the raven(乌鸦)-第3节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all is silent save the voice of the clock。 The dreams are stiff…frozen as
they stand。 But the echoes of the chime die awaythey have endured but
an instantand a light； half…subdued laughter floats after them as they
depart。 And now again the music swells； and the dreams live； and writhe
to and fro more merrily than ever； taking hue from the many tinted
windows through which stream the rays from the tripods。 But to the
chamber which lies most westwardly of the seven； there are now none of
the maskers who venture； for the night is waning away； and there flows a
ruddier light through the blood…coloured panes； and the blackness of the
sable drapery appals； and to him whose foot falls upon the sable carpet；
there comes from the near clock of ebony a muffled peal more solemnly
emphatic than any which reaches their ears who indulged in the more
remote gaieties of the other apartments。
But these other apartments were densely crowded； and in them beat
feverishly the heart of life。 And the revel went whirlingly on； until at
length there commenced the sounding of midnight upon the clock。 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 rumour 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 surprisethen； finally； of
terror； of horror； and of disgust。
8
… Page 9…
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
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 licence 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 bloodand his
broad brow； with all the features of the face； was besprinkled with the
scarlet horror。
When the eyes of the 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 himthat 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
9
… Page 10…
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
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 purplethrough the purple to the green
through the green to the orangethrough this again to the whiteand 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 cryand
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。
10
… Page 11…
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
THE RAVENTHE RAVEN
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 definitely 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 hims
