THERAVEN
Onceuponamidnightdreary，whileIpondered，weakandweary，Overmanyaquaintandcuriousvolumeofforgottenlore——
WhileInodded，nearlynapping，suddenlytherecameatapping，Asofsomeonegentlyrapping，rappingatmychamberdoor。
\"’Tissomevisiter，\"Imuttered，\"tappingatmychamberdoor——
Onlythisandnothingmore。\"
Ah，distinctlyIrememberitwasinthebleakDecember，Andeachseparatedyingemberwroughtitsghostuponthefloor。
EagerlyIwishedthemorrow;——vainlyIhadsoughttoborrowFrommybookssurceaseofsorrow——sorrowforthelostLenore——
FortherareandradiantmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore——
Namelesshereforevermore。
AndthesilkensaduncertainrustlingofeachpurplecurtainThrilledme——filledmewithfantasticterrorsneverfeltbefore;
Sothatnow，tostillthebeatingofmyheart，Istoodrepeating\"’Tissomevisiterentreatingentranceatmychamberdoor——
Somelatevisiterentreatingentranceatmychamberdoor;
Thisitisandnothingmore。\"
Presentlymysoulgrewstronger;hesitatingthennolonger，\"Sir，\"saidI，\"orMadam，trulyyourforgivenessIimplore;
ButthefactisIwasnapping，andsogentlyyoucamerapping，Andsofaintlyyoucametapping，tappingatmychamberdoor，ThatIscarcewassureIheardyou\"——hereIopenedwidethedoor——
Darknessthereandnothingmore。
Deepintothatdarknesspeering，longIstoodtherewondering，fearing，Doubting，dreamingdreamsnomortalseverdaredtodreambefore;
Butthesilencewasunbroken，andthestillnessgavenotoken，Andtheonlywordtherespokenwasthewhisperedword，\"Lenore？\"
ThisIwhispered，andanechomurmuredbacktheword，\"Lenore！\"——
Merelythisandnothingmore。
Backintothechamberturning，allmysourwithinmeburning，SoonagainIheardatappingsomethinglouderthanbefore。
\"Surely，\"saidI，\"surelythatissomethingatmywindowlattice;
Letmesee，then，whatthereatisandthismysteryexplore——
Letmyheartbestillamomentandthismysteryexplore;——
’Tisthewindandnothingmore。
OpenhereIflungtheshutter，when，withmanyaflirtandflutter，IntheresteppedastatelyRavenofthesaintlydaysofyore。
Nottheleastobeisancemadehe;notaminutestoppedorstayedhe，But，withmienoflordorlady，perchedabovemychamberdoor——
PercheduponabustofPallasjustabovemychamberdoor——
Perched，andsat，andnothingmore。
Thentheebonybirdbeguilingmysadfancyintosmiling，Bythegraveandsterndecorumofthecountenanceitwore，\"Thoughthycrestbeshornandshaven，thou，\"Isaid，\"artsurenocraven，GhastlygrimandancientRavenwanderingfromtheNightlyshore——
TellmewhatthylordlynameisontheNight’sPlutonianshore！\"
QuoththeRaven，\"Nevermore。\"
MuchImarvelledthisungainlyfowltoheardiscoursesoplainly，Thoughitsanswerlittlemeaning——littlerelevancybore;
ForwecannothelpagreeingthatnolivinghumanbeingEveryetwasblessedwithseeingbirdabovehischamberdoor——
Birdorbeastuponthesculpturedbustabovehischamberdoor，Withsuchnameas\"Nevermore。\"
ButtheRaven，sittinglonelyonthatplacidbust，spokeonlyThatoneword，asifitssoulinthatonewordhedidoutpourNothingfartherthenheuttered;notafeatherthenhefluttered——
TillIscarcelymorethanmuttered:\"Otherfriendshaveflownbefore——
Onthemorrowhewillleaveme，asmyHopeshaveflownbefore。\"
Thenthebirdsaid\"Nevermore。\"
Startledatthestillnessbrokenbyreplysoaptlyspoken，\"Doubtless，\"saidI，\"whatituttersisitsonlystockandstore，CaughtfromsomeunhappymasterwhomunmercifulDisasterFollowedfastandfollowedfastertillhissongsoneburdenbore——
TillthedirgesofhisHopethatmelancholyburdenboreOf’Never——nevermore。’\"
ButtheRavenstillbeguilingallmysadsoulintosmiling，StraightIwheeledacushionedseatinfrontofbirdandbustanddoor;
Then，uponthevelvetsinking，IbetookmyselftolinkingFancyuntofancy，thinkingwhatthisominousbirdofyore——
Whatthisgrim，ungainly，ghastly，gaunt，andominousbirdofyoreMeantincroaking\"Nevermore。\"
ThisIsatengagedinguessing，butnosyllableexpressingTothefowlwhosefieryeyesnowburnedintomybosom’score;
ThisandmoreIsatdivining，withmyheadateaserecliningOnthecushion’svelvetliningthatthelamp—lightgloatedo’er，Butwhosevelvetvioletliningwiththelamp—lightgloatingo’erSheshallpress，ah，nevermore！
Then，methought，theairgrewdenser，perfumedfromanunseencenserSwungbySeraphimwhosefoot—fallstinkledonthetuftedfloor。
\"Wretch，\"Icried，\"thyGodhathlentthee——bytheseangelshehathsenttheeRespite——respiteandnepenthefromthymemoriesofLenore！
Quaff，ohquaffthiskindnepentheandforgetthislostLenore！\"
QuoththeRaven，\"Nevermore。\"
\"Prophet！\"saidI，\"thingofevil！——prophetstill，ifbirdordevil！——
WhetherTemptersent，orwhethertempesttossedtheehereashore，Desolate，yetallundaunted，onthisdesertlandenchanted——
OnthishomebyHorrorhaunted——tellmetruly，Iimplore——
Isthere——istherebalminGilead？——tellme——tellme，Iimplore！\"
QuoththeRaven，\"Nevermore。\"
\"Prophet！\"saidI，\"thingofevil！——prophetstill，ifbirdordevil！
BythatHeaventhatbendsaboveus——bythatGodwebothadore——
Tellthissoulwithsorrowladenif，withinthedistantAidenn，ItshallclaspasaintedmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore——
ClasparareandradiantmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore。\"
QuoththeRaven，\"Nevermore。\"
\"Bethatoursignofparting，birdorfiend！\"Ishrieked，upstarting——
\"GettheebackintothetempestandtheNight’sPlutonianshore！
Leavenoblackplumeasatokenofthatliethysoulhasspoken！
Leavemylonelinessunbroken！——quitthebustabovemydoor！
Takethybeakfromoutmyheart，andtakethyformfromoffmydoor！\"
QuoththeRaven，\"Nevermore。\"
AndtheRaven，neverflitting，stillissitting，stillissittingOnthepallidbustofPallasjustabovemychamberdoor;
Andhiseyeshavealltheseemingofademon’sthatisdreamingAndthelamp—lighto’erhimstreamingthrowshisshadowsonthefloor;
AndmysoulfromoutthatshadowthatliesfloatingonthefloorShallbelifted——nevermore！
TheMasqueoftheRedDeathbyEdgarAllanPoeOctober，1997[Etext#1064]*
TheMasqueoftheRedDeathThe\"RedDeath\"hadlongdevastatedthecountry。Nopestilencehadeverbeensofatal，orsohideous。BloodwasitsAvataranditsseal——therednessandthehorrorofblood。Thereweresharppains，andsuddendizziness，andthenprofusebleedingatthepores，withdissolution。Thescarletstainsuponthebodyandespeciallyuponthefaceofthevictim，werethepestbanwhichshuthimoutfromtheaidandfromthesympathyofhisfellow—men。
Andthewholeseizure，progressandterminationofthedisease，weretheincidentsofhalfanhour。
ButthePrinceProsperowashappyanddauntlessandsagacious。
Whenhisdominionswerehalfdepopulated，hesummonedtohispresenceathousandhaleandlight—heartedfriendsfromamongtheknightsanddamesofhiscourt，andwiththeseretiredtothedeepseclusionofoneofhiscastellatedabbeys。Thiswasanextensiveandmagnificentstructure，thecreationoftheprince’sowneccentricyetaugusttaste。Astrongandloftywallgirdleditin。
Thiswallhadgatesofiron。Thecourtiers，havingentered，broughtfurnacesandmassyhammersandweldedthebolts。Theyresolvedtoleavemeansneitherofingressnoregresstothesuddenimpulsesofdespairoroffrenzyfromwithin。Theabbeywasamplyprovisioned。Withsuchprecautionsthecourtiersmightbiddefiancetocontagion。Theexternalworldcouldtakecareofitself。Inthemeantimeitwasfollytogrieve，ortothink。Theprincehadprovidedalltheappliancesofpleasure。Therewerebuffoons，therewereimprovisatori，therewereballet—dancers，thereweremusicians，therewasBeauty，therewaswine。Alltheseandsecuritywerewithin。Withoutwasthe\"RedDeath\"。
Itwastowardsthecloseofthefifthorsixthmonthofhisseclusion，andwhilethepestilenceragedmostfuriouslyabroad，thatthePrinceProsperoentertainedhisthousandfriendsatamaskedballofthemostunusualmagnificence。
Itwasavoluptuousscene，thatmasquerade。Butfirstletmetelloftheroomsinwhichitwasheld。Thesewereseven——animperialsuite。Inmanypalaces，however，suchsuitesformalongandstraightvista，whilethefoldingdoorsslidebacknearlytothewallsoneitherhand，sothattheviewofthewholeextentisscarcelyimpeded。Herethecasewasverydifferent，asmighthavebeenexpectedfromtheduke’sloveofthebizarre。Theapartmentsweresoirregularlydisposedthatthevisionembracedbutlittlemorethanoneatatime。Therewasasharpturnateverytwentyorthirtyyards，andateachturnanoveleffect。Totherightandleft，inthemiddleofeachwall，atallandnarrowGothicwindowlookedoutuponaclosedcorridorwhichpursuedthewindingsofthesuite。Thesewindowswereofstainedglasswhosecolourvariedinaccordancewiththeprevailinghueofthedecorationsofthechamberintowhichitopened。Thatattheeasternextremitywashung，forexampleinblue——andvividlybluewereitswindows。Thesecondchamberwaspurpleinitsornamentsandtapestries，andherethepaneswerepurple。Thethirdwasgreenthroughout，andsowerethecasements。Thefourthwasfurnishedandlightedwithorange——thefifthwithwhite——thesixthwithviolet。Theseventhapartmentwascloselyshroudedinblackvelvettapestriesthathungallovertheceilinganddownthewalls，fallinginheavyfoldsuponacarpetofthesamematerialandhue。Butinthischamberonly，thecolourofthewindowsfailedtocorrespondwiththedecorations。Thepanesherewerescarlet——adeepbloodcolour。Nowinnooneofthesevenapartmentswasthereanylamporcandelabrum，amidtheprofusionofgoldenornamentsthatlayscatteredtoandfroordependedfromtheroof。Therewasnolightofanykindemanatingfromlamporcandlewithinthesuiteofchambers。Butinthecorridorsthatfollowedthesuite，therestood，oppositetoeachwindow，aheavytripod，bearingabrazieroffire，thatprojecteditsraysthroughthetintedglassandsoglaringlyilluminedtheroom。Andthuswereproducedamultitudeofgaudyandfantasticappearances。Butinthewesternorblackchambertheeffectofthefire—lightthatstreameduponthedarkhangingsthroughtheblood—tintedpanes，wasghastlyintheextreme，andproducedsowildalookuponthecountenancesofthosewhoentered，thattherewerefewofthecompanyboldenoughtosetfootwithinitsprecinctsatall。
Itwasinthisapartment，also，thattherestoodagainstthewesternwall，agiganticclockofebony。Itspendulumswungtoandfrowithadull，heavy，monotonousclang;andwhentheminute—handmadethecircuitoftheface，andthehourwastobestricken，therecamefromthebrazenlungsoftheclockasoundwhichwasclearandloudanddeepandexceedinglymusical，butofsopeculiaranoteandemphasisthat，ateachlapseofanhour，themusiciansoftheorchestrawereconstrainedtopause，momentarily，intheirperformance，toharkentothesound;andthusthewaltzersperforceceasedtheirevolutions;andtherewasabriefdisconcertofthewholegaycompany;and，whilethechimesoftheclockyetrang，itwasobservedthatthegiddiestgrewpale，andthemoreagedandsedatepassedtheirhandsovertheirbrowsasifinconfusedreveryormeditation。Butwhentheechoeshadfullyceased，alightlaughteratoncepervadedtheassembly;themusicianslookedateachotherandsmiledasifattheirownnervousnessandfolly，andmadewhisperingvows，eachtotheother，thatthenextchimingoftheclockshouldproduceinthemnosimilaremotion;andthen，afterthelapseofsixtyminutes，（whichembracethreethousandandsixhundredsecondsoftheTimethatflies，）therecameyetanotherchimingoftheclock，andthenwerethesamedisconcertandtremulousnessandmeditationasbefore。
But，inspiteofthesethings，itwasagayandmagnificentrevel。Thetastesofthedukewerepeculiar。Hehadafineeyeforcoloursandeffects。Hedisregardedthedecoraofmerefashion。Hisplanswereboldandfiery，andhisconceptionsglowedwithbarbariclustre。Therearesomewhowouldhavethoughthimmad。Hisfollowersfeltthathewasnot。Itwasnecessarytohearandseeandtouchhimtobesurethathewasnot。
Hehaddirected，ingreatpart，themovableembellishmentsofthesevenchambers，uponoccasionofthisgreatfete;anditwashisownguidingtastewhichhadgivencharactertothemasqueraders。Besuretheyweregrotesque。Thereweremuchglareandglitterandpiquancyandphantasm——muchofwhathasbeensinceseenin\"Hernani\"。Therewerearabesquefigureswithunsuitedlimbsandappointments。Thereweredeliriousfanciessuchasthemadmanfashions。Thereweremuchofthebeautiful，muchofthewanton，muchofthebizarre，somethingoftheterrible，andnotalittleofthatwhichmighthaveexciteddisgust。Toandfrointhesevenchamberstherestalked，infact，amultitudeofdreams。Andthese——thedreams——writhedinandabouttakinghuefromtherooms，andcausingthewildmusicoftheorchestratoseemastheechooftheirsteps。And，anon，therestrikestheebonyclockwhichstandsinthehallofthevelvet。Andthen，foramoment，allisstill，andallissilentsavethevoiceoftheclock。Thedreamsarestiff—frozenastheystand。Buttheechoesofthechimedieaway——theyhaveenduredbutaninstant——andalight，half—subduedlaughterfloatsafterthemastheydepart。Andnowagainthemusicswells，andthedreamslive，andwrithetoandfromoremerrilythanever，takinghuefromthemanytintedwindowsthroughwhichstreamtheraysfromthetripods。Buttothechamberwhichliesmostwestwardlyoftheseven，therearenownoneofthemaskerswhoventure;forthenightiswaningaway;andthereflowsaruddierlightthroughtheblood—colouredpanes;andtheblacknessofthesabledraperyappals;andtohimwhosefootfallsuponthesablecarpet，therecomesfromthenearclockofebonyamuffledpealmoresolemnlyemphaticthananywhichreachestheirearswhoindulgedinthemoreremotegaietiesoftheotherapartments。
Buttheseotherapartmentsweredenselycrowded，andinthembeatfeverishlytheheartoflife。Andtherevelwentwhirlinglyon，untilatlengththerecommencedthesoundingofmidnightupontheclock。Andthenthemusicceased，asIhavetold;andtheevolutionsofthewaltzerswerequieted;andtherewasanuneasycessationofallthingsasbefore。Butnowthereweretwelvestrokestobesoundedbythebelloftheclock;andthusithappened，perhaps，thatmoreofthoughtcrept，withmoreoftime，intothemeditationsofthethoughtfulamongthosewhorevelled。
Andthustoo，ithappened，perhaps，thatbeforethelastechoesofthelastchimehadutterlysunkintosilence，thereweremanyindividualsinthecrowdwhohadfoundleisuretobecomeawareofthepresenceofamaskedfigurewhichhadarrestedtheattentionofnosingleindividualbefore。Andtherumourofthisnewpresencehavingspreaditselfwhisperinglyaround，therearoseatlengthfromthewholecompanyabuzz，ormurmur，expressiveofdisapprobationandsurprise——then，finally，ofterror，ofhorror，andofdisgust。
InanassemblyofphantasmssuchasIhavepainted，itmaywellbesupposedthatnoordinaryappearancecouldhaveexcitedsuchsensation。Intruththemasqueradelicenceofthenightwasnearlyunlimited;butthefigureinquestionhadout—HerodedHerod，andgonebeyondtheboundsofeventheprince’sindefinitedecorum。
Therearechordsintheheartsofthemostrecklesswhichcannotbetouchedwithoutemotion。Evenwiththeutterlylost，towhomlifeanddeathareequallyjests，therearemattersofwhichnojestcanbemade。Thewholecompany，indeed，seemednowdeeplytofeelthatinthecostumeandbearingofthestrangerneitherwitnorproprietyexisted。Thefigurewastallandgaunt，andshroudedfromheadtofootinthehabilimentsofthegrave。Themaskwhichconcealedthevisagewasmadesonearlytoresemblethecountenanceofastiffenedcorpsethattheclosestscrutinymusthavehaddifficultyindetectingthecheat。Andyetallthismighthavebeenendured，ifnotapproved，bythemadrevellersaround。ButthemummerhadgonesofarastoassumethetypeoftheRedDeath。
Hisvesturewasdabbledinblood——andhisbroadbrow，withallthefeaturesoftheface，wasbesprinkledwiththescarlethorror。
WhentheeyesofthePrinceProsperofelluponthisspectralimage（which，withaslowandsolemnmovement，asifmorefullytosustainitsrole，stalkedtoandfroamongthewaltzers）hewasseentobeconvulsed，inthefirstmomentwithastrongshuddereitherofterrorordistaste;but，inthenext，hisbrowreddenedwithrage。
\"Whodares，\"——hedemandedhoarselyofthecourtierswhostoodnearhim——\"whodaresinsultuswiththisblasphemousmockery？
Seizehimandunmaskhim——thatwemayknowwhomwehavetohang，atsunrise，fromthebattlements！\"
ItwasintheeasternorbluechamberinwhichstoodthePrinceProsperoasheutteredthesewords。Theyrangthroughoutthesevenroomsloudlyandclearly，fortheprincewasaboldandrobustman，andthemusichadbecomehushedatthewavingofhishand。
Itwasintheblueroomwherestoodtheprince，withagroupofpalecourtiersbyhisside。Atfirst，ashespoke，therewasaslightrushingmovementofthisgroupinthedirectionoftheintruder，whoatthemomentwasalsonearathand，andnow，withdeliberateandstatelystep，madecloserapproachtothespeaker。Butfromacertainnamelessawewithwhichthemadassumptionsofthemummerhadinspiredthewholeparty，therewerefoundnonewhoputforthhandtoseizehim;sothat，unimpeded，hepassedwithinayardoftheprince’sperson;and，whilethevastassembly，asifwithoneimpulse，shrankfromthecentresoftheroomstothewalls，hemadehiswayuninterruptedly，butwiththesamesolemnandmeasuredstepwhichhaddistinguishedhimfromthefirst，throughthebluechambertothepurple——throughthepurpletothegreen——throughthegreentotheorange——throughthisagaintothewhite——andeventhencetotheviolet，ereadecidedmovementhadbeenmadetoarresthim。Itwasthen，however，thatthePrinceProspero，maddeningwithrageandtheshameofhisownmomentarycowardice，rushedhurriedlythroughthesixchambers，whilenonefollowedhimonaccountofadeadlyterrorthathadseizeduponall。Heborealoftadrawndagger，andhadapproached，inrapidimpetuosity，towithinthreeorfourfeetoftheretreatingfigure，whenthelatter，havingattainedtheextremityofthevelvetapartment，turnedsuddenlyandconfrontedhispursuer。Therewasasharpcry——andthedaggerdroppedgleaminguponthesablecarpet，uponwhich，instantlyafterwards，fellprostrateindeaththePrinceProspero。Then，summoningthewildcourageofdespair，athrongoftherevellersatoncethrewthemselvesintotheblackapartment，and，seizingthemummer，whosetallfigurestooderectandmotionlesswithintheshadowoftheebonyclock，gaspedinunutterablehorroratfindingthegravecerementsandcorpse—likemask，whichtheyhandledwithsoviolentarudeness，untenantedbyanytangibleform。
AndnowwasacknowledgedthepresenceoftheRedDeath。Hehadcomelikeathiefinthenight。Andonebyonedroppedtherevellersintheblood—bedewedhallsoftheirrevel，anddiedeachinthedespairingpostureofhisfall。Andthelifeoftheebonyclockwentoutwiththatofthelastofthegay。Andtheflamesofthetripodsexpired。AndDarknessandDecayandtheRedDeathheldillimitabledominionoverall。