreams （for I was habitually fettered in the
shackles of the drug） I would call aloud upon her name； during the
silence of the night； or among the sheltered recesses of the glens by
day； as if； through the wild eagerness； the solemn passion； the
consuming ardor of my longing for the departed； I could restore her
to the pathway she had abandoned ah； could it be forever？ upon
the earth。
About the commencement of the second month of the marriage； the Lady
Rowena was attacked with sudden illness； from which her recovery was
slow。 The fever which consumed her rendered her nights uneasy； and in
her perturbed state of half…slumber； she spoke of sounds； and of
motions； in and about the chamber of the turret； which I concluded
had no origin save in the distemper of her fancy； or perhaps in the
phantasmagoric influences of the chamber itself。 She became at length
convalescent finally well。 Yet but a brief period elapsed； ere a
second more violent disorder again threw her upon a bed of suffering；
and from this attack her frame； at all times feeble； never altogether
recovered。 Her illnesses were； after this epoch； of alarming
character； and of more alarming recurrence； defying alike the
knowledge and the great exertions of her physicians。 With the
increase of the chronic disease which had thus； apparently； taken too
sure hold upon her constitution to be eradicated by human means； I
could not fall to observe a similar increase in the nervous
irritation of her temperament； and in her excitability by trivial
causes of fear。 She spoke again； and now more frequently and
pertinaciously； of the sounds of the slight sounds and of the
unusual motions among the tapestries； to which she had formerly
alluded。
One night； near the closing in of September； she pressed this
distressing subject with more than usual emphasis upon my attention。
She had just awakened from an unquiet slumber； and I had been
watching； with feelings half of anxiety； half of vague terror； the
workings of her emaciated countenance。 I sat by the side of her ebony
bed； upon one of the ottomans of India。 She partly arose； and spoke；
in an earnest low whisper； of sounds which she then heard； but which
I could not hear of motions which she then saw； but which I could
not perceive。 The wind was rushing hurriedly behind the tapestries；
and I wished to show her （what； let me confess it； I could not all
believe） that those almost inarticulate breathings； and those very
gentle variations of the figures upon the wall； were but the natural
effects of that customary rushing of the wind。 But a deadly pallor；
overspreading her face； had proved to me that my exertions to
reassure her would be fruitless。 She appeared to be fainting； and no
attendants were within call。 I remembered where was deposited a
decanter of light wine which had been ordered by her physicians； and
hastened across the chamber to procure it。 But； as I stepped beneath
the light of the censer； two circumstances of a startling nature
attracted my attention。 I had felt that some palpable although
invisible object had passed lightly by my person； and I saw that
there lay upon the golden carpet； in the very middle of the rich
lustre thrown from the censer； a shadow a faint； indefinite shadow
of angelic aspect such as might be fancied for the shadow of a
shade。 But I was wild with the excitement of an immoderate dose of
opium； and heeded these things but little； nor spoke of them to
Rowena。 Having found the wine； I recrossed the chamber； and poured
out a gobletful； which I held to the lips of the fainting lady。 She
had now partially recovered； however； and took the vessel herself；
while I sank upon an ottoman near me； with my eyes fastened upon her
person。 It was then that I became distinctly aware of a gentle
footfall upon the carpet； and near the couch； and in a second
thereafter； as Rowena was in the act of raising the wine to her lips；
I saw； or may have dreamed that I saw； fall within the goblet； as if
from some invisible spring in the atmosphere of the room； three or
four large drops of a brilliant and ruby col