Падение дома Ашеров

           “ButthegoodchampionEthelred,nowenteringwithinthedoor,wassoreenragedandamazedtoperceivenosignalofthemalicefulhermit; but,inthesteadthereof,adragonofascalyandprodigiousdemeanor,andofafierytongue,whichsatinguardbeforeapalaceofgold,withafloorofsilver;anduponthewalltherehungashieldofshiningbrasswiththislegendenwritten— 

           Whoenterethherein,aconquerorhathbin; 

           Whoslayeththedragon,theshieldheshallwin. 

           AndEthelredupliftedhismace,andstruckupontheheadofthedragon,whichfellbeforehim,andgaveuphispestybreath,withashrieksohorridandharsh,andwithalsopiercing,thatEthelredhadfaintoclosehisearswithhishandsagainstthedreadfulnoiseofit,thelikewhereofwasneverbeforeheard.” 

           HereagainIpausedabruptly,andnowwithafeelingofwildamazement—fortherecouldbenodoubtwhateverthat,inthisinstance,Ididactuallyhear(althoughfromwhatdirectionitproceededIfounditimpossibletosay) alowandapparentlydistant,butharsh,protracted,andmostunusualscreamingorgratingsound—theexactcounterpartofwhatmyfancyhadalreadyconjuredupforthedragon’sunnaturalshriekasdescribedbytheromancer. 

           Oppressed,asIcertainlywas,upontheoccurrenceofthissecondandmostextraordinarycoincidence,byathousandconflictingsensations,inwhichwonderandextremeterrorwerepredominant,Istillretainedsufficientpresenceofmindtoavoidexciting,byanyobservation,thesensitivenervousnessofmycompanion.