the works of edgar allan poe-2-第34部分

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pocket；　when　led　into　the　inquisitorial　chamber；　but　it　was　gone；　my
clothes　had　been　exchanged　for　a　wrapper　of　coarse　serge。　I　had
thought　of　forcing　the　blade　in　some　minute　crevice　of　the　masonry；
so　as　to　identify　my　point　of　departure。　The　difficulty；
nevertheless；　was　but　trivial；　although；　in　the　disorder　of　my　fancy；
it　seemed　at　first　insuperable。　I　tore　a　part　of　the　hem　from　the
robe　and　placed　the　fragment　at　full　length；　and　at　right　angles　to
the　wall。　In　groping　my　way　around　the　prison；　I　could　not　fail　to
encounter　this　rag　upon　completing　the　circuit。　So；　at　least　I
thought：　but　I　had　not　counted　upon　the　extent　of　the　dungeon；　or
upon　my　own　weakness。　The　ground　was　moist　and　slippery。　I　staggered
onward　for　some　time；　when　I　stumbled　and　fell。　My　excessive　fatigue
induced　me　to　remain　prostrate；　and　sleep　soon　overtook　me　as　I　lay。

Upon　awaking；　and　stretching　forth　an　arm；　I　found　beside　me　a　loaf
and　a　pitcher　with　water。　I　was　too　much　exhausted　to　reflect　upon
this　circumstance；　but　ate　and　drank　with　avidity。　Shortly　afterward；
I　resumed　my　tour　around　the　prison；　and　with　much　toil　came　at　last
upon　the　fragment　of　the　serge。　Up　to　the　period　when　I　fell　I　had
counted　fifty…two　paces；　and　upon　resuming　my　walk；　I　had　counted
forty…eight　more；　　when　I　arrived　at　the　rag。　There　were　in　all；
then；　a　hundred　paces；　and；　admitting　two　paces　to　the　yard；　I
presumed　the　dungeon　to　be　fifty　yards　in　circuit。　I　had　met；
however；　with　many　angles　in　the　wall；　and　thus　I　could　form　no　guess
at　the　shape　of　the　vault；　for　vault　I　could　not　help　supposing　it　to
be。

I　had　little　object　　certainly　no　hope　these　researches；　but　a
vague　curiosity　prompted　me　to　continue　them。　Quitting　the　wall；　I
resolved　to　cross　the　area　of　the　enclosure。　At　first　I　proceeded
with　extreme　caution；　for　the　floor；　although　seemingly　of　solid
material；　was　treacherous　with　slime。　At　length；　however；　I　took
courage；　and　did　not　hesitate　to　step　firmly；　endeavoring　to　cross　in
as　direct　a　line　as　possible。　I　had　advanced　some　ten　or　twelve　paces
in　this　manner；　when　the　remnant　of　the　torn　hem　of　my　robe　became
entangled　between　my　legs。　I　stepped　on　it；　and　fell　violently　on　my
face。

In　the　confusion　attending　my　fall；　I　did　not　immediately　apprehend　a
somewhat　startling　circumstance；　which　yet；　in　a　few　seconds
afterward；　and　while　I　still　lay　prostrate；　arrested　my　attention。　It
was　this　　my　chin　rested　upon　the　floor　of　the　prison；　but　my　lips
and　the　upper　portion　of　my　head；　although　seemingly　at　a　less
elevation　than　the　chin；　touched　nothing。　At　the　same　time　my
forehead　seemed　bathed　in　a　clammy　vapor；　and　the　peculiar　smell　of
decayed　fungus　arose　to　my　nostrils。　I　put　forward　my　arm；　and
shuddered　to　find　that　I　had　fallen　at　the　very　brink　of　a　circular
pit；　whose　extent；　of　course；　I　had　no　means　of　ascertaining　at　the
moment。　Groping　about　the　masonry　just　below　the　margin；　I　succeeded
in　dislodging　a　small　fragment；　and　let　it　fall　into　the　abyss。　For
many　seconds　I　hearkened　to　its　reverberations　as　it　dashed　against
the　sides　of　the　chasm　in　its　descent；　at　length　there　was　a　sullen
plunge　into　water；　succeeded　by　loud　echoes。　At　the　same　moment　there
came　a　sound　resembling　the　quick　opening；　and　as　rapid　closing　of　a
door　overhead；　while　a　faint　gleam　of　light　flashed　suddenly　through
the　gloom；　and　as　suddenly　faded　away。

I　saw　clearly　the　doom　which　had　been　prepared　for　me；　and
congratulated　myself　upon　the　timely　accident　by　which　I　had　escaped。
Another　step　before　my　fall；　and　the　world　had　seen　me　no　more。　And
the　death　just　avoided；　was　of　that　very　character　which　I　had
regarded　as　fabulous　and　frivolous　in　the　tales　respecting　the
Inquisition。　To　the　victims　of　its　tyranny；　there　was　the　choice　of
death　with　its　direst　physical　agonies；　or　death　with　its　most
hideous　moral　horrors。　I　had　been　reserved　for　the　latter。　By　long
suffering　my　nerves　had　been　unstrung；　until　I　trembled　at　the　sound
of　my　own　voice；　and　had　become　in　every　respect　a　fitting　subject
for　the　species　of　torture　which　awaited　me。

Shaking　in　every　limb；　I　groped　my　way　back　to　the　wall；　resolving
there　to　perish　rather　than　risk　the　terrors　of　the　wells；　of　which
my　imagination　now　pictured　many　in　various　positions　about　the
dungeon。　In　other　conditions　of　mind　I　might　have　had　courage　to　end
my　misery　at　once　by　a　plunge　into　one　of　these　abysses；　but　now　I
was　the　veriest　of　cowards。　Neither　could　I　forget　what　I　had　read　of
these　pits　　that　the　sudden　extinction　of　life　formed　no　part　of
their　most　horrible　plan。

Agitation　of　spirit　kept　me　awake　for　many　long　hours；　but　at　length
I　again　slumbered。　Upon　arousing；　I　found　by　my　side；　as　before；　a
loaf　and　a　pitcher　of　water。　A　burning　thirst　consumed　me；　and　I
emptied　the　vessel　at　a　draught。　It　must　have　been　drugged；　for
scarcely　had　I　drunk；　before　I　became　irresistibly　drowsy。　A　deep
sleep　fell　upon　me　　a　sleep　like　that　of　death。　How　long　it　lasted
of　course；　I　know　not；　but　when；　once　again；　I　unclosed　my　eyes；　the
objects　around　me　were　visible。　By　a　wild　sulphurous　lustre；　the
origin　of　which　I　could　not　at　first　determine；　I　was　enabled　to　see
the　extent　and　aspect　of　the　prison。

In　its　size　I　had　been　greatly　mistaken。　The　whole　circuit　of　its
walls　did　not　exceed　twenty…five　yards。　For　some　minutes　this　fact
occasioned　me　a　world　of　vain　trouble；　vain　indeed！　for　what　could　be
of　less　importance；　under　the　terrible　circumstances　which　environed
me；　then　the　mere　dimensions　of　my　dungeon？　But　my　soul　took　a　wild
interest　in　trifles；　and　I　busied　myself　in　endeavors　to　account　for
the　error　I　had　committed　in　my　measurement。　The　truth　at　length
flashed　upon　me。　In　my　first　attempt　at　exploration　I　had　counted
fifty…two　paces；　up　to　the　period　when　I　fell；　I　must　then　have　been
within　a　pace　or　two　of　the　fragment　of　serge；　in　fact；　I　had　nearly
performed　the　circuit　of　the　vault。　I　then　slept；　and　upon　awaking；　I
must　have　returned　upon　my　steps　　thus　supposing　the　circuit　nearly
double　what　it　actually　was。　My　confusion　of　mind　prevented　me　from
observing　that　I　began　my　tour　with　the　wall　to　the　left；　and　ended
it　with　the　wall　to　the　right。

I　had　been　deceived；　too；　in　respect　to　the　shape　of　the　enclosure。
In　feeling　my　way　I　had　found　many　angles；　and　thus　deduced　an　idea
of　great　irregularity；　so　potent　is　the　effect　of　total　darkness　upon
one　arousing　from　lethargy　or　sleep！　The　angles　were　simply　those　of
a　few　slight　depressions；　or　niches；　at　odd　intervals。　The　general
shape　of　the　prison　was　square。　What　I　had　taken　for　masonry　seemed
now　to　be　iron；　or　some　other　metal；　in　huge　plates；　whose　sutures　or
joints　occasioned　the　depression。　The　entire　surface　of　this　metallic
enclosure　was　rudely　daubed　in　all　the　hideous　and　repulsive　devices
to　which　the　charnel　superstition　of　the　monks　has　given　rise。　The
figures　of　fiends　in　aspects　of　menace；　with　skeleton　forms；　and
other　more　really　fearful　images；　overspread　and　disfigured　the
walls。　I　observed　that　the　outlines　of　these　monstrosities　were
sufficiently　distinct；　but　that　the　colors　seemed　faded　and　blurred；
as　if　from　the　effects　of　a　damp　atmosphere。　I　now　noticed　the　floor；
too；　which　was　of　stone。　In　the　centre　yawned　the　circular　pit　from
whose　jaws　I　had　escaped；　but　it　was　the　only　one　in　the　dungeon。

All　this　I　saw　indistinctly　and　by　much　effort：　for　my　personal
condition　had　been　greatly　changed　during　slumber。　I　now　lay　upon　my
back；　and　at　full　length；　on　a　species　of　low　framework　of　wood。　To
this　I　was　securely　bound　by　a　long　strap　resembling　a　surcingle。　It
passed　in　many　convolutions　about　my　limbs　and　body；　leaving　at
liberty　only　my　head；　and　my　left　arm　to　such　extent　that　I　could；　by
dint　of　much　exertion；　supply　myself　with　food　from　an　earthen　dish
which　lay　by　my　side　on　the　floor。　I　saw；　to　my　horror；　that　the
pitcher　had　been　removed。　I　say　to　my　horror；　for　I　was　consumed　with
intolerable　thirst。　This　thirst　it　appeared　to　be　the　design　of　my
persecutors　to　stimulate：　for　the　food　in　the　dish　was　meat　pungently
seasoned。

Looking　upward；　I　surveyed　the　ceiling　of　my　prison。　It　was　some
thirty　or　forty　feet　overhead；　and　constructed　much　as　the　side
walls。　In　one　of　its　panels　a　very　singular　figure　riveted　my　whole
attention。　It　was　the　painted　figure　of　Time　as　he　is　commonly
represented；　save　that；　in　lieu　of　a　scythe；　he　held　what；　at　a
casual　glance；　I　supposed　to　be　the　pictured　image　of　a　huge　pendulum
such　as　we　see　on　antique　clocks。　There　was　something；　however；　in
the　appearance　of　this　machine　which　caused　me　to　regard　it　more
attentively。　While　I　gazed　directly　upward　at　it　（for　its　position
was　immediately　over　my　own）　I　fancied　that　I　saw　it　in　motion。　In　an
instant　afterward　the　fancy　was　confirmed。　Its　sweep　was　brief；　and
of　course　slow。　I　watched　it　for　some　minutes；　somewhat　in　fear；　but
more　in　wonder。　Wearied　at　length　with　observing　its　dull　movement；　I
turned　my　eyes　upon　the　other　objects　in　the　cell。

A　slight　noise　attracted　my　notice；　and；　looking　to　the　floor；　I　saw
several　enormous　rats　traversing　it。　They　had　issued　from　the　well；
which　lay　just　within　view　to　my　right。　Even　then；　while　I　gazed；
they　came　up　in　troops；　hurriedly；　with　ravenous　eyes；　allured　by　the
scent　of　the　meat。　From　this　it　required　much　effort　and　attention　to
scare　them　away。

It　might　have　been　half　an　hour；　perhaps　even　an　hour；　（for　in　cast
my　I　could　take　but　imperfect　note　of　time）　before　I　again　cast　my
eyes　upward。　What　I　then　saw　confounded　and　amazed　me。　The　sweep　of
the　pendulum　had　increased　in　extent　by　nearly　a　yard。　As　a　natural
consequence；　its　velocity　was　also　much　greater。　But　what　mainly
disturbed　me　was　the　idea　that　had　perceptibly　descended。　I　now
observed　　with　what　horror　it　is　needless　to　say　　that　its　nether
extremity　was　formed　of　a　crescent　of　glittering　steel；　about　a　foot
in　length　from　horn　to　horn；　the　horns　upward；　and　the　under　edge
evidently　as　keen　as　that　of　a　razor。　Like　a　razor　also；　it　seemed
massy　and　heavy；　tapering　from　the　edge　into　a　solid　and　broad
structure　above。　It　was　appe