Лигейя

           Byacontrivancenowcommon,andindeedtraceabletoaveryremoteperiodofantiquity,theyweremadechangeableinaspect. Tooneenteringtheroom,theyboretheappearanceofsimplemonstrosities; butuponafartheradvance,thisappearancegraduallydeparted; andstepbystep,asthevisitormovedhisstationinthechamber,hesawhimselfsurroundedbyanendlesssuccessionoftheghastlyformswhichbelongtothesuperstitionoftheNorman,orariseintheguiltyslumbersofthemonk. Thephantasmagoriceffectwasvastlyheightenedbytheartificialintroductionofastrongcontinualcurrentofwindbehindthedraperies—givingahideousanduneasyanimationtothewhole. 

           Inhallssuchasthese—inabridalchambersuchasthis—Ipassed,withtheLadyofTremaine,theunhallowedhoursofthefirstmonthofourmarriage—passedthemwithbutlittledisquietude. Thatmywifedreadedthefiercemoodinessofmytemper—thatsheshunnedmeandlovedmebutlittle—Icouldnothelpperceiving; butitgavemeratherpleasurethanotherwise. Iloathedherwithahatredbelongingmoretodemonthantoman. Mymemoryflewback,(oh,withwhatintensityofregret!)toLigeia,thebeloved,theaugust,thebeautiful,theentombed. Irevelledinrecollectionsofherpurity,ofherwisdom,ofherlofty,heretherealnature,ofherpassionate,heridolatrouslove. Now,then,didmyspiritfullyandfreelyburnwithmorethanallthefiresofherown. Intheexcitementofmyopiumdreams(forIwashabituallyfetteredintheshacklesofthedrug)Iwouldcallalouduponhername,duringthesilenceofthenight,oramongtheshelteredrecessesoftheglensbyday,asif,throughthewildeagerness,thesolemnpassion,theconsumingardorofmylongingforthedeparted,Icouldrestorehertothepathwayshehadabandoned—ah,coulditbeforever? —upontheearth.