Падение дома Ашеров

           TheantiquevolumewhichIhadtakenupwasthe“MadTrist”ofSirLauncelotCanning;butIhadcalleditafavoriteofUsher’smoreinsadjestthaninearnest;for,intruth,thereislittleinitsuncouthandunimaginativeprolixitywhichcouldhavehadinterestfortheloftyandspiritualidealityofmyfriend. Itwas,however,theonlybookimmediatelyathand;andIindulgedavaguehopethattheexcitementwhichnowagitatedthehypochondriac,mightfindrelief(forthehistoryofmentaldisorderisfullofsimilaranomalies)evenintheextremenessofthefollywhichIshouldread. CouldIhavejudged,indeed,bythewildoverstrainedairofvivacitywithwhichhehearkened,orapparentlyhearkened,tothewordsofthetale,Imightwellhavecongratulatedmyselfuponthesuccessofmydesign. 

           Ihadarrivedatthatwell-knownportionofthestorywhereEthelred,theherooftheTrist,havingsoughtinvainforpeaceableadmissionintothedwellingofthehermit,proceedstomakegoodanentrancebyforce. Here,itwillberemembered,thewordsofthenarrativerunthus: