Мхи старой усадьбы

           Aconversationwassustained,inwhich,asitseemed,thehiddenmonsterboreapart,thoughunintelligiblytothelisteners,andinaudibleexceptinahiss.Singularasitmayappear,thesuffererhadnowcontractedasortofaffectionforhistormentor,mingled,however,withtheintensestloathingandhorror.Norweresuchdiscordantemotionsincompatible.Each,onthecontrary,impartedstrengthandpoignancytoitsopposite.Horriblelove—horribleantipathy—embracingoneanotherinhisbosom,andbothconcentratingthemselvesuponabeingthathadcreptintohisvitalsorbeenengenderedthere,andwhichwasnourishedwithhisfood,andliveduponhislife,andwasasintimatewithhimashisownheart,andyetwasthefoulestofallcreatedthings!Butnotthelesswasitthetruetypeofamorbidnature.

           Sometimes,inhismomentsofrageandbitterhatredagainstthesnakeandhimself,Roderickdeterminedtobethedeathofhim,evenattheexpenseofhisownlife.Onceheattempteditbystarvation;but,whilethewretchedmanwasonthepointoffamishing,themonsterseemedtofeeduponhisheart,andtothriveandwaxgamesome,asifitwerehissweetestandmostcongenialdiet.Thenheprivilytookadoseofactivepoison,imaginingthatitwouldnotfailtokilleitherhimselforthedevilthatpossessedhim,orbothtogether.Anothermistake;forifRoderickhadnotyetbeendestroyedbyhisownpoisonedheartnorthesnakebygnawingit,theyhadlittletofearfromarsenicorcorrosivesublimate.Indeed,thevenomouspestappearedtooperateasanantidoteagainstallotherpoisons.