the raven(乌鸦)-第2节
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When his dominions were half depopulated； he summoned to his presence
a thousand hale and light…hearted friends from among the knights and
dames of his court； and with these retired to the deep seclusion of one of
his castellated abbeys。 This was an extensive and magnificent structure；
the creation of the prince's own eccentric yet august taste。 A strong and
lofty wall girdled it in。 This wall had gates of iron。 The courtiers；
having entered； brought furnaces and massy hammers and welded the
bolts。 They resolved to leave means neither of ingress nor egress to the
sudden impulses of despair or of frenzy from within。 The abbey was
amply provisioned。 With such precautions the courtiers might bid
defiance to contagion。 The external world could take care of itself。 In
the meantime it was folly to grieve； or to think。 The prince had provided
all the appliances of pleasure。 There were buffoons； there were
improvisatori； there were ballet…dancers； there were musicians； there was
Beauty； there was wine。 All these and security were within。 Without
was the 〃Red Death〃。
It was towards the close of the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion；
and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad； that the Prince
Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most
unusual magnificence。
It was a voluptuous scene； that masquerade。 But first let me tell of
the rooms in which it was held。 These were sevenan imperial suite。
In many palaces； however； such suites form a long and straight vista； while
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the folding doors slide back nearly to the walls on either hand； so that the
view of the whole extent is scarcely impeded。 Here the case was very
different； as might have been expected from the duke's love of the
bizarre。 The apartments were so irregularly disposed that the vision
embraced but little more than one at a time。 There was a sharp turn at
every twenty or thirty yards； and at each turn a novel effect。 To the right
and left； in the middle of each wall； a tall and narrow Gothic window
looked out upon a closed corridor which pursued the windings of the suite。
These windows were of stained glass whose colour varied in accordance
with the prevailing hue of the decorations of the chamber into which it
opened。 That at the eastern extremity was hung； for example in blue
and vividly blue were its windows。 The second chamber was purple in
its ornaments and tapestries； and here the panes were purple。 The third
was green throughout； and so were the casements。 The fourth was
furnished and lighted with orangethe fifth with whitethe sixth with
violet。 The seventh apartment was closely shrouded in black velvet
tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls； falling in
heavy folds upon a carpet of the same material and hue。 But in this
chamber only； the colour of the windows failed to correspond with the
decorations。 The panes here were scarleta deep blood colour。 Now in
no one of the seven apartments was there any lamp or candelabrum； amid
the profusion of golden ornaments that lay scattered to and fro or
depended from the roof。 There was no light of any kind emanating from
lamp or candle within the suite of chambers。 But in the corridors that
followed the suite； there stood； opposite to each window； a heavy tripod；
bearing a brazier of fire； that projected its rays through the tinted glass and
so glaringly illumined the room。 And thus were produced a multitude of
gaudy and fantastic appearances。 But in the western or black chamber
the effect of the fire…light that streamed upon the dark hangings through
the blood…tinted panes； was ghastly in the extreme； and produced so wild a
look upon the countenances of those who entered； that there were few of
the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all。
It was in this apartment； also； that there stood against the western wall；
a gigantic clock of ebony。 Its pendulum swung to and fro with a dull；
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heavy； monotonous clang； and when the minute…hand made the circuit of
the face； and the hour was to be stricken； there came from the brazen lungs
of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly
musical； but of so peculiar a note and emphasis that； at each lapse of an
hour； the musicians of the orchestra were constrained to pause；
momentarily； in their performance； to harken to the sound； and thus the
waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions； and there was a brief disconcert
of the whole gay company； and； while the chimes of the clock yet rang； it
was observed that the giddiest grew pale； and the more aged and sedate
passed their hands over their brows as if in confused revery or meditation。
But when the echoes had fully ceased； a light laughter at once pervaded
the assembly； the musicians looked at each other and smiled as if at their
own nervousness and folly； and made whispering vows； each to the other；
that the next chiming of the clock should produce in them no similar
emotion； and then； after the lapse of sixty minutes； （which embrace three
thousand and six hundred seconds of the Time that flies；） there came yet
another chiming of the clock； and then were the same disconcert and
tremulousness and meditation as before。
But； in spite of these things； it was a gay and magnificent revel。 The
tastes of the duke were peculiar。 He had a fine eye for colours and
effects。 He disregarded the decora of mere fashion。 His plans were
bold and fiery； and his conceptions glowed with barbaric lustre。 There
are some who would have thought him mad。 His followers felt that he
was not。 It was necessary to hear and see and touch him to be sure that
he was not。
He had directed； in great part； the movable embellishments of the
seven chambers； upon occasion of this great fete； and it was his own
guiding taste which had given character to the masqueraders。 Be sure
they were grotesque。 There were much glare and glitter and piquancy
and phantasmmuch of what has been since seen in 〃Hernani〃。
There were arabesque figures with unsuited limbs and appointments。
There were delirious fancies such as the madman fashions。 There were
much of the beautiful； much of the wanton； much of the bizarre；
something of the terrible； and not a little of that which might have excited
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disgust。 To and fro in the seven chambers there stalked； in fact； a
multitude of dreams。 And thesethe dreamswrithed in and about taking
hue from the rooms； and causing the wild music of the orchestra to seem
as the echo of their steps。 And； anon； there strikes the ebony clock which
stands in the hall of the velvet。 And then； for a moment； all is still； and
all is silent save the voice of the clock。 The dreams are stiff…frozen as
they stand
