the works of edgar allan poe-2-第26部分

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And　then　the　music　ceased；　as　I　have　told；　and　the　evolutions　of　the
waltzers　were　quieted；　and　there　was　an　uneasy　cessation　of　all
things　as　before。　But　now　there　were　twelve　strokes　to　be　sounded　by
the　bell　of　the　clock；　and　thus　it　happened；　perhaps；　that　more　of
thought　crept；　with　more　of　time；　into　the　meditations　of　the
thoughtful　among　those　who　revelled。　And　thus；　too；　it　happened；
perhaps；　that　before　the　last　echoes　of　the　last　chime　had　utterly
sunk　into　silence；　there　were　many　individuals　in　the　crowd　who　had
found　leisure　to　become　aware　of　the　presence　of　a　masked　figure
which　had　arrested　the　attention　of　no　single　individual　before。　And
the　rumor　of　this　new　presence　having　spread　itself　whisperingly
around；　there　arose　at　length　from　the　whole　company　a　buzz；　or
murmur；　expressive　of　disapprobation　and　surprise　　then；　finally；
of　terror；　of　horror；　and　of　disgust。

In　an　assembly　of　phantasms　such　as　I　have　painted；　it　may　well　be
supposed　that　no　ordinary　appearance　could　have　excited　such
sensation。　In　truth　the　masquerade　license　of　the　night　was　nearly
unlimited；　but　the　figure　in　question　had　out…Heroded　Herod；　and　gone
beyond　the　bounds　of　even　the　prince's　indefinite　decorum。　There　are
chords　in　the　hearts　of　the　most　reckless　which　cannot　be　touched
without　emotion。　Even　with　the　utterly　lost；　to　whom　life　and　death
are　equally　jests；　there　are　matters　of　which　no　jest　can　be　made。
The　whole　company；　indeed；　seemed　now　deeply　to　feel　that　in　the
costume　and　bearing　of　the　stranger　neither　wit　nor　propriety
existed。　The　figure　was　tall　and　gaunt；　and　shrouded　from　head　to
foot　in　the　habiliments　of　the　grave。　The　mask　which　concealed　the
visage　was　made　so　nearly　to　resemble　the　countenance　of　a　stiffened
corpse　that　the　closest　scrutiny　must　have　had　difficulty　in
detecting　the　cheat。　And　yet　all　this　might　have　been　endured；　if　not
approved；　by　the　mad　revellers　around。　But　the　mummer　had　gone　so　far
as　to　assume　the　type　of　the　Red　Death。　His　vesture　was　dabbled　in
blood　　and　his　broad　brow；　with　all　the　features　of　the　face；　was
besprinkled　with　the　scarlet　horror。

When　the　eyes　of　Prince　Prospero　fell　upon　this　spectral　image　（which
with　a　slow　and　solemn　movement；　as　if　more　fully　to　sustain　its
role；　stalked　to　and　fro　among　the　waltzers）　he　was　seen　to　be
convulsed；　in　the　first　moment　with　a　strong　shudder　either　of　terror
or　distaste；　but；　in　the　next；　his　brow　reddened　with　rage。

〃Who　dares？〃　he　demanded　hoarsely　of　the　courtiers　who　stood　near　him
　〃who　dares　insult　us　with　this　blasphemous　mockery？　Seize　him　and
unmask　him　　that　we　may　know　whom　we　have　to　hang　at　sunrise；　from
the　battlements！〃

It　was　in　the　eastern　or　blue　chamber　in　which　stood　the　Prince
Prospero　as　he　uttered　these　words。　They　rang　throughout　the　seven
rooms　loudly　and　clearly　　for　the　prince　was　a　bold　and　robust　man；
and　the　music　had　become　hushed　at　the　waving　of　his　hand。

It　was　in　the　blue　room　where　stood　the　prince；　with　a　group　of　pale
courtiers　by　his　side。　At　first；　as　he　spoke；　there　was　a　slight
rushing　movement　of　this　group　in　the　direction　of　the　intruder；　who
at　the　moment　was　also　near　at　hand；　and　now；　with　deliberate　and
stately　step；　made　closer　approach　to　the　speaker。　But　from　a　certain
nameless　awe　with　which　the　mad　assumptions　of　the　mummer　had
inspired　the　whole　party；　there　were　found　none　who　put　forth　hand　to
seize　him；　so　that；　unimpeded；　he　passed　within　a　yard　of　the
prince's　person；　and；　while　the　vast　assembly；　as　if　with　one
impulse；　shrank　from　the　centres　of　the　rooms　to　the　walls；　he　made
his　way　uninterruptedly；　but　with　the　same　solemn　and　measured　step
which　had　distinguished　him　from　the　first；　through　the　blue　chamber
to　the　purple　　through　the　purple　to　the　green　　through　the　green
to　the　orange　　through　this　again　to　the　white　　and　even　thence
to　the　violet；　ere　a　decided　movement　had　been　made　to　arrest　him。　It
was　then；　however；　that　the　Prince　Prospero；　maddening　with　rage　and
the　shame　of　his　own　momentary　cowardice；　rushed　hurriedly　through
the　six　chambers；　while　none　followed　him　on　account　of　a　deadly
terror　that　had　seized　upon　all。　He　bore　aloft　a　drawn　dagger；　and
had　approached；　in　rapid　impetuosity；　to　within　three　or　four　feet　of
the　retreating　figure；　when　the　latter；　having　attained　the　extremity
of　the　velvet　apartment；　turned　suddenly　and　confronted　his　pursuer。
There　was　a　sharp　cry　　and　the　dagger　dropped　gleaming　upon　the
sable　carpet；　upon　which；　instantly　afterwards；　fell　prostrate　in
death　the　Prince　Prospero。　Then；　summoning　the　wild　courage　of
despair；　a　throng　of　the　revellers　at　once　threw　themselves　into　the
black　apartment；　and；　seizing　the　mummer；　whose　tall　figure　stood
erect　and　motionless　within　the　shadow　of　the　ebony　clock；　gasped　in
unutterable　horror　at　finding　the　grave…cerements　and　corpse…like
mask　which　they　handled　with　so　violent　a　rudeness；　untenanted　by　any
tangible　form。

And　now　was　acknowledged　the　presence　of　the　Red　Death。　He　had　come
like　a　thief　in　the　night。　And　one　by　one　dropped　the　revellers　in
the　blood…bedewed　halls　of　their　revel；　and　died　each　in　the
despairing　posture　of　his　fall。　And　the　life　of　the　ebony　clock　went
out　with　that　of　the　last　of　the　gay。　And　the　flames　of　the　tripods
expired。　And　Darkness　and　Decay　and　the　Red　Death　held　illimitable
dominion　over　all。

~~~　End　of　Text　~~~



THE　CASK　OF　AMONTILLADO。

　　　　THE　thousand　injuries　of　Fortunato　I　had　borne　as　I　best　could　；
but　when　he　ventured　upon　insult；　I　vowed　revenge。　　You；　who　so　well
know　the　nature　of　my　soul；　will　not　suppose；　however；　that　I　gave
utterance　to　a　threat。　　_At　length_　I　would　be　avenged　；　　this　was　a
point　definitively　settled　…　but　the　very　definitiveness　with　which
it　was　resolved；　precluded　the　idea　of　risk。　　I　must　not　only　punish；
but　punish　with　impunity。　　A　wrong　is　unredressed　when　retribution
overtakes　its　redresser。　　It　is　equally　unredressed　when　the　avenger
fails　to　make　himself　felt　as　such　to　him　who　has　done　the　wrong。

　　　　It　must　be　understood；　that　neither　by　word　nor　deed　had　I　given
Fortunato　cause　to　doubt　my　good　will。　　I　continued；　as　was　my　wont；
to　smile　in　his　face；　and　he　did　not　perceive　that　my　smile　_now_　was
at　the　thought　of　his　immolation。

　　　　He　had　a　weak　point　…　this　Fortunato　…　although　in　other　regards
he　was　a　man　to　be　respected　and　even　feared。　　He　prided　himself　on
his　connoisseurship　in　wine。　　Few　Italians　have　the　true　virtuoso
spirit。　　For　the　most　part　their　enthusiasm　is　adopted　to　suit　the
time　and　opportunity　…　to　practise　imposture　upon　the　British　and
Austrian　_millionaires_。　　In　painting　and　gemmary；　Fortunato；　like
his　countrymen　；　was　a　quack　…　but　in　the　matter　of　old　wines　he　was
sincere。　　In　this　respect　I　did　not　differ　from　him　materially　：　　I
was　skilful　in　the　Italian　vintages　myself；　and　bought　largely
whenever　I　could。

　　　　It　was　about　dusk；　one　evening　during　the　supreme　madness　of　the
carnival　season；　that　I　encountered　my　friend。　　He　accosted　me　with
excessive　warmth；　for　he　had　been　drinking　much。　　The　man　wore
motley。　　He　had　on　a　tight…fitting　parti…striped　dress；　and　his　head
was　surmounted　by　the　conical　cap　and　bells。　　I　was　so　pleased　to　see
him；　that　I　thought　I　should　never　have　done　wringing　his　hand。

　　　　I　said　to　him　…　〃My　dear　Fortunato；　you　are　luckily　met。　　How
remarkably　well　you　are　looking　to…day　！　　But　I　have　received　a　pipe
of　what　passes　for　Amontillado；　and　I　have　my　doubts。〃

　　　　〃How　？〃　said　he。　　〃Amontillado　？　　A　pipe　？　　Impossible　！　　And　in
the　middle　of　the　carnival　！〃

　　　　〃I　have　my　doubts；〃　I　replied　；　　〃and　I　was　silly　enough　to　pay
the　full　Amontillado　price　without　consulting　you　in　the　matter。　　You
were　not　to　be　found；　and　I　was　fearful　of　losing　a　bargain。〃

　　　　〃Amontillado　！〃

　　　　〃I　have　my　doubts。〃

　　　　〃Amontillado　！〃

　　　　〃And　I　must　satisfy　them。〃

　　　　〃Amontillado　！〃

　　　　〃As　you　are　engaged；　I　am　on　my　way　to　Luchesi。　　If　any　one　has　a
critical　turn；　it　is　he。　　He　will　tell　me　〃

　　　　〃Luchesi　cannot　tell　Amontillado　from　Sherry。〃

　　　　〃And　yet　some　fools　will　have　it　that　his　taste　is　a　match　for
your　own。〃

　　　　〃Come；　let　us　go。〃

　　　　〃Whither　？〃

　　　　〃To　your　vaults。〃

　　　　〃My　friend；　no　；　　I　will　not　impose　upon　your　good　nature。　　I
perceive　you　have　an　engagement。　　Luchesi　〃

　　　　〃I　have　no　engagement　；　…　come。〃

　　　　〃My　friend；　no。　　It　is　not　the　engagement；　but　the　severe　cold
with　which　I　perceive　you　are　afflicted。　　The　vaults　are　insufferably
damp。　　They　are　encrusted　with　nitre。〃

　　　　〃Let　us　go；　nevertheless。　　The　cold　is　merely　nothing。
Amontillado　！　　You　have　been　imposed　upon。　　And　as　for　Luchesi；　he
cannot　distinguish　Sherry　from　Amontillado。〃

　　　　Thus　speaking；　Fortunato　possessed　himself　of　my　arm。　　Putting　on
a　mask　of　black　silk；　and　drawing　a　_roquelaire_　closely　about　my
person；　I　suffered　him　to　hurry　me　to　my　palazzo。

　　　　There　were　no　attendants　at　home　；　　　they　had　absconded　to　make
merry　in　honor　of　the　time。　　I　had　told　them　that　I　should　not　return
until　the　morning；　and　had　given　them　explicit　orders　not　to　stir
from　the　house。　　These　orders　were　sufficient；　I　well　knew；　to　insure
their　immediate　disappearance；　one　and　all；　as　soon　as　my　back　was
turned。

　　　　I　took　from　their　sconces　two　flambeaux；　and　giving　one　to
Fortunato；　bowed　him　through　several　suites　of　rooms　to　the　archway
that　led　into　the　vaults。　　I　passed　down　a　long　and　winding
staircase；　requesting　him　to　be　cautious　as　he　followed。　　We　came　at
length　to　the　foot　of　the　descent；　and　stood　together　on　the　damp
ground　of　the　catacombs　of　the　Montresors。

　　　　The　gait　of　my　friend　was　unsteady；　and　the　bells　upon　his　cap
jingled　as　he　strode。

　　　　〃The　pipe；〃　said　he。

　　　　〃It　is　farther　on；〃　said　I　；　　〃but　observe　the　white　web…work
which　gleams　from　these　cavern　walls。〃

　　　　He　turned　towards　me；　and　looked　into　my　eyes　with　two　filmy　orbs
that　distilled　the　rheum　of　intoxication　。

　　　　〃Nitre　？〃　he　asked；　at　length。

　　　　〃Nitre；〃　I　replied。　　〃How　long　have　you　had　that　cough　？〃

　　　　〃Ugh　！　　ugh　！　　ugh　！　…　ugh　！　　ugh　！　　u