Маска Красной Смерти

           The“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. Theyresolvedtoleavemeansneitherofingressoregresstothesuddenimpulsesofdespairoroffrenzyfromwithin. Theabbeywasamplyprovisioned.Withsuchprecautionsthecourtiersmightbiddefiancetocontagion. Theexternalworldcouldtakecareofitself. Inthemeantimeitwasfollytogrieve,ortothink. Theprincehadprovidedalltheappliancesofpleasure.