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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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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 shuddered the more thrillingly； because I shuddered knowing
not why；from these paintings （vivid as their images now are before me） I
would in vain endeavour to educe more than a small portion which should
lie within the compass of merely written words。 By the utter simplicity； by
the nakedness of his designs； he arrested and overawed attention。 If ever
mortal painted an idea； that mortal was Roderick Usher。 For me at leastin
the circumstances then surrounding methere arose out of the pure
abstractions which the hypochondriac contrived to throw upon his canvas；
an intensity of intolerable awe； no shadow of which felt I ever yet in the
contemplation of the certainly glowing yet too concrete reveries of Fuseli。
One of the phantasmagoric conceptions of my friend； partaking not so
rigidly of the spirit of abstraction； may be shadowed forth； although feebly；
in words。 A small picture presented the interior of an immensely long and
rectangular vault or tunnel； with low walls； smooth； white； and without
interruption or device。 Certain accessory points of the design served well
to convey the idea that this excavation lay at an exceeding depth below the
surface of the earth。 No outlet was observed in any portion of its vast
extent； and no torch； or other artificial source of light was discernible； yet
a flood of intense rays rolled throughout； and bathed the whole in a ghastly
and inappropriate splendour。
I have just spoken of that morbid condition of the auditory nerve
which rendered all music intolerable to the sufferer； with the exception of
certain effects of stringed instruments。 It was； perhaps； the narrow limits to
which he thus confined himself upon the guitar； which gave birth； in great
measure； to the fantastic character of the performances。 But the fervid
facility of his impromptus could not be so accounted for。 They must have
been； and were； in the notes； as well as in the words of his wild fantasias
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The Fall of the House of Usher
（for he not unfrequently accompanied himself with rhymed verbal
improvisations）； the result of that intense mental collectedness and
concentration to which I have previously alluded as observable only in
particular moments of the highest artificial excitement。 The words of one
of these rhapsodies I have easily remembered。 I was； perhaps； the more
forcibly impressed with it； as he gave it； because； in the under or mystic
current of its meaning； I fancied that I perceived； and for the first time； a
full consciousness on the part of Usher； of the tottering of his lofty re